So… are you ready for Christmas?

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Hi, Reader! If “ready” means the presents are wrapped bought, at least one room of the house is presentable, and the out-of-office is on, then I’m not quite there. If I accept that New Years’ Greetings are just as good as Christmas cards, shop-bought mince pies will do fine this year, and I don’t bank too much on being on the Nice List… then maybe. Yes.

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Wherever you are on the festive readiness scale, I hope you’re able to find a few moments over the coming days to slow things down. A quiet chapter before bed, a notebook opened between visits, or simply sitting with a cuppa while the world hums around you. That all counts and is a lovely way to welcome the light back, slowly, after the shortest day on Sunday’s Winter Solstice.

If you’ve been wondering where Substack’s been…

Wow, my Substack fell off the planet didn’t it? Until it didn’t. You can pop over there to read what happened, and about what might happen if I choose a different approach for next year with realigned priorities when it comes to digital vs analogue presence.

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If you get time to read either or both over the festive period, I’d love to know if anything strikes a chord with you, do leave a comment.

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​PDA Ate My Substack (And Other Extremely On-Brand Disappearing Acts)​ How my neurodivergence made me vanish from here for six months Read Now

​Analog 2026 for Neurodivergents: Permission to Do It 'Wrong'​ Or: How I Swapped Doomscrolling for Kindle Addiction and Called It Growth Read Now

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Find me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Substack for more gentle writing prompts, behind-the-scenes rambles, and neurodivergent-friendly bookish encouragement.

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Something new is beginning on 1st January

In just nine days (eek), Write Club opens its doors. Officially. It actually started in December, for three gloriously gentle weeks. A group of us met online on Wednesdays at 1pm, and co-wrote. Cameras on, sound and judgement off. My favourite part of each session was drawing it to a close and seeing slightly dazed, smiling faces gazing back at me, when everyone slowly emerged from their writing cocoons. More, please!

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It’s a kind, neurodivergent-friendly writing club for people who want support and structure without pressure. We’ll meet (virtually) twice a week: Sunday 8:00pm half hour sessions to gently plan, and Wednesdays at 1:00pm for an hour to write together. No sharing, no declaring what you’re working on. Just time, company, and a steady rhythm to help your book move forward.

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Write Club is built around low pressure, gentle structure, and showing up for your writing. Building a practice to make it easier to keep showing up, without forcing anything.

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So if starting the year by showing up for your writing in a calm, compassionate way sounds appealing, Write Club begins in January and might be exactly the place to begin. I’d love to see you there.

Whether Christmas is full of noise and novelty jumpers, or quiet corners and early nights, I hope there’s warmth, kindness, and maybe even a stolen moment or two just for you.

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Wishing you a cosy Christmas and a gentle start to the new year,

Meet the Woman Behind the Keyboard Gail Doggett - Writing Mentor and Coach

I've been working with writers for two decades, from acquiring fiction and non-fiction at a major publishing house, all the way to being in 1:1 critique relationships, and accountability partnerships.

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I bloody love talking about stories, and characters, ideas and I'm also very aware of what it's like to feel stuck and wanting to bang your head on the desk (please don't do that!).

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And for all of us neurodivergent folk, as a late-diagnosed ADHDer myself, I also want to reiterate that there's no shame either in getting stuck or just feeling like you can't get yourself together to do this, even though it's all that you can think about. But I do want you to tell your story.

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Get in touch, and let's see what we can do together!

Unit F1, Admirals Offices, Main Gate Road, The Historical Dockyard, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TZ
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