Writing Your Way Home

the trick of finding what you didn’t lose
(existing’s tricky: but to live’s a gift)
the teachable imposture of always
arriving at the place you never left…
~ e.e. cummings

Looking for the Words to Leave, and Arrive

I’ve been trying to write this post for more than a long time now, but I couldn’t quite find the words, or the frame, or the suredness that it was the right thing to do and to write.

I’d been thinking a lot about writing voice, and what you need to do when you find it (use it: yes, of course).

And I’d been wondering if having found what feels like my writing voice (which comes out half the time in images, and fragments of poetry, and is strewn with flower petals, at least I hope it is ) meant that it was time to stop splitting my attention and simply: use it.

And I’d been trying to write something about reasons it was time for me to stop blogging here because I’d found my writing voice, and I needed to head off and yes, use it.

But the post wouldn’t come and the words wouldn’t flow.  I couldn’t quite find the key that would allow me to write this post (after some 764 other posts, 27 categories, 66 tags, and 10, 303 comments).

It’s Not Voice that Really Matters, But What You Write About

Then I realised, suddenly, although with one of those realisations so obvious you must have known it all along, that it is not voice that is the end of our searching at all: voice is rather a means to an end of finding other things that we want to find, and come home to.

And I realised, finally, that I have written myself into a different home.

One that is full of images as well as words, and one that is rooted in content (the most rooted content I can think of, learning from connection with the earth).

And I realised, with one of those delicious ahas that arrive oh so rarely (but are so good when they arrive):

that I need now to be writing and blogging about content, rather than process or practice.

The End of a Chapter

Which means it is time for me to bring this chapter of Confident Writing round to its close (which is of course, a beginning, and the start of something new, emerging).

I’m glad that the archive is sorted and updated (yes, of course, that was part of the reason I took the time to do it), because it makes it a lot easier now to say there’s a cap on new material coming out, and the site can change from one which is streamed, and constantly updated, to (I hope) a library of resources for those who want to start a writing practice, or drop the apologies from their writing, or get unstuck when they’re stuck in the middle of blogging.

The other things, the bits that can’t get archived, tagged, categorised or interlinked…

Well, the ideas, the learning, the reflections… I get to carry all of that with me (you can too, if you like)

The other things again, the really important stuff: the interwoven words, the stories shared, the sense of connection, the learning through writing… all of that endures, and goes with us.

And the working together bits, the support networks and the friendships: all of that goes with me, yes, all of it, of course, all of it, yes.

Thank You

I couldn’t close this looong chapter without some words of thank you:

To all of you who have read, followed, linked, liked, subscribed, and borne with me through a creative journey into voice finding, and what happens when you commit to writing practice

To everyone who has commented: your words were always what made this place special and meaningful for me, and I am deeply grateful to the relationships and friendships that have been forged on the back of it

To those of you who helped me with design work at different stages of the incarnation of Confident Writing: a huge thanks, especially to Cat

I’d also like to say a particular thanks to Robert Hruzek, Brad Shorr, and Karen Swim whose words, good humour, friendship and kindness are inexorably woven into the mood and spirit of this site.

Where You’ll Find me

If you wish to follow me on the next step of the journey, I will be writing, thinking aloud, sharing poetry fragments and photographs of moments of everyday wonder, found, primarily in the natural world, at:

The Art of Everyday Wonder

You can get the RSS feed here, or the email version here.

You’ll also find me at least several times a week on Twitter, @joannapaterson

If you know what you want is simply writing tips and advice: please do continue to delve into the archives here, and have fun exploring the world of writing blogs on the internet - there is so much good stuff out there, there’s no need to go hungry.

And Finally

It’s funny, I always thought I’d get a bit teary when I got to this end point but I don’t actually feel sad at all.

I feel ready, and happy to be working in a way that I know that really suits me, on content and material that is dear to my heart, and that pulls me ever closer to a sense of:

home.

Please know that I send good wishes to you on your writing journey, wherever it might take you - not necessarily a grand adventure or rip-roaring block-busting success, but simply what this site has always been about, for me:

the confidence to express quiet truths, and share them.