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Build your story. Bring your idea to life. Reach more people.

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Hi, Reader,

It's summer, and that means chaos and heat, travel and rest. It means not sticking to hard schedules. It means making time to play.

For all the wonderful and surprising and exhausting moments that summer brings, come August, I find myself craving routine and structure again. And when it comes to writing, I am ALWAYS excited about fall.

This fall, I am adding a couple of new opportunities to my writing schedule - opportunities that I'd love for you to be a part of. Read on to learn about a one-day fall writing retreat in the Black Hills, a writing critique group at the most amazing little bookstore in Spearfish, SD, and a new virtual First Draft Boot Camp, which kicks off in October.

Questions? I'm always happy to answer.

My question to you - What have YOU been working on this summer (or, what are you looking forward to working on come fall?) I'd love to hear about it!

-Kate

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For the first time, I am thrilled to host a one-day in-person writing retreat in the heart of the Black Hills - at Canyon Lake Resort in Rapid City, SD, on Oct. 25, 2025! This retreat, open to 12 writers, includes brief inspirational talks about writing, lots of quiet writing time, an optional Pilates session, and an end-of-day talk about book marketing. One-on-one coaching sessions are available for an additional cost. Lunch, snacks and drinks are provided, but you can bring your own, too.

• Saturday, Oct. 25 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m
• Canyon Lake Resort, Rapid City, SD
• Open to 12 writers
• Cost: $287 (includes all group activities plus snacks, lunch and drinks)

​Learn more and register here!​

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If you live in the Black Hills, I hope you've heard about the most charming little bookstore in Spearfish, called Henry's Books (named after the owners' son). I am excited to partner with Henry's Books to offer a 4-week writing critique group for up to 8 local writers! The Writing Critique Group is open to all writers who are interested in the art of creatively telling stories and receiving critical feedback on their works-in-progress.

• Dates: 8/16, 8/23, 9/6, 9
• Time: 10 a.m.-noon
• Place: Henry's Books, 111 E. Hudson St., Spearfish, SD
• Cost: $185
• Open to 8 writers

We'll meet on Saturdays for 4 weeks, from 10 a.m.-noon at Henry's Books. Through a blend of instruction, reading time and individual critique sessions, you'll gain exposure to creative various types of storytelling, as well as engage in meaningful discussion about why we write and why stories matter.

Spots will fill up fast! Click below to learn more and save your seat!
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Gear up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) by spending 5 weeks getting all your story ducks in a row. The First Draft Boot Camp, which runs through October, will help you get clear on a story you have in the works - or one you want to write. Together, we'll explore the major elements of story, including fleshing out an idea, the outline, plot, character development, and conflict/tension. Learn more about each of these aspects of a story and how they all come together to create your "big picture." When NaNoWriMo time comes, you'll be well equipped to start hammering out chapters!

​Learn more and register.​

​WRITE-INS

July went by the wayside for our regular write-ins. With summer still in full swing, we'll get back to regularly scheduled write-ins on Aug. 21. See schedule below and click the link to receive monthly reminders.

Get your writing done in these regularly scheduled virtual work sessions! We gather on Zoom on the first Wednesday and third Thursday of the month. We spend 5-10 minutes talking about our writing projects and what we’re working on, and then we’ll get to the actual work of writing! The idea behind a write-in is that it provides structure and accountability for a craft that is all-too-often lonely and lacking in peer support. We’ll write for an hour or so, and then reconvene for a quick de-brief. Participate in one or both monthly sessions – come when you can!

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NEXT SESSION:

Aug. 21 @ 2 p.m. MT (4 p.m. ET)

​Click here for the Zoom link and to receive monthly reminders.​

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​SUBMIT IT!

Join me in this free monthly online meetup for writers who want to learn more about submitting their work to literary magazines and publishers. Each session will open with a Q&A or brief talk about something related to the submissions process. Then we’ll break out and spend an hour drafting query letters and … you guessed it … submitting our work! We’ll close each session by coming back together for a brief follow-up.

Submit It! happens the fourth Thursday of every month, at 4 p.m. MT (6 p.m. ET).

NEXT SESSION:

Aug. 28 @ 2 p.m. MT (4 p.m. ET)

​Click here for the Zoom link and to receive monthly reminders.​

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At Kate Meadows Writing & Editing, we meet writers wherever they are on their writing journey and help them take the next step. With a variety of editorial services to fit your needs and your budget, we work one-on-one with writers, from book coaching to editing and publishing. Learn more here.

If you would like help with a specific writing project, connect with us here.

​4 Traits Every Writer Must Have​

Do you have what it takes to be a writer?

Every writer asks this of themselves at one point or another. The answer depends, of course, on how you define what it means to be a writer in the first place.

When you say you’re a writer, what does that mean, exactly? Does it mean you write in your journal every day? Does it mean you’re working on some short stories? Does it mean you have published a book?

In truth, our definition of “writer” tends to shift over time. Maybe you felt you became a writer the moment you fell in love with words—the way they tell stories, carry emotions, and make meaning. Or maybe you’re the kind of writer who builds with words the way a mason lays stone, capturing a brand’s message or crafting a powerful narrative from raw experience.

Given this shape-shifting identity we call “writer,” is there anything consistent about the people who pursue it? Keep reading.​

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​101 Years of Elgene: A Birthday Tribute to My Grandma (May 23, 2025)

Today, my grandmother, Elgene Lund, turns 101.

Let that number settle in for a moment. One hundred and one.

Elgene was born on May 23, 1924, in Chisago City, Minnesota, into a world very different from the one we know today. Her family didn’t have much—money was scarce, life was hard—but she grew up surrounded by the strength of community and the quiet resolve that comes from living through lean years.

Even as a child, she felt a pull to care for others. Nursing wasn’t just a career for her—it was a calling. She has lived her life in service of that call, always tending to others, always thinking about what someone else might need. That hasn’t changed, even now, at 101. Keep reading.

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Happy writing,

-Kate

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Build your story. Bring your idea/brand to life. Reach more people.