Welcome to “Ready, Set, Memoir” the September/October 2025 2nd Anniversary box reveal!
When I first checked out the feature craft book for this box, I almost got interested in writing my memoir because RSM is so cleverly organized to entice anyone to write their life story. The reason I haven’t done it is because I don’t think I’m that unique in the world of creative people who do what I do from sun-up to late in the night. I have never thought anyone would be interested in my personal journey. Then I realized that I have tons of chapters about my life already written in the years and years of journaling I’ve done. This book has given me a new perspective on writing my memoir. It might do the same for you!
What’s in “Ready, Set, Memoir” the Sept/Oct ’25 Box?
Let’s look at it all.
1.Ready, Set, Memoir by Lindsey Grant is a colorful yet practical approach to determining IF you have a story then how to go about getting started.
Candied Pecans from Earthside Farms is a delicious treat to have nearby. They are super yummy, pecans are healthy, and surprisingly, a few nuts go a long way. (That sounds to me like it applies to more than these pecans LOL.) Ta-da! Portion control.
Journal Prompts These ready-made journal prompts are perfect springboards for when you want to journal but need an idea to get the pen (or keyboard) in motion. I glue one to a page then respond but you can copy it as well.
Inspirational Pencil Set These pencils are great to place around the house or in your journal-to-go bag so you are always with a writing tool. My idea of hell is paper without a pen/pencil!
There are reading andwriting stickers, a Thoughtfull pop-out journal prompt, MWD drink coaster, an embellished paperclip, and an enamel pin.
52 Weeks of Book Quotes This is a clever calendar that is NOT a calendar. It can be used forever for journal prompts, blog posts, and general inspiration.
Subscribers, what did you think of this box? I’d love to know. MWD unboxing video??? Yes, please. Have you ever done an unboxing of MWD on Instagram? I didn’t see it!! Please tag me. Thank you.
MWD could use your help spreading the word about our box. There are a few ways to do this:
Post on social media
Share your box with others
Mention us in your newsletter if you have one
Give out information post cards (which I will supply to you on request) at critique groups and writing conferences
I hope your WriteDay is fantastic!
~Joy
Disclaimer
This publication may contain affiliate links that may result in a small compensation to the author if you click and make a purchase. Thanks for your support! Please support our advertisers.
The Braveheart of a Writer or Writing a Query Letter
It takes a certain amount of bravery to be a writer. A writer also needs thick skin in certain places so as not to be discouraged by the “commentary” we invite to our work from family, friends, cohorts, editors, publishers, and agents. And readers. Once the manuscript is ready for consumption, meaning it has been edited and revised by more than just the writer, one of the first efforts to shove our stories into the ether for others to consider is submitting to literary agents. The three parts of a query letter are
The hook
The book
The cook
These resources may be helpful in your query letter endeavors.
A query letter in this business is similar to folding a sheet of paper into the shape of an airplane and throwing said letter off of a cliff. Someone may catch it, read it, and yell back at you. Or it may be caught by the wind and…
Be well, write well!
~Joy
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Disclaimers
This article may contain affiliate links which may result in the author receiving a commission when readers purchase items through the links.
You are receiving this message because you previously signed up for notifications or participated in a program/course with Joy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
My ideas are not ever meant as a substitute for consulting with a qualified health professional.
JOY E. HELD is an author, educator, editor, book coach, entrepreneur, and literary citizen responsible for this site and its contents. She is the author of
Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity (Headline Books, Inc., 2020)
Writer Wellness Workbook: A Guided Workbook and Journal to Accompany Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity (Headline Books, Inc., 2023)
The Mermaid Riot (Fire and Ice YA, 2024) Young Adult Historical Fantasy
She writes spicy historical fiction under a pen name.
She is the winner of multiple writing and book awards:
West Virginia Writers, Inc. Annual Writing Contest, Honorable Mention, Novel, 1998.
New York Book Festival, Honorable Mention, Writer Wellness, 2020.
Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Finalist, Writer Wellness, 2021.
Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America, Member of the Year, 2020.
Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America, First Book Award, 2020.
She is an adjunct faculty member in the Southern New Hampshire University Online MFA Creative Writing.
She is a proud graduate of Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA with an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction.
She is a member of The Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Joy is the founder and CEO of My WRITEDAY Subscription Box for writers and readers.
Why Professional Writer Organizations Are Mostly Worth the Dues When It Comes to Searching and Selecting a Literary Agent
Genre specific writing organizations offer different benefits to members. One of those benefits related to the literary agent search that is often overlooked is the pre-screened list of agents actively seeking submissions in a particular genre that some groups offer their members. For example, the dues to the Romance Writers of America national chapter includes access to a members only resource listing agents (there’s one for qualifying markets too) that RWA has already vetted as to their willingness to accept submissions from RWA members. Historical Novel Society also offers this to members in good standing.
The agent search can feel daunting because the system has evolved to where an agent is almost an absolute requirement for getting the attention of a traditional Big Five publishing house because BFs generally accept agented submissions only. This has increased the number of agents, but it has not increased the value of having an agent.
Another agent related value to membership is that the warehouse organizations (and some smaller regional groups) invite agents to their conferences where you can schedule a one-on-one meet with an agent and pitch your work. Sometimes they are group pitch sessions. They may also bring in editors from publishing houses. I’ve known writers who only attend in-person pitches at conferences and have never cold emailed an agent or editor. Many of them have secured agent representation this way.
These resources are workarounds that are worth the consideration because the organization has done some of the leg work for you. It’s a cut to the chase sort of process that might possibly reduce the amount of time and research you should do when selecting a literary agent. But it comes with the price of the annual membership dues or the conference fee. And you still have to do the advance research in order to choose the right potential agent to meet with.
I’ve had a singular bad experience with this process when an agent listed in the member’s only resource accepted me as a client then turned around and said I had to pay for his wife to edit my manuscript before he would offer it to publishers. That was a price I wasn’t willing to pay. The writer organization heard from me and the agent was eventually removed from the list. I had the emails to prove the demand.
This article may contain affiliate links which may result in the author receiving a commission when readers purchase items through the links.
You are receiving this message because you previously signed up for notifications or participated in a program/course with Joy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
My ideas are not ever meant as a substitute for consulting with a qualified health professional.
JOY E. HELD is an author, educator, editor, book coach, entrepreneur, and literary citizen responsible for this site and its contents. She is the author of
Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity (Headline Books, Inc., 2020)
Writer Wellness Workbook: A Guided Workbook and Journal to Accompany Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity (Headline Books, Inc., 2023)
The Mermaid Riot (Fire and Ice YA, 2024) Young Adult Historical Fantasy
She writes spicy historical fiction under a pen name.
She is the winner of multiple writing and book awards:
West Virginia Writers, Inc. Annual Writing Contest, Honorable Mention, Novel, 1998.
New York Book Festival, Honorable Mention, Writer Wellness, 2020.
Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Finalist, Writer Wellness, 2021.
Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America, Member of the Year, 2020.
Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America, First Book Award, 2020.
She is an adjunct faculty member in the Southern New Hampshire University Online MFA Creative Writing.
She is a proud graduate of Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA with an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction.
She is a member of The Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Joy is the founder and CEO of My WRITEDAY Subscription Box for writers and readers.
This article may contain affiliate links which may result in the author receiving a commission when readers purchase items through the links. You are receiving this message because you previously signed up for notifications or participated in a program/course with Joy. You may unsubscribe at any time. My ideas are not ever meant as a substitute for consulting with a qualified health professional.
JANE BUEHLER
BOOKThe Fire Apprentice: A Fairy Tale with Benefits
AUTHOR Jane Buehler
GENRE Cozy romantasy
BLURBHe’s the blacksmith. But she’s the one playing with fire.
After a fairy seduced her, fathered her child, and tried to take that child, Jane swore she’d never trust one again. Surely she can find a suitable human man to be a companion for herself and a father for little Elle, right? So when her housemate mentions a new apprentice blacksmith, Jane leaves Elle playing in the yard and heads to the smithy.
Rowan is rugged and handsome but clearly not interested. Disappointed, Jane has just left the smithy when a sudden shadow swoops over the village. Jane races home to see a dragon snatching Elle. Jane is distraught. Then Rowan mysteriously appears and offers to rescue the child. He insists the dragon won’t hurt Elle—apparently fairy children apprentice with dragons to learn fire magic. How does Rowan know so much about fairies? Turns out, he is one.
Jane will do anything to rescue Elle, even if it involves the F word—a fairy. But climbing into the mountains with Rowan is risky. His reticence keeps Jane guessing, but she can’t keep her mind off him: he’s even more handsome out in the moonlit woods, with that deep voice and those capable hands. When Jane and Rowan run into trouble, Jane must take charge. Because it turns out, Rowan needs rescuing too.
The Fire Apprentice is a grumpy/sunshine romance—or maybe more of a brooding/effusive romance—that’s perfect for fans of Throne in the Dark or Jenna Wolfhart’s Falling for Fables cozy romantasy series. Each book in the Sylvania series can be read on its own but might contain spoilers for previous books. The Fire Apprentice contains love scenes and a heroine with pelvic floor pain.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Emily Jane Buehler published two nonfiction books—one on the science and craft of baking bread, the other a memoir of a bicycle trip from New Jersey to Oregon—before venturing into fiction. She currently writes cozy fantasy romances where everyday people (and fairies) have adventures and fall in love. They are lighthearted stories with action and adventure, love and magic, where protagonists learn to believe in themselves and find their courage. And yes, they are kissing books!
Emily Jane believes that by portraying positive relationships with good communication, romance novels can help readers envision such relationships for themselves, serve as a model of proper consent for young people, and portray diverse types of relationships and people. They can be a fun escape while still having depth and contributing to a better society.
Emily Jane lives in North Carolina. Her favorite things include letters sent through the mail, her fair-trade wool leg warmers, and chocolate cake with frosting. She is passionate about living waste free and usually has one or more cats.
BLURB When Serena Robinson and Tobi Doyle witness the neighborhood apothecary lifting a limp body from his fishing boat, they don’t realize they will be swept up into a life-or-death race to save a mermaid from the doctor’s greedy plans.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joy E. Held is an award-winning author, editor, book coach, educator, and yoga instructor living with her husband in West Virginia.
BLURB Writer Wellness Workbook is a companion book to Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity designed to offer hands-on practice in the five key concepts of journaling, fitness, relaxation, nutrition, and creative play.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joy E. Held is an award-winning author, editor, book coach, educator, and yoga instructor living with her husband in West Virginia.
BLURB It is a crisp fall day in Appalachia and Katie is learning about the season of fall as she and her mother walked to the local autumn festival. She sees squirrels and other animals putting away food for the cold winter months and compares it to the canning of fruits and vegetables that she and her mother did the day before. at the autumn festival, she experiences Appalachian music while admiring the beautiful fall mums and pumpkins. Katie sees and learns about many other traditional Appalachian customs, like making apple butter, quilting, folk, toys, and pumpkin patches. The colorful illustrations make this a book for the entire family as they go with Katie on an autumn adventure!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR I am a former early childhood teacher who is now the author of six books for children.
BLURB Ellie Waltham and her mother have been driven from their home by her grasping cousin. As they run out of resources, her young niece and nephew appear, needing care. But their uncle Gareth Delaney magically moves all of them to safety and returns to Belgium to search for the children’s wounded father and their mother.
Once all are safe in England, Ellie’s scheming relative tries to steal their land. Though she thinks she lacks courage, Ellie takes action to protect her family. Abducted in an effort to force her to wed the villain, she knows she will be killed so he can claim what she has inherited. While sure Gareth is riding to save her, Ellie must still rescue herself…and him.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Barbara Jean Miller is an author, educator, and nature observer.
My WriteDay is a bi-monthly subscription box for writers and readers. Each “treasure trove for writers” includes a writing craft book and 3-5 writerly gifts curated to support writers.
Buy me a coffee
JOY E. HELD is an author, educator, editor, book coach, entrepreneur, and literary citizen responsible for this site and its contents. She is the author of
Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity (Headline Books, Inc., 2020)
Writer Wellness Workbook: A Guided Workbook and Journal to Accompany Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity (Headline Books, Inc., 2023)
The Mermaid Riot (Fire and Ice YA, 2024) Young Adult Historical Fantasy
She writes spicy historical fiction under a pen name.
She is the winner of multiple writing and book awards:
West Virginia Writers, Inc. Annual Writing Contest, Honorable Mention, Novel, 1998.
New York Book Festival, Honorable Mention, Writer Wellness, 2020.
Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Finalist, Writer Wellness, 2021.
Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America, Member of the Year, 2020.
Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America, First Book Award, 2020.
She is an adjunct faculty member in the Southern New Hampshire University Online MFA Creative Writing.
She is a proud graduate of Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA with an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction.
She is a member of The Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Joy is the founder and CEO of My WRITEDAY Subscription Box for writers and readers.
Some trail names are given to hikers by their fellow hikers. Trail names generally reflect a personal aspect of a hiker such as hair color, appearance, profession, and a myriad of other aspects of a person.
We always laugh about a guy we met with a trail name of “Ass Trumpet.” At one of the first town-stops along the trail he overdid the salad and fruit bar one night and for the rest of his time on the trail he was called “Ass Trumpet” after keeping his fellow hikers up all night with his ‘explosions.’
A trail name sticks with you. It sometimes pops up years after the end of a hike. For example, I was in a small outfitters shop in Luray, Virginia looking for a specific piece of hiking gear for my son’s Christmas present. A guy tapped me on the shoulder and asked, “Hardcharger”?
I turned and sure enough it was “Red Dawn,” a young man I had hiked with back in Tennessee many years before. To this day I doubt if either of us remembers their real name, but we recognized each other and chatted for a while catching up on our hiking experiences. In another incident, in a shelter in Connecticut, I ran into a young woman who told us her trail name. I had seen that name in a trail log in one of the shelters in Virginia. She was a member of a group of young women who referred to themselves as the “Pack Divas.” I asked her what had happened to her group, and we had a wonderful time talking around the campfire.
Hiking serves as the backstory, the backbone so to speak, using the hike as an extension to support the central theme of my books Province Senior Intelligence Advisor and The Tuscarora Trail, part of my four-book series set during the Vietnam War. This backstory also serves as a metaphor for facing the challenges of life, overcoming obstacles, and learning to move on from adversity.
Besides the retelling of my Vietnam experiences, I added nuance to the events by relying on my own trail journals that I’ve kept for all of my hikes. Each night I’d sit and jot down notes about the day. When I got home, I’d get out maps and expand on the works by recording the daily mileages, proper geographical names, names of people and places we had encountered, and include photos that I had taken. I’d type them up into a web file and store them away.
Hardcharger & Johnny B on the Appalachian Trail
“Johnny B” and I have been hiking together for thirty years, and we’ve lived a number of adventures. My journals from those hikes make for great ‘backstory’ for my books.
The ‘backstory’ gave me a great opportunity to have a ‘vehicle’ to tell the various war stories as if I am talking to an audience rather than just relating the stories in machinegun fashion. In the final book of the series, The Tuscarora Trail, I was able to use the hiking backstory to finish the series as well as to weave a degree of closure into the stories. My intent was to have a ‘backstory’ that people could relate to.
So how does a writer convey those feelings; fear, loneliness, frustration, quick-learning, and still tell the story? Part of the ‘success’ is the backstory. Be it the Appalachian or Tuscarora Trails, or an innocent romance, backstory is important to my writing. It provides an additional vehicle to tell other parts of the events and to develop or maintain interest in the major theme of my books. The story-in-the-story is helpful because the ‘hero’ can show additional character dimensions that wouldn’t necessarily be observable in the standard telling of the tale; love in wartime, coming-of-age, adventurous hikes, feelings of grief and loss, and a myriad of other emotions that can be explored by the reader and the author alike all through backstory.
Peter Taylor is an American author and Military Historian who served three combat tours in Vietnam 1969-1971 and 1972-1973. His works include a Civil War History of Harrison County, West Virginia, a novel that developed from that book The Most Hated Man in Clarksburg, and The Advisor Series, four novels about the military Advisory efforts in Vietnam.
*Thanks for your wisdom and your service, Pete. ~JEH
DISCLAIMER
This article may contain affiliate links which may result in the author receiving a commission when readers purchase items through the links.
You are receiving this message because you previously signed up for notifications or participated in a program/course with Joy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Welcome to “Next Level Plotting” the July/August 2025 My WriteDay box!
Wherever you are as a writer and regardless of genre, you still have to have some kind of organization for the story, article, poem, etc. Something that serves as a framework for stability and keeping you on track and on task. From the featured writing craft book to the elegant planner in the box, “Next Level Plotting” is designed to help you develop the plot and document your progress.
Let’s look at it all.
Welcome to “Next Level Plotting” the July/August 2025 box!
Next Level Plot Structure: How to Write a Better Novel Using Advanced Storytelling Techniques by K.M. Weiland lays it out plain and simple but with handholding advice every step of the way. There is a signed book plate sticker from K.M and she has contributed a special message for MWD subscribers for the digital magazine.
I’m All Booked hand towelwas too cute to turn down! It has the perfect message printed it on to remind you and maybe others that you have a plan and a writing schedule to keep!
Writer’s Tea Bags from Cliché Tea.Cute, fun, and an assortment of yummy tea flavors. You gotta save the tea envelopes and put them in your journal (or the new planner you just received in this box) simply because they are so true to the writing world.
My Daily Organizer with Matching Ink Penis one more thing in this fun box to take you to the next level of writing and plotting. So pretty I wanted you to have them. Keep track of your word count, plotting notes, and more.
There are reading andwriting stickers, a Thoughtfull pop-out journal prompt, and promotional bookmarks from some my author friends.
Want to get in on these fun and practical gift boxes for writers? Easy. The next box will be available for new subscribers on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 @ NOON EASTERN TIME.
$59.00 every other month includes FREE SHIPPING (continental U.S.)
Look it over here then mark your calendar for Monday, Sept. 1 to get in on the next box of writerly goodies.
Already a subscriber? Camp out at your mailbox the first week of September for your next box!
I hope your WriteDay is fantastic!
~Joy
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Perfect Strangers by Barbara Jean Miller
The Mermaid Riot by Joy E. Held
Disclaimers
This article may contain affiliate links which may result in the author receiving a commission when readers purchase items through the links.
You are receiving this message because you previously signed up for notifications or participated in a program/course with Joy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
My ideas are not ever meant as a substitute for consulting with a qualified health professional.
My WRITEDAY is a subscription box program that delivers curated products from authors, creators, and small businesses to writers and readers in the continental U.S. It’s unique in that many products are sourced from writers who are also crafters and artisans. Each box delivers a writing craft book and 3-7 items associated with the key concepts (journaling, fitness, relaxation, nutrition, and creative play) of Writer Wellness, my flagship program and book (Headline Books, Inc. 2020.)
Each box is inspired by literary themes, genres, and holidays. Every box includes access to My WRITEDAY Digital Magazine filled with writing and publishing tips, writer wellness ideas, fiction excerpts, poetry, special offers, social media options such as live virtual meetings, and more.
The idea behind My WRITEDAY is to help writers spend more time creating stories, engaging with like-minded book friends, and enjoying the juicy, creative life they deserve. From craft books to office supplies to fun, writing/reading inspired décor, subscribers ages 14 and up will discover an experience designed to offer a healthy plan for living their best writing life. The cost per box is $59.00 and includes freeshipping (in the continental U.S.). There are discounts available on the website. Please visit us!
“MY TOP 10 REASONS FOR STARTING MY WRITEDAY SUBSCRIPTION BOX”
Monday 18 August 2025
MYWRITEDAY SUBSCRIPTION BOX FOR WRITERS is celebrating two years in September. I’m reposting this to ask if you think MWD is living up to my reasons for inventing it. Leave a comment and get ready to subscribe to the next box.
CART OPENS MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1 AT NOON EST FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS.
“My Top 10 Reasons for Starting MY WRITEDAY Subscription Box”
When I take online quizzes, the results are generally the same regardless of the intent of the quiz. How much weight do you want to lose? Is your mindset fixed or flexible? What are your top five strengths? The final explanations generally note that I’m a CURIOUS person. That’s always been the case, and it’s a quality that serves me well as a writer and a human.
The first place I learned about my curious nature was on a career prospect survey the entire ninth grade class had to take before attending a mandatory career counseling session with the school guidance counselor. I already knew I was going to be a published author and teach writing. At the time, I’d already been a published columnist is two newspapers and won several writing awards. I was also secure about my college and career path.
Nonetheless, my guidance counselor informed me that my survey results indicated that I should be a researcher. Talk about vaguebooking. Or a salesclerk. Flash forward and I have ended up doing all four jobs:
· Published author of historical fiction
· Requires a ton of research,
· College English professor and book coach
· Retail salesclerk in my own dance supply store
Now I’m mashing up these experiences and starting a subscription box for writers and readers. It’s called WRITEDAY, and it’s rolling out in September 2023. But why am I adding yet another job to my freelance W-9 (independent contractor) classification? Because I’m curious.
My curiosity about how other people write has led me to this place. WRITEDAY, which will also be known as MY WRITEDAY, satisfies my interests in shopping (retail therapy,) helping other writers (writing teacher/book coach,) and research (learning how to operate a subscription-based business.)
Here are my top 10 reasons for having a subscription box business devoted to writers:
1. CONNECTION
Writing is a solitary occupation. Not always lonely, but a job that only a singular human (here’s giving the middle finger to you, AI) can do. One person sits (or stands if you have one of those newfangled lifted desktops) and writes. Even when a co-author is involved, the general nature of the business of writing is akin to solitary confinement but in a good way. Writers usually have unrestricted access to the refrigerator and the bathroom. My number one reason for a subscription box for writers is to remind them that while the writing process is individual, there must also be some form of connection to others and the outside world. I want to connect with other writers and connect them to each other with a monthly WRITEDAY box.
2. CONVENIENCE
While the contents of WRITEDAY will follow many themes, genres, and contain products made by writers for writers and readers, I intend for the boxes to supply writers with convenient refills on things like tea and coffee, unique variations of office supplies such as paperclips that also hold a pen, and colorful organizer thingies to straighten out all the damn cords under your desk. One of the highlights of WRITEDAY will be products made by writers who are also crafters. By including these items, I want to demonstrate that writers are NOT one-dimensional, but creative makers in more than one field.
3. CONVERSATION
Despite it being their mandate, social media is a dismal failure at encouraging and supporting meaningful conversations. One reason is that it takes so much time to wade through the piles muck to find a valuable dialogue that once arrived, the researcher is too exhausted to engage. WRITEDAY subscription boxes will contain writing by writers (from books to poetry) in a magazine where the work has already been curated and the reader can relax and enjoy the writing. Then contact and engage with the author at their convenience.
The remaining seven reasons for my starting WRITEDAY subscription are
4. A source of revenue
5. Fun planning the contents every month
6. Being something of a personal shopper
7. Surprising subscribers with fun and practical gifts
8. Expand my own customer base
9. Learn something new
10. Bring joy to other writers and readers
Want to get your books and stories into the hands of buyers specifically interested in what you write? Are you a writer who makes bookmarks or something else for writers and readers? Got other ideas or suggestions? Stay tuned for how you can be a part of this start-up. Subscriber, product supplier, cheerleader, advertiser, and more opportunities are open now. MY WRITEDAY is on the way.
***
What do you think?
Already a subscriber? THANK YOU!
CART OPENS MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1 AT NOON EST FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS.
My WriteDay Subscription Box
Disclaimers
This article may contain affiliate links which may result in the author receiving a commission when readers purchase items through the links.
You are receiving this message because you previously signed up for notifications or participated in a program/course with Joy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
My ideas are not ever meant as a substitute for consulting with a qualified health professional.
My WRITEDAY is a subscription box program that delivers curated products from authors, creators, and small businesses to writers and readers in the continental U.S. It’s unique in that many products are sourced from writers who are also crafters and artisans. Each box delivers a writing craft book and 3-7 items associated with the key concepts (journaling, fitness, relaxation, nutrition, and creative play) of Writer Wellness, my flagship program and book (Headline Books, Inc. 2020.)
Each box is inspired by literary themes, genres, and holidays. Every box includes access to My WRITEDAY Digital Magazine filled with writing and publishing tips, writer wellness ideas, fiction excerpts, poetry, special offers, social media options such as live virtual meetings, and more.
The idea behind My WRITEDAY is to help writers spend more time creating stories, engaging with like-minded book friends, and enjoying the juicy, creative life they deserve. From craft books to office supplies to fun, writing/reading inspired décor, subscribers ages 14 and up will discover an experience designed to offer a healthy plan for living their best writing life. The cost per box is $59.00 and includes freeshipping (in the continental U.S.). There are discounts available on the website. Please visit us!
JOY E. HELD is an author, educator, editor, entrepreneur, and literary citizen responsible for this site and its contents. She is the author of
Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity (Headline Books, Inc., 2020)
Writer Wellness Workbook: A Guided Workbook and Journal to Accompany Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity (Headline Books, Inc., 2023)
The Mermaid Riot (Fire and Ice YA, 2024) Young Adult Historical Fantasy
She writes spicy historical fiction under a pen name.
She is the winner of multiple writing and book awards:
West Virginia Writers, Inc. Annual Writing Contest, Honorable Mention, Novel, 1998.
New York Book Festival, Honorable Mention, Writer Wellness, 2020.
Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Finalist, Writer Wellness, 2021.
Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America, Member of the Year, 2020.
Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America, First Book Award, 2020.
She is an adjunct faculty member in the Southern New Hampshire University Online MFA Creative Writing.
She is a proud graduate of Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA with an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction.
She is a member of The Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Joy is the founder and CEO of My WRITEDAY Subscription Box for writers and readers.
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Perfect Strangers by Barbara Jean MillerWriter Wellness by Joy E. Held
GUEST POST: EXPLORING THE STORY THAT CAME BEFORE THE STORY BY LYNN SLAUGHTER
Missing Mom by Lynn Slaughter
Saturday 2 August 2025
I’ve long been fascinated by real-life mysteries of missing persons, people who suddenly disappeared from their loved ones’ lives. So many questions, and often, so few answers. Were they victims of foul play? Kidnapped? Running from something? Running toward something that they found more appealing than their current lives? So many possibilities, and for loved ones left behind, so much grief and uncertainty.
Given my interest in missing persons’ cases, I guess it’s not surprising that I decided to explore what happens to someone left behind. Thus was born the premise for my latest novel, MISSING MOM, in which Noelle, a seventeen-year-old, is distraught over her mother’s sudden disappearance. Despite the circumstantial evidence, she doesn’t believe that her mother would ever have committed suicide and is determined to unravel the mystery of what happened to her mom.
As writers, we often talk about the importance of digging into the backstories of our characters to understand their choices and reactions. Why, for example, is Noelle so sure her mother did not commit suicide? The answer lies in her unusually close relationship to her mother who is such a great listener and so supportive that even Noelle’s friends flock to her mom for advice and counsel. On the day she went missing, Noelle’s mother had made plans to go out with her daughters to the mall for school shopping and pizza. The idea of her mom deciding, “Never mind shopping and pizza. Now I’m going to kill myself” makes absolutely no sense to Noelle.
So, what did happen to her mother? The mystery turns out to be related to the saga of a young woman nearly twenty years earlier who managed to escape from an abusive marriage. I found this young woman’s story riveting and decided to thread it throughout the novel.
After I’d written MISSING MOM, I discovered that what I had done is called a “time slip novel,” in which interconnected stories from different time periods appear. Although time slip novels are not uncommon, this marked the first time I’d ever attempted one, and I found it exciting to try something that was new for me as a writer.
All in all, I loved exploring the story that came before the story I set out to tell. Sometimes our curiosity takes us into new and unexpected places, which makes writing and reading especially pleasurable.
BIO:
Lynn Slaughter is addicted to the arts, chocolate, and her husband’s cooking. After a long career as a professional dancer and dance educator, she returned to school to earn her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her six published novels have received numerous accolades, including a Silver Falchion Award, an Agatha nomination, an Imadjinn Award, and a Moonbeam Silver Medal. Midwest Book Review called her most recent work, Missing Mom, a “remarkable book” that “invites readers to immerse themselves in a narrative that beautifully captures the essence of struggle and triumph.”
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3 Errors That Led to My Small Press Contract
Jean Burgess, Ph.D.
If you’re a “full steam ahead” type, who is too impatient to learn from your mistakes, then stop reading now. However, if you are willing to learn how, as a novice fiction writer, I made a few major errors and still landed a contract with a small press for my debut fiction, read on.
As writers, we tend to get so excited when we finish our manuscript that we just can’t wait to push it out into the world. Some writers want to skimp on steps like beta readers or competent development editing. Some are tempted by visions of dollar signs, then movie deals, then television series, then world domination…(See how quickly things can spin out of control?) And sadly, some have lost their grounding and forgotten why they were drawn to writing in the first place.
I can point out these flaws because I’ve been there. Let’s dive in and see what can be learned from these errors.
Error #1: Pitching to literary agents before the manuscript is ready
Yep, that was me. The book was completed. Several beta readers offered input and I made a few edits based on their feedback. I thought I’d caught all the grammar goofs and typos. I decided I was ready to secure a literary agent. So, I queried and queried and queried. I received plenty of “Thanks, but no thanks” responses.
I also pitched at writing conferences. That was a better experience because, after submitting my three chapters or fifty pages, at least I received a few “Thanks but no thanks and here are two reasons why… .”
With something to work with, I was able to make revisions…badly needed revisions.
Lesson learned: The feedback I received from the literary agents was invaluable for me because it pointed to developmental issues. It caused me to ask: How do I fix those issues? As a novice fiction writer, I was able to analyze my skill weaknesses. I took workshops and classes to strengthen the holes. The biggest lesson, however, was I needed to be prepared and open to revising (and revising and revising) my manuscript. I learned that hiring a development editor BEFORE copy editing is an important step.
Error #2: Being uneducated about the industry
Guilty as charged. Looking back on my own journey, I now ask myself, “What was I doing querying agents when I didn’t understand a thing about the author-agent relationship?”
What did I want from a literary agent? Did I even understand their function in the industry and what they do for authors? And what about self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What was that hybrid publishing I kept hearing about? How can I avoid scams? Yikes! I realized I needed to get myself educated.
Lesson learned: While there are a variety of paths to getting these questions answered, I chose to join several professional writers’ organizations. These offer seminars and resources that help me immeasurably, plus I appreciate the networking aspect of the groups. I also encourage others to read reputable blogs, join podcasts, and find other resources about the industry. Jane Friedman’s blog, Writer’s Digest, Authors Publish online magazine, and this one are just a few examples. Secure a complete understanding of all the various publishing approaches — self-publishing vs traditional publishing vs small press publishing – before deciding which is right for you and your book.
Error #3: Not having a clear writer’s purpose
I do believe that not being clear about my writer’s purpose when I took the next step in promoting my book, whether querying a lit agent or even chatting about it to readers, was a huge obstacle. It interfered with my messaging and my confidence.
When I say, “writer’s purpose,” I’m not talking about my reason for writing this particular book, but rather for writing anything. What motivates one to write? And if your answer is “For the big bucks,” you might want to dig a bit deeper!
I found that I was flailing with connecting to my purpose, which caused me to be unfocused when I spoke about my debut novel.
Lesson learned: Once I permitted myself to indulge in uninterrupted quiet reflection on the question “What motivates me to write? What is my purpose?”, I finally found clarity. My writing purpose applies to both my nonfiction and fiction works:
I write to encourage others and to start conversations.
Understanding and connecting with this purpose has helped me to define my goals and decisions moving forward. I pivoted my thinking and decided to put all my efforts into pursuing small presses for publication of my debut novel set in the late 1970s around themes of emerging feminism, social injustice, and retro music. As a result, at the next regional writers’ conference I attended, I skipped pitching to the literary agents on the roster and focused on the small press publishers instead.
In the past, regardless of whom I pitched to, I must admit I’d be anxious about the whole process. But once I was grounded in my writer’s purpose, I found enjoyed pitching. I was relaxed as I chatted about my book and its marketing possibilities.
The best news of all is that my debut novel, That Summer She Found Her Voice, was picked up by Apprentice House Press and published in April of 2024. Based on my journey of being open to revisions, learning all I could about the industry, and taking time out to define my personal writing purpose, I encourage you to apply these vital steps toward securing your own publishing success story. Best wishes.
Jean Burgess, Ph.D. is a writer, editor, and playwright with a background in theatre and education. She holds a M.A. in Theatre from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Theatre from New York University. Her debut novel, That Summer She Found Her Voice: A Retro Novel, was published by Apprentice House Press in April 2024 and is available on Amazon and other online outlets. Follow her publishing journey by signing up for her monthly newsletter at https://www.jeanburgessauthor.com.
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