Ep 116: [Shahida Alvarado] Courage, Creative Control, and Publishing on Your Own Terms

What does it really take to call yourself a writer? At the beginning of this week’s episode, you’ll hear an original poem read by our guest Shahida Alvarado. It brings to the forefront the invisible gates women face when we dare to pursue a creative dream. From thinking about "why now?" to the behind-the-scenes realities of navigating the publishing world, Elizabeth and Shahida talk about what it truly means to bring a book into existence on your own terms. You’ll hear about creative control, what success actually looks like for a writer, and how self-publishing has transformed them from writers into something far more expansive. Whether you’re hesitant to walk through the gate and call yourself a writer, somewhere in the messy middle, or inching toward a publish date of your own, this episode will meet you exactly where you are. Meet Shahida Alvarado:Shahida Alvarado is a writer, educator, and yoga teacher whose work blends personal narrative, mindfulness, and storytelling. She is the author of the reflective poetry collection When I Meet Myself and the children’s book The Gecko Who Learned Yoga, both inspired by her lived experiences, travel, and personal transformation. Through her writing and teaching, she explores how vulnerability, movement, and self-reflection can be translated into meaningful creative work.Connect with Shahida Alvarado:https://bloogeckoliteracy.com/https://www.instagram.com/alwaysinyogaflowhttps://www.facebook.com/share/1C6E3wHgFz/Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing. You’re invited to connect with us by joining our Embodied Writing Experience where you’ll get a writer’s retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. Whether you’re working on a memoir, a novel, or journaling for yourself, this is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.   Join our Embodied Writing Experience where you’ll get a writer’s retreat directly to your inbox each week. This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.   If you missed this year's Memoir Summit, we recorded it! You can purchase the replays and get instant access to over 4 hours of memoir-specific content from Elizabeth and our amazing panelists of published memoir authors, indie presses, editors, and industry professionals!Work 1:1 with Memoir Coach Elizabeth Wilson. Book a session here.If you prefer to watch our conversations, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.You can find us on Instagram.