Tuesday, October 14, 2025
There is time to write together and time to write alone. Having written alone, with a writing companion, and in a group I mostly write alone now, especially after moving into a retirement community. Some of the residents who are writers, prefer writing alone unless they are teaching writing.
When I write I’m absorbed in my work. On my spiritual journey that includes morning meditation, journaling, and deep writing (and walking later in the day) I’m one with my Authentic Self within, the consciousness. This awareness watches me from moment to moment unless I get lost in my mental narrative past memories or future apprehension or planning. Staying present “here-now” seems simple but is very hard to practice. No one, not even your most intimate friend or loving spouse truly knows or understands how we struggle to keep our awareness at the present moment. But when you we experience it you feel alive, at peace, content and joyous.
In my “previous” life I’ve experienced the joy of writing with a friend and writing with a group. Writing together cultivates feeling of kinship and kindness. I’ve felt this connection in-person and Online Mindful Writers Group. I have not even met some of the writers I wrote with but connected with them through their felt presence.
Each one of us sat at our Powerful Spiritual Spot and mediated, journaled and wrote together for hours. We commented and shared our writing progress. Asked questions and also shared ideas about Writing Meditation Practice. Although we were writing at our own homes, at our own sacred spaces behind closed doors, we felt one as we poured our hearts and minds out in our own voices and words onto the blank screen.
Writing together-alone creates a bond that strengthens as time goes by. The focus is on enriching the personal journey and producing new work. It not only allows friendships to form and cultivate but also deepens meditation and creates professional networks.
Do you feel inspired when you write in the company of others? What are the benefits of writing with others in-person as compared to writing with them online?
kathleen shoop
You tell the most beautiful stories, Madhu. I cannot wait for your next piece. When do you think you’ll publish again?
Jennifer D. Diamond
Good morning, Madhu! Connecting with you via Online Mindful Writers Facebook Group and with the Mindful Writers in-person retreats has been a life-saver for me. The shared experience is kept alive by connecting here on your blog, but also every time I practice. Thank
you, thank you, THANK YOU so much for creating such a beautiful community!
Lorraine
I miss the days of OMWG!! I write alone now, but connect with other writers to chat on zoom once a month, and attend an in-person writing club twice a month (they don’t write in the meetings; they read pieces of their work and everyone critiques. I really enjoy the meetings.)
I struggle to stay motivated to create some days — yet other days the creativity flows freely. I prefer consistency, but am allowing things to come as they will.
Madhu B. Wangu
Dear Jenn, it makes me very happy to read what you have written. I wish more novice, intermediate and advanced writers would participate to make this blog a vibrant place to discuss creativity, spirituality and mindfulness disciplines. In time, it may happen or it may not. But I hope this space becomes as sacred as our Online Mindful Writers Group.
Madhu B. Wangu
Thank you, Kathie! Currently I’m not writing fiction but short articles (About 1000 words) for ‘Around the Ponds” our newsletter published four times a year. The articles are about visual arts and crafts made by the residents and about plays performed twice in a year (also written, directed and acted by the residents).
In addition, I’m writing the second version of Unblock Your Creative Flow: 72 Weeks of Mindfulness for Everyone above 60. The title is tentative and the text is spiritually deeper and creatively more refined.
At some point I may go back to writing stories but right now most of my time is taken by Unblock II.
Madhu B. Wangu
I’m glad you write alone and with others on Zoom and in-person. Important thing is you’re writing. You write, sometimes you struggle to write and other times creativity flow. That sounds about normal for creative people. Right?