Make Writing Fun Again

"I expect a lot from this group."

The comment came from a writing teacher, directed at me and a small group of other students. Our charge? To improvise poetry based on whimsical writing prompts.

Where moments before I'd felt playful and excited, the severity I perceived in those seven words made me contract.

I froze.

The resulting verse felt tentative, forced, and above all: NO FUN. No fun to write and no fun to read.

It wasn't this person's intention to stifle. The idea was to spur effort—but my inner critic panicked. Fear that I might fall short of someone else's expectations killed my joy.

That, friends, is no way to create.

As a book lover full of great ideas, you have high standards for your manuscript. As your book coach, editor, or ghostwriter, I share those standards. I aim for excellence. I, too, expect a lot.

That's why I prioritize play.

The best feedback I get from authors is that they have fun working with me. Not because I'm frivolous, but because I do my best work when I'm enjoying the ride. I'm willing to bet that you do too.

Creativity should not feel like some grave quest or solemn duty. It should be playful, enterprising, adventurous.

I relish my work as a book coach, editor, and ghostwriter. I take genuine delight in helping authors explore and experiment. In teasing out the most compelling points—the hooks and stories, the humor and heartache, all born of the blank page.

Your book is too important to take too seriously. Do that and you risk losing the plot—along with your muse and your audience.

Sure, it won't always be cupcakes and rainbows, but writing your book shouldn't be a slog. If your book doesn't energize and excite YOU, how can it move your readers?

So get out there and play! Infuse some fun into your writing practice. If your work feels heavy, look for support that lifts you up and propels you forward, genuinely excited for each new chapter—all the way to the end.

You’ve Got a Book in You. Let’s Get it Out.