Writing retreat revelations

I just spent much of an entire day alone, writing in a hotel room. Having joined Epic Husband on his business trip, I thought this was a great opportunity to devote dedicated time and energy to creating a new Substack post after a very long time away.

And now at the end of the day, I’m starting over, writing something entirely different and new.

All that effort, so many words written, yet I can’t publish it.

So, we begin again tonight, right now.

I miss the days when an idea would pop into my brain and I could sit down and start typing and it would all land on the page easily. After just a few hours (not days and days, as it is now) eventually I’d get that good gut feeling as it came together exactly as I intended. It seemed quite effortless overall.

Writing hasn’t felt like that for years. I only write my Fitness Corner column every other month. It’s been too long since I showed up here. For someone who optimistically named her Substack “Infinite Capability” I do not feel infinitely capable of posting anything!

Hence, this brilliant idea to retreat and write . . .

It’s not that I stopped writing. The “zings”—what I call the writing ideas that pop into my brain—come to me consistently and a desire to create is there. Plus, I still enjoy the Zen of sitting down and crafting something out of thin air, I love the feel of a keyboard under my fingers, and in fact I have written quite a lot in the last couple of months as I explore various ways to break out of this lack of mojo.

So, is it writer’s block? Or is it publishing block?

You can see my dilemma.

I miss y’all! I miss a sense of purpose in creating something. I miss the sense of connection. I miss your responses. I miss putting a tangible piece of completed writing out there, expecting something from myself and delivering it. I miss being a part of something.

So, when this finally makes it into your inbox, it will be tremendous! Hopefully for you too, right?

I know if I post it, more will come. I’m a creature of process . . . one step at a time.

Check into a hotel. Write. I think I need to add “Publish.”

And since you’re reading this, that’s exactly what I have done!

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Pri’s Preferences

Reads—
the mindful path to self-compassion by Christopher K. Germer
My third attempt in as many years to get into this potentially life-changing book. Reading it is easy. Putting the techniques into practice is where my work lies.

Writes—
”Habit interrupted? Prepare to restart your disrupted routine” by Pritam Potts
One of last year’s Fitness Corner columns, this is a timely reminder from myself as I work toward a consistent, long-term and reliable writing (and publishing!) routine.

Eats—
English Afternoon Tea in New Orleans (a Birthday Celebration)
Yes please, High Tea. Le Salon offers a vast menu of tea choices and the Vanilla Black Tea I chose was delicious. But it’s always about the Clotted Cream and Scones!

Likes—
This recent post by Shira Gill really resonated . . . I love the idea of simplifying by incorporating a “signature everything” into my signature life!