We are all bombarded by emailed newsletters. Some are fellow writers I enjoy and respect, some are business advisors, and some are from your dentist reminding you to floss. It’s not easy weeding through them.
Today I’m thinking about a few favorites that I read for writing inspiration and reinforcement. Sometimes their quotes may even end up posted above my desk. I hope you will enjoy discovering them too.
I’ll start with business guru James Clear, author of Atomic Habits -Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results with 30 million copies sold. When I was in the corporate world, every senior manager had one on their desk. James also is co-founder of a company called Author Equity, a newer publishing house. He writes a weekly newsletter he calls
3-2-1 Happy Thursday! In my opinion it is gold. It takes only a few minutes to read but often a lot longer to contemplate. In each newsletter he presents three ideas, two quotes, and one question for the week. He’s that clear. (I couldn’t resist the pun.) Last week he said, “Overnight success always takes a year or two.” “Long-term thinking changes your short-term actions. Build what lasts.” One of my favorite prompts is “If not now, when?”
The second newsletter I always enjoy is written by Andrew Bridgeman, mystery writer and author of the Emma Noble Series. The first was
Fortunate Son, a huge hit with 20,000 copies sold and a Netflix show in the offing since its launch in 2024 by a small hybrid press. It has 1.3 million reviews. His fourth is soon to be released. For those of us who write his weekly commentary on what he describes as pushing that boulder of a book up the hill is interesting, reassuring, and wise. I’d like to invite him to dinner. He has a very open and self-deprecating manner about the trials and rewards of publishing. His October 9th newsletter is entitled “The Big Stupid Rock.” I think you will identify with him. He calls himself a ‘Discovery Writer.’ That’s code for pantser. He participates in a writing group much like those offered through Sisters in Crime. He calls it an appointment with creativity.
I’ll close with one of James Clear’s questions. “You're always learning, even when you're not intending to learn. Based on how you are spending your time this week, what are you learning?”
Do you have other sources for inspiration you would like to share? I’d love to hear them.
Judy L. Murray, award-winning author, The Chesapeake Bay Mystery Series
JUDY L MURRAY MYSTERIES/
PenCraft First Place Awards/
IPPY Gold and Silver Medalist/
Silver Falchion Int'l Award/
Agatha Award Nominee
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