To begin my series of Story Studies, I turn to one of the most beloved book series of the past couple of decades and one of the earliest fantasy works I encountered as a child. ~ My first encounter: My exposure to J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series was gradual. I did see the movies …
Continue reading Story Study: The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling
Three years ago on this very day, I completed the first draft of Our Company of Fools, my 7th full draft to finish. It is the book I never counted on, my accident novel. I spontaneously started writing it in the airport as I waited to leave a writer’s workshop, and after some minimal plotting, …
I’ve loved stories for as long as I can remember. Books were my childhood love all growing up, complemented by a couple of television cartoons and movies. My love of books made me want to be a published author, a dream I’ve cherished since elementary school. It also led me to become an English major. …
Last week, I returned from the One Year Adventure Novel Winter Workshop (OYAN WW). This week-long retreat-like workshop for adults who went through the OYAN curriculum usually serves as a time of refreshment for me, and my experience this year, my third time to attend, wasn’t much different. I left feeling encouraged, empowered, and inspired …
Continue reading On the One Year Adventure Novel Winter Workshop 2019
To ring in 2019 and celebrate all that 2018 held for me, here is the continuation of my songs of 2018. My hope and prayer is that you may also be encouraged by my personal story over the course of this past year and by the songs I’ve come to associate with each month. ~ …
I hope you all had a Merry Christmas! As the year comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on all that 2018 held for me. It’s certainly been a season of the unexpected, and yet through all of it God has worked and moved in my heart to draw me closer to Him. One way …
Learning how to receive critique well is one of the hardest things we must learn as writers, but I also think it’s equally important (and sadly glossed over) to know how to give a great critique. In the spirit of the gift-giving season and as preparation for my upcoming writers’ workshop, I’ve been reflecting quite …
Let’s be honest, getting feedback on your writing is sometimes the worst. Or maybe you haven’t experienced that feeling yet because the dread of receiving a critique keeps you from sharing your precious baby story. In either case, at times, we writers (especially newer ones) tend to fear, avoid, or even resent critiques. Critiques are …
On Tuesday, November 27, 2018, I typed the final words to the first draft of The Queen of Imagination, my slice-of-life middle grade novel exploring friendship, the adventures of childhood, and what it means to start growing up. It is the ninth book I’ve completed a full draft of. Loosely based off of my own …
Continue reading In Celebration of Finishing the Rough Draft of The Queen of Imagination
Life is messy and painful. Full of conflict and discomfort. Broken and, at times, difficult to navigate. But it’s also filled with family and friends and achievable dreams. It provides us with a purpose: living a good life. Lately, I’ve seen more of the conflict of life than the joy. Some days, it’s hard to …
