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Today, you will write.
Today’s newsletter has been created by the incredibly talented author Lizzy Madrigal.
Find her on Substack here, and instagram here.
Today you will write with peace as your companion. Prepare your space, block out the noise from the world, and extend your hand to greet her. Oftentimes it’s so easy to get lost in routine of life and feel the pressure to prioritize everything other than creativity. Or, if you have the space to create, perfectionism may come in and convince us that if we are to spend time on our art, then we better make it “worth it.” But that is all just noise.
Write without limitation. Write without end goals. Whether that means you get a few words down, or a few thousand, remind yourself that whatever flows is enough, so long it flows. Inviting peace into our writing practice allows us to tap into the fullness of our creativity. Life will always bring in chaos, and it’s up to us to be able to learn how to quiet that chaos. Some days the chaos may be louder, but all that means is that you invite peace to join you all the more.
— Lizzy Madrigal
See you tomorrow x
— Loren @ Paperbacks & Co.
Day 4 Writing Prompts
Journaling Q – What are some mental barriers to writing that you encounter? How can you integrate a practice of mindfulness into your writing? Can you incorporate one thing today?
Fiction Prompt – You have been granted the ability to hear the thoughts of one person of your choosing. Who’s your pick?
Poetry Prompt – Write a poem that includes the ebb and flow of water.
Use the artwork at the beginning of this newsletter as a visual prompt to inspire some writing – whether a personal essay, or fictional short story, or poem…
An Interview with Author Lizzy Madrigal
What traits are necessary for a writer to succeed?
I’ve come to discover that building a diligent writing practice is a mental game. For the longest time, I delayed my writing journey because I couldn’t figure out what kind of writer I wanted to be, rather than just observing the type of writer that I am. I stopped worrying about how I wanted to label myself and instead checked all the boxes that were most applicable to what flows naturally. I write fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, so I think a necessary trait for writers is investing the time to know yourself so that your writing can reflect that.
What is your favorite part about writing the genre that you do?
With YA fiction, my favorite part of writing is worldbuilding. There’s something about taking certain elements of life as we know it and giving it a twist that matches the character and the problem they are trying to resolve. While the YA fantasy genre certainly has its “rules,” there is also the possibility of bending or breaking those rules to your heart’s content.
What’s a favorite writing mantra or inspirational quote you’d like to share?
“Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands resistance.” If you haven’t read Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art, I highly recommend it!
🥳 Celebrating Our Wins 🎉
Did you get some writing done today? Why not share your progress in the comments?!
Link to your blog post, share your word count, or even just jump in with a little text celebration…
Know a writer who could benefit from a little extra motivation? Why not gift them £5 membership here?