53: Planning Your Writing with Surrendered Structure & Spontaneity
Are your writing plans built for your body and nervous system, or a rigid schedule?
Today, I explore the "energy-first" and "body-first" approaches to writing plans.
As writers, we think we have two choices:
1) the strict, color-coded calendar
or …
2) the unpredictable pull of pure inspiration
Discover how to create a surrendered structure—a flexible creative container that holds your writing goals while allowing you to stay responsive to intuition, flow, and the joy of writing what’s truly alive in you now.
Key Takeaways for Writers:
Prioritize Energy Over Rigidity: Most writing plans fail not from lack of discipline, but because they’re not flexible to the writer's nervous system.
Embrace the Balance: The most resonant writing comes from a balance between structure and spontaneity. Your plan should give you enough flexibility to anchor your work—not leave it feeling caged in.
Listen to Your Body's "Yes" or "No": These are the only two answers your body can give you (good news!) It’s your brain that jumps in to rationalize.
Pivot as Needed: A surrendered structure means having a foundation for writing, while trusting intuitive nudges to shift the plan when something sparks your attention.
Commit to a Creative Container: Establish a consistent commitment (e.g., publishing once a week) to create a place for your writing.
Investigate What You Avoid: If a writing task keeps slipping off your plan, investigate whether it’s no longer aligned or if a short 15-minute burst of action will create clarity.
Invitation: The Living Draft: Write the book that’s already alive inside you.
A live, intimate writing experience for people who know they have a story — and are done circling it.
This is for memoir, personal nonfiction, and truth-telling that doesn’t come from force, formulas, or fear.
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction & Episode Summary
2:45 Prioritize Energy Over Rigidity
4:00 Embracing the Balance of Planning & Your Energy
5:15 Listen to Your Body's "Yes" or "No"
6:45 Pivoting Your Writing Plan
8:00 Committing to a Creative Container for Your Writing
9:30 Investigate the Writing You Avoid
11:00 Treating Unfinished Drafts with Love
12:30 Invitation to The Living Draft
Key Links:
Sign up for The Living Draft. We start on January 17.
