All Change at The Writing Shed Part II

In September I made some fairly fundamental changes to this Substack space, and now I’m moving it up a gear. This bunch go much deeper than anything else and represent an almost 180 degree turn from where I thought I was heading.

Earlier this month, I had a revelation of sorts. Ill and feeling sorry for myself I woke up with the word ‘hyperstimulated’ reverberating through my head. Throughout that day and the following weeks it’s haunted me like an ear worm, catching me unawares every so often as I notice the feelings in my body.

As soon as it had arrived I realised that’s what I was, hyperstimulated with no respite from the onslaught of information and data that was coming at me day in day out. The word perfectly framed the buzzing, stressful emotions coursing through my bloodstream at every hour of the day and night. I was caught up in the drama of a life lived online, one that implied that the life I was actually living wasn’t real.

I don’t know if you’ve ever had any of those moments where it just becomes obvious what you need to do; there’s no need to ponder the if’s but’s and maybe’s of a course of action, you know what to do and so you do it.

That happened to me.

• It was obvious I needed to turn off my mobile phone for extended periods of time.

• It was obvious I needed to unsubscribe from almost all newsletters I was receiving.

• It was obvious I needed to stop bingeing on YouTube videos in an attempt to tell and thus prepare for a future that is unknowable.

• It was obvious I needed to stop the digital onslaught.

So, I turned off my phone after messaging my sister to ask her to use the landline if she needed to get me. It was not turned on again for almost a week.

On my laptop, I removed all my bookmarks and unsubscribed from 99% of the email newsletters I had signed up to. After replying to the few emails that required a response I turned the laptop off; it remained off for almost a week.

And I closed the only social media account I had left other than this one.

What it showed me was I didn’t miss any of it. I was quite happy living a real life instead of a digital one. It also gave me time to reflect on what I really wanted to do with my writing life, and it turned out it wasn’t writing about book marketing or how to live a writing life because I no longer believed the narrative I’d been perpetuating.

So, where does that leave me and The Writing Shed?

1. I have decided to close The Creative Hub. The posts and workshop videos remain in the archive for anyone who has a paid subscription. This weeks ‘ask me anythinbg Q&A’ will be the final event.

2. I will continue my weekly writing prompts. I enjoy the creative challenge and love the conversation that takes place here and by email. However, they may become more esoteric in nature so be warned!

3. Digital Wisdom is becoming a ‘thing’. A post thing, a workshop thing and a book thing. Instead of it being a how to guide, it will be more creative non-fiction focused on my own experiences of coming to adulthood in a digital world. I hope you’ll find the writing interesting, but appreciate it won’t be for everyone as I’m deeply sceptical of the way things are turning out in the online world. BTW: I’m running a half day workshop in person here in Dorset next month and you can find out more information on my website.

4. Words and language are important to me. Being able to speak freely is liberating for everyone and so I’ll be speaking more freely about all the topics I’m interested in, these are many and varied but are loosely organised around living a healther, happier, more fulfilled life. Sure you can interpret those particular words in any way you want and it may be that my interpretations seem a little stretched at times, but my aim is to help not hinder.

5. Finally, there’s a ‘watch this space’ feeling in the air around here. Anything could happen next!

The Index Page lists all the topic areas I have posted about thus far, so if you are still interested in book marketing, living a writing life or even health and wellbeing you’ll find links to the relevant posts there if you are paid subscriber.

Finally, there are many helpful resources for writers online and some Substack favourites are listed here:

1. For those who are new to writing on Substack I’d recommend Claire Venus and Creatively Conscious. Claire’s hints and tips about how to use Substack are awesome.

2. Alison Acheson’s Unschool for Writers was another gem I happened across which I’m sure you’ll find interesting and helpful.

3. The Writing Haven created by Christine Wolf shares some fantastic ideas on how to expand your writing life into other areas.

4. Join the slow writing movement with Amanda Saint at The Mindful Writer. She is a creative writing teacher with a passion for the right words.

5. If you want advice about getting an agent then check out Kate McKean’s Agents and Books - her advice, suggestions, hints and tips are literally priceless.

I hope you’ll hang around, I really don’t know what will happen next but I’m looking forward to explore a brand new writing landscape.

With love, light and laughter
Linda
:-)

PS: And I haven’t been on YouTube since the end of September!