Category: Uncategorized

JOURNAL-TO-GO-BAG SHAKES THINGS UP IN A GOOD WAY

12 April 2025

To refresh your memory, my author platform for over 30 years has been the health and well-being of creative people, especially writers. Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity was my first published book in 2003 after several years of presenting workshops on the topic. The book is in its third edition and with a third publisher because the previous hosts closed up shop. Publishing is a chaotic business and not for the faint of heart or the impatient. Writer wellness is a way to embrace and thrive within the chaos.

The five key concepts of writer wellness are journaling, exercise, relaxation, nutrition, and creative play. As publishing and authoring evolve, I like to regularly remind creatives to follow good self-care practices in order to support their work and health. This post includes tips for journaling.

JOURNALING

Everyone goes through a journaling slump. Regardless of dedication to the practice, it can become stale or mundane. It happens. Don’t take it as a sign of time to stop. A journaling slump is time to explore the page beyond the norms. Instead of documenting the events of the day, write the list in your journal and title it “Today’s Goals” then check everything off with an X or a check mark. This is a positive way to look at a repeat practice.

Another helpful activity is to change up the place where you journal. I regularly like to go to a coffee shop or the library to journal to shake up my surroundings and what I journal about. One thing I do is LEAVE MY JOURNAL AT HOME and take blank paper to the new spot. I do this because I don’t want my regular journal to be misplaced. Once I’m home, I staple, glue, or enclose the pages in a cellophane envelope and add stickers then attach the whole thing to a page in the regular journal.

“Journal-to-Go-Bag” is a must and makes journaling in a new place easy. Fill a tote with the essentials such as blank paper or a notebook, pens, and markers and keep it always ready to go. I also include a roll or two of washi tape in case I find ephemera or interesting things at the location to add to my pages.

Up Next: Taking care of your physical body with regular exercise keeps your brain in shape too!

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NEWSLETTER

Be well, write well.

~Joy

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MY WRITEDAY SUBSCRIPTION BOX CART OPENS MONDAY, MAY 5. Don’t miss out on this fun box of writerly goodness lovingly called by one subscriber “A treasure trove for writers.” The May/June box is called “The Writing Coach.”

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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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This article may contain affiliate links which may result in the author receiving a commission when readers purchase items through the links.

 

Today we’re featuring authors NANCY HAYES KILGORE, KATHIE GIORGIO, & FRAN HAWTHORNE.

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BOOK: Bitter Magic

AUTHOR: Nancy Hayes Kilgore

GENRE: Historical Fiction

BLURB: Bitter Magic, inspired by the true story of Isobel Gowdie and her witchcraft confession, reveals a little-known corner of history—the lives of both pagan and Protestant women in the Scottish Reformation of the 1600s as witch trials and executions threatened their lives, values, and beliefs.

The story is told by Isobel herself and also by Margaret Hay, a fictionalized seventeen-year-old noble woman. When Margaret stumbles across Isobel one day, it seems as though Isobel is commanding the dolphins in the ocean to dance. Margaret is enchanted. She becomes interested in Isobel’s magic, in fairies, and in herbal remedies; Isobel freely shares her knowledge. While Margaret worries that being around Isobel could be dangerous, she also respects Isobel’s medical successes and comes to believe that acknowledging the efficacy of herbal remedies or believing in fairies does not challenge her Christianity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nancy Hayes Kilgore, BITTER MAGIC (Sunbury Press, 2021,) is the author of two other novels, WILD MOUNTAIN (Green Writers Press, 2017) and SEA LEVEL (RCWMS, 2011). Her writing has won the Vermont Writers Prize and a ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Award. Nancy is a graduate of the Radcliffe Writing Seminars and holds a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling. She is a writing coach, psychotherapist, and former parish pastor, and leads workshops on creative writing and spirituality.

 

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BOOK: Hope Always Rises

AUTHOR: Kathie Giorgio

GENRE: Literary Magical Realism

BLURB: In Heaven, there is a gated community for those who end their lives. This is a surprise to Hope, who ends her life on the banks of the Fox River in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Hope never knew what caused her sadness. God reassures her he does, but he won’t reveal it. Yet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kathie Giorgio is the critically acclaimed author of seven novels, two story collections, an essay collection, and four poetry books. Awards include Pushcart Prizes in fiction and poetry, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Library Association, the Pencraft Award for Literary Excellence, and the Eric Hoffer Award In Fiction.

 

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BOOK: I Meant to Tell You

AUTHOR: Fran Hawthorne

GENRE: Contemporary Upmarket Fiction

BLURB: When Miranda Isaac’s fiancé, Russ Steinmann, is being vetted for his once-in-a-lifetime dream job in the U.S. attorney’s office, the couple worries that Miranda’s parents’ history as political activists in the Sixties could jeopardize Russ’ security clearance. But the real threat emerges when Russ’s future boss discovers that Miranda was arrested for felony kidnapping nearly a decade earlier—an arrest she’d never revealed to Russ.

Miranda tries to convince Russ she was only helping her best friend, Ronit—caught up in a nasty custody battle—take her daughter to visit her parents in Israel. As Miranda struggles to prove that she’s not a criminal, she either makes matters worse or stumbles into more secrets. With everything she thought she knew upended, Miranda must face the truth about her family, herself, and her future marriage.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Fran Hawthorne has been writing novels since she was four years old, although she was sidetracked for several decades by journalism. During that award-winning career, she wrote eight nonfiction books and was an editor or regular contributor for The New York Times, Business Week, Fortune, and many other publications. But Fran never abandoned her true love: Her debut novel, “The Heirs,” was published in 2018, and now I MEANT TO TELL YOU (published last November by Stephen F. Austin State University Press) has already won or is a finalist for seven awards. Fran is at work on two new novels and also writes reviews for the New York Journal of Books.

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Welcome to Books By My Friends (BBMF) where I host various authors and their work.

Today we’re featuring authors TAD CRAWFORD, ZOE TASIA, and CHRIS COURTNEY MARTIN

 

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BOOK: On Wine-Dark Seas: A Novel of Odysseus and His Fatherless Son Telemachus

AUTHOR: Tad Crawford

GENRE: Historical Fiction

BLURB: Here is a brilliant recounting of the life of Odysseus after his safe return to the island of Ithaca, his wife Penelope, and his son Telemachus. Countless readers and listeners have thrilled to the adventures of Odysseus in The Iliad and The Odyssey, but what further adventures awaited him after his ten years of war and ten years of wandering?

Narrated by Telemachus to the bard Phemios, On Wine-Dark Seas speaks of the human drama of a man gone twenty years from home and family, a man who saw Troy on the night of its destruction, a man who lives the special quest which is his destiny. In probing the inner journeys of a son and father separated twenty years who must come to terms with each other and their ruthless slaughter of the suitors of Penelope, it reveals the doubts and joys of Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tad Crawford is the author of A Floating Life: A Novel as well as The Secret Life of Money and a dozen other nonfiction books. His lectures have brought mythology alive at venues such as the New York Open Center, Wainwright House, and the Analytical Psychology Club of New York. The recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts award, Crawford is the founder and publisher of Allworth Press. He lives in New York City.

 

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BOOK: Kilts and Catnip (The Shrouded Isle Book 1)

AUTHOR: Zoe Tasia

GENRE: Fantasy

BLURB: Becca Shaw visits a Scottish island where there’s a doorway to a magical world. Local Greg Gillie keeps everyone safe from the fae living there. Since Becca’s arrival, magic attacks have increased. The two must work together to stop the fae as they navigate growing feelings for each other. Note from the author: Kilts and Catnip is a sweet and wholesome fantasy romance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Zoe Tasia lives in Texas with her understanding Greek husband and a crazy cat where she explores her imagination as a writer. When she’s not giving her imaginary friends full rein, she enjoys the opera, ballet, well-chilled champagne and books, lots and lots of books.

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BOOK: THE BOOK OF I.P. (Idle Poems)

AUTHOR: Chris Courtney Martin

GENRE: Poetry/Prose Chapbook

BLURB: ‘THE BOOK OF I.P. (Idle Poems)’ is a hybrid poetry and essay chapbook collection that is “ironic in concept, sincere in content” as it deconstructs prescribed best-practices for getting ideas greenlit as a screenwriter and what it means to possess a producible and worthy story. Note from the author: Some adult language and themes, PG-13

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Chris Courtney Martin is a Black Queer multidisciplinary artist and psychic medium originally from Philadelphia. Martin’s produced screenwriting credits include short independent projects starring talents such as Sheryl Lee Ralph and Niecy Nash, as well as the animated YouTube series ‘SOMETHING SCARY’. After a multi-awarded screenwriting trajectory, the artist pivoted to literature. Their debut poetry/prose chapbook ‘THE BOOK OF I.P. (Idle Poems)’ is available in print on Amazon, via Alien Buddha Press. A second, full-length collection called ‘SLAM POEMS FOR MY BATHROOM MIRROR…And Other Selected Works…’ is due to launch in October of 2023. Martin also releases music under the name KWEAN OONTZ and debuted with the ‘A KWEAN OONTZ NOVEL’ MicroAlbum in June 2023, to positive international critical reception.

 

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“BACK TO THE BOOKS” SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER BOX REVEAL!

It’s “Back to the Books” in September and October and the first WriteDay bi-monthly box is arriving as we type! Let’s take a look at what’s inside.

 

1. Featured writing craft book: The Idea: the Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage, or Fiction by Emmy and Golden Globe award winning author Erik Bork. Erik’s book is relatively new and packed with super information about coming up with ideas. Who doesn’t need a bit of help there now and then? He was part of the writing team for the hit HBO series “Band of Brothers.” His ideas for coming up with ideas is nothing short of brilliant.

2. Blank journal: Write your own story in the 5 x 7-inch spiral-bound journal with lined pages to collect all the ideas you gather after reading Erik’s book!

3. Literature stickers collection: You don’t have to be a scrap booker to appreciate this cute set of literary stickers. There are no less than 10 stickers in the packet. Use them in your journal, in a scrapbook, or decorate a blank greeting card you’re sending to a writing friend.

4. Healthy snack: These peach flavored gummy rings from Lily’s are sugar-free and tasty as all get-out!

 

5. Decor: When I came across the miniature wooden typewriter, I had to have one. I use it to display my business card on the table at book signings. So stinkin’ cute, if you ask me.

 

6. Jewelry: The Writer zipper pull blows me away with its cuteness factor. I can’t tell you how many zippers I have that the pull has broken off but the garment, purse, whatever still functions. It can also be attached to a key ring without adding bulk or weight, and it would be super adorable hooked into the eyelet or laces of your walking sneakers.

7. Writing tool: There’s a pen in the box from yours truly.

 

8. Jewelry: The collectable enamel pin is off the charts, mine anyway, for being an adorable and understated way to let others know you’re a writer. Plans are to have a different writing/reading book related enamel pin in every box. Wear it on a lapel or attach it to the strap on your laptop case. Collect them all!

9. Something to write about: I’m nuts over Thoughtfulls pop-out greetings. Each one is brilliantly created to be interesting and charming. I keep a few in my journaling tote bag to share or use as a journal prompt. They fit nicely inside greeting cards for a little something extra. Pop it open, copy the words into the blank journal you just received, and write down your thoughts. They’re a little bit addictive.

It’s not too late to get your WriteDay Sept./Oct. subscription box while supplies last.

 

My WriteDay Subscribe Here

“Holiday Hoopla” November/December box will begin shipping November 25. Know anyone who would appreciate receiving a gift subscription to My WriteDay? Visit the website to get that in the works.

I hope your WriteDay is fantastic!

Joy

 

 

 

At first glance, the title could indicate that this is a piece about surviving a literal fall, as in down the steps, goddess forbid! The “fall” is seasonal in this case. Here are some tips for writers and readers for getting the most out of this time of year filled with so many colors, activities, and opportunities.

JOURNAL

Survival is one thing, but thriving is another. Surviving makes me think of living through a tough time and finally being rescued. I feel a bit fatigued by the idea of survival. Conversely, thriving makes me feel powerful and energized, ready for life’s curve balls. Here are three journaling prompts to bring the pen and paper to a meeting of the minds (or the keyboard clacking!)

1. Write about a school memory set during the autumn. Did you love the coloring sheets in elementary school with falling leaves, pumpkins, and turkeys on them? Did fall sports mean anything to you during junior or high school?
2. All the seasons involve transitions. Whether it’s environmental or physical, write about a transition memory that still impresses who you are today.
3. What do you love (or not) about the autumn season and why?

EXERCISE

With the cooler temperatures, fall is a good time to get outside for regular exercise. Walking is a favorite of mine. It makes me feel better and relax because I’m moving and not at the computer. If walking or yoga outside aren’t possible, open a window wherever you workout and enjoy the crisp air and the flapping curtains cheering you on.

MEDITATE

Many things change about our northern hemisphere lifestyle in the fall. Five minutes of stillness, eyes closed, and counting breaths can do wonders for appreciating the transitions of the seasons and our lives.

EAT

While summer brings its bountiful harvest of fresh, local produce and flowers, autumn offers its particular flavors and scents. The onset of every new season is a good time to reset your body’s systems. Everyone should do a mild detox or cleanse at the start of every new season. If for no other reason than to feel open and spacious for the coming months. The simplest and safest way to detox is to increase your daily water intake. There is no formula. Adjust as needed.

CREATE

I believe we’re all natural born creators. Some people play to that strength more than others. One reason some folks don’t consider themselves creative is that they never had the opportunity to make something. And they may have “expectations syndrome” which I invented to mark the times when I feel less than capable. For example, I can’t draw more than stick figures, hearts, and chakra symbols. I’m a good doodler. I like journal pages to be illustrated and colorful so I cut images from magazines and create collages. I can embellish as I see fit and feel satisfied that I lived up to my belief that art, all forms of art, are interpretations of how we see the world.

How do you plan to thrive this fall?

I hope your WRITEDAY is fantastic.

Joy

Women with clean houses do not have finished books. ~Joy E. Held

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The September/October My WRITEDAY subscription box “Back to the Books” ships September 20! Sign up now to be an Early Bird subscriber and receive a surprise free gift with your first box.

$59.00 plus tax includes shipping.

 

My WRITEDAY Subscribe

My WRITEDAY is a subscription box program that delivers curated products from authors, creators, and small businesses to writers and readers in the US. It’s unique in that many products are sourced from writers who are also crafters and artisans. Each box delivers a writing craft book of the month 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 will discover an experience designed to offer a healthful plan for living your best writing life.

Track and Field is one of my favorite sports. It relies on individual talent as well as a team effort. I loved running because of the freedom and the rhythmic sensation of repetitive movement. I always felt like a new person after a good run. Spent but invigorated if that makes sense.

Hurdle jumping was never my thing. It looked a little like flying to me, but I never quite got the hang of it. My back foot kept clipping the top bar of the hurdle sending me and the barrier into a heap. Since my track and field days, I’ve recognized that the sport of hurdle jumping is good practice for everyday life. I mean, who doesn’t have some kind of obstacle, big or small, to overcome on a daily basis?

Writers face a number of challenges specific to the work such as finding ideas, making time to write, shitty first drafts, marketing, and competition for the eyes and money of readers. It’s great that lots of people write, but not so great that self-publishing has allowed quite a few stinker books into the ether and burned many readers as a result.

Readers are even more cautious about buying books, which is Economics 101, but poorly written and edited books have created another obstacle for writers/authors. Readers do not think that authors should be paid very much for their work. In my mind, the only way over (or around) this barrier is to produce good work, get professional editing, stay positive, and be persistent. A good attitude is sometimes the only thing that will get one over a hurdle.

I can think of two moments in my adult life that threatened to derail my forward momentum as an author, editor, book coach, and educator. One was the C-word. Cancer certainly sucks, but I overcame it with the help of an amazing team of family, friends, co-workers, doctors, amaze-ball nurses, and natural healers all working together.

The experience changed my dreams in a way. It made them bigger and brighter, and I might be a little more driven to overachieve as a result of the “lost” time required to heal. I say “thank you” more than before, and I mean it. I became more appreciative of everything from the tiniest to the grandest.

The other event involved the traumatic loss of my dad. In that instance, another team of incredible, selfless, smart, kick-ass people helped me through it. I learned something from both situations that I apply to the life hurdles I have encountered ever since.

What have you learned, Grasshopper?

I’m a Scorpio. That means my motto is “I’d rather do it myself, thank you very much, even though I’m sure you’re quite capable and all that, but I’d rather do it myself.” The lesson I learned in both instances was to inhale deeply, exhale slowly, and trust someone else with the expertise to take the lead. I couldn’t do my own surgery. I couldn’t argue a case in a court of law, although I might like to try it someday. I had to put all my trust into complete strangers (another difficult thing for Scorps) and believe that the best would happen. And it did.

The one tool that enables me to examine my anxieties is journaling. I have relied on it for years, and it helps me see my life hurdles clearly and to know when I need to reach out for help. There is strength and power in knowing when to get help. Kind of like flying over a hurdle in the middle of a running track without clipping your toe on the barrier. Sometimes I grew wings and sailed over the hurdle leaving it behind me but still standing. My hubris and I did a high-five, and I kept on running. Just like you, I come upon different sizes of obstacles every day. Journaling gets me over them.

My WRITEDAY is a subscription box program that delivers curated products from authors, creators, and small businesses to writers and readers in the US. It’s unique in that many products are sourced from writers who are also crafters and artisans. Each box delivers a writing craft book of the month 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 month 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 you deserve. From craft books to office supplies to fun, writing/reading inspired décor, subscribers will discover an experience designed to offer a healthful plan for living your best writing life.

My WRITEDAY subscription box launches in August! Stay tuned for your opportunity to be an Early Bird subscriber and receive a special gift in your first box.

I hope your WRITEDAY is fantastic.

Joy

Women with clean houses do not have finished books. ~Joy E. Held

Connect with me

Linktree

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Please note that this site may contain affiliate links to Amazon. I may earn a small commission if you click through the link and make a purchase. Thanks for all the support!

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

From the Joy desk

Hi,

Congratulations to Christy E of Ohio who won the newsletter subscriber’s September drawing for a signed copy of Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity (Headline Books, Inc., 2020.) Watch for an announcement about the October contest in a couple of weeks.

If you’d like a chance to win the next drawing, please sign up for my newsletter here:

https://artisanal-musician-5007.ck.page/016aec7954

On to the news…

Online workshops I’m leading that anyone can sign up for include:

October

50 Ways to Leave Your Muse: Creativity Hacks

Sponsor: Northeast Ohio Romance Writers

Link to register https://www.neorwa.com/online-workshops/upcoming-meetings/

November

Mindset, Motivation, and Wellbeing A to Z for Writers

Sponsor: Aged to Perfection Romance Writers

Link to registerhttps://agedtoperfectionromancewriters.com/workshops/

December

50 Ways to Leave Your Muse: Creativity Hacks

Sponsor: Romance Writers of America Online

Link to register

https://rwaonlinechapter.org/workshops-3/

Reflective Writing: A Journal Workshop for Writers

Sponsor: Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal Romance Writers

Link to register

https://ffprwa.com/reflective-writing/

The workshop descriptions and registration links to the sponsors are also on my updated website

http://www.joyeheld.com

Nutrition note

NATIONAL NOODLE DAY – October 6

You may already know that am a fan of the blood type diet as explained by homeopathic physician Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo in his book Eat Right 4 Your Type. My blood type is O negative, and wheat products are hard for me to digest. D’Adamo suggests trying the ancient grain granddaddy of wheat called spelt. Less processing and high in B vitamins.

https://www.berlinnaturalbakery.com/

It was tough to find spelt bread and pasta when I first looked for it. It’s more available today thanks to my absolute favorite bakery located in Amish country in Berlin, Ohio. Give them a try. They are a small, family owned, multi-generational company that makes great products, and the customer service is awesome. Tell Nicole that Joy sent you!

All good things,

Joy

Women with clean houses do not have finished books.

Questions? Love ‘em!

writerwellness@gmail.com

Let’s connect!

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