Getting Back into It

I’ve stepped away from my writing life for the past little while, and you know what, that’s okay. Sometimes that has to happen. I’ve been busy with family, church, and community, and I felt like I needed a break from my writing to be able to fit everything in. It couldn’t last forever, though, because writing always pulls me back in.

Last week, I finished a draft of my latest novel, and now I’m working on the final draft. I’ve identified some holes that needed filling, some characters that needed a bit more fleshing out, some additional research that was needed, and it just feels good knowing those are getting done. And honestly, taking a step back was exactly what I needed to be able to see the things that need improving. Sometimes when you’re just too close to something, it’s harder to see the big picture and what you can do to improve it.

It’s been fun for me to get back into a writing routine. I’m such a school supplies/stationary junkie, that when I sat myself down and got serious about getting back into writing, I bought a graph-ruled notebook for jotting down notes and ideas (not super exciting, but it’s a new notebook!), and a little planner (definitely more exciting) to track out my tasks and my time. I’m such a list-maker! Lists keep me accountable, and I fear I’d be lost if I didn’t have a good planner to keep to-do lists in. And I use my lovely Lamy Safari to jot down all my notes and to-dos. I discovered this fountain pen over the summer, and I absolutely love it paired with some Noodler’s ink.

And now that I’m back in the thick of things, I’m really excited for this latest book. It’s a sci-fi/fantasy mash-up with some pretty awesome characters and the-world-is-in-peril consequences. As I get closer to it being done, I’ll be sure to share more details with you. So hang in there, because now that I’ve got a groove going, big things are happening!