Chapter 1: RETREAT!

Sometimes it’s ok to channel Monty Python and the Holy Grail and just ‘RUN AWAY! KEEP RUNNING!’

Goooooooooooood morning, afternoon, or evening, wherever you might happen to be!

I asked Twitter whether there might be any interest in a series of free online workshops on the nuts and bolts of writing a book (aimed both at academics and people working in academic-adjacent fields), and, wow, did Twitter answer! I’m soliciting suggestions for workshop topics, but I’m currently thinking along the lines of ‘Writing Introductions’, ‘Establishing the Scope of a Book-Length Project’, etc. Please get in touch if you have any suggestions of your own!

So keep an eye out for workshop announcements in Page by Page, and if you know anyone who might be interested please encourage them to subscribe.

Heading for the hills

I’m running away to Zermatt for the week! It’s a great place for remote working, as well as the occasional hike in the snow. Plus, sometimes you just need to get away to get your best work done—it’s not called a writing ‘retreat’ for nothing!

But there are lots of other ways to retreat, and lots of reasons why it can do a lot of good. You might take a break from social media, for instance, which might help you feel less anxious (news, ACK) and more focused. Or maybe you can take a trip somewhere for a change of scenery—whether you’re working or not, that’s a great way to hit ‘refresh’ on life. And sometimes you just need to retreat from the world for a little bit. I had some tough days this last week, days when I needed to sit and be quiet. These days don’t come often, but when they do, it’s important to listen to yourself. When it comes to what you need, you know best.

Celebrate the wins

I’ve crossed a couple of big things off my to-do list lately, and I’ve had a couple of small successes (that FOCACCIA). When that happens to you, take a moment to celebrate it! Maybe you punch the air and whoop; maybe you just tell a friend. But it’s so important to take a beat and recognise when you’ve done something well, no matter what it is. (Seriously, I’m going to be riding that focaccia high for aaaaaages.)

A good laugh

Looklooklook: it’s more medieval-themed humour! I didn’t write this one, but I sure wish I had: ‘QUIZ: Are You a Modern Badass Woman or Some Weird Medieval Bat-Thing?’, by Martti Nelson, over at The Belladonna (which I’ve been trying to break into for forever!).

As ever, thanks for reading. This is a reader-supported publication, and the best way to support it is to become a paid subscriber (either at $5 per month or $50 per year). Paid subscribers can access everything on the site, from the archives to the ‘Things That Worked’ sample materials…and they can send in questions to get answered for ‘AMA Q&A’ posts!

If you’re really feeling generous, and you’d like access to the archives, the ‘Things That Worked’ series, the ‘AMA Q&A’ series, and regular feedback on your own writing, as often as you like, you can become a Founding Member ($150). Not a bad deal at all.

VB,

M