A very happy new year to you, my friends! I mean it when I say I'm blessed to have you all on this journey with me. This year is going to be a fascinating one for writers like us. We're facing a moment like no other in the history of our craft. AI has changed the playing field beyond recognition, as writers everywhere struggle to get their heads around what it means for us. I’ve had a few people ask when my book on the subject, The Alchemy of Prompting, is coming out. I wanted to share a little of what’s been happening behind the scenes. When I first began writing it, I imagined a practical guide; a clear explanation of how to prompt well, supported by a few examples and frameworks. The deeper I went, though, the more I realised a simple overview wouldn't suffice. As I wrote, it stopped being merely a book about AI and began turning into the story of where writing itself is heading. Eventually, I realised the book was doing something quite new and remarkable. It was building a bridge between two formerly separate disciplines: the timeless craft of writing and the emerging craft of prompting. The raw material needed for that bridge was what I'd been teaching students like you for the past decade or more, namely, the four ingredients of great prose: simplicity, clarity, elegance, and evocativeness. As the book grew, it became more demanding, as I realised the subject deserved more than just shortcuts and enthusiasm. It required a proper treatment that honoured the intelligence of writers who'd want to use these tools without surrendering their literary voice or artistic integrity. I'm glad I let the idea mature before publishing a "good enough" book too soon. Now, I feel this may well become the definitive book on the subject, at least for a while. The final version is currently in the capable editing hands of our own @Nicolas J. I just wanted you to know that the delay isn’t because the book is stuck, but because it's turned into something I believe is far more valuable.

Hey everyone! It's good to be here. I'm Simon, and I hail from India. I've been writing for quite a long time, and I'm a published poet too. I want to publish a novel someday, and I want to learn the ins and outs of writing & editing. Happy to be here!

Recently, I was thinking about words that, over the years, have stopped being hyphenated. It's typically an uneven process, whereby the most daring writers begin the trend, and then others sheepishly follow. Personally, I love it when we lose hyphens. For me, they're a bit of an eyesore on the page. Here are some ex-hyphenated words: 1. Email (e-mail) 2. Website (web-site) 3. Voicemail (voice-mail) 4. Notebook (note-book) 5. Healthcare (health-care) Can you think of any more? And, like me, do you also welcome these transitions?

Hey everyone! I faced this issue with the subtitles for the lecture "Know your Intent" from the Writing with Flair course. In between the subtitles switch to a random mix of letters and symbols. Tagging the lecture link here: https://www.skool.com/elitewriting/classroom/5b282ab2?md=f687d707cd70493792b547d7737d153f Did anyone else face this issue?

Friends, A few ideas I've been mulling for upcoming live classes: 1. How to make an article or post go viral (with input from someone who's actually done it!). 2. How nonfiction writers can exploit ChatGPT (with input from someone who's been eagerly exploring its potential). 3. How to write elegantly and evocatively (with input from a brilliant fiction writer in the community). Feel free to let me know which of these are of particular interest to you, as well as any other burning topics you'd like me to consider! Shani