School for Writers with Lauren Marie Fleming Why published is better than perfect The myth of "good" writing – and what to aim for instead. Hey Reader, I am the world’s worst writer. No, don’t you go and try to steal that title from me, it’s mine. Okay, fine, we can share. We live in abundance around here after all, there are enough “World’s Worst Writer” awards to go around. 🏆🏆🏆 Years ago, I quit trying to be a good writer. It was way too much pressure. Every time I sat down to write, the...
2 days ago • 3 min read
School for Writers® with Lauren Marie Fleming Free support for your writing life (holiday edition) Because your creativity deserves care — not pressure — this season. Hey Reader, The end of the year can easily feel overwhelming. Schedules get packed. Budgets get tight. Creative energy gets depleted. But it can also be a beautiful moment of slowing down. Time with loved ones. Delicious treats. Feel good songs and movies on repeat. Either way, I've got some great resources to support you. And,...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
School for Writers® with Lauren Marie Fleming Give yourself the gift of focused time, community, and momentum. Because you don't need more cheap crap, but the world does need your story now more than ever. Hey Reader, what are you doing Friday? Want to join me for a virtual writing retreat? Every year, Black Friday asks us to buy more, hurry more, and lose ourselves in the noise of capitalism. This year, I’m choosing something different — and I’m inviting you to join me. Instead of scrolling...
2 months ago • 1 min read
School for Writers with Lauren Marie Fleming 📚 Big changes for self-publishing A quiet shift in the publishing world means more freedom for self-published authors. This might change everything for your book. Hey Reader, The publishing world just saw a quiet but powerful shift that will change the game for authors. Amazon KDP publishing is now allowing authors to make their books available in public libraries, even when they're exclusive to Amazon. This is a game-changer for two key reasons:...
5 months ago • 4 min read
Hey Reader, There are only 2 weeks left to enroll in Write Your Friggin' Book Already®! So if you've been on the fence about joining, now is the time! I think a lot about today's topic: Why so many people start writing books but so few actually finish them. I've been helping people write books for over 20 years, and I can tell you it's not what most people think. It's not lack of talent. It's not lack of time. It's not even lack of good ideas. The real reason most people don't finish their...
6 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, Let’s talk about something some of my writing colleagues find controversial: You can start making money from your book before it’s even published. This is controversial for two reasons: Some people believe you’re supposed to write for the love of it, not for money. And yes, passion matters. But you know what also matters? Being able to pay your bills while you pursue your creative dreams. It can distract you from finishing the actual book. But with a coaching program like Write...
6 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, There are literally thousands of writing coaches and programs out there – how do you know which one is right for you? In my 20+ years as a professional writer, I've been through dozens of writing programs – including a bachelors in screenwriting – but never found the one that worked right for me. That's why I built Write Your Friggin' Book Already® to be centered around what I needed: Collaboration over competition Diverse and supportive community with inclusive values Coaching,...
6 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, I have a confession: I fell off track with these Write Your Friggin' Book Already® emails. My last email to you was July 1st, and here we are on July 22nd. At first, I felt shame about that, wondering if I should just ignore this break, rather than bring attention to it. But shame grows in the dark, so here I am speaking it to light. Life happened – client work got intense, my personal life had some fun but time consuming additions to it, I relaunched my Queerie Bradshaw blog, and...
6 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, Here's something that might surprise you: I hesitated to call myself a writer until I had a book that was a bestseller. Even though I'd been making money from writing since I was 22. Even though I'd written columns and articles for national publications like Curve, VICE, and the Huffington Post. Even though I won my first writing award at 16 and studied screenwriting in undergrad. All of that, and I still didn't feel like I got to call myself a writer. Why? Because I had this idea...
7 months ago • 4 min read
Hey Reader, I've been in the publishing and storytelling industry for over 20 years, and in that time I've talked with thousands of aspiring authors about the process of trying to write their book. You know what the #1 thing I've seen over and over again that stops people from writing their books? It's not lack of talent. It's not lack of inspiration. It's not even lack of time. The #1 reason people don't finish their books is because they try to do it alone. Does this sound familiar: You get...
7 months ago • 4 min read