It’s our monthly WRITE IN day next week 10am-3pm on Thursday 24 June in Hammersmith London and I cannot wait.

I’m working on my fourth book, it’s a memoir. Having a day when I do just this is rare and very needed.

Would you like to join us?

Book Now

“Writing with like-minded others in person unlocks something very special.”

What is it?

A monthly day retreat of up to six writers in London.

Enter a library room on a quiet tree-lined West London street, where writers come together to focus on their work in progress. No distractions, no pressure to share, and no need to perform. Just dedicated time to write.

We’ll be writing from 10am-3pm in Hammersmith, London, W6 on Thursday 25 June.

Book Now

All that is required is to arrive, set up your own spacious writing desk and begin.

The day is gently structured through sustained writing sprints and short pauses, creating momentum without pressure. Oodles of tea, biscuits and literary chat refuel us between sessions.

Writers end the day with pages written, work moved forward and a rekindled desire to continue towards completion.

Leave feeling like a writer who is writing.

£56 for the day (includes your own work space, tea, coffee, cake and biscuits.)

£46 for paid subscribers

Subscribe now

WRITE IN began with a simple request from writers in our London community…

“I need somewhere to go where I will finally write.”

Not because they lacked creativity, discipline or ideas, but because life is full of interruptions and writing in isolation is hard.

“A whole day cleared in my diary dedicated solely to writing.”

“An absolute treat.”

“The most productive writing session I’ve had for a good while.”

“Dedicated time to really focus on getting on with my writing.”

“I felt I had travelled to a protected space.”

“Focused time to work on Draft 8.”

What you’ll get

• Dedicated time to finally focus on your writing

• A beautiful, quiet writing space in West London

• Your own desk to spread out and settle into your work

• Gentle structure through sustained writing sprints and pauses

• Tea, biscuits and companionable literary conversation

• The motivating presence of other writers working alongside you

• Space to think, write and make meaningful progress

• A calmer nervous system around writing

• Renewed momentum for your work in progress

• The feeling of being a writer who is writing again

Book Now

Come and write with us and drop me a line if you’ve any questions.

Amy x

I’m back from the school run. Laundry on, coffee in hand. It’s school picture day at the little one’s primary school. We’ve had 15th birthday party celebrations all weekend and are our going to see Austentatious in the West End tonight.

Join me in an hour at 11am if you’re free and would like a quiet hour to write without expectation or performance.

Zoom Link

See you later to write at 11am (UK time) Monday 15 June 2026 open to all subscribers.

Love

Amy x

Missed our Branding 101 session for writers and creatives?

The replay, slides and downloadable resources are now available below.

Brand consistency doesn’t mean becoming a content machine

In our May Branding 101 tutorial we discussed how for writers and creatives, consistency is often less about rigid routines and more about creating emotional trust through tone, values, visuals and presence with a working rhythm that evolves with you. We explored how:

• People connect with recognisable energy, not perfection

• Competition isn’t just that author with a new book deal

• One of the biggest branding mistakes writers make is thinking competitors are only other authors

• Sometimes your real competition is Netflix, burnout, doomscrolling, noise and distraction

• Branding is about understanding attention, emotion and behaviour — not just aesthetics.

• Your brand like you is a living thing

The goal is recognisability, trust and resonance.

What did writers think?

Branding 101: Who’s your real competition?

In this bite-sized tutorial with branding experts Amy Beeson and from Wordsby Communications explored:

• What a brand actually is (beyond logos and marketing)

• Competitive landscape mapping and finding gaps in the market

• The difference between brand consistency and rigid content schedules

• Sustainable branding for creatives with real lives, fluctuating energy and evolving work

Get the replay

Paid subscribers can now access:
✓ Full replay audio recording
✓ Slides and workshop notes
✓ Competitive landscape prompts and axes

Subscribe to access the replay and downloads.

Get your questions in for June

We’re excited for the next live online tutorial at 1pm on Wednesday 24 June.

will be helping you get started with your visual brand identity, looking at colour psychology and typography in Branding 101 Lunch & Learn What does your industry look like?

Listen Again

Missed it? Don’t worry it’s available below to listen to with the slides to download and work your way through, along with some handy worksheets.

Thank you to and who joined us and asked such fantastic questions.

Branding 101 Lunch & Learn: Who’s your real competition? Listen to the audio.

Downloads

Workshop slides

Competition landscape understanding your edge

Competition landscape blank worksheets

Register for June Tutorial

Register your place for our next bite-size tutorial 1pm on Wedneday 24 June.

Register

Enjoy and send us any questions.

Amy & Divya

Hello, thanks for stopping by. I’m Amy Beeson an author, and I host in-person and online events for our writing community

June In-Person Events

Substack Writers West London Meet Ups (Fully booked)

Monday 1 June at 7pm in Hammersmith. A friendly place to connect with Substack writers and optional open mic. (£15 or £10 to subscribers). The June Meet Up sold out really fast. Here’s a link to the next one on 13 July. Only 12 places available.

Writing in Progress - London Writers’ Circle

Tuesday 9 June 10am-12pm in Hammersmith. (£65 standard £55 subscribers). Get feedback on up to 2000 words on your work in progress. Book your place at the June Writers Circle. Only five places available. The June and July sessions will be the last of the drop-ins at this price. We’ll be moving to cohorts in the autumn.

WRITE IN: One Day Co-working Retreat

Thursday 25 July 10am-3pm in Hammersmith. Get your word count up on you WIP in the company of other writers. Only five places available. (£55 Standard and £46 Subscribers). Book now to get a whole day of writing in the diary.

Free Online Events

Monday Morning Pages

Weekly in term-time join Amy for FREE morning pages session on Zoom. Link is sent to all subscribers each week. 11am-12pm (UK time) on Monday 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 June.

15 Minute Writing Bursts on Substack Live

All subscribers will get a link to these free daily live writing sessions to keep us connected with our work in progress.

Branding 101 Substack Live

Join experts Amy Beeson and at 1pm on Thursday 4 June as we discuss each month’s branding and communications theme.

Members Only Online Events

Included within the subscription to I Need To Finish This Before I Die.

Friday Writers’ Room

Fridays in term-time join Amy 10.30am-12pm for dedicated writing time. The Zoom link is emailed to all paid members before each session. 10.30-12pm (UK time) on Friday 12, 19 and 26 June.

Branding 101 Lunch & Learn Online Tutorials

June’s tutorial and Q&A will be at 1pm on Wednesday 24 June with Amy Beeson and on Zoom. This month reserve your spot for What does your industry look like?

Anything take your fancy? Email me back with any questions.

Love

Amy x

Do you want a clear, authentic brand so the right readers, clients and collaborators understand your work and keep on choosing it?

Branding 101 Lunch & Learn are a live bite-sized 1hr online tutorial series for writers, creatives and purpose-led practitioners who want to build a professional identity they can be proud of that evolves with them.

Each month brand experts from Wordsby Communications and will share how to blend storytelling and design with strategy.

Because we’re on a mission to show how clear identity and consistency can help more diverse voices be heard and more meaningful work be seen. We believe brand clarity is not cosmetic, it determines whether you are understood, trusted and able to reach the people your work is meant for.

Reserve your spot for 1-2pm Wednesday 20 May 2026 on Zoom for Branding 101: Who’s your real competition?

Find out who’s your real competition

Do you ever feel like you don’t know what makes you different?

In this first session of BRANDING 101 led by Brand Strategist and Language Creative we explore on the first half of the call what’s really getting in the way of your work being seen, understood and chosen.

Come to rethink how you position yourself and get started with self-guided strategy and writing development.

As well as recently putting those comms skills to good use to create WRITE UP, Amy has worked with household names like the Royal Navy, NHS, WWF, LSE, The National Archives, the Labour Party and O2. Her branding know-how was a huge factor in getting a three-book deal with HarperCollins too.

Your Questions Answered

Know what you want to do but don’t know how to do it?

Divya and Amy will answer your questions during the call too. It’s an opportunity to get some professional brand design, language and communications strategy advice.

You might recognise the designs did for WRITE UP. Her clients also include WWF International, the UN and the Commonwealth Foundation.

Divya will be leading the June session on visual competitor analysis using colour and typography psychology.

Why does branding matter?

Research show that consistent and authentic branding directly effects how much people trust you, how professional they think you are and how confident they are to buy from you.

From positioning and messaging to visual identity and copy, Amy and Divya are here to guide you on how to present yourself and your work confidently and consistently.

There’s a lot to learn but we can do it together at a gentle pace that reframes how you see yourself and show up in the world.

Join the Live Call

1-2pm Wednesday 20 May 2026 on Zoom.

Free to all paid subscribers of I Need To Finish This Before I Die. Here’s the link…

Read more

• Who are you

• What do you do

• How do you do it

• Competition landscape moodboards

• Brands vs campaigns

We’ll be creating a tutorial and taking questions from subscribers later this month.

Got a question?

Let us know.

Amy & Divya xx

Thank you , , and many others for tuning into my live video with ! Join me for my next live video in the app.

Get more from Amy I Beeson 🐝 in the Substack app

Available for iOS and Android

Get the app

“It felt really special, especially with such an intimate group. The combination of breath and writing was powerful. A great way to access my inner voice. The time just flew by.” Charlotte

Your notebook and pen...

long peaceful breaths...

an unwinding of body and mind...

Come back to yourself at The Soul Pages.

Book Now

We’ve one place left.

Welcome to Soul Pages Mini Retreats

Our next escape is 12.30-2.30pm on Saturday 9 May 2026 in London, W6.

A 90 minute mini-retreat in a sunny yellow book lined room on a quiet tree lined street. A chance to slow down, release and reconnect.

No experience needed.
No need to share.
Nothing to do but arrive.

Author Amy Beeson and Homeopath and Holistic Health & Pilates Coach Athena Bray-Mucha are looking forward to welcoming to the next Soul Pages mini retreat.

Book Now

What happens…

We begin with breath work, rest and relaxation to help your body fully unwind.

From there, you’ll be gently guided into writing prompts — a way to reconnect with your thoughts, feelings and imagination.

There is no sharing required at any point. You can stay completely private in your writing.

We close with tea, snacks, homeopathy advice and relaxed conversation (if you feel like it), plus a small gift to take home.

Book Now

“Transformative… I could be honest with myself in my writing.” Nirja

Take the Quiz

Not sure if this is what you need right now?

We’ve created a short “What do you need right now?” quiz — a quiet moment to check in with yourself.

Just reply QUIZ and we’ll send it to you.

“I felt safe, warm and welcomed.” Helena

What’s included in your mini ritual…

• Breathwork to calm your nervous system

• Gentle restorative poses (with cushions, bolsters and blankets)

• Guided writing prompts

• Herbal tea and nourishing snacks

• Introduction to homeopathy

• A small homeopathy remedies gift

“A peaceful and inspiring atmosphere. I could just be in my own space.” Holly

What you’ll leave with…

• A calmer, more grounded body

• Space in your mind

• Reconnection with your creative self

• A sense of what you require

• The feeling of having truly paused

“I left feeling deeply energised, refreshed and grateful.” Elizabeth

This is for you if…

You feel any of the following:

• Overwhelmed or mentally busy

• Wanting to use writing to explore

• You’re craving rest without having to “do” anything

• You like the idea of a retreat but don’t have the time for a full day or weekend

• You want gentle connection without pressure to share

  Book Now

Guest Expert - Athena Bray-Mucha

Athena is a Homeopath RSHom LCHE & CHEK Holistic Health & Pilates Coach.

She supports many women and families, from babies to elderly. Addressing hormonal imbalances, all stages of menopause, and chronic conditions such as eczema and asthma.

Amy first met Athena in her fantastic Pilates class, and then went to see her for natural remedies to release grief, heal from injury. Amy always has Athena’s coughs and colds remedies in the cupboard for the whole family to take at the first hint of a sniffle.

Writing Guide - Amy Beeson

Amy Beeson is an author with three books published by HarperCollins. She runs regular writing spaces focused on community, craft and connection.

Soul Pages is part of her own creative practice — using writing and rest to reconnect, restore and re-energise.

There is no productivity, performance or pressure.
Just space to return to yourself.

“I could just be in my own space. I didn’t feel any pressure to share.” Di

Cranio Sacral Massage Head holds

former editor of The Luxury Channel is a registered craniosacral therapist. Her work explores the relationship between nervous system regulation and creativity - how, as the body settles, clarity and inspiration can return.

“I’m drawn to enter this space because it offers something rare - time to slow down, think and reconnect.” Antonia

She’ll be offering optional, gentle craniosacral holds to support deeper rest and allow the body to settle into its own rhythm.

Antonia said, “I met Amy as new mothers over a decade ago, and our friendship has been shaped by a shared love of ideas and reflection. I’m deeply inspired by Amy’s writing, and I always leave her presence feeling more myself - clearer, steadier and galvanised.”

Book Now

If you’re reading this and thinking… yes, I need this — trust that feeling.

Cost £65 (or £55 for paid subscribers contact Amy).

Saturday 9 May 12.30-2.30pm in Hammersmith, London W6.

Book Now

Hammersmith and Ravenscourt Park are nearest tubes and there is free on street parking.

No experience is needed. Spaces are limited to six participants (and we’ve already taken some reservations). Tea and light refreshments will be provided. Please bring:

• Water

• A yoga mat

• Any props you like to use

• Notebook and pen

A final note

You will not be asked to share.
You will not be asked to perform.

You’ll simply be welcomed into a calm, supportive space and given permission to pause.

Love

Amy and Athena xx (And Antonia)

Do you need dedicated writing time?

There’s a very good reason my Substack is called I NEED TO FINISH THIS BEFORE I DIE.

I’m working on my next book every Friday morning from 10:30 am–12:00 pm UK (in term-time). Join me today on Zoom and make space for the project that matters to you most too.

This year I am asking myself what do I require to live and work the way I want to, and dedicated writing time is key to that.

Upgrade to paid for weekly Friday Writers’ Room and discounts on all in-person events including meet ups, writers’ circles, yoga and writing workshops and retreats.

Zoom Link to Friday Writers’ Room

Read more

Writing in Progress - London Writers’ Circle

The writers circles have been the thing that has most improved my writing, and it’s been a joy to host.

Before I move away from this drop-in format to test a cohort model in the autumn, there are two final opportunities to join us:10am-12pm on Tuesday 9 June 2026 in Hammersmith, London, W6.

Book Now

Tuesday 9 June, 10.00am–12.00pm
Tuesday 7 July, 10.00am–12.00pm

If you’ve attended a Meet Up, WRITE UP or one of my retreats but haven’t yet tried a Writers’ Circle, this is a lovely way to experience one.

Bring up to 2,000 words of your own writing for feedback and encouragement in a supportive group of fellow writers. Whether you’re working on memoir, fiction, poetry or essays, you’ll leave with fresh insights, practical suggestions and renewed momentum for your project.

The nudges we all need to keep on writing

I’m deep in change behaviour communications for a health project I’m working on over at my agency Wordsby. And it got me thinking about why have I’ve been so focused on designing community writing spaces for the past year. Though I’ve been building these spaces organically, the research shows why writers do better when they write regularly in community.

I’ve got some illuminating statistics to share with you…

Subscribe now

Most people who start writing books never finish

I created a writing circle to help me finish my fourth book and it can help you do that too. I didn’t know this until today but…

Most creative projects drop off the after initial excitement not because we lack inspiration but continuation is harder in isolation. Life is full of distractions. We often start a project or take a course and then struggle to keep up the momentum, because long-form work needs more than discipline.

Studies show that…

I knew it was hard to write regularly but I didn’t know it was that hard.

Book Now

Tuesday 9 June, 10.00am–12.00pm
Tuesday 7 July, 10.00am–12.00pm

How a writers’ circle helps your odds

Struggling is part of the process but being in a small, supportive group regularly helps us move through this, enjoy the process and keeping writing to completion. Studies say it’s down to three elements:

1. Social structure - we’re more likely to stick with writing a book when we’re in regular contact with other writers doing the same work

2. Identity reinforcement - spending time with other writers strengthens you feeling like a writer

3. Visibility of process - reading, listening and discussing writing increases enjoyment and reinforces continuation

Writers are significantly more likely to keep going when their work is shared regularly.

I’ve seen this firsthand over the last year at our monthly writers’ circles.

Giving and receiving critiques improves your writing

Writing studies have shown that writers who receive feedback:

• Revise more often

• Produce more complete drafts

• Are more likely to reach a finished version

Getting feedback doesn’t just improve quality, it increases completion probability.

Book Now

Tuesday 9 June, 10.00am–12.00pm, Hammersmith London
Tuesday 7 July, 10.00am–12.00pm Hammersmith London

What happens at our writers’ circles

The circle is a small supportive group of up to six writers (including me) sharing work in progress to find out what’s working and where we’re getting stuck.

• You email up to 2000 words to be read by the group.

• You read up to five pieces beforehand and make some notes on your print out to share with the group and give to each writer. This helps develop and renew your critical reading skills.

• You get pages of handwritten notes from me on your piece. (Worth £120).

• You get feedback from the group on your piece.

• You’ll get notes on your piece from the group.

• You have the opportunity to read your work out loud. This helps you pick up issues and it’s good practice for when your book is published and you read at events.

• You’ll see the groups reactions in real-time. Where the laughs are, where there is tension or empathy and where they get confused.

• Enjoy a cuppa and some biscuits over two-hours in a peaceful library room. Make new connections and soak up the literary chat.

The value is huge

Cost is £65 and £55 for my paid subscribers.

I worked out the cost of this if I were doing it commercially and it would be £300. So you’re saving £235. Why am I doing this? Because I’m in the practice with you. I developed this to keep myself accountable.

What I didn’t expect was how much critiquing other people’s work would wildly improved my writing.

Writers leave with increased confidence, notes on what to do next and a renewed commitment to their project.

We welcome all genres and have new writers, emerging writers and professional published writers.

And for now it’s only £65 but it will be going up to create the new cohorts.

Book Now

Tuesday 9 June, 10.00am–12.00pm, Hammersmith London
Tuesday 7 July, 10.00am–12.00pm Hammersmith London

The writers’ circle is so much more than feedback or coaching. It’s part of an ecosystem I’m designing to support my own writing, and I’m inviting you in too.

Will I see you at the next writers’ circle?

Love

Amy x

About Amy

Amy I Beeson is a British mixed-race author and memoirist based in London who grew up in a Staffordshire country village. She has three book published by HarperCollins.

Amy facilitates writing practice through workshops, retreats and her monthly Writers’ Circle and Meet Ups, supporting writers to develop voice, confidence, creative momentum and community.

Her work explores memory, identity and belonging, often returning to questions of motherhood, class, race and family.

Alongside her writing, she works as a brand language creative and communications strategist at Wordsby and is the founder of WRITE UP; leading creative projects, campaigns and public conversations that connect people, ideas and culture.

I’ll be working on a chapter for my WIP (my next book). Community members are welcome to join and have a little chat if you want to. We’re not sharing just writing.

10.30-12pm every Friday (in term-time) on Zoom

Don’t worry if you’re a bit late. We’ll be on mute. I’ll check in each time I turn the sand timer. And here’s little video of me explaining what the Friday Writers’ Room is.

Subscribe now

Read more

It’s the best night of the month. Come join us for the April Substack Writers Meet Up in West London at 7pm on Monday 20 April in Hammersmith. Return to your writing self in this fun welcoming community.

I realised in 2024 that being in the company of other writer’s regularly had become absent from my life. It’s now a cornerstone of my creative practice as well as being heaps of fun.

These meet ups are in-person gatherings, where talking to other writer’s soon feelings like chatting to old friends. We make space to listen to a few people’s work in progress. We limit it to twelve so we can feel seen and hear each other.

What Happens at the Meet-Ups

7:00 PM – I’ll introduce you to everyone (I’m good with names) . We sit at a long table overlooking the twinkly lights of Hammersmith Bridge. Grab a drink at the bar and join us.

8:30–10:00 PM – Optional Open Mic
Up to four writers read short excerpts of their work (memoir, fiction, poetry, essays). This part always feels intimate and generous; perfect if you’re thinking about sharing your work for the first time.

Email me if you’d like to read something. We have published authors through to new writer’s sharing for the very first time.

Cost - It’s £16.96 on Eventbrite. If you’re one of my paid subscribers it’s £10.

Book

We had such a wonderful time at the March Meet Up. We were so immersed in conversations about the work we forgot to take any photos until the bar closed and it was time to put our coats on and go home.

Thank you to for reading What Would Madonna Do. I never know what to expect from you, and we all agreed that’s part of your brand. Conversational yet reflective in tone. It’s like we’re being let into your thoughts, and there is so much craft that goes into making that feel effortless and enjoyable.

Carol shared a piece of memoir called Childless. It was intimate and emotionally raw, blending memory and observation. Candid and yet brimming with empathy and vulnerability.

Thank you to and for listening and your generous feedback.

A little note on how my writing’s going…

I shared my work for the first time in over a year at the March Meet Up. I must admit I was a nervous to read a first draft extract from my fourth book. It’s a new memoir. (Working Title) The Words Between Us. But it felt great. Alex gave me a note that helped me finish the chapter that week. It’s one I recognise about leaning into the details that matter. It’s a note has given me before in our monthly writers’ circle to go deep not long.

The following morning Alex messaged me to say it was a sign we’d seen a mouse that evening. As I’d shared passage where my Mum and I moved into Mousehole Cottage. And I thought about our group conversation about telling the bees over Monday Marghartias. I realised I’d completely forgotten to include that too. So here’s a tiny snippet from the redraft of that chapter.

It would be lovely to see you at the next meet up. Let me know if you’re coming. Book your spot now.

Love

Amy x

SOLD OUT incredibly quickly. We are now starting a list for people who would like to be the first to know about the 2027 retreat and London Residentials. Please get in touch.

Your notebook...

the sea...

the time you need...

The Writers’ Nest awaits.

Welcome to The Writers’ Nest

Friday 9 to Monday 12 October 2026 in Appledore, North Devon, UK.

A three-night retreat by the sea for writers seeking space to write, time to dream and literary company at their own pace.

Nestled on the North Devon coast, each writers’ cosy cottage is a nest of creativity and privacy, with literary company only a few doors away. You’ll be escaping to a lane of pastel-coloured cottages spilling gently towards the open water in the beautiful harbour village of Appledore.

The retreat’s pace follows the natural flow of sun, moon and tide, giving writers time to enter liminal space between thought and page, solitude and company.

As much time as you like to write, read, wander, swim or enjoy bookish conversation — the choice is yours, guided only by the gentle pull of the landscape and your own creative energy.

Included are optional seminars, one-to-one sessions and thoughtful creative practice with our three writing mentors and . You can shape each day around what your writing needs most, whether that be a fresh perspective, renewed confidence, rest and new experiences or uninterrupted time to write.

Let your words take flight while looking out to sea from the hut.

A Writer’s Dream Days

Wake up to a breakfast hamper packed with delicious goodies in your seaside cottage.

If you need a creative break why not join a sea dip, beach walk, singing or morning pages, or simply nestle into your own writing space until we gather in the Snug for sunset drinks before dinner, either on the deck or in front of the fire at the Writers’ Nest. We all get to be neighbours for a few days.

What’s Included

Accommodation

• Three nights’ seafront accommodation

Each writer will share a cottage with one or two other writers, and you’ll each have your own bedroom. Your cottage will have at least one bathroom, kitchen, dining area, sitting room and outdoor space and/or sea views. You’ll be invited to pop along to The Writers’ Nest, the writing hut and the hall as well.

Prices

• Twin £1,155

• Double £1,195

• Master Ensuite £1,275

£100 off early bird discount if paid in full.

Payment plans available. You can reserve your room with £300 deposit. We’re happy to take BACS transfers or Apple Pay via invoice.

Ground floor bedrooms and bathrooms are available, let us know about any access requirements.

Contact Amy, Emma or Tom to get more information and we can share a room and cottage guide to help you choose the right space for you.

Sustenance

• Breakfast hamper

• Welcome afternoon tea

• x 3 Sunset drinks in the Snug

• x 3 Evening two-course meals (local restaurant, pub or takeaway)

• Teas/coffees/biscuits and cake

• Farewell brunch

Lunch-time is free time. You may want to go for lunch with other writer’s at one of the village’s great cafes or pubs, grab a pasty from the Appledore Bakery or John’s or have fish and chips on the promenade. However, you may be so immersed in your writing that you’re happy to make yourself a sandwich and stay in your cosy nest. The choice is yours.

Dedicated writing time

Bring work in progress or a new idea you’re exploring.

• Uninterrupted dedicated mornings to writing

The rest of the day you can write, join in with activities, craft sessions, read, nap it’s entirely up to you until Sunset drinks in the Snug at 6pm.

Creative activities

All our activities are optional and a little dependent on the weather.

• Organised beach walks, sea dips and singing sessions

• Three creative writing seminars (led by each mentor)

• One-to-one session with a retreat mentor

• Solo writing sessions in the hut overlooking the sea

• Writing prompts and optional guided writing

• On hand creative support from mentors

• Morning own practice stretch/gentle yoga on the deck

Your mentors will be based in our central hub, The Writers’ Nest on the same colourful street as all the writers’ cottages. This will be our gorgeous gathering place, where you’re welcome to pop in for tea, cake and chats in the Snug.

The Nest has it’s own Hut, a dedicated writing space overlooking the sea, available for you to reserve for your own private writing time. We’ll be using the village hall as well for group sessions.

Email Us

If you’re thinking… YES… this is exactly what I want. DM, comment or email to get the full programme before you book.

We’d love to know what you’re planning on writing during our time together but you don’t have to tell us any time soon.

Please get in touch to get the full retreat programme and to find out more about what mentors Emma, Tom and Amy will be offering.

We’re looking forward to all the chats during beach walks, over cups of tea, sunset drinks and dinner. It’s going to be our own little street of writing joy.

Places are limited to keep the retreat intimate. If you’d like to join us by the sea this October, we’d love to hear from you.

Love

Amy, Emma and Tom x

I’m a much better writer now

Without the Writing in Progress London Writers’ Circle I wouldn’t as confident about my work as I am.

I’ve been able to lean into my voice, style, tone, imagery and characterisation by hearing what gets readers excited and where they sometimes get a bit lost.

My work has grown immensely by reading others work. Thinking and discussing writing craft is an important part of the writing life. At university our they used to say English Literature students have more fun, and it’s true.

Reading, knowing you’ll be giving feedback to another writer, opens up a whole new way of thinking and talking about the work. It benefits everyone in the room.

Feeling a bit of imposter syndrome? That’s normal. This is not performance. It’s not about being the cleverest or most widely read person.

It’s about authentic connection. Sharing what moved you, what made you angry or laugh. We’re all equal in the circle, and there’s a mix of new writers, emerging writers and published writers. All genres are welcome; memoir, novel, essay or self help book.

Thanks to writers for the kind words.

Come to the next London Writers’ Circle

The next circle is Tuesday 14 April from 10am-12pm and we’ve two spots left.

We have around 4-6 people in each monthly circle. It’s an opportunity to listen supportive critiques on your work. You share up to 2000 words a few days in advance.

Book

Upcoming dates are Tuesday 5 May, Tuesday 9 June and Tuesday 7 July 2026.

What Writers’ Say…

About Amy

Amy I Beeson is a British mixed-race author and memoirist based in London who grew up in a Staffordshire country village. She facilitates writing practice through workshops, retreats and her monthly Writers’ Circle and Meet Ups, supporting writers to develop voice, confidence, creative momentum and community.

Her work explores memory, identity and belonging, often returning to questions of motherhood, class, race and family.

Alongside her writing, she works as a brand language creative and communications strategist at Wordsby and is the founder of WRITE UP; leading creative projects, campaigns and public conversations that connect people, ideas and culture.

Do you need dedicated writing time?

There’s a very good reason my Substack is called I NEED TO FINISH THIS BEFORE I DIE.

I want to write a fourth book.

I am writing a fourth book.

I’ve promised my agent I will.

But here’s the thing: writing is hard the sitting-down-to-write bit slips away.

I’m working on my next book every Friday morning from 10:30 am–12:00 pm UK (in term-time). Join me on Zoom and make space for the project that matters to you most too.

This year I am asking myself what do I require to live and work the way I want to, and dedicated writing time is key to that.

Zoom Link to Friday Writers’ Room

I’ll send out the link every week to paid subscribers. If you’re having trouble finding it, DM or email me.

Friday 1 May 10.30am-12.00pm on Zoom

If you’re late don’t worry. We’ll be writing on mute.

We can have a quick chat at the end if you’ve got time.

Love

Amy x

About Amy

Amy I Beeson is a British mixed-race author and memoirist based in London who grew up in a Staffordshire country village. She facilitates writing practice through workshops, retreats and her monthly Writers’ Circle and Meet Ups, supporting writers to develop voice, confidence, creative momentum and community.

Her work explores memory, identity and belonging, often returning to questions of motherhood, class, race and family.

Alongside her writing, she works as a brand language creative and communications strategist at Wordsby and is the founder of WRITE UP; leading creative projects, campaigns and public conversations that connect people, ideas and culture.

Two years ago, I wouldn’t have believed how much showing up on Substack would change my life—both online and offline.

Monthly shared creative practices have transformed my work, my confidence and my relationships. I wanted to Own The Room, and discovered what I really want is shared lived experiences. To participate not orchestrate.

It’s being my authentic self, sharing my writing and connecting with other writers that has brought me opportunities, compassion and joy.

It’s been life changing. All I had to do was show up… but sometimes that’s the hardest bit of all. This is my invitation to you to step into a new space just as you are right now.

A Space We Create Together

Last Saturday I hosted Soul Pages with Claudine Van de Vyver, a yoga teacher and psychotherapist. It’s a liminal space that uses writing and yoga to unlock and move forward. From the first moment it felt co-created, like a small, temporary coven of attention, care and imagination. We invited participants to move, breathe, write and look at what chapter needed to end so a new one could begin.

Each mat became a series of connecting islands, nestled in warm blankets, soft cushions and supportive bolsters. Uplifting scents and gentle sounds that created a safe space to explore the inner world. Writing side by side, we noticed how much more we all opened up, how ideas flowed differently.

When you’re working on your next chapter, literally or metaphorically, or both in my case, accountability and the permission to go deeper and tackles the shoulda, woulda couldas, the guilt, the imposter syndrome that surfaces alongside the hopes, dreams and memories.

When we write together, the shared practice holds us, as much as we hold it.

Learning to Say “No, thank you.”

I am learning to sit with the discomfort of saying “No, thank you,” so I can also say “YES” to the ideas, people and places that bring me laughter, comfort and purpose.

There’s a reason humans create rituals, we need them. As children we so often have a bedtime ritual, a leaving the house rituals, a school drop off ritual. They make us feel safe, they are an outward sign of internal fears and desires.

During my own practice at Soul Pages I suddenly and unapologetically decided I require firmer boundaries. I’m questioning what I do and how I show up. Celebrating what I’ve been making, and acknowledging that, I do not want to be shaped by whether my decisions will make others like me more, both personally and professionally.

I realised that some long-standing relationships have become echoes of what they once were. That I fall into comparison traps; playing the same negative tapes of rejection over and over again. Asking why that person values me less than other friends or family members? I want to stop responding by giving more in these circumstances, and instead, step away. I’ve done it before, I can do it again.

Participating, Not Directing

Whatever spaces I create, whether it be workshops, circles, meet ups or retreats, I’m participating in the work rather than just directing it.

My resources; time, energy and money are not limitless. I have as much skin in the game as everyone else. Writing together makes that investment tangible for all of us. If I didn’t believe the spaces I’m creating were expansive, I wouldn’t be putting out the call for you to join me in them.

Cosmic Covens

As a memoir writer when I look back over my life I can see I’ve always mixed creativity with gentle activism. I’m also mindful that numbers are not how I measure success. Being valued, fairness, respect and making a difference are my guiding stars.

Writing together is part of that alchemy. It turns ordinary hours into moments of magic. That’s why I call these gatherings Cosmic Covens, where the energy emerges not from any one person but from the shared intention.

All our gatherings are a collaboration, brimming with curiosity and kindness. People are not performing. They’re inhabiting the space, fully and honestly. You came, you created, you were seen — it matters.

The more we come together, the stronger the connections, the trust and the courage to show up as we are. This is not networking. It is living. It is being a writer, a thinker, a participant in the work. That is the gift. That is the bridge.

Join Us at WRITE IN

If you want to experience that kind of shared energy for yourself, the next event I’m hosting is WRITE IN, my one day writing co-working retreat in London on Thursday 19 March in Hammersmith.

Timed writing sprints, quiet focus and the support of a room of writers have become a treasured part of my writing practice.

Bring the chapter you want to begin, return to, or finish. Come and inhabit the space with us.

Book

Any questions drop me a line.

Love

Amy x

When health visitor Sarah Beeson’s pregnant daughter, Amy Beeson, asked her to put pen to paper on caring for her new baby she didn’t know it would result into a parenting book full of secrets from four decades of working with families.

Discover Sarah’s top three secrets of breastfeeding and what the signs are your baby is getting enough milk. How all parents can use feeding time to bond with their baby and instant calming methods to soothe and help your Little One sleep. Weaning your way and an A-Z of solutions to common problems from colic to teething. Take care of the whole family by understanding the emotional needs of your baby. Discover what life as a new parent is like from your partner’s perspective with advice on sex and relationships from both a woman’s and a man’s point of view.

Nurturing, practical and refreshingly honest that one-size doesn’t fit all and no-one is a perfect parent, Sarah Beeson’s advice is the perfect companion to parenthood.

Happy Baby, Happy Family is published by HarperCollins available in paperback, audiobook and eBook but why not give me the money and get a signed copy. It also makes a great gift for expecting and new parents.

Get a signed copy

£10 including postage and packaging. Message me to order with name, address and inscription.

Amy I Beeson writes about creative practice, memoir, identity, motherhood, love, grief, class, race and family.

It’s three years today since my mum died.

In the sorrow and isolation of grief I’ve realised something: I was longing for a coven. I went to a lot of workshops but there wasn’t the connection I was longing for.

When you think of a coven you probably imagine the same figures coming together again and again. But for me it’s not the who, it’s the how.

I take care of the where, when and why and leave the who up to the universe. Because I believe when you need it you will hear the coven’s call.

It’s about putting the invitation out there and welcoming whoever responds to it. Meeting in the moment with depth and connection.

And I’ve concluded this constitutes a cosmic coven.

Because for me, writing is magic.

This openness, this vulnerability is the thread running through all the events I put together, from Monday Morning Pages to Meet Ups, but its purest manifestation, so far, is in the SOUL PAGES which I host with yoga teacher and pyschotherapist Claudine Van de Vvyer.

For me it’s about growing things energetically rather than strategically. I realise, for a brand and communications expert, that’s a little unusual. My personality trait of being a leader who doesn’t want to control or chase status was flagged early on in personality testing when I worked in the civil service.

SOUL PAGES began when I was searching for my own purpose and rediscovering my voice. I learned through holding space, being vulnerable and taking risks.

Now SOUL PAGES is about exploring liminal space. Crossing thresholds. Acknowledging what we require to do this work.

Creating a feeling of belonging, whether it be for that day, that week, that month, that year.

Community without control.
A circle that forms because we dare to speak.

Liminal work fascinates me because my writing practice is consumed with how grief dismantles identity and how we rebuild when we can’t go back to who we were before.

I wanted a coven. Witness. Magic.

Being brave enough to call people into your world has required work that has gone to the bone. It’s not glossy. It demands self-belief and compassion, patience, perseverance and practice, and as a working mum of two that’s sometimes hard to come by. Like carving the time to write, this work also demands determination.

In doing the work, I find what I need.

Because memory is in the nervous system.
Story lives in the muscles.
Grief lives in the breath.

And to counter that, we need a sacred space, a creative ecology.

A cosmic coven isn’t fixed membership.
It’s frequency.
You recognise it when it arrives.

I am not a coven member.
I am a coven maker.

Grief cracked me open.
Loss stripped me to blood and bone.

I stopped waiting to be invited.
I built instead.

My nervous system has not forgotten grief. The fear. The firefighting. SOUL PAGES is my offering to step through it.

I can be a woman holding joy and sorrow simultaneously. Not performing resilience but inhabiting it, sometimes reluctantly.

I am literally standing in liminal space while teaching liminal space.

Becoming the person who can stand in a doorway and hold it open.

What do you require to cross the threshold?

If you’re in a liminal space right now, not who you were, not yet who you are becoming, I want you to know this:

You are not behind.
You’re not broken.
You’re in transition.

And transition requires tenderness and practice in equal measure.

We’re crossing the threshold.
Not waiting for permission.
Not waiting to be “ready” or “fully healed.”
Not waiting for a certainty that doesn’t exist.

The door is open.

Is this your time to start walking towards it?

Love

Amy x

About Amy

Amy I Beeson is a British mixed-race author and memoirist based in London and born in Staffordshire. She facilitates writing practice through workshops, retreats and her monthly Writers’ Circle and Meet Ups, supporting writers to develop voice, confidence, creative momentum and community.

Her work explores memory, identity and belonging, often returning to questions of motherhood, class, race and family.

Alongside her writing, she works as a brand and communications strategist at Wordsby and is the founder of WRITE UP, leading creative projects, campaigns and public conversations that connect people, ideas and culture.

Dear Book Lovers

Everyone I speak to is having a hard time at the moment and yet here we are in Spring; March should be a season of hope and renewal. When times are overwhelming it takes more energy to come together but when we do it reminds us there is joy and good people doing their thing to live well in their own corner of the world. Finding your people matters more than ever right now.

There’s something so special about hanging with other writers. The chat about writing, life and everything inbetween. Switching between serious literature chat and gossiping about crazy Whats App Groups.

The Substack Meet Ups by Hammersmith Bridge are the place to be to meet other writers. Some are new to writing and new to Substack, others are happy to share their experiences. Everyone is welcome.

Come for a drink, the chat, to listen to new writing, and come back again for the joy of connection and being part of a writing community.

Monday 9 March at 7pm in Hammersmith, London

Come exactly as you are. Without worrying what stage your writing is at. Without needing to know what you’re working on. Without even being sure you “get” Substack yet.

If you’ve been thinking for a while, I’d love to spend some time with other writers, this is your invitation.

And if you’ve been to one of our past meet ups — I’d love to welcome you back.

We keep it small. Maximum of twelve. Once the places are full let me know if you’d like to go on the reservation list.

Book

What Happens at the Meet-Ups

🪑 7:00 PM – Arrive, Get Settled, Say Hello
I’ll introduce you to everyone (I’m good with names) . We sit at a long table overlooking the twinkly lights of Hammersmith Bridge. You can order a drink or snack from the bar if you fancy a little something.

💬 7:00–8:30 PM – Casual Chats & Creative Conversation
We talk about writing, publishing, creativity, Substack… and whatever comes up. No cliques. Just open-hearted writers, often meeting for the first time.

📖 8:30–10:00 PM – Optional Open Mic
Up to four writers read short excerpts of their work (memoir, fiction, poetry, essays). This part always feels intimate and generous; perfect if you’re thinking about sharing your work for the first time.

Cost

It’s £16.96 on Eventbrite. If you’re one of my paid subscribers it’s £10. DM me if you’d like to book a spot (you get priority) and if you’d like an invoice so you can business expense it.

Want to Read?

DM me to request one of the open mic slots. It’s a safe, encouraging audience, you’ll leave on a high.

I think a lot of writers who join us do this as a first step towards reading their work and seeing how it lands with people. It’s my favourite part of the meet up. We’ve heard memoir, fiction, poetry and film reviews so far.

January Meet Up Readers

Thank you for reading and . Thank you for joining us , Carol, .

Come and have a beautiful evening by the river. Being by the water always makes me feel better.

Love

Amy x