part 1, the forgotten inner work of writing and publishing

There are the outer aspects of writing a book and then there is the inner work it takes to believe that your words matters, to show up for your creativity, and to share your writing and be visible.

I think not knowing about or being honest about the very real inner work is what fizzles so many creative projects.

We focus on all the outer elements and getting all the practical and technical stuff sorted out, and we forget the depth of courage and strength and clarity required on the inside. 

I forget too, which is why I keep this quote at the top of whatever writing draft I'm working on to help me remember: 

"The sober truth is that any of us can find the time to write a book, no matter the schedule of unstoppable events in our life. Finding the part of us that wants to write the book is a different matter altogether....It takes a good, settled sense of what we are about, first to think that we deserve the time, and then to arrange our day so that what we want comes about.” David Whyte from The Three Marriages

Yes to finding a "good, settled sense of what we are about" and writing and publishing from there.  

And when we tap into this deeper selfhood and create from there, we discover a powerful writing and publishing experience, which, no surprise, makes for powerful books that people want to read.

This is my theory. (And I think David Whyte's theory, too.)

What do you think? I'd love to hear!

With care,
Brianna

P.S. Wanna talk about this more? Me too! One of my specialties is coaching for the writer. Hit reply and tell me what you're working on or sign up for a free 30-minute consultation to talk about your project and what it would look like to work together. 

photo by Cathy Cardno