Beautiful Books – Novel Update {NaNoWriMo 2016}

  What is this glorious thing I see before me? I think it’s a…HALFWAY MARKER. That’s right, Week Two of NaNoWriMo is nearing a close, and come tomorrow we’ll be halfway finished!!! HALFWAY, PEOPLE. Can you believe it? How are you surviving? Week two tends to be the hardest of NaNo as the excitement of week one fades into weariness, a dozen empty coffee cups, and the knowledge that the end is still far, far away. But once we get over that halfway hump, the rest of NaNo just zooms by. So if you’re feeling discouraged, DON’T GIVE UP. You…

Continue ReadingBeautiful Books – Novel Update {NaNoWriMo 2016}

Epic Music, Lots of Words, and Giraffes a.k.a My First Week of NaNo

BOOM! And just like that, we have survived the first week of NaNo! (Or am I the only one who has already exploded things in their novel? *cough*) But, GUYS. The first week of NaNo has happened. Are you still alive? Am I still alive? WHO EVEN KNOWS??? I’m pretty sure NaNo’ers are just mad typing zombies for all the month of November. Like, who even needs sleep and a healthy schedule? Pssh. That’s what coffee is for. SO. How is my NaNo going so far?? AWESOMELY. To say I’m having fun is the understatement of the year. I’m bubbling…

Continue ReadingEpic Music, Lots of Words, and Giraffes a.k.a My First Week of NaNo

Beautiful Books – More Gold than Sunlight {NaNoWriMo 2016}

Hmmm… Isn’t there something important starting tomorrow? Now what could it be? National Eat a Burrito Month? No, no. National Ride a Giraffe Month? Nooo. Oooh yeah. It’s only National Novel Writing Month. Psh. No big deal. ………………… NANOWRIMO STARTS TOMORROW HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE???? So…yes. Apparently NaNo begins TOMORROW. And guess who hasn’t really talked about her novel yet? This giiirl! In my defense, I’ve been super busy plotting it ALL. MONTH. Turns out plotting a finale to a 7-book series takes some time. Who knew, right? I only just finished all my plotting this week, so now I…

Continue ReadingBeautiful Books – More Gold than Sunlight {NaNoWriMo 2016}

Ten (perfectly logical) Reasons To Do NaNoWriMo

You may have noticed by the explosion of tweets and blog posts and writers screaming from the rooftops (from fear or excitement, not even we know) that NANOWRIMO IS COMING. I can hear you groaning, “Not more about NaNo. Are these people ever going to stop?” Now, now, before you run away in fear of catching the insanity, I have 10 perfectly logical reasons why YOU should join in on the craziness as well. Yes, you!   1.) COFFEE TIME ALL THE TIME Feeling guilty about that 5th cup of coffee you’re chugging down? Well, during NaNo, THERE IS NO…

Continue ReadingTen (perfectly logical) Reasons To Do NaNoWriMo

The Beginning of The End – NaNo, Dragons, and Nostalgia

(No, this is not a tragic post. I just like being dramatic. *grins*) October is heeere!!! The beginning of my favorite season. But while most people are out rolling in the fallen leaves and consuming pumpkin flavored eeeverything, I’m planning on hunkering down in front of my laptop with a cup of coffee (sorry pumpkin lovers, it’s not my thing. Shameful I know!). Why? BECAUSE IT’S MY FAVORITE SEASON. Oh, you thought I was talking about fall? Noooo. I’m talking NANOWRIMO SEASON. Because the last three months of the year are called: PreNaNober, NaNober, and PostNaNober. Right??? Psh. What else…

Continue ReadingThe Beginning of The End – NaNo, Dragons, and Nostalgia

Interview with Tracey Dyck

Do I have a treat for you guys today! Tracey Dyck is one of the most talented weaver of words I’ve ever met, one of the SWEETEST people in this universe, and just happens to be one of my very dearest writing friends. And because she and I live and breathe stories and words, we decided to interview each other about our writing lives. She interviewed me on her blog Saturday in which I talk about how I got my start in writing, give a peek of my writing sessions, and even admit to who my favorite character of mine…

Continue ReadingInterview with Tracey Dyck

My Step by Step Editing Process

I have this total fascination with seeing how people produce their books. Is it not the coolest thing ever that we ALL create our books a little differently? It’s just the best gleaning ideas from one another and trying new methods. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever written a story the same way twice. Sometimes I make subtle changes to a familiar process, while other times I completely throw out said process and try something drastically new. AND I LOVE IT. It keeps my interest in the story and helps me learn what works best for me. Who knows if…

Continue ReadingMy Step by Step Editing Process

In Which I (temporarily) Say Fare Thee Well to Editing

  Starting in January, I raised my supply of coffee and delved into *cue dramatic music* EDITING. Bum bum BUMMMM.* *You know this is an accurate response. Last year I turned my wee 20k word Beauty and the Beast novella, Burning Thorns, into a full out 84k novel. I’ve been meaning to write a Beauty and the Beast retelling since, like, the beginning of time or so. I absolutely adore retellings, I’m a total fairytale nerd, and B&B is my favorite fairytale. Obviously it was going to happen eventually. Honestly, I’m shocked I’ve only just now gotten around to it.…

Continue ReadingIn Which I (temporarily) Say Fare Thee Well to Editing

Fantasy: To Infinity and Beyond

Last week I listed 7 elements that always worm themselves into my novels. The most prominent one was fantasy. Pretty much anyone who even sort of knows me knows I’m a “fantasy writer”. I’ve been proudly wearing that label since I was 10 years old, after first seeing the Fellowship of the Ring movie and immediately pouring my life into writing one fantasy novel after the next. But what my little 10-year-old self didn’t know was that title of “fantasy writer” held so, so much to it. Back in the day, “fantasy” to me meant Lord of the Rings. Or…

Continue ReadingFantasy: To Infinity and Beyond

7 Elements I Love to Write

Today I’m joining in with a linkup hosted by Sky @ Further Up and Further In and Ashley @ Ashley Aspires called A Novel Idea. This is a weekly linkup to help writers stay inspired and look deeper into their writing life. You can learn more about it here or here. I won’t be joining in every week since, well, I only post once a week. Heh. But I really liked this week’s prompt. It got me thinking. I love questions that make me think. This week’s prompt is: Tell us about your writing style/what you like to write. The…

Continue Reading7 Elements I Love to Write