So I’ve just reviewed session 2 a couple times to absorb the information provided. My question is before moving forward to any other sessions and looking at the caliber of my work. The volume of work that I have, what kind of ‘timeframe’ do you dedicate to connecting with this process of engagement. I do feel that from the overview I’ve experienced some of these nuances; not realizing that they had a form of connection to my writing. And because I am overly analytical, I can concur that a lot of what you spoke, was truth and fact. From my own inexperienced perspective. But because I’ve experienced it not knowing that I was taking myself through certain trials that were really were redundant and not conducive to me producing the work that I attempted when I started. The second question is with the amount of work that I have and because I have reviewed revised and re-thought certain aspects of my storyline for quite a period of time. Should I engage this process by myself or should I connect with A naked eye someone else’s review to guide me with my questions and navigating this work. Last should share some samples to better guidance?

Do you ever go to the gym and really push yourself? Maybe you’re lifting weights and you’ve got one more set. Or you’re on the treadmill and there’s half a mile left. There’s a moment where I pause, tighten my resolve, take a breath, and jump back into the exercise. Writing feels a lot like that to me. Last year I wrote four books in one big push. By the end of it, my brain felt completely fried, so the past few months have mostly been recovery. But lately I’ve started to feel that same sensation again. The breath before the next set. Not a frantic sprint. Just that quiet moment where I know it’s time to step back up to the bar. For me, the smaller pieces along the way, essays, posts, conversations, are like the lighter sets that keep the muscles warm between the heavy lifts. So I’m curious where you are right now - where are you in your writing gym? Are you in the middle of a heavy push? Catching your breath between sets? Or taking a recovery day before the next one? Or…are you looking at your running shoes and gym membership and thinking, “Gosh, I need to get back in there”?

My niece told me recently she wants to be a writer. "Do you write a lot?" I asked. "No. Not much." "Why not?" "I don't really have time. But I like to write." "I see. But you want to be a writer?" "I do." "What do firefighters do?" I asked. "Fight fires." "Right. And what do dancers do?" She scrunched her forehead at me. "Dance?" "Right. Have you ever seen a dancer who said, 'I'd like to dance, but it's hard to find the time.'?" She tilted her head and smirked at me. "I see where you're going, Uncle Shawn." "Do you?" "Yes. You're saying if I want to be a writer, I need to go write," she said. "Kind of," I said, "it's a little different." "What do you mean?" "I mean, stop wanting. When you want to be something, you'll only ever want to be it. Skip wanting and just BE it. No one ever wanted to become a dancer and then miraculously became a dancer. They started dancing and became a dancer. Firefighters don't want to become firefighters - they go to the fire station, get trained, and start fighting fires. It's the same with writing. If you just want to be a writer, you'll want to do it your whole life, but you'll never do it. Skip the wanting and just go write. It doesn't have to be pretty, or profound, or neat, or spelled correctly. It just has to be words from your mind and your heart that you share." And then dinner was ready.

Write a short passage (150–300 words) where your goal is to eliminate distance between the reader and the experience. Start with a sentence that tells something abstract or generalized.Then rewrite it immediately beneath in a way that shows it concretely. Repeat this pattern 3–5 times: - First line: distant, conceptual, or explanatory - Second line: immediate, sensory, specific By the end, the reader should feel like they’ve moved from hearing an idea…to standing inside it. Example: He was nervous about the meeting. His thumb kept catching on the frayed edge of his notebook while he watched the second hand drag itself around the clock. Constraint: You are not allowed to add more meaning in the second line. Only translate what’s already there into lived experience. Here are some see ideas: - The dog looked hungry. - The girl was hurt. - The car was noisy. - The table wobbled. Reflection: Which version felt more honest? The first, or the second? Why?

This space is set up as a workshop, not a content dump. Two courses—Let Us Begin and Trivium et Quadrivium—are open to everyone. They lay the groundwork and give us shared language so we’re not talking past each other. Other courses unlock as you level up. The First Edits course opens at Level 3, and more courses will unlock at higher levels over time. That pacing is intentional. The work here builds on itself, and it only works if people move through it in order. Take your time. There’s no rush to “get through” anything. Engagement, Levels, and Feedback You level up by showing up. That means reading other people’s work, reacting when something actually lands, and leaving comments that help someone see their writing more clearly. Liking posts counts. Thoughtful comments count more. Please skip low-effort replies like “I like this” or “This was good.” They don’t help the writer and they don’t help you. If something worked, say why. If something didn’t land, say where. You don’t need to be harsh, but you do need to be specific. This isn’t a place for spam or drive-by encouragement. It’s a place for careful reading and honest response. If giving feedback feels a little uncomfortable, that’s normal. Learning to name what you’re seeing—clearly and kindly—is part of the work.