Writing Personally

A lot of writers say, “write what you know.” They use it as a mantra, a motto, saying it over and over again. Giving it as advice to other writers as well as themselves. This advice isn’t necessarily wrong or bad, but it should require some clarification and attached warnings.

Writing what you know means different things to different people (hense the needed clarification). Some people mean write in the style/genre you read most or are the most familiar with. Other people mean write characters that you identify with or understand well. Others mean write stories based on your own life experience. Again, none of this is bad advice.

But, a few words of caution: if you write what you know, especially using the last definition, be aware that it may be harder to be content with the outcome.

This is what I’m currently struggling with. I have written a story based closely on some events in my life, events that changed me as a person and, as I grew, changed how I thought about church and faith. I have big plans for this novel. Big motivations. A clear purpose; a strong message. And yet I cannot get it right. I cannot seem to write the story how it appears in my head.

If this were any old story idea, I would be fine with that. I would let the story lead me where it wants to go and let it share what it needed to. But this one is different. It feels like there is so much riding on it; there is a specific story I want to tell out of all this, and yet it can’t ever quite get there.

After I “finished” this novel in May, I gave up on it. I thought I would never touch it again; it would never be published. It would never be good enough. Yet I cannot seem to let it go. I keep going back to my motivations for writing it in the first place (outlined briefly here) and my heart aches thinking that I have these passions about YA and faith coming together and I’m not doing anything about it.

So here I am, frustrated and discontent with my story, yet still trucking through somehow. All that to say, if you have stories you want to tell that mean a lot to you, be prepared to work through them even when it seems impossible.

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Holiday Dreamin’

I have a habit of looking into my future and seeing greatness — or a better word for it may be perfection. I look to next year and see my own apartment, an agent-ed novel, a well-stocked kitchen, a successful business. None of these are unattainable goals. A year to obtain all of them? That might be pushing it. But here I am, trying for all of the above simultaneously.

Some may think I’m crazy, but I prefer the word ambitious. The only problem with that word is that it means I like results and I don’t like waiting. I like taking physical steps to achieve my goals and seeing the progress. The problem with that is sometimes, the progress is not visible. I cannot physically see agents’ reactions when they read my queries to determine if I am progressing in that area or not. I cannot see the progress of my business when I am just starting out and doing some trial-and-error marketing. I cannot see the progress of my novel when I’m stuck on a random scene smack in the middle that I simply cannot get on paper.

This can be discouraging, but all that means is, especially during this time of year, I need to sit down with a good cup of coffee and remember what really matters: I’ve come so far from this time last year, I have progressed — I just can’t see it yet, I am blessed beyond belief. God has given me so much and He will provide — even when I cannot see it.

When this season gets stressful and busy and overwhelming, when my bank account reminds me that I now have bills to pay, when I become discouraged by my apparent lack of success, I will remind myself that everything has its purpose and everything will (eventually) fall into place.

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Marketing turned renewed passion

At the moment, I am a freelance marketing consultant. At least that is what I’m calling myself (as well as a writer, of course). This title has, just in the past few weeks, had me doing everything from painting house numbers on pumpkins for Kentucky House and Home EXP Realty to designing a website and running social media accounts for Thornhill Creations. Back in May, right after I graduated from college, if you would have told me this is where I would be now, I wouldn’t have believed you. I would have spouted something about needing a steady, reliable income. I would have said I needed more structure. In complete honesty, I sometimes still think those things. Up until about a month ago, I held onto an $8/hour job that continuously made me sick (thanks, new-found peanut allergy…) because it was a reliable, albeit small, every-other-week paycheck.

While I still worry about money, I have realized that I am here, in this position, for a reason. I don’t know the entirety of God’s plan in this (who ever does?), but I have learned one thing: I forgot how much I loved design.

For years, art was my stress relief. Drawing and painting were an outlet when I couldn’t find words to write. Images and colors have always been my inspiration, both for life and for my writing. In the midst of life, I had nearly forgotten all art had done for me — how much holding a paintbrush had inspired me.

All that to say, art has once again become a part of my life in ways it hasn’t before and I can’t wait to see how this ties into my writing and into this site. I am growing — as a writer, as a person, as an artist — and there is so much in store. Let’s see where God takes this endeavor next.

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Under Construction

There are seasons both in writing and in life that are a constant state of flux. Perhaps you can’t decide which project to dedicate your time to or you are moving to a new town or starting to meet some new friends. It could be as simple as getting used to a new routine and figuring out how writing will fit into your new-but-still-busy schedule. Nevertheless, these seasons are just that: seasons. They ebb and flow, but while we are in the midst of these chaotic times, there is much to learn.

New ideas always seem to come during these seasons. Something big is changing? Let’s go ahead and and change everything else, too. New wall color, new job (fingers crossed), new writing project, new social media, new goals. Let’s learn how to tuck and roll with the punches and make the most out of this hectic, crazy, invigorating time.

All that being said, be looking forward to some new changes around Celestially Created. I’m not exactly sure what those changes are going to look like yet because they are still figuring themselves out, but they’re going to be exciting. This season of my life can hold nothing less. I am under construction, more like under renovation, and God is doing some beautiful things with my attitude and outlook on life. I can’t wait to see what He has in store for me, for my writing, and for this blog! Stay tuned… and comment below some new, exciting things you’re working on or things you’d like to see from this blog!

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