So, I’m not a blogging expert. I just wrote an entire post and deleted it. Sigh.
It’s been more than a year since I last wrote here. I didn’t exactly forget about the blog, I just didn’t have (or make) time to write in it. That’s because a month after my last post, I began a new story. The idea came to me and I started jotting bits of it down, then it just kept coming and coming, and I kept writing and writing. I began getting up at 5am to squeeze in daily writing time before the kids woke up so that regardless of what happened during nap time, I’d know I’d at least gotten my writing in for the day. I finished the manuscript in December. Its working title is The Hideaway. At this point, I am editing it and sending it to readers. I’m much more confident in my abilities as a writer this time around. Writing that first manuscript taught me so much–I think I even learned more than I realized, because my second manuscript was much tighter and more streamlined even without me trying to make it so. It just came out that way. I think the first one was so incredibly wordy, I had no where to go but…well, down.

In my hopes of becoming a better writer and polishing this manuscript, I’m participating in my second fiction workshop class right now. It’s been fantastically helpful to be in the company of other fiction writers–we critique each others work, give feedback and suggestions, and generally have a lot of fun. I’ve also joined a writers’ group here in Birmingham. We’re all young mothers with little ones at home, and we fancy ourselves as writers. Actually we are writers–one even has a publishing contract (a traditional one, not an Amazon ebook–not that there’s anything wrong with that!) and a book coming out next year! It seems ludicrous for me to hope for the same thing for my little book, but oh I do!

My first manuscript, titled A Soft Place to Land, is still, sadly tucked under my bed. I hope it sees the light of day again, but I know it will require a LOT of reworking if it does. I have a soft place in my heart for that story, mainly because it was my first one that I actually completed, and it would be nice if I could make it into something lovely.

All that to say, I’m still here, and I will try to make it back here more often. I began this blog as a way to document my journey to publication, and it still is. I just have so precious little writing time these days with two very active children that any time I do get, I spend working on my actual manuscript, not the blog. But I’ll try.

Thanks for visiting!