Julie Artz works with both award-winning and newer authors across the publishing spectrum from Big Five to small and university presses to indie and hybrid. She is an Author Accelerator-certified Founding Book Coach, a sought-after speaker and writing instructor, and a regular contributor to Jane Friedman and Writers Helping Writers, and a regular instructor for AuthorsPublish, IWWG, ProWritingAid and more. Her work as a Pitch Wars and Teen Pit mentor, a former SCBWI Regional Advisor (WWA), and her memberships in The EFA, the WFWA, AWP, and the Authors Guild keep her industry knowledge sharp. A consummate social and environmental justice minded story geek, Julie lives in an enchanted forest outside of Redmond, Washington, with her husband, two strong-willed teenagers (when they’re not off at university!), and two naughty furry familiars. She’s built a thriving book coaching business based on her values, her editing chops, and her knowledge of story. Check out her weekly newsletter, Wyrd Words Weekly, and subscribe today.
CORRECTION: [Wyrd Words Weekly] Give the gift of feedback to the writer in your life...
Hello Reader,
With book bans and anti-trans/anti-LGBTQ+ legislation gaining traction across the country right now, it's more important than ever to get diverse books into the hands of those who need them. That's why I'm proud to once again contribute to the We Need Diverse Books winter auction. The auction has now been extended through Tuesday night, so there's still time to participate!
There are tons of bookish and writerly gifts for the readers and the writers in your life, so please check it out and consider bidding--it's such a great cause. And of course, you're likely to be able to get a great deal on my most popular package: my 50 page Manuscript Audit.
Each year, I share a little musical interlude from my women's choir to spread some much-needed holiday cheer. One of my favorite songs in our repertoire this season is Ocho Kandelikas, a Ladino song that celebrates the eight candles of Hanukkah. I was hoping the recording of our performance was going to be available in time for Hanukkah, but it's not ready yet, so I have a fun version from PBS News Hour for your listening pleasure (hopefully it shows up this time!):
Wishing a peaceful Hanukkah to all who celebrate!
Warmly,
Julie
PS - The next Craft Magic webinar is TODAY: Synopsis as a Planning Tool at 4pm Pacific (It will be recorded for those who cannot attend live). Let me help you demystify this oft-maligned document with my easy step-by-step process for creating a synopsis. It really is one of the most powerful planning and revision tools in your writing toolbox.
Julie Artz | author, editor, book coach, dragon
Julie Artz works with both award-winning and newer authors across the publishing spectrum from Big Five to small and university presses to indie and hybrid. She is an Author Accelerator-certified Founding Book Coach, a sought-after speaker and writing instructor, and a regular contributor to Jane Friedman and Writers Helping Writers, and a regular instructor for AuthorsPublish, IWWG, ProWritingAid and more. Her work as a Pitch Wars and Teen Pit mentor, a former SCBWI Regional Advisor (WWA), and her memberships in The EFA, the WFWA, AWP, and the Authors Guild keep her industry knowledge sharp. A consummate social and environmental justice minded story geek, Julie lives in an enchanted forest outside of Redmond, Washington, with her husband, two strong-willed teenagers (when they’re not off at university!), and two naughty furry familiars. She’s built a thriving book coaching business based on her values, her editing chops, and her knowledge of story. Check out her weekly newsletter, Wyrd Words Weekly, and subscribe today.
Hello Reader, Recently, I listened to a podcast with “Deep Work” advocate Cal Newport that talked about the impact of social media, email, and, more broadly, distraction has on our creative work. But he also mentioned a philosophical war of sorts between Deep Work denizens and those who adhere to Mihaly Csikszentmihali’s theory of "Flow" or what he calls "optimal experience." In a world obsessed with these sort of ideological cage matches, I often start thinking in the dialectic—what if it’s...
Hello Reader, It's been a busy spring around here! I offered my first-ever free three-hour workshop to the public. I migrated my course materials to a brand-new platform with robust features to support writers. And I even spruced up my look with a months-long rebranding process. Then last week, we onboarded the next cohort of writers to the Wyrd Writers Collective. I'm absolutely energized by all of this, but I've also been woefully neglecting my novel. It can be so hard to prioritize our...
Hello Reader, One of questions that emerged from Story Scaffolding Live! last week was around a question that appears in my course materials and those of other writing coaches as well, as well as on several editor and agent submission forms: Why are you the right person to tell this story? I love asking this question because it gets to the heart of your bigger "Why" for writing the story--what it means to you on a personal and emotional level, moving beyond the events that happen in the story...