“Any rejections to celebrate, this month?” I was at my first ever in-real-life writers’ group, and the organizer started the meeting by handing a microphone around the room, and asking people to celebrate what they’d achieved in their writing life, since they last met. Celebrate rejections? What kind of group is this?!, I thought, sure I was in the wrong place. It was the one of many ways I’ve had my expectations upended, on this writing journey. The longer I’ve stayed in the writing...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
I’ve been neglecting you. Last year you told me you’d like to receive something writing-related from me on a Friday, for reading and acting-on, during the weekend. And I did nothing with that information. Until now. So I’m committing to sending you a little 'something for the weekend' on Fridays, this year. Let’s get started. First, a letter from me, then some writing prompts. Onward: Elephant In The Room Writers tend to be a pretty progressive lot. Our self-imposed job is to think about why...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
As I'm planning my StoryADay calendar, I'd like to know how I can best support YOUR writing journey in 2025. What do you want in your inbox, from StoryADay in 2025 Writing prompts Writing craft articles Short Story Reviews Writing Life inspiration Live/recorded workshop More Challenge! Thanks for playing along. Keep writing, Julie P. S. Have you joined in the 5-Day Mini-Challenge to get you set for the New Year? If not, you can catch up here.
2 months ago • 1 min read
At some point, you signed up to hear from me: maybe for writing prompts (like these), maybe for inspiration and recommendations (like this), or maybe for something else entirely. As I hatch plans for the coming year, I'd love to know how I can help you, best? What do you need more of? What could you take less of? How can I help you pursue your dreams? I'd love it if you'd fill out this 2-question survey (People often find that answering the questions helps them clarify where they need to...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Phew. After Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday, I hope you took a well-deserved break from your inbox, and maybe read something or wrote something nice. I just wanted to give you a heads up that the StoryADay Podcast is back in production after a small break, and tomorrow morning you can find an episode that talks about planning your year end review and goal-setting for 2025. Here's the podcast homepage Keep writing, Julie P. S. On Monday I'm hosting a planning workshop for the...
3 months ago • 1 min read
You know that moment in the story when the hero has lost everything, and the odds seem stacked against them, and all seems lost? Imagine if that was the end of the story….what a terrible way to live! But in the stories we love, the hero looks at herself in the mirror and says ‘what am I doing?’. Someone says one word, and suddenly she sees all the clues in a new light and finds the final piece of the puzzle. Or he realizes, for the first time, the strength has been inside him all along. Or...
3 months ago • 2 min read
I know, I know...usually I'm nagging you to write more. But today, I'm encouraging you to take a break. Refresh. Refill the well. All that good stuff. From time to time, I pull a worksheet from one of the StoryADay programs and share it with you as a Friday Freebie. In this worksheet you'll hear a story about how I discovered the things I thought I was doing to relax, weren't actually relaxing me...and what I did about it. And then you get to make a plan for youself too. Grab the Take A Break...
4 months ago • 1 min read
To ease eye strain, experts recommend that every 20 minutes we focus our eyes on something further away than our screens–ideally at least 20ft away– for at least 20 seconds. As a trained historian, I feel the same way about the news: current events are thisclose. It wouldn’t hurt us to make a concerted effort to look away, periodically. Fortunately fiction offers the perfect respite. Today, why not step away from this place and time and read some Tolstoy or JM Coetzee, Nnedi Okorafor or...
4 months ago • 1 min read
How would you feel about hanging out with me and Anne Lamott next month? OK, 'hanging with Annie' might be overstating it, but she, Cheryl Strayed, Marlon James and more are on the faculty of this year’s Writers Rising retreat organized by Lamott and her team. I'm going, and I have all the details here (plus, keep reading for special bonuses I’m offering if you use my link to register). The Writers Rising retreat is a special chance to take a break from the ordinary and step into a magical...
6 months ago • 2 min read