If you came to me and said: “Dani, tell me what my book should be.” I would have questions. 😂 Before I start giving suggestions, I want to understand you. ❓ Why this story? ❓ What do you want it to do? ❓ What do you want the reader to understand? ❓ How do you want them to feel? ❓ What have you already written? ❓ What isn't working? ❓ What are you unsure about? Then I can listen. 👂 Then I can notice. Then I can guide. ❤️ If I skip all of that and immediately tell you what your book needs to become, whose book are we creating? 🤨 That's part of Story First™ for me. ❤️ The framework matters. The writing matters. The editing eventually matters. But before all of it: What story are YOU trying to tell? That's where I want to begin. So let me start with you. 💛 If we were sitting down together to talk about your book, what would you want me to understand about it before I said a word? Tell me below. 👇 And if you’re ready for more than a comment-section conversation, send me a DM. We can talk about your book and see what kind of support makes sense for where you are. ❤️

Hey there newbies! So happy that you've come to this writing community to give, receive support, and to be surrounded by other writers! Welcome! @Maya Nova @Rhiannon Bailey @Liz Delton Let's give them a warm welcome and if you'd like, share what you are working on! ❤️ Let's support one another!

Hey everyone! I'm back from my trip with a cold! BUT! My website it up and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it! Check it out and let me know what you think! There are a few things that I'm working on fixing. But, I think it's coming together quite nicely! Do any of you have a website?! Storytellerspath.com

I think sometimes writers get scared when the story starts changing. You created an outline. You thought Chapter 4 was going one way. Then you start writing and something else appears. 😱 A memory feels more important than you expected. A scene needs to happen earlier. Something you thought deserved an entire chapter suddenly feels like three paragraphs. And then comes the panic: Am I doing this wrong? No. A plan is supposed to help you write the story. It isn’t supposed to trap you inside the first version of your thinking. 💭 That’s one reason I like using a flexible framework. We can look at: Characters involved. Main events. Scenario. Then write from there. Once the story expands, we can step back and ask: Does this flow? Where does it need more? What transition is missing? Does something belong somewhere else? And we adjust. That doesn’t mean planning failed. It means the writing taught us something. Story First™ leaves room for that. Because I don’t want you becoming so loyal to an outline that you stop listening to the story that’s actually appearing.

As many of you may know, it’s helpful taking a step back from work and to be in the moment. Enjoy life! That’s what I’m doing! My family and I have made it to Portugal and we’re planning on going on a road trip through this country! Yay! 😁 Starting in Porto and working our way down to Faro! Anyone here from Portugal!? 🇵🇹 Or anyone like to travel?? 🧳