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Today, Fable and the Verbivore are looking back on the specific writing goals and intentions that we set for 2023 and reflecting on the year that was.

At the start of the episode, we talk about how setting these phrases allow us to lean in and look for opportunities. We feel they become almost self-fulfilling prophecies, even if it ends up looking differently than we originally anticipate. 

For the Verbivore (Laura), the phrases for this last year were “to be open to what the experience has to offer” and “engage with the present with attention and intention.” So the idea of letting go of baggage, noticing little things, and disengaging from the fear and anxiety of the past and of the future. 

The year began with a serious health crisis where she was in the hospital for ten days with a lot of uncertainty and included many other moments that required being present and focused on what needs to happen right now – choosing to be in the moment even when there’s discomfort. For writing, most of her specific goals needed to be adjusted based on health circumstances but the second part of the year allowed for the drafting of a whole new project and several other projects. Her writing occured a lot more within flow, involved more intuitively listening within the process, and gaining a strong sense of conviction of what belongs.

For Fable (Beth), her word for 2023 was for her work and life was to “eclose” or “to reach maturation and fullness”. It was a year that included a lot of change and metamorphosis, and with a major pivot in February it included some unexpected things that ended up being so growing and necessary.

She took some risks and the lessons she’s learned through that has really helped to ground what she wants to do moving forward. The year included her self publishing multiple novella projects as well as actively choosing what works for her and plays well to her strengths. It was about owning who she is and what she loves to do and creating a drafting and editing process that really owns and accepts those things.  

This is our fifth year of doing this process and it’s one of our favorite practices. We hope you enjoy this episode. Keep reading, writing, and putting your voice out there!

Into the woods,

Fable & The Verbivore

Notes: 

We touch on several of our previous podcast episodes. They are as follows:

• Episode 171: Look out 2023

• Episode 170: Looking back of 2022

• Episode 121: Our 2022 intentions

• Episode 120: A look back on 2021

• Episode 68: Intentions for 2021

• Episode 67: Let's talk about 2020 and 2021

• Episode 10: Choosing a word for the year

• Episode 9: The one where we talk about goals, habits, and the New Year

Books and Films Mentioned:

• The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker

Music from: https://filmmusic.io
’Friendly day’ by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
Licence: CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)