What I'm Writing | Chasing a Dream

17,346

That's the current word count total of Chasing a Dream.

(And yes, I'm rambling about this to y'all when I could/would/should be writing. *maybe sorta possibly hasn't written in like ten days* But I have literally no inspiration, so. Excuses prevail. Blog post it is.)

Honestly, I'm pleased with this number—and a little surprised by it, too. There's been more than a few times over the past year or so when I wondered if this little wannabe story would ever amount to anything worth talking about.

But it is, y'all. It's growing and morphing and becoming something bigger and better and with more meaning (in my opinion, anyway) than I ever anticipated. It's a complex story, with real characters, and a purposeful theme.

This weekend is the annual local rodeo that my family has attended many times over the years. We're planning to go again this year, assuming nothing comes up and there's not a cancelation. (Lots of events are being cancelled since we've been declared in a "state of emergency" *headdesk*)  This is the same rodeo, though, which spurned the idea for CaD into existence.

Considering that, and how it's been nearly an entire year since this story started as just a little idea and a few random thoughts, and how weird and beautiful and crazy and wonderful life is has put me in an introspective mood.

So here I sit, 12:23 am, when I could be sleeping or writing or reading. But what am I doing? Thinking about a story. Thinking about a story casted with people who aren't real. Well, at least the people aren't real. But maybe the story is, for someone, somewhere. Maybe it makes sense—it's relatable—to someone. And maybe that's why it's all worth it.

Maybe that person is you, or maybe it's not. But that's okay. Because I'm writing it anyway. For myself, and for that one person who may be out there somewhere in need of a story that'll remind them it's going to be okay.

Snippet: 

The young bull starts into a tight death spin, a technique his line of ancestors are known for. He bucks while spinning in a circle, utilizing centrifugal force to sling me off his back.  

Another harsh buck and I’m flying through the air. I plummet to the sunbaked earth with a thud that knocks the air from my lungs. Coughing and choking, I wait until I can breathe easier before attempting to push to my feet. My head spins as I stand, but I take a few deep breaths and push through it.  

Behind me, Wyatt loops a lead rope around the bull’s and guides him out of the corral. He knows I have no intention of trying it again this evening. Not after that sorry excuse for a dismount.  

I cast a glance in Nelson’s direction. He’s slowly shaking his head as he watches me walk across the corral towards him. Dang it. He’s not impressed.  

Irritation wells up in me. The old cowboy might be known for the bulls he raises, but several decades have passed since the last time he was the one climbing unto the animal’s back.  

As I approach, Ryder struggles to keep a straight face, but Nelson eyes me with a look I can’t read.  

“So?” I lean my arms onto the fence next to him, squinting up at the elder cowboy’s worn face in the sunlight. “What do you think?”  

“You’re gonna have to do better than that if you’re gonna make it in the rodeo world.”  

No one ever accused this man of being anything short of brutally honest. 

are you excited for Chasing a Dream? 

Life as of Now — 02.25.20

Instead of doing monthly recaps this year, I'm going to try doing this type of post every 6-8 weeks, sharing some random recent life stuff. *throws up a peace sign* we'll see how it goes. 

• Discovered that I've been saying the words chagrin and chasm wrong for my entire life. Like, WHAT. I heard them both on a TV show, a day or two apart, and I was honestly in denial for awhile. My life is in shambles. I've lived a lie for years. Such deception. What even is truth? (slightly kidding...maybe...)

• Bought too many books... Seriously, though, does anyone else use BookOutlet? Because I ADORE that site, y'all. It's my newest Achilles Heel.

• Appreciating this post by the epic Angela Watts. <33  And this post by...another Faith. ;)

• Reading loads of good books. Like, nearly twenty reads docked so far this year? Love it. I haven't read so much so quickly in over a year. It'll probably plummet soon, but for now, I'm on a roll, m'dudes.

• Ventured off to the big city of Atlanta for a work thing. *finger guns*

• Adoring Midway... Honestly, y'all, this movie. It's incredible. When my bestie came to see me last fall, we saw it twice in theaters. And I've watched it again since then. It's so so good. My new favorite film. It makes me want to rewrite War Tears, so that's definitely a good thing. 10/10

lemme just slip this hunk in here... *coughcough*

• Binge-watching Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye. And then rewatching favorites. This show is so underrated, you guys. There's epic camaraderie, cases to solve, cute dudes, and sign language/deaf culture references. Was this show meant for me or what? I LOVE IT. Crash and Sparky are my dudes. <3333

• Drinking coffee. Always. Nothing new there, though.

• To celebrate my being close to hitting 15k in Chasing a Dream (asjehkflpc !!), here's a snippet for you homies.

At this point, I'm not even sure this chick really knows Leah. She's probably an imposter who has my girl gagged in the back room.  

I finish my note to Leah, trying to ignore how aggravating the horrible red pencil is, fold the paper in half, and place the pencil on top of it. "Thank you, ma'am," I call across my shoulder on the way out the door.  

"Anytime."  

As I walk to the truck, I shoot a quick text to Leah. : Your roommate is a fruitcake. 

how's your 2020 going? 

The Never Have I Ever Tag | Writer's Edition

Soooo I'm sorta stealing a tag. Because it looks super fun and I haven't did a tag in ages, soo. It's been floating around the blogging realm lately, but I saw it first on Merie's blog, so I'm giving credit there. Her post was awesome, by the way, and you should totally go read it. xD

The Rules

1. Link and thank the blogger who tagged you.    |     N/A
2. Include the graphic somewhere in your post.    |     *points above*
3. Answer the questions truthfully and honestly.    |     I shall do my darnedest. 
4. Tag 3 bloggers.     |     I tag... the first three commenters. 

Never have I ever…

… started a novel that I didn’t finish.

Oh yes. Several. Once upon a time, War Tears had...

-- ...a prequel. It's currently sitting in a dusty ol' file in all of it's sappy, 10k glory.
-- ...and a sequel. By around 5k, the plot had changed about 47 times, and I don't know if I'll ever get back to that one or not.
-- A story about a girl who always thought she was an only child, but discovers she has a sibling that was given up for adoption. I'd actually like to get back to that one some day.
-- WWII era saga about a teen girl trying to reconnect her estranged parents.
-- and the list goes on... :P

… written a story completely by hand.

Other than for school when I was a wee child, no. The first story I ever started once I actually began writing as a hobby was by hand. I only wrote a couple chapters, though, and never finished it. So no, not a complete story.

… changed tenses midway through a story.

Actually, yes. Freedom began as a third-person double POV story. Ya know, back when it was a short story I wasn't even sure I would finish, and had a drastically different plot line than the published work. xD  When I started working on it more and wanted to make it into something legit, I realized third person POV wasn't working for me. So I switched what I'd already written over to first-person in an attempt to get the words moving. And, as y'all already know, it stuck. ;)

… not researched anything before starting a story.

HAHAHAHA. All the time, baby. As I told a friend of mine, you don't have to research for the first draft, unless it's super important/pertinent. Don't know much about amputees and prosthetics? No worries. Just write it as best you can, make up what you don't know, and figure the rest out later. This tidbit of wisdom may or may not be the rule I live by.

… changed my protagonist’s name halfway through a draft.

I don't think so...? I've changed last names. And I've had to change side characters names, upon realizing I already had a character by the name I'd been using for them. But I don't think I've ever changed the name of an MC partway though a draft. That would drive me bonkers.

… written a story in a month or less.

Yep. Dandelion Dust, written in 25 days, is still my fastest first draft to date.

… fallen asleep while writing.

Actually, I have... Not at my desk or slumped over a computer, but if I get ideas in the middle of the night, I'll grab my phone and type up some notes or even write full scenes. Sometimes I wake up because I dropped my phone on my face, and sometimes I wake up the next morning and realize my phone is lost somewhere in the bed. xD

… corrected someone’s grammar irl/online.

Oh definitely. Day-to-day conversation, business signs, social media posts,... Even if I'm not doing it out loud, doesn't mean I'm not doing it mentally. And cringing a little in the meantime.

… yelled in all caps at myself in the middle of a novel.

*cracks up* Oh, for sure. Especially during NaNo, when all words count, nothing gets cut, and the only goal is write.
write.
write.
WRITE.

… used “I’m writing” as an excuse.

Oh yeah. Most definitely. Works swell.

"Hey Faith..."
"Actually, I'm writing..."
*keeps story document open while perusing random facts on the internet and scrolling YouTube* *tells self it counts* 

… killed a character that was based on someone I know in real life.

*sits in silence* Maaayyybeeee? I'm honestly not sure. I used to have a list of all the characters I've killed—a sort of memorial, if you will. But I don't think I've killed anyone that was based off of someone I know. Not intentionally, anyway...

… used pop culture references in a story.

Yep, a time or two in the Liberty's Battlegrounds trilogy.

… written between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.

For sure. Mostly on the 1-3a.m. side of the spectrum. If you ask me if I'm a morning person and I say "yes", know that I'm referring to the hours between 12:00 and 3:00am, and 9:00 and 11:00am.

… drank an entire pot of coffee while writing.

I don't even have to be writing to drink an entire pot of coffee... *reaches for mug*

… written down dreams to use in potential novels.

My best scenes and stories have started out as dreams. Dandelion Dust was inspired by a dream. Most of the infamous chapter 18 from Freedom literally was a dream—some even word for word what I remember from the concoctions of the subconscious mind.

… published an unedited story on the Internet/blog/Wattpad.

Yessssss. And regretted it. Other than on this blog (which I usually do edit, or at least proofread, before sharing), I've shared stories on a fansite for a book series as well as on FanFiction. Thankfully, y'all will never be forced to read that angsty jargon. ;)

… procrastinated homework because I wanted to write.

BAHAHAHA. Literally, my life for the majority of high school. Allowing myself to write only after I'd finished a certain amount of assignments. Something that I didn't always stick to, though.

… typed so long that my wrists hurt.

Yup, I used to get really bad hand/wrist cramps during weeks when I wrote and/or blogging daily. Not so much now, but I don't type quite as much as I used to either. :P

… spilled a drink on my laptop while writing.

Heavens, no. Next to losing files, that's my worst nightmare.

… forgotten to save my work/draft.

(see above.) Nope. I once thought I'd lost a couple document that hadn't been backed up before my iPad crashed. They showed up later though, honestly still not sure how. Oh, come to think of it, that was another unfinished novel...hmmm...

… finished a novel.

You betcha. Three and counting. :D

… laughed like an evil villain while writing a scene.

Mwahahaha. All the time. Not just while writing, but while plotting it and thinking about it. Editing and polishing and rereading. Finding a review of someone who thought it was epic or unexpected and villain-laughing again. It's quite grand.

… cried while writing a scene.

I cried and shook and sobbed through portions of Freedom. Soooo yes.

… created maps of my fictional worlds.

I'm going to say no...? I kinda did once. I started a speculative novel—a fantasy setting with a dystopian plot. I made a couple maps for that. It was mostly old cities and underground hideaways, so I didn't make a lot of progress on a decent map. The story itself wasn't half bad, though, come to think of it... Maybe I'll get back to that one some day.

… researched something shady for a novel.

Like the most common methods of suicide? How long it takes someone to die in a gas chamber? How many times someone can get shot without bleeding to death? Yup.

what's your favorite 'never have I ever'? 

Mission Trip + Birthday Bash || June Recap

Yes, that says June. Yes, I realize this is two days shy of being a month late. Am I back to a consistent schedule? No, but I'm back for right now. Am I promising I'll do better? No, but I'll try. I could make up a bunch of excuses, but I'm basically just a procrastinator who needed some time after a trip the last week of June. And is still trying to get things re-aligned. :P

All that to say...this may be boring and lame, but I didn't want to break my trend of doing a recap every month. And I didn't rly wanna combine it with July, because they felt like distinctly different months. For some reason. xD

So hey there, friend! Please—forgive me for disappearing. And prepare yourself for a photo dump. Also let's talk and catch-up in the comments. :D

|| Random

• Work, work, work...and did I mention work?  Okay, seriously, I'm not complaining. At all. But sometimes I feel like I spend 60 hours a week in a checkered uniform shirt. xD

• I also spent a lot of time camped out at the library—hoping for a spot by an outlet, wearing a hoodie, chugging coffee, taking up a whole table with my notebooks and planner and schedule and editing notes and...such—because our internet at home has been iffy.

• When your bro comes by where you work...and as he's leaving, you realize that his means of transportation is farm equipment. 

take a look at dat plow boy

|| SOS = Servants on Site

My family and a group from our church participated in the same mission trip/group ministry that we've did for the past few summers. It was an absolute blast, and as good and powerful and life-changing as always. <3

in the chow line ;)

SOS 2019 theme

my work crew!

posing in Smithfield's

that sky tho

hauling home ALLL the dirty clothes...

group scavenger hunt on Thursday night :D

girl time!

my pretty mama <3

I read like one book (A Letter to the One by Abby Rose Nichols) during the month of June...which might have been even worse than May, actually—can't remember. I did acquire several books. Including The Broken Prince by Kara Linaburg which I'm super excited to read sometime! Hopefully soon. :D

(Told you this would be lame and boring.)

|| Freedom Update

Freedom is coming along quite nicely! The lovely Abi Claire finished edits while I was away from home, so as soon as I finish sorting and applying those, the next step is formatting!

Meanwhile, there's a lot of blog tour prep going on behind the scenes. Ya know those situations where you have wayyyy to much to text someone so you call them? That's me and my bestie trying to plan this thing out. It's so crazy—in a good way. xD

Speaking of the blog tour, the lovely Kate and I will be opening the signup form tomorrow! How exciting is that? We'll be sharing an ARC option as well, for anyone who wants to help out but doesn't have a blog and/or just likes to review. ;D

Also, if you're someone who likes for Kindle books to be downloaded directly to their device on the day of release... Freedom is available for preorder!

|| Snippet 

Goodbyes said, I pocket my phone and, foreseeing the opportunity, step ahead to hold the door for the older couple.  

The lady’s eyes lock on mine as she nears. “Was that your girl on the phone?”  

My girl? I can’t help grinning. “Well… she was once.”  

“I hope you’re doing whatever you need to to get her back.”  

“Edna!”

* 

“I could lie and say I hoard phone numbers.”  

The elevator door opens, revealing the walkway to the front doors of the trauma center entrance. I motion for the other couple to exit first and then follow, falling in step a pace behind them over the crosswalk.  

“But that would be a lie. You’re one Lysol can shy of a clean freak.” 

|| Favorite Posts

The Danger of Writing << Ink Blots and Coffee Stains

Waiting for Nothing << The Storybook Journal

|| My Posts

|| Dandelion Dust: Birthday Bash

• For those who missed it or didn't realize something was going on, I hosted a birthday bash for Dandelion Dust in June, since June 30th was the 2nd anniversary of the book's release. Many other bloggers and friends in the community helped spread the dandelion love, shared about the book-birthday, and talked about my books on social media!

>> Abigail Harris did an amazing week-long author spotlight. Which was super sweet and a fabulous idea! Give her posts a read.

One ~ Two ~ Three ~ Four ~ Five ~ Six ~ Seven

>> Julia @ Lit Aflame and Liz @ Home with the Hummingbirds and Molly @ Qadash - Set Apart, for Him each did a fantabulous interview!  

>> Brooklyne @ Showers of Blessing — This girl's photoshoot, y'all! I am totally in love. *heart eyes* 

>> And let's not forget the epic peeps on Instagram! So many lovely bookstagram pictures. <3  I felt so loved-on. ^_^

• The Kindle ebook was free on the 30th...and I expected *some* downloads. I was thinking, maybe 50-60 at the very maximum. Guys... we topped out with 576 free ebook downloads of Dandelion Dust.

FIVE.HUNDRED.AND.SEVENTY.SIX.

I'm greatly indebted to and appreciative of y'all for spreading the word! I did very little to promote the free day, and the bash in general, so I was absolutely blown away by that number. Wow, y'all. God is good. <3

• I have some DD bookmarks and postcards left over from the party. If anyone would like a couple, shoot me a message or email with your mailing address and I'll send you a few to keep or share with friends. :)

|| June Goals

• Send Freedom to my editor.      YES!

• Celebrate the 2nd book-birthday of Dandelion Dust.         YES! 

• Go on our annual in-country missions trip with the church gang.       YES! 

• Blog weekly.     No-ish?? 

• Read 4 books.      Not quite.... *ahem*

• Resume staying alive.    So it would seem. 

|| July Goals 

• Considering the date, I'm not going to post July goals...because it would sorta kinda probably be cheating to list things I've already did and/or will finish in the next, like, two days. So check back soon for my July recap + August goals. :P 

how was your June? anything exciting happen/happening/happened over the course of your summer? 

Roadtrip + Late Nights || February Recap

I suppose I should be honest—always a good place to start, eh?

I hadn't thought a thing about this post. Then, tonight, I was thinking that I probably needed to write up a post for next week...and realized it was the last day of the month. xP

So here I am, writing a post instead of binging a TV show editing my forsaken novel. Feel special, dears. *wink*

|| All the House-Sitting

I had several house-sitting and pet-sitting stints this month, each time just for a day/night/day. Twice for a couple who live in the neighborhood and whom I've stayed for in the past. The only problem with that is, considering the number of times the dog(s) thinks he needs to go out, I end up getting 3-4 hours of sleep per night while there. :P

And once with my favorite "foster pup", who I got to pick up from the groomers and haul home one evening. She's such a doll. I mean, honestly, who can resist that face...  <3

Backpack, cinch bag, crossover, rain jacket, not-pictured stack of library books... I'm probably the only person who takes three bags + an extra jacket + snacks to be gone from home less than two days. xD

|| Spontaneous Roadtrip

My family took a bit of a spontaneous road trip earlier this week. Although we stayed in-state, we went a few hours away to visit some friends that we met for the first time on a missions trip last summer. From hiking and "playing tourists" to wander Main Street to blaring country music on the front porch until late—the two days spent with them was such fun. :D

|| Random

• The bro came over one night while I was house-sitting. We watched a movie, played cards, and drank wayyy too much coffee. As was evident by the wacko things coming out of our mouths...

*arguing about who's going to deal for a card game*
Me: I am, because you did last time. Deal with it.
Bro: *burst out laughing*
Me:...what?
Bro: get it? Deal with it?!

• A random selfie of me because I'd dressed cute for church and ended up running around in the rain to get in and out of the car, pump gas, grab lunch, and walk the dogs 284573 times. Approximately.

• I stayed up insanely late the majority of nights this month. Aside from while away from home, 1:00 and 2:00 am weren't uncommon, and after midnight became completely normal of me. I'm almost always up past 11:30 pm anyway, but it got a bit overboard here of late. Will I do better in March? Heh, probably not... I seem to be cursed with a brain that works best—especially creatively—at those hours.

• A random picture of my child that y'all obviously needed. That annoyed lil' side glance though...

|| Best Read

Hmmm... Beloved by Kaitlyn Krispense or Dark Horse by Dandi Daley Mackall. Beloved was an alpha-read of a friend's upcoming release and a fabulous standalone that deals with themes near to my heart. Dark Horse was the fourth and final book in the Starlight Animal Rescue series and, in my opinion, the best and strongest book of the series.

|| Worst Read

I didn't really read any "bad" books this month. I buzzed through one of the Boxcar Children books that I'd picked up for a buck at an used bookstore, just to count it toward my reading goal. So I guess that claims the title of "least favorite" of the month.

Total Reads: 8

|| Update 

Um, wow. Not sure how else to say this other than—I've felt more like a writer this month than I have in...well, a long time. I'm not even exaggerating. I've had such freedom to write here of late. Whatever comes to mind, whatever is spinning through my brain. So what if it's not what I'm "supposed to be" writing or not "good enough" for publication? It's still words, bleeding out onto the page. It's still characters and worlds and jumbled sentences that somehow correlate.

And there, in the messy chaos of a writer's authenticity... isn't that where all good stories start?

|| Snippet

“Why don’t you come to the tent revival tonight?”  

He shrugged, eyeing her. “Not really my thing.”  

“Nonsense. Starts at five. I’m gonna be miffed if you don't come.”  

“Why should I?”  

“Do I have to tell you everything?” Her brow wrinkled and she leaned closer, the flicker of a dare in her eyes. “Do something spontaneous for once, Ross. Do it just because.” 

Ross smiled to himself as she walked away. Maybe he would go. Maybe he didn’t need a reason. Maybe he’d go just because.  

Just because she’d asked.

|| Favorite Posts

Dancing in the Rain >> Where is Love

Paige's Pages >> Girl, Read Your Bible

Rebellious Writing >> Always Reading

More Precious Than Gold >> For Our Good and His Glory

Inside Out Designs >> Writers' Minds vs. Normal Minds

Ordinary Girl Extraordinary Father >> When Letting Go Hurts

Beautifully Broken >> Love is Scary

|| My Posts

Day One ~ Day Two ~ Day Three ~ Day Four ~ Day Five ~ Day Six

|| February Goals

• Read 8 books.       Scored.

• Edit 15 chapters.       Ehhh, no.

• Finish a short story.      Nope.

• Co-host a blog party with this gal.      #nailedit

|| March Goals 

• Read 8 books.

• Finish a short story. (or two?? I'm pathetically optimistic.)

• Blog weekly.

• Review 3 books.

how was your february? any thoughts or opinions on how I've been tweaking the recaps?