401: How Do Writer Friendships Make the Creative Journey More Sustainable?

Guest Hurley Winkler is a writer and editor from Jacksonville, FL. Her newsletter, "Lonely Victories," is among the top Substack publications in the Literature category. She teaches creative writing at Flagler College. Summary

In this episode, I speak with writer and teacher Hurley Winkler about journaling, creative practice, and building a sustainable writing life. Hurley traces her path to writing back to childhood anxiety and early journaling inspired by Harriet the Spy, and describes how writing eventually became her preferred independent art form after early interests in theater. She discusses her work as a writing teacher and how her philosophy balances encouragement with challenge while meeting students where they are.

A central focus of the conversation is Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, Hurley once interviewed Julia Cameron, including morning pages, artist dates, and creative accountability. Hurley shares how working through the program — especially with partners — helped her cultivate courage, clarify goals, and move forward with major creative and life decisions. The discussion also explores resistance, practical strategies for writing through it, and the value of containers like timed sessions and word counts.

Finally, Hurley also reflects on leaving social media due to its addictive nature, how that decision led to an ADHD diagnosis and treatment, and how reclaiming attention is an ongoing process. Throughout, she emphasizes writing community, "lonely victories," and the importance of writer friendships in making the creative journey less solitary.

The critical takeaway

Writing may produce "lonely victories," but building writer friendships and community makes the creative journey more resilient and sustainable.

Referenced

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

Website: https://hurleywinkler.com/

Substack: https://lonelyvictories.substack.com/

The language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie