Oohs and Aahs for 6.20.25

Are you tired of thinking about logistics? Me too.

Confession: I don’t subscribe to all the most popular publishing Substacks. 🙊

More than preaching to the choir, they can feel like they’re lecturing to the choir in a way that’s unpleasant. I already know plenty about the publishing process. I don’t need more. In fact more can do more harm than good—especially when you’re an artist making something out of nothing. 😬

One of my long-term clients first came to me for a coaching session feeling like she “should” be able to easily write a book because she had worked in a bookstore for a long time. She had read lots of craft books. She was familiar with good writing. She knew what kind of book she wanted to write.

And yet she could not get herself to write.

Why?

Because she was already thinking ahead to the publishing process, very clear on all the things that could go wrong.

Our first coaching session was about how to write when you know all the reasons you shouldn’t bother. 😂

I helped her develop a beginner’s mindset. She got to know herself as a writer. We talked about bringing a playful, experimental mindset to each project. Over time she learned how to ENJOY the writing process. Once we shifted the focus from the stress of publishing and all the pieces that are out of her control to actually being creative and having fun, it was way easier to write. ✨✨✨

Eventually she wrote a beautiful middle-grade book!

Now she’s not burnt out or discouraged. She’s taking herself on a creative retreat to draft two picture books! She just booked a couple critiques, so she’ll have some accountability waiting for her on the other side, and she’s gathering momentum, so she can keep going, even when life is messy. (Is it always messy? Maybe so. 🍌)

I describe creative coaching as gentle therapy for writers, because it can truly be therapeutic—and FUN!

Want some of this energy in your own writing life?

(I’ll be away from my desk 6/20-6/27, so there won’t be any Oohs and Aahs next week, but then I’ll be back with lots of links, and I’m booking critiques and coaching sessions all summer long.)

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This Week I’m…

• Channeling this energy 🎨

• Rewatching this when I need a laugh ☠️

• Nodding along to everything

  Sarah Ezrin
  says, especially this 🫠

• Appreciating this very French perspective on taking the pressure off 🍓

• Loving

  Sarah’s Smorgasbord
  list of low-energy writing tips (My favorites are #1 and #7) ✏️

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Nebula Notebook is a place to meet kindred spirits, get inspired, and learn how to find ease and joy in the creative process—even when life is bananas. 🍌🍌🍌

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✏️ PS—The fastest way to grow as a writer is to book a manuscript critique or a creative coaching session with an expert. My clients get agents, sell books, and win awards. They also learn how to enjoy the creative process, so they can keep going when life gets hard. 👏