I have officially surpassed 10,000 words total written for this month. Which is great bc if I can get 50,000, I get five entries to win a gift card for $100 to a local bookstore. I love it when I can get tangible rewards for writing. This is the writing equivalent of a personal pan pizza.

I was curious and looking up writing residencies for funsies. Many residencies (not all) want an exhibition or a reading or something at the end of the stay.

But how does an author do an exhibition? How does that work? Any ideas?

I desperately need to make sure our fireplace flue is clean so I can start writing by flickering firelight. It’s finally getting cold outside. I’m ready for cozy indoor writing/reading sessions.

Added 2,003 words today. WIP is currently at 68,279 words total. Whoot whoot. #WIPWednesday #writing

Checked off another small goal today: submitted a short story to two writing competitions.

I don’t expect much of it, but I’m trying to build up my audacity by putting myself out there in the world as a writer. It’s a low-stakes way of telling myself, “Yeah, I can DO THIS!”

Added 3,091 words today. But more importantly, I reached a personal goal of breaking 50,000 words on this specific manuscript. I’m currently at 52,080 words total.

Now, it’s time to raise the goal to 75,000 words. Who knows—I might actually be close to finishing this draft at that point!

Yesterday I reached a personal goal: I submitted a novella to an indie publishing house! Do I expect anything to come of it? Meh. 🤷‍♀️ But what matters is that I had the AUDACITY to say, “Hey, I want to try a scary thing & I’d rather try & fail than never bother at all.” And then I did the damn thing.

I am on vacation until Friday and I am so excited to chill, listen to music, and spend all day reading and writing. I’ve already added 2,000 words to one story, and my next goal is to draft a query letter for my novella!

Yesterday, I met up with a group of women who are just as passionate about writing as I am, and we encouraged each other while drinking coffee and sharing what we’re working on. THIS is the kind of community I’m looking for and so, so glad to be a part of. #writingcommunity

Added 1821 words today. Were they easy? No. Did I get distracted by family and wind up making a video parodying Survivor’s Tribal Council? Yes.

But words are words and progress is progress.

I really need to make the transition here from Threads. I feel like it’s getting pretty negative over there, and I want to feel encouraged by what I see, not discouraged and angry.

Guess who fell down a rabbit hole while researching traditional Romanian clothing for accurate descriptive purposes?

Hint: it’s me. Hi.

The journal for this particular story is currently getting FILLED with notes. Also, I really wanna go back to Brașov. I dunno, I miss those beautiful mountains.

Finally returned to a story I’ve ignored for over six months because every time I’ve tried thinking about it, I’ve come away hating it.

Apparently we just needed some time apart because I reread what I have and I love it. I’m actually adding to it at this very moment.

Love it when that happens.

Of course I have a breakthrough for my WIP while I’m in the midst of alpha editing a fellow author’s work.

This is why I keep notes in my phone—so I can remember! I used to just think if I forgot it, it wasn’t a good enough idea to retain. Now, I know better.

WIP total thus far: 18,856 words. Not that much, yet, but this is only the beginning. Added a lovely 3681 words today.

Except from today: “The nice thing about living in mirrors was that you could never see your own reflection. You never had to be confronted with yourself.” #WIPWednesday

Added 2190 words to an original story and much more than that to a fanfiction while keeping Cory Booker on in the background so I can watch him make history. Talk about inspiration!

I did it, y’all. I made a sigil skirt! It’s not 100% done but she WAS wearable to meet Mike Colter and Aasif Mandvi and that’s really all that matters, right!?

Also we need #Evil back, please and thank you.

At least now I can get back to writing in my free time!

A supportive spouse is one that buys you a copy of a book containing demonic sigils that were likely the inspiration for a show you’re obsessed with so you can use it as a reference when you can’t make out the details of a map for a skirt you’re making.

How the heck am I supposed to write or draw when I’ve got a doggo snuggling with me on this snowy winter day?

Don’t you just love that decision paralysis re: what to work on when you’ve got three original WIPs, two fanfics, and a skirt you’re trying to get done before a con in a couple of months?

Yeah, me neither. How ‘bout I go eat ice cream instead?