Hi hi! After a long day of working, instead of refilling my water bottle, I somehow decided to go LIVE on Substack, as one does in the midst of a regime change. The heart wants what it wants, and tonight, my heart clearly yearned for seven unscripted minutes of fidgeting in front of a camera, crying in front of your literary hero and various acquaintances and strangers, and fumbling desperately for the END button. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. And, I survived! I’d been considering doing something like this for some time now… just an IMPROMPTU check-in with the Writers’ Haven community. The problem was, I kept overthinking it. Is this the right time?What will I say?Will I bother people?But tonight, I just said, F**k it* — we’re doing this. *Sorry, Mom and Dad And you know what surprised me the most?Not the tech (which was EASY, btw).Not the awkwardness (my entire life is awkward). It’s that people showed up without any prior notice, and they left some comments in real time. This is all still so insane to me. When I started blogging back in another century, I’d sit at this very same desk, pressing publish and wondering where my words even went. Now, I hit a button and there are very real, very cool humans like you, gathering with me, passing notes back and forth in front of the entire room. That’s absolutely amazing. Thanks for letting me give you a tour of my fidget tools and for somehow not making it weird that I started crying. The real world feels far scarier to me right now than going live on Substack ever could. Hitting “GO LIVE” by myself without a script or a plan? I guess it took a little nerve—but it pales in comparison to what so many of us are carrying every day. In that context, my fear felt smaller. Since I have you… I didn’t know exactly what Writers’ Haven would become on Substack. I just knew I wanted it to be a place of safety, solace, and real community through writing. A space where the conversation is positive, helpful, and growth-focused. These are the “flavors” I’ve been craving. My hope is that Writers’ Haven can be a refuge—for writers, yes, but also for grievers, truth-tellers, and people healing from trauma. Maybe that sounds like a weird mashup of folks, but I’m just reporting what I see and who I meet here. And I’m here for it all. I’m 57 years old, and I’ve never felt more energized or more motivated to help others. I got incredibly lucky when I found writing. It turns out it’s my source of deep, restorative thinking. My healing practice. My way of building community. And somehow—it’s joyful, too. Is that what a superpower is? So, I want to open this up to you. Who should I be talking to? Who do you want in your inbox? If you have a sec, please share names of writers, authors, and writing-adjacent folks you’re curious about. Like songwriters! And greeting card writers! Also…tell me what craft issues you’re wrestling with, what publishing trends you want unpacked, and the literary news that deserves attention. I’ll do my best to reach out and gather people we’d all love hearing from. If I have to, I’ll sweet-talk them. And, if necessary, I’ll gently drag them here. This space is better when we build it together. Thanks for being here. LAST WEEK TO REGISTER! Last Week To Register! Only 2 spots left in my 6-Week Memoir Workshop at Northwestern University Come on out for 6-weeks and watch me fidget each night in front of the classroom! It’s my first time teaching an in-person memoir course, and I’m so excited to work with a small group of writers, supporting them wherever they’re at in their memoir-writing journey. You don’t need a full manuscript to register. Maybe you have a kernel of an idea and you don’t know where to begin? I’ve got you. Memoir Writing: Training Grounds for the Long Run6 Weeks, 6-8pm, Northwestern University Thursdays, Jan 22 — Feb 26, 2026 Max 12 studentsRegistration fee: Public $89, NU $79Registration Link: https://nbo.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=2607In this six-week memoir course, you’ll learn how to shape your lived experiences into a meaningful narrative while developing a steady writing rhythm that supports real progress. Award-winning writer and memoir coach Christine Wolf—drawing on her marathon-inspired approach—guides you through structure, scene writing, reflection, emotional pacing, and identifying the moments that define your story. Each session includes a brief expressive writing lesson, gentle support, and an optional page exchange. You’ll also receive an overview of book proposals and publishing paths. This is a warm space to begin—or return to—your memoir with intention. Writers' Haven by Christine Wolf is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christinewolf.substack.com/subscribe
