magic—accidental and planned and super-cheap
I have always believed in lots of kinds of magic, but one I used to cling to—one magic I prized above many others—was being a good little workhorse. Magic was writing at rapid speed, magic was churning out pages, magic was pleasing someone else with a finished product.
I am still a hard worker, and it brings me great joy, but I am older and wiser than when I wrote my first novel twenty years ago, and so I know my limits. I am coming back to the kinds of magic I’ve always known and loved (see below), and winter feels like just the right time to really celebrate these.
Winter Creative Commitment in inspired by the deep magic and restful dark of the winter portal.
Winter is a time of letting go—this year that will feel especially true for me and my writing life.
My novel will most likely go out on submission mid-January. As many writers know, once you peddle your art and try to claim a price, you relinquish a certain amount of control, if not all of it—no matter which market you’re experimenting in (indie, traditional, etc.). They’re all markets. And they’re not fun holiday markets with apple cider stalls and fun cheeses to sample.
So I’d like to recommit to the wonder and mystery of the season with slow + super-cheap “holiday” magic…
Some ways I’ve been making magic in a very daily, low-cost, no-frills ways that feel holiday-coded (holiday die-hards may beg to differ):
Magic can be momentary, slow, simple, free.
Inspiring rewatches like Little Women (all adaptations welcome) and Amy Poehler’s interview with Cole Escola for her podcast Good Hang—I rewatched both this past week when I was feeling tired and burnt out.
“Christmas” albums (hear me out): the new album by Rosalía and this new album by Lisa O’Neill. Solstice magic, right?
Staring at a bird out my window…like really staring, till the bird notices and is like “Who the hell are you?”
Lighting the Goose of Good Fortune candle painted for me by writer-friend Taisia Kitaiskaia, our guest artist for Winter Creative Commitment.
Exchanging Tarot pulls with dear friends via text, especially with Pitch Witch Megan Clark (“Yep, it’s another Seven….”)
Getting up early enough to watch the sun rise
Earl Grey tea
Sometimes magic is accidental, like hanging a wreath to get it out of the way and framing a beautiful snow hare with a bit of prism. This is the Lost Spells calendar with illustrations by Jackie Morris.
Guess what else is free? Writing + reflection!
Take a moment to reflect on how you’ll cross the seasonal threshold from autumn to winter—and you may feel like you’ve crossed it already. There is no right or wrong way to approach these questions.
What is resting right now in your writing life? What is waiting for the light? Take 5-6 minutes to simply write and reflect. Let whatever would like to come through come on through.
What nourishment are you craving right now? What will sustain you in the cold? Write for 5-6 minutes.
What are you listening out for? What are you pausing and waiting to hear? Write for 5-6 minutes.
What creature would you like to embody this winter and why/how? Give this creature a name and describe how it shows up and offers guidance, beauty, or stillness. Write for 7-8 minutes.
Bonus: Take a deep breath and share your winter creature with trusted friend.
Learn more about the Winter Creative Commitment here and reach out if you have questions. I can’t wait to see you in the deep, dark, magic heart of the season.