the Inspirited Word

What role does having a message really play in crafting a powerful, living story? I often see two opposing bits of advice on this, depending on the type of story you’re writing. If you’re working on genre or mainstream writing, you’re probably going to hear this: Your story should have a message, and every single scene or section of your story should reinforce that message. On the other hand, if y...

When you show up to write, who's setting the course for the journey—your inner storyteller, or your inner critic? We all have an inner critic, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's a manifestation of the same cautionary voice that tells us some basic truths like “Hey, you do know that if you go around doing a bunch of stupid shit, you might literally die, right??” The inner critic has their pl...

If you’re dedicated to mastering the writing craft... you may be missing out on discovering your most powerful storytelling. Before you object: No, this isn’t a pass on learning writing skills. But powerful, transformative storytelling is more than craft mechanics like dialogue, structure, character arcs, or even themes. It’s more than a series of interlocking parts with the goal of making readers...

Do you have a list of beloved books that changed your life... but can't finish one of your own stories to save your life? In the first episode of the Inspirited Word, Mary has some core questions for all visionary writers feeling disconnected, disenchanted, or dissatisfied with their stories and their creative practice: If we can encounter stories in ways that are surprising, personal, and ever-ev...

Introducing the Inspirited Word, a new podcast and digital practice community for visionary writers ready to re-enchant their creative lives. On the pod, we’ll explore ways to enliven the technical mechanics of our craft with the full visionary power of our imaginations—so we can finally uncover our most potent, most transformative, most necessary work. If you’re dreaming of a sustainable writing...