July 17, 2025 Edition
đź‘‹ HELLO, WRITERS!
Is it just us, or does summer sometimes feel like the ultimate test of our writing practice? Between kids home from school, family visits, travel plans, and the general "but it's so nice outside" vibe, finding time to write can feel challenging. We see you, we get it, and we're right there with you. Many of you have been sharing how you're navigating these seasonal challenges while also dealing with bigger industry shifts and career pivots. What's been amazing to witness is how these very obstacles are pushing our community to get crystal clear about what truly matters—both in our work and in how we protect the time to create it.
🌟 COME TO OUR CLASS
Your Creative Non-Negotiables Thursday, July 24th at 10 AM PT via Zoom
What if a sustainable writing practice requires clarity on two essential questions: What will you never compromise in your work, and what do you absolutely need in your life to create it?
Every writer operates with both artistic and practical non-negotiables, though we rarely examine them consciously, or worse, we throw them out the door at the slightest challenge. But your creative brain has specific requirements for accessing flow states, while your authentic voice has certain truths it is meant to convey. Understanding both creates the foundation for work that feels genuinely yours.
In this class we'll explore your creative integrity (the themes, voices, or truths essential to your artistic identity) and your life design needs (the conditions that allow your nervous system to access creative states). Through guided reflection and Q&A, you'll identify these non-negotiables clearly and navigate practical shifts to honor them in daily life.
You'll leave understanding both what makes your work feel true to you AND what your particular creative process genuinely requires to thrive—creating alignment between your artistic integrity and your daily practice.
All Fountain members welcome. Session will be recorded for those who can't attend live.
This monthly class is exclusively for current Fountain members. Not yet part of our community? Join The Fountain today to discover your creative non-negotiables and access our complete library of resources designed to support your authentic creative voice.
🔍 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: ELISE BRYANT
This month we're celebrating author Elise Bryant, whose fifth book The Game is Afoot was released on July 8th, and who found The Fountain at exactly the right moment in her creative journey.
What are you processing right now with The Fountain? I found The Fountain at the exact moment I needed it most. In February, I got some sad, scary career news that totally knocked me on my ass and filled me with self-doubt. Especially because it was due to factors completely outside of my control, particularly the racism in the publishing industry and the glass ceiling that perpetually looms over my opportunities for success. I was very much feeling like, what's the point? It doesn't matter if I'm good, and you know what, maybe I'm not so good after all. Maybe I've been deluding myself. And that is the absolute WORST place to be in when you're trying to write a new novel. I found myself completely unable to get words down, even though the creative play of drafting is usually my favorite part of the process.
I'll be honest: I initially thought The Fountain would be too woo-woo for me (as I write this at my desk covered with crystals, in view of my daily meditation chair, ha!). And I wanted a quick fix because I had the ticking clock of my deadline in my head. But as soon as I did that first sample Clearing, I felt such an overwhelming peace that I knew I needed to commit. Moving through all the courses, I recognized my creative parts (hey Perfectionist, Taskmaster, Avoider and Imposter!) that were draining me in trying to protect me from harm, and I learned how to address those needs so I could move past all the blocks they created. Now I'm writing from a place of deep self-trust in my voice and instincts that I don't think I've experienced since before I was published. I can't completely ignore external opinions and outcomes (because, well, I have to keep paying my bills!), but they're no longer the sole-determiner of my worth or the value of my work.
What are you working on? I'm currently about 50,000 words into my next YA novel. I've been trying to write this contracted book since 2022, and it's gone through several iterations that I've ultimately deemed not-right and shelved to write something else. But I feel like I've finally found momentum and purpose in this project, and it's been a joy to show up to my desk each day. The words don't always come with ease, but the challenges that arise now are exciting and productive. And the 3-Step-Flow Practice has become essential to my writing routine—even my kids recognize the sounds of a Clearing now and know I'm about to start a session! Yesterday, I was complaining about the internet not working to access the site, and my 9-year-old started making low humming noises, while my 13-year-old whispered "You're in the right place, and it's the right time…"
What is one recent win you'd like to share? My next book, The Game Is Afoot, was published July 8th! This is the fifth book I've published in five years, and for the first time, I'm able to think without shame or self-doubt creeping in: Wow, this book is great, and I'm great for having written it (most days! I'm still a work in progress!). I hope it sells well, so I can write more in this series. But mostly I'm just proud of my craft and that I was able to write and publish the exact book I wanted to read.
Find Elise at www.elisebryant.com and check out her books, including her newest release THE GAME IS AFOOT!
👩‍💼👩‍💼 FOUNDERS' CORNER
• The Practice That Supports the Work: We're continually inspired by how members discover what they need in their daily lives to support creativity. When practices become so essential that family members recognize and protect these boundaries (like when Clearing sounds signal writing time), we know something profound has shifted. This is exactly what we mean by life design non-negotiables: the rituals and rhythms that allow your best work to emerge.
• Summer Intensive Magic: We're now past the halfway point of our 100-Day Intensive, and the energy is incredible. Participants are discovering that daily practice creates its own momentum—many report that what felt impossible on Day 1 now feels like second nature. The community support has been extraordinary, with writers cheering each other through tough days and celebrating every milestone. It's proof that consistency plus community equals creative transformation.
đź“… UPCOMING EVENTS
- July Monthly Class: "Your Creative Non-Negotiables"—Thursday, July 24th, 10 AM PT
- Secret Project Alert: We can't share details yet, but we're developing an exciting, self-paced 6-week course that we're really excited about. Details coming VERY soon!
🧠NEUROSCIENCE NUGGET
Your brain forms strong neural pathways around what it perceives as essential for survival—and this includes your creative identity. When you clearly identify your non-negotiables, you're essentially programming your brain's priority system, making it easier to maintain boundaries and make decisions aligned with your authentic self.
Having clear non-negotiables actually preserves cognitive energy. Instead of repeatedly deciding what matters in each situation, your brain can quickly reference these core values, freeing up mental resources for actual creative work. This is why writers who understand their non-negotiables often report feeling both more focused and more free—they're no longer exhausting themselves on decisions that don't align with their core creative identity.
The 3-Step-Flow Practice leverages this same principle: by creating non-negotiable ritual containers for your writing, you eliminate decision fatigue and signal to your nervous system that this time is protected and essential.
🎯 WRITING PROMPT
Your Creative Survival Kit
Set a timer for 15 minutes. It's the middle of summer, life is chaotic, and your writing practice feels under siege from all directions. Time to create your Creative Survival Kit—a collection of touchstones that help you find your way back to the page when everything else feels impossible.
Write quickly and without judgment:
What sustains you: List 5-7 things that keep you connected to your creative self even in chaos (could be anything: a favorite pen, a poem you return to, a playlist, a memory of flow, a writing friend's number, a particular coffee mug).
Your creative first aid: What are the simplest, smallest acts that can revive your practice when it feels dead? Think tiny—maybe it's writing one sentence, reading one paragraph of a beloved book, or texting a writing friend.
Your reminder phrases: What would you tell yourself on the hardest days? Write 3-4 short phrases you need to hear when doubt creeps in. Make them specific to you, not generic affirmations.
Emergency contact: If your creative self could call one person (real or fictional, living or dead) for a pep talk, who would it be and why?
Keep this list somewhere accessible—phone notes, wallet, desk drawer. Think of it as your creative emergency kit for those inevitable moments when summer (or life) threatens to sweep away everything you've built.
Until next time,
Chelsea and Kim
