If there’s anything I learned last year, it’s that hard work pays off. And patience is a virtue. These aren’t new lessons for me, but it feels like I’m finally living them out in my daily life.
It’s like I’ve been training for a marathon and having to practice running every day, whether I feel like it or not. (This is totally a metaphor because I haven’t run in years, cough cough, lol.) But I definitely need to have the mindset of an athlete in order to get up, show up, and do the work, day in and day out.
Writing has become like exercise to me. Over the past year, I’ve trained myself to write even when I don’t feel like it. I’ve learned to write in long spurts when everyone’s out and the house is quiet and also in short spurts when I’m waiting for pasta to cook. I push myself mentally to dump words (both pretty and not-so pretty ones) out on the page and not worry about them until it comes time to edit. I push through the hard times in the middle of a book when the story starts unraveling and I wonder if it’s any good at all. But then I get to celebrate when I make it through the “saggy middle” and come out with even better storyline ideas on the other side.
It’s all about moving forward. Challenging yourself to do new things, to do more than you thought you could do. To believe you can make it through the not-so fun times. To sweat, whine, and sometimes cry. It’s about learning what works and what doesn’t work for you. To fail, but to get up again.
It’s about stretching your faith, your imagination, and your creativity. Using what God’s given you to make something meaningful and cool. And being able to touch others in the process.
I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty worthwhile.
This is exactly what I’ve been doing for the past couple of months as I gear up to publish a brand new series. I’m taking a chance on writing in a new genre (Young Adult, one of my favorites!) and working hard to get all FIVE(!) books ready to be released in the first half of 2020.
I’m super excited to introduce you to the Edenvale Arts High School series! Here’s a sneak peek at the amazing covers my critique partner, Kristen, put together!
The first two books are up for pre-order now!
Book One: How to Kiss a Guy in Ten Days
Book Two: To the Only Boy I’ve Loved Before
What do you think of these covers? Any guesses as to what my inspiration was for the titles?
