The Monsters Were Just Trees: Start a Writing Practice in 2025

Jan 9

During the most painful moments in my life, I wrote. When my dad died, when I turned down my ex-boyfriend’s proposal, when I moved out, I wrote.

People, jobs, and relationships have come and gone. Writing has always been there for me. It was a soothing balm during times of upheaval and the exhale when the pain became too much to bear.

For twenty years, this is when I turned to my pen. Then for the last ten years, something shifted. I only wrote when the conditions were pristine—when I could dedicate chunks of focused time, when the house was clean, when the to-do list was done and my work was manageable.

So basically, I didn’t work on my own writing for ten years—that is, until I learned to make it a practice.

Is writing a life-jacket you only reach for in a storm? Are you waiting for the elusive “creative spark” or the perfect moment to feel “caught up” before you finally write?

If you only wait until dire or ideal moments to write, you may never write that book. My gut hurts just saying that, because I know it’s true.

Writing is more than a power we wield “in case of emergency” or “in the right conditions.” What I’ve learned over the years is that authors who dedicate themselves to their craft—a deliberate practice of personal expression and creativity—write the most transcendent, moving, and achingly beautiful books. They are the ones who inspire us to write.

If you are ready to make 2025 the year that writing becomes a practice, to make your book more than a dream you’ve been kicking around for years, then here are two paradigm shifts that will help you get there…

It’s Finally Safe to Write

My childhood was magical, wildly unconventional, and anything but safe. I learned to forge signatures, roll my dad’s home-grown tobacco, and drive before most kids my age were even allowed to cross the street alone. But I couldn’t tell any of my friends about this secret childhood. Instead, most knew me as the “weird kid”—the quiet one who struggled to read, who lived down a dirt road and showed up to school in hand-me-down overalls. That is when writing became my refuge.

Through high school and college, I walked a tightrope between barely scraping by and fiercely striving to get ahead: juggling multiple jobs, seizing a big break in publishing, and then working at a self-destructive pace to hold onto that break.

I told myself I didn’t have time to write—I was too busy just trying to survive. And so, I only wrote when the plane was crashing and I absolutely needed to put on my oxygen mask. For decades, I swung between waiting to write until life was stable to frantically writing in bursts whenever tragedy struck.

I told myself I would really do this writing thing right, when it was safe to stand still.

Flash forward to my 30s: I am listening to Taylor Swift’s “Out of the Woods,” while attempting to work out, and it hits me. Now, I don’t usually cry to T-Swift songs, but for some reason the words “Are we in the clear yet?” and “The monsters turned out to be just trees” broke me. Next thing I knew, I was sobbing over my measly 10-pound dumbbells, trying to gather my things fast enough to exit the gym without everyone seeing me ugly-cry.

What hit me in that moment?

I realized I was not just surviving anymore. I was in the clear, but I wasn’t living my life like I was.

I had gotten so used to hustling to get ahead and the idea that my dreams were a luxury, that I forgot I even had a dream when the dust settled. The time, the resources, and the ability to pursue this desire to write were now all at my fingertips, but I was still acting like they weren’t. What if the monsters were in fact trees, and I had just forgotten to stop running?

It was a subtle but profound mental shift, like someone tapping me on the shoulder reminding me to step one foot over because I was in the wrong line.

In case this sounds familiar and you too need a gentle tap on the shoulder, here it is: This is your reminder to stop running. Take a moment to recognize and act on the resources, time, and ability you do have at your disposal to make writing your book a priority.

So, what does that look like?

Recognize Your Capability: You don’t need to wait for pain or chaos to strike to tap into your creative edge. Take a clear-eyed look at how capable you are to write this book. You aren’t a good writer just in your darkest moments; that raw talent you see in the hard times is simply waiting to be honed.
Build Safety in Your Writing Practice: Establish consistent writing blocks each week. Protect these windows as dedicated time to nurture your craft. The more you show up, the more you’ll trust in your ability to show up (funny how that works).
Reframe Your Relationship with Time: If you’ve been putting off writing for years, or perhaps decades like me, allow yourself to grieve the time that you feel you’ve lost, but also: All that living will be fodder for your writing, so use it. You may have seen time as an enemy in the past, but now you’ll need to view time as an ally, not an obstacle. For practical tips, check out Bridget Watson Payne’s How Time Is on Your Side.
Assemble Your Support System: Consider the resources available to you in this moment. Is it a free writing group? A workshop or class? Or a team of professionals to guide you through the journey? (I might know a few who can help.) In the early stages, choose whom to share your writing with wisely; protect your dream by sharing it with those who will lift you up and help you to grow as a writer. Whatever it is, find resources that create accountability and excite you to show up for your writing.

It Will Never Be Safe to Write

The second paradigm shift is simple. Don’t wait until the stormy ocean becomes a lake to begin. It will never be completely “safe” or the perfect time and space to write your book. You have a full life of friends, hobbies, relationships, exercise, Netflix, kids, work, pets, plant babies, hard times, good times, and much more. Those things don’t just go away. They will always be a part of your life, which is why you can’t wait for there to be less going on.

What's more, there will never be a time when the risk of being judged, criticized, or misunderstood is gone.

To this day, I still fear being the “weird kid” sometimes, but that inner weird kid is what my friends and family love the most about me. It is okay to take the life-jacket off and accept the risk of sharing our genuine self and creativity. Your authenticity and uniqueness is what makes readers want to read.

So, how do we stop waiting and start a writing practice?

Write for 15 Minutes: Set a timer for just 15 minutes and start writing. This mental trick gets me going every time. Don’t overthink it. More often than not, you’ll keep going and remember why you love writing.
Read Inspiring Writers: Study the authors whose work you admire and who write in your genre. If you can’t name a few, you’re not reading enough. Write down what you like and don’t like. Reading is essential to mastering your craft, and this studious activity creates momentum and inspiration.
Schedule Your Writing: This sounds simple, but the reason many books miss their deadlines is that writers don’t schedule enough time for their writing. I recommend aiming for one chapter every 2–4 weeks, dedicating a few hours 2–3 times per week.
Be Messy: Can’t find long blocks of time? No problem. Use whatever moments you have—an hour here, 30 minutes there. Even brainstorming in the shower counts. This is part of befriending time. The key is getting ideas down when you can. I always do a messy first draft of anything I write, and then clean up a few days later with fresh eyes.
The Least Resistance Method: Take inspiration from Winston Churchill, who often worked from bed. On mornings when my anxiety is high or getting out of bed feels impossible, I choose the path of least resistance: jotting down notes on my phone or in a journal, right from the comfort of my bed.

I spent years waiting to move beyond “just surviving” to consistently create. But the truth is, writing is a part of surviving. It can be one of our closest allies in painful times, and it is far more important than just a fair-weather friend.

If 2025 is your year to start a writing a practice and bring your book to life, we are here to help and will be offering a FREE consultation call to the first person who sends us an email with the subject line “I am ready to write my book!”