A Writer’s Truth

“Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with it is a toy and an amusement. Then it becomes a mistress, then it becomes a master, then it becomes a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster and fling him to the public.” – Winston Churchill

I can’t believe how accurate this quote is. I feel like I’ve only read Churchill in school and I don’t remember much about him, but this feels very on point when it comes to novel writing. I didn’t realize the level of commitment it took to write a novel, and what’s strange is I’m still here, still writing, and I still want to do it again and again. Maybe I’ll be faster next time. Maybe not. But I’m here for the long run. And I hope it continues to bring me life, or in other words, adds to it.

I’m a writer. How about you?

Rest and Reset

“It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: what are we busy about?”
Henry David Thoreau

I’m feeling very restful today. I’ve had zero caffeine and read books, letting myself flow through the day. I’m juggling a few things but taking my time with all of them. With my 40th birthday coming, I’m tired of rushing around. I want to take my time, and I want to be intentional about the things I sign up for. With the new moon here, I felt that it was the perfect reason to rest and reset my mind and my emotions.

If you had permission to move at your own pace today, what would shift?

Writing Rules I Live By

“I have advice for people who want to write. I don’t care whether they’re 5 or 500. There are three things that are important: First, if you want to write, you need to keep an honest, unpublishable journal that nobody reads, nobody but you. Where you just put down what you think about life, what you think about things, what you think is fair and what you think is unfair. And second, you need to read. You can’t be a writer if you’re not a reader. It’s the great writers who teach us how to write. The third thing is to write. Just write a little bit every day. Even if it’s for only half an hour — write, write, write.” – Madeleine L’Engle

This is my daily life on paper written by somebody else. Madeleine L’Engle wrote several books including, “A Wrinkle in Time.” I journal, read, and write. Sometimes I don’t give myself time to read, but I know I feel better as a writer after I read. It’s like reading unlocks the part of my brain that closes when I’m focused on the responsibilities of life.

Do you live by these rules as a writer?

A New Journal

“Isn’t it mysterious to begin a new journal like this? I can run my fingers through the fresh clean pages but I cannot guess what the writing on them will be.” – Maud Hart Lovelace

It’s interesting, I just wrote about how it feels to think up the first few words when you start a novel. Now this quote, this quote is different because now we’re talking about starting fresh on a journal. Starting a new journal is like opening presents on Christmas. You crack that cover open and you get to pour more and more thoughts into the world. It’s way less pressure for me. I don’t do anything special when I journal. What I mean by that is that there aren’t many rules when I journal. No having to stay in the lines. I mean, I try not to ramble too much about things other than writing, but that still leaves me with plenty to journal about.

I just started a fresh journal in June. Do you still use paper journals? Do you journal?

A Delicious Life

“There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they’ll take you.” – Beatrix Potter

I started following Florence Given on IG, and I adore her. She uses the word delicious when referring to things that bring us joy, even outside of food. So when I saw this quote, it lit my fire.

I’m fully invested in having a delicious summer; I hope it flows into the fall.

Writing those first words of your story is a completely different place from where you finish. It feels like it’s been forever since I started this novel. ::deep sigh:: The editing process is long and comes with as many ups and downs as a marriage. But I deeply enjoy the connection I have to this novel.

This novel is a commitment that makes me feel purposeful and self-expressive. It makes me feel free, loved, and delighted. (Wow, that went full circle fast.)

Stop villainizing your desires!

Candlelit dinners with deep conversations and a man who knows deep in his gut that he’s better off with me.
A book where I am free to express all those different aspects, universal and deeply personal.
A place where I get to take myself to the depths that others have no interest in knowing.

Yes, all delicious. All part of the life I absolutely love waking up to every single day.

What are you dreaming of that you have been denying yourself lately? Or what did you finally take the time to enjoy?

Richness of Friendship

“A good writer possesses not only his own spirit but also the spirit of his friends.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

I hope my friends see themselves in the person I’ve become and in the words that I write. I don’t get out much these days, but I do love my friends dearly. There’s a writer I forget who it is, but when I find him, I’ll share a quote from him who loved friendship more than romantic relationships. Friendship really does give you perspective in life. The good ones, at least, dare you to give up the narrow views you hold in exchange for a more expanded view. And if the relationship allows, you do the same for them. Life truly is richer with friends.

How a WiFi Outage Inspired My Writing

My WiFi went down this week, and honestly, that’s the longest this home has been without WiFi ever! I’m telling you this because I had to write midday, and wow, did it feel great! A different type of writing comes out of me midday with a piping hot cup of Joe next to me. If you haven’t noticed, I am quite ritualistic, but since summer has started, I’ve been able to play around with my blog in new ways. Writing at different hours, sharing a good morning post to connect on a positive note even if our days aren’t feeling so positive—I like it when someone tells me good morning. It just makes me feel better.

So do me a favor:

Switch up your writing routine.

Try doing something a little different with your writing routine let me know how you feel. Do you hate it? Love it? Did you get any new ideas?

The Vast World of Writing

You can say you’re a writer but once you dive in, it may take time to find your place.

There’s many ways for writers to thrive. Not all writers write books and articles for newspapers. Some writers write movies or radio shows. Some writers write blogs or website blurbs. Others write comic books or greeting cards. Some writers edit. All of it matters.

It’s hard to sum it all up in a paragraph so here’s a list.

  • Technical Writer
  • Copywriter
  • Novelist
  • Blogger
  • Freelance Writer
  • Journalist
  • Screenwriter
  • Journaling
  • Songwriter
  • Columnist
  • Grant writer
  • Magazine writer
  • Comic book writer

No matter which path or paths you choose, if you’re writing, you’re a writer. And the world needs your voice.

What kind of writer are you or do you hope to be?

Still finding your place? That’s welcome here! What’s one writing form you’re curious about?

I Signed Up to Be a Writer, What I Didn’t Know is…

I signed up to be a writer. What I came to learn is that the writing world is vast. Well, it felt like it grew and grew as I learned more about writing over the years.

I’ve dabbled here and there, but after experimenting, I’ve found my place in the world of novel writing, and I’ve been here for a few years now. I like it mostly because I think it fits my lifestyle best. I can twist and turn and pivot as I please. I can speed up and slow down. I can rewrite a million times, which doesn’t always feel good, but the fact that I can is liberating for me.

Before all this, life always felt so fast and big and requiring more of me than I preferred to give. I think it’s still all that, but now that I have my writing space, the world can be whatever it wants. In writing, I can fight, revolt, and use my voice to empower myself and eventually those around me. Writing, not as an escape but as a place to process situations and  better connect with the world around me.

Writing is my place in the world.

Have you found your place in the writing world?

Journey to Peace

“Peace is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time.” -Lyndon B. Johnson

This quote is the perfect follow-up to my last post, Solitude is a process. I have a Sunday Solitude that has been developed for years into a day that gently flows me back to myself. When I tell you that everything is trying to tear you away from your most important connection, I mean everything. We have to set time aside to nourish our mind, body, and soul. Some of us have spent years learning to set boundaries. We spend time finding hobbies and making sure we nourish ourselves with good, healthy things. Now it’s time to incorporate that peace you worked so hard for into your solitude. If I had to find simpler words to explain what solitude brings you, it’s growing peace.

Do you take intentional solitude? Beach, nature walks, candlelit baths?