Easing back into writing: a guide for troubled times

Start with five minutes, and build from there

Use the code SOLSTICE for 50% off Bloom, or any of my other programs!

Easing back into writing: simple tips for reconnecting with your work, a few minutes at a time

In my last issue, I pointed out that this moment, uncertain and sometimes scary as it is, is also the moment we creatives most need to share our biggest dreams and our most important work.

But what if the scary uncertainty also makes that urge to create feel like a pipe dream?

When everything’s going sideways, it’s easy to push creative passion projects aside because other stuff feels more urgent.

Or, because exhaustion and burnout are real, and sometimes when you’re juggling too many balls some of them are going to drop.

So how do you find your way back to your creative practice?

Rather than beating yourself up for the very human tendency to step away when things get too big, give yourself permission to slowly return to writing in small chunks:

✨15 minute, or even 5 minute brainstorming sessions or writing sessions. If 5 minutes is what you can do that day, do it and celebrate yourself.

✨Celebrate every single moment you devote to creativity. Five minutes, fifty minutes, whatever it is. Whether you’re daydreaming about your book while you walk, drafting an outline, journaling, editing, or whatever else: Celebrate each and every moment that you devote to your work. Every. Single One.
Tell yourself you’re celebrating your work and proud of yourself for spending time with it, even if maybe you have trouble believing that at first (trust me, it makes a difference).

✨Journal about why you love this particular idea you’re working on: Why this idea is great, and why you bring such unique insights to it (again, even if you don’t believe it at first. The more you hype yourself up, the more you believe the hype).

✨Or just journal in general, about your creative process, about what you want your future work to look like, or get curious about what’s under the surface when writing feels vulnerable, or whatever else you feel called to journal about that day.
The key is:
*to let curiosity (rather than judgment) guide you and
*to follow your intuition (and remember no one else will read this, so no need to edit for clarity)

✨Put play and downtime front and center: This is a big one! Rather than chaining yourself to your desk, why not take a walk and think about that chapter you’re writing, just to see what comes through? Why not do a craft or cook a meal you enjoy while you brainstorm? Or freewrite in a journal rather than staring at your screen?

Give yourself permission to think about your creativity while you do other things you like, and let the work be easy: Those big ideas waiting to come through come through best when you’re relaxed and receptive. And doing fun, low-key things is a great way to invite them in.

✨Clean and organize your writing space so it feels more comfortable to be in.

I am a perpetually cluttery person: I rely on my stacks of papers and books which I swear are absolutely organized (they are not), but at a certain point the teetering paper piles pull my energy and attention away from my writing.

This isn’t to say you need to do a full-on spring clean: instead just tidy or wipe down the most critical stuff that creeps into your attention most often.
If you have energy to do more tidying up, great: But even that first pass will make a big difference.

✨Give yourself permission to step away when you feel done, even if you feel like you could do more. If you feel like you need to step away from writing, and doing more feels like a chore, honor that impulse as you ease back into your writing practice.
The more you engage with writing regularly, and from a place of actually enjoying yourself, the easier it is for you to turn towards your writing again and again.

Your writing sessions will get longer and deeper over time: All you have to do is keep showing up, even if it’s just for five minutes at a time.

Want to create a writing practice built for you? If you’re ready to start the new year in a gentle, supportive space that will help you feel excited about writing again, join me for Bloom.

Bloom is an 8-week program designed to help you build your dream writing practice.

Each week, we explore a different part of your creative ecosystem, so you learn skills that build on each other over time.

You’ll leave with a clear container for your writing time: So you know when you’re writing, what you’re working on, and how to stay focused.

But most importantly, you’ll do all that while really deepening into the pleasure and excitement of your work, so your biggest ideas can really shine through.

If you sign up for Bloom during the holidays (or order Bloom as a gift), I have extra special gifts to share:

• $150 off the regular price (1- and 2-payment plans available), and use the code SOLSTICE for an extra 50% off the preorder price.

• 2-for-1 giveaway: Everyone who joins Bloom in 2024 is entered in a giveaway for add a second person to the program for free. That means you could bring a friend (or, you could join the friend you purchased Bloom for!)

Buying Bloom as a gift? I’ll send you a custom-designed digital card with your gift message that you can print (or just email) to your recipient.

Just email me at hello@root-kitchens.com after you order, and I’ll take care of the rest.

Feel free to email me (or comment below) if you have questions about the program, too!

I’m looking forward to supporting your pleasurable, radical, and productive writing practice in 2025!

Remember to use the code SOLSTICE for 50% off Bloom, or any of my other programs!

Elderflower illustration by Anna Farba