Critique conversations can sometimes be complicated by the reader’s intention rather than serving the author of the piece being critiqued. This month, a small cohort of Stop Writing Alone members is trying out a new process for critique involving some tools like Writing Notes (discussed in episode 185), and Peer Letters, to help writing groups remain focused on the true purpose of critiquing each other’s writing: helping each writer to best bring their vision for their writing to life. In this episode, Nicole describes how she has used this tool in the Stop Writing Alone Critique Crew to serve the writers she is reading

COMPLETE SHOW NOTES: 

https://stopwritingalone.substack.com/p/episode-186-writing-peer-letters#details

As the Stop Writing Alone Critique Crew has begun to experiment with a new way to critique our writing, I have discovered a tool in “writing notes” that I wanted to share with the whole community. “Writing Notes” are meant to be shared with readers of your work to help focus their feedback on what you actually need to help your WIP become exactly what you’ve dreamed, but I have also found that these notes are helping me stay focused as well. This week I shared my process in writing my writing notes and challenge you to take the time to write them for your own WIP.

COMPLETE SHOW NOTES:

https://stopwritingalone.substack.com/p/episode-185-writing-notes-for-critique#details

AI is here, do you think ChatGPT is a writer’s friend or foe? This week Nicole sits down with three writers who have dove in to use tools like ChatGPT and Jasper to ask them about their experiences. Jackie Dana, Heather Huffman and Susie Taylor share how they have used these tools in their fiction, content creation, research and more. Tune in to hear about why you might be celebrating this new tech and what, if anything, you still have to fear. 

COMPLETE SHOW NOTES HERE: 

https://stopwritingalone.substack.com/p/episode-184-is-chatgpt-ai-a-writers#details

The debate over writing prompts continues on, but is there a different way to look at prompts when you choose to do them IN community? I think so! This week I discuss why I think this “Writing Fitness with Friends” activity is something all writers should consider adding to their practice.

Find the complete show notes for this episode and SUBSCRIBE to the The Stop Writing Alone Community here:

https://stopwritingalone.substack.com/p/episode-183-writing-fitness-with#details

It’s bound to happen: you are going to write something truly terrible. What do you do when your writing sucks? Nicole came face-to-face with this reality recently and recounted the experience in this week’s episode. Listen in to hear what she felt, what she learned from it, and what she’s going to do next.

Complete show notes found at:

https://stopwritingalone.substack.com/p/episode-182-when-your-writing-sucks#details

In this week’s episode Nicole discusses her quest to find a group of writers to help design the next new offering in Stop Writing Alone: Critique. As announced earlier in the week in the substack article titled, I’m Looking For My Critique Crew, Nicole is inviting community members to be a part of a multi-month discovery, discussion and design project including a reading group, Zoom calls, as participating in critique.

To Find the complete show notes for Episode 181: Looking for a Critique Crew, go to the Stop Writing Alone Substack page:

https://stopwritingalone.substack.com/p/episode-181-looking-for-a-critique?sd=pf

Episode 180 Word Power 

In this week’s episode Nicole discusses the word power she will be leaning on throughout the year for personal motivation as well as writing. (continue reading...)

Complete show notes for episode 180 can be found on the Stop Writing Alone Substack page:

https://stopwritingalone.substack.com/p/episode-180-word-power?sd=pf

Show Notes can be found at:

https://stopwritingalone.substack.com/p/episode-178-6-stretches-and-exercises#details

Show Notes can be found on the Stop Writing Alone Substack page, here: https://stopwritingalone.substack.com/p/episode-177-story-structure-for-discovery?sd=pf

HAPPY CAMPERS CLUB IS BACK!!

What is Happy Campers Club? In short, it’s two months of the support, guidance and writing community you need to transform your writing life!

What to know even more? Then dive into either the podcast episode above, or the video below where I explain it all. If you are already to sign up, click the link below:

https://stop-writing-alone-network.mn.co/plans/237272?bundle_token=7d3f1a08480a9574b8a23b10d98f871c&utm_source=manual

SIGN UP FOR THE STOP WRITING ALONE EMAIL LIST to get videos and podcasts in your inbox weekly (Join the paid list to get invites to community events all month long!):

. READ NICOLE RIVERA'S FICTION AT STORY HOARDER

JOIN THE STOP WRITING ALONE NETWORK:

https://stop-writing-alone-network.mn

...

This is a special episode where I recorded both on video and audio, if you want to see my face for this announcement (as well as the family lizard Lexemo) on video, here is the video version:

It's time to do the work, get serious and start writing, how does it get done? This week Nicole discusses her three pillars to successful productivity when focusing on a writing project.

SUBSCRIBE to Stop Writing Alone 

https://stopwritingalone.substack.com/ 

Join the Stop Writing Alone Network

https://stop-writing-alone-network.mn.co

Mentioned in this episode:

• Leonie Dawson courses  (this an affiliate links): https://leoniedawson.mykajabi.com/a/2147486919/UqXsJQRQ 
• Interview with Jamie Angevine on Stop Writng Alone https://stopwritingalone.substack.com/p/happy-campers-interview-jamie-angevine-fd2#details 
• StopWritingAlone.Substack.com https://stopwritingalone.substack.com/ 
• STORY HOARDER Substack (The new home for Nicole’s writing): https://storyhoarder.substack.com
• Stop Writing Alone FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/2205774733034348/
• Stop Writing Alone Bookshop https://bookshop.org/shop/Stopwritingalone
• NV Rivera YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpPlp1EVzQhDFPdGp5w2KoQ?view_as=subscriber
• Buy Nicole a coffee (AKA support the podcast!) https://ko-fi.com/stopwritingalone

Places to connect to the STOP WRITING ALONE community and introduce yourself:

• Stop Writing Alone FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/stopwritingalone/
• Join the Stop Writing Alone with Nicole Rivera FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2205774733034348/
• Stop Writing Alone website: https://stopwritingalone.com/
• Join the Stop Writing Alone email list: https://mailchi.mp/ff8df93e57dc/penpals 
• Stop Writing Alone Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/stopwritingalone/ 
• Nicole’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/nv_rivera 
• The Stop Writing Alone voice number (call to introduce yourself!): (646) 907-9607 

When you find a group of people who lift you up on a daily basis, it is important to share their awesome. Here are links to the women in Nicole’s Mastermind group (currently going by the name The Voxer Vixens!). Please support these women who do so much to support Nicole on a daily basis!

• Kim A. Flodin https://www.kelekilove.com/
• Claire Oldham West https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/ 
• Johanna Jaquez-Peralta https://www.instagram.com/latina_livin_keto/
• Emma Isaacs https://www.instagram.com/emmaisaacsdesign/