I'm Baaaack!

After a two-year hiatus, I’m back to writing!

I’ve spent the summer installing landscaping in the new yard. Back-breaking manual labor is good for one thing: I had plenty of “think time” while I was working. Characters came to life, settings were created, plot points thought through. I’m ready to roll!

But it’s been a long break. Actually putting words on “paper” is scary. A big “thank you” to my friend and fellow writer Alley Longaker. Although I have the entire adult mystery novel in my head, Alley helped me find my voice, gave me some solid pointers, and shared the encouragement I needed to get started.

With my three middle-grade novels, I wrote in bursts whenever I could squeeze in some time. With this new project, I’m pretending I’m a professional and this is my job. (That’s a challenge since my retirement from teaching…didn’t exactly happen. I’m teaching half-time online. But that’s a story for another day!)

I’m doing something writing-related every day: researching technical archeology details, North Dakota setting details, and even old camping trailer details. I’m studying the craft of writing and consolidating my mental toolkit so I’m ready to write.

I have even, gulp, signed up for NaNoWriMo! I’m participating in NaNo Prep 101, and I’ve signed up for my first webinar next week. I suddenly feel so accountable.

Most importantly, I’m writing. Two rough-draft chapters are complete. Today’s activity will be to add details and revise those chapters. Maybe tomorrow I’ll write Chapter 3.