There’s Always a Good Reason to Write.

“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” — Anne Frank

There’s always a good reason to write. I think one of the greatest reasons to write is when I feel completely out of control. I don’t write to gain control; I write to find my calm in the chaos. It took some time for me to find my calm. I think—and I’m not committed to this—but I think that writing has become my anchor. When I need my little heart to be still, I write. And so that’s why I liked this quote for tonight. I like it because I can completely relate. I think how I feel in this world matters more than all the things I can’t control. When I say how I feel, I mean the way I allow myself to feel my way through things. Not placing blind faith in my feelings, but listening to what they are trying to tell me and going from there.

Can you relate to Anne Frank’s quote?

Serenity

“The key to serenity is trusting that the universe has your back.” -Gabrielle Bernstein

Serenity sounds like such a pretty word to me. I’d love to have a home that exudes serenity. Exude is significantly less pretty of a word, but that’s irrelevant. The thing is that serenity is a feeling inside you. Some days I like a little dancing and loud music; I enjoy playing games and having fun in our home. And sometimes we have to have difficult conversations, but generally, peace is my priority in my home.

A peaceful life is a lot less boring than I thought it would be.

Here’s some ways I create a peaceful environment:

  • I greet everyone when they get home.
  • I try to always have the hot water ready.
  • I love simmer pots and I’m even more excited to try those simmer pots that you can drink! (These are new for me. If you have any fun simmer pot recipes that are tea please share!)
  • Show grace to yourself and those around you

What am I missing here?

It’s the Freakin Weekend

“Survived the week. Reward unlocked: Weekend!”  -Lynneah from Twinsandcoffee.com

I only have a couple of weeks left of this semester, and I am so excited! Also, it’s Friday! Tomorrow, I think I might sleep in, make a fancy home coffee, and listen to an audiobook to start my day. The great thing about the weekend for me right now is that it’s up to me! I get to choose what I want to do (for now at least). I’ve learned that letting myself fully enjoy my free time really recharges my creativity. The funny thing is that needing free time is kind of annoying. There’s a part of me that just wants to pump out work. That’s the part of me that doesn’t appreciate my humanity, and I’m pretty sure we all have that. The weekend isn’t the place for that part of me. That part can come out during the work week.

So even if this isn’t your Friday, make sure you have some time for yourself planned.

What are your dream plans right now? My dream plans right now are definitely going to a thrift book warehouse and topping that off with a coffee shop.

Writing Journal

“Whether you’re keeping a journal or writing as a meditation, it’s the same thing. What’s important is you’re having a relationship with your mind.” -Natalie Goldberg

One of the things that got me through writing my first novel was journaling my way through it. It’s where I can discuss topics I don’t quite understand yet. And it’s interesting because after I write my questions in my journal, the answers always show up. I don’t have a specific way that I journal. I just do my best to get my thoughts out. Sometimes that requires doodling, but most times it’s just writing. I prefer colored pens so I can differentiate between the different days that I wrote. Besides that, I journal however I want: questions, descriptions, poetry, answers to my questions, just a brief summary. I don’t write much about my life or personal thoughts when I journal about my novels unless those thoughts are hounding me so badly that I can’t write. But that’s rare and very annoying. I’m glad I’ve added journaling into my daily routine. It took time to be consistent with it, but it was definitely a worthy addition.

Do you have a writing journal?

15 People a Day

“A brave life is 15 hard conversations a day.” -Brene Brown

As writers, this is exactly what we sign up for. Well, maybe not all writers, but this is what writing is for me. I like finding creative ways to have hard conversations. I don’t like having hard conversations with just anyone; I prefer to have them in places where I feel safe. I’m not against them, though. And wow, 15! That’s a lot. I don’t think I even talk to 15 people a day.

Do you talk to 15 people a day?

Wonder and Mystery

“The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery.” -Anais Nin

Writing for me has been this mysterious journey. Now that I’ve been doing it for a decade, it’s still got some mystery to it. But a lot of it has been demystified through habitual behavior. In writing, like most masteries, you have to learn to share your craft with those around you. Technique is wonderful, but most readers don’t care about it. Your only job is to be so good that it transports them to another world. Now don’t get me wrong, writers are great readers and do understand the skill it takes to apply different techniques. For me, I get ragefully excited when I read several pages of prose. I can’t control myself. I have to put the book down and immediately go write. That’s what I want to share. Deeply inspiring work is my goal in all that I do.

What are some of your goals as a writer or creator?

What’s Your Favorite Part of the Writing Process?

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh

I’m learning how much comes from just writing every day. I’m not someone who locks themself in a room to get a bunch of words out of me in one sitting. I’m here to enjoy this process. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to finish a decent novel in a year and sell a bunch of copies. Maybe I will pump out a bunch of novels a year some day. As for now, writing at a gentle pace is working for me and you know what I love about this process: I love that I get to perform all the different parts of the writing process at once.

What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

Sunday Thoughts

“Turn up for work. Discipline allows creative freedom. No discipline equals no freedom.” -Jeanette Winterson

There are days when I’m dragging myself to the computer and days when I can’t wait to get my creativity out. Yesterday was one of those days when I was eager to write. Either way, I have plenty of wiggle room to write new things, to play with genres and words, and to chat with other writers. I don’t really have much to complain about when it comes to my commitments. I’m in this for the long run; discipline is invited to this gig.

The Anticipation

“I am happy to be alive as long as I can paint.” — Frida Kahlo

This is me but writing. All day, I have literally been so excited to get home and write. I had a good day and I was very present, but the thoughts were flowing in. All I can think about is getting to the good part of the story. Some writers skip right to it. Maybe I should, buuut I have learned to pace myself as a writer. So I am staying focused on character development, build up, and I could scream from anticipation.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

How’s your writing going?