The Yes Space: Where Winter Meets Creative Magic

The Yes Space: Where Winter Meets Creative Magic

CONNECTED: A Podcast for the Whole Writer — Episode 5 The Yes Space: Where Winter Meets Creative Magic Winter isn’t something to endure, it’s an invitation. In this episode, Chelsea and Kim explore how the dark season becomes a powerful Yes Space, a creative container where momentum builds, intuition sharpens, and the magic of your project finally has room to reveal itself. They reflect on The Fountain 30, the beauty of low-barrier practices, and the reality of creating inside imperfect conditions. They also talk about trusting sparks, staying connected to your work during the holidays, and allowing winter to be a portal for deeper creative devotion. Listen: https://www.fountainpractice.com/podcasts/connected  [https://www.fountainpractice.com/podcasts/connected ]  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connected/id1813032615 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connected/id1813032615] In This Episode Winter as a naturally supportive season for deep creative work The Yes Space: a physical or energetic “playpen” for your project How containers (30 days, 100 days) create reliable momentum Why the inner critic spikes right when you’re onto something meaningful Trusting magic, mystery, and the small intuitive sparks that guide the work Making progress inside real-life chaos — kids, holidays, jobs, puppies Developing rituals, talismans, and North Star books that anchor you Why “circling the same scenes” is often a sign of refinement, not failure Letting go of the myth of perfect conditions Mentioned in This Episode: The Winter Intensive: 100 Days to Your Full Draft January 11–April 20, 2026 Early bird pricing ends December 2 https://www.fountainpractice.com/winter-intensive-100-days-to-your-full-draft [https://www.fountainpractice.com/winter-intensive-100-days-to-your-full-draft] Self-Paced Courses: Supercharge Your First 30 Pages: https://www.fountainpractice.com/supercharge-course [https://www.fountainpractice.com/supercharge-course] 10 Steps to Your Dream Agent: https://www.fountainpractice.com/agent-course [https://www.fountainpractice.com/agent-course] Fountain Membership $33/month for Clearings™, channels, classes + community https://www.fountainpractice.com [https://www.fountainpractice.com] Books & Craft Nourishment Mentioned Writing Creativity and Soul — Sue Monk Kidd Loitering with Intent — Muriel Spark God and Sex — Jon Raymond Audition by Katie Kitamura The Mobius Book by Catherine Lacey Stay Connected: Newsletter & community: https://www.fountainpractice.com [https://www.fountainpractice.com] Instagram: @thefountainpractice Send podcast questions and be featured on a future ep! connect@fountainpractice.com

Your Writing Career is a Marathon Not a Sprint

CONNECTED: A PODCAST FOR THE WHOLE WRITER EP #4: WHY YOUR WRITING CAREER IS A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT Hosted by authors Chelsea Bieker [https://www.chelseabieker.com/] & Kimberly King Parsons [https://www.kimberlykingparsons.com/] EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Chelsea and Kim explore the long game of writing careers, sharing insights from their own publishing journeys and discussing why patience and persistence matter more than speed.  KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED: The Marathon Metaphor * Why writing a book involves multiple marathons—from first draft to final publication * Finding your sustainable minimum: the smallest amount of daily creative work that feels satisfying * How reading while writing maintains perspective and patience * Blind spots in your work Publishing Realities * Why publication won't "fix" you or fill the void you think it will * The 1-2 year gap between finishing a manuscript and seeing it published * How to cultivate joy in the process rather than fixating on outcomes The Truth About Craft * Why your first draft probably isn't ready (and that's okay) * The value of reading 1,000 books before writing one * How editors often read only the first 10-30 pages of submissions FOUNTAIN COMMUNITY Q&A Q1: "I'm 45 and just starting my first novel. How do I deal with feeling decades behind?" Q2: "I've been querying for 3 years with no agent while friends get book deals. Should I keep going?" Q3: "How do I balance learning craft with actually writing?"   JOIN THE FOUNTAIN COMMUNITY [https://www.fountainpractice.com/store] WINTER INTENSIVE: 100 DAYS TO YOUR FULL DRAFT [https://www.fountainpractice.com/winter-intensive-100-days-to-your-full-draft] January 11 - April 20, 2026 Transform your book from dream to reality with: * 14 Live Zoom Coaching Sessions (Wednesdays 9-11am PT) * Weekly accountability groups * 100-day targeted daily curriculum * 14 custom Craft Clearings (guided audio experiences) * Lifetime access to all materials Perfect if you: * Have carried a story for years that needs to be written * Want to finally type "The End" * Seek a neuroscience-based approach to creativity * Write fiction or memoir Early bird pricing available now at thefountainpractice.com [https://thefountainpractice.com/] SELF-PACED COURSES [https://www.fountainpractice.com/self-paced-courses] Supercharge Your First 30 Pages Build opening pages that power your entire manuscript * 42 days of strategic daily prompts * 6 original craft Clearings * Two pathways: for new projects or existing drafts * Lifetime access 10 Steps to Your Dream Agent Find your agent through alignment, not anxiety * Comprehensive querying strategy * 2 confidence-building Clearings * Real query letter examples * Templates and exercises THE FOUNTAIN MEMBERSHIP $33/month Access everything you need for a sustainable writing practice: * Full library of Clearings and Channels * Monthly deep-dive classes exclusively for members * Community of writers creating from trust rather than doubt * Desktop and mobile access Join at thefountainpractice.com [https://thefountainpractice.com/] CONNECT WITH THE FOUNTAIN * Website: thefountainpractice.com [https://thefountainpractice.com/] * Instagram: @thefountainpractice [https://instagram.com/thefountainpractice] * Questions: connect@fountainpractice.com EPISODE TAKEAWAY You're not behind. You're not too late. You're exactly where you need to be in your unique creative marathon. The next 100 days will pass regardless—how will you use them? If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share with a writer who needs to hear it. Your creative practice is worth investing in. Welcome to your practice!

Creative Non-Negotiables: The Writing Truths You Should Never Compromise

CONNECTED: THE PODCAST FOR THE WHOLE WRITER, EP. 3: CREATIVE NON-NEGOTIABLES: THE WRITING TRUTHS YOU SHOULD NEVER COMPROMISE Your creative voice matters—and protecting it is essential to writing the book only you can write. What does it really mean to have creative non-negotiables as a writer? In this inspiring (and juicy) episode of Connected, we dive deep into the artistic principles that guide our writing lives. We share personal stories about staying true to our unique voices in workshops, the transformative power of The Fountain's Intensive and how it’s altering our writing realities, and why knowing what you won't compromise on is crucial for authentic creative expression. From Chelsea's experience realizing what she wanted to protect in her work to Kim's unwavering commitment to first-person present tense, we reveal how gaining clarity about your creative non-negotiables can transform your writing practice. We also explore how our new morning routines have revolutionized our creative process and answer burning questions from The Fountain community about what to do when you're the slowest writer in your accountability group, practice differences, and practical outcomes of simple practices.  This episode is your invitation to identify and honor the creative truths that make your writing uniquely yours and some really actionable tips on how to get clarity. If you've ever felt pressured to water down your voice or wondered how to stay true to your artistic vision, this conversation will empower you to write from a place of unwavering authenticity and create the terms in which your work will thrive.  In This Episode We Talk About:  -How The Fountain's 100-Day Summer Intensive is transforming writers' daily practices -Chelsea's breakthrough about giving her book project a "bigger cage" and releasing limiting stories  -Kim's transformation from "glacial writer" identity to completing a novel in two years -The danger of taking feedback from beta readers and why less voices can mean stronger work  -Why you should never compromise style and a talk about POV -How to distinguish between helpful feedback and voices that dilute your unique style  -The importance of creative non-negotiables in maintaining your authentic voice -Our morning writing routines and the power of the three-step flow practice -How clearings and anchors work to bypass your inner critic -The myth of writing speed and why consistency matters more than word count Why you should only take advice from people who have what you want Mentioned In the Episode: The Fountain Practice - Join our membership [https://www.fountainpractice.com/store] -The Weekly Fountain - Monday writing prompts on @thefountainpractice o [https://www.instagram.com/thefountainpractice/]n Instagram -Sign up for our bi-monthly newslette [https://www.fountainpractice.com/newsletters/the-fountain-flow]r with writing exercises -To Find Us:  @thefountainpractice [https://www.instagram.com/thefountainpractice/](Instagram) The Fountain Practice (Website) [https://www.fountainpractice.com/] Email: connect@fountainpractice.com [connect@fountainpractice.com] Ready to write the book only you can write? No more waiting for the perfect writing retreat or ideal conditions. Your stories are ready now. Join our community of writers who are discovering what it means to write from a place of trust rather than doubt. Start Your Journey at fountainpractice.com [https://www.fountainpractice.com/]

Taking Imperfect Swings On the Page and In Life

CONNECTED: A Podcast For The Whole Writer - Episode 2: Taking Imperfect Swings on the Page and in Life Episode Overview In this episode of Connected, hosts Kimberly King Parsons and Chelsea Bieker explore the creative and practical dimensions of the writing life. They begin by discussing the challenges of balancing creative writing with business responsibilities, then dive into the neuroscience of taking "imperfect swings" in your creative practice and life. The hosts also share details about their exciting summer intensive program and answer community questions about: How to handle friends not "getting" your writing What to do if someone copies your work How to balance writing with being a busy parent with a full-time job Key Topics Covered Balancing Creative Work & Business Strategies for protecting writing time while managing business responsibilities The hosts share how they maintain creative energy during busy periods How structure and boundaries can actually enhance creativity Taking Imperfect Swings The neuroscience behind embracing imperfection in the creative process How releasing perfectionism leads to greater creative output and satisfaction.  Resources Mentioned The Fountain Summer Intensive [https://www.fountainpractice.com/summer-intensive] registration information: thefountainpractice.com The May Fountain Members Meetup: [https://www.fountainpractice.com/store] "The Connective Query Letter" (May 30) Email us if you have a question for a future episode of Connected: connect@fountainpractice.com

Why Craft Isn't Enough: The Missing Piece for Writers

CONNECTED: A Podcast for the Whole Writer Episode 1: Why Craft Isn't Enough: The Missing Piece for Writers Welcome to the very first episode of CONNECTED — a podcast for the whole writer. In this kickoff conversation, award-winning and bestselling authors Chelsea Bieker and Kimberly King Parsons pull back the curtain on The Fountain Practice, their platform for creative awakening for writers, revealing how the work they're doing is unlike anything else in the writing world. CONNECTED is our way to answer Fountain member questions and offer another layer of support for writers. If you've ever felt like craft instruction alone isn't enough to unblock your voice, this is the episode for you. We dive deep into how true creative transformation happens—not from grinding harder or learning more formulas, but from meeting yourself on a subconscious level. You'll hear how The Fountain uses neuroscience-backed techniques and trauma-informed tools to help writers rewrite limiting beliefs, heal creative blocks, and finally feel safe showing up to the page to manifest the creative lives of their dreams. Chelsea and Kim also introduce the Summer Book-Writing Intensive—a 100-day experience designed to support writers as they build books from the inside out. You'll learn how this container helps writers move beyond fear, comparison, and imposter syndrome to reach a flow state grounded in emotional and creative safety. We also explore our custom Clearings—audio-based visualization journeys set to binaural frequencies designed to regulate the nervous system, clear creative obstacles, and rewire the brain for creative flow. If you've been trying to write and struggling to find your flow, and desire clarity, this episode will show you a new path. In This Episode, We Cover: Why traditional writing instruction often doesn't address the deeper blocks writers face The neurological roots of resistance, procrastination, and creative burnout How Clearings unlock the body-brain connection that fuels authentic writing flow The importance of community and "vision holding" in sustaining a writing practice The origin story of The Fountain Practice and its unique approach What to expect from the upcoming Summer Book Writing Intensive [https://www.fountainpractice.com/summer-intensive]: A powerful reframe for writers who've felt stuck, blocked, or unable to finish their work Key Moments: [03:15] How The Fountain addresses both craft and the emotional/neurological roots of creative blocks [08:30] The science behind Clearings and binaural frequencies for accessing the creative subconscious [13:45] How visualization creates "creative downloads" and regulates the nervous system [20:30] Introduction to the 100-day summer intensive writing program structure and approach [27:40] The power of community and "vision holding" in accelerating creative breakthroughs [32:15] Creating supportive relationships that sustain your writing practice [37:00] How The Fountain app creates a focused alternative to draining social media Resources Mentioned: Learn more about The Fountain Practice: thefountainpractice.com [https://www.fountainpractice.com/] Explore the Summer Book-Writing Intensive [https://www.fountainpractice.com/summer-intensive](June 1–September 8, 2025) Download The Fountain app through Kajabi [https://help.kajabi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360051200713-Downloading-and-Logging-In-to-the-Kajabi-Mobile-App]for on-the-go access to your courses, Clearings, and Community! Connect with us: connect@fountainpractice.com [connect@fountainpractice.com] If this episode resonated with you, we'd love if you subscribed, rated, and shared it with your writer friends. The path to becoming a whole writer begins with understanding both the craft and the neuroscience of creativity—and it starts together.