Guest blog by Emma Dhesi

Writing a book can feel like an exhilarating adventure—until self-doubt, writer’s block, and the sheer complexity of the process set in. For beginner fiction writers, these challenges can feel overwhelming. But with the right mindset and tools, you can conquer them and achieve your writing dreams.

As a bestselling author and certified book coach, I’ve learned that success in writing is as much about managing your mindset as it is about mastering the craft.
 
To help new writers navigate this journey, I’ve developed a framework built around four essential pillars: Awareness, Acceptance, Growth, and Fun. These pillars are the foundation of a resilient author mindset, helping you stay motivated, overcome obstacles, and rediscover the joy of writing.

Let’s dive into each pillar and explore how it can transform your writing journey.
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 Awareness: Understanding Your Landscape
Every journey begins with awareness—and your writing journey is no different. Awareness means taking stock of where you are right now in your writing life. Are you just starting out? Have you been dabbling for years but never finished a project? Or perhaps you’ve finished drafts but feel stuck revising?

For many authors, the excitement of starting their first book can quickly give way to the realization that writing is harder than it seems. But awareness of your starting point is empowering. It allows you to set realistic goals and embrace the learning process.

As a beginner, it’s important to acknowledge that writing is a skill that develops over time. When you understand that you’re at the start of a long but rewarding journey, you can focus on building your skills step by step. This awareness helps you avoid unrealistic expectations and keeps you grounded as you move forward.
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Acceptance: Embracing Your Current State
Once you’ve gained awareness of where you are, the next step is acceptance. This is about making peace with your current level of skill and experience. It’s easy to compare yourself to seasoned authors or feel frustrated by your progress, but acceptance frees you from these negative emotions.

Acceptance doesn’t mean settling for less or giving up on your goals. Instead, it’s about acknowledging that growth takes time and that every writer’s journey is unique. By embracing your current state, you create space for improvement without unnecessary pressure.

In the author community, it’s common to see writers at all stages of their careers. Some are publishing multiple books a year, while others are still struggling with their first draft. The key is to focus on your own progress and trust that you’re exactly where you need to be right now.​
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Growth: Embracing the Challenge
The third pillar, growth, is where the magic happens—but it’s also where the hard work begins. Growth requires you to push through the challenges of writing, whether it’s overcoming procrastination, battling imposter syndrome, or simply finding the discipline to write consistently.

Writing a book is like solving a complex puzzle. There’s the initial burst of excitement when you start, but eventually, you’ll hit the “messy middle” of the process. This is where doubts creep in, plot holes appear, and the finish line feels impossibly far away. Growth happens when you persevere through these moments.

It’s important to remember that growth is not linear. Some days, you’ll make great strides, while others may feel like a step backward. But every challenge you face—whether it’s revising a tricky scene or learning to take constructive feedback—helps you become a stronger writer.
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Allow yourself the space to experiment, make mistakes, and learn. Growth is not about perfection; it’s about progress.

Fun: Reconnecting with Joy
The final pillar is fun—perhaps the most overlooked yet most critical part of the writing process. Writing should bring you joy. After all, isn’t that why you started in the first place?

It’s easy to lose sight of the joy when you’re bogged down by deadlines, self-imposed pressure, or the desire to create a “perfect” book. But reconnecting with the fun of writing can reignite your creativity and keep you motivated for the long haul.

Think back to the moment you decided to write your book. Was it a story idea that excited you? A character that wouldn’t leave your mind? Revisit those sparks of inspiration whenever you feel stuck.

Fun doesn’t just come from the act of writing—it can also come from celebrating your milestones, connecting with fellow writers, or exploring new genres and styles. When you focus on enjoying the journey, writing becomes less of a chore and more of a creative adventure.
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Conclusion: Building Your Author Success
The four pillars--Awareness, Acceptance, Growth, and Fun—provide a strong foundation for your writing journey. They help you navigate the ups and downs, stay focused on your goals, and remember why you started writing in the first place.

Becoming a successful author isn’t just about finishing a book; it’s about who you become in the process. Writing challenges you to grow, to think deeply, and to persevere. Every step you take, no matter how small, brings you closer to your dream of becoming a published author.
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Take Action: Your 21 Days of Writing Inspiration
If you’re ready to put these four pillars into action, I have the perfect resource to help you get started. My 21 Days of Writing Inspiration video series is designed to give you the daily motivation, expert guidance, and support you need to build momentum and finish your book.

This free program includes:
Daily Motivation: Short, actionable videos sent straight to your inbox to help you develop a consistent writing habit.
Expert Guidance: Proven strategies to overcome writer’s block and stay focused.
Support and Encouragement: Because writing a book is easier when you don’t feel alone.

These tips helped me write the first draft of my debut novel, stay on track during revisions, and finally finish my book—and they can do the same for you.

Sign up for your free 21 Days of Writing Inspiration here. 

Remember, every great author started right where you are now. Embrace the journey, nurture these four pillars, and watch your author success unfold. You’ve got this!

A Writer's Holiday Tale

​‘Twas the month of December and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, except for…the writers. (I know it doesn’t rhyme. Just having fun here…)
With edits and plots twists, their minds were a ‘racing,
With characters, storyboards, page turns and pacing!

“I should query some more!” one kidlit writer cried.
“Or perhaps, now, revise,” her critique partner sighed.
“I have some down time. I will write something new!
Or perhaps I should overhaul draft fifty-two!” (Would that, technically, become draft fifty-three?)

And after some eggnog, one writer did grouse,
“I still haven’t heard from that agent. The louse!” (Just kidding! We love you, agents!)
“Take a breath,” said a calm voice from nearby the tree,
“Look around and enjoy what the season brings thee.”

Then the writers did ponder and wonder and reason,
“We should try to slow down, find the peace in the season.”
So they packed up their laptops and notebooks and pens,
Filed their manuscripts, gathered with friends.

“For now, we will celebrate, offer good cheer,
Get rested to write afresh in the New Year!
But you all should behave as you shop, wrap, and cook,
‘Cause the antics you do might go in our next book!” (Like Santa, writers are always watching!)

~by Amanda Smith

I have always intuitively been aware of writing seasons throughout a year. Some months are naturally filled with demanding family or work commitments, while others provide more writing time. Throughout the years, I have tried to wrangle the seasons, to ignore natural rhythms, in order to be consistently productive each month.

Seasons do not easily conform to human whim. Anyone who has spent a year in New England knows one can cry, and cajole, and yell at March to be springy until the cows come home, but lovely weather does not arrive until mid-April. Similarly, writers can plan and plot and highlight and set timers, but life’s seasons continue to roll one into the other undeterred by our best organization.

So what is a writer to do? Jerry Spinelli famously advised to “write in the cracks,” which I used to embrace with weed-like ferocity. I tried to force my writing into every possible crack, exhausting myself and probably frustrating my family. There were times when I literally ran back to my desk after tossing another load of laundry into the washer, not to waste “a crack” - yelling at March to be warm. I can’t say that was super productive.

This year, I took on a new job that offered zero cracks. If allowed, this job would bleed into every tiny line like red lipstick on the wrinkly lips of my days and weeks and months. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job. But it’s a lot. Even in this tenacious job, the ever-present heartbeat of my writing seasons was present.
So I listened. I paid attention. And when, at a 24 Carrot Writing meeting, Megan mentioned that summer traditionally is a slower writing time for her, I sat up. She also experiences writing seasons? Curiosity overcame me. What really, are my seasons?

I pulled out my trusty bullet journals of the last four years and ran some stats. And here is what I learned, regardless of my career change. For me, January, February, and November are my most productive writing months (hello winter)! The summer months have their own rhythm, but are a close second, while, surprisingly April, and December are not too far behind. However, like clockwork, writing grinds to an alarming halt every March (maybe it’s all that yelling at the cold!) and May.

“How is this information useful?” you ask.

Knowing my natural writing seasons helps me embrace them rather than fight them, and that brings contentment to my writing schedule. When setting yearly goals, understanding writing seasons helps me plan big tasks for the predictably productive months. It allows me to be kind to myself during the months that are clearly already stacked with other responsibilities. Rolling with the seasons also helps prevent burn-out.
If you are a long-time 24 Carrot Writer, you probably have records of your achieved writing goals somewhere. I would like to invite you to browse your journals, and see if you can identify your writing seasons.
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Because just like nature needs to take a break from all its blooming and growing and producing and buzzing, sometimes life demands that the writer takes a rest. Through rest comes restoration. And even though progress is not visible in those off seasons, just like tree roots go deep and sap flows beneath the surface, your stories are being nourished, gaining strength, becoming ready to bloom when you reach your proverbial mid-April!

by Amanda Smith

​The first time I heard these words by St. Francis of Assisi, they lit me on fire. I couldn’t shake them from my head. I planned my year’s writing goals around them, and I even wrote a blog in January of 2018 to spark some fire in you, dear reader. You may read it here, but the SparkNotes version is: Let’s do this! Let’s start with the necessary, then set goals for the possible, and in true Robert Browning fashion, let our “reach exceed our grasp” as we strive for those impossible dream-goals. Rah-rah!
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During December 2023, as I did my yearly goal review and planning, I pondered the peg on which to hang my 2024 writing goal hat. St. Francis’ words fizzled somewhere deep in the synapses of my long-term memory. I pushed down that thought.

“Now listen here, St. Francis,” I told the holy friar from Assisi, “life looks different than it did in thirteenth century Italy. It even looks different than it did in 2018.”

Back then I had two boys in elementary and middle school. My stay-at-home mornings were mostly my own. Back then I could easily accomplish the necessary, reach past the possible, and plan for the impossible.
But this is 2024. After eighteen years at home, I’ve been given the opportunity to return to the classroom and finally teach what I’ve always wanted to: High School Literature and Composition. Even though it is fulfilling and exciting, it certainly leaves little head-space for doing beyond what is urgent. I also have a husband who works from home, a college kid on a completely different schedule than the rest of us, and a high schooler that wants to do EVERYTHING.

Post-pandemic 2024-me is telling 2018-me, “Girl, take a chill pill.”

But the old saint is relentless: “Start by doing what is necessary…” he whispers.
As I stare at the fresh new-year page of my beloved bullet journal, I calm my inner-skeptic and make space for his words. And would you know it? St. Francis’ wisdom hits differently than it did way back then:

The wonder of doing the necessary, is that the unnecessary gets stripped away.

We’ve all established goals and routines throughout the years of building our careers, but somehow, mine had become a heavy list of expectations that weighed me down and plucked the wings of my dreams.
Do I need to track all my reading in two places?
Do I need to persist in a monthly querying practice that gobbles up precious writing time, proves ineffective, and sucks the joy out of creating or is there a more sensible way?
Do I really need to plot my writing life months ahead, or is it okay to just draw pencil hearts in my journal on the days that might likely offer an hour or two of writing?

In the beginning of this new year, it is worth asking yourself whether your writing routines and goals still serve you and to strip away the excess until only the necessary remains.
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Now, if you are in the place where I was six years ago, where you can Robert Browning it, go for it. Please do. “Or what is a heaven for?”
But even then, add some St. Francis frugality to your writing goals.
What is truly necessary?
To write.
Let’s start there.
The prophet Zechariah said, “Do not despise the day of small beginnings.”
Small beginnings. One foot in front of the other.
Write.
And then do the next thing.
“Start,” St. Francis said.
That’s it.
Just start.

Guest blog by Nancy Tupper Ling

Here’s the thing. If we knew all the twists and turns of this writing journey at the start, many of us might opt out early on. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. Sometimes in the midst of this journey, a leap of faith is required. We might decide to pivot, try a new genre, or join a different critique group.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a leap of faith is “an act of believing something that is not easily believed.” On this road to publication, we are all taking a hop, a leap, or a gigantic jump in an effort to see our words in a reader’s hands someday. In the case of picture books, we might be praying for beautiful illustrations as well.  

Recently I took a literal leap of faith . . . toward my faith. It was risky. I’ve always included some aspect of my faith in my books, even if it’s simply the Latin phrase Soli Deo Gloria in my dedication, as composers Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel did long ago. Simply put, the “glory goes to God alone.”
In the last few years, however, I had a desire to submit anthologies and picture books that were more faith-centric. This meant taking a new road to publication, including joining with agent, Anne Marie O’Farrell, who believed there was a market for these books. Thankfully, she soon met Bunmi, Ishola, an awesome editor from Penguin/WaterBrook, who was in search of manuscripts with God at their heart. Turns out ONE PERFECT PLAN: THE BIBLE'S BIG STORY IN TINY POEMS was a good fit.

Of course, none of this happened instantaneously. A lot of side streets were taken on this journey, and soul-searching as well. Certainly, I learned a great deal about myself and my priorities along the way. In case these tips might help you make a leap or two in your own writing career, I offer a few to consider:

Heart and Soul
If you do nothing else, take time to think about what makes your heart beat, and what stirs your soul. When you think about it, we’re all writing for someone. Who are you picturing reading your future book? What topic or idea won’t let you rest if you don’t write it? The idea for ONE PERFECT PLAN sat in a drawer for a long time. Really, a LONG time (since 2007). Still, the idea kept coming back, giving me a tap on the shoulder. It began with the premise that one event, one promise, or one person can make a huge difference in this world. Plus, I wanted to tell epic Bible stories in short poems so children might memorize them, and also read the entire Bible (its essence) in one sitting. That idea stirred my soul. What stirs yours?  ​

Mentors
We hear a lot about reading mentor texts, or finding comparative stories, but who are the authors out in the world whom we admire most? Who’s already taken that leap of faith and is writing those stories that reflect their passion and purpose. For me, it was authors who weave their faith into their stories and their lives, mentors like Nikki Grimes and Mitali Perkins. I’ve also learned that traveling this road with a book buddy or two is key, like Janet Costa Bates and Lynda Mullaly Hunt, to name a few. As long as you’re open to learning more about this field of writing, you’ll surely find a mentor to guide you along the way. Who do you admire? 

Post-Its & More
We all need a word of encouragement, or two or three, in this publishing business. The question is: Who are you listening to? Many times after a number of rejections or revisions, it’s hard to keep on writing. It’s hard not to hear those negative voices. So I’ve taken to posting a lot of sticky notes on my bathroom mirror, in my car, and on my laptop. They are hope-filled. I even leave some for my husband and daughters now and then. Sometimes it’s a Bible verse, like this one: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1) Or, it could be as simple as “You’ve Got This!” And you can never go wrong with a Mary Oliver quote like:  
“I want to think again of dangerous and noble things.
I want to be light and frolicsome.
I want to be improbable, beautiful and afraid of nothing,
as though I had wings.”
 
And when you run out of encouraging words, there are times when a friend gifts you a Kindness Rock with just the right words on it to inspire you. Think about the gifts you’ve received.

Generosity
This has been my mantra: “It’s a long journey to publication. Yes, it can take a leap or two of faith, but all along the way practice the art of generosity.” Even now I need to be remind myself of this goal. I’ve become a stronger writer in spite of or because of the mistakes I’ve made along the way, and I want to encourage others that getting a book published is possible. One of my favorite poetry teachers was a quiet, soul-filled man named Donald Sheehan who ran the Frost Festival in Franconia, NH, for many summers. Daily, he reminded the participants that while we might be desiring to break into the world of publishing more than anything in the world, if we’re unable to have a kind and generous spirit along the way, we’re missing the essence of the journey. I couldn’t agree more.

So, take heart, and practice some soul-searching. You may discover a sharp pivot is in your future, and it might be the very best move you will make for your writing career. Certainly, I thought this publishing journey would go a lot smoother and faster, but it gave me time to become brave enough to pursue a book that showcased a faith that’s important to me. Cultivate the art, but keep your eyes wide open for the gifts you’ve received already: In Mary Oliver’s words, “Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.”​

Nancy Tupper Ling is a children’s author, poet, book seller, and librarian. ONE PERFECT PLAN: THE BIBLE'S BIG STORY IN TINY POEMS ​ (WaterBrook, 2023) is her 6th picture book, with two more on the way in 2024  including BLESS THE EARTH: A COLLECTION OF POETRY FOR CHILDREN TO CELEBRATE AND CARE FOR OUR WORLD (The Crown Publishing Group, 2024)  which includes 24 Carrot Writing founder Amanda Smith’s poem, “Wonder,” and HEARTS IN MY POCKET.
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Nancy is also the author of THE STORY I'LL TELL (Lee & Low, 2015), DOUBLE HAPPINESS (Chronicle, 2015), THE YIN-YANG SISTERS AND THE DRAGON FRIGHTFUL (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2018), MY SISTER, ALICIA MAY (Pleasant Street Press, 2009) and FOR EVERY LITTLE THING (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2021) with co-author, June Cotner. To learn more, visit www.nancytupperling.com.
Read our review of ONE PERFECT PLAN here.

Puffy stickers on a Trapper Keeper, a smile glistening with strawberry Kissing Potion, and a pencil box filled with scratch-and-sniff markers, and you were off to a great start for the school year. But how do you restart your writing after a summer of listening to the Pretty in Pink soundtrack on your Walkman? This Back-to-School Retro Summer post  has the perfect checklist. 

As much as we itch to get back to writing, finding our groove after the summer can be challenging. Here are a few strategies that help me focus my writing for the last quarter of the year.

• Find your desk

This is always my starting point. Finding my desk includes the filing of papers, and shelving of books, and general cleaning of my office. It is organizing files in ways that work for me. It is getting a physical space ready for productivity, whether it is a mostly stationary space like mine, or a portable one, like Francine’s. (the-portable-office.html) But it is more than that. It is also finding where I left off. I often read through the last couple of stories I had worked on before I had left my desk. I revisit my submission spreadsheets and query letters. It is mostly about finding my inner-desk, that place in my brain that is all about writing

• Aggressive goals

Once my space is in order, I like to pull close my goals and schedule.  On my schedule, I black out days that I know will be writing duds, such as holidays or scheduled work days, and then I aggressively write the remainder of my yearly goals into my schedule. Now, I know I might not make it. Yes, the unexpected will happen. I most likely will be called in to work more often than I anticipated. But I have my best-case scenario set up.

~ by Amanda Smith

As a substitute teacher I often walk into an emergency, with lesson plans drawn up quickly by someone whose mind was in a much more urgent place. On one such a day, the art teacher left me, in her words, “sketchy plans” – most of which involved students finishing current projects followed by open studio. Now, I’m all for open studio and free draw, but first grade had no projects to finish first. That meant 45 minutes of free draw: The definition of chaos.

Thankfully, I had a planning period. And an ally in the school librarian. After thinking for a second or two, she pulled Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion off her shelf.
“You know,” she said, “kids love dogs. And they always enjoy Harry’s adventures.”
Together we studied Margaret Bloy Graham’s illustrations, and a lesson plan was born.

​Fast forward to the first-grade class. I read the book. The kids were delighted. Then I held up Harry the Dirty Dog. “We are going to draw Harry,” I said.
Shock and mayhem.
“What!”
“We can’t draw like that!”
“That’s impossible.”
I turned a deaf ear to the protests as I handed out a sheet of paper with a rectangle already drawn on it. I explained that we would have to work together to draw Harry, as it is a step by step process.  Then the students and I drew Harry using the parameters of a rectangle. 

As their dog drawings took shape, their joy was contagious. And here’s the thing: even though they all followed my instructions, not one of the dogs looked the same. We had skinny, long nosed dachshunds, and pudgy, round nosed puppies. We had droopy eared dogs and shaggy tailed dogs. Boy Harrys with spiky collars and girl Harrys with pink bows. Every student loved their own Harry, and was amazed that they could indeed draw like that.
Here’s what I learned by drawing Harry, and how it pertains to writing:

1. Know the shape of your story. Harry is drawn in and around a rectangle. Once the students could see that, they could follow the steps to draw him. Identify the internal structure of your book.
2. Take it one step at a time. Those first graders looked at the cover of the book, and were done in by the details of it all, but once we broke the task down into steps, it was completely doable. Don’t stress about the revision process or the rewrite if you haven’t written the first draft yet. When you get to the next step, you will be ready for it, because you already did the groundwork. Follow the process.
3. You are capable of more than you think. Just like those first graders, you may look at an idea and think that you cannot possibly do it. Yet, each and every one of them drew a Harry. They loved their pictures and they celebrated their neighbor’s pictures. As a collective, they were in awe that the ability to draw that dog was INSIDE of them.
4. Listen to your heart and tell your story your way. Remember how the students’ dog drawings were all different? Even if an idea has been done before, your execution of it will be unique.
5. Also, librarians rock!

So, as you take the steps to shape your book, follow your heart and believe in the creativity you already have inside of you. Go ahead, unleash your inner-Harry.

~by Amanda Smith​

There are few things at 24 Carrot Writing that thrills us as much as celebrating one of our own. Even though Megan is a recent addition to the 24 Carrot team, joining us in 2021 as a regular contributor, she has been “one of our own,” for a long time.

I first met Megan at a critique group organized through the Writers’ Loft. Soon after, I ran into her at the NESCBWI Spring Conference, and later that year we both attended a picture book workshop together. Somehow, during that time frame, each one of the original 24 Carrot founders’ paths crossed with Megan’s at different events, and the following year we all carpooled together to the Spring Conference. Those daily drives back and forth were filled with engaging conversations about writing, and workshops, and dreams. Megan had just signed with her agent, Lindsay Davis Auld from Writers House, and we were excitedly crossing all our fingers and toes for her. And here we are – four years later, celebrating the bright light of Megan’s debut picture book Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night (Clarion Books) illustrated by Nneka Myers!
Over the years we have learned many lessons from Megan's approach to writing and her work philosophy. We'd love to share some of those with you.

LESSONS WE'VE LEAREND FROM MEGAN:
Be Gracious:
At that very first critique group, one of those serendipitous, hive-mind, similarly-themed-story flukes popped up. In the past, I’ve witnessed these kinds of situations ruin writerly relationships, but Megan responded with so much grace and this-is-the-business professionalism that it was hardly a blip on the radar. Over the years we’ve witnessed her kind support to the writing community, her willingness to jump in and help at book events, her praise and appreciation for other writers, and as a critique partner, her thoughtful insight and cheerleading of our writing – always with a generous dose of Megan sparkle.

Follow Your Passions:
Before focusing on writing, Megan was a classroom teacher and reading interventionist. Literacy accessibility is one of her biggest passions. She doesn’t just love writing. She loves books, and reading, and kids reading books, and reading books to kids, and making reading available to all. This passion is sprinkled, like star-dust, onto everything she does, her audience always in her mind. Not only does it drive her to write beautifully lyrical picture books, but also to explore other ways of breaking open the written word to children, such as writing for the educational market, classroom poetry, and early readers. As a matter of fact, Megan has the first two books of an early reader series Dirt and Bugsy launching in February and June 2023. Following her passion has led her to all kinds of exhilarating opportunities.

Trust the Process:
The publishing process is long. Very long. Excruciatingly long. Megan signed with her agent in June 2018, and went out on submission later that same month. With a different manuscript. Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night was actually her second submission, and between the two, there were two years of ups and downs, very close-calls, and plenty of rejection before signing that contract in 2020. There are so many anxiety-causing stepping stones on the path to publishing, yet Megan trusted her team and her talent, and stayed the course, one step at a time.

Own Your Style:
When we browse bookstores or share library finds, often one of us will pull a book and announce, “This is a Megan-book.” Megan-books feature lovely language, read-aloud-ability, solid rhythm, winks of humor, and oodles of heart. While the style might be recognizable, her voice is uniquely hers. When it comes to writing picture books, Megan is a lyrical writer. She knows it. She owns it. And she excels at it.

We are so excited that we can now pull an actual, very real, totally authentic Megan-book from the shelves. One with her name on the cover! Readers, you and your little ones will fall in love with Megan’s tight writing, her poetic phrasing, and her lilting diction in Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night!
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Dear Megan, we are so excited for you! Shine bright!

Bio: 
Megan Litwin is a children’s book author, a former classroom teacher, and a forever believer in book magic. She holds a Master of Arts in Children’s Literature from Simmons University and lives in Massachusetts with her family.

She will launch Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night Friday, September 23 at 6 pm under the twinkly lights of The Unlikely Story. Click here ​for more information on this event and other upcoming bookstore visits.

Ask for Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night at your local bookstore or order here.