Looking Ahead

I was never one to look ahead too much, if at all, when it came to writing stories. I believed in letting things unfold moment to moment, and that planning beyond that would somehow stifle the writing with expectations or burden it with constraints, that it would evolve into my story instead of the characters' … Continue reading Looking Ahead →

Patience

On my desk I have a tiny frame given to me by a student my first year of teaching third grade. Two fairies surrounded by flowers float around the edge and in it is a reminder I typed for myself years ago. I first framed my mantra when I had stacks of correcting, first in … Continue reading Patience →

I’m Not Sure

A few weeks ago, I gave a friend a ride home from our writers' group. Three of us had met and shared our writing and talked about experiences and processes, joys and challenges. One of the challenges we talked about was how it was difficult sometimes to just sit down and write, to move forward … Continue reading I’m Not Sure →

Trust The Process

One of the most important lessons I have learned over years of writing is to trust the process. That being said, what exactly is the process? For me, it's a messy one. First, of course, is the simple (or not simple) act of moving the pen across the paper or pressing the keys. I need … Continue reading Trust The Process →

The Second Novel

I was never sure I would write a second novel and rarely thought about it while I was working on the first. For a long time, years, I wasn't sure I was writing the first one. Most of the time I knew I was writing something, but not until the story grew and developed and … Continue reading The Second Novel →