Oh I relate so much to this post! The alone-time-in-the house part—particularly in my circumstances— is rare and thus more precious. When it comes I do it too— the puttering, the looking something up, doodling, maybe writing. It’s all part of it.
Thank you for this. Let’s embrace all the weirdness!
You have probably explored the works of Diana Diprima and Ann Waldman. The two women beats up that famous group that history, of course, tends to leave out; if you haven’t now would be a good time. Thanks for a brilliant article.
Love. I read the first half out to my husband, because I crave alone time, proper alone time, in order to get round to writing, and follow (or don't) the processes you describe. You made me laugh out loud with identification. Husband says, 'Oh my God, you are not alone.' Also get the coming together of like-minded souls. My ideal day would be, I think, alone time from 7am to 2pm then meeting up with others for writing, coffee, life. Feeling less weird in my own strangeness now.
The picture of City Lights Bookshop brings me back to my visit there in 2013. We were on our honeymoon from Ireland and spent a few days in San Francisco. That visit to this historic building was a highlight for me. I was interested in the Beat generation when I was younger, and admired their sense of creative freedom, in spite of its particular type of maleness emphasis. Loved On The Road. I still have dreams of taking off somewhere and recording my experiences. Thank you for the reminder of latent dreams 🙏
City Lights is wonderful and I'm so glad I got to live in SF in the early 00's! There's so many incredible literary places around the country, we should do a tour!
Does the City Lights shop still exist? I've been to SF a few times and never came across it. What street is it on? I read The Dharma Bums when I lived in CA. A friend recommended Kerouac to me. 😊
Oh yes!! I get it! I too need space, alone time, to write and paint! Because I need to putter...look out the window to the back yard and wonder what my garden will be like in the spring...and look up words, their meanings, and what that all means to me! LOL!
Such interesting ideas you throw out here! Thank you Alix!
Oh my! I could literally relate to everything you wrote in this letter, Alix. Your description of alone time activities, preparation before writing, love for the Beats, inspiration and awe of Kerouac, yearning for group gatherings, and spontaneous writing. Wow. I have so much inspiration swirling in my head, so much creativity that has been sparked by this letter. I’ll be spending time alone this evening bow, just letting my thoughts and musings lead me wherever they want to go. Thank you. xoxo
I love spontaneous writing and your prompt ignited one although slightly modified to the inspiration that hit me in the face 🤣. Keep inspiring other @alix you bring joy and beauty to the world in ways you may never see 🫶
My strongest writing has come when I sit down with nothing on my mind, that is, nothing planned, and just start to write. Often the first paragraph just gets me in my seat, speaks of my mood or time of day or reflection on my coming to write. It's the warm-up exercise to the routine that God or Grace or whatever you want to call that flow that comes, that wants to find its way into words.
I love free, spontaneous writing and hope to add more in 2026. I also adore the spontaneous writing that happens in your groups. This list of writing tips is gold.
I love being alone in my house. It's rare, and while I don't wish my people away, Solitude's energy inspires me beyond much else. The second place I feel inspired is with a group of writers. Every Wednesday for 11 years, I've led a 2.5-hour writing group for women. Before that, I was a participant. Without either of these things, I'd rarely get words on the page.
Love this!!! Love your writing!!! Love your process and def resonate with it soooo much!!! Also your vibe is amazing ♥️ — the working in groups part though 🤓🤓 I know we are meant to experience life with other humans… but like do Substack interactions and Lives count? lol 😆
The alone in the house has been in short supply around here of late. I make do with headphones in whatever spaces and crevices I can find. No waiting for the perfect conditions bc they never seem arrive. The spontaneous writing is a practice. As you do it more theoretically you get better at it or you write a lot of garbage but manage to extract some gems.
I hadn't ever heard the term spontaneous writing before. I have had moments when writing pours out of me, like I'm being possessed. It feels like flow but it feels spiritual too, sudden and uncontrollable. It's always my favorite place to write from and it's usually my very strongest writing, summoned often by something else that I've read, watched, or listened to that trips a wire in me.
Thanks so much! Yes, the writing that feels as if it comes from elsewhere, is very spiritual for me as well. It has made me feel less alone during some very challenging times. Thanks for reading Gioncarlo
Love this article! Fun to see the photos of the retreat again. I can relate also to the puttering as part of my creative process. So good to know I'm not alone. Maybe finding a remote cave for myself to live in somewhere on Cape Ann, along with my belongings from CubeSmart, is my next Chapter...☃️
Oh I relate so much to this post! The alone-time-in-the house part—particularly in my circumstances— is rare and thus more precious. When it comes I do it too— the puttering, the looking something up, doodling, maybe writing. It’s all part of it.
Thank you for this. Let’s embrace all the weirdness!
Yes yes!!
I rarely get alone time in the house. It's so precious.
You have probably explored the works of Diana Diprima and Ann Waldman. The two women beats up that famous group that history, of course, tends to leave out; if you haven’t now would be a good time. Thanks for a brilliant article.
I know of them but I haven't read much from either! I will remedy that! Thanks :)
Ann was one of the founders, along with Alan, of the still operational school for disembodied poetics yet she is Seldom mentioned
Good to know, Debbi!
Love. I read the first half out to my husband, because I crave alone time, proper alone time, in order to get round to writing, and follow (or don't) the processes you describe. You made me laugh out loud with identification. Husband says, 'Oh my God, you are not alone.' Also get the coming together of like-minded souls. My ideal day would be, I think, alone time from 7am to 2pm then meeting up with others for writing, coffee, life. Feeling less weird in my own strangeness now.
haha omg Christine, your comment made my whole day, thank you! You are very not alone. And your ideal day sounds so so ideal!!!
This is awesome! I fell in love with the Beats too, such a zest for life and unfiltered writing style. “On the road” is a fave 💚
Thanks Alex!! I think I might lead a retreat in SF in 2027!
So cool!!
The picture of City Lights Bookshop brings me back to my visit there in 2013. We were on our honeymoon from Ireland and spent a few days in San Francisco. That visit to this historic building was a highlight for me. I was interested in the Beat generation when I was younger, and admired their sense of creative freedom, in spite of its particular type of maleness emphasis. Loved On The Road. I still have dreams of taking off somewhere and recording my experiences. Thank you for the reminder of latent dreams 🙏
You're so welcome! Thank you for reading :)!
City Lights is wonderful and I'm so glad I got to live in SF in the early 00's! There's so many incredible literary places around the country, we should do a tour!
It's a long way across the Atlantic. I might get to NYC this year, all going well 🙏😀
:) a wonderful place!
Does the City Lights shop still exist? I've been to SF a few times and never came across it. What street is it on? I read The Dharma Bums when I lived in CA. A friend recommended Kerouac to me. 😊
Oh yes!! I get it! I too need space, alone time, to write and paint! Because I need to putter...look out the window to the back yard and wonder what my garden will be like in the spring...and look up words, their meanings, and what that all means to me! LOL!
Such interesting ideas you throw out here! Thank you Alix!
Thanks so much Jeannine! The puttering is so key ;)
Oh my! I could literally relate to everything you wrote in this letter, Alix. Your description of alone time activities, preparation before writing, love for the Beats, inspiration and awe of Kerouac, yearning for group gatherings, and spontaneous writing. Wow. I have so much inspiration swirling in my head, so much creativity that has been sparked by this letter. I’ll be spending time alone this evening bow, just letting my thoughts and musings lead me wherever they want to go. Thank you. xoxo
Thank you, Liz!! I’m so glad it made sense to you!!
I love spontaneous writing and your prompt ignited one although slightly modified to the inspiration that hit me in the face 🤣. Keep inspiring other @alix you bring joy and beauty to the world in ways you may never see 🫶
Thanks Bear!! Can you share a link to the piece you wrote? I'd love to read it
My strongest writing has come when I sit down with nothing on my mind, that is, nothing planned, and just start to write. Often the first paragraph just gets me in my seat, speaks of my mood or time of day or reflection on my coming to write. It's the warm-up exercise to the routine that God or Grace or whatever you want to call that flow that comes, that wants to find its way into words.
Love that Mitchell! Good to hear from you :)
I love free, spontaneous writing and hope to add more in 2026. I also adore the spontaneous writing that happens in your groups. This list of writing tips is gold.
Isn’t it so good? I love it
yes so so good
I love being alone in my house. It's rare, and while I don't wish my people away, Solitude's energy inspires me beyond much else. The second place I feel inspired is with a group of writers. Every Wednesday for 11 years, I've led a 2.5-hour writing group for women. Before that, I was a participant. Without either of these things, I'd rarely get words on the page.
Love this!!! Love your writing!!! Love your process and def resonate with it soooo much!!! Also your vibe is amazing ♥️ — the working in groups part though 🤓🤓 I know we are meant to experience life with other humans… but like do Substack interactions and Lives count? lol 😆
The alone in the house has been in short supply around here of late. I make do with headphones in whatever spaces and crevices I can find. No waiting for the perfect conditions bc they never seem arrive. The spontaneous writing is a practice. As you do it more theoretically you get better at it or you write a lot of garbage but manage to extract some gems.
Here is the piece I wrote for your amazing prompt Alix
https://substack.com/@bearsage/note/c-192175348?r=sbrzh
I hadn't ever heard the term spontaneous writing before. I have had moments when writing pours out of me, like I'm being possessed. It feels like flow but it feels spiritual too, sudden and uncontrollable. It's always my favorite place to write from and it's usually my very strongest writing, summoned often by something else that I've read, watched, or listened to that trips a wire in me.
This piece was wonderful to read. Very inspiring.
Thanks so much! Yes, the writing that feels as if it comes from elsewhere, is very spiritual for me as well. It has made me feel less alone during some very challenging times. Thanks for reading Gioncarlo
Love this article! Fun to see the photos of the retreat again. I can relate also to the puttering as part of my creative process. So good to know I'm not alone. Maybe finding a remote cave for myself to live in somewhere on Cape Ann, along with my belongings from CubeSmart, is my next Chapter...☃️
Thanks Karen! I hope you find a place that feels like it has the solitude and the community that supports your creativity!!
Thank you Alix! 😊