Priorities

One of the most difficult parts about being a writer – particularly an unpublished one – is giving yourself priority. It is so easy to dismiss your needs, because the only person who will know is you (and God. And your husband. And any other writers who might be holding you accountable.). But, the pointContinueContinue reading “Priorities”

Deep Dives

It’s been a few weeks. And if you don’t follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you have no idea where I went. I promise I had good reason for disappearing. In summary, I was doing a deep dive into my three main projects. And here are the results: Drawn Into Love: I know, I knowContinueContinue reading “Deep Dives”

Just a Snippet

Five Days. Three Goals. Finish the initial review of Picture of the Past (appr. 70 pages)Finish doing a deep dive breakdown of Drawn Into Love (appr. 275 pages)Get up to 60k words in my current WIP (10,778 words) That’s what I’ve been working on this week. So far I have finished #1, and not startedContinueContinue reading “Just a Snippet”

Facing My Book

Today, I am doing something in my writing career that I have never done before. I…am creating an outline. Yup. A book outline. As in, writing down the scenes, the purposes of the scenes, the character goals and motivations, etc. Basically, I’m creating the most epic spreadsheet ever to break this book down into theContinueContinue reading “Facing My Book”

Moving Forward

It has been three weeks since I got back from my month-long road trip, honestly the trip of a lifetime, and yes, I know this is my first blog post since. I knew that I would probably put off writing a blog post for a while, if only because I wrote one almost every dayContinueContinue reading “Moving Forward”

One Scene at a Time

Far more often than not, being a successful writer entails just getting your bum in a chair and working, whether you feel like it or not. Technically, I know this, and yet it is hard to force myself to do it. It’s just writing. I don’t feel inspired. I can always write/edit later, right? OneContinueContinue reading “One Scene at a Time”

All the Details

I AM SO EXCITED! Okay. I tried typing the opening to this post like five times yesterday and I couldn’t figure out a sophisticated, professional way to open it without being boring and still expressing how I feel right now. So, I finally decided to just be honest, even if it looks too sappy orContinueContinue reading “All the Details”

Traveling the California Trail

I don’t remember when I first became fascinated with the Oregon/California trail, but it has been an ingrained interest for possibly decades. One of the very first full book ideas that I came up with after I decided I wanted to be a writer (around 8-years-old) was that of a rich, entitled girl whose familyContinueContinue reading “Traveling the California Trail”

Finding Raspberries

“Raspberries! Raspberries!” The general cry of delight was enough for Papa to stop the suburban on our way to town so that we could scramble out. Living deep in the forest, an hour or two from any civilization, had its perks. If you have never experienced a wild raspberry plucked straight from a bush inContinueContinue reading “Finding Raspberries”

Moose and POV

It was pitch black as we bumped our way slowly down the dirt road. My parents peered carefully out the windows for any unexpected wildlife as we weaved deeper and deeper into the woods towards our little cabin. But when the brakes screeched, it was not for the deer, rabbits, or even bears that weContinueContinue reading “Moose and POV”