Category: Uncategorized

END OF THE YEAR PEP TALK: Celebrate Yourself! OR why you need a banana split right now!

On By nancystohlmanIn Uncategorized

Dear Friend, 

Happy holiday season!!
Here, at the end of a truly crazy year, I felt compelled to reach out and talk about one of my favorite topics: Celebration!
And why we all need to celebrate ourselves right now.
Not tomorrow.
Right now.
And I have a lot to say about this…and about banana splits!! READ ON!

But first: a few important announcements (and I’m going to make a BIG announcement in January–watch for that.)

NEW 2026 WORKSHOPS
As many of you know, my focus over the last four years has been shifting towards my favorite part of the writing process: the long-term journey of writing a book–that beautiful, messy collaboration with The Muse where we get to live into this glorious creative life with long-term vision.

And to that end, I’m inviting you to step into a new vision with me:
 Launch, Sustain, and Transform 
Your (Flash) Novel, Novella, Collection, or Creative Non-Fiction Project in 2026

Maybe it’s a brand-new idea, or an idea you’ve had forever.
Maybe it’s a novel or novella, creative non-fiction or a memoir in flashes, or maybe you’re finally ready to put together a collection?

Maybe you’ve already started…and stalled?
You want guidance and accountability. You want to stop talking about it and do it!
I get it. It’s time.

1. LAUNCH: 5 Days to Launch Your (Flash) Novel, Novella, Collection or Creative Non-Fiction Project

Five days of live (asynchronous) guidance, support, and feedback, including daily lessons, prompts, and a private space to share and take risks. The workshop is technically asychronous (to accommodate all time zones), but I will be “live” and actively engaging/responding the entire week.

January 19-23, 2026
$259 (Earlybird until December 31: $199–included in the Mastermind)

 2. SUSTAIN: Finding Momentum: A 6-week Guided Sprint to Give Your Ideas Momentum and Accountability

February 18-March 25
Let me hold your hand and we’ll write together. Includes 90 mins of guided sprint time plus 30 minutes of group coaching and live Q & A.
Every Wednesday: February 18-March 25 from 11-1pm MST
$499 (earlybird $399–included in the Mastermind)


3. TRANSFORM: The Creative Writing Mastermind:

Six Months to Transform your Creative Practice and Bring Your (Flash) Novel, Novella, Collection, or Creative Non-Fiction Project to Fruition.
Six months of personal support and transformation including private 1-on-1 sessions, group coaching calls, 16 weeks of original, guided content, plus bonus book clubs, the 6-week writing sprint (included) a private, handpicked community of talented and dedicated writers on the journey with you.
Includes both the Launch and Sustain sessions. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Get started in January for as little as $500 per month*
 MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL WORKSHOPS HERE

AND NOW……
THE END OF THE YEAR PEP TALK:
CELEBRATE YOURSELF!
(or why you need to eat a banana split right now!)


Okay, my friends–it’s time to talk about celebration. Not holiday celebration, or family celebration–but celebrating YOURSELF.

NOW. Not later.

You might be thinking: But I don’t have anything to celebrate right now! I don’t have a book out, or a story in the Best Blah Blah Blah…shouldn’t I wait until then??

That is exactly why I’m talking about it now—we have this mistaken assumption that we should only celebrate a thing once it’s over—or that celebration should be reserved for a certain kind of accomplishment. I disagree. In a long and fruitful creative life, we must get in the habit of more frequent celebrations: small wins and even losses are a reminder that we are here, that we have stepped into the arena of our own creative flow. That alone is reason for celebration!

Many writers, many humans, let’s be honest, are super stingy with themselves! We allow ourselves only modest luxury, we downplay praise, deflect compliments, etc. When deep down perhaps what we are all craving is that good job, that high-five, that I see you.

So we work very hard to get it externally—we submit. We put ourselves out there. We wait for someone to see us, to acknowledge all our hard work. And maybe, if we’re lucky they do—for a moment. But it’s also just as likely that they don’t. So then what? We nurse our various rejections by working harder, by being even more mean to ourselves. We take our cues, including when and how to celebrate, from the outside world, rather than learning how to read and trust our own internal thermometer and be our own best council.

One of the ways I’ve found to shift this self-dynamic from something punishing to something nurturing is through celebration. Not later, not when a thing is done, but now. Over and over. We can become our own best high-fiver. We can “see” and celebrate ourselves through the many, many ups and downs of the writing life—celebrate every rejection because it means I put myself out there and that took courage. Celebrate the progress of each week and the way we continue showing up for ourselves. Celebrate the breakthrough idea, the early morning insight—celebrate staying in the chair one more day.

This practice started very organically for me. As a young writer putting herself out there, I got a lot of rejections. Which are not pleasant, of course! But I realized if I was going to keep going and not become dejected, I needed to flip my mindset. I declared that every time I got a rejection, I would go out for banana splits. Not just ice cream, but the Big Banana Split with all the extra scoops and sprinkles and nuts and mounds of whipped cream and a cherry—I would make it a real occasion. And honestly, it’s hard to be down when you’re eating a big mound of ice cream with whipped cream and cherries.

So that continued for several years until I got my first yes.

Oh no. How do I celebrate that?

Turns out: the same.

I declared banana splits the appropriate celebration for both kinds of occasions (also good for layoffs, heartbreaks, etc.) until celebrating was such a regular part of my life that the line between good and bad started to fade, and I had to invent new ways to celebrate the bigger things to come. And yes, eventually the books, too.

Now I don’t mean to suggest that your celebrations must involve sugar or even eating, but for me that was a quick and easy way to mark the moment. For you it could be lottery tickets, a bottle of wine, an afternoon off work, taking yourself to a movie, buying a new book or a new notebook. It could be flowers or a haircut or a new pair of socks. But the point is to mark the moment! Don’t put off celebrating tomorrow what is alive today.

You might be thinking: why is this important at all? Shouldn’t I just get back to writing and quit messing around?

My husband and I have married each other dozens of times. Some of those have been formal and witnessed by others, most of them have been private, spontaneous exchanges that keep our relationship alive, a living contract rather than a 1-time event. And having this attitude toward commitment and celebration naturally helps our relationship focus on daily gratitude, daily wonder.

Our creative relationship is no different. Through the ups and downs, through the wins and losses, we must find a way to return to the wonder that is art, return to ourselves and our commitment to stay, learn to pour a little hot fudge over the scorched earth of our daily ebbs and flows, nurse the sting of a “no” side by side with the thrill of a “yes”—and put whipped cream on both.


To writing, travel, joy, and camaraderie in 2026!
Love,
Nancy

The Last FlashNano 2025: Are you in?

On By nancystohlmanIn flash fiction, flash fiction challenge, flashnano, the writer's life, The Writer's Life, Uncategorized, writing

JOIN US ONE LAST TIME THIS NOVEMBER!

Dear FlashNano Community,

We are approaching November, so you know what that means!

If you’re getting this email, then you have FlashNanoed at least once (and probably many times) in the last 14 years—can you believe it’s been that long?

Which means you are also the first to hear that this will be the Last FlashNano—at least in its current configuration.

SO: If you intend to play along this year, you must add your name here. Even if you have been automatically re-enrolled in the past, you must re-enroll (free, of course), as I am starting a separate list for this final year.

Why is this the Last FlashNano?

Well…all good things must come to an end.

When FlashNano started in 2012, it was the first of its kind. No one was using the online space in this way. Inspired by the NaNoWriMo challenge, FlashNano was the first 30-day flash fiction prompt challenge–and thousands of people have said yes over the last 14 years. 

But alas: where FlashNano once was a new vision that filled a community void, today the online space has a plethora of similar challenge (some even calling themselves FlashNano!). As they say, imitation is the best form of flattery, and I feel confident that there will be no shortage of flash (and other!) prompt challenges in years to come.

But, as an artist and an innovator—I am interested in looking ahead to what is next.

Since 2012, I’ve written over 500 FlashNano prompts!—and we’ve welcomed over 100 guest prompts! What a ride! What an absolute joy it has been. I’ve watched FlashNano stories born on Wednesday become my favorite stories ever on Thursday. I’ve watched many many stories and dozens of books born into the world from the community we create each November. And I’ve gotten to know and reconnect with many of you, year after year.

Of course, when one thing comes to completion, another is born. I look forward to growing, visioning, and innovating with this community for many years to come.

But for 2025? Let’s make this a Final FlashNano to remember!

We’ll go back to where it all started: you, me, and a whole lot of flash fiction this November. And at the end of the month, I will tell you how you can keep working with me.

Remember you must sign up for this final challenge—even if you have signed up in years past.

Let’s make this the greatest FlashNano yet!

Your cheerleader and fellow flash aficionado,
Xoxo Nancy

Preview of the 2026 Open Your Art Retreats!

On By nancystohlmanIn Craft Essays, flash fiction, retreats, Spain, the writer's life, The Writer's Life, Uncategorized, workshops, writing

These will open to the public on October 30!

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!

All information coming:

Request Early Access HERE

Write your book in Mexico or India?

On By nancystohlmanIn Uncategorized

Dear Friend, 
Making art while the world is on fire is a true act of resistance. 
And this is no ordinary writing retreat.

Ask yourself these important questions:
·        How are you tending your creative relationship, which is always a collaboration with the muse?
·        How are you tending to the creative vessel (yourself) so your antenna is tuned to the right frequency? 
·        How are you listening to the work? Are you allowing it to transform and guide you, or are you resisting?


When we go on retreat, we embark on a journey of listening, collaborating, and building trust with our stories and each other. We will loosen any old habits or belief systems about ourselves and our writing that might be holding us back, and we will courageously write into the mystery: willing to be remade, willing to stay open hearted–and most importantly, willing to take our proper and humble position—as the artistic conduit entrusted to each glorious birth.

Whether you’ve published many books, or you are just returning to writing after a long absence, the special creative container we create while on retreat supports each writer in reaching their next milestone, from starting or finishing their projects to leveling themselves up in their creative life. Each retreat gathering feels like family, and each participant is welcomed, supported, inspired, and encouraged to take creative risks in a safe space. 

February 1-7, 2026, we will be returning to Tulili, just outside of Tulum, Mexico, in the heart of the Mayan Jungle: one of our new favorite venues. Think blue butterflies, soft jungle rains, and food almost too pretty to eat!
(Limited to 12 people)
 MEXICO INFORMATION PAGE


April 1-10, 2026, we will be having our first-time-ever creative pilgrimage into the Himalayan Mountains for a 10-day retreat and very special international collaboration. This retreat will include two days of sightseeing (including a trip to the Taj Mahal), and all registration requests will go directly through the Himalayan Writing Retreat website.
(Limited to 10 people)
 INDIA INFORMATION PAGE


If this sounds like what you need, and you know in your heart that it’s time, then I invite you tojoin me and a small cohort of your colleagues in 2026 for a breakthrough experience of inspiration, creation, motivation and transformation and an unforgettable journey into your most important creative relationship—the one you craft with yourself. 
As always, it is my honor to write, grow, and retreat with you.
xoox
Nancy

P.S. If you have questions: please reach out!