Get hooked on Ruby's Place: books 1-3 and books 4-5 now available for less than the price of most print books! Also available at KU. Books 1-3: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTFR5JDS Books 4-5: www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ5HZ5TP #KindleUnlimited #kindledeals #christmasbooks #christmasseries #holidayreads

Antiques and collectibles sellers: What's the worst item in your shop? The thing you plain cannot move? You can reframe them to sell for Halloween or Thanksgiving! More on the pod this week: pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/harvesting... #etsyseller #ebayseller #antiques #antiquestore #collectibles

That is not a typo. Seven years, 1,000 rejections. Keep going. Your book deserves to be on the shelf. #writersofinstagram #amwriting #rejection #writinginspiration #writingcommunity

Best (easiest) way to ensure your book will be an emotional read? START with character emotion: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/why-starti... #howtowriteabook #writingtips #writingfiction #writingemotion #writingadvice

Chapter 1 of this year's Ruby's Place story! hollyschindler.substack.com/p/exclusive-... #christmascountdown #christmasbooks #christmas2025 #rubysplace

Can "viral" really mean 1 view? Yup. At least, it can when you're selling antiques and collectibles. John explains why: pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/can-antiqu... #etsyseller #ebayseller #antiquesdealer #antiques #collectibles #collectiblesforsale

An inconsistent main character's voice will yank a reader out of a book every time. So how do you stay consistent? hollyschindler.substack.com/p/three-pill... #writingcommunity #howtowriteabook #howtowriteanovel #fictionwriter #voiceinfiction

There is NO SUCH THING as pure 100% pantsing. My reason + the method I'll teach in the I Have an Idea for a Novel. Now What??? series. (Hint: it's not 100% pure plotting, either.) youtu.be/zu0RGSBQ13s?... #writingadvicefromwriters #writingcommunity #howtowriteabook #FictionWriting #writingtips

For the jewel-toned boho #spoonflowerdesignchallenge, I whipped up a New Orleans Rock and Roll Boho. Love doing these geometric patterns. #InteriorDesign #fabric #sewing #sewingcommunity #patterndesigner #artistsofinstagram #boho #bohofashion

John is definitely seeing signs from his Etsy and eBay shops that the Christmas season is upon antiques and collectibles dealers. On the pod this week, he shares key steps you can take right now to ensure maximum holiday profits: pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/deck-the-h... #etsyseller #ebayseller

What the heck IS voice, anyway? (It can immerse your readers faster than just about anything...) hollyschindler.substack.com/p/what-the-h... #authorsoffacebook #writingcommunity #writingtips #writinglife #writingadvicefromwriters

The proof for the paperback of Mistletoe on Main Street just arrived! #authorsofbluesky #writingcommunity #christmasbooks #christmascountdown #christmasseries

This year's Ruby's Place installment is officially live! hollyschindler.substack.com/p/its-live-m... #christmascountdown2025 #christmasbooks #christmascountdown #christmasseries #christmaskindle

It was only going to be one book! All about the Ruby's Place series: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/back-to-ru... #christmasbooks #christmasseries #Christmas2025 #christmasseason #christmascountdown2025

For the last #spoonflowerdesignchallenge, I whipped up a tartan plaid using fall chrysanthemum colors. Now I want to use this color palette for the latest garden challenge. Hmmm... #patterndesign #surfacepatterndesign #fallvibes

A video that expands on my Talent is a myth claim, exploring how to get rid of negative thoughts while drafting and adopt a growth mindset instead: youtu.be/Yhdh0C91rdE?... #WritingTipsFromWriters #writingtipsforbeginners #writingcommunity #writingadvice #howtowriteabook

On the pod: John's been seeing an uptick in views and sales at his eBay and Etsy stores, and we've got some theories why. A bit on making that algorithm go from nemesis to friend: pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/from-invis... #antiquesandvintage #antiquedealer #ebayseller #etsyseller #collectibles

You can absolutely use your main character's backstory to find your book's main purpose & macro-goal: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/your-book-... #writingtips #writinglife #writingtipsandtricks #writingcommunity #writingtipsforbeginners #writingtipsfromwriters

On the pod this week: John keeps getting questions about opening antique booths, so we did an episode devoted entirely to weird booth shenanigans (and how to deal): pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/from-hobby... #antiqueshop #antiquedealer #antiquedealerlife #antiquesandcollectibles #antiquesandvintage

A sneak peek into this year's Ruby's Place installment! hollyschindler.substack.com/p/sneak-peek... #christmasbooks #christmasseries #writingcommunity #rubysplace #writersofbluesky

Labor Day weekend marked 6 years with this guy. This is pretty much what walks look like. Gus LOVES to sit in the street or on a sidewalk and just watch the world go by. If he were a human, he'd be one of those old guys who sits in a lawn chair in his garage. 😆 #dogsofbluesky #pekingese #puppylove

This might get me in trouble, but I actually don't think 100% pantsing even exists: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/we-are-all... #plottingvspantsing #writingtips #writingadvicefromwriters #writinglife #writingcommunity #amwriting

I mean, what is writing advice without a snazzy, easy-to-remember acronym, right? #writingtips #writingcommunity #writinglife #writingadvice #howtowriteabook #howtowriteanovel www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNwG...

Why I think talent is BS: #writingcommunity #writingtips #writinginspiration #WritingTipsFromWriters #writersonwriting #writinglife

For your holiday weekend listening, John and I did another Q&A on the pod. (We also couldn't resist a silly photo shoot with our knock-your-eyes-out bright Pick for Profit Ts): pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/qa-3-you-a... #antiques #antiquedealer #collectibles #ebayseller #etsy #etsyseller

I 100% believe the best part of immersive books is their ability to change us all, one book at a time: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/the-lastin... #writingcommunity #writingtips #writinglife #WritingJourney #howtowriteabook

All about my FEELS Method for writing scenes (and introducing the I Have an Idea for a Novel. Now What??? series I'm running on Youtube): youtu.be/uS_L04CXe_s?... #writingcommunity #writinglife #WritingInspiration #writingtips #WritingJourney #howtowriteabook #howtowriteanovel #writersofbluesky

Cover reveal! This year's Ruby's Place story: Mistletoe on Main Street. #christmascountdown #christmasbooks #christmasseries #Christmas2025 #bookdesign #bookcover #authorsofbluesky

For the #spoonflowerdesignchallenge (Animal Prints), I worked up a peacock feather pattern. #digitalart #patterndesign #interiordesign

Yes, you can 100% expand on my FEELS Method for writing scenes to write solid BOOKS: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/the-scene-... #writingtips #writingcommunity #writingtipsandtricks #howtowriteabook

Antique dealers: Sound familiar? When you go to shop for what's hot, you either can't find it, or it's $$$. John and I have done a ton of sort of popular-adjacent shopping. How we approach it (+ what we've bought) on this week's podcast: pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/from-slim-... #ebay #etsy

Ever read your scene back and get that "Aw, man...this thing sucks" feeling? I got a fix for that: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/why-your-s... #writingcommunity #writinglife #writingtips #howtowriteabook #writingadvice #writing

One idea for maintaining connection with your manuscript when you're not writing every day: #writingcommunity #writingadvice #writinglife #howtowriteabook #writersofbluesky

So you want to write solid scenes that give your readers all the feels. Easier said than done...unless you've got a method. My FEELS Method focuses on 5 elements every scene needs: payhip.com/b/VZ7wS #writingcommunity #writingtips #writingprompt #writinglife #writingadvice #writersofbluesky

This week on the pod, John and I talk about what's moving RIGHT NOW in his online antiques and collectibles store (Wisdom Lane Antiques): pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/selling-sp... #antique #antiquestore #antiquedealer #collectibles #collectiblesforsal

Why a character's stubbed toe is more valuable than 1,000 sunsets. Today, in my ongoing discussion of how to transport a reader scene-by-scene: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/when-your-... #writingadvice #writingtips #writinglife #writing #writingcommunity

Knowing your genre BEFORE you start drafting is sooooo important. Knowing your primary genre means you can strategically borrow from a second to amplify reader immersion! hollyschindler.substack.com/p/strategic-... #writingtips #writingadvice #WriteYourNovel #howtowriteabook #writingcommunity

my statement on Ai from the mini-comic I'm making as syllabus for a new class I'm teaching this fall. It's simple, but I pretty much said all I have to say on it - it robs you of decisions and struggle - and the joy of being surprised. It robs you of learning...

The writing advice I used to SWEAR BY but no longer give. And how I tell new writers to get through their first drafts these days... www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB-U... #writingtips #writingadvice #writeyourbook #writeyournovel #writersonwriting #writingcommunity #writinglife #indieauthorsupport

When I took the full-time plunge into writing, I made the mistake of thinking that if I didn’t have a book on the shelf, I couldn’t call myself a writer. That’s with a Master’s in English. And several publications in journals. And having won $750 in a poetry contest (yeah, that actually happened).

We've all heard modern readers don't want a ton of description. They just want the story. But the best way to snag a reader is by including description that TRANSPORTS: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/the-1-sett... #writingtips #writingadvice #howtowriteabook #writeeditpublish #writerscommunity

Writers: genre is NOT a straitjacket! It's a key to deep reader immersion. hollyschindler.substack.com/p/writers-sh... #writingtips #howtowrite #howrowriteabook #writingadvice #writingcommunity #writing

When DO you clean a collectible? Rarely, according to my brother, who sells online (it all goes back to his selling niche). This week on the podcacst: pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/patina-or-... #antiques #antiquedealer #collectiblesstore #selling #ebayseller #etsyseller #sellonlinesmart

What's that, you say? You always wanted to write a novel but were never sure how to get started? I've sooo got you covered. Let's do this thing: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/writers-jo... #howtowriteabook #howtowrite #howtowriteanovel #write

For the latest #spoonflowerdesignchallenge (1970s), I put together Roller Disco Dreams. I loved drawing these groovy roller skates! If you ever need a different scale, don't ever hesitate to shout: www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/19... #patterndesign #fabricaddict #sewingcommunity #sewinglove

Authors: What sense is best for drawing readers into a book? I mean fully immersing them and making them feel your fictional world is real? (Hint: It's not sight!) hollyschindler.substack.com/p/behind-the... #writingtips #writeyournovel #writingadvice #writersofbluesky #writing #writingcommunity

Subplots absolutely help maintain deep reader immersion through a book's middle, but only if you weave and pace them appropriately. Even GOOD subplots can tank a middle if not well-paced! hollyschindler.substack.com/p/the-readin... #writingtips #writingadvice #writingabook #narrativetransportation

John talked a bit about how he approaches customer service in this week's episode. I think his approach is the reason why he's only gotten one return in 10 years of selling online! pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/service-ca... #antiquedealer #collectibles #sellingantiques #sellingonetsy #sellingonebay

Actionable steps ANY writer can take to get that first draft done. Even the newest of new writers: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/writers-jo... #WritingCommunity #writer #writinglife #writingtips #writingtipsandtricks #writingadvice

For the winter animals #spoonflowerdesignchallenge, I came up with a Scandinavian folk art-inspired pattern I titled The Creatures Are Stirring. #patterndesign #christmas2025 #interiordesign #giftwrapping