#46 Trusting Your Creative Instinct & Finding Inspiration in Everyday Life with Shelley Wilson

In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I chat with Shelley Wilson, a multi-genre author of over twenty books, including non-fiction self-help, children’s meditation, romance, planners, and young adult supernatural/ horror/ historical novels. When she’s not writing, Shelley works as a writing mentor, helping women in business get their book ideas out of their heads and down onto the page. We talk about Shelley's journey as a writer, her latest debut romance ‘Floating Solo’, her experiences in various genres, and the inspiration behind her work. Shelley shares insights on the writing process, the importance of personal experiences, and the challenges of the publishing world. In this episode: How personal experiences greatly influence writing and creativity Finding inspiration in everyday life and experiences Trusting your gut in the process and writing for yourself Traditional and self-publishing routes The value of working with a writing mentor Rediscovering creativity later in life.The conversation also touches on the role of a writing mentor and the significance of creativity in writing. Listeners will gain valuable advice on navigating the writing and publishing landscape and tips for aspiring authors.Please connect with Shelley on your preferred social media platform, purchase her books across multiple genres or learn more about writing mentoring. Website Linktr.ee BHC Press Author ProfileAlso mentioned in this podcast was ‘Pumpkin Spice Café’ by Laurie Gilmore.Soundbites from Shelley "Inspiration's everywhere." "Nothing's ever wasted." "I do try to write a book a year."Podcast Chapters00:00 Introduction to Shelley Wilson03:54 The Journey of a Multi-Genre Author06:48 Inspiration from Childhood Reading09:44 The Impact of Social Media on Reading13:02 Transitioning from Fiction to Non-Fiction15:44 Creating Community Through Writing19:02 Finding Inspiration in Everyday Life21:50 Navigating Multiple Writing Ideas24:32 Trusting Your Creative Instincts26:28 Navigating the Writing Process: Plotting vs. Pantsing28:47 Writing for Yourself: The Ideal Reader Avatar31:33 The Therapeutic Benefits of Writing and Journalling33:15 Embracing Creativity: The Journey of Self-Discovery33:40 Traditional vs. Self-Publishing: Weighing the Options38:32 The Publishing Landscape: Overcoming Rejections41:16 Mentorship in Writing: Guiding Aspiring Authors43:34 Future Goals: Balancing Writing and Life_ _ _A new episode is released every Saturday at 8 am.Please remember to subscribe, share and leave your thoughts as a review. This generous act helps other listeners find the podcast on their chosen platform and allows me to continue providing valuable insight and resources for you to gain from. Please connect with me on your preferred platform by ⁠visiting my links page Access a free journal planner Join my bi-weekly Writing and Nature Connection newsletter