Have you ever felt like the best writing you’ll ever do is already behind you?

Maybe you had a piece that landed. A blog post that got shared. An email that made someone cry. A chapter that flowed out of you like it was channeled from somewhere else.

And then... nothing.

The next time you sat down to write, it felt like dragging concrete through a straw.

(Sound familiar?)

Here’s the thing nobody tells you about creative work: the fear of “peaking” is universal. Even among the most successful writers on the planet.

In 2009, Elizabeth Gilbert stood on the TED stage with an impossible problem.

She had just written Eat, Pray, Love — one of the bestselling memoirs of the decade. The book had been translated into over 30 languages. Julia Roberts was about to play her in the movie.

And everywhere Gilbert went, people told her the same thing:

You’re doomed.

They’d approach her at book signings, genuinely concerned, and ask: “Aren’t you afraid you’re never going to be able to top that? Aren’t you afraid you’ll keep writing for your whole life and never again create a book that anybody cares about?”

She could have accepted this fate. Could have let the pressure crush her.

Instead, she asked a strange question: What if we’ve been thinking about genius completely wrong for 500 years?

Gilbert went back to ancient Rome.

Back then, “genius” wasn’t something a person was.

It was a spirit that visited you — a kind of magical entity believed to live in the walls of an artist’s studio, like a creative house elf. When your work was brilliant, you couldn’t take all the credit. Everyone knew your genius had helped you. And when your work bombed? Not entirely your fault either. Your genius was just having an off day.

This wasn’t woo-woo nonsense. It was psychological protection.

It created distance between the artist and the outcome.

Then the Renaissance happened, and we decided to put the individual human being at the center of everything. Suddenly, YOU were supposed to BE a genius — not have one visit you.

And we’ve been crushing ourselves under that weight ever since.

Elizabeth Gilbert described a moment during the writing of her follow-up book.

She was exhausted. Stuck. Convinced the work was terrible.

And then she remembered what she’d learned — and did something that might sound a little crazy.

She looked up from her manuscript, directed her words to an empty corner of the room, and said aloud:

“Listen, you — if this book isn’t brilliant, that is not entirely my fault. Because you can see that I’m putting everything I have into this. If you want it to be better, you’ve got to show up and do your part of the deal. But if you don’t? The hell with it. I’m going to keep writing anyway, because that’s MY job. And I would please like the record to reflect today that I showed up for my part.”

That TED talk has now been viewed over 20 million times.

Here’s the simple lesson:

You are not the sole source of your creativity.

You don’t have to carry the entire weight of being brilliant.

Your job isn’t to BE a genius.

Your job is to show up.

When you stop demanding genius from yourself and start inviting inspiration by being present — consistently, imperfectly, stubbornly — something shifts.

The pressure lifts.

The words start to come.

Not because you’re special. But because you’re there.

I know this is true because I’ve experienced it myself.

Last weekend, I attended a writer’s retreat. Before we wrote a single word, the facilitator led us through a ritual: light a candle, deep breathing, and a guided meditation to quiet the noise.

Then came the writing prompt.

Now, this ritual wasn’t the same as what I teach in my Ultimate Inspired Writing Course — but it was similar enough that something extraordinary happened.

I wasn’t just writing.

I was communing.

One of my ancestors showed up. Not metaphorically. I could feel her presence, her voice weaving through my thoughts, guiding my hand across the page.

The writing flowed effortlessly.

No forcing. No “dragging concrete through a straw.” Just... receiving.

That experience reminded me that when we create the right conditions — when we prepare the space, quiet the mind, and signal to the universe that we’re ready — something bigger than us can come through.

(And no, you don’t have to believe in ancestors or spirits to experience this. Call it your subconscious. Call it flow state. Call it whatever you want. The point is: it works.)

The problem most writers face isn’t a lack of talent.

It’s a lack of structure.

A lack of a consistent practice that says to the creative spirit (or the muse, or your ancestors, or your subconscious, or whatever you want to call it): I’ll be here. Same time tomorrow. You know where to find me.

That’s exactly why I created The Ultimate Inspired Writing Course.

It’s not about forcing brilliance.

It’s about building a sustainable writing practice — one that invites creativity instead of demanding it.

I built the Inspired Writing Practice as a way to convene with my ancestors and guides, and it works!

In fact, it was this very practice that led me to create a side gig as an energy healer and psychic medium in 2020 (but that’s a story for another day).

Inside the course, you’ll learn:

• The 5-Step Inspired Writing Ritual – The exact morning practice I use to access divine guidance.

• Establish Clear Communication Channels – Connect with angels, guides, and your higher self.

• Work with Specific Divine Beings – Learn to communicate with Archangels and assign a Master Guide.

• Access Past Life Wisdom – Explore past lives and clear karmic blocks.

• Navigate Relationships – Get divine guidance on conflicts and difficult people.

• Create Protective Boundaries – Ensure safe connection with beings of the highest light.

And you’ll gain more than just creative inspiration. The Inspired Writing Practice will help you to:

• Shift from Fear to Faith – Move from anxiety to trust in divine guidance.

• Transform Decision-Making – Gain confidence through divine counsel.

• Heal Generational Patterns – Break karmic cycles affecting your life.

• Develop Inner Knowing – Strengthen intuition and connection with your higher self.

• Create Sacred Practice – Establish a consistent spiritual routine.

If you’re tired of waiting for inspiration to strike before you write . . .

Or if you’re looking to strengthen your inner knowing . . .

Then it’s time to build a practice that will transform your life

👉 Check out The Ultimate Inspired Writing Course here.

Question for You:

What's one small ritual you use — or want to try — to signal to yourself it's time to write? Email me back and let me know! I read every reply!

♻️If this article inspired you, hit “Restack” to share with other creators who might also be inspired. ♻️

I spent years polishing the same three chapters.

Not because they were almost perfect—but because perfectionism had convinced me that if I could just get these opening pages right, the rest of the book would flow. (Spoiler: it didn’t work that way.)

The truth? I wasn’t writing. I was stalling.

I was rearranging sentences, swapping adjectives, obsessing over paragraph breaks, anything to avoid moving forward into the uncertain, imperfect middle of the story. Because moving forward meant writing badly. It meant producing rough, messy, first-draft garbage that didn’t match the shimmering vision in my head.

And perfectionism hates garbage.

So, I stayed stuck. For years.

Maybe you know this feeling. You sit down to write and immediately feel that tightness in your chest, the weight of expectations, the fear of writing something that doesn’t measure up. You second-guess every word before it hits the page. You delete more than you keep.

Or worse: you don’t write at all.

Then I discovered something that changed everything.

I came across an essay in Medium by Laini Taylor, an internationally bestselling, award-winning novelist, where she described something called “attic notebooks.” And honestly? It sounded weird. Maybe even a little reckless.

Here’s the concept: You commit to filling up a notebook in short, regular sessions (10-15 minutes), but here’s the catch—you never look back. You write forward only, never peeking at what you wrote, and once you reach the last page, you close it, date the cover, and set it aside for a week or two before reading it (actually, Laini recommends a month, but I can’t wait that long!).

That’s it. That’s the whole practice.

When I first read this, my perfectionist brain immediately protested. What if I write something brilliant and forget it? What if I need to reference something? What if—

But that’s exactly the point.

The magic is in the forgetting.

By removing the ability to judge your work, you remove the tyranny of perfectionism. You can’t polish what you can’t see. You can’t delete what you won’t remember. You just... write.

And something incredible happens when you do this consistently: your inner critic gets bored and wanders off. It has nothing to critique, no sentences to second-guess, no paragraphs to rearrange. It withers from lack of attention.

Meanwhile, you get to play.

Laini describes it as “collaboration with the unknown,” like showing up on the beach every day to see what treasures wash ashore. Some days it’s seaweed and broken shells. But some days? Pure gold. Story ideas you’d never have found through careful, conscious plotting. Character voices that surprise you. Imagery that makes you shiver.

She says that both contenders for her next novel were born in attic notebooks. Not from careful planning or outlining, but from playful, pressure-free writing exercises.

Here’s what I learned when I tried it:

The notebook didn’t make me a better writer overnight. But it did something more important: it made me a writer who actually writes.

Because I wasn’t trying to write well. I was just trying to write freely. And in that freedom, something loosened. The words came faster. The ideas got weirder (in the best way). I stopped caring if a sentence was good and started caring if it was alive.

I started filling notebooks, thin ones, 40 pages each, nothing intimidating. Three pages per session, roughly 15 minutes. Some prompts were silly (”cookie bitch” was one of Laini’s examples, and I’m still laughing). Some of my writing was evocative. Some of it led nowhere. But some... some opened doors I didn’t even know existed.

And when I finally opened that first notebook two weeks later?

I barely remembered any of it. It felt like finding someone else’s journal, full of fragments and images and half-formed stories that I could now use. No attachment. No preciousness. Just raw material, waiting to be shaped.

Your turn.

If you’re stuck in the polishing trap, writing the same chapter over and over, or worse, not writing at all, I want you to try this.

Get a thin notebook.

Set a timer for 15 minutes.

Pick any prompt that sparks something, or just start with “I remember when...” or “What if...” or even “The truth is...”

Write without stopping. Don’t cross anything out. Don’t reread. Just fill the page and turn it.

Do it again tomorrow. And the day after.

Your only job is to fill the notebook. That’s it. Not to write well. Not to produce something usable. Just to show up and play.

Because here’s what I’ve learned: Your best ideas, the ones that will actually break through, the ones that feel electric and alive, they’re not hiding behind more planning or better outlines.

They’re hiding behind perfectionism.

And the fastest way past perfectionism? Stop taking yourself so seriously. Stop trying to get it right. Start playing.

The book you’re meant to write is waiting on the other side of messy, imperfect, joyful play.

Go find it.

✨Ready to Start Playing?

Here’s a “Word Spill” game for you. Set a timer for 2 minutes. Write down a list of words that flow to you. Just allow whatever words come to your mind to flow onto the page in a stream of consciousness format. After the 2 minutes are up, look at your word list and see if any of them can be strung together to form a writing prompt. Or maybe even an idea for a story. Have fun with it!

Attribution note: This newsletter was inspired by Laini Taylor’s brilliant essay on attic notebooks and the creative process. If you want to dive deeper into her approach, I highly recommend seeking out her writing on the subject; it’s transformative stuff for any writer struggling with perfectionism.

When I first began studying copywriting, I quickly realized something: strong headlines are everything.

As a new writer, I wanted my words to land, but I learned fast that even the best ideas go unnoticed if the headline doesn’t do its job.

Mastering this one skill has given me the confidence and momentum to grow as a digital writer. Now I want to share the same building blocks that changed the way I write with you.

The Three Headline Building Blocks Every Digital Writer Needs

1. Have a Clear Message: Your ideal reader should know exactly what the content is about from the headline.

A clear headline will beat a clever one every time. Trying to be witty or mysterious usually confuses and pushes people away. Ask yourself: Will the reader know what this article is about just from the headline? If not, rewrite it until it’s crystal clear.

Example:

Instead of: “The Secret Ingredient You’re Missing”

Try: “The 5 Words That Instantly Strengthen Any Headline”

2. Use Emotion + Benefit: People don’t read headlines just for information. They click because the headline causes them to feel something, and it promises a benefit. This emotion could be curiosity, relief, excitement, or even fear of missing out.

Here's a formula to try:

[Emotion Word] + [Clear Benefit]

Examples:

“Struggling to Get Clients? 3 Copy Tweaks That Make You Magnetic”

“Finally Ready for Consistent Sales? Here’s the Headline Formula That Works”

When in doubt, focus on the outcome your reader deeply desires, whether that be clarity, confidence, or financial freedom, and then build your headline around that.

3. Create Authority with Numbers & Specifics: Vague headlines feel flimsy, while specifics give weight and authority.

This is why numbered “listicle” headlines are often used in headlines. Including numbers in your headlines makes your content feel digestible and doable.

Example:

Instead of: “How to Write Headlines”

Try: “3 Headline Building Blocks Every Digital Writer Needs”

By combining these three elements: clarity, emotion/benefit, and specifics, you’ll write headlines that pull readers in and position you as a writer worth following.

Your headline is your first impression, so don’t rush it. Strive to make your headlines specific, scannable, and easy to commit to.

My Advice

Write 5–10 headline options for every piece of content, then choose the one that best balances clarity, emotion, and authority.

When you focus on these three building blocks, you’ll start writing headlines that don’t just sit on the page — they grab attention and get read.

I’m still learning. But here’s what I know for sure: writing better headlines is practice, not magic. The more you write, the more confident you’ll become.

Don’t wait until you feel “ready.” Pick a topic, write a few headline variations, and hit publish. Done is better than perfect and started is better than stalled.

A Gift for You

✍️ 5 Swipeable Headline Templates:

1. [Number] Ways to [Desired Result] Without [Frustrating Obstacle]

Example: “5 Ways to Write Headlines That Convert Without Sounding Salesy”

2. How to [Achieve Goal] in [Timeframe] (Even If You [Common Struggle])

Example: “How to Create a Month of Social Content in 2 Hours (Even If You Hate Writing)”

3. The [Emotion Word] Guide to [Topic/Result]

Example: “The Simple Guide to Writing Headlines That Actually Get Clicks”

4. [Number] [Type of Thing] That Will Instantly [Desired Outcome]

Example: “3 Headline Tweaks That Will Instantly Boost Your Click-Through Rate”

5. Struggling With [Pain Point]? Here’s How to [Desired Result]

Example: “Struggling With Writer’s Block? Here’s How to Write Magnetic Headlines Fast”

Hope this helps you!

Until next time,

Ana

PS. I know you didn’t ask but . . . I’m currently obsessed with custom GPTs! It’s such a time saver and makes using ChatGPT so much easier!

I’ll also let you in on a little secret. I’m using a proprietary app that combines ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity - yes you heard that correctly! Message me if you want to learn more about this AMAZING APP!

Case Study: Sarah, a Health Coach

Scenario 1: Email Newsletter
Sarah creates a free 5-day “Healthy Habits Reset” challenge as her lead magnet. People who download it are automatically added to her email newsletter list.

• Audience Source: People who have already raised their hand by subscribing.
  
  

• Content: Weekly emails sharing personal stories, client wins, and practical tips.
  
  

• Cadence: Every Monday morning.
  
  

• Result: Sarah’s open rates hover around 45% because readers feel like they know her. They reply, they share their struggles, and several become paying clients.
  
  

Key Benefit: The email newsletter nurtures warm leads into loyal clients.

Scenario 2: Content Marketing Newsletter (Substack style)
At the same time, Sarah launches a free newsletter on Substack called “The Everyday Nutritionist.”

• Audience Source: Readers discover her through her topic (healthy eating) via SEO, shares, and Substack recommendations.
  
  

• Content: Deep dives on trending topics, like “Are smoothies actually healthy?” and “Meal prep myths.”
  
  

• Cadence: Every Thursday afternoon.
  
  

• Result: Sarah’s subscriber base grows steadily with strangers who didn’t know her before. She positions herself as an authority, gets invited to guest podcasts, and attracts sponsorships.
  
  

Key Benefit: The content newsletter builds authority and draws new people into Sarah’s world.

Lessons Learned

• Email Newsletter: Best for nurturing the people already inside your circle. Think connection, trust, and conversion.
  
  

• Content Marketing Newsletter: Best for growing your audience around a clear niche. Think visibility, authority, and reach.
  
  

Together, they create a powerful cycle: one deepens trust, the other expands influence.

Takeaway for You
Don’t choose between them—decide which one you need first. If you’re just starting, begin with an email newsletter to nurture your list. Once you have clarity around your niche, layer in a content marketing newsletter to attract new readers.

✨ Question for you: Do you currently run one (or both)? DM me and let me know which feels most aligned for you right now.