The story matters.

But so does the experience

Hey Reader,

We focus so much on how the writing ends.

With an agent, with a contract, with a bestseller.

What we don’t talk about enough is how the writing experience is.

Make your experience of writing better.

First, sit with yourself and have a good talk with yourself about your fears. Look each one of those buggers in the face and say, “I acknowledge you. Now here’s a coloring book, get in the back of the van and stay as quiet as you can.”

If you don’t do this, your fears will start shouting the second you start to feel unsure of something… and drafting is a time of deep uncertainty.

That’s how it works.

Next, take time at the beginning of the process to do an energy analysis.

Writing isn’t about time, it’s about energy. The energy you use to write a book has to come from somewhere.

Figure out what you can cut, what you can half-ass, and what you need help with.

Then, tell the people in your life that you will have entire conversations with them and not remember.

Tell them that you will disappear into the book for a while, and they’re gonna need to do the dishes for a while and maybe take the opportunity to learn how to cook.

And finally, join a small, warm community of writers, led by a NYT bestselling story expert who wrote 12 novels published with the Big 5, and realize that this experience is so much better than you ever thought it could be.

Applications close December 16.

You deserve for 2024 to be your year to write your story and have fun doing it.

L

P.S. If you have any questions, or would like to learn more, just reply to this email and ask!