{"id":6251,"date":"2025-09-30T13:10:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T13:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/30\/write-of-passage-hanging-with-writers\/"},"modified":"2025-09-30T13:10:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T13:10:00","slug":"write-of-passage-hanging-with-writers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/30\/write-of-passage-hanging-with-writers\/","title":{"rendered":"Write of Passage: Hanging With Writers"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-6251-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/174898496\/ed15fad8f20abb61dfb5243080993db8.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/174898496\/ed15fad8f20abb61dfb5243080993db8.mp3\">https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/174898496\/ed15fad8f20abb61dfb5243080993db8.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p>This past weekend, I had the honor of spending three days in Albuquerque with the Women\u2019s Fiction Writers Association at their West Retreat. Three days to talk about the things I love most\u2014our craft and the business of publishing.<\/p><div id=\"vanes-3034145063\" class=\"vanes-content vanes-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 2px;margin-right: 2px;margin-bottom: 2px;margin-left: 2px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/fireswordandsea.htm\" aria-label=\"Fire Sword &amp; Sea\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?fit=1706%2C2560&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Fire Sword &amp; Sea\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?w=1706&ssl=1 1706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=1365%2C2048&ssl=1 1365w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" width=\"569\" height=\"853\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p> There\u2019s nothing quite like being surrounded by writers, people who understand the struggle and the joy of creating stories. And there\u2019s no better moment than seeing that spark in someone\u2019s eyes when something you\u2019ve said helps unlock their story in a brand-new way.<\/p>\n<p>One of the sessions conversationsI led centered on the Hero\u2019s Journey and its counterpart, the Heroine\u2019s Journey. These structures aren\u2019t just tools for making sure your story moves forward or that the middle doesn\u2019t sag\u2014they\u2019re also frameworks that allow us to dig into what makes heroes and heroines truly special. We looked at the communal aspects of the heroine\u2019s return, the healing wisdom mentors pass on, and how both journeys can be reimagined for today\u2019s storytelling.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve been feeling stuck in your own writing, I want to encourage you to consider a writing retreat. A retreat takes you out of your ordinary world and places you in an environment designed for creativity. This particular hotel in Albuquerque, called Hotel Albuquerque, was perfect\u2014full of quiet corners to write in, with the gentle sound of a water feature trickling in the background. The temperature was just right, and the breeze seemed to carry with it a rhythm I needed as I started drafting a new manuscript. Finding that rhythm is essential\u2014especially when facing the hardest part of writing: the beginning. As we talked about during the retreat, the beginning has to do so much work. It must pull the reader in, set the tone, and launch the story forward. That challenge can feel overwhelming, but when you\u2019re sitting among other writers, sharing the struggle, the rhythm comes easier.<\/p>\n<p>For me, the joy of being with this group of women writers was in the way we each gave something to one another. We shared, we encouraged, and we carried each other forward. Writing can be isolating, and even now, years after the height of the pandemic, many of us are still recovering from that deep loneliness. Yes, Zoom calls and late-night chats kept us connected, but nothing replaces being physically together\u2014hearing voices, exchanging ideas, and being present in the same space.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why I encourage every writer listening to this: put a writing retreat in your budget for 2026. No matter where you are in your career\u2014whether you\u2019re drafting your first book or publishing your thirtieth\u2014invest in yourself and your craft. Retreats give you knowledge, community, and the reminder that you\u2019re not alone in this work.<\/p>\n<p>At this retreat, I was honored to teach three workshops: <em>Write Fast, Write Now: Unveiling Character Arcs<\/em>, <em>The Substack Strategy: Building an Author Platform That Works<\/em>, and <em>Rethinking the Hero\u2019s Journey for Today\u2019s Storytelling Trends<\/em>. Teaching craft is one of my greatest joys, because no matter how many books I\u2019ve published\u2014<em>Fire Sword and Sea<\/em> is my twenty-ninth\u2014there is always more to learn. Every retreat, every conversation with another writer, teaches me something new.<\/p>\n<p>And to those of you who were in Albuquerque with me: thank you. Thank you for giving me your attention, your questions, and your trust. Thank you for letting me be fully myself in that space. You gave me as much as I gave you. I left inspired, energized, and dreaming of hundreds more books\u2014your books\u2014coming into the world.<\/p>\n<p>That is the magic of retreats, the magic of community, and the magic of the writer\u2019s journey itself.<\/p>\n<p>Books to get you into the writing mood:<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/2644\/9781577315933\">The Hero with a Thousand Faces <\/a>by Joseph Campbell \u2014 the classic foundation for understanding the Hero\u2019s Journey.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/2644\/9781611808308\">The Heroine\u2019s Journey <\/a>by Gail Carriger \u2014 a modern, approachable exploration of the heroine\u2019s path and how it differs from Campbell\u2019s.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/2644\/9781615933150\">The Writer\u2019s Journey <\/a>by Christopher Vogler \u2014 a practical, writer-focused guide to adapting mythic structure for storytelling.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/2644\/9780385480017\">Bird by Bird<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/2644\/9780385480017\"><strong> <\/strong><\/a><strong>by Anne Lamott \u2014 reflections on the writer\u2019s life and craft, with humor and heart<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/2644\/9781594634727\">Big Magic<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/2644\/9781594634727\"><strong> <\/strong><\/a><strong>by Elizabeth Gilbert \u2014 embracing creativity, fear, and joy in the artistic process.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>We are three and half months away from <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/fireswordandsea.htm\"><strong>Fire Sword and Sea<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u2014Get those preorder in, and help build the momentum for this historical fiction. Please spread the word about lady pirates in the 1600s.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>They are women, many our Black and Indigenous. All want a better way of life. Piracy is legal. It\u2019s their answer. This novel releases January 13, 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The link on my website shows retailers large and small who have set up preorders for this title.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Show notes include a list of the books mentioned in this broadcast.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>You can find my notes on Substack or on my website, <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vanessariley.com\/\"><strong>VanessaRiley.com<\/strong><\/a><strong> under the podcast link in the About tab.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you\u2019re ready to move with purpose and power, hit that like button and subscribe to <\/strong><strong><em>Write of Passage. Never miss a moment. We have work to do. Let me help you recharge.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Thank you for listening. Hopefully, you\u2019ll come again. This is Vanessa Riley.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is a public episode. If you&#8217;d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.substack.com\/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=CTA_2\">vanessariley.substack.com\/subscribe<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"vanes-3839777523\" class=\"vanes-after-content vanes-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 3px;margin-right: 3px;margin-bottom: 3px;margin-left: 3px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?fit=1080%2C1350&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Listen to the Write of Passage Weekly Podcast\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?w=1080&ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=240%2C300&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=819%2C1024&ssl=1 819w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=768%2C960&ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" width=\"540\" height=\"675\"   \/><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This past weekend, I had the honor of spending three days in Albuquerque with the Women\u2019s Fiction Writers Association at their West Retreat. Three days to talk about the things I love most\u2014our craft and the business of publishing. There\u2019s nothing quite like being surrounded by writers, people who understand the struggle and the joy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6252,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,793,9,620,756,694],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personal-stories","category-politics","category-recommended-reading","category-syndication","category-technology","category-tv-and-film"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/d9885392a596b17c3b7116962ecf1741.jpg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6251"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6251\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}