Wild Words

I wasn't sure I'd be able to record this episode, but I found a margin to record my thoughts about how to navigate creativity during coronavirus. Spoiler: my suggestions include doing less, releasing expectations, wrapping up projects, and clearing the decks. This is all temporary, but we have to support ourselves in *this moment* and adjust as we go.

If you're a blogger, can you blog less frequently? Sending a weekly newsletter? Make it every other week (or monthly!). Producing a podcast? Maybe end the season early. Drafting your novel? Keep going, but remove the pressure. Writing 1,000 words per day? Try 250. 

Basically, it's time for a radical reorganization of our time and energy. Some of this will force our hand in ways that are endlessly frustrating. We won't be able to meet the page as frequently, or give our characters undivided attention. Yet within these daily discomforts, we might have the opportunity to feel out what we truly need, step away from a piece, only to return with fresh eyes, make way for something new we might not have expected.

Pick up a copy of Wild Words wherever books are sold and head here to join a nurturing writing community. You'll get access to my newsletter and an invitation to our private Facebook group, The Wild Words Collective.

What happens when you achieve a dream, then want to change your life? Writer Sonia Ruyts answered this question—and waded through liminal space—when she decided to close her brick-and-mortar yarn shop to pursue writing. On today's episode she shares fresh ideas for establishing consistency in your writing practice, how she navigates self-doubt, the exercise she always starts her writing day with, and the intersection between slow fashion and creativity. Show notes: thewildwords.com/podcast.

How do we build a community around our work? For writers seeking long-term support for their craft, this is an essential question and one I believe can be answered, in part, with newsletters. It's an intimate, direct channel to readers who are eager to hear from you, and one of the best ways I know to build relationships that stand the test of time. I started back in 2013 with no strategy and no plan and really just winged it for a year before I got my act together. In January I surveyed 100 writers about newsletters and most responded with comments like: I don't know where to start. I'm waiting until I finish my book. I don't have anything to share right now. I'm afraid people will unsubscribe. They (81%) also said they'd either written a book or wanted to write a book, which begs the question: Who will read it? People who know you. People who you've invited into your world. People who have followed your journey. The truth is, we need to build trust and nurture relationships long before we have something to sell or promote, and on today's episode, I'm sharing 3 mistakes writers make when starting a newsletter + announcing my free masterclass to help: Nurture Your Newsletter. | Show notes: thewildwords.com/podcast

Media bombards us every second of every day. With so much noise stimulating our brains, nervous systems, and hearts, how might we return to ourselves? The answer, in part, is rewilding. My guest today is writer Lily Diamond, who shares her take on the essential practice of remembering who we are, and offers suggestions for how to cope with the world around us.

Today's guest is Andi Cumbo-Floyd, a writer and editor from Virginia's Blue Ridge mountains. She's written 11 books—10 are self-published—so we talked about the learning curve, self-publishing tips, how to promote your book, what to share in a writing newsletter, and what Andi would do differently if she were just starting out today. Andi also shares a big life decision she recently made that helped her make more space to write.

Join a nurturing community for writers & get your invite to our private Facebook group: http://www.thewildwords.com/community.

Writers like to stay behind the screen, but part of our work requires getting out there and embodying The Season of Visibility. If you're feeling unsteady, Sonja Overhiser is a writer worth knowing. She's built a creative business with her husband, Alex, and today she's sharing tips for surviving live television spots, why she hired a publicist (even though she had a traditional book deal), and how writing helped her cope with a difficult adoption journey. 

If sending your work into the world makes you feel simultaneously elated and anxious, you're not alone. Unfortunately, rejection is par for the course in the writer's life, but I believe there are some tangible ways we can navigate it with more grace and less of an impact to our sensitive writer's heart.

After finishing her manuscript for Motherland, author Elissa Altman posted a hard truth about the writer's life on Instagram: doing this work can take a physical toll on your body. Our conversation explores this important topic, including how she's putting her body back together again after finding it left in shards from an emotional writing process.

Navigating a love/hate relationship with social media? You're not alone. This episode explores how you can use social media intentionally to enhance your writing career without draining your creative energy. I'm sharing some of the benefits of using social media for your writing life, what prompted me to take a 30-day social media break, 10 questions to help you understand the heart of your social media use, and five tips for showing up while still keeping your sanity.

Ready to reevaluate your relationship with social media? Today I'm talking with Christianne Squires, who recently decided to deactivate her Facebook account and focus on Instagram to grow her community. On this episode, Christianne shares steps to navigate your own decisions, plus advice for how writers can engage with social media in ways that feel authentic to them. Pick up a copy of Wild Words wherever books are sold, then visit wildwordsbook.com to download a free book bundle to help you go deeper.