As a writing instructor, I often get asked about how to deal with the terrifying writers’ block. It’s usually from someone who had a great idea at the beginning of their story – swashbuckling heroes and heroines who have to rescue someone else from a dragon or fall in love or save the world. But their creative mind has dried up and they have no idea where to go next. The ubiquitous blank screen haunts them, and sleepless nights are usually right around the corner, especially if there’s a deadline looming.
But I don’t believe in writers’ block.
Instead, I believe in magic. Not the Harry Potter or A Discovery of Witches type-magic, but the magical imagination that lives within us.
After all, we’re writers! We have the ability and privilege to invent characters who can tell the human narrative through our own experiences. We get to express things in writing we might never share otherwise. We are allowed to laugh and love and cry and hate simply through waving our magic wand (also known as a pen or pencil or keyboard).
Find your magic.
I don’t know where your magic came from, since we all have our own creation story, but mine burst forth when I was a small child. I used to get in trouble for telling stories but now I get paid for them, and they feed my soul. It’s almost as if opening that vein and spilling my blood on the page purges worries and fears. In fact, reading books has taught me more about life and how to find solutions.
And, isn’t that what writing is best at?
Your own hero's journey.
After all, almost every story – from every continent, every culture, every time period – follows the same pattern, the one Joseph Campbell called“The Hero’s Journey." Characters, based on the human condition, start with a problem they can’t solve and, through a series of lessons, trials, tribulations, victories, and lumps and bumps, our hero/ine learns how to solve that problem, with lots of adventures to go along with it. How better to teach a child, for instance, how to deal with the fear of heights then to see that little train who “thinks I can” and discovers that it actually can?
That’s where the magic works the best. We create story after story that can show a path out of a problem and help others to do so also.
So, is it really writer’s block when we get stuck?
Or are we really just not allowing ourselves to allow the magic to flow? This doesn’t mean that, just because I think a story isn’t truly a story without a dragon in it, that it isn’t good. We all have our own likes and dislikes and shouldn’t try to force ourselves into someone else’s box. Besides, if we all liked the same book, there’d only be one.
We all have our strengths and our own stories to tell.
Writing is a magical journey into worlds and characters that we can only describe to others, even though they live in our minds, and the technical getting-it-on-the-page part is only a small side of the process. Don’t worry about all the "isms," "asms," and spasms of "writing rules," about a story being perfect (there’s no such thing!), about creating the next best-seller.
Instead, let your imagination flow. Create amazing -- and magical -- stories that resonate with your heart, that make your spirit soar. Stories that ignite the imagination of the readers. Because that empty computer screen will fill itself as you tell YOUR story.
Do you know where your magic comes from? Do you have your own personal hero's journey? Share them in the comments.
About Sarah
Sarah (Sally) Hamer, B.S., MLA, is a lover of books, a teacher of writers, and a believer in a good story. Most of all, she is eternally fascinated by people and how they 'tick'. She’s passionate about helping people tell their own stories and has won awards at both local and national levels, including two Golden Heart finals.
A teacher of memoir, beginning and advanced creative fiction writing, and screenwriting at Louisiana State University in Shreveport for over twenty years, she also teaches online for Margie Lawson at www.margielawson.com and for the No Stress Writing Academy at https://www.worldanvil.com/w/classes-deleyna/a/no-stress-writing-academy. Sally is a free-lance editor and book coach, with many of her students and clients becoming successful, award-winning authors.
Every so often, we open the doors of WITS to our readers. It's our version of Open Mic Night where you get to take the stage. We like hearing what you're up to in your writing and, since we just made the turn into Spring, it seems like a great time to hear about new beginnings.
Today, we'd love to hear your first lines for a new manuscript or short story. If that sounds daunting, give us the first line of your new chapter, or the first line of one of your favorite books. We want to make it easy!
The Power of First Lines
Fabulous first lines tend to stick with all of us. We ponder them, agonize over them, rewrite them, and rewrite them again. And more than once, we've actually purchased a book based on a breathtaking first line or paragraph.
Our own Laura Drake has offered some great advice on writing a winning first line:
"A first line is a promise to the reader, telling them what kind of book this is. What your voice is. Maybe who the main character is. A good first line will pull a reader into a story.here.
Let's Hear Yours!
Today, it's yourturn to entertain or wow us with your opening lines. If you can't think of anything, share a favorite from someone else. Give us the title and genre, then your opening line(s).
Feel free to comment on others' as well, and tag your writing friends on the post so they can share theirs!
We'll get you started.
Ellen
Jack clenched his hands at his sides, glaring at Papa. The man, aged beyond his years, had collapsed on his chair, keeping watch over his fragile wife through a whiskey fog.
Opening from The Hobo Code, a YA historical fiction WIP from Ellen L. Buikema
Jenn
Leave it to a fanghole to interrupt a perfectly good retirement.
Opening line from Evil's Lethal Addiction, book 5 in the Alexis Black Novels from Jenn Windrow
Jenny
New life, new adventure, new planet. When your old life becomes unbearable, the only way forward is to reach for something new. But maybe this was too much new.
Opening from Dance Upon the Moon, a sci-fi short story from Jenny Hansen
Lisa
Kadi was used to serving a bar full of aliens. A galaxy of fake aliens passed through her doors each day, and she enjoyed every one of them. Well, almost.
Opening from An Alien Walks into a Bar (Spaceport book 1) by Deleyna Marr (or Trina Malone...TBD)
Lynette
It should have been easy to find her murderous sister.
Miranda Clarke glowered at the diner’s grumbling mechanical dishwasher. She had plenty of motivation to find her younger sister, but finding Irene Earnshaw, formerly the wife of the Prophet and the Fellowship’s Lady of the United States, wasn’t as easy as Miranda had hoped.
Opening from Book Three of my Fellowship Dystopia series, And When I Wake, to be published this fall.
Now it's your turn. Share your opening lines (or a favorite from another author) below!
We hope this helps kick off a great month of writing!
PR Therapy for Planners and Pantsers by Robin Blakely
Over the years, I’ve offered PR therapy to hundreds of writers across every genre—fiction, nonfiction, romance, mystery, poetry, science fiction, fantasy, self-help, memoir, and a million more. Surprisingly, what truly sets writers apart isn’t their chosen genre—it’s how they approach their craft.
Writers tend to fall into one of two camps: planners and pantsers. And, here’s the thing—embracing your natural style isn’t just important for writing—it’s a gamechanger for marketing yourself, too.
Which camp are you in?
Many things—like PR success—will improve when you identify which camp is yours and officially accept your membership. The way you build your brand needs to align with who you truly are. So, pick your lane.
Planners meticulously outline their writing projects.
If that’s you, you probably delight in arranging ideas in mind maps and Post it notes. Even your wildest dreams take place in color-coded technicolor. Your idea of a great date night is a slow stroll through the aisles of Office Max admiring the endless array of whiteboards, binders, and fancy organizers that just might bring order to your creative chaos.
Pantsers fly by the seat of their pants.
You might know Office Max has an aisle for project management… but you’ve never lingered there. Instead, you dive fearlessly into your storylines with little more than a sense of direction, letting inspiration strike where it may—often in the shower or just as you’re about to fall asleep. You may not even know if you have a real plot on your hands until you finish the last page.
Planner. Pantser. So, which one are you?
No matter your camp, embracing your natural style can be a marketing superpower. The key is to lean into your strengths—not just in writing, but in how you share your work with the world.
But what if you’re a bit of both?
Maybe you’re thinking: Wait, I’m a total hybrid—a plantser! Well, sure, we all have thought that. Balancing planning and spontaneity sounds ideal.
But here’s the truth: mastering that mix takes polished skill and incredible energy. So maybe, instead of forcing a perfect blend, start by embracing the side that feels most natural. Own it. Then, strategically borrow the best traits from the other side to strengthen your approach.
The good news? No matter where you naturally lean, you can still build a PR strategy that works for you.
7 PR Strategy Tips
1. Start with a Framework
Instead of treating PR as either a rigid strategy or pure improvisation, think of it as a flexible roadmap—clear enough to guide you, open enough to allow for creativity.
Here’s what to outline:
Define a Goal: What do you want to achieve?
Pantsers, pick a goal that excites you. Find fans? Sell books? Raise awareness? Go with the one thing that has the power to drive you. One thing. Not everything.
Planners, define a measurable target—gain a 1,000 newsletter subscribers, land five podcast interviews, or hit a specific number of book sales. Make the goal one you can visualize and get behind. Then act on it.
Identify Your Audience: Who are you really trying to reach?
Pantsers, trust your gut—who do you imagine reading your book? Track those folks down and introduce yourself. Look for groups, not door-to-door, one by one.
Planners, research reader demographics and niche groups. Make some focused choices. Just know: your audience is never everyone. Pick an identifiable group.
Choose Your Key Message: What do you want people to know, feel, or do?
Pantsers, start with your natural way of talking about your book.
Planners, refine your message into a repeatable hook for consistency.
Select Your Channels: Where will you share your message?
Pantsers, go where you naturally enjoy engaging—social media, traditional media, live events. Pick a path and see what happens. Be aware that no usually means not now, not yet, not this time. No rarely means go back to your cave and never come out again, loser.
Planners, build a door-knocking strategy that points you to the places where you naturally enjoy engaging—social media, traditional media, live events. Choose a path. Your plan should rarely be a plan to go everywhere all at once. Pace your efforts. You are human and you need to breathe.
2. Keep Your Strategy Alive
You need to write your plan down so others can share your vision. But don’t imagine it’s a one-and-done deal. Your written plan needs to be alive and breathing. Whether it’s a Google Doc or a paper notebook, use a system where you can jot down ideas and adjust them as you go.
The best thing you can do for yourself promotionally is to keep your PR efforts in motion and evolving rather than being all lockdown and unchangeable. Things often change significantly along the way. Be willing to react and go with the changes.
Pantsers, don’t avoid a written PR plan because you’d rather wing it.
Your hard work deserves a thoughtful approach to promotions. Commit to writing a real draft of a real promotional plan so others can look at it and react to it before you do it. Don’t expect others to read your mind.
Planners, put a time limit and a revision limit on your written plan.
You can revise the thing a million times or you can actually just do it. Too many revisions will kill the energy that can make you a success. Yes, it can be messy. Trust that when you leap, you’ll somehow land and you will survive even if you don’t always land on your feet.
3. Identify Your Core Stories
You need to identify your key talking points. Even if you dislike structured planning, clarity around your key stories will help guide your messaging.
Planners and Pantsers, ask yourself:
What makes your book or brand different from what others are doing?
What human-interest stories can you share?
Are there seasonal topics you can tie into?
Having a handful of go-to narratives makes it easier to make the most out of any PR opportunity you may discover along the way.
4. Set Up a Content Calendar
A good content calendar isn’t about locking yourself into a rigid schedule—it’s about creating a rhythm that balances structure and spontaneity.
Pantsers:
Okay, so it is not your nature to routinely tell people what they can do to help you. You need to tell them anyway. You might resist planning, but your audience won’t automatically know how to support you unless you tell them.
Schedule action moments—literally remind people to buy your book, leave a review, or sign up for your newsletter. Even a loose framework will help keep your efforts consistent and on track.
Planners:
You have to make room in your calendar for personality posts. Shake off that need for control. Structure is your comfort zone, but spontaneity keeps your brand human. Plan for flexibility—leave intentional space for sharing off-the-cuff remarks and real-time stuff. Talk about a funny moment from your day.
Your audience needs a chance to connect with the person behind your work. You are more than a planned strategy.
The big idea isn’t about changing who you are—it’s about making your approach intentional, so your efforts actually advance your goals.
5. Build Relationships
Traditional PR often involves carefully crafted media pitches, but building real connections with journalists, influencers, and industry peers is critical.
Engage with them on social media.
Attend networking events.
Share and comment on their work before pitching anything.
Building relationships is not busy work. It’s how business works. One clear-cut end goal is when you do have something to promote, you’re reaching out to a warm contact—not a cold lead.
6. Leverage Your Strengths
If you’re a pantser, your passion to think on your feet is a major advantage.
Use your strengths to:
Jump on trending topics
Respond quickly to media opportunities.
Spot relevant conversations online and join in authentically.
But don’t ditch what a planned approach can offer you.
If you’re a planner…
You have a passion for visualizing the future and setting things in structured motion. But don’t ditch what spontaneity can bring to the table.
Having a plan will help you prioritize opportunities when they spontaneously show up. Some of the best opportunities come from being present in the moment and being willing to jump into the fray.
7. Keep Metrics Simple but Meaningful
Don’t overthink analytics. Tracking PR success is important, but you don’t need a complicated system.
Choose a few key indicators based on your goals:
Website traffic
Social media engagement
Media mentions
Email open rates
Check in regularly, but don’t get lost in the numbers. If you’re seeing progress, you’re on the right path.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to be a meticulous planner or a wild fly-by-the-seat-of your-pants person to be a successful writer, build a successful brand, or run a successful PR campaign. But it sure helps to own your approach and find your PR rhythm. Whether you need structure or spontaneity, lean into your natural strengths and have some fun being who you are.
For both planners and pansters, having fun is not just fun, it’s powerful.
Are you firmly in one camp -- pantser or planner? Have you applied that camp to your PR strategy? What questions do you have for Robin? This is your opportunity to ask them, down in the comments!
HURRY! Reach out by May 1, 2025 for a FREE 20-minute PR Therapy session. [Email: Robin @ CreativeCenterofAmerica.com and place Writers In The Storm in the subject line.]
About Robin
A top business coach with an extensive background in books, brand development, and strategic planning, Robin Blakely is the CEO of Creative Center of America.
