“Without accountability, I won’t write.”
Introducing Friday Writing Sprints
“There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they'll take you.”―Beatrix Potter
Hi Writer!
You might notice this newsletter looks a little different. That’s because I’ve given my template a refresh to include more info about upcoming classes and integrate a new free writing series – Friday Writing Sprints.
Why Friday Writing Sprints?
When I ask students in my classes why they decided to sign up for a class, the number one response I get is “without accountability, I won’t write.” And while I definitely wouldn’t want to discourage anyone from taking a writing class, I know that many would-be writers haven’t found a class that fits their schedule or budget. So that’s where my Friday zooms come in.
I hope that these biweekly Writing Sprints can be an easy way for writers to have at least a couple of hours a month set aside to work on their projects. Community is important, so we’ll start each session with 10-15 minutes of chatting, then we’ll get down to business for 45 uninterrupted minutes of writing time in community. If this sounds good to you, make sure you’re signed up for The Friday Writing Sprints segment of this newsletter. Starting next week I’ll send out separate emails with the zoom link and schedule. Our first Friday Writing Sprint will be on Friday, June 27. Click here to Register.
This Week I’m Enjoying:
Reading: I just finished Taylor Jenkins Reid’s new book, Atmosphere, and got major For All Mankind vibes from it (that’s a compliment). Jenkins Reid is most famous as the author of Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I liked those books, and loved her more recent two – Malibu Rising and Carrie Soto is Back. (those four books shared a universe with crossover characters and easter eggs.) Atmosphere is set in a different universe from Jenkins Reids other books, but it does have a similarly ambitious female protagonist under pressure in a high profile job. Personally, I liked the book, but if you’re new to TJR, I’d probably recommend starting with Daisy Jones or Evelyn Hugo, unless you’re really into space.
Watching: Last night Greg and I watched The Ballad of Wallis Island (Free on Peacock. Rentable on other streamers.), a sweet movie about a folk singer hired to play a concert for one guy on a gorgeous island. I recommend it for a night when you just want to stay in and watch a movie with the windows open and a big bowl of homemade popcorn.
Listening to: Benson Boone’s new album. How fun is this video?
Class News & Updates:
NEW! Friday Writing Sprints. Join me at noon on Friday, every other week for a free writing sprint. We’ll spend a few minutes chatting, then dive in for 45 minutes of silent writing time together. Bring your own projects, or start something new with one of my suggested prompts. There’s no homework assignment or obligatory sharing, just time to write and a little community. Register here.
Jumpstart Your Writing. 6 Tuesdays from 6-9pm at Grub Street, Boston Seaport. Begins July 22. Whether you've never written creatively before or you're a more experienced writer looking for a recharge, your mission in this course is simple: start off 2025 by devoting three hours of your week to writing. Through a series of engaging writing exercises, we will mine our experiences and imagination for material and bring what we find to life on the page, constructing characters and settings, shaping vivid dialogue, choosing point of view, and exploring the nuances of structure. We will discuss the process of writing and the strengths and weaknesses of the work we produce in class. With an eye on craft and an openness to inspiration, we will read and discuss short pieces (fiction, non-fiction, and poetry) by a variety of writers. ($395/$380 Grub members) Click here for registration and more info.
Find me at the Cape Cod Writers Center Conference. July 31 – August 3 in Hyannis, MA. This will be my first year at the CCWC and I’m delighted to teach a 3-day Beginner Writers course, and a 2-day Flash Fiction course. Click here for registration and more info.
Arlington writers -- It seems hard to believe but preparations are already under way for Fall classes! Right now it’s looking like I’ll teach Flash Fiction on Tuesday nights, beginning Sept 23. I’d love to see both new AND returning faces there. If you’ve taken my Flash Fiction class before – I do change the syllabus if I have a repeat student, so you’ll get new lessons and examples, not just a repeat of what you learned before. (There are so many aspects of Flash Fiction we could keep going forever!)
Grub Writers – Fall class preparations are under way in the seaport, too. For this Sept-Dec I requested fiction classes and hope to get my assignments in a few weeks. As soon as I know more, I’ll share it here!
Until next week, Happy Writing!
Kayleigh
FYI: book links in this newsletter go to my affiliate page on Bookshop.org. Purchases made via my link earn me a nominal commission, while contributing to bookshop’s fund for independent bookshops. The price you pay is the normal Bookshop.org price. Visit my Bookshop storefront and see my recommendation lists at https://bookshop.org/shop/KayleighsBookshelf