401: How Do Writer Friendships Make the Creative Journey More Sustainable?
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Guest
Hurley Winkler is a writer and editor from Jacksonville, FL. Her newsletter, “Lonely Victories,” is among the top Substack publications in the Literature category. She teaches creative writing at Flagler College.
Summary
In this episode, I speak with writer and teacher Hurley Winkler about journaling, creative practice, and building a sustainable writing life. Hurley traces her path to writing back to childhood anxiety and early journaling inspired by Harriet the Spy. She describes how writing eventually became her preferred independent art form after early interests in theater. She discusses her work as a writing teacher and how her philosophy balances encouragement with challenge while meeting students where they are.
A central focus of the conversation is Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. Hurley once interviewed Julia Cameron to discuss the program's signature elements, including morning pages, artist dates, and creative accountability. Hurley shares how working through the program — especially with partners — helped her cultivate courage, clarify goals, and move forward with major creative and life decisions.
Our discussion also explores resistance, practical strategies for writing through it, and the value of containers like timed sessions and word counts.
Finally, Hurley also reflects on leaving social media due to its addictive nature, how that decision led to an ADHD diagnosis and treatment, and how reclaiming attention is an ongoing process. Throughout, she emphasizes the importance of building friendships with other writers who can help make the creative journey less solitary.
The critical takeaway
Writing may produce “lonely victories,” but building writer friendships and community makes the creative journey more resilient and sustainable.
Referenced
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Website: https://hurleywinkler.com/
Substack: https://lonelyvictories.substack.com/
The language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie
Show Credits
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