Rochelle Y. Melander - Level Up: Quests to Master Mindset, Overcome Procrastination, and Increase Productivity

Level Up:
Quests to Master Mindset,
Overcome Procrastination, and
Increase Productivity

A Guide for Writers, Entrepreneurs, and Creatives

By Rochelle Melander

Advanced praise for Level Up: Quests to Master Mindset, Overcome Procrastination, and Increase Productivity

Level Up is a rare writing book, one that feels as though it were written just for me. By breaking down the writing process into bite-sized tasks or quests, it has given me a fresh new set of tools to nibble my way to a strong writing rhythm. Its not only fired up my desire to get to work on my writing projects, but provides a mountain of fuel to keep it burning for a long time. If youve been frustrated in your inability to make progress on your book, your articles, or your business, this is the book youve been waiting for.

Margaret Terrian Rode, coach, consultant and tech Sherpa, author of Storytelling for Small Business: Creating and Growing an Authentic Business Through the Power of Story

In a word: WOW. My reviewers copy is covered with margin notes! Whether you write for a living, have a creative project you want to undertake (like that long-awaited novel, perhaps), or write as part of your job, Rochelle has made your work easier. Each short, insightful lesson includes specific strategies to take your writing goals, whether personal or professional, from wanna-dos to have-dones. As a longtime freelancer of 20+ years, I have to say its also worth a look if youre need of inspiration or a new approach when your motivation flags.

Kelly K. James, author of Six-Figure Freelancing, Second Edition: The Writers Guide to Making More Money

Level Up is like the classic Choose Your Own Adventure book I grew up withbut instead of going on an adventure, you get to improve your creative work, which is a useful twist on a familiar topic. Most importantlyits FUN! And who cant use some more fun when theyre struggling to write, edit, and create something that changes the world. Pick up a copy of Level Up and kick your creativity into high gear. I LOVE this book!

Phil Gerbyshak, speaker, trainer and author of 6 books, including Digital Selling Strategies

Rochelle Melanders clear, concise prose will be a useful guide to anyone who wants to create. She draws on her years of experience coaching writers, and juggling the demands of her own family and career. She knows the obstacles and she provides step-by-step methods to help you overcome them. If you follow her advice, you will definitely level up.

Jane Kelley, author of many middle grade novels, including The Desperate Adventures of Zeno and Alya,

With more than a decades experience in coaching writers to overcome their blocks, Rochelle shares proven methods in this book to enjoy and THRIVE with writing projects. And, her writing is a pleasure to read. Enjoy and implement this worthwhile book!

George Kao, author of Joyful Productivity

Writing is life. Life is writing. To do either well, we must learn to do both. Rochelle Melanders insightful challenges for leveling up are ultimately about encouraging all of us to be all that we can beas both writers and humans.

K.M. Weiland, Creating Character Arcs

There are no cheat codes in Level Up . What youll find are a ton of practical quests designed to help any writer develop confidence and productivity skills to get a project from dream to done. Level Up is going on my keeper shelf!

Elizabeth Cole, Secrets of the Zodiac series

While Level Up s personalized exercises will appeal to anyone who wants to increase their productivity, its fun and intuitive exercises especially spoke to the writer in me. Reading it was like having a personal writing coach by my side! This choose-your-own-adventure-style book teaches creatives how to level up from time wasters to time masters.

Jessica Lourey, TEDx presenter and author of Rewrite Your Life: Discover Your Truth Through the Healing Power of Fiction

Writing can be a lonely business, but it doesnt have to be. If youve ever wished you had someone to walk you through the process of doing the creative work you want to accomplish, let Rochelle Melander guide you.

Lori Rader-Day, Edgar Award-nominated author of Under a Dark Sky

An excellent and engaging way to find what works for each of us as individuals and overcome whats standing in our way. Highly recommended for anyone looking to understand themselves better, set writing goals and find ways to actually meet them.

Erica Ruth Neubauer, author of Murder at the Mena House

Consider Rochelle Melanders Level Up: Quests to Master Mindset, Overcome Procrastination and Increase Productivity, A Guide for Writers, Entrepreneurs, and Creatives the more practical, younger cousin of Julia Camerons The Artists Way. Its a must-read for any writers bookshelf, and deserves to sit there right along side Anne Lamotts Bird by Bird and Natalie Goldbergs Writing Down the Bones . Melander, who is both an author and a writing coach, reveals some of her most powerful techniques to help writers and other creatives break through the common challenges they face so that their work becomes more joyful, productive and, ultimately, successful.

Jeanette Hurt, author of Drink Like a Woman

With the dizzying array of options from which writers and creatives have to choose, Melanders superlative resource breaks through the clutter and offers a systematic, effective, clearand above all, funapproach to achieving your creative goals.

Dan Maurer, an award-winning Hazelden author.

Level Up is the coach you need to write your own playbook and craft your own success. Brilliant, comprehensive, and life-changing. Start where you are, get this book, and apply even a few pages of its wisdom, and you will win at life, at crafting the vision and the plan to achieve your dreams. Level Up is perfect for use in groups to launch their dreams. Re-write, re-start, re-route your life, art, career with this masterful book.

Jane Rubietta, Book and Platform Coach, international speaker and author of Worry Less So You Can Live More and The Forgotten Life of Evelyn Lewis.

Sharpening our focus and embracing productivity will help us to create our best work, but one-size-fits-all writing systems often fall short. Rochelle Melanders approach in Level Up: Quests to Master Mindset, Overcome Procrastination and Increase Productivity is unique, supplying optional quests to guide creatives in navigating past common internal obstacles that may hamper success. If you are ready to level up your career through self-reflection and the exploration of ideas on how to optimize your own personal writing process, try this book on for size.

Angela Ackerman, bestselling author, international speaker, and creative entrepreneur, author of The Emotion Thesaurus

For Mom and Dadwho taught me to love playing games.

And for Harold, Sam, and Elianawho encourage me to play every day!

Copyright 2019 Rochelle Melander

All rights reserved. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the authors intellectual property, and no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published 2019 / Dream Keepers Press

Printed in the United States of America

(MOBI) E-ISBN: 978-1-950515-01-1

(EPUB) E-ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-1-950515-00-4

PRINT: ISBN-13: 978-1-950515-03-5

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019903255

Level Up: written by Rochelle Melander

Edited by Amanda Valentine

Layout by Thomas Deeny

Cover Design by James, GoOnWrite.com

Designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and the publisher and author were aware of that claim, the designations have been capitalized.