The Renovation Bug

Do you write at a desk when you’re stuck at home? Or do you have a designated corner of the couch with your favorite throw blanket? Or do you rough it at the kitchen table amidst the bustle of everyone going about their day? Personally, I’m a bit of a wild card — recently, I’ve been jumping between all of these options for a few reasons. For one, I am in the process of moving, so my desk is at The New Place while I’m still living at The Old Place. But I can’t always focus at the table and if I sit somewhere comfy, I’m likely to fall asleep. It’s quite the conundrum…

One of my quarantine goals (now that I am officially [semi] quarantined) is to create the writing space I actually want — the space that makes me feel relaxed, energized, and inspired. I’ve got a nook at The New Place all picked out and a few ideas of how I could go about creating this kind of space, so I thought I’d share some of them. Maybe they’ll spark some ideas for your own home-based work space.

• Get a new house plant to liven up the space
• Paint a canvas with a favorite writing quote
• Have an organized stash of supplies — paper, pens, laptop charger — at the ready. Venture out into the world for a cute storage container if need be.
• Ensure there is a place to set coffee or tea
• Incorporate a basket or shelf for prompt/craft books: suggestions include Bird by Bird (Anne Lamott), On Writing (Stephen King), The Making of a Story (Alice LaPlante), Poet’s Glossary (Edward Hirch), The Poetry Gymnasium (Tom C. Hunley), 300 Writing Prompts
• Make sure there’s enough lighting — use fairy lights if need be
• Hang a bulletin board or magnet board to keep track of goals
• Print photos of your biggest supporters to hang and keep motivation up

What are some ways you want to renovate your writing space? What is your dream writing nook? Minimalistic or artsy? Modern or vintage?

Happy redecorating and happy writing!

Click below to follow me on social media:

     

Check out my Etsy shop here and comment below things you would like to see show up there in the future.

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.

Check out my etsy shop for antique books and literary gifts here!

or click below to follow me on social media:

    

NEW NEW NEW

In case you don’t follow me on social media and haven’t seen this announcement yet, I have started a Celestially Created store! It has long been my dream to own a books/ literary gifts shop and I am finally able to start getting this dream off the ground. As much as I love writing, I also love getting others excited about books, whether that’s reading them, writing them, or simply taking a step back and appreciating the fact that they exist.

I am under the opinion that everyone can like reading. There is a book out there for everyone, whether it’s modern or classic, a thick fantasy novel or a beautiful picture book, a beach read or an intense psychological thriller, a physical copy or an audiobook (or dare I say an ebook!). The variety in the book world is awe-inspiring and it seems like some people don’t realize that there is something out there that they’d like to read if they would just go out and look. And that’s my goal. To show the beauty of words — the magic of reading. And what better way is there to do that than through art, gifts, and of course, books themselves?

Currently, this shop holds various books (most of them antique at the moment), literary-themed prints, and Christmas ornaments perfect for any bibliophile. There is so much more to come, though, so be sure to follow me on social media (linked below) to stay up-to-date!

Like I said, this dream is just starting, hovering off the ground if you will. Because of this, I am not yet able to attach the store to this website, although that will hopefully be coming soon. If you are interested in any of these items or anything you see posted on social media, please DM me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest and I’ll get back to you! Or you can go to the Contact tab on this site and email me that way!

Thank you all so much for all your support and reading my blog over the past three years or so. I can’t wait to see what else is in store for Celestially Created in the future!

Click below to follow me on social media:

    

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.

Click below to follow me on social media: