I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest childhood memories is of me, sitting at a desk in my third-grade classroom, flipping through a hardcover encyclopedia for the letter ‘S,’ because I wanted to research the sun for a short story I was working on. I’d even asked my teacher, Mrs. Engle, to let me stay inside during recess so I could work. Despite the … [Read more...]
My Path to Becoming a Published Author
When I was eight years old, I told everyone I met what I wanted to be when I grew up: an author. Thirty-three years later, that dream finally came true. It wasn’t the path I expected - but, really, when is the path ever what we expect? *** Oops & Daisies contains affiliate links & participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program & other affiliate programs. If you buy … [Read more...]
Creative Writing: Why I Welcome Criticism
I write every day, clicking away at my keyboard. This is, naturally, a solitary activity, unless you count the dog who usually cuddles by my side or my kids who are often upstairs for quiet time (when they’re not asking me for a snack for the millionth time). Sometimes I’ll join my writing group, particularly during Nanowrimo, for a write-in, where we focus on getting words onto paper. Even then, … [Read more...]
Nanowrimo Prep: Give Yourself Permission to Do This
It’s almost time for Nanowrimo, otherwise known as National Novel Writing Month. This “event” is to help encourage writers to get the novels out of their heads and onto the paper (or computer screen, I should say) in just one month’s time. If it sounds crazy, it kind of is… but it is also really amazing motivation to write the stories that have been swirling around in our heads. The goal: at … [Read more...]
My History with Words… and Introducing my Path to Publication
I feel like this is a bit of a coming out for me… even though I’ve been writing nearly my entire life. At 8 years old, I walked into my 3rd-grade classroom during recess and told my teacher Mrs. Engle that I’d rather stay inside and write. Instead of pushing me out the door, she asked me, “How about we start a writing group every Friday?” She was the first person, other than my parents, to … [Read more...]
