Laura Gaddis-Writer

Edits on my memoir Mosaic are done and sent back to my editor! Woot! 🙌

Just added “Good Night, Irene” to this pile. Show me your nightstand.

Got Mosaic back! Let the edits begin! 😍

After completing the draft of my historical fiction novel, I knew I’d need to take a step back and let it breathe. Author (and mentor/friend) Ann Hood recommends at least 6 months. At first I wasn’t sure I could step away that long. Now, with how busy I’ve gotten with teaching and book coaching, it will be forced upon me.

My daughter had this sign on her leprechaun trap last March. When the trap was thrown away, I couldn’t bare to see this part go. So, naturally, I cut it off and made it my bookmark.

Need help with your writing projects? In addition to my writing classes, I now offer one-on-one coaching! Visit my website for more info.

Laura Gaddis Author-Writing Coach-Educator

My New Website

My New Website Visit the post for more.

Visit my new Medium Page! Thank you to all my longtime readers of Sophia's Story blog! As many of you know, I have my debut memoir "Mosaic" coming out March 4, 2025 with Unsolicited Press. While that is a little ways into the future, it gives me time to create more content to share with those who have supported my writing, and for new people who want to learn a bit about becoming a writer....

My Blog is Moving to Medium! Visit my new Medium Page! Thank you to all my longtime readers of Sophia’s Story blog! As many of you know, I have my debut memoir “Mosaic” coming out March 4, 2025 with Unsolicit…

Monday I was digging around for new small presses to send my query to. I had been hitting up agents pretty hard, and batting a zero. I figured for my first book publication, I would stay open to the possibilities--and as my spreadsheet grows with more names of publishers (almost 40!) and agents in whose inboxes are filled with my name, I'm realizing that my book might be best suited for the small independent presses (not to be confused with vanity presses or hybrid presses, or self-publishing, all of which could be discussed in detail about their issues in their own blog posts)....

http://lauragaddis.com/2022/04/29/third-times-a-charm/

Third Time’s A Charm? Monday I was digging around for new small presses to send my query to. I had been hitting up agents pretty hard, and batting a zero. I figured for my first book publication, I would stay open to th…

The first day of the Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture Since 1900, I went to a poetry reading. Just judging from the title of this conference, I knew I would be a fish out of water. Literature is useful in my craft work, in my research on how to structure a sentence, a chapter, an essay, or a book. It is useful when I want to stay current on which memoirs on currently on the market that could be listed as comparable titles (comps) when I query publishers and agents....

http://lauragaddis.com/2022/02/26/humble-and-grateful/

Humble and Grateful The first day of the Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture Since 1900, I went to a poetry reading. Just judging from the title of this conference, I knew I would be a fish out of water. L…

A couple months ago, on a 45-minute drive to my teaching job, I listened to the "Reading and Writing Podcast" to pass the time. The host asked the guest the same question he always asked his guests: "what advice would you give other writers out there who are trying to publish their work?" The guest responded: "Persistence. Never stop knocking on those doors."...

http://lauragaddis.com/2022/01/16/never-stop-knocking-on-doors/

Never Stop Knocking on Doors A couple months ago, on a 45-minute drive to my teaching job, I listened to the “Reading and Writing Podcast” to pass the time. The host asked the guest the same question he always aske…

When I first got a full manuscript request, I wanted to know immediately what the response would be. Would the editor like it? Would they consider it publishable? Workable? Compelling enough? Would it be accepted, and if so, how much work would I need to do on the manuscript? Are there too many books on my topic in the market? Not enough?...

http://lauragaddis.com/2022/01/06/the-waiting-is-the-hardest-part/

The Waiting is the Hardest Part When I first got a full manuscript request, I wanted to know immediately what the response would be. Would the editor like it? Would they consider it publishable? Workable? Compelling enough? Would…

I wrote a post about Pushcart nominations! Head to my website to check it out!

Probably not me! But I was nominated for my piece "Well-Meaning People" in Ligeia Magazine's Summer Issue. (Thanks Ligeia Magazine!) So, what does it matter? I'm here to argue that it matters...A LOT. When I found out that I was nominated for an award in the literary community that has been in existence since 1976, an award that honors small presses and authors who may not have made their claim to fame with their writing (yet maybe should have), the first thing I did was look up "What is a Pushcart Award?" While I had heard of it before, I had never bothered to investigate because I was a 40-year-old-former-psychology-turned-writer-person....

http://lauragaddis.com/2021/11/09/and-the-pushcart-goes-to/

And the Pushcart Goes To… Probably not me! But I was nominated for my piece “Well-Meaning People” in Ligeia Magazine’s Summer Issue. (Thanks Ligeia Magazine!) So, what does it matter? I’m here to arg…

I ask this question of my students all the time. Like ALL the time. I teach freshman composition, and my first question when we begin our writing projects is "think of who your audience is--not only those you intend this writing for, but who might see this that you don't intend to see it?" My students often tell me the same responses: "my friends," "those who agree with me," "my family," "those who go through this same thing as me," and (my personal fave) "everyone." And to these responses, especially my fave one, I always say: "but…...

http://lauragaddis.com/2021/10/21/who-is-your-audience/

Who Is Your Audience? I ask this question of my students all the time. Like ALL the time. I teach freshman composition, and my first question when we begin our writing projects is “think of who your audience is& #8…

Is it really, though? I mean the black hole? Just asking for a friend. Okay, so 'tis the season of finishing my MFA program in creative writing converging with the submissions opening of literary journals and independent presses. I've hustled to get my individual essay out there, and out of 206 submissions sent out just this calendar year (yes, I keep a detailed spreadsheet, which I highly recommend!) I got about seven acceptances....

http://lauragaddis.com/2021/10/10/the-black-hole-of-publishing/

The Black Hole of Publishing Is it really, though? I mean the black hole? Just asking for a friend. Okay, so ’tis the season of finishing my MFA program in creative writing converging with the submissions opening of lite…

Ok, so maybe not always. But, consider this. Just this morning, I received my latest acceptance for an essay I wrote over a year ago. I brought that essay to my MFA workshop, peers and my faculty instructor all took their time reading through it, offering words of encouragement and suggestions for revision. I took it home and worked on it, playing with form, order of material, the footnotes that I thought added a depth to the essay that I just could not achieve otherwise....

http://lauragaddis.com/2021/09/14/perseverance-gets-you-published/

Perseverance Gets You Published Ok, so maybe not always. But, consider this. Just this morning, I received my latest acceptance for an essay I wrote over a year ago. I brought that essay to my MFA workshop, peers and my faculty i…

Food, running toilets, deer in our backyard, birds' nests outside our windows, bananas hanging from our fruit bowl and oranges underneath, fresh milk, eggs, bread, baby carrots in the fridge. A bed, blankets, pillows (feather pillow for my headache-proned skull), dining chairs with cushions, a microwave for quick lunches. Clean air, clean water, clean clothes, clean dishes, clean floors and carpet....

http://lauragaddis.com/2020/11/24/gratitude/

Gratitude Food, running toilets, deer in our backyard, birds’ nests outside our windows, bananas hanging from our fruit bowl and oranges underneath, fresh milk, eggs, bread, baby carrots in the fridge.…

One time when I watched Oprah, back when she had her talk show, she had a guest who talked about keeping a gratitude journal. I can't remember who this person was, or why they kept one, or even what Oprah's main topic of the show was about. What I do remember is the rule this person set up for herself (and which Oprah confessed to adopting): [ 595 more words ]
http://lauragaddis.com/2020/03/18/building-a-gratitude-practice-and-especially-during-times-of-struggle/

Building a Gratitude Practice (and Especially During Times of Struggle) One time when I watched Oprah, back when she had her talk show, she had a guest who talked about keeping a gratitude journal. I can’t remember who this person was, or why they kept one, or ev…

I was sitting in my graduate writing workshop when the email from Miami University's president's email came in. It was one of those moments in life I will likely never forget; like when the space shuttle Challenger exploded (and I was sitting in the living room with my mom watching the white smoke streaks on TV) or when 9-11 happened (and I was standing on a metro platform in Madrid, Spain when a nice Irish man told me the towers "disappeared"). [ 503 more words ]
http://lauragaddis.com/2020/03/12/when-we-are-told-dont-panic/

When We Are Told “Don’t Panic” I was sitting in my graduate writing workshop when the email from Miami University’s president’s email came in. It was one of those moments in life I will likely never forget; like when…

Evelyn danced with the grace of of swan with a broken leg. Yet she watched her teacher intensely. She moved her arms up when the teacher made a large "O" with her own. Evelyn's right arm drooped. She could only raise it high enough to get her right fingertips shoulder-height. Evelyn twirled in a circled while walking across the floor. The mirrored wall reflected the movements she and her classmates made as they… [ 606 more words ]
http://lauragaddis.com/2020/01/16/what-it-means-to-be-proud/

What it Means to be Proud Evelyn danced with the grace of of swan with a broken leg. Yet she watched her teacher intensely. She moved her arms up when the teacher made a large “O” with her own. Evelyn’s ri…

Response from ballet class one: Thank you for reaching out. We have some concerns. Your daughter is young--we only take four year olds if they have significant dance experience. The floors may be slippery. Your daughter may fall and get injured. We only have one instructor per class, so we cannot provide her individualized attention. Try swimming to get stronger and try again and try again next year. [ 58 more words ]
http://lauragaddis.com/?p=4439

lauragaddis.com Response from ballet class one: Thank you for reaching out. We have some concerns. Your daughter is young–we only take four year olds if they have significant dance experience. …

I assigned my English composition students one final reflection. As we had practiced with each of their writing assignments, they were challenged to look back at their process, effort, knowledge, and overall feelings about their own work. This final assignment was to encompass the entire semester. Before Thanksgiving break seemed like a great time to take a step back and be real. [ 629 more words ]
http://lauragaddis.com/2019/11/22/why-i-teach-is-not-to-cry-but-it-happens/

Why I Teach… (Is Not to Cry, But it Happens) I assigned my English composition students one final reflection. As we had practiced with each of their writing assignments, they were challenged to look back at their process, effort, knowledge, a…

Evelyn and I sat in the small office. We were waiting for "Ivan", the man who would give Evelyn her next pair of shoes. The night before, as I kissed her blonde head, I told her that she needed to sleep well because we had to go to the "shoe store" the next morning--just her and mommy. "I will get new shoes?" she asked. [ 696 more words ]
http://lauragaddis.com/?p=4406

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Tonight I witnessed something amazing. My daughter, Evelyn, raised both her hands up (lefty helped righty rise above her head). Her hands let go of each other. And then nothing happened. Three seconds elapsed, her arms stretched up high like pillars holding up the world's largest invisible bridge. For our Evelyn has carried a burden so heavy, that the cement and metal that would normally support tons of pounds of weight could easily crush her spirit, her will to thrive. [ 407 more words ]
http://lauragaddis.com/2019/09/12/both-arms-raised/

Both Arms Raised Tonight I witnessed something amazing. My daughter, Evelyn, raised both her hands up (lefty helped righty rise above her head). Her hands let go of each other. And then nothing happened. Three sec…

You Guys—I’m trying to put together some blog posts for a chapbook submission and there are so many posts I just love that I can’t narrow it down to 25 pages!

When I was a child in the 80s, my father had a book called In One Day. I became obsessed with reading the short snippets of what happens across the country, the world, the universe--all in just one day. The cartoonish pictures added to the alluring quality. I kept that book close, packing it with my belongings when I moved to college. [ 1,581 more word ]
http://lauragaddis.com/2019/07/09/in-fifteen-years-our-wedding-anniversary/

In Fifteen Years: Our Wedding Anniversary When I was a child in the 80s, my father had a book called In One Day. I became obsessed with reading the short snippets of what happens across the country, the world, the universe–all in jus…

Breaking news: I'm working on a fiction (sort of) short story! It takes a while for me to transform from my nonfiction side :)

"We don't have peaks without the valleys," my AP history teacher had once said. That was 21 years ago. Words that at the time passed over my teenage head, fluttering into the realm of "adults think they know so much" attitude, now filter back into my headspace. Life is hard. Life presents challenges that we don't ever expect, never dream we could overcome, and make us breathless and tearful all at once. [ 903 more words ]
http://lauragaddis.com/2019/06/11/valleys-and-peaks-gratitude-for-the-challenges/

Valleys and Peaks–Gratitude For The Challenges. “We don’t have peaks without the valleys,” my AP history teacher had once said. That was 21 years ago. Words that at the time passed over my teenage head, fluttering into the real…

She stood like a lone beacon amongst the w**ds. I pulled the green riffraff away from the ground and from the plants that were deemed "okay". By "okay", I segregated those that were intentional, beautiful, and to my taste. I didn't bother to wonder what nature's purpose was for the others. What made something a w**d? The mere dislike for it? [ 528 more words ]
http://lauragaddis.com/2019/06/03/kiss-me-kate/

Kiss Me Kate She stood like a lone beacon amongst the w**ds. I pulled the green riffraff away from the ground and from the plants that were deemed “okay”. By “okay”, I segregated those t…

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I said. This is how I always answered the phone, especially when a call came in that I was not expecting, or from a person from whom I didn’t expect to hear, or at least not on that day at that time in that moment. A ringtone is a mosquito in my ear; an irritant that I want to squash but can’t quite get. [ 2,055 more words ]
http://lauragaddis.com/2019/05/24/anxiety-chronicles-phone-calls/

Anxiety Chronicles: Phone Calls “Hey, what’s wrong?” I said. This is how I always answered the phone, especially when a call came in that I was not expecting, or from a person from whom I didn’t expect to hear, or at least not on…

Outside my window sits a mother. She barely moves, only turning her head from left to right. These actions are sparse. And hasty. When I look down to take another sip of my coffee, I miss them. But I know she moved. A beady eye peers left. Then right. I think she’s always looking at me. I think, Does she wonder who I am? [ 972 more words ]
http://lauragaddis.com/2019/05/23/mother/

Mother Outside my window sits a mother. She barely moves, only turning her head from left to right. These actions are sparse. And hasty. When I look down to take another sip of my coffee, I miss them. But…

Hooray for something new! Time is getting away from me these days with buying a house, working, traveling, and parenting. But I did it. I sat and I wrote. Enjoy.

Just Another Day The day started with a box of donuts and a hole in my underwear. I wasn’t aware of the hole–not at first. It started at the seam where the gray lace met the tiger-striped cotton, hidden…

The day started with a box of donuts and a hole in my underwear. I wasn't aware of the hole--not at first. It started at the seam where the gray lace met the tiger-striped cotton, hidden by the fancy doily design. The donuts were less conspicuous. I had awoken with a hankering for donuts. In fact, I had awoken many mornings, for several weeks, with this same yen. [ 989 more words ]
http://lauragaddis.com/2019/03/31/just-another-day/

Just Another Day The day started with a box of donuts and a hole in my underwear. I wasn’t aware of the hole–not at first. It started at the seam where the gray lace met the tiger-striped cotton, hidden…

This girl is headed back to school! I just accepted a spot in the MFA in Creative Writing program at Miami University! I’ll finally realize the dream of being a full-time writer! As much as I’ve loved the field of psychology for the past 20 years (school and work careers), I could never fully put aside my other love. Eek!

With all the news stories about New York's abortions laws, social media has been buzzing with opinions. Generally, I am confident in what I believe for myself, my husband, and daughter, and don't feel a need to contribute to the political firestorm that has taken over our communities. I have always been secure in my stances. I have full confidence in the tough choices I have personally faced. [ 1,216 more word ]
http://lauragaddis.com/2019/01/24/have-we-lost-our-empathy/

Have We Lost Our Empathy? With all the news stories about New York’s abortions laws, social media has been buzzing with opinions. Generally, I am confident in what I believe for myself, my husband, and daughter, and d…

unsplash-logoBlake Wheeler
http://lauragaddis.com/2019/01/13/new-home/

New Home unsplash-logoBlake Wheeler