Welcome to the first in this new(ish) series called Notes from my Journal.
I journal daily. Sometimes I journal stream of consciousness style. Other times I simply make a bunch of lists. There are even times when I doodle as a form of journaling. Regardless of how I do it, getting things out of my head and onto paper is the way I process things.
I tend to hold a lot of information in my head. My number two Clifton Strength is input, meaning I seek and store information. And this information comes from various places: books, podcasts, tv shows and movies, conversations, basically anywhere. And for some strange reason — without really trying or even meaning to — I just hold all this stuff in my head. Writing it down is the only way I can make sense of it all.
And because I’m a very introspective person, reflecting comes very naturally to me. I spend a lot of time reflecting. So I thought, why not share these reflections with all of you? In a way, I was kind of already doing this, but it was mainly from a business perspective. If you’re curious, you can read my November Reflections and January Reflections.
Going forward, I want to share more of my personal writing journey, not just the business stuff. I’m always curious about the day-to-day life of other writers and creatives. So essentially, that’s what this new(ish) series is all about.
March was an interesting month. In fact, February and the first half of March seemed to blend together into one extra-long month. Aries season began on March 21 and on that day, the moon was in Pisces, urging us to do something significant with our lives. In my last post, I talked about the transformation and identity crisis I went through. The restructuring and relaunching of my Substack is one of the outcomes of that experience. I’m happy to report that I’ve come out on the other side of that feeling renewed and ready to start again, which is exactly what the season of spring is about.
While going through that identity crisis, I finished line edits for two of my clients. One was a memoir that was deeply personal and vulnerable. Reading and editing reminded me of the struggle I went through with postpartum depression after my first child was born. This story touched me in many ways. It was an honor to edit for my client who is also now my friend, and I know this book is going to help so many moms feel seen and heard.
The second project was a unique blend of fiction and journalism. It was unlike anything I had read before, and I loved it. The way it transitioned from storytelling to news reporting and back was flawless. My client worked as journalist before becoming an editor at a publishing house. It’s so cool to me how I’m not only working with her on book projects for the publishing house, but I also had the opportunity to work on her novel too!
I’m also really excited about my upcoming editing project which is a mix of horror and a psychological thriller. It’s about 170k+ words (gulp!) and I can’t wait to get started in the next week or so.
Creative projects I’m nurturing…
For my own work, I’ve been writing and journaling like a mad woman. I’ve given myself the goal of writing long personal essays and eventually publishing them as a collection. I’ve never attempted anything like this before and I’m terrified. So terrified in fact that I’ve been procrastinating. As I’m writing this, it’s Saturday afternoon on April 1st. I made the declaration that these Notes will go out on the first Sunday of every month, so you clearly see that the procrastinating has begun.
Instead of beating myself up though, I simply took notice and sat with it. I asked myself a few questions about why I was procrastinating, which led me to figuring out that I’m indeed scared. It’s something new and different. I want to get it right. I don’t want to fail. After journaling about it all, I decided that procrastination would be the topic of my next essay. But contrary to belief, I no longer think procrastination is a bad thing; it’s simply part of my process.
I’m also in the throes of creating a writing group. Writing is such a solitary activity. And I know I personally benefit from being in a community with like-minded creatures. Therefore, I took that as permission to create a group of my own and am currently planning how I want it all to go. The best thing about it is that I’m not doing it alone. I signed up to join a group coaching program and we are all creating group programs together. Being in community with others doing similar things is magical and I want to infuse my own group with that same kind of magic. I’ve already decided on a name (The Storytellers Inn) and have a bare-bones structure (something I teach my writers when planning out their books).
But I would love to hear from you regarding what you look for in a writing group. I want this seed that I’ve planted and am growing to be fun, nourishing, productive and a safe space for writers. I can already tell you that there will be tarot, tea and snacks (it is an inn, after all). And lots of writerly and bookish chats. So feel free to reply to this email (if you’re reading this in your inbox) or leave a comment (if you’re reading this in the app).
What do you look for in a writing group? What do you want to learn and what kind of activities do you want to do (aside from writing… that’s a given!) with the group?
Tarot reading for spring…
Spring is officially here. This is a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. It’s also the time of planting seeds to be harvested in the fall. If you’ve been thinking about starting a new writing project, now is the perfect time. The journey of a book begins with a single word. Take a leap of faith, pick up your pen (or grab your keyboard) and start writing.
But don’t just start and give up when things get challenging. Writing is a skill that you only get better at if you keep doing it. So keep tending to your craft. Make time for it. No, you don’t have to write every day. But you do need to be consistent, whatever that looks like for you.
And remember self-care along the way. Take breaks. Get outside now that the weather is warming up. Celebrate your milestones, big and small. Wrote a sentence? Fabulous! Have a snack or a scroll on the Gram. Did a pomodoro session and wrote for a full 25 minutes? You da bomb! Let that be it for the day and pick it back up the next day.
Bottom line: start the project, take care of your primary resource (YOU!) and celebrate your wins.
Oracle card and journal prompt: Introspection
How can you better understand and respect yourself as a writer this season?
Magical offerings
I like to think of my work as a cozy little bookstore with magical cards and spells sprinkled on top. Here are the magical offerings my bookstore provides:
Creative Alchemy: Blockbusting strategies to get unstuck and back to making progress on your story
This is a 90-minute alchemical session that is focused on the creative process and your writing mindset. During the session, we'll get your clogged creativity flowing using a combination of tarot and oracle decks, and journaling exercises. I’ll provide a supportive, nurturing environment for creative exploration, and perform some practical magic to help you develop a plan for moving forward with your writing project.
The Book Package: Compassionate + comprehensive editing support for you and your book
Give yourself and your finished manuscript the best possible chance for success. I will provide comprehensive, honest and compassionate editorial guidance for your story with a magical, yet practical spin. I’ll work with you to inspire a stronger manuscript and an empowered writer.
1-1 Coaching: Personalized + practical support to help you write with confidence
Writing is often said to be a lonely endeavor. But this doesn't have to be true. You don't have to figure it all out on your own. I will be in the trenches with you throughout the writing and creative process. Every writer is different and will need different things. Therefore, I meet writers where they are.
If you’re in need of book editing or coaching, I invite you to reply to this email or send me a dm on IG. It would please me greatly to discuss your writing project and help in any way I can.