That's a Wrap! January 2023 Recap

In a move that does not surprise me at all, I've decided last minute to add another post to my writing blogging schedule. It's kinds of a cheat, though. I'm just going to recap the month. If you a missed a post, you can catch up here.

This is also to hold myself accountable for my writing paranormal and fantasy books and for my crafting and art. I might also include how some personal goals are going since I have a few interesting ones.

What are my writing goals for 2023?

1. Publish Balance of Love and Revelation of Love
2. Edit Sprout, Harmony of Love, and Island Curse
3. Write flash fiction A Quick Tale collection
4. Write Strength of Love and Arctic Curse
5. Knit a ton (I'm low of stock from Christmas craft shows)
6. Personal goals are: learn the splits, learn to crochet, maintain weight and lower cholesterol, read 6 books.

And since it's the end of the month, here's how I did.

1. Balance of Love and Revelation of Love are up for pre-order
2. Strength of Love, 6 chapters added
3. 7 new 200 word stories added and 19 old 200 word stories edited to A Quick Tale
4. Round of edits on Sprout
5. For handmade crafts, I finished11 pocket familiar kitty-cats and knitted 4 ghosts, as well as 5 wolf hats
6. Finished reading What Lurks Within by John Zaffis. It badly needed a proofread, but was an interesting collection of paranormal experiences.

January 2023 had a rocky start with my grandma's funeral, but overall, I'm happy with how the month went. I hope these posts will keep me accountable and on track with writing supernatural paranormal books and being creative with my handmade knitting and crafts.

I hope your month went well. Feel free to share your progress in the comments below. Whether its writing, crafting, or something entirely different, we can be each other's cheerleaders and keep the ball rolling.

 

⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎

Did you enjoy this post? Please share it with your friends. I'd appreciate it.

A Quick Tale: A Man Walks Into A Bar... A Paranorml Fantasy Flash Fiction Story

Welcome to A Quick Tale Wednesday.

Reading is a great escape from reality, but sometimes we don't have the time for a full length novel. That's where a flash fiction stories comes in. Once a month, you can squeeze some reading in with a 200 word flash fiction story.
 

A MAN WALKS INTO A BAR...

(Inspired by my YA fantasy paranormal novel, Being Human)

My brother grinned at me. His laughter was barely contained as he spoke. “What does the man say when he walks into a bar?”

I tilted my head as I pondered the question. Why did humans go into bars? My gaze went to the beer sitting next to my brother. Of course. The answer was obvious. I looked back at him, my answer confident. “I want beer.”

He snickered. “He says ow!”

I stared at my brother and his smile faltered.

He gave a small shudder. “Stop that. Your vampire stare is creepy.”

I didn’t break eye contact. “But I don’t get it. Don’t humans go to bars for beer?”

My brother snorted. “Yes, they do, but in this case the bar is a literal bar. A cylindrical piece of metal you can hit your head on. Get it?”

“No.”

My brother sighed. “I give up. You can’t even get bad dad jokes.”

“I’d understand if you explained it.”

“I do and you still don’t get it.” He picked up his beer bottle and rolled it between his hands before taking a drink. “I think it’s time I just have to accept your sense of humor died with your humanity.”
 

⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎
 
Did you enjoy this paranormal flash fiction story about vampires?Please share it with your friends. I'd appreciate it.

Arts & Crafts Wednesday: Howling Under the Moon

Welcome to the first Arts & Crafts Wednesday.

Once a month, I will share something creative I have made.

Today's art is a drawing done in pencil of a wolf howling under the full moon.

On Twitter, I follow an account that posts pictures of wolves every hour called Hourly Wolves. You can find an account for just about any animal! It's a great way to give yourself the warm and fuzzies and break up any doom scrolling (because, admit it, we all do it.) And in my case, the images make me want to be creative and make art.

⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎

Did you enjoy this pencil drawing? Please share it with your friends. I'd appreciate it.

Insecure Writer's Support Group: What am I even doing with my paranormal and fantasy writing?

In 2022, I did something drastic. I quit writing.

Sorta.

Kinda.

I pulled my published books, deleted a bunch of social media, and hit pause on my paranormal and fantasy writing. I had been feeling lost and uncertain with what I wanted when it came to writing and indie publishing. Having all that stuff distracted me from really thinking about it. Instead, I'd be plotting what I could do to get my books in front of readers, what to post next on social media, and all that marketing crap.

So, I went dark in order to get my shit together. I promised I would be back at some point and in some form.

Cue epic return. (Yes, this is a new blog.)

Does that mean I got my shit figured out?

Sorta.

Kinda.

I didn't quite think about what I wanted from writing as much as I had planned. For one, I got a summer job at the local Salvation Army. I actually enjoyed it a lot despite being a self-described anti-social introvert. There were some interesting characters who came in. (Can you say writing fodder?)

But I did spend some time trying to figure out what I wanted out of writing fantasy and paranormal books, and I have an idea of what path I want to walk now.

At first, I waffled between wanting my writing being a hobby or a job. If I'm being brutally honest, part of me wanted it to be both. A fun hobby, but also something that pays the bills.

But I can't have it both ways. Hobbies don't pay the bills. Jobs do.

Picking was harder than it looked. One day, I'd say it was a hobby. Only to flip and decide I could make it a job.

Only to flip back.

Rinse.
Repeat.

from Imgflip Meme Generator

In the end, I had to just choose.

Drum roll...

Writing paranormal and fantasy stories as a hobby.

At least, that is where I'm starting. For now, I want writing to just be a fun, creative thing I do. I'll put it out there in hopes of people enjoying it to and see how it grows. Maybe it will evolve into a job. Maybe it won't. I want to be okay with whatever one it ends up being.

Have you ever asked yourself what do you want out of your writing? How was your 2022 writing year?

Today's post was part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Created by the ninja captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh, it's a group for the writers (AKA all of us) struggling with writing insecurity to gather and discuss our fears or to celebrate writing victories. If you are a struggling writer or need encouragement and friendship, join us. (Someone might have cookies!)

Remember to visit the co-hosts and give them a shout out for helping. Jemima Pett, Debs Carey, Kim Lajevardi, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and !

 

⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎⚍⚎

Did you enjoy this post? Please share it with your friends. I'd appreciate it.