The Write Balance

 The Write Balance

by Bonni Goldberg

 

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GENRE: Non-fiction, Writing Advice

 

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BLURB:

 

In The Write Balance, the companion book to the beloved bestseller, Room to Write, Bonni Goldberg demonstrates how to find fulfillment as a writer by embracing three key aspects of writing: 1) Percolation: what takes place before a first draft is written; 2) Revision: the writer's role after the initial draft; and 3) Going Public: the writer's mission once the writing is done. Filled with tools, examples and exercises, Bonni’s guide offers motives, choices, and encouragement for writers to appreciate and to be creative in the phases before and beyond a first draft. Whether you’re new to writing or a pro, become more passionate and balanced in your writing life.

 

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EXCERPT

 

I wrote my first writing book. Room to Write, to invite people to enter writing creatively, to trust their intuition and discover and use their tendencies, passions, and resistances as fodder for more writing. At that time people seemed to need to free up their innate creative juices and get the words flowing. Since then, at book appearances and during my workshops and writing courses, I’ve repeatedly had this experience: People thank me for helping them to trust themselves as writers and then ask me how to take the next step. What do you see as the next step? I ask.

 

Whether the answer had to do with getting an agent, writing longer works, feeling legitimate, or any of the many other facets of creative writing, the undertone was the same: a sense of longing or unrest about writing. It felt as if each person was saying to me, “Okay, I get the words out, I even trust them sometimes; now what?” This book is my answer…

 

The writers I know who are passionate and grounded, who truly love and respect their writing life, consciously attend to three aspects of writing that often get short shrift in the heat and excitement of raw creation: 1. Percolation—the process that takes place before a first draft takes shape 2. Revision—the writer’s role after the initial draft 3. Going Public—a writer’s mission once the writing is done.

A Word From the Author

 1.Did you always want to be an author?

 

First, may I say I’m delighted to be here with your community, Elaine.

 

I discovered the magic of writing in fifth grade. After being introduced to poetry during English class, I wrote three rhyming poems spontaneously. I kept writing poems and short pieces up through high school. 

 

But I didn't think about being an author. Even when I chose a college for its creative writing program, I didn’t think, I’ll be an author. I wrote poetry. Sure, I thought of myself as a poet. But I saw authors as fiction writers and poets as writing teachers who published in literary magazines and occasionally in book form.

 

 

 

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.

 

My first traditionally published book was the best-seller, Room to Write. It was a classic case of, write the book you want. 

 

Natalie Goldberg’s (we’re not related) writing book came out. I loved the writing prompts in it. They were helpful. But I was impatient with the in between talk about her writing journey. I couldn’t imagine I was the only person with that reaction. I’d been teaching writing for many years. I had a slew of time-tested writing exercises and prompts. I wrote Room to Write for people like me who wanted practical motivation to write more and to learn about themselves as writers along the way.

 

I enrolled in a Community Education non-fiction writing book course. The instructor recommended reading How to Be Happily Published. To my delight, the section on how to write a book proposal used a writing book as one example. But the advice about how to research agents and publishers was too far out of my comfort zone.

 

So I adapted it. I asked the six published writers I knew if I could contact their agent and publisher with permission to use the friend’s name as an introduction. I promised to only ask these professionals if they knew other agents or publishers that would be interested in my book. I included my book proposal.

One agent and two publishers responded. The agent said they couldn’t sell another writing book, but they were interested in seeing anything else I had. One publisher, a really big one, wanted me to read another writing book they’d published and write my book in the same way. The other publisher asked for a mockup of my sample pages. That publisher made the offer. I went back to the agent to represent me. They did (and took a smaller commission since I sold the book).

 

I was lucky. I had a wonderful experience working with the editor and with the publisher. It was a pretty ideal first publishing experience. 

 

 

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

 

This question is hard for me in all the genres I write in because I love and admire so many of my colleagues. For writing advice books, it depends on the type of advice I’m looking for, like plotting, motivation, marketing, or self-publishing, just to name a few. How about instead, I tell you the most recent writing book I’ve read? It’s Before and After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum.

 

 

4.What’s the best part of being an author? The worst?

 

I get to follow my passions and curiosities, collaborate to sculpt them into something I can share with people I don’t even know, and hopefully be helpful. The worst part is not being able to do it full time.

 

 

5.What are you working on now?

 

I always work on multiple projects. For adults, a verse novel, a series of essays titled Meet Me at the Death Cafe, and the next empowerment journals in my 2 Minute Journals series.

 

Thank you so much for inviting me!

You're very welcome. I've enjoyed getting to know you.

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Bonni Goldberg is the author of The Write Balance: How to Embrace Percolation, Revision & Going Public, the companion book to the best-seller Room to Write: Daily Invitations to a Writer’s Life. Bonni is an award-winning poet and writer. She is the creator of the 2 Minute Journals™ series. Both traditionally and indie published, her books include non-fiction for adults and fiction and non-fiction for young readers. Her essays and blog posts can be found in numerous print and online publications.

 

Bonni teaches creative writing at colleges and leads writing workshops internationally for all ages. She knows everyone is creative, and she supports people to discover and share their authentic, meaningful and imaginative experiences through words. 

 

Whether through her writings or through teaching, her methods and perspectives continue to empower thousands of adults, families, and children.

 

Bonni is also a Jewish educator. She speaks, writes, and leads workshops on Jewish topics such as Jewish identity, rituals and antisemitism at Jewish women’s events, JCCs, and conferences. 

Bonni Goldberg lives in Portland, Oregon with her partner in life, and some creative projects, artist Geo Kendall.

 

www.bonnigoldberg.com

www.facebook.com/bonnigoldbergbooks

www.twitter.com/bonnigoldberg

www.instagram.com/goldbergbonni

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

 

Bonni Goldberg will be awarding a prize to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, the winner can choose between a 30 minute coaching call, a Q&A Zoom with their group, or feedback on 3 double spaced pages of their work (via email). In addition, a free ebook about balancing writing & marketing will be given to everyone who enters the raffle. Bonni Goldberg will also award a prize to a randomly drawn host.

a Rafflecopter giveaway