51: The Stories I Was Too Afraid to Tell (And Why I Told Them Anyway)
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When You're Hiding, Not Blocked: Finding Your Authentic Voice Through Story
When I published my book, Unfussy Life, I was also publishing the stories I almost didn’t tell. I started my writing journey safely, with plant-based recipes, occasionally sneaking in a small family moment.
I learned quickly that stories create connection in a way that advice alone never could. But when it came time to write my own book, I froze. I was writing — as in putting words on a page, but I wasn't sharing the WHY behind the words.
That first draft was 50,000 words of hollow advice — 95% ego and performance. It took being told by a stranger, "This isn't a self-development book. It's memoir," to finally see what was missing from my manuscript.
Once I started adding my stories — about layoffs, immigration, love, and starting over — the book came alive, not because they were dramatic, but because they were true.
I realized that force doesn't create truth, and linear thinking doesn't unlock story.
The parts we're most afraid to share are often the most resonant. I now write with flow, not force.
What I see in so many writers isn't a writing problem, but a relationship with their draft that's frozen in fear and perfectionism. They’re waiting for clarity, permission, or the perfect time to start.
The Living Draft is my answer to this. It's a live experience built for people ready to stop circling and start allowing the book that’s already here, safely and with an open heart.
Key Takeaways:
Stories spark connection, while advice on its own doesn’t.
Being "blocked" often has nothing to do with creativity or skill — it’s often hiding.
Pushing through your writing with intense discipline often yields technically fine but hollow, lifeless work.
Writing with flow, non-linear thought, and instinct—rather than a rigid outline or strategy—allows your true voice to shine.
Start seeing your book draft as a living, breathing piece of work that only needs a different kind of attention to come to life.
The most resonant parts are often the ones writers are reluctant to write.
The book you want to write isn't asking to be perfect — it's asking to live.
Early enrollment now available for 📖 The Living Draft.
Timestamps:
00:00 The Stories I Almost Didn't Tell
01:07 The Journey to Writing My Book
02:47 The Breakthrough Moment
03:34 Transforming My Writing Approach
08:38 Introducing the Living Draft
11:08 Invitation to Join the Living Draft
Key Links:
Sign up for The Living Draft — space is very limited!
