Right now, I'm struggling not to freak out because of all the things that I have to do in these last 3 months of the year. As some of you already know, I work in software development and sometimes we tend to have "shades of crazy" schedules. This may be one of the primary reasons that my current novel project has had its stalls but I try to put things in perspective. It is all about balance and reality --- because I have to earn an living first. Last night after finishing a 12-hour stint … [Read more...]
My Four Words
May 10, 2011 Read Comments
Some people grow up with a credo or a phrase that sums up best what they represent or what they want in their life. For me, I have four words. These four words speak of the kind of life I want and it definitely bleeds over into my writing life as well. Peace. I hate it when things are in turmoil. I value peace more than anything. For my writing, I tend not do well when I'm stressed out. I write better when I'm at peace with where I am in the journey and accepting that this whole "writing … [Read more...]
Cultivating a Creative Life
February 1, 2011 Read Comments
I had the pleasure of participating in a workshop with Sara Zarr last December at The Big Sur Children's Writing Workshop, so I already know firsthand how inspiring she can be for writers trudging along their creative journey. I knew she would be the keynote speaker at the recent SCBWI Winter Conference so it didn't surprise me to hear that her speech was great. It was basically the speech she wished she had heard during the early part of her writing journey --- a speech of hope. Candy … [Read more...]
Conscious Creation
January 25, 2011 Read Comments
As I've already shared before, this year will be focused on the craft of writing and the journey of finishing my novel project. This focus can sometimes be hard to do when you are preoccupied with the finish line. But one thing I have noticed --- at least for me being the plot chick that I am --- is that when I rush to get to that finish line, I find that I've missed many things --- the most important being emotional development of the novel's heart. Because for me, without the heart of the … [Read more...]
