Writing? It's a Piece of Cake!
Birthday goodies from the WriteSPACE!
Dear fellow writer,
It’s my birthday today, so I’ve baked a cake!
Okay, so it’s a virtual cake, not a real one. But it still looks pretty delicious, doesn’t it? I started with a dark chocolate base spread with white icing, then added a pile of gleaming red cherries, a wreath of blue macarons, and a golden rose in the center.
Birthday Cake is the latest video in my new Sharing Plates collection, a series of on-demand writing studio sessions that I’ve created exclusively for my WriteSPACE membership community — but because it’s my birthday, I’m sharing this Sharing Plate with the world.
The full 65-minute video includes:
a playful, generative writing warmup (“Silk Scarf”);
three short writing sprints (aka pomodori) timed with a strawberry, a blue macaron, and a champagne bucket, respectively; and
a wordcraft workout on the theme of mixed metaphors (“Mixed Drinks”).
To get the most from this sweet treat, I recommend that you set aside enough time to make your way through the full 65-minute sequence in a single sitting. Afterwards, if I’ve got the recipe right, you’ll feel nourished, inspired, and eager for more.
You can savor this Sharing Plate on your own or in the company of other writers. Either way, I hope that your writing session will feel like a piece of cake!
More birthday goodies
Wherever you live in the world — whether you’re celebrating the Summer Solstice or lighting up the darkest days of winter — I’ll bet that you could use some more special treats right now to carry you through to the second half of the year.
Helen’s Word Birthday Sale
Subscribe and save! This week only, you can save 25% by purchasing an annual subscription to Helen’s Word ($5/month or $45/year). On July 1, the price for new subscribers will rise to $6/month or $50/year. Subscribe or upgrade here.Open Chalet at Mountain Rise
Visit Switzerland for free! Join me via Zoom on June 27 for this live WriteSPACE Special Event hosted from my annual Mountain Rise writing retreat in the Swiss Alps. Learn more and register here.
Island Time Earlybird Special
Visit New Zealand for real! My annual Island Time writing retreat will take place on beautiful Waiheke Island in January 2025. SPECIAL OFFER (extended by two weeks): Get 20% off the regular price by booking and paying in full by July 15, 2024. Submit your expression of interest here.Stylish Writing Intensive PLUS The Creativity Catalyst
Transform your writing from stodgy to stylish, or from adequate to amazing, in just 3 action-packed days! My next Stylish Writing Intensive runs over three non-consecutive weekdays on Mon July 22, Wed July 24, and Fri July 26. SPECIAL OFFER: Sign up for the Stylish Writing Intensive and get my 6-week Creativity Catalyst course for FREE (a $550 value). Learn more and register here.
Want to share my Birthday Cake with other writers? You can help this post rise in the Substack algorithms (and make my day!) by dropping me a heart, leaving a comment, and/or clicking 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!
Helen
Write more, right now! Join me and fellow writers from 30+ countries in the WriteSPACE, the ultimate membership site for scholarly and professional writers who aim to lift their writing game. To try free for 30 days, click here and enter the discount code SNEAKPEEK.
Books on writing by Helen Sword
Spread the joy! Share Helen’s Word with a friend, student, or colleague.
