Hello writers, We're somehow almost a week into July and I wanted to ask how everyone's writing and project updates were going. I personally haven't written anything yet, but that's about to change. Tell me how your writing is going, or what goals you may have for this month.

The Quote: “I realized I didn’t want to write in code anymore.” From: 2021 The Anthropocene Reviewed — John Green My Take: There’s a moment in writing when you stop performing and start telling the truth — not the grand, cinematic truth, but the small one you’ve been carrying quietly for years. That’s what it means to stop writing in code. It’s the decision to stop pretending you’re fine when you’re not, to stop sanding down the edges of what hurts, to stop hiding behind cleverness because vulnerability feels too expensive. When you write without code, you’re not trying to be profound. You’re just trying to be real. You’re admitting that your life has been messy, that your fears have teeth, that your joy is fragile, that your hope is something you have to rebuild over and over. And somehow, that honesty — the shaky, unpolished kind — is what makes the work feel alive. Because the truth is, writing isn’t about revelation. It’s about recognition. It’s the moment someone reads your words and thinks, Oh. I’ve felt that too. And suddenly the world feels a little less lonely, and you feel a little more like a person who belongs in it. PSA: Sometimes it feels like I’m getting quietly escorted out of Skool rooms I didn’t even know I’d entered. A few pages, a few people — gone. No explanation, no message, just a digital door closing. I’ve reached out for clarity and gotten silence, which is its own kind of answer, I guess. If my writing ever rubs you the wrong way, just send me a DM. I’d rather hear it from a human than from an automated ban button. I’m here to connect, not to confuse.

This isn’t from a book but in an interview I saw with John Acuff who is an author and productivity expert: “I don’t believe in writers block. I believe in idea bankruptcy.” He went on to say how he collects ideas, which I think is a cool thing to do. For myself, this quote motivates me to challenge myself to keep thinking as creatively as I can. What can I create that is unexpected or opposite of what someone might expect. When Jonah gave his first writing prompt, rather than continue with the characters he introduced, I went in a different direction. Maybe in the end it wasn’t so very creative? Maybe others would have had similar ideas, but I enjoyed the creative process. I hope that others in this group will share some of your writing in the writing prompts or projects or workshopping soon!

It's a simple question, at least on the surface. What drives you as a writer? There's no right or wrong answer. At the end of the day, everyone writes for different reasons: enjoyment, money, fame, talent, passion for the arts, having a story to tell, an admiration for and aspiration to be like other great artists. The list goes on. I think that I personally write for some combination of all of those reasons. I enjoy writing. I would love to make money doing it and have my stories become beloved for generations to come. I have stories to tell, and I want to be like the great artists I learned about in school. My advice to you is to ask yourself that simple question: why do I write? Then just think about your answer. Use that as your guide when it comes to writing. Remember what it is that drives you every time you struggle, or even just whenever you want to write. And if there's a certain author you particularly look up to, use that author as a guiding light. I'm not saying to deify or idolize that writer, simply find and author you admire and use that person as inspiration. Writing is a journey. Remember that. Sometimes it's slow and painful. You won't always see the results you want to see at first. That's totally fine. Just keep trying, and eventually something will work out one way or another. One of my favorite examples is H.P. Lovecraft. He died believing himself to be a failure. But today, his fiction is immensely popular and influential. Success isn't linear. That statement is applicable to all areas of life, but it's especially applicable here. Keep writing. One day you'll look up and realize you did it. But the only way to get there is to start writing now, and always remember why it is you do it.

Hello everyone, Even though there were a few technical difficulties, I think that the test live event was a success. As a result, I now feel confident in hosting more live events here on the Skool platform. In fact, I want to tentatively schedule another one for Saturday, July 11, 2026. I'm not going to put it on the calendar quite yet because the date is subject to change, and the time definitely is. With all that being said, we get to the heart of this post: what would you want to see in a live event? Do you want it to be a chill group work session where I write or edit a project and people just come and hang out? Do you want a targeted workshop on one of your pieces? Do you just want to talk about your project? Do you want to grill me about my own? Please let me know! If I don't hear anything, I may just treat it as another writing/editing block that you're all welcome to join. Let me know what you want to see, and I hope to see you there. Keep an eye out for future updates as I figure out a definite date, time, and itinerary.