14 Books that Make Great Secret Santa Gifts

The holiday season is almost here! Soon it will be cold and we’ll be thinking about feasting at Thanksgiving and gift giving for Christmas. 

In preparation of the busy season (or if you’re an early shopper like me), I put together a list of some great books to give your Secret Santa this year - assuming they like to read! 

There’s a little something for everyone - Non-Fiction, Fiction, & Journals. As a writer & reader, I can vouch for all of these books! Some of them I’ve even done full book reviews on. 

“The trick to finding a great Secret Santa gift book is to keep it interesting to the person you’ll be giving it to & away from polarizing topics”

The trick to finding a great Secret Santa gift book is to keep it interesting to the person you’ll be giving it to & away from polarizing topics (like war, politics, etc.) unless you intimately know what their beliefs are. I try to focus on uplifting & books with a positive vibe, but that’s completely up to you! If your Secret Santa loves to have a good cry, by all means, get them a sappy story. 

Ultimately, there are always more choices - but these are some great picks to get you started!

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NON-FICTION

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You are a Badass - Jen Sincero

Brief summary: The full title of this book is You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. As the title implies, Sincero helps the reader step-by-step to figure out what’s holding them back, how to create a brand new badass mindset, and what to do with that new mindset.  You can read a full review here.

Why it’s a good pick: You might guess from the sunshine yellow cover that this book radiates positivity, and you’d be right. It only gets better as you read it! Unlike many self-help books, there is nothing implied about needing to “fix” yourself and it doesn’t preach at you. It’s all about learning, accepting, and growing. This book changes mindset, and can literally impact someone’s life in the best way - I know it did for me. I’m waiting with baited breath for a chance to give this as a gift. 

Who would love this book?: Anyone would enjoy this book, especially people who are looking for a positive kick in the pants positive attitude. 

Note: There is swearing, so it’s not necessarily for young readers.

Buy It Here

Everything is Figureoutable - Marie Forleo

Brief summary: Forleo’s little phrase “Everything is Figureoutable” is making big waves for people everywhere. Her goal is to show readers that “the power isn’t out there, it’s in you.” Forleo uses her own experiences and those of other figureoutable success stories from all over the world to show that you can figure out anything that comes up in your life - even if it’s the worst of the worst. You can read a full review here.

Why it’s a good pick: This was the first “self-help” book I read - I preordered it actually, because I was taking a webinar with Marie and she’s magnetic. I never once read a self-help book before this, and in fact, I kind of scoffed at them. They’re lame, right? WRONG. This book. Seriously. It’s a game-changer for anyone who reads it & actually does the work. It literally shows you how to be a better & more positive you. I have given it as a gift more than once!

Who would love this book?: People who dislike self-help books, anyone who’s wants to be their best self without changing who they are, & anyone who’s ready to take action to make their dreams come true (even if they don’t know where to start)

Note: There is swearing, so it’s not necessarily for young readers. 

Buy It Here

Educated - Tara Westover

Brief Summary: This is a memoir, so Westover is telling about her life growing up in a survivalist Mormon household in Idaho. When she’s 17 she goes to college - setting foot in a classroom for the first time ever. Westover’s is a tale of incredible self-discovery and growth despite tremendous odds. It shows the interesting dynamics of a family lifestyle that most people only see on TV. Most of all, it shows perseverance and strength. You can read a full review here.

Why it’s a good pick: Even though it’s a memoir, Educated reads like a novel - one that you won’t want to put down. The subject is fascinating, and Westover’s voice is powerful. It’s even more powerful when you understand that this woman, who is only in her mid-30s, went through it all. It’s definitely a more serious read, but still feels positive and hopeful. 

Who would love this book?: People who love a powerful story, educators, people who support education, people who love to learn about cultures & beliefs different than their own, people who love a good underdog story

Buy It Here

The Devil in the White City - Erik Larson

Brief Summary: The full title of this book is The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America. Larson weaves the tale of multiple important members of history. Arguably, the most “thrilling” story is that of H.H. Holmes who is thought to be one of America’s first serial killers. 

That being said, there are a number of other stories intertwined, such as architect Daniel Hudson Burnham who built many famous buildings across the U.S. & directed the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893. Larson paints a pretty comprehensive picture of the time and goings-on during a very exciting & innovative time in American history. 

Why it’s a good pick: Larson is an amazing writer and historian. He writes history that reads like a novel and makes it exciting. The people come alive and you’re, at once, wondering how no one has caught this madman yet (H.H. Holmes), but entranced by the fact that the world around him is just building the first Ferris Wheel (thought impossible at the time) and getting electric lighting. It’s a good story, but it’s also an interesting learning experience. Larson has many other books, too, so when your Secret Santa loves the book, they’ll have plenty more to read!

Who would love this book?: People who love history, people who love serial killers & creepy murderers, people who are interested in architecture, people who are interested in invention & inventing, people who are into the darker parts of history, people who are from Chicago or Indiana

Note: This book depicts some creepy & gruesome elements

Buy It Here

Half Broke Horses - Jeanette Walls

Brief Summary: Walls tells the tale of her spunky and incredibly strong grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. From breaking horses with her father on the ranch at 6 years old to leaving home at 15 and riding 500 miles alone with her horse to be a schoolteacher on the western frontier, Lily exhibits an incredible outlook on life for someone who has survived so much hardship. 

Why it’s a good pick: I guess there’s a theme here for historical books that read like novels! If you’ve read any of Walls’s other books (like The Glass Castle), you know she has a very unique voice that’s just so good at telling stories. This book feels like the incredible story your grandma told you when you were little that you never wanted to end. Not only is there an element of history, but Lily’s sheer willpower and strength makes you want to stay till the end just to find out what happens.

Who would love this book?: People who like history, people who are interested in American history & the frontier, people who are interested in survival during hardship stories, people who like strong heroines, people who enjoy strong female characters, people who like learning

Buy It Here

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FICTION

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The Enlightenment of Bees - Rachel Linden

Brief Summary: Mia West, an apprentice baker, has her life planned out. Except she didn’t plan to lose her apprenticeship or her fiance. Not quite knowing what else to do, Mia goes on a humanitarian trip with her friend and roommate Rosie. She sees the world in a new way, and starts to understand that sometimes the small things - the things we love - can have a big impact in the world. Oh, and a little romance, of course.

Why it’s a good pick: This book is a delight. It’s light and positive, but it has the depth to question what we really want in life through Mia’s journey around the world. On the surface it may seem like a simple romance, or a journey to self-discovery. To an extent it is both of those things. But it’s also about the world - how we see it and how we learn from it. Completely unexpected and fun. 

Who would love this book?: People who like travel, people who like baking, people who like romance, people who like humanitarian work, people who like unexpected twists, people who love to fall into a good book, people who like learning about the world, people who like thinking about and changing their perspective

Buy It Here

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

Brief Summary: Marco & Celia: marked as magical competitors from an early age, but never saw each other until adulthood. A black and white circus that only opens at night, and moves around at will, appearing as suddenly as it disappears. A challenge - the “game” - that can only be won by a single competitor...or can it?

Why it’s a good pick: This book has a little bit of everything: mystery, intrigue, romance, magic, and a fascinating magical circus! Morgenstern has a talent for words, and this book will draw anyone in who loves a little bit of a mystery. Morgenstern creates a magical world that we’d all like to live in - not too outlandish, but interesting enough to keep us wanting to know more. 

Who would love this book?: People who like magic, people who like mystery, people who like intrigue, people who like romance, people who like games & challenges on an epic scale, people who like books, people who like magical worlds

Buy It Here

Peyton Place - Grace Metalious

Brief Summary: Peyton Place is the story of Allison MacKenzie - a small town New Hampshire girl that longs to be a writer. Because of the small town culture, expectations, and her own mother, Constance MacKenzie, she finds herself stifled. 

Why it’s a good pick: Throughout the novel, Metalious writes of things heretofore unheard of - illicit sex, drunkenness, incest, secret lives, and more - that happen in small towns everywhere. But when it was published in 1956, people just didn’t talk about those things. It was a mega-hit, becoming a TV series and film. Suffice it to say, it’s juicy!

Who would love this book?: People who like reality television, people who love drama, people who are interested in the goings on in their town or city, people who like rebellious women, people who are interested in knowing more about small towns or are from a small town, people who like scandal, people who have heard of the book and/or TV series & movie, people who like tabloid magazine

Note: There is a lot of mature content, so this book definitely isn’t for young readers.

Buy It Here

The Look of Love - Sarah Jio

Brief Summary: Jane Williams is a florist, and on an average day, feels like her life is pretty boring. It’s just her and her dog Sam. But what Jane doesn’t know is that the mysterious “eye problem” she’s had since she was a little girl is actually a gift - the gift of being able to see love in all its various forms. When she turns 29, a mysterious stranger sends her on a life-changing adventure that she must complete before her 30th birthday. Will she be able to find true love for herself - before it’s too late?

Why it’s a good pick: This book is just plain fun. Whether you’re a hopeless romantic or not (I’m not and I still loved the book), the way Jio weaves the story is enchanting. It’s a completely different look at love as we know it. 

Who would love this book?: People who like romance, people who like happy endings, people who like falling into a good book, people who want to read but who want it to feel easy, people who live in the Seattle area, people who like a little mystery but not too much, people who love love

Buy It Here

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JOURNALS

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Affirm Your Life - Becca Anderson

Brief Summary: The full title of this book is Affirm Your Life: Your Affirmations Journal for Purpose & Personal Effectiveness. This cute little journal is literally about bringing positivity to your life. It’s based on Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and has areas where you can do some soul-searching and personal development. 

Why it’s a good pick: First of all, this book is pretty! Like, physically pretty in the way it’s designed. It’s also not overwhelmingly large. At just over 150 pages, it is something that can easily be carried and filled in without feeling like you have a brick in your bag. It’s awesomely positive, and teaches strategies you can keep using while still feeling good about it. 

Who would love this book?: Writers, small business owners, creatives, artists, people who like writing, people who like journaling, people who like and/or are working on personal development, people who enjoy introspection, people interested in self-growth

Buy It Here

The  Checklist Book - Alexandra Franzen

Brief Summary: This handy book isn’t just full of lists for you to fill in - it actually teaches you how to make effective lists to organize your life! Even if you’re someone who already uses a lot of lists, Franzen provides interesting facts & history about checklists, as well as the how-to aspect. Did you know there’s actually science about checklists? I didn’t! But Franzen did, thank goodness.

Why it’s a good pick: As someone who is probably unusually organized in most ways, it just makes sense to me that anyone would want to read more about lists. Then I think, not everyone is quite as obsessed as I am. Hah! This is still a good pick because it’s fun and useful - and unlike a true “journal,” it’s part book, part activity, and all around helpful.

Who would love this book?: People who like lists, people who thrive off of achieving, people who are super organized, people who aren’t very organized, people who are interested in organization, people who like learning, people who are overwhelmed or have large to-do lists

Buy It Here

You Should be Writing - Brenda Knight & Nita Sweeney

Brief Summary: The full title of this book is: You Should be Writing: A Journal of Inspiration & Instruction to Keep Your Pen Moving. This journal has plenty of space and inspiration to get your creativity kick started. And a few tips & tricks, of course.

Why it’s a good pick: If you’ve been around many writers, you’ve probably heard the term “I should be writing” or seen a prominent post-it note or meme that says, “You should be writing.” Actually, starting & keeping a writing routine is the hardest thing for many writers! So this book is a great and thoughtful way to help someone out.

Who would love this book?: Writers, journalers, creatives, people who like writing, people who like creating but are stuck

Buy It Here

Overcoming Creative Anxiety - Karen C.L. Anderson

Brief Summary: The full title of this book is: Overcoming Creative Anxiety: Journal Prompts & Practices for Disarming Your Inner Critic & Allowing Creativity to Flow. This journal takes a deep dive into the inner critic & how you can change the way you interact with it. 

Why it’s a good pick: Everyone’s got an inner critic! Some of us are good at controlling it, but it’s hard, especially, it seems, for creatives and writers. I’ve written about it before, but this journal goes even deeper into how it makes you feel, the ways you can talk to it, and how to strengthen what Anderson calls your inner advocate. Very uplifting! 

Who would love this book?: Writers, creatives, artists, people who want to create more but are afraid, people who struggle with a mean inner critic, people who like journaling, people who like writing, people who want to do some personal growth & development

Buy It Here

The 52 Lists Project - Moorea Seal

Brief Summary: This fun journal gives a journal prompt/list for each week of the year. It’s broken down into the 4 seasons, and each season has prompts relevant to the time of year. For instance, the first list of the journal is “List your goals and dreams for this year.”

Why it’s a good pick: A journal can be a really thoughtful gift, especially for the people in your life you know enjoy writing or sharing their feelings. The major perk of this journal is that it already has areas for each week of the year, so there’s less pressure to do it “correctly” or fill it in however you like. You simply open it up and it’s ready to go!
Who would love this book?: Writers, artists, creatives, anyone who likes to journal, anyone who likes lists, anyone who is introspective, anyone who is working on personal development

Buy It Here

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NEXT STEPS

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1. Look at the books for potential gift ideas - Don’t be shy! Check out Amazon, go to your local library and read a little of it. See how you feel about it before you decide. 

2. Figure out what your Secret Santa is interested in - Before you pick something, make sure to think about what your Secret Santa will like. If they’re not a writer, they may not want a journal that shows them how to overcome creative anxiety. Or if they like reading lighter books that they don’t want to think too much about, a heavier memoir or non-fiction book might not be the best pick. 

3. Buy the book(s) & get ahead of the game! - Use the links above or Google where you can pick up a copy of the book. You’ll be done before you even started thinking about it last year!

My challenge to you is to start thinking about what the people in your life like to read or learn about now instead of a month or 6 weeks from now. 

Given a Secret Santa book before? How’d it go? Did I miss a “must have”?  I’d love to hear from you! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great gift giving. 

11 Unexpected Time Management Hacks for Writers

Most of us feel busy. Because of the popular messaging to keep “grinding” and “side hustling,” it can be hard as a writer to find time to spend on actually doing what we love. Not just writing for business or work or a client, but writing creatively on our books, poetry, essays - whatever it is that we write because we love it. 

While it’s hard to make time for our own creative writing, it can be even harder to enjoy that time when we know that there are other responsibilities looming. 

How can one really enjoy being in the throes of a first kiss or daring escape from a pirate ship if we’re worried about the pile of dishes in the sink? Or the emails that need a response today.

“As writers, we should treat our writing as a task to be completed. Not in a checklist way, but in a way that makes it important enough to schedule time for. ”

It’s all about time management. I’m very pro-taking breaks, but that can feel counterproductive when the work seems to overwhelm us. As writers, we should treat our writing as a task to be completed. Not in a checklist way, but in a way that makes it important enough to schedule time for. It’s a worthy investment of your time, so it should get some of that valuable space on your calendar and in your day! 

Why is Time Management Important? 

Time management is one of those things that people always talk about, and yet, many people still struggle. I know there are days where I stare at my calendar and my to do list and say “What was I thinking? Why the heck would I schedule ALL of that on one day?” 

Can you relate?

I’m definitely not here to lecture you about how you manage your time. If there’s one thing I’ve learned playing so many different roles throughout my life it’s that we all handle things uniquely. What’s right for me may not be right for you, and what works for you may not work for me. 

I am here, however, as an advocate of managing your time intentionally. Time management is so important! Here’s why:

• Sanity - If you don’t plan for the things you like, want, and need alongside work, you will be unhappy, and there’s a good possibility that you’ll drive yourself nuts trying to keep up with the “to-do” items, let alone trying to make progress on your beloved writing project. 

• Productivity - Being in a constant “grinding” state of mind is not the way to be the most productive. While it is necessary sometimes, burnout is real and it is terrible for productivity. When you manage your time, you can do more with less time - you might even find that you can create “free time” - isn’t that the dream!

• Work Life Balance - The ever-sought, ever-failed idea of work life balance can be tricky. You aren’t going to get there overnight, but with some time management, it is possible for most of us. Also, taking a break is critical! Your life outside of your work is important and the balance in your life should reflect that.

11 Unexpected Hacks to Manage Time as a Writer

So how do we get this golden unicorn of work life balance? We use time management, and we manage the crap out of it!

I won’t say it’s easy, because it’s not.

I’m also not going to say that every single thing you do should be managed and calendared, because for many of us that’s more stressful than having a long list to begin with. 

“Managing your time as a writer doesn’t have to be complicated. ”

Managing your time as a writer doesn’t have to be complicated. Nothing I’m suggesting is a “never before seen” strategy. All of these hacks, though (however unexpected they might be) are things that WORK. T

I use them, I suggest them to my clients, my writer friends use them - sharing is caring, right? These strategies are meant not just to help you complete “all the things,” but help you be productive with the time you spend on your writing. I wanted to share hacks to show you that even if you are scheduled to the max, there are ways to write and enjoy it. 

1. Time Your Writing - On your mark, get set, write! For 30 minutes. Or maybe 60 minutes. Setting a timer can help you get in the mindset of productivity and focus for your writing.

   If you can clear more time than 60 minutes of uninterrupted time and you think you can focus that long, go for it! If, however, you find yourself consistently booked out with other obligations, start with 30 minutes at least once a week. 

   Why it works: Knowing that you have a whole half an hour or hour to just be with your words can be invaluable, especially when you have a lot of work and/or home responsibilities. You’re taking time for yourself and what you love, which is equally as important as other aspects of “adulting.”

2. Use the Pomodoro Method - If you haven’t heard about the Pomodoro Technique, it’s pretty great. The idea is that you set a timer for 25 minutes and work on one task for those 25 minutes without interruption. When the timer is up, you take a quick break and then set the timer for another 25 minutes. After 4 “pomodoros” you take a longer break to refresh your brain. This is another, more involved form of timing your writing. 

   Why it works: Similar to timing your writing in a more unstructured way, the Pomodoro technique was specifically designed to maximize productivity and take advantage of how the brain works and how long it can focus. Although you don’t have to stick to the 25 minutes strictly, you might be surprised by how much you can get done in 25 minutes! I use a similar technique using the Forest App (it’s free in the Google Play Store & the Apple Store!).

3. Take Breaks Often - This might sound counterproductive because you want to focus, but taking frequent breaks helps our brain rest and feel rejuvenated. Taking short breaks of 5-10 minutes at least once an hour when we’re focusing on our writing can help us physically and restore creative stamina. 

   Why it works: While it’s tempting to sit for hours and hours and just type away on our stories, we really do need to give our brain time to recover from all that hard work it’s doing. After all, when we write, we’re creating a world for our readers. If that’s not hard work, I don’t know what is!

4. Take Regular Walks & Stretch Breaks - When we’re taking breaks, it’s important to move and stretch. Whether this means taking a lap around the block, getting a drink, or stretching out on the floor for a few minutes, your body (particularly your back & neck) needs to move around in order to avoid getting stiff and sore. 

   Why it works: Moving around and taking in new scenery after you’ve been thoroughly entrenched in your writing can help your brain stay sharp and catch small details you might miss if you’re staring at the screen for too long. 

5. Do Something Unrelated - When we’re focusing really intently on something, we get absorbed into it and therefore it can create a kind of tunnel vision. When we’re taking our breaks (and making sure to stretch our bodies out), doing something completely unrelated to your writing project at hand can be just the thing to snap you out of your word trance. 

   Why it works: Changing gears for just a moment can help our brain remember that it’s powerful. It isn’t limited to your mundane daily responsibilities, but it also isn’t just for creating this one world you’re writing about. It’s a pretty big player in all areas of your life, even if it feels like mush after a writing session.

6. Meditate - I’ve found very few things that work as quickly to calm a racing or single-track mind than meditating. Doing mindful breathing and purposefully clearing your mind can work wonders for our creativity and writing.

   Why it works: When we write, our brains are cranking away. If you, like many writers, find that your character writes the story for you (that happens for me), sometimes we can come out of a writing session feeling disoriented for a little while. To combat this, I regularly do short 3-10 minute meditations to clear all the junk out of my mind. I use the Insight Timer and Stop Panic and Anxiety apps (both free in the app store). 

7. Take a Nap - Taking a nap for 15 minutes can do a world of good for your creative soul, and your weary body. Don’t succumb to the urge to spend the whole afternoon or evening in bed, but doing a short meditation and then a short nap can skyrocket creativity and productivity.

   Why it works: When you sleep, your body relaxes. It releases stress and anxiety, which is always helpful when productivity is involved. How many times have you been so worried or overwhelmed that you literally sat there trying desperately to figure out how to do all the things? Shutting your eyes and taking a few minutes of quiet is an extremely effective way to overcome overwhelm. 

8. Read a Book - It might seem unconventional to read other people’s words as a way to manage time, but reading is critical for writers. It’s a necessary part of growing and honing your craft. Plus, when you read other people’s words you get new ideas, or engage with familiar ideas in new ways. 

   Why it works: Planning time to read, even if it’s just when you’re in the bathroom for 10 minutes or 15 minutes right before you go to bed is helpful! Most writers like to read, and even if you don’t, you should (exposure to other writing is important), so hopefully adding an element of reading in your time management is a pleasant task.

9. Clean Something - If you, like many of us these days, find yourself at home most of the time, it’s easy to get distracted from your writing by the mess around you. Maybe it’s all the shoes sitting around your living room. Or if you’re in the office, seeing multiple stacks of paper all over your desk that you can’t just pitch in the trash can. So clean something! Take a few minutes and choose one thing to clean. 

   Why it works: Being surrounded by an overstimulating and overwhelming environment is a huge distraction for your creativity. Cleaning one thing around you can help you feel “productive” and also pull you out of your own mind long enough to figure out where you want to go next with your writing. 

10. Work Away from Home Sometimes - Our home means a lot to us. It’s where we have memories, pets, loved ones, or even just our comfiest ratty PJs. As much as we love home, we need to get away sometimes. I try to work away from home at least once or twice a week, but even if you have a goal of once every two weeks or once a month that’s a good start!

    Why it works: Being away from home shifts our perspective, allows us to see new surroundings, and really focus on what we’re doing. 

11. Travel somewhere - Much like working away from home, traveling can help us feel inspired and refreshed, especially in light of the many restrictions we’ve had this year. It doesn’t have to be far - even a day trip works - but going somewhere new can be an excellent way to rejuvenate and increase productivity and creativity.

    Why it works: You’re out of your element, out of your comfort zone, and there are different considerations for travel than when you’re sitting at home huddled at your computer desk with your 4th cup of coffee. It refreshes your mind, and allows you to see new things that could influence your writing in ways you hadn’t thought about. 

Next Steps

For writers, managing time can be hard because sometimes our creativity takes a backseat to other things that seem more important. 

“It’s not always about putting as many things on your calendar as you can. ”

But, you can plan in ways that help you write better (& enjoy it) and be more efficient. It’s not always about putting as many things on your calendar as you can. Sometimes it’s about working from a new coffee shop down the road for the afternoon, or mindfully meditating for 10 minutes to clear your mind during a hectic day. Time management isn’t easy, but it doesn’t always have to be so complicated, either. 

So what do you do with this information?

1. Figure out what you have to do & make a list: List out what you have to do either on paper or digitally - wherever you will actually look at. It might seem overwhelming, and sometimes it is, but list it out anyway. Include your writing on the list.

   NOTE: I like to plan my week on Monday mornings. I make the list for the whole week and then I list out what day I will do what task on, including my writing. 

2. Choose one of the strategies and try it this week: Look through the strategies again and choose one to help you manage your time differently starting THIS WEEK.

3. Get an accountability partner: If you want someone to help keep you on track, or just check in with on a regular basis, find an accountability partner. If you aren’t sure of who would do this with you, or you just want some help from someone who uses these strategies on a regular basis, I can be that person. Click here to read more about how I work 1:1 with writers like you to strategize, set goals, and be an accountability partner for their writing projects. 

My challenge to you is to choose a strategy and try it as soon as you can fit it in.

Are you a writer who manages their time really well? What strategies work for you? Have you tried one of these strategies? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing. 

Why I Started my Business

NOTE: This blog contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

There’s one question I’ve been asked about my business more than any other recently: 

What’s your “why”? Why do you do what you do? 

While I typically always have a short response (because social media, right?), I realized that I’ve never actually told the whole story about how & why I started my business, Capturing Your Confidence. 

So this week I wanted to get a little more personal because I think the “why” of what we do is so important - maybe even more important than the end goal sometimes. 

If you would have told me 5 years ago that I would be a business owner, I would’ve probably laughed. And not a chuckle of knowing appreciation. I mean a hearty “that would never happen” laugh. I’d never thought of owning a business, and I had no background in business, marketing, or sales. I knew the basic principles because my grandma taught business when I was young, but it wasn’t something I pursued in school.

And yet, in April 2019, everything changed. I found this 5 day course about starting a blog (or, rather, it found me on Facebook), signed up, and convinced my husband that we should invest a little money for me to start a blog. 

I agonized for days over what I would call my blog. I wanted to be something witty and clever, and of course literary - assuming I could put it all together. I always intended to write about writing, and about teaching. In the early days, my main goal was to share my experiences of writing my novel, teaching, and sharing my love of writing with the world. 

“I really had to consider what I wanted the blog to feel like - what I wanted my ethos to be. Who I was going to be as a blogger and a web writing personality. ”

I’m thankful that all of the clever names I initially thought of were unavailable because it made me think outside the box. I really had to consider what I wanted the blog to feel like - what I wanted my ethos to be. Who I was going to be as a blogger and a web writing personality. 

It took a lot, but I finally settled on Capturing Your Confidence. I remember the moment I figured it out. I was driving home from somewhere, and it was a warm evening, so naturally the windows were down. I was thinking about confidence, and action words - yes, purposefully action words, especially ones that started with “C”. What can I say? I love alliteration. 

Do other people brainstorm verbs that start with specific letters? 

As my thinking evolved, I contemplated light in the darkness. What kinds of things could illuminate darkness without being overly bright like the sun? Brighter than the stars, but something tangible. Something you could capture and use to light the darkness. 

Fireflies.

Fireflies light up the darkness, and many of us grew up capturing fireflies in glass jars and watching them glow. A memory of delight at the end of a summer day. 

That was it - the moment I said it out loud I knew it was the perfect name for what I wanted to do: Capturing Your Confidence. 

Left: Original logo; Right: 2020 Redesign; Top: Current - New Website Redesign

If you’ve been around for awhile, you might remember that my first logo actually included a jar with fireflies inside. I’ve redesigned the logo since then, but you can still see the firefly inspiration in the logo today - next time you visit the blog or see an email from me, look at the logo. I’ve never stopped trying to help you catch the confidence fireflies in your life.

After I decided on the name, I continued to read everything I could find about blogging for money (and the insane amount of income some bloggers make). The more I became convinced that not only could I do it, I would do it. I was going to be one of those bloggers who makes $30K a month for blogging. 

So I learned. I blogged. I wrote and wrote... and wrote some more. And I got better. It’s funny - I have 2 degrees in writing, and I still look back at some of those first blogs and cringe a little. 

“I’ve never stopped trying to help you catch the confidence fireflies in your life.”

When I first started, I thought I would be able to make money quickly. I wanted to quit the day job I was bored at and be a blogger full time. Because I’d recently started writing my novel, I’d revived my childhood dream of being a writer when I “grew up” - this seemed like a perfect direction to go in. 

Alas, you don’t know what you don’t know! Starting a business is SO HARD. Like, really hard. 

When you’re doing it on your own while working a day job and a part time job on the side… well, let’s just say that things didn’t move along as planned. Not even close. There have definitely been times where it’s been incredibly frustrating to put in so much work and realize I still wasn’t going to make money that month. Or that I spent what felt like all my time on social media doing networking and still I got very little traffic to see the posts I poured my heart into. 

There were more than a few times I thought, “Why the hell am I still trying?”

For most people, continuous effort with seemingly no result IS frustrating and it’s probably totally reasonable to want to quit. I think this happens to everyone, no matter what kind of business they’re starting. There are always setbacks, things usually take much longer than expected, and cost way more money (sometimes that you don’t even really have to spend). Sometimes all you can do is sigh and go to bed knowing you’ll have to try again tomorrow. 

As I learned more about online business, though, I realized that maybe blogging as a main income source wasn’t necessarily what I wanted. I read about coaching & online courses, and as a teacher in the classroom, both of those ideas intrigued me. And of course, freelance writing kept appearing as an inviting option, too. So I signed up for what seemed like 1,000 email lists and once again everything shifted - and not just because I was getting 5 times as many sales emails. 

“My business changed when I realized that what I wanted to do was write. ”

My business changed when I realized that what I wanted to do was write. And I wanted to help other people write. I could do that with blogging, but the bits about covering events and doing paid social media posting like many bloggers and influencers do just weren’t as exciting as the idea of someone wanting me to write words for them. 

Nothing was quite as exciting as working with people 1:1 to build up their confidence the way I’d built up my own after the dreaded incident when I stopped writing for all those years. 

From the moment I started teaching, it’s broken my heart to hear students come to me and say or write “I’m just not that good at writing” or “I’ve never been good at writing.” It’s always been my primary goal as a teacher to build student confidence, and that trickled into the workplace, too. It’s sad to me when professionals who are very good communicators - really sharp & smart people - feel poorly about their writing. Especially when it’s not bad! 

So I decided that, rather than being a full time blogger, I was going to be a writer instead, and a writing coach. The day I decided, I knew it was the best decision I could make for my business. I’ve never looked back, and I’ve never had any doubts that this is 100% the path that I’m supposed to be on. I don’t think I’ve ever had a stronger gut instinct in my entire life, honestly. 

Have you ever had that feeling? Where you just know something is right? 

I’ll say this: it was a scary freaking decision.

The dialogue around freelance writing is evolving, but for people outside the online business industry, there’s still very much a feeling and assumption that writers barely scrape by and there’s not a lot of common knowledge about coaching - at least not in any of the circles I was in. So how the heck was I supposed to make money at this? Let alone enough to pay bills and do more than just survive?!

Here’s the thing: writing is a highly valuable & valued skill. Almost anyone can write, but it doesn’t mean they like it and it doesn’t mean it’s effective. I’m all about learning and teaching writing as a skill that can be developed. Totally there for it. BUT, that doesn’t mean that everyone is willing to put in the work it takes to be good at it.

I’ve never been averse to hard work (in fact, I kind of suck at taking breaks and often overwork myself - not an advocate for that either), so I knew if there was a way, I could figure it out. 

What I’ve realized the most throughout the whole journey is that your mindset will make or break you. You either believe you will succeed, and therefore act accordingly, or you let doubt crowd out the excitement and it holds you back from making bold new decisions that will allow you to grow. It doesn’t work both ways. Starting a business is a leap of faith. 

“You either believe you will succeed, and therefore act accordingly, or you let doubt crowd out the excitement and it holds you back from making bold new decisions that will allow you to grow. It doesn’t work both ways.”

I’m happily at the point where I do, in fact, make money from writing, and from writing coaching. And the people who haven’t always been quite on board with my big dreams are coming right along behind me. People used to talk about my blog, myself included, now talk about my business. They may not understand exactly how it all works, but they know it’s working. 

As for my “why,” I probably could have just made it short and sweet at the beginning: 

I want people to be confident in their writing. I want to be the person who builds up other creatives and holds their hand while they climb the slippery slope of writing confidence. I want to be the person I needed when I stopped writing. I want to help professionals be confident in the workplace, maybe even confident enough to leave a crappy workplace and pursue their passion of writing, if that’s what they want. 

Most of all, I want to help people. Out of all the things I’ve wanted to “do” in my life, that’s been the one constant that’s never changed. I want to make a positive impact on the world and my business is the way that I can best do that. 

But saying those things on their own - that’s not me. I don’t feel like you get the whole picture if you don’t know about the journey I took to figure it out. 

In the hustle and bustle of daily lives, especially during the turmoil of a global pandemic, our reason for doing what we do becomes even more important. 

Knowing it. Feeling it. Living It. Believing it. 

It keeps us sane in times where we have no idea what tomorrow will bring. We know what small actions we can take, and we know that small actions can lead to big results. We know that if there’s even a little hope, as humans, we can use that to light our way through the dark. 

That’s what I’m doing here at Capturing Your Confidence - providing a little light & assistance so you can help yourself out of the darkness of doubt and start really living the creative life you want and crave. You’re unstoppable - I’m just here to help you see that for yourself. 

“You’re unstoppable - I’m just here to help you see that for yourself. ”

Want me to write awesome stuff for you? Check out more here.

Or maybe you want to be the confident writer you feel like…before you stare at the blank page for an hour. I can help, and I’d love to work with you! Read more here.

As always, if you have a question, want to read something you haven’t seen, or just want to chat, email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com or find me on social media.

Interview with an Author: Rose McClelland

Our September guest is Rose McClelland. Keep reading all the way through for a giveaway opportunity with her new book!

Under your Skin is Rose’s fourth novel. Her previous three novels were romantic fiction published by Crooked Cat. She has made the genre jump from “chick lit” to psychological thriller and is enjoying delving into a darker corner of her mind!

Rose has also written two short plays which were performed in the Black Box theatre in Belfast. She discusses book reviews on her You Tube channel and writes theatre reviews for her blog.

She loves nothing more than curling up with her cats and a good book. She has two rescue cats – Toots, who is ginger with an inquisitive face and Soots, who is black and hops along on his 3 legs looking ever so cute.

If you would like to purchase Rose McClelland’s book, Under Your Skin, you can find a copy here.

Rachel interviews Rose McClelland

Tell us a little about your writing journey. Have you always wanted to be a writer? 

Yes, I did! I remember at the age of 10, telling my mum that I wanted to be a writer. I was always scribbling stories in my teens. I studied English & Drama at University and then went on to do various creative writing courses. Finally, I sat down one day and started writing my first novel. Then the roller coaster journey began of trying to get an agent and a publisher!

Rachel Interviews author Rose McClelland

Was there a certain point you remember where you felt empowered to call yourself a writer? Or have you always felt like you were a writer?

When I held the paperback copy of my first novel in my hands, it felt like real tangible proof that I was a writer. Even though, in reality, I had been taking my writing seriously for a good six years before that point.

“When I held the paperback copy of my first novel in my hands, it felt like real tangible proof that I was a writer.”

Where did your idea for your novel, Under Your Skin, come from? 

I began working from home a few years ago. I had no idea how difficult the transition would be and how much it would affect my mental health. I missed the social interaction with my colleagues and the physical exercise. Suddenly, it was just me and the four walls. I began to wonder what it would be like if I was trapped indoors all the time, with no option to get outside. That’s when the character of Hannah came into my mind. She was trapped in a basement. Why? Who put her there?

I understand you have 3 other novels before this one. That’s impressive! Could you tell us a little about them? 

Thank you! My first three novels come under the genre of romantic fiction. They have a much lighter feel with some comedy thrown in. However, I was always keen to write strong, independent female characters. By the third novel, I noticed that my genre tastes were shifting to a darker, grittier feel. I decided to try trying a psychological thriller and I’m glad I did – I loved writing it!

How was it different writing a thriller novel versus a more traditional romance novel?

In some respects, the process of writing was the same. I set myself the same targets, had similar word count goals and allocated myself the same writing session time. However, I probably spent more time on plotting and planning. And of course, I had to tap into a darker side of my mind!

“I tend to distance myself emotionally from the scene. It’s almost as if I’m in a theatre audience watching the play unfold on stage. ”

Some of the themes of Under Your Skin are pretty heavy - such as domestic violence and addiction - how did it feel to write?

There was one scene in particular that I found quite disturbing to write. However, I do tend to distance myself emotionally from the scene. It’s almost as if I’m in a theatre audience watching the play unfold on stage.

When I’m finished writing, I put the notes away and do something relaxing for the rest of the day. I can enjoy the day guilt free when I know I’ve put the work in!

Describe your writing and/or creative process.

My writing sessions are always in the morning. I’m more clear-headed and can concentrate better (after I’ve had a coffee of course!). I get up, get showered, and have a decent breakfast to fuel my brain. Then I switch my phone off to avoid any distractions. I sit at my desk and allocate myself a certain time limit, where I will focus entirely on the next chapter.

“When I start writing, I notice that there is a negative voice on one shoulder which likes to criticize every word. I have learned to ignore that voice and tell myself that this is just a first draft.”

When I start writing, I notice that there is a negative voice on one shoulder which likes to criticize every word. I have learned to ignore that voice and tell myself that this is just a first draft. That enables me to keep writing until I have achieved my word count goal.

After I’ve finished my session, I put the notes away and forget about it until the next day!

Describe your biggest writing obstacle(s) and how you overcame it.

I’ve had many rejections from agents and publishers. I’ve huffed, puffed, felt depressed for a few days/weeks and told myself that I’m giving up on writing. Then I’ve picked myself up and submitted again.

I think you have to remember that agents and publishers are completely overwhelmed by the number of submissions. You just have to keep trying and one day there will be a publisher who has an opening for a new book. In the meantime, you can keep honing your craft and doing what you love – writing!

What is the part of your published work(s) or writing process you are most proud of?

I think my first novel will always hold a special place in my heart. It was absolutely wonderful to see The Break Up Test in such a gorgeous paperback copy. I felt incredibly proud to call myself a published author.

“I think a writer is always most proud of their most recent book. It is the one that is fresh in the mind.”

However, I think a writer is always most proud of their most recent book. It is the one that is fresh in the mind. I’m currently writing my fifth book and I’m really enjoying getting to know the characters.

How do you typically promote your work and find your audience?

I think that Twitter and Instagram are the best platforms for attracting like-minded readers. It’s important to have a one click link to the book so that it’s easy for people to find you on Amazon. I schedule tweets and Instagram posts via Hootsuite and I find that really effective.

What motivates you to keep writing?

I’ve had periods where I felt too overwhelmed by the competition involved and I haven’t written a word. That actually makes me feel worse when I’m doing nothing.

“When I set myself small goals for the day and I work towards my dreams, it gives me a good feeling.”

When I set myself small goals for the day and I work towards my dreams, it gives me a good feeling. I can relax better in the evening if I know I’ve had a productive day.

What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers?

Ask yourself: is there one small step you could take today towards achieving your dream? Now do that one thing.

Then take a guilt-free rest knowing that you have done your best today. Keep doing that, every day.

---

If you would like to purchase Rose McClelland’s latest book, Under Your Skin, you can find a copy here.

If you know an author (or of an author) you would love to read an interview with, email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!

7 Reasons Writers Need Growth Mindset

I am a big proponent of learning and personal development. You could say it’s a passion, but in truth, it’s also a strength of mine that I happen to enjoy. 

Around this time of year, with fall semester in full swing, I think fondly of the first time I heard the term growth mindset. It wasn’t until grad school! I’ve always wondered how my college experience might have been different if I’d known about it earlier. 

I’ve come to the conclusion that I learned about it exactly when I most needed it. 

So now I talk about it with almost everyone. Students in the classroom, colleagues, members of my professional network, the list goes on. 

One of my favorite groups to talk with about growth mindset is writers. 

What is Growth Mindset?

Although you’ve probably heard of the growth mindset before, you may not be familiar with the term itself. It simply means that someone believes they can learn and improve skills. 

First coined by psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck (known worldwide for her work with mindset) in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, growth mindset established the idea that a person’s belief about their abilities was equally important to the abilities themselves. That people actually can improve when they believe their hard work will positively impact & grow their skills. 

“Growth mindset established the idea that a person’s belief about their abilities was equally important to the abilities themselves.”

This might not seem ground-breaking, but it’s still changing the face of education today. It’s a completely different model than fixed mindset, which is the idea that you are born with the skills you have, and that no matter how hard you work, you’ll still have the same skills. It’s so common in the classroom that any teacher you ask has probably had more than one student say something along the lines of “I’m just not good at XYZ.”

I know that happens in writing classrooms, and in fact, I’d estimate that more than 50% of the students I’ve taught have some kind of fixed belief about writing. Even outside the classroom, it’s breathtaking how many professionals and writers believe that good writing is based on talent instead of improvable skills.

So why is the belief that you can learn and improve so important for writers? 

7 Reasons Writers Need Growth Mindset

The fact of the matter is that writing is a skill. It’s not a table of numbers or letters, or a set of facts you can memorize. It’s a skill that can be developed and honed with practice and dedication. 

Having a growth mindset is critical for writers because it:

1. Encourages Learning - When you know you can build a skill, it encourages you to learn more about it, test it, and even try it out for yourself. And so it is with writing and growth mindset. Writing is much less scary when you think about it in terms of learning rather than overcoming your own perceived deficiency. 

2. Encourages Personal Growth - Building new skills is a great way to grow as a person (and a professional). When you know you’re not stuck in the same skill set you’ve always had, it opens up opportunities to improve in places that interest you, including writing.

3. Enables Progress - Seeing our progress usually makes us feel good, right? Being able to look at where you were and see how far you’ve come is a feel-good scenario. What better way to see progress than by starting where you’re at with writing and intentionally learning and building upon your skills? Growth mindset allows us to know that even if we’re starting off in a place we’re not satisfied with in our skills, we can improve them and see our progress along the way.

4. Grows Self-Esteem - I don’t know about you, but when I learn a new skill or realize that I’ve gotten better at something I felt I could barely do before I get an immediate boost in self-esteem. Maybe this is because I am an achiever by nature, but it’s tremendously helpful for me to know that I can be better if I try. This is important for writers (many of whom also struggle with lower self-esteem) because when we’re more assured of ourselves, we’re stronger writers.

5. Grows Confidence - When our self-esteem grows, our confidence typically follows. Seeing progress and knowing you can improve skills is a simple way to boost your confidence. When you’re more confident, your writing will become stronger because you write with more conviction - you believe in it so others will be more likely to do so as well. 

6. Changes Understanding of Abilities - Probably the most profound thing a growth mindset does is change the way we think about ourselves as creatives. If you’re stuck in a fixed mindset, it’s hard to believe you can be a writer (even if it’s your biggest dream) when you feel like you got stuck with a set of subpar skills. When you start believing that you can change your skills and improve, it’s an immediate and life-changing improvement.  

7. Allows Big Dreams (On Purpose) - This is something we don’t talk about as much as we should, but when we feel like we’re stuck with our current skills and talents, we can’t really dream that big. If you “suck at math” how in the world could you be an astronaut someday? But what if, instead of thinking you’re stuck, you truly believed you could learn with hard work and dedication? “I suck at writing” could now become “I’m going to be a writer someday.” Life-changing, right? 

Next Steps

Growth mindset is so important, especially with all the tools available today, many of which are even free! The belief that you can learn and improve may seem simple, but it can change your life in a big way if you stay open to the possibilities. 

1. Read a little more about the growth mindset here & listen to Dr. Carol Dweck talk about it here. Take a little time and Google it. Read about it and listen to Dr. Dweck talk about it. Get a good understanding of the implications.

2. Accept that growth mindset will only help you succeed as a writer. Growth mindset really is a powerful tool for writers, and knowing that - and believing it - will help you succeed.

3. Begin acting on your new growth mindset. As always, practice makes perfect, right? Start practicing your new mindset right away. Places where this comes up often with writers is in starting new projects & rewriting. 

4. Get help with your new mindset. Sometimes we all need a little pick-me-up. Especially when we’re working on something new, or pivoting (thanks COVID-19). If you’re struggling with how a growth mindset could look in your creative life, or if you’ve figured it out but need some help getting there, I can help. I work with writers on this all the time because it’s hard! Doing it alone can make it harder, so why not enlist help? Click here to read more about how we can work together and get you on the right track. 

My challenge to you is to begin to intentionally accept a growth mindset into your life and writing.

Have you heard of the growth mindset before? Tried it? Found another way to use it with your writing? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing. 

4 Simple Steps to Stop Unnecessary Rewriting

You’ve written and edited a beautifully detailed scene, and because you know yourself, you’ve taken a few days off to get some critical distance. 

You come back and to your utter horror, you hate it. 

Every. Single. Detail. 

You scrap it and rewrite it, feeling assured that this time was definitely better! 

You come back the next day and groan. It’s just as bad as the first time! 

The crumpled drafts are piling up and you are so sick of looking at this dang scene! You throw something on the page haphazardly and slam your laptop shut with frustration. 

Does this sound familiar? 

For many writers, it’s hard to be completely satisfied with our words, even when they’re supposed to be “done” or close to done. We get into a cycle of rewriting on repeat until our brain feels like it’s going to explode. 

It’s not fun, is it? 

The good news is, you can teach yourself to stop rewriting so many times.

What do I Mean by Rewriting? 

Before we dig in to how to solve the rewriting issue, I wanted to clarify what I mean by rewriting because some people use it differently. 

What I mean when I say rewrite is one of two things: 

1. You’ve gotten rid of or decided not to use all of a piece of writing. For example, an entire 10-page scene from the draft of a book

2. You’ve kept the main idea of a piece of writing, but reconfigured how it actually reads. For example, a chapter about love started out as a nasty divorce but now reads as a first conversation about the possibility of ending a marriage.

Rewriting is a big deal because it takes a lot of time and effort - it’s not just sentence level editing. 

Why do we Rewrite? 

We don’t just rewrite because it’s fun, right? Because most of the time it’s really not that fun. 

In my experience, there are 3 main reason writers do serious rewriting:

1. Needs Improvement - Sometimes our writing just wasn’t that great the first time around. It - needs to be better, clearer, more descriptive - something just needs to be better.

   There are legitimate reasons to rewrite, like this one. Rewriting is part of the writing process, honestly, because we can’t possibly be great every first draft we do. The problem becomes when we obsess over being perfect, not when we’re actually working to make our writing better.

2. Not Satisfied with Words - The most common reason I hear for major rewriting is because a writer isn’t satisfied with what they’ve written for some reason or another.

   Many times it’s not even because the writing itself is bad or needs significant improvement. It’s because the words on the page don’t reflect exactly what the writer imagined, so instead of taking some distance and getting fresh eyes, they throw away their work and start over. 

3. Perfectionism - I talk a lot about being a recovering perfectionist, which is only relevant here because it comes up so much with rewriting. Everyone wants their words to be amazing! 

   No one is perfect, though. The idea that our words could truly be perfect if we just keep rewriting only serves to slow us down from the real progress we could be making with editing and adding new good material. 

If this sounds like something you do (I know I’ve struggled with this, especially before getting feedback!), here’s what you can do. 

4 Simple Steps to Stop Unnecessary Rewriting

1. Take a Breath - Before you put your hands on your keyboard (or on your printed manuscript), take a deep breath. Think about this exact moment in time and what you’re about to do. Consider why you want to rewrite (or rewrite again in many cases). 

2. Give Your Document One Last Look - Read through your words, even if you’ve decided you hate them. Look at what’s actually on the page and note what you don’t like about them. Really consider why you want to rewrite this section and how long that might take. Make notes about it, if that will help you process.

3. Close the Document or Put the Document in Your Drawer - Without erasing anything, or throwing anything in the trash can, put that bad boy away! If you’re prepared to completely erase your hard work and have your finger poised over the delete button, stop yourself right now and put it back where it came from.

4. Do NOT Open that Document or Drawer Until It’s Time to Work Again - When it’s time for your next writing session, and not a minute before, get that writing out and look at the notes you made. See if there’s anything you can add, or if there are things you can move around rather than rewriting the whole piece. 

Taking some time away from this writing, especially if you hate it, will help you make a calmer, more collected decision rather than an emotional spur of the moment choice you might regret later. 

Next Steps

I’m not saying there’s never a time to scrap pieces of writing - some of it can be bad. Like, embarrassing bad. But you can almost always improve something rather than spending your time continuing to start over and over again. It will probably be less frustrating that way, too!

The question is, what to do with this information? 

1. Admit to yourself that you may have a problem with rewriting. You don’t have to tell anyone if you don’t want to, but in order to train yourself to stop, you need to acknowledge that you have an issue with rewriting too many times. 

2. Decide that your best is enough. This is key: YOUR BEST IS GOOD ENOUGH. That’s not to say you won’t need editing, because you probably will - everyone does; but your words that express your ideas are good enough the way you write them. You can always clarify and add to your heart’s content, but you need to decide for yourself that you and your effort are good enough to stop constantly rewriting. 

3. Decide to put the draft away for a while. This is probably the hardest part. You need critical distance away from your writing - it’s important to the writing process. When you’re excited or close to finishing a section, it can be really hard to put it down and walk away, especially if you feel like you could rewrite the piece quickly. Be brave and make the decision to put that draft away and take a break for a little bit. 

4. Get assistance with how to rewrite more effectively when you’re ready to go back to your project (or start a new one). One of the difficult parts about writing is that it’s largely solitary. We create these worlds from our mind but we do it alone! 

   If you’re stuck, or you just want a friendly face to help keep you accountable (and boost your confidence so you can kick rewriting’s butt), I can help. I work with writers on this all the time because it’s hard! Doing it alone can make it harder, so why not enlist help? Click here to read more about how we can work together and get you on the right track. 

My challenge to you is to take a long hard look at why you’re rewriting so much and decide to tackle it so you can move on with your project.

How do you handle rewriting? Are you stuck in the perpetually rewriting loop? Have you escaped the loop using another idea? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.

Book Review: Educated by Tara Westover (2018)

Overview

Tara Westover’s powerful memoir, Educated, is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. It challenges what many of us think we know not just about Mormon beliefs, but also religion in general. Above all, it makes you think about the way we see our lives, as well as others, and how becoming aware of other perspectives can literally change your life. 

Content & Message

Unlike many of the book reviews I’ve done recently, this book is not a self-help guide. It’s a memoir with 3 parts, which signal major shifts in Westover’s life. 

The first part brings readers through the young years and the ideology Westover grew up believing as the ultimate truth. It details her tumultuous and dangerous relationship with her father and brothers, as well as a strained relationship with her mother. At the end of the section, Westover is preparing to leave for Brigham Young University as a 17-year-old who has never been in a classroom. 

During the second part, readers learn about Westover’s college years. She has extreme struggles due to her lack of prior education. For example, in her first History class, she asked what the Holocaust was and everyone thought she was making an inappropriate joke even though she’d never heard of it. She also struggled because her parents always upheld strictly anti-medical establishment beliefs. 

Until she went away to college, she never considered that her father’s beliefs were anything but normal, and in this section we see her mind opening up to the possibility that there are other valid ways to live. At the end of the section, Westover is graduating as an outstanding undergraduate and preparing to go to grad school at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom (UK). 

The haunting image of Westover’s father’s fear stays with us as we head into the final section:

“If you’re in America,’ he’d whispered, ‘we can come for you. Wherever you are. I’ve got a thousand gallons of fuel buried in the field. I can fetch you when the end comes, bring you home, make you safe. But if you cross the ocean…’”

— Gene* Westover (Tara's Father)

“If you’re in America,’ he’d whispered, ‘we can come for you. Wherever you are. I’ve got a thousand gallons of fuel buried in the field. I can fetch you when the end comes, bring you home, make you safe. But if you cross the ocean…’” 

In the third part of the memoir, Westover tells of her time during grad school, the terrible accident that almost killed her father, and what would seem to be the ultimate family feud. Through lies and betrayal, Westover’s pain is palpable on the page and the only thing you can do is to keep reading to find out what ultimately happens. 

I won’t tell you the outcome, so as not to give a huge spoiler (I hate that), but I’ll say this: there was never a “winning” solution, as it often happens with messy family divides. Westover made the best decisions she could to become her own person and forged her own path to safety and success. 

Biggest Takeaway

There are so many lessons we can learn from this incredible story, but I think the biggest of them all is that anything is possible.

Sometimes we have to make decisions that others don’t approve of or like to get to the places we want to go - even sacrifices - but there are possibilities around every corner. 

“Sometimes we have to make decisions that others don’t approve of or like to get to the places we want to go”

Overall Impressions

Ever since this book came out in 2018 it has been on my “To Read” list for the sheer intrigue of the thing. Reading non-fiction has become a new interest of mine, but as an educator and someone who highly values and advocates for education, I was immediately drawn to it, even before I read the jacket cover blurb.

When I started it, I couldn’t put it down.

I read all 334 pages probably within the span of about a week that involved many late nights where I had to force myself to close the book and go to sleep. Part of the draw was, undoubtedly, the marked difference between Westover’s experience and mine.

It was wild envisioning the world her words created, and then to know that they’re all true! Seeing the tenuous family bonds and the raw look into the end days prepper ideology was truly fascinating in a way that made me really consider what I believe and why. 

I think my favorite part is the prose itself. I find Westover’s voice magnetic. It’s not overly fancy or academic, which I thoroughly appreciated. It’s open, honest, and incredibly vulnerable, which are all things I look for in non-fiction because how can you write an honest memoir without them?

My long-time anticipation for reading this book was heartily fulfilled and it way exceeded what I could have hoped for. Westover will definitely be near the top on the list of authors I eagerly hope for more writing from sometime soon. 

Why Writers Need this Book

As a writer myself, this book is an amazing example of how powerful words can be. 

“It’s important to read from all genres when you’re a writer because it strengthens the way in which you can use your own words.”

It’s important to read from all genres when you’re a writer because it strengthens the way in which you can use your own words. It shows you what others have done, and allows your creativity to wander and consider what else could be done - what you could do. 

The memoir also does an excellent job of showing that you don’t necessarily need to use “fancy” language to write a great book. Seriously. There are times when “$5 words” work really well, but not if you don’t normally use them in that way. 

There is no point during the entire memoir where it feels like Westover is uneducated or less intelligent because she uses clear and simple language. It’s much better to write clearly and expressively than to clog up the ideas with words that make everything feel disjointed. 

Next Steps

There are a few steps to take next: 

1. Get the book here. (Or here or here). Better yet, check your local library! Easy peasy.

2. Read the book & take it in. 

3. Start telling your own story. If you read the book and are fired up to tell your story (go you!), go for it! Memoir isn’t the only way to tell your story, so don’t be afraid to get creative. 

If you need some help getting started, or figuring out how to organize your ideas, I can help, too! I work with writers just like you on planning, strategy, and accountability. Because I’m also a confidence coach, I will empower you and encourage you every step of the way. If you’re intrigued or READY TO GO, you can click here to read more about working with me. Let’s get your story out into the world! 

My challenge to you is to consider your own beliefs and story as you read this book.

Have you read the book? What did you think? What was your favorite part? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.

Interview with an Author: Dr. Vanessa Rapatz

Our August guest is Dr. Vanessa Rapatz.

Vanessa Rapatz is an Assistant Professor of English at Ball State University. She studies and teaches early modern British literature as well as studies in drama, and special topics on sexuality, gender, and performance. She is the author of Convents and Novices in Early Modern English Dramatic Works: In Media Res. She has also published in Studies in English Literature and co-authored a chapter on women's collaboration in Shakespeare for an Ashgate edited collection.

If you would like to purchase Vanessa Rapatz’s book, Convents and Novices in Early Modern English Dramatic Works: In Media Res, you can find a copy here.

Tell us a little about your specialty studies.

I study early modern (Renaissance) British literature with a focus on drama. I am particularly interested in gender, performance, and material culture in the context of religious/political shifts and upheavals.

Tell us about your writing journey. Have you always wanted to be a writer?

I definitely always practiced writing and realized that it was something I had a knack for in high school, but it took some time to realize that it might be something I could do professionally.

I was drawn to theater and journalism initially, but I ended up feeling at home in my college English courses and particularly found that I thrived on discussing, or really arguing and about, the possible interpretations of literary texts. My best writing happens when I feel like I’m engaging in a complex conversation.

Where did the idea or inspiration for your book Convents and Novices in Early Modern English Dramatic Works: In Medias Res come from?

The simple answer is that it developed out of my dissertation project that, itself, was inspired by connections between plays I was reading in a graduate seminar and plays that I was teaching to undergraduates. I kept thinking about these dramatic women who found themselves at the thresholds of convents or marital alliances in plays that were written after Catholicism had been outlawed in England.

The women weren’t demonized or made fun of as so many Catholic figures were in the wake of the Protestant Reformation; so I became interested in the types of options their performances might allow us to imagine both in the historical context of the plays themselves and in our own contemporary discussion of gender and/as performance and the ways spaces affiliated with Catholicism were converted, much like the patriarchy represented in these plays sought to convert the women themselves.

I’m a feminist critic; so, I’m always looking for traces of female agency in texts that try to subvert such agency. Of course, I was most likely drawn to these Catholic figures and the convents they might seek to inhabit because I was raised Catholic and have been steeped in that culture. Digging into this religious history helped me understand family and hometown traditions as much as it helped me think critically about the plays I was analyzing.

Are there other books you’ve authored or collaborated on? If so, can you tell us a little about them?

This is my first book. I did co-author a chapter on female collaboration in Shakespeare with John Garrison and Kyle Pivetti for a book of collected essays titled Attending to Early Modern Women: Remapping Routes and Spaces published by Ashgate.

What was your process for writing the book?

Because I was revising my dissertation, I basically charted out the chapters that I felt were the most polished, that needed a bit less revision than the others, and started with those first. I also needed to update my scholarship and theoretical frames, because I finished the dissertation back in 2011.

I am lucky to have various support networks of colleagues and friends. So, each chapter would get sent off to at least one friendly reader as I pushed on to the next. I could then go back to the reader feedback and make sure I was making through-lines and improvements across all five chapters. That’s the big picture of the process.

On the micro level, I figured out deadlines and made writing and research schedules to try to meet those deadlines. It took a community and a lot of structure to create the book.

Academic writing, and oftentimes creative writing, requires a lot of research! Can you describe a little bit about how the research process works with your writing?

Research is my favorite part of the writing process! It’s like detective work. I’m a sucker for a good detective narrative and maybe wanted to be Clarice Starling when I was in junior high school. I love having a stack of books on my desk and searching through databases to compile a literature review.

Pages and pages of notes on literary criticism, historical analysis, and theory ultimately help me shape my initial research questions into the beginning of an essay or a chapter, as I make connections that I wasn’t expecting. The only tricky part is knowing when to stop, when to stop reading (never, really) and digging to focus on the writing. 

Describe your biggest writing obstacle and how you overcame it.

I don’t think I want to answer this in the past tense. My biggest obstacle is finding regular time to focus on my writing and holding myself accountable. My dissertation advisor always said that I had a great deal of task energy, by which she meant that I would often delay my writing process by directing my attention to more manageable and completable tasks.

One of my friends calls this virtuous procrastination. It’s that moment when you’re sitting in front of your computer feeling stuck and frustrated and instead of working through that block, you think, “there’s a pile of dishes in the sink, if I washed them at least I’d be accomplishing something.” And, honestly, sometimes you do need to get the tasks out of the way to clear up headspace to focus, but those things can also keep you from getting into the habit of sitting down and pushing through.

Sometimes you really do just need to put your butt in the chair. Starting with my dissertation, I found one of the best ways to do this was through accountability groups. I’m the member of a Facebook group that focuses on writing every day, which involves logging daily word and time achievements and providing support and advice to other writers. I also participate in a writing group made up of Ball State English department colleagues; we take turns sharing and responding to each other’s writing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve been attending regular Zoom sessions with two of my close friends from grad school. We check in, set goals, and then mute our Zoom for a set time and check in on what we got done.

Could you talk a little bit about the publishing process? How does it work, how long it typically takes, etc.

This varies quite a bit depending on publishers from what I can tell. In my case, I first sent a book proposal to a general editor in answer to a call for manuscripts that related to the series “Late Tudor and Stuart Drama: Gender, Performance, and Material Culture” that Medieval Institute Publications was launching. At that point, I had the dissertation, but had only really substantially revised two chapters.

The series editors were interested in my proposal and asked for sample chapters, so I sent off what I had. Based on the samples, they wanted to see more. Most often this means you finish the full manuscript and resubmit it for review, but because I’m on the tenure track and need proof of publication progress, my general editor worked with me to secure a contract based on my introduction and a revision of the sample chapters.

Once the manuscript was submitted it was sent out for anonymous peer review and then back to me to respond to reviewer comments. Once the series editors were satisfied with my revisions, the monograph went into pre-production (copy-editing, choosing the cover, etc.) and then finally to production and publication. I was teaching full-time throughout the process, which took about three years.

What is the part of the book (or process) you are most proud of?

Holding the actual thing in my hands! But also, I am really proud of the way my thinking and writing has developed through the process and over time. It’s a substantial revision that shows my development as a scholar.

Do you have plans for another book or additional published writing in the future?

Absolutely! I currently have a chapter for a volume about the religious marketplace in early modern England under review. I’m also in the early reading and research phases of a new project that focuses on English Civil War dramas.

Do you, or would you ever consider, doing creative writing? If so, how do you think that differs from your academic writing?

Honestly, creative writing is not my thing. I so admire my colleagues and friends who build fictional worlds and so eloquently turn out beautiful poetry and prose. I will continue to devour and teach their work. My creative outlets are focused more in the kitchen, I think.

Since your audience is primarily academics for this book, how do you think your writing & process differs from how it is in other writing contexts? Or maybe the better question is, is there a difference for you in how you approach this formal academic writing versus writing for other audiences?

Definitely. When you’re writing for an audience of scholars and students, you are using specific conventions and terms. In less formal writing, I’m much more conversational, as I am in this interview. That said, I do still strive to maintain a balance in my academic writing. I still want to be clear and engaging in any context. Sometimes I succeed.  

What do you want the world to know about you as an author?

Wow, that’s a tough question. I guess I want them to know that I’m an inquisitive author. That I think about learning and critical thinking as a constant process. My writing and analysis evolves through that process and hopefully makes it onto the page in a way that opens up a conversation with which my readers might want to engage.

What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers?

First, find out what excites you, what you obsess over and want to live in for as long as you can stand it. Then, keep working at every day.

---

If you would like to purchase Vanessa Rapatz's book, Convents and Novices in Early Modern English Dramatic Works: In Media Res, you can find a copy here.

If you know an author (or of an author) you would love to read an interview with, email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com!

To Be a Better Writer, Ditch Perfectionism

Have you ever worked on a project, finished it, and then went back later and decided to start all over again because it wasn’t good enough? 

Or maybe you’ve had a brilliant idea but are convinced you can’t make it as great as it is in your head because it has to be perfect so you don’t start at all.

Does this sound familiar? 

If you’re a fellow achiever, you might be nodding along. 

I totally get it! Because I do that in almost all areas of my life. 

Or I used to. 

These days I’m a recovering perfectionist.

What is Perfectionism? 

You’ve probably heard the term perfectionism, or of the compulsion to be a perfectionist.  

Because I love the dictionary (yes, I love the dictionary), I wanted to share the definition so we can talk about it.

A perfectionist is someone who “refuses to accept any standard short of perfection” and a perfectionist mindset is “refusing to accept any standard short of perfectionism.” 

So, perfectionism can be used to describe both a person and the beliefs behind it. 

Why is Perfectionism Harmful? 

For most of my life, I didn’t see a problem with perfectionism. If we’re being honest, I was one of those people that used perfectionism as a fake “weakness” in job interviews because I truly thought it was a strength. 

And I’ll say this - it’s not a bad thing to have high standards! Like at all. I encourage it, because I think it helps us and everyone around us both in the short and long-term.

The problem is when we don’t allow for any sort of human error. 

Sure, we want to strive for the best we can be, but we are, in fact, humans who make mistakes. We have off days. Days we’re just surviving. Days we just want to be over because it sucked. 

And that’s okay! It’s part of the human experience! 

The fact of the matter is that perfectionism and a perfectionist mindset causes serious issues in our lives that we sometimes don’t even realize are there. 

It’s actually incredibly harmful! Here’s why:

Creates Unachievable Standards 

We can’t be perfect, and the work we produce can’t be perfect. But when you’re a perfectionist, you have this mindset that you have to keep trying until it is perfect. This creates a pattern of burning ourselves out trying to get to a standard we can’t actually reach.

Too Much Pressure 

Have you ever noticed the people in your life who are perfectionists always seem to be more stressed? And maybe they don’t say that, but you can tell just by the way they speak and act? This is because perfectionism puts an INCREDIBLE amount of pressure on people. Sometimes it feels like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your own two shoulders. 

Have you ever felt like that? 

It’s awful. It’s so stressful. It’s way too much pressure for a single person!

Delays in Action 

This is kind of a sneaky aspect of perfectionism, because as a perfectionist you think you’re “taking the time to research all the options” or you need to “think about it” for a lot longer than it actually takes to decide. It doesn’t feel like a problem because you feel like you’re being thorough.

In reality, it’s really just delaying the moment where you take action. It means that before you’ve even taken action, you’re worried that it won’t be the right choice, or the decision you make won’t be good enough. It can drag on and on.

Permanent Inaction 

At the peak of perfectionism, sometimes perfectionists decide not to do anything at all because they know they’ll never meet their own standards. That means that some brilliant books, works of art, music - versions of all the things we enjoy - haven’t been made or won’t be made because someone somewhere didn’t think their idea was good enough. How crazy is that?! So sad! 

What Happens if I Stay a Perfectionist? 

I was in camp perfectionist up until probably the last maybe 2-3 years? And let me tell you, the grass really IS greener over here outside of camp. 

If you’re a writer (and I suspect you are!), this is especially important for you. Writing is a cyclical process - it’s not a one and done be perfect the first time situation. For anyone. Writing is a skill, not a talent, so don’t let perfectionism stop you from expressing your imagination and creativity. 

In the case you’re not quite ready to decide if you should change your mindset, here’s what will happen if you keep being a perfectionist: 

• Keep Being Frustrated

• Keep Not Starting the Writing Project of Your Dreams

• Keep Having a Low Level of Confidence

• Keep Taking No Action

• Keep Letting Fear of Failure Run Your Life

• Always Feel Stressed

• Always Feel Spread Too Thin

• Always Wondering How Everyone Else Looks So Calm

I hate to break it to you, but perfectionism will always be a weight, if you decide to keep it. 

It’s not going to feel good, or like you’re “doing your best.” 

It’s going to feel like you’re doing your best and it’s never enough. 

It’s going to feel like you’re watching everyone else achieve these awesome things and thinking “Why isn’t that happening for me?” because you can’t see that it is happening to you.

And creatively, it’s going to feel like this little voice in your head saying “Why bother starting that project when you know you can’t do it right?”

Does that sound like something you want to stay signed on for? 

How Do I Ditch Perfectionism?

So, before we talk about how to ditch the crap out of perfectionism (because you should), I want to just say that talking about perfectionist mindset in this way makes it sound so easy.

Like it’s something you can just throw in the trash can and walk away. It’s not. 

FAR from it. 

Perfectionism is so deeply ingrained in those of us with the mindset that - I’m not going to lie to you - it will be a long time before you feel like you can stop. 

It’s not a quick fix situation. 

It’s a life long, show up and work on it situation. 

I will also tell you that it’s 100% worth it.

No matter what else you do, or other ways you feel, I guarantee that ditching perfectionism is the right choice. And you CAN do it. 

Here’s how:

1. Decide that perfectionism is a real problem for you.

First, you have to recognize it’s a problem before you can fix it! 

Think about the old saying “Why fix something that’s not broken?” 

Should we keep using the old way that kind of works sometimes? Or choose a new, better way that’s not only more efficient, but works every time? 

Start with allowing yourself the space to know - really know - that perfectionism is the old way and you can do better. 

2. Evaluate the areas of your life where perfectionism is prevalent.

Once you’ve decided to change (which is a big step!) you need to evaluate where to start. 

Think about the areas where your perfectionism runs most rampant. 

Where you are paralyzed because of it. Or super uncomfortable. Or where you’ve been working on something for years with no progress because it’s “not good enough.” 

3. Choose one area of your life and plan the steps you can start taking small, imperfect actions.

When you’ve figured out which areas feel the worst, or where perfectionism is really running the show, choose ONE area and make a plan to start taking action. 

This doesn’t mean you need a 10 year plan for your whole life.

It means you need a plan for what you are going to do this week. This month. For ONE area. 

How are you going to start taking those baby steps toward action even though you know it’s not going to be perfect?

4. Continuously remind yourself that mistakes are okay because you are human.

When you’ve made a plan, it’s time to implement it. One of the hardest things about ditching perfectionism is the sheer number of times you will have to tell yourself: 

It is okay to make a mistake. It is okay that this is not perfect. I’m leaving it alone anyway because I did my best and my best is enough.

Your best IS enough, and you will have to keep reminding yourself. When you tell yourself over and over, you’ll not only start feeling better about your work, but you’ll also believe it - even if you don’t at first. 

5. Keep taking small imperfect actions until it becomes a habit.

The way to kick perfectionism to the curb once and for all is to literally just show up and take imperfect actions, no matter how small they are, until it becomes a habit. Until you stop doing your best and then redoing it. Until you really know that your best is already enough. Just keep going. 

One day you’ll smile and realize you’re not a perfectionist anymore. And then you’ll smile even bigger because you feel SO MUCH BETTER.  

Perfectionism & Writing

You might have noticed that I didn’t talk a whole lot about writing in this blog, even though the title says that getting rid of the perfectionist mindset will make you a better writer. 

I did this purposefully because honestly? One of the places writers struggle with perfectionism the most - and where it’s most damaging - is in our writing. We get stuck in this trap of thinking that the first draft is always bad, or that we’ll never be in the same league with the writers of the “classics” we all read in school. We tell ourselves things like, “Oh, I’m no Jane Austen.”

The reality is that, no, I’m not Jane Austen. But I don’t NEED to be Jane Austen to be a good writer. I can be “just me” and be a good writer. But perfectionism almost completely blocks that out in our minds. 

So when I say ditching perfectionism will make you a better writer, it’s because: 

• You’ll be writing

• You’ll like writing

• You’ll believe in your writing again (or maybe for the first time)

• You’ll be braver in your writing

• You might even share your writing! And find out that people like it!

If we’re choosing only one area to start ditching perfectionism, writing might not always be the first step. It might be relationships or body image or any other number of things.

That doesn’t mean writing is less important, but it does mean you have to make the decision of what to prioritize in your own life. 

Besides, once you start ditching perfectionism in one area, the other areas will get a little easier as it grows into a habit. You might even find that by focusing on one area, the others (including writing) get a little better seemingly on their own. 

Next Steps

Wow, that was a lot! I feel like I’m not normally quite so dictatorial or, dare I say, aggressive, when I’m writing blogs! 

This is such an important conversation, though, and one that we need to have! You really will be a better writer when you’re not in the perfectionist mindset. If you don’t believe me, try it and see what happens!

But what the heck do you do with all this info now that you have it?

1. Decide you don’t want to be a perfectionist.

Even if you’re not ready right this minute (don’t worry - I get it!), keep thinking about these ideas. You will save yourself a lot of stress and heartache if you make the decision sooner rather than later.

2. Practice taking action that’s NOT perfect.

Take some small actions that aren’t perfect! Start practicing your imperfect life. 

3. Keep trying, even when you fail (and you will).

This whole process is probably going to be frustrating. It’s a lot of work, and you’ll fail sometimes. It happens! And that really is okay, I promise. But don’t give up when you fail. Keep trying - you’ll get there. 

4. Be kind to yourself.

Some people are really good at being kind to themselves and doing enough self-care, which is awesome. For those of us who are not, this is a gentle reminder that you need to be nice to yourself as you’re building these habits. 

This is why I say I’m a recovering perfectionist - it’s not something that just happens. I regularly tell myself positive things and am really intentional about being kind to myself because it doesn’t come easily to me. That doesn’t mean it’s not important! Just that I have to intentionally give myself grace. 

5.Get Help if You Need It

If this all seems overwhelming, or you are slightly panicking because you don’t know what to do next, don’t be afraid to get help. If you’re a writer and the area you want to focus on next is your writing and you’re ready to break those habits and make your dreams happen, I can help! 

I work with writers 1:1 all the time on planning and strategizing about their writing. I can also just act as a consistent supporter for other recovering perfectionist writers. You can read more about my 1:1 services here, or you can shoot me an email and we can have a brief chat about what you want and need next. 

My challenge to you is to make the bold decision to stop being a perfectionist.

Are you a perfectionist? Did you used to be a perfectionist and decided to stop? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com! 

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.

4 Reasons Online Writing Courses are Totally Worth the Money

For many of us, this month marks 5 months since we’ve been at home due to the pandemic. Whether it’s because we were furloughed or laid off from our jobs, or simply working at home - it’s been a minute since things have been “normal” or the version of normal we had before COVID-19. 

During this time, there has been such a surge in online learning, not just for kiddos who had to switch to eLearning to finish out the year, but for adults, too! 

Although it’s been a tumultuous time, there has been an exceptional opportunity for learning.

Although it’s been a tumultuous time, there has been an exceptional opportunity for learning. I’ve seen a pretty awesome variety of online courses throughout the last few months, many of which are teaching skills people can use to get jobs or find freelance work online. 

But what I’ve been most interested in lately are online writing courses. I have a little bit of a bias because writing is my favorite thing, but writing is an incredibly marketable skill people can use during these abnormal times!

What Do You Mean by Online Writing Course?

There are lots of different types of writing courses. The ones we typically think of might happen in colleges or at the local community centers, which are both valuable options. 

But when I’m talking about an online writing course, I mean a writing course that is: 

Completely Remote

There aren’t any face-to-face components, meaning you don’t have to go somewhere specific to learn the material. There might be videos to watch, or even live teaching, but you can stay at home (or travel wherever you want) to complete the course.

Self-Paced or Specific Program

Some online writing courses give you full access to all the modules and information up front when you buy it. These are self-paced, meaning you can complete them all at your leisure. 

There are also online writing course programs that are a predetermined number of weeks, where you complete tasks and learn information incrementally more like a classroom experience.  Common lengths for these are usually between 8-12 weeks. 

A Course that Teaches You an Aspect of Writing

We couldn’t talk about an online writing course without stipulating that it’s actually about writing. There are so many options for you to learn online - things like marketing, sales, wellness, etc. - but when I say online writing course, I mean skills for writing like the writing process, editing, proofreading, copy editing, and the like. Things that you do writing for during the course. 

Why Take Online Writing Courses? 

If you’ve read my other posts or talked to me in person, you probably know that I always talk about how writing is a skill, not a talent. 

Do some people naturally like it better? Yes. 

Do some people seem to excel at it more easily than others? Also yes. 

That being said, almost everyone has the ability to learn a new skill, which means that almost everyone can learn to write. 

Not only is it a good personal skill in terms of communication, but it’s also a powerful professional skill that is highly sought after. Employers want good writers, at least the ones I’ve seen do.

But knowing that writing is a super valuable skill, why would someone choose to take an online writing course to learn it? 

Quick to Gain New Skills

An online writing course can be a quick way to gain a brand new skill, especially if you find yourself with free time. You likely won’t have to spend 3-6 months learning from an online course, unless it’s a more specialized program. If it’s a self-paced course, you could potentially cram it all into a small block of time and start practicing right away.

Grow & Hone Skills You Already Have

If you already know the basics of writing, you can take an online writing course to learn different types of writing and hone those skills you already know how to do. An example might be copy writing or editing. There are also creative writing courses available online.

Self-paced

Probably one of the top reasons people opt for online writing courses is the ability to be self-paced. Because everyone learns differently, some people need more time in certain areas than others. Sometimes people just want to take their time and not rush through. Whatever the case, many online writing courses have the great benefit of being self-paced. 

Flexible with Location

A lot of people like online writing courses because they don’t have to be in a specific place to learn. Sometimes you’ll hear this flexibility called “location independent” and right now there’s a huge number of people who would love to travel the world and be able to make money from anywhere. Learning writing skills online makes a whole lot of sense for this lifestyle. 

Cheaper Than a Degree

Last, but certainly not least, online writing courses are chapter than getting a degree in writing. That’s not to say that all writing courses online are cheap, because that’s definitely not the case! The fact is, you can learn a specific skill online and potentially make money from it faster and cheaper than getting a degree in writing. 

This isn’t to say I’m in any way against college or going to college for writing - I’m definitely not! I was an English major myself, and it was an incredibly valuable experience. I’m an English major advocate. That being said, if you just want to hone a specific skill, especially an online skill, online writing courses can be a great way to do so. 

4 Reasons Online Writing Courses are Worth the Money

Online writing courses clearly have some pretty awesome benefits! 

There’s definitely no shortage of people making excellent money from writing online, and the number of people who do freelance writing is and has been on the rise for years. 

But is it really worth it to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to take online writing courses? 

The short answer: Yes. 

Here’s why:

You Take Charge of Your Learning

When you’re in the online learning space, there’s not one “right” path, or even a path that every single person takes. 

Pretty much everyone will tell you their course will change your life - and there’s a good chance it might. 

But the fact is, unlike a more traditional learning path, you get to choose: 

• What skills to learn

• Where to learn those skills

• How much you’re willing to pay to learn those skills

• What’s valuable to you

You’re the one making the decisions, not an institution or a salesperson. Whether or not you find this scary (it definitely can be!), it’s the truth. Everything is a la carte. You can buy one thing from 5 people or, if you find someone who’s really helpful, 5 things from one person. Either way, you get to make that decision.

You Control the Time Frame

When you take online writing courses, you know ahead of time exactly what you’re getting. You have the option to purchase a course that’s self-paced so you can do it on your own time.

There are also plenty of options to join a program that walks through things step-by-step, if you think that will be helpful in keeping you accountable and moving forward. 

You’re free to choose whichever sounds more appealing to you. 

You Have the Opportunity to Network & Connect with a Community

In most online writing courses, you will get an invitation to join a community of like-minded individuals who are completing the program with you. It’s kind of like a class, but without the mandatory butt-in-seat time & forced group work. 

Being able to network and be a part of a writing community is incredibly valuable, though, because not only do you hear what other people are thinking about, struggling with, and winning at, but you can also get a little slice of that human connection with people who know what you’re working on. 

You Can Go Wherever You Want (as Long as You Have Internet)

Probably one of the best things about taking an online writing course is the ability to go anywhere and still have access to the same quality of learning - as long as you have the internet, of course. 

It’s an added bonus that you could even potentially stay at home in your own bed with your favorite grungy PJs and absolutely no one will know or care. Who doesn’t want that option to learn such a valuable skill?! 

Where to Take Online Writing Courses

By now you’re probably wondering where the heck to find these online writing courses because, hey, there are awesome perks and maybe you’re tired of being at home doing nothing. Or maybe you’ve been at home doing everything and you want to start spending some time on you!

Either way, there are some pretty great places to take online writing courses. These are just a few ideas because I have used them personally, but I would encourage you to look at all the options for any skill you want to learn! Have some fun, do some dreaming, and then decide. 

1. Masterclass -If you want to learn writing from some master writers, Masterclass is an awesome place to go! You can take classes from such writers as: Dan Brown, Margaret Atwood, Judy Blume, and Malcolm Gladwell. These writers are bonafide writing successes!

2. Udemy - You can find almost any skill with a huge variety of teachers on Udemy. They have anything from creative to technical to academic writing skills courses available. Just make sure that you look through the options and look at the teacher before choosing so you know you’re getting information from someone who really knows their stuff! 

3. From Me! - I won’t toot my own horn too much, but I’ve worked with a lot of students over the years. One of my main focuses, aside from the actual skills building part, is to increase student confidence. And I’ll tell you a secret, I’ve been focusing on building student confidence with my teaching since I started - I’ve always worked on it as a teacher. 

The program I’m offering starting in September is 8 weeks long, and I designed it to take writers from the very beginning (we start with brainstorming) through the writing process and come out at the end with a “good” first draft of a creative project. 

I couldn’t be more excited if I tried! If you want to read all about it, you can click here. It will take you to the program page and fill you in on all the juicy details. 

Next Steps

So there you have it! Online writing courses can be a great way to gain practical (and fun) new skills that will help you in your career, and probably at home, too! You’ll love the flexibility, the options, and the decisions you get to make about what you’re learning. It’s a good deal! There’s a reason there are so many choices. 

But what do you do with this information?

1. Decide What Writing Skills You Want to Work On You’ll probably want to choose one or two skills to start with before you try to look at classes to take, otherwise you might get overwhelmed by the variety. Thinking about what you want to do with your new skills will help.

2. Look for Classes You Could Take to Improve Your Skills If you’re not able to pinpoint which skills you want to learn, you can always take a look at what’s available, although I’ll warn you it’s a lot! Sometimes it’s fun to window shop before you decide on the must have, though, you know? 

3. Sign Up for a Class/Course! Once you’ve looked around, pick one and buy it! 

4. Get Help if You Need It - If all of this seems overwhelming to you, you’re definitely not alone. The first time I bought a course and invested in myself I was so scared! And honestly, the times after that, too. 

With creative work, especially, it can sometimes be harder to see the value of an investment. If this is you, let me help! I do offer an 8 week program, but I also offer 1:1 coaching for writers, too. 

If you send me an email at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com telling me a little about yourself and what you want to do, I’ll give you a complimentary 30 minute session to help you figure out what you want and you can decide what’s best. Sound good? 

My challenge to you is to think about what kinds of writing skills would be valuable to you right now and take an online writing course about it. 

Have you taken an online writing course before? Used one of the options I listed? Or found something awesome you think should be on the list? I’d love to hear about your experiences and recommendations! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com! 

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.