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Days to Celebrate in June

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June 1: National Say Something Nice Day. Make the day pleasant for someone by saying something nice.

June 2: National Leave the Office Early Day. This day is an incentive to many who often work more than 40 hours each week.

June 3. National Repeat Day. Take this opportunity to repeat something you needed or wanted to do again.

June 6: National Higher Education Day. Spend a moment educating or inspiring others who are interested in pursuing a similar career.

June 6: National Play Outside Day. Spend the day outside enjoying the beauty and the fresh air.

June 10: National Ballpoint Pen Day. Write a client a note today with a ballpoint pen to commemorate the patent filing on June 10, 1943.

June 11: National Making Life Beautiful Day. Celebrate those who make life beautiful through their words.

June 13: National Random Acts of Light Day. Bring light to a colleague by sharing some encouraging words.

June 21: National Selfie Day. Take some selfies that show you are balancing work-life activities.

June 30: Social Media Day. Post on all of your social media accounts today, letting potential clients know you are available for hire.

The Last Word (and how to find your own)

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So there you are. Searching on Amazon or in the library for books on writing. Surely there’s a book that can tell you how and what to write. It will literally pull the words out of your brain.

No. Wasting time hanging around bookstores looking for the pot of gold won’t get your book written. Only you can do the work. It’s like hanging around a gym and watching others clang the weights and sweat on the treadmills and thinking you’ll get six-pack abs and lose weight.

Ain’t happenin’.

But . . . but . . . but my adult writing students often ask, surely there’s a book that can help me get organized and start writing.

Other than doing free writing, mind mapping, writing all the time, making lists, chaining your laptop to your waist, and drinking Red Bull, I do recommend three writers and their books, if you insist:

  • Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life is easy and quick to read. She gives you permission to bang it out and write (in her words) that shitty first draft. She also gives guidance on how to handle sensitive topics such as abuse and abusers.
  • In Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg assembles the sugar, flour, eggs, and vanilla. But do you have a cake yet? No. She gives some useful pointers to get your cake baking.
  • And, of course, Stephen King. His autobiography and writing guide, On Writing, is a classic. Make sure you buy a paper copy, not ebook version, because you’ll want to dog-ear, highlight, and sticky note this thing to death (hmm, a common theme of his). He’s a master. You’ll learn a lot about him and about writing and discipline — and maybe something about yourself as a writer.

So why are you still reading this? Get busy writing.

Sandra Wendel is a nonfiction book editor. This post is an excerpt from her newly revised, award-winning book, Cover to Cover: What First-Time Authors Need to Know About Editing (2026). This is the book you recommend to your authors because it contains a helpful checklist for authors to get their manuscripts ready for your editing. Don’t miss the chapter titled “The Chapter on Writing I Didn’t Want to Include (ChatGPT Made Me Do It).”

Making Your Book Stand Out

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When an author publishes their book, the author has completed a noteworthy project that deserves to be recognized. However, many books are published each year, and it is easy for new books to remain unknown.

One way for authors to increase the notoriety of their books is for the authors to enter their books into contests. Whether the books are runner-ups or winners, both are great accomplishments that authors should highlight in all book marketing materials.

Because NAIWE’s mission is to help authors market their books, NAIWE now has a Book Awards program where up to 100 books can be entered into each of 10 categories for an opportunity to earn the coveted prize of the year.

 

 

April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive Director

April Michelle Davis has been the executive director of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) since 2018. Prior to that, she was NAIWE’s Social Media Marketing Expert. NAIWE is an association that focuses on career building for writers, editors, and other professionals in the publishing industry by developing multiple streams of income; it helps its members market their products and services through social media, newsletters, and more.

She is also the coordinator for the Virginia chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association, a lifetime member of the American Copy Editors Society, and a freelance editor, indexer, proofreader, and author. April Michelle has taught courses through her own company, Editorial Inspirations, as well as for associations and colleges on topics such as editing, indexing, grammar, writing, and creating macros.

Her credentials include a master’s degree in publishing from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Messiah College, as well as certificates in editing (University of Virginia), book publishing (University of Virginia), and professional editing (EEI Communications).

April Michelle has shared her insights about her career development by contributing quotes and vignettes to several books. She has presented sessions on various editorial topics to many groups, including the Virginia Writers Club, the Communication Central conference, Randolph-Macon College, the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, the EFA, Copyediting newsletter, RavenCon, and the Hanover Book Festival. In addition, April Michelle has published four books.

Book Review: The Pale Flesh of Wood

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2025 NAIWE Literary Fiction Winner

 

Author: Elizabeth Tucker

A longer book than average, The Pale Flesh of Wood sits at exactly 300 pages, and it is divided into three books, each labeled with a time frame to link to the progression of the story.

The Pale Flesh of Wood opens with seven-year-old Lyla and her WWII veteran father Charles Hawkins working together to hang a rope for a tire swing. Charles had wanted a tire swing as a child, but his mother never would give permission for him to have one. Now that Charles’s mother has finally given her permission for a tire swing to be hung from one of her trees, it has become Lyla’s job to climb up the tree, drag her body out on the tree’s branch, and tie the rope on the branch, all under the unreliable supervision of her father.

Shortly after the tire swing has been hung, Lyla’s father hangs himself on the very rope that Lyla hung from the branch; Lyle struggles with coming to terms as to whether she helped facilitate the death of her father.

With book 1 occurring primarily in the 1950s, book 2 in the 1960s, and book 3 in 1981, the reader can examine this one significant event, the death of Lyla’s father, and visualize how it affected three generations within the one family.

Elizabeth Tucker does a masterful job of taking the reader on an emotional, realistic roller coaster ride of a tragic situation.

Congratulations, Elizabeth Tucker’s The Pale Flesh of Wood for being a NAIWE 2025 Book Award winner!

Member Benefit: Business Assistance with Opolis

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Member Benefit #40

Opolis takes the stress out of managing your business finances so you can focus on your work. You gain a simplified, all-in-one platform designed to help self-employed professionals:

  • Payroll services: Get paid easily and automatically help simplify your taxes.
  • Health insurance: Access to high quality, affordable plans, just like an employee.
  • Retirement savings: Set up 401(k)s and other retirement options.
  • Business compliance: Stay on top of legal and tax requirements without the headache.

Opolis simplifies your business, so you can focus on doing what you love.

Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.

Days to Celebrate in May

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May: National Get Caught Reading Month. Wherever you go, the campaign challenges you to get caught reading.

May 1: National Mother Goose Day. This day honors Mother Goose, the imaginary author of a collection of fairy tales and nursery rhymes we loved as children and also as adults.

May 2: National Play Outside Day. Spend a few minutes outside today enjoying the beauty and the fresh air.

May 3-9: Small Business Week. Small businesses account for half of America’s workforce, and more new jobs come from small business than any other source.

May 12: National Limerick Day. Celebrate the birthday of English artist, illustrator, author, and poet Edward Lear who wrote A Book of Nonsense.

May 16: National Biographer’s Day. Commemorate the anniversary of the first meeting of Samuel Johnson and his biographer James Boswell in 1763 by honoring biographers.

May 30: National Creativity Day. Celebrate you and your creative pursuit!

May 31: National Speak in Complete Sentences Day. This day is dedicated to using proper sentence structure while speaking.

NAIWE Members Boosts Heightened

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Freelancers sometimes struggle with marketing their products and services, even if they offer excellent products or services, and NAIWE is here to help with those efforts.

Anyone looking to hire a publishing professional can visit the NAIWE website and post to the NAIWE Job Board. These job postings are then emailed to all NAIWE members, providing new opportunities to members who might otherwise not know about this potential client or job opening.

In addition, anyone can perform a search of the NAIWE member database, making it easier to find a professional to fulfil a need. However, only NAIWE members who have completed their NAIWE profile are listed in the member database.

Search results within the member database include links to member websites, allowing visitors to get to know NAIWE members – and potential freelancers – before contacting them about a job opportunity.

 

 

April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive Director

April Michelle Davis has been the executive director of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) since 2018. Prior to that, she was NAIWE’s Social Media Marketing Expert. NAIWE is an association that focuses on career building for writers, editors, and other professionals in the publishing industry by developing multiple streams of income; it helps its members market their products and services through social media, newsletters, and more.

She is also the coordinator for the Virginia chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association, a lifetime member of the American Copy Editors Society, and a freelance editor, indexer, proofreader, and author. April Michelle has taught courses through her own company, Editorial Inspirations, as well as for associations and colleges on topics such as editing, indexing, grammar, writing, and creating macros.

Her credentials include a master’s degree in publishing from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Messiah College, as well as certificates in editing (University of Virginia), book publishing (University of Virginia), and professional editing (EEI Communications).

April Michelle has shared her insights about her career development by contributing quotes and vignettes to several books. She has presented sessions on various editorial topics to many groups, including the Virginia Writers Club, the Communication Central conference, Randolph-Macon College, the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, the EFA, Copyediting newsletter, RavenCon, and the Hanover Book Festival. In addition, April Michelle has published four books.

Book Review: Hidden History of Pearson Field

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2025 NAIWE Information Nonfiction Winner

 

Author: Martin Middlewood

As a National Park Service archaeologist at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site located in the states of Washington and Oregon, Martin Middlewood discovered the stories of the air. While he learned that much of the history focused on people or aircraft, he became enamored with the stories related to Pearson Field, the oldest, continuously operating airfield in the United States.

Thus, Martin Middlewood took on the challenge of sharing these stories, and he does so while intriguing the reader with the history and the little-known, but amusing facts about the challenges that the people of Pearson Field faced.

In Hidden History of Pearson Field, Middlewood shares stories about people and their adventures as they flew hot air balloons, the role Pearson Field played in World War I, how Pearson Field served the Army Air Corps, and now as the field has become a historic site.

Congratulations, Martin Middlewood’s Hidden History of Pearson Field for being a NAIWE 2025 Book Award winner!

Member Benefit: Free Financial Consultations and Personalized Plan Reviews

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Member Benefit #39

Northwestern Mutual provides personalized financial planning and protection strategies designed to help clients secure their future and live confidently today. With access to one of the nation’s most trusted financial networks, Northwestern Mutual specializes in life insurance, disability insurance, long-term care, investment planning, and tax-efficient strategies all customized to your goals.

NAIWE members receive complimentary financial consultations and personalized plan reviews!

Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.

Ruth Thaler-Carter, NAIWE’s Networking Expert

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We wanted to get to know Ruth Thaler-Carter (NAIWE’s Networking Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

What are the key factors for success in your specific niche?

My factors for success include responding promptly to client requests, doing high-quality work, looking for new ways to provide services, and using networking to enhance what I provide. I aim to provide more than the minimum for every assignment and request.

How can you update your offerings or roll out new phases of your business to reach more clients?

We can update our offerings and roll out new phases of our businesses by being plugged into what’s going on with colleagues and clients through networking, reading reputable publications for trends and to confirm facts, doing training to develop new skills and improve existing ones, and generally being proactive rather than reactive. Not everyone needs or wants to find more clients, but we can often expand our services to current clients as a way to expand our businesses.

Do you periodically contact everyone you’ve ever worked with to let them know you are available for new projects?

Contacting people we’ve worked with in the past is a great way to generate new projects. It’s also smart to let current clients know that we’re available as needed and to inform them of any new services that we provide.

——————

Many NAIWE members have been in business for several years, but nowadays, some might be feeling a little bored or burnt out, some have lost clients due to AI, some are experiencing stalemate, some seek new challenges — and all of us want to see our businesses not just survive but grow and expand. In our April webinar, longtime freelance writer/editor/proofreader Ruth E. Thaler-Carter will provide suggestions for taking an independent communications business to the next level and position ourselves for growth through new directions.

Ruth has been freelancing since high school and full-time since 1984. Over the years, she has expanded her writing business to include editing, proofreading, and speaking, and a diversity of topics. She has great insights into how to develop new skills and services to make an independent business go beyond static and toward sustainability.

She is the Networking member of the NAIWE Board of Experts, among several other association memberships, and will include perspectives on how active networking and membership can contribute to growing an independent communications business.

You can join in this conversation on April 16 at 7:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on developing and expanding your freelance business. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Ruth Thaler-Carter has been a full-time freelance writer, editor, proofreader, desktop publisher, and speaker for more than 40 years. She has been published locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally in, and does writing, editing, and proofreading for, publications, associations, nonprofits, websites, service firms, independent authors, and businesses. She sold her first freelance articles when she was still in high school. Often called the Queen of Networking, Ruth is active in about a dozen professional associations, serving as a newsletter editor, webmaster, publication author, speaker/presenter, blogger, program host or planner, and chapter leader. In 2006, Ruth launched the Communication Central Be a Better Freelancer conference — now cohosted with NAIWE — to help aspiring and established freelancers find greater success. Ruth is also owner and editor-in-chief of the An American Editor blog and owner of the Publishing with Flair publishing business. Her honors include member of her high school alumni hall of fame, in part for her publishing work and networking services; Writers and Books Big Pencil Award for teaching adults and contributions to the literary community; EFfie awards for writing, editing, and newsletters; an APEX award for feature writing; the Philip M. Stern Award of Washington (DC) Independent Writers for service to freelancers; and IABC/DC Communicator of the Year and Silver Quills for magazine writing and newsletters.

Latest Posts

Days to Celebrate in June

May 29, 2026

The Last Word (and how to find your own)

May 22, 2026

Making Your Book Stand Out

May 15, 2026

Book Review: The Pale Flesh of Wood

May 11, 2026

Member Benefit: Business Assistance with Opolis

May 8, 2026

Days to Celebrate in May

April 24, 2026

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