How Writing Can Change Your Life

Hi Witchy Writer,

Writing my first blog post was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.

Until that point, writing had always been on the periphery for me. 

Yes, I loved literature and was a devoted English major.

Sure, now and again a story would fly through me, get recorded on a Word Doc, and end up lost somewhere on my computer.

And, yeah, my bosses always complimented me on my ability to write a clear and concise email.

But the writing I dreamed of doing was something I put off for the future.

I knew I wanted to write someday, but I did not know when that someday would be.

A few years ago, I found myself creating an online business and started things off with a blog.

This was the first truly vulnerable writing I had done, maybe ever.

With all my English majoring and dreaming about writing, I hadn’t once considered how terrifying it would feel to put my truth on the page.

I sat in front of the computer, shocked by the intensity of my fear. 

My fear was then amplified by all the critical voices in my head.

I heard the whiny, wet blanket critical voices of my family.

I heard the staunch and serious critical voices of my college professors.

I heard the mean and vindictive critical voices of my playground bullies.

They were all saying the same thing: “This is terrible. You’re a horrible writer. You’re so weird. Everyone is going to hate this.”

Honestly, these voices popped up every time I tried to do something interesting or creative.

Until that point, I had always listened to them. There are so many interesting ideas I have never pursued because of these voices.

Maybe it was some strange alignment of the stars, or maybe my soul finally had enough, but that day I had a sudden insight which changed everything forever.

I knew, deep in my bones, that writing my blog wasn’t about the potentially critical people who might read and respond to my work.

Writing my blog was about freeing my own voice.

I knew if I wrote that post, and then kept writing, I would break free from the trap of the inner critic.

I also knew if I backed down and didn’t write, I would continue on as I always had - living in a cycle of shame that would keep me away from my dreams.

This insight helped me see a deeper purpose in my writing.

It was this purpose, to free my voice, that emboldened me to write.

It took me about a month to write my first post. Getting my creativity flowing was a slow process.

I took it easy with where I shared my post after hitting publish.

First, I let myself get used to the idea of my words being on my website for anyone to find.

When my entire life didn’t come crashing down, I slowly wrote another post and emailed it to my best friend.

After surviving that, I kept slowly writing and including more people in my circle of sharing.

Each time I wrote I faced those voices, and each time I kept writing I broke free a little more.

I started off by saying simple truths that felt possible to share.

Overtime I shared harder truths, at least for me.

I found out it was possible to experience a vulnerability hangover and live.

I discovered it was possible to share my work and feel proud, not squished like a tiny bug by shame.

I found out it was possible to receive appreciative responses, not just criticism from readers.

The more I wrote, the more I shared, and the more courageous I became.

My inner voice got stronger and stronger, and I felt freer and freer.

The effects of this rippled out beyond my blog.

When I had an idea for a children’s novel, I didn’t immediately dismiss it. I actually wrote.

When I needed to say vulnerable truths to people I love, I said them. This has transformed my closest relationships.

When I had an idea for an online book club where we would read Women Who Run With the Wolves by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes, I was scared, but did it anyway. And then that book club became a podcast!

The choice I made that day, to show up and do the scary thing to heal my voice, has literally changed my life.

When I talk about writing, I am not talking about a frivolous pursuit.

I am talking about the transformative power freeing your voice can have in your life.

I am talking about getting to experience the wonderful satisfaction of doing the creative work you long to do.

I am talking about how writing what you really want to write helps you say what you really want to say in life.

Freeing your voice on the page creates freedom overall.

Emma

P.S. Are you ready to write? Pen and Hearth is a kind community of witchy writers that will help you develop a daily (ish) writing practice, so you can feel inspired in your writing life. If writing feels vulnerable and scary, then our group is for you.