(what some will call a blog)
Diary of a Pitch Whore
Hi, my name’s Kathleen Zoll, and I’m excited to pitch you today because… Ah, the live pitch. Even under the best of circumstances it’s anxiety-producing, tongue-tying, heart-pounding. Me being me, however, I’ve found ways to add entirely new dimensions to the emotional trauma associated with the cherished rite (write) of passage as conducted over Zoom.…
Writing Prompts Done Right
Writing prompts. I hated them in grade school, because it was always something dumb: “Tell about a time when you set and reached a goal,” or “Describe something that inspires you to be a better person.” Um, I’m ten, how the f*** would I know? Then in high school, we had a student teacher in…
Invaluable Support
A dear writing friend of mine recently sent me feedback after reading the manuscript I’m pitching. In addition to correcting grammar and typos, she left detailed comments about things she loved and things she didn’t get. It was wonderful. And when it cmae to one note, I was completely lost. “I don’t get it,” I…
Compassion and Voice
The world is becoming more considerate. I know, it’s a mess in a lot of ways. There’s a huge divide within the US, and it doesn’t seem to be getting closer. And if one more person cuts me off in traffic, I might lose my mind. But the world is becoming more considerate. Here’s how…
Neurons Touch the Sky
In the manuscript I’m currently pitching, my main character isn’t your typical sorcerer. He’s got this whole neurodiverse thing going on. And he ends up being the most powerful sorcerer ever born. I mean, come on, what‘s a fantasy novel without an extremely powerful sorcerer, right? Now, why is he neurodiverse? Well, because I’m neurodiverse.…
Pomodoro: Not Just a Sauce
I think I used up all my focus. I’m supposed to be editing my manuscript at the moment. I have a wonderful group of fellow writers with whom I meet on weeknights in a Zoom room. We chat for a while then shift to silent work. The accountability is great… except when it’s not. It’s…