March 3, 2017
Dear Sherry, I’ve been working on this novel for almost two years now. I’ve finished the first draft. I’ve filled in the plot holes. I’ve added description, and fleshed out the characters. I’ve sent it to my critique group for feedback, edited based on that feedback, sent it back to them and edited it again. That should be enough, right?…
February 17, 2017
Welcome to Coach’s Corner, where I offer some thoughts on the creative process and breaking through moments of self-doubt. Never has there been a quote more apt for writers than the one by Michael Corleone in The Godfather: Part III: “Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in.” No, I’m not talking about the mafia here.…
February 3, 2017
Dear Sherry, I am really close to finishing my Master’s degree in Canadian Studies. By close, I mean I am in the final edits of my thesis. It has taken me over two years to research it and write it. I can’t tell you how many times I wished it would just write itself already so I could submit it to…
January 20, 2017
Welcome to Coach’s Corner, where I offer some thoughts on the creative process and breaking through moments of self-doubt. One of the things I do with my coaching clients is make sure that they set achievable goals for themselves. Many factors need to be considered, especially making sure whatever physical, emotional, and psychological roadblocks that come up can be dealt with.…
January 6, 2017
Dear Sherry, I’ve been working hard on edits on my novel. I sent it out to my beta readers, and I now have all their feedback, which is great. The problem is that I have a bunch of conflicting comments, and I don’t know how to resolve them. Sometimes it is easy. If one suggestion clearly makes the story better and…
December 23, 2016
Welcome to Coach’s Corner, where I offer some thoughts on the creative process and breaking through moments of self-doubt. By most accounts, 2016 has been a rough year that we’re all happy to see the back of. I wonder if this year has really been as bad as at it seems, or if it just feels so terrible because of…
December 9, 2016
Dear Sherry, I don’t know if I can take it any more. I’ve been submitting stories for a few years now, but I keep getting rejections. I’ve read the magazines I submit to so I know what the editors like, and yet they reject me. I’ve been taking classes and have been working hard to improve my writing, but I…
November 25, 2016
Dear Sherry, I don’t know if you can help me. You probably can’t, but I’m going to ask you anyway in hope you can. Here’s the situation. I’m falling behind in my writing and I’m getting really frustrated with it, and myself. I go on Facebook and I see all my writing friends getting book contracts and having book launches, sometimes…
November 11, 2016
Welcome to Coach’s Corner, where I offer some thoughts on the creative process and breaking through moments of self-doubt. Defeating writer’s block is a huge industry. There are dozens upon dozens of books available at the bookstore on it (including mine). There are hundreds of workshops advertised on Facebook every day that are dedicated to it (including mine). Most writers…
November 4, 2016
Dear Sherry, I want to be a writer. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. I’m writing short stories and thinking about submitting them, but I’m worried they’re not good enough. I’m worried that I’m not good enough. I haven’t taken any classes or workshops, and I don’t have a degree in creative writing like you do. Shouldn’t I have…