These are more than just writing retreats–they are truly transformational encounters with your work.
I’d love to have you experience the difference with us in 2026.
Get on the Early Access Announcement List and stay tuned!
Are you working on a book?
Do you want to abandon it?
Maybe you HAVE abandoned it?
Do you want to know the #1 reason why people abandon their books?
I’ve been working with writers and their books since 2004…so I’ve seen some pretty consistent patterns over the years (and I see them in myself, too).
It’s not lack of time or the day job or any of those very real logistics–because we all know if something is really important we will find a way to make it happen.
It’s not lack of talent or lack of good ideas (although we could have a whole conversation about having too many ideas for one book).
It’s not lack of discipline or follow-through.
There’s always a perfectly good reason we’re avoiding something, including:
Reason #2: the material is still too raw,
or its opposite, Reason #3: the material no longer holds an emotional charge (we’ve moved through it),
or even Reason #4: you thing you’re working on multiple stories (spoiler: it’s usually the same story).
Picture this: you’ve spent hours, days, or weeks brainstorming and outlining this story in your head. Maybe you’ve even made an actual outline: color-coded, story-boarded, Scrivnified. And it works: this happens, then this, etc.
It’s perfect. On paper.
So what happens? You start writing, the Muse descends, she tries to take over (which is a good thing!), but since her direction doesn’t line up with the beautiful outline you’ve spend so much time creating, you resist.
The problem: you “spent” all your creative juice on the outline! Now you find yourself in a standoff with the Muse, who is trying to ignite the idea, but you are way too attached to the outline, to how it’s supposed to go. So you block the Muse, she abandons ship, and you are left to write what now feels like a shell of an idea .
But then you find yourself resisting the process of actually doing it. Why? Because you know too much. There’s no room for the manuscript to surprise you, no questions built into the itinerary, no opportunity for the Muse to come in and take over.
And so you start avoiding it, beating yourself up, taking more classes, giving yourself an ulcer, etc..
The most important thing when making art, but especially when engaged in the long-term relationship of a book, is to cultivate a healthy sense of curiosity and release control of how you think it’s supposed to go.
Releasing control–even throwing out your beautiful outline–requires you to not only trust the book, but to also enjoy the process of not knowing, to delight in the mystery of your story unfolding in real time.
When you show up to the page with genuine wonder and awe–it comes across to the reader. Conversely, when it’s all planned out and you feel like you’re just punching a time clock–that comes across, too. The reader isn’t as easily fooled as we think.
We must inhabit the emotional landscapes of the book; we must be surprised, afraid, angry, and delighted alongside our reader. This also puts you in your right and proper position as a writer: in service to the work, not the genuis. In collaboration with the muse, not the boss of her. A chosen and grateful midwife to the creative process.
I talk a lot about this “proper position” in my teachings–-and it can be easy to forget when we are trying so hard to “figure it out” with our brains.
So, how about you? Are you alligator wresting with your manuscript? Are you blocking the muse?
Or are you listening to the story with a healthy does of humility, wonder and awe?
I started The 12-week Flash Novel Mastermind in 2021 to deal with exactly these issues (and more), and over the last 4 years, it’s been an honor and a privilege to get a front row seat to the creative process of an amazing group of writers and friends. And it’s working: books that started in the Mastermind are being finished, solicited and published.
Whether your book is a flash novel, novella, memoir or creative nonfiction, if you are a dedicated writer, drawing on the skills of flash fiction, this is the container of inspiration, motivation, community and support you have been wanting to bring your ideas to fruition.
Here is all the information:
**NOTE: We will officially begin on March 3, but new members are welcome to join the Community Zoom call this Friday, February 28, at 11:30 am MST.
I am capping the mastermind to keep the space intimate–which means we have just 6 spots left.
The journey of a book can and should surprise us: Flash novels decide to become traditional novels, novels become short stories, realism becomes surrealism, flashes become scripts, and many, many other joyful pivots. This is good and normal!
I hope you saw my message to creatives last week, because it goes for you, too: We need you to be making art, especially now. Whatever it looks like.
And we all need support. Especially now.
Get the support you need to make the art we need.
Reach out!
I’m happy to answer questions or jump on a zoom call if necessary.
In solidarity,
Nancy xo
P.S. When the Mastermind reaches capacity, I will also open up a few more coaching spots.
Private Coaching
2025 Retreats
Let’s do this!
xo Nancy
You have a book inside you. It could be your first book or your seventh. It could be a novella-in-flash, a linked collection, a flash memoir, a flash novel or another sort of hybrid form. You love the short prose form, but you’re ready to think bigger–a book, but using the tools of the micro form.
When a story speaks to us–when it chooses us–we must listen.
Maybe you’ve already started. Maybe it’s still in your head. Either way, you suspect an untraditional book, using an untraditional structure, might need some unconventional methods. And you are right!
I call this the “flash book” in Going Short, and it is my personal sweet spot; I find the most fulfillment when I’m embracing both the narrow focus of the pieces themselves–the “bricks” of the story—as well as the long-term relationship of building a bigger structure with those bricks. I’ve written four flash novels as well as a linked collection, and since 2015, I’ve been leading groups of writers through the ups and downs of the book-writing process–from the giddy flush of a beginning all the way to the powerful, resonate ending.
Does this speak to you? If so, join me for a 10-day generative exploration and writing adventure, a “flash flood” with your book or book idea, and gain clarity, momentum, and enthusiasm on both your vision and your next creative steps.
Give yourself the (Valentine’s Day!) gift of 10 days this February to play, experiment, and understand your story more fully, so that you can do the necessary work of bringing it to life!
Join us at the early registration rate of $259 here (regular price $299)
Questions? Feel free to drop me a line. I’d love to work with you and your book!
xo Nancy
P.S. This 10-day, asychronous workshop is also designed to lead into the full Flash Novel Mastermind, opening in March, for those who are ready to keep going. Want to do both? Drop me a line!
Whether your book is fiction or creative non-fiction, if you are a dedicated writer, drawing on the skills of flash fiction, this is the long-term container of inspiration, motivation, community and support you have been wanting,
LEARN ABOUT THE FLASH MASTERMIND HERE:
To your creative success in 2025!
We’ve arrived again at the end of the year! Wow.
In years past, I would be creating my Books By Friends list. However, that list has become 50+ books, and every year I STILL manage to miss someone!
So…it’s a wonderful problem that I’m no longer able to account for every book released by a friend because there are SO MANY books by friends! Basically: my friends rock!
Buy a book by a friend or a friend of a friend this holiday season! We all thank you in advance!
Instead, I decided to share a new and more personal list:
in no particular order
1. Sometimes you just need a window.
I’ve struggled to find the “right” space to write in my new home. Even though I have a lovely office, the windows are set up too high (and overlook my neighbor’s yard). It only took me 12 months to try putting a heater in the drafty sunroom and pop! A writer’s studio!
Whew. I’m back.
2. Your creative routines are flexible.
The sunroom breakthrough was also a reminder that yes, creative routines are flexible. I was an afternoon writer in my old house, but I can change. Over my 25-year writing career, I’ve been a morning, afternoon, evening, night time, and even during-the-train-commute writer, after all. It’s good to change things up–even if we resist. We may find ourselves writing unexpected things in new spaces/times.
3. Beware getting too good at something.
If you can do it in your sleep–are you still growing? Maybe. But maybe not? Last month, I said goodbye to both the Fbomb Flash Fiction Reading Series, the 13-year longest running flash fiction reading series in the country (sniff!), AND my 15-year career as a college professor. Sometimes we need to grow in new directions. Releasing is the (often painful) first step.
4. Be a beginner again.
SO hard, especially when you’ve gotten good at a thing (see #3). But when the butterflies of nervous excitement arrive again, they remind you: you’re still alive.
5. Get dirty–in writing and life.
My big breakthrough during our Italy Retreat in September was realizing I wanted to “revise” my work to the finish line, when really I had to get messy again. You can revise and rearrange your sentences all day long. But sometimes you just need new sentences!
6. There’s always a reason you’re avoiding your writing:
(and it’s almost never because you’re lazy or undisciplined or any of the other horrible things you say to yourself). Maybe you’re no longer emotionally connected to the material. Maybe you feel guilty. Or maybe your creative vision will require some daunting inner work or healing. Or maybe you’re afraid to level up and leave behind the old version of yourself. Whatever it is–find the source of the resistance and deal with that. The writing will naturally follow.
7. Follow joy.
And I don’t mean that as a platitude. When you are joyful, the Muse will leave you clues. I talk a lot about “synergy” in The Flash Mastermind–that moment when the story takes over and you experience something akin to falling in love. This is not random!
(at the Italy Retreat)
(7 ½: Joy (also) defeats fear.
I (re)learned this one in the sweat lodge during our retreat in Costa Rica–fear has no power when faced with true joy. Joy is a super power!)
8. Sometimes you have to start over.
That’s okay! How many times have we discovered old paintings lurking under new ones? I talk about “Rewriting from Scratch” in Going Short–sometimes it can be more useful to close your eyes and start over, trusting that all your pre-work and pre-writing will find its way into the new, more effortless draft.Which brings me to #9…
9: Sometimes you have to take your own advice!
No!!! Hahahahaha. Well, 2024 was my year of “taking my own advice”: rearranging my space, rethinking my creative routines, facing my manuscript with honesty, starting over with curiosity, saying goodbye to well-loved identities, trying new things, failing, succeeding, and remembering to hold joy as my litmus test and constant companion.
10. Because it’s always about surrender.
Remember: we are never in charge! We are always in collaboration with our best, our wisest selves. The Muse is a generous co-creator, but she doesn’t enjoy being left out of the credits! Again and again we must surrender to the mystery and answer the creative call with grace and wonder.
And aren’t we lucky to be able to do that?
Aren’t we lucky to be artists in this life?
However you make your art and your life, I’m wishing you a beautiful end to your year. And to everyone who trusted me with their creativity and their work this year: Thank you. I see you!
What was something you learned about your writing/yourself in 2024? I’d love to hear it.
By the way: my word for 2024 was Devotion
My new word for 2025 is: ~Magic~
Let us be the magic we want to see in the world!
Yours in vision and audacity,
Love,
Nancy
(my new studio window)
Join me LIVE in January for a Creative Visioncasting Virtual Retreat, where we will dream and envision our new year together.
Creative Visioncasting 2025
a special 2-hour Virtual Retreat
to dream and implement a year of creative clarity, confidence, and courage.
LIVE via Zoom on Friday, January 10 @ 11 am MST50% off until December 31:
$25 for 2025
If you’re longing for a new creative spark, an adventure to energize your spirit, and camaraderie with your creative community, then join us in 2025!
LET’S RETREAT TOGETHER IN 2025!
xoxo Nancy
Nancy Stohlman 