Creative Life is Lived in Seasons —with Nicole Gulotta
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Do you struggle with the creative process? Get stuck in self-doubt? Or have trouble finding time to practice your craft? Writer Nicole Gulotta contends that the life of a creative is lived in seasons, and she believes that we can use these natural rhythms to enhance our creative work. And Nicole uses yoga nidra as a tool to bring ease to the writing process.
Nicole is the author of Wild Words: Rituals, Routines, and Rhythms for Braving the Writer’s Path, the creator of the Wild Words Community, and a Daring to Rest yoga nidra facilitator. She is dedicated to helping writers embrace the season they’re in and use rest to tap into their creative potential. On this episode, Nicole joins me to share her seasonal approach to creativity, walking us through the 10 seasons of a writer’s life identified in her book.
Nicole explains what it means to write in the margins, using her obstacles and opportunities exercise to design a sustainable writing practice. She also offers insight around the value in listening to your body, sitting in the liminal space, and retreating to do deep work. Listen in for Nicole’s formula for the writing cycle of hope and learn how to use yoga nidra as a tool in the writing process!
Key Takeaways
Nicole’s 10 seasons of a writer’s life
1. Beginnings
2. Self-doubt
3. Going back in time
4. Discontent
5. Listening to your body
6. Raising young children
7. Liminal space (transition)
8. Visibility
9. Retreating
10. Finishing
What it means to write in the margins
The art of slow writing one line a day
Nicole’s personal yoga nidra practice
How to make the space for deep work
Using yoga nidra as a tool in the writing process
Nicole’s practice of choosing a word for the year
How Nicole developed the writing cycle of hope
Connect with Nicole
Wild Words: Rituals, Routines and Rhythms for Braving the Writer’s Path by Nicole Gulotta
Resources
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Karen on The Kate & Mike Show EP064
Daring to Rest: Reclaim Your Power with Yoga Nidra Rest Meditation by Karen Brody
Yoga Nidra, Writing and the Wild Woman retreat with Karen at Kripalu