Happy Friday and happy September!

It's been fun writing with some new people last week during the free Co-Writing & Chill sessions.

I love hearing about everyone's writing projects and you're working on the coolest shit!

• Stacy worked on an email to previous clients.

• Orly worked on some edits.

• Kathrin drafted an email for a last call to her breathwork retreat.

• Mondul did some website copywriting and lead magnet writing.

• Wilco did some outlining and drafting — AND, he's enjoying the process!

• Naomi wrote content for next week.

• Sarah drafted a landing page and email sequence for the new podcast she's launching.

• Therese did some website writing.

• Erin worked on a rough draft of her next science fiction book.

• Michelle worked on chapter 1 of her dissertation

There are a few spaces available in the last two sessions happening this week:

• Monday, September 9, 2-4 pm ET

• Wednesday, September 11, 10 am - 12 pm ET

After you choose your date, expect to hear from me within a day with all the details. --> 🖊️ SIGN UP.

😡The NaNoWriMo org pissed off a bunch of writers last week

When they shared their loose support of AI in writing. I shared about this on LinkedIn and then deleted my account. Whenever I share any negative sentiments about generative AI for writing on LinkedIn, my post views drop in half overnight. Give this post some love if you can.

LinkedIn, I still love you because that network is all business and has proven to show the biggest growth for me. If you want to get active over there, I updated this blog on how to write a standout LinkedIn headline.

Two years ago, I broke up with NaNoWriMo when I realized that the writing challenge wasn't supportive of creating a sustainable writing habit. Especially for women. Updated on the blog — The NaNoWriMo Alternative: How To Create a Writing Habit This November Without Burning Out.

And some new writing on writing challenges — Consistency over Intensity — How to Succeed at Your Next Writing Challenge.

💖 Thanks for your emoji help to describe Writing Vitamins last week.

I laughed when I realized that men replied with either 💥🖊️  or 🔆🖊️.

Women like the growth and nature-vibed ones. There was one I missed too — 🖊️🍊 — oranges for vitamin C! I'm a Libra and can't decide 😂 … and we need more than just vitamin C right? Expect to see a few different ones depending on the energy and theme for the week.

This makes sense to me—just as I teach to write with nature's rhythms, the emoji of the day will fit the mood of the day. 

Side note: Don't let little decisions like this hold you back from starting. 

🖊️ How to put your writing first

A prominent theme I saw in the people who came to the free co-writing sessions was that many were starting new writing projects and not sure where to start. Or they were ignoring their writing projects and instead doing the work to support others.

I know this well. As a ghostwriter who was writing for everyone else and not myself, I had to learn how to put my writing to the top of my list. 

Here are some practical ways to do this:

• Open your calendar and block 30 minutes (or more every day)

• If you have an online scheduler, allow meetings on just a few days a week — like Tuesday through Thursday and adjust the time people can book calls to only the afternoon if you prefer to do your writing in the morning

• At the end of each day, leave one document open on your computer. And let it be ONE piece of writing you're focusing on. That way when you pop open your laptop, your work is staring straight at you. This is the writing equvalient of sleeping in your workout clothes.

When I started putting my writing first, I didn't realize how it would shift my energy. 

I felt more aligned, peaceful, and harmonious. This was mostly because I was doing what I said I was going to do (most people don't do this).

🤍 Jacq

P.S. Expect more astrology nuggets around here. I've started sharing a daily prompt on the socials to help you find your writing flow with the moon/mood of the day — find them on Instagram, X, and Facebook.

P.P.S. Miss a dose of vitamins?

#8: Writers who don't write, free co-writing, and new moon writing prompts

#7: Free content ideas for Virgo season

#6: The biggest copywriting mistake turning visitors off

#5: Energy leaks & static Instagram grids

#4: 3 EASY tweaks to make your writing more approachable

#3: Posting, ghosting, & reconnecting without overthinking

#2: Death, authentic scarcity, & mercury retrograde

#1: Quitting Substack & breaking bad writing habits