Janet Eriksson

April 13, 2026April 11, 2026

Your Story Is Allowed to Be Gentle

Folks often hesitate to write a book because they think their story doesn’t have enough trauma. They worry their story will be boring or meaningless without that dramatic hook.

But a gentle or peaceful book can really hit home with readers who experience plenty of trauma in daily life. What a breath of fresh air to have a story that helps them breathe, redirect, find their way to peace.

Not to say that a book about trauma doesn’t lead readers to peace. It can, and it should. But a gentle story can do the same. The key to an engaging book is not dramatic moments. It’s direction. Know where you’re taking your reader, and guide them along that path of discovery.

April 6, 2026March 31, 2026

When You Know What You Want to Write But Can’t Get to It

Has this ever happened to you? You’re working on a writing project, maybe a book or a blog. You know what you want to write next. But you can’t seem to fit it into your schedule. Life keeps happening.

That’s okay. You can still move your project forward: by thinking about what you’re going to write.

March 30, 2026March 27, 2026

Writing Prompt: I Didn’t Know It Was the Beginning

Spring is a season of change, the beginning of new things. How often do we go through changes without realizing something new is starting?

Can you look back at a time when you were becoming someone new? But you didn’t realize it then?

March 23, 2026March 16, 2026

Why Questions Are Part of the Writing Process

You sit down to write your book. Instead of words flowing, questions pop up. When did that happen? What led to that event? Where was that located? Who might remember the details? Where can I find answers?

Soon, you might feel that your writing progress has stopped, and the need for Q&A has taken over. But questions are part of the writing process. They don’t signal your project is on hold. Questions let you know your writing is moving ahead.

March 16, 2026March 16, 2026

The Power of Writing for One Reader

Imagine speaking to a room filled with people. Now imagine sitting across the table from one person, enjoying a conversation over coffee. Which one feels easier?

If you said the one-on-one conversation feels easier, you’re not alone. Many people would prefer that. Especially if you have something important to share that you think will help that person.

In a crowded room, you have no idea how, or even if your message is landing with everyone. But when you talk to just one person, you can tailor your message to them.

That’s a helpful analogy to keep in mind as you sit down to write your book, blog, stories. It’s easiest when you focus on just one reader.

February 23, 2026March 16, 2026

Writing Prompt: A Quiet Love

February is a time to celebrate love. With Valentine’s Day and anticipation of spring, it’s easy to carry love in our hearts.

Love appears in a variety of ways: love for a spouse, child, parent, sibling, friend, neighbor, pet, place, hobby, way of life. Love shows up in big and small ways. Sometimes it’s in the smallest moments when you notice and remember love the most.

For this month’s writing prompt, focus on a quiet way someone loved you. Not a big way, but something meaningful yet easily overlooked.

February 2, 2026February 3, 2026

Your Stories Are Not Too Ordinary to Write

A coaching client told me she wanted to write but wasn’t sure she had much to draw from. She described her life as vanilla. Her friends were writing about struggles they had overcome. Her life had been pretty smooth. What could she write? Who would want to read it?

January 19, 2026March 27, 2026

Writing Prompt: Describe a Winter Scene

A writing prompt is a way to practice creative skills while having some fun with writing. If you ever feel stuck, try a writing prompt. It helps you regain momentum. You might even find a new path forward in your writing project.

January 12, 2026January 11, 2026

One Journey at a Time: How to Know What Belongs in Your Book

When starting a new book, most writers don’t struggle with a lack of ideas. Instead, they feel overwhelmed because they have too many ideas. They care deeply and want to share everything they know about a topic for the benefit of their readers.

That’s a great problem to have, but it feels daunting. For good reason. When a writer puts too much information into one book, it’s too much for readers to follow and too complicated and overwhelming to organize and write. Most often, the initial manuscript pages end up sitting incomplete and abandoned in a computer file.

If this struggle feels familiar, here’s a way to help you focus on what your book actually needs.

January 5, 2026

Rediscover the Joy of Writing

After the busyness of the holidays, when most book projects take a back seat to holiday activity, it can be hard to start writing again. One way to ease back in is to rediscover the joy of writing.