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Hi I live in Houston, and we were hit by hurricane Beryl on Monday. Much of the city is still without power. Downed trees block major roads. Hurricanes always bring a lot of gratitude. Gratitude that my loved ones are safe; gratitude for power, especially air conditioning; and gratitude for the lineman who are working 24 hours a day to restore power. Most of all, hurricanes leave me optimistic. Houstonians are resilient and caring. The minute the storm had passed, everyone was out in their yard picking up debris. Neighbors checked on each other. Folks with chainsaws chopped up everyone's branches. People took care of their elderly neighbors’ yards first. Houstonians fed each other and those with power open their doors to people needing to cool down and charge their phones. We are at our very best when things are at their worst. This incredible resilience got me thinking about our stories. For stories to be compelling we must put our characters through the worst to see them triumph by being the best. Look at your current project. Are you torturing your characters enough? Are they going through challenging, tough experiences that will keep audiences on the edge of their seat to see if they can overcome? What can you do to multiply your characters’ obstacles? Think of an extreme situation and make it worse. Is it time to put your hero in the middle of a hurricane, blizzard, or in a burning building? What is the worst thing that could happen? Let me know what you come up with. In Case You Missed ItPrioritizing Freedom in Your Career Unlocking the Power of Universal Fantasy How to Reignite Your Creativity When You're Having a Bad Day Cheers, Lindsey Thanks for reading! You can share this article here. Was this week's newsletter useful? Help me to improve! Click on a link to vote: 👍Super! - 😐 Meh - 👎 Not my jam |
Hi, I’m Lindsey. I love helping people discover their superpower, create compelling content, and feel excited about pitching and networking. I teach people how to pitch like a boss, network like a VIP, and write like an Oscar winner. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for actionable creativity and career tips.
Hi Reader, Wishing you a happy, prosperous, creative 2026! Here's how to set yourself up for success in 2026: How to Schedule Your Writing Year Like a Pro Do These Three Things Every Week to Grow Your Career Steal My Creative Calendar & Fill Your Feed All Year Be Easy to Find: Three Quick Things to Fix Improve Your Writing Craft with These Podcasts and Books Use These Tools to Make More Money in Your Writer Business Start Your Newsletter In Case You Missed It The Power of Underdog Stories The...
Hi Reader, Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday! Christmas Movie Merriment How to Write a Hallmark Christmas Movie Diehard is a Christmas Movie Deck the Halls with Story Beats In Case You Missed It The Power of Underdog Stories The Genius of Grimm's Fairy Tales How to Schedule Your Writing Year Like a Pro Do These Three Things Every Week to Grow Your Career Steal My Creative Calendar & Fill Your Feed All Year Cheers, Lindsey Thanks for reading! You can share this article HERE
Hi Reader, Let’s make our stories click in 2026! Pull out your notebooks. Open your calendar. We’re about to turn that swirling idea confetti in your brain into an actual plan. (Yes, a fun plan.) Plan Your Creative Projects We all have a stash of stories we want to tell. This year, we’re getting them out of your head and onto paper where they belong. Step 1: Do a lightning list. On a blank sheet of paper, jot down as many story ideas as you can. Go fast. No judging, no overthinking, no “is...