5 TAKE HOME TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED ANYWHERE ON YOUR JOURNEY HOME

Starting a series on "Starting Over Again, or Coming Back to Yourself and Your Writing"

(Next several episodes will have this flavor because I think we all get lost sometimes and struggle to get back to the page, get back to ourselves. I'm been struggling with this for a couple of years (I'm not going to lie and Instagram filter for you) and with my long journey to Costa Rica via car and my one-month anniversary of living in Costa Rica, I thought today would be a great day to talk about AND to revisit this struggle. I want to use my new location, my hero's journey road trip, and the new moon to ritualize this Starting Over Again, With Purpose. And so it is.

PATREON:

Thank you to my existing patrons for believing in my work offline and here in the podcast. I've just revamped my Patreon Page. I'm so so so pleased with it and proud of my work in simplifying it. Too many pay walls and exclusions. Now it is fresh and easy.

If you are a patron, in either tier, you get all my content, always. You can support me and my dreams and my writing and my aligned author life for $11.11 USD, and I will be so so grateful. Truly. Heart to heart. Gratitude for your gifts.

If you want coaching too (with TWO LIVE CALLS EACH MONTH, you can BACK me at $55.55/mo USD). You will NEVER find coaching sessions for less money than this. If you've ever wanted continued support for your writing and accountability for your projects, this is the way to do it.

Become a patron of the arts and of me at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. And you can support my friend and colleague and Resident Ghostwriter and Friend of the Podcast author Erick Mertz at Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. He's a really great writer.

Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates):

• settling in to rental home with a view
• thinking about lifestyle vlogging about Costa Rican life
• fired up with new content ideas
• written a couple of essays (published one on my Patreon page) (can access it for free using the free trial option on Patreon page.)
• What are you reading?

• Valerie: a cozy fantasy called the crescent moon tearoom by Stacy sivinski
• Wild Dark Shore (Charlotte McConaghy)
• We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Make Something (Amie McNee) (resource tip)***
• Creative Act (Rick Rubin)

Segment 3 (Main Topic):

Notes:

• let yourself be imperfect
• let yourself be uncomfortable (bored, annoyed, fearful)
• let there not be rules (write for the one, write for you)
• Let yourself feel inspired (explore what that is for you: nature walk, fresh air, meditation, feeling good in your body)
• start small (short timed blocks, write one phrase)

#puravidabound

And don't forget:

Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan

Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor

Patreons:

https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries

Tools:

ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

• Erick is stepping away for some time. His mom just got diagnosed with cancer, so he wants to spend more time and bandwidth on her. And I'm moving to Costa Rica this month! In 2 1/2 weeks, so it is cray-cray over here.

Fresh new episodes will arrive in February (with a little bit of a revamp) and a special series on getting back to your writing or creative practice after grief, loss, addiction, or big life stress, but do look for some bonus episodes from the road.

• Went to Breitenbush, Portland (Powell's), Seattle, Write in the Harbor writing conference in Gig Harbor, WA (*heart*), sold a car, rented the house, cancelling services, buying foreign auto insurance, washing ten years of dirt off of all the things we stored outside, tricking out the FJ Cruiser for the drive, buying special dog beds and storage for the vehicle, inspection and minor repairs today. Movers on Monday. Cleaners on Thursday. Walk on bark and blinds for upstairs, too. Saying Goodbyes.
• crossing the border at Tijuana, driving thru Baja California, taking ferry to Mazatlan; spending some time in Oaxaca with a friend

• What are you reading?

• Wild Dark Shore (Charlotte McConaghy)
• We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Make Something (Amie McNee) (resource tip)***
• Creative Act (Rick Rubin)
• (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman;

Segment 3 (Main Topic):

Notes:

Follow my drive to Costa Rica on Instagram! #puravidabound

And don't forget:

Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.

• (Valerie): launching my four-month book coaching container Aligned Author TODAY. The price is drastically cut this week (it's $667 off the regular price, and for 24 hours only starting now, the paid in full price -- with an extra whole month of coaching for free and ANOTHER LIVE discount on top-- is $1333 for FIVE months of coaching. The price will never be this low again. There is also a monthly payment option. Go to valerieihsan.com/alignedauthor for all the details. The replay to last night's masterclass The Alchemy of Memory is up for another 24 hours, and then it goes away, along with the LIVE Launch price.
• Aligned Author officially starts on Wednesday, October 22nd, so the special Launch price will be in affect only until then.
• Secret podcast is in the works (it's actually a secret memoir). Working on two at the same time (in true Generator, Aries, Futurist fashion): Pura Vida Bound project chronicling our move to Costa Rica (never written a live memoir before), and this secret one that I'm not ready to talk about.
• getting rid of furniture and starting to paint inside this week; Ali's been working on touching up the paint outside and painting the fascia boards for under the new gutters. Hired the shipping company, our shipping pickup date is December 15 (a Monday), and then we'll leave after that.
• Getting ready for our going away party, doubling as Rental Ready date.
• Write in the Harbor conference is coming up (still need to rental a place for that!)
• (Erick):
• What are you reading?

• Valerie:
• Just finished:
• Sounds Like Love (Ashley Poston)
• Creative Act (Rick Rubin)
• (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman;
• Erick: Voice of the Fire (Alan Moore)
• Lost in the Dark (Brad Weismann) Gettysburg: The Last Invasion
• Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits):

• Tidbit #1:
• Tidbit #2:

Segment 3 (Main Topic):

Notes:

And don't forget:

Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.

Get 48% off the Magic Mind :

https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout.

#magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance

Find Us:

Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.)

Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor

Patreons:

https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries

Tools:

ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)