My process

I am an author.
I am an author.
I am an author.

Yes I have to repeat that to myself quite often, because if I’m not diligent self-doubt sneaks in and tells me “You’re just a writer. You’ll never actually finish a book much less get one published.” Sheesh, with doubts like that I’ll go far, right?

I am 32 years old and I’ve been writing since middle school — so roughly twenty years. Holy cow that’s a long time. How did I become so…aged?! I digress. Sorry.

So with twenty years, give or take, under my belt you’d think I would have come up with one viable idea to turn into a full novel or at the very least finish it. Nope.

I confess: I stink at writing the ending. Not the “solution” but rather the “wrap up.” How much info do you need to have a nice tidy end, the final pages that leave your reader with that “aww” feeling. The struggle is real folks.

It has only been the last five years or so I’ve taken writing seriously and even then only just enough to get 10,000 words in before dumping the idea in my “maybe one day, but probably not” folder. It’s overflowing.

This last year has been different though. I’ve felt led to finish a book and beyond that I’ve actually been working on it. Reaching 30,000 words is uplifting. 50,000 is flat out awe-inspiring. Half-way. Woo hoo!

So how?

Something else I discovered this past year is a love for quilting and small (non-clothing) sewing projects. The contrast is almost laughable. Almost.

When a quilt sparks my creativity I will work on it as much as my four kids (yes, 4) will allow until it’s done or at a good stopping point or I get bored with it. <– Sounds just like how I work on my writing projects.

So "Sew Write Repeat" was born. My mantra. If I'm bored of writing and the ideas aren't flowing I just put it away because (so far) that's when a quilt project will be calling me. If the threads start fighting or the supplies aren't in the budget I pack it up. Inspiration to write usually strikes again.

By bouncing back and forth I can keep my husband on his toes wondering if I'm 1) going to be cluttering the dinning table and surrounding chairs and floor with fabric or 2) be glued to my computer with my headphones in doing my best not to sing along will I click away a few thousand words. Either option will probably be going on while dinner should be cooking.

So welcome to my process: Sew Write Repeat. Maybe give it a try or maybe just hang out and read my next ramblings.