Dear Reader,

Happy Winter Solstice. After today the days become longer.

As I look out on the snowy Minnesota landscape, I am grateful to have made it to here. Recent dark nights have felt even darker and colder when there's no snow to offer balance. I'm clearing out clutter, preparing to start my first new book writing projects since 2010, when I began dabbling with the content in my two memoirs. Come 2025, I have fresh stories to tell. And so do you.

AND may I add... starting over with writing and gaining momentum is hard. BUT people do it. It happens all the time.

Today's Winter Solstice present contains messages that I need, in the form of three little conversations with a dear friend.

Back when I first started to set up online writing groups, my friend Nicole Diaz helped me organize and lead what has consistently been at the heart of this work: Idea Parties, once-a-month Saturday calls. The passages that came through in writing sequences were wondrous surprises to everyone in the room, most especially to the writers who wrote these gems. After calls, Nicole and I would compare notes and marvel at what we were learning about the creative process by working with writers. This kind of knowledge keeps people going. So we started a small, private podcast for Circle members, to share what we learned.

Nicole has moved on since then, but she sends her greetings and her love in the three episodes that we made.

I released all three today. Throughout the holidays, I invite you to ponder what stories you'll share moving forward. In that spirit, may these three brief conversations help you find your voice.

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​Listen to Storycraft here:​

1: Writing in Layers​

2: Resistance​

3: Under Construction​

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I look forward to hearing what wants to come through you.

Travel safely.

Love, Amy

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PS—Does this message speak to you? You can join us in the Circle for Real-Life Writers here. Next call is December 29.

It's a write, show, and tell to say goodbye to what was and welcome what wants to begin.