Behind The Scenes

It’s been a while since I’ve talked about that thing I do, you know, the writing of the books. So I thought I would put together a little author progress report! (AKA: hey lady, how’s that novel coming along?).

Let’s go!

Book 4 Progress Report

I’m two chapters away from moving on to writing the second half of Book 4. 

Let me explain how we got here.

Shortly after I released Purgatory’s Gate (Book Three of the Book of Eve Series), I jumped right into outlining Book 4.

In the latter half of 2019, I felt pretty energized and drafted out the first half of the book. Super exciting stuff, right?

Right.

However, we all know what happened in the first quarter of 2020.

It wasn’t until January of this year that I felt I had the headspace to try and move the novel forward again.

Considering where we’re at in the year, I’m going to take how far I’ve come as a huge win.

Now here’s a little insight into my writer’s brain.

I’ve learned that I need to have the first half of the book in order before I can start on the second. If all the threads aren’t properly lined up, there’s no way the ending will work. The characters will wander aimlessly and I end up with some significant rewriting work on my plate.

To save time, I work and rework the first half of the book until the threads shift into place.

I’m so excited to say that we’re almost there!

While I still can’t tell you when I think Book 4 will drop, I’m pleased that the work is feeling lighter these days. 

It’s significantly better than not writing any words at all.  

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Other Projects

Here’s a little progress report on my other projects.

When I’m not working on the novel, I’m writing for clients. 

While I had stopped taking on freelance work, picking it up again has actually saved me from feeling like a total writing failure. 

I finish multiple pieces a week on various topics with large and small word counts. Working on these pieces helps me feel like I’m accomplishing something. They’re something I can write and send off in a day or two.

Freelance writing feels like a warm-up and gets me ready to work on Book 4. 

I also have several short story ideas percolating in the old melon. My fingers almost feel ready to start working on one or two of them. However, I really want to direct that writing energy on what needs to get done first, and that’s Book 4. 

So while my love for the short story remains strong, I’m really trying to focus my efforts on letting you lovely readers in on how The Book of Eve Series ends. 

Can’t Force Creativity

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that I can’t force creativity. At the same time, if I don’t get my butt in my writing chair, I’m never going to move anything forward.

This author’s progress report would literally be a blank page.

It’s the reason why I try to take a step back when my brain feels particularly foggy. I’m also working on not feeling guilty for needing a day (or more) to feel good about writing again.

It’s incredibly tricky! I’m still perfecting my methods, but I believe the numbers speak for themselves. 

By starting slowly, I aimed to get through 300 words per day on the novel. I’ve since managed to work my way up to 650 – 1000 words a day. 

Am I where I used to be in terms of word count? No. But I’m damn close and the feeling of accomplishment it evokes is something I hold onto daily. 

If you’re looking for a creepy (yet addictive), dark fantasy read, check out the first three books in The Book of Eve Series. Available in eBook and Paperback on Amazon and Kobo, these books will keep you turning the pages late into the night! 

 

During these traumatic and uncertain times, it’s easy to feel like a complete and total failure.

Redefining success not only changes your perspective on life, it’s also a way to find purpose again. 

I know what it’s like to feel like you’ve lost everything between one heartbeat and the next.

I also know what it’s like to finally feel like moving forward, only to have your world change a second time in the span of a few months.

By the time COVID hit Canada, I felt like everything that had made me successful in the past had vanished. 

I mean, I had already lost the husband to cancer, was living with my parents, couldn’t function well enough to work, and felt like I had no hope in hell of ever “catching up” again.

I berated myself daily until a few of my very good people pointed out that maybe I should try being kinder to myself.

With nothing left to lose, I gave it a shot.

I slowly came to the realization that taking a shower qualified as a success. Reading a book or going for a walk certainly put a checkmark in the success box. And on the most difficult days? The fact that I opened my eyes that morning because I was oh-so-very alive, most definitely counted as a win. 

It also made me realize that if I didn’t figure out how to redefine success, the weight of my own perception would eventually break me. 

Perception was and had always been, the thing that prevented me from living my best life. 

Success is a Matter of Perception

I’ve heard it said before that failure is a matter of perception. I would say that the same applies to success. 

So when thoughts of failure weigh you down, redefine success in a way that creates purpose and meaning in your life. 

Don’t know where to start? Here’s a little help. 

Success has nothing to do with how much money you make, or how many likes you get on social media. 

You are so much more than a bunch of numbers, the things that fill up a room in your house, or the car that sits in your driveway. 

Don’t look at what other people are doing. And definitely don’t rely on what you think other people think you should have achieved at this point in your life. 

Redefine success in a way that highlights who you are and the things that bring you joy.

These are the things that truly matter. They will help you find purpose again.

Redefine Success to Survive 

The past 12 months haven’t made it easy to redefine success. 

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In the past 5 days alone, Ontario’s had to deal with a government that relies on using “louder, meaner, and again” tactics. 

In short, we’ve entered a third, COVID lockdown without addressing any of the problems that made the first two unsuccessful. 

It’s no wonder that our level of frustration, stress, and fear have reached record heights. 

Personally, it’s made me want to burrow deep under the covers and sleep through the next 28 days. I’m not sure I have the energy to adapt and overcome again. 

And yet, I know that this feeling also means that I’m on the cusp of growth and change. 

As much as I hate it, it’s absolutely unavoidable.

Life is always going to challenge my perception of success. 

At least now I know that fewer book sales don’t mean I’ve failed as an author because I’m happy with the work I’ve produced. 

And I don’t think I’m taking a step back by returning to freelance work. I’m fulfilling my need to at least write something (and we’ve all got to pay the bills). 

There is joy in discovering that I actually do like jogging. I can also keep several plants alive, and while video calls will never be my favorite thing, I really love seeing the people I care about.

COVID or tragedy or heartbreak all force us to reexamine who we are because it messes with our perception of what we’ve achieved.

But we are so much more than our accomplishments.

Starting over isn’t a failure. Losing something isn’t a failure. 

These things don’t define who you are. 

You aren’t a failure.

You’re still here.

You still matter. 

Redefine success to change your perspective on life and you’ll find your purpose again. 

Want more? Check out this post, The Yellow Chair: An Origin Story.

Love fiction? Here’s Eve’s Return (Book One of the Book of Eve Series). It’s currently FREE on Amazon and Kobo, so get your copy before this amazing deal disappears forever! 

Trigger Warning. The Yellow Chair: An Origin Story includes subject matter about the death of a spouse and grief. Thanks for reading. OR click here to skip to my last post. <3

If you’ve been following me on Instagram or Facebook, you might’ve seen my Recommended Reads Series.

If you’ve watched any of my clips, you’ve also seen the yellow chair.

It’s hard to miss.

What you might not know is that there’s more to the yellow chair than meets the eye.

A Big Change

In the summer of 2018, my late husband Andrew had the opportunity to move to the UK for work. From the moment I heard the news, I started packing my bags.

I was so ready to start a new adventure.

As part of our moving plan, we wanted to see if it would be more cost-effective to get a furnished or unfurnished apartment.

Before we moved, we went to IKEA to start pricing things out. Because where else would you go when looking for furniture that comes in a bajillion parts?

Andrew, bless him, was always on the lookout for an accent chair. He knew how much I love reading and wanted to get me something that I could sit in, get my cozy on, and disappear into my latest read.

He spotted the yellow chair first.

It lured us closer with its cheery shade. It then received multiple bonus points for comfort.

But I wasn’t sold until Andrew told me he thought the chair suited me. He told me it was like looking at a slice of sunshine.

It reminded him of me.

In the UK, we ended up settling on a furnished apartment. I did not get the yellow chair.

Alas, we were only meant to live there for a few months.

To make a nightmare of a long story short: Andrew was diagnosed with terminal cancer a few months after our move. At the advice of several health professionals, we immediately returned to Canada

He passed away shortly after.

The Yellow Chair

When I look back at the weeks and months after Andrew’s passing it feels like wading through thick fog.

Quite simply, I don’t remember much.

I lived in a state of numbness, punctuated by moments of pain so intense I thought I might be dying too.

This is why my parents are incredible people. During these most difficult months, they came up with all sorts of reasons to get me out of the house.

One day they suggested we go to IKEA.
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Hours later, when we finally made it through that crafty IKEA maze, my Dad suggested we check out the discounted items.

I was ready to go home. I wanted my bed.

But I managed to summon the energy to follow my parents into the showroom.

Where I promptly forgot how to breathe.

Smack dab in the middle of the room, under a bright spotlight was the yellow chair.

I headed directly for it, knowing that there had to be something wrong. After all, it had been placed in the discount room for a reason.

Except the yellow chair was in perfect condition. I couldn’t see a single scratch, tear, or mark.

And it was 20% off.

My Mom asked whether or not I wanted to buy it, but my Dad had already gotten a cart.

There are some purchases you just don’t need to think about twice.

The yellow chair has been my very best one.

Choose Joy

It doesn’t matter if you believe in fate or serendipity. Finding the yellow chair that day was a moment of clarity in a deeply confusing time. 

When I lost Andrew, my entire world shifted. Everything I believed in changed, and some of it for the better.

For example, my fear and anxiety around failure.

Prior to Andrew’s death, I spent a considerable amount of time dwelling on what other people might think of me as a writer and author.  

Now I believe that it’s a waste of time to worry about what others might think. If something sparks joy or makes me happy, I need to do the thing.

The yellow chair makes me happy. It sparks joy.

I mean, you can’t look at it and not feel like you’re looking at a little slice of sunshine.

Take it from me. Life’s too short to do anything that makes you feel like less than that.

My Recommended Reads drop every two weeks. Wednesdays on Instagram and Sundays on Facebook. 

Get involved! Have a recommended read? I would love to hear from you. Drop me a comment or DM and I’ll be sure to check it out.  

 

Ever feel like you lose a little writing magic during these long winter months?

It’s no secret that people are least productive in the winter.

To compensate, some writers try to force productivity. This can cause writer’s block and many sleepless nights.

Hello!

I’m a writer who has attempted to force productivity. It caused writer’s block and many a sleepless night.

As a result, I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time experimenting with different ways to get (and stay) motivated.

What I’ve discovered is this: embracing hygge (hyoo·guh) is an easy way to boost creativity.

The True Meaning of Hygge (hyoo·guh)

Hygge is a Danish term used to describe, “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” 

It’s important to note that despite what you might’ve heard or read about hygge, it’s not about buying things that promise to ‘make you feel’ cozy.

In fact, the moment you purchase something you don’t need, hygge loses its meaning.

Hygge isn’t a trend, lifestyle, or aesthetic. It’s found in the absence of stress and anxiety.

It’s a state of being.

Embracing Hygge to Boost Writing Magic

It’s easy to feel uninspired staring at the same four walls day after day.

And if you’re in the middle of a lockdown (hello, again!), hanging out at your local cafe just isn’t an option. 

A comfortable space is crucial to getting the work done. 

So how can hygge help?

It can be tempting to make big changes like ordering the latest and greatest, 24-piece-17-hour-assembly-and-good-luck-bud-cause-you’re-gonna-end-up-crying office collection. 

But again, hygge isn’t about what you buy.

More often than not, what makes us truly happy are the little things.

So stay in your PJs. Enjoy a good, homemade cup of coffee by the window. Rearrange your furniture. Draw yourself a bath in the middle of the day. Write from the blanket fort your kid made.

Your options are endless. 

When it comes to hygge, small changes are all you need to create a cozy atmosphere that will boost writing magic. 

Stop Doom Scrolling and Really Connect

Let’s go back to the definition of hygge for a second. 

While getting your cozy on alone comes highly recommended, you also need to connect with people. 

So stop doom scrolling.

How many times have you caught yourself in a downward spiral, only to realize that your thumb is cramping because you’ve been doom scrolling for the past forty-five minutes?

You could argue that your dark fantasy side is yearning to get a feel for a more dystopian society.

But even your dark side needs a break once in a while. 

Doom scrolling makes no one happy. Put your phone to better use.

Connection (and I’m talking about real, genuine connection) is crucial. Even for the most introverted of writers. 

How you connect is up to you.

Whether you’re part of an online chat group, you love video calls, or safely meeting up with people in a local park, create a moment of connection. 

Connection means you’re getting outside of your own head and sharing information and ideas, big or small. 

Reach out. You’ll feel better for it, and your writing will follow. 

Get Outside

True, nordic hygge involves incorporating elements of nature into that cozy writing atmosphere you’ve created.

The problem is getting outside in winter can often feel like the exact opposite of comforting.

It’s cold. It’s grey. And depending on where you live, you must gather all of your strength just to make it through the kind of slush that could only have been developed in the fiery pits of hell.

Don’t let Satan win!

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You’ve got so many different ways to incorporate nature into that cozy writing space you’ve created.

Open the windows. Bundle up and sit out on your balcony or in your backyard. Watch the fireplace channel for hours on end. Go for a walk if you’ve got the energy.

Whatever you do, you’ll know it’s right. You’ll unleash a little writing magic.

Daydream Daily

Daydreaming can generate feelings of comfort and well-being. The best part? You don’t need to go anywhere or buy anything to get your daydream on.

Daydreaming always turns my writing into magic. In more ways than one.

I daydream to figure out how the heck to incorporate magic and supernatural elements into my fiction. It’s what I do. 

(Yup. I’m definitely that person who blocks out time in my calendar to stare into space.)

Before you give daydreaming a shot though, gauge your mood.

It’s really important to notice your thought patterns before you start. I can’t stress this enough. The last thing you want is to get sucked into a shame spiral. 

So if you’re anything like me and have an ongoing conversation with yourself about things like:

That one time in kindergarten when your best friend tried to get you through a slide and accidentally pulled your pants down in front of the entire school . . . 

This isn’t daydreaming! 

You’re not taking care of your well-being. You certainly aren’t embracing any element of comfort. 

Your inner critic doesn’t support hygge. 

So guard your thoughts. Daydream with intention. Boost that magic. 

Boost That Writing Magic

Magic isn’t just for us fantasy authors anymore– At least not when it comes to writing. 

Creating a cozy environment and embracing hygge will give your writing a boost. 

How can it not? 

The best kind of writing magic is the type that flows uninhibited from your fingertips.

When you’re distracted by an uncomfortable writing chair or a lack of good coffee, that writing energy shifts to the wrong things.

Focus on doing things or creating a space that increases feelings of comfort and well-being. You’ll have no excuses, just some freed up mental space for a little creative inspiration. 

At the very least, you’ll find it less of an epic battle to get a few good words down on the page.

One Final Writing Magic Tip: Stay Alive

Winter months are difficult for many reasons. Current lockdown and social distancing efforts don’t make embracing hygge any easier. 

Here’s the truth: you don’t need to be productive. You need to do what you can to get through the day.

Sometimes that requires a different kind of writer self-care.

Comedian, writer, television host and actress, Amber Ruffin started a segment called, A Serious Message from a Comedy Writer. 

To kick off 2021, comedy writer, Shantira Jackson introduced us to a new kind of resolution. It’s called: Stay Alive.

The video is really worth the watch. If you’re short on time, let me break it down for you.  

The past 11 months have been devastating.

If you’re not doing everything you can to seek the things that bring you comfort, the next 11 aren’t going to feel much better. 

Whether you consider it hygge, or your own special brand of survival, staying alive is the only thing you need to focus on.  

So eat that second helping of brownies. Don’t make your bed or put away your Christmas decorations until March. Write for ten minutes once a week, or not at all. 

Stay. Alive.

Focus on you, your comfort, and your well-being. That writing magic will find you again.

Want to learn more about the kind of writing magic that goes on in my brain? Check out Eve’s Return (Book One of the Book of Eve Series), a dark fantasy tale about one woman’s journey to save mankind from that time Eve ate an apple in the Garden of Eden…

 eBook is now available for FREE on Amazon and Kobo. 

 

Many of you lovely readers have asked what I do to stay on target and keep writing. If I want to boost success every year, it’s important to take a good hard look at both the good and the bad. It can feel painful, but it really forces you to think more about the bigger picture.

I’m not going to lie to you friends. Being your own boss is fun. I love waking up in the morning, making a cup of coffee and settling into my well-worn chair behind my desk. There’s nothing more satisfying than turning on my laptop, and pulling up the latest chapter I’ve been working on for my book. The sound the keys make as my fingers race over them keeps me going long after my mug is empty.

Just like anything else in life though, nothing is ever perfect. This means that sometimes being your own boss can suck. It’s extremely easy to lose focus, get distracted, and try to spin too many plates at once. It’s also frustrating at times because you’re often alone and the only one making any decisions. Making the right decisions can often feel overwhelming and impossible. I know I find this particularly true on days when I just can’t find the right words.

Setting deadlines and goals for books and short stories is something that I must do at the start of every year. There’s no avoiding it if I want to keep the ball rolling and actually finish anything. To give you an idea of how I do this, I’ve put together a list of the different things I plan to focus on in 2018.

Examine the Facts

What do I do well? What should I keep doing? What should I stop doing?

Part of knowing what you did do well over the course of the year, is also knowing what you need to do more of, and even what you need to quit doing altogether. The key here is to try and stay as objective as possible. It’s not a pity party where you make a list of all your flaws and wonder what the hell you were thinking. Examining the cold hard facts helps you to make changes to bring improvement to your work moving forward.

For example: I did a lot of work on Book 3 in the Book of Eve Series this year. However, I often found myself buried in freelance work, which meant that I was almost working 40 hours a week on stuff that wasn’t my own. Now, I didn’t quit my job only to take on more work that wasn’t mine. I quit my job to have more time to dedicate to writing books. I realized that I needed to make a firmer commitment to that goal.

Taking the time to look back and evaluate what was happening helped me to understand that my freelance work was having a direct impact on my number one priority. Starting the new year with this in mind has already made all the difference in the world.

Seek Input

What do you think? How can I improve? Do you have any advice to help boost success? 

When I first started writing, I never sought out anyone’s opinion on my ideas. For some reason, I had it in my head that writing was something that I had to do on my own. If I couldn’t figure out how to get from A to B, well it was because I wasn’t clever enough. Now that I have a bit more experience, I know that this is a really terrible way to approach writing and, let’s be honest, life.

After taking a few writing classes, I started to get feedback on my work. I made writer friends, who offered suggestions and constructive criticism free of charge. I realized that in talking through problem areas and asking questions, my writing improved. Seeking input helped me to make better decisions,

Today, I have people who I turn to when I can’t quite figure out what happens next–in both my career and writing. They help me to move forward when I’m feeling stuck and cheer me on when I succeed. When it comes to being your own boss, you don’t actually have to do it alone. In fact, you shouldn’t. You’ll feel better for it. Trust me.

Read More

What can I learn? How can I improve? What do I do differently to help boost success? 

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I think its fairly common knowledge that if you want to write, you need to read. You need to discover what you like and what you don’t like about a particular story. Examining those elements carefully will help you to better understand the craft. When you better understand the craft, you can figure out how to introduce all the good bits into your own writing.

If there’s anything I miss about having a morning commute, it’s that it gave me the time to get some serious reading done. I would finish a book every week or so, and it would fill me with inspiration. When I started to work from home, I would try to read before bed, but most nights I would get caught up in whatever it was that I was doing (Hey Netflix!). The next thing I knew it was time for bed. No reading for me.

It’s why I decided to participate in the Goodreads book challenge. Basically all you need to do is tell the site how many books you want to read before the end of the year. As you read and update your number of finished books, the site will let you know if you’re on the right track. So far I’ve read two novels that have been on my to-read list for what feels like years (The Alice Network, by Kate Quinn and The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern). Both books have helped tremendously.

Say ‘No’

Do I actually have time for this? What do I need to spend my time on to boost success?  

There’s nothing I love more than helping people solve problems. While this makes me good at things like freelancing, it also a great way to avoid finishing my novel. The underlying problem is that saying ‘yes’ to everything only feeds into my desire to please others. As a result, what I want to accomplish suffers. I end up not feeling very happy with myself. I often end up feeling like I have nothing to show for the day, week, month and even year.

Saying ‘no’ is scary sometimes, especially when the answer is tied to a paycheque. Believe me, I know. This is why it’s so important to know the facts. They help you to see whether or not you’re focusing too much on one thing and not enough of the other.

Stop Overthinking

Let it go? That’s right. Let it go.  

Yeeesh. This is a huge one for me and I’m writing it down not as something that I know will get fixed immediately, but because it’s something I’ll be working on for a while.

The reason why overthinking is such an issue for me is that it literally slows down my productivity to the point where I don’t write anything. For example, in my freelance work, I can create and write a blog post in 2 hours. However, when it comes to my own blog posts, it takes weeks for me to finish and hit that publish button. All I can think about are potential mistakes, being misunderstood, whether or not people will like or hate what I’ve written and so on. Overthinking literally prevents me from moving forward in my career. It’s frustrating but I’m pleased that I’ve actually taken the time to evaluate and acknowledge the problem. It’s the only way to understand what’s going on when I start to overthink.

Recognize the Good

You are awesome. Keep going! 

After all is said and done, it doesn’t do me any good to ignore what I’ve accomplished. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like a lot, especially when I’m waist deep in manuscript edits. The truth is it’s easy to bury yourself under the massive list of things that you didn’t do or didn’t happen. This is why examining the facts is so helpful. When you force yourself to focus on what went well over the course of 12 months, you’ll see that you’ve achieved more than you thought.

Writing is all about the long game. Hold onto these achievements. Tell people. Cut yourself some slack and take a moment to live in your accomplishments, big or small. It will make the whole process a hell of a lot more enjoyable. Even on the days when you can’t find the words.

Now it’s your turn. What do you think? Did I miss anything? Sound off in the comments below!