Kate Meadows's Blog

Many aspiring authors have a powerful story to tell but aren’t sure how to turn that idea into a complete book. Whether you’re writing a memoir, nonfiction guide, or novel, the process can feel overwhelming without support. This is where working with a book coach can make all the difference. Through guidance, accountability, and professional insight, a book coach helps writers move from a simple idea to a finished manuscript.

Starting With the Idea

Every book begins with an idea. Sometimes it’s a life story that feels important to preserve, while other times it’s professional insight or knowledge you want to share with others. At this early stage, a book coach helps clarify the purpose of the book and identify the audience it’s meant to reach.

Many writers struggle because their ideas are too broad or unfocused. A book coach can help refine the concept and shape it into a clear direction for the book. For example, someone interested in writing a memoir might need help deciding which experiences to focus on and how those moments create a compelling narrative. Writers who are sharing personal stories or working on a first book often benefit from this early coaching stage.

Creating a Plan for the Book

Once the idea is clear, the next step is building a roadmap. A professional book coach helps authors outline their book and organize their thoughts into a structure that works.

This stage is especially important for nonfiction writers. A nonfiction book coach can help organize research, determine chapter topics, and ensure the message is clear and engaging. Writers working on novels may work with a book coach to develop plot, pacing, and character arcs.

A strong outline gives writers confidence and direction. Instead of staring at a blank page, authors know what they’re working toward in each chapter. A book coach can help an author determine how those chapters fit together.

Writing the First Draft

With a plan in place, the real writing begins. This is often the stage where many authors get stuck. Busy schedules, self-doubt, and writer’s block can slow progress. Book coaching services provide accountability and encouragement so writers continue making progress.

Regular check-ins can help writers maintain momentum throughout the process. During these sessions, authors can discuss their progress, work through challenges, and set clear goals for the next stage of writing. For many writers balancing their book with work, family, or other responsibilities, this ongoing support provides the accountability and guidance needed to stay focused and keep moving forward.

Revising and Strengthening the Manuscript

Once a draft is complete, the next step is revising and strengthening the manuscript. This stage focuses on improving the overall structure, clarity, and flow of the book so the story or message comes through clearly for readers.

During this phase, a book coach often provides big-picture feedback similar to developmental editing. Instead of focusing on acute grammar issues, the goal is to look at the manuscript as a whole. A coach may help identify areas where chapters need to be reorganized, where ideas could be developed more fully, or where certain sections may need to be condensed or clarified.

For writers working on a memoir, this stage can be especially valuable. A nonfiction book coach can help shape personal experiences into a compelling narrative that connects with readers. With thoughtful revision and guidance, the manuscript becomes stronger, more focused, and closer to a finished book.

Moving Toward a Finished Book

Completing a manuscript is a major milestone, but getting there often requires guidance, structure, and accountability. Working with a book coach can help writers stay focused throughout the process, offering support from the earliest idea through the final revisions. Whether you’re writing a memoir, developing nonfiction, or simply trying to stay consistent with your writing goals, a book coach can provide the direction and encouragement many authors need to finish their book.

If you’re looking for supportive book coaching services, Kate Meadows Writing & Editing offers personalized guidance for writers at every stage of the writing process. If you have a book idea but aren’t sure what the next step should be, consider scheduling a 20-minute discovery call to discuss your project and explore how professional coaching can help you move forward.

The post Working With a Book Coach: From Idea to Finished Manuscript appeared first on Kate Meadows Writing & Editing.

Hiring a ghostwriter can be the difference between an idea that stays in your head and a story that finally makes it onto the page. Many people have meaningful experiences, expertise, or personal histories they want to share, but feel overwhelmed by the writing process. They may worry that they don’t have enough time to write, aren’t experienced enough to tell the story well, or wonder if anyone will care about what they have to say.

A ghostwriter is a professional writer who creates content that is officially credited to another person. They work behind the scenes to write books, articles, speeches, or other materials based on the client’s ideas, voice, and experiences.

A professional ghostwriter can help organize your ideas, shape your narrative, and turn your vision into a finished manuscript. However, not all ghostwriters work the same way. Before hiring someone, it’s important to ask thoughtful questions to ensure the collaboration is the right fit.

Below are some key questions to ask before hiring a ghostwriter.

1. What Experience Do You Have With Projects Like Mine?

One of the first things to ask a ghostwriter is about their experience with similar types of projects. Some ghostwriters focus on business books, while others work primarily with personal stories, family histories, or creative nonfiction.

Understanding a writer’s background helps you determine whether they are comfortable handling the type of story you want to tell. For example, if your goal is to record your life story, document the history of a family business, or share lessons from your career, it helps to work with someone who has experience shaping those kinds of narratives.

Kate Meadows Writing & Editing has worked with dozens of clients—from CEOs and business owners to artists and retired professionals—helping them turn their experiences into impactful stories. This variety of experience can make a big difference when a project requires both storytelling skill and an understanding of personal voice. 

2. What is Your Writing Process? 

Every ghostwriter has a different approach to gathering information and developing a manuscript. Some rely on recorded interviews, while others use written notes, outlines, or structured conversations to gather material.

If you’re thinking about hiring a ghostwriter, some good questions to ask potential candidates are:

How will we gather the information for the book?Will you create an outline before writing the manuscript?How often will we communicate during the project?How many revisions are included?

A clear process helps ensure the project stays organized and moves forward smoothly.

Many professional ghostwriters use structured conversations to understand the client’s goals, audience, and story direction. At Kate Meadows Writing & Editing, this type of structured approach is often used during project mapping sessions, where writers gain clarity on their story’s purpose, message, and potential reach before the writing even begins.

3. How will you capture my voice?

A successful ghostwritten book should sound authentic to the person whose story is being told. One of the most important parts of the ghostwriting process is ensuring the finished manuscript reflects your voice, your personality.

A ghostwriter worth hiring will take the time to learn a client’s voice and will ensure the writing feels natural.

Experienced writers typically spend time getting to know their clients through interviews, discussions about tone and audience, and feedback throughout the writing process.

Ghostwriting services at Kate Meadows Writing & Editing focus on helping a client’s distinct voice shine through powerful narratives. The goal is not simply to write a book, but to craft a story that speaks to the audience the client cares about most.

4. What is the Timeline for the Project?

Writing a book takes time. Depending on the complexity of the project, ghostwriting timelines can range from several months to over a year.

Before hiring a ghostwriter, ask about the ghostwriter’s availability and typical project timelines. Understanding the expected pace of the project will help you plan ahead and avoid misunderstandings.

Professional writers often work through a series of milestones such as outlining, drafting, revising, and finalizing the manuscript to keep the project moving forward.

At Kate Meadows Writing & Editing, clients begin with a discovery call or project mapping session to establish goals, expectations, and timelines before moving into the writing process.

5. What Will the Collaboration Look Like?

Ghostwriting is not a hands-off service. The best projects involve collaboration between the author and the writer.

Ask how often you and your ghostwriter will communicate and what role you’ll play during the writing process. Will there be regular interviews? Will you review drafts as they are completed?

A strong ghostwriting relationship involves clear communication and mutual trust. Regular conversations and feedback help ensure the finished manuscript reflects your vision.

At Kate Meadows Writing & Editing, collaboration is an important part of the storytelling process. With more than 35 years of combined writing and editing experience, Kate works alongside clients to understand their vision, their story’s purpose, and how the final narrative should reach its intended audience.

Finding the Right Ghostwriter

Hiring a ghostwriter is an investment in your story. By asking the right questions about experience, process, timelines, and collaboration, you can find someone who understands your goals and can guide your project from idea to finished manuscript.

If you’re considering working with a ghostwriter, Kate Meadows Writing & Editing in Rapid City, South Dakota, offers professional ghostwriting services designed to help clients share their stories in meaningful ways. Whether you want to share your life story, preserve your family history, or pass along professional insights, Kate Meadows Writing & Editing helps transform those ideas into powerful narratives.

If you’re ready to explore your story or book idea, schedule a free 20-minute discovery call with Kate Meadows Writing & Editing to discuss your project and learn how professional ghostwriting can help bring your vision to life.

The post Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Ghostwriter appeared first on Kate Meadows Writing & Editing.

There comes a moment in every manuscript’s life when the question shifts.

At first, the questions are creative:

What if this character made a different choice?

What happens next?

How does it end?

But eventually, the questions deepen:

Is this working?

Is the structure strong enough?

Does this story say what I want it to say?

That’s often the moment when writers begin to consider developmental editing.

What Is Developmental Editing?

Developmental editing is big-picture editing. It looks at the foundation of your manuscript rather than the surface-level polish. Instead of focusing on grammar, punctuation, or sentence-level adjustments, developmental editing examines structure, pacing, character development, theme, clarity, and overall cohesion.

Think of it as architectural work.

If line editing smooths the paint on the walls, developmental editing checks the blueprint. Are the load-bearing beams strong? Does the layout make sense? Are there rooms that don’t serve a purpose?

A developmental editor evaluates how your manuscript functions as a whole. For nonfiction, this may include organization of ideas, clarity of argument, and narrative flow. For fiction and memoir, it often involves character arcs, stakes, tension, and thematic consistency.

It is less about fixing sentences and more about strengthening the story itself.

Why Developmental Editing Matters

Writers are often too close to their own work to see its gaps. We know what we mean to say. We understand the backstory that never made it onto the page, because it lives in our minds. We fill in emotional leaps without realizing the reader cannot.

Developmental editing bridges that gap.

A skilled book editor reads with fresh eyes and asks thoughtful, sometimes difficult questions:

Does the opening draw readers in?Are there sections that feel repetitive?Where does the narrative lose momentum?What is the core message, and is it clear?

These questions are not meant to discourage. They are meant to clarify.

Strong writing is rarely accidental. It is shaped through revision. Developmental editing provides direction during that shaping process.

How Developmental Editing Helps Your Writing

One of the most valuable aspects of developmental editing is the perspective it offers. When you’ve spent months—or years—inside a manuscript, it becomes difficult to assess it objectively. A developmental editor can identify patterns you may not see: themes that need strengthening, chapters that feel misplaced, or emotional beats that deserve more depth.

Developmental editing can help you:

Refine your manuscript’s structureStrengthen character or narrative arcsClarify your central messageEliminate unnecessary sectionsDeepen emotional impact

Rather than rewriting your work for you, a professional book editor guides you toward stronger decisions. An editor offers feedback, suggestions, and strategic recommendations so you can revise with purpose.

In many ways, developmental editing is a collaborative process. It honors your voice and helps you sharpen it.

It’s Not a Sign of Failure

Some writers hesitate to pursue developmental editing because they worry it signals weakness. In reality, the opposite is true. Seeking feedback is a mark of commitment.

Experienced authors work with book editors. In traditional publishing, developmental editing is a standard part of the process. Manuscripts are refined through conversation, revision, and intentional restructuring long before they reach readers.

Writing is creative work—but it is also craft. And craft improves through guidance.

When to Consider Developmental Editing

If you’ve completed a draft and sense that something isn’t quite working—but you can’t identify what—it may be time to hire a developmental editor.

If you’re overwhelmed by revision and unsure where to begin, developmental editing can provide a roadmap.

If you want your manuscript to reach its fullest potential, early big-picture feedback can save time and frustration later.

Developmental editing does not diminish your creativity. It strengthens it. It creates space for clarity, cohesion, and confidence.

Because sometimes what your manuscript needs most is not more words—but a clearer vision. 

Learn more about editing services with Kate Meadows Writing and Editing by visiting https://www.katemeadows.com/services/....

The post Developmental Editing: What It Is and How It Strengthens Your Writing appeared first on Kate Meadows Writing & Editing.

If you’ve ever wondered how to write a memoir, you’re not alone. Memoir writing has grown in popularity as more writers feel compelled to tell personal stories with honesty and purpose. Readers are drawn to real experiences—stories of resilience, transformation, identity, loss, faith, reinvention. They are looking for connection, and a memoir offers exactly that.

But knowing you want to tell your story and knowing how to shape it are two different things.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore memoir writing or you’re deep into a draft, understanding the foundations of the craft will help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

What Is Memoir Writing?

Before diving into how to write a memoir, it’s important to understand what a memoir actually is. Memoir is a form of creative nonfiction that focuses on a specific season, theme, or experience in a person’s life. Unlike autobiography—which attempts to document an entire life chronologically—memoir centers on meaning, and it often covers only a slice of life.

Memoir writing asks not only What happened? but also, Why does it matter?

Strong memoir writers select a focused slice of life and explore it deeply. The goal is not to share every detail but to illuminate a universal truth through personal experience.

Start with a Clear Narrative Focus

One of the first steps in learning how to write a memoir is narrowing your scope. Many first-time memoir writers make the mistake of trying to tell their entire life story. This often leads to a scattered manuscript without a clear throughline.

Instead, identify a central theme:

A season of griefA cross-country moveA career transitionA complicated family relationshipA journey of healing

When your memoir writing revolves around a clear theme, every scene, reflection, and chapter can serve that larger purpose. Focus creates cohesion.

Turn Memories into Scenes

Effective memoir writing relies on scene-building rather than summary. Readers want to feel as though they are inside the moment with you.

As you write your draft, reconstruct experiences using sensory detail:

What did the room look like?What was said?What did you notice first?What emotions were present in your body?

While memory may not provide perfect transcripts, emotional accuracy matters most. Skilled memoir writers recreate scenes in a way that captures the truth of the experience without fabricating events.

Balance Story with Reflection

Understanding how to write a memoir also means recognizing the importance of reflection. A memoir is not simply a collection of journal entries. It is a conversation between your past self and your present self.

Reflection adds depth and insight:

What did you believe at the time?What have you learned since?How did the experience shape who you are today?

Memoir writers use reflection to bridge the gap between lived experience and reader takeaway. This is what transforms personal narrative into meaningful storytelling.

Write with Emotional Honesty

Authenticity is at the heart of memoir writing. Readers connect to vulnerability and sincerity. When you write honestly—without exaggeration or self-protection—your story resonates more deeply.

That said, writing a memoir requires discernment. Consider how others are portrayed and whether identifying details need adjustment. 

Structure Matters

Once you’ve drafted your manuscript, structure becomes essential. There are many ways to organize memoir writing:

Chronological structureBraided timelinesThematic sectionsFramed narrative

Experiment with structure to see what best supports your story. The right framework enhances clarity and strengthens emotional impact.

Revision is where memoir writers refine voice, deepen reflection, and sharpen narrative tension. Expect multiple drafts. No memoir is written cleanly in a single attempt.

Why Memoir Writing Matters

When considering how to write a memoir, it’s helpful to remember why the genre continues to resonate. Memoir creates connection. It allows readers to see their own struggles and hopes reflected in someone else’s story.

Every life contains moments worth examining, not only because they are dramatic or extraordinary—but because they are human.

If you feel the pull toward memoir writing, begin where you are. Start with one scene. One question. One memory that continues to surface. Over time, patterns will emerge. Themes will suggest themselves. You will begin to find your voice.

The process of learning how to write a memoir is not only about craft—it is also about courage. And for many memoir writers, the act of shaping personal history into narrative becomes transformative in itself.

Your story holds meaning. The page is waiting. If you have been thinking about writing a memoir but aren’t sure where to start—or if you are feeling held back by fear-–-consider scheduling a free 20-minute discovery call with Kate Meadows Writing & Editing. We will meet you where you are and help you consider possibilities for moving forward with your memoir.

The post How to Write a Memoir: A Practical Guide for Aspiring Memoir Writers appeared first on Kate Meadows Writing & Editing.

Writing can be both exciting and overwhelming. No matter what kind of project you’re working on, it’s easy to get caught up in the details and lose sight of the bigger picture. That’s where a writing coach can make all the difference. A writing coach provides guidance, clarity, and accountability, helping you see your work from a fresh perspective, tackle challenges, and move forward with confidence.

1. Clarifying the Big Picture
A writing coach helps you figure out the purpose and vision of your project. Before getting bogged down in sentences, paragraphs, or chapters, it’s important to know what your writing is meant to achieve. Are you sharing personal experiences, telling a compelling story, or working on a professional piece? A writing coach can help you define your goals, understand your audience, and shape the direction of your project, making sure every part contributes to the bigger story. Focusing on this from the start can save months of rewriting later.

2. Structuring Your Work
Once the big picture is clear, a writing coach can help you organize your ideas so they flow logically. This might involve outlining chapters, arranging scenes, or planning sections of an article or essay. Having a clear structure keeps readers engaged and makes it easier to see how each part fits into the whole. Whether it’s memoir writing or a collection of short stories, establishing a solid framework saves time in revision and gives your story a stronger, more cohesive shape.

3. Refining the Details
While structure provides the skeleton, the details bring your writing to life. A writing coach can help you polish sentences, develop your voice, and make dialogue or descriptions more engaging. Feedback on tone, word choice, and pacing ensures every paragraph supports your story’s intent. With a good writing coach, you come to know yourself better as a writer. Paying attention to these smaller elements not only improves clarity but also makes your writing feel professional and compelling.

4. Offering Objective Feedback
It’s easy to become too close to your own work. A fresh perspective highlights what’s working, points out areas that could be stronger, and offers practical ways to improve. A writing coach’s outside perspective helps your writing resonate with readers and stay true to your voice and your intended story. Honest feedback challenges you in helpful ways and encourages growth, even when it pushes you out of your comfort zone.

5. Accountability and Motivation
Writing can be a long, sometimes lonely process. A writing coach helps you stay on track, set realistic goals, and keeps you motivated when progress feels slow. Regular check-ins and guidance turn big, ambitious projects into completed work. Having this kind of support is often what separates writers who start projects from those who actually finish them.

Working with a writing coach can change not just the way you write, but the way you approach every project. By keeping the big picture in mind, structuring your work, refining the details, offering objective feedback, and providing accountability, a writing coach empowers you to tell your stories with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Set up a free 20-minute discovery call or book a one-time project roadmapping session today and learn more about how working with a writing coach at Kate Meadows Writing & Editing can help you. At Kate Meadows Writing & Editing, we give you the guidance, tools, and perspective you need to reach your writing goals and take your work to the next level.

The post 5 Ways a Writing Coach Can Help You appeared first on Kate Meadows Writing & Editing.

If you don’t open yourself up to critique, you won’t grow as a writer. While that can feel intimidating at first, it is one of the most important truths in the creative process. The purpose of a writing critique is not to point out flaws or diminish your voice. Instead, a writing critique is a tool designed to help you refine your skills, strengthen your story or message, and create work that truly connects with readers.

A writing critique is much more than simply proofreading. It goes well beyond grammar and punctuation to focus on clarity, structure, tone, pacing, and emotional impact of the writing. Whether you’re exploring new ideas, revising a draft, or working with a writing coach, constructive feedback allows you to see your work from a fresh perspective. Writers often get too close to their own words, making it difficult to spot where a story may feel unclear or where the pacing could improve. Critiques shine a light on these areas, helping you make intentional choices that elevate your writing.

As a writing coach in Rapid City, SD, I have seen writers hesitate to share their work because they fear judgment or criticism. This is especially common in memoir writing, where personal stories carry deep emotions and significant meaning. However, critique is not a reflection of your talent or the value of your experiences. It is a professional tool that helps your story land with clarity, resonance, and impact. Approached the right way, feedback empowers you to become a stronger, more confident writer.

Consistently seeking and reflecting on feedback is one of the most effective ways to grow as a writer. Thoughtful critiques help you identify what’s working, reveal areas that could be stronger, and offer perspective you won’t find on your own. Over time, this insight allows you to make more confident choices about structure, voice, and style, while keeping your work true to your vision. Approaching critique with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to learn transforms it from a source of anxiety into a powerful tool that strengthens both your writing and your confidence in the craft.

Critiques are valuable at every stage of the writing process. When you welcome feedback and consider it thoughtfully, your work becomes clearer, more engaging, and more powerful. Growth comes from being open to suggestions, reflecting on them, and applying what serves your story best. By embracing critique, you give yourself the opportunity to improve not just a single piece of writing, but your skills as a writer overall.

Whether you are seeking coaching services, professional editing, or guidance on a legacy project, incorporating critique into your process is essential. Writers who improve are writers who remain open, flexible, and committed to learning. Choosing to embrace critique is choosing progress. Writing is a journey, and each critique is a step that brings your stories closer to their best.

The post All About Writing Critiques appeared first on Kate Meadows Writing & Editing.

Confession: I have shoeboxes of journals. Some of them have hard covers with poignant quotes and soothing colors. Others are as plain as they come – solid black or brown with no hint of creativity. Regardless of the cover, the insides are all the same: lined pages scrawled with long-buried moments, pulsing questions and wins worth remembering.

Journaling is a form of art, and I believe it is a necessary practice for writers of all ages and abilities. When we write things down, we often see things more clearly or encounter new revelations. Journaling allows us to practice communicating with the written word. It helps us to remember. Journals are ways of preserving personal histories. And through that, glimpses of the world’s history also peek through. Journals therefore become artifacts and some of them also become works of art.

The best thing about journaling? There is no right or wrong way to do it. There are so many ways to approach journaling My own journaling has taken on a variety of forms over the years, from long tomes of messy thoughts to bulleted lists to “3 Things” (where I simply record 3 notable things about my day).

You can journal about your worries, put down destructive thoughts, record your dreams. You can freewrite whatever comes to mind. Stream-of-consciousness journaling is the process of writing down thoughts as they flow; there is no order, no agenda.

As writers, our personal journals become extensions of ourselves. Our words, thoughts, and ideas tumble onto the page, preserved in time. So often I have been thankful for my journals, for bringing me back to moments I had long forgotten and never would have remembered, had I not written them down.

For Sarah Werner, author and host of Write Now podcast, journaling brings clarity. Werner describes journaling as a place to “find myself and discover myself and understand myself … to ask myself really hard questions and search out answers.”

Christina Baldwin, author of Storycatcher: Making Sense of our Lives through the Power and Practice of Story, says, “We need words in order to make things real. If we don’t talk about something, it’s as though it’s not happening. And yet it is happening.”

Seeing the words written out helps us process what is happening, and processing real life helps us make sense of what is happening or what has happened.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of “practice” when it comes to writing. Writing is a skill, and like all skills, it improves with practice. Baldwin suggests this practice is “like doing scales on a piano, only in words; writing allows us to practice the foundations of our own story. We become more and more articulate the more we practice.”

Journaling is a way to regularly practice writing. The more articulate we become, the clearer we know and see ourselves and our stories. The more articulate we become, the stronger our message.

Getting words onto the page can also free our minds from mental clutter and allow the mind to focus on the task of our own works-in-progress. You could consider this type of journaling as a writing “warm-up”. Julia Camron, in The Artist’s Way, refers to this type of writing as “Morning Pages.”

A friend once shared her surprise over how many stories she ends up sharing with people at the bank or out running errands. “I need to make time to organize them as vignettes,” she said.

These stories – simple interactions between people, observations of the world around us, encounters that produce questions – have value. When we write them down, they solidify moments in time.

Doris Edblad-Olson’s book, Available: Any Bush Will Do, is a collection of vignettes from the author’s life. Ekbald-Olson, reiterates “…there is a story behind every life. Life stories that are very different from our own hold a special interest.”

Because journals hold our words and make things real, they carry our stories into the future and preserve our history. Journals, then, become artifacts. Indeed, “writing creates an artifact,” says Baldwin in Storycatchers. Each journal entry you write becomes a moment preserved in time.

Where those moments show up or how they come back to inform later facts and happenings from our lives in anyone’s best guess.

That’s the beauty – that’s the mystery – of journaling. The words will always be there. Memories saved. Interactions remembered. Pieces of history preserved. The words may never again see the light of day, once you’ve turned the page. That’s practice. The words that do resurface – that’s the art and artifact.

Do you keep a journal? We’d love to hear about your practice. And, you can still download our 25 Reflective Holiday Writing Prompts – a little extra motivation to encourage you to find little pockets of time to write during the holiday season.

*Some of the links I share are affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase through them, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

 

The post The Art of Journaling: Recording Moments, Preserving History, Creating Artifact appeared first on Kate Meadows Writing & Editing.

Every year, the holidays sweep in with their familiar mix of wonder and whirlwind. There’s the glow of lights, the gatherings, the traditions we’ve practiced for years. And then there’s the schedule—crowded, noisy, full of good things that leave us feeling stretched thin.

For writers, this season can make creative work feel out of reach. But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. In fact, this time of year naturally invites us to return to practices that anchor us—slow, steady routines that help us stay grounded amid the bustle. Writing can be one of those quiet anchors.

And here’s the good news: it doesn’t require hours. It only asks that we show up in the cracks and corners of our days.

A Small Ritual in a Full Season

There’s something about winter mornings—the stillness before the day wakes—that lends itself to reflection. A warm cup in your hands. A house not yet humming. A few minutes to breathe.

You don’t need a grand plan. Just open a notebook and let a handful of sentences settle on the page. What’s stirring in you today? What memory surfaced while you hung ornaments or wrapped a gift? What is this season reminding you to pay attention to?

Even five minutes can steady your heart. Those few minutes compound over a month into something meaningful.

Looking for the Little Pockets of Time

If mornings are out of the question, you can work with what the season gives you. The holidays come with natural pauses—short, often overlooked pockets of time.

Try these small openings:

While cookies bake: Set a timer for the last five minutes and jot down what you’re noticing around you.In the car before going into a gathering: Let yourself write a quick note about the people you’re about to see, or the story you want to remember later.At the end of the night: Instead of scrolling social media or catching the last five minutes of the late-night news, write a paragraph about the sweetest or strangest moment of the day.During those rare quiet interludes when the house settles after company leaves—there’s a clarity in that hush that’s worth catching on paper.

None of your writing in these small openings of time has to be perfect. None of it has to belong to a bigger project. Sometimes the most nourishing writing is the kind that simply keeps us connected to ourselves. It may not even feel valuable in the moment. But when you return to it a year or a decade later, you’ll be glad you captured your thoughts.

Keeping Tools Close at Hand

One small tweak can make a big difference this holiday season: always keep a notebook nearby. Slip it into your bag. Leave it on the kitchen counter. Tuck it beside your favorite chair. When ideas don’t have far to travel, they tend to show up more often.

And if you’re chasing kids or traveling or otherwise juggling more than one human should, use the voice memo app on your phone. Speak your thoughts as you stir a pot or take a walk outside in the cold. Capture the spark while it’s warm.

A Season That Still Belongs to You

Yes, the holidays are busy. But they also carry a deep sense of tradition—moments we return to year after year because they remind us of who we are. Let your writing become one of those traditions. It’s not a chore. It’s not another thing to feel behind on. Rather, it’s a gentle practice that keeps you steady and present.

You don’t have to write for long. You just have to write a little. And those little pieces add up, quietly but faithfully, the way the season always has.

*Stay faithful to your writing during this busy season by downloading our 25 Reflective Holiday Writing Prompts. Focus on one prompt a day and see where it goes! BONUS: share the fruits of one of these writing prompts with us at kate@katemeadows.com, and we might feature it in an end-of-the-year blog post.

The post Writing as an Anchor in a Busy Season: How to find time to write during the holidays—and why you should appeared first on Kate Meadows Writing & Editing.

Every November for the past 20 years, writers flocked to the nonprofit National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) website, eager to take up the organization’s challenge: Write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November. November was dubbed National Novel Writing Month in 2000, as founder Chris Baty wanted to encourage writers to take advantage of the miserable late-fall weather. (He lived in the San Francisco Bay area, where it was often cold and rainy.)

What started as a simple-enough effort local to San Francisco in 1999 with 21 participants, NaNoWriMo ballooned over the years, in both participants and participant location. In 2022, more than 400,000 participants signed up, from all over the world. They logged their daily word counts, cheered each other on, and kept the dream alive that, yes, they could finish that book.

But after a remarkable two-decade run, NaNoWriMo’s story came to a dead halt.

A one-two punch of controversies — one involving inadequate oversight in the organization’s youth programs, another over its stance on artificial intelligence in creative writing — led to internal fractures and public backlash. The nonprofit shuttered its doors in 2024, leaving a gap where a vibrant community once gathered.

For many writers, it felt like losing a familiar November ritual — one that celebrated effort over polish, consistency over perfection. The idea wasn’t to produce a masterpiece, but to get words on the page and worry about revising later.

So now what?

The good news is that the heart of NaNoWriMo — the community, the commitment, the creative spark — still beats strong. Writers everywhere are carrying the tradition forward in new ways.

Did you ever participate in NaNoWriMo? Are you looking at November and feeling lost, wondering what will take the place of this structure and community that united writers across the globe for two decades?

If you’re hungry to write in November and still long to spend this short, cool month in a mad writing sprint, I want to share some NaNoWriMo alternatives with you  – including an invitation to write with me for 30 days and celebrate your progress on the other end.

Alternatives for November Writing Challenges

Reedsy Novel Sprint

Publishing platform Reedsy has launched its own November challenge, encouraging writers to draft 50,000 words in thirty days. This year, they’re offering prizes and even agent introductions for top participants — a mix of fun and motivation to keep those fingers typing.

ProWritingAid’s “Novel November”

ProWritingAid, in partnership with Scrivener, Lulu, Kickstarter, and others, hosts “Novel November.” Writers commit to a month of writing sprints, live workshops, and community events — all designed to help authors finish strong and polish their drafts after.

Janna Maron’s NON-WriMo

NON-WriMo is the alternative to NaNoWriMo for women writing nonfiction. Creator Janna Maron encourages women nonfiction writers to set their own goals and work at their own pace. “We prioritize ease, grace, and manageable goals over stress, pressure, and plowing through to force ourselves to meet a word count goal that, let’s be honest, isn’t a sustainable (or fun) approach to our writing and creative lives,” Janna says.

Local Events
Some communities are keeping the NaNoWriMo spirit alive locally. Libraries, writing centers, and bookshops are hosting their own challenges. For example, the Brigham City Library in Utah continues to host a November novel-writing event with local prizes and meetups.

Go Solo (or Small)
You don’t need a global nonprofit to make November count. You can gather a few friends, set your own daily goals, and hold each other accountable. Invite writer friends to join you on Zoom, or meet once a week in a coffee shop to share your writing progress and write some more. Whether you’re writing 50,000 words or 500, the goal is the same: show up for your story.

How will you show up?

November can be your month of accountability and encouragement. If you’d like a little extra boost, download our free November Writing Tracker. The tracker is a fun way to help you stay motivated and keep showing up. The visual rhythm of checkmarks is motivating, and even a few missed boxes show that you’re trying, not failing.

It’s not about word count; it’s about consistency. About honoring your craft, one day at a time.

Download the November Writing Tracker here.

The end of NaNoWriMo doesn’t mean the end of November writing. It’s simply a new chapter — one where we can return to the roots of what made it meaningful in the first place: community, commitment, and courage.

Let’s keep the tradition alive.

The post NaNoWriMo Is Gone. What’s Next for Writers in November? appeared first on Kate Meadows Writing & Editing.

In a time of uncertainty—for journalism, for truth, even for funding the arts—stories endure because people keep showing up with curiosity, compassion, and commitment to telling them.

That truth was on full display at the 2025 South Dakota Festival of Books, held September 26–28 in Spearfish. The South Dakota Humanities Council describes the festival as “the state’s premier literary event,” celebrating literature “in South Dakota and beyond by connecting the very best regional and national writers with our state’s readers for conversations, presentations, panel discussions, book signings, and special events.”

More than 5,000 book lovers, authors, and publishing professionals filled the small town (population just shy of 14,000) for a weekend that celebrated the written word against all odds.

Five months before the festival, the South Dakota Humanities Council, which organizes the event, lost 74 percent of its funding due to deep cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities. Then, in a twist worthy of a novel, the festival’s main book distributor backed out at the last minute—leaving organizers scrambling.

Enter Henry’s Books, Spearfish’s lone independent bookstore. Opened just a year earlier through a massive crowdfunding effort, Henry’s stepped in, secured every title from the 60-plus featured authors and illustrators, and quite literally saved the festival.

It was a reminder that stories survive only because people see to it that they do.

 

Unresolved

At one session, journalists-turned-authors Dan Jorgensen and Mary Annette Pember explored the crossovers between journalism, narrative, and creative writing. Playing on H.L. Mencken’s line that “the journalist lives a life of kings,” Pember said she liked to think that, as a journalist, she lived “the life of queens.”

As she spoke about researching her mother’s experience at an Indian boarding school in Wisconsin—material that went into her latest book, Medicine River—one word came to me: unresolved.

History is unresolved.

Our stories are unresolved.

So much of our reckoning with hard truths remains unresolved.

Listening to Pember and Jorgensen, I couldn’t help but wonder if either of them would go into journalism today. The world they entered decades ago—the one I once knew—has changed beyond recognition. I remembered myself in those early days, heading out in Little Henry, my blue 1990 Ford Ranger, reporter’s notebook in hand. I’d chase the story, scribbling facts and quotes, then return to the newsroom to type and send my piece to the editor. My first salaried job paid $24,000 a year.

Today, reporters type notes into their phones and sometimes file stories from the driver’s seat before even leaving the scene. The tools have changed, but the motivation—the why behind the work—still matters most.

Pember admitted that “structure was always the stumbling block.” And her reason for writing her latest book felt familiar: “Part of my motivation was trying to understand my family,” she said. Even after publication, she said, she keeps a pen and pad nearby, giving herself permission to remember.

Permission. That word lingered.

Another phrase came to me that morning: consistent curiosity. Maybe that’s what keeps a journalist—or any writer—at the desk, even when the story feels too heavy, too tangled, or too unresolved.

 

Stories Truer Than Facts

Later, in a session called Mending a Divided Nation, psychology professor Tania Israel presented hard statistics about how Americans misperceive one another.

“We perceive Democrats and Republicans to be farther apart than they are,” she said. “We’re not nearly as apart as we think we are.”

She shared some sobering numbers:

Republicans guessed that 38% of Democrats identify as LGB (lesbian, gay or bi-sexual); the reality is 6% of Democrats identify as such.Democrats guessed that 44% of Republicans earn more than $250,000; the reality is 2% earn more than $250,000.Each side assumes 40% of the other condones political violence, when in truth, only 1–2% do.

But here was the hopeful part: 71% of Americans believe it’s possible to find common ground on most issues.

And then Israel said something that resonated with me on a deep level: “People find stories to be more true than facts.”

It was another thread in that same tapestry—curiosity, compassion, and story as the bridge between worlds.

One festival attendee said this about the power of story: “Stories are alive after we let them go. You don’t know who’s going to read them, and you don’t know what kind of effect they’ll have.”

 

The Writer’s Reckoning

The next day, I sat in a dim theater at Black Hills State University, attending yet another talk on researching and writing nonfiction. I’d hoped for some new insight into how to approach my own project about my grandfather’s childhood—his journey from Dust-Bowl-ridden Oklahoma to the far reaches of western Wyoming in the late 1930s.

But as the speakers traded anecdotes about their own research with their own books, I realized: Nothing that they were saying was new to me.

And then it hit me. I was hiding behind “learning.” Behind more classes, more talks, more knowledge. What I wasn’t doing was the one thing that mattered most: writing.

It’s funny how easy it is to give two hours to a talk about writing and not even consider spending those same two hours actually writing.

I jotted this in my journal: A big part of why I’m not writing—or researching—is that I don’t feel I have permission.

Of course, the question then becomes, permission from whom?

And of course, I know the answer: permission from myself.

Maybe that’s the struggle for so many of us. We seek permission when the truth is, stories don’t wait for it. They just need us to show up—curious, compassionate, and committed.

 

The Story That Endures

As I packed up my vendor booth at the end of the weekend, I kept thinking about Henry’s Books—how one independent bookstore rose to meet the moment and, in doing so, reminded us all why we gather around stories in the first place.

Because when we show up for stories, they show up for us.

When we nurture curiosity, we mend what feels broken.

And when the world feels uncertain, stories remind us that the human spirit endures.

For me as a writer, editor, and book coach, weekends like this are a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. Every author I help, every story I edit, is part of this larger human effort—to make sense of what’s unresolved, to stay curious, to keep the flame of story burning.

Because in the end, it isn’t just books that save festivals—it’s people showing up for one another, for story, for truth. And that, I think, is where hope lives.

As I drove home from Spearfish, I thought about how every story I help shepherd into the world—whether my own or someone else’s—is part of this same act of endurance. Writers, editors, readers, booksellers—we all hold a thread of it. What Henry’s Books did for the Festival is what writers do every day: keep stories alive.

That’s the work, and the gift—to keep showing up with curiosity, compassion, and commitment, knowing that even in uncertain times, stories will carry us through.

 

*This post contains affiliate links, and we receive a small commission from each book sale.

The post When Stories Save Us: Notes from the 2025 South Dakota Festival of Books appeared first on Kate Meadows Writing & Editing.