Creativity
Writing Circles: The Remedy for Creative Loneliness
October 27, 2026
— CHRISTINE SPARACINO
Hosting the first month of Silent Studio left me with jitters. I was pinching myself the whole time. I’m really doing it! Can you believe it? Excitement and anxiety swirled together, and my hands shook each time I started the virtual session.
Over the four weeks, my nerves settled (a bit), and I felt like I deserved to host the creative circle. While rationally I know that I am qualified to be a good host, emotionally I had some wobbles.
Being on the sidelines is comfortable for me as an introvert. I may have ideas and a desire to lead, but my natural tendency is to let others step up. Over the years, my introversion and sensitivity kept me over-thinking and postponing action.
Does that ever happen to you? You have a dream, and one day you step into it, but you're still terrified?
When I decided to leap and launch Silent Studio in a matter of weeks, there was no clear plan. Instead, I witnessed how Lauren Sapala held the creative space, figuring I could recreate a similar experience.
As I opened the first session, my palms were sweating. Suddenly I was the facilitator. Doubts flooded my mind. Who was I to hold the space? Did I have enough credentials?
Then somewhere along the way, my anxiety eased up. Instead of feeling pressured to create magnificent meditations top open each session, I spoke from my heart. I settled my mind and connected to my intuition, remembering that I know the pitfalls of a creative practice.
I have held a dream of hosting virtual groups for a reason - because it is in my true nature. I was made to hold space and to offer encouragement to others.
In moments, I quieted myself, remembering that I know what to say. A small voice says, “You’ve got this.” I choose to lean into that part of me, rather than the other parts that feel unqualified and afraid.
Writing circles work for me. Creativity and writing can feel lonely - you create something, and if you dare to share it with the world, you wait for the reception. Will people like it? Will it resonate? What will the feedback be?
Over the years, I have written alone, romanticizing the process by going to coffee shops, creating playlists, decorating writing notebooks. All of these activities helped my process, but a writing circle is the alchemy that breaks through the loneliness.
When you write and create with others, silently but together, you remember that you aren’t the only person with a dream to make something. Your dreams don’t seem as fantastical because you are surrounded by others with a similar dream.
Over time, you see the familiar names and faces show up in the zoom room. No matter how many miles separate you, you are together, spanning time zones and continents.
Practically, a creative community becomes an appointment on the calendar, just like other events. I like to think of it as a date with the group and with Creativity. I may not know what I will work on. Sometimes I stumble in, bleary from insomnia.
When you show up consistently over time, whether in real life or a Zoom room, the consistency builds and creates momentum for your creative projects.
Some days I write many words. Other days I journal. Some sessions are for edits and rewrites. It doesn’t matter. I have found my community and I no longer feel alone.
Are you looking for a creative community? Does writing feel lonely for you? Check out Silent Studio and see if it would fit with your schedule. Doors are open for November, with our first virtual session on Monday, Nov. 2nd.
Dr. Christine Sparacino, licensed psychologist, creative coach, and author, is the host of Silent Studio. With over 20 years of experience as a therapist, she specializes in helping people quiet their inner critic and move past creative blocks. She’s the writer behind A Life Fully Alive, a Substack of 60+ essays exploring mindfulness and embodiment, and brings that same reflective, grounded presence to hosting Silent Studio each week.
