Learn how my writing journey started and how I developed a unique process that ignites my creativity and passion for storytelling. Along the way, I’ll share practical tips for your writing life.
I stood in the parking lot as the sun was setting behind a few trees that cast long shadows. A friend from the meeting and I stood near our cars chatting about life and the last week. She shared some frustrations about morning routines and that is when the conversation turned sour. I launched into lists of morning routine ideas and facts that I had learned from my stack of books I had just consumed. In my excitement I plowed her over with information that she hadn’t even asked for. Her eyes grew wide, and then she got really quiet. She grabbed her phone a looked at the screen. “Well, I gotta go!” she said in a rushed voice and jammed her keys in the door.
“Oh, um.. okay…” I stopped mid-sentence holding back the rest of the ideas that were flooding my brain and trying to spill out of me. I got in my car confused and frustrated.
A few days later I was listening to my audiobook Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Tawwab and it hit me like a brick wall. I was on a walk in the midst of Chapter 12 Friendships when Tawwab described a friend who gives unsolicited advice and feedback. She explained why this is damaging to the friendship and how to create healthy boundaries in that relationship.
All I could think was, ”OMG – I am that oversharing friend!!”
I slowed my pace, paused the chapter and stared at the trees next to my walking path. It all hit me in a rush. Crushing shame and embarrassment came in unwelcome waves, my chest felt tight and my hand flew to my lips as an uncontrollable moan escaped. My knees felt weak and I quickly found a nearby bench to sit down and gather myself.
I needed better ways to process and share ideas that I was learning. Cornering my family and friends was actually damaging my relationships.
And then I found writing…
Here is more of the story:
I recently was interviewed by Joanna Bischoff from Home Life Purpose Blog. We discussed a piece of my journey in how I started my blog and how I became a writer. I also share a bit of my writing process.
Here is some of that conversation for you.
[Check out the full interview on Joanna’s blog: https://homelifepurpose.com/ ]
My Writing Process:
In the second part of the video we discuss my writing process.
I let ideas come to me as I live my full life, capturing them in messy drafts. Some paragraphs have been sitting there for over two years, waiting for the right moment. There’s no rush or hurry; I embrace an abundance mindset and let ideas come, storing them in my files. This removes the pressure to complete an article from start to finish.
Sometimes, an idea grabs me, and I develop it into a full article in a day or two. More often, I jot down thoughts in a draft and let them sit for a month or more until I find one I want to work on. This capture process is my favorite part of writing. Having a place to keep everything is essential for progress, and it makes me feel rich with ideas. Capturing anything with potential helps me fight off perfectionism. Not everything I capture becomes something; it often takes a while.
I write it out, type it up, and get it captured, then walk away until I feel inspired to return.
All my ideas are kept safe in my Evernote system, ready to review anytime. I regularly look through my draft notes, waiting until I want to do more work on them.
Forced writing doesn’t work for me.
I want an idea to tap me on the shoulder and nudge me to finish writing about it. This happens when topics resurface in conversation, in a book I’m reading, or in my morning journaling. Full sentences will fly at me, and sometimes I can see the shape of the whole piece. My goal is to share hope-filled words with practical ideas. I’m learning that the waiting process is worth it, even if it gets messy.
I feel rich with ideas and ready to make progress each time I sit down to write.
I have felt guilty for not starting “official writing” sooner. But really that is so silly. I am not on anyone else’s timetable. I am not on a schedule that I have to follow. I am writing for myself, at my own pace, when it works for me.
If you are interested in writing and feeling overwhelmed on how to start, here are some other posts that can be helpful for you:
Stuck in the Fog of Wanting to Write
Writing Tips: Capturing Ideas
Writing Tips: Letting Your Ideas Marinate
Making Progress in Your Writing
Do not be ashamed of where you are right now.
Being a beginner is hard.
A few years ago writing was my new beginning.
Calling yourself a writer can be freeing, scary, and wonderful. As with any calling, it comes with expectations and questions from others. But I believe you get to define those and move forward as your unique self.
Gather your resources, let the work of preparation take its time, and keep taking notes! It will all come together and be worth it!
💙 Wishing you the best! – April
P.S. – Here is the previous post (and short video) where Joanna and I talked about my burnout story = My Burnout Breakthrough: Embracing Less for a Fuller Life w/Joanna Bischoff