Flourish Even Amongst Writing Deadlines
August 12, 2025 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby tagged as Denise M Colby, Word of the year, writers lifeMy 2025 word of the year is flourish. And when I started this blog post with a different topic, I realized I had not written anything about it this year on this blog. None. Zilch. Nadda. Except for one little mention in a blog post about my 2nd book’s birthday.
And then it hit me. I haven’t spent a lot of time talking about my word this year, because I’ve been so busy living it. Which is exactly where I want to be.
I will admit, that even though flourish is my 2025 word, there are some days I feel like I’m floundering. But then I look at all I have accomplished this year, and I have flourished. (This is why we need to keep track, and count all the steps we take, including those in between every year. I share some tips in a blog post titled Find Motivation to Accomplish Goals)
Flourishing in My Writing
My writing has improved. I’ve published my second book in 2025, successfully, I might add. And my first novella releases in November (I can do a cover reveal post next month). I’m currently busy writing my next full novel as well as putting together pitches for more stories.
Not bad for someone who was ready to quit two years ago.
Yes, you heard that correctly. I was ready to walk away from all of this and then my big break happened.
Thriving in My Marketing
I’m still figuring out how to juggle marketing my current books while continuing to write, but by writing down what I’ve done so far this year, I have done several things. (Launch windows are a whole other thing as well and I’m getting better at it).
January is when many other writers set their blog and review schedules, and I’ve been able to do a yearly planner for the first time this year. I’ve learned how to utilize BookFunnel and have added both my books to a different promotion every month.
For example, this month both my books are in a Christian and Clean Romance Books group. Click on the graphic to see what it’s all about. It will also help me get my numbers up 🙂
I’ve also participated in an author email swap and an author sponsored book club with eleven other authors. It’s been great getting to make new author friends and read their stories.
Health Matters, Too
As I grow older, health has been an area of focus for me and this year is no different. Figuring out which foods affect me has been one thing. Having hernia surgery in March was another. I had no idea that something I had felt for years was impacting me so much. Now I’m on a quest to get stronger, lifting weights every day and stretching to get myself in better shape. When we went camping last month, I could ride a bike longer and without pain in my leg. I call that a win, and another area I can flourish in.
Spiritual Flourishing
Definitely not last on the list is my walk with God. This one is the most important area for me, but something that can be the most challenging to make the time for. It must be a daily event for me to focus on and strive in order to flourish. Through my time with Him comes the stories he wants me to tell. But it’s more than that. It’s the compass of my life, all aspects of my life, and how I respond to the daily challenges thrown my way.
Again, I feel sometimes as if I’m floundering here, but the grace, mercy, and forgiveness I receive from the Lord, helps me in turn show others the same. That was something I stumbled on when choosing flourish this year. There is a thing such as spiritual flourishing, and even though there was not a specific Bible verse for this, this was exactly what I am striving for.
Spiritual flourishing involves regular prayer, studying the Bible, trusting in God’s promises and living out my faith in daily actions. The nature of true flourishing is a contentment in Christ regardless of circumstances.
And that we can help others flourish too. By encouraging others, share God’s love, serve those in need, and pray for one another. This is my daily prayer, that I can be an encouragement to others including my husband and my kids.
“In his days may the righteous flourish and peace abound, till the moon is no more.” Psalm 72:7
“May the LORD cause you to flourish, both you and your children” Psalms 115:14
Word of the Year Pages On My Website
I’ve dedicated a section on my website for my Word of the Year. I’ve already started building the flourish page. Take a peek. And come finish the year 2025 with a flourish!
Anyone remember paper dolls? Why AI can’t compete with a trip down memory lane by Jina Bacarr
August 11, 2025 by Jina Bacarr in category Jina’s Book Chat, Writing tagged as AI, France, German, imagination, movie star, paper dolls, Translation, writing
I have the best memories when I was a kid playing with my paper dolls.
From Sleeping Beauty to In Old New York (Colonial Paper Dolls), I cherished these fragile cardboard dolls with paper dresses with tabs that never stayed on (bobby pins worked!) and kept them in my box of treasures.
Yes, I still have them.
I invented names and personalities for each paper doll, designed clothes for them, and stuck them between the pages of my math book so I could play with them when I was supposed to be doing homework.
As a child, I didn’t have AI answering questions for me, or a cellphone screen telling me what to think, wear, or ‘influence’ me. I made up the stories and created worlds with my paper dolls down to the smallest detail.
And that is what forged my writing.
Imagination.
We writers must continue to craft stories to engage readers to encourage them to use their imagination, even if the words flicker across a computer screen and not the printed pages of a book. To bring our characters into their world so they can identify with them, to feel for them when they’re sad, happy, fall in love.
It’s called being a human. AI has its place, I don’t dispute that, but it’s not the whole enchilada. How can it be?
I doubt AI ever played with a paper doll.
Have you?
My best wishes to you!
Jina
——————————
We have a new German translation for THE RESISTANCE GIRL.
Paris, 1943. Sylvie Martone is the star of French cinema, and adored by fans. But as Nazi officers swarm the streets of Paris, she is spotted arm in arm with an SS Officer and her fellow Parisians begin to turn against her.
However Sylvie has a secret – one she must protect with her life…
Paris, 2020. Juliana Chastain doesn’t know anything about her family history. While her mother was alive she remained very secretive about her past.
So when Juliana discovers a photograph of a glamorous French actress from World War Two amongst her mother’s possessions, she is in shock to find herself looking at her grandmother – especially as she is arm in arm with a Nazi Officer…
Desperate for answers, Juliana is determined to trace the journey of her grandmother. Surely there is more to the photograph than meets the eye?
But as she delves into Sylvie’s past, nothing can prepare Juliane for the tales of secrets, betrayal and sacrifice which she will uncover.
Here she is from DP Digital Publishing: Die Tochter der Résistance
Ein historischer Roman über das Schicksal einer jungen Frau
The Daughter of the Resistance | A historical novel about the fate of a young woman
Wenn Sie in Deutschland sind, hier ist der Link:
https://www.digital-publishers.com/de/romane/die-tochter-der-resistance-historisch-ebook
I’m also excited to announce The Resistance Girl is also being translated into French and Dutch…
Here’s a fun video I made about Sylvie Martone, the heroine of The Resistance Girl:
See you soon!!
Jina
From Love Stories to Lovecraft
August 10, 2025 by Tari Jewett in category WritingI write romcoms. And women’s fiction, although I’m not sure it counts yet, because I haven’t been brave enough to submit or publish it. I’ve even written a children’s bedtime book. And, as you may know, I wrote for magazines and newspapers for many years. I also wrote some advertising, press releases, and even a cable infomercial…although we didn’t call it that back then. I wrote a parenting column, a law column, two cooking columns, was a copywriter for an auto accessory catalog. My writing has been diverse.
So, why do I find myself struggling with my current project? It’s definitely out of my writing sphere, but my writing background tells you that the lines of that sphere are a little fuzzy.
My reading history is even more varied than my writing. As a little girl, I would read anything I could get my hands on, including several versions and interpretations of the Bible, the dictionary, even the Yellow Pages. For those of you too young to remember, the Yellow Pages came in print, downloading books was not a thing, and in the summertime in my small town, the bookmobile didn’t come, so I would read whatever I could find around the house, which eventually led to my mother’s romance novels.
But, to get back on track, currently, I’m flailing. My son, Gerrod, is a board game designer, and he asked me to write a short story for an upcoming H.P. Lovecraft anthology his company is publishing. Since he’s also my book cover designer, and romcom isn’t his genre, I definitely feel like I need to meet this challenge. I hadn’t read Lovecraft before this project came up, so I downloaded (yes I can do that now) the complete H.P. Lovecraft, and began my research. And, my son pushed me to stay somewhat in my genre, but add the Gods, and Lovecraft elements.
I’ve started the story, and it doesn’t have to be long, I even know where it’s going…which is unusual for me because I’m pretty much a pantser and let the characters tell their story through me, but this time I know, and I like where it’s going. I think it’s fear that’s holding me back. (Well, Lovecraft is a little scary.) It’s not writer’s block, it’s more not trusting myself, or maybe I’m afraid of the wrath of the gods.
Hunky Hubby came in and read over my shoulder as I wrote this, and of course, he believes I can write anything. He’s my biggest supporter. You might say that I’m a goddess in his eyes. And right behind him, my three sons always push me to be more. Clearly, the oldest son believes I can do this.
So, now that I’ve used all of you to bolster my confidence, I’m going to call on my ‘goddess’ powers to finish this story.
I’ll let you all know when it’s released. In the meantime, what do you struggle with? Do you write or read in one genre? Is there one genre you know you could never write? (I won’t say what mine is…I’m positive one of my guys would hand me a project to write in THAT genre.) Tell me what, if anything intimidates you at the keyboard, or on the bookshelf?
Balancing Writing in Your Life by Kitty Bucholtz
August 9, 2025 by Kitty Bucholtz in category Writing
Last month, I explained my WHOLE PATH System for Writers, an acronym encompassing nine main areas of life: Writing, Heart & Soul, Organization, Laughter, Economics, People, Accountability, Time, and Health. Today, I’d like to talk more about the first (and sometimes, but not alway,s the most important) area, Writing.
The hormone changes from perimenopause had devastating effects on my mental health. It’s been several years and I’m still trying to get back to myself. Being angry, anxious, depressed, and antisocial is not a good mindset for writing, especially in my current genre, Romantic Comedy. I’ve gotten very little writing done since I published my last book in August 2017.
But a new doctor and some changes to both my HRT (hormone replacement therapy) and vitamin supplements have helped me feel almost like “the real me” the last couple weeks! I took a sabbatical from my coaching business so I could focus on my health, and it’s been remarkably difficult to relax and rest and play. Not doing any work has been a struggle I don’t always win — and that in itself underscores that I needed the rest. I am THRILLED to say that I’m finally feeling like writing! Woohoo!!
Just in case life circumstances have taken the joy out of writing for you as well, I wanted to share what I’m doing in case it helps.
- As I said, I’m trying to manage the chemistry in my body with HRT, supplements, and better nutrition as well as more exercise. Not just running, but more strength building as well. (I just heard about Japanese HIIT walking and I’ve started that, too. I love it!) I’ve also been cutting way back on sugar and processed foods.
- I’m trying to manage my mindset by returning to things that have kept me positive and strong in the past (Bible reading, especially the praise Psalms, and music I love to sing to), and I’m trying to focus on what I’m grateful for rather than what’s bothering me. I want to journal more, but it has been like pulling teeth; I’ll keep trying.
- Now that my brain fog is lifting (I still have problems remembering the word I’m trying to say, but it seems to be cyclical during the month with easy weeks and hard weeks), I’m finding myself thinking about all the unfinished stories! I started trying to write for at least 30 minutes every weekday, but that brought my anxiety back. So now I am writing 2-5 days a week, anytime, for any amount of time, on anything that feels fun at the time. I’ve been focusing on “fun” over anything else to get my brain back into a joyful space. It’s slowly working!
- Which leads to the next major point — sadly, I’ve found I need to retrain my brain in how to have fun again. So I’m trying to focus on anything that I think might fit the bill — going to a new town on the train, wandering through secondhand shops and anything with a shop window that catches my eye (yesterday I went into three shops that sell new or used electronics, looking at CD players and record albums 😄), re-reading the Harry Potter series, putting together puzzles, etc. I’ve also been spending a lot more time with friends without looking at the clock to see when I have to be back.
- This is almost a repeat of the above — Prioritizing play and exercise. It’s making it a priority that is so important. In fact, I took a week where I got on a writing sprint call at 5:30 am my time with friends in Australia, but on those days I did little to no exercise because I couldn’t get myself to stop working on my computer after the writing. So now I’m back to exercising first so it gets done. Play is next in importance, and writing comes after that. But when I think of something funny and fun that I want to put on paper, that counts as play so I do it. Again, training my brain to remember when writing was always play and go back to that.
I hope this gives you some ideas for things you might want to try or change in your life. Writing is important to me! But in order to enjoy a sustainable writing life, writing needs to not always be in the #1 slot in my life. I want to be as joyful and healthy as I can be for the rest of my life, which is going to take some degree of work on my part for the rest of my life. It’ll be worth it!
If you have found other things that work for you, please share them with everyone in the comments! Also, check out Johnny B Truant’s current Kickstarter for The Artisan Author (ends August 14) for more ideas on how to relax and be yourself and create your own version of a sustainable career. Maybe I’ll see you in his Artisan University next month!
Self-Review
August 5, 2025 by Tracy Reed in category WritingOnce I completed the first proofreading project, I needed a palette cleanser and read one of my books. Let me clarify, this project wasn’t the only reason I re-read my books. I wanted to amp up my special edition omnibus. So, I dove in ready to be entertained, only to discover the book was crawling with errors. I was shocked. The very things I tell people to look out for in their books, is what I was guilty of in this book. I don’t know how I or my editor missed the glitches. I’m not sure if errors happened during the formatting process, or when.
What’s the lesson? Don’t assume the file is clean just because you used it make a different version of the book. I assumed, because all I was doing was cutting and pasting, the files were clean…error proof. The joke was on me, they weren’t. I hear you asking, how many errors…is it even worth your time to update the book? I maintain, readers will forgive approximately five errors (I know there’s no set amount of acceptable errors). Anything over that and your book and writing gets a bad reputation. In this case, there were enough noticeable errors to make me look like a novice writer.
So, while kicking myself for the over abundance of errors, I noticed how different my writing had become. In case, I hadn’t mentioned, the books I’m talking about are the first book I published and the other two in the series. When I started writing, I was writing a different genre…steamy Christian fiction. Now, my preference is Contemporary Romance with faith elements and heat. This series is a prime example of how my writing has changed. Although the books center around one couple, the tone in all three are different.
The other thing about these books is, they’re told in third person. Again, this is because I was trying to fit into a certain romance genre. I personally like multi-voice. That’s not to say I won’t write in third person. I will when I feel that’s what the story calls for. I have a duet, which works well in third person, but the books in the omnibus really would read better in multi-voice. I’m seriously considering re-telling these stories in multi-voice.
There’s just one major problem. If I rewrite them, what do I do with the original books? My solution is to repackage them with new covers, titles and update the original stories. And possibly make the repackaged books exclusives to my bookstore.
Have you thought about or repackaged a series? If so, what was the reader response? How often to you re-read your books?
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