Things don't always go according to plan when you're a writer. Characters act out of character or take you far beyond the plot you laid out for them. The words don't always come. You stumble into plot holes, not knowing how to climb out. Your betas or editor might strongly suggest cutting something you love so dearly. And of course, there's the dreaded rejection letter. So, then? What is a writer to do? Bouncing back from a writing setback is an important, if not essential, s

The writing software you use won't make or break you as a writer. That all comes down to your passion for storytelling and growth over time, and that intangible, intrinsic quality that makes your writing yours. Still, there have been plenty of times that I've felt like I couldn't sit at the cool writers' table because I don't use Scrivener, one of, if not the most popular, specialized writing software on the market. You may recall me mentioning Scrivener in posts from many mo

At the start of 2026, I told myself that I would only be focusing on A Tided Love, my second-chance Regency Era romance project that's been on and off (though admittedly mostly off lately) since I started it during NaNoWriMo 2023. It's a story I feel so deeply for and connected to in a way that I haven't felt with any of my other ongoing Regency stories. In a way, it feels like the one. Despite my passion for A Tided Love, I've been feeling pretty stuck lately. I don't think

For many people, summer is a time for rest and relaxation or embarking on new adventures. For me, on the other hand, it's a bit of a different story. I work at an escape room in a casino mall, situated in a property where those people looking for rest and relaxation or embarking on new adventures during the summer go. Needless to say, it gets hectic! Summer means extended hours of operation. 2026 is my third summer working there, so I roughly know what to expect when it comes

Welcome to the first in a new series I'm calling "Hey, Past Avril..." Not long ago, I read through every single one of my old blog posts to make some minor tweaks and reformat the earliest ones after some assets got jumbled in the transition from one hosting platform to the current one. And along the way, I noticed my stance on some things has changed over the years. Writing is a process of evolution as a result of personal experiences, research, time and, perhaps most import

I've entered a period of downsizing and decluttering. It could be related to the reflections I was having when I turned 30 this past March and craving change amid my desire for more stability and control in this new decade of life. Not a total overhaul, but hoping to move into a new space sooner rather than later. Reevaluating what's important to me. What I want vs what I need. And the algorithm knows it. My YouTube feed has especially been tailored to my reassessment efforts