Tag: My writing journey
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Reach…
Today and on and on down the writing road, I am reaching for a lofty goal: finish draft one of novel two, while doing the heavy lifting of pushing novel one out of the nest. I’ll have to spend double time on both projects, lest one be remaindered to the bottom drawer of the desk…
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Misbehaving Characters…
More on character reveal. Imagine sitting in a lovely park, chillin’ to the chirping birds, rippling stream and smelly flowers turning to the sun’s warmth. Tart apple juice dribbles down your chin. A stranger sits on your bench (you’ve claimed it for a time). Maybe you engage in friendly conversation. Maybe you jot impressions in your notebook:…
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Character Reveal…
Deep into draft one of novel two, my main character cavorts and chortles in my writing closet. I don’t worry about quality at this stage. It’s all about populating a page with raveling words. Many revisions will shape them into a book for the reading public. Writing the first draft is like donning flowing robes…
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Leave It…
Leave it alone. Leave it on the page. Leave it behind. It can mean a lot of things. I have returned from an amazing writers’ camp in Sonoma County. The weather was predicted to be crisp, so I left behind summer tops and bathing suit, instead packing mid-weight layers. I’d left behind my knit cap…
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Write it Down…
I had a great blog post idea last night, at the cusp of slumber. I was perfectly comfortable, did not want to move, so I repeated the idea in my head to brand it on the memory part of my brain. “You WILL forget,” was a warning from some deep inner voice. Wisdom, no doubt.…
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What the Heck?…
Beta reading is a tough but necessary process on any publication journey. While staying true to your original intent, protecting your writer’s voice, and reminding your fragile writer’s ego that your work has a purpose and place, you must assess the value of every comment shared. Case in point; I have read through novel number…
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Inspiration Strikes…
I recently traveled to an area where wifi was not as ubiquitous as we’ve become accustomed to. Even though I’d downloaded some content to watch when “powering down,” as is my nighttime habit, I chose to hang with family instead. That media deprivation, combined with no computer or writing time led to a spark of…
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Saying Yes…
I’ve been practicing saying yes to things. I don’t always feel adequate or prepared, but in every case, the outcome is beyond my expectation. Saying Yes pushes fear aside and makes room for joy. The Joy of Djembe Drumming ensemble recently played at the Children’s Museum Houston in honor of Black History Month. When our…
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The Learning Years…
What time in your life you would declare the learning years? Personally, this present moment is deeply rooted in gaining new skills. Granted, without formal schooling and real lessons, these years would be muddled confusion. Decades of formal classes, managing life in general and reading shelves of books that educated, entertained and inspired, have prepared…
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Big Girl Pants…
I hate these baggy, grown-up Big Girl Pants. I’d rather be lounging in my jammies. Wrapped in well-worn flannel can make me feel like the status quo is where it’s at, where I want to be. But then why the heck have I been writing and rewriting a novel for years? Jammie pants will not…