One sentence from this conversation with Lynsey has stayed with me:
I never once had writer’s block. I always had a block on my time.
I think that’s a distinction many of us need to hear.
So often we tell ourselves we’re blocked, when in reality we’re trying to make creative work fit around jobs, families, caring responsibilities and the ordinary demands of life.
Lynsey McDonnell knows exactly what that’s feels like.
As a full-time CFO and mother of two teenagers, she wrote her debut novel, Bailey Street, in the spaces between everything else. Rather than following a rigid writing routine, she learned to trust the way her creativity worked. A few days away on a writing retreat could generate enough creative energy to carry her through weeks of busy life, and she came to recognise that when a story was ready, it found its way onto the page.
In this conversation we explore:
Why Lynsey believes writer’s block is often really a lack of time
The writing retreats that produced almost half of her novel
Spending two years researching and learning the craft before writing chapter one
The notebook scene that arrived fully formed years before the novel was written
The moment she realised she was telling the wrong character’s story
Why ‘home’ quietly became the theme connecting both of her novels
What she’s learned about trusting her creative process
If you’re trying to write around a full life, wondering whether your process is ‘the right way’, or simply needing reassurance that stories don’t have to be written quickly to matter, I think you’ll really enjoy this conversation.
I spend a lot of time talking with writers who worry they aren’t disciplined enough because they can’t write every day. Lynsey is a good reminder that creative practice doesn’t have to look the same for everyone.
For her, two writing retreats each year generate enough momentum to carry the story through months of ordinary life.
So often we dismiss the way we naturally work because it doesn’t resemble someone else’s routine. We think we’re not writing enough or that we don’t have enough time. What if we reframed that to whether we’ve created the right conditions for our creative work?
Until next time, keep building your own creative momentum.
x Meg
This podcast is a labour of love, and I’m grateful to be able to create these conversations for writers and other creatives. If this episode gave you something to think about, encouraged your own creative practice, or simply made your day a little brighter, you're welcome to support the podcast with a one-off tip. Every contribution helps me keep these conversations coming, without adding another subscription to your life.
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Want to revisit something Lynsey said or read the conversation at your own pace?
Read the full interview on my website
I’m always looking to feature Australian creatives from all disciplines, including writers, artists, performers, jewellers, dancers, musicians, gardeners and makers.
If you’d like to share how and why you do your creative work, I’d love to hear from you.
A special thank you to Yvonne Morton for the beautiful music that accompanies each episode. You can find Yvonne on Bandcamp and Instagram.
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