Elizabeth Stix and Ananda Lima want you to get out of your own way

On gatekeeping, research rabbit holes, knowing if an agent is "the one"... and more!

Happy Tuesday, writing friends!

Did everyone have a productive weekend? Are you feeling ready to take on this new(ish) week, full of ideas and enthusiasm? If not, fear not, because The 💩 is back with another just-for-you Tuesday edition to help get you unstuck.

Sometimes, the hardest part of writing is knowing when to get out of your own way, and there must be something in the air, because both of the authors on deck this week have shared thoughts that are variations on this very theme.

First up, award-winning writer Elizabeth Stix shares some very helpful insights on not turning yourself into your own gatekeeper (Elizabeth is also a big proponent of one of our very favourite pieces of writing advice here at TSNOTYAW—read on to find out which one!). Next, poet, translator and fiction author Ananda Lima has a video for you in which she talks about her research process, how not to get bogged down by all those amazing little nuggets you unearth along the way, and recognizing that nothing is ever wasted (even if it doesn’t make it onto the page).

Happy reading (and viewing)!

❤️ The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Team