Welcome

Welcome to the Oolong Inkwell. Here you are cordially invited to celebrate the writing life.

Let’s face it: writing is a lonely, thankless pursuit.

We drag ourselves to the page (or the keyboard) and churn out words that often make us cringe upon re-reading them. Sometimes we delete these malformed creations immediately, without giving them the chance to horrify – or inspire – us at some later time.

Looking for writing advice? Move along.

This blog isn’t about honing your craft. The Internet already offers countless sites to help you become a better writer. In fact, several personal favorites appear in the links section.

Instead, it is my humble hope that the entries on this site will inspire you to find joy in the writing process. Not in the hard-earned satisfaction of finishing a specific piece or the I’m-invincible-life-doesn’t-get-better-than-this elation of publishing your work. I’m talking about the day in, day out grind of stringing words together. The actual work part that is neither glamorous nor fun, but absolutely indispensable to the writing life.

A spoonful of sugar – or my teacup runneth over

Like you, I find it tough to sit down and actually write. (And if this isn’t you, what are you doing here? Trying to give the rest of us an inferiority complex? Scat!) I’ve long talked about the writing I’d like to do. I’ve read countless books on writing. But I could barely force myself to put pen to paper.

I finally decided to stop whining and start doing. Yet, I knew my creative self – the imaginative child inside all of us – would never produce if I hauled her out and imprisoned her in a literary sweatshop. This challenge would require gentle coaxing.

So I started off slowly – and resorted to bribery.

It worked.

Armed with a stockpile of fountain pens and notebooks and fortified by an assortment of fine teas, I make my daily writing a pleasurable, fulfilling experience. Already, my relationship to my writing and my inner child has become richer and more rewarding.

Have I landed a lucrative book deal or quit my day job to write full-time?

No. I’ve simply created an environment that encourages me to write.

An open invitation to writers everywhere

Please join our community if you are…

• A beginner who wants to explore the writing life
• A closet creative who can’t force yourself to the page
• A thriving writer who wishes to share your wisdom and experience
• A writer for whom the words flow some days and not others

All voices are welcome. All insights appreciated.

- Mistina