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At Original Impulse, you’ve found a safe haven to dedicate yourself to projects that matter to you. Through online workshops, creativity retreats, our long-term creativity apprenticeship and customized one:one coaching, we are here to make writing a fun and vibrant part of your life.

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Be part of my online author's notebook to witness the ups and downs of writing a novel at Stumbling Toward Genius.

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Why the stories you write are boring

I was in Lisbon when the total blackout hit the Iberian Pennisula, removing power from all of Spain and Portugal for the better part of a hot April day. This was interesting! Nothing like this had ever happened to me. Of course I would write about it.

I made notes that day and night to capture the sensual experiences of being without phone or light or access to my rented apartment. I wrote a draft of the story back in Denver.

But then I blundered into territory my clients and I always stumble into. I was three pages into telling the details of the blackout – trams stalled in the streets, all shops dark and locked, no cell phone access at all. Three pages in and still was not even close to getting to why this mattered.

What went wrong? We all think our stories are good – and they are! These tales are interesting to us, but are likely only mildly interesting to a reader. I’ve identified the problem. It’s a case of anecdote versus story. Here’s an example.

Anecdote versus story or boring versus life-changing

Anecdote: On the way here, I saw a performing monkey! It grabbed my beret and put it on and played the accordion! It was so funny!

Story: On the way here, a performing monkey grabbed my beret and played a song on the accordion. The song was the one I always have in my head when I think of my French life. All this time I had been in love with France, thinking the song and the beret made me more French. But my facade was easily taken on by a street monkey. I had never felt so cheap and superficial in my life. Now I question the things I love – am I such a cliche? Or was the song a sign? Did my beret hold the song about Paris but also all my hopes and dreams?

Do you see the difference? A story has a deeper meaning, something more important to the narrator than ‘isn’t that funny?’

We tell anecdotes to fill time and space and share an experience we had. We write stories to understand something on a deeper level and to convey some meaning to the reader. As writers, we have to work to excavate the meaning.

The blackout story was just an anecdote. Until I dug deeper for a reason to tell this story, it wasn’t worth continuing. I was bored adding up all the ‘and then this happened’. (If you get bored writing, chances are your reader will be bored reading.) I didn’t have the bandwidth to really delve in to discover what matters, why it matters to me, and how it might matter to you, the reader.

People telling anecdotes mostly just want someone to hear their story. People writing stories want to move the reader with a new insight, feeling, or idea. They want to be moved themselves.

If you are stuck in anecdote territory, wondering if it’s interesting to a reader, dig deeper.

Three ways to make sure your stories aren’t boring

Check into your values. What is meaningful for you in this story? I couldn’t find many of my values honored in the blackout story. But the piece about speaking Portuguese while in Lisbon? I had at least 8 values in that story. Writing it felt alive and meaningful.

WAIT. After you’ve pecked at the story a bit, take a break. Ask yourself Why Am I Telling this story? Why does it matter to you?

Who cares? When we get stuck, we often think, who will find this interesting? Who cares? If you know who you are writing for – and you should – it will be easier to know if your reader will care and if so, what they will get from this.

What do you want for the reader? Why MUST they read this story?

When drafting my novel, I had to cut many major chapters. Whole sections! I loved these scenes. But they were merely interesting, not essential to the novel. Editing skills are as important as drafting skills.

Get your copy of Her Lisbon Colors here. 

I hope this has helped you to improve your storytelling skills. Please let me know what this illuminated for you in a comment below.

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What a Book Coach Does: Developmental Editing and More

This year marks my twenty-sixth year as a coach. I knew when I came upon coaching that this would be my lifelong career. It's an honor and pleasure to serve the smart, soulful people I call my clients.

This week, I want to share a peek behind the scenes of my work with clients. Once, my dad, with a puzzled look, asked me, “What do you do?”

I get it. As a coach, a lot of my work is not visible. Recently, I shared about my client Donna Erickson’s newly published book. Not every day is a pub day, and the labor of our creative efforts make up the moments of our days. I believe they deserve attention.

You may wonder what Cynthia does with her clients and how she might help me.  I want to share what my other clients are up to and how I am helping them.

Come into my coaching studio to see the magic that happens!

Synthesizing a message for a keynote

Since her book launch two years ago, Paula has been busy speaking and publishing her new newsletter. Recently, she was in Mexico City to give a keynote and an all-attended workshop at a Montessori conference.

She worked hard to get her talk right but was still frustrated. She had too much in there! (Sound familiar?)

After hearing her out and acknowledging her frustration, I helped her shift her thinking about what to include so it would be easier to trim the presentation.

After we did this, I restated how we’d made this shift so she now has those skills to edit anything she writes more easily.

Making the most of an in-person event

Paula had a blast, and we debriefed afterward. Hearing her stories was so inspiring. I pointed out that she had at least six pieces she could write as a short series about the Mexican Montessori community and what she took away from the conference.

I am always on the lookout for ideas that my clients may miss. Highlighting what is of interest to others is one of my gifts.

Developmental editing for novels, non-fiction books and memoirs

Several other clients are writing their books. My role is to help them shape their ideas into a cohesive message. We talk about organizing their ideas. No matter how smart and articulate we are, it’s super hard for us to get to the essence of an idea and communicate it succinctly. Even for clients writing a book based on a model they’ve worked with for years, it can be hard to shape that into a book.

This work is called Developmental Editing.

I well know the challenge of this work, both mentally and emotionally. Then there's the work of organizing our materials. Documents, spreadsheets, outlines, drafts...this really is at least half of the work of making a book.

Crafting a compelling message for a book proposal

I’m helping another client with his book proposal. This is similar to developmental editing, and it’s also about thinking about how our books will sell. It’s incredibly hard work to shift from author to seller of your idea.

I hold space for the thrash that we all endure when we are trying to crystallize our ideas into something compelling and saleable. I'll often feel bad that it's so hard for them. I have to be tough. Sometimes I think - am I too tough? Then I realize it's not me that is being hard on them. The work is hard. I hold my clients to a high standard that equals their dreams and goals. I would expect the same from my coach.

 A book coach is more than an editor

Speaking of emotions, a lot of my work with clients is helping them navigate all the emotional churn that accompanies our creative work. You know what I mean, TET. The doubt, the insecurities, the overwhelm and confusion…that stuff is real. The emotional churn is the real thing that keeps us on the sidelines of our creative dreams.

Everyone, no matter how smart and accomplished, feels the full range of creative ‘crazy’. 

As a trained and certified coach, I have skills to help people navigate the ever-shifting terrain of their inner lives. Beliefs, feelings, and thoughts can work in our favor when we are aware of them and make choices.

As someone who has created and launched books, programs and creativity workshops in Europe, I know full well this rainbow of emotions. I bring empathy and, when useful, brief stories from my own creative work to help normalize the challenges.

Thank goodness I discovered coaching all those years ago in a magazine article. Thank goodness I trusted my instincts to follow this path. I continue with ongoing training and development, and I continue to love this work that brings so many of my skills and gifts to bear.

Do you have a project you could use an ally on? I’d love to help. I am accepting new clients this month. If you want to get me on your team, book a discovery session now to see how I can help you bring your ideas to life.

Get a sense of how I work with my book, The Busy Woman's Guide to Writing a World-Changing Book.

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Celebrating a new book by Donna Erickson

I celebrate my client Donna Erickson’s book, Rooted at the Edge: Ranching Where the Old West and New West Collide. (University of Nebraska Press/Bison Books, 2025).

Donna Erickson book This is a great book that speaks to one of the biggest issues the US faces now – the conflicting interests that have sprung up in different communities. Think farmland that has been repurposed for big box plexes.

Donna’s family story and her professional background come together for a compelling and informative read about how land use and communities are changing in Montana. 

It was a true honor to be part of this project. Donna wanted a book deal, so she hired me to help her write her book proposal. 

I knew when I read a sample chapter that this book would be a big hit. And yet, the work of writing a winning book proposal is not for the faint of heart. I call it a ‘stand and deliver’ moment. It’s a TON of work, and is very emotional. 

Luckily, Donna was up to the labor. She finished her proposal in four months. We had discerned that a university press was the best choice for this book. Within hours of submitting it to the University of Nebraska Press, they called her. Shortly after, she had a book deal.

This was a glorious moment, and today, holding the book in my hands, filled with her wonderful writing and her photographs and illustrations, I am thrilled for Donna. 

Donna’s writing is personal and professional, heartfelt and super-smart. Get your copy of Rooted at the Edge now. 

Bring yourself closer to creative success with me

My coaching calendar is open for new clients starting in May. Make real progress on your book or other creative project by booking a discovery session now.