I’ve been working with the marvelous marketing helper Lauren O’Malley (The Imperfect Network), so look for some changes over the summer to this space and to the way I stay connected to you. One of her guidelines is “Don’t load your newsletter up with a huge, indigestible amount of text;” [like I did last newsletter!] “instead, link to longer pieces.” So I’m changing to this way of updating you. Short pieces of information in the newsletter, linked to a longer post on the website that you can go to and read, if you’re interested. Like this one!

 
James and I spent the first third of July in Ireland at a Hakomi Conference in Wicklow. (Hakomi is the therapeutic modality I often use as a counsellor — it’s also just a marvelous way of being in relationship. There’s a one day workshop in Toronto on the 27th of September if you’re curious. I’ll be going — I’d love to see you there.)

Once the conference was over, we spent 2 and a half days exploring south-east Eire.

One of the first delights was meeting up with AWA facilitator Margaret O’Brien. A week or two before I left for Ireland, I learned that Margaret lived in the same general area that I was going to be visiting.

Margaret and I have been in each other’s workshops often over the last few years, I’m a huge enthusiast about her journalling tool Weather Report and it was a thrill to get my copy signed. Most of all it was just great to be in her presence and to have dinner together. As so many have noted, Zoom is fantastic for getting and staying connected, but there’s something irreplaceable about being in person.

And this is what AWA and Hakomi are both so stunning for: creating deep relationships. As James and I arrived at the hotel where we were to meet Margaret, he asked me, “Do you even know what she looks like?” And a moment later I caught sight of her at the top of the stairs, just as she caught sight of me.

I felt like an incandescent bulb lit up inside my chest, in the region of my heart — and her face looked like she felt the same way. This wasn’t a polite meeting of colleagues. This was finally a meeting of soul friends — all because of AWA and the workshops we’ve done together.

Another activity I’m having a lot of fun with this summer is doing what I can to promote the recently launched book by Claire Ross Dunn: Lost in France. Not only is it a marvelous summer read, I’m in awe of how dedicated Claire is to making sure that the book gets the attention it deserves… and all with a spirit of good humour and so much intelligence. When she’s done promoting this book, she should write a non-fiction book for fiction authors on how to honour the book they’ve written by their dedication to getting it out in the world.

In the far left picture below, I’m posing at Tintern Abbey in Ireland, reading the book. You can follow Claire on Facebook, or Instagram to see how she’s put her marketing brain to work. And go to one of her events! I was at her author talk last week in Stirling. Even though I’ve known Claire for 3 years and followed the birthing of this book, I learned so much about the conception and development of this project. Fascinating! If you’re an author, do yourself a favour: buy the book and read it, and then watch how she’s nurturing it now that it’s out in the world.

 
 
 
 
 
I’m spending some of the quieter months this summer revamping my facilitator and business strategy. Again, thanks to Lauren’s influence, I will be moving my newsletter to Substack soon. Just figuring that out right now, in collegial union with my Launchpad participants, AWA Facilitators:

Ann Hutton
Catherine McGeehin Heilferty
Gina Li
Kiala Givehand
Mary Weatherup
Meg Buerkel Hunn
Renee Sgroi
Vickey Finkley-Brown

We’ve all been working together now for 10 weeks and I’m inspired by their creativity and commitment to bringing the AWA Method to writers through their practices.  This post is, in part, because it’s part of my commitment to them.

That’s it for now. I need to get my newsletter out to you — and if you’re here, it’s probably because I did accomplish that!

In the newsletter I promised an article about how to set you up for success every time you finish a writing session. You may have linked to this article without visiting that one first — if you feel like that would be helpful, here’s the link: https://inkslingers.ca/ending-todays-writing-session-to-make-tomorrows-session-easier/

I hope to see you in Traction tomorrow. If not, have a great summer and we’ll catch up in September writing together.

Warmest,
Sue

One thing that helps me maintain my momentum on the “Politeness” collection is Traction: A Weekly Writing Accountability Series, which I signed up for in May and June.
Each time I am wowed by such a generous close reading of my fresh work, with deeply insightful comments on craft that I hadn’t necessarily noticed. I cannot emphasize enough how essential it is to receive such encouragement, especially when I have a strong tendency to question what I’m doing as I tangle my way into the material. ~ Nicole Zimmerman (from her May 2026 Substack newsletter)

Thank you so much for this incredible resource that is providing me with community and accountability (and some terror, and comparison discomfort, and delight); and helping to give my second draft depth and excitement I didn’t know it could have. Your feedback is so insightful, it often points things out for me I hadn’t even seen, and then sets me up to see it as I write the next chapter. ~ Lauren O’Malley

I hate to overdo your inbox, but I just want to say that I so appreciate your warm and encouraging feedback and how much I learn from it. Thank you! I am also much braver since starting to work with you, and I am really enjoying delving into [the specific resources mentioned during workshops]. ~ Gail Rossbauer-Sutton

Thank you so much for creating and offering Traction. I couldn’t have asked for better writing mates and mentors. It was exactly what I needed to get bum-in-seat once again. I am recharged!
AND I finished my first draft of Occam’s Razor while you and James were in Ireland. It still needs a lot of tweaking but thanks to TRACTION I got my ending. ~ Deb Rankine

I love the fact that I have an assignment and must get it in on time. You are both awesome. The writers in this workshop are stellar. ~ Eileen Melnick

Traction is a productive way to write and be accountable to work on a project you want to bring to completion. Working with prompts and getting feedback in a timely turnaround was another bonus. Can’t wait to take another session. ~ Stephanie Curry

This Traction workshop is A-W-E-S-O-M-E. I’m at a stage in this novel where I’ve got oodles of motivation and thought I didn’t need prompts or feedback. However, your prompts have prompted me to rewrite scenes from a different angle to give them more sparkle. Your insightful feedback shows me what I’ve done right and what I need to tweak. ~ Jacqueline Visconti

Prices include meals unless otherwise noted.

Writers’ Retreat Pricing for Uplands

When your reservation request is confirmed, we will send you an invoice for the deposit (50% of the total). The remainder is due one week before your arrival. Deposit is refundable up until one week before arrival.

4 Thursdays in October or 4 Thursdays in November

October 2025 Registration Form:

November 2025 Registration Form:

Here is an overview of how the sessions will work:

Prepare for your session

1. Turn off your phone and put it out of the room or at least out of sight.
2. Remove any other sources of interruption: close your door, turn off notifications on your computer, etc.
3. Get water/coffee or use the bathroom before the session begins.
4. The zoom room will open 15 minutes before the scheduled start – feel free to sign on early and chat. Silent productive time will begin at 7:30 EST or PST – whichever one you’re attending.
5. Make sure you are visible in the video.  Pyjamas are optional but clothing is not—you should be appropriately covered up. 🙂

Pyjama Writing

Kick off your session

1. Plan what you intend to work on and accomplish in that session.
2. Break your commitment down into specific tasks
3. Post your plan in the chat area
4. Start working at 7:30 when the community goes into silence.

Get to work

1. Work in silence on your tasks. Unless there’s a necessary reason, leave your video on.  It’s so encouraging to look up and see the community all working together.
2. Stay with your posted commitment. If something comes up and your attention needs to go elsewhere, say goodbye.  If you’re in the room, please be working on your intended task.
3. If you need to take a bio break, post in chat that you’re leaving for a few minutes and you’ll be back.

Wrap up

1. Sue will keep the room open for at least one hour.  Before you go, if you choose to, post a sentence or two (no more than 50 words MAX) from what you’ve been working on in the chat. Other writers have a chance to read your work and offer strengths-based feedback in the chat.
2. Be supportive to others, and celebrate your own productive session!

You can register using this form below. Please note – you have to hit “Submit” twice — the first time consolidates your information, the second time registers you.

You can register using this form below. Please note – you have to hit “Submit” twice — the first time consolidates your information, the second time registers you.

A number of writers who have been working in community in PJ writing have reached a stage where they need new eyes on their manuscripts; consequently they’re looking for Beta Readers.

If you’re one of those writers, Sue has created a process whereby you can put out a request for volunteers to read your work and offer feedback.

Here are the resources:

You can fill out this form

Here is a template for your specific email or letter to your beta readers.

Here is a template for general (and specific) instructions on how to be a good beta reader.

Sue will download and distribute the beta reader spreadsheet of options to the PJ community once a month (the final Friday — the day of our extra half hour discussion).

If you are interested in being a Beta Reader for a project, please email the author directly. Also indicate what is the scope of the work you’re willing to do. (ie. you may not have time to commit to an entire manuscript, but perhaps you could read 20,000 or 30,000 words and offer feedback on the opening or the first act.)

FYI: Of course, it is expected that, given the volunteer nature of this, there will be reciprocity. i.e., if you ask people to read your 80,000 word manuscript and offer timely feedback, it is not unreasonable to expect that you will offer to beta read for others.

If you have any questions or suggestions as to how to improve this service/interaction, please let Sue know at sue (at) inkslingers.ca