Am I writing a book? Not yet- but I’d love to one day!

I’ve been asked this question a few times recently as I’ve shared little tidbits about taking a creative non-fiction writing course this spring.

I signed-up for the 9 week class at The Writing Salon, the cutest little one room studio nestled in between the colorful stucco homes in the quiet Richmond District of San Francisco. It has a big red awning and inside sit a few square tables and a station for hot tea and oranges. 

On a whim, I googled writing classes one Saturday in January. The next evening, I found myself sitting in an IKEA chair, sipping ginger tea. I didn’t have time to overthink it. Who takes a class like this anyway? I hadn’t taken an in person class since college!

I’m glad I didn’t let any of that stop me, it was one of the most expansive experiences I’ve had in a long time! Nothing will ever beat real people in real life.

My cohort was a group of 6 women, one worked at the local library, another was an English teacher at a high school and a few worked in tech. The teacher had been there for many years and was so passionate about not only teaching but sharing her process and experiences as a writer herself. We all learned so much from her and each other.

At the kickoff class, we each set intentions for what we wanted to get out of the course. My word was commitment. I wanted to stay committed to a weekly writing practice- Tuesday mornings from 8 to 11am- in order to understand my communication style better. Instead of quitting when things didn’t flow how I wanted them to, I stayed with the tension. 

At the beginning of every class, we’d start with a teaching and exercise around the craft of writing like character development, plot and revision. We’d get a chance to do some writing too. Then we’d take a break and resume with a workshop, where a few people could share a piece that they’d recently written and receive live feedback.

I didn’t realize how much I needed to be witnessed as a writer; how powerful it is to be seen, mirrored, and challenged with kindness. Writing is an act of courage, especially non-fiction which is so vulnerable because we are sharing about our lived experiences, thoughts and feelings.

One time I shared about my journey as an entrepreneur and all the highs and lows I’ve been through over the past 13 years. A topic I could talk about in my sleep. Another time I shared about my dating journey, the 5 pivotal relationships I’ve had over the past 25 years and what it’s taught me about love as a single woman entering her 40s. It’s so simple. Real love, always leads you home to yourself. I didn’t publish this one on my website, it was just for me which was refreshing.

Staying committed to the process made me realize that I had a tendency to try too hard to write and teach concepts. I’d overcomplicate things and make myself confused, which really zapped the original zest. Things naturally flow better when I allow myself to have fun and share rather than teach and market my businesses. So that’s what I’m going to spend the next couple months focused on and then perhaps I’ll be back in the fall for another class.

The teacher also talked a lot about writing into big questions and the one I’ve dedicated my life to exploring is how do we create abundant lives for ourselves? One that feels rich in experience, meaning and flow. How can we trust that what we authentically desire is out there for us to receive?

That’s what I’ll probably write a book on someday. For now, I’m experimenting with living the questions and trusting that alignment and ease will reveal the answers in due time.