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We get to see the world through our own eyes and we get to participate in our own ways. The awesome part is that we also get to contribute what we see too. That’s the fun thing about writing; it can be all of that in one. Yes, there’s a lot of time alone putting words down on the page, but there’s time to share your thoughts during creation. There’s time to get feedback. And there’s time to gift all your hard work to readers around the globe.

And you know what, I found the perfect quote by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society that said, “We clung to books and to our friends; they reminded us that we had another part to us.”

And isn’t that it!

Writing alone and with others is the point. To help expand our perception just a little further than it was when we started. To explore new ideas even when they get under our skin. To take risks and have people right there next to us.

It feels right.

Writing communities feel right.

When it comes to writing, I think it’s important to draw from your interests.

It’s interesting; I was in class and I sat next to my friend; we even did a group project today. It was fun. I really enjoyed it. The thing is that the class project was so interesting that I didn’t have to think so much about the words I was using. I just shared and listened.

We go into our writing space and we pour our thoughts onto a page. In that moment when we’re pouring, it doesn’t matter so much what we say; it matters that we get it out.

These words aren’t supposed to be inside us forever.

They are supposed to be developed and shared with those who are willing to hear us out. When we draw from our interests, we are better able to pour the words out.

What are you interested in? Let’s see if we have some in common!

Great News

I just finished my first novel. It’s called Writer’s Quest: A Triptych. It’s an experimental fiction inspired by the triptychs that hang in Catholic churches. Just like triptych paintings have three panels that tell one story, Writer’s Quest has three distinct parts that tell one story. The art doesn’t end there; the story explores the metamorphosis of a woman who’s in search of her mom. So fun to read! Buy it here.

The process of writing my first novel has come to completion.

I had no doubt in myself for many reasons, but wow, that was a challenging process. Not impossible, but hard work. Now that I’m here, I want to share my biggest takeaways from the experience.

• Don’t share the story too soon.
• The rewrites are your friend, even when they feel daunting at first.
• Don’t over-edit. Maintain your voice and your vision.
• It took me a lot of discipline. That’s an understatement. Making tea and writing my evening ritual was a crutch when I needed it.
• Want it. I wanted it real bad. I still want it real bad.
• Have fun!

We all have our own takeaways. These are just a few that stand out to me tonight. I think I could write a book just on the maturity and growth I gained from writing this novel.

We all have our own takeaways. What did you take away? What’s missing?