Category Archives: Writing

Consider the Alternatives (Guest Post)

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Two 3-D generic human figures, palms raised, considering what to do with a large 3-D word: OPTIONS.
Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay

Consider the Alternatives

by Steph Beth Nickel

There’s a time to press on toward a goal and a time to consider alternatives. This applies to our writing, as it does to other pursuits.

I find myself debating whether I should edit and indie publish a series of devotionals I originally wrote and recorded for HopeStreamRadio a decade ago, when it first launched. For years, I’ve thought I would offer it as an ebook and a print-on-demand physical book, but now I’m reconsidering my options.

I have notes from two beta readers which I will review no matter how I get these devotionals out into the world. I am incredibly thankful for the time these two women spent reviewing my manuscript, and their comments are sure to make the final product a better one—no matter what that product is. Some things are of value even if we do choose an alternative path.

With the advent of Substack, another avenue has opened for writers to offer both free and paid work. A series of devotionals. A collection of short stories. A novel released chapter by chapter. The possibilities are virtually endless. Creatives of all sorts can make their work available to the public.

When considering alternatives, whether it’s with regards to our writing or some other endeavour, we must ask ourselves a series of questions. Below are just five of them:

  1. Is my current process working well? If it is, there’s no need to be distracted by every “shiny new possibility” that presents itself. (That’s what I hear at any rate. I have a tendency to flit from one thing to the next to the next, one of the reasons Nurture and Inspire Love is still an unpublished file on my computer.)
  2. Do I have the wherewithal to learn the new process? No matter what route we take, if we’re not already familiar with the process and the tools, there will be a learning curve.
  3. Do I know where to find reliable instruction? Do I have contacts who either have the information I require or who know where to find it? Do I have the time and financial resources to read a book, take a course, or hire an assistant?
  4. I must know my Why. For example, if I am going to publish on Substack, am I willing to make my work available for free, or do I need to place some or all of it behind a pay wall?
  5. If I need to earn money with my endeavours, how can I get the best return on my investment (ROI)?

Traditional book publishing. Publishing with a small press. Independent (indie) publishing. Newsletters. Subscription models such as Substack. The list goes on.

And if your goals don’t include getting your writing into the world, your list of alternatives will be different, but likely equally as long.

What goals are you pursuing? Are there alternatives you’ve been considering? What factors tip the scales for you?

Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography

As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.

If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.

Motivation vs. Overwhelm (Guest Post)

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A person sits at a desk, head hidden behind a tall stack of books. The book on top is open, and the person is reaching for it.
Image by WOKANDAPIX from Pixabay

Motivation vs. Overwhelm

by Steph Beth Nickel

Are your shelves bowing under the weight of unread skills development books?

Have you subscribed to a plethora of podcasts to develop as a writer?

Do you sign up for innumerable courses you never complete?

If so…

Welcome to the club!

This book comes highly recommended. If I read that book, I’ll have the motivation to complete my WIP. If I buy this bestseller, I’ll be sure to accomplish my writing goals.

Does this sound like you?

Yes?

Again, welcome to the club!

The same holds true for the podcasts I listen to and the courses I sign up for, whether it’s writing, getting back into a regular exercise routine, taking up a new hobby, trying new recipes, or developing my spiritual life.

While a new book, podcast, or course may inspire me for a short time, I must persevere. And follow-through? Well, that’s where I fall short. And motivation becomes overwhelm.

What can we do when this is the case?

Here are eight suggestions:

  1. Gather all the books you want to read or re-read into one place.
  2. Determine which are most relevant to your current season as a writer.
  3. Set aside outdated volumes and those that aren’t currently applicable to your works-in-progress.
  4. Read a chapter, or a portion of a chapter, each day. Apply what you’ve learned immediately if possible.
  5. Repeat with each book you want to read.
  6. Approach your podcasts the same way. Determine which are of benefit. (And yes, we all need to “chill” at times. Not all our books or podcasts have to be educational per se.)
  7. Determine which courses you signed up for most recently. If they are relevant to what you are currently working on, go through the courses one at a time, setting aside time each week (or several times per week) based on available time.
  8. Admit to yourself that not every book, podcast, and course is relevant to your current season. Some may even be outdated. Take a deep breath and be willing to delete / unsubscribe / give away what is no longer relevant.

When we can apply what we’re learning, we’ll likely remain motivated to persevere.

If we hold onto too many resources, they will simply weigh us down.

What’s something that you find overwhelming rather than motivating? Are you ready to let it go?

What’s something that you’re ready to begin or get back to? A book? A podcast? A course? Something else?

Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography

As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.

If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.

Not Second Best (Guest Post)

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A young woman holds a coffee cup in front of her mouth. You can tell from her eyes that she's smiling.
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Not Second Best

by Steph Beth Nickel

I’ll write a book when…

I’ll write my next book when…

There are countless numbers of people who would like to write a book “some day,” whether it’s their first or thirty first. In fact, you may be one of them. I know I am.

I have numerous ideas for books I’d like to write and self-publish, but will I get around to it? We’ll see.

For now, my life is filled with editing others’ manuscripts, assisting my hubby as we prepare to renovate and sell our home of over 20 years, planning for our move west, serving as Contest Coordinator for InScribe—and yes, tweaking and submitting the manuscript I wrote with my coauthor.

Are these things keeping me from completing other manuscripts I’ve begun and those floating around my mind? Are they getting in the way of writing and publishing picture books, women’s fiction, devotionals, etc., etc., etc.? Are they second best?

To be honest, I have several hours each day that I could dedicate to writing. And while you may not, there are probably 15-60-minute blocks of time you could set aside for writing multiple times per week.

But does that mean that if we don’t “straighten up and fly right,” for whatever reason, we should view our day-to-day responsibilities and even our socialization and relaxation as second best?

We’ve all heard a lot about mindset these days, but how we view our endeavours has a lot to do with how we spend our time. Plus, our mindset has even more to do with our attitude and emotions.

Let’s look at how we spend our time, maybe even keep track for a few days or a week of how we spend each hour of the day.

We can’t be “the best” at everything, but we do have to prioritize our tasks. Too often, downtime and writing are at the bottom of the list. And too often, we resent our “evil day job” and/or other day-to-day responsibilities.

What if we began to give thanks for the opportunities to earn an income, care for our aging family member, play outside with our children or grandchildren?

What if we reminded ourselves that blessing even one other person is a privilege—even when it’s draining?

What if we gave ourselves the grace to watch a TV show, listen to a podcast, or read a novel without guilt?

Would there still be time to write?

In my case, I know the answer is an unequivocal yes. And you might find the same is true for yourself. But if not, maybe now isn’t the season to write that book. That doesn’t mean, however, that it will never be the right time. And if you can carve out those few minutes even two or three times per week, we may be celebrating with you in the next year or two that you’re ready to press Publish or send off queries to agents and/or publishers.

Wishing you all the best (not second best) today and always!

Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography

As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.

If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.

Setting as Character (Guest Post)

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Setting as Character

by Steph Beth Nickel

We’ve all read books where the setting has a personality all its own. Not only does it provide the perfect backdrop to the story; it is a living, breathing character in its own right.

In September, my husband and I spent three weeks exploring Scotland, Iceland, and Ireland with our eldest son and his wife. (They live not far from Glasgow.)

As you can see from the pictures below, our surroundings came alive and could easily become characters in a book. (I took all except the path with the autumn-coloured leaves while we were away.)

While I would appreciate acknowledgment if you share one or more of these images, feel free to do so and/or use them as writing prompts or inspiration for your work.

All photos: credit: Steph Beth Nickel

And if you get the opportunity to visit one or more of these locations, I encourage you to do so. It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that will provide years of memories—and inspiration.

Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography

As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.

If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.

Finding Inspiration Across the Pond (Guest Post)

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Finding Inspiration Across the Pond

by Steph Beth Nickel

My European Adventure is scheduled for the last three weeks of September 2024. When this is posted, I will have completed two of those three weeks and will, hopefully, have a plethora of ideas to inspire my writing. (July 29, 2024)

Writers find inspiration everywhere. From a snippet of overheard conversation to an unusual name printed on a souvenir. From a randomly asked question to a humorous meme on social media. From a crumbling castle to an erupting volcano.

Old stone castle and bridge in Scotland, green mountain background.
Image by Andreas Senftleben from Pixabay

As writers, it’s important to make note of those things that inspire us, things we want to include in our writing—at least at some point.

Although she asked the question well over a decade ago, I will never forget an older friend of mine asking my son, who was wearing army boots at least three sizes too big for him, “Hey, boots, where are you taking that boy?” Absolutely priceless!

I think P. J. Bottoms would make the perfect name for a fictional middle grade student who solves mysteries. But since there’s a children’s book author by that name (a pseudonym, I presume), I may shelf the idea.

And my daughter’s answer to a long-forgotten question is the title of one of the picture books I’d like to publish.

While adventuring in Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland, I know I will have gained more ideas than I can possibly include in my writing.

Just how will I have captured at least some of those ideas?

Before I left—or maybe on the plane, winging my way across the Atlantic—using either my computer or pen and paper, I will have brainstormed possible writing projects I can complete in the future.

I purchased a Novel from Nothing journal that I may begin to fill in should a story begin to gel. Familiarizing myself with the contents of the journal before I leave will have given me ideas to mull over.

An empty journal and a stash of pens will likely have found their way into my luggage as well—for all those other ideas that are bound to bombard me in the best possible way.

At the time of writing this post, I hadn’t decided whether or not to take my digital camera with me or rely exclusively on my iPhone and camcorder, complete with eternal mic, to capture the landscape, the architecture, and the natural phenomena that will provide an abundance of writing inspiration.

Waterfalls and rocky cliffs in Iceland.
Image by Herm from Pixabay

Cameras. Physical or digital journals. Camcorders. Guided journals. The IOS Notes app. I will likely have used all of these to capture the countless things I won’t want to forget—things that may serve as inspiration for current and future writing projects.

While My European Adventure will be something I never forget and something that will fuel my writing for years to come, there will be inspiration all around no matter where I find myself. It’s important to keep my eyes, ears, and heart open during My Everyday Adventures as well.

Where do you find your writing inspiration and how to you ensure that you keep track of it?

Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography

As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.

If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.

Virtual Brainstorming (Guest Post)

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Computer monitor with a stream of bright colours leading into it and out the far side.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Virtual Brainstorming

by Steph Beth Nickel

Not long ago, I probably wouldn’t have given much thought to using generative AI as a brainstorming partner. Then, a Christian couple I highly respect shared how they are using it to greatly increase the efficiency of their business. As an author, Kathi would never put her name to something generated by AI, but she does use it to brainstorm possible titles for her podcast episodes and to compile the transcript. Saving time and inspiring ideas . . . I’m all for it!

While a trip to Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland is bound to provide a plethora of inspiration for endless writing projects, I decided to brainstorm some ideas before boarding the plane on September 10, 2024, to get my creative juices flowing.

My brainstorming partner? Anthropic’s Claude AI.

Regarding my upcoming trip to Europe, I asked it the following questions:

  1. What writing topics could be inspired by a trip to Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland? (And yes, I did use proper punctuation, grammar, and spelling. It’s what I do.)
  2. What influence has evangelical Christianity had on Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland?
  3. Give me picture book ideas for books set in Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland.
  4. Give me ideas for cozy mysteries set in Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland.
  5. Give me ideas for fantasy books set in Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland.

Will I use any of the ideas “as is”? No.

Will I draw inspiration from Claude’s answers? Absolutely.

Did the answers serve as a “priming of the pump” as it were? Absolutely. Especially the ideas for picture books, which quickly got my mind in gear as well as my daughter’s. She’s an illustrator and could immediately imagine pictures to go along with the suggestions even though Claude included only a suggested title and a single sentence summary.

What would take me hours to research, Claude AI did in seconds.

Would I ever include the information the program provides without further research? I wouldn’t. But, as writers, we all know that using a single source of information is never a good idea. This has always been how misinformation and “fake news” spread so quickly.

As writers, we know the importance of developing good research skills. To me, generative AI can serve as one source of that information, one source that draws from numerous others in a fraction of the time it would take me to do the same.

Asking Claude AI these questions cleared the cobwebs and has provided a great springboard for potential writing projects. I feel significantly better equipped to create a more focussed game plan for the type of further inspiration to look forward on my European Adventure.

Plus, Claude provided a list of things to pack, which will help me make sure I don’t forget anything—after I asked for the list of course. Bonus!

Note: While programs such as Grammarly and ProWriting Aid are technically AI, when most people use the term, they are referring to generative AI programs such as ChatGPT, Claude AI, and others. While there are serious concerns as to how generative AI is being used, it has several ethical, timesaving applications as well. Used wisely, it can be a helpful addition to the writer’s toolbox. If you have been hesitant to give it a try, you may want to dabble as I have. The free option is great and will likely be all I use for quite a while.

Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography

As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.

If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.

Be Brave (Guest Post)

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Text: "Be brave"
Image by gibbysocks from Pixabay

Be Brave

by Steph Beth Nickel

If you were to write a list of traits you felt were indispensable for a writer, would bravery make the list?

Have you ever considered how brave an individual must be to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, organize their thoughts, and then send them out into the world?

Even after the writing has been reviewed by a writer’s peers and one or more professional editors, it may receive hurtful criticism, misinterpretation, dismissal.

But let’s back up a little and identify steps along the journey to publication (and beyond) when a writer has to be brave . . .

To identify oneself as a writer requires bravery—even when looking in the mirror. (Psst! If you put your thoughts on paper—physical or virtual—you’re a writer.)

To ask for someone’s impression of your writing requires bravery—even if the other person is typically super supportive.

To take a deep breath and actually ask someone to critique your work in detail . . . Now, that takes an extra measure of bravery.

If a writer has a full-length manuscript and they want to get honest feedback, it takes bravery to recruit beta readers and then actually send them the work. The writer has likely worked and reworked it—perhaps several times—but it can still be unnerving to actually ask for another’s honest opinion. Yet another time a writer must be brave.

If a writer is pursuing a traditional deal, they must be brave enough to approach agents. (Almost every traditional publisher requires submissions be made by agents, not authors.) And then there are the revisions—sometimes several rounds of them. It takes bravery every step of the way.

And what about the writer who is self-publishing their book? On one hand, it may seem easy enough. Write. Format. Upload. Hit “Publish.” However, there are countless self-published authors whose books you could not distinguish from their traditionally published counterparts. To get a manuscript to that point takes bravery every step of the way: from writing and revising the work to getting input from peers and pros, from learning how to prepare the manuscript for publication to <take a deep breath> hitting “Publish.” (And we won’t even talk about the marketing, asking for reviews, starting a newsletter, etc., etc., etc.)

From blog posts to social media posts, from magazine articles to fiction series . . . Whatever you write, you need to be brave.

How are you going to be brave today?

Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography

As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.

If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.

Less is More? (Guest Post)

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Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

Less is More?

by Steph Beth Nickel

I’m writing this at the end of October. I will let you know in the comments how I did with my goals for November.

Prioritize your current WIP (work in progress). Make room on your schedule. Keep your appointments with yourself the way you would with anyone else.

These are all good pieces of advice.

However…

You are a unique individual, a creative.

Sheer willpower and including my two current works in progress on my schedule have not been enough to keep me writing.

While it isn’t surprising that spending four days with my coauthor and working exclusively on her second memoir got me back into the groove of working on Keep Looking Up, what happened recently goes against conventional wisdom and fuels me up even more.

I was going to sign up for NaNoWriMo again this year and commit to working on my YA speculative fiction novel, which I’ve been working on off and on for several years—yes, years. Instead, I have committed to FlashNano. The goal: write 30 short stories in 30 days.

Am I crazy? Possibly…

However…

There are times in my life when the more I take on, the more motivated I am to work on projects I’ve neglected for far too long.

I recently wrote a 1400-word short story to submit for possible publication in the InScribe anthology that will be published in 2024. Whether it’s chosen or not, I’m pleased with how it turned out.

Because I wrote “Love Your Enemy,” I’m primed to work on Deb’s memoir and the YA novel as well as dive into the adventure of writing more short stories.

Of course, I’ll have to focus on my goals in order to accomplish them. I’ll have to add them to my daily Action Plan (aka my To-Do List). I’ll also have to set aside other things that I won’t have time to accomplish.

But by the end of November, I should have many more words written and polished. And as a writer, I’ve come to realize that none of the words we write are wasted.

Here are six reasons I’ve come to this conclusion:

  1. Practice may not make perfect, but it does make us better writers.
  2. Working on a new or different project can help us get unstuck with our current work(s) in progress.
  3. The more we write, the more it may fill the writing well or charge our writing battery.
  4. When we write works that seem to flow from us, it may give us the wherewithal to get back to those projects that we find tedious and uninteresting. (Most writers have to work on this type of project from time to time—or frequently.)
  5. We may end up publishing a piece we originally wrote just for fun after we revise and polish it.
  6. A piece we write may spark a longer work that gets picked up by a magazine or book publisher or one we choose to self publish.

So, I’ve found that, with writing, less is simply less. And more? Well, the more I write, the more I’m motivated to keep writing.

How about you? Do you need to focus on a single project, or does writing unrelated pieces motivate you to get back to those works that you’ve been neglecting?

Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography

As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.

If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.

Why Enter a Writing Contest? (Guest Post)

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Image by 6689062 from Pixabay

Why Enter a Writing Contest

by Steph Beth Nickel

Of course, if we enter a writing contest, we hope to win a cash prize—at least get an honourable mention.

But what if that doesn’t happen—especially if there’s a significant entrants’ fee?

Recently I entered a contest because the organization running the contest needed more entries in a few categories.

True confession…

Did I hope to at least win a prize equivalent to the entrants’ fee? Absolutely!

Was I disappointed that this didn’t happen? Briefly.

Did I gain something far more valuable? Without a doubt!

This particular contest included numerical scores and comments regarding several areas (formatting, POV, setting, etc.). I found the scores encouraging (for the most part) and the comments insightful.

Many of the negative comments verified things I already suspected and came as no surprise—although, let’s be honest, negative comments can be discouraging at first. We have to process the discouragement and then consider how to apply those insights that we feel will indeed make our writing better.

We also have to analyze the positive comments and press into them in our writing to make sure we further develop the skills we already possess.

So, the truth is that I’m glad I didn’t win a cash prize. If I had, I may not have paid as much attention to the judge’s comments—and my future work would not have benefited.

Here are 13 tips regarding writers’ contests:

  1. Make sure the organization holding the contest is legitimate.
  2. Read all the details carefully, including the fine print.
  3. Find out if there are benefits beyond a cash prize. (i.e.: judge’s comments for all entrants)
  4. Determine why you want to enter the contest and how you’ll likely feel if you don’t win a cash prize.
  5. Choose the category/categories you want to enter.
  6. Read the requirements carefully and follow all instructions to the letter.
  7. Write the best piece you can.
  8. If there’s time to put your entry away for a time and then go back to it, do so. We often see things we’d like to rework when we review our work objectively.
  9. Send off the entry (and submission fee) and get back to writing. Sometimes you won’t hear the results for quite some time.
  10. If you do receive the judge’s comments, whether you win a prize or not, read them carefully.
  11. After considering which observations and recommendations will make your writing better, make note of them and put them into practice.
  12. If there are comments you don’t agree with (which there likely will be), don’t set them aside indefinitely. Revisit them after you’ve had a chance to process your initial emotions and thoughts.
  13. And if you win—CELEBRATE!

What are your thoughts on entering a writing contest?

Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography

As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.

If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.

Just Keep Learning; Just Keep Learning (Guest Post)

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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Just Keep Learning; Just Keep Learning

by Steph Beth Nickel

Books. Workshops. Free and paid social media groups. Courses. Conferences.

Most creatives have a plethora of resources at their fingertips.

I doubt if I’ll ever complete the books and courses I already own. However, I’m likely to buy more. And those lifetime subscriptions and bundles at unbelievably low prices… Those draw me in far too often.

While I’m doing better at using the materials I have on hand and resisting the temptation to buy something if I already own something similar, there are still times I sign up for things like free online workshops that sound interesting.

And while I don’t recommend succumbing to FOMO, the fear of missing out, there are times a new purchase—or the commitment to attend a virtual event—can make us re-evaluate what and why we write.

That’s what happened to me recently.

Have you ever noticed that creatives are among the most generous people on the planet?

The workshop I attended last Saturday proved this to me yet again. It was two-and-a-half hours long and jam-packed with practical, applicable writing-related information. Plus, participants had the opportunity to do significant self-examination and answer questions in the free workbook that was included. No cookie cutter answers. And no unattainable promises.

All this and more—and no heavy-handed sales pitch. In fact, the presenter took only a few moments to inform us about her yearlong program that she made clear would not be right for everyone—not even everyone on the call. Generosity and integrity… They both mean a lot to me.

As some of you know, I began a YA speculative fiction story a number of years ago. I had a lot of fun writing the first third of the book. When I was concerned that I was wandering around in the mire as I approached the middle of the story, I decided it was time to write the last chapter to see where I was headed. (I’ve done something similar with other writing projects and it helped a great deal.)

Still, for a number of reasons—including questioning whether I should actually write the book—it has sat on my computer, neglected for far too long.

When answering one of the questions from the workshop, a question about the point of my writing, it became clear that the protagonist’s journey and growth were, indeed, relatable—potentially inspirational even. These insights had never struck me before.

The workshop presenter stressed that the point of our writing doesn’t mean the in-your-face “moral of the story.” But we are all trying to make a point with our writing. And when we recognize that point and are convinced that it’s worthwhile, this just may be the verification we need that we should persevere and push through the obstacles that stand in our way.

I’ll forever be glad I signed up for the workshop—and spent over two hours considering what makes me who I am and how that applies to my writing.

So, my fellow creatives, to quote Dory from Finding Nemo—well, almost, “Just keep learning; just keep learning.”

Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography

As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.

If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.