Ready to get curious about your writing?

Published 4 months ago • 1 min read

The April writing exercise and launch team invitation

Hi Reader,

Happy first day of April! The world feels so upside-down lately (AI-generated books???) that April Fool's pranks seem unnecessary and potentially cruel. So let's just welcome the new month with a fresh energy. Fun, yes. No fooling.

How's your writing going? Mine has shifted from the deep work of writing and revising a book to the wide-ranging work behind supporting a book launch: drafting blog posts, emails, instructor guides, and other related content. Still writing, but with a different feel.

All writing counts, though. Let's remember that. No matter what we're writing, we can approach the work with curiosity and respect.

Need a shortcut into flow?

Flow is that wonderful state when you lose yourself in writing. We all want more of it, right? What if I could give show you a magic doorway?

Okay, there's no magic doorway. But, there is a science-backed strategy: cultivate your curiosity. Curiosity helps lead us into a state of flow. And one pathway to that is asking open-ended questions.

This month's writing exercise should inspire you to explore wild, wide-ranging questions before writing. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Click here to read the post online

If you'd rather watch a short video, find it on YouTube.

An invitation to my launch team

You may have heard me talking about the upcoming new edition of The Writer's Process. You'll hear a lot more about that in the next couple months.

Want to be part of the launch team?

I'm assembling a small team of writers and teachers, authors, book fans, and others to support the launch of the new edition. You'll need to look through the new edition of the book, leave a review in May, and help me spread the word on social media if that's something you do.

In return, you'll get behind-the-scenes views of a book launch, a virtual launch team gathering, plus the warm, fuzzy feeling of helping a book out into the world. And my gratitude!

If you're interested, learn more and sign up here.

That's all for now—back to working on the content to support the book!

Until next time, may your writing bring you joy and purpose.

Anne

PO Box 66285 Scotts Valley, CA 95067

Unsubscribe · Preferences

5 Pacing Rules for Writers

Fast, slow, or just right? Fasten your seatbelt, Reader, we're going to talk about pacing! Pacing is, perhaps, one of the trickiest issues that I deal with as a writing coach. Not pacing within the written piece, but of the writing itself in the writer's life. Some writers start on a hot streak and run out of steam. Others cannot seem to get themselves fully engaged in the work at the outset and set out at a snail's pace. The right pace makes all the difference. You, dear writer, are the only...

10 days ago • 1 min read

An unlikely Muse in your newspaper

July's writing experiment is here! Welcome to the first half of 2026, Reader. Has it snuck up on you, as it did with me? And an extra welcome to those of you who are new to this email. Because this is the first Wednesday of the month, I offer you a writing experiment. In addition, you'll find three other writing-related posts or events that may inspire you as we embark on the second half of the year. July's experiment: An unexpected Muse Looking for a quickly supply of fodder for your writing...

26 days ago • 1 min read

Resisting "AI by default" and more

A rant, a book, and an audiobook Hello again, Reader. I've just returned from a week in the mountains, and it was just what I needed after a busy May. Lots of walking in nature, observing wildflowers and mountains and birds and rivers and a lake. Four stars. A few things for you today: A (slightly ranty) post about the AI-by-default infecting our writing environments A book give-away (related to the rant) News about The Writer's Process audiobook Resisting AI defaults I have a nuanced...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read