Joy AJ Howard
@drjoyajhoward.bsky.social
Writing Coach. Supporting clients—especially women, BIPOC, queer identifying & disabled—to create productive careers & satisfying, joyful lives. Also Early American scholar, especially 18th C. joyajhoward.com
Finding daily rhythms of writing and research that bring you peace in a world that is far from peaceful is not easy.
And yet, even though they are tricky, our brains and bodies deeply need daily rhythms that take into account the many things that kick in our fight-or-flight responses.
And yet, even though they are tricky, our brains and bodies deeply need daily rhythms that take into account the many things that kick in our fight-or-flight responses.
August 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Finding daily rhythms of writing and research that bring you peace in a world that is far from peaceful is not easy.
And yet, even though they are tricky, our brains and bodies deeply need daily rhythms that take into account the many things that kick in our fight-or-flight responses.
And yet, even though they are tricky, our brains and bodies deeply need daily rhythms that take into account the many things that kick in our fight-or-flight responses.
I am accepting new coaching & editing clients.
There is no one-size-fits-all fix when it comes to writing strategies, but finding some peace is possible.
To schedule a free consult about coaching with me, go to: joyajhowardcoaching.as.me
There is no one-size-fits-all fix when it comes to writing strategies, but finding some peace is possible.
To schedule a free consult about coaching with me, go to: joyajhowardcoaching.as.me
July 21, 2025 at 9:44 PM
I am accepting new coaching & editing clients.
There is no one-size-fits-all fix when it comes to writing strategies, but finding some peace is possible.
To schedule a free consult about coaching with me, go to: joyajhowardcoaching.as.me
There is no one-size-fits-all fix when it comes to writing strategies, but finding some peace is possible.
To schedule a free consult about coaching with me, go to: joyajhowardcoaching.as.me
4. “Once we believe that creative work is central to who we are as a person, we will be willing to accept and cope with a certain level of discomfort and anxiety about potential social disapproval. If it matters that much, we are willing to deal with some tension and stress.” -Zorana Ivcevic Pringle
June 18, 2025 at 8:12 PM
4. “Once we believe that creative work is central to who we are as a person, we will be willing to accept and cope with a certain level of discomfort and anxiety about potential social disapproval. If it matters that much, we are willing to deal with some tension and stress.” -Zorana Ivcevic Pringle
Creativity is rooted in risks writes Zorana. When I read this, it felt very true. I am remembering moments in my own intellectual life where I have made leaps forward. It felt risky because it was.
June 18, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Creativity is rooted in risks writes Zorana. When I read this, it felt very true. I am remembering moments in my own intellectual life where I have made leaps forward. It felt risky because it was.
I am working my way through The Creativity Choice this week! My friend Zorana’s research shows that creativity is not a trait that we are born with.
June 16, 2025 at 7:28 PM
I am working my way through The Creativity Choice this week! My friend Zorana’s research shows that creativity is not a trait that we are born with.
I am excited to share with you some writing advice from my longtime friend Zorana Ivcevic Pringle. Zorana studies what happens at the intersections of productivity and creativity. How do some people manage to harness creativity into something really tangible for their ideas?
June 12, 2025 at 2:54 AM
I am excited to share with you some writing advice from my longtime friend Zorana Ivcevic Pringle. Zorana studies what happens at the intersections of productivity and creativity. How do some people manage to harness creativity into something really tangible for their ideas?
Give yourself space. Allow yourself to change.
Maggie’s Smith writes: “It’s fine to let a piece rest, and to give yourself the room and space to change.”
Maggie’s Smith writes: “It’s fine to let a piece rest, and to give yourself the room and space to change.”
May 31, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Give yourself space. Allow yourself to change.
Maggie’s Smith writes: “It’s fine to let a piece rest, and to give yourself the room and space to change.”
Maggie’s Smith writes: “It’s fine to let a piece rest, and to give yourself the room and space to change.”
Here’s some more practical writing advice from Maggie Smith today: Let Go.
“Any piece of writing is a time capsule,” Maggie Smith says. “It reflects the choices—and the abilities, and the limitations—of the writer we are at the time.”
“Any piece of writing is a time capsule,” Maggie Smith says. “It reflects the choices—and the abilities, and the limitations—of the writer we are at the time.”
May 30, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Here’s some more practical writing advice from Maggie Smith today: Let Go.
“Any piece of writing is a time capsule,” Maggie Smith says. “It reflects the choices—and the abilities, and the limitations—of the writer we are at the time.”
“Any piece of writing is a time capsule,” Maggie Smith says. “It reflects the choices—and the abilities, and the limitations—of the writer we are at the time.”
“Read your work aloud over and over, working out the rhythm, listening for any tongue twisters.”
May 27, 2025 at 7:34 PM
“Read your work aloud over and over, working out the rhythm, listening for any tongue twisters.”
“Look out for places in prose where your language feels stilted.”
May 27, 2025 at 7:34 PM
“Look out for places in prose where your language feels stilted.”
Poetic speech can be a trap, she warns us (and she’s a poet! LOL!). A sentence can feel overdone by too much description.
May 27, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Poetic speech can be a trap, she warns us (and she’s a poet! LOL!). A sentence can feel overdone by too much description.
So many of us were taught—explicitly or implicitly— to ignore our bodies in order to be productive.
We were the kids that stayed up late studying, ignoring our bodies’ need for food or rest. We were the ones who skipped meals to save money while earning . . .
We were the kids that stayed up late studying, ignoring our bodies’ need for food or rest. We were the ones who skipped meals to save money while earning . . .
May 14, 2025 at 10:28 PM
So many of us were taught—explicitly or implicitly— to ignore our bodies in order to be productive.
We were the kids that stayed up late studying, ignoring our bodies’ need for food or rest. We were the ones who skipped meals to save money while earning . . .
We were the kids that stayed up late studying, ignoring our bodies’ need for food or rest. We were the ones who skipped meals to save money while earning . . .
I have room immediately for editing. Do you have projects you want to get out the door? I can accept articles as well as book projects.
April 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I have room immediately for editing. Do you have projects you want to get out the door? I can accept articles as well as book projects.
If you are like most people I know, you are struggling to write while so much chaos is swirling.
It is possible to write & research in the midst of great stress.
It is possible to write & research in the midst of great stress.
April 24, 2025 at 11:52 PM
If you are like most people I know, you are struggling to write while so much chaos is swirling.
It is possible to write & research in the midst of great stress.
It is possible to write & research in the midst of great stress.
Repost @thenapministry from Threads
We are at the point of late stage capitalism where we have to convince people that community is foundational to a thriving society and that community is important.
We are at the point of late stage capitalism where we have to convince people that community is foundational to a thriving society and that community is important.
February 25, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Repost @thenapministry from Threads
We are at the point of late stage capitalism where we have to convince people that community is foundational to a thriving society and that community is important.
We are at the point of late stage capitalism where we have to convince people that community is foundational to a thriving society and that community is important.
Octavia Butler was not only a brilliant writer, she was a brilliant intellectual about writing. I think those of us in literary studies are now just starting to really comprehend the depth of her legacy as a black woman writing science fiction at the end of the 20th century in America.
February 16, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Octavia Butler was not only a brilliant writer, she was a brilliant intellectual about writing. I think those of us in literary studies are now just starting to really comprehend the depth of her legacy as a black woman writing science fiction at the end of the 20th century in America.
You’re As Good As Anybody Else
You’ve Got A Place Here, Too
#writing #writingcoaching #ToniMorrison #writingprocess #blackhistory #resist #hopingishardwork
You’ve Got A Place Here, Too
#writing #writingcoaching #ToniMorrison #writingprocess #blackhistory #resist #hopingishardwork
February 12, 2025 at 12:58 AM
You’re As Good As Anybody Else
You’ve Got A Place Here, Too
#writing #writingcoaching #ToniMorrison #writingprocess #blackhistory #resist #hopingishardwork
You’ve Got A Place Here, Too
#writing #writingcoaching #ToniMorrison #writingprocess #blackhistory #resist #hopingishardwork
Toni Morrison gave an interview over thirty years ago for the Paris Review that resulted in what can only be described now as a master class in writing. I’ve come back to this interview many times in my life for various reasons & every time I read it I learn something new.
February 11, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Toni Morrison gave an interview over thirty years ago for the Paris Review that resulted in what can only be described now as a master class in writing. I’ve come back to this interview many times in my life for various reasons & every time I read it I learn something new.
Love is my battlecry.
I am grateful for the teachings of bell hooks.
“A culture of domination is anti-love. It requires violence to sustain itself. To choose love is to go against the prevailing values of culture.” —bell hooks
I am grateful for the teachings of bell hooks.
“A culture of domination is anti-love. It requires violence to sustain itself. To choose love is to go against the prevailing values of culture.” —bell hooks
February 5, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Love is my battlecry.
I am grateful for the teachings of bell hooks.
“A culture of domination is anti-love. It requires violence to sustain itself. To choose love is to go against the prevailing values of culture.” —bell hooks
I am grateful for the teachings of bell hooks.
“A culture of domination is anti-love. It requires violence to sustain itself. To choose love is to go against the prevailing values of culture.” —bell hooks
February is Black History Month and I absolutely refuse to ignore this month’s importance even as the GOP government’s attacks on DEI and diversity keep coming. These attacks are vile and they misrepresent what the history of and the work of DEI is.
February 2, 2025 at 2:30 AM
February is Black History Month and I absolutely refuse to ignore this month’s importance even as the GOP government’s attacks on DEI and diversity keep coming. These attacks are vile and they misrepresent what the history of and the work of DEI is.
To all my friends & family celebrating tonight:
Happy Lunar New Year!
Happy Lunar New Year!
January 30, 2025 at 2:31 AM
To all my friends & family celebrating tonight:
Happy Lunar New Year!
Happy Lunar New Year!
I join others in saying that resistance demands that we take care of our bodies & hearts right now. It makes sense that we are worried & anxious, but even in the storms, we must care for ourselves & each other with fierce deliberateness. Hopelessness grows when we are tired & isolated.
January 20, 2025 at 4:25 AM
I join others in saying that resistance demands that we take care of our bodies & hearts right now. It makes sense that we are worried & anxious, but even in the storms, we must care for ourselves & each other with fierce deliberateness. Hopelessness grows when we are tired & isolated.
I am accepting new clients.
My writing coaching helps you write and thrive. Even when times are tough.
One on one, my coaching guides you to find writing and research practices that work for you.
My writing coaching helps you write and thrive. Even when times are tough.
One on one, my coaching guides you to find writing and research practices that work for you.
January 16, 2025 at 9:10 PM
I am accepting new clients.
My writing coaching helps you write and thrive. Even when times are tough.
One on one, my coaching guides you to find writing and research practices that work for you.
My writing coaching helps you write and thrive. Even when times are tough.
One on one, my coaching guides you to find writing and research practices that work for you.
My January 10-12 Writing Retreat is coming up soon here in Philadelphia. The theme for this retreat will be "STRENGTHEN.” We will rediscover & remember & repurpose the strengths we already have. We will strengthen each other. Registration will be open until December 31st.
December 31, 2024 at 12:52 AM
My January 10-12 Writing Retreat is coming up soon here in Philadelphia. The theme for this retreat will be "STRENGTHEN.” We will rediscover & remember & repurpose the strengths we already have. We will strengthen each other. Registration will be open until December 31st.
I wish you peace tonight. Peace that settles deep within you.
There are writing & research rhythms full of peace. Ones that are steady, predictable, & full of beautiful possibilities. There are life rhythms that are steady & full of beautiful possibilities.
There are writing & research rhythms full of peace. Ones that are steady, predictable, & full of beautiful possibilities. There are life rhythms that are steady & full of beautiful possibilities.
December 26, 2024 at 2:28 AM
I wish you peace tonight. Peace that settles deep within you.
There are writing & research rhythms full of peace. Ones that are steady, predictable, & full of beautiful possibilities. There are life rhythms that are steady & full of beautiful possibilities.
There are writing & research rhythms full of peace. Ones that are steady, predictable, & full of beautiful possibilities. There are life rhythms that are steady & full of beautiful possibilities.