As I searched for the right image for this post, this one jumped out at me because here we are, midway on our journey in this challenge. For many of us, this isn’t the first challenge but rather our second or third. We’re clear we want to work, we are clear we need community and inspiration. Mid-way in this challenge now, let’s check in with each other. Let’s see what’s working and what’s not.
When the world shifts, our stories remain our compass
At this midpoint of the winter challenge, I want to call out the inspiring dedication I’m seeing. From Kat's daily two-hour commitments to Amy's "cobbled together scenes," you're showing that consistency comes in many forms. As Tracy so powerfully woke up thinking: "do the work" - that's exactly what this community is about.
More mid-journey revelations
Finding Our Rhythm: From Amy's vivid wildlife scenes in short bursts to Kat's steady two-hour practice
Embracing the Process: Sara's deep dive into revision while Tracy explores solitude and connection
Growing Together: Our community bonds strengthen as our stories evolve in unexpected directions (just ask about those 11,000 words taking a new path!)
The Power of Creative Sanctuary
Many of you have shared profound insights about your process. Karina discovered unexpected spiritual connections in her memoir work. Sara learned about her relationship with revision versus first drafts. Catherine found that "the more I write, the more I'm able to write." These discoveries are the heart of our journey together.
Look Forward Together
This week, we'll focus on what Jill discovered - letting go of it being "good" and allowing the words to flow. We'll embrace what Kat calls "the life of a creative" - where sometimes we're sketching, sometimes we're tossing things out, but it's all part of the foundation we're building.
Share Your Journey
How has your story surprised you since we began?
What unexpected treasures have you uncovered?
Where can our community light your path forward?
🖋️ Remember: In times of change, stories become lighthouses. Your words matter. Your perspective matters. Your commitment to showing up matters.
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛ Week 3, Day 6: Hi all! Well, winter FINALLY arrived on the coast in the form of three inches of snow! Fluffy and cold. That's fine. It's cozy in the cabin and I'm working on my update of the archives. What a satisfying experience. My first pass was good but these are so much better. The power of revision, my friends, the power of revision.
How is everyone doing. On this, the last day of the week, update everyone on your progress. Tomorrow, a new page.
I typed out a detailed post but it was on my phone, and I accidentally scrolled away and lost the message! Argh technology!
Okay, short story, my progress was slow this week, I was dealing with fatigue and intense hormones from pushing myself too hard with the running, but in the bright side:
I managed to get a little closer to some less-familiar characters and have a solution idea for a tricky plot point. Who knows if it will amount to anything, but I'm glad I have more material to work with. Appreciated the discussion on core motivations tonight.
I haven't gotten as much writing done as I would have liked this week because I was traveling, but I spent a lot of time thinking about my story and finally made a connection that I'd been missing. It was a duh!/aha! moment, and I'm feeling jazzed about it!
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛ Week 3, Day 6: Sara's post about laying low, as well as being sick for 11 days was a great reminder that I want to share with you all. You will cross the finish lines you are seeking. You will, and there is a time for rest as well. We were created for: Labor, leisure, and love. Imagine that? How to balance that soul mission statement?
Good morning, almost noon, everyone, what a week it's been! I finally wrote something this week that has some substance! I have felt stuck, like my toilet : ) I had so many distractions and detours but some of it ended up being a good story to tell. I have a question about length. It's over 1,800 words and I wanted to share it in the "What Ails You" thread. What would be the best way?
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛ Week 3, Day 5: I think I jumped a day! It's day five. And you're seeing the fruit of the revision process today, in that I brought forward the first post written inviting writers to share the catalyst for being a writer in the first place. I hope you'll all hop over and add your voices. Today, another couple revision posts and my novel is bubbling on that back burner and smelling "nearly ready." Got a clear message that yes, I will be working on it (finalizing the draft) this summer. Yay. That's great to hear. Hate to imagine a 10+ year project getting flushed down Tracey's toilet!! 🚽
Week 3, Day 5: I started writing seriously in 2016. Since then, I've only gotten better at disciplining myself, finding my "room of my own", my writing time when I'm the most creative. I may slow down but I have never until this past week, gotten consicously rebellious. I got sick about 11 days ago with I know not what. It wasn't a virus I'm pretty sure. I was exhausted, sleeping so much, no energy even to do a laundry, and then sunk into a depression at least I think it was that. It has been so long since I've been depressed. I have refused to write. I looked at my desk and said out loud 'NO' I didn't come on the Zoom Wednesday because I wanted to play hookey. And the worst part is that I am completely aware that no one but me has wound me up like this, that I need to rebel from. I just gave in to it. All things must pass and I knew it would pass eventually. I wrote a Substack today. That's not quite true. I wrote about my Firestorm and sent it to Huff Post. I learned in Studio Thursday that you need to send it to an editor, So I wasn't surprised when I didn't hear anything back. I edited it, added photos, and made it a love letter to Los Angeles. So I'm showing up, peaking my head in here. And tomorrow I will do my two hours in the morning--or maybe I won't do the whole two hours but I will sit down and start writing and see what happens.
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛ Week 3, Day 4: Great to be back and the re-write project is off the ground! Fricken finally. Got through four of a 200 post revision and really happy with the result, am rewinding a founding post tomorrow so if you're not on that conversational thread, please share. Your voice matters!
As for this challenge, Tracy's share below about the toilet is so important.
Look, let's face it...all our toilets are clogged (in more ways than one). The world is changing before our eyes. Good. Bad. Indifferent, it's happening and we are being asked to face some hard truths about what we believe. Each of us come to any growth in different ways so..a post from the archive that I've just revised might offers some needed ideas and insight on this. Check it out. The question it asks is simple: What ails thee....https://tinyurl.com/uds9hw24
I wrote something to share to the What ails thee post (I also commented about this above then realized you wrote about it here). I'm feeling good about my writing the past couple days and find it interesting how the toilet issue is so symbolic. The story I want to share includes the toilet story and this dream.......
I’m in a pool of water, maybe waist deep, like a very small pond with grassy banks and a bit of swampy feel, it’s dark. There is someone else there with me, Elijah. We are fishing around for some things……I have the sense I’m looking for something to show Elijah, something to prove myself authentic and capable, something that can help the situation. I pull up a crystal, not fully desirable in its condition, half formed, not clear at all. He shakes his head. I put it back. I see another interesting shape embedded in the mucky bottom, but as I touch it, it falls apart, degraded from so long submerged under water. Then he pulls up a large, somewhat round and faceted crystal - clear, full of rainbow colors bouncing off and through it as he held it up to show me. He said, “this”, as he held it with great satisfaction, not arrogant, not shaming me, just showing me, this is what we are looking for. I wake up.
I'd like to share the whole story to the What ails thee post but it's 1,800 words long and it won't let me.....what is the accepted word count and should I break the story into parts to share?
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛ Week 3, Day 3: Hi everyone! It's Friday and my writing today has been nudged to the end of the day, rather than the beginning. This is not optimal but part of the gig as a writer. Right? How is everyone doing?
✍️ Share a sentence from your work today. Let's see what's being created...
Week 3, Day (4? or 3? : ) I had a super long day yesterday helping a friend, driving 7 hours round trip, coming home to a clogged toilet...... So......writing didn't happen yesterday. Today my writing consisted of a few big long texts, clarifying boundaries with another friend coming to stay with me for the next four days. The wonderful thing in all this is some empowerment I received......I fixed the toilet!.....took it apart, turned it upside down, removed a big wad of gauze bandage! I can do stuff : ) And, I clearly, kindly, in detail wrote what I needed......2-3 hours in the morning before any interaction beyond a good morning; early retreat to my bedroom for quiet time before bed. As soon as I stated what I needed, my overwhelmed feeling lifted and I became happy that my long time friend, who is super intense and also an artist, was coming to stay. This is huge for me! Clear boundaries, clearly stated, simple! And, I worked on my painting today! My painting and my writing project are inter-related. : )
That's a scene..write that....and look at that sentence: "I fixed the toilet!.....took it apart, turned it upside down, removed a big wad of gauze bandage! I can do stuff."
Yes! You can. The feminine and the masculine in a communal connection. Beautiful. 🔨⭕️
Week 3, Day 3: I started with nothing to write, doubting my story. Once I got into a quiet place, I imagined being in the scene. It started awkward, but then I found a nugget that took me past the 700 words for the day. Note to myself: Just keep writing, it will come.
I'm still writing although I took three days off due to a minor surgery last week. I find myself more motivated as the story progresses. I also spend a great deal of time constructing/reliving parts of it. It's not easy but very calming after I work through the storyline and emotions of the characters.
Hi all! Really appreciated yesterday's discussion. It's so helpful and inspiring to hear from others and get the feedback from Jennifer that winds it all together.
Reflecting on the journey prompts:
1. Since we began, I've been surprised to find that my story can still surprise me, even so close to the end. I'm about 80% of the way through, and still learning new things about my characters!
2. Unexpected treasures: Bright Peach tea. Turns out holding a mug of something warm helps me write more.
3. The community helps light the path just by existing. Yesterday's discussion was perfect timing to help me keep momentum heading into the middle of the challenge.
🫖 Lovely! I'm super into mixing Egyptian Licorice and Peppermint from Yogi tea for the same. Peach. Very cool. I'm so glass you're here. (PS: Silent Night from Smith Tea is AMAZING! But hard to get thus my Yogi Tea hack) 🫖🫖
I feel so inspired after our conversation this morning! I usually am, I just had some particularly good awe-ha moments today that have sparked writing ideas I hadn’t thought of. I typically have not thought about character development as I write, I guess what I would call - a critique of societal failures through history, focusing on a lack of equally accepted feminine language for naming the divine mystery and the cascading downward effects of this suppression…….coming from a personal perspective of how this played out in my own life, and is still playing out (there’s the crossover, past and present)……(I’m still figuring out how to actually describe what I am doing). Now, I am intrigued about character development and will see what I can do with that….. I love new beginnings (a strength and, sometimes, a pitfall). Some imaginary scenarios and characters from my childhood imaginings and dreams came to mind. I will use these as an exercise to get me going in this new territory of character development…..inspired by Kat’s remembering her ‘fictional’ character from age 12!
So, all of the above is a surprising realization with unexpected treasures gained by being on this path with a writing community, all holding their own unique lanterns, lighting the way through the dark. Thank you!
Love this Tracy: "I love new beginnings (a strength and, sometimes, a pitfall). Some imaginary scenarios and characters from my childhood imaginings and dreams came to mind. I will use these as an exercise to get me going in this new territory of character development….." I'm so glad the meeting charged you (and all of us up). Can wait to see what you come up with. And you've inspired me in the mini-class I'm building from the Bones class. I think I'll toss the character question into the mix. (Watch this space).
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛ Week 3, Day 1: Wahooo! We're here and still writing. Thanks for the amazing meeting on Zoom this morning. So many amazing take aways that I'll share in a follow up email. But now, let me hit these questions.
1) What surprised me is that the book on the spiritual journey stopped hard in its tracks and I was tasked, instead, with a major rewrite of my archive here on Flight School. I've been doing this long enough to know these are clear orders and off I go!
2) The unexpected treasure is something called Heart Sync, which is parts work at a very high level. I learned about it on the Restore the Hope Podcast. Amazing stuff. https://heartsynchealing.org/about-heartsync/. I'm becoming a student of this process because it's an answer to a prayer (or the continuation of one). On the other side of this teaching, I know I will be brought back to writing that book Between River and Sea. I'm sure of it.
3) The community can light the path forward by showing up with even a couple of words about yourselves and boosts for each other. Which you do! Keep on keeping on.
Despite all the noise and fluctuations going on internally, mentally and physiologically, and despite the imperfections of my writing, I find myself continually drawn into the world of my story. This is the place I want to spend time in, the place I want to nurture. There are little twists and turns that I'm pleased to discover during the writing process.
I've never been one to keep journals (I've always cringed at my own thoughts), but now that I'm writing and have all these ideas pop up, having a place to jot all these notes down is crucial (especially at 3 am in the morning). So now, my writing journals have become an unexpected haven--free from ego and free from my own personal hangups and anxieties, not a public-facing thing at all. It's purely a vessel for the story I want to create. Plus, there's something so satisfying about putting pen on paper!!
(Side note: I stumbled on these journals at my local bookstore recently--it's such a neat concept: https://about-blanks.com/shop/ )
I'm excited to see where people go with their creative journeys. So appreciative of how supportive everyone is! (And yes, I was going to raise my hand LOL!! I was trying to add a heart emoji on someone's comment in the chat at the time haha).
Week 3: I have feedback from the Studio to work with on my draft. I plan to dig into making some edits from the feedback. I will keep my morning routine of writing ~700 words 5 days a week before my morning run or walk. If I don't make the word count then I give myself grace and make up for it on weekends with a few minutes here and there.
Great. Wonderful! Terrific. I'm so glad the feedback spoke to you. I cannot wait to see what you are going to do with it. I love the grace, too. That's exactly it. You can only do what you can do!
I'm still excited and motivated. This time last week I was nervous about week two because my husband had surgery and I didn't want my hyper-focus of writing to cause me to totally ignore him, or the converse where I only focus on him and lose my writing momentum altogether. I'm so proud I didn't fall to either of those extremes. I'd like to be the kind of person who doesn't need set goals and deadlines (that seems cooler somehow) but the truth is I do need this structure and community to hold me accountable. I'm at just over 9000 words, so on track. What has surprised me about my writing is the extent to which memories of my family, as they were when I was a child, are coming to life. That's exciting.
9000 words! Well done. Three weeks to go and you'll totally hit it, I'm sure. And yes, balancing your work with your world. It's possible and you're doing it. Again, well done!
Parkinson's is a cruel disease, and presents in so many different ways in different patients. Suddenly, my hubby seems unable to sleep for longer than an hour or two. Plans and goals are out the window as I fumble through a sleep deprived fog. This morning, though, instead of fighting it, I decided to lean into it, and go with the flow. I am not going to worry about word-counts and goals either - I figure that in the scheme of things, I am where I need to be, with him and with my writing, and it will resolve over time. I might even exceed my goal. We'll see. :)
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛ Week 3, Day 6: Hi all! Well, winter FINALLY arrived on the coast in the form of three inches of snow! Fluffy and cold. That's fine. It's cozy in the cabin and I'm working on my update of the archives. What a satisfying experience. My first pass was good but these are so much better. The power of revision, my friends, the power of revision.
How is everyone doing. On this, the last day of the week, update everyone on your progress. Tomorrow, a new page.
That sounds really cozy!
I typed out a detailed post but it was on my phone, and I accidentally scrolled away and lost the message! Argh technology!
Okay, short story, my progress was slow this week, I was dealing with fatigue and intense hormones from pushing myself too hard with the running, but in the bright side:
I managed to get a little closer to some less-familiar characters and have a solution idea for a tricky plot point. Who knows if it will amount to anything, but I'm glad I have more material to work with. Appreciated the discussion on core motivations tonight.
Hey, we're in a new week!
I haven't gotten as much writing done as I would have liked this week because I was traveling, but I spent a lot of time thinking about my story and finally made a connection that I'd been missing. It was a duh!/aha! moment, and I'm feeling jazzed about it!
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛ Week 3, Day 6: Sara's post about laying low, as well as being sick for 11 days was a great reminder that I want to share with you all. You will cross the finish lines you are seeking. You will, and there is a time for rest as well. We were created for: Labor, leisure, and love. Imagine that? How to balance that soul mission statement?
Good morning, almost noon, everyone, what a week it's been! I finally wrote something this week that has some substance! I have felt stuck, like my toilet : ) I had so many distractions and detours but some of it ended up being a good story to tell. I have a question about length. It's over 1,800 words and I wanted to share it in the "What Ails You" thread. What would be the best way?
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛ Week 3, Day 5: I think I jumped a day! It's day five. And you're seeing the fruit of the revision process today, in that I brought forward the first post written inviting writers to share the catalyst for being a writer in the first place. I hope you'll all hop over and add your voices. Today, another couple revision posts and my novel is bubbling on that back burner and smelling "nearly ready." Got a clear message that yes, I will be working on it (finalizing the draft) this summer. Yay. That's great to hear. Hate to imagine a 10+ year project getting flushed down Tracey's toilet!! 🚽
Looking forward to reading all your updates!
Week 3, Day 5: I started writing seriously in 2016. Since then, I've only gotten better at disciplining myself, finding my "room of my own", my writing time when I'm the most creative. I may slow down but I have never until this past week, gotten consicously rebellious. I got sick about 11 days ago with I know not what. It wasn't a virus I'm pretty sure. I was exhausted, sleeping so much, no energy even to do a laundry, and then sunk into a depression at least I think it was that. It has been so long since I've been depressed. I have refused to write. I looked at my desk and said out loud 'NO' I didn't come on the Zoom Wednesday because I wanted to play hookey. And the worst part is that I am completely aware that no one but me has wound me up like this, that I need to rebel from. I just gave in to it. All things must pass and I knew it would pass eventually. I wrote a Substack today. That's not quite true. I wrote about my Firestorm and sent it to Huff Post. I learned in Studio Thursday that you need to send it to an editor, So I wasn't surprised when I didn't hear anything back. I edited it, added photos, and made it a love letter to Los Angeles. So I'm showing up, peaking my head in here. And tomorrow I will do my two hours in the morning--or maybe I won't do the whole two hours but I will sit down and start writing and see what happens.
Sometimes a writer simply needs to rest. I'm so glad to have you back. Your absence was a presence! You were missed.
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛ Week 3, Day 4: Great to be back and the re-write project is off the ground! Fricken finally. Got through four of a 200 post revision and really happy with the result, am rewinding a founding post tomorrow so if you're not on that conversational thread, please share. Your voice matters!
As for this challenge, Tracy's share below about the toilet is so important.
Look, let's face it...all our toilets are clogged (in more ways than one). The world is changing before our eyes. Good. Bad. Indifferent, it's happening and we are being asked to face some hard truths about what we believe. Each of us come to any growth in different ways so..a post from the archive that I've just revised might offers some needed ideas and insight on this. Check it out. The question it asks is simple: What ails thee....https://tinyurl.com/uds9hw24
I wrote something to share to the What ails thee post (I also commented about this above then realized you wrote about it here). I'm feeling good about my writing the past couple days and find it interesting how the toilet issue is so symbolic. The story I want to share includes the toilet story and this dream.......
I’m in a pool of water, maybe waist deep, like a very small pond with grassy banks and a bit of swampy feel, it’s dark. There is someone else there with me, Elijah. We are fishing around for some things……I have the sense I’m looking for something to show Elijah, something to prove myself authentic and capable, something that can help the situation. I pull up a crystal, not fully desirable in its condition, half formed, not clear at all. He shakes his head. I put it back. I see another interesting shape embedded in the mucky bottom, but as I touch it, it falls apart, degraded from so long submerged under water. Then he pulls up a large, somewhat round and faceted crystal - clear, full of rainbow colors bouncing off and through it as he held it up to show me. He said, “this”, as he held it with great satisfaction, not arrogant, not shaming me, just showing me, this is what we are looking for. I wake up.
I'd like to share the whole story to the What ails thee post but it's 1,800 words long and it won't let me.....what is the accepted word count and should I break the story into parts to share?
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛ Week 3, Day 3: Hi everyone! It's Friday and my writing today has been nudged to the end of the day, rather than the beginning. This is not optimal but part of the gig as a writer. Right? How is everyone doing?
✍️ Share a sentence from your work today. Let's see what's being created...
Week 3, Day (4? or 3? : ) I had a super long day yesterday helping a friend, driving 7 hours round trip, coming home to a clogged toilet...... So......writing didn't happen yesterday. Today my writing consisted of a few big long texts, clarifying boundaries with another friend coming to stay with me for the next four days. The wonderful thing in all this is some empowerment I received......I fixed the toilet!.....took it apart, turned it upside down, removed a big wad of gauze bandage! I can do stuff : ) And, I clearly, kindly, in detail wrote what I needed......2-3 hours in the morning before any interaction beyond a good morning; early retreat to my bedroom for quiet time before bed. As soon as I stated what I needed, my overwhelmed feeling lifted and I became happy that my long time friend, who is super intense and also an artist, was coming to stay. This is huge for me! Clear boundaries, clearly stated, simple! And, I worked on my painting today! My painting and my writing project are inter-related. : )
That's a scene..write that....and look at that sentence: "I fixed the toilet!.....took it apart, turned it upside down, removed a big wad of gauze bandage! I can do stuff."
Yes! You can. The feminine and the masculine in a communal connection. Beautiful. 🔨⭕️
Thanks! I love that, "The feminine and the masculine in a communal connection."
Week 3, Day 3: I started with nothing to write, doubting my story. Once I got into a quiet place, I imagined being in the scene. It started awkward, but then I found a nugget that took me past the 700 words for the day. Note to myself: Just keep writing, it will come.
That's it! You've broken through. CONGRATS!
I'm still writing although I took three days off due to a minor surgery last week. I find myself more motivated as the story progresses. I also spend a great deal of time constructing/reliving parts of it. It's not easy but very calming after I work through the storyline and emotions of the characters.
Oh my gosh, I hope you're ok! Sending you healing vibes: 🙏🏼
Well done sticking through. It gets easier.
Hi all! Really appreciated yesterday's discussion. It's so helpful and inspiring to hear from others and get the feedback from Jennifer that winds it all together.
Reflecting on the journey prompts:
1. Since we began, I've been surprised to find that my story can still surprise me, even so close to the end. I'm about 80% of the way through, and still learning new things about my characters!
2. Unexpected treasures: Bright Peach tea. Turns out holding a mug of something warm helps me write more.
3. The community helps light the path just by existing. Yesterday's discussion was perfect timing to help me keep momentum heading into the middle of the challenge.
🫖 Lovely! I'm super into mixing Egyptian Licorice and Peppermint from Yogi tea for the same. Peach. Very cool. I'm so glass you're here. (PS: Silent Night from Smith Tea is AMAZING! But hard to get thus my Yogi Tea hack) 🫖🫖
I love Silent Night!! Still have two satchels saved from ten ago... !
Jealous! I cannot get it! Sold out. GRRRRR
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛ Week 3, Day 2: Another day, another day of showing up for each other! Let's do it!
I feel so inspired after our conversation this morning! I usually am, I just had some particularly good awe-ha moments today that have sparked writing ideas I hadn’t thought of. I typically have not thought about character development as I write, I guess what I would call - a critique of societal failures through history, focusing on a lack of equally accepted feminine language for naming the divine mystery and the cascading downward effects of this suppression…….coming from a personal perspective of how this played out in my own life, and is still playing out (there’s the crossover, past and present)……(I’m still figuring out how to actually describe what I am doing). Now, I am intrigued about character development and will see what I can do with that….. I love new beginnings (a strength and, sometimes, a pitfall). Some imaginary scenarios and characters from my childhood imaginings and dreams came to mind. I will use these as an exercise to get me going in this new territory of character development…..inspired by Kat’s remembering her ‘fictional’ character from age 12!
So, all of the above is a surprising realization with unexpected treasures gained by being on this path with a writing community, all holding their own unique lanterns, lighting the way through the dark. Thank you!
Love this Tracy: "I love new beginnings (a strength and, sometimes, a pitfall). Some imaginary scenarios and characters from my childhood imaginings and dreams came to mind. I will use these as an exercise to get me going in this new territory of character development….." I'm so glad the meeting charged you (and all of us up). Can wait to see what you come up with. And you've inspired me in the mini-class I'm building from the Bones class. I think I'll toss the character question into the mix. (Watch this space).
🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛ Week 3, Day 1: Wahooo! We're here and still writing. Thanks for the amazing meeting on Zoom this morning. So many amazing take aways that I'll share in a follow up email. But now, let me hit these questions.
1) What surprised me is that the book on the spiritual journey stopped hard in its tracks and I was tasked, instead, with a major rewrite of my archive here on Flight School. I've been doing this long enough to know these are clear orders and off I go!
2) The unexpected treasure is something called Heart Sync, which is parts work at a very high level. I learned about it on the Restore the Hope Podcast. Amazing stuff. https://heartsynchealing.org/about-heartsync/. I'm becoming a student of this process because it's an answer to a prayer (or the continuation of one). On the other side of this teaching, I know I will be brought back to writing that book Between River and Sea. I'm sure of it.
3) The community can light the path forward by showing up with even a couple of words about yourselves and boosts for each other. Which you do! Keep on keeping on.
Have a great writing day, XO
Despite all the noise and fluctuations going on internally, mentally and physiologically, and despite the imperfections of my writing, I find myself continually drawn into the world of my story. This is the place I want to spend time in, the place I want to nurture. There are little twists and turns that I'm pleased to discover during the writing process.
I've never been one to keep journals (I've always cringed at my own thoughts), but now that I'm writing and have all these ideas pop up, having a place to jot all these notes down is crucial (especially at 3 am in the morning). So now, my writing journals have become an unexpected haven--free from ego and free from my own personal hangups and anxieties, not a public-facing thing at all. It's purely a vessel for the story I want to create. Plus, there's something so satisfying about putting pen on paper!!
(Side note: I stumbled on these journals at my local bookstore recently--it's such a neat concept: https://about-blanks.com/shop/ )
I'm excited to see where people go with their creative journeys. So appreciative of how supportive everyone is! (And yes, I was going to raise my hand LOL!! I was trying to add a heart emoji on someone's comment in the chat at the time haha).
So cool. Great resource, Kat. Love this line: There are little twists and turns that I'm pleased to discover during the writing process.
So glad to have you here. You are a gift and an inspiration.
Week 3: I have feedback from the Studio to work with on my draft. I plan to dig into making some edits from the feedback. I will keep my morning routine of writing ~700 words 5 days a week before my morning run or walk. If I don't make the word count then I give myself grace and make up for it on weekends with a few minutes here and there.
Great. Wonderful! Terrific. I'm so glad the feedback spoke to you. I cannot wait to see what you are going to do with it. I love the grace, too. That's exactly it. You can only do what you can do!
I'm still excited and motivated. This time last week I was nervous about week two because my husband had surgery and I didn't want my hyper-focus of writing to cause me to totally ignore him, or the converse where I only focus on him and lose my writing momentum altogether. I'm so proud I didn't fall to either of those extremes. I'd like to be the kind of person who doesn't need set goals and deadlines (that seems cooler somehow) but the truth is I do need this structure and community to hold me accountable. I'm at just over 9000 words, so on track. What has surprised me about my writing is the extent to which memories of my family, as they were when I was a child, are coming to life. That's exciting.
9000 words! Well done. Three weeks to go and you'll totally hit it, I'm sure. And yes, balancing your work with your world. It's possible and you're doing it. Again, well done!
Parkinson's is a cruel disease, and presents in so many different ways in different patients. Suddenly, my hubby seems unable to sleep for longer than an hour or two. Plans and goals are out the window as I fumble through a sleep deprived fog. This morning, though, instead of fighting it, I decided to lean into it, and go with the flow. I am not going to worry about word-counts and goals either - I figure that in the scheme of things, I am where I need to be, with him and with my writing, and it will resolve over time. I might even exceed my goal. We'll see. :)
Oh Judith, sending so many prayers to you and your husband. I'm so sorry for this suffering and hope you both get some sleep. XO
Breathe deep friend. Lots of air here. XO XO