Trying to keep up with my writing goals and aspirations while being a graduate student is difficult. I learned that very quickly last semester. Yet halfway through the second semester of my program, I’m still frustrated with my lack of progress. My frustration, I think, is partly because writing is a deep part of who …
Author: Madelynn Orion
Baptism: Ten Years Later
Ten years ago today, I was baptized. I view my baptism as the “start” of my personal relationship with Christ. I grew up in a Christian household and came to faith in Christ at a young age—an age so young that I don’t have much memory of it. I do remember, though, my baptism at …
February 2020 Writing Update
I’m back with monthly writing updates! As a response to my indecision in January, I’ve decided to proceed with Leah Pool’s saga. At the moment, I’m doing that by (slowly) reading through the existing drafts I wrote of the immediate sequel, Onward to Tryon. Similar to the reoutlining approach I used for The Queen of …
Book Review: Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson
Andrew Peterson’s Adorning the Dark is an artists’ retreat captured in book form. That’s the simplest and truest way I can describe its impact on me. Adorning the Dark is part-memoir of Peterson’s artistic journey and personal life, part-spiritual reminders for creative souls, part-guidebook for artists. The book isn’t just for your typical “creatives”—writers, musicians, …
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I’m Still a Writer
I didn’t write a single new book in 2019. Sure, I did edit two different novels. I created and plotted a whole new series. And this isn’t the first year I haven’t written a new novel. I didn’t complete a new one in 2017 either, and, in fact, I made more writing progress this past …
I’ll Be Home for Christmas…But What is “Home”?
Home has always been a complicated concept for me. Moving to new places every few years was a constant given for our family during my childhood. Because of that transience, I often longed for the days when I would be able to settle in one place for a long time. In particular, I dreamed of …
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Reading Recap: May – August 2019
Note: I would consider these reviews to be spoiler free. However, I do mention (in vague language) what I liked or disliked about each book/series. I also provide my impression of the ending (i.e. whether it satisfied me or not). Again, I don’t give any detailed or specific spoilers, but I wanted to place an …
September 2019 Writing Update
Fall is on the horizon and I can’t wait for the weather to get chillier! But, seeing as Texas is still in the upper 90s, I might have to wait a long time… Other than the colder weather, Fall also brings back two of my favorite things: football and school. Speaking of school, you might …
Writing for & Working With Young Adults: The Overlap
In recent weeks, I’ve written on how I’m pursuing of Student Affairs as my fulltime career (by attending graduate school first) over writing. Though focusing most of my time and energy on a career besides writing seems like it would conflict with my creative work, there are actually a few overlaps between my two professional …
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Hello, This is Me: Year 22
As I type this, I’m sipping my morning cup of coffee. It’s a daily occurrence for me, usually followed up by another cup in the early afternoon. The morning cup I usually have over (or after) a dive into God’s incredible Word. I like to save the afternoon cup for writing time. I entered my …
By Madelynn Orion 