What does “writer’s block” mean to me?

In this What’s Up Wednesday video, I’ve started on my list of random interview questions for authors that I found on the internet. I’ve also included a few news-y items at the start, but then I do answer the question in the title of this post.

You might notice that my voice sounds a little different in this video. That’s because I’ve got a bit of a scratchy throat and a cough thing I’ve been trying to fight off and not get. When I woke up this morning, I was very glad I recorded this yesterday, because today, I think whatever this is has finally caught me fully and my voice is quite low, right along with my energy. Because of the lack of energy, I’ve also spent the morning in bed, sleeping mostly, which is why this is getting uploaded and sent out later than intended. (And then, I might go back to bed. 🙂 )

I hope you’re week is going well.

Enjoy!

(The video is about 8 1/2 minutes long.)


Mr. Darcy with Him (Hugh Thomson)

Hugh Thomson (1860-1920), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As I mentioned in the Saturday Broadsheet, Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball is the May free read for Followers on Ream and Patreon. So, today, for this Story Connections post, I am sharing the first chapter of that novelette with the image above. If Bingley has his way, Mr. Darcy will be with him at Netherfield. However, as you can see below, Bingley has currently returned to Hertfordshire alone to do some scheming on his friends behalf — right after he secures his own happiness, that is.

Enjoy!

Continue reading Mr. Darcy with Him (Hugh Thomson)

The May 2024 Saturday Broadsheet

With this edition of my monthly Broadsheet, I am going to start posting the full thing here rather than just sharing a link to read it on Substack, since it’s just a matter of copy and pasting it here. I do also post this on Substack, Patreon, and Ream Stories.


May 11, 2024

Has it been a month already since the last Saturday Broadsheet?

My! Time sure seems to fly sometimes.

I’ve been busy with life and writing things, so that’s probably why it seems like only a couple of weeks ago that I was writing my previous Broadsheet.

Unfortunately, not all the busyness was pleasant. My father-in-law was suddenly moved from home care to palliative care and then, died shortly after that. So, there was a lot of dreading the sound of a phone call and then, the proceedings that accompany a funeral. And now, there are some matters that must be sorted through as happens when someone dies. But he is no longer sick or in pain, and his funeral was lovely and as hope-filled as such a thing can be since he requested that it focus on Jesus and not on him.

In my writing life, I’m starting to get settled into a schedule that allows for me to write a bit on several projects at once. I used to work on multiple stories at one time, but then, I hit some burnout and then, I got long covid, which I still am struggling with. So, I’m so very happy to be able to take even small steps towards a return to a new form of normal. (I’m trying to keep things low and slow to avoid set backs or finding myself feeling burnt out again.)

As you will see below, the new schedule has helped me reach the point of being able to share my Sweet Possibilities work in progress with my members and patrons. That means I’m at least four chapters into the writing process. You’ll also notice below that a few chapters will be available as a preview to non-paying followers.

The funeral has me one week behind on getting into the Oxford Cottage refresh. I would really like to be able to start sharing the refreshed chapters on Thursdays on my blog, Patreon, and Ream by the end of June. Just like with the new stories I write and share, I also like to be a few chapters ahead when it comes to doing refresh projects. Honestly, refreshing a book can be more challenging than writing from scratch. But it’s so nice to have the stories get another polish, and the process is a good exercise for my writing muscles.

Because I am just opening up Oxford Cottage and getting ready to refresh it, this month’s story vignette goes with that novel. So look for that at the end of this newsletter.

NOW POSTING IN THE REPOSITORY AND ON PATREON
Continue reading The May 2024 Saturday Broadsheet

The April 2024 Saturday Broadsheet

This month’s Saturday Broadsheet, with all my writing life updates, is now available at the link below.

In this issue of the Broadsheet you will find:

  • a writing life update
  • all the books I have on promotion this month
  • books coming and going from Kindle Unlimited
  • an original sweet Regency romance vignette inspired by the snowy grey Nova Scotia weather we had a couple of days ago 🙂

Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!