Since 2009, I’ve had my Open Road Writing shingle out. I’ve worked with some great clients in the last few years. Lately, though, I’ve realized something: I compartmentalize too much. I write about writing over there, and about crafting and daily life here. But what I really believe is that they are all mashed together. The work that I’m doing at ORW all too often veers into work that I’m doing because I know I can make money at it, not because it is the work that I love.
And the point of putting out my shingle was to do more work that I love.
So this year, my lucky 13 year, I’m going to embark on a little experiment, and I hope you, my beloved PoMoGolighly readers and friends will come along.
I’m going to see what happens when I integrate the different parts of my life, when I live the tag line “crafting words and fiber” here instead of in two different places.
I’m hanging out a new shingle, one in which I invite you to permit me to help you to share your stories, to help you craft your words and fiber with confidence and gusto. I’m bringing my in-person writing and crafting workshops and classes online, and I’m looking forward to working and playing with you in a new way.
As I close up Open Road Writing, as I love the fail of that experiment, I’ve crafted a manifesto to guide me on my new adventure:
I believe that everyone has a story to tell.
I believe in cooperation, not competition.
I believe in emotional truth and authenticity.
I believe in blurring the boundary between work and play.
I believe in a beginner’s mind.
I believe crafting connects me to my past and my future.
I believe in kindness.
I believe in calm, in playfulness, in organization, in chaos.
I believe in community.
I believe I exist to share my stories, my vision of a beautiful world and to help others to share their own stories and visions.
As I embark on my changes, I invite you to reflect on your own. Share your own manifesto in the comments or leave a link to your manifesto on your blog.
Love your manifesto and you coming online! I’ll try to add a few things I believe in, but right now I’m living by it.
Huzzah for living your manifesto!
I love your enthusiasm, and love how contagious it is. Excited to see what you have in store!
Thanks, Sara! I love how you always cheer me on! xxx
I think this is a wonderful day. I always felt like your writing site was for, well, real writers so I didn’t follow it. Now, though, if you talk about writing over here with the crafting and the living and all, I think I will be much more tempted to participate.
Thank you, Carole! You made tears well up in my eyes because I WANT YOU to participate. I WANT to hear even more stories (you always tell such great ones) and to help my peeps to feel better about their ability to tell their stories. Thanks for the support! xx
Of course, that was supposed to say wonderful idea not wonderful day. Sheesh.
Life is so full of compromises. Someday I hope to have the chance to bring my pieces together. I have too many compartments and none of them are me. I applaud you.
I love your Manifesto! I wish you the very best with this shift and super success merging and bringing your courses online.
Sign me up for the online classes–especially the Hairpin Lace. I’m always drooling when you talk about them on Twitter, and now maybe I can take part, too. I think this is a great move for you. And your manifesto is great.
This is so fabulous! I love the manifesto, and I love the recognition that we cannot compartmentalize life. It’s all wonderfully blended together 🙂