Cloud Nine Girl

[I wrote this post as a member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our worries and also offer support and encouragement to each other on the first Wednesday of every month. If you’re a writer like me and you’re looking for a bit of support, you can click the link and sign up here

Thank you to our awesome co-hosts this month: Jemi Fraser, Kim Lajevardi, L.G Keltner, Tyrean Martinson, and Rachna Chhabria!

 Check out our IWSG homepage for recent news and events.  And as always, thank you to founder Alex J. Cavaugh 🙂 

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I wanted to be a teacher once. Not right away. At 9 I wanted to a singer, then a zoologist until I learned I was allergic to most animals. After that I wanted to be a game warden, then a dietician, then a landscape architect, and I ended up in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Graphic Design. 

I think the path to become a teacher was never straight or clear. But my writing genre has–Young Adult.  I guess maybe it’s because I’ve always been a kid at heart. I’ve made lots of crazy choices and I DO STILL LOVE to help young people with their dreams. I’ve tried to help them learn to make better choices from my mistakes. 

A long answer to this month’s question, but the true answer. 

So what is this month’s question? “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Conner said, “I write to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have had many reasons to write. Why do you write what you write?

The world is more difficult than ever. My writing tends to reflect teens forced to grow up too fast and face difficult choices in magical worlds. Magic makes these choices seem less scary, yet they still feel very real. 

I love this month’s question. Why do you write your genre? 

Happy IWSG Day 🙂

[I wrote this post as a member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our worries and also offer support and encouragement to each other on the first Wednesday of every month. If you’re a writer like me and you’re looking for a bit of support, you can click the link and sign up here

Thank you to our awesome co-hosts this month: Jemima Pett, Beth Camp, Beverly Stowe McClure, and Gwen Gardner!

 Check out our IWSG homepage for recent news and events.  And as always, thank you to founder Alex J. Cavaugh 🙂 

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Do you visualize your success? How often? Daily? Weekly? Every New Year’s when resolutions come around?

Recently I was reminded in the importance of taking time to remember what makes our hearts truly happy. Asking ourselves why we love what we love and do what we do. My son sweetly said just last night, “I love my video game world, mom. I can be anyone I want to be. I’m accepted. I can solve puzzles and figure out strategies.” I thought to myself ok. He’s got something that makes him smile every day and it gets him through the struggles of some of the chaos we encounter in this new ever-changing world. I asked my daughter something similar in regards to her love for dance. She said, “Mom. I have to dance. Dancing is in my soul.”

This month’s IWSG question asks “When you think of the term working writer, what does that look like to you? What do you think it is supposed to look like? Do you see yourself as a working writer or aspiring or hobbyist, and if latter two, what does that look like?

 I’m definitely not where I want to be as a working writer, and what I mean by that, is someone who brings in enough income to support household and living expenses. No, I’m not even close. But I do visualize where I want to be in my writing life. I do set goals. I work hard at writing, because like my daughter, it’s in my soul, and I’m hoping one day my higher vision of my writer self will aspire to exactly what I see in my head and feel in my heart.

Happy IWSG Day 🙂

[I wrote this post as a member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our worries and also offer support and encouragement to each other on the first Wednesday of every month. If you’re a writer like me and you’re looking for a bit of support, you can click the link and sign up here

Thank you to our awesome co-hosts this month: PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner, Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, and Louise – Fundy Blue! Check out our IWSG homepage for recent news and events.  And as always, thank you to founder Alex J. Cavaugh 🙂 

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August and September have been sort of tornadoish swirly. Will schools open for kids? If so, when? Will I be able to finally see my family, my mother and brother I haven’t seen in more than 6 months? Will I be able to leave my state of Missouri, knowing the numbers are on the rise? And what about writing? Will I break out of sleeping more, slipping in more time to write?

I was a lucky one this past month. I did make it out of state. I did see my family. School will start after a two week push back the day after Labor Day, and I’m sending mine to to in-person school. Will it last? Who knows at this point. But I’m looking up through the rainbow umbrella. I’m forcing my gaze through the rain, the clouds and I’m searching for the sunshine I know is up there, somewhere.

With the upturn of events in my world, I’ve also managed to set my alarm a little earlier. First it was 15 minutes. Then it was 20, then it was 30, but thirty is something. I’ve also reached out to my editor and asked to double our time each month together.  I need the accountability right now.

I know I’m not really answering this month’s IWSG Question, which is really great one by the way, but I’m giving this month’s post all I’ve got. 

Happy IWSG Day, friends. Cheers to a bit of sunshine through the rainy skies. At some point, they’ll clear. I believe it. I hope you do too.