⤓ Download the Live Writing Session Table of Contents template (PDF) to help track your work (free for all subscribers).
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Thank you
, , , , , and the other 23+ of you who wrote live with me today. If you joined us, you wrote. If you’re watching the replay, you’re about to write. And that is what this is all about.When are the Live Writing Sessions?
Free and paid subscribers can see when I’m live on Substack. I post upcoming sessions in the weekly Micro Monday post. If you see a scheduled reminder, click “I’m Interested” and you’ll be notified when we begin.
The weekly live sessions are always free. Don’t worry if you join late—any amount of focused writing is valuable. Trust the process and your timing. Remember, we always add titles last, so they can do some heavy lifting regardless of when you join.
“Being a writer is about having a really deep relationship with yourself and with your creative process.”
Darien Gee
How the 10-Minute Sessions Work
Quick and focused. Drop in at the start (top of the hour) and leave right after—just 10 minutes out of your day
I arrive 5 minutes early to welcome you and say hello; I stay 5-15 minutes after for questions and a brief craft talk or check-in
We start promptly at the top of the hour with a countdown timer on screen
⤓ Download the Live Writing Session Table of Contents template to help track your work (free for all subscribers).
Latecomers are always welcome—just start writing. The prompt will be on screen along with the countdown timer. Even if you show up with two minutes left, you will have something. Make those two minutes count.
Today’s prompt begins at 7:58
Today’s post-session talk begins at 24:48
Here are some great titles that were shared today:
“Macaroni Love” (about 250 words)
“This Is Not About Lemonade” (482 words)
“The Sweetness of My Grandmother’s Love” (340 words)
“My Kids Never Ate Knuckly” (560 words)
“The Tradition Is the Chocolate” (about 200 words)
“Oysters for Christmas”
“Pancakes and Waffles” (270 words)
“The Carrot Cake” (296 words)
“Peach Cobbler Inheritance” (297 words)
“My Inheritance” (378 words)
Did I miss a title? Are you writing right now? Share yours in the comments below!
“We're not looking for perfection. We’re looking for authenticity and honesty when we show up to do our work.”
Darien Gee
Session #33 Highlights
We wrote for 10 minutes today! And you can, too. Prompt below [7:58]
Who wants to read what you write? Discover how to identify your ideal readers starting with yourself and expanding outward [24:48]
Write for the full 10 minutes even when you find the perfect ending early. Learn why your brain expects the full time and what might be waiting in the wings [21:01]
Master the ritual of titling and word counting every piece. Discover how this practice trains your mind to see possibilities even in messy first drafts [25:07]
Learn to recognize and honor your creative cues as a writer. Understand how to distinguish between what excites you versus what feels like drudgery [27:24]
Discover how micro prose can work for your writing style. Learn techniques for both going for the jugular and creating quiet moments that let readers meet you there [27:52]
Upcoming Workshops & Events
Three Things: Short Prose Conversations with nick flynn on September 12, 2025 at 1:00 pm PT. We’ll be talking about lyric fragments and essential truths. Click here to be notified when we go live in Substack.
Co-working session for paid subscribers on Zoom. September 20, 2025, noon-2:00 pm PT. A goal-focused session with Q&A. Register here.
Food Memoir Class: “I Ate That: Food as Personal History,” a 10-week class at Hugo House using micro memoirs to explore the meals, snacks, and culinary moments that shaped us. Fun fact: in addition to being a writer, I used to have a food blog which I sold after 10+ years for low six figures. Starts September 23, 2025. Register here.
Micro Memoir Workshop: “Short Controlled Bursts” with Abigail Thomas
and me. October 11, 2025. Zoom. Paid subscribers use a coupon code found here for $15 off the regular price.
Paid subscribers, read on to access the prompt + the bonus content from today's post-session conversation. ↓
