Hi All.
Thanks so much for all of your great comments and questions on the last video. I am so pleased that so many of you are ready to take your writing to the next level and find your place among writers with similar goals and ideals. (If you missed that video, you can check it out here.)
I’ve loved hearing your stories about your own struggles to find a place where people care about you as a writer, who work to understand the intention of a piece before offering feedback, and who ultimately care about you and your growth as a writer.
The work I have done with writers for the last decade has been so rewarding. I have seen so many writers grow into their potential and even beyond what they thought they were capable of. I love receiving their emails and invitations to readings. What could be more rewarding?!?
More recently, Shannara Johnson attended one of my writing salons. Here’s her struggle when she arrived:
I had a hard time concentrating on my writing. I’d been blocked for weeks, maybe due to the fact that I was trying to write many different things at the same time, though I’d actually hoped it would spur my creativity. Sometimes it’s good if you don’t get too focused on one thing—obsession is always only a hair’s breadth away.
Here’s what she had to say after the salon:
All of us were astonished what we were capable of. As the flyer said, “This one-of-a-kind workshop for writers in all genres creates evocative, compelling work that tends to surprise writers with its potency.” Boy, did it ever. Something seems to happen when you feel safe, and the creative juices just kick in and don’t stop flowing.
The flyer also said, “Its effects last long after you walk out the door.” True, too… I felt like writing the whole weekend, and I didn’t have any problems—unlike most of the time—to keep my inner nag under control. Usually, I write a chapter or just a scene and then immediately start editing. This time, I just wrote, and it felt amazing. I’ll definitely go back.
It’s powerful stuff, isn’t it?
I know some of you have wanted to attend, and distance was a problem. I know some of you still aren’t sure about a group or a coach– but tomorrow I’ll be sending out a video with a great prompt for you to try on your own. This prompt is a real goodie– one writers have had success with in the work with me for years.
I’d love to hear about your successes and struggles. Please add a comment and join the discussion right here.
Happy writing!
Annalisa