Traditionally Self-Published with Mica Merrill Rice

From Blank Page to Breakthroughs: Lessons from a Writing Coach

• Mica Merrill Rice • Season 1 • Episode 6

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“As long as we are making progress everyday toward that goal, we will get through the imposter syndrome…” - Edy Hackett

In this episode, I sit down with Edy Hackett, an author and seasoned writing coach, to talk about what it really takes to keep going and build a solid habit that you can commit to for the long term.

We discussed:

  • The essentials of the writing craft every author should master
  • How to stay motivated and build sustainable writing habits
  • The benefits of working with a writing coach
  • And we wrap up with Edy's 5 Best Tips for Authors: actionable tips you can use to help elevate your manuscript today.

Whether you’re staring down a blank page or dreaming of finally writing the book, this episode is packed with encouragement, strategies, and insight to help you build sustainable habits so you can show up for your writing and honor your gift.

If you are interested in learning more about Edy Hackett's coaching, please follow her links below:

Have a publishing question? Email me at mica@micamerrillrice.com

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Website: micamerrillrice.com

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Facebook: @micamriceauthor

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"Traditionally Self-Published" theme music is written by Landon Bailey and performed and produced by LNDÖ


SPEAKER_00:

What's up plot twisters and a warm welcome to my page turners, the intrigued readers and listeners who are just stepping into the story. Whatever title you fancy today, I am so happy you're here with us. You're listening to Traditionally Self-Published, where we unravel the chaos of self-publishing and help you write your own success story like a pro. I'm your host, Mika Merrill-Rice, author with a passion for learning and sharing the love. I'm bringing you real talk with publishing pros and indie authors, just like me, who flipped the script and built thriving author careers on their own terms and are doing it like a pro. Whether you're rewriting your third novel or still plotting your first, you're right where you need to be. Today we are getting coached from someone who knows what it takes to motivate and help you refine your process. If you've ever wondered what separates a published author from a hobbyist just scribbling on the pages, this episode is for you. I am joined today by Edie Hackett, a professional writing coach and women's fiction author. Today we're going to talk about the writing craft, how to keep our motivation and build a good habit, the benefits of hiring a writing coach, and then we're best tips for authors. So let's be bold, write smart, and learn how to keep readers turning the pages. So hello, Miss Edie. How are you today? Good.

SPEAKER_01:

How are you doing?

SPEAKER_00:

I'm good. Thank you so much for joining us today. I'm really looking forward to this conversation and talking all things writing coach and finding out what we can get out of a writing coach and how we can find you if we need you. So let's go ahead and get started. So my first question is a I think the

SPEAKER_01:

biggest... problem that comes up over time with new writers and old writers is imposter syndrome and feeling like your words and your story are not good enough. I think that it's something we all struggle with and to kind of overcome that you need to not compare yourself to other writers journeys. You need to compare your own journey to where you were yesterday and when you think about the the path to get to publication and all the steps that you're learning along the way, it's okay to take a break. It's okay to take a walk through the woods and come back. As long as we're making progress every day towards that end goal, we will get through the imposter syndrome because with learning, you will gain confidence. in the process and within your writing. And I think those are things we give up too quickly as writers when we just need to keep pushing through to get the story told.

SPEAKER_00:

I love it. I think that's really good advice, especially like comparing yourself to what you were yesterday. That's sort of that like 1% better than yesterday type of approach. I really, I really think that's a pretty telling. So how do you help writers build like a consistent writing habit? Because I know a lot of us like fall in and out of it. And some of us, I'm not mentioning my own name, maybe start and we're like five minutes. And then, you know, four months later, we still haven't written anything. So especially juggling things like jobs and kids and you know your self-doubt like how do you kind of tell your your your clients like this is what you need to do to build this consistent writing

SPEAKER_01:

so I am structured by nature. It's just who I am inside. And I feel that finding a block of time, even if it is just 10 minutes of quiet before the kids wake up to sit down and either get some words on paper or sit down and brainstorm ideas is moving forward. So I Depending on where you are in your life, what season of life you're in, how many balls you're juggling in the air will determine how much free time you have, realistically, to get writing done. And to write a book, it's not easy. It takes a lot of time and a lot of dedication. And it does require some structure, I feel. So just putting aside... five minutes, 10 minutes, a half an hour every day, you'll start to see that progress on a day-to-day basis and that will motivate you to keep going. So that's the number one tip I have for that.

SPEAKER_00:

I think that's really good advice. I mean, I think for some, I know for me in the beginning, it's definitely a hard pill to swallow. You know, I am structured and then I'm also fall out of that structure. So reminding myself that if you really wanna do this, you need to find the time to do it. But even starting with like small habits is, that's great advice.

SPEAKER_01:

And I think too, we often commit to more than we can handle. And that's okay, too. It's okay to take a step back. And it doesn't mean you failed or are failing. It just means that at this time, what you need in your life is less time focusing on your writing or whatever is taking up your time. And that's okay, because as life changes, you will get back to where you want to be.

SPEAKER_00:

Awesome. I love it. All right, let's talk about the actual story a little bit. This is something near and dear. It's something that I tried to achieve with my own writing. I'm sure you do too. But what do you find the best way is to get that emotional depth from our characters?

SPEAKER_01:

So I am a huge Enneagram fan. I feel that before you even get started with your story, you kind of need to know who your character is. Maybe you can journal and pretend that you are them with different situations and scenarios. How would they react? How would they respond? But if you know their Enneagram type, if you know what kind of problem they're going to be approaching in your story and how they're going to handle it, you can figure out their type and And by knowing their type, you now know their motivation, you know what they want, you know what their fear is. And so those three things will help shape your story so that you are able to realistically and in character have your character respond to those situations.

SPEAKER_00:

Awesome. It's something that I have not yet done. I haven't done the Enneagram, but I'm very, very curious about it. Is there any one place that you would go to to learn about Enneagrams or a book that might be out there where you would kind of learn what it is and how you apply that?

SPEAKER_01:

So there's so many resources online with different breakdowns. You know, you can even look at character wounds, emotional wounds, wounds from your childhood that have now turned you into this number that will help with your character development as well. But the Enneagram Institute is a great resource. They specialize in Enneagram and they have very in-depth articles about the different numbers and it's all online for free.

SPEAKER_00:

Awesome. All right. What about rules? Do you have any writing rules that you love to break or are you a rule follower and it must be like this, this and this?

SPEAKER_01:

I mean, the whole pantsing, plotting controversy, you know, it's hard to know. where you fall on that spectrum. So sometimes I try to plot and sometimes I don't. And I am a real follower through and through. I love to read. I love to research. I love to take notes. But when it comes to organizing my story, that is the one area where I try to be a little bit more flexible or spontaneous and just kind of see what happens with that.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I agree. Awesome. Well, speaking of pantser, plotter and planser, how do you coach the different styles? I'm sure that you see one or all of them, but do you recommend one over the others? Or do you kind of like take whatever your clients need and say, well, have you tried this or that?

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, I mean, I don't it. We are all so different, right? Our brains work differently. We have different strengths. And so some people, plotting is very easy. Other people, they plot and then they can't write because they feel it takes the creativity out of their story. So when you're coaching, because we are all coming from a different place when it comes to organization, It's important to meet the writer where they are. So for me, I love structure and I try to recommend different organizational techniques that might help. But when it comes down to it, I'm not the one writing the story, they are. And so it's important for me to recognize what they're comfortable with and then come up with strategies that will foster that type of creativity.

SPEAKER_00:

Awesome. Very, very good. What about guiding writers and specifically through the messy middle? I think this is the hardest part. Full disclosure for everybody, anybody that I've spoken to is like, I'm in the middle. It's, it's so difficult. You're like, this is crap. I can't even believe I just wrote this, but you get through it anyway. So how do you guide writers through that and kind of give them the confidence to get through the messy middle?

SPEAKER_01:

So the messy middle is really when that imposter syndrome comes out. But one thing that I learned that really will help people get focused on where their story is going is an inside outline. And so what it is, is you look at your character from scene to scene, you jot down what is happening externally, and then what is the internal response of your character to that situation? And then that response immediately feeds into the next situation that that character is in. So you're constantly connecting the emotional response to the action on the page. And that will help propel your character through the story. So when you're towards the end of the messy middle and you maybe have 100,000 words that you have to get through and figure out what needs to be cut, that's a really great way to do it. So going back and rereading what you wrote and take notes on the external and the internal shift and how they're shaping each other. And then therefore you can eliminate the pieces of the story that maybe aren't moving it forward.

SPEAKER_00:

That's great. I love that advice. Because like I said, I think all of us kind of struggle with it. I do agree that I think the imposter syndrome definitely takes over. I love that you I love that you call it that because I've never really had like a word to call it, you know, like, I don't know, maybe imposter syndrome is like new to me anyway, in the last year or two. But thinking about it, and you know, as we get through the messy middle of our novel, like that's important to remember, like just kind of dismiss it and carry forward. Awesome. So we are now in mindset and motivation. I want to talk a little bit about this as well. Many writers start, not every writer finishes. So what do you think separates a writer from one who finishes their manuscript to one that just lets it kind of sit there and collect dust?

SPEAKER_01:

So I think... the characteristics that all writers have because it is a long process. It is a very long process to get the story on paper and then get the manuscript to a place where you want other people to write it. And so I feel that having drive and determination and just grit and being able to carry through those uncomfortable moments or those moments when you want to quit that you just keep pushing through. Those are the things I feel all authors have, all writers. And even if you just start with a short story, if a novel is too overwhelming to even think about, start with a short story and get it to the end and sit with it, see how it feels. And then maybe the next time you're going to move on to a novella, make it a little bit longer, sit with it, see how it feels. All of this practice is leading you to the place where you will eventually be. And I know a lot of times we aren't moving as quickly as we want to, right? Like our, our brain wants to be done, but we, Every step along the way is a learning experience to get your writing or whatever it is that you're doing better and stronger so that when you do reach your goal, it will be the best that it can be.

SPEAKER_00:

That is fantastic. Writing a short story. I've never thought about that. I guess when I started this, I'm like, we're just going all in. I ended at a novella, but I kind of felt like that's just where the story needed to end at that point. But maybe that's where I needed to start the writing journey. So that's I love that bit of advice. And I hope that the listeners take that to heart as well. Like we're not maybe not meant to write a novel right away. But I love that just getting the practice and kind of working with it. And you never know, like short stories can turn into novels eventually too, so.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh yeah, absolutely. Yeah, you write your character and you're like, you know what, I think there's more here. Yeah,

SPEAKER_00:

I love it. What about mindset shifts? What mindset shifts do you think every author could make like right out of the gate that just kind of keep them going or whatever it is?

SPEAKER_01:

So I feel like the media, when a new author comes on, the media... you know, they portray them as this overnight success. And we don't see the years prior to that moment. And that is who we're comparing ourselves to. You know, I want to be the next New York Times bestseller. And they make it look so easy. How is it so easy for them and so hard for me? And I think you have to understand from the very beginning that it is not going to be easy and it is not going to be fast because you as a new writer are starting something you have no experience with. Sure, you might read a lot, but to get a story onto paper and then for other readers to read There's a lot of nuances that you will be learning for years. The other thing that I would like early writers to know is that you don't have to know everything in order to get your book done. Because if you wait until you feel you know everything, it's never going to be published. Because in this industry, things change so incredibly fast. You might know something last week. Well, guess what? Something changed. And now what you were writing for or what you were going for is completely off the table. So now you have to relearn it in a different way. So understand it's not easy. And also, you don't need to know everything. And I think those are two things that we really struggle with as humans, as people. We like things fast and we like to be good at it. There's always going to be more to learn.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I agree. What about your go-to pep talk or just a nugget of advice for any writer who wants to give up?

SPEAKER_01:

I mean, I just feel progress over perfection is the mantra that you should be telling yourself every single day when you're writing. I think having a writing community is very important as well, whether it's a friend who's also writing that you met online maybe it's a family member that knows you love writing just someone to support you through this journey because sometimes you feel misunderstood um or you know people might make a comment like oh it's just a hobby or oh you want to be a writer that's great you know but You need those supportive people because when times do get tough, you need them to push you along.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I agree, which is why I love Quill and Cup so very much. It's a great place to be for something like that. It's all about the community. All right, so let's talk about your journey to coaching. So you are balancing this author life, your mom life, your everything all at once. How do you... How do you do that? Like, how do you kind of figure out that balance between all of it?

SPEAKER_01:

So I am an Enneagram too, which is the helper. So I love to help people. It just fills my bucket, really. It makes me feel good to know other people are reaching their dreams because of things that maybe I've experienced and can shed some light on as they're going through it, or I can help them troubleshoot and brainstorm as they're going through it. So that's how I got into the coaching thing in the first place. But I think just juggling it all, it's understanding that there are a lot of balls in the air and there are times when some balls are bigger than others. And again, that's okay. You have to kind of reprioritize. But you need to be flexible as well. And I think that flexibility with me and wanting variety in my life. So having a bunch of different areas of the writing and publishing fields that I'm kind of working through with others is very motivating for me. And so those are the reasons why I got into coaching in the first place.

SPEAKER_00:

Awesome. And what's it like working with a writing coach? I personally have never worked with one. So day one, I've called you Edie. I'm like, I don't know what the heck I'm doing. What are what is it like from the day I call you to? I can't believe I just finished my entire novel with you. Thank you. What is that like, from day one into the end?

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, Every coaching experience is a relationship and it's important that you're a good fit, right? Because it is such an intimate activity and you're very vulnerable when you're a new writer and you need to make sure that you trust the person that you're working with. So from the very beginning, we would just do a free call where we talk. Where are you in your writing? What are you hoping? What is your timeline? What do you need? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Just getting to know each other. And then if it is a fit that the writer feels would benefit them, then we would set up... whatever they're able to do, whether it's monthly or weekly, a coaching call. They would send a couple chapters to me. I would go through it. I would write up a letter of feedback, email it back to them, and then we would have a Zoom call where we would talk about it. But coaching is isn't just the day-to-day of writing. So coaching is also manuscript evaluations and running through their entire story and doing something similar to a developmental edit. Where are your strengths? Where are your weaknesses? What are some things that we can work on together to make stronger? And then the only Other piece for me and my business is self-publishing is where I am. That's where I live. And so if someone is pursuing the self-publishing avenue, I can help them navigate that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Awesome. I think more and more writers are kind of turning to the self publishing. Not just I, I think some people get this impression that maybe that's like last ditch effort. This is just what they're going to do to publish. But I think it's actually more than that. I think it's about owning your art. You know, it's a business. A lot of traditional publishers aren't going to do the marketing for you anyway, unless you're like huge. So it's really good to have somebody like you in our court kind of guiding us and coaching us along the way. So all right, what about key breakthrough moments that you've witnessed, like that make this part of your job totally worth it?

SPEAKER_01:

So I love when I'm working with writers, and they have a moment of clarity, where prior they were, they didn't know where to go, right? They don't know how to move forward from here. And my job is to ask questions to kind of open up their thinking so my job is not to tell you where your story is going my job is to help you find the path where your story is going and a lot of times once you get through that initial roadblock the story just takes off on its own the characters are making decisions and it just seeing that ease on the writer's face and the excitement because they're no longer questioning themselves is really rewarding.

SPEAKER_00:

That's great. And what's one thing you wish more writers understood about the value of coaching?

SPEAKER_01:

So I feel like nowadays, coaching on any form is becoming more and more normative. You know, having a life coach, having an ADHD coach, having a writing coach. If you're playing an instrument, you go to a teacher. We want to better ourselves in an area that we don't have a lot of experience in. And it's the norm to seek out someone who has that experience to help you. The value of coaching... I wish I had a coach when I had first started because I was fumbling through and I didn't know anything. You know, I was investing in courses that were not helpful to me. I was reading books that I didn't understand. I didn't have any writer friends in the community. So when you get those supports under you, you're able to flourish that much faster. And I think it's important that we remember that as we're going through it, because yes, there is a cost, but you need to weigh the benefit of that to where you want to end up in six months, a year, two years from now.

SPEAKER_00:

I agree. Like I think I said at the beginning, I didn't have anybody in my court In the beginning, I started writing in 2020. It took me almost five years to actually publish. And I fully believe a lot of that had to do with I didn't have anybody to ask questions. And just like you said, like, can only get so much from reading books and viewing people online, but having like an honest conversation, or bouncing ideas or having somebody just to kind of cheerlead you and be in your court that knows exactly what you're going through is extremely, extremely important. helpful. So awesome, Edie. So last thing, well, not last thing, but where can listeners learn more about coaching or connect with you for support?

SPEAKER_01:

So I have a website, Last Page Press, and that is kind of my overall arching company. So you'll see a tab for my writing, and then you'll see a tab for my coaching, which goes straight to my coaching website. So my company is the Story Keeper Book Coach. That's where all my coaching info is. I'm on Instagram and Facebook and TikTok, which hasn't been overly active, but I do have an account on there if you are interested. So the Story Keeper Book Coach is

SPEAKER_00:

Awesome. I'm going to look you up because I didn't know you were on TikTok. So I'm going to find you there too. All right, we made it. Ink starter lightning round. Okay. So if your writing career were a movie, what title would it be? The Fast and the Furious. I love it. All right. What's one book you wish you could read again for the very first time?

SPEAKER_01:

Anxious People by Frederick Bachman. Love, love that.

SPEAKER_00:

Awesome. And what's one thing you wish writers would stop doing?

SPEAKER_01:

Chasing the next shiny object.

SPEAKER_00:

Awesome. And then what about insane plot twist or emotional gut punch? Which are you reaching for first?

SPEAKER_01:

Emotional gut punch.

SPEAKER_00:

All right. And describe your coaching style in three words.

SPEAKER_01:

Approachable, teamwork, and structured.

SPEAKER_00:

Fantastic. All right. And then we are going to end with Edie's five actionable tips. These are going to be tips that you're going to share with our authors that they can do right now after this call to just kind of help elevate their writing career. So what are your five tips that you're going to leave us with today?

SPEAKER_01:

Get it on paper because you can't edit a blank page. Trust your gut. Do your research. Get to know your characters. and don't be afraid of feedback.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, I think that last point is especially important for all of us. Thank you so much, Edie, for joining my show today. Yes, we had I had so much fun with you. And I just appreciate you sharing some of your coaching advice and for giving us your five must have tips. So if you're interested in learning more about Edie Hackett's coaching services or check out her latest release, you can check the show notes for her website and places you can purchase her books. Be bold, write smart, and keep turning those pages.