Ease Lessons for Writers
In your writing life, no matter how hard you work or how well you plan, things won't always unfold the way you'd hoped. In Ease Lessons for Writers, we explore what gets in the way of our writing, why that happens, and why it matters. Together we learn how to make our writing easier and more joyful. I'm your host, Monna McDiarmid, a writer and coach based in Japan and Nova Scotia. Website: monnamcdiarmid.com/ | Newsletter: monnamcdiarmid.com/subscribe/ | Instagram: @monnamcdiarmidwrites/ | Patreon: @MonnaMcDiarmid
Ease Lessons for Writers
Maile Topliff (Episode 3/3)
About today's conversation:
This is my second conversation with Maile Topliff, a lifelong lover of words – her elementary school nickname was Webster. She believes that the stories we tell can change our lives. She is currently writing her first non-fiction book – an invitation for the reader to listen to the call to be the author of their own story. Call it a heliograph or for the current day. It’s about the beauty of a quiet quest and the life’s work of curiosity, empathy, fear, courage, being and the magic of moments. She currently lives in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. She received her Bachelor’s degree in English from Hamline University. You can find her on Instagram at MaileTopliff_writer.
Thank you, Maile, for this conversation.
You can follow Maile on Instagram.
Maile's homework invitations from Episode 2:
1. Read The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo.
2. When you are ready, share one sentence of your own words from your MS on your Maile Writer IG.
3. Choose an accountability buddy or partner for this project. Experiment with and rejig your plan whenever needed both in terms of how often you write and for how long. You could also upgrade your accountability conversations to High Tea.
4. Consider choosing a date by which you'd like to finish your first draft or even a publication date. As with all the above, do only what is helpful and genuinely motivates you at this moment in your life.
5. Bonus: Read The Heroine's Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture by Gail Carriger
During this conversation, we discussed the following:
- “When you regain a sense of your life as a journey of discovery, you return to rhythm with yourself. When you take the time to travel with reverence, a richer life unfolds before you. Moments of beauty begin to braid your days.” ~ John O’Donahue
- "We shall all, in the end, be led to where we belong. We shall all, in the end, find our way home." from The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate Dicamillo
- The Gathering Room with Martha Beck | Episode: Your Forever Home
- The Heroine's Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture by Gail Carriger
- Monna recommends The Parasol Protectorate Series (Genre: Steampunk, Paranormal romance | 5 books) by Gail Carriger
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About Ease Lessons:
Music: “Meekness” by Kai Engel, used under Creative Commons Attribution license
Editor: Damien Pitter
Host: Monna McDiarmid (pronounced Mona McDermid) | Coach, Writer and Counselor
Website: MonnaMcDiarmid.com
Newsletter: The Sunday Reader
Patreon: where I share monthly excerpts from my writing memoir in progress
Instagram: @monnamcdiarmid