PATREON:

Thank you to my existing patrons for believing in my work offline and here in the podcast. If you are a patron, in either tier, you get all my content, always. You can support me and my dreams and my writing and my aligned author life for $11.11 USD, and I will be so so grateful. Truly. Heart to heart. Gratitude for your gifts. If you want coaching too (with TWO LIVE CALLS EACH MONTH, you can BACK me at $55.55/mo USD). You will NEVER find coaching sessions for less money than this. If you've ever wanted continued support for your writing and accountability for your projects, this is the way to do it.

Become a patron of the arts and of me at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.

And you can support my friend and colleague and Visiting Co-Host author Erick Mertz at Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.

Announcements/Author Updates:

designing my next writing retreat in Costa Rica. My first international retreat (even though I live here) so there are a lot more moving pieces than I first imagined. Taking a four-month course to get me through all the legalities and best practices. If you are interested in the updates on the retreat, you can go to valerieihsan.com/retreat.
request to bring back a regular patron gathering for all members (paid and unpaid) Mini writing retreat (cozy, candle; oracle card pull to set intention; check-in: 1 struggle, 1 win, what you are working on tonight; guided meditation; writing words; share word count (optional)); PLEASE send me a DM or a comment where you heard this podcast, or in the Patreon community. Let me know if this is something you crave. It's not just shared writing space. It's a retreat from regular life (dishes, dogs, kids, day job) and a safe and sacred space to connect and to write.
talking with the architect, nailing down our must-haves, and waiting to approve the latest layout design, then there will be an initial payment and we'll then get a 3D rendering of the house.
half to drive north to sign a document (complications with names and lawyers)
What are you reading?

Just finished: Soul Sourced Entrepreneur (Christine Kane) and Rain Delay (Erick Mertz - beta read)
Creative Act (Rick Rubin)
Mosswood Apothecary (JP Rindfleisch IX)
The Reliable Narrator (Grace Sammon)

(Main Topic): Notes:

Google Search and ChatGPT search for English-speaking writing groups, critique groups, organizations, retreats, workshops, and conferences.
CR colleagues in the writing world, ask them how they stay connected and keep writing
ask my personal community/neighbors if there are any writers
check online to find a good fit (perhaps ones already peripherally a part of), and re-engage
accountability buddy (check-in via text/email, meet in person, chat through video calls, write together via video call)
paid accountability (Rachael Herron's Write With Me), (micro-writing retreats for my patrons), book coaching
online conferences, online summits, online masterclasses and workshops
writing organizations often have online components.
in this globalized world we live in now, we are never alone.

And don't forget:

Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.

Find Us:

Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan

Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor