It’s Okay to Rest
Sharla Fanous Sharla Fanous

It’s Okay to Rest

I’m tired today. In the middle of recovering from burnout, I’m learning to pay attention when my body says enough. Even when I sit down to write and the words won’t come. Especially then. This is your reminder that rest is not a detour, it’s part of the path.

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Yes, You Can Absolutely Call Yourself A Writer
Sharla Fanous Sharla Fanous

Yes, You Can Absolutely Call Yourself A Writer

You don’t need permission to claim the title. If you write, published or not, you are a writer. Here’s the story of how I finally believed that, and why I want you to believe it too.

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The Story Behind the Poem: “Here, in My Words”
Sharla Fanous Sharla Fanous

The Story Behind the Poem: “Here, in My Words”

People often mistake my stillness for coldness. But being autistic means my emotions live deep beneath the surface—far from the assumptions made at a glance. Here in My Words is a poem about peeling back the armor, expressing what’s too easily overlooked, and showing up fully—on the page, if not always in person.

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How to Start Writing When You Don’t Know Where to Begin: Gentle guidance for easing into your creative flow
Sharla Fanous Sharla Fanous

How to Start Writing When You Don’t Know Where to Begin: Gentle guidance for easing into your creative flow

Staring at a blank page can feel paralyzing, but you don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. In this post, I’m sharing 10 gentle, judgment-free ways to ease into your writing practice. Whether you're free-writing, mind mapping, or simply starting in the middle, there's no wrong way to begin. Writing doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be yours. And if you’re craving deeper support, I’ve created a cozy Writer’s Retreat Kit to help you reconnect with your voice and write from a place of calm.

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The Story Behind the Poem: “Unwelcome”
Sharla Fanous Sharla Fanous

The Story Behind the Poem: “Unwelcome”

In the quiet aftermath of my divorce, depression crept in like an unwelcome guest, uninvited but relentless. Some days, I couldn’t move. Other days, I wrote through the fog just to remind myself I was still here. In this post, I share the story behind my poem “Unwelcome” - a reflection on what it means to sit with pain, and how writing became my way of surviving it. If you’ve ever felt the darkness arrive unannounced, this is for you.

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When the World Stopped, I Wrote: A Memoir, a Missed Train, and a New Beginning
Sharla Fanous Sharla Fanous

When the World Stopped, I Wrote: A Memoir, a Missed Train, and a New Beginning

In March of 2020, I was supposed to take a solo writing retreat to Quebec City. A train ride, a quiet room, a notebook—just me and the words. But like so many plans that year, it never happened. What unfolded instead was something unexpected: I found a way to retreat inward, right where I was. This is the story of how a cancelled trip helped me create something even more meaningful.

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The First Poem I Wrote After 20 Years: A Return to Myself
Sharla Fanous Sharla Fanous

The First Poem I Wrote After 20 Years: A Return to Myself

After a nearly 20-year hiatus from poetry, I found myself in the depths of emotional despair, disconnected from myself and my creativity and unsure how to move forward. Then one day, I picked up a pen. What came out wasn't planned, polished, or perfect. It was honest. This post shares the very first poem I wrote after all that time, and how writing became a ritual of self-rescue, faith, and healing.

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The Ritual of Writing
Sharla Fanous Sharla Fanous

The Ritual of Writing

After nearly twenty years away from the page, the first poem I wrote came pouring out of me like a prayer. It felt otherworldly—like something sacred had cracked open inside. Since then, writing has become my ritual. A space to be vulnerable, honest, and whole. In this post, I share how writing became a spiritual practice, and how it might become one for you too.

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