Priorities: Writing, Knitting
I’m so overdue for a blog post, but blogging often falls to the bottom of my priority list. Once Astrid is asleep, my priority is always writing on my novel. Other times, I knit. Ever since I started working at a yarn store (did I ever mention I started working at a yarn store?), I have too many projects and too little time. It’s way too easy to start new projects and to dream of starting even more when I am surrounded by inspiration all day.
I have lots of knitting I could blog about, too, but I don’t have any pictures. I wish I were better at taking more pictures of my knitting. I’ve finished a couple of Lillie’s Little Sweater by Carol Anderson, one for Astrid and one for my cousin’s baby, which I haven’t gifted to them yet. I’m also working on a shawl to wear to my stepsister’s wedding. I’m part of the wedding party, and I needed something to wear with my dress for when I’m nursing Astrid.
Dragons of Arethia Book One available in paperback
Another thing I’ve been working on is making my novels available in paperback. This involved a substantial learning curve, but I’ve finally gotten everything right, and Dragons of Arethia, Book One: Tesa’s Journey is available in paperback form! When the proof copy came in the mail, I was so excited. It was so fun to hold my actual, physical book in my hands. Now I’m working on Binding Magic.
I feel like maybe I should have done some kind of event or contest on the blog, with signed copies or something, but I think I’ll save that kind of activity for when I have the third book done, and all the books available in print.
The Mages of Yennar Lei
I have been writing a lot on Book 3, The Mages of Yennar Lei. I wrote 32,000 words and called it Part One, and realized that all I had accomplished was writing a really long beginning. The book seemed boring and it was going nowhere. I feared that it would turn into a very, very long, boring book. Since it’s the last book in the trilogy, it has to be good AND it has to wrap everything up in a satisfying way.
So I did a few things to get myself back in the groove. I went to Target and bought new notebooks and pens. Writing by hand always helps me jumpstart my creativity. Then I found an outlining technique that really works well for me, and I’ve been able to get a fresh look at my book and it’s back on track. I can’t tell how long it will be before I’m finished, but I can tell that it’s going to be a great story.
Pictures
I may not be good at taking pictures of my knitting, but there’s one thing I’m good at taking lots of photos of. She’s nine months old today, and I can’t believe how fast the time has gone. She’s so smiley and fun, and she’s on her way to crawling. She’s so proud of herself when she does the army crawl and can get to the things she wants to get to. I can’t stop taking pictures of her sleeping or eating messy food.
