Start Here: Live Writing Sessions
What the Live Writing Sessions are, how they work, when they happen, and what’s included
Hello writers of all things micro!
Live Writing Sessions (LWS) are weekly 10-minute writing sessions where we write together on Substack Live. I give you a prompt, we set a timer, and you write for 10 minutes. That’s it. Just 10 minutes out of your day.
The live session is free for everyone; the replay, bonus material, and comments are for paid subscribers only.
Here's what I love about these sessions: they're low stakes, but high value. You show up, you write, you leave. There's no pressure, no judgment—just a space to write. Don’t worry if you join late—any amount of focused writing is valuable. Trust the process and your timing.
In your subscription settings, you can turn on “⏰ 10-Min Live Writing Sessions” to get notifications for posts and when I go live.
Browse past Live Writing Sessions here.
When Are Live Writing Sessions?
I post the dates and times in upcoming sessions of the weekly Micro Monday post. If you see a scheduled reminder, click on the green hyperlink (it may also appear as “I’m Interested”) and you can add it to your calendar.
You can also see when I’m live on Substack from your home feed if you are subscribed to Writer-ish.
How the 10-Minute Sessions Work
It’s quick and focused. Drop in at the start (top of the hour) and leave right after—just 10 minutes out of your day.
Optional: I arrive ~10 minutes early to welcome you and say hello; I stay ~15 minutes after for questions and a brief craft talk or check-in.
We always start promptly at the top of the hour with a countdown timer on screen.
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.
The Three-Step Process
When the timer goes off, take about 60 seconds to:
Give your piece a title.
Count your words.
Add it to your TOC tracker (see next section).
These steps help you build a micro prose writing practice. They train your brain to see all your writing as work with value and possibility. This builds confidence to keep showing up.
Track Your Work with the TOC Tracker
The Table of Contents (TOC) tracker helps you:
keep a record of everything you write
see your individual pieces as a potential body of work
discover patterns and themes across your writing
recognize possibilities you might have missed
treat yourself and your work as serious, important, and in process
The TOC is free for all subscribers! Download it below.
Why 10 Minutes?
It’s doable. You can find 10 minutes even on the busiest days. This constraint removes the “I don’t have time” excuse and helps you ensure that some writing will get done today.
It builds trust. When you honor the 10-minute constraint consistently, your brain learns that 10 minutes will yield something interesting. Be curious about what shows up on the page! This also encourages you to show up more often.
It works. Ten minutes is enough time to produce quality generative work. The more you practice, the better you get at writing effectively in short bursts.
Don’t go over. Even when you’re on a roll, stop at 10 minutes. When you break the boundary because you’re inspired, your brain remembers. Next time, it questions whether 10 minutes is really enough, and you might talk yourself out of writing altogether. You can always return to the piece and keep writing after you’ve titled the piece, counted up your words, and added it to your TOC.
The magic of micro emerges through consistent practice.
Darien Gee
Paid Subscribers Benefits
Paid subscribers receive:
access to the full replay (the current session plus one month access to the archive; the Micro Mastermind tier receives unlimited access)
highlights and key takeaways from the session
writing tips discussed during the post-session talk
a way to connect with me in the comments
Returning to a replay, especially if you are feeling blocked or having a meh writing day, is an easy way to keep the flow going and tap in again to your creative self. Even if you write the same prompt twice, it will not be the same. I have clients who write multiple pieces from a single prompt, over and over again, and build a chapbook or collection that way.
Here For You
There’s no right order and no pressure to keep up. View sessions whenever you could use a boost with your micro prose practice. Join live to ask a question or if you’d like to be in community with like-minded short prose writers. Everything here is designed to support you, your writing, and your micro prose—it’ll be here when you need it. Thank you for being here, and for being a part of the Writer-ish community.
