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Footnotes: Stay motivated to finish your novel

I'm an American writer, writing coach, and podcaster living in Berlin. I've hosted the award-winning Secret Library podcast since 2016, am the author of Story Arcana: Tarot for Writers, and have helped dozens of students complete their novel drafts and revise their books with my courses Dream to Draft and Next Draft.

Featured Post

How to reset your writing life.

Who else has had a wild ride the past few months? In my experience, January lasts about three months, February takes five minutes, and March and April blend together before we're suddenly in May. If you're like me, there's been a mix of stretches where writing happens and periods where nothing seems to happen at all. Our long-overdue trip to the east coast last month meant I did absolutely no writing for nearly a month, even though I'd thought this trip would be different. There have been...

Happy Spring! Next Monday, March 31, the next Your Writing Year intensive begins. Want to write with us and build your writing practice? For ten weeks, you'll get support, accountability and inspiration to grow your writing practice alongside other writers. Your Writing Year Intensives include: Ten weeks of writing support Guidance setting a reasonable goal for the session An accountability partner Study Halls to actually get writing done Weekly accountability check-ins with the group Support...

Image: Berlin Bücherfest 2023, Caroline Donahue. On May 10, 1933, books were burned in Babelplatz. By students. In April of that same year, many supporters of the regime announced that books incompatible with the Nazi ideology ought to be destroyed. The May 10th burning stands out as the largest, but the burnings continued for months. One of my favorite memorials in Berlin now commemorates the incredible loss of those books. Those who wish to see it have to get close to the ground to see it...

Image: Berlin Grafitti, Caroline Donahue. Translation: "Thanks, I know!" The season of taking everything outdoors in Berlin is ON. In June, the long sunny days in Northern Europe reach their height. There's light in the sky after 10 at night, and a quick run to the loo at 4:45 this morning jolted me awake, as it was already broad daylight. Walks down the canals near our house reveal gobs of people playing bocce in dedicated courts, walking, and sitting on every possible surface while chatting...