write with us: free writing workshop on friday
plus: desire is not enough. partner your creative desires with these four things.
Hi friends,
Thank you for being a part of this community by reading, following, subscribing, sharing, and connecting in whatever way you do.
You’re invited to join us for our free monthly Writing the Layers workshop tomorrow, Friday, April 5 from 7 - 8 pm. It’s a welcoming environment and a great way to connect with others and show up for your creative practice. You can RSVP here.
Before you go, I wanted to share that I’ve submitted the first three chapters of my work in progress, Story Work (Broadleaf, 2025)!
Seeing this project move along and how much I’m learning about myself and my writing process through this experience, I wanted to share some food for thought for those of you who may be sitting on a creative calling, a story you have to tell, a project you want to start, because of self-doubt, fear, and all the unknowns and uncertainties:
It will be worth it.
The journey is worth the blood, sweat, and tears. It holds more for you than your mind can imagine. It’s bigger than you. It’s waiting for you. It will meet you every step of the way. Start wherever you are with whatever you have and do it for the adventure and what you discover about yourself along the way.
I still sit here and think about how many times I dreamed about writing and coaching for a living, took action, fell down, gave up, crawled back, gave up again, and kept returning to the work.
And you know what? Part of what I had to learn to start trusting the process is that not only am I worthy of doing work that lights me up, I was made for it. I also had to learn that my desire is not enough.
Partner your desire with belief, action, sacrifice, and commitment, and your creative courage and conviction will grow. I encourage you to reflect on these and journal about what comes up for you:
Belief
Do you believe that your callings and desires are yours for a reason, that they come from a source beyond your understanding? What doubts get in the way of that belief? Is there a voice from your past that told you that it was silly and irresponsible to dream and find your own vision for your life? Was there a time when your creative expression was mocked or devalued? What makes it hard for you to believe in your calling?
Action
Perhaps you believe that if your desire is worthwhile, it will manifest without you taking any action. It will fall into your lap or there will come a time in your life where other responsibilities go away. This is wishful, magical thinking. Taking action can mean taking better care of yourself, being more intentional, finding ways to align with your desire. It doesn’t have to mean pushing and forcing. In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron says, "Pray to catch the bus and then run as fast as you can." You can start with a prayer and a small step toward the bus stop. You don’t have to choose between a full sprint and no movement at all.
Sacrifice
Do you want to explore your calling but aren’t willing to say yes to it and no to other things? Take a closer look at this resistance. Often it's based in habit and familiarity. When something new feels unfamiliar and uncomfortable, we avoid it. Do you trust your desire enough to sacrifice familiarity for it? To see what’s on the other side of your discomfort?
Commitment
Maybe you know how to commit to things that are necessary for survival, but your callings and desires feel frivolous to you so you don’t prioritize them. Do you know how to commit time, energy and resources to a journey with bumpy terrain, endless learning curves, and uncertain destinations? If the project is not connected to your livelihood, how do you define its importance to you and how do you prioritize it? Where is your motivation coming from? If you have a creative desire and don’t have a grasp on your why, you can expect frustration.
I would love to hear your thoughts on these in the comments below! What else would you add to this list?
If you are seeking creative guidance and community, here is what we have coming up in April:
the inner story writing circle
The Inner Story Writing Circle is a guided writing community to support your personal story work & creative development. A monthly membership for people seeking guidance and strategies for the heart-centered work of writing about their lives. Each month members have access to a variety of virtual sessions to study, share, and celebrate personal storytelling.
April 13. Inner Story Monthly Storytelling Workshop // 10 am - 12 pm et
April 17. Author visit w/ Chelene Knight // 5 - 6 pm et
drop in and write with the community:
The Writing the Layers free monthly workshop is a virtual safe space for adult writers — from beginners to seasoned hobbyists to professionals — to nurture their writing practice and connect with other writers. The monthly Practice sessions are 90-minute write-ins featuring special guests and community members who share a writing exercise with the group and then we write together, discuss, and share.
April 5. Free Writing the Layers Monthly Workshop // 7 - 8 pm et
April 11. The Practice Session #14: Group Journaling w/ guest Kelly Macias // 6 - 7:30 pm et (free for paid subscribers or $15 drop-in fee)
take a class with me through the writer’s center:
April 28. Creative Courage and Self-Care for Writers // 1 - 4 pm et