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Mentoring New Writers on How to Write a Book

Are you like me? Finding your way in a post-2020 world? I wish I could say "post-Covid world" but chances are that Covid will be around for a while. We've had virtual dinner with family, tackled distance learning/working, and have had some parts of our routines cut as cleanly away from our lives--amputated as it were-- without time to prepare. 


It feels like the healthy parts were cut away and the parts left to us were the stress, indecision, and obligations that drain us. We cleaned our closets, we baked from homegrown sourdough starter we created from a Tic Tok 'How To' recipe and we made our own face masks using a bandana from the 'How To' shown on the news.


Then a friend asked if I could give her daughter some coaching on the book she was writing. I blinked at the idea - never thinking of myself as a teacher - but then I reasoned that I'd been in publishing for ten years and over the years I had availed myself of every expert and conference and legitimately helpful industry insider I could find. I'd amassed quite a cache of knowledge and an even bigger hoard of lessons from trial and error. 


My time with my first protégé was deeply fulfilling and as I've gone on to work with other new writers, I'm offering my own 'How To' --with small bite-sized tips, tricks, and details on what's worked for me --here on this blog.


The landscape of publishing, writing and even reading has changed radically. Embracing new opportunities is an exciting endeavor and I hope you'll take advantage of what I have to offer as I seek fulfillment beyond sourdough and shoe storage.


So are you like me? If you read or write, you just may be.


-- Anna Erikssön Bendewald



















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