The Write Balance:
How to Embrace Percolation, Revision & Going Public
by Bonni Goldberg
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GENRE: Non-Fiction, Writing Advice
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BLURB:
In The Write Balance, the companion book to
the beloved bestseller, Room to Write,
Bonni Goldberg demonstrates how to find fulfillment as a writer by embracing
three key aspects of writing: 1) Percolation: what takes place before a first
draft is written; 2) Revision: the writer's role after the initial
draft; and 3) Going Public: the writer's mission once the
writing is done. Filled with tools, examples and exercises, Bonni’s guide
offers motives, choices, and encouragement for writers to appreciate and to be
creative in the phases before and beyond a first draft. Whether you’re new to
writing or a pro, become more passionate and balanced in your writing life.
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EXCERPT THREE:
The
public aspect of writing is the third and final practice you must take part in
to nourish your Writing Self. You may think of going public as a writer as
publishing, but it’s much larger than that. When you make writing, you enter a
new relationship to the written word that includes passing it on to others.
Going public is doing your part to bring the written word to the rest of the
world. The words you offer can be your own or someone else’s. You can give them
to a large group of strangers or to a few people you are close to. But to
fulfill yourself and your role as a writer, you must complete the writing cycle
by being public somehow. We get convoluted messages about going public that are
tangled up in perceptions about publishing companies and best-seller lists
because we don’t talk enough about the bigger picture. Writers often can’t see
past the publish-with-a-big-traditional-publisher-or-perish perspective because
the value of other options—sometimes even the options themselves— aren’t clear.
Indifferent agents, editors, and publishers aren’t what frustrate your attempts
to go public. Your frustration is caused by a set of internal limitations that
may include your particular definition of success as a writer, misconceptions
about the purpose of going public, a fear of rejection, and misunderstanding
your role as a writer. We’ll deal with these frustrations and others throughout
this section, beginning here by reviving the idea of “sharing,” an overlooked
definition of going public.
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GUEST POST:
Manage Rejection, Improve Accountability & Overcome Writing
Obstacles: A Guide for New and Seasoned Writers
**(Full disclosure: Ally
gave me a reasonable list of individual topics that included each of the topics
in the title. With choices like this, I suffer serious FOMO. That’s why I
settled on a mash-up. Ally and I live in the same city, so I hope she’ll give a
hometown gal a pass.)**
Whether you’re new to writing or you’ve been at it for decades,
rejection, accountability and writing obstacles are issues you keep having to
deal with. Why? They never go away. And even your reliable strategies sometimes
stop working and you need to try something else.
Rejection: Turn It Around
100 Rejections are a Good Thing is a
real Facebook group. Join. A community is one antidote for any undeserved shame
or loss of confidence you might experience from rejections. Rejections are
inevitable. Make them into a goal instead of proof that your project isn’t good
enough. My debut picture book is forthcoming in 2023 because a writing friend
of mine tasked me with submitting it to 29 publishers. What she said was, I
don’t want to hear you whine or complain about getting this published until
you’ve sent it to 29 publishers (29 isn’t even a high number). I received 27
rejections. Later I asked her what if they’d all been rejections? Can you
guess? “I would have sent you to get 29 more.” I would have done it too. And if
I still had no takers, I would have indie published it. My point is not to
confuse rejection with a loss of your personal power. When a publisher or an
agent passes, your expectations and hopes are dashed, not your ability to share
your writing with others. You confuse your power to create and control plots
and worlds and outcomes in your writing with the realm of publishing. You’re
not the author of your publishing narrative; you’re the main character on a
journey.
A Beautiful Bouquet is One
of My Favorite Writing Rewards!!
Accountability: Get Help
and Treats
When
I’m on a contracted book deadline, I become an organized, responsible version
of myself. A doppelgänger. When I’ve met the deadline, that version of me
disappears. The squirrelly social media browsing overwhelmed me is back in
charge. Then I use an elaborate system to stay on track. I belong to a writer’s
accountability group. We begin the one-hour session with our success from the
previous week, support a few members who are struggling, and end with our goals
for the coming week. Reporting back to others motivates me. I don’t like to
disappoint. When I face a daunting task, I search out an individual
accountability buddy. For a set amount of time, I email this person every day
with what I’ve done and what’s next. All they have to do is email back now and
then cheering me on. I also have a stash of rewards for completing specific
tasks. When I finish all the guest blog posts and interviews for this tour,
there’s one waiting for me… If you use other methods, please share them in the
comments.
Cheers to One of My Other Favorite
Writing Rewards!!
Writing Obstacles: 3 Words
Lower
your standards. That’s it. Almost all writing obstacles arise out of
unrealistic expectations of yourself, often combined with an unwillingness
(fear) of experimentation. Writing is an ebb and flow creative process. You
learn the most by doing it. If you keep doing it, no matter how poorly, you
will get better. Not inside of a vacuum, of course. Read (in and outside of
your genre, how-tos, and advice books on the topic making you feel stuck). Take
a few writing courses. Get feedback from other writers you trust. Enjoy some
nourishing fun. And your writing will improve. You will write yourself out of
the hole you’re in (sometimes by working on something else for a while), and
you won’t be staring at a blank screen. Of course, you get afraid and stuck. Of
course, you believe you should quit. And if you think you can just quit, go
ahead and try. But if you can’t—and I mean this is the most supportive
way—lower your standards and get back to work.
I hope you find
something useful here. There’s more in The Write Balance. Thank you, Ally. I
hope to see you in Rose City someday.
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AUTHOR BIO:
Bonni Goldberg is the author of The Write Balance: How to Embrace Percolation, Revision
& Going Public, the companion book to the best-seller Room to Write: Daily Invitations to a Writer’s Life.
Bonni is an award-winning poet and writer. She is the creator of the 2 Minute Journals™ series. Both
traditionally and indie published, her books include non-fiction for adults and
fiction and non-fiction for young readers. Her essays and blog posts can be
found in numerous print and online publications.
Bonni
teaches creative writing at colleges and leads writing workshops
internationally for all ages. She knows everyone is creative, and she supports
people to discover and share their authentic, meaningful and imaginative
experiences through words.
Whether
through her writings or through teaching, her methods and perspectives continue
to empower thousands of adults, families, and children.
Bonni
is also a Jewish educator. She speaks, writes, and leads workshops on Jewish
topics such as Jewish identity, rituals and antisemitism at Jewish women’s
events, JCCs, and conferences.
Bonni
Goldberg lives in Portland, Oregon with her partner in life, and some creative
projects, artist Geo Kendall.
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CONNECT WITH BONNI:
My Super Sweet &
Adorable Grand-Dog, Casper
Website:
https://www.bonnigoldberg.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/bonnigoldbergbooks
Twitter:
https://www.twitter.com/bonnigoldberg
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/goldbergbonni
Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/627067.Bonni_Goldberg
Goodreads Book Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59917360-the-write-balance
Amazon Author Page:
https://amzn.to/3pMvKv9
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AMAZON BOOK BUY LINKS:
Amazon US Kindle eBook:
https://amzn.to/35BZMek
Amazon US Paperback:
https://amzn.to/3619LK9
Amazon CA Kindle eBook:
https://www.amazon.ca/Write-Balance-Embrace-Percolation-Revision-ebook/dp/B09P1ZVVS3
Amazon CA Paperback:
https://www.amazon.ca/Write-Balance-Embrace-Percolation-Revision/dp/1737198819
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BONUS!!! FREE EBOOK:
Bonni is offering her readers a FREE eBook copy of her book, “The Write Balance: Writing
& Marketing: 8 Authors Reveal Their Secrets,” via Bookfunnel!!!
Grab Your FREE eBook Copy Here:
https://bookhip.com/PASGHHQ
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GIVEAWAY INFO:
Bonni will be awarding
a prize to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour, the winner
can choose between a 30-minute coaching call, a Q&A Zoom with their group,
or feedback on 3 double spaced pages of their work (via email). In addition, a
free eBook about balancing writing & marketing will be given to everyone
who enters the raffle.
