A place where you can be human.
“I have never started a poem yet whose end I knew. Writing a poem is discovering.” Robert Frost
I haven’t enjoyed writing a poem in a while. Frost has always been a great inspiration when it comes to poetry for me. This quote is just the tippity tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many ways that Frost inspired future poets.
I’m grateful for the poets before us, the poets with us, and the poets to come.
“To survive, you must tell stories.” –Umberto Eco, The Island of the Day Before
And this doesn’t just go for writers. Let’s take it a step further and say, “Write to thrive!” We want our writing to add to our lives. We don’t want to be tossed all over the place by our writing. We want our writing to take us places that we never thought we’d go. We want it to bring us life and keep us going.
I always regret dragging myself to the computer to write. That never feels good. Even though someday, it has to be done. I like to show up excited to see what new element I can add to help me reconnect with the story.
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I’m filled with so much gratitude for my family and my journey. I hope they both continue to amaze me.
Peace and thanksgiving to you and yours. Safe travels and safe spaces to you all.
“The writing process, it’s too mysterious to try and describe.” -Mick Jones
I used to romanticize the writing process, but I’ve been in the game long enough to admit that it’s just plain ole hard work. I can admit, there are times when making connections seems like magic. For me, that usually happens after days of thinking and twisting and turning from trying to figure it out. And then sometimes I’m gifted with a new connection. I’m open to it being divine, but I’m also open to the fact that I’m consistently putting in the work.
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Writers, here’s a gentle reminder that you need your lunch break. We have books to write. That means we need our lunch breaks to preserve fuel for the writing process. I think it’s cool when people write through their lunch break, but that’s not even what I’m saying here. I’m saying take your break, however that looks. If you’re too tired to write, your book will never be written.
I was reminded last night (all night) that I need to be more intentional about my focused writing time. That means planning in the energy needed to write throughout my day. Say no to anything beyond necessity that saps your energy and takes you away from your creative calling.
You have full permission to be a creative in this world. It’s yours for the grabbing!
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“My writing process is very organic. I start with an idea. I have the general story arc and the cast. But then I sit down to write, and things change.” -Sarah Addison Allen
Things are always changing during the writing process. That’s good, though. Characters are supposed to change, the environments, the moods, and the tones in the dialogue. It’s all always shifting and always reliant on and connected to a dozen other aspects of the story. What’s most important here isn’t the changing; it’s the part where you sit down to write.
“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” -Oscar Wilde
I have a soothing mask on, and I just finished a mug of sleepy tea. I enjoyed my writing this evening because it’s beginning to unfold nicely. I have about 10k words to play with, so I decided to have some fun with the screenplay. Yay for fun writing! This Sunday has been refreshing and a decent force to propel me forward.
Have you been doing your self care?
“For your born writer, nothing is so healing as the realization that he has come upon the right word.”
—Catherine Drinker Bowen
I’ve never thought of myself as a “born writer,” but I can tell you it is so liberating to find the words you’ve been searching for. For me, that word doesn’t always end up as part of the final product; it acts more as a key that opens up a million new possibilities. As a creative writer, being able to dig myself out of limited thinking feels like magic. Some people have labeled these moments as Ah-ha moments.
How’s your writing project going?
Wowzer, what a week it has been. I was really struggling with a few details in the last part of my novel, but today, I finally had a breakthrough. One thing I can share from my breakthrough is that if we choose to go on an adventure, it’s ours to enjoy regardless of how other people feel. Yes, it is ours to enjoy, understand, and learn from. And with that, it’s also our responsibility to take care of ourselves while on our journey. Learning to find ways to enjoy your journey while prioritizing your health and well-being can feel a bit rebellious in today’s world. Do it anyway.
Writing is worth pursuing. Did you write today? There are a million good reasons to write, but one great reason is to come up with new ideas on how you’ll fill in the gaps. Something missing? That’s your opportunity to figure out how to fill that space, then fill it. I’m sure most of us are beginning to see the huge gaps we have in today’s world. Writing is exactly the place where you get to find those answers.
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