Hi,

How are you? No, really. How. Are. You?

If we were chatting in person, that is what I would ask you.

We would take a few minutes to check in and acknowledge our feelings in that space, in that moment.

So, let’s do a virtual check-in. How are you? Take a few minutes to scan your body and write your discoveries.
You can use this prompt What is your body telling you? to guide your writing.

Dan Blank   

Dan Blank’s Substack podcasts and free Friday newsletters (scroll to the bottom to sign-up) are excellent examples of pausing, checking in, and exploring what it means to be a writer.

“In my book, Be the Gateway, I wrote about the value of ignoring best practices. That nowadays, we can be so aware of trends and algorithms, that we become frozen. We don’t know how to show up authentically and share our work in a meaningful way because of the long list of things we are told ‘we have to do,’ and another list of things we ‘have to avoid doing.’ It can make your head spin.” Dan Blank, October 28 podcast, “You get to define what works"
You can subscribe to Dan’s Substack, Creative Shift, with the free version or the $9 per month plan or the $79 per year plan.
From his “WeGrowMedia” page:

“GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO CREATE. Put craft first and accept that the world needs what you create. You are ready to be seen and heard as a creator. Don’t follow trends and rush for the easy “like” on social media. Your growth as a writer relies on the mastery of your skills.”

Anne F. Hag explores what happens when you lose interest in your writing project in “How to Reconnect with a Draft You No Longer Want to Write​.” Jane Friedman Blog, September 9, 2025

Writeon! November

Free!

Drop in each weekday in November, across multiple time zones, for an hour of quiet writing and connection over Zoom with Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA).

“The time is yours to devote to your own projects. We hope the connection with a community of fellow writers inspires you to show up and make consistent progress.”

Register at AWA 

Thank you, Nicole Zimmerman, for this information.

Book Review

Even though “Giving Up The Ghost” by Samantha Rose is about a difficult topic (her mother’s decision to end her life), the gorgeous writing, the meaningful themes, and demonstrations of the importance of connections make this a powerhouse of a memoir.

I was curious how Sam accomplished this masterpiece, so I took a deep dive to discover how she did this; reading the first time to learn the story, the second time to discover gems I missed the first time, and a third exploration, using “Ghost” as a textbook for how to write a memoir.

Sam skillfully uses sensory detail and strong verbs to word-paint scenes that readers can “see,” unspooling across their minds like a well-crafted movie.

Her ability to transform conversations and scenes into poignant moments paired with her willingness to be vulnerable while releasing the truth of her mother’s life and death are remarkable.

Sam’s mother, Susan Swartz, was a popular journalist who uncovered facts at a time when people wanted and needed to be informed. Sam expertly captures meaningful truths about life, connections, mental health, friendships, grief, moving on, keeping secrets, and profound wisdom in sharing her journey traveling from disbelief to realizations about people, life, and our journeys.

“Giving Up The Ghost” is so much more than a daughter’s telling the story of how her mother died.

Sam’s unique ability to tell her family story in an honest and forthright manner with a variety of important themes rocked my world.

One of the threads in this strong story is the idea of being a witness to one another’s lives. Sam explores the idea that after someone dies, especially someone who has been in your life for a long time, they are no longer a witness to your life.
I never thought about this. After reading “Ghost,” I realize the importance of this concept: How we are witnesses to one another’s lives and what that means.

Sam grapples with (and comes to a resolution) what happens when the person who has known us the longest dies prematurely. What happens when we no longer have that person in our lives? How do we go on?

Now, I’m contemplating that concept.

I asked Sam how she became such a good writer.

She answered, “I’m a visual person. I write what I see.”

“And,” she added, “I’m a good listener.”

Excerpt from the prelude:

“. . . the best books challenge readers to see things in a way they haven’t before.”

“Giving Up the Ghost” did that for me.

Please purchase from your local bookseller, if you can.