Creative Writing Wizard

It’s all wrong…
By rights we shouldn’t even be here.
But we are.

It’s like in the great stories… The ones that really mattered.
Full of darkness and danger they were,
and sometimes you didn’t want to know the end.
Because how could the end be happy?
How could the world go back to the way it was
when so much bad happened?

But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow.
Even darkness must pass.

A new day will come.
And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer.

Those were the stories that stayed with you.
That meant something.
Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back,
only they didn’t.

Because they were holding on to something.

That there’s some good in this world…
And it’s worth fighting for.

– Samwise Gamgee –
The Lord of the Rings

I have been thinking on what I can do to speak to my fellow creatives and readers to bring a bit of light in what feels like a darkening time. And so I’d like to share around this concept which has held me through several dark times of my own.

I’ve also included an audio version of this post, as I want to make this post more accessible to my friends and fellow creatives who have visual disabilities.

Starting with a Dream

My hope in the future is driven by a dream, a dream where things are better for people than they are today. I’ve often pondered the ‘how’ of this question in my various career choices (from being a nurse, to a mechanic in the army, to a writing wizard on the internet).

I see that things are not as good as they could be for people, and I envision what it would be like if it was not this way.

For example, authors, who have spent hundreds of hours working their craft, share their works into the world only to find that they’re not quite able to reach as many people as they had hoped (sometimes no one at all). This can be disheartening.

I don’t believe that it needs to be this way. My dream for the last year and a half has been to see indie authors gain visibility of their books and to find readers who love their stories. Having read many of them over the last year, I also enjoyed learning about the authors behind the books. I want more people to enjoy these stories and for authors to feel seen, but how?

Hope in Action

If all I had was hope, then I’d be waiting for the universe to somehow cosmically change in the favor of these things. Instead, I believe in hope in action. There are outcomes I want to see happen in the world and there are things I can do that will help to make these things come about.

You may have read my previous post, Year of the Indie Author, where I went over the high level plans for the efforts I’ve been involved in. It’s part of what I’m doing to see the dream I have come to fruition. And it’s not only me! I’ve had the opportunity to meet with many other creatives and leaders in the community who are pushing initiatives of their own with a similar mindset. (Like Saffron and her author spotlight work with Indiosyncrasy and Booked, or Danika’s cozy Sweetbriar Memorial Library).

Each of us, believing for a different and better future, work in whatever ways we can to move us towards it.

Hold onto Hope

As I look back over history at global and large scale events, I see that darkness does not last forever. Inequality gives rise to a push for equality, imbalance of power leads to movements for change. The key component being that change arises when people stand up and do something about their situation.

It may take time, but I believe that things will turn for the better if we continue to work together in community and hold onto our hopes and dreams of what the future could be.

If you’re not sure where to start, consider joining one of the communities of those who are working for change. Plug yourself in somewhere and see what you can do to help. Even small actions over time, when combined with a sea of others, create waves within the community and the world.

For example, the Creative Writing Wizard community, which at it’s core is a place to gather supportive creatives in a safe place where we can support one another while we also looking outwards to see what we can do to help others. (If you’d like to join or if you’d like more info, DM me on Instagram or Twitter)

Indie Release Radar – February Books

Another easy way to help, is to support indie authors! Support can take many forms, even if you’re not able to buy their books in this moment. Taking a few moments to boost their signal on social media with a comment or share can help them reach more people!

For all those subscribed to this newsletter, there is also a monthly giveaway! So keep an eye on your emails for my outreach to contact you if you win! (available to US/Canadian residents and people over 18)

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.

Stay creative! And hold on to hope in action.