A soulful, strategic guide to writing a book with purpose, no matter where you are in your writing journey.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• Introduction: writing a book in 2025
• The book-writing guide you've been looking for
• Soul + strategy: writing a book from the inside out
• When to pivot (and when to stay the course)
• Gathering more book-writing support

Introduction: writing a book in 2025

The desire to write a book can strike at any point in life. Some of us know from a young age that we have a book, or several, inside us. Others of us are called to the page later, perhaps after a cataclysmic life event that changes us forever, or after developing a body of knowledge we want to share with readers who are ready to learn. Sometimes this desire starts with a whisper of a fictional story that won’t leave us alone, one that awakens the inner storyteller in us all.

I've experienced it all and can tell you there's nothing quite like the writing journey. It's full of inspiration t...

Some book ideas choose you, even when the timing feels all wrong. Learn what happens when you resist, explore, and ultimately say yes.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• How a book idea found me

• Seeing the story through someone else’s eyes

• From resistance to clarity

• Owning the story as mine

• Saying yes to the idea I didn’t ask for

• Writing the story while living it

How a book idea found me

Writers love talking about book ideas. There are so many methods to summon them, like journaling, using writing prompts, or simply observing your surroundings. In these instances, when inspiration comes from within, it's easy to take ownership of the ideas and feel connected to them from the start. 

But what do you do with the book ideas that find you? The ideas that come to you from someone else's mouth instead of your own mind? The ideas you can't claim as your own, but somehow seem destined for your ears and your writing desk? What do you do when the ideas seem to c...

Explore flexible writing side hustles that turn your passion for writing into a profitable pursuit and get my step-by-step guide to getting started. 

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• Why start a writing side hustle in 2025?
• 11 writing side hustles to explore
• How to start your writing side hustle 

Why start a writing side hustle in 2025?

Writing side hustles are a fantastic way to earn money while putting pen to paper. Whether you're supplementing your income, gaining valuable experience, or supporting your creative writing dreams, these flexible opportunities let you achieve your goals without the 40-hour-a-week commitment of full-time employment.

If you're a stay-at-home parent seeking a professional outlet with flexible hours, an aspiring entrepreneur eager to turn a side gig into a lucrative business, or a full-time professional planning a career pivot, writing side hustles can fit your needs. Best of all, with the right skills, a steady stream of clients, and a commitment ...

Explore the vast array of top-rated creative writing courses on different genres and topics, available online and open to the public (no application). 

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• What is a creative writing course?
• 18 creative writing courses 
• How to choose the right course for you
• FAQ 

What is a creative writing course?

A creative writing course is an educational program that helps creative writers master their craft and complete writing projects. As a creative writer, you'll find many valuable courses that cover all facets of writing, from getting started and learning specific techniques, to getting published and promoting your work. 

However, not all courses for writers are creative writing courses.

In a true creative writing course, you'll find a heavy emphasis on craft, the specific techniques involved in creative writing, such as developing fictional characters, structuring a plot, or refining your style. Most creative writing courses will teach craft through a se...

Explore your earning potential as a writer, break the myth of the underpaid writer, and discover what you can do to earn more doing what you love.  

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• Job outlook for writers in 2025
• Writer salary averages based on job title
• Writer salary averages based on experience 
• Top paying US cities for writers
• Top paying companies for writers 
• Key learnings from salary data
• How to earn more as a writer

Job outlook for writers in 2025

When starting or advancing your career in professional writing, knowing your earning potential is an important step in charting your path. While the old stereotype of the "penniless writer" persists, the reality is far more promising—there are plenty of lucrative and fulfilling opportunities for turning your writing passion into a career.

My advice: Don't be swayed by hearsay or well-meaning advice suggesting that writing doesn’t pay. Instead, rely on solid, real-world data to guide your decisions about the kind of writing...

Get your start in professional writing or advance your writing career with this 2025 quick guide!

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

Contents:

• What is professional writing?

• What are the genres of professional writing?

• What is a professional writer?

• What sets professional writers apart? 

• Writing professionally: what to know in 2025

What is professional writing? 

Professional writing refers to any type of writing that you compose in the professional world to earn a living. As we'll explore in more depth below, professional writing encompasses a broad range of content for academic, business, and creative purposes. 

To be effective, a piece of professional writing should do the following: 

• Meet the needs of a specific audience. 
• Exhibit clarity and credibility. 
• Inspire action, effect change, or enable specific outcomes. 

What are the genres of professional writing? 

Professional writing comes in many forms. In business or academic settings, professional writing...

Discover the transformative power of creative writing prompts for every stage of your writing journey. 

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

What is a writing prompt? 

A writing prompt is an exercise or set of instructions that a writer uses to gain a fresh perspective, develop writing skills, burst through writer's block, or complete a specific writing-related task. You can use creative writing prompts at any stage of your writing journey to bring originality, inspiration, and confidence to your work.

For example:

• Let's say you're just starting out as a writer, and while you already have an idea for a novel, you don't know where to begin the writing process. You ask a generative AI tool like ChatGPT to prompt you with some ideas to get you over that initial hurdle. It gives you some options like, "Reflect on why writing a novel is important to you" and "What do you want readers to get out of reading your novel?" You start jotting ideas down on them both and actually experience a rush of ideas o...