Hi, I’m Lindsey. I love helping people discover their superpower, create compelling content, and feel excited about pitching and networking. I teach people how to pitch like a boss, network like a VIP, and write like an Oscar winner. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for actionable creativity and career tips.
Love What You Write!
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Hi Over the holiday break, I listened to a podcast where an author was unhappy that he wrote thrillers instead of literary fiction. This man has written 7 novels, both traditionally and independently published. He writes entertaining, well-written books. Success by any measure. But he feels like they're not important because they are not Art. He's fighting against his author brand, which is funny thrillers with heart. That is a great brand to write; it's fun to read and easy to sell. Lots of writers think entertaining people has less value than fancy, often erudite Art. I disagree. (I'm capitalizing Art here because people put it on a pedestal, making it more important than it is.) One of my mantras is stories matter. Entertaining and moving people is an important part of the human experience. Just because you think the kinds of stories you write are not important, doesn't mean they're not important to some people. Unfortunately, as writer we rarely know the impact our stories are having on our readers and viewers. Maybe someone is reading your cozy mystery while they get their chemo. Or someone is binge watching your sitcom as they grieve the death of a loved one. If you are feeling like your stories aren't important enough, I encourage you to watch the old movie Sullivan's Travels (1941). It's a comedy gem about a film director during the Great Depression who wants to make important movies, so he runs away from Hollywood to live life as an ordinary person. During his adventures, he gets to see the impact his frivolous movies are making, and it changes his perspective. Whatever kinds of stories you gravitate to telling, embrace them! Your stories are delighting your audience. And maybe changing their lives, even for a moment. Happy New Year! And happy writing! In Case You Missed ItTwo Real Life Examples of Screenplays Turned Into Novels: A screenplay A pilot How to Make the Most of the Holiday Slow Down Cheers, Lindsey Thanks for reading! You can share this article here. Was this week's newsletter useful? Help me to improve! Click on a link to vote: 👍Super! - 😐 Meh - 👎 Not my jam |
Hi I'm Lindsey Hughes
Hi, I’m Lindsey. I love helping people discover their superpower, create compelling content, and feel excited about pitching and networking. I teach people how to pitch like a boss, network like a VIP, and write like an Oscar winner. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for actionable creativity and career tips.
Hi Reader, The holiday season is the perfect time for inspiration. Infuse your writing with joy, magic, and maybe a sprinkle of holiday chaos. Whether you’re neck-deep in revisions or crafting your next bestseller, let’s have some fun decking the halls of your story with festive analogies for key story beats. Here’s how to turn your plot into a holiday wonderland: 1. The Inciting Incident: The Christmas Tree Reveal 🎄 Remember that magical moment when the family unveils the perfectly decorated...
Hi Reader, My Christmas gift to you is a free ebook that has the past three years of newsletters about writing craft. It's called Write On: Story Secrets Every Writer Needs, and you can download it here. This is my new reader (lead) magnet that I use to build my email list. How to Build your E-Mail list with a Reader Magnet One essential aspect of the creator life is an email newsletter. It is a powerful tool for building a connection with fans and customers. As a writer, your email list is...
Hi Reader, It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Holiday time is a lot of fun. The downside is that things slow down until mid-January. This is a great time to take a break from writing and refresh. You can still have a low key, but productive December by working on your craft. Below are some of my favorite podcasts, video channels, and books for writers. While I divided them into screenwriting and fiction, story is story. No matter what kind of project you are working on, you will...