Victoria

I spent a couple of beautiful days in the North Carolina mountains, writing, reading, and hiking.

My biggest breakthrough didn’t happen at my computer, where I have been trying to fast-draft my next manuscript. It occurred in the woods when the steep incline of the trail stopped me in my tracks. I felt discouraged by how far ahead my husband was and considered turning back until I recognized the emotion.

I often felt this way while scrolling through my Instagram feed and seeing all the accomplishments of authors I admire. It was the reason why I was on a social media detox. I needed to stop worrying about what everyone else was doing and focus on what I could control: myself.

I resumed my hike, zeroing in on the birds’ songs and soaking in the sunlight streaming through the trees. I walked at my own pace, even when my husband teased me that we needed to check out in the morning. 😏

When we returned to the lodge, I took out my camera and slowed down even more, sitting in the dirt next to a snail eating a flower for I don’t know how long. By the time I stood, my shorts were damp from the rain soaked ground and my leg muscles ached from the hike, but my heart was full.

I took the rest of the day to enjoy my book. Lady Tremaine by @hochhauser is a modern twist on a timeless fairytale.

The next morning, I resumed my writing. I wish I could report that my words flowed freely. But they didn’t. Sentences and paragraphs appeared but slowly, like the snail across the leaf.

And that’s okay. Because the belief that writing comes easy to those who are “talented” is an outdated fairytale in need of revision. The truth is books take shape when writers are patient and persistent.

And that takes time.

#writinglife
#iamwriting
#morningpages
#writingretreat
#reesewitherspoonbookclub