After launching The Signal newsletter, I received an email that congratulated me on "reinventing myself." It was meant as a compliment, but the word reinvention stopped me in my tracks. Why did it bother me so much? In this episode, I unpack the unexpected emotions behind that moment and what it revealed about one of the biggest obstacles every writer—and every creative person—faces: the fear of being judged.

Last episode, we explored giving ourselves permission to pursue what truly lights us up. This time, we're taking the next step. Once you've decided to follow your creative path, what keeps you from fully showing up? Whether it's worrying about what people will think, playing it safe, or holding back the parts of your story that matter most, I believe our strongest writing lives on the other side of vulnerability. I'll share what I've learned from my own journey, from leading my writers group, and from the surprising moments when taking a small emotional risk created the deepest human connections.

In this episode, I share the unexpected story of how a chance conversation with a Starbucks barista led to the creation of Verano Writers, the writing group that helped reignite my passion for writing books. What started as a simple desire to reconnect with writing became a reminder that sometimes the things we're meant to pursue are waiting patiently for us to give ourselves permission to begin.

I also talk openly about a difficult personal turning point that forced me to reexamine parts of my life I had put on hold. In the aftermath, I realized that writing had always been more than a business skill or a side project. It was a creative calling I had been postponing for "someday." That realization led me back to publishing, back to community, and back to the joy of creating for its own sake.

If you've been feeling pulled toward a creative project, a business idea, a passion you've shelved, or a story you've been afraid to tell, this episode is an invitation to explore what's standing in your way. Sometimes the biggest obstacle isn't lack of time or talent. It's the permission we've never given ourselves.

In this first official episode of The Signal, I share why writing prompts will become a cornerstone of both this podcast and my companion newsletter. While prompts are a wonderful way to get words flowing, their real purpose runs much deeper. My goal is to help you reconnect with your authentic voice, access the stories only you can tell, and develop the courage to trust what emerges when you give yourself permission to write. Every episode and every newsletter will include a prompt designed to help you strengthen that connection and keep your pen moving.

(More on show notes page)