What does having a writing life mean to you?

To me, it means writing what I want to write, spending time with my family and connecting with my online writing community.

How can I help you create yours?

Getting past fear is easier said than done. I know it feels safer to let the rest of life and your responsibilities take precedence, but if you sit around waiting for the ‘perfect’ time to start writing, it’s never going to happen. Just. Simple. Facts.

I know it sucks to hear that, it sucks to tell you that, but it’s just so true.

I can actually remember the very first time I sat down to write.

I was about 12, flooded with raging hormones and super pissed at my parents (basically like most twelve-year-olds) but instead of acting out, I pulled out a pen and paper and put my feelings on the page.

I was hooked!

In college, I discovered that I loved teaching creative writing, almost as much as I loved the writing itself.  I went on to earn my MA in Creative Writing and Education from the City College of NY. I dreamed of spending my days writing, teaching, and exploring the world.

But then I got distracted by life.

I got married, moved into an apartment in Brooklyn and started my first real job as a web producer for MTV Online. While I loved what I did, it was an insanely stressful job and I found it nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find the time to write. Then, when my first daughter Lila was born, my writing ground to a halt.

I was tired, irritable, and super distracted, not exactly fertile ground for inspiration.  Plus, I worried that no one wanted to hear what I had to say anymore. I hated the question “What do you do?” and watching people’s eyes glaze over the second I uttered the words “I’m a stay-at-home-mom.” I felt like no one wanted ot hear what my stories and every area of my life took priority over my writing. As I lost sight of my goals and passion, my confidence nearly disappeared.

I wrote this in my journal when Lila was one year old:

If I keep going the way I’ve been going, I will never do the things I want to do. I will never travel. I will never write. I will never create what I want in my life. 


#TOUGHLOVE

I had plenty stories to tell, just like you do!
I just had to stop worrying and let go of doubt to find them.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN!

Ready to take the first step to your ideal writing life?

Click the button below, and I’ll send you lesson one of my four-part course to help you create a plan for your writing life so you can make it happen.

What have I been doing since my tough love moment?

JUNE 2007

We sold everything we owned and left Brooklyn to travel with no specific destination in mind. It’s not easy leaving everything you know, and yes, I was scared. Where would we end up? What would we do? What happens next? I had no idea!

For two years, we traveled through Europe, the United States, Canada, Panama and Costa Rica. I started blogging, upped my photography game and connected with the one travel blogging and writing communities. All of these connections laid the foundation for my writing, too.

JANUARY 2009

I love this photo of me and Lila in Buenos Aires. She’s so tiny! When the photo was taken, I had no idea that we’d one day call this beautiful country home.

My writing bloomed. I became editor of Matador Travel Network’s Life section and ran a team of 5 writers all living location independently. I pitched articles to magazines and was thrilled to have bylines in Washington Post, Vox, Longreads, Roads & Kingdoms and more. So exciting!

JANUARY 2011

We fell in love with the spectacular landscapes and tranquilo life in Salta and decided to stay. Meanwhile. I launched The Writer’s Process, an early version of The Inspired Writer Community, my creative writing mentorship program. What a thrill to watch as TWP members set goals to write and published and blasted through them faster than they imagined. I began thinking of ways to create a larger, more expansive community with more support and more resources.

JUNE 2014

What a year!!  Charlie was born, AND I launched the first Creative Revolution Writing Retreat in Costa Rica. The retreat sold out completely. Charlie started crawling that same week! Now he’s running. And the women who joined me for my retreat?  They’re finishing what they started that lovely week in the jungle and creating newer, bigger, hairier goals!

My work has been featured in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Guardian, The Establishment, Guernica, Mashable and many other publications.  I’ve published 2 books that I’m incredibly proud of and have taught at at Barnard College, CUNY, Yeshiva University, the Brooklyn Academy of Music plus countless other programs.

 

the-new-york-times  the-huffington-postguernica  Longreads Logo

Now I coach women 1:1 and at international writing retreats helping them finish their masterpieces and build professional writing careers! My book The Writer’s Roadmap encapsulates everything I’ve learned and taught over the past twenty years to help you create your writing plan and then make it happen in real life.

YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE THAT FIRST STEP!

Fear happens, but you’ll get past it. I want to tell you, without a doubt, you are strong, wonderful and creative. I want to show you why you can write and absolutely must share what you have to say with the world!

BUY MY BOOK

My book, The Writer’s Roadmap is based on 20 years of working with writers looking for their ideal writing lives. I walk you through four simple steps to create a plan for your writing life. Buy it now!

JOIN THE INSPIRED WRITER COMMUNITY

The Inspired Writer Community is my private online women writers network where you’ll find everything you need to support your writing dreams. Over the course of the year, we’ll post new monthly resources to help you feel more confident to plot your writing roadmap and speed your way to a fulfilling and fun writing career. Find out more and join us!

PLAN YOUR WRITING LIFE

Take this four-part course to create a clear plan for your writing life so you can make your plan a reality.  GET THE FIRST LESSON FREE!

WRITE WITH CONFIDENCE

Sign up for three powerful yet simple writing prompts to help you find your creative edge and write with confidence. Sign up here!

 

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