Newsletter: August, 2026

Dear fellow writers,

Welcome to my August newsletter, offering nourishment for your writing life -- something fun, something useful, news about my upcoming events and a community shout-out.

Something fun: reverso poems

. . . or, as poet, Brian Bilston dubs them, forwardsy-backwardsy poetry -- i.e., poems that can be read top-to-bottom, and then bottom-to-top, offering up two different meanings. The words start feeling like puzzle pieces, intriguing to fit together.

Here's one I published recently on the Fifty Word Stories website:

Other powerful examples are "Pretty Ugly" by Abduallah Shoaib and "Refugees" by Brian Bilston (widely available on the internet). These are also useful to study from a craft standpoint because of the clever hinge phrases the poets use to re-direct their arguments.

Something useful: Print out your writing

Most of the time I work on-screen. This week, I printed out a manuscript I've been working on for years, and was surprised at how many fresh details I noticed, and useful adjustments I made.

So, if you feel that your writing is getting too familiar, try printing it out, and see what secrets the page reveals.

Coming Up

Friday, August 28

Join me at the beautiful Quarry at Jollys Farm, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, for a picnic and dramatic reading of my adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Fun and free! Click here for details and tickets.

Tuesday, September 29

Kick-off workshop for my next 10-week Write Now  development program. Get your dream project out of your head, onto the page and into the world. Info and registration here.

November 9-13

I will be coaching at the idyllic Starcroft Farm Cabins writing retreat in East Sussex. There are two places left.

Community Shout-Out: Clare Law's Substack, Three Beautiful Things

Clare Law, a member of my free Page is a Playground WhatsApp community, posts daily on Substack about Three Beautiful Things. Reading her daily entry has taught me to observe my surroundings with more care and gratitude. Thank you, Clare, for this daily beautiful thing.

I was also inspired by Clare's recent comment in our WhatsApp group about her book purchasing practices: "I go to Station Books [Tumbridge Wells] and buy a paper copy... Two paper copies so I can give one away to a person who needs one."

FYI, Page is a Playground is developing into a supportive, vibrant community. Contact me to join the conversation.

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Do you have writing news you wish to share? Let me know! We evolve by inspiring one another.

And if you're ready to chat about taking your writing further, reach out for a free discovery call.

Thanks for reading and make it a great August.

Hugs and scribbles,

Jo