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Juanita Collins

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Tag: land of makebelieve

Posted on April 14, 2015April 14, 2015

L is for the Land of Make Believe

The Land of Make Believe by Chuck Mangione, brought to you by The Big Band, Whitehorse Yukon. 

This is the piece that opened Rockin’ the Casbah – the stage show I produced in 2011. 

I’m at the far right of the sax line, playing bari. Enjoy!

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  I’m participating in the Blogging From A-Z challenge.  One blog post for each letter of the alphabet, each day of April (except Sunday). 


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We can no longer hope the world will become a bett We can no longer hope the world will become a better place. We have to change it. As writers, I believe we teach by example. People learn by reading. Show us what it can look like. Make us care. Write the world you want to live in.
Sam’s weekend fun. 🥰 What’s yours? Sam’s weekend fun. 🥰 What’s yours?
We writers often talk about how hard it is to get We writers often talk about how hard it is to get our words on the page in a way readers can connect with. But just because it can be hard doesn’t mean there isn’t also joy and satisfaction in the effort. Today I’m celebrating a writing win that may seem very small to some people, but here it is: I looked at a chapter that I was struggling with and saw what was wrong with it. It took me awhile. It took talking about it out loud to my writing partner (on a recorded memo- she wasn’t even there!) And it took going back to the overarching theme of the novel and letting that be my compass. Now, just because I can identify the problem doesn’t mean I can yet identify the solution...but it feels huge to me and I’m calling it a win! Have you had a writing win lately? Please share, I want to celebrate with you!
It’s the first truly gorgeous, hot day of the ye It’s the first truly gorgeous, hot day of the year and I just can’t find the will to sit inside at my laptop. Sometimes as a writer it’s best to take Samson’s advice and go find something fun to bark at. Sunshine makes the story flowers grow- it’s a different kind of meditative daydreaming that happens on a gorgeous spring afternoon, eh? What are you barking at today?
Sometimes writing looks like pondering my novel wh Sometimes writing looks like pondering my novel while doing meditative tasks in the garden. And sometimes as a book coach, pondering my client work looks just the same. It’s so important to take a break from the keyboard and give your brain a chance to relax and ponder and replenish. How do you nurture your creative brain? Let me know in the comments! 🥰
Me to my Writer Client: This is a great chapter, b Me to my Writer Client: This is a great chapter, but there really isn’t enough tension. I see what your character wants but it isn’t clear why she wants it.

Writer Client: What? What? OMG I totally didn’t see that.

My Book Coach to Me: This is a great chapter and your characters are really nice people. Maybe too nice. We need some tension on the page. Why is it important for this character to get this thing she wants?

Me: What? What? OMG I totally didn’t see that.

Writers need Book Coaches. 

Book Coaches who write also need Book Coaches. 

My book coach is the awesome @lidijahilje 

Who coaches you?

If you’re a fiction writer wondering how book coaching can help get your novel out of your head and onto the page, let’s schedule a free discovery session and talk about it!

#bookcoaches #writingtips #authoraccelerator #authoracceleratorbookcoach #writinglife #amwritingfiction #amwritingliteraryfiction #womensfictionwritersassociation #amwritingromance #writerschangingtheworld
I’m celebrating relaunching my business by gifti I’m celebrating relaunching my business by gifting 15 book coaching sessions to writers this month! I’m an #authoraccelerator certified #bookcoach working with dedicated writers who believe that books and the  stories we tell can change the world.  Let’s chat about your novel and some of the challenges you’re having getting it done. Snag a free session before they’re gone! Book here:  https://calendly.com/nitacollins/book-coaching-discovery-session 📚📖🖊️🥰💕😀
Let’s chat about your novel and some of the chal Let’s chat about your novel and some of the challenges you’re having getting it done. Snag a free session before they’re gone! Book here: https://calendly.com/nitacollins/book-coaching-discovery-session  or drop a “yes please” in the comments.
I’m an #authoraccelerator certified #bookcoach working with serious writers who believe that books and the  stories we tell can change the world. 📚📖🖊️🥰💕😀
To celebrate relaunching my Book Coaching for Fict To celebrate relaunching my Book Coaching for Fiction Writers business, I’m giving away 15 free book coaching sessions between now and April 15th! Drop a Yes Please into the comments and I will send you a link to my online scheduler. Whether you decide to go on and work with me or not, you’ll come away with a question answered or new insight on your novel. Snag a spot and let’s talk about your book!
Oh my ❤️ This dog and this book. My two favour Oh my ❤️ This dog and this book. My two favourite creatures. Honestly this book was such a beautiful read that sometimes I had to put it down. Does that make sense to you? That sometimes it was so painfully beautiful and I could not continue? The closer I got to the end, the slower I read. It’s checked out from the library on my  e-reader and I cannot bear to return it, lol.  #amreading #bookcoaches #literaryfiction #writerslife
Ship-ship-ship…what’s that noise? It’s Sam Ship-ship-ship…what’s that noise? 

It’s Sam, walking on the wood floor with a sticky note stuck to the bottom of his foot. 

What does the sticky note say?

It’s a note to remind me of something about a character in my novel! 

What odd-ball places have you discovered writing reminders?
The truth and beauty of this quote stopped me in m The truth and beauty of this quote stopped me in my tracks and gave me goosebumps this morning. 

I wanted to share it with all of you who love a well-written novel as much as I do….And to all of you who aspire to writing well enough that this could be said of you, too. 

Do you aspire to writing with the precision of a poet and the imagination of a scientist? Because I do!

To get there, I will never stop practicing, never stop learning, never stop trying new things, never stop getting new eyes on my work, and never stop getting qualified editorial feedback. Just…never stop.
Today I did a thing! Before I even got out of bed, Today I did a thing! Before I even got out of bed, I opened my laptop and enrolled in a group business coaching program with @dallastraversbizmentor called Client Surge. Why? Because I’m a book coach, not a marketing guru. Because I love working with writers on their fiction. Love, love, love it. And I have something to offer that will help writers who want feedback but are afraid of harsh criticism; or writers who are confused by all the rules and conflicting writing advice that’s all over the internet; or who maybe are tired of doing it alone and getting nowhere. Or maybe they just need some accountability and a friendly editorial ear. Heck, even a thorough developmental edit can be a game changer for a writer, am-i-right? And here I am with my respectable and hard-earned #authoraccelerator book coach certification, dying to help them...but because I’m NOT a business expert, I find myself in need of a coach to help me figure out how to get myself out there so I can get to work doing what I love to do. Phew! Was that long-winded or what?! It seems like a good way to start off the new year, to me. Putting skin in the game. What are you yearning to do and what’s holding you back? Let me know!
Happy Holidays! Happy Holidays!
Here’s one for your climate change fiction list. Here’s one for your climate change fiction list. The biggest truths were in the smallest details in this beautifully written, atmospheric novel. I couldn’t put it down. 

#readersofinstagram #readersofig #readersofinsta #amreading #climatechangefiction #amwriting #amwritingfiction #bookcommunity #bookcoach #bookcoaching #writinglife #novelist #writersofinstagram
I’ve been on a bit of a book-buying binge. This I’ve been on a bit of a book-buying binge. This is only one stack. Which one should I read first?  #amreading #literaryfiction #bookstagram #bookcoaches #amwriting #amwritingfiction #amwritingliteraryfiction
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