Jay Heltzer
@jayheltzer.bsky.social
Writer of fiction, microfiction and #5amWritersClub devotee, w/ some bass trombone on the side. I love humor, good humans, and creativity. I ask of at least one from everyone, but all three is fine too. Low Notes: https://jayheltzer.substack.com
In this month’s LOW NOTES, I compare my love for used CDs with my current WIP. Read and subscribe, peoples. jayheltzer.substack.com/p/aint-no-sc... #5amWritersClub
Ain't No School Like the Old School
How my used CD collection resembles my WIP
jayheltzer.substack.com
Another SHIT day ahead, right? 💩 So Happy It's Thursday! (Sure, you could be one of those peppy "Pre-Friday" people, but whatever.) GM #5amWritersClub 🌅
Me: Holy crap. I can look up the exact time of sunset on a particular day at a particular spot on the globe back in 1939! 🌇 Also me: Holy crap, this new sunset detail completely throws off the timing of my chapter. 🕰️ Not all info is good info I guess. #5amWritersClub
Hide The Pain Harold Harold
ALT: Hide The Pain Harold Harold
static.klipy.com
I have been trained so well by technology that I automatically press SHIFT + ENTER to start a new line or paragraph out of fear of accidentally "sending" something before I'm done writing it, whether it's on social media or not. Thanks Steve Jobs. Ok, time for fiction... #5amWritersClub
Courage the Cowardly Dog Typing on Computer
ALT: Courage the Cowardly Dog Typing on Computer
static.klipy.com
Me: I need this one detail... WIP: You don't have time for this. Me: It's an important– WIP: The chapter isn't about whether there was a fence. Move on. Me: But my readers need to know. WIP: At this rate, you won't finish the book and won't have readers. Me: Fine. #5amWritersClub #HistoricFiction
Seeker: More Research Is Needed
ALT: Seeker: More Research Is Needed
static.klipy.com
Sit down open laptop same chapter same problems same writer Back at it, 'cause what else am I going to do now that I'm awake? Eggzactly! #5amWritersClub
Samus Paulicelli: We Are Not Done Yet
ALT: Samus Paulicelli: We Are Not Done Yet
static.klipy.com
Still waking stoopid early Still here Still writing Still proud to be in the #5amWritersClub
Martin Sheen as President Bartlet: Am I Still Here?
ALT: Martin Sheen as President Bartlet: Am I Still Here?
static.klipy.com
In this month's LOW NOTES, I got shoved into the AI machine and something else came out. Read and subscribe, peoples. jayheltzer.substack.com/p/i-got-aied... #5amWritersClub
I Got AI'ed and You Will Too
What happened when someone fed me to the monster?
jayheltzer.substack.com
In this month’s LOW NOTES, I found the perfect place to less my more. It’s in Houston, Texas. Read and subscribe, peoples. jayheltzer.substack.com/p/the-rothko... #5amWritersClub
The Rothko Chapel
The ultimate place to "Less is More" your brain.
jayheltzer.substack.com
@itsdonaldrus.bsky.social Hey there, Donald. I’ll bet a lot of money we don’t have the same pad, Lamy fountain pen, and gold-plated bass trombone mouthpiece. Please remove my picture from your header.
In this month's LOW NOTES, I try to apply a year of "Less is More" to my writing desk, and it doesn't go well. Read and subscribe, peoples. #5amwritersclub jayheltzer.substack.com/p/all-the-co...
All the Colors Before Me
The subtle art of drawing attention to something
jayheltzer.substack.com
First VDP of 2026 is tomorrow, building MOMENTUM for the rest of the year. Plus... first details about the annual Journey to Jupiter in-person writing retreat. You KNOW you want to be there... so be there. #5amWritersClub
Jay Heltzer@jayheltzer.bsky.social · 7mo agoVirtual Donut Parties are back for '26, starting this Friday 1/9 at 5am ET via Zoom. How to build MOMENTUM for a successful year -Repetition -Asking little & big questions of your work -Measuring Success -Celebrating without Slowing Down #5amWritersClub DM me for the new Zoom link
Virtual Donut Parties are back for '26, starting this Friday 1/9 at 5am ET via Zoom. How to build MOMENTUM for a successful year -Repetition -Asking little & big questions of your work -Measuring Success -Celebrating without Slowing Down #5amWritersClub DM me for the new Zoom link
🧠More. ♥️Less. ✋🏻Some? 🧠It needs more. ♥️But not with unnecessary fluff. Move on. ✋🏻Gimme something, please. 🧠We haven't fully told the story. We've barely filled the scene. ♥️The reader understands. We shouldn't be working this hard! ✋🏻Kinda like this post? #5amWritersClub
🧠I'm so tired. Not just sleepy tired, but so... ugh. ♥️I get it. You wanna write? 🧠Yeah, but... its easier to not bother. ♥️That's no fun. Writing is fun. 🧠Yeah, but– ♥️Hey... don't ever forget: Writing is fun. Doesn't have to be anything else. 🧠 😀 ✋🏻Game on! #5amWritersClub
♥️The holiday concerts are over. 🧠Halleluyah! ♥️Time to finish with the gifts. 🧠Crap! ♥️But we get to write first. 🧠Halleluyah! ♥️Time to finish that synopsis. 🧠AW CRAP! #5amWritersClub
🧠It's synopsis time. ♥️I believe in you. ✋🏻Good luck. 🧠The heroine... no. The night was... ♥️Take your time. ✋🏻You know the story, right? 🧠On a dark desert highway... ♥️That's not– ✋🏻Oh lord.🤦🏻 🧠Who's the MC again? ♥️This may take a while. ✋🏻I'll make more tea. #5amWritersClub
🧠Its go-time. ♥️Hold on... a few more journal thoughts... ✋🏻We'll be with you in a sec. 🧠... Now? ♥️... 🧠Now?? ♥️... 🧠Now??? ♥️If you don't mind, I need to SCREAM INTO THE VOID AND CAN'T START THE CREATIVE PART TILL I'M DONE, OK? 🧠Damn. ✋🏻Told you. #5amWritersClub
I predict there's going to be a ton of frustrated Wordle players today. Anyhoo, anyone seen my focus? It was here yesterday. #5amWritersClub
a man wearing a yellow shirt with the letter a on the front
ALT: a man wearing a yellow shirt with the letter a on the front
media.tenor.com
♥️You really need to finish holliday shopping. 🧠What would my MC want for Christmas? ♥️Most of the good stuff is gone. 🧠Are there any gifts in Chapter 6 of my WIP? ♥️You're running out of time. 🧠Time is a plot problem. ♥️Oy, you're your own plot problem. 🤦🏻🎄 #5amWritersClub
👀Hey! This best-selling book is like the one we're writing. 🧠Wut? 👀Sweet! It's got scenes just like the ones we wrote. 🧠Come again? 👀Wow. That cool idea we loved... they wrote it much better. 🧠<cry, panic, anger, cry> ♥️It'll be ok. ✋🏻<opens new document> #5amWritersClub
🧠'26 will have big plans, big changes, BIG GOALS! ♥️What about today? 🧠Let's survive today, ok? ♥️Will we be a different person on 1/1? 🧠Same, but new, cool direction. ♥️So, why wait? 🧠Shut up. '26 is our year. ♥️What about today? ✋🏻Today we edit or die!!! #5amWritersClub
♥️Please don't look at the news. Let's just write, okay? 🧠It's incomprehensible. 👀We can handle it. ♥️No... yesterday was awful. Please don't. 🧠C'mon, just a few hours of creative work first. ✋🏻<click> 👀... Holy shit... 💔 #5amWritersClub
🧠What's all this noise? 👂🏻Her name is Mariah Carey. 🧠Is she in our book about the Mississippi Blues? 👂🏻No, she sang this Christmas song called– 🧠I KNOW THE SONG! What's it doing here? 👂🏻Living rent free. 🧠Get her out! 🪗Can I help? 🧠It would be a 🎄 miracle! #5amWritersClub
👃🏻<snore> 🧠Wha? Who woke me? 👃🏻Did you say something? 🧠Dammit. It's too early. 👃🏻My bad... but don't you get up early to write? 🧠Yeah, but... 👃🏻Well, there you go. 🧠You're not helping. 👃🏻All I'm saying is... 🧠Shut up. ☝🏻👃🏻 ✋🏻Uh, we can't type like this. #5amWritersClub
🧠How nice, yesterday's unresolved plot problem is still there. ♥️You know what the MC is trying to accomplish. Follow your gut. 🧠So many mediocre choices in front of the MC. I'm stuck and uninspired. ✋🏻Hey, what does this DEL button do? 🧠OK, OK, I'LL MAKE A CHOICE. #5amWritersClub
👀Ooh, click that. ✋🏻No. 👀That news item will incense us. Clicky! ✋🏻No dice. We have work to– 🧠What's going on here? 👀... 🧠<processes dumbass news story> We must wake and prep for the day and you want to read this crap? ✋🏻I tried to– 🧠Back to the WIP, now! #5amWritersClub
🧠One more Reel... ♥️No. ✋🏻<sigh> 🧠That last one was great. They were cooking– ♥️No. ✋🏻We're waiting... ♥️Are the Reels for your WIP? 🧠Maybe...? ✋🏻Can we get a little help, please? 👀We're staying closed until you agree to work. 🧠You're no fun. Fine, let's art. #5amWritersClub
✋🏻Are we on the same chapter today? 🧠Yeah. ♥️Be kind. ✋🏻The MC and the ally are having their first fight, AGAIN? 🧠Yeah. ♥️Be kind. ✋🏻Wow! How long is this going to... hey, why are we going numb? ♥️I SAID TO BE KIND! ✋🏻Damn, that was cold. 🧠Yeah. ♥️Be kind. #5amWritersClub
