%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
A blog about my writing the epic saga and assorted thoughts. |
|
To start this blog…jumbled thoughts When I was in seventh grade, my teacher, Mrs. Banks, asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. Without hesitation, I said, “I want to be a writer.” She looked at me and said it would never happen. Never? Fast forward. In high school, I became editor of the school newspaper all four years—grades nine through twelve. Later, I earned a full scholarship to college because of my passion for journalism. So why was she so certain I couldn’t do it? Because at the time, my reading comprehension was poor. I couldn’t spell. My grammar was atrocious. I thank God for Mrs. Day my tutor. But what Mrs. Banks didn’t know—what no test score could measure—was that I had a gift for storytelling. I could hold a room captive for hours, spinning tales for friends and family straight from my imagination. That was my superpower. The best writing advice I’ve ever received was simple: Just tell the story. Write your first draft without worrying about spelling, grammar, or the “small stuff.” If you focus too much on perfection, the story itself gets lost. So that’s what I do. Even with all the modern writing tools available, I still write my stories the same way—heart first. The first draft is just me, telling the story as it comes. It may not be the way everyone writes, but it’s what works for me. Because at the end of the day, I write because I love to tell stories. And yes—my favorite stories always end in happily ever after. Someone once told me I must be a hopeless romantic because I’m obsessed with happy endings. They were right. My head is often in the clouds, and I like it that way. I don’t like nightmares. I prefer dreams filled with love, kindness, and a little magic. Because in my world, the story is everything. The story must be told. |
Reflections from the Writing Desk Once a month, the little bookstore downtown turns into something special—a gathering place for writers. Our author support group has become a kind of creative anchor for me. We trade pages, laughter, and the occasional sympathetic groan when a plot refuses to behave. Having these voices around me has carried me through more than a few rough patches while working on The Saga, Book One. There’s something magical about reading your own words aloud. Hearing them spoken gives them weight, breath, and sometimes even surprise. The group’s encouragement has been nothing short of phenomenal. Knowing they look forward to the next chapter keeps me pushing through late-night edits and tangled rewrites. Right now, I’m on Chapter 30 of what will likely be a 33- or 34-chapter book—my third full polish and rewrite. When this round is done, I’ll take a short break before starting again, this time with my eye on continuity. A recent story shift changed more than I expected, and now I’m tracing those ripples back through earlier chapters to make sure every thread aligns. I’m a methodical writer at heart. Scrivener is my lifeline—my map through the labyrinth. Without it, I’d be buried under notes and half-finished scenes. With it, I can see the shape of the whole story taking form, one chapter at a time. Writing a novel is a long, winding road. But every month, when I sit among those familiar faces at the bookstore and share a few pages, it reminds me why I started. Stories connect us. They always have. “If you’ve ever been stuck mid-draft, find your people.” |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
