APRIL DAVILA
Award-Winning Author & Writing Coach
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APRIL ONLINE
Online Community
A powerful writing group.
This online community of writers combines weekly group coaching with regularly scheduled writing sessions. Keep yourself accountable, get advice when you need it, and do what it takes to finally finish your manuscript.
Scribbling Buddha
A weekly newsletter.
April's essential guide to interesting things, generally (but not always) related to books, writing and mindfulness practice. The Scribbling Buddha newsletter goes out every Friday with a list of 8 Great Things you need to know.
Private Coaching
Take your writing to the next level.
Sit Write Here coaching packages are built around a unique, mindset-first program to help aspiring authors hone their skills while developing a regular writing practice so that they can finally finish their novel or memoir.
142 OSTRICHES
Set against the unexpected splendor of an ostrich ranch in the California desert, April Dávila’s beautifully written debut conjures an absorbing and compelling heroine in a story of courage, family and forgiveness.
“A vivid, uplifting debut...”
—Publishers Weekly
Recent Blog Posts
Reading Like a Writer
For a long time I thought reading like a writer meant simply reading a lot. That’s part of it. However, while reading is critical for writers, passively absorbing stories isn’t […]
Reading for a Literary Journal Will Make You a Better Writer
The best way to improve your own writing is to read the work of others. That may seem like a no-brainer. We all read. But if you only read published work you are missing out on something magical. Reading for a journal is a special kind of education.
Buddhism
Two women with bibles in their hands just knocked on my door.
They kindly asked if I struggled with anxiety, and suggested that I reference my bible Matthew 6:18 for some guidance on how to deal with it. I thanked them (because we all deal with anxiety) and I told them we’re a buddhist household.
6 Tips for Forming a Writing Group
Luckily, Amy knew what she was doing. Or maybe she just had really good instincts. Either way, the group of five women she pulled together was amazing. We met every two weeks for five years. It was a formative experience.
What I Learned at AWP This Year
Here are a few things I learned over the weekend at this year’s AWP…
Talking Story with Charles Johnson
“Where else in life do you get to keep working at something until you get it right?” ~ Charles Johnson
Fiction Submission Spreadsheet
Download this spreadsheet to create a submission plan for your fiction.
My New Writing Desk
That’s right. Two weeks from now I will be writing from my very own home office. I used to have a home office here, but when my mom moved in, mid-2012, it became her room, and then when she moved out, my daughter pushed for it to be her room…
No Need to Ask
So today I will defer my writing duties and share with you a poem by Rumi, a little beauty to ponder as we go about our busy lives.
Reverse Engineering a Story
It’s only 193 pages. It doesn’t need any more. I’m about half way through, marking up the margins with notes and thinking about story structure.