Thoughts on Struggling
There’s a common message they all seemed to communicate in on way or another, and it’s summed up nicely by Alysa Liu. I have a feeling many of her fellow Olympians share this perspective.
Book Review: I Who Have Never Known Men
It really is difficult to nail down exactly what I loved about this one, because it’s literally the overall story itself. It’s the way it’s written. It’s the melancholic, lonely feeling of it. It’s the expansive, life-spanning nature of it. It’s the way it still manages to feel intimate despite its scope. It’s everything.
The Undeniable Force Behind Writing: Humanity
I’ve always written as a way to understand and express humanity, whereas now it feels more like I write as a way to connect with and celebrate it. That shift feels important.
Becoming Water
We’re only a few days into the new year, and we’ve awoken this week to yet more news of chaos in the world. So, I’m scrapping my planned post in favor of sharing a short missive on the central theme of my life at the moment. I am becoming water.
Tips For Beta Readers (+FREE Beta Reading Checklist)
I was scrolling Tiktok yesterday, and a writer popped up on my FYP asking about beta reading. It got me thinking back to the first couple manuscripts I beta read, and how completely lost I felt, even though I’d taken creative writing classes and knew how to provide feedback to writers.
What is Sensitivity Reading?
In my experience talking with other writers, I’ve been surprised to see how many people don’t understand what a sensitivity read is. Though it’s often misunderstood—or completely overlooked—I believe sensitivity readers are one of our greatest resources as writers.
Writing Update: We’re Back!
A couple nights ago, as I was brushing my teeth and staring it a blindingly bright full moon through the windows above the tub, a feeling came over me that I can only describe as divine. I literally stopped what I was doing to stare. To listen.
Enneagram 5w4—The Iconoclast
As a writer, I get to explore the human experience in so many ways. It had been a while since I’d taken an Enneagram assessment, so I thought that’d be a fun thing to do again. I was right.
Writing Update: Dipping My Toes In Again (Querying)
Aside from one small batch of queries earlier this year, I haven’t queried in 2025. But it’s time to dip my toes in again… Hopefully I find the right agent this go around! And in the meantime, I’m back to work on other projects.
Being a Writer in the Age of AI
I can’t get online these days without someone discussing AI and its many harms within the writing and publishing world. The reality is, it’s growing, so what can we do as creatives?
Book Review: House Of Frank
Sometimes a book really can feel like being wrapped in a comfy knit sweater, curled up by a fire, while rain taps against the window. House of Frank is that for me. But be prepared to CRY.
The Stories We Tell About Ourselves
What stories have you told yourself about who you are? What stories have others believed? What’s the truest story you can tell about yourself today? I’ve got lots of thoughts.
Narrative Traditions: The Stories That Shape Us
I was listening to the Writing Excuses podcast this week, where they had an episode discussing narrative tradition. It got me thinking about what and who has shaped my writing and storytelling, and it took me to places I wasn’t quite expecting.
New WIP: ECHO
Inspired by my daughter’s idea, combined with tales surrounding Lake Lanier and other well-known tragic locations, ECHO is a look at our dark history and the ways our past can come back to haunt us if we refuse to face it.
10 Ways to Trim Word Count
It’s always a good idea to self-edit, tighten things up, and make every word earn its place in the story. I recently cut ~20k words from a manuscript, so let’s talk clarity, pace, and focus.
Book Review: Blood Over Bright Haven
Sciona has built her entire life around mastering the magic of her world, becoming the first female highmage, but everything changes when she’s admitted to the University of Magistry and Industry, uncovering long-buried secrets about where their magic comes from, and the cost of using it.
Writing Update: One Goal Reached!
We did it! Seen & Unseen is now under 100k words and ready to be sent off for what will hopefully be the final manuscript critique before potentially querying it.
Writing Update: Not Quite 100k
I did a major trim-down on Seen & Unseen in preparation for sending it off to an amazing editor. We’re so close!
Writing Through The Weight
The common thread in writer’s block advice is hustle, pushing through… For disabled writers, people experiencing burnout, or those living with chronic illness or navigating grief, I think this advice can actually be harmful.
Positive Character Arcs
When our characters overcome, adapt, learn, and grow, we often leave inspired and satisfied, whether there’s a happy ending to the story or not.