Write More. Burn Out Less.
The March Digest: Fantasy reads, AI tools, and endurance training tips for sustainable creativity.
TL;DR
Choose this “beautifully boring” bedtime read to prioritise sleep.
Are you a Triple-A Author?
Learn more about your psyche with this AI mirror prompt for writers.
Stop hustling and discover the value of playing the long game.
Bonus: a new writing tip series drops, plus tools I actually use in my creative business.
Let’s dive in! 👇🏼
I found the perfect bedtime book—and it’s fantastic.
The Goblin Emperor is a slow-burn political fantasy that’s so beautifully boring, I’m finally sleeping again in stark contrast to my Sanderson fuelled bad habits. Great timing for race training.
No sword fights. No dragons.
Just court politics, delectable worldbuilding, and a deeply decent half-goblin kid who wakes up emperor after dad’s airship goes boom.
It’s also a killer case study in imposter syndrome. Writers: take notes.
Only downside? The proliferation of ponderous gendered names. Otherwise I’ve loved it to bits. I’m actually sad I finished it.
Thank goodness there’s a series in this world.
The Rise of the New Triple-A Author
Triple-A used to mean big-budget games. Now it means a writer with AI support, artisan-level craft, and audience-first thinking.
Johnny B. Truant of Self-Publishing Podcast fame calls this the Age of the Artisan Author —and thank goodness because I was never built for the endless rapid-release hustle.
That’s the second “A”: artisan. Focused. Quality-driven.
I first heard the full term— AI-assisted Artisan Author from Joanna Penn. She uses AI to strip out the drudgery so she can focus on writing her best fiction.
This is the new Triple-A model
Not a factory of half-baked drafts.
A craftsman with sharp tools and a long game.
But here's a fun twist:
If you’re co-writing with AI every day—how much does it know about you?
Try this prompt— AI Mirror on the Wall
Then ask your machine: What kind of writer am I?
The answer might surprise you.
Expect more ways to use AI to create Less, But Better. Because we don’t want to contribute to AI Slop and the Semantic Apocalypse.
Learning from others is the perfect way to escape our collective search bubbles. So, read anything good lately?
Dug that Goblin Emperor glow-up?
Then you’ll love this first tip in my new “I’d Rather Be Writing” series, with a shortcut to make your own—without rage-quitting Photoshop.
“I’d rather be writing…”
These are quick fire highly specific tips on how to save time and get back to writing. Because, say it with me… I’d rather be writing. 😉
Lisa crushed her Big Hairy Audacious Goal—her first Argus (or Cape Town Cycle Tour). She nailed it, had the best time every and signed up again before her legs stopped twitching.
Legend! 💪🏻
But that means my official chief supporter duties are now complete, and the spotlight swings back to me in the hot seat with less than eight weeks to go!
To prep for MUT60, I went full detective mode.
Stalking a runner on Strava who went from 0 to a 100km race in a year.
He’s younger—probably bleeding stem cells—but I’ve got dad-strength, sleep-deprived grit, and post-40 wisdom on my side.
I’m combing through his mileage, elevation, run types, and frequency.
First run I opened? He had me in the photo.
So… who’s stalking who, hmm?
After diving into all the data I quickly realised that I needed a coach.
Someone who understood my crazy goals and the life I lived.
And who knew how to reach peak performance, properly.
Until next time — keep at it.
Zane
Time-saving Tools for the Modern Writer
Tools I use in my own life and writing business.
Brain.fm — if you to struggle to focus, whether it’s tech-induced ADD or something else, this science-backed app will tune your mind into effortless focus. I’m a lifetime member.
Notion — as a certified workspace builder, I keep coming back to this all-in-one tool. With the right template and built-in AI, it’s the engine of my writing business.
Nightcafe — a free image generation option with plenty ways to earn more free credits.
Design Thinking — if you ever feel like you’re throwing content or offers into the void, this is the missing skill. The Interaction Design Foundation makes design thinking actually make sense (even if you’re not a designer). You’ll get 2 months free with my invite.
Candid Collab — if you don’t want to learn design, then the next best thing is to have access to an agency full of creatives, for a fraction of the price. Candid Collab is just that.
I use all of these myself. A few are affiliate links, which help support my work at no extra cost to you.
📋 How was this edition — could it have been better? Let me know.