Monday Magic
Hi!
I just landed back in New York after eight days of travel across the country.
We went out to California for my 25th high school reunion, and I saw people I haven’t seen in YEARS. They look the same! But we’re all older! I noticed how much kinder, softer, and funnier people are. It turns out, being a teenager is a hard time for many of us, and it was special to bond over that reflection.
Then we hopped over to San Francisco, met up with folks from my writing groups, and I stopped over in Colorado for an entrepreneur's mastermind.
Throughout it all, my mind kept spinning up new ideas for what to write about.
This always happens to me. The ideas come forward when I’m out moving, walking, talking. Then later, when I sit down to write, I think, OH SHOOT. Now what did I want to say again? I had so many ideas! (Does this happen to you, too?)
Which brings me to today’s key idea:
Keep a running list of topics in your notebook (or your phone).
Because generating ideas is just one part of the writing process, and so often, idea generation happens outside of the writing desk. Walking, driving, showering, falling asleep? These are all times when your brain is just pulled sideways enough that your ideas start to fall forward.
The writing process is more than just sitting in a chair and typing on a keyboard. Broadly speaking, the writing process is about capturing ideas, drafting first concepts, research and revising, and final edits.
What you want early on in the process is a system for capturing the ideas.
I have two core places that I capture my ideas: First, in the regular "Notes" app on my phone. And second, in my physical notebook when I'm at a conference or a meeting. The only goal of these two capture systems is to write anything down that I think of, a fragment of the idea, a sketch, or even a starter sentence.
For example, after the weekend in California, I found myself reflecting on several of the stories people shared with me. Into the notebook it goes. When I'm at a conference, I'll usually flag one of the first pages in my notes as a page of action items and follow-ups; then the next page is listed, 'writing ideas,' to capture bullets as I think of them.
I do not count on myself to remember the idea later.
When I'm out walking, I'll voice-to-text into my phone app to capture an idea. When I'm showering, I'll use wall sticky notes if there's something that pops up that I want to retain. My Aunt keeps a notebook by her bedside, and if she wakes up with an idea, she scribbles it down on the pad before she goes back to sleep.
The point is to capture the scribble, the idea, the thoughts.
Otherwise we'll forget. There are too many things we're trying to remember. The good ideas come forward when we have a chance to exhale, when we stop intensively working, and when we're in between spaces.
Capture the fragments.
We can edit them later.
One more thing from the reunion.
What struck me wasn't how much had changed in 25 years. It was how these people carried stories of each other across time. It was how refreshing it was to see what stayed the same, what changed, and what we were able to let go of.
Research says it takes about 90 hours to become real friends. Most of us don't get anywhere near that in midlife, between work, kids and calendars. That's why I built The Wise Women's Council: one Thursday call every week, 90 minutes, a year-long circle of women who show up for each other. Members from 2017 through 2022 who still meet year after year.
If you've been wanting deeper friendships, a place to bring your half-formed ideas about what's next, or just a standing appointment with people who get it, applications are open now for the Fall 2026 cohort. Applications close on October 14th, 2026.
Apply to join The Council
Not quite ready to apply? Come to the Wise Women's Salon this Wednesday, Oct 7: Reinventing yourself and reimagining your career. It's the easiest way to meet me and get a feel for the community first.
— Sarah
PS: Wise Women's Council applications close October 14. If you've been circling the idea of a year with great women around you, this is your nudge. Be sure to submit an application to join us!
PPS: I also use this "topics" tip for my conversation threads. Sometimes I get nervous when I'm out and about with people, so I plan ahead for topics of conversations and things I want genuine feedback on. I keep a pinned note in my Notes app on my phone called "Conversation Topics," where I have a list of things I want to ask people about and know more about. There are old dads I know who do the same thing—essentially a weekly agenda to talk about with your buddies. Please take this idea if it helps you!
SAY THIS: People often talk about events by using chronology or lists. That's the structure of the story, but it's not the emotion. Follow-up by asking people a deeper question like, "What was that like for you?" or "Tell me more about what that was like to live through." That's where you'll hear about their inner world.
READING: Just finished reading Kin by Tayari Jones, and Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow. Also cruised through Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, and The Wedding People by Alison Espach.
LISTENING TO: The grief of getting what we want, the grief of not having what we need. Dr. Emily Anhalt and Barrett Brooks talk about high achievers, success, and the limits to thinking we know what success will do for us.
COMING UP:
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