Writing
2017.
2017. I know three things about it so far: It will be the year my first book releases. It will be the year I move home. And, I hope, it will be the year that I rest. I think above all else, 2016 made me aware of how tired I feel. I’m not sure I’m…
Read MoreA Few Thoughts on Quitting Your Job and Going Freelance
A little over a year ago I quit my job at a publishing house and went freelance full time. Freelance writing, that is. Which has also meant some freelance PR and some speaking and some other ways that I found out I can be “freelance.” My overall thought on being a freelance writer is that…
Read MoreTurning 30 and My “Secret Soul”
This summer, I turned 30. In the weeks and days leading up to the big 3-0, I began to feel very contemplative about my life. Where have I been? What have I done? Where am I going? That kind of thing. I was also in a hard spot work-wise. I needed more hours but felt…
Read MoreCarry On Your Creative Way
OK, so you know how I wrote a book? Well, I just got a look at the cover! (Actually, two potential covers they are still tweaking, so nothing to show you…YET.) I had a feeling I would cry when I saw the cover. That feeling was right. As soon as I opened the PDF, I…
Read MoreWhat to Do When You’re On the Verge of Quitting (+ a book giveaway!)
The winners of the giveaway are…. Nicki Kennington! Erika! Diane Sanchez! Send me a message via my contact page with your mailing address, please! Thanks everyone for entering. I loved reading your comments! It’s been one of those months where I’ve wanted to quit all the things. Have you been there? Big stuff is…
Read MoreA Key Question on the Path to Finding Your Niche and Your Purpose
Remember that time I promised you a three-part series on How to Become a Freelance Writer and wrote part one and then never wrote parts two and three? Yeah, well, I’m finally ready to address part two: finding your writing niche. This is ironic considering the reason I’ve been dragging my feet on this post…
Read MoreThe Truth About Writing Books and Perfection
As I mentioned last week, I recently wrote a book. A dream come true. A freaking miracle. It’s about 65,000 words in its current state. Those 65,000 words are what I submitted to my editor. Then, there is a document hidden on my computer called “CUTS.” My dad told me about the CUTS document…
Read MoreA Big Announcement…OkI’llJustTellYouRightNow! I WROTE A BOOK
{Written on February 1, 2016, the day my book was due.} I wrote a book. I have been wanting to write that sentence, or a variation of that sentence—I am writing a book! I am thinking about writing a book! I sort of just started writing a book!—for the last two and a half years,…
Read MoreCreating from the Hard Places
I’m in a women’s class at my church on Thursday mornings. We’re studying the book Waking Up Grey, which is all about waking up your creativity. As I sat in class last week, I looked around and noticed several women crying. They were just sitting there, letting tears run down hardly wiping them away. They looked…
Read MoreHow to Become a Freelance Writer, Part One: Why and When Experience Matters
Lately, this is the most common question I get from readers of my blog: How do I become a freelance writer? For those of you I never responded to, I apologize. I’ve been planning on addressing it on my actual blog, so, here is your answer. In a three-part mini series I’m going to, as…
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