It can be lonely writing a book.
The writer and her story, bound in time, imagination and memory.
It’s not uncommon to feel as if the book is devouring you, as if in all the world there is only the writer and the page, no witness, no ally, no point – just the writing that one minute feels inspired and the next turns its ugly face to you and roars its foul breath over your efforts.
And then you wonder what it’s for and what you’re doing and why you’re doing it and it’s stupid anyway.
I know all this because I’ve heard it a thousand thousand times from women in writing groups and writing clinics. I know it because I had to walk calmly away from my own writing this week, lest I tear it down and let self sabotage win the day.
Our beautiful books, blogs and other writing projects live or die in this moment. We can run. We can shut it down. Or we can have each other’s back, sharing the vortex of inadequacies that are threatening to suck us under.
And that is the beauty of sharing the writing journey with writing buddies.
Ultreia! A pilgrim word. Keep going. Regardless of your writing experience, whether you are a new writer or a confident writer, when you’re among pilgrim writers you’re not alone.
We have your back.
You’ve got this. We’ve got your back. Ultreia! Show up, keep going.
Stephanie Dale is an award-winning journalist, author, researcher and founder of the International Wellbeing-through-writing Institute. In 2014 she launched The Write Road, a wellbeing-through-writing initiative for rural and remote Australians. She is passionate about pilgrimage, and in 2017 initiated Walk&Write holiday writing adventures.