Dear fellow writer,
I’ve borrowed the title of this week’s post from Janet Lindgren, a retired law professor whose unpublished essay “Crazy for Structure” is amongst the readings for my new 6-week Structure Catalyst, which kicks off next week. Janet’s piece itself has a playful tripartite structure, signalled by section headings that, taken together, elegantly sum up the essay’s central argument:
I’m a writer, crazy for structure
who wants readers to know
that the structures that serve readers serve writers as well.
Janet is one of the many inspiring colleagues and friends-in-writing — Margy Thomas from ScholarShape is another — whose ideas and insights have helped me shape the course curriculum and, yes, its deceptively simple structure.
As I explain in my welcome video (above), each of the six weekly modules focuses on a single topic (ideas, outlines, arguments, texts, paratexts, readers) represented by a single metaphor (containers, fractals, blueprints, buildings, landscapes, journeys).
But as the course progresses, you’ll notice those modules unpacking and unfurling like intricately folded origami. Topics morph into themes; metaphors beget more metaphors; and seven key principles curl like smoke through the weekly workshops and exercises, gradually weaving themselves tighter and tighter until they become the central pillars holding up the whole edifice — a magic trick accomplished, needless to say, through the invisible power of structural design.
The Structure Catalyst runs from May 17 - June 26, 2025 and includes an all-access pass to my Live Writing Studio, which meets twice weekly throughout the six weeks to accommodate writers in any time zone. The online resources will remain available to you for the lifetime of the course (in other words, years!), so you can make your way through the materials at your own pace and revisit them again and again.
Whether you're drafting a research paper, planning a book, or organizing ideas and arguments for any other purpose, the Structure Catalyst will teach you how to design with precision, build with confidence, and structure with pleasure — a powerful combination.
I’d love to see you there!
Writing Rituals
If structuring your writing time is a challenge for you, don’t miss my upcoming WriteSPACE Special Event with the fabulous
on May 14! We’ll talk about writing rituals, routines, and other “subtle maneuvers” (in Franz Kafka’s words) for bringing more productivity and pleasure to our writing lives. The second hour (for paid subscribers only) will feature a hands-on workshop based on Mason’s “Worm School,” a collection of small but significant writing strategies that can help you “wriggle through” to the creative life you crave. Learn more and register here.
Writing with Pleasure
And if you’d like to add an extra dose of playfulness to your writing wriggles, you’re in luck: my 2023 book Writing with Pleasure is on sale from Princeton University Press for 50% off until the end of May when you enter the discount code BLOOM50. Learn more and order here.
If you appreciate hearing about resources like these — or just want to make my day — please take a moment to drop me a heart, leave a comment, and/or click Restack at the bottom of this message. Your enthusiasm and support mean so much to me.🩷
Kia pai tō koutou rā (have a great day) — and keep on writing!
Write more, right now! For exclusive access to live workshops, craft-focused coaching, and premium writing and editing tools, join me and writers from 30+ countries in the WriteSPACE, a vibrant international writing community and resource treasury. To try free for 30 days, click below and enter the discount code SNEAKPEEK at checkout.
Books by WriteSPACE founder Helen Sword
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