How to Make a Table of Contents in Google Docs

I’m super into organization. It’s kind of crazy, honestly. Think Post-Its and color coding everywhere. 

The one place I wasn’t organized was my creative writing. Elsewhere, I’ve written about how I am pretty free range with my creative work because it feels better for me that way. While I’m very much still in favor of doing what feels best for my creative writing, once you actually have a good amount of writing it gets unwieldy without some sort of organization. It’s much easier to be able to click a link and have the document jump to where you want to go.

No one wants to scroll through 10K words to find the one you just saw that you wanted to fix. Especially if you don’t remember what it is, but you know you’d recognize it if you saw it again. Believe me, personal experience has shown that this method is irritating at best and highly uninspirational when you actually want to get some creative work done.

Hence the Table of Contents - lovingly called the ToC for short - was born. At least in my world. 

I’m a huge fan of the Google Suite, and I use Google Docs for just about everything. It’s not that there aren’t downfalls, but Google Docs is cloud-based, which means that it saves for me. You can also open it anywhere you can log into Google from - pretty great. 

This is why my novel lives primarily in a Google Doc. I definitely have backups (because you should ALWAYS have backups), but anytime I write digitally, it’s in that Google Doc. Today I wanted to share how to create a working Table of Contents for Google Docs, because it’s saved SO much time and energy as I’ve been working on my book. It will also work for you as you write more, you don’t have to have chapters already in place or anything!

How to Make a Table of Contents in Google Docs

Creating a ToC in Google Docs is quick and easy. There are multiple ways to go about it, and there is an option to use a pre-made table of contents in Google Docs.

I personally don’t use that because I feel like the way I’m going to show you (that I use on the daily) is easier and more flexible; however, feel free to experiment with whatever you like as you’re writing! 

To make a Google Docs Table of Contents like mine, there are just 4 steps. Watch the video for a full walkthrough, or read on below to create your own.

1. Create a Blank Table of Contents Page with the Chapter Titles Listed

Open up a brand new document. On the top, write out the title of your project (or a working title - just call it something you can easily remember). Underneath that, write out “Table of Contents.” 

You can style these however you like with fonts & colors. Personally I like to keep things plain and simple, but if you’re feeling fancy, change the font if you want!  

The last part of this first step is to type out the chapter or section titles, each on their own line. If you have working titles, you can use those. If you want to use plain numbers, that’s fine, too. The goal is to be able to easily recognize the section of writing, click on it, and have it take you to that section of writing. 

When you’re starting a brand new project, and thus a brand new document, I recommend just putting in a few filler titles like “Chapter 1” and “Chapter 2” or “Section 1” and “Section 2.” 

The beauty of this system, aside from flexibility, is that you can easily add to your ToC as you write rather than committing to a specific number of sections or chapters. So if this is brand new, add a few fillers for now to get yourself set up and familiar with how it works. 

2. Type out Titles/Text for Chapters in the Body of the Document

Once you have your Table of Contents page typed and ready to go, you can begin to add body text to the document. 

If this is a new document: Copy and paste the titles from the first page. The titles on the Table of Contents page should match the titles that are in your document, that way when you set up your links, it’s very easy for you to tell which section you just landed on. Since you don’t have any writing yet, you can leave them single spaced or put a space in between each title. Personally, I like an extra space because then I can just click it and type there immediately. 

If you have a Work in Progress: If you already have writing that you’re trying to whip into shape (good for you!), go through and give each section or chapter a title. Whether the name is permanent or not doesn’t matter. The goal, again, is to be able to easily locate each specific section of writing, so name it something you’ll be able to easily remember what happens in that section. 

3. Add a Bookmark to the Title of Each Chapter

So far, you have your Table of Contents page, with chapter/section titles, and your titles in the text of the document. The next step is to make a bookmark for each of the titles in the text of the Google Doc. 

The process is simple: highlight the text of one chapter/section title, click “Insert” in the top left corner of the menu, and select the “Bookmark” option. That’s it! Create separate bookmarks for each of your titles. DO NOT do anything with the Table of Contents page yet, just add your bookmarks to the text in the body of your document. 

4. On the Table of Contents Page, Add a Link to each Chapter Title for the Corresponding Bookmark

Once you’ve added your bookmarks to the text of your Google Doc, you get to do the fun part: link them to the Table of Contents! 

All you have to do to link to your brand new bookmarks is: Go to the ToC page, highlight the first chapter/section title (like you did when you were creating your bookmarks), and select “Insert” in the top left corner of the menu. Choose the “Link” option. From there, you have 2 choices: you can search for the name of the bookmark (remember, it should match what you see on your ToC for easy reference) OR you can choose the “In this document” option at the bottom of the pop up. 

If you search for the name, simply click it when it appears and you’re done! Your link will appear. If you open “In this document” it will present a list of bookmarks for you to choose from. Click the right one and it will appear as a link. 

So that’s it! Just 4 simple steps that will probably take you less than 10 minutes to make your project much more organized and easy to work with moving forward. 

My challenge to you is to create your very own table of contents. 

Did you set up your Google Docs Table of Contents? How did it go? I’d love to hear about your experiences and recommendations! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.

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

5 Pieces to Include in Your Writing Notebook

Depending on your writing process, you may have a place where you keep the notes related to your books and other writing projects. 

But if you’re a new writer, or if you’re just starting to get serious about writing, you might have heard the term “writing notebook” and wondered what the heck that is. 

Good news! 

Today’s post is all about great pieces to include in your writing notebook, with simple steps about how to include them. 

What is a Writing Notebook? 

A writing notebook is simply a place to keep all of our ideas, plans, and goals for our writing projects. It can be in a binder, journal, digital format, or any other preferred format. 

The main point of a writing notebook is to keep ourselves organized while writing and to help expand upon our ideas.

The main point of a writing notebook is to keep ourselves organized while writing and to help expand upon our ideas. They can include a multitude of helpful tools and pages depending on the writing project. Here are some ideas for great pieces to include in your writing notebook.

5 Pieces to Include in Your Writing Notebook

When you’re setting up your writing notebook, these are great items to include.

General Plot Outline

A general plot outline is an overview of what will be included in your book or story. It answers the question: What are the main goals of our writing project?

A plot outline should include ideas for:

• Major events (Sometimes major events may not be large battles or huge crises. They can be smaller, internal or external, conflicts that directly impact our main character.)

• Turning points for our characters

• Setting (when & where our story takes place)

• Themes

• Lists of characters/name ideas

• Any information we already know we want to include

It’s also important to have an idea of what the beginning, middle, and end of the story will look like. This helps to keep us on track and ensure we don’t stray too far from the main purpose of our story. 

It’s okay to change our mind along the way. Sometimes we need to switch up the ending, or go back and rewrite the beginning. As long as we know what direction we’re headed, we will be in much better shape when it comes to writing our stories. 

Main Character Page/Character Profile

The main character page is dedicated to the protagonist/main character (MC) of your story. Once we decide on our main character’s traits, it’s important to stay consistent throughout the entire story. A great way to keep track of this is to create a character profile for our main characters.

A character profile should include the MC’s:

• Physical traits

• Strengths 

• Weaknesses

• Motivations

• Obstacles

• Anything that will come up multiples times in the story

• Description of the antagonist or “enemy” and the reason they’re at odds - if the MC has a notable foe

We can also include important relationships on the main character page, for instance: 

• Their parents’ names

• Significant other

• Best friend etc. 

Essentially, this page (or few pages) is meant to give you a space to include all important details about your MC so you can reference it when you need to. Creating this page will also give you valuable insight into your character and their unique qualities. 

Character Chart

A character chart is helpful to keep track of side characters. 

Important information to include on the chart is: 

• Each character’s relationship to the main character

• Physical traits

• Why they are necessary to the plot. 

Having a visual like this will help ensure we don’t have characters that aren’t adding anything to our stories. 

Character charts are also useful when we have many characters because we can go back to it and remind ourselves of who each person is. When we take a break from writing and come back, it’s easy to forget names (especially if you’ve recently changed them) and descriptions. Having the character chart makes our writing lives easier.

Book Timeline/Character Timelines

Creating timelines help us to keep perspective while we’re writing our story. A book timeline ensures that we’re staying on track and each event makes sense as it’s happening. It also serves as a reminder, as we’re writing, of what’s going on in our stories if we need to take a break.

Character timelines are useful to keep track of divergent character lines. 

For example, we can create:  

• A main character timeline 

• A villain timeline 

This ensures their actions line up with each other; a cause and effect type of relationship. Character timelines also help us see if there are any holes in the character’s life that need to be filled.

Goals Page

A goals page helps to keep us on schedule. If we don’t set goals, we may never finish the project! 

There are multiple formats we can use to create our goals page: 

• Time-Related Goals: Goals we plan to finish by a specific date. For example, a timely goal might be “I have written (#) chapters so far, I intend to write two more by (date). Then, I will write (#) chapters every (#) days.”

• Word Count Goals: Goals for how many words we want to write during each writing session. Word count goals can be something we do every time we write, or more sporadically - for instance once a week or once a month. For example, “This week I will write (#) words a day,” or “This week I will write a total of (#) words.” 

Creating a chart for these goals, or using a planner (or both!) is very useful. We can make a table for ourselves in our writing notebook, or create an Excel sheet for our goals. Whatever format best suits our needs. 

Interested in downloading some writing notebook sheets? Check out this writer’s bundle available on our Etsy Shop: The Confident Writer Shop!

My challenge to you is to try creating a writing notebook. 

Do you already use a writing notebook? What will you include in your writing notebook? Do you set writing goals for yourself? I’d love to hear about your experiences and recommendations! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.

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

Bucketlist Bombshells Review: The Work Online & Travel the World Course

With so many opportunities to take online courses, especially in the “start your business” realm, it can be hard to sift through and find one that might actually be helpful. 

Having purchased and taken many courses in the past two years, I can say that The Work Online & Travel the World Course is EASILY one of the most helpful things I’ve done as a new online business owner. Hopefully my Bucketlist Bombshells review will inspire you to take action on your business dreams, too! 

Full disclosure: I have been paid to do a review. That being said, this is a course I 100% believe in and everything I’m sharing is my own opinion. If you’re interested in starting an online business, it could change your life. 

Where it All Started

In April 2019, I started a blog. I wasn’t happy at my day job, and it’s been a lifelong dream to be a “real writer.” I was determined to make that happen...somehow. 

I quickly learned that there are SO MANY opportunities for writers online, but blogging to make income really wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to tell stories and make a bigger impact - to help people like me who struggled with creative confidence for many years before finally breaking free of self-doubt to pursue my dream. 

Fast forward to April 2020 when I purchased The Work Online & Travel the World Course. I’d been on The Bucketlist Bombshells - Cassie & Shay’s - email list basically since the beginning of my journey. I think I saw a Facebook Ad one time and thought: “Oh, they’re doing cool things while they travel the world, I want to know more.”

What appealed to me was that these ladies had started their business so young and had been doing it successfully for years! It wasn’t their first rodeo, even though we’re about the same age. I also thought “They look so normal!” That probably sounds silly, but some of the courses you see ads for are so glamorized that it’s intimidating to a beginner - at least it was for me. 

While I didn’t want to travel full time - and still don’t - the idea of being able to create stable income while being my own boss greatly appealed to me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve worked with some fantastic people in corporate jobs, but none of the jobs made me as excited as the thought of being able to be a writer. 

And so I became one! 

These days, I am a writer, as well as a writing coach. Much of how I’ve learned & built my business started with this course. After so many options, this is the one that finally helped me narrow down what to offer, how much to charge, and how to keep track of the money (because that’s SO important, but not something that most other “start your business” courses are offering, even still!).  

What’s Included in The Work Online & Travel the World Course?

Inside the course, there are plenty of resources: 6 full modules, plus some fun bonuses. 

Each module is packed with helpful information, and the format is video tutorials + self-paced workbooks. I particularly like the way the videos do tutorials, but don’t “give you an answer” about your own business. In other words, the tools are available, but you have to do the work in order to be successful. 

The course is broken down like this:

Productivity & Goal-Setting - Getting Started

At the beginning, there’s a short introduction to the course, materials, and how to use everything in the course.

It’s nice because you can quickly see approximately how long the lesson is going to take, and the resources are linked right next to the videos so there’s no confusion about what you’re supposed to be working on after the video.

Module 1 - Define Your Online Skills

The very first module sets the stage for the whole course. 

It includes some pretty major topics, such as: 

• Defining Your Online Skills

• How to Use Your Past Experiences

• Choosing Your Online Skills

There’s no fluff. This module will, right off the bat, get you thinking about what the heck you can do online - based on what you already know! The materials give you plenty of space and ideas for thinking about what you’ve already done and how that can translate into online work. 

Module 2 - How to Rock the Freelancing World

The next module is about freelancing and how to define your skills. It also shows you how to get set up in the freelancing world. 

It includes topics like: 

• Defining Your Freelance Services

• How to Choose a Quality Job Posting & Write a Killer Proposal

What I liked most about this module was that it provides the ideas (like defining your skills), but also tech how-tos about getting set up on different freelance websites because they’re all a little different.

Module 3 - Build & Launch Your Online Business

Module 3 is all about how to set your business up from hourly rate to defining your deliverables. 

It includes topics like: 

• How to Research Your Industry Average Hourly Rate

• Defining Deliverables & Setting Client Expectations

This was one of the best lessons of the whole course because it gives you a way to think about how to start charging for your services. If you’ve been around the online business industry for any length of time, you’ve probably seen the posts on social media and on some coaching websites that advise you to charge “what you’re worth” and “what feels right.”

Now, I’m all about charging your worth! But in the very beginning when you’ve never been in business before, it’s super hard to tell what that might be. It’s so nice to have an actual formula to start off with, and to know how to find out what other people with similar skills are charging! 

Module 4 - Find, Network, & Land Clients

This module is all about making the move from freelancer to “solopreneur” and how to set up your business online. 

It includes topics like: 

• Becoming A Solopreneur & Structuring Your Packages

• Building Your Solopreneur Website

• Finding & Landing Clients

This is the lesson that took me the longest because I redesigned my entire website. I moved to Squarespace and never looked back. It is SO MUCH EASIER than WordPress, and honestly, as a service-based business, I don’t need a lot of the things I was trying to use in WordPress. 

I built my new website in probably about a week or a week and a half, and it’s easily 100x better than what I was doing before. So easy, so professional, and with a clear business focus.

Module 5 - Running & Rockin’ Your Online Business

This module is about how to create a streamlined workflow and different tools you can use to make your business professional and manageable to maintain. 

It includes topics like: 

• Establishing & Streamlining Your Workflow

• Tutorial: How To Manage Projects & Clients Using Asana

• Tutorial: How To Track Your Time & Send Invoices Using Harvest

• Managing Your Solopreneur Finances

So, these tools are pretty cool - I tried them all during the course. They don’t all fit into my workflow, but that’s okay! The videos talk about what the tools do and why you need them, which is important because there’s a lot of things about business that you don’t know about when it’s still brand new. 

My favorite part of this section was the finance piece. It was something I’d been struggling to figure out before this, but the BB Finance Sheet makes it super easy. I still use a version of it today! 

Module 6 - Run Your Biz & Jet Set Around the World

The final module is about how to travel while you’re a solopreneur. 

It includes topics like: 

• How To Choose The Best Cities While Globetrotting

• How To Create Your Ideal Lifestyle On The Road

This was probably my least favorite section, only because I don’t have any intention of traveling full time. The tools are interesting, and I think they’re great for people who do want to travel more while owning their own business, but I was in the course for the other materials. 

Bonuses! 

Of course there are bonuses, too. My favorites are access to the BB VIP Lounge Facebook Group and the Guide to Solopreneur Set Up. The Facebook group has been great for getting advice, as well as connecting with other like-minded ladies who are running all kinds of online businesses. 

The Guide to Solopreneur Set Up was really helpful, too, because it’s all about business and tax questions. Cassie & Shay teamed up with their CPA to create the guide, which has sound advice and information about getting started legally and tax-wise, which are both really important.

Pros & Cons

Cons

• If you don’t want to travel all the time, there’s a good amount of information that won’t really apply to you

• You still have to take the travel module in order to pass the “quiz” at the end and get your completion certificate

• The videos, while still great, can be a little outdated at times for setting up the tech pieces; the information is still similar, but there are areas you’ll have to figure out by doing a little trial and error

Pros

• Great information

• Self-paced

• Builds your confidence & decision-making skills

• Multiple ways to learn; videos, workbooks, bonus interviews, etc.

• A way to connect with the BB community (through the Facebook group) & ask questions

• Live masterminds with Cassie & Shay once per month

• Reasonably priced for what you can get from it

Overall, I think it’s a great course, and you definitely get good value for your investment!

Is The Work Online & Travel the World Course for Writers? 

To wrap up my Bucketlist Bombshells review, I wanted to talk about who this course is actually for, because you may still be wondering: Could this really help me?

This course is for you if: 

• You’re self-motivated and ready to take action

• You can process information when working on your own & are willing to ask questions when you need help

• You’re willing to do the work it takes to be your own boss

• You have an idea for an online business or you know you want to start a business but aren’t quite sure what you could do

• You’re open to new tools & frameworks you can use to be successful

This course is NOT for you if: 

• You need someone to keep you accountable

• You want someone to tell you what kind of business to start

• You already have a functioning framework for your online business

• Aren’t sure if you want to start an online business 

• You’re not willing to put in the work to figuring out your business

What this means for writers is that this course could ABSOLUTELY be for you!

It helped me launch my writing & coaching business, and there are many other BB Alum that also have writing-related businesses, too. It’s a great place to get feedback on what you’re doing and maybe even make some new business friends. 

If you’re still not sure (I get it - I waited almost a year before purchasing!), you can check out these resources to get a better look:

Student Success Stories & Features

3 Steps to Build A Wildly Successful Service-Based Online Business Free Masterclass

3 Steps to Learn the Skills You Need to Make An Income Online Free Workshop

How to Use a Planner to Make Time for Writing

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Sometimes, amid the hectic day-to-day lifestyle that’s common for most of us, it can be difficult to find the time to write. Even if we write for a living, there are many other events, appointments, and tasks we need to do on an average day. 

Writing tends to be pushed to the side to make room for everything else. A great way to help combat the issue of not having time to write is to use a planner. 

3 Great Tools to Plan Your Writing

Google Calendar

Google calendar is one option to use as a planner. It’s a useful tool because it can link directly to your phone and email. If someone emails you a date you need to remember, you should automatically receive the option to add it to your Google Calendar (as long as you’re using Gmail). Once it’s added to the calendar, reminders show up on your phone when a scheduled event is happening. 

In a world where we’re all on our phones so much of the time (too much sometimes), these reminders can help us put our phones down and get back to work!

In a world where we’re all on our phones so much of the time (too much sometimes), these reminders can help us put our phones down and get back to work! We can also use Google calendar to block time and set reminders when it’s time to write, read, edit, or whatever other writerly tasks we need to get done.

Dry Erase Calendar

A dry erase calendar can be something small that sits on our desk, or it can be larger and hang on the wall. They are handy because we can use them as many times as we want without having to replace them every year. 

A bedroom or office wall is a great place to use a dry erase board because you can see it when you wake up or begin work in the morning and before you get done with work or go to sleep at night. You’ll be able to clearly see what you have going on each day. 

The best thing about dry erase boards (or dry erase anything, really) is that if we need to change up our plans, we simply erase and move around anything that needs to be changed. It’s also fun to use different colored markers to keep things organized, or just for a bit of flair.

Paper Planner

A paper planner is very useful when it comes to staying on track with our writing. You can get them pretty much anywhere, but we love Barnes & Noble and Amazon. 

Whether or not you love a pretty cover, what’s inside the planner is what’s important. A day planner, rather than a monthly planner, will be the most helpful in terms of getting writing done every day. When you can see each day on a micro level, you can plan out when to do your tasks, including writing, and see that there’s enough room for it all. The Happy Planner (shown to the right) is an excellent paper planner!

The Happy Planner

Monthly planners can be helpful, too, especially for goal-setting. Many planners have both pieces, which means you can chart your goals and get there with small tasks in one handy place. 

How to Use a Planner for Writing

1. Fill out your planner with non-writing events first. It’s important to start with this because sometimes there are events or appointments we have that are necessary, but non-writing related (like going to the dentist). If only we could spend every day writing, that would be the dream! Alas, we all have “real life” stuff to do, too, so we need to make sure that when we’re filling out our planner for the week/month, we start here. 

   When we start here, we won’t accidentally schedule writing or reading time for a day when we already have many back-to-back appointments or meetings. It’s better to set ourselves up for success and plan our writing times for when we know we will be able to dedicate our full attention to it, even if it’s only for half an hour. 

2. Plan time to read. As writers, it’s critical that we read. It helps us to continually learn and grow as writers. Reading in the genre that we write is also a great way to learn about our own preferences and figure out which writing styles we want to use. It can be a great way to unwind and destress from a crazy day, too,

   Personally, if I don’t put reading on my schedule, I hardly ever get to it, so I made it a goal to read at least three chapters a day. It’s the perfect amount for me, not too much, but not so little that it takes me months to read a single book. We each have to find whatever pace works best for our schedules and our goals.

3. Plan time to write. The main goal in using our planner for writing is to make sure we plan time to write! Once we’ve filled in all the major events, appointments, and meetings, then we can get to the good stuff - writing. 

   Some of us want to write every day, which can seem like a lofty goal. If we break it down, it doesn’t seem so out of reach. I try to allot one hour a day in my schedule for writing. This is another flexible idea that depends on each person. There are some days when we may have a couple hours to write, or maybe just a few minutes. Either way, I try to write at least a little bit every day.

4. Plan time to edit. Editing is an important piece to start scheduling once we have a complete draft to edit. Some writers may edit as they go, but others, like me, edit at the end of a project/book. To avoid the trap of over-editing (because our inner critic feeds on that), we find that it’s generally best to get through most of a draft before doing major editing. 

   When I schedule editing, I still like to work on writing too, since I have a few projects going at once. I’ll schedule times for writing, and separate times for editing. 

   Not everyone works this way! It’s absolutely fine if you remove writing from your planner to make room for editing a project. The reason it’s important to add editing to our planners is because it’s another thing that may fall quite far on our list of priorities if we’re not proactive.

5. If there’s time…In some planners, there are sections each week for extra tasks. In my planner it’s called “If there’s time…” which is a great addition when you can find a planner that has one.

   This area is where we can put the tasks that aren’t as important, but we’d still like to if we have spare time. Like most people, I find that I often forget even the simple things if I don’t write them down, so it’s nice to have a space in my planner that helps me remember the tasks I wanted to do if I have time.

6. Use color coding. Color coding can help with organization, as well as add a bit of fun to planning. For example, we can choose a color to go with each type of task. 

   For me, anything I need to do with writing is written in pink, anything about reading is written in green, and any appointments are written in orange. But you can create whatever kind of color code you want!

   Stickers and tabs are also helpful and fun because they can be a cute reminder or pick-me-up that also helps you separate out tasks that need to be done. We find that making our planners fun and colorful makes our to-do lists both more functional and less imposing (especially when it’s a long list!).

7. Give yourself small, bite-sized tasks. When we put too large of tasks on our lists and don’t finish them, it can put a damper on our spirits. Breaking larger tasks up into a couple of smaller ones makes finishing much easier. We get to check off multiple tasks on our list, and we feel accomplished because we at least started our project, or maybe even finished it. 

   For those of us who lack motivation or just need a little extra push, it’s also okay to include day-to-day tasks like brushing our teeth and eating breakfast in our planners. Even if it seems trivial, we need to make sure that we can get through our day as best we can - sometimes that means crossing things off of our list! 

8. Give yourself small rewards for completing tasks. Small rewards are a great way to make completing our tasks more fun & exciting. Rewards can be anything from a ten minute break to a special snack to using a fun pen to check the task off the list. 

   Personally, I use a fancy gel pen to check off my completed tasks and it creates a feeling of satisfaction and I don’t need much else to keep me moving. If a task seems more daunting or cumbersome, Sometimes I need a bigger reward for completing it like buying a new pen or notebook. It all comes down to staying motivated. After all, you know yourself best - what will keep you going?

My challenge to you is to start using a planner - any kind of planner. 

Do you already use a planner? What type of planner works for you? How do you stay motivated? I’d love to hear about your experiences and recommendations! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.

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

Storytelling is an Art, but Writing is a Skill

Sometimes as we read or write, we notice that there’s a big difference between telling a story and the process of writing. Most of us have probably read a book and thought “this is great writing, but the story just isn’t there” or perhaps, “this story was amazing, but the writing... not so much.” Good storytelling and good writing don’t always mean the same thing. 

What is Storytelling? 

Storytelling is the act of speaking/telling or writing a story. It started as oral history: people passing their stories on to others. Folktales are an example of a type of story often passed on through verbal storytelling. Stories have a way of connecting people to each other, and to the culture around them. 

Since its origin, storytelling has developed into many more modes of delivery and consumption. These days, storytelling can include visuals, audio, written words, and videos. It can also utilize more than one mode at once sometimes called multimodal or multimedia writing. An example of multimedia storytelling is picture books, which include both words and images. Movies are also a great example, as they start with a written script which is then transformed via voice, human movement, and words into a movie or TV show. 

Storytelling drives creative writing. Without the story to back up your writing, the words lose their meaning and influence. The writing becomes analytical or scientific rather than creative. Interestingly, analytical writing can become creative if good storytelling is integrated well. 

What is Writing? 

Writing started as a way to record information. It began as a tool for remembering facts, history, and events, more than for telling stories - after all, people could remember stories through oral history. It didn’t matter as much if the stories changed a little over time, but it did matter if events and facts were changed. 

In the digital age, there are many types of writing. For example, manuals, guides, and textbooks are all writing, but so are new articles, magazines, and blog posts. Even social media is writing! Some are based in storytelling, and some are not. Storytelling isn’t necessary for all types of writing.

There aren’t as many modes of writing as there are for storytelling. It has to be written, with words or images. These days, we can also include audio and video, because many stories are taken from the written word and turned into audiobooks. On the other hand, technology also allows people to tell their stories and they can later be written down and/or recorded.

Unlike storytelling, writing doesn't necessarily have to create a story. It can be creative, but ultimately, writing is a means to communicate. It’s another way to connect people to people, but it also connects ideas to people. 

How are Storytelling & Writing Related?

In creative writing, writing and storytelling must be intertwined. We can’t write a creative piece without some aspect of storytelling because it’s the storytelling that drives the plot and story development. 

Whether we are writing books, poems, a magazine article, or some other form of creative writing, there’s always a story behind the piece. It drives a book and keeps the reader wanting more. It anchors a poem to a time, place, or feeling and gives the readers insight into a story in fewer words. 

People’s stories are what drive news stories or magazine articles. Without people telling their stories, magazines would really only be ads and products for sale - and even those have stories in them! 

Storytelling makes writing compelling.

Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, a good story takes the pressure to be perfect off of the writing. Many people will forgive a book for having not-so-good writing if the story is great. It’s much harder to get into a book with really great writing if it lacks an intriguing story to go along with it. 

It can be more difficult to learn good storytelling than good writing, but it’s necessary for skilled creative writing. The reason writing is more easily learned is because it’s a skill that follows rules and guidelines. It can analyze and check boxes. Storytelling sometimes throws those rules out the window, though, which can be harder to accept and master for those of us who thrive on keeping everything orderly.

Not all writers are great storytellers, and that’s okay! Not everyone is meant to be a storyteller. That doesn’t mean they can’t be a good writer, though. There are numerous ways to be a writer without being a good storyteller. For instance, articles and blog posts utilize stories, but they are typically more about telling our own story or someone’s story who you know. You don’t have to come up with entire worlds out of thin air. The main goal of a blog or news article is also to provide information to your reader, not about taking them out of reality in a fantastical world.  

As long as the information is delivered in a well-written and understandable manner, that’s really what matters. The story is an interest point to keep readers entertained. 

The bottom line is that if you want to be a writer, it’s possible!

There’s always time to learn the skill of writing and follow your dreams. You can also learn to be a storyteller, but understand that it will take more time, research, and an abundance of practice to accomplish. 

Don’t let anyone or anything hold you back from going after your dreams. There are many books, classes, and coaches to help you with accomplishing your goals. All you have to do is ask for a little help. 

I challenge you to write a story. 

What did you write? How did it go? Is creative writing what you want to do, or are you more of an analytical writer? I’d love to hear about your experiences and recommendations! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.

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

Interview with an Author: Robin Wilson

Our February guest is Robin Wilson.

Robin Wilson launched Robin Wilson Home in 2000 and created a conglomerate that covers eco-design, licensed products, interior design and real estate development. Her brand has generated over $82 million in wholesale revenue from sales of cabinetry and textiles. She became the first Black woman with a line of hypoallergenic textiles sold nationwide at Bed Bath & Beyond now in Wal-Mart, among other retailers. Her book, CLEAN DESIGN: Wellness for your Lifestyle was #1 on Amazon and focused on the eco-friendly design and hypoallergenic products for consumers. 

She has worked on interior design for the White House Fellows, specifically during the Obama administration. And on the Harlem offices of resident Bill Clinton. She recently furnished the famous Esalen Retreat with eco- based luxury room textiles, products and furniture. INC magazine included Robin in their 2020 Top 100 Female Founders. Robin is an Ambassador to the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America.

If you would like to purchase Robin’s book, Clean Design: Wellness for your Lifestyle, you can find a copy here.

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

A: After college, I created a bucket list, and writing a book was on the list. Now that I have written two award-winning tomes, it is clear that there is something to making your intentions clear so that you can realize your dreams. My parents told me that I was an early reader, and books have always been a friend, allowing escape and relaxation.

“ I have always believed in working with young people who are trying to build their professional book and to learn what it takes to be designers. Now, conversely, I did not go to design school. I have not been professionally trained as a designer. I have traveled, however, many, many places in the world, and I have a very good eye. What I’m really great at though, is project management. ”

— Robin Wilson

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?

What a great question! I wrote stories as a child, and my mom kept many of them and bound them in a scrapbook. As the editor of the junior high school newspaper and a frequent contributor to print publications ever since that time, I have never called myself a writer, but upon reflection, I guess that it is clear that I have a message to share. It is interesting that when I look at the process of writing, it is challenging only because I have so much to say – and then the blank page looms, as one tries to figure out the opening line. From that moment, it flows, but there are always multiple edits and revisions – and I am always my harshest critic. After my second book, CLEAN DESIGN: Wellness for your Lifestyle (Greenleaf, 2015) was published, it ranked #1 on Amazon and Kindle. The book started winning awards, it was the first time that I really gave myself permission to be an author!

You have a successful brand, Robin Wilson Home, which is sold in retail stores like Bed, Bath, & Beyond. What inspired you to channel your lifestyle brand into a book?

My eponymous Robin Wilson Home brand was the 2nd Black brand sold in stores nationwide at Bed Bath & Beyond after the legendary B. Smith collection. Currently, we are in the process of launching our new brand, CLEAN DESIGN HOME™ which is focused on consumers interested in hypoallergenic, wellness, and sustainable products. Stay tuned for stores and online platforms where the brand will be sold! I was a new mother when I wrote the book, CLEAN DESIGN, because it was important to share simple tips for maintaining a healthy living environment room-by-room. You should use the book as a reference, as it will be repetitive if you read it cover-to-cover and there is information both about interior and exterior allergic triggers.

“I became a mom, I think that’s a simple answer. I know that so many of us who suffer as I do from allergies, and asthma, have to search for information. One day I said ‘I’m going to write a primer.’ When you read the book, it’s not like The Joy of Cooking. You’re not going to read chapter one all the way to the end. If you have a nursery, you’re going to read the nursery chapter. If you have a kitchen issue, you’re going to read the kitchen chapter. That’s how I tried to set up the book. The key for me is to recognize that one in four people suffer from asthma or allergies - that’s 16 million Americans. ”

— Robin Wilson

Your book, Clean Design, has fabulous snippets of standard design protocols and simple tips that readers can start using today. How did you narrow down which information to include & where to place it?

I had a great editorial team and they kept telling me to narrow it down to the top-level information. Had everything been added to the book, it would have been 500 pages. One thing a good editor will tell you is there is always room to do another book.

The book itself is beautiful and clean – much like your brand and decorating tips! Could you tell us a little about what went into the design process of the book?

Until you write a book, you may not know that there are people who actually do book layout – and that there is an art to this type of design work. For example, each chapter start page has the same look and feel in the CLEAN DESIGN book. When you work with a good book editor and layout designer, your book will feel cohesive. And it makes it easier for the author to determine what is missing. Working with a team makes you feel a bit more secure so that you can focus on the words. All of the images in the book are from my portfolio of work, so it was also challenging to select from thousands of images.

Describe your writing and/or creative process.

Write whenever you can for at least 30 minutes. The first few minutes allow you to settle into your zone, and then the words flow. Just write. You can edit later – and my rule was one week of writing and one hour of editing. It gives you permission to move forward.

“One of the books that I was very influenced by was Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point.”

— Robin Wilson

Your design & cleaning strategies are not just allergen- and asthma-reducing, but also eco-friendly. How did the environmental factor become such a significant part of your brand?

I have a lifelong personal medical journey with asthma and allergies. Thankfully, my parents selected a holistic pediatrician who had a mantra, “…raise a strong child, or raise a child on strong medicine…” and his viewpoint was that diet, environment, allergic triggers, and exercise were the four keys to be aware of on a wellness journey. So, that meant the shag carpet went out, and hardwood/tile and rugs came into my childhood home. And we shopped at the early iteration of Whole Foods in Austin, Texas which is my hometown.

What was your biggest writing obstacle and how did you overcome it?

When writing CLEAN DESIGN, I was a new mother and my writing time became narrowed to the time when she took naps and went to bed early.

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

I am most proud of the fact that the book sold, and the national book tour audiences and corporate sponsors (Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams and FLOR) showed me that there was strong interest in the topic from a broad consumer demographic.

Do you have any plans for another book or writing project? If so, could you tell us about them?

I am mulling a new book right now, but just need some extra time in my daily schedule.

What motivates you to keep writing?

Writing is a wonderful opportunity to share your thoughts and expertise, and most people have at least one book that they could write about themselves or a subject in which they have an interest.

“We kept the things we thought were simple tips and tricks that people can use on a day-to-day basis. I think that’s the most important thing to know, is that wellness is simple steps. Your home, your style - they’re simple steps. You know, if you look at an Instagram photo, and you’re like, ‘Oh, my house has to look like that tomorrow,’ you’ll be sorely disappointed unless you spend a lot of money to hire a professional to make that happen. But, if you took a simple step, it could be just painting the wall today, and then getting the chairs and floor coverings the next year. Then, your accessories over time.”

— Robin Wilson

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

Just write. Every single day. Set aside 10-30 minutes to just add to the stories that you start. Within a year, you will have something that you can edit – and maybe it will be a short story, or a screenplay or a non-fiction book. You will be surprised at how a daily practice can yield a focused manuscript.

If you would like to purchase Robin Wilsons’s book, CLEAN DESIGN, 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 or submit a suggestion here.

“It is as simple as choosing a path”

— Mira Nair

5 Hacks for Outlining Your Writing

Outlining is more than just a tool for writing essays in school. I remember how annoying it used to be that we had to go through all the steps when writing essays. As it turns out, when it came to actually writing the essays, the outlines were a godsend! 

It works similarly for writing books, short stories, or any other type of creative writing. If we have a basic outline or skeleton for our project, a lot of the work is already done when we sit down to write. 

An Outline in Writing is: 

...a flexible source of organization  

Outlines can be constantly changing. They never have to be set in stone. Another way to describe it is a living document. We may start with one idea that morphs into a whole new project as we go along. Don’t fear change when it comes to writing.

...a handy guide

Outlines are nice to fall back on when we’re lost in a sea of thoughts, or maybe a lack thereof. They work to refocus our minds when there are so many other things working to distract us. These guides will keep us on task and keep us moving forward.

...a way to organize our thoughts

It’s easy to lose track of our thoughts, especially if we’re writing them down on random scraps of paper as they come. Having an outline gives us a place to compile all these thoughts and keep them somewhat organized. If we need to go back and reference a certain idea, it makes it that much easier to find what we’re looking for and get back to work!

...NOT an exact template (unless you want it to be)

Outlines are FLEXIBLE, they’re living, working documents. We each choose what we want to include, and no two outlines will look exactly alike. However, some of us enjoy more rigidity when it comes to planning/outlining and there are plenty of templates out there that we can use! Here’s what I use to organize my writing.

...NOT a cut and dry thing that will never change again

When we create an outline, it’s just the base for whatever we’re writing. As we continue to work on our writing project, new or changed ideas come to mind and we may need to adjust our original outlines. That’s okay! In fact, I might even go as far as to say outlines usually do change over the course of a writing project. There’s no rule that we have to stick to our outlines - they are, after all, only guidelines. Make changes as you go, and all will be well. 

...NOT a “requirement” to write well

Not everyone needs an outline. They’re not required for quality writing, nor are they always necessary. There are two terms, “pantsing” and “plotting,” that refer to this idea: Everyone is different and not everyone outlines. 

To be a ‘pantser’ means that you don’t use outlines, you do everything by the seat of your pants. To be a ‘plotter’ means you utilize outlines and plot out your details before beginning to write. Whatever mode you choose, we’re all capable of writing amazing creative pieces. 

5 Hacks for Outlining Your Writing

1. Create a table of contents

We’ve all seen tables of contents in one form or another. It looks a little like this: 

Table of Contents

Title

Intro…What is an outline?

Ch. 1… How to write an outline

Ch. 2…Different types of outlines

Ch. 3…Uses for outlines

Works Cited/References/Acknowledgements

It’s a great tool to keep track of how our writing piece will be organized, and to view our work as a whole. It makes life easier so we’re not always flipping back and forth between pages or tabs.

2. Make notes & keep them handy

Keeping a notebook at the ready helps ensure we have a spot to jot down any random writing related thought that pops into our mind. The Notes app on our phone is a great digital option, or the Journey app.

Writing ideas don’t always strike at the most opportune times, so it’s important we write them down when they do come. Otherwise, we’ll be stuck scratching our heads trying to remember the idea once we sit down to write. 

If we keep all of our notes together and easily accessible, it will be easier to refer back to them when we’re writing. We won’t have to waste any time scouring our brains, or our writing space, for ideas. Time is precious when it comes to writing, as all writers have felt at one point or another.

3. Visually outline (or storyboard) the timeline & characters

Visual outlines help us envision how our writing will all come together. Most often we call these visuals storyboards. They can be physical or digital, and can include a whole host of things. For example: timelines, character charts, photos, writing schedules, word counts, and breakdowns of each chapter/section. They are a place to figure out if our plans make sense chronologically, if there are any holes, or if we need to head back to the drawing board.

Something we can incorporate into our storyboards, or that can become our storyboard, is a vision board. Vision boards are usually more photo-based, but can also be useful for imagining our writing coming to life. To learn a little more about how to create a vision board for your writing, read this.

4. Start your living document (your outline) & add to it as you go

Creating a living document is easiest to do digitally whether on a computer, tablet, or even phone. Once we have a document, we can just add and/or delete our ideas as they come. You can also use pen and paper to create a document for your writing - a journal of sorts. Just be sure that it’s something that won’t be lost or accidentally toss when you tidy up your writing space!

This is where we decide what type of outline to make. We can choose to follow a template, or come up with our own approach. There’s no right way to create an outline. Some common types of outlines include: 

• Web diagrams

• Tables

• Charts

It is up to each of us to decide what best suits our needs and is most useful. You can read more about specific descriptions of many different outlines here - and see some famous writers’ outlines in action!

5. Start writing!

Don’t get so caught up in the details of outlining that you forget to write. Sometimes it’s easier to stay in that pre-writing honeymoon phase, but we’ll never know how well our planning works until we put it to the test! If you’re a little stuck on where to start, read this - it will help.

As we go along, we can always refer back to our outline, changing and rearranging it as needed. Our writing often develops a mind of it’s own and strays from the path of our original outline, and that’s okay. Make new notes, adjust your outline, and keep pushing forward.

Next Steps

Don’t stress too much over creating an outline. Writing is meant to be a form of expression, and what’s most important is that we enjoy ourselves while doing it. Outlining is simply a tool that we can utilize to make the most of our writing. If it’s not something that works for you, no sweat. Do something that does work for you, even if that’s just going with the flow.

What now, though?

1. Gather all your notes on your current project (if you don’t have a current project, start fresh!). It doesn’t matter if it’s sticky notes or a binder filled with notes, or the messiest Google Doc you’ve ever seen: make sure to gather all of it into one accessible place. 

2. Try out a method or two of outlining to see which one best  fits your style. Remember, you don’t have to stick to this outline forever! If you decide along the way it isn’t working out, change it up. 

3. Outline your work as best you can at this point. Remember, this is a living and flexible document and can change as necessary. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just get something written down that you can refer back to when you need.

4. Get help taking action! If you’re stuck and need help, click here to learn more about how to get writing coaching. Sometimes it’s hard to get the ball rolling and we need a little extra motivation or guidance, and that’s perfectly okay! Help is there if you want or need it.

I challenge you to create an outline for your next or latest writing project. 

Did you use an outline template or create your own? How did it go? Was it helpful? I’d love to hear about your experiences and recommendations! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.

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

Classics Series Book Review: The Color Purple by Alice Walker

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.

Trigger warning: sexual assault

Overview 

Alice Walker’s The Color Purple is a classic in American literature and when you read it, it’s not hard to figure out why. The tale of Celie, who’s married off to an older man at a very young age in the deep South, and her sister Nettie who goes off to be a missionary in Africa is at once heart wrenching and eye-opening. It’s a true tale of survival and making the best of hardship. It’s also about love, not just between partners and sisters, but love for yourself and how hard that can be.  

Content & Message

Written entirely in the epistolary style - writing in the form of letters - Celie initially writes to God. Her faith is unwavering despite being 14 years old and having been raped by the town doctor and gotten pregnant. By the time she’s 20, she’s had two babies, but she’s not allowed to keep them. 

She’s married at 20 to a man, Mr. _____, who takes months to decide if he wants her because “She ain’t fresh,” “She spoiled. Twice,” and “She ugly” (7-8). The immediate reaction is one of incredible want to free her of the situation she’s in that really doesn’t have an escape. At least not for many years. 

In the end, Celie is happy. I won’t spoil it, but the book ends in a way that feels good for Celie

Meanwhile, her younger sister, Nettie, leaves for a mission trip in Africa with a couple named Samuel & Corrine. The letters are now for Nettie. The couple takes care of her, and she writes to Celie often - except Mr. _____ hides the letters and makes Celie believe Nettie has abandoned her, or worse, died. It isn’t until famous musician Shug Avery comes to town - and falls in love with Celie - that they learn of Mr. _____’s treachery. 

Celie finds years of letters from her sister, and it’s at this point that she decides she’s going to leave to be with Shug. She finally has an escape, and the love she’s always longed for. With Shug, and their life together in Shug’s big house, Celie can finally think about herself and learn to love herself. Shug even helps Celie begin a small sewing business - pants for women. Celie writes letters to God and Nettie. 

In the end, Celie is happy. I won’t spoil it, but the book ends in a way that feels good for Celie: “I don’t think us feel old at all. And us so happy. Matter of fact, I think this is the youngest us ever felt” (288). 

Biggest Takeaway

The most powerful thing about this book is Celie’s story of her experience as a young black woman in the South. It’s not set in the present-day, as there are clear mentions about segregation throughout, but hearing about all the terrible things that happened in her life, in her words, makes the book tremendously moving. 

Not only does Celie grapple with her own trauma, but she also has to navigate life experiences and her faith. Walker is a masterful storyteller, and this book tells an important story not just about one woman, but about how being African American, and a woman on top of that, was - and still remains - a complicated business far too often. 

Overall Impressions

I love The Color Purple. I’ve read it at least 3-4 times, and while I won’t say it’s an easy read (because it’s not) I keep going back to it over and over again because Walker so fully captures the voices and experiences of Celie & Nettie. 

From the first page, the reader begins to feel the scope of Celie’s tragedies in her own voice. I love epistolary novels and this remains one of the best examples I can think of to represent how powerful first person voice can be in a novel. 

This book is a hard read, but a necessary one.

The topics and ideas are also important, even if they’re hard to read about. The book isn’t hard in the sense of academic language or long sentences (like many other classic books), but hard in the mental & emotional sense. It’s hard to read about these experiences knowing that real people lived like this - and not just one person, either. For the same reasons it’s hard to read, it’s a book that must be read. 

For many of us in the modern day world, this book is a reminder that reality isn’t the same for everyone, and despite the many ways we’ve moved forward, not that many years ago public places were still segregated & Jim Crow laws were very much a part of everyday life. Not that many years ago it was still legal to discriminate against people based on race and gender. 

This book is a hard read, but a necessary one. It’s beautifully written, and I think you’ll find that when you pick it up, you’ll keep turning page after page because you just have to know: what’s going to happen next? And how in the world can this woman survive, let alone have a happy ending?

Why Writers Need this Book

If you’re a writer, you need to read this book not just because of the way the book handles heavy themes and ideas with grace & clarity, but also because the language is incredible. You’ll be transported into Celie’s world, and that’s the ultimate goal of a book, but especially an epistolary style book. 

The letters aren’t written in “proper English” as we usually think but in Celie’s voice as she would speak to you in a normal conversation - up to and including very direct language about bodies and love and faith. 

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. 

My challenge to you is to read the book and think about the voices being represented.

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 or drop a comment below.

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

Interview with an Author: Jarnell Stokes & Howard Flamm

Our surprise February guests are Jarnell Stokes & Howard Flamm. We were excited not just to talk about this awesome book, but also to highlight Jarnell & Howard for National Children’s Authors & Illustrators Week!   

Jarnell Stokes grew up in the inner city of Memphis. He experienced many failures before changing his mindset to achieve the success he has since high school and becoming a professional basketball player. In his personal life, he focuses on developing healthy habits for his mind, body, and soul. He has expanded his athletic success and this philosophy into building a health and consciousness-based business he named Stoked. 

Howard Flamm has been engaged in the creative arts for many years. He has worked as a stand-up comedian, commercial & television actor, screenwriter, and film producer. He is known for his feature film release Shut Up and Kiss Me. As a natural health practitioner, Howard also operates wellness centers in the West where he’s helped transform many lives. He is most gratified by this opportunity to light the path for patients to reverse chronic disease. Howard believes that life is a journey, not a destination.4

Jarnell & Howard share a dream of helping kids find success in sports and life.

If you would like to purchase Jarnell & Howard’s book, Wings to Fly, you can find a copy here. 

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

Jarnell (J): It started in the NBA as a blog writer. My mom always told me that I had the imagination of a writer, but the engine of an athlete. 

Howard (H): I’ve been writing for 20 years. I wrote the screenplay for the feature film Shut Up & Kiss Me in 2005. Jarnell brought a championship mentality as a professional athlete to the book project and we’ve started writing several more future projects.

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?

J: Personally, I think everyone has the ability to be a writer at any level and create content that could positively impact and last for lifetimes. Storytelling is a skill that brings fulfillment.

H: It has ALWAYS been either a wish, or an active pursuit dating back to childhood.

Your book, Wings to Fly, has an amazing message and does a great job of speaking to children who may not be confident in themselves. What inspired you to write the book?

J: As a kid, I did not have much charisma and skill. No one could’ve convinced me that I would be where I am today. I believe I owe many guardian angels for this. 

H: The initial impetus was a quote from Michael Jordan- in his autobiography- showing humility and not being afraid of failure.

Since there are two of you, what was it like to collaborate on Wings to Fly? How did you work together to create the uplifting tone & message throughout the book?

J: Working with Howard has brought tremendous joy. He’s such a brilliant and open mind! He was my health advisor before business partner, so we were already used to hanging out often.

H: Well, it actually came very naturally with the chemistry that we had. We started by just bouncing ideas off each other.

Describe your writing and/or creative processes.

J: I like to go places where I can escape reality and enter a new world full of positive outcomes.

H: Well, we first came up with an overall concept. After we have the concept, we develop smaller scenes that help to build the story. Sometimes they’re even done out of order, as inspiration occurs. By storyboarding the pages - often on notecards - we start to get the beginnings of a completed “book idea.” Then it becomes almost ready for the illustrator! 

Never, ever let anybody tell you that you can’t do something.

- Howard Flamm

The book won a Purple Dragonfly Book Award and is going to be adapted into a movie and a TV serial – that’s incredible! Could you speak to how that came about and what it means that your message will be so widely shared and accessible?

J: Keeping this disclosed for confidentiality purposes. We can let you know when we’re able to share news.

H: From the beginning, we thought that the message was very much universal and that we would be able to pursue other platforms. We really do feel quite blessed to expand the media presence surrounding this story.

What was your biggest writing obstacle and how did you overcome it?

J: Improving for God, and not personal gain. No one sees the hours spent on the craft.

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

J: My first blog “A Painstaking Transformation” that received over 100k+ views and “Wings to Fly”. 

H: The opportunity to positively impact kids.

What motivates you to keep writing?

J: My best guess is that tingly feeling within.

H: It becomes such a great way to express yourself and winds up becoming a necessary outlet to feel that “creative buzz.”

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

J: Life is simple. Input = Output. Grow your mind, body, soul, and skills and let the chips fall where they may. In the game of life, you train your hardest for that chance, but nothing’s guaranteed except that tingly feeling within.

H: Never, ever let anybody tell you that you can’t do something. Writing & creating should first come from the heart, from pure passion.

Grow your mind, body, soul, and skills and let the chips fall where they may. - Jarnell Stokes

If you would like to purchase Jarnell Stokes’s & Howard Flamm’s book, Wings to Fly, 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 or submit a suggestion through the contact page!

Interview with an Author: Jan Eliasberg

Our January guest is Jan Eliasberg.

Jan Eliasberg is an award-winning writer-director devoted to telling the stories of exceptional women robbed of their rightful place in history. Eliasberg is a graduate of Wesleyan University, the Yale School of Drama, and the Warren Wilson MFA Program. Hannah’s War is her first novel. She lives in New York City.

If you would like to purchase Jan’s book, Hannah’s War, you can find a copy here.

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

I grew up in Manhattan, in a family that valued culture, education, and literacy. I read the doorstop-heavy edition of the New York Times every Sunday morning. I believed that the greatest thing in the world would be to have a novel in the Book Review section. I knew I was a storyteller from a very early age, but it took me a number of years to consider myself a “real” writer.

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?

I was the obnoxious older sister who arranged musicals, and made-up plays casting my brother and sister and neighborhood friends. I told my siblings made-up stories to make them feel safe. So, I knew I was a storyteller. I knew I was a director. I knew I was a screenwriter. But it wasn’t until I wrote Hannah’s War that I was able to call myself a writer.

Your book, Hannah’s War, was inspired by the true story of Dr. Lise Meitner, the real physicist who was the inspiration for the character of Dr. Hannah Weiss. How did you first learn about her and ultimately make the decision to write about her story?

I was in the New York Public Library doing research for a screenplay I was writing for Nicole Kidman and Cameron Diaz about the W.A.S.P. (Women Air Service Pilots) in WWII. I was thinking of ending the screenplay on the day the war ended so I looked up the August 7, 1945 issue of the New York Times. There was a massive, bold headline: FIRST ATOMIC BOMB DROPPED ON JAPAN; TRUMAN WARNS FOE OF A ‘RAIN OF RUIN.’ 

Below that, I found an article that traced the simultaneously terrifying and wondrous development of the atomic bomb, its scientific history, and the race between the Allies and the Germans to attain the ultimate weapon. Somewhere under the fold, buried in a dense paragraph, this sentence appeared: “The key component that allowed the Allies to develop the bomb was brought to the Allies by a female, ‘non-Aryan’ physicist.” Who was this woman? I wondered. 

Who was the female Jewish physicist responsible for the single most important scientific discovery of the twentieth century whose work had, literally, changed the world? And why isn’t her face staring out of every science textbook? I felt as if the mysterious, unnamed “non-Aryan” physicist reached out of history, grabbed me by the lapels, to insist that I needed to tell her story.

The character Jack Delaney also plays a major role in the story. How did you research both Jack & Hannah’s characters and weave them together so intricately?

Jack’s character is entirely fictional, although there were certainly Military Investigators and William “Wild Bill” Donovan was hand-picking an elite and slightly bizarre team of spies who would become the O.S.S. and, later, the CIA. 

In the original outlines, Jack was more of a literary device – someone questioning Hannah so that her story in Germany could reveal itself. But I quickly realized that I needed the investigator to become a major character. 

Since so much of the book is about keeping secrets, and whether to hide or remain true to oneself, the idea that Jack would be “passing” was irresistible. My father, who is Jewish, had told me how difficult it was for him to get a job, and how entire swathes of the business world were closed to him as a Jew. In fact, he had even considered changing his name. Once I put those pieces together, I was off to the races.

I’m intrigued by the field note confidential sections – I love details like this that break up a lengthy text. Why did you decide to use them, and how did you determine where to place them throughout the book?

There actually were Field Notes (almost like telegrams) and a lot of them were very frank and funny, and filled with pungent language and expressions. So, I loved adding that slightly comic, cynical, and very testosterone driven POV to the book. 

Also, I hate writing bald exposition and I wanted Jack to be cunning and clever in how he went about his business of finding the spy. I realized that the Field Notes could give the reader the exposition they needed and keep them from getting too confused about what Jack was up to. So, they served many purposes. I was originally going to have many more of them but, in the end, I put them where I felt they were necessary to serve the story.

Describe your writing and/or creative process.

I spend a long time doing what we call in film and television “breaking story.” I have a structural template that I use, and I write scenes out on index cards, tracing character arcs, plot points, act breaks, and plot twists. I end up with a massive collection of index cards, which I move around on my wall; they look like the ravings of a crazy person but they’re incredibly clear and cogent to me. 

Many of the cards are filled with research, descriptions, and even lines of dialogue. While I’m creating that outline – the structure of the story – I’m also researching more deeply and incorporating details of that research into the outline. Then I will do a written outline (which is almost like a screenplay version of the story). That’s my way of testing the structure to see if it works, to find the plot holes, the weaknesses, and the missing beats for each character. 

DON’T GET IT RIGHT, GET IT WRITTEN.

By the time I’ve finished that, I’m ready to actually sit down and write a first draft. I cancel all my plans, alert my friends and let them know that I might well cancel plans at the last minute. I put myself in a little greenhouse with very few distractions and write. I have an actual cardboard sign that I tape up on the wall of my office – above all the index cards – that says: DON’T GET IT RIGHT, GET IT WRITTEN. That’s the way I give myself permission to write badly because I know that first draft isn’t going to (and doesn’t have to) be great. 

But, you can’t start to revise unless you have that first draft written. Because I’ve done so much work on the structure and the outline, the draft will often come quite quickly.

I’m a sucker for a good ending, and the novel kept me wondering what would happen throughout. Did Hannah’s story actually turn out like that? Or did you take some creative liberties?

 Hannah and Dr. Lise Meitner’s stories deviate long before the ending. Meitner never went to Los Alamos, so that entire part of the story was a product of my imagination. Although I suspect that Lise Meitner had a creative crush on her lab partner – that kind of collaborative work is extremely intimate, almost like a love affair or a marriage – she was never in love with him, nor he with her. So, the love story, too, deviates completely from Meitner’s life. 

I did always know that I wanted Hannah to have faith in Stefan and for him to validate her faith. I was very much intrigued by the puzzling fact that the Germans never did get the atomic bomb, never even came close. No one has ever been able to give a satisfying explanation as to why they were so far behind when the initial discoveries of atomic fission were made in Berlin at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute.

I wanted to put all the characters (and the reader) through the wringer on the journey. I wanted the “happy” ending to be earned and to come at some real cost

I knew I wanted Jack to realize at the very last second that Stefan was a better, more courageous man than he himself had been – that was very much part of Jack’s journey. So, I wanted that “Casablanca” ending, and I always hoped that the reader would want Jack and Hannah to end up together until they, too, understood who Stefan really was, and what a risk he and Hannah had taken out of their love for each other and their shared desire to heal the world. 

But I wanted to put all the characters (and the reader) through the wringer on the journey. I wanted the “happy” ending to be earned and to come at some real cost (in this case, to Jack). One thing I hear consistently from readers is that the ending comes as a complete surprise, so I’m delighted that I succeeded in that regard.

What was your biggest writing obstacle and how did you overcome it?

The biggest obstacle was finding the faith and courage within myself – which means finding a story I cared about so deeply that I simply HAD TO write it. I had to divorce myself from other people’s opinions and from the validation of the outside world. 

In the case of Hannah’s War, I had to get to the point where I felt that, if I didn’t write the book, I would regret it for the rest of my life. Obviously, I hoped someone would publish it, but I felt that I needed to write it whether or not it ever saw the light of day.

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

I’m proud of the complexities, depth, and layers in Hannah’s War; there are stories within stories; and I had to master the basics of nuclear physics as well as the intricate details of that period in history in order to create it. People read it very quickly because of the espionage thriller aspect; it’s a page turner. But it’s also a delicate and highly complex piece of literary architecture which one appreciates more upon reading a second or third time.

I’m also proud of the writing itself on the level of the sentence. I think the language is evocative and vibrant; the language allows readers to be immersed in the worlds I’m creating.

Finally, a little thing that meant a great deal to me: after I’d done my revisions for my editor at Little Brown, the book went through two separate copy edits. Both of the copy editors were extraordinary, catching tiny little details that I wouldn’t have caught in a million years. And both copy editors wrote me personal notes after they’d finished working on the book; they were quite effusive about how beautifully it was written, how proud they were to have worked on the manuscript, how much they had come to care about the characters. That meant so much to me because copy editors read everything – good, bad, and indifferent. I was told by my editor that copy editors rarely want to engage with novelists because they are usually intensely critical of the way a book’s been written. And they should know…so I treasure those responses more than any reviews I’ve gotten.

Do you have any plans for another book or writing project? If so, could you tell us about them?  

I’m currently writing the screenplay for Hannah’s War – adapting my own book for film. And I have a strong outline for my next book as well, which is a companion piece to Hannah’s War; it grew very organically out of the work I did writing Hannah’s War, as well as out of reader’s responses to the book.

What motivates you to keep writing?

I love the process, plain and simple. And there are a lot of stories I want to tell – they’re lined up like airplanes in a holding pattern, circling the airport waiting for the signal to land.

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

“Don’t listen to advice; listen to your own intuition.” Advice is about how other people did something; you need to discover what works for you. Get very quiet so you can hear those internal whispers; those whispers are going to take you where you need to go. But they are very easily drowned out by the ruckus of the outside world and the concern about what other people will think. Taking a risk is always scary – and that’s exactly when magical things happen.

Taking a risk is always scary – and that’s exactly when magical things happen.

If you would like to purchase Jan Eliasberg’s book, Hannah’s War, 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 or submit a suggestion through the contact page!