I recently had a realization that changed the way I'm approaching my current book: I'd turned writing into a job. After 40 years of working in business, where deadlines, deliverables, and getting things done were part of my DNA, I found myself bringing that same mindset to my creative work. I was tracking word counts, setting arbitrary deadlines, and judging myself when I wasn't making the progress I thought I should. The irony? I'm writing a book about the very constraints that keep us from becoming the writers we're meant to be. At one point, I even found myself asking, "Have I fallen out of love with this book?"

In this episode, I explore how easily our professional habits and expectations can creep into our creative lives, turning something we love into another obligation. I share what I learned during a writing retreat, why so much writing happens away from the keyboard, and how self-imposed pressure can quiet our voice, personality, and imagination. I'm not suggesting that discipline, goals, or deadlines are bad things. They're useful tools, but we need to recognize when they're serving us and when they're getting in the way. Sometimes, awareness alone is enough to help us make a different choice.

I also share three writing prompts to help you examine your own expectations, reconsider how you measure progress, and reconnect with the experience you want to have as a writer. Whether you're working on a book, an essay, a poem, or simply trying to make writing part of your life, I hope this conversation helps you find a balance between commitment and creative freedom. The goal isn't just to finish the work. It's to create the space for your most authentic writing to emerge.