A few months ago I wrote an article about how frustrated I was with blogging.
You never realize when you start blogging how much work it’s going to be.
The frustration I talked about in my article was that blogging left me no time for anything else.
One of the main objectives for starting my blog was to connect with readers while writing a book.
I also wanted to teach readers to develop their intuition and share my years of experience with intuition, which I did, but somehow the main objective of writing my book got cast aside.
Earlier this year I was frustrated and frantic. I went as far as to contemplate closing down Powered by Intuition to make time for writing my book when I got an email in my inbox from Tom Bird that changed everything.
Tom Bird offers a writer’s retreat where he guarantees that you’ll write your book in 5 days.
I’d been on Tom’s email list for about three years and had listened to many of his teleseminars, but something had held me back from signing up. I’d held back because I was skeptical. I kept telling myself that I didn’t need a writer’s retreat to write after all I was already a writer, right? Plus, I also thought that five days couldn’t possibly be enough time to write a good book.
My intuition kicked in and something clicked for me in January.
I made the decision to go to beautiful Sedona, Arizona in March. It had finally dawned on me that I needed help. While I was very disciplined when it came to freelancing and blogging – doing all of that left me little energy to write. I realized I needed the space of five days away from everything to focus on one thing and one thing alone: my book. I decided to do it for me and I’m so glad I did.
Tom puts his years of experience to good use
Tom Bird is not only a great guy, but he has the experience of having written 18 books over the last 30 years to apply to the seminar. He has found a way to put you into a state where you truly connect with “the author within” and get into an amazing state of flow. While in this state your book just streams out of you at a massive rate. On the way to the seminar I was fraught with fears that I might not be able to get into this state, but I soon found out I had nothing to worry about.
Access to a zone where the words just flow
After Tom relaxed us and we got into that special zone the only sound was that of keys clicking on the keyboard – very rapidly. Everyone was writing at phenomenal speeds. It was incredible. The seminar exceeded all my expectations in every way. The clincher for me was when Tom instructed us not to go back and read anything until our books were complete and we began the editing phase. Putting off reading the book until it was finished totally alleviated any doubts I’d had that writing a truly good book had to take longer than 5 days.
The results were no less than astounding
I was blown away when I went back and read what I’d written. My first reaction was that it was good, and my second reaction was the stunning realization that I couldn’t remember writing it! Tom had us in such a deep state that the book felt as if it had been “channeled” through me, instead of written by me. This was by far the most awesome writing experience I’d ever had. I’d connected with this state now and again in my writing life, but never for this length of time and at will. It always seemed to come over me whenever it wanted, not when I commanded it to.
I cannot say enough good things about Tom or his seminar. You simply have to experience it for yourself. The five days just flew by and I left Sedona with the book I’d dreamed of writing for so long. My book, “The Intuition Principle,” should be out soon. I honestly wish the retreat had been longer – maybe I would have written two books. 🙂 I’m now truly a convert to the Tom Bird method.
In any case – Angie’s got her groove back!
I’m going back again to write book number two – maybe I’ll see you there?
Tom also has retreats coming up in Asheville, NC and Hawaii too, so you’re not limited to the Sedona location, but if you’re raring to go there’s still time to get into his June retreat in Sedona.
There’s also a stay at home retreat if you feel you just can’t get away:
Tom’s got something for everyone, so if you have a book in you that you need to give birth to I’d highly recommend that you take one of Tom’s Write Your Book in 5 Days retreats.
If you have questions leave them on the blog and I’ll be glad to answer them. Here’s another article you’ll enjoy reading written by an attendee who was at the retreat with me.
Do you feel that you have a book in you? Have you started writing it yet? How is the process going? If not, what’s holding you back?
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P.S. Dowload your chapter of my new book, The Intuition Principle right here!
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Hi again Angela, there was no place to include a reply to your last message higher up in the comments, so I am starting fresh here.
Thank you SO MUCH for the helpful tips about the retreat. I will keep them in mind as I prepare for the June session. My sister is attending too, so I’ll share with her as well. I’m getting really excited as I just received the information package from Tom this week. Counting down the days now….
I’ll be in touch after and let you know how it goes. And maybe we’ll meet f-2-f at a future retreat.
All the best with finalizing and bringing your book to the world.
BJ or Bonnie – I’ll answer to either. 🙂
Hi BJ,
Nice to “meet” you. I’m glad you’re back and that now I know your name!
Yes, please share the tips with your sister. The reason why Tom doesn’t encourage you to have an outline or a fixed idea of the book you want to write is because many people write different books than the one they think they’re going to write. I would stay open and allow the free flow experience to direct you, but if you do find that the book you intended to write is the one you’re writing while you’re there – having fleshed out the topics/outline before hand will definitely help. What I did when I found I was re-writing what I’d already written I would open up the list of subchapter heads and pick out the ones I hadn’t written about yet. Then I’d go back into the “author within” state and free flow on that topic from there. I wouldn’t refer to the outline unless you need it. Being in that state is pretty amazing and your writing has much more clarity. Okay, best of luck and have a great time – I look forward to hearing from you when you get back! Thank you for your good wishes about my book too!
Angie,
Writing a book is a major task and an awesome accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have done. I wish you nothing but success. As for the challenges that go along with life. We all get them but our best stories are based upon us making it through them. So now when things get tough for me I imagine this is the defining scene in a movie where my action determines if the movie ends and the viewers are disappointed or do I give them a grand ending with me walking off into the sunset. That is how my lame mind works. 🙂 Anyway back on subject. These seminars seems very informative and I am glad you shared them. Thanks.
Hi Frank,
Thanks so much for your good wishes. I really appreciate it!
I love your imagination! If it gets you to stick to what you’re doing and see it through – than it is working for you.
I love the idea of giving “viewers” a grand finale!
Angie, I got such a weird feeling when I read the first paragraph of your post as I just posted a similar one, “Out to Sea – To Blog or Not to Blog” in which I also bemoaned not being able to work on my book. Your Sedona retreat sounds like a wonderful springboard to get a book written though I doubt it would work for me. At the moment, my problem are books that are already written and need editing, not writing a new one. Currently, I’m wrestling with the problem of how to both blog and write, and combine with freelance work that sometimes means up to 16-20 hours work a day for a full week or more.
What does my intuition tell me? Not to give up blogging but to put my writing/editing first.
Hi Penelope,
I feel your pain! I’m in the midst of editing the book I’ve written and I’m finding it to be a long and grueling process.
I much prefer the writing part to the editing part!
Follow your intuition. Cut back on blogging but don’t walk away.
Blogging is very rewarding in the long run if only for the relationships you make.
Angela,
The title says it all: yay for getting your groove back..how is your groove best expressed by the way??
And I love Arvind’s suggestion..let’s all meet in Sedona. For real..lovin’ it.
The energy from your words is amazing..letting it soak in and inspire me. What creative project have I put on hold while allowing everything else space? hmmm…
Congratulations..celebrate…and thank you for sharing! Love every bit of it!
Hi Joy,
Yeah, I know I wondered if after I wrote that people might think I was picking up younger men! I think I’m just feeling a huge sense of relief and inner peace. I now know that I can write a whole book – and I will be able to do it again.
Thank you for your amazing support dear Joy!
Hi Angela, I am glad to have stopped by your blog today. The last two months I have felt the frustrations of blogging while attending to “Life”… I must say that I have learned about myself and as a result I am now on a journey to living in balance with my blog. Who knew that it was going to get this deep???
Anyhoo, I am happy to hear that this seminar has inspired you to achieve your goals as a writer. I am heading over to your previous post that you had mentioned in this article.
Thank you for sharing and be a resource for newbie bloggers.
Hi Ajen,
I’m so glad you found this post helpful. Thanks for your good wishes too.
Yes, blogging can be an all consuming task and take over our lives until we realize what’s happened and take back control!
So nice meeting you.
Angela, I’m very happy to hear that you have accomplished your goal, regained your confidence, and feel good about life itself. I’m very impressed with Tom Bird, he’s hit on something good, a real gem.
It seems that he used a number of techniques together here, namely hypnosis/NLP skills, the ‘Parkinson effect’ (only having five days to write the book), and the tunnel vision effect (not doing anything else except writing). Sometimes, using just one technique isn’t enough, we have to combine them to achieve the results we desire.
Best of luck with the future Angela 🙂
Hi Stuart,
Thank you. I appreciate your good wishes. Yes, you’re right – Tom is really onto something.
I actually cut my last statement off by accident…lol. I wanted to say that finding the time to blog and write and keep up with everything is very much like a full time job. However, it is so rewarding in the long run in regards to connecting to people, sharing and learning. I will definitely take many of your points into consideration for my journey…Thanks!
Hi,
Yes blogging is time consuming. You’d never know it until you decide to do it either.
Connecting with new people is the best part!
I’m glad I could be of service and that you got something out of this article.
Thanks so much for visiting and commenting.
I am so happy to hear you got your groove back 😉 I can really relate to some of the things you have stated that were a challenge in writing and what held you back.
Hi Kenya,
Thank you! I have to laugh when I hear that because I don’t exactly know how to show that I got my “groove” back.
Maybe I need to have a makeover and get a new hair do or something? LOL
I’ve always been a writer but making the time to actually sit down and write a book just never happened.
Hi Angela
You were thinking of closing down – glad you decided against it.
Guess it’s all about setting priorities.
Blogging is very time consuming and leaves time for little ewlse.
The amount of time needed was a big surprise when I started.
Well done on the rettreat and… good to hear that you have your groove back. LOL
Hi Keith,
I don’t think I could have closed down forever, really. it might have been for a couple of months at most. I was just that frantic about finding the time to complete my book. I enjoy connecting through the blog too much to walk away! I try to post twice per week and that is enough! Thanks for your good wishes!
Congrats Angela on your book. What a great accomplishment. I can’t wait to check it out and thanks for the recommendation. I would have never thought you could be free flowing enough to write an entire book in 5 days. Sounds like a great session you had with Tom.
Hi Sibyl,
Thank you so much! I’m not “feeling” it yet as I still have to finish editing, but I hope to get to that feeling of “It’s done – Yay!” soon!
I had a marvelous time with Tom and all the authors who participated in the retreat. I’d highly recommend it!
Angela,
Love you sharing your experience with everyone. You’re one committed woman and I can’t wait to read your book!
Hi Tess,
Thanks so much. I’m so glad I went so that we had the opportunity to meet. It was the best drive to the airport I have had! I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard since ! LOL.
Hope he appreciates the plug. Happy it worked so well for you.
Hi Roe,
I’m sure he does!
Wow! Sedona is the perfect spot to prepare and relax that’s for sure. I’m in a mental jam a bit myself with the end of high school wrapping up. I could use a retreat! Unfortunately my wallet is empty, lol. If I could afford Sedona I’d be there in a heartbeat! Maybe I could finally finish my book too. Good luck to you, relax and enjoy!!!!!
Hi Sheila,
Yes, it was the perfect place for the retreat. So beautiful and unlike any other place I’d ever been.
Here on the east coast we have lots green – there it was these beautiful earthy tones and the jagged peaks of the red rocks.
Thank you for your good wishes. I truly appreciate them!
I wondered what you were in doing in Sedona! Wow! Sounds like a great retreat. I’ll have to check out his website.
Hi Betsy,
I thought I told you I went to a writer’s retreat? It was fabulous.
I’d highly recommend it. Do check out Tom’s website.
Let me know what you think.
As you know, I recently decided to take a break from blogging because of the time it takes. Part of my plan during this sabbatical is to finally start my book. Thanks so much for sharing Tom’s seminars. This could be just the kick start I need.
Alex
Alex,
This is wonderful! I hope you do go. Let me know if you plan to.
I think you’d love it and really thank yourself afterward for taking the time to go.
We started writing at 8 am and went until 6 or 6:30 each day.
I wasn’t tired at all because I was doing something I loved. It was very intense.
This would be the kick start for sure!
Angela,
Cool story and it sounded like it was beneficial to “get away” from it all in order to focus on writing your book. I had heard of other authors like Neale Donald Walsch talk about how his books were like channeling and he was merely taking dictation so to speak.
What a great state to be in when writing a book. The words just flow out of your mind and onto the page.
I think I will do the retreat in Hawaii.
Justin,
Hi. If you can go to Hawaii that would be really cool. I don’t plan to go to that one it’s a bit far and bit more expensive but it sounds like it would be heaven. If you plan to go let me know, okay?
This is wonderful Angela! And yes, I can attest that indeed books can be written in 5 days. It is all about our focus and what we prioritize to do with our time.
As for blogging and all things online… I hear you on that too…. it takes a while to get into a rhythm where one doesn’t feel like their life revolves around it and there is life beyond the online world. With that too, I learned that focus and priorities are key. We can try to do everything that we are “supposed to” and try to be everywhere, but in the end it does not serve our greater good.
I think as with everything else in life, we have to know why we are doing things on a deeper level. Until we get serious and honest with ourselves, it can be like running around on a mouse wheel 😉
Evita,
You are so wise. I am learning to disengage from my blog – for my own sanity. It is too all consuming of a venture at times.
Doing everything the experts say plus trying to be everywhere is a sure path to burn-out.
You’re so right once I got clear about my initial purpose – again – I knew I had to go to Sedona and give birth to this book.
Thank you so much for visiting and sharing your wonderful insights with us.
Hi Angela,
I’m one who is certainly glad you hung in there and kept your blog going. I’ve often wondered if I could write a book, I might start out small with a fee ebook someday.
Hi Todd,
Thank you so much. Definitely start small with an ebook.
Try to get up 2 hours earlier each day and just write.
Don’t go to the internet, or check comments on your blog, or check email – just write and you could do an ebook in no time!
Hey, Angela,
Very cool! Yay for you and thanks for sharing. I found this all very inspiring.
When you talk about “He has found a way to put you into a state where you truly connect with “the author within” and get into an amazing state of flow.”, that’s exactly what I was thinking when you mentioned all the little clicky sounds of peoples’ fingers flying around the keyboards.
It can make all the difference to be in a supportive space with like-minded people, all doing the same thing. I’m quite the loner myself — which has its advantages — but am always amazed at the power of group energy when it’s called for. How very cool.
And hmmm, Sedona’s just a hop, skip, and a jump across the desert for me. It’s a beautiful drive and I could be there in hmmm, 8 hrs.? 😉
Hi Patti,
It’s so nice to see you here! I’ve missed you.
Yes, we all tuned into this deep state and the group energy helped us go deeper and stay there.
It was so wonderful. Tom used to do it as an 8 day retreat and I truly wish he’d kept it that way.
There were many people who drove hours and hours to get there – you could do it too!
Let me know if you plan to go – who knows maybe we could be there together. That would be fabulous!
I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS on getting your Groove Back!
You teach my example, – you share with us How to grow our intuition and share with us Reasons why we should, and… you listen to your own intuition and teach us do the same. What a brilliant story of you following the inner voice to go to this retreat and now you have your book written, and a path for the next book too.
Keep Following your dreams & intuition 🙂 it pays dividends!
Hey Aileen,
Thank you!! I did listen to my intuition and it said: GO to Sedona! As is said, I’m so glad I did.
Thanks for being so supportive Aileen. I truly appreciate it.
After I spoke w/you the other night something incredible happened.
Awesome! I’m happy and proud of you! Can’t wait to read your book. Sedona is an amazing place, I can imagine how beautiful it must’ve been to spend 5 days there, enveloped in your true passion! Congratulations!
Hugs to you!
Jane
Hi Jane,
thank you!
It was a dream come true.
5 days of nothing but writing.
Hugs back!
Woohoo Angie this is AWESOME! I’ve been feeling like blogging is taking up SO much of my time and leaving me very little time for focusing on writing a book as well. It just so happens that I’m going on a solo vacation to Sedona in October. Not for the writing workshop, but if the dates coincide I might consider it!
So glad to see you got your groove back. 🙂
This is great Angela! I always admired the theme of your blog on teaching others how to trust their own intuition. Sedona is such beautiful high energy place to connect and write. It is one of my favorite get-away spots to cleanse my spirit and get inspiration. Best wishes with your book!
Thank you Baker.
Sedona was gorgeous.
thanks so much!
Awseome Angela, I loved when I opened your page and read Angie’s got her groove back!
You have inspired maybe we can both go another time and I can write my Art of Change- I have always wanted to go to Sedona too.I am so looking forward to reading your book.
The retreat sounds like it was a wonderful gift that you gave yourself- congrats
with love
Suzie
Hi Suzie,
It feels so good to have finally written the book. I’m still editing it, but I hope to be finished with that soon too.
thank you!
Angela, great news that you’ve got your groove back! Is the world ready for you!?
Suzie – let’s all go to Sedona together one day:)
Arvind
That would be awesome. I think it would be such an inspirational place to be creative in.
Hi Betsy,
Yes, it was awesome to be in Sedona, although I didn’t have much time to sight see.
We were writing all day starting from 8 am!
Hi Arvind,
Thank you! I got my groove back and it feels good! LOL – I don’t know if the world is ready for me.
We’ll see!
Yes, it would be wonderful to all meet up in Sedona wouldn’t it?
Arvind,
Your post the Royal Couple was terrific!
@Angela, just came across this post through my Goggle Alerts on the Tom Bird Method. I signed up for the June session and am interested in hearing from others who have gone, so it’s great to connect with you. When I spoke with Tom, he said it’s better to write longhand instead of type. I couldn’t believe I could do it but have been trying it out the past few weeks and can write 1500-1600 words an hour now (still faster on the computer). Do most people write or type when there? Any pointers for me before I go?
@Arvind, hi from across the pond. Good to “see” you again. I think February was the last time we connected when you were launching your new site. If you decide to organize a group for Sedonna sometime, you could probably “twist my arm” to go back again. 🙂
Hi – I don’t advise doing any writing long hand. I found, for me, it was a huge waste of time to have to go back and type everything in that I’d written long hand. If you’re used to typing I would type. If you want to try it for a couple hours – do that but no more. You’ll write much faster on the computer too.
One more thing I’d do if you’re writing non-fiction is write out a detailed outline before you go. I found that giving myself topics to write about helped me a great deal. Without the outline topics I found I was just repeating myself over and over, but that’s just me. Tom advises against having an outline. I found it helpful to keep me on track though. Of course I also free-wrote and added a lot that wasn’t in my outline as well, which worked out beautifully.
Just keep the notes with you and if you get stuck you can always look at your outline and see where you might have missed a topic for the book. I wouldn’t advise laying it out the desk and going by it verbatim! It’s all in the flow.
(If your book is fiction – than maybe Tom’s idea of 100 percent flowing is best.)
I’m sure you’ll thoroughly enjoy your time at the retreat! Please come back and update me afterward.
Good luck! It’s a pleasure meeting you! (I’m sorry your name is not showing up here though.)