Writing

3 Tips for Writing Your Story

Since 2019 I’ve been working with Reckon Women to elevate Southern women’s voices. Each week we publish an original personal essay by a woman with ties to the South in the Reckon Women Voices column on ReckonSouth.com. Many of the pieces are also featured in newspapers across the region and even throughout the country. (One recent piece landed in a newspaper in Syracuse, New York!)

If you’ve been wanting to submit a story for Reckon Women Voices but you’re not sure where to start, here are my top tips for writing your story. (If you’re not a Southern gal, you can still use these tips to write personal stories to pitch to other publications.)

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Why You Need a Writing Bestie

I miss my writing bestie.

Years ago, a friend and I would meet at our favorite coffee shop for writing dates. We both had a goal. She was working on a book and I was working on my blog. We’d give ourselves time for girl talk and giggles then we’d get quiet, set a timer, and write. We held each other accountable. I made sure she didn’t start scrolling through her phone. And she made sure I didn’t start writing random to-do lists.

Eventually, life got in the way and we stopped our writing dates and now because of the pandemic, neither of us will be hanging out in coffee shops anytime soon. But when all of this is over (if it’s ever over) I’m going to make it a priority to start these writing dates again.

We all need a writing bestie.

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21 Journal Prompts for Self-Care

As a writer, I’m constantly collecting journal prompts for self-care. When you’re an ambitious writer, prioritizing self-care is tough; sometimes it feels impossible. Going after goals like writing a book, starting a blog, or building a freelance writing business requires sacrifice. And oftentimes the first thing we sacrifice is self-care. 

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