… plus two years and a wee bit. I’ve been holding my breath, holding my words — at least here — anticipating that the right thing to write would come to me, that I would know when the right time had arrived to write about writing again. When I finally finished my latest novel. When that novel went on submission. When that submission resulted in a publishing contract. When that novel was published. When none of these happened and I gave up seeking publication to start a botanicals enterprise with my partner.
Some of these things have happened. Some of them haven’t. Some may yet.
And all along I’ve had this running conversation with you, sharing with you the ups and downs of my writing life and ma vie quotidienne, and hoping to hear something of yours. I abandoned my WordPress blog two years ago because blogging felt so 2010 and I gave up on the MailChimp newsletter because that felt too much like marketing, which I’m crap at. I haven’t been on Facebook in over three years and I’m hanging onto Twitter X only because … I’m not certain why, really. I still post pretty pictures to Instagram (@juliechristine_pnw). Our garden rocks. (As in, it’s an amazing garden. Not, I share photos of the rocks in our garden. Which I do, actually, because Andrew built rock walls last summer that are pretty incredible. Mostly though it’s flowers and the latest harvest). But I miss writing about writing and books. I miss hearing from writers and readers. So it’s time. It’s time to open to heart and brain to conversation.
I’m reentering the teaching about writing world in a few weeks, leading a 6-week novel writing workshop this fall. In preparing my lesson plans, I get so excited about the act of generating stories. Of working with other writers who need a bit of a nudge of confidence, encouragement, faith, and joy. Not a nudge to publish or to develop a platform, but to write for the sheer joy of it.
That’s why I’m here writing to, and with, you.
So, hello again. Welcome to the conversation. I’ll be appearing in your inbox every few weeks as I get my mojo back and carve out time to check in with you, usually with a glass of wine on a late Sunday afternoon. I have so much to share with you about what’s been happening in my writing life — the novels written since The Crows of Beara was published in 2017, what it’s been like to write through divorce, a failed, abusive relationship, new love, the pandemic, a few career changes, a house, new pets (and weeping over those lost). So much. SO MUCH.
The thread that flows through them all? The work. The words. The stories.
What’s your story, Morning Glory? Where have you been? Where have your words taken you? What have you read that’s moved you to tears, to laughter, to deep thought or deeper hungers?
Let’s write. Let’s read. Together.
Welcome back! Life does sometimes get in the way of what we want to be doing, but I always think those times have lessons for us. And probably lots of things for you to use in your writing. Here's to lots of writing ahead!
I so look forward to your writing about writing and the writing life, Julie. I've missed it! I've also missed your pretty PNW pics since I've been off Instagram. My husband and I visited Olympic NP last summer and made a stop in Port Townsend with friends...WOW. A beautiful and special place.