Where I've Been

I forgot I had a blog.

I was almost fast asleep the other night and audibly gasped as if someone had appeared outside my bedroom window. My blog. How could I forget about my blog? In the words of my nibling, I had too much dip on my chip. Between working, writing a novel, starting a new one, and being in several writing groups: my chip was breaking from the weight of the metaphorical dip.

I came across a post that was supposed to go live near the end of June that I never finished about the month's highs and lows. The gist was that sometimes the lining needs a bit of elbow grease to discover that it’s actually silver. I will not be posting that article, but here’s my lowest low and my highest high from the last 4-6 weeks:

Low: I cried myself to sleep one night because I was worried that the world would end before I could do anything of substance.

High: I finished the first draft of a novel that’s been taking up space in my brain for years.

The low was low, but that high was unmatched. I forgot about every low that came before it until I realized I had several more ideas that wanted their chance at becoming a first draft. Three to be exact. I’ve given one the time of day and it’s out of my comfort zone. So I’ve been divvying my time between work, writing/researching/plotting, and domestic duties. Notice I didn’t say social life because I don’t have one unless writing groups count.

I’ve heard dozens of stories about writing groups and how they jumpstarted writers’ careers so I formed one after I completed Jami Attenberg’s #1000wordsofsummer. I’m also in a street team/hype group hosted by author Danielle Valentine, who has a novel coming out on August 1st (more about that at the end). These little circles of writers and accountability and advice have already transformed me in ways I probably won’t realize until years down the line. So if you’re a writer, join a writer's group. Sit in on one, you won’t regret it. Unless the group is terrible and lawless, then, by all means, leave.

I also spent an insane amount of time watching youtube videos. Mainly Brandon Sanderson, but a few others. You’re probably wondering how the hell I’m doing all of this with only 24 hours in the day and the answer is simple: I don’t sleep. I’m not trying to glamorize the fact that I keep odd hours. That’s how it’s always been. In an ideal world, I’d be able to dedicate 22 of my hours to writing and the other 2 to watching TV, movies, and taking the occasional photo. Food, sleep? Who needs them? I’m mostly kidding, Please sleep, eat, and nurture yourself.

But, since I've lost the thread on this post, I wanted to discuss Danielle Valentine and her new novel before I closed out. I mentioned that I was/am in a street team/hype group for her upcoming novel, Delicate Condition. First, Danielle is a Godsend. She writes amazing books and gives excellent advice so when I got an email about her starting a street team, it was an immediate yes. I’ve met other writers, heard about their stories, worked on my novel’s plot and characters, and learned more about publishing. I will never forget what I learned and I will forever be indebted to Danielle. Sign up for your favorite authors' newsletters, buy their books, borrow them from the library, leave positive reviews, and spread the word. It all counts. That’s why I’m going to plug her upcoming novel:

Delicate Condition is a thriller about a woman who successfully goes through IVF but then has a miscarriage. She feels something isn’t right, but the men in her life refuse to believe her. I am beyond excited for its release, especially after reading an excerpt and learning that it’s the story behind the new season of American Horror Story. If you’re already sold, you can pre-order it on Bookshop, B&N, or from your local bookstore.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading! I know I’ve been MIA, but I’ll do another post about the stories holding me hostage soon and the advice that's helped me push through that first draft.

P.S. Jami Attenberg also has a novel coming out on January 9, 2024 titled after her literary movement #1000WordsofSummer.

This post contains content regarding miscarriages.