Writing is Hell.

You know it. I know it. William Styron, author of Sophie’s Choice, sure as hell knew it and said as much. And when a Pulitzer Prize-winning author tells you something about writing, you can probably take that to the bank.

I’ve been writing since I was seven. When I hit 18, I stumbled into copywriting as a profession and have done it on and off ever since. When it’s on, the words come easy and quick. When it’s “off” I question every sentence, relitigate every word, and restructure every paragraph.

It’s around then that I start looking at other careers.

“Maybe I should be a teacher. Or a balloonist. Are those even still a thing?”

But nothing comes of it. I find myself right back where I started: dragging myself through the motions, hunting for client work, and wondering when I stopped enjoying reading books and writing stories.

And Then…

This past summer, I was diagnosed with ADHD. It’s a long story, and one I keep having to rewrite as I learn more about how it’s affected me.

But here’s what you need to know: realizing I have ADHD has helped me understand my weaknesses as a writer. More than that, it helped me accept that I have weaknesses, and that it’s possible to make a living as a writer in spite of them.

This sounds obvious, but it was not to me. Instead, the gaps in my learning as a writer felt shameful. It’s difficult to enjoy something when your mind is too busy chastising you for it.

And once I figured out that bit, something else became clear: I forgot how to have fun as a writer. I forgot how to play.

How a Writer Plays

Writers play the way a kid plays: the make up words. They put together strange sounds. They try on uncomfortable forms and challenge their weaknesses with exercises. A writer plays by writing; not for a client or for publication, but for the sake of it.

And that’s what this newsletter is all about.

How this Newsletter Works

This newsletter will begin delivering weekly on January 15th, 2021. I’ll experiment with different genres, read far outside my comfort zone, and share my experiences with you.

My goal for 2021 is to write 27 stories total across different genres. Fiction, non-fiction, it doesn’t matter. Along the way, I’ll share the exercises I’m doing to address my biggest weaknesses. Some of these are technique, others are about more universal difficulties like time management.

If this sounds like your bag, subscribe! Follow along and share some of your work with me. Who knows? Maybe we’ll start having fun together.