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I have entire writing playlists, but sometimes a song just hits so perfectly to bring inspiration it goes on repeat. Bailey Zimmerman’s ‘Rock and a Hard Place’ is one of those songs.

The soulful sounds and his voice! I have been listening to a lot of Bailey Zimmerman lately. He has many hits that are perfect for creating that angsty moody creative atmosphere that inspires some of my character’s most impactful interactions. If my mood and energy is right, my characters and scenes hold some amazing chemistry; scenes I want to read over and over again. Writing is about the feelings. I get the same feelings writing an incredible scene for the first time that I do when I read or watch one. If I can create an impactful emotional response in my readers, I have succeeded, and Bailey Zimmerman’s music creates a transference of emotion that appears on the page.

Yesterday I went down a YouTube spiral that brought me to this video:

The video, aptly titled, is about 17 productive things you can do with your free time, created by Zach Highley. The video focuses on the evening when you’re winding down for the day. What do you choose to spend your time on? Do you scroll through your phone or binge watch a show until you’re tired enough to go to bed? It includes many helpful tips, such as read a book, write in a journal, take an online class, go for a walk, etc. There are many good tips here, but the one I absolutely loved, was to create a website. He says that everyone deserves a website. We are all unique interesting individuals, and your website can showcase your thoughts, likes, ideas, whatever is speaking to you. I love that concept. Every person does deserve their own website. And as he aptly points out, nobody is reading it in the beginning anyway, so might as well do what you want with it.

Now I’ve already created a website, it’s this website. It is focused on my writing, which is my passion project, but what it’s really representing is me. Zach encourages each person to create a website and post once a week. Just once a week, something that is of interest. Although I do want this site to showcase my writing, especially as I hope to get published someday, but what I love about this idea is that this website can also represent me. It’s a beautiful concept, and one that I’m going to embrace, especially because nobody is reading yet anyway.

This weekend I was able to view a different perspective of my hometown. Riding in a small 4 person plane out across the cascade mountains, and then circling back for an areal view of the city was an experience I will never forget.

I won this trip in a grape stomp competition for the Make a Wish foundation. Apparently stomping grapes is a hidden talent of mine! (I learned everything I know from I Love Lucy).

Submissions! Where to begin with submissions!? From the research I have done, it would seem finding a literary agent who believes in my vision is the best way to submit to a publishing company. Most publishers won’t accept unsolicited work, so I am working to find the perfect fit.

Today I received my first rejection. It was both humbling and exhilarating. It came so quickly, I didn’t even have time to post about the initial submission. The response was confirmation that I took the first step to publishing my novel. It was done graciously and I am excited to continue on. I have worked so hard to bring my characters to life, I am now working through the process of bringing my work to the world, and being at this stage is almost surreal.

Right now I am excited for the journey, and I hope to enjoy each step of this process as I learn and grow. I keep envisioning the end when I hold a published book full of my words in my hand! I have a long way to go. I just have to keep remembering, it’s about the journey!

The creative journey is full of uncertainty. Taking steps forward can be daunting and exhilarating. Sometimes you have to keep your head down and keep moving.

I have been a writer my whole life. I love the feeling of sitting down to create something. The characters become real for me and I enjoy spending long hours with them on the weekend, getting to know their personalities and what is important to them. Each character’s journey is their own and often they will surprise me with what happens.

I am currently working on trying to publish my most completed work. I will begin submitting to literary agents and I know I have a huge amount to learn. I will try to keep an update on my journey as I take on this task. Anything that I learn I hope will help others along their way.