Today, you will write.
Today’s newsletter has been generously created by the incredibly talented author Michelle Allen Davey.
Find her Substack here.
Today you will write, because the only way to progress at a thing is to do the thing. And to do it again. And to do it when you don't feel like it, or think it's impossible. In fact, those are the most important days to show up for yourself: you're affirming that writing is a thing that you do. On the good days, and the bad.
So today you will write, because you are somebody that keeps the promises you make to yourself.
— Michelle Allen Davey
See you tomorrow x
— Loren @ Paperbacks & Co.
Today’s Writing Prompts
Journaling Prompt – What piece of advice has most changed your writing, or your relationship with writing? How has it changed?
Fiction Prompt – Somebody apologises for harsh words said during an argument. The outcome is not what they expected.
Poetry Prompt – Write a poem about what home feels like to you.
Use the artwork at the beginning of this newsletter as a visual prompt to inspire some writing – whether a personal essay, or fictional short story, or poem…
An Interview with Author Michelle Allen Davey
What is the best feeling a book can give you? Is that something you’re giving to your reader?
I love finding a story that draws me into the world so deeply that I feel grief after I read it. It devastates me that I can't stay in that world, and seems baffling that after it ends I have to do mundane things, like empty the dishwasher or clean my cats' litter tray. It happens most with fantasy and science fiction, understandably. I'd love to give that to my reader, when I eventually get around to finishing a story.
How do you deal with imposter syndrome? How do you face fear in general as a writer?
I'm very much a beginner, so it's still all fear to me. I'm often scared to write because I know it's going to be terrible. I have to constantly remind myself that I won't get better unless I spew out hundreds of thousands of words; I can't improve writing that doesn't exist. And it does help for a little while, but I forget it easily.
What is something you’d like to invest in for your writing or writing self at the moment?
Time. There's always something to do at home that means I rarely sit to write for more than half an hour. I'd like to take myself off for a few days and see how I feel when I have hours of time to write, uninterrupted. I imagine it'd be pretty intimidating, at first.
🥳 Celebrating Our Wins 🎉
Did you get some writing done today? Why not share your progress in the comments?!
Link to your blog post, share your word count, or even just jump in with a little text celebration…
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