Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

On a sunny spring day, I sat with seven homeschoolers on a stretch of grass for a creative writing session. The older kids started to fidget before we even started. "What are we doing out here?" "We’re going to see what’s around us." A fifth grader pointed with his pen. "I see sky, clouds, cars, building. Done." The others laughed. "We’re going to be quiet and listen, too," I added. "I hear birds. Done." More chuckles. "Before we write," I began, "Let’s look at the sky. What color is it?" Someone said blue. "What kind of blue? There are so many blues. Is it dark blue like these navy pants? Or is it blue like turquoise? Or is it the kind of blue you want to swim in? Or the color of your mom’s eyes?" They looked up. "Write down phrases that describe this particular blue at this particular moment of this particular day. Compare it to other things that are blue." They studied the sky, and one by one, each started writing. "What else do you see—you mentioned clouds. What kind of clouds? Puffy white cumulus clouds or light and filmy cirrus clouds?" Group Your Senses We continued exploring multi-sensory details. They grouped their ideas by sense, so each stanza of the poem they were going to write began: I see… I hear… I smell… I touch... I taste... This simple "senses" poem isn't just for kids. You could try sensory writing, too. Sensory Writing Practice Slow down and tune into the space around you, ideally outdoors. Look, listen, inhale deeply. What do you notice at this particular moment of this particular day? Write down keywords and adjectives. Capture images and sounds. What smells do you breathe in? Compare those details to something else. You'll be crafting metaphors with nouns and more seemingly unrelated nouns that end up enhancing meaning. Touch different textures. Taste something—well, taste what's appropriate (don't eat anything poisonous)! As you capture the particulars, you'll realize that this moment is one-of-a-kind, and you're writing about it using all your senses, as those kids did. Pull Your Senses Together When you realize the poem is coming together, group the sensory details you've described to form those stanzas: I see… I hear… I smell… I touch... I taste... Rearrange as needed, of course. Write an opening line if you like. Maybe two. Write a closing line if you like. Maybe two. Maybe three. Read it aloud. Sensory Writing for Life You've preserved in multi-sensory detail a moment of your wild and precious life. And you've practiced a skill you can use in all your writing to bring your stories and scenes to life for your reader with this multi-sensory detail. Years ago I attended a writing workshop and the leader referenced Flannery O’Connor, paraphrasing a section of “The Nature and Aim of Fiction” from ​Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose​: A lady who writes, and whom I admire very much, wrote me that she had learned from Flaubert that it takes at least three activated sensuous strokes to make an object real; and she believes that this is connected with our having five senses. If you’re deprived of any of them, you’re in a bad way, but if you’re deprived of more than two at once, you almost aren’t present. (Emphasis mine, 69) The workshop leader held up an imaginary artist's brush and said, "One, two, three...and you're done!" Include in your poetry and prose—fiction or nonfiction—at least three sensory details and your reader will be in the scene with you. Read It Aloud and Applaud Right there in the grass on that day with the homeschooled kids, they arranged their poems, scribbling into spiral notebooks balanced on bony knees. When we brought them back inside, each child read their poem aloud for the other mom, who had stayed inside while we wrote. We applauded after each poem. One of them read a simple series of images and metaph...

On a sunny spring day, I sat with seven homeschoolers on a stretch of grass for a creative writing session. The older kids started to fidget before we even started. "What are we doing out here?" "We’re going to see what’s around us." A fifth grader pointed with his pen. "I see sky, clouds, cars, building. Done." The others laughed. "We’re going to be quiet and listen, too," I added. "I hear birds. Done." More chuckles. "Before we write," I began, "Let’s look at the sky. What color is it?" Someone said blue. "What kind of blue? There are so many blues. Is it dark blue like these navy pants? Or is it blue like turquoise? Or is it the kind of blue you want to swim in? Or the color of your mom’s eyes?" They looked up. "Write down phrases that describe this particular blue at this particular moment of this particular day. Compare it to other things that are blue." They studied the sky, and one by one, each started writing. "What else do you see—you mentioned clouds. What kind of clouds? Puffy white cumulus clouds or light and filmy cirrus clouds?" Group Your Senses We continued exploring multi-sensory details. They grouped their ideas by sense, so each stanza of the poem they were going to write began: I see… I hear… I smell… I touch... I taste... This simple "senses" poem isn't just for kids. You could try sensory writing, too. Sensory Writing Practice Slow down and tune into the space around you, ideally outdoors. Look, listen, inhale deeply. What do you notice at this particular moment of this particular day? Write down keywords and adjectives. Capture images and sounds. What smells do you breathe in? Compare those details to something else. You'll be crafting metaphors with nouns and more seemingly unrelated nouns that end up enhancing meaning. Touch different textures. Taste something—well, taste what's appropriate (don't eat anything poisonous)! As you capture the particulars, you'll realize that this moment is one-of-a-kind, and you're writing about it using all your senses, as those kids did. Pull Your Senses Together When you realize the poem is coming together, group the sensory details you've described to form those stanzas: I see… I hear… I smell… I touch... I taste... Rearrange as needed, of course. Write an opening line if you like. Maybe two. Write a closing line if you like. Maybe two. Maybe three. Read it aloud. Sensory Writing for Life You've preserved in multi-sensory detail a moment of your wild and precious life. And you've practiced a skill you can use in all your writing to bring your stories and scenes to life for your reader with this multi-sensory detail. Years ago I attended a writing workshop and the leader referenced Flannery O’Connor, paraphrasing a section of “The Nature and Aim of Fiction” from ​Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose​: A lady who writes, and whom I admire very much, wrote me that she had learned from Flaubert that it takes at least three activated sensuous strokes to make an object real; and she believes that this is connected with our having five senses. If you’re deprived of any of them, you’re in a bad way, but if you’re deprived of more than two at once, you almost aren’t present. (Emphasis mine, 69) The workshop leader held up an imaginary artist's brush and said, "One, two, three...and you're done!" Include in your poetry and prose—fiction or nonfiction—at least three sensory details and your reader will be in the scene with you. Read It Aloud and Applaud Right there in the grass on that day with the homeschooled kids, they arranged their poems, scribbling into spiral notebooks balanced on bony knees. When we brought them back inside, each child read their poem aloud for the other mom, who had stayed inside while we wrote. We applauded after each poem. One of them read a simple series of images and metaph...

Jennifer Dukes Lee ​invites you to transform into a better writer​ through “beautifully ruthless self-discovery.” It starts in the pages of your journal. In a recent interview, she delves into the therapeutic benefits of daily gratitude journaling and its potential to rewire our brains. By writing down things we’re grateful for, our minds seek out the positive. Jennifer recommends guided journals when we're stymied by writer's block. The blank page of a traditional journal can overwhelm us. What should we say? Where should we start? Guided journals aren't blank pages—they provide prompts and structure when you’re stuck or unsure of what to write. She stresses that journaling serves as a valuable tool for self-discovery and creative expression. When you use journaling to explore your experiences, memories, and struggles, you can weave your discoveries into your writing. This deep dive into the human condition adds depth and authenticity to all our writing: poetry, creative nonfiction, online writing, and fiction. Jennifer introduces questions from her guided journal: some profound, some silly. Either way, they open you up and lead to deeper self-knowledge. Some of your journal entries will be personal and remain private, just as her recent book title suggests: Stuff I’d Only Tell God. Other entries you could share with a family member or friend, creating deeper connections through your vulnerability. You’ll see how journaling unleashes your creative potential and invites you to be more open, leaving a lasting impact on yourself, your closest relationships, and your readers. Listen in on our discussion—and start journaling—to become a more authentic and impactful writer. Meet Jennifer Dukes Lee Jennifer Dukes Lee is a bestselling author, thinker, and question-asker from Iowa. Her friends say they're scared to sit alone in a room with her because they end up telling her things they never intended to say. She is both proud of this fact and also a little annoyed at how nosy she can be. She put a bunch of her favorite questions into a journal called Stuff I’d Only Tell God. It’s like your own little confession booth. She’s also the author of Growing Slow and It’s All Under Control. Subscribe to her newsletter Top Ten with Jen to get the inside scoop on stuff that is blowing her mind, encouraging her heart, and refreshing her soul (subscribe and you'll also get immediate access to free resources): https://jenniferdukeslee.com/subscribe/ Connect with Jennifer: Learn more at jenniferdukeslee.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferDukesLee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferdukeslee/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenniferdukeslee Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dukeslee/ Subscribe to Top Ten with Jen: https://jenniferdukeslee.com/subscribe/ https://youtu.be/cHOo61S9W4s Time Stamps The whole interview is packed with inspiration and ideas, but perhaps these time stamps help you navigate to places in our discussion that may seem more interesting. 5:29 Courageous honesty leads to self-discovery.7:21 Journaling and memory keeping.8:53 Journaling is essential for writing.11:23 Gratitude journaling and its impact.14:48 Journaling can inspire and inform.15:01 Inspiration from journaling.16:27 Outline and plan your writing.19:06 The short form writing process.22:03 Journaling preserves memories and emotions.24:09 Capturing memories through journaling.26:33 Journaling sparks creative self-discovery.29:08 Writing about interesting moments.29:35 Birds and dreaming.31:38 Trust the spark, capture it.35:56 Treating journals with different purposes.37:48 Social media and storytelling.41:33 Battle with depression and anxiety. Transcript (Transcripts are reviewed and lightly edited.) Ann KroekerI'm Ann Kroeker, writing coach. If you're tuning in for the first time, welcome! If you're a regular, welcome back.

Jennifer Dukes Lee ​invites you to transform into a better writer​ through “beautifully ruthless self-discovery.” It starts in the pages of your journal. In a recent interview, she delves into the therapeutic benefits of daily gratitude journaling and its potential to rewire our brains. By writing down things we’re grateful for, our minds seek out the positive. Jennifer recommends guided journals when we're stymied by writer's block. The blank page of a traditional journal can overwhelm us. What should we say? Where should we start? Guided journals aren't blank pages—they provide prompts and structure when you’re stuck or unsure of what to write. She stresses that journaling serves as a valuable tool for self-discovery and creative expression. When you use journaling to explore your experiences, memories, and struggles, you can weave your discoveries into your writing. This deep dive into the human condition adds depth and authenticity to all our writing: poetry, creative nonfiction, online writing, and fiction. Jennifer introduces questions from her guided journal: some profound, some silly. Either way, they open you up and lead to deeper self-knowledge. Some of your journal entries will be personal and remain private, just as her recent book title suggests: Stuff I’d Only Tell God. Other entries you could share with a family member or friend, creating deeper connections through your vulnerability. You’ll see how journaling unleashes your creative potential and invites you to be more open, leaving a lasting impact on yourself, your closest relationships, and your readers. Listen in on our discussion—and start journaling—to become a more authentic and impactful writer. Meet Jennifer Dukes Lee Jennifer Dukes Lee is a bestselling author, thinker, and question-asker from Iowa. Her friends say they're scared to sit alone in a room with her because they end up telling her things they never intended to say. She is both proud of this fact and also a little annoyed at how nosy she can be. She put a bunch of her favorite questions into a journal called Stuff I’d Only Tell God. It’s like your own little confession booth. She’s also the author of Growing Slow and It’s All Under Control. Subscribe to her newsletter Top Ten with Jen to get the inside scoop on stuff that is blowing her mind, encouraging her heart, and refreshing her soul (subscribe and you'll also get immediate access to free resources): https://jenniferdukeslee.com/subscribe/ Connect with Jennifer: Learn more at jenniferdukeslee.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferDukesLee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferdukeslee/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenniferdukeslee Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dukeslee/ Subscribe to Top Ten with Jen: https://jenniferdukeslee.com/subscribe/ https://youtu.be/cHOo61S9W4s Time Stamps The whole interview is packed with inspiration and ideas, but perhaps these time stamps help you navigate to places in our discussion that may seem more interesting. 5:29 Courageous honesty leads to self-discovery.7:21 Journaling and memory keeping.8:53 Journaling is essential for writing.11:23 Gratitude journaling and its impact.14:48 Journaling can inspire and inform.15:01 Inspiration from journaling.16:27 Outline and plan your writing.19:06 The short form writing process.22:03 Journaling preserves memories and emotions.24:09 Capturing memories through journaling.26:33 Journaling sparks creative self-discovery.29:08 Writing about interesting moments.29:35 Birds and dreaming.31:38 Trust the spark, capture it.35:56 Treating journals with different purposes.37:48 Social media and storytelling.41:33 Battle with depression and anxiety. Transcript (Transcripts are reviewed and lightly edited.) Ann KroekerI'm Ann Kroeker, writing coach. If you're tuning in for the first time, welcome! If you're a regular, welcome back.

During the early years of parenthood, I wasted a lot of time feeling sorry for myself. Why can't I have my own dedicated writing space? Why can't I have blocks of uninterrupted time? The overwhelming demands of being a stay-at-home mom almost shut down my creativity. In time, thank heavens, I stopped griping and started looking for solutions. My idea? Instead of waiting for the perfect conditions, I snatched time. No Time to Write? Snatch Every Opportunity I wrote when the kids were napping. I wrote late at night. I wrote when they were engrossed in a movie. I squeezed writing into the tiny openings in my days. Sometimes I only had five minutes, but I wrote. By making the most of a few free moments here and there, I kept my writing identity alive. Contain the Creativity This spontaneous approach made for a messy writing life, however. I left a trail of pens throughout the house. I scratched fleeting phrases onto the backs of envelopes. I scribbled a line of poetry onto a Wendy's receipt and shoved it into our minivan's cup holders. If I could go back, I would organize my writing ideas in one central container. I needed a master notebook for all those scraps, or a notes app on my phone to tap out those ideas. That would have been smart. I have no idea where that Wendy's receipt ended up, so that lyrical line is lost forever. Please learn from my mistake and find an official container for your work. Creative Container Ideas How you corral and contain your ideas is totally up to you—there’s no single approach for every writer. I recommend you decide on something you can carry with you all the time. For example, a simple manila envelope you stuff into an oversized bag that goes with you everywhere could contain all your scraps of paper if you scribble on whatever’s nearby. An accordion file or a 3-ring binder with folders and dividers snapped into it are more organized versions of that. If you’re more suited to digital options, you can use any number of apps for iOs or Android. For example, in this interview, Bryan Collins of Become a Writer Today talks about how he uses Day One, a journaling app, for all of his writing notes, as well. Seize Tiny Moments Despite the mess, I realized a way forward in the midst of motherhood with no time to write: I seized tiny moments. I learned that a single sentence or well-crafted phrase composed in five minutes could lay the foundation for a future manuscript. As a result, I made solid progress on project after project. I built a respectable portfolio that led to a respectable freelance writing career. Time and opportunities opened up as my kids grew more independent. I wrote books, joined writing communities, worked as an editor, and, as you know, established a coaching business. All of that was possible because I made the most of five minutes here and five minutes there. That approach helped my “writing self” survive those early childrearing years and, in 2014, four years of extreme eldercare chaos. Thankfully, expectations have eased up, and my current life stage permits me blocks of time to write, but you know what? I still try to seize every opportunity. To this day, I write during those tiny moments that free up—it keeps me on track toward achieving my writing goals. If you don't already, I hope you try it yourself next time you feel you have no time to write: Write whenever and wherever you can...for as long as you can. Enough Stolen Sentences and a Book Is Born ​In her book The Right to Write, Julia Cameron says: The ‘if-I-had-time’ lie is a convenient way to ignore the fact that novels require being written and that writing happens a sentence at a time. Sentences can happen in a moment. Enough stolen moments, enough stolen sentences, and a novel is born–without the luxury of time…Yes, it is daunting to think of finding time to write an entire novel,

During the early years of parenthood, I wasted a lot of time feeling sorry for myself. Why can't I have my own dedicated writing space? Why can't I have blocks of uninterrupted time? The overwhelming demands of being a stay-at-home mom almost shut down my creativity. In time, thank heavens, I stopped griping and started looking for solutions. My idea? Instead of waiting for the perfect conditions, I snatched time. No Time to Write? Snatch Every Opportunity I wrote when the kids were napping. I wrote late at night. I wrote when they were engrossed in a movie. I squeezed writing into the tiny openings in my days. Sometimes I only had five minutes, but I wrote. By making the most of a few free moments here and there, I kept my writing identity alive. Contain the Creativity This spontaneous approach made for a messy writing life, however. I left a trail of pens throughout the house. I scratched fleeting phrases onto the backs of envelopes. I scribbled a line of poetry onto a Wendy's receipt and shoved it into our minivan's cup holders. If I could go back, I would organize my writing ideas in one central container. I needed a master notebook for all those scraps, or a notes app on my phone to tap out those ideas. That would have been smart. I have no idea where that Wendy's receipt ended up, so that lyrical line is lost forever. Please learn from my mistake and find an official container for your work. Creative Container Ideas How you corral and contain your ideas is totally up to you—there’s no single approach for every writer. I recommend you decide on something you can carry with you all the time. For example, a simple manila envelope you stuff into an oversized bag that goes with you everywhere could contain all your scraps of paper if you scribble on whatever’s nearby. An accordion file or a 3-ring binder with folders and dividers snapped into it are more organized versions of that. If you’re more suited to digital options, you can use any number of apps for iOs or Android. For example, in this interview, Bryan Collins of Become a Writer Today talks about how he uses Day One, a journaling app, for all of his writing notes, as well. Seize Tiny Moments Despite the mess, I realized a way forward in the midst of motherhood with no time to write: I seized tiny moments. I learned that a single sentence or well-crafted phrase composed in five minutes could lay the foundation for a future manuscript. As a result, I made solid progress on project after project. I built a respectable portfolio that led to a respectable freelance writing career. Time and opportunities opened up as my kids grew more independent. I wrote books, joined writing communities, worked as an editor, and, as you know, established a coaching business. All of that was possible because I made the most of five minutes here and five minutes there. That approach helped my “writing self” survive those early childrearing years and, in 2014, four years of extreme eldercare chaos. Thankfully, expectations have eased up, and my current life stage permits me blocks of time to write, but you know what? I still try to seize every opportunity. To this day, I write during those tiny moments that free up—it keeps me on track toward achieving my writing goals. If you don't already, I hope you try it yourself next time you feel you have no time to write: Write whenever and wherever you can...for as long as you can. Enough Stolen Sentences and a Book Is Born ​In her book The Right to Write, Julia Cameron says: The ‘if-I-had-time’ lie is a convenient way to ignore the fact that novels require being written and that writing happens a sentence at a time. Sentences can happen in a moment. Enough stolen moments, enough stolen sentences, and a novel is born–without the luxury of time…Yes, it is daunting to think of finding time to write an entire novel,

Nearly everyone who writes personal stories in any form has agonized over how much to share. Will writing about an issue from childhood break Mom's heart? Should I change the name of a high school teacher? The next-door neighbor? The dog? The children? Are the hyacinths blooming by the mailbox worth mentioning? We write. We worry. Is this naval gazing or vulnerability? Will people feel I'm airing the dirty laundry or sharing my own struggles so others might find healing? https://youtu.be/bzd7a8J4UXc Stories Bring YOU into Your Writing But...stories! Goodness, stories set your projects apart from all other essays, articles, and books, becauseonly youhad that encounter, that experience, that struggle, thattransformation. When you make a claim and support it with your own life story,no one elsecould have written that piece. Stories create connection between reader and writer. Stories convey universal truths through specific situations. You don't have to share your darkest eras or most embarrassing moments to offer transformative stories to readers. You don't have to bare all to be a generous and effective storyteller. You get to choosewhat to share with the public on a blog or in an article...andyou get to choosewhat will live only in a journal, shoved under your mattress. Our Three Lives A few years ago, I found a quote from author Gabriel García Márquez, suggesting we have three lives: A Public life A Private life A Secret life ANewsweekarticlewrites: About [Márquez's] own romantic passions, though, the author remained tight-lipped. He told his biographer Gerald Martin "with the expression on his face of an undertaker determinedly closing a coffin lid back down, that 'everyone has three lives: a public life, a private life and a secret life'." When Martin asked if Márquez might give him access into the latter, he replied: "No, never."1 ​Kenneth Samples atReasons to Believedescribes these three lives: A Public Life:This is the side of themselves that people present at work, church, civic arenas, and other public contexts. This is how people are generally seen in their daily life outside the home. A Private Life:This is the side of life that people share with family and close friends. Only a person’s inner circle...gets to see this “version.” A Secret Life:This is the side of life known only to an individual. In can include one’s private thoughts and secret actions. People may be aware of their secret life, but that is not always the case. The reality of the secret life may be unknown even to the individual person himself for all of us have blind spots that stand in the way of true self-realization2 As writers, we are in control. Like Márquez, we get to choose the stories that will be part of the essay, the memoir, the interview—the public self. And we get to choose the stories that will never be told—that will remain part of our secret life. Isn't that freeing? You get to write, andyou get to choose. My Stories — Our Stories My primary newsletter is my coaching newsletter. It's how I show up in your inbox to support your writing goals and encourage you on your writing journey. I share as much as possible to help you make progress. You may have noticed I share very few personal stories. I guess I default to keeping a lot of my life out of the public eye. To explore that, I decided to launch a side project on Substack that I'm callingStory Hatchery. The premise? We can outwit AI and learn more about ourselves by capturing and crafting our stories. We need a safe place to do that, a haven for storytelling. That'sStory Hatchery. I'll be writing my own stories, using prompts I'll share with you. You'll get a peek at my writing process, including drafts leading up to a final version. I'll pass along storytelling wisdom from people who inspire me.

Nearly everyone who writes personal stories in any form has agonized over how much to share. Will writing about an issue from childhood break Mom's heart? Should I change the name of a high school teacher? The next-door neighbor? The dog? The children? Are the hyacinths blooming by the mailbox worth mentioning? We write. We worry. Is this naval gazing or vulnerability? Will people feel I'm airing the dirty laundry or sharing my own struggles so others might find healing? https://youtu.be/bzd7a8J4UXc Stories Bring YOU into Your Writing But...stories! Goodness, stories set your projects apart from all other essays, articles, and books, becauseonly youhad that encounter, that experience, that struggle, thattransformation. When you make a claim and support it with your own life story,no one elsecould have written that piece. Stories create connection between reader and writer. Stories convey universal truths through specific situations. You don't have to share your darkest eras or most embarrassing moments to offer transformative stories to readers. You don't have to bare all to be a generous and effective storyteller. You get to choosewhat to share with the public on a blog or in an article...andyou get to choosewhat will live only in a journal, shoved under your mattress. Our Three Lives A few years ago, I found a quote from author Gabriel García Márquez, suggesting we have three lives: A Public life A Private life A Secret life ANewsweekarticlewrites: About [Márquez's] own romantic passions, though, the author remained tight-lipped. He told his biographer Gerald Martin "with the expression on his face of an undertaker determinedly closing a coffin lid back down, that 'everyone has three lives: a public life, a private life and a secret life'." When Martin asked if Márquez might give him access into the latter, he replied: "No, never."1 ​Kenneth Samples atReasons to Believedescribes these three lives: A Public Life:This is the side of themselves that people present at work, church, civic arenas, and other public contexts. This is how people are generally seen in their daily life outside the home. A Private Life:This is the side of life that people share with family and close friends. Only a person’s inner circle...gets to see this “version.” A Secret Life:This is the side of life known only to an individual. In can include one’s private thoughts and secret actions. People may be aware of their secret life, but that is not always the case. The reality of the secret life may be unknown even to the individual person himself for all of us have blind spots that stand in the way of true self-realization2 As writers, we are in control. Like Márquez, we get to choose the stories that will be part of the essay, the memoir, the interview—the public self. And we get to choose the stories that will never be told—that will remain part of our secret life. Isn't that freeing? You get to write, andyou get to choose. My Stories — Our Stories My primary newsletter is my coaching newsletter. It's how I show up in your inbox to support your writing goals and encourage you on your writing journey. I share as much as possible to help you make progress. You may have noticed I share very few personal stories. I guess I default to keeping a lot of my life out of the public eye. To explore that, I decided to launch a side project on Substack that I'm callingStory Hatchery. The premise? We can outwit AI and learn more about ourselves by capturing and crafting our stories. We need a safe place to do that, a haven for storytelling. That'sStory Hatchery. I'll be writing my own stories, using prompts I'll share with you. You'll get a peek at my writing process, including drafts leading up to a final version. I'll pass along storytelling wisdom from people who inspire me.

As writers, we spend countless hours crafting and refining our work to perfection. We labor over word choices, sentence structure, and the perfect flow. Despite our best efforts—even after a pass through Grammarly—typos slip through. We tend to spot them in other people's projects, even if we miss them in our own. How do you react when you spot a typo in someone else's writing? Do you assume they're unprofessional and lose faith in them? Or do you extend grace and understand that mistakes happen? Automatic Unsubscribe One time I spoke with a professional in the creative space who said if she sees a typo, it’s an automatic unsubscribe. "Seriously?” I exclaimed. “You don't even give them three strikes?" "No, that's it. I unsubscribe on the spot." I strive toward excellence and aim for perfect prose, but if I'm in a hurry or make a last-minute change, I miss details. I'm sure you've noticed them in blog posts and emails. "Well,” I told her, “I suppose you aren't on my list, because I send out notes with errors sometimes." She shrugged. That's her rule and she stands by it. Part of me respected the high standard she set. The other part of me craved grace for my shortcomings. Typos Are Human As I said, even the most meticulous writers miss typos from time to time. In my rush to click "publish," I'll skip a step in the writing and editing process. For example, I try to allow time to run my emails and blog posts through Grammarly. Then I look at the clock and realize I'm out of time, and I trust my eye to catch any issues. Sure enough: those are the days a typo slips through. As a writer striving to produce polished writing, I need to establish a process that slows me down long enough to follow through. As a reader spotting typos in other people's work, I hope to offer the same grace I long for from others who spot my mistakes. One of my online friends is a proofreader, and her discerning eye caught errors on my Everything page. Instead of instantly unsubscribing and unfollowing me, she reached out with a gentle tone and kindly listed each one—it was a gift! She understood that typos are human. Better yet, she offered her expertise to make my work stronger. Consider the Context When it comes to typos, context matters. Typos in a casual email or social media post aren't as concerning as typos in a published article or book. And please don't judge my writing ability when we're texting. Between autocorrect and fat fingers, my messages are a mess! One Last Look Writing to family and friends is one thing; writing for the public is another. We can take steps to catch embarrassing blips before they're released to the world wide web. Proofreading is crucial to the writing process and ensures polished work. The first place to notice issues is when you're writing. Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, and Google Docs all track grammar and spelling issues with squiggly lines. After revisiting what they've marked and making any changes, you can run your final draft through a program like: Grammarly ProWritingAid Hemingwayapp.com Then read it aloud. Vocalizing each word will catch problems that our mind skips over when reading silently. For high-stakes projects—queries, pitches, book proposals, manuscripts—consider hiring a human editor and proofreader. Practice Gracious Typo Spotting Not every project warrants that much attention. But relying on self-editing means some of our work will miss a letter, word, or phrase. We'll use "it's" where we should have used "its" or "your" instead of "you're." Unless you're asked to edit or proofread someone's work, overlook their misspellings or misplaced modifiers. Feel pleased you recognized the error—after all, it means you're developing an editor's eye and ear. But when we approach typos with grace, we connect with other writers as human beings. Maybe—maybe—if we know the person well,

As writers, we spend countless hours crafting and refining our work to perfection. We labor over word choices, sentence structure, and the perfect flow. Despite our best efforts—even after a pass through Grammarly—typos slip through. As writers, we tend to spot them in other people's projects, even if we miss them in our own. How do you react when you spot a typo in someone else's writing? Do you assume they're unprofessional and lose faith in them? Or do you extend grace and understand that mistakes happen? Automatic Unsubscribe One time I spoke with a professional in the creative space who said if she sees a typo, it’s an automatic unsubscribe. "Seriously?” I exclaimed. “You don't even give them three strikes?" "No, that's it. I unsubscribe on the spot." I strive toward excellence and aim for perfect prose, but if I'm in a hurry or make a last-minute change, I miss details. I'm sure you've noticed them in blog posts and emails. "Well,” I told her, “I suppose you aren't on my list, because I send out notes with errors sometimes." She shrugged. That's her rule and she stands by it. Part of me respected the high standard she set. The other part of me craved grace for my shortcomings. Typos Are Human As I said, even the most meticulous writers miss typos from time to time. In my rush to click "publish," I'll skip a step in the writing and editing process. For example, I try to allow time to run my emails and blog posts through Grammarly. Then I look at the clock and realize I'm out of time, and I trust my eye to catch any issues. Sure enough: those are the days a typo slips through. As a writer striving to produce polished writing, I need to establish a process that slows me down long enough to follow through. As a reader spotting typos in other people's work, I hope to offer the same grace I long for from others who spot my mistakes. One of my online friends is a proofreader, and her discerning eye caught errors on my Everything page. Instead of instantly unsubscribing and unfollowing me, she reached out with a gentle tone and kindly listed each one—it was a gift! She understood that typos are human. Better yet, she offered her expertise to make my work stronger. Consider the Context When it comes to typos, context matters. Typos in a casual email or social media post aren't as concerning as typos in a published article or book. And please don't judge my writing ability when we're texting. Between autocorrect and fat fingers, my messages are a mess! One Last Look Writing to family and friends is one thing; writing for the public is another. We can take steps to catch embarrassing blips before they're released to the world wide web. Proofreading is crucial to the writing process and ensures polished work. The first place to notice issues is when you're writing. Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, and Google Docs all track grammar and spelling issues with squiggly lines. After revisiting what they've marked and making any changes, you can run your final draft through a program like: Grammarly ProWritingAid Hemingwayapp.com Then read it aloud. Vocalizing each word will catch problems that our mind skips over when reading silently. For high-stakes projects—queries, pitches, book proposals, manuscripts—consider hiring a human editor and proofreader. Practice Gracious Typo Spotting Not every project warrants that much attention. But relying on self-editing means some of our work will miss a letter, word, or phrase. We'll use "it's" where we should have used "its" or "your" instead of "you're." Unless you're asked to edit or proofread someone's work, overlook their misspellings or misplaced modifiers. Feel pleased you recognized the error—after all, it means you're developing an editor's eye and ear. But when we approach typos with grace, we connect with other writers as human beings. Maybe—maybe—if we know the person well,