What Elizabeth Gilbert Said to an Empty Corner of Her Room — And Why It Changed How I Write
This Might Be the Permission Slip You Need
Have you ever felt like the best writing you’ll ever do is already behind you?
Maybe you had a piece that landed. A blog post that got shared. An email that made someone cry. A chapter that flowed out of you like it was channeled from somewhere else.
And then... nothing.
The next time you sat down to write, it felt like dragging concrete through a straw.
(Sound familiar?)
Here’s the thing nobody tells you about creative work: the fear of “peaking” is universal. Even among the most successful writers on the planet.
In 2009, Elizabeth Gilbert stood on the TED stage with an impossible problem.
She had just written Eat, Pray, Love — one of the bestselling memoirs of the decade. The book had been translated into over 30 languages. Julia Roberts was about to play her in the movie.
And everywhere Gilbert went, people told her the same thing:
You’re doomed.
They’d approach her at book signings, genuinely concerned, and ask: “Aren’t you afraid you’re never going to be able to top that? Aren’t you afraid you’ll keep writing for your whole life and never again create a book that anybody cares about?”
She could have accepted this fate. Could have let the pressure crush her.
Instead, she asked a strange question: What if we’ve been thinking about genius completely wrong for 500 years?
Gilbert went back to ancient Rome.
Back then, “genius” wasn’t something a person was.
It was a spirit that visited you — a kind of magical entity believed to live in the walls of an artist’s studio, like a creative house elf. When your work was brilliant, you couldn’t take all the credit. Everyone knew your genius had helped you. And when your work bombed? Not entirely your fault either. Your genius was just having an off day.
This wasn’t woo-woo nonsense. It was psychological protection.
It created distance between the artist and the outcome.
Then the Renaissance happened, and we decided to put the individual human being at the center of everything. Suddenly, YOU were supposed to BE a genius — not have one visit you.
And we’ve been crushing ourselves under that weight ever since.
Elizabeth Gilbert described a moment during the writing of her follow-up book.
She was exhausted. Stuck. Convinced the work was terrible.
And then she remembered what she’d learned — and did something that might sound a little crazy.
She looked up from her manuscript, directed her words to an empty corner of the room, and said aloud:
“Listen, you — if this book isn’t brilliant, that is not entirely my fault. Because you can see that I’m putting everything I have into this. If you want it to be better, you’ve got to show up and do your part of the deal. But if you don’t? The hell with it. I’m going to keep writing anyway, because that’s MY job. And I would please like the record to reflect today that I showed up for my part.”
That TED talk has now been viewed over 20 million times.
Here’s the simple lesson:
You are not the sole source of your creativity.
You don’t have to carry the entire weight of being brilliant.
Your job isn’t to BE a genius.
Your job is to show up.
When you stop demanding genius from yourself and start inviting inspiration by being present — consistently, imperfectly, stubbornly — something shifts.
The pressure lifts.
The words start to come.
Not because you’re special. But because you’re there.
I know this is true because I’ve experienced it myself.
Last weekend, I attended a writer’s retreat. Before we wrote a single word, the facilitator led us through a ritual: light a candle, deep breathing, and a guided meditation to quiet the noise.
Then came the writing prompt.
Now, this ritual wasn’t the same as what I teach in my Ultimate Inspired Writing Course — but it was similar enough that something extraordinary happened.
I wasn’t just writing.
I was communing.
One of my ancestors showed up. Not metaphorically. I could feel her presence, her voice weaving through my thoughts, guiding my hand across the page.
The writing flowed effortlessly.
No forcing. No “dragging concrete through a straw.” Just... receiving.
That experience reminded me that when we create the right conditions — when we prepare the space, quiet the mind, and signal to the universe that we’re ready — something bigger than us can come through.
(And no, you don’t have to believe in ancestors or spirits to experience this. Call it your subconscious. Call it flow state. Call it whatever you want. The point is: it works.)
The problem most writers face isn’t a lack of talent.
It’s a lack of structure.
A lack of a consistent practice that says to the creative spirit (or the muse, or your ancestors, or your subconscious, or whatever you want to call it): I’ll be here. Same time tomorrow. You know where to find me.
That’s exactly why I created The Ultimate Inspired Writing Course.
It’s not about forcing brilliance.
It’s about building a sustainable writing practice — one that invites creativity instead of demanding it.
I built the Inspired Writing Practice as a way to convene with my ancestors and guides, and it works!
In fact, it was this very practice that led me to create a side gig as an energy healer and psychic medium in 2020 (but that’s a story for another day).
Inside the course, you’ll learn:
• The 5-Step Inspired Writing Ritual – The exact morning practice I use to access divine guidance.
• Establish Clear Communication Channels – Connect with angels, guides, and your higher self.
• Work with Specific Divine Beings – Learn to communicate with Archangels and assign a Master Guide.
• Access Past Life Wisdom – Explore past lives and clear karmic blocks.
• Navigate Relationships – Get divine guidance on conflicts and difficult people.
• Create Protective Boundaries – Ensure safe connection with beings of the highest light.
And you’ll gain more than just creative inspiration. The Inspired Writing Practice will help you to:
• Shift from Fear to Faith – Move from anxiety to trust in divine guidance.
• Transform Decision-Making – Gain confidence through divine counsel.
• Heal Generational Patterns – Break karmic cycles affecting your life.
• Develop Inner Knowing – Strengthen intuition and connection with your higher self.
• Create Sacred Practice – Establish a consistent spiritual routine.
If you’re tired of waiting for inspiration to strike before you write . . .
Or if you’re looking to strengthen your inner knowing . . .
Then it’s time to build a practice that will transform your life
👉 Check out The Ultimate Inspired Writing Course here.
Question for You:
What's one small ritual you use — or want to try — to signal to yourself it's time to write? Email me back and let me know! I read every reply!
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