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Writers who tell stories that matter venture into the darkness, confronting what others won't. But this vital work comes at a cost—one that requires intentional counterbalancing.
During this writing challenge I’ve said what I’m doing—writing a short post offering something of value on a writing or storytelling topic daily—but there's actually a deeper purpose behind this commitment. The writing challenge is just one piece of how I’m building resilience while pursuing creative work. It's part of a larger challenge that includes other daily activities: a walk outside, a strength-building workout, writing practice, reading fiction and nonfiction, and sticking to a gut-healthy diet.
I found success with a modified version of this challenge in the spring and summer this year, and realized this format really works for me. I’ve learned that I thrive in a high-expectation high-support environment. I can’t remember where I first heard this description, but it was probably from Michael Bungay Stanier. He initiated that first challenge I joined through the Conspiracy, a community of people dedicated to working together to pursue worthy goals. The Conspiracy has been a vital part of my support system these last two years. With the encouragement of a bunch of awesome like-minded people, I can do way more than I ever thought possible.
This kind of support isn't just nice to have—it's essential for writers who dive deep into challenging territory. You see, writers who tell stories that matter are willing to go where others won't. They venture into the darkness and expose themselves to things most people won’t confront. They go deeper than those who play on the surface, and that means they need what James Ochoa, one of my great mentors, calls counterbalancing. We can become depleted by authentically investigating real human challenges, and we need to resource ourselves to avoid burning out.
This is why one of my other great mentors, Natalie Goldberg, recommends writing practice. The simple act of writing with the goal of knowing and accepting our own mind helps us maintain a grip on reality while courageously following the threads of our lives wherever they take us.
While these practices work wonderfully for me, I want to be clear: My point isn't that you should immediately take on a 75 day challenge. It might not be right for you. The way we resource, as James has reminded me over and over again, is quite personal. We have to customize our strategies to fit us, the season of life we’re in, and the particular challenges we face. The key, as MBS tells us in the Conspiracy is to experiment, stay curious about the results, and experiment again. Oh, and don’t travel alone. This spirit of experimentation and community is exactly what I hope you'll embrace as you develop your own support system.
You have stories that matter to write and share. These stories will help you make sense of your life and help others gain new perspectives. This is important.
Whatever support and resourcing looks like for you, I hope you’ll devote some time to thinking about it. If you need permission (seems odd, but sometimes we do), consider it granted. If you’re having trouble doing it for you, remember your five whys (asking yourself why five times to get to your story’s essence) to remember the reason you’re going to all this trouble.
This post is part of a 75-day writing challenge and experiment. From September 9 through November 22, I'll be posting daily thoughts on writing, storytelling, and creativity based on recent readings or reflections. While my intention was to keep them very short—250 to 400 words—I've found that this range doesn't give me enough space to cover these topics adequately. I aim to keep them brief enough to be read quickly, but they will often be longer than 400 words.
At the end of the challenge, I will organize and revise the material with intention. For now, the object is to explore and share.