Greetings Creatives!
I want to sing my salutations from the tippy-top of Mt. Rainier, "I'm b-a-c-k!"
However, in all honesty, I never really went anywhere. Life did that phenomenon where it swallowed me up whole, while beats of time strummed its tick-tock tune in the back of my mind. It's taken a couple of years to scrabble free, but as 2023 released into 2024, I finally freed a hand to hold my pen for more, an elbow for leverage on my desk, and a shoulder to lean on in my desperate attempts to find solid ground.
My writing journey continues…I'm happy to be back blogging!
I might still be a little breathless from my climb, but I am here! Although I may not have been in the space to share my highlights (positive or negative), this past year, I promise I've been busily writing along the way. And this blog, Steps in Between, means the world to me. With that said, I am back to share my ups and downs on this adventure as an author. My goal? To stay accountable and to encourage anyone else out there wishing to share their creativity.
Why is balancing life today so much harder than before? I blame Covid. Life is truly different after that ridiculously long length of isolation, stealing time from everyone. It certainly took its toll on me. Although I'm not here to talk about Covid. I am here to acknowledge that my writing life is simply different now. I used to believe I had an invincible amount of time for everything.
I don't. I probably never did. So now what? Now I'm juggling a hypothetical number of ideas with a very real, limited amount of time.
This contemplation, my many desires to create, along with that constant tug pulling me along life's daily current, stifled and kept me away from blogging. I simply had no idea how to balance the many goals I wished to accomplish. But I continued writing in my nighttime life. I continued teaching in my daytime life. I was still busy with my family and friends…but as much as my overthinking interrupted time to blog my process, it's also brought me back. Sharing my steps in between as a writer not only helps me uplift and encourage other creatives, but it uplifts and encourages ME in my own journey. It's a win-win!
Now my battle is not if I will I accomplish all the things I want to do? Or believing I'm too busy to do it all. It's more, how do I select a few projects to focus on well? If I get to everything in my lifetime, so be it. I have enough faith the right things will always unfold. And this blog has become a waving banner for all the things I've learned or want to celebrate on my writing adventure. Cheers for that! And cheers to you for sticking with me!
Below, I've listed some projects I'm unfolding now (for my own accountability), but how about you? What are the most important next steps you want to take first in this swiftly moving lifetime? No pressure. Inhale a deep breath. Exhale. Now focus on just one direction. The twists and turns will appear when and if they're needed. We must believe that.
We can't always see the steps in between on our creative journeys, but they are there. Choose the projects that come to heart first and simply start. Take that step and move forward...one day at a time. And don't forget to share your secrets with others. We need to stick together!
CC's Current Path of Projects:
- Finish drafting Life Song and bring this special YA Fantasy to light.
- Finish editing/revising Dream Keepers, sequel to Seam Keepers, get it to my publisher (The Wild Rose Press), and pray they want to publish it…always my fear.
- Continue promoting my new poetry book, Three Hearts Stitched (Egret Lake Books). I am in love with this most personal collection.
- Query without stopping my children's picture book, Dandelion View. This story is a treasure to me and won a first-place literary award as well. I must be brave!
Possible Projects in the Near Future (after or during all the above)
- Exploring the self-publishing world with a Halloween story, currently a fantasy novella, but I am considering making it a full novel. We will see!
- Crossing my fingers I'm selected to write in a secret (not yet announced) series from my publisher, The Wild Rose Press. I have a fully flushed out three-character POV story that I cannot wait to write, so hoping all goes well in the near future with this one!
- I have a couple other SEL (social emotional learning) children's picture books I want to finish. One is nearly done, Penny's Pockets, and another fun one about being loud. But my hopes are momentarily crushed because it's a challenging market to break into. As a teacher by day, I truly want to bring a book into the world I can share with younger students (while they are still children). Breathe…I can do this!
- Poetry—poetry—poetry! I am always thinking, dreaming, writing poetry. So, are there some new books for me on the horizon? I certainly hope so!
Remember, our world is better because of creatives like you!
Thank you with all my heart,
Celaine Charles
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