The Guided Path
Pleasure-paved pathways to productive writing, plus a satisfying snippet of joyful news
Dear fellow writer,
Earlier this month I introduced you to the Meandering Path: a free route to better writing for anyone who aspires to write with more pleasure, purpose, and panache.
The resources that line the Meandering Path can carry you far — that is, if you’re a highly motivated writer who’s in no great hurry and doesn’t mind travelling alone. But if you’re looking for a smoother journey and a more purposeful itinerary, consider joining me on the Guided Path instead. This low-cost, high-value option will help you reach your writing goals more enjoyably and efficiently than months of aimless wandering — and in a fraction of the time.
Kick off your Guided Path journey by signing up for a free 30-day WriteSPACE trial. You’ll get immediate access to premium writing resources, workshops, and tools not accessible to travellers on the Meandering Path — including next week’s Special Event for members (see below). Best of all, you’ll become part of a supportive community of fellow writers travelling with an expert guide by your side.
You can sneak a peek of our new WriteSPACE membership area by watching this 11-minute video tour. I’d love to see you there!
WriteSPACE Special Event
WriteSPACE Journey Planner (January 25)
Plan your journey to better writing in 2024 at this 2-hour live Special Event for WriteSPACE members only.
In the first hour (which will be recorded for the WriteSPACE membership Library), I’ll guide you through a series of exercises to help you:
identify your writing roadblocks;
fill up on your personal rocket fuel by drawing on your own existing skills and passions;
chart an ambitious but achievable path toward your writing goals over the next 12 months.
In the second hour, I’ll provide individual feedback and coaching to help you refine your itinerary and make the best possible use of your WriteSPACE membership. Participation in this part of the session is entirely voluntary and will not be recorded.
To accommodate members in any time zone, the event will be offered twice over a 24-hour period on Thursday January 25 at 8-10 am GMT (London time) and 3-5 pm EST (New York time). There is no need to register; simply find the event in your WriteSPACE or WS Studio Calendar and click the Zoom link to join.
Not yet a member? Why not sign up now for a free 30-day trial?
Coming soon
The Pleasure Catalyst is on its way!
Accelerate your journey to pleasurable, productive writing with the Pleasure Catalyst, a 6-week online course running from February 3 - March 14, 2024. Join me and fellow writers from around the globe to develop richer, deeper perspectives on your writing-related emotions via a series of resonant metaphors:
Leylines & Lifelines (patterns)
Ground & Sky (tools)
Wind, River, Stone (processes)
Star Navigation (identity)
Chiaroscuro (challenge)
Island Time (balance)
You can join weekly group discussions with fellow participants in the Live Writing Studio, with two sessions to choose from each week. WriteSPACE members qualify for a 10% discount, and WS Studio members and Catalyst alumni save 20% off the regular price. Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to reframe your writing practice into something truly meaningful and joyful!
Other writing news
Hussain’s story goes viral!
Just over six weeks ago, Afghan writer Hussain Shah Rezaie arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand as a permanent resident of a country he’d never seen. If you’ve been following Hussain’s extraordinary story, you’ll recall the circumstances that brought him here: his harrowing escape from the Taliban at age 16; his flight to Indonesia, where he spent the next decade trapped in the limbo of a refugee detention facility; his self-education via free online resources accessed on his cellphone; and his eventual move to a new country and a new life, thanks to the generosity and tenacity of members of our WriteSPACE community. Now Hussain’s story has caught the attention of the NZ press — not for the last time, I suspect! This delightful 3-minute news report features him reading aloud from two posts recently published on his Substack newsletter, Walk With Me. You can support Hussain by becoming a paid Substack subscriber or by making a direct donation to his scholarship fund. So far we’ve collected nearly $15,000 to help set up this brave young writer to thrive in his new life.
Thank you for walking with Hussain!
Do you have writing-related news, events, or resources to share? Contact me with a brief description (50 words max), a hyperlink, and a high-quality image.
Spread the joy! Please encourage your friends, colleagues, and students to join me in the WriteSPACE, a vibrant, low-cost writing community with members in 30+ countries. As a WriteSPACE member, you’ll get premium access to resources, workshops, and tools designed to help you hone your wordcraft, sharpen your style, and coax your writing gently out the door.
Kia pai tō koutou rā (have a great day) – and keep on writing!
Helen
Books on writing by Helen Sword
Writing with Pleasure
Princeton University Press, 2023
Air & Light & Time & Space: How Successful Academics Write
Harvard University Press, 2017
Stylish Academic Writing
Harvard University Press, 2012
The Writer’s Diet: A Guide to Fit Prose
University of Chicago Press, 2016
