Last weekend, I attended the Wisconsin Romance Writer’s bi-annual conference. Held in Milwaukee (this year), I left the Chicago suburbs on Thursday afternoon and returned Sunday late morning.

I’ve been to several romance writing conferences (both National and local). I had an idea of what to expect. Every experience has been a chance to learn from workshops, network with authors, pitch to editors and/or agents, and hang out with writing friends.

I signed up for an all-day intensive class on storytelling with Lisa Cron, author of Story Genius and Wired for Story. I feel like I am looking at my work (projects in draft form, ideas for future novels, and works in progress) with fresh eyes. Filling the pages of a notebook as she spoke, Lisa’s words resonated. As she walked us through a process to really ignite how to tell a story, she helped me stitch together a lot of disparate ideas and theories I’ve studied.

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend a class led by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi about emotional wounds. Later in the afternoon, Lisa taught another class about scenes. Both of these workshops built off each other and the class on Friday. For the first time ever, during one of the classes, I was successful at following along with an exercise.

This never happens. I usually need to keep thinking for a while to really digest what the instructors are looking for. But the instantaneous processing and understanding of an exercise really lit a fire in me. Since coming home, I have started a deep dive into a project that I know will strengthen the complete novel. I’m excited to put the different techniques into my craft.

I feel re-energized to finish the (very full) slate of projects on my desk and get these novels polished and published. Of course, like always, I had a wonderful time chatting with other authors. Photos of my weekend are up on my Instagram feed, click here. I was delighted to meet fellow Wild Rose Press Sweetheart Rose author, Laurie Winter. Any time spent with my Chicago North chapter mates is a great time.

Can’t wait for Chicago Spring Fling 2020. If you’re on the fence about coming, say yes. Take the time to invest in yourself and your career. I have never regretted a conference and am grateful to be part of a local RWA chapter so I don’t have to wait a full year for the opportunity to learn, connect, and grow. More about Chicago North, click here.

Good morning!

I started keeping track of the words written every day in 2018. It’s illuminating to see how much (or how little) I’ve been able to craft at any moment.

In January, February, and March, however, I had a hard time keeping track of daily wordcounts, because I was mostly not creating something brand new.

The bulk of my time has been devoted to edits. For me, I end up writing as many words as I wipe out of a draft, kind of equalling a zero sum for the day. It’s a bit hard to keep track of (doesn’t help that a lot of times, I’m writing edits long-hand, so when I go back to type them in, I forget what day I worked on which particular scene).

Here’s what I’ve learned about myself and my process and I’m coming to slowly accept: I need time with each story. Time to outline and write the first draft. Time to take a break and let my mind work on something else. Time to come back and really clarify and refine the story hiding underneath all the “telling” in the book.

If I didn’t impose deadlines on myself, I would never finish anything. The longer I write, the more I appreciate how much I still have to learn and grow as an author/person. I would let books linger half-finished forever. This year, I’m taking all the 2019 first drafts and FINISHING them. Submitting, publishing, getting them done. (And of course, I can’t help but chase after plot bunnies and start new first drafts. Writing begets writing.)

My new project with The Wild Rose Press is in the back and forth process with my editor. I’m so excited to have the opportunity to work with her again. She is helping me develop my story into a clearer vision of the jumble of words I jot down on the page.

Instead of a word count total, here’s what I accomplished:

Finished the first draft of a new sweet romance (#projectmagicchicken)

Edited and submitted #projectfaux to an agent (requested during #KissPitch)

Edited #projecthijinxensue with The Wild Rose Press

Developed a plan for the projects I have in first draft form

Submitted the first chapter and synopsis of another project (no code name yet) to the Love Inspired Great Author Search

Brainstormed a sequel to #projectfaux

Happy March!

I am so excited to inch closer to spring. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still winter here but I have a trip to the beach in my near future and I can’t wait for the sunshine.

I was thinking about something again the other day and wanted to share a positive shift I made in my life.

I stopped waiting for permission.

Maybe this is a side-effect of being a ‘good girl,’ along with the constant apologizing (even when it’s not my fault), always smiling, and seeking to never cause a scene. Shortly after bringing my youngest home from the hospital, I realized even though I was the mom and the ultimate authority for my children, I was still waiting for permission from someone else. Instead of scheduling time to write when I had help caring for young children, I stalled until someone told me it was okay to take an hour alone.

Even now with my children in school full-time, I’ll sometimes catch myself hesitating before taking on a new project.

I used to think I was just a procrastinator, but that doesn’t fit. If I have a task, I set deadlines and draft a plan and attack. I don’t believe in either putting off a job OR excuses. If something is important, it’ll be a priority and I’ll make it happen. Since identifying the major hang-up, I combat it much quicker.

I have permission to work hard and reach my goals. I have permission to succeed. I have permission to get back to work and finish editing the piles of first drafts on my desk (wink).