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🎙️ Episode Summary:
In this special "Ask Beth & Lisa" episode of Writers With Wrinkles, Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid explore the emotional challenges of the current creative climate and share their personal writing origin stories to inspire struggling writers. With humor, heart, and a dash of wine, they offer a candid look at what first ignited their passion to write and how to reconnect with that spark during tough times.
🔑 Key Discussion Points:
- Mental health in writing: Beth and Lisa acknowledge the current collective sense of despair among creatives and share strategies for managing anxiety and rediscovering joy in the craft.
- Funny bookstore tales: Lisa recounts stealthily rearranging books at Barnes & Noble and longing for the perfect shelf placement. Beth shares her “book flipping” technique and the invisible sensor that alerts staff to authors in the wild.
- Wine and writing therapy: Lisa hilariously shares her obsession with Chateau Ste. Michelle Light Chardonnay and the great unboxing event of her case delivery.
- Unboxing video spoofing: The duo dives into the unspoken pressure behind book unboxings and how performative moments can feel inauthentic.
- Their origin stories:
- Lisa’s journey began after closing down a beloved but overwhelming nonprofit. Her pivot to writing children’s books was rooted in wanting to continue making a difference for kids.
- Beth’s motivation came from pure spite—a competitive spark after seeing a peer publish a book drove her to finish her first manuscript.
- Message to writers: Return to the emotional core that first pushed you to write. That original spark can reignite your current writing practice.
🔚 Conclusion:
In a time when many writers feel stalled or discouraged, Beth and Lisa remind us that reconnecting with your personal "why" can reignite purpose and momentum. Join the community in their private Facebook group, The Waiting Room: Therapy for Writers, for support and solidarity.
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