5 Take Home Tips for Getting Started Anywhere Along Your Journey "Home" (Ep206)
Release Date: 03/21/2026
Aligned Author Podcast
Hello Writers! I'm Valerie Ihsan, and this is Episode 207 of the podcast and it's March 31, 2026 as I record this. Main Topic: Changing the Way You Put Words on the Page: A conversation between two writers recovering from burnout and trying to get back to the page (Part of the series on "Starting Over Again, or Coming Back to Yourself and Your Writing") In this conversation, we talk about: burnout and then fear of burnout learning in public podcasting/building business/creating content journaling is still writing doing things gives us energy and structure/managing energy levels...
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5 TAKE HOME TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED ANYWHERE ON YOUR JOURNEY HOME Starting a series on "Starting Over Again, or Coming Back to Yourself and Your Writing" (Next several episodes will have this flavor because I think we all get lost sometimes and struggle to get back to the page, get back to ourselves. I'm been struggling with this for a couple of years (I'm not going to lie and Instagram filter for you) and with my long journey to Costa Rica via car and my one-month anniversary of living in Costa Rica, I thought today would be a great day to talk about AND to revisit this struggle. I...
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Erick is stepping away for some time. His mom just got diagnosed with cancer, so he wants to spend more time and bandwidth on her. And I'm moving to Costa Rica this month! In 2 1/2 weeks, so it is cray-cray over here. Fresh new episodes will arrive in February (with a little bit of a revamp) and a special series on getting back to your writing or creative practice after grief, loss, addiction, or big life stress, but do look for some bonus episodes from the road. Went to Breitenbush, Portland (Powell's), Seattle, Write in the Harbor writing conference in Gig Harbor, WA (*heart*), sold...
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✨ Writer Craft Podcast | Episode 198 🎙️ The Art of Starting Over: Getting Back Into Your Writing Flow 📅 Recorded on September 3, 2025 🎧 Hosted by & 💬 Episode Summary Welcome back, Writers and Crafters! In this soul-nourishing episode, Valerie and Erick explore what it really takes to return to your writing routine after a break. Whether you've been away for weeks or months, we offer compassionate strategies, creative rituals, and mindset shifts to help you gently restart your writing life—without falling into guilt, shame, or perfectionism. ✨ Main Topic: “The Art...
info_outline5 TAKE HOME TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED ANYWHERE ON YOUR JOURNEY HOME
Starting a series on "Starting Over Again, or Coming Back to Yourself and Your Writing"
(Next several episodes will have this flavor because I think we all get lost sometimes and struggle to get back to the page, get back to ourselves. I'm been struggling with this for a couple of years (I'm not going to lie and Instagram filter for you) and with my long journey to Costa Rica via car and my one-month anniversary of living in Costa Rica, I thought today would be a great day to talk about AND to revisit this struggle. I want to use my new location, my hero's journey road trip, and the new moon to ritualize this Starting Over Again, With Purpose. And so it is.
PATREON:
Thank you to my existing patrons for believing in my work offline and here in the podcast. I've just revamped my Patreon Page. I'm so so so pleased with it and proud of my work in simplifying it. Too many pay walls and exclusions. Now it is fresh and easy.
If you are a patron, in either tier, you get all my content, always. You can support me and my dreams and my writing and my aligned author life for $11.11 USD, and I will be so so grateful. Truly. Heart to heart. Gratitude for your gifts.
If you want coaching too (with TWO LIVE CALLS EACH MONTH, you can BACK me at $55.55/mo USD). You will NEVER find coaching sessions for less money than this. If you've ever wanted continued support for your writing and accountability for your projects, this is the way to do it.
Become a patron of the arts and of me at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. And you can support my friend and colleague and Resident Ghostwriter and Friend of the Podcast author Erick Mertz at Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. He's a really great writer.
Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates):
- settling in to rental home with a view
- thinking about lifestyle vlogging about Costa Rican life
- fired up with new content ideas
- written a couple of essays (published one on my Patreon page) (can access it for free using the free trial option on Patreon page.)
- What are you reading?
- Valerie: a cozy fantasy called the crescent moon tearoom by Stacy sivinski
- Wild Dark Shore (Charlotte McConaghy)
- We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Make Something (Amie McNee) (resource tip)***
- Creative Act (Rick Rubin)
Segment 3 (Main Topic):
Notes:
- let yourself be imperfect
- let yourself be uncomfortable (bored, annoyed, fearful)
- let there not be rules (write for the one, write for you)
- Let yourself feel inspired (explore what that is for you: nature walk, fresh air, meditation, feeling good in your body)
- start small (short timed blocks, write one phrase)
#puravidabound
And don't forget:
Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan
Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor
Patreons:
https://patreon.com/valerieihsan
https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries
Tools:
ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)