Starting Out as a Pagan Author: Finding Your Voice, Your Path, and Your Readers

Beginning a journey as a pagan author can feel both exhilarating and daunting. Paganism is wonderfully diverse, spanning recon-structionism, folk traditions, witchcraft, druidry, animism, and countless personal paths. That diversity is a gift - but it also means writers sometimes wonder where they fit, what they can authentically contribute, and how to navigate an often-misunderstood genre. Whether you're writing fiction rooted in myth or non-fiction exploring spiritual practice, here are some grounding principles to help you start with confidence.

Know Your Own Path - Even If It’s Still Forming

Many new pagan writers worry they’re “not experienced enough” to write about their beliefs or practices. But pagan paths evolve over time. You don’t need decades of experience or a formal lineage to have something meaningful to say. What matters is clarity: What draws you to this path? What do you practice? What experiences have shaped your understanding?

Your writing will feel far more authentic when grounded in your lived reality. You don’t need to speak for all pagans - only from your own place in the tapestry.

Read Widely - Inside and Outside Pagan Literature

Good writing comes from good reading. Explore classic and contemporary pagan authors, but don’t stop there. Mythology, folklore, anthropology, environmental writing, poetry, psychology, and history all deepen your craft. Pagan writing sits at a crossroads of spirituality, culture, and story; the richer your input, the richer your output.

Reading widely also helps you identify what already exists and what gaps you might fill. Is there a missing perspective, a neglected deity, a cultural nuance, or a personal experience underrepresented in current books? That might be your opening.

Decide Whether You're Writing Fiction or Non-Fiction (or Both)

The pagan writing world embraces both.

Non-fiction requires honesty, transparency, and responsible sourcing - especially if you’re drawing from closed traditions, Indigenous practices, or historical material.

Fiction, meanwhile, allows myth and imagination to dance freely. Many authors discover their path deepening as they write characters who embody rituals, struggles, and spiritual questions.

Whichever form you choose, let your passion for the craft lead the way.

Build a Writing Habit Rooted in Ritual

Ritual can be a powerful tool for creativity. You don’t need a full altar and candlelit ceremony - unless that inspires you - but small practices help signal to the mind that it’s time to write. A cup of tea, a moment of grounding, lighting incense, or pulling a tarot card can all create a gentle transition into creativity.

Writing is a discipline, and ritual can be the structure that supports it.

Connect with the Community - But Stay True to Yourself

Pagan communities online and offline are vibrant sources of support. Joining groups, attending workshops, or following other pagan authors can offer encouragement and visibility. But remember: no single group defines the entire pagan experience. Seek connections that energise you, not those that limit your voice.

Embrace the Journey

The path of a pagan writer is, like all spiritual journeys, ongoing. Your understanding will change. Your writing will grow. And that evolution is part of the magic.

Start where you are. Write what feels true. And let your words become part of the living tradition.

Let us know how you got started on your writing journey below.