We're incredibly bad as a society at understanding that beating oneself up actually isn't the best way to get something and that the problem isn't a lack of motivation or stricter deadlines. If you hate it, you will leave it, quite simply.

All of which is a long-winded way of saying that I'll be putting up one writing prompt every day, here and on silkroadslippers. Read it and write without stopping to think or analyse for 15 minutes, ideally pen on paper. It sounds like nothing, but it is TRANSFORMATIVE.

It's transformative in terms of one's creative practice and output but also, in my own experience, quite grounding in terms of depression/anxiety etc. I don't have a cute Dry January type name for it, all suggestions welcome.

I'm starting with a New Year themed prompt which I'm taking from Annie Ernaux's Getting Lost which I'm currently reading: "Only beginnings are truly beautiful." Happy writing, people! #writingprompt #writingpromptchallenge

Today's writing prompt is an image, this beautifully quiet, elegant Zurbarán. 15 minutes of writing, no editing, ideally no overthinking, just look and write! #writingprompt #januarywritingprompts

Today's writing prompt is from Anna Karenina: "He was incapable of deceiving himself and persuading himself that he repented of his conduct. He could not at this date repent of the fact that he, a handsome, susceptible man of thirty-four, was not in love with his wife."

I chose this because writing from different points of view is a form of experimentation that opens so many 🚪of the mind, plus it's fun and that's still the main point of the exercise.

We’re excited to announce some VERY big Silk Road Slippers news tomorrow… watch this space!

Are you a new writer, or an established talent wanting to refresh your skills? Our Writing Masterclasses are in Marrakech this November! Featuring Booker winner ⁦Shehan Karunatilaka⁩ and Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah. #amwriting silkroadslippers.com/masterclasses instagram.com/reel/Cq4xUvZoR…

Join us and Osman Yousefzada at the ⁦silkroadslippers⁩ book club this Monday 24th April at 6.30pm. We will be discussing life writing, childhood memoir, and much more. Tickets through Eventbrite. eventbrite.sg/x/virtual-book…

Join Alexandra Pringle and I for a conversation with memoirist, artist, activist Osman Yousefzada this Monday. Btw he's also dressed Beyonce and Lady Gaga. Tickets £5 on this link: eventbrite.sg/x/virtual-book…

We are salivating at the thought of having @LabNoon at the Silk Road Slippers Book Club on the 26th of this month to discuss her food journey from Iran to Italy. Tickets £5 from link below eventbrite.com/e/a-conversati…

Would that my voice were that good (I believe Faiza Khan’s is. Can’t speak for my other colleagues.) Faiza S Khan Nesrine Malik Alex von Tunzelmann silkroadslippers #writingmasterclass #marrakech

We’re so excited about our Writing Masterclasses in Morocco next month with Booker winner Shehan Karunatilaka and Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah. More info in this piece or on our website (in bio): mid-day.com/lifestyle/trav…

We're celebrating the holidays with a special offer for our silkroadslippers Writing Masterclass in Marrakech - described by the FT as "a revelation". first 5 people who sign up for our March Masterclass will get 25%, ie £800 off. Write to us at [email protected]

Silk Road Slippers Writing Masterclasses have been called “Exhilarating… a revelation” by the Financial Times. We’re celebrating with £800 off our March course in beautiful Marrakech with bestselling guest author Monica Ali. Five places only!silkroadslippers.com/monica-ali