It All Started from Loneliness
+ Spain Retreat Is Filling Up Fast
Hi Friends!
Did you know that Heart of the Story (or HOTS, as my producer and I call it) turned 5 on Valentine’s Day?
Oh yes, HOTS has LOTS to celebrate: we’ve released 230+ episodes, including interviews with beloved and bestselling women writers like Catherine Newman, Maggie Smith, Abigail Thomas, Faith Adiele, Molly Wizenberg, Jen Hatmaker, Sari Botton, Sarah Fay, PhD, Jane Friedman, Emily P. Freeman, Tamara Belinfanti, Jenna Blum, Nisha Melvani, Heather Adams, and more! We’re embarking on year six with a star-studded lineup, and I can’t wait for you to see who’s joining the show!
How It All Began:
I started Heart of the Story during the pandemic because I felt desperately lonely as a writer and teacher. I used to perform my stories on stages, teach university classes, and present at conferences. When everything came to a halt, and I was alone in my home office, I wanted a way to share my work and connect with other people.
I had a stack of essays I’d written that hadn’t been published yet, so, with the help of my dear friend, Michelle Redo, who was a seasoned producer, I decided to put them out into the world via podcast.
In the early episodes, I would read an essay aloud, and Michelle would score it, so each one was a beautiful blend of words and music. Eventually, I added interviews to the show structure, and now, HOTS is a blend of my personal stories and discussions with renowned women writers.
As we embark on year six of Heart of the Story, I’m offering something extra special: I’m revisiting some of those early essays to give you the inside scoop about what was going on in my life when the story ideas came to me, how I approached the writing process, and how the pieces morphed over time to become the basis for my latest book, Come Home to Your Heart.
To prepare for this, I’ve spent hours walking around my neighborhood, headphones on, listening to the essays. What’s it like to revisit stories that were not only performed several years ago, but experienced even earlier than that?
Without giving away too much, I’ll say that listening back has been a wild ride. Personally, I see how I’ve grown in some areas of my life and how I’m still learning the same damn lessons in others. But, what has stayed true throughout all these years of writing and podcasting is that I’m so grateful I captured these moments and offered them up. I’ve never once regretted writing and sharing my stories.
So, every single month, I’m going to release an episode or two where I share an essay with you from the early years. Then I’ll reflect on it and give you the behind-the-scenes look at the personal and creative choices that inspired them. Remember VH1’s Behind the Music? It’s like that, but behind the writing. In case you missed it, here’s what has already been released:
And, if you’d like a highlight reel of the last 5 yrs, we’ve released a “Best of” compilation almost every year.
From my heart to yours,
Nadine
P.S. Our Tiny True Stories and Sketches retreat in Spain is filling up fast. We just announced it last week, and by this rate, I imagine it’ll be sold out by the end of the month, so if you're considering joining us, here’s your nudge from the universe. Retreats have been life-changing for Hallie Bateman, Molly Wizenberg, and me, so who knows, it just might change your life! At the very least, you’ll write some really awesome stories, create a sketch travel diary, be surrounded by jaw-dropping beauty, and meet some new best friends. Want to learn more before taking the leap?
I wrote about it in last week’s Substack.
In last Sunday’s Heart of the Story episode, I talked about how we’ll help participants build a sustainable creative practice.
I chat with Hallie and Molly in this upcoming Sunday’s episode about the retreat magic we’re cooking up and what’s helped us get unstuck when we’re blocked.
Nadine Kenney Johnstone is an award-winning author, podcast host, and writing coach. After fifteen years as a professor, she founded WriteWELL workshops and retreats for women writers. She hosts weekly Writer Workouts and monthly masterclasses for her beloved community (which is always welcoming new members). She has helped those writers publish countless books and hundreds of essays in The New York Times, Vogue, The Sun, The Boston Globe, Longreads, and more. Her infertility memoir, Of This Much I’m Sure, was named book of the year by the Chicago Writer’s Association. Her latest book, Come Home to Your Heart, is an essay collection and guided journal. She has been featured in Cosmo, Authority, MindBodyGreen, Natural Awakenings, Chicago Magazine, and more. She interviews renowned female authors on her podcast, Heart of the Story, and leads writing retreats internationally.