Writing Blog
Setting the Scene: Exploring Timberline, Wyoming and The Real-World Inspiration for My Story
I’m trying something a little different today! I realized I hadn’t created a full setting profile to reference while I’m writing, so I made a list of traits and inspirations for Timberline, WY in my notes. Then, just for fun, I fed my notes into ChatGPT to see if it could come up with a narrative description for my setting. While the language is a tad flowery for my taste, I love how the AI model managed to capture the essence of a small mountain town in the throes of a transformation into a premier resort destination. Let me know in the comments what you think of this AI generated setting profile!
Why I Chose to Write Romance
I didn’t always consider myself a romance reader. Growing up, I read widely across different genres, but it wasn’t until about three years ago that I truly fell in love with romance. Since then, I’ve devoured books across the genre—contemporary romance, dark and taboo romance, romantasy, paranormal romance, and the occasional rom-com. Each subgenre brings something unique to the table, but what they all have in common is what keeps me coming back: deep, emotional storytelling centered on characters and connection.
Meet the Protagonists of My Work in Progress
In Stay This Time, I take you to the heart of Timberline, Wyoming, where two people—bound by history, heartbreak, and unfinished business—find themselves at a crossroads. Meet Isla Winters and Cole Archer, the star-crossed lovers at the center of this slow-burn cowboy romance.
Creating Complex Characters: My Scrivener Character Template
In this post, I’m sharing the template I use in Scrivener to develop my characters. I’ve found it invaluable in ensuring my characters are multidimensional and consistent throughout my stories.
My Outlining Process: How I Structured My Novel
Outlining a story can feel like an overwhelming task, but over time, I’ve developed a process that helps me stay organized while leaving room for creativity. In this post, I’ll walk you through the approach I took to structuring my current work in progress, from the initial idea to a detailed outline that guides my writing.
My Writing Goals and How I Plan to Reach Them
Writing a novel is a marathon, not a sprint—but having clear goals keeps me on track. As I dive deeper into my book, I want to set realistic targets to stay accountable and make steady progress. I struggle with ADHD and anxiety (plus a generous helping of depression on the side), so I know I need concrete objectives to keep myself on course while being mindful of my mental health. Writing is inherently challenging, and if I set overly ambitious goals, I risk triggering anxiety and spiraling. On the other hand, if my goals are too lax, I may never finish. In this post, I’ll share my word count targets, writing strategies, and how I plan to stay consistent.
The Inspiration Behind My Novel
Every story begins with a spark—an idea, a moment, or a feeling that refuses to let go. For me, the journey of writing my debut novel started with a single, persistent thought that grew into something much bigger. In this post, I want to take you behind the scenes of what inspired my novel, how the idea evolved, and why I felt compelled to write this story.
Categories
Writing Journey – My goals, milestones, reflections on my progress, and lessons learned along the way.
Writing Process – Blog posts about drafting, revising, and my creative habits.
Writing Resources – Tools, research methods, and recommendations.
My Novel – Updates on my current work in progress.
Book Reviews – Reviews of various writing craft books and comparable novels to my work in progress.