Comments on: The Simple Writing Resolution that Changed My Career

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 07:36:09 +0000

In reply to Diana Beebe. Diana! How lovely to see you here. *waves joyfully* There is nothing like grief and hormones to make a writer want to just chuck it all. I'm so sorry you experienced that 17 years ago. During and after my pregnancy, I was just empty - like all my creativity had been sucked right out of me. I literally could not imagine how I was going to get back to the page. Julia Cameron was my angel and I will be forever grateful for The Sound of Paper and that quiet morning in December. Your writing is lovely, and I can't wait to see what kind of magic will spring from you just showing up as often as you can. I have a refrigerator magnet that says, "Having it 'all together' is like trying to eat 'once and for all.'" We are all just messy amazing works in progress. :-)

By: Diana Beebe

Diana Beebe — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 23:06:41 +0000

Oh, Jenny, I really needed to read this today. About 17 years ago, I did quit writing for about a decade. I'd had a miscarriage, and I couldn't handle how dark my current WIP was. I know now there were other things influencing my choice. But a decade later, I couldn't get that book out of my head, so I had to finish it. Lately, writing has been hard. I love the idea of showing up whenever possible, even if that's a few hours a week--and being kind to yourself and accepting that is just the way it is right now.

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 22:30:24 +0000

In reply to Julie Glover. I think that's a perfect goal, Julie! And that one hour a day will make you feel like a rockstar over time. :-)

By: Julie Glover

Julie Glover — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 18:42:11 +0000

Great advice and inspiration! In fact, I've been thinking about how, when I get through my current difficult season, I might not jump right back into everything. Rather, I will give myself the space to write a single hour a day, six days a week. That may be what I can manage for a while, but that would bring me a lot of joy. ?

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 15:23:45 +0000

In reply to jamesr403. Thanks, James!! And thank you for sharing your steady happy spirit here at WITS. Your essays always make me think, and they always make me smile. :-)

By: jamesr403

jamesr403 — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 07:42:29 +0000

What an inspiring essay! Thank you, Jenny.

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 06:31:50 +0000

In reply to dholcomb1. I've learned so many things about myself during this pandemic, Denise! One of them is that I like being at home in my house when it's quiet. It is an entirely different animal, with the whole family at home with me. Soooooooo not peaceful!

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 06:28:19 +0000

In reply to Barb DeLong. Thanks, Barb! I sure do miss you. And it has been so lovely to see you blossom with your book during this pandemic. I am so happy for you!

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 06:25:36 +0000

In reply to Karen DeBonis. I actually feel like blogging saved my writing, Karen. I could sit down and write a post for WITS or (even more fun) for my now-dusty blog, More Cowbell. It allowed me to write short things when my baby was taking up my energy and still interact with people while I was rising to the challenge of being a mostly-stay-at-home mom. It was a very unique and emotional time for me.

By: dholcomb1

dholcomb1 — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 04:53:07 +0000

This past year has been such a challenge. My high school student goes back into the classroom next week, and I'm hoping it will help.

I've also had this non-writing albatross around my neck, and I think I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, in a positive way, and that would free up a lot of time and energy.

Denise