Happy Friday!
This week, I’m excited to feature someone very special, my assistant and now published author, Beth Price.
Beth’s journey to writing her novel, Secrets of Capell Manor, is both inspiring and deeply relatable. Like many writers, she didn’t start out thinking she would write a book. But through life experiences, persistence, and the discovery of a process that truly worked for her, she brought her story to life.
In this interview, Beth shares how she found her way into writing, how her story evolved in unexpected ways, and the methods that helped her move from idea to finished novel.
If you’ve ever thought about writing or struggled to stay consistent, her insights will resonate more than you might expect.
What first sparked the idea for this novel?
From a very young age, in kindergarten and first grade, I loved being read to. As I learned to read, I got excited every day when my teacher called my reading group back to work with her. By second grade, I read voraciously, and that love of reading has stayed with me ever since.
Later, historical romance was the first genre that I fell in love with, with horror being a close second, and I devoured books with a hunger that was never satisfied. And when I was daydreaming or trying to fall asleep, this story started to take shape. I love strong female characters who overcome adversity and thrive in eras when being a woman was very hard. And that is where Rosalind was born.
Was there a particular moment that finally spurred you on to pick up your pen?
Even though I had the story idea for a long time, two events finally clinched it for me. One was when my niece had a terrible accident that left her in a coma. She has since recovered, but many challenges lie ahead. Then COVID. I realized that life was short. Even when it’s long, it’s short.
So I sat down one day and made a bucket list. That may sound a little morbid, but I wrote down the things I wanted to accomplish in my lifetime, and writing a book was one of them. I dedicated my book to my family, especially my mom, who taught me to live without regrets. That’s what I’m working toward: having as few regrets as possible. And there are still many things on my list.
Were there any moments in the process where the story surprised you in a good way?
When I was working through the story, I reached a point where I had written all the scenes I had been playing over in my head, and that was it. The story was incomplete.I knew I wanted it to be a HEA story, but I wanted it to be different, and that’s when it shifted. It went from being a romance with a dashing hero saving the damsel in distress to becoming a mystery. I had to do quite a bit of rewriting at the beginning, but the story evolved into a mystery romance.
That surprised me, because I never originally intended to include a mystery element. And, I think it turned out amazing.
What habits or routines supported you the most while working on this book?
My life has always been a bit chaotic. I’m the type of person who likes to try new things, and I often have several projects going at once. I never had any routine that I could stick to for very long.
I tried outlining in different ways. I purchased software to help structure my novel. I tried writing in a notebook instead of typing, hoping it would make me more creative or spontaneous. None of these methods worked.
As I mentioned, I had been Marilyn’s assistant for a few years when I started writing. When I began looking into her screenwriting books, I found much inspiration, but it wasn’t until she started working on the Word of the Day method that something really clicked for me.
As a teacher, I taught students to brainstorm, and I’ve always liked to doodle and jot down ideas, but the Word of the Day clustering went much deeper. The practice helped me tap into my creative mind. From there, I used the Word of the Day method to build scenes, develop characters, and create the world of my story.
When did you feel confident that the novel was coming together?
I wasn’t very confident that the novel was coming together until I was almost at the end. Even though I loved the mystery element, I still needed a strong way to pull everything together in a way that felt realistic and believable to the reader.
I agonized over the last three chapters for months. I had several ideas for how the story would end—some were good, others not so much. But when it finally clicked, and I figured out how to bring everything together into a satisfying, happily-ever-after ending, I could have done a little dance at my desk.
It took a lot of journaling, research, and bouncing ideas off my husband to get there. In the end, I think it turned out well. I’ve received great feedback. The ending has a good twist, a bit of a whodunit, and keeps readers turning pages. I was really pleased with that.
What did you discover about your writing process that you’re carrying into your next project?
My novel was evolving at the same time Marilyn was developing the Word of the Day method and, later, the Beyond Happiness Method with the Self-Acknowledgment Hug. That approach really resonated with me from the start, and I mention both, not just because I work with Marilyn; it truly works.
I’m a very busy person, and by nature, I’m anxious. I quickly realized that being calm and creating a safe mental space to write was essential for me to be productive.
Before, my writing process sometimes felt almost painful. I used to force myself to write a certain number of words or pages each day, which was necessary when I was ghostwriting. But I’ve learned that forcing my writing doesn’t work for me.
I’ve now started a new novel and am close to finishing the first draft. During this process, I’ve learned not to box myself into a rigid schedule. I rarely plan exactly when I’ll write. Instead, I look at my day and notice when I have open time. If a day is too busy, I don’t try to squeeze writing in.
When I do have time, I keep my notebook and phone with me so I can jot down ideas or dictate. If I get to open my laptop and write directly, that’s a bonus.
And, I no longer hold myself to a daily word or page count. That works for some, but not for me. I want to be relaxed, ready, and clear about what I’m going to write before I begin.
Even if I only write 100 words at a time, it adds up, and I’m perfectly okay with that.
Beth discovered that writing doesn’t have to come from pressure or rigid routines but from creativity, and a place of reconnection and safety.
And the results speak for themselves. One new participant from our last webinar shared after trying the exercise:
“I was in flow… the ideas were amazing and out of the box. I wrote with ease—no struggling to keep going. I wrote for an hour and a half and could have kept going.”
That’s what’s possible when you combine a quiet mind with the right structure.
If you’re ready to experience that for yourself, we’d love to have you join us.
A Writing Practice that Fits Your Real Life and Schedule
Monday, April 13, 7:00 pm EST
The next webinar is designed for writers at any stage who want to move from first idea to finished pages while feeling more grounded, focused, and confident each time they sit down to write.
We’ll begin with the Beyond Happiness Method to quiet the day’s noise and return to a calm, creative state. Then, we’ll use the Word of the Day Cluster to generate meaningful ideas connected to your project.
From there, the Six Windows of Writing, a simple but powerful tool, will be used to shape those ideas into clear, manageable pieces so you can move from inspiration to actual pages with greater ease.
You’ll also walk away with practical tips to make the most of your writing time, so even short sessions lead to real progress.
Don’t miss it! Reserve your spot now!
Here’s to your personal success,
Professor Marilyn Horowitz
Making Better Decisions on Substack!
My Substack community is growing into a space for thoughtful reflection and creative exploration. It’s free to subscribe, and each installment touches on writing, personal development, neuroscience-based practices, and the deeper questions that shape our lives and creative work. I’d be glad to have you there.
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