MAY: Drafting and Dialoguing Notes
A roundup and recap of May’s posts with some behind-the-scenes notes, and info you’ll want to know about, like how to engage with our growing community and how to access our first monthly digest!
May was a busy month for Daily Drafts & Dialogues. I spent a lot of time incorporating a few new changes, which you may have already noticed. And I’m hoping these changes bring a tighter, more connected writing community here moving forward. It’s still early, but I hope Daily Drafts & Dialogues continues to inspire you to keep writing and find the connections you need for your writing and intentional, creative lifestyle. I am so glad you’re here!
Daily Drafts & Dialogues May 2026 Post Roundup and Recap
Below is a compendium of what was published on Daily Drafts & Dialogues in May, along with some of my reflections. Share your thoughts and related work in the comments so we can discuss.
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Essays
The Best and Worst Writing Advice I Ever Received … which followed me from ninth grade through grad school to now… Can you guess what it is?
What are you going to ‘get caught reading’ this month? is a homage and how-to for National Get Caught Reading Month, which is celebrated in May. But you can still celebrate it in June and year-round!
Are women authors starting to rewrite history? covers women authors who are now actively rewriting history by centering forgotten, marginalized, or misunderstood women in nonfiction works and historical fiction, transforming ‘hisstory’ into ‘herstory.’ And it’s packed with reading recommendations!
The Power of Sentence Fragments covers why sentence fragments pack a punch, notable examples of them in literature, and when and why you should use them.
Drafting Diaries: New Series announced a new post series in which I’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes snippets of other larger writing projects I’m working on that are not usually published or mentioned in other Daily Drafts & Dialogues posts.
The Writing Habit that Changed Everything For Me was inspired by Ernest Hemingway. This post was the most popular post of the week!
What happens when you trust your curiosity more than your fear? explores how curiosity helps you avoid writer’s block and be the best writer you can be.
6 Easy Steps to Smartmaxxing Your Drafting Process does NOT suggest you need to write faster or write more, like a machine, or that you need to ‘hack’ your creativity or creativity itself. Blegh. Instead, it offers a step-by-step process for how you can remove friction from your drafting process and intentionally apply, on a routine and satisfying cadence, what already works for you, especially if you aren’t yet mindful of what works for you when you’re drafting. It will help you look for small, simple, consistent things you can do to make drafting feel less like a chore you loathe and more like a pleasant journey you look forward to being on each time you sit down to write.
Notes on English is a post with my reflections on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, English by Sanaz Toossi, which I went to see at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Essentially, I loved it and think everyone should go see it ASAP.
Creative Writing
All creative writing posts are based on writing prompts I share in the Daily Drafters Community Chat. If you join the chat, you can share your own writing based on these prompts for feedback and recognition too. You’ll also gain access to other bonus content there.
The Unexpected Joy of Springtime is based on a combination of two writing prompts— the first time I’ve done this! It reads like a personal, reflective journal entry.
City Street is flash fiction about one street at two different times of day, with two very different moods.
The Flicker of My Flame includes the stream of consciousness of a new nun who is trying to find redemption but can’t seem to escape her past.
A Limerick... or Thirteen made me rethink how and why we write limericks and allowed me to have some creative fun.
Rogue Reflection is a spooky yet heartfelt piece of flash fiction you might want to read on a day that you’re having trouble looking in the mirror.
Different Storms is a piece of flash fiction about a storm in three parts: Hello?!, Hello?, and Goodbye.
All that I Desire is a poem that serves as a reminder of what we’re truly linked to in this world, lest we forget. I’m actually pretty proud of this one but am curious how I might revise it in the future.
A Murder in the Woods is one of the most creatively weird things I have written in a while and is full of onomatopoeias. If you want to write something that will take you out of your comfort zone, I recommend completing the writing prompt that inspired this post, which is also included in the post.
Modernize reads kind of like a philosophical free write, in which I ramble about what I would modernize first. I can definitely see myself editing, revising, and adding to this draft in the future.
Book Reviews
A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness by Michael Pollan (Nonfiction, Philosophy, Science) is a book for those who love to get lost in philosophical ideas and concepts, as well as the science and theories that support and refute their assumptions surrounding those concepts. I urge all potential readers to adopt an open mind (pun intended) when picking up this book, and to be prepared to unpack everything they think they know while also realizing they likely know absolutely nothing about what they think they know. First, a warning. If the following philosophical statement does not appeal to you, neither will this book: “All I know is that I know nothing.” — often attributed to Socrates.
Son of Nobody by Yann Martel (Retelling, Metafiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction) is a compelling retelling of the Trojan War told from the perspective of a commoner in ancient times as discovered and pieced together by a ‘common’ Classical scholar in the modern world. And it is a novel worth reading for those who enjoy retellings, translations, storytelling, metafiction, archeology, ancient history, Greek mythology, and works that dabble in all of those things simultaneously.
My Dear You by Rachel Khong (Short Stories, Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Asian American Literature) is a smart and surprising short story collection, as each of its stories blend the hard truths of the world we live in (racism, capitalism, and other isms) with creative imaginings for the present and future while simultaneously highlighting the sincere value of love and loss in all its forms, evolutions, and origins. Each story touches on a profound human experience like dating, working, conceiving or not conceiving children, and navigating mortality alongside one’s close relationships and purpose. Yet each story also evokes a different set of emotions throughout. Be prepared to laugh, cry, rage, think, wonder, and reflect a lot when you read this book.
A Hymn to Life: Shame has to Change Sides by Gisèle Pelicot, translated by Natasha Lehrer and Ruth Diver (Memoir) is one of the most difficult memoirs I have ever read or will ever read. But it’s also surprisingly bittersweet, as Gisèle refuses to let what her husband did to her define her, her memories, or her future. After reading this memoir, it’s crystal clear why she earned so much recognition for her role in updating rape laws in France, and how pivotal her unprecedented case was to calling attention to the widespread stigma survivors of rape and sexual abuse often encounter across the globe.
Go Gentle by Maria Semple (Literary Fiction, Philosophy) is a unique novel that surprised me in a good way. It’s as reflective as it is entertaining and as witty as it is solemn. I truly didn’t know what to expect with each page I turned, but appreciated how Semple was able to weave a suspenseful turn of events around the protagonist’s evolving life of the mind— two things that readers may not expect to naturally intertwine, but nevertheless do in this novel, in a way that ensures the main narrative remains engaging.
The Bombshell by Darrow Farr (Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction) is a novel whose main character will infuriate and annoy you as much as she charms and intrigues you. Believe me when I tell you that you haven’t read a coming-of-age story quite like this one before— one with an entitled teenage girl who unexpectedly becomes the face of a short-lived, chaotic domestic terrorist movement while falling in love for the first time.
The Age of Calamities by Senaa Ahmad (Short Stories, Experimental Fiction, Historical Fiction) is as poignant as it is entertaining… and very, very weird… but ‘very, very weird’ in an intellectually stimulating way that will demand your full attention and reflection. It will have you pausing every few paragraphs to gasp or sigh or chuckle and might even have you reaching for your most trusted historical resources to see how much history you really know and or understand.
Westward Women by Alice Martin (Historical Fiction, Feminist Fiction) is a novel with both obvious and hidden layers worth exploring and is as mysterious as it is enlightening in many aspects. I would recommend it to historical fiction readers (especially those who enjoy reading fiction based in the US during the tail end of the hippie era), and readers who enjoy unraveling slow-burn mysteries centered around the precarious plight of women.
Seasons of Glass and Iron by Amal El-Mohtar (Short Stories, Magical Realism, Feminist Fiction) is a short story collection that is easy to savor, as each of its tales are imbued with a thread of magical storytelling that will transport you to unusual and beautiful places you never knew you wanted to visit before reading them. Yet they each carry bittersweet, and all too realistic, parables women and displaced people will be able to understand in their bones. Truthfully, it’s been some time since I’ve read stories so hauntingly tragic yet deeply heartening as these.
ICYMI
In May, I launched a few new features on Daily Drafts & Dialogues in an effort to facilitate deeper connections with fellow indie authors, creative writers, critical thinkers, and prolific readers like you, who are interested in building an engaged and supportive network of open-minded and creative people who believe in the power of language and storytelling. Find out what you need to know about each new feature below and let me know if you have any questions.
Community Notes
In this new section of Daily Drafts & Dialogues (located at the bottom of each post), you will see additional notes on posts and what’s going on in the broader Daily Drafts & Dialogues community, more in depth questions to spur further dialogue, polls, discounts, contest opportunities, helpful links and resources, and opportunities to have your comments, substacks, and work featured in the Community Spotlight section. You’ll also see the occasional complimentary writing prompt, featured work by our Daily Drafters, and links to other exclusive content.
I really want to showcase others’ work (your work!) in this section, to continue to build a tighter, more connected writing community. I want to know what else you’re writing and reading too and really want this to be a space for us to connect and inspire one another.
Daily Drafters Community Chat
In May, I opened the Daily Drafters Community Chat, where I’ve been sharing daily writing prompts with tips and encouragement to complete them— There are currently over 25 writing prompts available in the chat to inspire you and your writing!
In the chat, there are also weekly Community Chat threads (posted every Friday), where you’ll have the opportunity to share your responses to the writing prompts, dialogues, and any other writing you want to workshop and receive recognition and feedback on (like your next Substack post, the next chapter in your WIP, a personal essay or poem, etc.).
FYI: Whether you participate daily, weekly, or monthly in the chat is entirely your call. I started the Daily Drafters chat to help you keep writing top-of-mind every day. It’s as simple as that :) You can participate as little or as much as you want in the chat once you join. You’ll still always see human-generated prompts and conversation threads that will help you stretch your imagination and writing skills in fun ways while getting the support you need at the same time. Whenever you’re ready.
Drafting Diaries Series
In this new post series, launched in May, you’ll get a peek at my creative process, some of my struggles and breakthroughs, broader reflections about what I’m working on, as well as occasional snippets and notes about what’s inspiring me and my work (which could include your work!). Read more about the Drafting Diaries series here.
Coming Soon
The first monthly Daily Drafts & Dialogues Digest is coming your way soon!
This monthly digest is ideal for those paid subscribers who want to receive all Daily Drafts & Dialogues has to offer without getting daily emails.
This monthly web-only digest will include:
✔ Daily Drafters and Community Spotlight Features and Featured Work
✔ Monthly and Quarterly Writing Challenges
These writing challenges will be a little more challenging to complete than daily prompts, for those who want to take their writing to the next level. Writers who are looking for a leg up on their next writing project or want to work on something they can add to their professional writing portfolios will also be interested in these challenges.
✔ Previous Month’s Daily Drafters Writing Prompt Roundup
You’ll have a month’s worth of writing prompts in one spot every month. This section will also include featured community members’ completed prompts from the previous month.
Behind-the-Scenes
In future months, I will share my personal reflections on the previous month and the month ahead in this section… so expect to see more about me and what I’m up to, thinking, and feeling here. I hope this helps you get to know me and why I do what I do a little better with each passing month. Bottom line: I believe writing and reading every day (even in small doses) can change both you and how you experience the world for the better, and I want that to remain at the center of Daily Drafts & Dialogues.
For now, I’ll say that I am excited to see where all the new changes to Daily Drafts & Dialogues lead. This past month, I have been busy and hyper-focused on making Daily Drafts & Dialogues a more inspiring and engaging space for you and me. I know it will be worth it!
Tell me what you want to see more of on Daily Drafts & Dialogues in the comments so we can continue to build a writing community you can rely on and support.
WIPs
Look for updates on my current WIPs in this section in future months. I am currently working on a genre-bending speculative fiction project that looks like it might turn into a trilogy. Expect to see behind-the-scenes notes on my project and process here. I might include a few excerpts from the project from time to time, as well.
From the Community
In future months, this section will highlight the work you’ve shared with us over the previous month, and some of the meaningful dialogues we’ve had.
I want to use this section to highlight you and the writing community we’re building together.
Expect to see shout outs and excerpts of notable writing by you and the writing community we’re building, as well as links to other Substacks and books you’ll want to read here.
Truly, I want Daily Drafts & Dialogues to be a publication that keeps you inspired to write by connecting you with engaging posts and prompts, as well as other engaged writers who want to support you and your work!
Egalitarian Book Club
The Egalitarian Book Club is for those who believe that reading is fundamental to changing minds, expanding hearts, and building meaningful connections with other humans. This book club is ideal for those who enjoy reading a variety of genres and books and often seek out authors who have diverse backgrounds that are different from theirs. We read a bit of everything and typically vote on our selections.
We have Buddy Reads hosted in Storygraph each month, for those who want to read and discuss our book selection at their own pace throughout the month. But I’ll post a recommended reading schedule for each book we read, which will be located below Community Notes in Daily Drafts & Dialogues posts, for those who want it. And I will also host a free Substack chat thread about our book selection at the end of each month so everyone can discuss the entire book together there, especially those readers who aren’t currently using Storygraph.
In May, we read Westward Women by Alice Martin. And in June, we’re going to read Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke— Join this buddy read here, and stay tuned for an updated reading schedule.
Final Reflections for May
May was all about implementing new features on Daily Drafts & Dialogues. I honestly didn’t have much time for much else, so I can’t wait to see these new features really take off in the months ahead so we can use them to further grow this writing community we’re building together.
In case I don’t say it enough, I am so happy you found this little corner of the internet!
Thanks so much for your continued interest in Daily Drafts & Dialogues.
I can’t wait to connect with you in the comments sometime soon!
Until then, happy reading and writing!
Take a beat to reflect on last month and celebrate your wins before we start a new month.
Tell us one thing you learned in May, or something you did in May that you’re proud of, in the comments.
© This work is not available for artificial intelligence (AI) training. All Rights Reserved by K.E. Creighton; Creighton’s Compositions LLC.
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Daily Drafts & Dialogues is fueled by loyal readers, caffeine, and shares with kind words, so any support you can offer to keep it and me going is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, thank you so much! — K.E. Creighton
