Footnotes:: October
The delights of the month, and GIVEAWAY WINNERS!
Happy Spooky Season!
The temperatures have been dropping (finally) in Berlin, and my sweaters have come out of storage and are back in rotation. Bengal Spice tea, blankets with kitties, and reading naps are back in big time.
In Europe, we’ve just had the time change, so we’re beginning the odd week where North and South America are one hour closer to us, as if we’re reaching our hands out across the time zones. Hello — love to you from here as the time veil thins.
This week, just after Halloween, we begin one of my favorite traditions of my writing year: Novel Possible. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a spy while writing stories, this is the event for you. For the past few years, I’ve run this challenge, but this is the first year we’ve moved it to Substack.
Here’s the gist: Each day in November, you’ll receive a 1-minute Writing Mission via a podcast episode (transcripts included if you prefer to read) with a word count and something to incorporate into your scene that day.
The best past is this: each audio mission self-destructs at midnight, so you don’t have to worry about catching up on any days you don’t write. The only mission available is the one for that day. Daily writing missions, zero guilt.
I think we could also do with less guilt, couldn’t we? There are some surprises in store for participants, too. If you want to come along, just upgrade your membership to paid — monthly or annually — and you’ll get the missions delivered automatically.
October delights
I’ve been reading like mad this month, as the crisp air brings my brain back to life and I can’t get enough of the gorgeous writing that people have been sharing. This list of links could easily go on for pages and pages, but I’ve tried to restrain myself to a few favorites I know you’ll love, too:
Inspiring discoveries from October:
- tied reflections on the season to a meditation on the color yellow in medieval manuscripts that made my heart sing.
If you start, but never finish, countless writing projects,
has some excellent advice, worth subscribing for.- prepared her boat for the winter. I love living vicariously in her marina with these posts.
- shared a super-transparent and insightful post about making money from writing, and the myths that surround this goal.
- has launched a new journaling playground that has gotten me back into delicious journaling just for me.
Ruby Granger made a short video on Keeping a Commonplace Book, and now I finally get it. Mine is in full swing now.
Books I’ve loved this month
Slouching toward Bethlehem, Joan Didion. I’ve been on a nonfiction kick this month and when my aunt mentioned she was going through Didion’s list at the moment, I decided to go back to her early work. It’s wild how different some aspects of the 60s are and how many things haven’t changed at all.
We Solve Murders, Richard Osman. I was a little nervous to read Osman’s latest, as it features a different cast of characters than the Thursday Murder Club. I enjoyed the adventure in this one — it’s different enough from the other series to stand on its own, and the characters up to the challenge of developing over several books themselves. I look forward to the next in the series.
Meditations for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman. I’m still reading this one, as it’s set up in 28 chapters to read over 28 days. Having a short insight to start the day with after my meditation has been just the right amount. His gentle encouragement not to overcomplicate life rings true, and I feel tension lessening each day I return to its pages.
Chasing Fog, Laura Pashby. The perfect autumn read. I’ve been following Laura around foggy landscapes in the UK, Ireland, and Italy, taking dips in cold lakes, and learning local history, mythology and magic along the way. What could be more satisfying?
Giveaway winners!
I have at last gotten myself together to announce the winners of the giveaway for Judith Lindbergh’s beautiful novel, Akmaral.
(her substack is:
Each of the following people has won a copy!
Cara F
Doc Jen
I’ve also messaged each of you. Please send your preferred address to receive your book. Judith has also kindly offered to send along a signed bookplate, so you have a signed copy. Please let me know in your address message who you’d like it dedicated to. **I will send books after the US election to avoid ballot mail madness.
What have you loved this October?
I’ve just posted our October favorite reads thread, so join me over there to grow your surely already massive TBR list to Godzilla size:
You might have missed…
From Book Alchemy, and guest posts from elsewhere:
When you feel depleted, discover what your eyes can’t see.
- on what book changed her historical fiction writing forever.
- and I have released the first episode of our series: Writing and the Primal Voice.
For paid members:
You have access to the video version of my series with Claire Shaw. Watch the first episode here.
Novel Possible is happening starting November 1, and you get full access to the challenge and the surprises in store, too.
Interested in membership? Get all the details here.
Coming up next
We are beginning work on the 2025 edition of the ‘Your Writing Year’ planner. Besides getting early access, paid members will also get to join for the end-of-year writing planning workshop. Details on date and time for that coming mid-November.
Thank you all for being here, for believing in books and writing. This is the magic we all get to share. Keep dreaming and keep writing.
lots of love,
Caroline
Love this idea of a daily series of prompts but that don’t make you feel bad or guilty about not sticking to them daily. You’re a genius Caroline!
As always, thank you for all the inspirations and readings. I'm thinking of picking up Slouching toward Bethlehem which I've only read in bits and pieces. And I'm hoping the giveaway winners will love AKMARAL.