story work: field notes on self-discovery and reclaiming your narrative

my first collection of essays

In addition to the free features of this newsletter, paid subscribers receive weekly Story Work exercises delivered every Sunday night at 8 pm et, and access to The Practice, our monthly group journaling session with special guests. If you are interested in receiving this weekly flow of self-reflection ideas for your writing practice, and more access to a creative community, consider becoming a paid subscriber. 

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Hi everyone,

We had our monthly community writing workshop last week, and the theme was Voice and Vision. It was a special night of writing and storytelling, and an opportunity to nurture our creative visions for the new year. If you’re new here, we all subscribers are invited to gather on Zoom on the first Friday of each month to write together.

I relish every chance I get to provide safe spaces for creative expression. I truly believe that creativity is Love and it’s the solution to the world’s broken heart, which is why I’m passionate about helping people access creative courage and find their own unique way to share their fullest expression with the world.

Today I’m happy to share the official announcement that my book of essays, Story Work: Finding and Fueling a Creative Vision for Your Life is on its way.

I’m thrilled to share this news, and I’m even more thrilled to share the nuance of what this represents to me. I thought my first book deal would be this huge defining moment that would make me feel worthy. I have so much compassion for the version of me that thought I needed this validation to feel official. The version of me that thought I needed to be chosen and given permission. I love her, and I needed her. Because she showed me where long-lasting purpose and motivation truly come from.

She wanted to prove herself, and she discovered that this desire was actually an invitation to find a longer lasting reward.

All my life, I got my sense of self-worth from being a good girl who accomplished things: scholarships, internships, promotions, etc. As a child, there wasn’t much I could control in my ilfe, but achievement brought a feeling of security. It shaped me and how I would come to seek love—and feel worthy of it—for years to come. 

Back in 2013, when I changed careers to focus on writing, I hadn’t yet learned what achievement means to me and why. I went from corporate America to creative entrepreneurship still wanting to be accepted by successful people to feel loved. Ultimately I would have to bring this subconscious need out of the shadows and transform it because it was stifling my creativity.

Achievement is still important to me, but I embrace it with a deeper understanding. On its own it’s an addiction, but I can partner it with my other values like authenticity and creative expression to channel it towards a purpose bigger than me. Working together, these values turn a need for validation into a drive for connection.

So I’m looking at this book as an opportunity for more of that connection. I hope it will foster it by inspiring people to think and live creatively, no matter what they’re facing.

creative courage

Do you have a creative calling that is being stifled by a need to win? to be successful? to do it the ‘right’ way?

So many valleys in my writing journey came from my own criticism—judging my art and the results of my art and losing my way. Many times I’ve given up or stalled on projects before showing them to anyone because I decided my approach wasn’t good enough.

By doing that, the message, the heart of what called me to tell that story, whatever it was, was lost. My timeline exercise has also shown me the times I’ve shared my art, but changed my approach too quickly because my initial results weren’t good enough, validating enough. Instead of trusting my voice, I’ve tried to sound like others. Instead of embracing my inner world as the home of my creative source, I’ve tried to alter it in order to fit in with the dominant culture.

Going into 2024, let’s focus on the ways that the highs, lows, and detours of our journeys have made us stronger, and how we can leverage those strengths in our current creative projects and goals.

Let’s make sure that we are not looking outside of ourselves for what we already have inside.

The next cohort of The Creative Courage Writing Intensive starts in January. This is my signature offering that lays the foundation for how I coach, mentor, and of course, navigate my own creative journey.

In the Creative Courage Writing Intensive, we break the heart-centered work of self-discovery down into a process that benefits you, not just creatively, but holistically. The Creative Courage framework is based on my personal + professional journey, years of research and client work. You will be guided through a 3-month transformation of how you think about your creative work and how it fits into your life. With mentorship and community, you will develop the courage to ask yourself hard questions and explore the answers through creative expression. All while learning strategies to cultivate a lifestyle that fuels that courage. 

Early bird registration is now open and there are limited spots only being offered to newsletter subscribers and those who attended our free workshop last week. To access the details, you can sign up here and I’ll email you the link. Regular registration opens on December 16.

This experience will be a transformational to the souls that have been craving fuller expression and are ready to expand. Does that sound like you? What stories are you carrying that are blocking you from letting your authentic self become more visible?

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write with us next week:

December 16. The Practice: Group Journaling Session #10 w/ Dr. Sophia Godkin // 11 - 12:30 pm

Reminder: The Practice, our monthly group journaling sessions, are free for paid subscribers, or you can drop in for a $15 fee. Paid subscribers, you will receive the link to register in this Sunday’s email.