Hello, this is Celeste and welcome to the Letters for Creatives newsletter. I have been writing poems since 2017 and fiction since 2022. This is the place where I share my thoughts and found resources for writers and creatives.

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Thank you for being patient with me with the hiatus that I did not expect. When you keep doing something for almost 3 years and stop, the habit of writing these letters still has not kicked in. Weird. But maybe it is my physical and mental exhaustion that calls for a break. Anyway, I am back!

To figure out the day that would suit my current schedule and your preference, let me know when you want to get these letters now.

It reveals to me that having time off to do nothing and observe is one of the most important things if you want to create. As time goes on, it becomes obvious that creative writing is my lifeline. I feel miserable when I have no time to write.

Why You Aren’t Reading Short Stories, and Why You Should

Rebecca noticed that not many people choose short stories when they are looking for something to read.

Some collections don’t even have the word “stories” on the cover, for fear it will scare away readers.

These collections usually have 5 short stories that carry the same or vastly different themes. Either way, it is difficult for people to talk about them when their friends ask for book recommendations. But these short stories usually are what writers work on in between novels. In the perspective of writers, short stories and novels deserve the same amount of readership and love.

You can start exploring short stories through flash fiction on Substack or reading actual anthologies, such as 50 Great Short Stories.

To get full access to creative challenges, writing resources and the entire Interview With an Artist and Interview With a Creator series, you can now become a paid subscriber by share this newsletter with 10 friends and get your first month for free: https://celestetsang.substack.com?r=78gm8

What you would get full access to:

How Neil Gaiman fights writer’s block

Plotting for your 2026 success

The best rejection letter in the publishing industry

This week for paid subscribers:

1. Challenge #9

2. Identity crisis

This week challenge:

To start fresh and get back to the routine of creating and writing this year, there would be a creative or writing challenge every other week. You can see the first 5 challenges below.

The remaining challenges for 2023 would be accessible for paid subscribers. You would become one after 10 of your friends subscribe with the link https://celestetsang.substack.com?r=78gm8

Challenge 1-5

Previously for paid subscribers: Challenge 6-8

Challenge #9:...