Writing as a balm for real life
I began this blog as a way to document my journey to what I hoped would be publication of my first novel. Things are good in that realm, and while I wait for the official okay to give more details about that, I need to write about something in my non-writing life, because of how…
Read MoreA little bit about rest
My children have an uncanny ability to sense the exact moment I try to squeeze in even a few seconds of rest. They know when I open a book, when I sit down with my (warm for the moment) breakfast, when I dare to prop my legs up on the ottoman. Mind you, I only…
Read MoreOn Life-Balancing and the Social Media Vortex
I have a very inconsistent relationship with social media, in all its forms. I love the people-stalking aspect of Facebook—it’s how most people relay information: new babies, weddings, career changes, what they had for dinner last night. I love the lack of status updates on Instagram. There’s no “your friend Sheila liked this,” followed by a random…
Read MoreTempering my Excitement (aka Good Things are in the Works!)
When I was pregnant with my first daughter Kate, I refused to register for baby things until I absolutely had to. I waited until I had a baby shower coming up, when I knew friends and family would want to buy us things we needed. I’m not sure I ever said it out loud to…
Read MoreOn dejection and preserving the light
I’m writing to admit something. I am in the middle of a significant writing slump. Although slump probably isn’t the right word. It’s a writing brick wall–but not writer’s block persay, because I’m not writing much. You’d have to be writing to be blocked. Maybe it’s more writer’s dejection. You see, I got The Hideaway…
Read MoreEmbracing the Chaos of Life
I’ve learned something crucial about myself over the last few months, and I think it all stems from writing. I have a very hard time letting myself rest and relax, even when my body (not to mention my mind) needs it. Starting in August, both my daughters have been going to preschool three days a…
Read MorePut it to bed (better late than never)
I’ve started querying again. But the difference is, this time around, I’m not running to the phone every time my email dings and I’m not waiting with suspended breath for those responses to come in. The first time around was exhilarating. When I got my first request for a full, I ran into the bathroom…
Read More“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor…”
I’ve just spent a whole precious hour of early morning writing time typing a few words and deleting them. Type, delete. Type, delete. Nothing is coming out the way I want it to. These days, it seems the only time I can get any clarity on what I want to write about is when I’m…
Read MoreQuerying
I’ve finally starting sending some query letters out! It’s exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. My goal was to have my queries sent by the end of the summer, so come fall I can concentrate on my new WIP. At least I’m on track for that. I think I’m going to send them out…
Read MoreSynopsis III (Yes, really) and my two cents on women’s fic
So the synopsis is supposed to be 1-2 pages, right? I have whittled this thing down from 4 pages to 2.5, and now it’s down to the *very last line *of the 2nd page! That counts as 1-2 pages, yes? Just kidding (partly.) Yes, it’s down to 2 pages, but I still need to tighten…
Read More