Where I’m Going Next (And Why It Helps You Tell Better Stories)

Photo by Jan Tinneberg on Unsplash

Last month, I ran what eventually became known as the November Writing Blast, a spontaneous, loosely structured meet-up for writers trying to finish a novel or comic in thirty days.

There were eight of us. Different mediums, different goals. Same attitude, same heartbeat.

And even though everyone brought their own voice and project, I saw the same patterns I’ve seen in the hundreds of writers I’ve worked with over the years.

Here’s what I saw:

We’re all fighting the same fight.

Here’s the simple, unglamorous, universal truth:

Everyone wrestles with time.
Everyone questions their choices.
Everyone has moments of fear and moments of fire.

Yes, everyone.

And every time I work with a group like this, I’m reminded of something writers forget far too easily, especially when that sneaky little bastard called imposter syndrome starts whispering in our ear:

We’re not nearly as different as we think.

We tell ourselves everyone else is ahead, more talented, more disciplined. But underneath it all, we’re wrestling the same demons.

A few lessons that hit hard this time

Here are the lessons that keep popping up lately:

1. Consistency isn’t about discipline. It’s about clarity.
Momentum grows when you know exactly what “done” looks like each week and you sit down to make it happen. It’s not about white-knuckling willpower. Ten focused minutes of writing beats ten hours of thinking about writing.

2. Your artistic intuition is smarter than your doubt.
Watching writers learn to trust their ideas, even the weird, messy, risky ones...it’s a beautiful thing. If I had a magic wand, I’d give you this: stop seeking permission or worrying about perfection, and instead, trust your intuition, your inner artistic genius, the one who knows the way even when you’re too scared to listen.

3. Community isn’t optional. It’s oxygen.
Yes, you need the “five people” in your creative circle. But you also need peers in the trenches with you. People shaping stories, hitting walls, getting back up.

That shared struggle? It keeps you moving.

Where that leaves this Substack

My goal has always been to help you tell better stories. Storytelling is my passion, and I want to share my knowledge with as many writers as I can.

The Writing Blast experience (along with your survey responses) made something crystal clear:

You want stronger craft.
You want clearer stories.
You want support through the editing process, consistency, motivation, burnout, finishing…you know, the heavy stuff.

And you want guidance from someone who understands both sides of the desk, the writer and the editor.

So that’s where I’m heading.

In the coming months, I’m leaning more into comics. I’m finalizing a book on comics storytelling, and that’s where a lot of my teaching brain is focused right now: visual clarity, pacing, storytelling that resonates.

I’m still here for novel writers. I always will be.
Because the fundamentals overlap.
The mindset overlaps.
The work overlaps.

You can expect more teaching.
More examples.
More process.
More conversations about the real things we all wrestle with.

More opportunities for us to get together, too.
To learn. To share. To grow.

Comics will be the lens.
Storytelling will be the foundation.

And no matter what you create, I’m right here with you. Leading the way, sure, but also walking beside you, helping you finish stories you’re proud of.

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