It's the New Year... Let's Create New Writing

“The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old,

but on building the new.”

—Socrates

Hi Everybody,

Thanks to you, I've had a busy and rewarding year collaborating on your remarkable stories—memoirs, novels, flash fiction, micro-memoirs, and plays—as well as teaching workshops. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to do the work I love and for your trust in me.

Personally, 2025 was eventful. This past fall, my husband and I packed up and sold our home of 25 years, forcing ourselves to discard what no longer served us through countless donations, dump runs, and well-meaning attempts to foist belongings on friends and family (yes, it turns out they truly don't want your stuff). The experience was far more physical and emotional than I expected, especially since we didn't have a clear destination in mind. We put our belongings in storage and began to mull over the many possibilities ahead, which was both exciting and overwhelming.

In the midst of this discomfort, it struck me that this is exactly what a writer must do. Moving—like writing—requires embracing the blank page or discarding what no longer works in a draft, navigating unfamiliar territory, and disrupting comfortable routines that can lead to stagnation. When we let go of the familiar—such as endlessly polishing the first 50 pages or insisting on keeping all 200 minor characters—and focus our energy on building something new, our stories can stretch and grow.

As we welcome the new year, I encourage you to explore the unknown parts of your stories, looking beneath the surface and embracing the new truths and perspectives that bubble up in the process. This is not easy, but I’m convinced that this is the effort required for your prose to shine and resonate with readers. And of course, it is not necessary to understand where you are going from the start. Just begin. I'm reminded of E.L. Doctorow's popular quote: "Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." So, let’s start driving.

Check out my Workshop page to find details about my upcoming courses, all designed to invite fresh perspectives, break old patterns, and spark new ideas. If you prefer to work with me one-on-one, that information is also provided.

I wish you a Happy New Year—a year of taking your writing to unknown destinations.

Lynn

www.writerswordhouse.com