I have yet to be brave enough to attend writing retreats (I‘m an introvert to the max) - but I know this feeling of holding life together with duct tape all too well (derailed writing plans included). So I hope the relief you got from this weekend holds on for a while and that you may find the strength in it to finish your book.
Thank you, Diana. Getting there was definitely aided by going with a friend who made most of the arrangements! I didn't have to overthink it, I just showed up.
This was lovely. You almost had me interested in spending time with people in person. Gasp!
Your writing got me thinking about how I used to think that living my life was distracting me from honing the craft of writing. Then I read that quote that goes, "Before a writer sits down to right, he must first stand up to live."
I think there's a time where we need things to quiet tf down so we can get the words on the page. But most of being a writer is probably more about transmission, or, the silent transference of experience and knowledge and details and "knowingness" of what's happening all around us. This is probably why being a writer is so damn hard: the real stories can't be wrangled down in a nice, neat, tidy format. Sometimes I imagine stories are like wild literary stallions running invisibly around us all the time, just waiting for someone to listen closely and come along for the ride.
As for your season of being "cancer adjacent," I really felt this. Like you coped into a different version of yourself to get everybody to safer waters. In Buddhist circles, there's a tradition around saying the family is sick, not just the person whose body is fighting a virus or cancer. Because their wellbeing is everyone else's wellbeing too. It's all connected.
That's sort of how I see writing these days. All the muscles of life are interconnected with my writing muscles and my noticing muscles and so on. If I'm engaged with one, the rest get something from it too. Your writing muscles are strong, Jen Zug, my fellow tree-loving Substack friend. Write that book for the rest of us.
"you coped into a different version of yourself to get everybody to safer waters. In Buddhist circles, there's a tradition around saying the family is sick, not just the person whose body is fighting a virus or cancer. Because their wellbeing is everyone else's wellbeing too. It's all connected."
This is a beautiful thing to learn - I will definitely be spreading this concept around as much as possible, because it's so true.
And I love the quote about living to write. It's so true. My most "stuck" writing times have been in states of depression and/or isolation when I don't get out and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of life around me.
I’m so glad you made the trip, Jen. It was an honor to share space and hear some of your writing aloud. I am looking forward to reading more excerpts from your book-in-progress!
A writing retreat! So glad you went, stayed, and found inspiration. I can't wait to read your words, draft or not. Also, I LOVE the advice to write scenes. My own book draft—which is still just a lot of ideas—needed it.
As always my cup is refilled after reading you. Dare I say overflowing with possibility and hope?It’s the nourishment I need. I hear ya on the reset. My trip to San Fran in the summer with my daughter was that but I promised myself a few years back I need at least to do a “me” trip once a year to anchor myself and have fallen short. There’s always a path though and if I want it badly enough I’ll make that choice
Wow, thank you Beth! My friend that I attended the retreat with, also named Beth, plans quarterly "work" retreats for herself. I might try to do this in 2024.
"I heard about a local Substack meet-up next month, and I’m planning to attend! I’ll be the awkward girl in the corner who writes like she’s everyone’s friend but can’t hold an in-real-life conversation. "
This is also 100% me. lol. That said, fingers crossed for a Madison meet up soon; there's at least 4-5 of us here-- and those are just the ones I know of.
Sounds like the retreat was exactly what you needed, and I'm looking forward to hearing more about writing (writ large) and your book!
Sounds like a perfect setting for renewal and creativity. My long term fantasy aspiration is to set a 'mastery retreat', a place for creatives and craftspeople to be inspired by their surroundings and others with quiet spaces to indulge their practices.
With so many distractions and obligations in day to day life it must be so energising to have the chance to quietly indulge in writing.
This post made me happy to read. Knowing that breakthroughs like yours happen encourages the rest of us. Thanks for the takeaways! Now, keep on writing. You have your readers cheering you on.
I have yet to be brave enough to attend writing retreats (I‘m an introvert to the max) - but I know this feeling of holding life together with duct tape all too well (derailed writing plans included). So I hope the relief you got from this weekend holds on for a while and that you may find the strength in it to finish your book.
Thank you, Diana. Getting there was definitely aided by going with a friend who made most of the arrangements! I didn't have to overthink it, I just showed up.
This was lovely. You almost had me interested in spending time with people in person. Gasp!
Your writing got me thinking about how I used to think that living my life was distracting me from honing the craft of writing. Then I read that quote that goes, "Before a writer sits down to right, he must first stand up to live."
I think there's a time where we need things to quiet tf down so we can get the words on the page. But most of being a writer is probably more about transmission, or, the silent transference of experience and knowledge and details and "knowingness" of what's happening all around us. This is probably why being a writer is so damn hard: the real stories can't be wrangled down in a nice, neat, tidy format. Sometimes I imagine stories are like wild literary stallions running invisibly around us all the time, just waiting for someone to listen closely and come along for the ride.
As for your season of being "cancer adjacent," I really felt this. Like you coped into a different version of yourself to get everybody to safer waters. In Buddhist circles, there's a tradition around saying the family is sick, not just the person whose body is fighting a virus or cancer. Because their wellbeing is everyone else's wellbeing too. It's all connected.
That's sort of how I see writing these days. All the muscles of life are interconnected with my writing muscles and my noticing muscles and so on. If I'm engaged with one, the rest get something from it too. Your writing muscles are strong, Jen Zug, my fellow tree-loving Substack friend. Write that book for the rest of us.
"you coped into a different version of yourself to get everybody to safer waters. In Buddhist circles, there's a tradition around saying the family is sick, not just the person whose body is fighting a virus or cancer. Because their wellbeing is everyone else's wellbeing too. It's all connected."
This is a beautiful thing to learn - I will definitely be spreading this concept around as much as possible, because it's so true.
And I love the quote about living to write. It's so true. My most "stuck" writing times have been in states of depression and/or isolation when I don't get out and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of life around me.
I’m so glad you made the trip, Jen. It was an honor to share space and hear some of your writing aloud. I am looking forward to reading more excerpts from your book-in-progress!
Thank you, Hilary! Wonderful meeting you, and thanks for reading!
A writing retreat! So glad you went, stayed, and found inspiration. I can't wait to read your words, draft or not. Also, I LOVE the advice to write scenes. My own book draft—which is still just a lot of ideas—needed it.
Happy to share what I learn. Much more of that to come!
Glad you got some relief and a plan going forward.
As always my cup is refilled after reading you. Dare I say overflowing with possibility and hope?It’s the nourishment I need. I hear ya on the reset. My trip to San Fran in the summer with my daughter was that but I promised myself a few years back I need at least to do a “me” trip once a year to anchor myself and have fallen short. There’s always a path though and if I want it badly enough I’ll make that choice
Wow, thank you Beth! My friend that I attended the retreat with, also named Beth, plans quarterly "work" retreats for herself. I might try to do this in 2024.
"I heard about a local Substack meet-up next month, and I’m planning to attend! I’ll be the awkward girl in the corner who writes like she’s everyone’s friend but can’t hold an in-real-life conversation. "
This is also 100% me. lol. That said, fingers crossed for a Madison meet up soon; there's at least 4-5 of us here-- and those are just the ones I know of.
Sounds like the retreat was exactly what you needed, and I'm looking forward to hearing more about writing (writ large) and your book!
Keep writing! Shitty drafts keep you moving forward! Looking forward to reading and hearing more! XOXO
Sounds like a perfect setting for renewal and creativity. My long term fantasy aspiration is to set a 'mastery retreat', a place for creatives and craftspeople to be inspired by their surroundings and others with quiet spaces to indulge their practices.
With so many distractions and obligations in day to day life it must be so energising to have the chance to quietly indulge in writing.
It’s lovely to be able to unplug and meander a bit.
Loved, and FELT, this post. 100%. And subscribed. <3
Thank you!!
Your list really resonated with me especially scale back and write without editing. Keep going my friend. I’m cheering you on! ❤️
"I’m going to write a lot about writing, which sounds like a yawner, but I’ll make it up to you by sharing excerpts from my draft."
This totally does not sound like a yawner! Glad to still be on this bus!
Thank you, Daniel!
This post made me happy to read. Knowing that breakthroughs like yours happen encourages the rest of us. Thanks for the takeaways! Now, keep on writing. You have your readers cheering you on.
I’m with Sally, could not have said it better…
Ready to cheer for a while.
Linda K
Yay for a Seattle meet up! I’ll be there too :)
Jen, this is a super post which has made me think a LOT. Thank you.