I am so grateful to every one of you for subscribing to my newsletter and reading my musings on the writing craft. I would love to get to know you better and to form a little more community in this space.
So, if you are up for sharing, I would love to know these two important things…
What creative projects are you working on (writing or otherwise)?
Ooh I nearly went for carrot cake! With frosting or without? ( I am all in on the frosting) Also do you have a link to your podcast? I would love to check it out and I am sure others would too!
I haven’t recorded this podcast, yet. I have two other podcasts. Her Process features chats with artists of all genres. And 75 Reads is making its way through Bowie’s recommended reads. Both can be link to at jobozarth.com.
Thanks so much for the link, I can't wait to check out your podcasts and best of luck in shepherding the new one out into the world. I look forward to it!
Oh gosh I hear you on the never ending novel drafting. Hopefully this is lucky number seven and some lucky agents will be getting their hands on it soon.
And Pavlova! Oh my goodness I love pavlova so much! I have never had it with grapes but that is a brilliant idea.
Thanks for being here and sending good vibes for draft 7!
New subscriber here! My creative project for 2026 is the third novel in a western series (the first part, Prodigies, came out in 2021 with a new edition this fall; vol 2, Prodigies: The Ghost of Cheyenne is scheduled for next fall). I was motivated to subscribe in part because I see you lived in Oaxaca at one time and my wife and I are going there in March. As for cake, my wife made a fantastic raspberry cheesecake for my last birthday, so I'll go with that.
Lovely to meet you Bob and thank you so much for sharing a little about yourself and work here. Wishing you all the best for your next novel. What an amazing achievement to have two in the world already! Also that cheesecake sounds so delicious. I hope your next birthday sees you enjoying something equally as delicious.
And Oaxaca! It's such an incredibly special place, that holds an important place in my heart. I hope you have the most wonderful time :)
Thanks. We're planning to do a village-to-village hike in the Sierra Norte (Los Pueblos Mancomundos -- autonomous indigenous villages) with local guides. Friends of ours did it last year and enjoyed it. Plus, of course, experiencing Oaxaca. We've been to Merida, Chiapas and Puebla and really enjoy the culturally vibrant cities of Mexico.
Hi Susannah! Of course you know that I'm working on a historical autobiography at the moment. But not the cake part. As I am milk allergic I have a limited playing field. But that limit has pushed me to find a great cake indeed, an orange juice and orange peel cake with a dark chocolate icing. Soy milk in there too I belived. Just writing this makes my mouth water and anticipate my next birthday when I can just have one for the asking:)
And a wonderful, historical autobiography it is! Also that cake sounds amazing. Chocolate and orange is one of the best pairings and the fact that the cake contains orange peels makes it sound extra delish! Roll on your birthday.
1. Companion journal to recently released book; new creative writing courses; painting & dabbling with collage—this may involve calligraphy/hand lettering.
2. I love cake. I think it’d be accurate to say that as long as it’s gluten-free and dairy-free, I’ll happily eat it. A moist carrot cake sounds really good right now, or a lemon drizzle, or classic Victoria sandwich…all with a cup of tea or coffee…and friends. ☕️🥰🍰
Ooh I so love this idea of the companion journal to your book and do give us the link to your book, I can imagine other people in this space would be super interested! I love all the other creative activities too, so good for the soul!
And yes yes yes to adding tea or coffee and friends to the cake. A lovely addition! :)
Ooh that sounds fascinating and I love and am fully intrigued by the idea of a two-person memoir! Also extra gooey vegan cake, yes please!! Thanks for being here.
Ahh I totally understand that procrastination. I trust you will find your way back into it at just the right moment.
And sweet potato cake is a new one for me. I have made sweet potato brownies but I've never heard of sweet potato cake. Do you bake? Is there a recipe you could point me too? I love the sound of it.
Sweet potato brownies? Wow, that sounds terrific. Sadly, I am more of a consumer than a baker as I have discovered that it, especially with cakes, leaves little room for improvisation. So I don't have a recipe, only a link to the local bakery, which is now being featured on QVC (and I made an order too). The only real baking I enjoy is that of savory dishes which have the benefit of flavor soaking in with that additional slow heat component. Ironically enough, I bought a stand mixer a few weeks ago which is still in the box.
1) I am starting to write a fictional novel, which is brand new to me and very exciting. Additionally I write my substack weekly, host my podcast (which is on a break between seasons for the summer), attempt to write stand up comedy material, and am beginning a collaborative project with another writer. I am so grateful to have my creative juices going in so many directions.
P.S. Does jumping on zoom once a month to draw with my nieces and nephew count as a creative project? Because it is so fun.
2) SO TRICKY! I love a good cupcake. I can be picky about icing, but there is an amazing cupcake shop in Montreal that changed everything for me - creamy yet vegan, sweet yet not sickly. Yum, yum. https://www.vegateau.com/ showed me what the perfect cake (in my opinion) could be.
Well, hello novel writer! This is very exciting news and I can't wait to hear more when you are ready to share. I also ADORE your newsletter (everyone should check it out- click on the link by Lauren's name). I am so excited to hear you have so many creative projects on the go and yes, drawing with your nieces and nephew absolutely counts. Please tell me more. I play a Mexican game called Loteria with mine but they love to draw so I am intrigued by this possibility!
And WOW, my mouth is watering looking at all those amazing cakes! A good cupcake can be the most perfect sweet treat!
There are two of the kids old enough to take part and one little cutie that joined for her first time last month and made my heart melt! We all have one turn of choosing a drawing prompt and then we all draw it together then show each other our creations! It is a wonderful way to catch up with them across the globe.
Some past examples have been:
- you as a superhero
- something the colour of [insert colour here]
- your favourite flower
- what you want to be when you grow up
- your favourite animal
- something under the sea
- a self portrait
- your favourite insect
- what you had for dinner yesterday
It's been so fun, we have been doing it almost two years now, once a month and spend about 5 mins on each picture and just chatting while we draw. It is such a nice way to release my inner child, too 🧡🧡🧡
Lovely to hear from you, Diane. Historic short stories sound fascinating! Is that like historical fiction but just in short form? Is there a whole sub-genre of historic short stories? I would love to know more. Is your novel historic too?
Rocky road is so good and always reminds me of my family who live in Australia. It is a really popular thing there (or at least where they live) and you can't beat a lemon drizzle and a lovely cup of herbal tea :)
LOL! Yes historic short stories are just historic fiction written as short stories. I find I lose concentration when I try to write a novel and I get to the end and think that these are not the people I started with :)
My novel is a ghost story but I've got to that place towards the end - and actually with this one can recognise the characters I started with, but I can't decide if she gets possessed by the ghost or they banish the ghost. I've written both endings and can't decide which I like best
I think Rocky road should be popular everywhere!!! And yes lemon drizzle should always be drunk with herbal tea :)
I actually love what you say about your novels, that your characters end up different to how you started... I'm curious, is it just that they have traveled with the story and have evolved or is it because you are using your first draft to really get to know them? Or something else entirely. Don't feel you have to have an answer, it just occurred to me that the change might not be a bad thing :) I also love your decision re the ghost! I look forward to hearing what you decide.
You challenged me regarding my characters for novels I have started. I think one of the main things is I get bored with them. But with this latest one - the ghost story - I've got bored with some of them. I hadn't realised that until you asked the question. So I have decided that some of them will just have to go. And also I've decided to go with the ending where my main protag gets possessed. It is such a strong ending. Now I've just got to deal with removing some of the extras and working out how she can be possessed. Thank you so much for the question!
I am so happy that the question helped Diane and I love how you delved into it. Choosing the ending where she gets possessed does sound super powerful. Good luck with all the next steps :)
(Also a little tip I sometimes give clients is to give characters at least one personality trait that you absolutely don't have- that way they end up doing things you absolutely would not....might help to make the ones that feel more boring to you come alive...and I am not implying you are boring by the way, :) I am saying that we can get bored by what we know. Feel free to use if helpful or ignore if not).
LOL! I didn't think at all that you thought I was boring :)
I've given the novel a full read through and edit and realised that I can only deal with so many characters and I had extended the people I could deal with by too many. So I've cut out 3 of them which brought it down to 4 who are in it most of the time, the ghost of course, and then 2 characters that have minor parts.
It has also given me something to think about regarding characters and my personality. I am very much an introvert and when I have friends round I like them in small groups. Probably 6 plus me and my hubby at my dining table is more than enough. So I think that I need to do the same with my characters - just keep them to a few and enjoy them.
Again thanks for the encouragement. This has been so good for me. Loving your posts X
Oh I love this Kate! Although I do love a scone, I hear you on liking a cakey cake. And thank you for sharing the sweet story of the family crumbly fruit cake. Sounds delicious. Thanks for being here, Kate :)
1. A scripted podcast, and tightening up a short film script.
2. Carrot cake. With walnuts or pecans.
Ooh I nearly went for carrot cake! With frosting or without? ( I am all in on the frosting) Also do you have a link to your podcast? I would love to check it out and I am sure others would too!
Oh yes! Cream cheese frosting, always. I’m getting hungry!
I haven’t recorded this podcast, yet. I have two other podcasts. Her Process features chats with artists of all genres. And 75 Reads is making its way through Bowie’s recommended reads. Both can be link to at jobozarth.com.
Yes, I think it is time for cake :D
Thanks so much for the link, I can't wait to check out your podcasts and best of luck in shepherding the new one out into the world. I look forward to it!
Thank you!
Love these questions. And all the answers are making me hungry
1. Writing - novel 1, draft 7... this is never ending
2. Pavlova - with strawberries when in season, with grapes in winter :) not strictly a cake, but the best dessert
Oh gosh I hear you on the never ending novel drafting. Hopefully this is lucky number seven and some lucky agents will be getting their hands on it soon.
And Pavlova! Oh my goodness I love pavlova so much! I have never had it with grapes but that is a brilliant idea.
Thanks for being here and sending good vibes for draft 7!
1. Taking pictures to make a local guide of places to visit.
2. So many! I have a sweet tooth. But… 3 leches with chocolate helado or home made lemon pie 🥧
Ooh I love this! I hope you will share the guide when it is ready :) Also can we all come over for that home made lemon pie please?
Hi Susannah
New subscriber here! My creative project for 2026 is the third novel in a western series (the first part, Prodigies, came out in 2021 with a new edition this fall; vol 2, Prodigies: The Ghost of Cheyenne is scheduled for next fall). I was motivated to subscribe in part because I see you lived in Oaxaca at one time and my wife and I are going there in March. As for cake, my wife made a fantastic raspberry cheesecake for my last birthday, so I'll go with that.
Lovely to meet you Bob and thank you so much for sharing a little about yourself and work here. Wishing you all the best for your next novel. What an amazing achievement to have two in the world already! Also that cheesecake sounds so delicious. I hope your next birthday sees you enjoying something equally as delicious.
And Oaxaca! It's such an incredibly special place, that holds an important place in my heart. I hope you have the most wonderful time :)
Thanks. We're planning to do a village-to-village hike in the Sierra Norte (Los Pueblos Mancomundos -- autonomous indigenous villages) with local guides. Friends of ours did it last year and enjoyed it. Plus, of course, experiencing Oaxaca. We've been to Merida, Chiapas and Puebla and really enjoy the culturally vibrant cities of Mexico.
oh you'll love it! Los pueblos mancomunados are so special. And the food in Oaxaca is the best in Mexico in my humble opinion!
Hi Susannah! Of course you know that I'm working on a historical autobiography at the moment. But not the cake part. As I am milk allergic I have a limited playing field. But that limit has pushed me to find a great cake indeed, an orange juice and orange peel cake with a dark chocolate icing. Soy milk in there too I belived. Just writing this makes my mouth water and anticipate my next birthday when I can just have one for the asking:)
And a wonderful, historical autobiography it is! Also that cake sounds amazing. Chocolate and orange is one of the best pairings and the fact that the cake contains orange peels makes it sound extra delish! Roll on your birthday.
1. Companion journal to recently released book; new creative writing courses; painting & dabbling with collage—this may involve calligraphy/hand lettering.
2. I love cake. I think it’d be accurate to say that as long as it’s gluten-free and dairy-free, I’ll happily eat it. A moist carrot cake sounds really good right now, or a lemon drizzle, or classic Victoria sandwich…all with a cup of tea or coffee…and friends. ☕️🥰🍰
Ooh I so love this idea of the companion journal to your book and do give us the link to your book, I can imagine other people in this space would be super interested! I love all the other creative activities too, so good for the soul!
And yes yes yes to adding tea or coffee and friends to the cake. A lovely addition! :)
1. A post on writing and activism, inspired by bell hooks, for my newsletter Pen in Fist and a two-person memoir about queer femme friendship.
2. Vegan chocolate (extra gooey).
Ooh that sounds fascinating and I love and am fully intrigued by the idea of a two-person memoir! Also extra gooey vegan cake, yes please!! Thanks for being here.
1. Novels and creative non-fiction short stories
2. Absolute favorite is a good pound cake because I'm not a huge fan of icing.
I love the idea of creative non-fiction short stories. Very interesting! Thanks for sharing.
And pound cake is a great one, especially alongside a nice cup of tea ;)
1. Strawberries & Milk, my newsletter exploring the evolution of Seattle's culinary scene. https://strawberriesandmilk.substack.com/about
2. Boeterkoek. Which is a five ingredient (or fewer) Dutch butter cake.
What a beautiful name for a newsletter and such an interesting theme!
I've never tried Boeterkoek but anything with the words butter and cake gets a tick from me!
1. Procrastinating on the edit of my first manuscript of my novel.
2. I like most cakes, but to narrow it down, pound cake and sweet potato cake.
Ahh I totally understand that procrastination. I trust you will find your way back into it at just the right moment.
And sweet potato cake is a new one for me. I have made sweet potato brownies but I've never heard of sweet potato cake. Do you bake? Is there a recipe you could point me too? I love the sound of it.
Sweet potato brownies? Wow, that sounds terrific. Sadly, I am more of a consumer than a baker as I have discovered that it, especially with cakes, leaves little room for improvisation. So I don't have a recipe, only a link to the local bakery, which is now being featured on QVC (and I made an order too). The only real baking I enjoy is that of savory dishes which have the benefit of flavor soaking in with that additional slow heat component. Ironically enough, I bought a stand mixer a few weeks ago which is still in the box.
https://www.qvc.com/SH117-DC-Cakes-%282%29-15lb-Sweet-Potato-Loaves-In-Gift-Box.product.M86925.html?recommendationTypeId=QUS-AT-OC-Z1&recommendationLocation=2&recommendationModuleType=PRODUCT_CAROUSEL&sc=OCRI&TZ=EST
Two VERY important questions.
1) I am starting to write a fictional novel, which is brand new to me and very exciting. Additionally I write my substack weekly, host my podcast (which is on a break between seasons for the summer), attempt to write stand up comedy material, and am beginning a collaborative project with another writer. I am so grateful to have my creative juices going in so many directions.
P.S. Does jumping on zoom once a month to draw with my nieces and nephew count as a creative project? Because it is so fun.
2) SO TRICKY! I love a good cupcake. I can be picky about icing, but there is an amazing cupcake shop in Montreal that changed everything for me - creamy yet vegan, sweet yet not sickly. Yum, yum. https://www.vegateau.com/ showed me what the perfect cake (in my opinion) could be.
Well, hello novel writer! This is very exciting news and I can't wait to hear more when you are ready to share. I also ADORE your newsletter (everyone should check it out- click on the link by Lauren's name). I am so excited to hear you have so many creative projects on the go and yes, drawing with your nieces and nephew absolutely counts. Please tell me more. I play a Mexican game called Loteria with mine but they love to draw so I am intrigued by this possibility!
And WOW, my mouth is watering looking at all those amazing cakes! A good cupcake can be the most perfect sweet treat!
You're so so kind, thank you my friend! 🧡🧡
There are two of the kids old enough to take part and one little cutie that joined for her first time last month and made my heart melt! We all have one turn of choosing a drawing prompt and then we all draw it together then show each other our creations! It is a wonderful way to catch up with them across the globe.
Some past examples have been:
- you as a superhero
- something the colour of [insert colour here]
- your favourite flower
- what you want to be when you grow up
- your favourite animal
- something under the sea
- a self portrait
- your favourite insect
- what you had for dinner yesterday
It's been so fun, we have been doing it almost two years now, once a month and spend about 5 mins on each picture and just chatting while we draw. It is such a nice way to release my inner child, too 🧡🧡🧡
I love this and thank you for sharing so many of these prompts. How fun, I will definitely do this!
1. Novel, historic short stories, poems&photographs collection
2. Real struggle but if I can only pick one then ...rocky road, closely followed by lemon drizzle
Lovely to hear from you, Diane. Historic short stories sound fascinating! Is that like historical fiction but just in short form? Is there a whole sub-genre of historic short stories? I would love to know more. Is your novel historic too?
Rocky road is so good and always reminds me of my family who live in Australia. It is a really popular thing there (or at least where they live) and you can't beat a lemon drizzle and a lovely cup of herbal tea :)
LOL! Yes historic short stories are just historic fiction written as short stories. I find I lose concentration when I try to write a novel and I get to the end and think that these are not the people I started with :)
My novel is a ghost story but I've got to that place towards the end - and actually with this one can recognise the characters I started with, but I can't decide if she gets possessed by the ghost or they banish the ghost. I've written both endings and can't decide which I like best
I think Rocky road should be popular everywhere!!! And yes lemon drizzle should always be drunk with herbal tea :)
I actually love what you say about your novels, that your characters end up different to how you started... I'm curious, is it just that they have traveled with the story and have evolved or is it because you are using your first draft to really get to know them? Or something else entirely. Don't feel you have to have an answer, it just occurred to me that the change might not be a bad thing :) I also love your decision re the ghost! I look forward to hearing what you decide.
You challenged me regarding my characters for novels I have started. I think one of the main things is I get bored with them. But with this latest one - the ghost story - I've got bored with some of them. I hadn't realised that until you asked the question. So I have decided that some of them will just have to go. And also I've decided to go with the ending where my main protag gets possessed. It is such a strong ending. Now I've just got to deal with removing some of the extras and working out how she can be possessed. Thank you so much for the question!
I am so happy that the question helped Diane and I love how you delved into it. Choosing the ending where she gets possessed does sound super powerful. Good luck with all the next steps :)
(Also a little tip I sometimes give clients is to give characters at least one personality trait that you absolutely don't have- that way they end up doing things you absolutely would not....might help to make the ones that feel more boring to you come alive...and I am not implying you are boring by the way, :) I am saying that we can get bored by what we know. Feel free to use if helpful or ignore if not).
LOL! I didn't think at all that you thought I was boring :)
I've given the novel a full read through and edit and realised that I can only deal with so many characters and I had extended the people I could deal with by too many. So I've cut out 3 of them which brought it down to 4 who are in it most of the time, the ghost of course, and then 2 characters that have minor parts.
It has also given me something to think about regarding characters and my personality. I am very much an introvert and when I have friends round I like them in small groups. Probably 6 plus me and my hubby at my dining table is more than enough. So I think that I need to do the same with my characters - just keep them to a few and enjoy them.
Again thanks for the encouragement. This has been so good for me. Loving your posts X
Oh I love this Kate! Although I do love a scone, I hear you on liking a cakey cake. And thank you for sharing the sweet story of the family crumbly fruit cake. Sounds delicious. Thanks for being here, Kate :)