Oops and Daisies

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Writing Tips: The Best and Worst Writing Advice I’ve Ever Received

October 30, 2019 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

text over a piece of paper - best and worst writing advice I've ever received

My English professor sorted through a stack of books on his desk in his poorly-lit office, searching for an anthology that had a story he wanted me to read. We were meeting to discuss my creative writing, but as my time at college was coming to a close, he asked the question I looked forward to but also dreaded. “Have you thought about what you want to do after college?” I sat … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Inspiration, Work From Home, Writing, Books, & Resources Tagged With: creative writer, creativity, freelance, self-limiting beliefs, writing, writing advice, writing tips

What I’m Reading: Add These to Your TBR List!

September 3, 2019 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

Recommended Reads

I’m a voracious reader. At any given time lately I’m reading at least three different books. What I pick up depends on my mood, but I’m often rotating between middle grade/young adult fiction, historical fiction, as well as something nonfiction -- but I’ll pick up anything that friends recommend or that catches my eye as well. Sometimes a personal development book is also thrown into the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Writing, Books, & Resources Tagged With: books, historical fiction, nonfiction books, young adult fiction

How ‘The Read-Aloud Handbook’ Changed The Way We Read to Our Kids

February 19, 2019 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

I’ve always been a big reader. I grew up going to the library and bringing piles of books home with me. On vacations, I’d bring more books than there were days of the week; in the pre-Kindle and tablet days, I was worried I’d run out of things to read! So, when I had kids, I knew books would be a big part of their lives. Affiliate links included. From the moment they’ve been born, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Family & Lifestyle, Life With Kids, Writing, Books, & Resources Tagged With: 1000 books before kindergarten, jim trelease, kid book recommendations, kid books, mom hobbies, reading, reading behavior, reading to kids, role model, the read-aloud handbook

The Courage to be Vulnerable: Book Review of ‘Daring Greatly’ by Brene Brown

August 8, 2018 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

I’m going to get vulnerable here… and this is new for me. I feel like I’ve always been concerned with how other people perceived me. I always worried that I was too awkward and too weird. Or maybe too quiet. Or that I never knew what to say. In turn, I never felt “good enough.” It’s something I’ve been working on for awhile, basically ever since I’ve had kids, because I saw (and see on a daily … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Family & Lifestyle, Parenting, Writing, Books, & Resources Tagged With: book review, brene brown, courage, daring greatly, feel like not enough, mindset, not good enough, personal development, quotes, relationships, self development, vulnerability

My History with Words… and Introducing my Path to Publication

August 2, 2018 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

Path to Publication

I feel like this is a bit of a coming out for me even though I’ve been writing nearly my entire life. At eight years old, I walked into my 3rd-grade classroom during recess and told my teacher Mrs. Engle that I’d rather stay inside and write. Instead of pushing me out the door, she asked me, “How about we start a writing group every Friday?” She was the first person, other than my parents, to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Path to Publication, Writing, Books, & Resources Tagged With: #boostmybio, aspiring author, confidence, kidlit, passion, path to publication, picture book, published author, writer bio, writing

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authorlizsanfilippohall

Multi-genre author. 📚BECOMING CHARLOTTE CORDAY, a YA historical fantasy coming 4/27/2027 from Apprentice House Press

I laughed, I cried. This book was everything I nee I laughed, I cried. This book was everything I needed and more. Author @alison.espach took something heartbreaking and turned it into something beautiful about how we can embrace who we are. That’s all I’ll say so I don’t give anything away. But you know I can’t help but share a good quote (and there were so many!):“And it was perfect. It really was. But life is strange, always thinking this one thing is going to make you happy, because then you get it, and then maybe you’re not as happy as you imagined you would be, because every day is still just every day.” #AmReading #WomensFiction #5StarRead #BookRecommendation
My deadlines for two projects are approaching… My deadlines for two projects are approaching…But I also need to remind myself that time to create, play, and doodle is important, too. It’s what my family and I have decided is “productive rest.”#AmEditing #HistoricalFantasy #MyPlanner #Creativity
What filled my cup this week…. The views, waves, What filled my cup this week…. The views, waves, games, ice cream, writing… but mostly, time with my family.#SelfCare #Travel #Vacation #PureMichigan
Maybe I should have taken more photos… but once Maybe I should have taken more photos… but once we got to a certain point in the 1,000 piece puzzle it became WAY easier. For me, writing is the same way. Once you start seeing the pieces come together, it starts to feel familiar, and the end is there before you know it. To me, writing is just like putting together a puzzle. #MomLife #CreativeWriting #PuzzleAddict #LakeMichiganLife
When I don’t know what to write (or think for th When I don’t know what to write (or think for that matter)… I try journaling about it. So this week’s Substack, written while looking out over Lake Michigan, looks a little different. I’d love to hear what you think. #JournalWriting #AmDayDreaming #PureMichigan
While I’ve been up in Michigan, I’ve been thin While I’ve been up in Michigan, I’ve been thinking about all the different kinds of writing there are, and how energized I feel when I talk about writing with others. So, without further ado, here is the schedule for my next set of VIRTUAL writing workshops! August 26: Postcards and letters - reflective writing with letters we’ll never sendSeptember 16: Sensory writing - embrace the senses to amp up your writingOctober 14: Haunting flash fiction - seasonal and fun flash fictionNovember 18: Family Stories - journaling and oral historyDecember 9: Year in Review, Year Ahead - closing reflections and intentions. All classes include a writing lesson/craft discussion plus time for writing (and feedback on your writing if you want it). They will also be available individually later, if all 25 spots don’t fill up, but I’m giving first dibs to the people who want all 5!Link in my bio and story. #WritingWorkshop #CreativeWriting #FlashFiction
I suppose this is a good problem to have. 🤣🤣 I suppose this is a good problem to have. 🤣🤣🤣#AmWriting #HistoricalFiction #PureMichigan
We haven’t had as much time as we’d like outsi We haven’t had as much time as we’d like outside during this trip, but at least cloudy days like today - with a ton of wind - are beautiful.#MyMichigan #Inspiration #LifeWithKids
There are paintings galore about Charlotte’s fam There are paintings galore about Charlotte’s famous assassination of Jean-Paul Marat. So how come I wrote a book about her? My latest Substack essay delves into how I learned about Charlotte… and why I wanted to understand her more. #WomenInHistory #HistoricalFantasy #FrenchRevolution #AuthorsOfInsta
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