COMPOSITION logo

COMPOSITION

Archives
Log in
Subscribe
July 29, 2026

No. 134 Tomorrow: Resolving the "Writers never reveal their secrets" issue

ZK_digest_3_5.png

No. 134 • 7/29/2026

Dear readers,

I have no reason to hide what, how, or why I do the things I do.

Easily one of the biggest gaps in the "I need help writing" scenario is access to writers willing to share their expertise. It's a gap that's seemingly hard to fill, because writers tend to guard their secrets. Anyone who's taken a course of mine, or gotten me on a Zoom call to discuss their work knows that's not how I do things.

I'm always down to tell you whatever I can on whatever it is you want to know about writing.

So....

For one day—TOMORROW at 12pm NYC times—you won't have to Google "How to self-publish my first book," only to get AI slop, sponsored results, and a handful of market-driven blog posts. Ask the question, and we can talk about what publishing through Amazon is really like, what it takes to format a book yourself, and whether you should pay for someone to edit your work.

You won't have to ask ChatGPT "How many pages is an acceptable book length?" I'll tell you straight up when page lengths matter, when they don't, how to choose a page length, and how to work with a book you think is "too short to publish."

That said, many of you are probably wondering about AI. I feel you.

I'm happy to have a real discussion about when and how to use AI (read: it's ain't to help you write, per se). What you can reasonably expect to get from AI when you use it. And, something things to absolutely avoid.

As for what my own qualifications are.... Here are six reasons why I'm qualified to lead such a discussion:

  1. I've been writing publicly for over thirty years (starting when I was fifteen years old).
  2. I have a bachelor's degree in English literature, and a graduate degree in writing and poetics.
  3. I've published five books, dozens of zines and comics, somewhere between seven and nine hundred blog posts, and enumerable articles, essays, pamphlets, and screeds on everything from poetics to spirituality to anarchism.
  4. I've self-published, as well as been published by a publishing house.
  5. I've run my own press, and worked for others.
  6. I've stayed in touch with, taught, and mentored writers the entire length of my writing career (so I can speak to a varied way of doing things).
  7. For over twenty five years, I've taught in public schools, punk warehouses, living rooms, college, and online on topics as diverse as zettelkasten, PKM, social media, and spirituality.

Tomorrow, you get to ask me whatever you want with regards to the entirety of the writing process for $10. No buy-ins. No funnels. No advertising. A no-strings-attached AMA session filled with information and advice you can trust and immediately put to use.

Here's what the one thing I need from you:

  1. Email me your most pressing question (or bring it to the session).

As with all AMA's, the value of the session will be entirely based on what you bring to the table. Bring what you got.

Here's the details:

  • Date: Thursday, July 30 (this Thursday!)
  • Time: 12pm NYC time
  • Link: sent upon receipt of payment

If you're interested in this more focused, more actionable, more applicable offering, without feeling like you're being sold something on the backend, send payment here.

If you'd rather subscribe so you can be automatically signed up for every monthly session, click here.

See you Thursday!


Get my book

Pick up my latest book, A System for Writing, [here].


What people are saying about my newsletters:

"It's one of my favorite things to see in my Inbox." —JS

"I love everything you speak on!" —MA

"I'm fine with it." —MG


Got a question or something you'd like me to write about? Send me what you're thinking!


BOB DOTO.COMPUTER


GOT THIS EMAIL FROM SOMEONE ELSE? SIGN UP FOR IT HERE.

Read more:

  • July 27, 2026

    No. 133 Get your latest writing questions answered this Thursday

    Read article →
Don't miss what's next. Subscribe to COMPOSITION:
← Newer No. 135 Next AMA on Writing is Monday, Aug 31 Older → No. 133 Get your latest writing questions answered this Thursday
Powered by Buttondown, the easiest way to start and grow your newsletter.