A Writer's Journey: The End...

This is the very last day of September...which means...this is also the last post on 'A Writer's Journey'! Next week we will begin a new blog post series for October which I'm very excited about!

Today's post is going to be a little more lighthearted than the others. We are going to talk about that glorious feeling you get when you write/type the words, "The End". You've plotted, outlined, drafted, re-written, edited, re-edited. You've probably had a few close friends or family members read the manuscript, then you've revised the piece again.

You may have had it looked over by a professional editor as well, and then went back and cleaned it up again.

You've done your absolute best to polish up your work, and are completely happy with the finished product. At last, after many tears and sweat, you are done!!

We aren't going to go talk about publishing and searching for agents right now. This is just an encouraging post to remind you that after all the work you put into your project, at last you can sit back and realize that you actually did it.

It is quite a wonderful feeling. Yet...it's a bit sad too.

After I finished my novella, 'A Wish for the Throne' for the Rooglewood Press's 'Five Enchanted Roses' contest last year, I remember going through a melancholy stage afterwards, because I missed writing it! I missed the characters and I missed creating all the different fairy tale and fantasy elements. But at the same time, it was such a satisfying feeling to know I had done my best and could move on to something else.

In The Hobbit, when Bilbo returns back to the Shire after his long and dangerous journey, he is almost a completely different person from when he had first left it. He has become stronger, made life long friends, and experienced an adventure like no other!

His story may have come to an end. But that round, shiny thing, in his pocket is the beginning of another journey in another story.

And though every story eventually has an end, thankfully a writer's journey never has an end! A writer always has something to say. A writer always has a story to tell.

I don't know what stage you are at in the projects you're working on. You might be a published author, or you might be working on your first novel. I'd like to tell you right no
w that no matter where you are at, embrace it.

If you have just finished something, or have finished several things, embrace that you have made this accomplishment. If you are working a full time job or going to school, and writing a novel at the same time, embrace that you are accomplishing so
mething amazing right now, by being able to do so much!

You see...something I've learned--in fact I'm continuing to learn--is that a writer's life isn't all about 'The End'. It's not about finally becoming a published novelist. It's not about being able to tell people your book is in Barnes and Noble.

It's about looking back at your journey and realizing how far you have come. It's about looking forward and knowing this dream is going to happen. And...it's about embracing and enjoying every minute of where you are right now.

A Writer's Journey: Pushing Through When You Feel Stuck

Unfortunately, we all get to that point where writing does NOT feel fun! You've changed the plot twenty times. Your characters aren't turning out how you wanted them to. You have the setting down perfectly in your brain, but you're having a difficult time putting it into words.

It seems you've been working on the same project for decades and you have a million more story ideas that you MUST write! Or maybe you're so discouraged that writing anything ever again doesn't sound appealing at all!

Yes, I do believe every writer gets to that stage where they feel stuck and wonder, "What in the world have I gotten myself into?" I am going to admit that several times over this summer while I was working on the first draft of the extremely drastic rewrite of my novel, I had some rather pathetic meltdowns and would actually break down in tears.

My poor mom...I don't know how many times I came crying to her saying, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO! MY BOOK IS A MESS!" I had been making change after change, having such a hard time making decisions that could drastically change the story even more. I don't remember how many times I rewrote the beginning because of this.

At times I just felt stuck and uncertain in my ability to mold this story into the beautiful piece of art I wanted it to be. The stress and negative thoughts often caused me to question whether this was a waste of time, and if I'd be better off writing in a different genre.

Then one day, towards the end of the summer, I was praying for guidance with my writing and for faith to trust that God will use me through whatever I write. And I came to a sort of revelation. I realized, I cannot afford to be negative at all when I write! All I can do is my absolute best, then leave the rest to God to use the gift He allowed me to have.

I began to focus on having a much more positive mindset every time I sat down to write. I blocked out every thought that would cause me to be anxious or discouraged. Any time I found myself feeling like a chapter or plot threat was extremely weak, instead of feeling stuck and uncertain, I told myself, "All I need to do is fix it and it'll come together. I have to do my best and let God work through me."

Dear writers...writing is HARD, isn't it? It's painful sometimes. When Olympian athletes get injured for a season, it's painful and discouraging. When they place fourth, barely missing that bronze metal, they are heart broken.

But the truest athletes who have a deep passion for their sport, do not give up. They keep at it, because they feel that is what they are meant to do, and though these detours and disappointments can be discouraging, they will always have a love for that sport.

Sometimes when our writing project isn't going in the direction we planned, instead of giving up on it, or starting something different, I think the best thing to do, as unpleasant as it seems, is push through. Though you can't see the future, and what will become of your book or how long it will take you to complete it, keep writing anyway! DON'T allow yourself to think negative. Remind yourself it might just take a little longer and be a little more difficult than you planned.

Thankfully God has promised us His grace to become conquers through Him. No matter how hard the task, He will help you through the most challenging stages of a writer's journey. And in the end you will be stronger and a better writer!

In fact, this post doesn't have to apply only to writers. Everyone goes through difficult and challenging stages in life. When we trust God to give us His strength and do our best to follow His will, and be obedient to Him, because He loves us and knows what's best, we will become more than conquers.

Opening Lines from 'The Hunter's Heir'

When I submitted my synopsis for the Five Magic Spindles show and tell, my opening lines were not quite...er...presentable enough to share. Now that I'm working on the second draft of this novella, I've revised and improved the beginning and am excited to post the opening lines on my blog!

Hope you enjoy! 

Opening lines of 'The Hunter's Heir'

by Allissa Zimmerman

A gentle breeze blew through the branches that towered over Coral Brook forest. A doe and her fawn drank blissfully from the brook in which the forest had gained its name and an owl hooted contentedly from above.

            The creatures of Coral Brook Forest were unaware that sitting against the trunk of an old oak tree nearby was a young elf silently watching them. She sat in remorseful misery gazing at another doe as it frolicked from the bush nearby and joined the other deer at the brook. 

           If only she were like that doe. If only she could run free without the pressure of trying to please everyone and live up to the expectations she could not meet.

An owl hooted once more, and the elf lifted her face towards the sky. The sun must have been setting, for patches of orange and pink glistened through the leafy trees above. She knew she should return home. Her family would be terribly worried by now.

But how would she face them after today? 

A Writer's Journey: Special Guest

Welcome readers! I am posting a second 'Writer's Journey' post for the week and this one is special because we have a guest with us! I had the privilege of interviewing my good friend, Michaela Fuller who is currently working on her first novel, 'Wishful Thinking'.

I hope you will feel inspired when you hear about her writer's journey:

So how long exactly have you been writing?

Well…I have been thinking of stories since I was six. Then I started writing little stories when I was ten. I didn’t ever finish anything until last year.

At what stage in the writer’s journey do you think you are at right now?

I'm still in the beginning stage...probably step 3 or 4. I’m no where close to being a professional or bestseller or anything. I just like to make up stories and write them down. I haven’t actually published or redrafted anything yet as they are all just ideas really.

I know you have been working on plotting and outlining for your first novel, Wishful Thinking. May we hear a little bit about it?

I don't want to give too much away but I will say it is a fiction/fantasy for young adults. There will be both comedy and romance in there and the main character is actually based after me. I kind of took how I would react to what she goes through.

That's so exciting! I can't wait to read it. Where do you find the inspiration for your writing?

 I get a lot of inspiration just from reading other stories and listening to lyrics of songs and watching movies. I find lots of ideas on Pinterest. And just my own daydreams. I get ideas in my head and they just kind of take off.

The biggest difficulty a writer faces is writer's block. What do you do when you have writer's block or feel discouraged?

Usually what I do if I have writer’s block in a particular story, I move on to something else even if it’s just for a short time. Or I’ll go back to where I got my original inspiration for the story. I’ll go back and re-listen to the song, re-watch the movie, or reread the scene so it reminds me of where I want it to go.

Are there any writers or authors who have made an impact on your writing?

I want to have the creativity of Alexandra Bracken (Brightly Woven) and Sarah J. Maas (Glass of Thrones). I also want to have the wit of Jane Austen. I love Marrissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles), because her characters are so intricate and complicated. 

Do you usually set goals on when you want to finish a project? 

Yes, I do make goals but they do change depending on what’s going on in my life. My current goal is to finish the first draft of Wishful Thinking by the end of the year, but we'll see what happens. Giving myself  deadlines does put more stress on me, so I think more in terms of writing as much as I can when I can. 

What is your favorite and least favorite thing about writing?

My favorite part is thinking about all the ideas. I love taking inspiration and creating a story for it and coming up with a plot and characters. I like to create my own soundtrack and playlist for the story and characters. My least favorite thing is when I let my discouragement take over. I tend to take a break instead of push forward. I need to realize it won’t be perfect the first time.

If you could give advice to writers who are just beginning their first novel or big project, what would you tell them?

I would tell them, don’t let fear of not being good enough keep you from writing. Too often, I compare myself with someone who is way ahead of me in my journey or projects. So I think because I’m not where they are and not as good as they are, I stop. Everyone’s been where we’ve been. Everyone has a beginning. So don’t give up!

About Michaela Fuller: 

 Michaela has been dreaming of magical places, brave princesses and dashing heroes since she was a little girl. Because she has yet to stumble through a wardrobe to Narnia, journey throughout Middle Earth with eight companions, or receive her letter to Hogwarts, she recently decided to create her own epic adventure by beginning her first novel. She drinks entirely too much coffee and lives in Iowa with her cat Bilbeau. 

A Writer's Journey: Finding Inspiration

When an artist sits down to paint, if he is good, he doesn't just paint the first thing that comes to his mind. He paints something that inspires him. A field of tiny white daisies on a warm summer day. A light mist of fog glazing over a calm blue lake. His little son and daughter playing in the mud.

A musician and song writer will find inspiration for songs they compose through life experiences or stories they hear from other people. When the song comes from their own story, and inspirations that they have grown passionate about, the song instantly becomes more meaningful and real.

The same goes for writing. A story is always better when the writer is passionate about what they write. If they haven't been inspired to write it, then they might as well not. And the wonderful thing about writers, is our minds are always searching for inspiration.

Everything we see, watch, encounter, do...can be inspiration for a story. A big part of a writer's journey, is ALWAYS being alert to your surroundings. You don't need to necessarily walk around or drive places thinking, "Okay, how will I find inspiration to put into a book today?" That's not exactly how it works.

But when you keep your mind open, it's amazing how many things or people you'll see, or places you'll go that will suddenly cause an idea to pop into your head. Maybe you'll overhear a conversation in a cafe, or see an odd looking tree while
going for a walk, or read a scene in a book, that will inspire you to turn it into your own story. Maybe you'll even have a crazy dream that will make an amazing tale.

Almost four years ago, I was babysitting and reading a children's book to the kids. I do not remember the title of the book. But it was a Thanksgiving story about a girl and her mother. Their apartment building had burnt down so they came together with many of their neighbors they didn't even know and had a big Thanksgiving feast. This grew them together and though many of them currently didn't have a home at the time, they were thankful to be able to come together and make new friends.

And that's where the first inspiration for my book came from. Though my novel I've been working on ever since, has changed so much, and has nothing to do with apartment buildings burning down, if it wasn't for that children's book, I'm sure I wouldn't be writing my book. The Thanksgiving element plays a huge part and ties in with other inspiration I've gathered in the last few years.

C.S. Lewis once took care of four children during WWII. This gave him the idea of four children finding a magical world in a wardrobe. He also kept having dreams about lions. Amazing how those dreams and the children turned into the absolutely beautiful 'Chronicles of Narnia' series.

So don't feel like you always have to have brilliant ideas that just come automatically from your brain in order to be a writer. The only ideas that turn into wonderful pieces of work come from inspiration.

 I would love to hear where you have found inspiration for stories or poems. Please comment and share!

Writing for Him

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." ~Romans 8:28

When you are a writer, it's common to feel pressured. There are so, so many expectations. Expectations from readers, publishers, agents, and of course yourself. You feel like you are always trying to prove yourself, and it can be exhausting.

I was feeling this way today, as I am busy with several huge projects and tasks. I have a binder of Bible verses sitting on my desk so I flipped through and turned to Romans 8:28. It reminded me that the whole point of what I do is to do it with a love for God, putting Him first.

So I thought I'd share the verse with you, reminding you of His promise. When we love God and seek Him with all our heart, all things will work out according to His perfect plan.

So chin up and remember that it's God's pleasure and glory that matters above all things!

Five Magic Spindles Show and Tell

Last week, Anne Elisabeth Stengl posted many synopsis and opening lines of the stories in progress from the authors competing in Rooglewood Press's 'Five Magic Spindles' contest.

I know I'm late in posting this, but if you haven't read the post yet, DO SO! I am so inspired and intrigued to see all the different sleeping beauty retelling ideas. You can read them here.

I've decided to share my synopsis on my own blog as well, but I do hope you'll read everyone else's, for there are so many creative stories being developed!

My Synopsis of my Sleeping Beauty retelling:

The Hunter’s Heir:

After embarrassing herself in front the Elven Kingdom during her sixteenth birthday celebration, Princess Meriel is afraid her clumsiness and lack of grace and elegance has given her royal family a bad name.

            When she runs to Coral Brook Forest to be alone, she discovers her father’s own advisor attempting to bring back a darkness that was destroyed hundreds of years ago.

            And after she is struck by the darkness and wakes up one hundred years later, she finds that the Elven Kingdom is ruled by a selfish and cruel king, elves and humans are no longer friends, and villages are being attacked at night by the same darkness that had caused Meriel to sleep for a century long.

            With the help of a cocky archer and two eccentric fairies, Princess Meriel journeys to find the elf and heir of the great Hunter, Lianothorn who had once destroyed the darkness years ago.

As Meriel encounters dangers she had never expected herself to face, she discovers that that courage and loyalty are far more important qualities to have than simply being beautiful and charming.

This project has been so much fun to work on. After working on a fiction story for such a long time, it's a little nice to explore a completely different genre. Elves have always intrigued me, so it's been really fun studying about them and creating them in my own way as well.

Having only just finished my first (and very rough) draft of this story, there is still much work to be done. I still have not a name for the Elven Kingdom, and I unfortunately am several hundred words over the limit word count.

But thankfully we have until December to turn in our manuscripts, so it should be (hopefully!) ready by then. :)

A Writer's Journey: Into the Great Unknown...

"To the end of his days Bilbo could never remember how he found himself outside, without a hat, a walking-stick, or any money, or anything that he usually took when he went out..."

In J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, the story of Bilbo Baggins leaving the comfort and safety of his own home and people, and joining a group of dwarves to go on a long and dangerous journey so they can eventually take on an even more dangerous dragon...reminds me of the beginning of a writer's life.

Though Bilbo had always lived a relaxed and organized life, the adventurer deep within him left all his things that made him feel secure, behind. He had no money, no walking-stick, and not even a hat, when he left. But he did take something with him that perhaps he never before realized he had. And that was courage.

Every writer, just like every hero or heroine in a story makes a choice to begin this exciting and rather scary journey in their life. They have no idea what is ahead of them. A writer's journey starts even before they have any education or experience in the field. They just have a dream. They just a passion. And they just a very huge amount of courage!

 If you are someone who has just discovered that writing is what you want to pursue, and you are 100% serious about taking this plunge, then you understand the overwhelming and scary risks and fears this decision involves.

If you are an experienced writer, you can think back and remember those days when you first started and all the fears that you faced.

I smile as I think of the beginning of my writer's journey. I had always loved telling stories when I was a little girl. I had an entire dream world in my head, and a ridiculous imagination like Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gables books. And when I was twelve years old, I wrote my first book, The Gadget Girls. I printed it off from the computer and still have it saved away with many of my other writings and poems from when I was young.

As I got older, I would tell bed time stories to the children I babysat. Too many times, they'd be up way past their bedtime, as my stories grew long and detailed. Then throughout high school I worked on a couple stories here and there. I had a bad habit of getting halfway through one, then coming up with another, and starting a brand new one.

Though I've always enjoyed writing, I also love many other things, and I simply never thought that I'd ever become this serious about it. But the year after I graduated high school, and was teaching art classes, I suddenly came up with a story idea that seemed to stand out to me more than any other idea I'd ever had.

In the next post I'll talk about how I thought of the idea and where the inspiration came from. But tonight I just want to share a little about how I got started on pursuing the writer's life. 

As I started writing, this time, the characters were so real in my head, I felt as if I personally knew each of them. The story started to unfold, and for the first time, I stuck to it. There was something about this story that made me feel like it needed to be written. I hadn't taken any creative writing courses. I had only read a little bit of a book on writing. I wasn't going to school to earn a degree in English. 

Like Bilbo, I was flying out the door without my walking stick! But as I began this journey, I learned that I loved writing more than anything else I've ever done. 

I have complete confidence it was God who put the story idea in my head. And though the story has changed DRASTICALLY in the last four years, I am so thankful that I got on this path. This story and I have been through so much together, and I wouldn't be where I am today, refining it so it is its absolute best, if I hadn't ran out the door to face a world unknown.

Every book has a beginning. And every dream does too. We all start somewhere. If you are just beginning this journey as a writer, take courage. If you truly love it, you will be able to face the obstacles and fears that you will encounter on the way. 

If you have read the ending of The Hobbit, you know it was a pretty good idea that Bilbo left his home to go with the dwarves. If it wasn't for him, well...we wouldn't have Tolkien's entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. 

If you have a book in you, write it! You will never know what will happen until you begin

A Writer's Journey Blog Post Series

In my last post I mentioned that I am going to start sharing a weekly blog post series each month. I know I am starting in the middle of the month, so I'll probably be posting a couple times this and next week.

For this month, being the first series, I thought the perfect theme to write about is, "A Writer's Journey." Each post, I will cover little facts, some advice, encouragement, and input on what a writer's journey is all about and how to embrace the challenging plunge into a writer's life.

Check back tonight to read the very first post of this series!  

Goodbye Summer...and Exciting Announcement!

Oh where oh where did the summer go? Isn't it amazing how so many of us imagine the summer as a relaxing and lazy season? We see ourselves lounging by the pool, sipping lemonade while reading a good book every day.

But summer comes and we find ourselves even crazy busier than the school year. Moms' are carpooling each kid from one sport to the next. There are camps. Trips. Family reunions. Everyone is go, go, go. And before you know it, the summer is over!

I am not a mom, and I did not go on any big summer vacations or to family reunions this year. But I also did not go to the pool once. The worst part, is I did not get tan and am still as pasty white as I was in the winter. 

Yes, summer was rather crazy intense for me. While working hard to finish the first draft of the major rewrite of my book, marketing and writing copy for my business, and working on my novella for the Rooglewood Press's fairytal contest, I was sad to neglect my blog for a couple of months.

However, though life doesn't quite feel like it's slowed down any, I am happy to say that I am now on the second draft of my rewrite; I have found a good time of the day to work on projects for my business and clients; And my novella is coming along smoothly!

And that has brought me to make a little announcement. I will now not only be posting consistently on my blog...but am starting a new blog post series each month! I will be sharing one post regarding the topic of the month once a week.

I am really excited to get back into blogging. Stay tuned to read the very first post of the series for September! 

Meanwhile...I'd love to hear about your summer! What projects did you start or finish? Were you able to write as much as you wanted to? Did any trips or summer adventures inspire any story ideas? Do tell! Just leave a comment below. Can't wait to hear from you!