My next two insight posts are inspired by my reflections on walking the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain in mid-April 2009 with my husband and adult son. We’re coming up to the 17th anniversary of our long walk and unexpected memories and reflections have been rising like bubbles in a pot of boiling water.
My big picture awareness is that writing is another form of pilgrimage. All the necessary ingredients exist for the writer who is willing to be introspective and self-reflective: a healthy dose of curiosity, a willingness to be intimate with mystery, courage to follow the signposts to an uncertain destination. Serendipitously, I received two magazine requests this week for proposals that were Camino-related, each asking an intriguing question. I’m taking time in this newsletter to explore the first question; next month I will share my response related to the second question. Stay tuned!
Question #1
WordWorks magazine requested proposals based on the theme of road trips, namely: How has a road trip impacted some aspects of your life as a writer? I decided to craft a specific statement for my proposal: How a road trip [on foot] led to becoming a writer.
What I pitched was sharing how my experience of walking the Camino led to my next big decision: to pursue my life-long dream of becoming a writer. I had wanted to “be a writer” since my earliest memories as a child. At the age of 55 I courageously joined a year-long writing mentorship group, with no specific goal in mind other than “to write”. I was up against a clamour of inner voices telling me I was too old, that my stories weren’t very good. I wrote in a circle of support, often choosing not to share my words. The inner voices piped up: “No one will ever read what you write.”
I kept writing and started to share. Thank goodness for the guidance of my mentor and the compassionate group. My writing began to flow more easily. I started to recognize the power of my own stories, even without feedback from others. Over time, my writing mentor began pointing out recurring themes in my stories, eventually suggesting I might have a b-b-book in me. With the backing of my writing community, and my mentor, I committed to creating a first draft.
Fast forward seven years later, to October 2017, and I was launching my memoir, “The Chocolate Pilgrim: A Journey to Self-Discovery and Transformation on the Camino de Santiago.” I still remember the thrill of opening the first box of books that arrived at my door, just in time for my first book launch; the first of many. Two of my closest writing buddies were with me, and we danced around with abandon, celebrating this huge accomplishment.
The Final Push
Having the support of my writing group and mentors was essential to completing the revision process to final publication. There were times I wanted to put my writing into a box and hide it away. Wasn’t it enough that I’d done the writing? No, in fact it wasn’t. I learned a lot from the writing process, and so much from publishing, giving book talks, showing up at book clubs, and speaking at special events. I surprised myself, since I’d always been afraid of public speaking. One of my coaches gave me sage advice: “Don’t wait for the confidence to arrive. You do the hard things, and the confidence develops.” And that’s what happened – I discovered I love public speaking when it’s a topic I’m passionate about, and when I’m sharing my learning and insights from a special experience.
Now I’m mentoring other women ready to explore their desire to write, within the support of a group. There is no pressure to publish, although during our regularly scheduled meetings, everyone is encouraged to share a sample of their written words. Everyone is coached to respond in supportive, encouraging ways, which leads to further development of words-in-progress. If the group experience doesn’t suit you, I also offer 1-1 mentorships, scheduled according to your needs and timelines. See below for the various options available to you.
PRIMORDIA WRITING CIRCLES
We meet ONLINE every three weeks. Each online session offers 2.5 hours of writing and sharing time. We begin with at least 30 minutes of solo writing, followed by a short break. We then come together and take turns reading aloud what we just wrote, or a piece from another project we would like feedback on (this is always optional). Before sharing, you may be asked to define what level of feedback you’re looking for. Your audience is receptive, attuned, and supportive, and I ensure that participants follow guidelines for providing appropriate feedback.
My current Primordia writing circles are full, and I have created a waiting list for groups that will begin in September 2026.
MENTORSHIPS
A typical 4-month writing mentorship program is designed to support the evolution of your current draft. Work with me 1-on-1 to receive personalized support, based on the nature of your project and what your intentions and aims are as a writer. I tailor feedback to your specific project and offer my technical expertise to support you in deepening and growing your craft. I always aim to provide clear feedback, suggest helpful next steps, and offer deeper insights into the nature of your body of work.
WRITING FROM THE HEART
Our writing retreats offer community, trust, inspiration, and all the juicy ingredients you need to generate fresh writing, bring your words to a receptive and present audience, and have them received and reflected in their strength. Each retreat is an opportunity for you to gain confidence in your craft, grow your own writing community, and continue to write, refine, and share stories for years to come. I am offering one in-person Writing from the Heart retreat in June, and an online retreat in November. More details can be found here:
For information about ordering your copy: The Chocolate Pilgrim: A Journey to Self-Discovery and Transformation on the Camino de Santiago: https://mariemaccagno.com/the-chocolate-pilgrim/
