Category Archives: Writers and Support

A blog about the topics of writing, Writers and Support

Why do you write as an author?

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Why do you write?

When I started, I was told by others they had been writing for years, some as early as their teens. I didn’t start until my early 40s.

Why did I start? My husband told a good friend of ours that he felt I wrote well. She told me. I mean, what better way to tell your wife than to a friend, right? I mulled that over, wondering if I had anything in me to write a book of any length.

I had two surgeries within six weeks of each other and was going to be stuck recovering more or less. So, I took on the task of writing something, anything that would work. I had heard for a while that you write on what you know.

So, what did I know? What could I possibly know that I could translate into a book? I literally looked around my house to see if there was something I knew that I could turn into a book.

My eyes landed on our rescued Amazon parrot, Jasper. He looked at me, and that was all it took. At that point, he had been with us for ten years.

From that, four books written. Three are published, one is in a queue from my publisher. It has been a joy to write.

Writing is freedom for me. Anything can be going around me, but if I am locked in a scene or plot, you really have to shout if you want my attention.

Why I write is hard to explain, I feel, to people who don’t write, but fellow writers get me. They understand being lost in the words and pages that they are creating. It is a joy that is priceless and a joy that I didn’t know I needed until I started doing it.

I know I am not explaining it well. Maybe, perhaps, if you write a short story and the words fill up page after page, the utter joy that I feel might be found by you.

A blog about the topics of writing, Writers and Support

How organized is your writing space?

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I have been spring cleaning my office, which is something I have been avoiding for way too long. The office has two full cabinets stuffed with papers that I had to go through one by one. The bookcases were okay. It was simple to use the writing cart on wheels. Yet, the file cabinets were the mother of all tasks.

But as I sorted through sheet after sheet of paper, I found some awesome stuff. I had cards for years and years from my husband with his message inside. I came across some old pictures that made me pause and smile at the memories. I came across stacks and stacks of writing-related papers, whether it was an article, an old notebook from classes, notes from a conference, pictures from conferences I’d attended, and so on.

I have been doing this for a while now, and it has flown. Some have asked me, “Hey, are you still writing?” I get why, and yes, I am. A book has been ready since March of last year. Life gets in the way.

It was great to find photocopies of quotes I have received or made myself. I saw an old calendar of the events, programs, and speaking engagements I have done over the years. It has truly gone by so fast. But it has been an experience for me. I never expected to be doing this when I was younger. Years ago, in fact.

So while it took me several trash bags, a lot of shredding, a lot of filing, and finding room for everything, my office is now in order, and there is a place for everything, so I am organized. That alone was worth it. But the journey to get here was difficult. But enjoyable as I visually scanned my last few years as an author. It has been great. I have met some amazing people and formed long-lasting friendships beyond writing, and I have come to be happy with this.

I hope those who are writers and follow me can say the same: the journey has been worth it.

Has your journey as a writer gone well?

A blog about the topics of writing, Writers and Support

Do you still have joy when you write?

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Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

I sent the last edits to volume two of my Squirrel Mafia series to the publisher. It included dedication, acknowledgments, different pictures, a foreword, and more.

When I first wrote Squirrel Mafia, I could not foresee that there would be three volumes. Yup, the little darlings have already given me, at least for now, ten chapters to put into another book. It is such a treat to work on this series. I laugh and fuss as I write the words.

As you write your book and series, I hope you still have a love and joy in creating your characters, plots, and dialogue.

It can get tedious, and you might want to move on to something else. At the last author showcase at one of our local libraries, that is what people were saying to me. They wanted to know if there was another volume. And soon, there will be.

It all started when these little darlings climbed onto my window sill and bared their teeth at Jasper, thus scaring him. There were three or four all doing it. They repeatedly did it. It was from that incident this series came to pass. I am always looking in my yard to see what the little bastards are doing, as they rarely disappoint and continually surprise me with what antics they come up with at my expense.

But it has been enjoyable to embark on this journey with them. People have sent me, over the years, videos, pictures, stuffed animals, and newspaper clippings, to name a few.

I am now known as the woman who has a continual war with the squirrels in her backyard. Good? I am not sure, to be honest. LOL If nothing else, it gives me laughter as I write the stories for people to read.

I hope you still have joy inside of you as you work on your current WIP.

It is now onward to editing the fourth volume of my Jasper, Amazon parrot series.