“Lament of the North Atlantic Right Whale” Wins First Place for Poetry in Blue Institute’s 2020 Words on Water Contest

Blue Institute Words on Water 2020 winners

 

A remarkable thing happened last week: One of my poems won a writing contest!

“Lament of the North Atlantic Right Whale” received first place in the Poetry category for the Blue Institute‘s 2020 Words on Water Writing Contest. The main criteria for this contest, which also has categories for prose and playwriting, is that the entered pieces should involve water, since Blue Institute’s mission is clean water and ocean conservation. You can read “Lament,” as well as the other winning pieces, now at BI’s 2020 Words on Water results page. (Once the page loads, “Lament” is the first piece below the contest logo.)

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Interview and Poetry Reading on the Wicked Writers Podcast

This was such a fun interview! I recently spoke with Rachael Dubinsky on her Wicked Writers podcast, which features a wide range of Massachusetts-based writers and explores why they love what they do. We talked about poetry, my work as an editor and writing coach, and the importance of finding inspiration everywhere. Plus, I share one of my favorite tips for writers and read “Origin Story,” one of my poems.

Click here to listen to my interview on Wicked Writers. Hope you enjoy it!

New Poems in the Latest Issue of “Constellations”

Happy February, friends! Today I’m thrilled to share that the latest issue of Constellations is out, and it features two new poems from me: “2:00 a.m.” and “An Ode to a Tibetan Singing Bowl.” It’s a huge honor to be a part of this local print-only journal (Constellations is based in my home state of Massachusetts), and I’m pleased (and a little nervous) that the editor chose two poems that are completely different from each other in topic and tone.

Here’s my recent Instagram post where I showed my contributor’s copy. Don’t you love the space-themed cover art? ❤

Volume 10 of Constellations, which is titled “Synthesis,” is available for purchase via Amazon through their online stores in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Japan. Visit Constellation’s website to learn more about how to purchase your own copy.

New Poem Featured in Winter 2021 Issue of Soul-Lit

Today I’m happy to share that my poem “Moose Hill Street Lullaby” is featured in the Winter 2021 issue of Soul-Lit! This isn’t the first time my work has been published in this online journal of spiritual poetry (“Learning to Be” and “Elegy” have also been published there), so it’s wonderful to continue to be a part of their community of contributors.

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Choose Your Words for 2021 During This Online Journaling Workshop!

Happy New Year, friends! I hope you enjoyed your December holidays and are ready to start 2021 on the right foot. Last year was tough for everyone, though we also can’t lose sight of the positive or amazing things we experienced. The latter is something I definitely want to remember . . . which is why I’m excited to announce this special online journaling workshop! 

On Monday, January 18, I’m hosting Choose Your Words for 2021: A Journaling & Intention-Setting Workshop from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern. This event, which will be via Zoom, is designed to be a fun and creative way to use journaling to set intentions and put your hopes for the year ahead into words.

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Holiday Sale on Editing Services for 2021

Hi, everyone! 

I already shared this news on my mailing list and social media, but I thought I’d announce it here as well. This month, I’m running another holiday sale on book editing services! So if you want to work with an editor on your book next year, this is the perfect time to inquire about my offerings and save money on the editorial fee. (You can also review my offerings at the Editing page of the Heart of the Story website.)

Here’s how this works: Email me about your 2021 editing project by Thursday, December 31, and you’ll receive a 10% discount on the price estimate. This discount applies to all editing and critique projects, including bundle packages for multiple rounds of editing. And it doesn’t matter if your manuscript would be ready for editing in January or next December. So if you want to work with a freelance book editor next year, then this sale is for you.

Interested? Then send me a message at sara [at] heartofthestoryeditorial [dot] com with the title of your manuscript, a 2- or 3-sentence blurb about your project, the genre and target age range (YA, adult, etc.), the word and page counts, your projected timetable or deadline, the type(s) of editing desired, the holiday sale password (HOLIDAY2020), and where you found it (my blog). If you’d like a sample edit so you can see my editing style, you may attach a 6- to 10-page excerpt from the manuscript (MS Word only) to your email. This will also help me create an accurate pricing and timeline estimate for your project.

Don’t wait too long, though! The sale ends on Thursday, December 31. So if you want to take advantage of this, or if you have other questions about my editing services, email me at sara [at] heartofthestoryeditorial [dot] com so we can start the conversation.

Poetry News! Plus, an Overdue Update

Hi, everyone. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?

Don’t worry. I’m doing well for the most part, and my loved ones and I have managed to stay healthy during the pandemic. This year has also been extremely busy, especially with growing my book editing and writing coaching business Heart of the Story. So as time has gone on, I’ve had to let blogging slide for various reasons. Continue reading

Upcoming Online Event: Poems That Heal the Soul on Thursday, May 26

Hey there, friends and writers. How are you and your loved ones doing? Hanging in there, I hope?

I want to let you know about a special online poetry event I’m hosting next week that I’m incredibly excited about. And here’s what’s neat about it:

You don’t have to write poetry to attend.
You simply have to love reading it.

On Thursday, May 21, I’m partnering with my friends at SheBreathes Balance & Wellness Studio for Poems That Heal the Soul: An Online Poetry Discussion. If you’ve been turning to poetry for comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic, then this virtual event will be a great opportunity to meet other poetry lovers and share some of your favorite poems that have helped you lately.

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New DIY MFA Post: How Your Protagonist’s Motivations Influence Your Story’s Themes

What does your protagonist want? That’s a loaded question, right? But it’s the central idea of my latest Theme: A Story’s Soul at DIY MFA, and it’s one of the questions that you, as a writer, should consider for your story. As the article’s title reveals, your protagonist’s goals, desires, and other motivations don’t just influence the story’s plot. They also nurture some of the story’s literary themes! And in this article, you’ll learn how to do this with your writing with the help of examples from three books and four brainstorming exercises.

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