One Hour of Writing a Day Can Change Everything

Do you want to know the number one reason most people never write that story that has been rolling around in their head for ages?

It's not because they don't know where to start. Or because they might not have the talent. Or because life is too busy. Or because they're not sure if the idea is good enough.

It's for the simple reason that they haven't decided that their story (and their investment in themselves as a storyteller) are important enough to put on the calendar.

Cut. Print. That is the truth of it.

Until one gets clear on the fact that their stories are there for a reason. That they are important. That the exploration of them is one of the most powerful things they can do for themselves (regardless of where it leads commercially).

Until one realizes that the simple act of giving themselves that time to listen to the stories of their heart and express them on the page, is time they must claim.

Until they see how getting practiced at listening to their heart (which the writing discipline requires), deeply benefits themselves, and all who are in their orbit.

Until they give themselves permission to follow the writing trail as if its a necessity, despite knowing the exploration offers no guarantees, they will not make room for it on their calendar, and it won't happen.

Life will keep life-ing. There will always be something "more important". And that treasure trove of wisdom that could assist and lift up every aspect of one's life-ing, especially when there is chaos, will remain untapped.

And..... they'll never know what writing that story could have done for themselves or others. Never be able to say they granted the wish of something their own heart wanted so badly to come true.

Is this acceptable?

If not, then here is my challenge to you: put it on the calendar.

You don't have to know what you're going to do, how you're going to approach it, how long it will take, or where it will lead. Those things genuinely don't matter, and can't be answered until you're on the trail anyway.

What matters is that you carve out an hour a day (preferably first thing in the morning before the world starts pulling on you - or if you're a night owl - then the last hour of the day when the world is no longer pulling on you) and start the exploration.

If you give yourself an hour a day, dedicated solely to embarking on this writing journey. And you take the pressure off, knowing you are making the time investment you can afford and that has to be good enough, then over time, something absolutely will happen. It's just math.

You genuinely don't need more time than that. And I know you find the time. Just take it out of your doom scrolling time budget. That will pay even bigger dividends because it will give you less time connecting with the chaos, and more time connecting with your creative self.

So what hour of the day is best for you? Be reasonable. If you want it to work, it has to be a time that can work with the natural flow of your lifestyle. It needs to be a spot on your daily calendar that is least likely to be intruded on. A time you can come to cherish. Not a "have to", but a "get to".

Then literally block it off on the calendar and just get started. See what happens.

If you're still doubting it will work, simply commit to doing it for a month. Experiment. See if anything changes. It's better than not experimenting.

And if you know you're the type in need of a community to make sure you do it, come join the always amazing, Kelly Carlin-McCall, and I's community in The Village.

The Village is filled with some of the coolest writers, doers, makers, and visionaries you'd ever want to meet and we do a Daily Practice together every day - on Zoom - at 8 am EST AND 8 am PST.

The Daily Practice is a time where we come together, I offer a quick bit of inspiration and centering, and then we write for an hour. All involved have been surprised to discover the magic of this simple lifestyle change and what is has done for their creativity.

And if you think this might be what you need, it is the absolute perfect time to join because along with membership to the Village, comes our quarterly community gatherings lead by Kelly Carlin-McCall and you could join us and meet the community for FREE.

These community gatherings offer a delicious opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of all the fellow Village members while honoring the rhythm of the seasons. For e.g. this upcoming gathering is Spring Forward, so we will take a moment to drop in, connect with, and get intentional about, what wants to birthed out into the world as Spring calls us to do, leaving you with some heart-centered direction for yourself for the next 3 months.

And the best news of all is that if this is interesting to you at all, this is your opportunity, as I said earlier, to try it all for free. You can sign up for a one month trial period in The Village, and gain access to all its benefits including our Spring Forward event (March 22nd @ 10:30 am PST / 1:30 pm EST) our Daily Practice calls (M-F 8am EST and 8 am PST) our community feed (like FB without all the riff raff) etc for free. And if it doesn't work for you, you can cancel at anytime. (Click HERE to get your free trial)

Regardless of whether you join us in the Village or go it alone, I hope I have sparked something in you. I hope you really will put that time on the calendar to pursue your stories. They matter. You matter. And in the times we're living in, the grounding writing provides, really can be the rebellious act you gift yourself and those around you that make this world a better place.

Give yourself the permission and make it happen. :)