PaperCut No. 1
A series on the real, raw side of writing
A few days ago marked two years since I finished the full draft of my debut psychological thriller, JADED. And just over a week ago, I officially launched PaperCut Coaching.
I’ve been sitting in a lot of different emotions since then—some of them exciting, some of them hard. I’ve even lost sleep wondering:
Will I succeed?
Will I fail?
Am I good enough?
Will anyone want what I have to offer?
And when it comes to JADED, there’s this vulnerable, exposed feeling—like I’m letting the world in on something I’ve held close for a long time.
But I’m choosing to share this anyway. Because how can I ask the writers I coach to be raw, real, and honest in their work… if I’m not doing the same?
So here it is:
I’m a writer, a coach, a mom, a wife, and a human being who definitely doesn’t have it all together all the time. Things get messy. Especially the things that matter most. Especially the things that are worth it.
I’ve spent years—ten and a half, actually—fighting to find my way with this book. Sometimes I judge myself for that. Other times, I look at that kind of commitment and think: damn. I didn’t give up. I’m still here. And I won’t give up.
The truth is, I’ve had incredible support from my workshop group—you know who you are—but what’s always been missing is the emotional side of writing support. The part that holds you when you feel lost. The part that says, you’re not crazy, this is just what it means to care deeply about the work.
That’s why I became a coach.
And that’s why I’m starting this series—to show the human side of writing. To let you know you’re not alone. That other writers struggle too. That it’s okay to question everything and still keep going.
You don’t have to be fearless. You just have to be brave enough to feel the fear and write anyway. Lean into the discomfort. It’s telling you something. Your stories are worth sharing. And if you need help finding your way—I’m here.
When Life Cuts You, Bleed Into the Page.
—Tiffany O’Keefe
The Writer Behind It All