december writing prompts + book update
plus, black friday discount this weekend
Hi everyone,
If you celebrate, I hope you had a peaceful holiday.
I’m having a Black Friday sale! Paid annual subscriptions to Substack and Inner Story Writing Circle are 20% off through Monday night. You can learn more through the links below:
Below I am sharing some thoughts on the creative process and finishing projects. Below that you’ll find the monthly prompts for December and details on some upcoming sessions. ♥
the creative process and finishing projects
On Tuesday last week, I turned in the full draft of my manuscript. It feels SO good to say those words. I’ve been telling everyone who will listen! There is still much more to do before the book is released into the world, but the raw creation part is done. I will continue to share updates along the way. Story Work: Field Notes on Self-Discovery and Reclaiming Your Narrative comes out in Fall 2025.
Writing this book meant I had to face struggles that I’ve had for a long time like time management, setting boundaries, people-pleasing, and more. I wrote about it here:
The most effective way I know to quiet self-doubt is to prove it wrong with action.
If you have a calling to start, continue, or finish a long-term creative project, you’re unlikely to wake up one day with a sudden resolve to do it that maintains its clarity and conviction all the way through. You’re going to be tested. Your motivation and energy is going to ebb and flow and there’s going to be unexpected challenges and technical difficulties and conflicting priorities and all the things. The hardest part is not the writing, it’s managing the fluctuating emotions along the way.
If you want to cultivate a more consistent and reliable creative process that you trust through life’s interruptions, don’t start with something long and daunting, start with a small experiment like writing an essay, poem, or story about a topic that is deeply meaningful to you. Start it, refine it, and finish it—no matter how long it takes.
The intention is to consistently nurture it and not abandon it when obstacles and distractions—both inner and outer—come into play. Tell someone about it and ask them to hold you accountable. Take it seriously, but hold it lightly, you know what I mean? I’m saying to be curious and non-judgmental, but devoted.
You will need to make room for the project in your life and treat it like it’s important and worthy. From my experience, it doesn’t work to try to compartmentalize my writing projects into one corner of my life so that it doesn’t disrupt the rest.
We need to create space for it in every area of our lives, whether that is blocking dedicated time on our calendars, or making sure our friends and family know about this commitment and how it may affect their time with us, or removing certain obligations from our schedules so we have more energy for writing.
For example, if your friends and family think writing is a light hobby for you—meanwhile, you know that you secretly want it to be more—then there is a disconnect there. Give your creative callings the space and honor they deserve in how you talk about them, how you create boundaries for them, and how you make sacrifices for them.
What it takes to stay committed to projects and finish them is different for each person, and often we learn through trial and error while we’re in the process.
Over the years, it has been focusing on process that has enabled me to turn dream projects into finished projects. Each time choosing projects that are just a bit beyond my comfort level each time. Each one quieting the voice of self-doubt more and more.
Next week, on Wednesday, December 4 at 6 pm et, I’m hosting a 60-minute Connect session on Zoom. This Q+A session will be open to subscribers and I will be answering questions about starting, maintaining, and finishing creative projects while living a full life and prioritizing self-care. You can register to join us here. The recording will be available to paid subscribers.
december prompts
If you’re new here, each month I provide prompt lists that are meant to spark an idea or train of thought that gets you writing. When you read the prompt, what memories, images, feelings, or thoughts come to mind? Using these prompts as writing triggers, you can explore your voice and creative impulses in a playful, no stress way.
You are also invited to join us for our free monthly workshop (on Zoom) on Friday, December 6 at 7 pm et where we'll be freewriting from these prompts. New faces are always welcome, and sharing is optional.
creative courage
Registration for the next cohort of the Creative Courage Writing Intensive opens in December. This is my signature offering that lays the foundation for how I coach, mentor, and navigate my own creative journey.
In the Creative Courage Writing Intensive, we break the heart-centered work of self-discovery down into a process that benefits you, not just creatively, but holistically. The Creative Courage framework is based on my personal + professional journey, years of research and client work. You will be guided through a 3-month transformation of how you think about your creative work and how it fits into your life. With mentorship and community, you will develop the courage to ask yourself hard questions and explore the answers through creative expression. All while learning strategies to cultivate a lifestyle that fuels that courage.
To be notified when registration opens and get access to the early bird discount, you can sign up for the waitlist here.
This experience will be a transformational to the souls that have been craving fuller expression and are ready to expand.
coming soon:
More announcements for December coming soon.
…
December 4. Connect Session w/ GG: Creative Projects + Self-Care // 6 - 7 pm et
December 6. Free Writing the Layers Monthly Workshop // 7 - 8 pm et