November 2022 Recap.

READING UPDATE

Well… I didn’t finish a book this month so there’s no reviews to give in this recap post! You will probably understand why when you read my writing update though! haha

WRITING UPDATE

Last month I announced that I would once again be participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) where writers around the world attempt to write 50,000 words of a novel in just one month! I’m happy to announce that I was able to win for the second year in a row!

Over the past 30 days of November, I wrote 50,317 words of the second book of what will hopefully become a trilogy someday.
That equates to….

• 138 word doc pages
• 4,166 lines
• 2,441 paragraphs
• 222, 641 characters
• Countless cups of coffee
• Not enough sleep
• Some tears, some late nights, and one GIANT sigh of relief!!

I learned so much from participating in NaNoWriMo last year and the accountability from other writers was such a great source of motivation and strength for me that I definitely wanted to do it again!

However, I am exhausted.

Between the holidays, my full time job, another part time job I started this month and my blogging and writing endeavors, I’ve been spread a little thin to say the least.

I am sharing this not to invoke any pity from you,
but to remind you that sometimes-
pursuing your dreams isn’t all rainbows and unicorns.

Sometimes it’s work.
Hard work.

That makes you cry.
That makes you wonder if it’s worth it.
That makes you want to give up.

This was a hard month in a lot of ways, full of moments like that.
It’s been a hard year in a lot of ways, full of moments like that.

But through it all, writing has been a lifeline for me.
I have processed, prayed and persevered through words.

Words are the language of my soul.

And I’m so glad there is a God who created the art and structure of story and speech from the beginning of time and then created me,
so I could marvel at it and write with him and by him and for him.

I’m not going to lie… I dream about living in a cabin someday and spending the majority of my time writing poems and stories with a dog at my feet and a view of the woods out my window.

But for right now, I am grateful for my job as an accountant that helps me and my husband pay our bills. I’m grateful for my little one bedroom/ one bathroom apartment, which is so easy to take care of when my life is so full.

And if you’re in a similar place, I would encourage you- don’t give up.
I know it sounds cheesy, but your dreams are worth it. Keep working hard, for yourself, and for the other people you will bless by continuing to cultivate the talents God has given you.

Because we are all affected by passion and purpose.

In addition to writing 50,317 words this past month, for the first time,
I shared what those words were about through an introduction to my WIP post (which stands for Work in Progress) on Instagram and Facebook.

In case you missed it….

Here’s a brief synopsis and intro to the story, the setting and the two main characters of my future books!

I am so excited to share more as I begin editing book one this next month and start my journey into the big scary world of publishing! It will probably be a while yet before this story is in your hands, but even so,
I am excited for what comes next!

All glory be to Christ, for this past month, and this past year-
I’d have no story to tell if it wasn’t for you.