Writing through the Wilderness
Like the rest of the Midwest, the North Shore has been thrown into deep, subzero temperatures, the likes of which we haven't seen in years. The schools have been closed, the winds have been howling, and we've been quickly going through the firewood and hot cocoa.
Once we started traveling, we began to see firsthand what it looked like to live out our dreams. Through beginning our shared life in such a foreign context, we began to challenge our assumptions that life would move fixedly and predictably from one stage to the next. We began to develop instead a growth-oriented mindset of creating whatever future we wanted.
I know I'm not the only one who struggles with a fear of embracing the creative life. Embracing this role as a creator is hard work, and no matter where you are in your creative journey, taking the leap to the next level can be daunting. It's personal and different and daring, and all those delicious things that usually accompany the goals and dreams we long for most.
Since moving to Minnesota's North Shore I've had people ask what it's really like to live here year-round. In this month-by-month journal, I take you through the full year to give you a glimpse of What it's Really Like. Greetings, Northern ones. This has been a year. I think that goes without saying. We've all … Continue reading North Shore Life | December and New Beginnings
Since moving to Minnesota’s North Shore I’ve had people ask what it’s really like to live here year-round. In this month-by-month journal, I take you through the full year to give you a glimpse of What it’s Really Like.
October has come and gone like a whirlwind, bringing some of the loveliest afternoons, brilliant gold colors, and crashing waves. It also took with it the last of the leaves and warm days, and sent us into chilly November as it should. October is the last hurrah of the busy season on the North Shore. … Continue reading North Shore Life: What’s it Really Like? | October
Well, it's October, and you know what that means: yellow leaves, a chill in the air, and a growing buzz about NaNoWriMo. If that just looked like a goofy jumble of letters and not a word, allow me to explain. NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month, a yearly event where people from around the world … Continue reading Thinking of NaNoWriMo? The Truth About Writing a Novel in a Month
There's a time to hang on. And finally, there's a time for change. Just as we get used to the slow hum of summer, September comes along to shake things up. At least in northeast Minnesota, it's the wild card of the year.
You're the author, and you're in control of the story. If you want to keep writing, I think you can make it happen. If you want to be done, you have the power to make that choice too. It's up to you to weigh the pros and cons and decide whether your manuscript is worth your precious time.
There's a lot of writer advice out there that errs on the side of keeping it up at all costs. "You can work through anything!" "Never quit!" "Think of how good it will feel when you actually finish this manuscript!" Well, I'm here to say that not all manuscripts are meant to be finished. And some of them should be quit.
