the team-building site of middle grade author Jackie Yeager
Goodbye, March. I’m not sad to see you go! Not because spring is coming. Although that’s a huge plus! It’s because at the end of each quarter, I like to evaluate where I am in relation to where I had hoped to be. I like to do a goal check-up. Why? Well, I’ve never been… Continue reading Goal Check: First Quarter
Could it really be the last day of February? Don’t mind me while I break out my pom poms and revert to my college cheerleading days. It’s not like I have anything against the month itself, but since I live in Upstate New York, I associate February with cold, snow, and isolation. I may be… Continue reading Strong Writing Habits lead to Strong Progress
As someone who prides herself on encouraging others to chase their dreams, I often wonder if any of my cheering really ever hits the mark. Do my words matter to anyone? I began writing this post today full of enthusiasm and energy. I had this feeling that someone needed encouragement and I was excited to… Continue reading Communicator Between Two Worlds
As much as many writers working toward publication would love to quit their day jobs so they can work on their own writing full time, for most that’s not financially possible. And for some, working at another job is something they want to do anyway. Either way, if you work at another job or are… Continue reading Writing Jobs for Writers
We all want our readers to connect with our stories. We want them to feel something, whether that’s suspense, hope, fear, motivation, sadness, encouragement, despair, love, happiness…any number of emotions that humans are able to feel. And through the course of your novel, readers are bound to feel many different and probably opposing emotions as… Continue reading In Search of a Story’s Emotional Center
Hey guys! We’re nearing the end of the month and I thought it would be good to check in with those you who are drafting a new manuscript or determined to finish a draft you’ve already started. Because I know what January can be like. For the first few weeks of the month, you’re filled… Continue reading Foolproof Way to Get your Draft Done
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how important it is to fill your cup. You know the kind I mean…the proverbial cup we pour from in order to create stories. Where is your mind at lately? Are you worn-out and depleted? Are you stressed or do you have that I’m-so-busy-all-the-time feeling? If you are,… Continue reading Three Ways to Refill your Writer’s Cup
To be completely transparent, this post was 100 percent inspired by Jenna Kutcher and the Goal Digger Podcast. I discovered Jenna on Instagram, and think her posts and podcasts are incredibly inspiring in a chase your dreams sort of way. And you know I’m all about that! In one recent podcast episode (I Have No Idea What's… Continue reading Finding Clarity When You Don’t Know What’s Next
New year. New perspective! ✨ Happy 2023!! I’m so ready for this new year to begin. Last year is hard to summarize so I’m not even going to try. I’d rather focus on what’s to come, starting with my word (s) of the year. Are you the type of person who picks an inspirational word or… Continue reading Stealing a New Year’s Mantra
If you’ve a written a manuscript, this post is for you. It’s about a strategy I’m using now as I revise my current project. I created it out of necessity because after going through 15 revision rounds (yes, 15!) I was a broken writer. My story was only mostly good and I didn’t even know… Continue reading 3 Reasons Writers Need to Walk (Far Away) from Their Manuscripts