Have you ever filled out one of those "what's your learning style?" surveys and felt like none of the boxes quite fit? Reading, hands-on, watching a demonstration — I always wrestled with it too. It took me years to realize the answer that was true for me all along: I learn best by play.

This week on The Confident Fiction Author, I'm back with a brand-new episode, recorded right from my porch on a beautiful summer morning.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why play might secretly be your most powerful learning style — and how to spot it
• How childhood "play" (4-H, 100+ stuffed animals, and their story worlds) trained me to become a writer
• The simple question from the book Effortless that removes overwhelm: "What if this could be fun?"
• How playing my way through NaNoWriMo — and printing a gloriously unfinished, messy novel — made me believe being an author was actually possible
• A practical way to develop (or rediscover) your unique writing voice by giving yourself permission to play

If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or full of doubt about your writing or a new skill, this episode is your invitation to take the pressure off and just play.

And because we're talking about summer play — I have a little something for you. This spring, I revamped my entire dictation course (now built around my DRAFT Framework, plus a free companion app with a section literally called the Fictation Playground), and in honor of summer I'm giving you $200 off!

Just click this link and the code SUMMERPLAY will be automatically applied at checkout. Come learn to dictate your fiction the fun way — by simply playing with it.

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Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit

Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation

Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide

5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes