Hi there! :) It's been quite a while since I've done a proper check-in post and I have a handful of writing-related updates to share with you! Let's get into it... The Blog Let's begin with what is perhaps the most pertinent to you as the reader of this blog and, possibly, the most substantial update of the bunch. I'm approaching my eighth anniversary of blogging, which is kinda wild if I'm being honest. And throughout the time, I've kept to the same schedule: new posts every

My algorithm keeps rolling me into the taste-testing side of YouTube Shorts. It was the candy salad trend last year. A few months ago, it was the Clinkers challenge, which had participants guessing the colored filling of a chocolate-covered candy and then having to do whatever dare they'd given themselves upon a correct guess (which loosely inspired this video where I used an assortment of gummy bears to randomize the length of my writing sprints). I also get a lot of behind-

"Reviews are for readers" is a phrase you'll hear pretty often in bookish spaces. It's largely rooted in setting clear boundaries for authors and readers in online discourse, things like asking readers to not tag authors in reviews of their books and advising authors against engaging with said reviews (especially if it means going to war for their book in the comments). It's about coexisting respectfully. Can there be crossover? Sure. There are plenty of things writers can le

If you are fortunate enough to have friends or family members who are supportive of your writing goals, sooner or later, they'll probably start asking when they can read your stuff. While you should definitely have people read your manuscript along the way, it's good to be discerning when it comes to who you let read what and when. That can depend on the stage you're at with your writing and what you need from that reader. There's also some jargon you may have heard when talk

Every writer has their way of settling into a new project, whether it's a playlist curated to fit the story, intensive character development worksheets, or a brief meditation to ground their thoughts. Candles are a favorite among writers for creating a cozy atomosphere through aromatherapy and gentle lighting. Some writers take this even further with a story candle. You might also hear them called WIP candles or project candles. A story candle is a candle designated for your

For a lot of bookish peeps, autumn means cozy sweaters, warm drinks in your favorite mug, and curling up with a good book, but for a lot of writers, it's a season of creativity with a hearty dash of chaos. I'm talking about none other than National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, an event that takes place every November and challenges writers to draft 50,000 words across 30 days. I realize it's only September when this post is going live, but this is the time of