Reflections On A Year of Unforgettable Firsts, From Publishing to Prosperity
In Las Vegas in November, 2023, conducting research for my memoir
Embarking on a journey of growth — from book releases to boundary-setting — here's a recap of achievements, lessons, and surprises from 2023, my epic Year of Firsts
Happy New Year! We’re only four days in, and I’m still staring back at 2023, shaking my head in wonder.
I’ve been a bit under the weather since just after Christmas, so I’m trying to ease into this new year somewhat gently. I’m also trying to sift out the negative self-talk and thoughts that I *should* be doing more… more… more…
I process life events by writing about them, so please — won’t you accompany me for a not-so-little trip down memory lane, inspired by Spotify’s 2023 WrapUp of my most-listened-to-songs.
I created the following 2023 “recap” of my own by pouring through my calendar, emails, texts, and photos. By digging through notable events during one of my life’s most profound years of growth — a year of more “firsts” than I can ever remember — I’m reminded (as I cough and wipe my runny nose) that it’s definitely okay to be STILL for a little bit.
My goal in sharing this recap is to illustrate how much growth can occur when we step out of our comfort zones and GO FOR IT. Believe me, I’m still in shock, and that’s why I keep glancing in the 2023 rearview mirror.
Here’s a month-by-month summary of my 2023, including a tally of my growing Substack subscribers (THANK YOU so much for supporting my writing!) and so many unforgettable firsts — from moving through some serious stages of grief, publishing my first book, helping clients publish theirs, and enjoying some truly unexpected prosperity.
January 2023
(170 Substack Subscribers)
Virtual, Silent Write-Ins
I decided to host my first series of virtual, silent write-ins. I didn’t know if ANYONE would show up, but I figured I’d never find out unless I tried. It wasn’t easy figuring out how to put the word out or how to run these events, but I designed them in a way I craved a write-in to be, and crossed my fingers. They were 2-hour writing sprints held on Zoom, during which time no one talked or shared (except in the chat), working independently-yet-together. I ran the write-ins twice a week for two months, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
Writers of all levels signed up and logged in at the designated times. Some left their cameras on, and we all used the time in a variety of ways, including writing, researching, reading, and plotting. I loved our community’s accountability and discipline — and I was grateful not to have anything prepared before we met. There was activity, yet stillness, and stillness eventually became a critical part of my year. It was so lovely working quietly with other writers that I’ve brought the Write-Ins back for 2024.
Grief Journey
As I approached the 5 year anniversary of my sister, Beth’s, death, I realized I didn’t want to spend the day as I had in the past…alone. I decided to text my family, which felt surprisingly awkward, since everyone processes grief in their own way, and I didn’t want to risk invading others’ potential desire for solitude. Was I overthinking? Absolutely, but that’s what grief often does to my brain.
And so, I took a chance and texted my family.
Let me just say right here: If you’re feeling low and you need to connect with others, I encourage you to reach out and do it. Those 23 words I texted were a huge step in my grief process — a definite first.
While it may seem odd that, for the past four years, I’ve typically spent such a sorrowful day alone rather than with those I dearly love, there are just so many unspoken truths about grief, including how isolating it can feel and how it often seems to call the shots. I think back to 2018 when I was so new to this grief — back when I was terrified of it, consumed by it. I was so captive to its powers that I actually tried physically running away from it.
By pushing past those suffocating feelings and reaching out to those who shared my grief, I felt like I opened a new door. We gathered, we hugged, we ate, we wiped away tears, and we hugged again before saying goodnight. When I got home, one of my family members texted that the evening felt like medicine.
While I still felt brokenhearted and overwhelmed and shattered… I also felt connection and love and hope. I can never bring my sister back, but this year, by taking a conscious and deliberate step forward on such a painful anniversary, I felt a bit closer to my little sister while smoothing down one of the many jagged little edges of my grief. Six months later, on what would have been Beth’s birthday, I wrote this post highlighting some of our happier times, another sign that my grief journey keeps taking new turns.
Boundaries
For the first time, I had to fire a client.
Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.
I’m already very selective about who I sign to my roster of writing coaching clients, so I naturally agonized over this one. Thing is, I don’t like giving up on people. I am not a quitter. However, for ethical reasons and matters of principle, there was no way I could continue working with this individual. Though I offered multiple chances and ways to make things work, I finally and respectfully terminated our working relationship. After doing so, I felt an immense sense of relief, and I haven’t regretted the decision for a second. Thankfully, we’ve both moved on and even stayed connected — something I really didn’t expect. This piece from the Harvard Business Review on setting boundaries says it all: “When we define what we need to feel secure and healthy, when we need it, and create tools to protect those parts of ourselves, we can do wonders for our well-being at work and at home — which, in turn, allows us to bring our best selves to both places.”
February 2023
(214 Substack Subscribers)
Live Storytelling
After winning my first Moth StorySLAM last year, I was invited to perform a live story at the amazing Oil Lamp Theatre in Glenview, Illinois. This was the first time I was paid as a live storyteller.
Soon thereafter, I applied for a spot as a professional storyteller at Writers’ Theatre in Glencoe, Illinois — and was accepted. I mean…WHAT??
I also applied (for the first time) to moderate a panel at the annual conference of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP). The title I proposed for the panel came directly from my heart: “Writing to Change the World Through Live Storytelling: Craft Meets Catharsis”. I hit send, then crossed my fingers.
March 2023
(261 Substack Subscribers)
Even More Live Storytelling (Mixed With Some Advocacy On Behalf of Live Storytellers Everywhere)
I performed my first live story at Writers’ Theatre in Glencoe, Illinois, then another for a storytelling group in Highland Park, Illinois.
Writers’ Theatre paid for my performance (woo hoo!), but the other group did not — and this really bugged me.
Here’s the thing.
I’m no diva like supermodel Linda Evangelista, who famously said of her work, “We don’t wake up for less than $10,000 a day.” Moreover, I don’t have any experience running storytelling events, and I can only imagine how much time, money, and effort it takes.
Still, if a group asks me to share a story for their paying audience, I’d appreciate, oh, I don’t know, maybe a $15 ticket waiver so my guest can join me? Or a video recording of my performance. Or a link to my website. Just a thought.
To be sure, it’s my HONOR to share stories with live audiences, and I’ll continue to do it because I LOVE the writing process and the direct connection with audiences. I’ll continue to tell stories on the Moth stage, and I don’t care that The Moth doesn’t pay their storytellers, because it’s MY CHOICE to show up at a Moth event and toss my name in the hat.
But, if I ever become a local storytelling leader who actively seeks out writers to perform for my paying audience members, I’ll be sure to remember that live storytellers spend a TON of time thinking about, writing, and rehearsing content. I’ll remember that storytellers spend time selecting what to wear. I’ll remember that they spend time driving to the venue, and they give up other plans for the evening. I’ll remember that storytellers are sharing their art. And I’ll remember to offer something, even as a token, that recognizes a live storyteller’s efforts.
Believe me, I’ll remember. Just sayin’.
Moving Through Trauma
March 9, 2023 marked the 30th Anniversary of the fatal Amtrak crash I survived in 1993.
I felt compelled to mark the anniversary in a meaningful way, so I decided I’d ride a train on the same route that I’d taken that fateful day — except this time, I’d make it to my intended destination (Battle Creek, MI), and I’d return home on the same line.
That morning, Eric and I boarded the Amtrak Wolverine from Chicago’s Union Station and rode the very same rails on which my train collided with a propane truck near Comstock, Michigan, killing one and injuring many on March 9, 1993.
While it was a healing and empowering day, the stress definitely got to me, and surely contributed to an attack of trigeminal neuralgia when we reached Battle Creek. If you’re not aware of the condition, here’s a quick video explanation.
Travel
I traveled to New York City for a final research trip for my book Politics, Partnerships, & Power, and to start speaking to booksellers about the book’s launch later in the year. Publication seemed like such a long way off at that point, and I couldn’t wait until the day I held the published book in my hands.
April 2023
(279 Substack Subscribers)
More Travel
I traveled to Boston to scout locations for my next Write to Heal Retreat.
Long Covid Fallout
In late April, I was at a restaurant near my home when I collapsed without warning in a crowded restaurant. I’d been feeling absolutely fine that day.
I was later diagnosed with vasovagal syncope and referred to specialists for further testing.
Even now, every time I pass the restaurant, I have a flashback of the moments just before I fainted…including the tunnel vision, the nausea, the chilled feeling followed by intense heat. I remember how the room grew dark just before everything disappeared…and how I woke up on the floor, staring up at the ceiling, drenched in sweat, feeling people rubbing my arms and my head and my feet. I wrote about the experience here, and I’m working with specialists and Long Covid researchers to understand why it happened.
May 2023
(288 Substack Subscribers)
Workshop Facilitation
I facilitated my first Write to Heal workshop at the DNA Surprise Retreat in Tucscon, Arizona, May 4-7. I wore two hats at this retreat — workshop facilitator AND attendee. In 2022, after reviewing my 23andme DNA results, I discovered a half-sibling I never knew existed.
This was the inaugural DNA Surprise Retreat, and it absolutely changed my life. The event was designed for adults experiencing the grief and shock that can only be felt following a DNA discovery, including NPEs, donor-conceived people, and adoptees who have experienced a DNA surprise.
Retreat Hosting
I hosted the first-ever Write To Heal Retreat in Carefree, Arizona from May 9-13, and it was one of the highlights of my life. The event was written about here and here, and it brought together so many incredible people. I often questioned whether or not I was capable of pulling off such an endeavor, but with the support of a stellar Write To Heal team, my family, and some brave and open-hearted attendees, WE DID IT! Check out some of my team members’ incredible work:
Emma Vivian
Gina DeLeo-Stamey
Mar Wolf
Angie Stewart
Cathy Clarke
Event Hosting
For the first time, I hosted a book launch event at Writers’ Haven Evanston on May 30th. It was called the “Women Writers’ Meetup” in honor of Nadine Kenney Johnstone’s latest release, Come Home To Your Heart: A Guided Journal for Harnessing Your Inner Wisdom and Falling Back in Love with Yourself.
June 2023
(300 Substack Subscribers)
Writing Residency
For the first time, I participated in a Ragdale Residency. I spent time with amazing writers in a magical environment, and I worked on my memoir for almost an entire week. What an absolute gift. It was exactly what I needed to help decompress after my busiest year ever .
Even More Travel
I flew to San Francisco to meet two of my coaching clients IRL. During one meeting, my client looked me in the eye and explained that he was determined to see his final book published before he dies. When I returned home, I worked to help him secure a publishing deal, and his book comes out in April 2024.
July 2023
(303 Substack Subscribers)
More Long Covid Fallout
I underwent autonomic testing for the first time to rule out dysautonomia (dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system). The autonomic nervous system controls the body’s basic functions — including blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, breathing, sweating, bowel function, and sleep patterns. My tests all came out normal, which was a relief…and slightly maddening. Why, then, had I collapsed in a crowded restaurant in April? More testing was ordered.
And Again With the Travel…
Another trip to New York for client meetings and retreat location scouting. While there, I visited the childhood home of one of my book’s subjects, Marguerite Stitt Church.
Motherhood
I don’t write often about my children, but two of my three kids moved back to Chicago from New York this summer. It’s the first time in years that all of my kids live with — or near — me. I am one vey grateful, happy mama!
August 2023
(326 Substack Subscribers)
Live Storytelling/Panel Moderation/Literary Citizenship
Holy cow! My application to moderate a storytelling panel at AWP was accepted! I immediately hustled to build a killer panel of storytellers, including Nestor Gomez (author of Your Driver Has Arrived and creator/producer/host of 80 Minutes Around the World — an immigration storytelling show) and Kevin Cordi (who holds a doctorate in storytelling and is the author of You Don’t Know Jack: A Storyteller Goes To School).
Health
I was hospitalized Aug 14-16 for gastrointestinal issues resulting from bowel resection surgery in 2019. This was my first time going through an emergency colonoscopy, and I’ll spare you the gory details. You’re welcome. No, seriously. You’re welcome.
Researching An Upcoming Investigative Piece
After a dear friend told me about her experience helping her mother die with a group called Dignitas, she asked for my help getting word out about the process of end-of-life body autonomy (aka assisted suicide). It’s been my honor to help her bring her family’s story into the light. I launched an outreach effort for the project, and I’ve been deeply fascinated by all the discussions and research so far. Subscribe for updates on this and other upcoming projects.
September 2023
(1514 Substack Subscribers)
Teaching
I taught my first storytelling class at the incredible Story Jam Studio, using the healing tools of expressive writing as my guides. I LOVE using this practice to help writers tap into their deepest emotions.
Nice Press for Writers’ Haven!
My cooperative workspace for women, Writers’ Haven Evanston, was featured in Condé Nast Traveler’s fabulously comprehensive piece by Nicole Schnitzler.
Wonderful Client News!
Two of my Writers’ Haven memoir clients signed book deals! Stay tuned for more exciting details soon.
Webinar Host
Hosting a free legal webinar for authors
For the first time, I hosted a free legal webinar for authors with publishing attorney and literary agent Joseph Perry. If you’d like to watch it now, here’s a link to the webinar.
October 2023
(1482 Substack Subscribers)
Quick Research Trip for My Memoir
When I was in high school, my biological father took us on a two week adventure, driving from Chicago to California (and back) in our grandparents’ RV.
In October of 2023, I visited one of the RV hook-up parks we stayed at during our trip, since the site plays a key role in my forthcoming memoir, and I needed to see it up close.
It’s amazing what happens when we spend physical time in the spaces we’ve grown beyond. I’ve learned that, as we take even a little bit of time to consider our new perspectives, the results can yield everything from profound healing to crazy-making circuses. I found a little of both when I visited that RV hookup park in Nevada this year — but I had my tissues at the ready and my notebook in hand.
Fundraising? Check! Finish Line? Not So Much…
I finished HALF of the Chicago Marathon and felt pretty proud of the effort, especially after raising funds while training for Open Heat Magic, a charity that trains volunteers to perform close-up magic to hospitalized kids. I’m already registered to participate in the 2024 race!
Teaching
I taught another storytelling class at Story Jam Studio.
Learn a New Trick!
I learned to knit, and now I just can’t stop!
November 2023
(1485 Substack Subscribers)
More Boundary-Setting
Thanksgiving was, perhaps, the most pivotal point of my year. I’d planned to spend the holiday at one place, but when some interesting and uncomfortable dynamics arose, I sensed impending drama which I neither wanted nor needed — so pulled out.
Yep. I said, “I won’t be coming.”
I’d never done something like this before. Normally, I’d do my best to smile and soothe and assess and fix. But, at 55 years old, I’ve come to learn that when I don’t feel safe, I have the right to say so — and the power to change course.
At 55 years old, I’ve come to learn that when I don’t feel safe, I have the right to say so —
and the power to change course.
Once I made the decision to change plans for Thanksgiving, my relief was immediate. It felt good to say no to a situation that didn’t feel right or comfortable or safe. I had a peaceful, relaxing, and enjoyable Thanksgiving, and I’m grateful that I’m able to establish healthy boundaries.
Grant Application
I applied for my first grant: The Women Writing Women’s Lives (WWWL) Kathy Chamberlain Research Award. Here’s the mission of WWWL:
“The places, cultures, and communities in which women live their lives change, as do women’s roles, status, interests, and opportunities. Our purpose as a group is to identify these changes, understand their impact, and explain and portray the complex realities of women’s lives. In biographies and memoirs of women, created in writing or other media, we hope to call attention to the reciprocal dynamics between our subjects and society, to find new ways of looking at and presenting women’s stories, and ultimately to influence the way women’s stories are perceived and written.”
Grants will be announced in February 2024. Fingers crossed!
My First Book!
On 11/13, I saw the Amazon LISTING for my first book for the very first time, and that’s when things started to feel REAL. Then, on 11/16, I saw the COVER of my first book for the very first time! That night, I celebrated with my family and Eric.
Politics, Partnerships, & Power: The Lives of Ralph E. and Marguerite Stitt Church (Master Wings Publishing)
Simple Joys!
I completed my first knit scarf (and then, I couldn’t stop knitting…lol). I also witnessed a sunny, snow shower for the first time. And, this was the very first time my Christmas cactus thrived!
Even More Ancestry Discoveries!
I spent a little time on Ancestry.com and discovered that my paternal grandfather attended Lane Tech High School, located just 6 miles from my current home. I had no idea! Then, when my daughter and I spent some more time on Ancestry.com, she discovered that one of my maternal great great grandmothers has been buried in a cemetery just one mile from my home. I made a quick, solo trip to the cemetary and spent some time considering how (literally) deep my roots are here in the Chicagoland area.
December 2023
(1506 Substack Subscribers)
Substackers Against Nazis
I learned in December 2023 that the founders of Substack — Chris Best, Jairaj Sethi and Hamish McKenzie — do not plan to ban Nazi symbols and extremist language shared by some newsletters on this platform. Like many Substackers, I’m deeply saddened and concerned about the whole situation. I’ve twice requested to add my name to the petition Substackers Against Nazis (last updated 12/21), in which Substack publishers (like me) express outrage and pose this query to the founders:
We, your publishers, want to hear from you on the official Substack newsletter. Is platforming Nazis part of your vision of success? Let us know—from there we can each decide if this is still where we want to be.
Signed,
Substackers Against Nazis
I’m curious why Substack leadership is willing to ban pornography — but not Nazi images and rhetoric. To be sure, there’s a massive difference between pornography and Nazi messaging. Many will argue that, unlike pornography, Nazi language (and White nationalism) can hurt people; however, I believe pornography can ALSO hurt people, but that’s a much deeper convo for another post.
Some will surely defend these Nazi newsletters, pointing to First Amendment rights and free speech. As a journalist, while I’m all about the First Amendment, I do not condone hate speech. Others will point to examples like Twitter banning Donald J. Trump (until Elon Musk welcomed him back) or to moviegoers refusing to watch Oscar winner Woody Allen’s work after he was accused of sexually molesting his daughter (Allen has consistently denied the accusations).
One real consideration is to leave Substack in protest, just as some have already done. Then again, does doing this mean I’m running away from problems, rather than being part of a solution? I can’t blame anyone for leaving Substack, and yet: are we ever completely safe from bigotry, hate speech, disinformation, or discrimination? Is it more effective to stay on the platform (where this problem festers) and raise my voice against it?
According to the United Nations, “There are historical precedents showing that hate speech can be a precursor to atrocity crimes,” and “The Holocaust did not start with the gas chambers, but with hate speech against a minority.”
One supporter of Substack’s position to stay the course and allow such newsletters to continue publishing is Elle Griffin of The Elysian. In her piece Substack shouldn’t decide what we read, Griffin wrote, “There can be no doubt that there is a lot of hateful content on the internet. But Substack has come up with the best solution yet: Giving writers and readers the freedom of speech without surfacing that speech to the masses. In your Substack Inbox, you only receive the newsletters you subscribe to. Whether you’re a reader or a writer, it is unlikely you’ll receive hateful content at all if you don’t follow it. (I never have—though I saw it all the time on Twitter and Facebook despite never having followed an account in that vein.)”
I’m pleased to see Substack taken to task about this issue, and I'm eager to hear more from the platorm’s founders — more than the disappointingly little I’ve heard already. And, if I’m not satisfied soon with the response by Substack’s leadership, I’ll have no problem taking this newsletter elsewhere. Once again, stay tuned.
Grief Awareness Week
December of 2023 was the first time I realized National Grief Awareness Week was an actual thing. This year, it falls between December 2-8, 2024.
National Grief Awareness Week is an annual event that aims to create a safe space for individuals to openly discuss their experiences with grief and loss. It encourages empathy, compassion, and support for those who are grieving, emphasizing that grief is a universal and often challenging part of the human experience.
During 2023’s National Grief Awareness Week (Dec. 2-8), I let myself look at photos from Covid lockdown times and allowed myself — for the first time — to truly feel the loneliness and fear I experienced during that time, recovering from surgery alone, spending my birthday alone, wondering if my loved ones and I would survive a global pandemic.
It was also the first time I heard the word thanatophobia (anxiety produced by thoughts of one's own death, also known as death anxiety or fear of death).
From my decades in therapy, I know that it takes many of us far longer than we realize to feel ready to process trauma. For instance, it was 22 years before I spoke openly about the fatal Amtrak crash I’d survived in 1993.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is still ongoing, and we’ve yet to hold a national remembrance day, though Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) have introduced a resolution to memorialize those lost to COVID–19, designating the first Monday in March “COVID–19 Victims Memorial Day.”
The thing is, we’re still actively living in Covid times…still navigating the ripple effects of a worldwide shutdown. As of March 2023, there were 100 million cases of COVID-19 in the United States and over 1.1 million Americans who tragically lost their lives to this disease.
I believe that, as a survival instinct, many of us actively avoid looking back and thinking about the pain of those early, terrifying days. To be sure, there will be those of us who get there; when we do, the intensity of the memories and images and feelings will be immeasurable. For now, we’re still so raw and close to the events…too close, perhaps, to have perspective (let alone willingness or desire) to “go there”. Still, I’m finding that, through expressive writing, I’m able to tolerate short bursts of reflection that help me begin to process the magnitude of what we’ve lived through.
For instance, I peeked today at the journal I kept through the pandemic, and read the following passage from Friday, April 3, 2020, less than a month after the U.S. went into lockdown:
I have chills and a sore throat. Covid test came back negative. I’m emotionally exhausted. This is just such a shit show. I can’t leave the house for 7 days now. That’s what the Dr.’s orders say. Days feel so heavy. I feel trapped. Inefficient. Lonesome. Disconnected. It’s like Groundhog Day. It’s terrifying. Spend my time trying to write and getting nowhere. Trying to learn how to apply for unemployment and business disaster loans, attending online info seminars… it’s just feeling like too much. Trying to hold it all together and barely doing so. Everything feels fraught with risk and unfamiliarity. It’s the most scared and alone I’ve ever felt in my life.
Then, I added:
And, I’m surviving.
Even now, as I read that last line, I’m amazed. Who WAS that person? Where did that hope and optimism come from? What I AM certain of is this:
• We’re still so close to the pandemic.
• We have yet to begin to fully process what we’ve gone through.
• If and when we finally open those doors and let ourselves truly feel the weight of what we’ve been through, we’ll be wise to have tools in place to help us navigate the raw intensity of our emotions.
Teaching
I served as an instructor at The Infinity Foundation and led my class called “Expressive Writing for Emotional Healing”. It was the first class I taught in which students could choose to attend live OR in person, and I found it quite challenging to know where to look while speaking. Do I look at the students sitting in front of me? Do I face the computer screen so the virtual attendees feel a personal connection? Sigh. Technology can be so awesome…and so complicated.
Even More About My First Book
Politics, Partnerships, & Power: The Lives of Ralph E. and Marguerite Stitt Church (Master Wings Publishing) — was officially released on December 19! The ebook is now available. Due to a distribution delay, the print copies will be available sometime in early 2024.
Promotional work for the book has been fascinating and a bit overwhelming, and yet I’m grateful for the struggles; they give me a better understanding and more empathy for what my clients may face — as well as how we might strategize to prevent those challenges.
Covid Health Update
After having been diagnosed with Long Covid, I’ve now been approved to participate in two clinical trials — including the Duke University clinical trial for patients with Long Covid, called Recover-Neuro. I can’t begin to explain how excited I am to get started.
Unexpected Prosperity
This year was the first time I’ve ever made more than $100K in a single year.* I did this as a writer/entrepreneur, and as you’ll see, my entrepreneurial income far exceeded my writing earnings. I intend for that to change in 2024. Here’s how my 2023 income broke down:
Memoir Coaching (63%)
Hosting Writing Retreats (27%)
Writing (3.5%)
Writing Space Rentals (3%) and
Teaching Classes & Webinars (2.8%)
A breakdown of my 2023 earnings
Looking ahead to 2024
Memoir Coaching
As a memoir coach, I’m nearly booked up through June of 2024, but I’m always adding prospective clients to my wait list. I’m happy to welcome writers who don’t mind waiting a bit for an opening; many writers maximize this waiting time by signing on and using the resources I provide to expand and shape their manuscripts before we collaboratively polish, tighten, and prepare their work for submission.
The “Writers On Writing” Series on Substack
Are you a writer? Do you know a writer? If so, please consider letting us feature you and your work in my Writers On Writing series! We’re looking for writers of all types, including essayists, memoirists, fiction writers, screenwriters, poets, graphic novelists, technical writers, copywriters/proofreaders/editors, scriptwriters, ghostwriters, journalists, bloggers, content writers, PR professionals, songwriters, critics, grant writers, live storytellers, cybersecurity writers (yes, it’s a thing!), medical writers, playwrights, academic writers, closet writers, ad writers, erotica writers, short story writers… whew! My hands are tired!!
Self-Guided Memoir Course
I’m finalizing my first Self-Guided Write to Heal Memoir Course — including a companion workbook — available for purchase in early 2024. It’s an introduction to the memoir writing process with an emphasis on writing to heal. Before it comes out, I’ll need some beta users to provide honest feedback on the course. If you’re interested in an early version, please let me know! Here’s a sneak peak:
Reinforcements!
Since my workload increased exponentially this year, I’m excited (and relieved!) to announce I’ll be hiring an assistant/intern to help manage my forthcoming online courses and to help me publish profiles of writers of all types in my Writers on Writing series. With this additional help, my coaching clients will get more of my focused time and attention — something they absolutely deserve.
Resolutions!
If I’ve learned anything from this 2023 lookback, it’s that I spent a TON of energy trying new things — much of which paid off. Still, I plan to spend 2024 at a far less breakneck, adventurous speed.
The best and truest piece of advice I heard in 2023 is this:
Stillness Is The Access Point of Acceleration
I’m excited to harness all that I learned and gained in 2023 and share that wisdom with clients and subscribers in 2024. Thank you for being part of my journey. I’m so, SO grateful to share it with you.
THANK YOU, SUBSCRIBERS!
Thank you for being a subscriber! I have so much to share with you in 2024!
Thank you for subscribing and following my writing. Your support keeps me inspired and engaged in so many literary endeavors. I look forward to sharing more content and resources with you this year! Just look what YOU made happen:
HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING WRITERS’ HAVEN BY CHRISTINE WOLF
