My Musings.

“Just Write!” Sometimes It’s Easier Said Than Done.

“Just Write!” Sometimes It’s Easier Said Than Done.

After a successful #NaNoWriMo2019 I found myself not wanting to write anything at all. For a little over a month, I was mentally checked out. Even trying to write morning pages had even become a challenge. My goals for 2020 were looming overhead like a dark cloud ready to burst open at any moment. I wouldn’t call my condition writer’s block, it was more like “writer’s pain.” Writer’s Pain. The act of writing had become painfully tedious to the point…

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The NaNoWriMo Journey: A Month of Feverish Writing

The NaNoWriMo Journey: A Month of Feverish Writing

Today is December 5th, 2019 and NaNoWriMo has long been over, but my brain had turned to mush. My original plan was to have this written and published by December 1st, but alas here I am. If you can’t tell by the extra-large photo posted above, I was a winner! I wrote 50,026 words by November 27th. Sadly I was at the office as I typed the winning words so I had to keep my excitement to a minimum, but…

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If You Write It, It Will Be Read. By Someone, Right?

If You Write It, It Will Be Read. By Someone, Right?

#RealityWrites I am going to start this with a quick note on why this post came to be. I am on day 30 of the #RealityWrites challenge; details of which can be found at https://www.theliteralchallenge.com/ I wanted to present to you the reader day 30’s submission. This challenge has been an eye opening experience. One in which I have learned so much. I hope the following is helpful to any new writer and veterans alike. #RealityWrites Brief #30 On a…

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Chili Chili Bang Bang!

Chili Chili Bang Bang!

This is a homemade chili recipe that I have improved and tweaked over the course of the past 12 years or so. My husband prefers it to be served with just Saltine Crackers and I like to add a little Aardvark hot sauce and a dab of sour cream. If you are adventurous you can choose to top the finished product with a little sliced avocado, chopped red onion, cilantro, and freshly shredded white cheddar cheese. Consider this a choose…

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Is This Real Life?

Is This Real Life?

Tomorrow is October 1st, 2019. Tomorrow is day one of the 31 day #RealityWrites challenge. Each day a non-fiction prompt will be given and we the participants have 36 hours to post a complete and original submission. This challenge is exciting for me and I cannot wait to dive in. Most of us are creating daily works of non-fiction from email responses, Facebook posts, to Instagram photos and more. With each post we have a story to tell about ourselves….

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Closing in on the First Draft Finish Line!

Closing in on the First Draft Finish Line!

Yesterday I printed out all 119 pages of zero-draft onto size 8X11 paper and placed the pages into a three-ring binder. I am 100% positive that I am at the point where this step was necessary. My manuscript is ready to go through the first steps of editing. Wow! I know there are many things that need finished, like the last chapter. And there are things that need to be tied together and cleaned up. I am pretty sure the…

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Have You Ever Seen It Rain?

Have You Ever Seen It Rain?

-Words that is?- I am coming up on my final day of August NaNoWriMo and I still have about 5,000 words to go. This challenge has been super tough and exhausting. Who knew writing each and everyday can literally exhaust you? Now that I seem to be closing in on the finish line of NaNoWriMo I am almost 100% certain that the 50,000 words I have almost written will not complete my first draft of the first book. However those…

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Not Quite NaNoWriMo: My Month of Writing 50,000 Words and Why.

Not Quite NaNoWriMo: My Month of Writing 50,000 Words and Why.

NaNoWriMo = National Novel Writing Month. It was founded by Chris Baty in 1999 and has taken off from there. The goal is to write an entire 50,000 word novel over the course of 30 days. Sounds completely insane…right? Well, about a week ago I decided that I wanted to get in on the NaNoWriMo bandwagon and quickly realized that the actual camp occurred in July and November. At first, I was a little disappointed that I would have to…

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Project Research: The Agony of Alice.

Project Research: The Agony of Alice.

If you find yourself struggling to write dialogue, creating interactions between characters, or just setting a scene then you may find yourself wanting to just give up (I have found myself in that same position….not seriously thinking about it, just feeling defeated). Don’t ever quit! The first thing you should do is start looking for a book that is somewhat in the genre you are writing in and just read it. Research is so important while writing your first or…

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Is Your Well Empty?

Is Your Well Empty?

Often I find myself going to a specific blog because it has information I am seeking. Maybe it even brings inspiration and motivation; which brings me to the topic at hand: filling your creative well after its stock has been depleted. Keep in mind I am not a master writer. I am relearning the craft after a long hiatus. As a kid, teenager and young adult I wrote daily. I craved writing. I had notebooks filled to the brim with…

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