The internet: Wow Stephen King wrote SO MUCH during his early career. That just proves you have to have a passion and follow your dreams and you can do it tooooooo.
Stephen King: It was cocaine and booze. I don’t even remember writing Cujo.
Look.
It’s really easy to gaze at successful authors and wonder, “How did they do it?” and assume that whatever worked for them, will work for you.
I’d like to gently steer you away from the Stephen King Early Years method, please. He got lucky and amazing support from the people around him; most of us would end up like a train wreck, without the silver lining of incredibly imaginative and successful books.
(That said, do read On Writing because it’s obviously an absolute classic.)
But the pollyanna-internet version of “just have a passion and follow your dreams” is also an absolute crock of chicken poo.
What you need to write your book is… what you need. There’s always something unique to you, that suits you, that drives you, that enables you to stay motivated.
But it’s not all secret sauce: the other things you need are:
- Clarity on your idea (or your book will ramble more incoherently than the current US president)
- Clarity on your goals and aims (for you, your book, and your business)
- Structure (so you always know what you’re writing and the blank page becomes a thing you do not have to deal with)
- Discipline (yep, sorry, because whether they say it or not, prolific and successful authors are disciplined as HELL)
- Accountability (cos we can lie to ourselves all the live-long day, but when someone else is expecting something from us, magic can happen)
- Guidance and feedback from someone who’s been there, knows what they’re doing, and has your back, front, and both sides (that’s me hi!)
I’m opening the doors to MicroBook Magic on Monday and you will get all of the above AND MORE from me when you enrol.
I can’t guarantee you’ll come out of it with a finished book (that depends on you and how much time you can/want to put into it) — but I can guarantee that you’ll have all the tools, support, and accountability you need to get your first draft done, then go onto finish and publish.
My growing shelf of MicroBook Magic authors shows that.
Nor can I guarantee a bestseller — nobody can, and if they do they’re either lying or gaming the system. But I can guarantee you’ll come out of it with work you’re proud of, and that your readers will be so grateful for.
We start on October 20 and you can find out all about it here.
But look — it’s a big commitment and you might not be 100% sure writing a book is for you. Or that you want my help.
So, I’m running my ever-popular Kickstart Your Book masterclass on October 8 at 4pm.
It’s everything you need to do before you start writing your book. Here are the details:
- 90-minute LIVE workshop on Zoom
- Clarity on your book idea: is it the right one for you now?
- Figure out your goals as a writer
- Figure out your goals for your reader
- Create a “North Star” for your book, so you understand your objective in writing it and never feel stuck
- Full workbook to answer your questions
- Replay available if you can’t make it live
- Q+A at the end with me — ask me anything
- Leave the workshop with your book STARTED and ready to take the next step!
It’s just £149 + VAT.
And if you join MicroBook Magic afterwards, I’ll refund every penny of the workshop.
Book your spot here:
Okay — now for the Friday Goodie Bag. Here’s what I’ve harvested for you!
The Onion’s unhinged mockumentary on Epstein
Satire is a GREAT defence against tyranny and a revolutionary act of resistance against evil, which is why I think The Onion should be protected at all costs. And this time, they’ve just released a “very sill deep dive on a very series issue.” Check out the details here.
This schoolboy protesting AI in his school
Saw this post on LinkedIn about a woman whose son is taking a stand for what he believes in — and I LOVE THIS. Apparently his teachers had been churning out AI slop posters for the school, and this boy said ABSOLUTELY NOT. There is a school full of budding artists and art enthusiasts who could have created these posters themselves, so he’s making it happen.
What can you protest today?
This group changing lives through chess
Thanks to Yinka Ewuola who brought my attention to this VERY cool and nerdy venture in Nigeria. African Voices is looking to break the cycle of child poverty in Nigeria through the medium of chess. Chess in Slums uses chess as a framework to teach academic skills, critical thinking, and an appreciation for learning.
Check it out and donate here.
This guy who asked 3,000 people to teach him their favourite dance move
I’m not kidding when I say community and art is the way we’ll save ourselves. Music and dancing brings humans together. This guy visited dozens of countries and learned a little of people’s favourite dances and it’s one of my favourite Instagram reels of the year.
Michael Sheen, who is a not-for-profit actor
I just found out the other day that Michael Sheen has turned himself into a not-for-profit actor. He sold all his houses to pay for the Homeless World Cup, and founded a company that buys people’s debts to clear them. He is Good People. Read about it here.
What I’m reading
Currently totally engrossed in Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir which has the tagline “Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space!” and it is absolutely as bonkers and genre-bending as that makes it sound. The writing is beautiful and hilarious, and I want to be besties with the main characters. I’m only halfway through but 11/10 recommend.
What I’m writing
Well. I had a “little incident” last weekend that involved an autistic meltdown on my own in the kitchen and that sparked me to finally start writing the book that has been banging around in my head for two years now. So, yeah, that. Watch this space.
Word of the week
circumlocutionist
n. Someone who consistently speaks in a roundabout way in order to avoid addressing a question directly.
i.e. about 85% of politicians and “gurus” on LinkedIn.
Quote of the week
“You think your pain and heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.” —James Baldwin
Books are magic, friend.
And if you’d like to experience my magic, MicroBook Magic Season 7 begins on October 20. You can get on the waiting list here.
p.s. Know someone who might enjoy my week-daily emails? Please get them to sign up here.
How to work with The MicroBook Magician
Creative Playground: Write every day + get advice, support, and bonus access to my workshops! (1 week trial for £1)
Book Breakthrough Lab: Let’s see how much you can get done in just 90 days
VIP Book Breakthrough Day: Make a quantum leap in book progress in just one day (or two half-days)
Buy My Book: How the hell do you write a book?