Dive Deep Into the Cave of the Heart
A special invitation to share your story
Every week in Cave of the Heart, we hear from writers and creatives who are ready to trust fall into the depths of inner knowing. They answer questions within five separate themes, including a bonus theme if they’re neurodiverse.
Now, we want a chance to hear from more of you.
I’m publishing the questions that Cave of the Heart interviewees receive so that you can join Cave of the Heart in your own newsletter.
If you decide to answer these questions, don’t forget to tag
in the post and in a Note when you publish! I can’t wait to see what you have to say and maybe even restack or re-post that goodness to our Editing Spectrum friends.
Directions
Please choose one question to answer from each category below (there are five themes, plus one optional theme if you consider yourself neurodiverse).
Describe the setting where you’re answering these questions.
Set the mood. Tell us where you’re answering these questions: the kitchen table, your desk, the car line at school? If you have a photo to share of this spot, that would be extra lovely!
Choose One: Childhood
Were you a chatterbox as a child, or were you quiet or something else entirely? When you spoke up or expressed a preference, what sort of response did you get?
Given a choice, were you the child who would run barefoot outside or were you inside reading?
As a child, were you allowed to have differing opinions from your family/caretakers?
Choose One: Influences
If you had to choose one person from your past that most influenced who you are today, who would that be and why? This can be a person from history, an animal, a fictitious character in a book, TV or movie.
How do you recognize when someone or something is a positive influence on your writing process and self-trust? What changes inside you and on the page?
Who in your life has shown the most self-trust, authenticity, and inner-knowing? How did they embody it?
Choose One: Creative Spark
When you get an idea for a new essay or project, what does your first instinct look, sound or feel like?
What do you think about the concept of a “creative spark”? Is it something we all have access to?
What was the last creative spark that you were really excited about, but it ultimately fizzled out? What do you do when something doesn’t come to life like you’d imagined?
Choose One: Writing Process
What does your writing life look like today, and can you compare/contrast it to 10 years ago?
What one thing do writers most often do that erodes self-trust and they don’t even know it?
Were there any habits or beliefs that you had to let go of in order to more deeply trust your writing process?
Choose One: Resources
What’s one surprising or unlikely resource that you turn to again and again to bolster your writing life?
What one book, poem, piece of art or chapter of writing would you give to your younger self, and why?
What’s your favorite quote on writing?
Optional
Choose One: Neurodiversity
Did being diagnosed neurodivergent affect how you see or interact with your writing life?
After being diagnosed neurodiverse (self-diagnosed counts!) did you have to rebuild trust in yourself in any way? What did that look like?
What one thing do neurodiverse writers need to do differently in order to thrive in their writing lives?
Next Steps
Once you’ve published your answers, don’t forget to tag
so we can step into the cave of the heart with you.