26. Claiming your writing identity w/ Jennifer Bozarth

What makes someone a writer? Do you need to be published or a true storyteller at heart? Or is a love for the written word enough?

Joining today’s conversation is Jennifer Bozarth, a writer searching for a genre and the motivation to prioritize her writing. Erin coaches her on the importance of making time for her own goals and happiness amidst their discussion on what it means to be a writer.

As Jennifer says in this episode, the suffix "-er'' literally means a person or thing that does an action. So, whether you journal every day or have unpublished manuscripts sitting in your drawer, you ARE a writer. And as parents who write, our time is limited, and we must be intentional with how we spend it.

Erin helps Jennifer make a plan for her writing, and her advice can help you too, so tune in!

Topics discussed in this episode: 

• Jennifer’s origin as a writer
• Subconscious loss of her own identity
• Getting back into writing
• Writing as a coping mechanism
• Erin coaches Jennifer through imposter syndrome
• What it means to be a writer without a genre
• Finding places to submit your writing
• How a brain dump works
• Prioritizing using the rock, pebble, sand theory 
• Consequences of not writing
• Favorite books of Jennifer’s and her family

About Jennifer:

Jennifer Bozarth has been creating stories since the third grade. After she had a family, she put her writing aside for years—until she realized she had lost herself. Writing helped her find herself again. As long as characters are willing to tell her their stories, she's going to keep writing.

Married for 25 years to a man who hates to read but always encourages her writing, she has two grown children—the boy who made her a mom and the girl who added "special needs" to that title. Jennifer also enjoys crocheting and collecting T-rexes. 

Connect with Jennifer: 

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferBozart1 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.bozarth1 

Books discussed during the show: 

• Rolling in the Deep series by Seanan McGuire
• Newsflesh series by Mira Grant
• More Bears! by Kenn Nesbitt
• The 13-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths

Resources mentioned:

• Deadlines for Writers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/242122619564906 

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