Discover the Healing Power of Writing

& the Joy of Creative Self Expression

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Hi!
I am Kerstin Pilz, PhD.

Published author, TEDx speaker, passionate teacher, world traveler, yogini, photography enthusiast…

I believe we are the authors of our lives. We are in charge of the stories we tell ourselves.

Writing was my lifesaver when I went through a devastating life event.

It can be your lifesaver too. I will show you how.

I am so glad that you’ve found me!

I am here to help you discover the power of your own voice.

I guide you towards your creative inner magic.

I offer you what I know about the healing power of writing and I share with you what I’ve learned about the craft of writing and storytelling, about words, meaning and language, in 20 years as University lecturer.

Watch my TedX Talk

Write, Rest, Transform

How about a tropical Writers Retreat?

Join me in Mission Beach, Far North Queensland

You’ve always wanted to write but don’t know how to start?

You’ve got a rough outline, a draft even and you need to build momentum?

You are a published author in need of rest and new creative input?

You need a peaceful place to finish a project?

Whether you’re writing for yourself or for publication…

Whether you’ve got a story to tell or a wound to heal…

…our tropical writing retreats will get you writing

Gift yourself time to write in beautiful surroundings.

Sounds perfect! I want more info.

how to start writing your life story

Check out our RETREATS & DOWNLOADABLE MEDITATIONS

Writing Community

Writing and Yoga Retreat Vietnam. Kerstin and Heidi during a writing session.

Do you want to find your writing tribe?

The Write Your Journey Community is a passionate, supportive and inspiring group of writers, just like you.

We write, we share, we connect and we lift each other up.

Join the community

Tropical Writer’s Retreat

creative writers retreat Australia

What would happen if you gave yourself the gift of a creative writing holiday?

Join me in my beautiful home in Far North Queensland for an exclusive 5-day small group writing retreat.

2022 dates now available.

Online Writing Courses

Online writers group Zoom meetings

Start writing this year with one of our on-demand writing courses.

Invest in yourself and boost your creativity with daily writing prompts, meditations and writing tips straight to your inbox.

7-21 day courses available write now!

The Healing Power of Writing
Watch my TED Talk and find out why writing is the best thing you can do for yourself

The Healing Power of Writing

TEDxTownsville, October 2020

It’s one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. But also one I am most proud of.

I told my story of how I discovered the healing power of writing by going through the fires of grief in 15-minutes to a global audience.

My knees were trembling as I stood there in that red circle, blinded by a bright white light. But my voice was loud and clear.

Only the truly brave dare to be vulnerable.

Saying those words on stage felt empowering. I was speaking my own truth.

I believe that we are the authors of our lives. Vulnerability is the way to a deeper relationship with ourselves and with others.

Watch my TED talk and find out why I think we can all benefit from the healing power of writing and from the joy of creative self-expression.

Watch my TEDx talk

What’s new on the blog

The Healing Power of Writing: Finding Calm and Resilience in Difficult Times

The Healing Power of Writing: Finding Calm and Resilience in Difficult Times

A solo writing retreat: why every writer needs one and how to do it

A solo writing retreat: why every writer needs one and how to do it

How to overcome writer’s block

How to overcome writer’s block

writeyourjourney

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43 3

My monthly newsletter went out yesterday.
I've been sending it a little irregularly, but I always love writing my monthly newsletter.

This month I shared resources about the healing power of writing.

I've said it many times, my journal was my life saver when I went through a difficult time.

This month the world has seen millions of people across the world experiencing extraordinary hard times.

The news have been dominated by images of devastating floods on Australia's East Coast, where people lost lives, and homes, and on the other side of the world where millions of women and children are escaping the horrors of war.

It made me think that in times of crisis we need to spread the word about the healing power of writing.

Writing helps us stay grounded in difficult times.
It allows us to document our complicated feelings and to bear witness.

It's a way of owning our stories, especially those that don't make sense and that break our hearts.

I've written a blog post about it. #linkinbio

In my latest newsletter I also shared some other free resources on how to write about trauma courtesy of @edwinshawauthor and the @janefriedman blog and @lisacooperallison.

To read my latest newsletter, click on the link on bio. And don't forget to sign up for the April edition.

I send out carefully curated writing prompts and monthly reading inspiration, beautiful photos and more. No spam ever.

How has writing helped you to stay grounded in difficult times?

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#authorlife #amwriting #writingcommunity #amreading #writingprompt #writingtip, #writershelpingwriters #writeyourjourney #writinglife #missionbeach #fnq #farnorthqueensland #missionbeach #tropicalfarnorth #journal #wellbeing

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44 16

“It's the hour when night breaks away from the day, my dove, let me go.”
― Jean Genet

I love sunrise in the tropics, especially the dramatic wet season skies.

I never ever thought I'd become an early bird. There simply was no incentive growing up in Germany to jump out of bed at the crack of dawn.

But now, my day doesn't feel right when I miss it.

What's your favorite time of the day?

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#travelandluxury #AustralianEscape #TravelReimagined #AustralianHoliday #ExploreAustralia #Staycation #HolidayHereThisYear #writersretreat #writingretreat #yogaretreat #writeyourjourney #transformationalretreat #retreat #retreatlife #wellbeing #wellnessretreat #followyourbliss #missionbeachqld #tourismqueensland #thisisqueensland #discoverqueensland #explorequeensland #tropicalmissionbeach #fnq #cairns #CTWF #cairnstropicalwritersfestival

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45 8

It's exactly two years today that Australia closed its borders and I became unexpectedly stranded in Australia's tropical Far North. I'd come with a carry-on, my life in Vietnam well-established after four years in Hoi An.

It took ten months for my partner to join me here from Vietnam. It wasn't an easy time, but I did what I always do in a crisis. I got busy.

I embraced it as a chance to finally get serious about writing my memoir Falling Apart Gracefully.

Becoming stranded shifted my world on its axis. I fell in love again with the small beachside community of Mission Beach, the place that held so many bad memories for me.

Unable to hold my retreats in Vietnam, I had no choice but to refund all deposits and to start again.

Over the two years I've been stuck here, I've brought people from all over Australia to beautiful Mission Beach to write their books.

The other thing that happened is that I've joined a local bootcamp group. It keeps me motivated with hard-core fitness exercises most mornings.

I won't leave again until my book is pitch-perfect. I've made a deal with myself to not board any flights until I've nailed the structure of my book. It's a great incentive to get it done, as I am keen to get on a plane to Germany to visit my ageing parents.

What is a positive thing that happened for you as a result of the pandemic?

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#amwriting #writingretreat #writingretreats #writersretreat #writingretreat #yogaretreat #creativetime #writeyourjourney #transformationalretreat #retreat #retreatlife #wellbeing #wellnessretreat #followyourbliss #travel #journaling #heartcentred #innerjourney #missionbeachqld #tourismqueensland #thisisqueensland #discoverqueensland #explorequeensland #tropicalmissionbeach #fnq #cairns #CTWF #cairnstropicalwritersfestival

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38 1

"All war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal."
—John Steinbeck

This quote makes for a good writing prompt. If we are thinking animals, according to Steinbeck, then ask yourself what's your purpose in life as a thinking animal?

Set a timer and go without stopping to think or edit. Trust the pen to lead the way.
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#authorlife #amwriting #writingcommunity #amreading #writingprompt #writingtip, #writershelpingwriters #authorsofinstagram #writeyourjourney #writinggoals #writinglife #creativewriting #writeeveryday #writingchallenge #writeyourjourney

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55 7

"“What breaks in daybreak? Is it the night? Is it the sun, cracked in two by the horizon like an egg, spilling out light?”
― Margaret Atwood

As someone obsessed with capturing the sunrise, I love this quote, it makes for a great writing prompt.

I am getting ready for a talk I'll be giving to my local association of Business Women and I've been looking at my favorite prompts. This has to be one of them.

With so much darkness in our world right now, let's remember that there is always a ray of light underneath a dark cloud.

What breaks at sunrise? Go on, write for 10 minutes and see what comes up!

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#writingprompts #writingprompt #amwriting #writingretreat #writeyourjourney #australia #farnorthqueensland #fnq #fnqlife #missionbeach #qld #exploreqld #sunrise #tropicalfarnorth a #tropical #neverstopexploring #travelqld #seeaustralia #cairns #queensland #thisisqueensland

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42 1

I've always loved teaching, but as I climbed the academic career ladder, I was expected to teach less and less, so that I could spend as much time as possible publishing my research, getting through a mountain of admin and boring meetings in my new role as education manager.

But I didn't want to be an education manager. I love teaching. And so, when a series of difficult life events made me stop and rethink my priorities, I discovered something else I could teach. Outside of the big institution. On my own terms. In my own time.

Of course I miss the safety of my salary and the good superannuation, but I love the freedom I now have to teach what is most dear to my heart.

My next retreat in Mission Beach is scheduled for the start of June. #linkinbio

Discover the Wet Tropics during our balmy winter, when the temperature is just right.

We start each day with gentle morning yoga and morning journaling. The daily writing workshops are structured to allow participants to become creatively unstuck, find their voice, write their stories and build a sustainable writing routine.

We rest and relax, we create and we go deep, we create flow and synergy. It's amazing what can happen when you immerse yourself, trusting the pen to lead the way.

My retreats are popular with writers of all levels.

We pick you up at Cairns airport, we pamper you with home-cooked meals and we take you on guided nature walks through World Heritage rainforest.

Will you join me?

photocredit: @markrogers

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#writersretreat #writingretreat #writeyourjourney #transformationalretreat #wellnessretreat #followyourbliss #missionbeachqld #tourismqueensland #thisisqueensland #discoverqueensland #explorequeensland #tropicalmissionbeach #fnq #cairns #CTWF

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52 5

Happy International Women's Day
“I am awfully greedy; I want everything from life.
I want to be a woman and to be a man, to have many friends and to have loneliness, to work much and write good books, to travel and enjoy myself, to be selfish and to be unselfish…
You see, it is difficult to get all which I want.
And then when I do not succeed I get mad with anger.”
― Simone de Beauvoir

What do you want from life?

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#internationalwomensday #women #tropicalbeach #australia #farnorthqueensland #fnq #fnqlife #missionbeach #qld #beach #exploreqld #portdouglas #nature #tropicalfarnorth a #tropical #neverstopexploring #travelqld #seeaustralia #cairns #queensland #thisisqueensland

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49 1

My heart is heavy today for those who have to endure the folly of war.
My 86 year old father, himself a child refugee, is heartbroken that this should happen again in his lifetime.
I have no words. Language fails me today.
But Margaret Atwood says it so well.
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#ukraine #ukraineconflict #russiaconflict #margaretatwood #writersofinstagram #amwriting #writeyourjourney

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54 1

Took the day off to visit Dunk Island just opposite my home.
Fabulous hike through cooling rainforest to be rewarded with this vista.

We've just been voted the world's 5th most beautiful village. It's all subjective and all based on hashtag popularity, but still, it's nice to know our little beachside community in World Heritage listed rainforest gets noticed.

Will you come and join me on retreat this year here in Mission Beach?

Follow the link in my bio for details or dm me for more info.

Where is your next holiday going to be?

Until my book is done, I am not moving from this spot!

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#writersretreat #writingretreat #yogaretreat #creativetime #writeyourjourney #transformationalretreat #retreat #retreatlife #wellbeing #wellnessretreat #followyourbliss #gratitude #soundhealing #travel #journaling #heartcentred #innerjourney #missionbeachqld #tourismqueensland #thisisqueensland #discoverqueensland #explorequeensland #tropicalmissionbeach #castawaysmissionbeach #fnq #cairns #CTWF #cairnstropicalwritersfestival

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44 6

Getting up with the sun is my preferred way to start the day. It helps me focus on what really matters.
Right now it's finishing my book.
Here is some writing advice I've learned the hard way:

Think of your first draft as you telling yourself the story.

Give yourself permission to just go for it. Feel free to use cliches as place holders so that you don't waste time polishing sentences and scenes that will not make it into your final draft (I have done way too much of that!).

Think of your second draft as an exercise in finding a way to tell that story to a reader, in a way that will grip your reader until the final page.

This draft (and subsequent drafts) is when you will try to find the structure of your book, deciding which scenes to keep and which to toss.

Think of your subsequent drafts (there will be many!) as applying layers of polish, refining, cutting trimming, replacing cliches with poetic prose etc.

Think of the discarded scenes and chapters as your apprentice pieces.

Thinking about my writing and my book in this way, has helped me to ramp it up, both in terms of speed and effectiveness of my story.

What is your best writing advice? What advice do you need to hear right now?
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#amwriting #writinglife #writeyourjourney #writersofinstagram #writingadvice #memoir

writeyourjourney

38 2

One of my favorite quotes by revered Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh who passed on last month.
He leaves behind a vast legacy of words and wisdom.
You can use this quote as a writing prompt.
What does it mean to be yourself?
Who are you in this moment?
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#writingprompts #writingprompt #amwriting #writinglife #writersofinstagram #writeyourjourney #writinginspiration

writeyourjourney

41 8

It's a new year and we are all writing a new chapter.
What are you writing this year?

My news is that I am determined to get my memoir pitch-ready by the middle of this year (my 59th birthday, ouch).

Steps I've taken to achieve that goal:
* cut down on the time I spend on social media
* joined a small memoir writing feedback group with the wonderful Wendy Dale from Genius Memoir Writing
* continue weekly feedback meetings with two writing buddies from my Hoi An days @janielawsonwrite & @onedreamdown
* I'll be spending some time in June with my editor, the wonderful @edwinashawauthor, to fine-tune and polish whatever I manage to write by June.

People often ask me, are you still writing that book?

The answer is, writing a good book takes time.

I've wasted a lot of time thinking about my book, procrastinating, not believing in myself, getting distracted by teaching others how to write their books.

My best advice is this: if you have a burning desire to write a book, start today.
Show up every day, accept that sometimes you need to kill your darlings (I am a serial killer by now, but that's ok), be curious and open. Learn the rules before you dare to break them.
What are you writing?
What's your best advice to get the work done?
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#amwriting #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writers #writeyourjourney

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49 15

In case we haven't met before, here are five things about me:

1. I have two passports: German & Australian.
How can I be so lucky? I grew up in Germany but fled to sunnier shores as soon as I'd finished highschool. After a few years backpacking around Asia, I washed up in Australia, broke and ready for anything.

2. I always wanted to be a writer, but I got sidetracked doing a PhD in Italian literature and for many years I taught Italian language and culture at university (but I've kind of broken up with Italy, it's a story I tell in my memoir). Along the way I perfected my Italian and my English, but it took decades before I felt confident enough to write literary prose in English.

3. I am an inveterate traveler. Until the pandemic closed international borders, I was living in Hoi An, Vietnam. I miss it every day, but I am surprised that being stuck at home (Australia) for the past two years has been a blessing in disguise, because...

4....I managed to finally write a solid draft of my memoir Falling Apart Gracefully whilst being stranded in locked-down Australia.

5. I have always loved teaching but I am grateful to have broken away from academia. Reinventing myself at nearly 50 wasn't easy, but following my heart has paid off. I now hold regular writing retreats at my beachfront home in Mission Beach, Far North Queensland.

I previously held retreats in Vietnam, hoping to resume in 2023. And since I happen to speak Italian (breaking up with the country doesn't mean I've forgotten how to speak the language), I aim to hold writing retreats there too one day...

Nice to meet you. What are five things about you?

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#writersofinstagram #writeyourjourney #writers #writerscommunity #aboutme #me #picoftheday #findingmywritingcommunity #writerslife

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42 5

Happy New Year of the Tiger

Ever since living in Vietnam, I've embraced the start of the lunar new year as my official start to the year.

My first newsletter went out yesterday, the start of the year lunar. A very auspicious day it seems.

2.2.22.

It marks 11 years since my small community was devastated by a category five cyclone.

Iconic Dunk Island, pictured, the first thing I see in the morning from my veranda.

Cyclone Yasi destroyed the popular resort on 2.2.11

The mangled remains are still there, overgrown by jungle.

The rest of the community has healed, rainforest has regrown and we have all transformed and changed as a result of witnessing the force of nature, seeing with our own eyes that everything is impermanent.

The words by revered Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, who recently passed on, helped me through the long and dark aftermath.

A natural disaster is like a death. It threw an entire community into grief.

Here is one of the quotes and writing prompts I sent out in yesterday's newsletter. #linkinbio

“To live, we must die every instant. We must perish again and again in the storms that make life possible.”—Thich Nhat Hanh

Recall a time you went through one of life's storms.
How did the experience make you grow as a person?

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#creativelifehappylife #forgeyourownpath #wholeheartedliving #theslowcollective #alifeofintention #seeksimplicity #theartofslow #singingbowlmeditations #mindfulness #calm #innerpeace #meditation #mindfulnessmeditation #zen #innercalm #flow #writingprompts #guidedmeditation #thichnhathanh #mindfulness

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60 10

Our beloved teacher, Thay, Thich Nhat Hanh passed on last night. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I learned so much from Thay, including the value of deep listening.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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“Deep listening, compassionate listening is not listening with the purpose of analyzing or even uncovering what has happened in the past. You listen first of all in order to give the other person relief, a chance to speak out, to feel that someone finally understands him or her. Deep listening is the kind of listening that helps us to keep compassion alive while the other speaks..." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I was fortunate to spend a week at Thai Plumvillage at the same time as Thay was living there before he was able to relocate to the Tu Hieu Temple in Hue, Vietnam, the place where he first ordained at age 16 and where he passed away last night at midnight. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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You can find my blog post about what I learned from my week at Thai Plumvillage in my bio. #linkinbio. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#creativelifehappylife #mindfulness #thichnhathanh #wholeheartedliving #theslowcollective #alifeofintention #seeksimplicity #theartofslow #singingbowlmeditations #mindfulness #calm #innerpeace #meditation #mindfulnessmeditation #zen #innercalm #flow

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76 15

It's rainbow season in the Wet Tropics, aka wet season. Incredible double rainbow last night, impossible to capture in its full glory, but this gives you an idea. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I take it as a blessing for my final retreat for this year. We start this afternoon.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Tropical rain will not dampen our enthusiasm. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What are your ideal conditions for writing?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#writersretreat #writingretreat #yogaretreat #creativetime #writeyourjourney #transformationalretreat #retreat #retreatlife #wellbeing #wellnessretreat #followyourbliss #gratitude #missionbeachqld #tourismqueensland #thisisqueensland #discoverqueensland #explorequeensland #tropicalmissionbeach #castawaysmissionbeach #fnq #cairns #cairnstropicalwritersfestival

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26 5

The wet season has started. It has brought mozzies, rainbows and short, but mighty showers.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Irreverent is wrapping up. The Netflix series brought cool sets and lots of interesting people to town. From next week our little town will become quiet again as hundreds will leave and the beautiful sets (including these two chairs) will disappear until season two (fingers crossed). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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But my house will become busy with seven writers. We've also booked the house next door so that we'll have plenty of spaces to retreat and write. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I can't wait to see what kind of word magic we will create this time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Each retreat is different. Everybody brings a different story, everybody comes for a different reason, but in the end we all come to write and that's where the magic happens!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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When is the last time you went on retreat?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#writersretreat #writingretreat #yogaretreat #creativetime #writeyourjourney #transformationalretreat #retreat #retreatlife #wellbeing #wellnessretreat #missionbeachqld #tourismqueensland #thisisqueensland #discoverqueensland #explorequeensland #tropicalmissionbeach #castawaysmissionbeach #fnq #cairns #amwriting

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29 0

My last retreat for 2021 starts in two days. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Getting ready to welcome seven writers to my home on the beach. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Cooked like I was a contestant on masterchef for the last two days. Now on to finalising the content.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Writers come to my retreats for all sorts of reasons.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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To negotiate a life change. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
To reignite their creativity. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
To explore ways of becoming fulltime writers.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
To write their life stories.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
To heal a wound.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
To find their voice.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
To feel empowered.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
To tell their stories.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There are so many reasons why we write and every retreat is different.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I just hold the space and provide the tools (and the meals). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What happens on retreat I can not predict, but it's always magical! 🌼⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Why do you write?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#writersretreat #writingretreat #yogaretreat #creativetime #writeyourjourney #transformationalretreat #retreat #retreatlife #wellbeing #wellnessretreat #gratitude #soundhealing #heartcentred #missionbeachqld #tourismqueensland #thisisqueensland #discoverqueensland #explorequeensland #tropicalmissionbeach #castawaysmissionbeach #fnq #cairns #CTWF #cairnstropicalwritersfestival

writeyourjourney

58 3

A random stranger in a red bikini after a beautiful morning hike with my bootcamp buddies. Couldn't resist this shot at Windin Falls on the Tablelands in Far North Queensland, just behind Queensland's highest mountain, Mount Bartle Frere.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The sheer drop made me a little queasy and I didn't manage a photo from the edge where the woman in her red bikini was having a moment of bliss. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I think it was @susannahconway who said, when you see red, go ahead and take an eye-popping picture. And so I did. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🌺⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌺⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌺 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#travelandluxury #AustralianEscape #TravelReimagined #AustralianHoliday #ExploreAustralia #Staycation #HolidayHereThisYear #writersretreat #writingretreat #writeyourjourney #followyourbliss #tourismqueensland #thisisqueensland #discoverqueensland #explorequeensland #fnq

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43 8

“The question is not what you look at, but what you see.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
― Henry David Thoreau ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Here's the writing prompt from my latest newsletter. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Look at something in front of you that is familiar. Your chipped coffee mug, the view from your window, the painting on the wall, your dog's pleading eyes...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Set your timer for 10 minutes and write about what you really see.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Write without stopping to think and edit. Allow the answer to come straight from your core, not from you mind. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Have fun! It's an exercise in beginner's mind. Always a good idea to train yourself to see the world through fresh eyes.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What comes up for you when you change the filter you hold up to the world?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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_________⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you are able to travel to Far North Queensland, consider joining me on retreat November 18-22, 2021. Last minute special now available for single room. #linkinbio⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🌺⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌺⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌺 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#writersretreat #writingretreat #creativetime #writeyourjourney #transformationalretreat #retreat #retreatlife #wellnessretreat #followyourbliss #gratitude #journaling #missionbeachqld #tourismqueensland #thisisqueensland #discoverqueensland #explorequeensland #tropicalmissionbeach #castawaysmissionbeach #fnq #cairns #CTWF #cairnstropicalwritersfestival

writeyourjourney

48 4

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
—Henry David Thoreau⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I've been a bit quiet on social media because I retreated to the proverbial woods for a bit.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Well, not literally. I hid in my granny flat and embarked on an eleven-day solo writing retreat. It involved minimal contact with the outside world, very little social media, plenty of sleep, plenty of nature walks and lots and lots of writing (and some fine dark chocolate and mini Magnum ice creams). And guess what happened? I finished a solid draft of my book! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I've learned so much from designing my DIY solo writing retreat, I've written a blog post about it. #linkinbio⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For me the key to a successful solo writers retreat is balancing structure and clear goals with downtime and self-care. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Most of my book wasn't written when sitting down in front of the keyboard. The bulk of the 'writing' happens when you ponder how it all hangs together, when you let it percolate and rattle around in your head (and heart) during the breaks.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For your DIY retreat to be successful, you need structure and daily goals. Read my new blog post to find out my best tips for creating your own self-led writing retreat. #linkinbio⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What does your ideal solo writing retreat look like?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I have one spot left on my November retreat (18-22). Last minute discount applies.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🌴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌴 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#writersretreat #writingretreat #writeyourjourney #transformationalretreat #retreat #retreatlife #wellnessretreat #followyourbliss #soundhealing #missionbeachqld #tourismqueensland #thisisqueensland #discoverqueensland #explorequeensland #tropicalmissionbeach #castawaysmissionbeach #fnq #cairns

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writeyourjourney

37 1

Beautiful Far North Queensland, I couldn't resist this shot at the end of our first camping trip this year at Milla Milla Falls. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We'd planned to spend a couple of months camping. We were headed to the Australian outback, but then life happened and our plans changed and now it's too hot for he desert, but there is so much to explore here in our backyard. This is just one of many waterfalls in our local area.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The upside of being stuck at home is that I've finished a solid draft of my book and I've even dared to open chapter one again and I am on to chapter two already...It's a different kind of journey, but just as rewarding.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What's something unexpected that happened to your during the pandemic?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🌴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🌴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#fnq #explorefnq #amwriting #writeyourjourney #writingretreat

writeyourjourney

56 7

Australian international borders re-opened today, but I don't think I'll be on an international flight any time soon. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Being stranded here has made me fall in love again with Far North Queensland. I'd forgotten that it can look like Bali or Sri Lanka, and yet it's right here on my doorstop.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Want join me here for a 5-day writing holiday?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Due to closed domestic borders, I have now one spot left.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
November 18-22, 2021. Last-minute discount applies.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If interested, dm me for details. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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How crazy is it that our internal borders remain closed, whilst international borders have re-opened?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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But the up-side is, I've rediscovered my own backyard. Visited Hudson Island in the tinnie last weekend. It really does look this great! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🌴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#fnq #explorefnq #writingretreat #missionbeach #writeyourjourney #writersofinstagram

writeyourjourney

72 20

It's been a while since I've shown my face here or posted anything. It wasn't for lack of photo opportunities—the weather has been picture-perfect the last month—it's because I've stayed away from social media to finish my memoir Falling Apart Gracefully.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I've written the words The End under a solid draft and I've just shared my revised first chapter with my trusted beta readers.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It'll be a few months yet before I send it off to my editor, but it's really coming together now. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I have learned so much from this process, it deserves a separate blog post. For anyone writing a book, whether it's a narrative non-fiction, like my memoir, or a work of fiction, my number one piece of advice is this: allow yourself to write that messy first draft, or the vomit draft as @mroachsmith calls it in her excellent book The Memoir Project. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Write it all the way to the end. Some writing teachers even suggest to write your ideal ending first. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Once you have the end, everything else will fall into place so much more easily. It will help you hone and define your story arc. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And once you have a first draft, no matter how messy, it will be so much easier to get through the second draft. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I knew all of this in theory before I started, but I didn't heed the expert advice and spent way too much time polishing the first act. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Get through your first draft, that shitty, vomit draft, take a deep breath, turn to another project. Go back to it after a month or two, when you can bear to look at it again through fresh eyes. Trust me, if I had done that, I would already be pitching my book by now. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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But it's all part of the learning. What's something you knew already but had to learn the hard way? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🌴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#memoir #writeyourjourney #amwriting #writersofinstagram #writingretreat

writeyourjourney

59 2

This quote makes for a great writing prompt.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I have been thinking about the shadows in our lives, including the shadow career many of us are in, me included. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For years I was trying to find a way out of academia. It takes courage to let go of a tenured university position, but it just wasn't me anymore once I'd put myself back together after falling apart. The big life events can totally throw us off track. I wanted to become someone new. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It's a process. I ended up creating another shadow career for myself. I went from teaching literature at university, to becoming a copywriter, then a travel writer and blogger, to creating my own business and teaching the tools of the craft in workshops and on retreats. I stayed safely in my shadow career. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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As we step into the final quarter of 2021, I've made a promise with myself to step out of my shadow and to get my book finished and pitch-ready. I am ready to becone the writer I always wanted to be.⠀⠀⠀
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It'll still be a long way before it will hit the shelves (or find a publisher), but I am committed to leaving the shadow career behind.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What about you? Are you living in your shadow career? Are you stuck in your own shadow?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🌗⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌗 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#believeinyourself #motivation #inspire #believe #dontdoubt #personalgrowth #ownit #authorlife #amwriting #authorconfession #writingcommunity #amreading #writingprompt #writingtip, #writershelpingwriters #authorsofinstagram #writeyourjourney #writinggoals #writinglife #creativewriting #writeeveryday #writingchallenge #memoir #writeyourjourney

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Join me this weekend for a 90-minute live writing session via Zoom. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The topic this week is: Shadows⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Join me and a small and supportive group to explore this with journaling and creative writing prompts. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This is the final live writing session for 2021 as I need to prioritise my own book. In case you're wondering, I am getting there, and I've just made a firm commitment to myself to make finishing my current draft my utmost priority.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Whether you're working on a bigger project like me, whether you've always wanted to write but never dared to actually do it, or whether it's a wound you need to heal or a shadow you need to kick, join me this weekend for 90-minutes of focused, guided writing time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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To purchase your ticket, follow the #linkinbio.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🌗⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌗⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌗 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#writersgroup #AmWriting #creativity #writingprompt #writeyourjourney #writingcommunity #writinginspiration #writingcommunityofinstagram #writingmotivation #zoomwritingworkshop⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#writersretreat #writingretreat #creativetime #writeyourjourney #wellbeing #followyourbliss #journaling #heartcentred #innerjourney #missionbeach #selfcare

writeyourjourney

47 0

"Keep your face always toward the sun and the shadows will fall behind you." — Walt Whitman⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Our topic in this week's live writing session is SHADOWS inspired by the Jungian idea of shadow identities (and shadow careers).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If you can't join us, here is a writing prompt for you.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Using the Walt Whitman quote, explore the shadows in your life.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Are you living in your own shadow?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Are you stuck in a shadow career?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What shadows do you want to let fall behind you?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What will the sun feel like on your face once you step out of your shadow?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Lots of food for thought in these prompts. Be curious and investigate your own inner shadow as we approach the equinox when the sun is crossing the celestial equator.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Set your timer and go for 10 minutes without stopping.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Or join me this weeekend for our final 90-minute live writing session via Zoom. #linkinbio.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We meet Saturday 25 September at 6pm AEST (suits Europe & Asia) and Sunday 26 September at 9am AEST (suits North America where it will be the day before). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🌗⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌗⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌗 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#writersgroup #AmWriting #creativity #writingprompt #writeyourjourney #writingcommunity #writinginspiration #writingcommunityofinstagram #writingmotivation #zoomwritingworkshop⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#writersretreat #writingretreat #creativetime #writeyourjourney #wellbeing #followyourbliss #journaling #heartcentred #innerjourney #missionbeach #selfcare

writeyourjourney

55 6

Welcome to my living room and to my messy work space. I won't have access to this space for two months, as I've rented my house out to a filmcrew shooting a Netflix series in our lovely town.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I had all sorts of ambitious plans to go camping in the desert, but this being the year of cancelled plans, for now we are stalled and by the time we will be able to go camping it will be too hot in the desert. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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But it's all good. Australia is a big country, there will be other beautiful places to pitch a tent, and we are not in lockdown. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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More importantly, this year of cancelled plans has forced me to take a long, hard look at my priorities and goals (haven't we all...).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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After years of teaching the craft of writing, it's finally time to focus exclusively on getting my own book written and to get it pitch-perfect.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I've finally admitted to myself that for too long I have boxed myself into a shadow career of my own making. I've been teaching others to become writers, and I've failed to make enough time to become the writer I want to be.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So this weekend I am offering a final 90-minute live writing session for 2021. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We will harness the energy of the equinox to explore our own shadows. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Will you join me to create some serious writing mojo this weekend? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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To join, buy your ticket at the cost of a yoga class. #linkinbio⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What will you do this weekend?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#writersgroup #AmWriting #creativity #writingprompt #writeyourjourney #writingcommunity #writinginspiration #writingcommunityofinstagram #writingmotivation #zoomwritingworkshop⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#writersretreat #writingretreat #creativetime #writeyourjourney #wellbeing #followyourbliss #journaling #heartcentred #innerjourney #missionbeach #selfcare

writeyourjourney

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“Superficial to understand the journal as just a receptacle for one’s private, secret thoughts—like a confidante who is deaf, dumb, and illiterate. In the journal I do not just express myself more openly than I could do to any person; I create myself.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
—Susan Sontag⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I have been a bit quiet on here lately as I had to take a little break from social media to get to the final chapter of my memoir Falling Apart Gracefully.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I can't wait to write the words 'the end' though that's hardly the end for me, as it simply means going back to page one and re-shaping the first half of the book.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Writing a book is a marathon not a sprint. But not all writing has to be a long distance race. The best advice I ever got when I started to seriously write my memoir, was to break it down into scenes and then to sit down and write a scene, not the entire book.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Another way to keep writing regularly minus the agony of a deadline is to write a journal. Or join me this weekend for our 90 minute live writing session via Zoom. We meet Saturday 28th of August @6pm (suits Europe) and Sunday @9am (suits North America where it will be the day before) Australian Eastern Standard Time.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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PS: that's the view from my writing desk this week (taking full advantage of the house before I move into the granny flat next week and Airbnb guests move into my house). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What's your view today?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#writersgroup #AmWriting #creativity #writingprompt #writeyourjourney #writingcommunity #writinginspiration #writingcommunityofinstagram #writingmotivation #zoomwritingworkshop⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#writersretreat #writingretreat #meditation#creativetime #writeyourjourney #followyourbliss #gratitude #journaling #heartcentred #innerjourney #fnq #missionbeach #cairns #farnorthqueensland #tropicalfarnorthqueensland #selfcare #missionbeach #queensland #australia

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