On reading your older writing

Hello Reader,

I started carefully re-reading The Writer's Process, in advance of its 10-year anniversary next year. (I'm trying to figure out if I want/need to update it.)

While I'm completely familiar with the ideas in the book (I've been talking about them for a decade), my voice of ten years ago is less familiar.

Occasionally, a sentence I don't remember writing delights me:

"What can we offer as writers, if not our unique slant on the world?"

In other places, I would phrase things differently. My writing voice continues to evolve.

That inspired today's post on voice as a river. Check it out, then return to this email and keep reading for the book give-away and more fun resources.

Stepping back into the river of voice

Take a look at your older writing. Who was that person who wrote it? Has your voice shifted? And, what lies ahead?

The Book Give-away: Fast-Draft Your Memoir

Attention aspiring memoirists: The October give-away is Fast-Draft Your Memoir by Rachel Herron.

While I typically avoid books that offer quick results, I quite liked this one. Her approach is sound, and will help you get out of your way.

If you're interested in memoir in its myriad forms and want to read the book, reply to this email by Sunday, October 19 and ask to be in the drawing.

Good luck! And congrats to Elizabeth, who won the drawing for We Need Your Art.

(Hint: Your odds of winning these drawings are pretty darned good most of the time. You've got nothing to lose except replying to an email!)

One Spot Left in the November Workbook Workshop

The October workbook workshop ends this week, and it's been so much fun! I've opened another in November. Find out more here if you're interested. (You can ping me directly with any questions.)

The Write Anyway Summit starts Monday!

The Write Anyway Summit starts Monday, October 20! You can still pick up a free ticket here. (That's an affiliate link: if you buy the All Access Pass, I'll earn a commission at no cost to you.)

Have any writing process questions?

Have any questions/blocks/issues with your writing? Send them to me. I'll offer whatever advice I can—and with your permission, share them in a future newsletter. (We all tend to struggle with the same sets of issues.)

A few reasons not to write a book

Jane Friedman's excellent Bottom Line newsletter pointed me at this post on Why to not write a book. Yes, I'm a book coach, and love having written a book. But this also reinforces me in my belief that it's okay to not be working on a book. Oddly enough, working on a book can inhibit your writing.

I'll be back in early November with much more. Stay tuned!

Until then, happy writing.

Anne

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ps - If you enjoy this newsletter and want to support the work, you can always write a short, honest review for one of my books and post it on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever else you find books online. Reviews help books find readers!

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