Writing Your Way Home
Your reason for writing may be different than you think.
Deep in the heart of every writer I’ve ever met is a yearning to be heard. To know she or he matters. Writing, at its core, is all saying one thing: Listen to me. I have something worth saying. I want to be known.
The expression of this message may result in a PBS documentary or a feature film, a self-help book or the great American novel, but deep down, the impetus is the same. It flutters up from the soul in some people when they’re little, on their inaugural trip to the library or in their mother’s arms, following the words of a picture book and writing their first letters backward. For others it comes on at midlife or after, when the urge to contribute and leave something behind becomes more urgent, less easy to ignore.
Writing for some is a way of working things out, sorting, mining. For others, it’s a romp in the imagination, filled with assassins and kings. But deep down, what every writer is saying is, “I matter.”
That place, the place within us that knows we have value, is home. And for many of us, it can seem a great distance away, in another fairy tale kingdom, another royalty check or freelance writing gig.
But the fascinating thing is that the home we’re looking for, the true measure of our worth as a writer, isn’t in followers or accolades or awards or bank balances. It’s inside us, in the very essence of life and light we brought to this physical world of story when we were born.
It is our reason for being. Our rent payment on the real estate we occupy while we’re here. And the good news is, no matter how far off it may seem, finding it is just a thought away.
Your questions may range from the esoteric (“What is my purpose as a writer?”) to the practical (“How can I eliminate distractions?”). Ultimately, though, the answers all draw from a spiritual well that will help you see your work as a writer through a different lens.
The questions are ones I’ve heard repeatedly (and asked myself) over the years. The answers will give you a deeper understanding of why you get in your own way—and how you can change that pattern. Or why you burn out or put your writing away or try to pretend it doesn’t matter. It will help you on those days when you say Maybe I should just give up, but even as you think the thought, you feel like a piece of you is being amputated and thrown by the side of the road.
Why does community matter to writers? Do you really have a muse/spirit guide/source helping you? How can you own the feeling of wonder and peace in “the zone” that comes when you’re writing? How can writing help you feel more alive? How can you use writing as a refuge when the world overwhelms you? How can you claim your voice and your inner power?
Exploring these questions is part of my reason for writing this column. After an entire lifetime of writing, I know how exhilarating it is—and every anxiety that comes with it. I’ve been mentored, mentored others, been told to give up, given up, started again, doubted and believed in myself.
And that’s why I know that, at your core, in the part of you that surprises you with its brilliance, your inner light shines with creativity and purpose. In this sacred place, the intersection of writing and spirit, your voice is no longer just yours, but now belongs to the world.
A World of Your Own is about rediscovering that sacred place within you. It’s about writing as your friend, teacher, refuge, guide, soul mate, instigator, enemy and redeemer. It is about understanding where your writing comes from, why it comes through you, and what to do with it when it wakes you up at three in the morning, all earnest and insistent, as though it’s been up for hours and already had a pot of coffee.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your writing—and your Self exploration—are worth pursuing, try these prompts:
When I write, I feel …
My voice matters because …
Without my fears, I would …
If you’re eagle-eyed, you may have noticed that A World of Your Own is a slight change from the name I used for this column, formerly known as A Whole New World. I made the change to underscore an important part of our journey together: You get to create the world you live in. We all have that extraordinary power. And writing is one of the most impactful tools you can use to dream and shape and build the world you want.
In the end, writing can make you a living, and it can make you a life.
But most of all, it can take you back home.
With blessings,
Deb
P.S. Have a story to share? Please write it in Comments, and I may include it in a future column. This is our community, and your voice matters.
“A WORLD OF YOUR OWN” IS A READER-SUPPORTED PUBLICATION. To receive more content and tools, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. With a paid subscription, you’ll receive access to a monthly group coaching session, monthly guided meditations, discounts to selected classes, and “first to know” announcements of new books and events.
A NOTE TO MY READERS: I write “A World of Your Own” as a member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative, which is led by Julie Gammack, of Des Moines. I’m honored to be part of this group, featuring the diverse voices of more than 50 professional writers and journalists across the state of Iowa. I encourage you to check out their columns.
Here’s our line-up:
Who in the world told you to give up? Thank heavens you didn't pay attention to that voice!