Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It)
by Rochelle Melander

How did the idea for Write-a-Thon come about?
I’ve always liked marathon style writing. In college and graduate school, I chalked up my all-night writing marathons to procrastination. But in the past 15 years, I’ve been blessed with publishers who have given me insane deadlines! I’ve completed nearly every one of my thirteen finished books (ten of them published) in less than three months, most in 6 weeks, and one in just nine days.

When I found out about National Novel Writing Month, I discovered that I am not the only crazy person who likes to write marathon style. Every November (and now during the summer Camp NaNoWriMo), a whole bunch of folks attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. I signed up, figuring it would be one way to finish my mystery novel.  I failed miserably—my poor victim is still languishing naked in a hunting cabin in the mountains of western Pennsylvania because I couldn’t find the courage to have my murderer kill him.

So, I tried to figure out how to succeed at writing marathons. I began researching writing, how famous writers worked, and what psychology had to say about how writers could work faster more efficiently. In 2007, I taught a class to help other writers successfully complete National Novel Writing Month. I have taught that class in local bookstores every year since. In the meantime, I began collecting all of my research and ideas in a project notebook. I had been thinking about writing a book on writing since 2006, but I was not sure what kind of a book I wanted to write. Then it hit me: I’d write about writing books fast. But could I do it fast?

Did you write Write-A-Thon in 26 Days?
Yes! I wrote Write-A-Thon during the 2009 NaNoWriMo (in just 26 days)! In January 2010, I wrote the book proposal for the book. During the long Wisconsin winter, I revised the book—cleaning up prose, clearing out repetition, and adding new material. Writers Digest Books accepted the proposal in February 2011. I had a month to add 25,000 words to the book and finish revisions.

What makes Write-A-Thon different from other writing books? (Or, why do we need ANOTHER book on writing?)
I wrote Write-A-Thon for people who want to write a book but don’t know how to write a book, manage their crazy schedules, or finish a project. I wrote to help these writers overcome their excuses and doubts and finish their book projects. Write-A-Thon is different from other books in several ways:

• Write-A-Thon presents a complete system for training for and writing a book in 26-days.
• The book is about HOW to write. It’s not written just for people who are already writers (thought it can help them, too). It’s written for the ordinary person who wants to write a book but does not know how.
• The book is packed full of tools and ideas for getting writing done. No more excuses!
• Write-A-Thon includes information specifically designed for two groups of writers: those who want to plot and write a novel and those who want to research and write a nonfiction book.
• The book is easy to use and follow. I recognize that people who pick up a book on writing want a tool they can access quickly. For that reason, Write-A-Thon is divided into short chapters.

Some people criticize programs that promote fast writing because they think that equals poor writing! What do you think?
Most people never finish their books because they are paralyzed by the fear that it won’t be good enough. Writing fast, with the aim toward finishing rather than perfecting the book, supports the writer in getting the words down on paper. Of course the book will have tons of mistakes and poorly written parts. Remember Anne Lamott and the crappy first draft. But once those words are down on paper, they can be fixed. You can’t edit nothing. Most writers cannot write a great, publishable book in 26 days. But they can write a first draft. After that, they can revise the book and make it great.


When do you write? What’s your schedule like?
I’m a morning writer, so I try to get most of my writing done before I check email, play on Facebook, or see clients. In the summer, I get up early and write before anyone gets up. When the dog wakes up, I take him for a walk and then come home and write more. During the school year, I take my daughter to school, stop at the Y to exercise, and then write all morning. When I am on deadline, I often spend the rest of the day researching. Sometimes, I will even write an extra chapter in the afternoon or (gasp!) in the evening.

How would you describe your working environment?
I work in my home office—which is a first floor bedroom in a 1912 bungalow in Milwaukee. I have two desks, one for my computer and one for writing by hand. I usually write on the computer and coach at my writing desk. Behind my computer desk, I have shelves dedicated to each of my writing projects. That way, everything I need is easy to find.


You talk about doing research and keeping it in a project notebook. How do you research your books? What kind of stuff do you keep in a project notebook?
Once I have an inkling that an idea might become a book, I start gathering material: books, articles, ideas, Websites, and anything else I think I can use. When I read, I take copious notes and, if I can, indicate where in the book I might use the material.

In Write-A-Thon, I recommend that all writers keep a virtual or actual project notebook. I have both—and a big old shelf too! For every book I have written, I have a three ring binder with pocket page dividers. In it, I put all of the research I do, any ideas I have, and finished writing pieces. I also use the folder to hold information I might use in a book proposal—complementary and competitive books, marketing ideas, and product dreams. In addition to the binder, I keep books and magazines on a project shelf in my office. On my computer, I keep online information and PDF files in designated folders.

How do you deal with writer’s block?
I write. Most of the time, my deadlines are so tight that I cannot afford to be blocked. In addition to writing books and articles, I write a weekly writing tip newsletter and blog. For me, inspiration tends to happen after I have started writing and not before. If I get 30 minutes into a piece, and it is still not flowing—I take a break and go for a walk. Or, I work on a different part of the writing project. I try not to check email or go on Facebook, because that just drains my energy. If I take a good break or do some other writing, by the time I get back to the piece, it flows easily!

What advice would you offer anyone who wants to write a book fast?
Read my book! Seriously, start with an idea that you are passionate about—something you would write just for the fun of it (because at this point it is just for the fun of it). Figure out what you want the book to look like—how long will it be, how will you structure it, and what will each small piece look like. Create a schedule for writing the book—when, where, and how you do it. Got that? Great. Now do it! If you need some extra help, my site enables you to keep track of your word count. You can also sign up for free tips and publishing classes there.

What do you like to read?
I read everything from fast-paced mysteries to the back of my cereal box. I read all the time. Back in 1993, I set the goal of reading a week. I read 83 books that year. Every year since then, I have tried to read at least one book a week, sometimes two. I usually have two or three books going at once. In the mornings, while I eat breakfast, I like to read nonfiction—either a book of great ideas or a book about spirituality. In the afternoon and early evening, I read mysteries and other fiction. At night, before bed, I like to read slow books—the diaries or letters of famous writers or comforting memoirs. Lately, because I review books so much, I’ve tried to take a reading day once a week just to catch up on my stack of books!

What are you working on now?
I am spending most of my time working on marketing Write-A-Thon—speaking, guest posting at blogs, and speaking to writing groups. But, in the early mornings, I am working on revising last year’s NaNoWriMo project, a series of novels for 7-9 year old girls.

Welcome Media!

Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It) is a complete how-to guide for writing a book fast. The book is jam-packed with tools, tips, and encouragement.

Consider covering the book in the following feature article ideas:

+How to Write Despite Holiday Shopping, Concerts, Cooking and Games!

+It's All Material! Survive the Holidays by Writing About Your Crazy Relatives!

+Is Writing a Book on Your Bucket List?

+New Year's Resolution: Write Your Book in 2012!

+How Writing A Book can Improve Business.

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Author Chat with Lynda D. Brown

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Events

VIEW EVENTS

Use Write-A-Thon and Rochelle Melander when you cover these yearly events:

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) (November)

Script Frenzy (April)

Camp NaNoWriMo (July-August)

July Novel Writing month (JulNoWriMo) (July)

Clarion USCD Write-A-Thon (Summer)

Dzanc Books Write-A-Thon (July)

August 40k (August)

The 3-Day Novel Contest (Labor Day weekend)

About the Author

Rochelle Melander is a certified professional coach and the author of 10 books, including a new book to help fiction and nonfiction writers write fast: Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It) (October 2011). Melander teaches professionals how to get published, establish credibility, and navigate the new world of social media. In 2006, Rochelle founded Dream Keepers Writing Group, a program that teaches writing to at-risk tweens and teens.

CONTACT

Please contact the author for more information or to schedule and interview.

Virtual Book Tour Dates and Locations

October 17, 2011 Jane Friedman

October 17, 2011 WriteItSideways

October 18, 2011 VBTCafe

October 20, 2011 Assisting Authors Online

October 25, 2011 Live to Read

October 27, 2011 Writing Crazy Me

October 27, 2011 I Am A Reader Not A Writer

October 28, 2011 Blogging Your Passion

October 28, 2011 Procrastinating Writer's Blog

October 31, 2011 Letters Across the Page

November 2011 Rochelle will be expert of the month at Addictionland, blogging on October 31, November 7, 14, 21.

November 2011 Rochelle will be blogging at PhD to Published for Academic Book Writing Month on November 2, 9, 16, 23.

November 2011 Lex Gilmore will announce the Write-A-Thon challenge on November 1 and be blogging about her journey through Write-A-Thon on Tuesdays (Nov. 8, 15, 22) and Thursdays (November 3, 10, 17, 24)

November 1, 2011 The New Book Review

November 2, 2011 Ashley's Bookshelf

November 2, 2011 Lex Gilmore

November 3, 2011 Working Writers

November 3, 2011 A Place For Writers

November 4, 2011 Write Nonfiction in November

November 6, 2011 Written In Blood

November 7, 2011 Amwriting.org

November 7, 2011 Dollars and Deadlines

November 8, 2011 Authors by Authors

November 9, 2011 Book Reader Addicts

November 9, 2011 4:00 PM ET Write On! Online at Blog Talk Radio

November 10, 2011 Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews

November 11, 2011 For the Love of Reading

November 15, 2011 Blog Talk Radio

November 15, 2011 Sharing With Writers

November 15, 2011 The Book Garden

November 16, 2011 Wrimos FTW

November 16, 2011 The Writer

November 17, 2011 Novel Publicity

November 17, 2011 AZ Publishing

November 21, 2011 The Whole Megillah

November 21, 2011 Morgen Bailey

November 29, 2011 Serena Bell

December 2, 2011 Marybeth Whalen

December 12, 2011 Elle Amberley

December 14, 2011 Writer's Bookshelf

December 16, 2011 From the Mind of Omegia

December 19, 2011 Morgen Bailey

January 18, 2012 From Sarah, With Joy

January 24, 2012 Janice Hardy

February 6, 2012 AmWriting

February 8, 2012 A Sense of Fiction

March 22, 2012 Kelly L. Stone Blog

If you’ve ever wanted to write a book—and 80% of Americans have that dream on their bucket list—Write-A-Thon is your go-to guide for getting your book done fast and painlessly.

During National Novel Writing Month in November, more than 200,000 people write a 50,000-word novel. Now you can write your book fast—fiction, nonfiction, or memoir—anytime you want.

Write-A-Thon is designed to support anyone who wants to write a book but does not have the time, background, or knowledge to write a book fast. The life skills, performance techniques, and writing tools presented in Write-A-Thon are based on scientifically validated research from positive psychology, inspiration from the world of marathon running, the author’s work as a writing coach, and the author’s personal experience of writing books fast.

Rochelle Melander, author of Write-A-Thon, has been writing fast since graduate school. She wrote her master’s thesis in one year, while taking all the coursework for the degree, teaching, working odd jobs, and trying to have a life. In the past 15 years, she’s written and published nine books, more than a hundred articles, and many resources. Nearly every book was completed in less than three months, several in as little time as six weeks, and one in just nine days. Write-A-Thon was written during 2009’s National Novel Writing Month—in just 26 days.

Write-A-Thon is divided into three sections: Training, Write-a-thon, and Recovery. Each section includes an introduction and a series of short essays with practical tips, tools, and encouragement to help you incorporate the techniques into your own life. The book concludes with an annotated bibliography that provides additional writing help for readers on topics such as editing, grammar, and the publication process.

Advance praise for Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It)

Like the best coaches, Rochelle Y. Melander will strengthen your creative muscles, get your writerly heart pounding, and show you you're capable of way more than you've ever imagined. Write-a-Thon will help you go the distance with your book.
—Gayle Brandeis, author, teacher, and activist, author of My Life with the Lincolns and Delta Girls, http://www.gaylebrandeis.com/

"What I love about Rochelle's message in her book - is to WRITE. That is the magic formula, plain and simple. But where to start? No worries. She offers easy-to-understand tips and tools to get you rolling. If you've ever dreamed of starting (and completing) a writing project, this is the time to do it. But this book and get going!"
- Kathy Cano-Murillo, founder of CraftyChica.com and author of the novels Waking Up in the Land of Glitter and Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing

Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (and Live to Tell About It) gives you the information, inspiration and tools you need to write a good book in less than a month. Want to know the secret to writing successfully? You're holding it.
—Donna Gephart, award-winning children's book author, wrote Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen (Delacorte Press/Random House) in 29 days. www.donnagephart.com

It doesn't matter whether you're just starting to write, or if you've been writing for years —this book is one of the best resources you'll ever find. Ever. Rochelle Melander preps you for writing a book in 26 days, but you'll want to savor this book and refer to it often. A life coach as well as writing teacher, Melander infuses the text with so many ideas, exercises, as well as energy that you'll never again look at writing the same way. I know I won't. If you're serious about the craft, you need this book.
—Libby Fischer Hellmann, SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE
http://libbyhellmann.com

Rochelle Melander, who has been heroically helping writers in all stages for years, has written one of the best guides for writers I have ever read. Write-A-Thon is wise, user-friendly, witty, breathtakingly thorough, and fun. Whether you’re writing fiction, non-fiction, or poetry, Melander, herself an accomplished author, eases the way with profound and playful exercises, and insights that land like light suddenly illuminating a pitch-dark tunnel. If you want to write a book in a month, or if you just want to become a better writer and communicator, this book will be a great friend to you. My son, who is heading to college, was reading this book over my shoulder and asked for a copy to take with him. I believe Write-A-Thon will take its place beside such classics as Beth Joselow’s Writing without the Muse and Diane Thiel’s Writing Your Rhythm. Enjoy Melander’s great company, and share it with people you care about.
—Robert McDowell, author of the bestselling Poetry as Spiritual Practice: Reading, Writing, and Using Poetry in Your Daily Rituals, Aspirations, and Intentions, and the forthcoming The More We Get Together: The Sexual and Spiritual Language of Love. (www.robertmcdowell.net)

If you’re like four out of five people, you dream of writing a book—and your biggest excuse for not having done so already is lack of time. If this sounds like you, you need Rochelle Melander’s new book, Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It), which provides simple yet effective strategies for planning, writing and recovering from writing a book (at least the draft of it) in less than a month’s time. Loaded with exercises, motivational quotes, and real-life examples, her book doesn’t just explain how she is so productive—she shows you how to do it, too. As a runner, I especially enjoyed the  marathon analogy she employs throughout the book. Sure, a marathon sounds insurmountable at first, even for seasoned runners—but with preparation, training, and practice, most runners can complete one. The same is true of would-be authors—whether you’ve been writing for years or are just getting started, you can write a book in a month with Melander’s Write-A-Thon as your guide. Motivating, insightful, and fun to read, you’ll keep this book handy for years.
—Kelly James-Enger, author of books including Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer’s Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books.  http://dollarsanddeadlines.blogspot.com/

Write-a-thon is the tool every writer has been waiting for. Whether a professional or a wanna-be writer, you will find the practical help, the inspiration, and the kick in the pants to get writing. This book is more than a book—it's a whole a new life built out of words.
—Jane Rubietta, award-winning author and international speaker, author of Come Along: Journey to a More Intimate Faith, www.JaneRubietta.com

One of the biggest stumbling blocks for aspiring writers is not committing to the writing process. They end up focusing on all the wrong things, when what they really need to do is sit down and write. In Write-a-Thon, Rochelle Melander knocks down excuses for not writing and sets out a detailed plan for turning your idea into a book. The key is that she shows how to do it in less than a month—not the years that so many writers seem to think it will take. You can bet that Write-a-Thon is going to be on my required reading list for new writers!”
—Jennifer Lawler, author of Dojo Wisdom for Writers, http://www.jenniferlawler.com/

This book is filled with the energy, knowledge and tips from an established author who has not only written a book in a month, she also held me accountable to write a book in a month, too! I couldn’t have written or published Creating Your Best Life in record time without her prodding, accountability and good humor in a difficult situation. This book will help everyone to finally write that book that is lurking in their brain and trying to get out!
—Caroline Adams Miller, MAPP, author of Creating Your Best Life, www.carolinemiller.com

If you ever said you want to write a novel or memoir, but came up with dozens of excuses why you couldn’t, read Write-a-Thon!  This “how to” book, full of practical advice, writing prompts and lessons, positive energy, and “no excuses” attitude, banishes self doubt at every turn. Melander is a friendly, entertaining, fully engaged, and smart guide to hold your hand and lead you through 26 days toward completion of the first draft of your masterpiece.
—Sue William Silverman, author of Fearless Confessions: A Writer’s Guide to Memoir,  www.SueWilliamSilverman.com

Rochelle Melander has given aspiring writers hope: hope that creating a book is not only possible but that it can be done in an incredibly short time frame. If you have been waiting for the ‘perfect moment’ to begin your writing project, this book will help you stop chasing excuses and start putting words on the page.
—Jennifer Manske Fenske, author of The Wide Smiles of Girls, http://www.jennifermanskefenske.com

Write-A-Thon is your no-excuses guide to getting that dream book finished. Each lesson builds upon the last, helping you to grow as a writer. Write-A-Thon is like having your own personal coach sitting on your shoulder, guiding you through the process of writing a book. I wish I had a book like this when I first embarked on my writing journey. —Kimberly Llewellyn The Quest for the Holy Veil - Berkley
www.KimberlyLlewellyn.com - aka "the Wedding Writer"

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• An in-depth reading of your work by an experienced editor and publishing professional. The editor will focus on the content of your proposal and offer broad tips on creating a winning proposal
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About Our Editors

Harold W. Eppley has authored seven commercially published books, and compiled and edited numerous others. His fiction and creative nonfiction has appeared in over 30 different nationally distributed publications including Highlights for Children, The Lutheran, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul IV and Christmas, volume 65. A magna cum laude graduate of Saint Olaf College, he has a master’s degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary and 22 years experience as a spiritual leader. He is an engaging public speaker, a creative thinker, a thoughtful reader, and an excellent listener.

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author, editor, and professional coach with more than 20 years of publishing experience. She is the author of ten commercially published books, hundreds of articles, and many educational resources, including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It) and the award-winning book, A Generous Presence: Spiritual Leadership and the Art of Coaching. She has been the editor of the periodical The Word in Season since 2000 and has also worked for a number of major publishing houses as a freelance book editor. Rochelle has been editing for private clients since 1995. As a Coach-U trained and certified coach and an expert on social media and publishing, Rochelle works with clients who are interested in the Book Review Package and the Book Proposal Review Package.

Book Reviews

Every week The Write Now! Coach blogs about books she finds helpful for her readers. If you’re an author or publicist, contact The Write Now! Coach for book submission information. She is primarily interested in reviewing books from these fields:

• Writing and publishing
• Business
• Positive Psychology
• Self help

Twice a year The Write Now! Coach releases reading lists on her blog. If you’re an author, contact The Write Now! Coach for book submission information. The deadline for the Holiday Reading list is October 15 and the deadline for the Summer Reading List is May 15. Books she is looking for:

• Nonfiction books that transform lives
• Poetry
• Mystery
• Fiction
• Young Adult fiction and nonfiction

Author Interviews

The Write Now! Coach Blogs. The Write Now! Coach frequently features written interviews with authors on her blog. If you’d like to be considered as a feature author, send your bio to the The Write Now! Coach (rochelle (at) writenowcoach (dot) com. Please include the title and publisher for each of your books as well as a link to your web site or blog.

The Write Now! Mastermind Class. This class features internationally known authors, agents, editors, and publicists. If you’d like to be considered as a guest, send your bio to the The Write Now! Coach. Please include the title and publisher for each of your books as well as a link to your web site or blog.

Guest Bloggers

Occasionally, The Write Now! Coach Blogs features guest bloggers on topics of interest to writers. If you are interested in becoming a guest blogger, please submit your bio, a list of your publications, and three possible topics to rochelle (at) writenowcoach (dot) com. Typically, the Write Now! Coach uses guest bloggers for the Wednesday Writing Prompt.

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Author, coach, and spiritual leader Rochelle Melander has helped thousands of people create rich lives, meaningful work, and great books. Rochelle brings to her work a solid education in coaching, therapy, writing, and theology; the practice of life-long learning; years of experience as a writer, speaker, and coach; and a passion for hearing and nurturing the dreams of others.

Professional and Academic Achievements

Rochelle Melander. . .

• graduated Magna Cum Laude from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, with majors in Theater Arts and Religion.
• earned two theological Masters degrees from The Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia.
• is a certified Coach U graduate.
• holds a certificate of study from The Center for Family Process where she studied with Dr. Edwin Friedman.
• has eighteen years of experience as a spiritual leader and visioning consultant.
• founded LifeRhyme Coaching in 2001, the Write Now! Writing Workshops in 2006, and in 2007 Rochelle launched Right Now! Coaching.
• has written nine books and hundreds of articles.
• is an editor who has mentored many authors to success.
• is a life-long learner. In the past fifteen years she has read more than 1500 books.
• is a member of the International Coach Federation and the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Personal Achievements and Passions

Life Loves: I am happily married to my soul mate and writing partner, and we have two amazing children. My favorite activity each day is hearing what my family has to say about life!

Generation: I'm vintage Xer.

First Love: I think I was three. It was a book, probably Cat in the Box by Dana Michel or one of the One, Two, Three with Ant and Bee books. Later on, I fell passionately in love with A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. When it comes to books, I'm a polygamist not a serial monogamist—I believe in reading many books at once. (You should see the stacks of books in my house!) Here are some of the books that have changed my life:

• Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
• Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
• Frederick by Leo Lionni
• Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
• Proverbs of Ashes by Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker
• Writing a Woman's Life by Carolyn G. Heilbrun
• Composing a Lifeby Mary Catherine Bateson
• Inspiration Sandwich by SARK
• The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd
• Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer
• Touching Our Strength by Carter Heyward
• Thirst by Mary Oliver

Next Love: I don't think I've been still more than a minute of my life (except to sleep). I love to dance. We have a room in our house that's nearly bare except for the stereo. It's where we all meet to boogie. I love lots of music but my heart belongs to The Indigo Girls.

Places I Love: I live in Milwaukee, a small city on Lake Michigan. I love to walk by the lake, picking up my beloved heartstones.
I regularly visit San Diego and the Pacific Ocean—a place that makes my heart sing.

Loving to Connect: One of the great joys of my life is getting and staying connected to people. Family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, mentors, clients, and strangers enrich my life beyond measure.

Books by The Write Now! Coach

A Generous Presence: Spiritual Leadership and the Art of Coaching by Rochelle Melander A Generous Presence was named by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat to be one of The 50 Best Spiritual Books of 2006! The Brussats select these books from the over 300 books they review each year. A Generous Presence is a collection of story-driven essays about the philosophy, tools, and work of coaching that is designed to support all spiritual leaders in deepening and enriching their personal and professional relationships. By practicing the coaching tools Rochelle Melander offers, spiritual leaders will be better equipped to guide those they work with toward accepting the past, creating a life vision, and setting goals for the future. Additionally, the tools provided in this book will help leaders understand themselves and enable them to strengthen their definitions for healthy living, raise their awareness about their own life and relationship skills, and improve their skills in relating to individuals and groups.

The Spiritual Leader’s Guide to Self-Care by Rochelle Melander and Harold Eppley Are you too tired to take proper care of yourself? Are you burned-out by ministry but don't know how to get well? Are you starting out in ministry and want to avoid the pitfalls? This book will coach spiritual leaders like you through fifty-two weeks of exercises that will enable you to be healthy in every area of your life!

Our Lives Are Not Our Own: Saying "Yes" to God by Rochelle Melander and Harold Eppley Does your life matter? How do your choices affect others? What can you do in your community to impact the world? This book of essays tackles the topic of personal stewardship from a holistic point of view. Grounded in solid biblical study and theological reflection, these essays will get you to think about how you use your time, money, and stuff.

Growing Together: Spiritual Exercises for Church Committees by Rochelle Melander and Harold Eppley Dreading your next church meeting? Looking for a way to connect spiritually with others? This handy book offers a solution for turning around committees who have become stuck by the business of running a church. Melander and Eppley have created a simple small group process that you can apply to any committee, task force, or group meeting. Each of the fifty thematic exercises contains a prayer, community building time, bible reading, and questions for reflection. You can also purchase Growing Together here. Editions of this book have recently been published in Germany (2000) and Great Britain (2001).

Timeouts with God: Meditations for Parents by Rochelle Melander and Harold Eppley Don't have time for devotions? Need a "timeout" from your own children? Tired of those devotional books that make parenting sound like a breeze? This book of short devotions presents an honest, down-to-earth look at the gritty side of parenting and then assures you that God is always willing to meet you in that place. It reminds you that, "Now is not forever and your forever is in Jesus' hands." Each devotion is accompanied by a biblical text and a short prayer. This book was featured on the national radio program "Decision Today."

Dancing in the Aisle: Spiritual Lessons We've Learned from Children by Rochelle Melander and Harold Eppley In this world of spiritual gurus, some of our best teachers are children. If "we listen closely to children's voices, if we pay attention to their actions and habits, if we reflect on the stories they tell us about their lives, we learn something about our own journey of faith." (Melander and Eppley, p.xiv) This insightful collection of essays will teach you to look at your faith in new ways and challenge you in your own spiritual journey. Each essay is followed by questions for reflection and a spiritual challenge.

Write Now! Dream Keepers
Through Dream Keepers, Author and Coach Rochelle Melander teaches young people how to use writing to make sense of their lives and capture their dreams.

The Dream Keepers Creative Writing Workshop unites parents, teachers, and professional writers-in-residence to teach youth how they can transform their lives and their communities through writing. Dream Keepers opens up quiet, safe spaces for young people to read and write and provides them with an online venue for sharing their work. The Dream Keepers have had great success—they have been featured twice on WUWM’s Lake Effect and were winners in Schwartz bookstore’s 2008 six-word memoir contest.

Dream Keepers Online Work
This fall, the Write Now! Coach and Dream Keepers encourages you to run a write-a-thon in your classroom, school, or library. Choose a project, set a deadline, choose your word count goal, and write! We invite teachers, authors, writer-in-residence, and parents to use Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It) to stimulate writing in their classroom, library, and home. Check out our blog for encouragement and ideas!


Join us! Who knows what you’ll achieve?
Young people from 5th-12th grade are welcome to participate in our weekly Milwaukee Group. The program is free and open to the public.

Check out the Dream Keepers Blog for current meeting information.

A Note from Dream Keepers’ Founder, Rochelle Melander
I started Dream Keepers in 2006 with a small group of teen girls from Milwaukee’s inner city. We named ourselves “Dream Keepers,” after a poem by Langston Hughes. Hughes believed that writers were the dream keepers of the community. We are! As someone who makes a living as a writer and coach—a dream keeper—I want to support young people in becoming dream keepers. I have no doubt that this work transforms lives right now. And I know that Dream Keepers will grow. It has to—Milwaukee’s 8th-grade African American students score the lowest in the nation in writing. That’s crazy—and wrong. Dream Keepers can change that. Then we can work on my other dreams for the program—becoming a national program to transform the lives of young people through writing.

Why do teens need to write?

• Writing makes you smarter. Studies show that young people who practice any type of writing will write better than those who do not. In addition, people who write down their deepest thoughts, feelings, and dreams are healthier, happier, and have better success achieving their goals.
• Writing improves your reading scores. In a recent study, young people who had failed reading comprehension participated in a twelve-week writing workshop, completing their own books. Reading comprehension scores improved dramatically.
• Writing gets you the job. In a recent study from the National Commission on Writing, “people who cannot write and communicate clearly will not be hired.” At least half of the companies surveyed stated that they took writing into consideration for hiring and promotion. And get this: More than eighty percent of “the companies in the services and the finance, insurance, and real estate (FIRE) sectors, the corporations with the greatest employment growth potential, assess writing during hiring.”

Intrigued? Read the Dream Keeper’s Blog to discover what the DKs are writing right now.

Inspired? The Dream Keepers need blank journals and books. Contact coach Rochelle Melander to find out where to send your donation.

Or, purchase a Dream Keepers product! All proceeds benefit the Dream Keeper