Julie Artz | author, editor, book coach, dragon

Julie Artz spent her young life sneaking into wardrobes searching for Narnia. When people started to think that was creepy, she went in search of other ways to go on mystical adventures. Now she finds those long-sought doors to magical story worlds in her work as an author, editor, and book coach. An active member of the writing community, she has volunteered for SCBWI, TeenPit, and Pitch Wars and is a member of EFA, the Authors Guild, and AWP. A social and environmental justice minded story geek, Julie lives in an enchanted forest outside of Redmond, Washington, with her husband, two strong-willed teenagers, and a trio of naughty furry familiars. Check out her weekly newsletter, Wyrd Words Weekly, and subscribe today.

[Wyrd Words Weekly] Do me a favor?

Hello Reader, One of the hardest questions to answer about our own writing is "Is it done?" I mean, what does "done" even mean? There's that immense feeling of accomplishment you get when you type "The End" for the very first time at the end of your zero draft. Or the nervous excitement when...

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about 23 hours ago • 1 min read

[Wyrd Words Weekly] Turning your "why" into a "how"

Hello Reader, I'm on a break between writing projects at the moment, which means I'm reading a lot right now. It's filling my creative well, but also informing my craft (Check out my Read Like a Writer Workbook to help you learn how to do the same). But it occured to me that there's a great step...

15 days ago • 3 min read

[Wyrd Words Weekly] Writer's Block is not a thing

Hello Reader, I don't really believe in writer's block. Before you hit delete or fire off your rebuttal to my controversial statement, let me clarify that I don't beleive in writer's block, but I do know writers get stuck sometimes. The truth is, there's no wicked virus or affliction out there...

22 days ago • 1 min read

[Wyrd Words Weekly] Beating the Odds

Hello Reader, A few of you have been surprised that I've spoken so openly about my struggle to sell the two novel-length projects that I've got out on sub right now (newsflash: it was THREE projects, but we've decided to shelve one of them. #sadtrombone). I think the implication is that someone...

29 days ago • 3 min read

[Wyrd Words Weekly] Procrastination Part II

Hello Reader, Last week I wrote: "It may be that your procrastination is not just because life is busy, but because you aren't clear on the "Why" of your story. And when the "Why" is unclear, the writing gets harder, which leads to more doubt, more fear, and more procrastination." And one of you...

about 1 month ago • 3 min read

National Poetry Month - "Love becomes our legacy"

Hello Reader, April is National Poetry Month, so I've been revisiting some of my favorite poets for a little added inspiration. And one of my favorite poetic moments happened when Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman took the stage in 2021 and shared her poem, "The Hill We Climb." Click the image...

about 2 months ago • 2 min read

[Wyrd Words Weekly] The meandering path of the creative mind

Hello Reader, Last week, Dani Shapiro's book, Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life, finally came from the library. I've been so excited to read it--and it's not new, so I'm not sure why I hadn't read it sooner. But none of the enthusiastic recommendations I'd heard prepared...

about 2 months ago • 3 min read

[Wyrd Words Weekly] Do you have an Inspiration Station?

Hello Reader, Last weekend, I hosted a write-in/sketch-in for creatives at my local public library. I rarely get to write on the weekends, so I was thrilled to have three whole hours earmarked for writing last Saturday, and a whole room full of other creatives by my side for accountability. If...

2 months ago • 2 min read

[Wyrd Words Weekly] Insomniac Dreams

Hello Reader, I wrote earlier this fall about how excited I was to dig into a historical fantasy I'd been noodling for over twenty years (!!). And just weeks later, I got agent notes that made me put that new project aside and dig back into the novel in verse I've been working on since fall of...

3 months ago • 2 min read

[Wyrd Words Weekly] Refilling the creative well, or why writing friends are the best friends...

Hello Reader, One of my goals for 2023 was to do more teaching and March has certainly delivered! Two different webinars, an upcoming in-person writing event, and a month-long large and lively writing class are keeping me on my toes. So I was tempted to opt out of the Association of Writers &...

3 months ago • 1 min read

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