My Reason for Having Vanished...

I know it’s been a long while since I’ve posted here. Life has been a pretty huge journey the last 6 years, and I’d lost my drive for most anything creative (particularly writing). I was trapped in a 30 year narcissistic marriage that had sapped everything creative out of me. My healing journey after having gotten out has been tough, but I am getting there.

Awaken, as you might remember, was on Amazon’s Kindle Vella program but they shut their platform down a while ago. I didn’t keep up with it and allowed it to go out of the market.

I’m reviving it from the dead and have been hard at work editing it along with creating interior illustrations. I plan to post teasers on my social platforms.

A little something… I am also healing on the softer side of things and am determined to make a double of most of my books with spice. I am telling myself that it’s healthy to explore this side of myself. So, there’ll be a clean version and a spicy version of Awaken. I will release the clean version first.

Enjoy Awaken's book trailer (I need to update the cover and platform)! 

What changes have you experienced since covid? Has it impacted your creative streak? What projects do you have brewing?

 

IWSG: Inspiration and Freedom

click on image to join other IWSG writers!

IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

 Thank you, IWSG co-hosts for the July 5: PJ Colando, Kim Lajevardi, Gwen Gardner, Pat Garcia, and Natalie Aguirre!

Here is July's optional question - 99% of my story ideas come from dreams. Where do yours predominantly come from?

JoshuaWoroniecki@Pixabay.com

My daughter shares the same avenue for her story-writing as the author of this month's question. As for me, all my stories are borne from inspiration imagined by scenarios from snippets of movie scenes, someone giving a talk, a person's appearance, an emotion that creeps up on me, an old building--anything... Sometimes my brain will compile an entire scene or image, and I build the story around that.

On another note, July is Independence month! Celebration for independence comes to us in many ways. Life has taken a crazy but good turn for me, and I find myself with a new set of wings that are taking me higher than before.

Andrew@Pexels.com

Sometimes we recognize what holds us back, and it takes special power to cut that part out despite the painful process.

I've noticed a trend in my writing: everyone therein fights for freedom in one way or another, it's fascinating.

One story that stands out is Awaken: A Love Story, where Daemos is thrown into the thick of ugly and finds N'reena recognizes it for what it is. Running away together isn't easy, but there's no turning back...

Please celebrate with us how freedom must be won against the dark secrets that rule their society!

What about you? How does your inspiration visit you? Do you have the original ideas that sparked a best-seller? In what ways are you celebrating Independence Day if at all?

IWSG: When the Well Runs Dry

click on image to join other IWSG writers!

IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

Photo by Josh Kahen @ unsplash

The past month or so I've been finding motivation for writing difficult--this includes blogging!

I remember when I hit a wall over ten years ago while writing one of my books. It lasted a good few weeks! I had decided to help other writers out by critiquing, touting for them, encouraging them on their various platforms, including their blogs.

Photo by Daniel Kux @ pexels

I also read books that involved my genre along with watching movies until one day, I felt inspired again.

This time, I've only helped one writer with copyediting, but I haven't felt the desire to read or watch movies in the same genre as my current work in progress. I was hoping I would feel inspired but it's been so difficult! I think I might be depressed.

What do you do when your writing well runs dry?

Don't forget!

May 4th was the IWSG's latest anthology, Dark Matter: Artificial!

The stories are surprising and intriguing. What a wonderful collection!

My story, Resurgence: Living in a peaceful community, Damarin encounters a trail of inexplicable anomalies and is afraid to reveal his concerns for fear of retribution, until he follows an unsuspecting neighbor through a secret portal.

Photo by radityawijayaadi @ Pixabay

Please be sure to follow our tour!

May 4 – Laura Billings
https://bookishequestrian.wixsite.com/mysite/post/dark-matter-artificial-an-insecure-writer-s-support-group-anthology


May 4 - Jemi Fraser
https://jemifraser.blogspot.com/2021/05/dark-matter-releases-today.html


May 5 - Ellen Jacobson
https://ellenjacobsonauthor.com/2021/05/05/writing-update-plus-dark-matter-artificial-release-iwsg/


May 6 – Mason Canyon
https://masoncanyon.blogspot.com/2021/05/dark-matter-released-this-week.html


May 7 - Louise Barbour
https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/

May 10 - Nick Wilford
http://www.nickwilford.com/


May 12 - Cathrina Constantine
http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com/

Get your copy of Darkmatter: Artificial!

Digging into *this* Writer's Brain

I’m not going to talk to you today about quick secrets of success, or how to write the perfect book. I’m going to share with how believing in myself changed my life as a writer.

It all started in 4^th grade with poetry assignments. I was terrified to come up with words that rhymed, much less read them aloud in class! I honestly thought that would be the end of writing assignments. In 6^th, we were given a bound book with blank pages to fill up with a short story. The mountains suddenly stretched tall into the vast skies in my little brain, and the world of novel-writing was born.

I fell in love with fantasy in high school as most young kids do, though reading was something I did not like. The reason for that was my mind would wonder as I read; I failed most required reading tests. At 17, I started my first book, a high fantasy novel about an elf who had lost her sense of self through the evil sorcerer who destroyed an entire nation. I completed that 700 paged novel by hand 8 years later.

Knowing What to Write in a Blogpost part 2

Last week I shared with you how daunting it has been for me. As I read the post title and viewed the number of impressive hits, I realized something...everyone is hungry for knowledge; you were hoping to find some helpful advice but maybe were disappointed when my post mentioned just how lost over it I was!

Another thing I realized is that I've been searching for "See a need, fill a need." What about, "See a want, fill a want"? Aren't wants just as powerful as needs? People are constantly seeking comfort and joy, right? Plus, if I follow my drive to obey what I want to post rather than what I need to post, it will reflect honesty and not feel forced.

Writing a blog post is very much like writing a book: always keep your eyes open for inspiration: One day I was driving down the street and saw a car with a right-seated driver. I have never seen a right-seated car before and it stuck with me. Another was when the wind blew so hard, it tossed my tent from my yard. We searched the neighborhood and couldn't find it. Guess what? It was in my backdoor neighbor's yard!

How do I weave this into a blog post? The thought regarding the right-seated driver brings to mind that being different takes courage and can impact others to the point that they realize it isn't so bad. For the tent, the answer is simpler than you'd believe if you just stopped and breathed...

Writing your post short and snappy (like the bikini method--small enough to keep it interesting, but cover the important details) makes for a great post!

I enjoyed the helpful comments left on my other post, if you're interested in reading them!

How do you find your inspiration for your blog posts? What tips do you have that work great for you? 

Begin to Let Grow

“Mormonad,” New Era, Aug. 1991, 7

Photography by Craig Dimond

Nurture your creative nature. After all, you take after your Father and He was the ultimate Creator. (See 2 Ne. 2:14.)

I'm thinking, how far can you go with God's help when you write?

Far!!!!

Have a splendiferous week!!

(I decided to repost this today, I had accidentally posted twice on the 15 and it got lost with the other post--shame on me!!!) Thanks for your patience. :D

Sunday Thoughts

The Invisible Woman



My friend Lisa had this on her blog and I really felt I should share it with you. It' so thought-provoking.

I want to hear your thoughts on this!

How it Began

I've spent the last hour searching my browsing history. I know I came across someone's wonderful blog talking about what books inspired her writing. I couldn't find her post. So in honor of our mystery friend, I will write about that.

As a child, I struggled with comprehension because I was taught to 'shut myself off', because of the kind of circumstances I was thrust into. So, when I read, it was like thin rain melting on hot cement.

I struggled with every test in school based on the books the teachers assigned. Isn't it funny, that I would grow a fierce love of reading and writing as a youngling? ;)

I started writing silly poems in 4th grade, short stories in 6th, poetry and longer short stories in high school.

What really influenced my writing was not my reading (I read dark stuff, like V.C. Andrews all the time), and I don't write horror.

Because of my love of poetry, my writing was very purple prosey. These movies threw me head first in love with fantasy: The Last Unicorn, The Dark Chrystal, Legend, Labyrinth, and Willow.











All these movies are fantasy with romance woven throughout, the kind of novels I love to write!

What foundation influenced your writing, and what does now?

Thinking aloud . . .

I've been thinking a lot lately about my blogging. I have lots of fun putting myself out there and sharing my heart with everyone. That's me. I love to make friends, nurture them, and share with them.

I know it's an impossible (more like improbable) feat to get to know each and every one of you in person--but imagine how fun it would be to?

Everyone of you is so special and talented and brilliant. I've read your blogs, posted comments and followed you. It's a wonderful way to reach out and get to know others.

You have your ways of expression and reaching out.



I feel as if I am still trying to discover mine. Have you ever felt the Lord's hand in your change? Like he's saying, "You need to go here . . ." or as if you are clay in his hands? I've been feeling that a lot lately. I can feel myself being directed and shuffled and moved--like a pawn on a great big chessboard.

Call me crazy--I know this all may sound nuts--

I hear voices in my head! LOL, what writer doesn't, really? Every one of us is a pen in God's hand--whatever we write is inspired of Him. There is a reason and a purpose. In my heart, I truly feel that if you really want to get published, you will if you dare pursue it.

I will most likely change the patterns of my posting. Next week, there may be days I won't post. I don't know. I feel a change in the air and I don't know where it's taking me. All I know is that I need to connect with you in a more intimate way--as if we've known each other forever.

I'll be open and honest and forward. Actually, I always have been, but I want it to be more me. Not some formal instructor trying to get a point across.



How do you feel when you write your posts? What inspires you to choose what topic? Do you feel as if you've got it all down--or like you still need to find out who you are in the bloggie world?

The Writer's Block Bane

On December 18th Mormon Mommy Writers' post, Nikki wrote about having split personalities as a writer--I am sure we all have experienced this interesting little phenomena at one time or another right? Oh yes. It is called . . . writer's block! Tada!!!

Well, I had lots to say about it and left a comment there for her. I thought it would make a very interesting topic to discuss on my blog (thank you Nikki for the idea!).

Her post was about our creative selves conflicting with our logical selves, hence, resulting in writer's block. Gotta love it. Well, for the first time I suffered major writer's block. I was so worried and sad that I couldn't and wondered if I would ever be able to write again. I asked for blessings galore. I prayed tons. I fasted lots. I even attended the temple seeking answers.

Do you know what it really was when it came down to it? The simple fact that my logical side did not agree with my creative side.

It was over the urban fantasy romance I had finished the first week into November for NaNoWriMo. My problem was that I had never written just a plain story without a villain. There has to be a villain to taunt, torment, tease my MCs at all costs! This particular novel has no villain like that. It doesn't. It is a normal romance with internal conflict. Whoa! So new for me, that's for sure.

My logical self argued with me that it could not be done because I have never done it and that it would be so borrring without a villain. My creative self mulled and batted and debated just how I was going to accomplish the never-done-by-Elizabeth feat!

After much thought and prayer, NaNo came around and I decided to take the challenge full force. I have never done this crazy thing of writing 50K words in one month and was even afraid of the task. (My problem is that I always underestimate myself but have learned that I usually excel to my surprise!)

Well, with NaNo, I told myself it can be done and I won't stop to contemplate the difficulties of writing a story without a solid villain. I simply gave myself permission to write the novel with pure internal conflict.

As I mentioned a few paragraphs above, I finished that novel the first week into November and started another book (the one I mentioned in my last post and I am nearly done with it! I am on my last chapter and it ends with a Viking wedding!) Well, ahem, their wedding night actually! ;)

I now know that writer's block is as simple as what Nikki had said. It is logic conflicting with creativity. The angel and devil on each of our shoulders screaming opposing thoughts and sending conflicting messages--our brains don't work that way. It's very hard to serve two masters!

Well, tell me how you deal with your writer's block? Maybe it is not as simple as I had just defined it. What is your opinion and thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

NaNoWriMo

As you know, I spent about seven days with Kay at the Sweetwater Lodge. I was able to complete more than my NaNo 50,000 word count in 8 days--never counting Sundays. I had written about 3, 000 before visiting her and the rest I finished with her.

I completed an entire novel and started another one. It's truly been an adventure in writing. I love to write and look forward with the same comparison as child does to Christmas morning. I can't wait to crack open my magic box and start bringing out the gifts my muse helps me to create!

It was literally six whole days of literary abandon! I loved it! I hope we can do this again sometime in the future, thank you Karen!