Cultivate a state of mind to help your writing flow with acclaimed writing instructor and Scotiabank Giller Prize finalist Sarah Selecky.

For over a decade, Sarah Selecky has been running an online writing school as a compassionate alternative to MFA programs for writers of all genres who want to write well. Story Is a State of Mind is the logical next step: a gentle guide to help writers strengthen and tap their inner resources in service of a limitless writing practice.

For Selecky, writing is both an art and a contemplative practice, and her approach as an instructor is literary and intuitive. Writing exercises and guided meditations are interwoven with practical advice and heartfelt encouragement to help writers find a groove, and to build awareness, confidence, and technique. Story Is a State of Mind goes beyond offering solutions to individual writing problems, and helps writers settle into a mindset that allows them to see possibilities and discover new connections in their work—and beyond.

This is a book that encourages presence, urges us to slow down and get centred, and asks us to embrace a wholeminded writing practice through study, craft, and play. Pair it with Sarah Selecky’s Story Is a State of Mind Deck of 50 writing prompts for maximum inspiration!

SARAH SELECKY’s breakout debut collection, This Cake is for the Party, was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book, and was longlisted for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award. Her stories have been published in The Walrus, Elle Canada, The New Quarterly, and The Journey Prize anthology, among other publications. She is also the creator of the beloved online creative writing school (and MFA alternative) Story Is A State of Mind.

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Praise for Story Is a State of Mind

"This generous exploration of the creative process inspires you to create the beautiful empty space in which you can breathe and write. Sarah Selecky’s practices are deceptively simple—and they apply to many art forms beyond writing. She teaches that the most important instrument an artist possesses is curiosity. To wonder, explore, and discover that which you didn’t even know you knew!"—Stephen Nachmanovitch, author of The Art of Is and Free Play

“A thoughtful, meditative guide to storytelling that will help bring focus to creatives who are feeling lost in our noisy world. Story Is a State of Mind will bring ease to your writing practice and help you answer the creative call.”—Carly Watters, literary agent and co-host of The Sh*t No One Tells You About Writing podcast

"Story Is a State of Mind illuminates the sacred intersection between craft and consciousness. Sarah Selecky guides writers to approach their work with both rigor and reverence, offering practices that engage body, mind, and spirit. This guide shows us how to blend technical skill with intuitive wisdom, turning the act of writing into a transformative practice. An essential companion for anyone seeking to write with magic."—Maia Toll, author of The Illustrated Herbiary and The Night School

"Savvy and persuasive, prize-winning fiction writer Sarah Selecky takes readers on a magic journey through the world of writerly craft. Both beginning writers and veterans will find useful tips and insights in her charming book about the art of transforming the blank page into a story."—Susan Swan, author of The Dead Celebrities Club

"Story Is a State of Mind: Writing and The Art of Creative Curiosity by Sarah Selecky is a brilliant, soulful, transformative guide to the craft of writing. Filled with powerful exercises and practical wisdom, Sarah helps writers explore their creativity, set boundaries (my biggest challenge), and cultivate the discipline needed to finish their work (my second biggest challenge). Having had the privilege of teaching alongside Sarah, I can personally attest to her talent and deep understanding of the writing process. I'm currently working on my eleventh book and struggling to find my groove, so this book comes at just the right time for me! Story Is a State of Mind is an essential companion for anyone serious about their writing journey."—Theresa Reed, author of The Cards You're Dealt - How to Deal When Life Gets Real: A Tarot Guidebook

Praise for the Sarah Selecky Writing School

“The Story Course by Sarah Selecky walks you through, encourages you, practically feeds you muffins, and more.”—Margaret Atwood