Who are you?
Hello, I'm Alicia M. Rodriguez, a writer, storyteller, and catalyst for personal growth. I live in the beautiful Algarve in Portugal. I write on Medium, Substack, and occasionally in online magazines such as Writerly. I also publish a newsletter. I have two published books, EveryDay Epiphanies: Insights for Living with Purpose and Manage Your Life Before Life Manages You: Most Joy and Less Stress in 365 Days. These books are personal development focused.
My current book is a memoir, The Shaman's Wife: A Mystical Journey of Surrender and Self-Discovery, publish date of September 10, 2024, with She Writes Press. The book is based on my eight-year relationship with an Ecuadorian Shaman and what I learned about shamanism, spirituality, and, most importantly, myself.
I also run transformational experiences and retreats in the Algarve for individuals going through a life transition or a life challenge and for creative entrepreneurs and visionary leaders who need to step away from the noise in their lives to rest, recalibrate, and renew the vision of their life and work.
What do you write?
Stories are essential to provoking insight and illuminating new and wonder-filled paths. In the tapestry of my life, threads of my Colombian heritage and American upbringing weave together. I stand as a storyteller, a guide through the domains of personal development, spirituality, and wisdom.
I tell stories that matter. Stories about the nature of what it means to be a spirit in human form. Stories about why we exist and how we can be better. I explore how we can reach our full potential – whatever it may be.
Through my books and other writing, I want to connect with others, share what makes us human, and inspire powerful change.
As a child, books were how I explored the world without leaving home. I found solace in poetry, whose rhythm and rhyme soothed my apprehension of feeling like an outsider. My imagination was limitless, and my curiosity about the natural world was insatiable. As I began to record my dreams and observations, I began to connect with a deeper understanding of the human condition and my place in this world. As a storyteller, I weave tales of resilience and redemption, inviting others to embrace their own journey of self-discovery and healing.
Writing is my passion. It has been like breathing for as long as I can remember. I intentionally designed my life to reside in a beautiful area, the Algarve of Portugal, setting the conditions for my well-being and creativity.
I write about what inspires me and what might inspire others. I don't avoid specific topics; instead, I focus on aligning my writing with my beliefs about life. It's not all serious! My writing, especially my poetry, can be playful and still initiate new possibilities for approaching life.
Where do you write?
Much of my writing begins during my morning walk on the cliffs overlooking Ferragudo, near where I live. In that environment, overlooking the expanse of the ocean and the azure waters reaching the horizon, my mind rests and opens, available to listen to whatever inspiration may reach me. I use my voice memo function on my phone to capture the words and ideas that arise.
Later, I transcribe what I've said, expand on the idea, and edit several drafts until they feel complete. My desk looks onto my patio framed with oleander and bougainvillea.
I have always kept a journal and write in the evenings before bed. My detailed account of my life in Ecuador made it possible to recall the events and emotions that made up my memoir, The Shaman's Wife.
When do you write?
I use my content calendar for marketing, essays, social media, and articles to keep my postings consistent. I set specific days, times and deadlines for these.
As a practice, I choose three words once a week and write something that includes these words within ten minutes. Often, this becomes a poem and the introduction to an essay. Sometimes it's just a shitty first draft and stays there.
For books, I'm a binge-writer. I will take days to write for as long as possible, or I may hide away in a retreat center or cabin in the woods without internet. I wrote the most challenging three chapters of my memoir at a retreat center owned by a friend because I anticipated needing to be in a place where someone would care for me.
Why do you write?
Three words come to mind when I'm asked what fuels me. Curiosity, awe, and wonder. Despite "adulting," I never lost my childlike sense of wonder. I have designed a life where I can be present to people and my environment, making me a keen observer of life, which feeds my writing.
I am insatiably curious about our human condition. That curiosity shows up in my twenty-five-year profession as an executive coach. My introverted nature enjoys observing. I ask radical questions that surface answers that have been hidden. I experience the world through my senses and can discern patterns and themes that others miss.
Artists and rebel thinkers inspire me. One of my favorite quotes is [missattributed to] Steve Jobs.
Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.
How do you overcome writer's block?
I recently wrote an essay about writer's block on my Substack, Nothing Is Ordinary. From Stuck to Inspired: How a Change of Scenery Can Reignite Your Creative Spark.
In this post, I suggest writers find a place to write that is NOT their office. Getting out in nature, participating in an activity or event, and writing about it are two ways to open the creative flow. I also have a unique practice on the cliffs when the muse eludes me. I choose a focus, and maybe it's three colors – blue, yellow, and orange. I actively seek out the colors in nature and photograph the flowers, plants, stones, or whatever I discover in those colors. Later at home, I set an alarm clock for ten minutes to hand write about the photograph and incorporate the color in the writing. It works every time. I have other practices as well.
Bonus: What do you enjoy doing when not writing?
I enjoy swimming or kayaking in the ocean when I'm not writing. I also love to travel and explore. If I'm traveling in Portugal, I pick a spot on the map and venture out with my dog, Sophie. Art and music inspire me. The gastronomy of Portugal invites experimenting with new restaurants and visiting wineries with friends. And, of course, hiking the cliffs only a few minutes from my cottage. (Yes, I live in a cottage!)
My thanks to Alicia M. Rodriguez for today's interview.