2021 NaNoWrap-Up and an Interview

We've made it to another weekend! If your December is like mine, it's flying by in great leaps. Before it gets away from me completely, today I'm taking a moment to pause and update you on the results of November's NaNoWriMo challenge and to share a lovely opportunity I had to visit another writer's blog.…

An Interview and a Review

I'd like to direct you to a couple of other authors' sites today! Author Dennis L. Peterson kindly invited me over to his blog for an interview. The first part of it is live today! Here's the link if you'd like to check it out and hear my thoughts on juggling this momming/teaching/writing life and…

“NaNoWriffic” May Have Been An Exaggeration

Now that December's halfway over, I suppose I can take a minute to stop chasing down students for missing homework (all this teacher wants for Christmas is a nice, tidy gradebook!) and give an update on my November Nanowrimo goals. Update may not be the best word—it's more of a confession. For those who are…

A NaNoWriffic November’s Ahead

November's lurking just around the corner, cracking its knuckles and waiting to pounce. A little melodramatic? Maybe. But I can't help viewing the turning of the calendar page with some trepidation. Between school and home, September and October have gone by in a whirlwind— momming and teaching and correcting and cooking and driving and writing…

NaNoWriMo 2019: Wins, Losses, and a Silly Costume Picture

I blinked, and November was over. I blinked again, and the first week of December was almost gone, which is why, after missing Wednesday completely, I am drafting this post at 11:00 pm on a Thursday night. When did time start to move so quickly? Well, to put a positive spin on it, I'll just…

November’s “NaNoWriMo” Challenge, and Why I’m Likely Going to be Wearing a Silly Costume in December

It's November, and that means it's time for NaNoWriMo! This tongue-twisting acronym stands for "National Novel Writing Month." Every November, authors around the world challenge themselves to complete a novel (or at least 50,000 words of one!) in 30 days. This is my second year participating in the challenge, because naturally, with a new, extra-busy…

Reflections on My First NaNoWriMo: The Good, The Bad, and the (Very) Ugly

  I emerged from November blinking screen-weary eyes and massaging sore wrists, but with the following nifty little notice on my computer screen to tell me that it was all worthwhile: 51,703 words- You won! Yes! I am officially a NaNoWriMo winner! If you're not familiar with the acronym, "NaNoWriMo" stands for National Novel Writing…

Musical Interlude: “I Dream of Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair”

Choosing the right name is a difficult task- at least it is for me. As a child, the internal debate over what to name our dog forced me to look for outside opinions to finally make a decision. More recently, it took the threat of an extra night in the hospital to force my husband…

Signing Up for NaNoWriMo SEEMED Like a Great Idea…

Sometimes, I make questionable decisions. I have a tendency to get excited about new projects and pile 'em on. Generally I talk with my husband, aka my "crazy filter," and get his opinion on whether my new projects are a good idea or whether I'll be weeping on his shoulder in a couple of weeks when…