Greetings, book and treat people! This week’s issue would usually be for paying subscribers, but I’m sending it out to everyone instead. It’s been a rough year, for me, for a lot of people. I’ve been writing through it, week in, week out, because that’s what I do, what I’ve always done. I wrote the rough draft of the essay I was going to send out today a few weeks ago. Yesterday, when I settled in to edit it, I just…stopped. It wasn’t that I couldn’t do it. I could have. I could have wrangled it into the shape I’d envisioned. It might not have been the best essay I’ve ever written, but it would have been fine. I could have. I didn’t want to.
It's such a lovey way of framing and thinking about it. It's definitely helping me feel more open to the whole process of waiting and grieving and transforming.
Love this a lot — it's so true, and exactly how I'm feeling now as well. Tired, yes, but also tired of saying the same things I've already said, and feeling like a bit of rest will help my mind process, and I can come back when I'm ready to write more words. I loved your metaphors so much — they are perfect to what this period is like.
I'm glad the metaphors resonated! I'm feeling more and more adamant about fallow periods and rest periods as central to creative process—and trying hard to live by that!
I’ve been going through a similar time, and am finally remembering that I actually *like* writing. My therapist said it’s a season of rediscovering myself.
I hope you can take some time to rediscover yourself, in the way that fulfills you the most. 💕
Thanks, Ashley! I love that description of a fallow/hard period as a time of rediscovering yourself. And I'm so glad it's led to you remembering what you like about writing!
I’ve been calling this year my fallow period too--a space of grief and letting go and openness to transformation. 🩵
It's such a lovey way of framing and thinking about it. It's definitely helping me feel more open to the whole process of waiting and grieving and transforming.
Love this a lot — it's so true, and exactly how I'm feeling now as well. Tired, yes, but also tired of saying the same things I've already said, and feeling like a bit of rest will help my mind process, and I can come back when I'm ready to write more words. I loved your metaphors so much — they are perfect to what this period is like.
I'm glad the metaphors resonated! I'm feeling more and more adamant about fallow periods and rest periods as central to creative process—and trying hard to live by that!
You write about not writing so beautifully.
I’ve been going through a similar time, and am finally remembering that I actually *like* writing. My therapist said it’s a season of rediscovering myself.
I hope you can take some time to rediscover yourself, in the way that fulfills you the most. 💕
Thanks, Ashley! I love that description of a fallow/hard period as a time of rediscovering yourself. And I'm so glad it's led to you remembering what you like about writing!
I love your honesty, Laura -- I love it when people model being honest about the challenges they're going through.
Fallow periods are so hard. And they also end.
And whatever changes you make to Books & Bakes, your faithful subscribers are here for it, because they're also here for you ❤️
Thanks, Sarah! I always appreciate your honesty in your newsletter, too.
These words are beautiful and good. Thank you for taking us along on this journey whenever you can.
<3 <3 <3