Hello! The very quick version of this email: π Most writers find it tough to get going again after a break β‘ There are practical things you can do to boost your writing energy π Join my mini writing challenge that starts next week (7th-13th) The full newsletter: Chances are, you've had a break from your usual writing routine over the summer. Maybe that's because you've been on holiday (I hope you had a fantastic time!), you've been busy with family, or you've just been enjoying relaxing....
3 days agoΒ β’Β 2 min read
Hello! The very quick version of this email: π± Taking a break is often a great thing to do for you & your writing π Give yourself time (and grace) as you ease back into writing again π Join my mini writing challenge in September (7th-13th) The full newsletter: A lot of people in Writers' Cafe (including me) have been taking some time off from writing over the summer. Whether you're having a writing break because you've got kids or grandkids off school, because you're on holiday, or because...
17 days agoΒ β’Β 2 min read
Hello! The very quick version of this email: π Fill in my survey (closes today) to help me choose topics to cover π Get a free Aliventures resource (normally $10-$20) as a thanks β Ask yourself: how could you feel happier about your writing progress? The full newsletter: If you filled in the Aliventures survey over the past few weeks, thank you! I'll be using various questions, topic requests, etc on the blog and in the newsletter during the rest of 2026. I also have some new free workshops...
about 1 month agoΒ β’Β 2 min read
Hello! If you're in England like me, it definitely feels like summer's here, with a heatwave last week, warm weather this week, and schools breaking up for the summer holidays on Friday. In other areas, I know schools have already finished for the summer, and even if you don't have kids/grandkids, you might still have that sense of "school's out" at this time of year! Understandably, some writers like to take a (full or partial) break from writing over the summer. I know I'll be doing less...
about 2 months agoΒ β’Β 2 min read
Hello! What's holding you back with your novel? A lot of writers tell me that they just "don't have enough time" to write. And I absolutely get it: my life is packed full, too, and I often wish I had just a bit more free time each day. But I also hear from plenty of writers who do have a good amount of time ... and they struggle to sit down and get words on the page. Just "having time" isn't enough. And although writing a novel is a big commitment, it doesn't require a crazy amount of time....
about 2 months agoΒ β’Β 2 min read
Hello! Next Tuesday (23rd), I'll be running a free workshop on "Where Next?! What to Do After Your First Draft". We'll be looking at the next steps to take once you've got a complete draft ... however scrappy it is. π₯οΈ Free workshop (45 mins + Q&A / next steps) π
Tuesday 23rd June π 7pm UK / 2pm EDT / 11am PDT π₯ Recording available Weds 24th β Fri 26th π Click here to auto-register for the "Where Next?!" workshop Post Roundup: Rewriting Your First Draft If you've got a complete draft, firstly...
3 months agoΒ β’Β 1 min read
Hello! Quick heads-up: Writers' Cafe closes at the end of tomorrow (or possibly today if we run out of places!) and won't re-open until September. There are still a few places left. Check it out: aliventures.com/writers-cafe Do you struggle to focus when you're working on your novel or short stories? Maybe you're intenting to write for an hour, but you find yourself "warming up" by scrolling social media or news, then you manage a few sentences before getting distracted again. This is really...
3 months agoΒ β’Β 3 min read
Hello! In case you missed it ... Writers' Cafe is open for new members! I'll be closing the doors again at the end of next Wednesday (17th). If you'd like to make consistent progress with a novel (or any big fiction project), the Cafe is is the perfect place to be. π Find out more about Writers' Cafe And here's this week's post: Why Accountability is the Key to Reaching Your Writing Goals (and How to Find It) Why Accountability is the Key to Reaching Your Writing Goals (and How to Find It) In...
3 months agoΒ β’Β 1 min read
Hello! We're 23 weeks into 2026 ... how's it gone, in terms of your writing? It's easy to get to this stage of the year and feel a bit disappointed. Perhaps you had some big plans back in January, and it went smoothly at first, but then everything got busy, and now you're way behind where you wanted to be. Or maybe your year started hectic, so you waited until you could focus on your writing, but that never happened ... and you still haven't written a single word. Don't give up on 2026 just...
3 months agoΒ β’Β 1 min read