Newsletter: July, 2026

Dear Writers-at-heart,

Welcome to my July (OK, end-of-June) newsletter, offering nourishment for your writing life -- something useful, something fun, news about my upcoming programs and community celebrations.

Something useful: Track your minutes

A 10-minute daily writing habit is the cornerstone my own writing practice, and the practice I teach. My own commitment was reinforced this week, witnessing the transformative impact it's had on a student -- enabling him to establish a distinctive voice and take authorial risks.

A tracker is a key tool for establishing a new habit, providing the daily satisfaction of crossing off squares and tangible evidence of your progress. This is a screenshot of the tracker I've designed for the Write Now writer development group. What kind of tracking system can work for you?

Something fun: Get inventive about sneaking in your ten golden minutes

It can become a fun game -- and feel a touch rebellious -- to step away from the expected path for a quick tryst with your Muse. Taking ten can mean scribbling a few lines between conference calls, slipping away to the cafeteria with a notebook, or dictating ideas into a phone during down time on Sports Day. Every time you do it, you're grooving in commitment to your writing.

Last weekend -- with a dear friend visiting -- getting inventive meant stepping away from an art exhibit to plunk down on a museum bench, pull out my tablet and add a few paragraphs to a story. Bonus - my friend (a brilliant lapsed writer) got curious about my habit, so maybe I've catalyzed something . . .

What does an inventive ten minutes mean to you?

Coming Up: Write Now writer development program starts June 30

I designed Write Now as the program I desperately needed during my own dispiriting years of writer's block. I guide an intimate group to set exciting writing goals, progress with the support of a resourceful community and groove in habits that transform dreamers into writers forever.

If you have a dream writing project, are struggling to get traction, and are ready to commit 10 minutes a day, plus one hour a week to your writing, click here for more information.

Community Celebrations: Congratulations, Lynn Street!

The Bank Street College of Education annual listing of Best Children’s Books is one of my key resources for picture book mentor texts. So it gives me chills to see Write in Ten participant, Lynn Street featured on this list — ‘Blue Jays’ is a lyrical and fascinating account of symbiosis in action. Part scientific investigation, part poem, beautifully illustrated and bound.

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

Thanks for reading and make it a great July. Would you like to chat? Get in touch for a free discovery call.

Hugs and scribbles,

Jo