Your Writing Matters: 34 Quick Essays to Get Unstuck and Stay Inspired

By Keiko O'Leary

What you write can change someone's life.

In this engaging collection of short essays for writers, Keiko O'Leary explores what it means to live life as a writer, offers encouragement and inspiration, and suggests practical techniques to cultivate your writing life. Drawing on her experience as a writer, writing

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thinking Ink Press
• Release date: Aug 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9781942480358

Keiko O'Leary

Keiko O'Leary helps writers see the big picture while taking meaningful action today. She is a writer, editor, artist, and speaker. Poet Laureate of Cupertino, California, Keiko teaches workshops and organizes the long-standing writing group Write to the End. She writes short pieces, including poetry, flash fiction, and essays. Connect with Keiko at KeikoOLeary.com.

Book preview

PRAISE FOR YOUR WRITING MATTERS

"This is a book of welcome—which means that it’s a book of openings, the kind of openings that every writer needs to be inspired and connected—to the world, to themselves, to their fellow writers, to their stories ... and to all of the mysteries that touch us as creators.

‘You deserve to create what’s in you to create,’ writes Keiko O'Leary. Yes. This book radiates yes. It radiates awakening.

—GRANT FAULKNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH

A beautifully written meditation on the writer’s life. The minute I started reading this, I thought ‘Oh, I’m home!’ This book speaks to the writer in me, not the published person in me. I can’t speak highly enough about this book.

—JULIE A. FAST, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF GETTING IT DONE WHEN YOU’RE DEPRESSED

Keiko’s book inspired me to start working on a novel that I had been wanting to write.

—Erin Garcia, author, educator

"Keiko doesn’t just love reading and writing. She is in love with reading and writing, and in love with readers and writers. Page after page, we come to realize we’re not odd or alone. She believes in you and me unconditionally.

Writers like us are connected through what we read and write and create. Writing and creating are, in fact, our life-sustaining provisions. ‘Claim your peers.’ It will free you up to write, to heal, to memorialize, and to speak out.

—Lorraine Haataia, Ph.D., founder of Prolific Writers Life

If you want to write but feel intimidated, or you start writing but get discouraged, or even if you already write a lot but would like some encouragement and celebration—this book is for you.

—C. Borst, author of Soldiers in Grey

"This book stirred me deeply. [It’s] a book that welcomed me, non-judgmentally, back home to writing. Your Writing Matters is unconditional love. And wisdom. Keiko O'Leary’s voice is an unpretentious beckoning to never give up—not on our writing, not on ourselves."

—Ruth Littmann-Ashkenazi, author

WHAT YOU WRITE CAN CHANGE SOMEONE’S LIFE.

In this engaging collection of short essays for writers, Keiko O’Leary explores what it means to live life as a writer, offers encouragement and inspiration, and suggests practical techniques to cultivate your writing life. Drawing on her experience as a writer, writing group leader, and workshop instructor, Keiko writes about topics such as:

MOTIVATION: You deserve to create what’s in you to create.

CREATIVITY: "Your personal geography is a wellspring of memoir and poetry, and a source of authentic detail for fiction."

LEGACY: Through your writing, you help people experience meaning, not only in what you write, but also in their own lives.

Whether you have years of experience or are just starting out, these essays will support you on your writing journey.

YOUR WRITING MATTERS

34 QUICK ESSAYS TO GET UNSTUCK AND STAY INSPIRED

KEIKO O’LEARY

Thinking Ink Press Thinking Ink Press

Thinking Ink Press

Campbell, California

DEDICATION

To my husband, Sergio Etcheverry, who once upon a time said, Keiko, why don’t you stop trying to turn your friends into writers and go make friends with some writers?

And in memory of Jan Petrucha, whose great love for this world reminds me to be brave and write.

CONTENTS

Introduction: Writers Are a Family

We Welcome All Writing

Give the Gift of Unconditional Love: Write

Please Finish Your Story

Your Subconscious Is Trying to Help You

What Is Fiction For?

You Don’t Have to Be Special, You Just Have to Stick Around

Writing Practice: A Method You Can Try

My New Writing Coach

Watson Loves Me

Why Write to the End?

Claim Your Peers

Keep a Compliments List

The Real Life of Fiction

The Parable of Don McLean or Why Encourage Everyone, Including Yourself

Get Results Faster by Using Bright Spots

Don’t Show Your Work to Your Friends

You Can Never Say Thank You

The Serving Dinner Model of Publishing

The Greeks Don’t Own the Stars

You’re Probably More Qualified Than You Feel

No Enterprise

How to Believe in Yourself

Writing People Off

Colorless Green Ideas Crashed My Car or Your Right to Say Things That Don’t Make Sense

(The Cure For) Fiction Deficiency Syndrome

Accept the Magic of Imagination

I Want These but Don’t Know How

Borges Loves Me?

Do It More

Coming Out About Obsession

Only Enterprise

Be Brave and Write

Not the End

Recommended Reading

Acknowledgments

About the Author

About Thinking Ink Press

INTRODUCTION:

WRITERS ARE A FAMILY

Your writing can make a difference. Through your writing, you help people experience meaning, not only in what you write, but also in their own lives.

My wish for you is to develop a true and living relationship with your writing. For you to accept yourself as a writer. For you to find community with other writers. For you to share your work, and know that it matters. For you to know that in this beautiful, meaningful endeavor of writing, you are not alone, and you are welcome. I made this book so that when you doubt those things, you have someone who will help you get back to believing in them.

While I was working on this book, I got a chance to go to the O’Leary Family Picnic for the first time since before my kids were born. So much more than a family reunion, the picnic defines and celebrates what it means to be an O’Leary.

The picnic happens in Montana, and though no one has ever treated me badly in Montana, when I was a kid the state was not exactly a model of ethnic diversity. Back then, my sister and I were (as I recall) the only nonwhite people at the picnic. ¹ In fact, some of our cousins called us the brown cousins, but only because our skin was brown compared to theirs, not because they thought anything of it.

At home in diverse California, we were constantly being asked What are you? and having to explain that we were half Japanese. But at the picnic, we were never treated as half O’Leary. We were 100% O’Leary, just like everyone else. Nowadays there are O’Learys of many races at the picnic, with different percentages of O’Leary blood, but everyone is welcomed as a full member of the family, because that is what we are.

At my writing group, I insist upon welcome. Everyone must be welcomed, even people I don’t get along with personally, because we are all writers. We are all part of a family, and that is more important than anything else.

Even if you haven’t written for a long time; even if you’re just dreaming about writing and haven’t started yet; no matter what you’re saying to yourself about how you could never belong or be good enough or whatever, if you’re reading this book, I’ll bet you’re a writer. Maybe you’re not confident enough to call yourself that yet, but look into your heart. Do you see the desire to write? You can trust that desire as the sign that you are part of this family. You need never doubt your belonging again. Instead, do as our family does: write.

We are waiting to hear your words.

Welcome home.

How to Use This Book

Each of these essays

Reviews for Your Writing Matters

[baroquem_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a collection of very short essays on the process of writing. The brevity of most of the sections makes them easily digestible but also has the effect of making the overall book somewhat bumpy and uneven -- almost stream-of-consciousness. Still, there's a lot of material here to motivate and inspire writers.

[tonyaj_62 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Like many before me who have read this book (this is an e-book from Early Reviewers) I was struck that it might give me the inspiration needed to work on my interest in novel or short-story writing and things are coming along. Sometimes it takes just the right book.

[mariaberg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received a free e-book version of Your Writing Matters: 34 Quick Essays to Get Unstuck and Stay Inspired (amazon associate link) by Keiko O'Leary from the publisher through the Library Thing early reviewers program.My Expectations: I enjoy a good craft book. From the sub-title I expected tools and tips to get me motivated and inspired to write.What I liked: Let's start with that beautiful cover: it has gorgeous artwork and a great layout. The sub-title tells the reader exactly what she'll get: very short essays intended to motivate writers to finish every piece of writing. The essays use personal examples from the writers life and use an informal, conversational tone, bringing the reader into her process as if the reader is a member of her writing group, "Write to the End." This makes the reader feel included in What I didn’t like: The essays read a little too much like blog posts. The book would benefit by some organization creating a progression toward a conclusion. Though I enjoyed the essays, the book overall could use more specific tips and clear steps. The random quotes taken from the essays themselves don't add to the text, and seem like an awkward way to take up space.Rating: ♦♦♦▴ 3.5 out of 5Overall, I enjoyed the majority of the essays. I recommend this book for the beginning writer who feels motivated by knowing someone else is experiencing a similar journey.

[janismin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I just wasn't expecting essays when I read "Your Writing Matters: 34 Quick Essays to Get Unstuck and Stay Inspired". This is inspirational and the written essays encourage realistic thoughts on how to stay focused and positive on one's writing path. I like that it suggests not finishing stories you don't feel... I tend to think I have to write (or read) to the bitter end. I feel freer to pursue that which matters and believe that will keep my writing moving forward and in process. I somehow thought this was about writing prompts which is my mistake; the title, while lengthy, is accurate.

[susanna777-178913 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a wonderful book that I would one hundred percent recommend to all writers, whatever you write and wherever you are in your publishing journey.As a writer who has had short stories published and is now struggling to complete edits on my first full novel, I felt supported, encouraged, cheered on, uplifted and inspired. If ever you need encouragement or to get unstuck or to find new inspiration and energy for your writing, you will find an essay in this book. I felt that Keiko really cares about supporting and encouraging writers to keep going and get to the end of their projects. I'd even go further and say i felt her love shining through every page. Maybe that sounds too much, but if you've ever suffered from imposter syndrome, or depression after yet another rejection, you will be glad of love, support, warmth and practical suggestions coming your way. Keiko is now my inner cheerleader. :)A lovely book.

[kurt78-717239 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is a collection of encouraging notes to writers who may need a morale boost to start, continue, or finish their writing projects.O’Leary organizes her book in the form of short missives to aspiring writers. She bases her coaching on her long-term experience with a writers group where, it’s clear, people are encouraged in a positive, accepting way to keep going with their writing projects. The book isn’t trying to steer writers in any one way or another in terms of technique or composition strategy. It’s purely about the internal struggle of the writer to stick with the task of developing and finishing a writing project.The book has a very friendly tone and I can imagine it would be helpful to pick it up and find one or two chapters to read to prime a writing session. The parts can be used in any order. Like a reference tool, you could choose one at random to boost your motivation.One of my favorite statements in the book is this one: “It’s important to notice your own interest in a story.” Here’s another: “Write what’s in you to write.” In other words, understand why _you_ care about your writing and write what’s most important to you. I’ve formulated reminders like that for myself when trying to continue with a writing project. Knowing that you’re doing something that you truly value will strengthen your resolve to continue. That’s the focus of O’Leary’s book.This book reminded me of another one I read that was similarly aimed at encouraging writers to continue and not give up, Write for Your Lives, by Joseph Sestito. Both his and O’Leary’s book are very positive and you can tell the authors don’t intend for these books to show criticism or judgment about particular kinds of writing. I haven’t read anything else by O’Leary but if she comes out with any type of memoir in the future I’ll look for it. She has an easy-to-read style and her book is sprinkled with personal stories that would be interesting to hear more about.