Meet Ann Byle | Writer and Book Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ann Byle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ann, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
When I first starting writing as a freelancer, I was raising four kids as my husband worked. Two were in school, one a toddler and one an infant. Needless to say, I wrote in the cracks. I tried to do one story a week for the local newspaper. Sometimes that worked out, sometimes not. As they grew older and all entered school, I could write more. But kids still take time, even as they are older and require less manual labor. Mental and emotional labor is just as tough.

Now that they are all grown, I have much more time to write. I’ve added book coaching and a very small amount of literary agenting, but still struggle with the demands of family, friends, pets, elder care, and following my own dreams. I think it’s a constant battle to find that work/life balance. Sometimes I’m good at it, other times not so much.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a freelance writer and have been so for 27 years. I’ve written for The Grand Rapids Press and Grand Rapids Magazine, as well as Publishers Weekly and Christianity Today, among many others.

Writing short pieces for magazines and newspapers was fairly easy, but moving into book writing was tough. Books take a long time! But several books in, I know I can do it. A couple of lessons learned include just sitting my butt down in the chair and writing, self editing is important, get over the no’s and rejections quickly and don’t take them personally, and just take the next right step that presents itself.

Book coaching has also become a joy. I like helping others write their books by discovering their hangups, encouraging them to get moving, offering advice, and asking good questions about their motivation and struggles.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to Lake Michigan, of course! For people who don’t live in the Great Lakes area, such huge lakes are a novelty. A walk along the Grand Haven boardwalk, watching a sunset over the lake at Hoffmaster State Park, driving over the Mackinac Bridge–it’s all Michigan at its best.

In Grand Rapids, visit Meijer Gardens, downtown GR, and riding the bike trails are top on the list. And eating at Sheshco, my favorite Mediterranean restaurant is must, following by frozen yogurt at Pump House.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My father is a writer, editor, and reader. I inherited a love of books and reading early, and took after him as a writer. So writing is in my blood!

Several employers also took a chance on a rookie, which meant I learned to write book cover and catalog copy for a publisher and, later, learned about headline writing, copyediting, and journalism by working at a daily newspaper. When I began freelance writing, some writer friends and I started a writers group. These women have changed my life by challenging me to go further, dig deeper, accept the challenges, and quit whining. Without them, I’d be lost.

My favorite writing books: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott and On Writing by Stephen King

Website: https://www.annbylewriter.com

Instagram: annbyle

Image Credits
The picture of me and the chicken: Bree Rose Creative