Ep. 1 - Unlock Your Creativity by Building a Writing Ritual (It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect)

Struggling to make writing a habit that actually sticks? You’re not alone. In this episode of Storystruck, Rachel and Neno get real about writing rituals—what works, what doesn’t, and why it’s okay to throw out all the “rules.” From blackout poetry and fantasy playlists to grounding meditations and editing at the coffee shop, they share the creative (and chaotic) ways you can carve out space for writing your fiction or nonfiction book.

Whether you’re a morning writer with a Virgo moon or a dopamine-chasing Gemini who thrives outside with a Freewrite, this conversation is your permission slip to do writing your way.

In this episode, we cover:
The difference between writing rituals for fiction vs nonfiction
How short bursts (even 15 minutes!) can add up to full books
Freewriting, blackout poetry, and other ways to kickstart creativity
How to manage perfectionism and stop letting "write every day" advice derail you
Why support systems make all the difference
Using music, location, and time-of-day awareness to hack your writing flow
How rest and ritual are productivity—even if hustle culture says otherwise

Resources Mentioned:
Finch Self-Care App
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
On Writing by Stephen King
We forgot the name of that awesome Irish time-audit book—but we’ll add it here once we remember!

Stay Connected:
Got a ritual you swear by? Drop it in the comment box or share your ritual to inspire others. Have an episode idea? Email us at storystruckpodcast@gmail.com, DM us on social media, or comment below.

00:16 Establishing Effective Writing Rituals
04:03 Exploring Writing Rituals for Fiction
09:21 Creating a Writing Ritual
17:41 Finding Time to Write: The Importance of Rituals and Support
25:35 The Struggle of Creative Time and Getting Support
27:39 The Importance of Rest in Creative Productivity
34:01 Navigating Consistency

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Be sure to follow us...
Rachel's Instagram: Instagram.com/authorrachelclair
Neno's Instagram: Instagram.com/Nenoswritersrebellion

If you have a suggestion for an episode, drop it in the comments below or email us at storystruckpodcast@gmail.com.

Ready to up your writing skills, find your author voice, or polish your prose to go from draft to done? Visit Rachel's website today for writing workshops, coaching, and editing services https://www.claircreativeco.com/

Want to actually start and finish writing your book (or have someone do it for you)? Check out Neno's book coaching and ghostwriting services at https://www.writersrebellion.com

🎵 Music Credits:
Special thanks to Michah Silverstein for our beautiful music. If interested in hiring his musical talents, he can be contacted at Micah@mechanimation.com