Frequently Asked Questions about 365 Days of Writing
📩 Not receiving my emails?
In 9 out of 10 cases, my emails are sent successfully but end up hidden in a folder or blocked by your email provider. Follow these steps to find them:
1. Check your spam or other folders
My emails might be filtered into folders like Spam, Junk, Promotions, Updates, or Social.
- Open your email inbox and check these folders.
- If you find my email, mark it as “Not spam” and add me to your contacts.
📌 For Outlook/Hotmail/Live users:
Microsoft sometimes moves emails to “Junk Email” instead of Spam. Check there too!
📌 For Gmail users:
Gmail often sorts emails into tabs like Promotions, Updates, or Social. If my emails are there:
- Drag the email to your Primary inbox to prevent future filtering.
- Click “Yes” when Gmail asks if you want to receive future emails in your Primary inbox.
📌 For Apple Mail/iCloud users:
- Check your Junk folder under “Mailboxes.”
- If my email is there, select it and click “Move to Inbox.”
📌 For Yahoo users:
- Open the Spam folder and mark my email as “Not spam.”
- If emails still don’t arrive, check “Blocked Addresses” in your settings.
2. Add my email as a trusted sender
To ensure future emails don’t get blocked, add info@geertjecouwenbergh.com to your contacts or safe senders list.
📌 For Outlook/Hotmail/Live users:
- Click the ⚙ (gear) icon → More Mail Settings.
- Go to “Safe and Blocked Senders” → “Safe Senders.”
- Add info@geertjecouwenbergh.com and save.
📌 For Gmail users:
- Open an email from me.
- Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top right corner.
- Select “Add {info@geertjecouwenbergh.com} to contacts.”
📌 For Apple Mail/iCloud users:
- Open an email from me.
- Click the sender name and select “Add to VIPs” or “Add to Contacts.”
3. Search for my email manually
If you still can’t find my emails, try searching for them using this keyword:
📌 Search for:
👉 “in:anywhere {writing prompt day}”
This helps locate emails that may have been misplaced in another folder.
4. Check if my emails are in quarantine
Some email providers (especially Outlook/Office 365, Hotmail, and Yahoo) may quarantine automated emails.
📌 For Outlook/Office 365 users:
- Microsoft sends a “Quarantine Notification” email when a message is blocked. Check for it!
- Alternatively, visit the Microsoft Quarantine Portal:
👉 https://security.microsoft.com/quarantine - Find my email, click “Release message”, and mark it as safe.
📌 For Yahoo users:
- Go to Settings → Filters → Blocked Addresses to ensure my email isn’t blocked.
- If my email is in Spam, mark it as “Not spam” to move it to your Inbox.
📌 For corporate or school email addresses:
If you signed up using a work or school email, your IT department might block automated emails. Ask them to whitelist info@geertjecouwenbergh.com so my emails get through.
5. Check your blocked senders list
Your email settings may have mistakenly blocked or filtered my email. Check your provider’s settings to remove any accidental blocks.
Still not getting my emails?
Let me know! My assistant Mireille is happy to help. Keep in mind, though, that if my emails have been successfully sent but are hidden somewhere in your inbox, I can’t resend them. It’s up to you to find them.
So take another look – we’ll get this sorted! 😊
I will explain in more detail how I suggest you approach your daily writing prompts, but here are some of the key instructions. It’s based on the rules of writing practice that I learned from my writing teacher, Natalie Goldberg.
Set a Timer
Keeping things manageable makes this Writing Year achievable. Find a moment where you can carve out ten minutes—during your morning coffee, before bed, in the middle of a daily walk, etc. Set your timer and commit to writing for the full ten minutes.
Keep Your Hand Moving
This is crucial. By continuously moving your hand, you create a safe space for your mind—which, to me, is the same as your world. Keeping your hand moving signals that you are listening to all parts of yourself.
Don’t Think
Sometimes, because your hand keeps moving, you won’t have time to think about what you want to write. This is good news. It gives you the chance to discover something new.
Let Go of Control
The ‘I know mind’ is deadly for a writer. It leads to a cabinet full of musty writings. Give yourself something new. Let go of control when you enter your writing prompt. And who knows where you’ll end up…
Once you start your Writing Year, you’ll receive a welcome message with instructions. Then, for 365 consecutive days, you’ll get an email from me with a writing prompt. Sometimes (or actually often, because I can’t help myself) with some additional insights. Each prompt is personally crafted by me and based on my favorite topics.
This structure supports you in writing every day. Of course, there will be days or even weeks when this isn’t possible. In those cases, you can save the prompts and use them when you have time.
Embark on the ultimate adventure: the journey within yourself, in the comfort and safety of your own space.
Yes, you can start on any day of the year. Once you sign up, you’ll receive a welcome email containing a link to activate your Writing Year. This way, you have full control over when you begin!
Don’t worry about keeping up with the daily emails. It’s completely normal to occasionally—or even regularly—miss your daily writing sessions. In fact, many participants take longer than a year to complete the Writing Year.
My advice is to think of 365 Days of Writing as building a personal library of writing inspiration. This way, you always have a source of inspiration to draw from without feeling like you’re ‘falling behind’.
I understand that maintaining discipline can sometimes be challenging, but that’s exactly what this course is here to help with! The daily writing prompts are designed to keep you motivated, but you can adjust the pace to suit your needs. So please, don’t feel pressured. The goal is to support your writing process, not to add extra stress.
Many people wonder which writing method is best for the daily prompts in 365 Days of Writing. Whether you choose to write by hand or type depends on what works best for you personally.
Everyone has different associations with paper and computer. While most writing teachers advocate for pen and paper—and I personally use it for my writing practice—I’ve encountered many individuals who find the computer just as intimate and convenient. It’s worth experimenting to see if your writing process and results vary depending on whether you handwrite or type your daily prompts. Some people discover they write more freely on a computer, while others feel a deeper connection with pen and paper.
Ultimately, whether you choose to handwrite or type your daily prompts in 365 Days of Writing is a personal decision. What matters is finding the method that allows you to write freely and enjoy the journey of self-discovery and writing pleasure that this course offers.
During this Writing Year, the focus is on your personal writing process. Due to the large number of participants, I unfortunately cannot provide individual feedback on your work.
However, I encourage you to further explore the themes and ideas that emerge throughout the Writing Year. Many writers have developed inspiring projects and writing structures based on their experiences. If you would like guidance, I offer personal writing coaching to support you on your writing journey. You can contact me about it here.
Absolutely not. There are no strict rules here. Some writers use this year to write every day, while others take breaks as needed. It’s quite common for people to take two years to complete the Writing Year.
I understand that maintaining discipline can sometimes be challenging, but that’s exactly what this course can help with! The daily writing prompts are designed to keep you motivated, but you can adjust the pace to fit your needs.
So please, don’t feel pressured. You can save the daily emails in a separate folder and write whenever it suits you. The goal is to support your writing process, not to add extra pressure.
Ten minutes is manageable for most of us. It’s not too much, and not too little. Feel free to write for longer. Set your timer for twenty, fifteen, or thirty minutes and keep your hand moving.
Another variation to consider is taking the same prompt multiple times in a row with a fresh start each time. For example, if the prompt is “suddenly I knew,” set your timer for five minutes three times and step through that door with a clean slate each time.
Expect this to happen! Just step in and see where it leads you. Remember, the prompts are like gateways. Even if you don’t find the door appealing, once you step through, you are free to go wherever you want. Even if that’s miles away from the original invitation. This is your time. Your mind. Your love affair with your world. Don’t let anything or anyone hold you back, especially not ‘the prompt’.
PS: I get many reactions of participants that report that after initially disliking a prompt, they get totally blown away by where it brings them!
Feel free to send me a message here, I’m happy to help!
I’m confident you’ll love this course, but if for any reason it doesn’t meet your expectations, I offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Simply contact me within 30 days of your purchase, and I’ll gladly provide a full refund. Your satisfaction is my top priority, and I want you to feel completely confident in your decision to join this writing journey.
Are you already working on a book or another writing project and wondering if 365 Days of Writing can help? I’m almost certain it will. It will tremendously train your writing muscles. Plus, it’s both fun and healthy to do some ‘free’ writing alongside your manuscript to keep the soil of your mind tilled.
What you can also consider, especially if you’re writing fiction and working with characters, is to do the writing prompts from the perspectives of your characters. This approach can also apply to autobiographical projects—I always advise my writing students to view themselves and the people they write about as characters. The prompts will surely open doors and tap into memories you might otherwise overlook.
In other words, yes, I believe it can be very helpful! Of course, it will take some time, but you can view those ten minutes as a warm-up. And you don’t have to write every day. You can collect the prompts and use them as a database to draw from whenever you want.
No, you don’t have to submit anything you write! The Writing Year is all about your personal writing experience and growth as a writer. Whether you choose to share your work with others or keep it to yourself, the choice is entirely yours. I encourage you to first learn to let your creativity flow freely! You then have the freedom to decide whether to share your writing or keep it private.
No worries! This course is for everyone, regardless of your writing level. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, I will guide you step by step. The main goal is to discover your creativity and get your thoughts on paper, no matter your writing background.
I don’t value ‘perfect’ writing; I encourage discovering your own voice and enjoying the process. It’s about creative expression, not external judgment. Give yourself permission to write freely, and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve!
Absolutely! The Writing Year makes a wonderful gift for anyone who loves to write. Here’s how you can give it:
- Ordering and Payment: Place an order using your address details, but enter the email address of the person you want to gift the Writing Year to. This way, the order will be sent directly to them.
- Activating the Writing Year: Once the order is placed, the recipient will receive a welcome email with all the necessary information and a link to activate their Writing Year.
This makes it easy to gift 365 Days of Writing to someone you know. They will surely enjoy this inspiring writing journey!
After you activate your Writing Year, you will immediately receive Day 1. From Day 2 to Day 365, you will receive the emails every morning at 7:00 AM.
At the bottom of each daily email, you’ll find a link to update the email address where you receive your daily writing prompts. If you can’t locate it, just send us a message, and we’ll update it for you.
More Questions?
First, check the frequently asked questions above. Didn’t find your answer? Don’t hesitate to send me a message. I respond to my emails on Mondays and Thursdays, so don’t be surprised if you don’t hear back immediately. On other days, my assistant Mireille is available to answer your questions!
How to Approach your Daily Prompt:
- Set a Timer for (at least) Ten MinutesGive yourself a clear and manageable structure. Find a moment in your day where you can carve out ten minutes. Make it enjoyable, practical, and pleasant. Set your timer for ten minutes and commit to writing for the entire duration. This is crucial. This is crucial. This is crucial.
- Keep Your Hand MovingBy keeping your hand moving, you create a safe space for your mind—what I consider the same as your world. This movement signals that you are listening to all parts of yourself.
- Don’t ThinkSometimes, by continuously moving your hand, you won’t have time to think about what you want to write. This is good news. It gives you the chance to step into the unknown. And that not-knowing (which sometimes feels like being in love and other times like having your guts ripped out) is where you can meet your world.
- Let Go of ControlThe “I know mind,” the one that thinks it knows how things are, who you are, who others are, and how the world works, is the dead world. It’s the playground of the ego, the dusty cabinet of stale writings. Give yourself something new. Let go of control when you step into your writing prompt.
Don’t think of your prompt as an 'assignment.' Assignments imply right or wrong, something you must adhere to. Instead, view the daily email as an entrance—a door you step through without knowing where you’ll end up. You can’t do it wrong; there’s no way to get lost.
Remember: writing is listening.
Use these entrances to open the door to yourself. Instead of thinking you need to “do” something, relax and listen. Give yourself ten minutes of silence, a pen, and paper each day, and discover the best company you’ll ever find: yourself. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.