Musings of a Sparrow….
My thoughts about God, writing, and life in general….
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My Painting Hobby-How I Paint Flowers from a Photograph
As a creative soul, I recognize the need for downtime to allow my ADHD brain to rest and recuperate. I enjoy expressing my creativity predominantly through the written word. However, I enjoy crafting, cross-stitching, and making country-style décor signs. I’ve recently taken up acrylic painting.
Finding Strength in Faith: Resetting After Loss Through Christ
In times of loss, when the shifting sands under our feet threaten to cause us to flounder and fall, we can find solace in the rock-solid love and grace of Jesus Christ.
My Struggle to Choose a Path
As a rule, I write posts that are less personal and more focused on a specific topic related to writing or publishing. I planned to post something else this week, but that didn’t pan out. Instead, I’ve decided to open up a little about my current struggle with deciding what my future career path or paths should be. Bear with me as I get a little personal….
8 Great TV Shows and Movies in the Romantic Thriller Genre
I love several TV shows and movies that fall within the above definition of a “romantic thriller.” In this post, I will list my favorite TV shows and movies within this designation….
Setting SMART Goals for 2024
In preparation for the new year, I am making several SMART goals professionally as a writer and personally. If you’re unfamiliar with what a SMART goal is, I’ll briefly describe what they are….
A Soundtrack for Filling the Cracks
Since I began writing fanfiction online, before I started writing original fiction, I used to create a soundtrack for each story similar to the soundtracks produced by blockbuster movies….
My Research Trip to Chilliwack, B.C.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit family members who live in Chilliwack and Abbotsford and used the opportunity to tour the area and get a feel for the environment in which my story will take place….
Writer Self-Care
When I moved from viewing my writing as a hobby to a potential career, I focused too much on spending most of my day cranking out page after page of manuscript that I failed to look after myself and neglected my physical and emotional needs. I came across several blog posts discussing the necessity of ‘writer self-care,’ and I scoffed at them. I was too focused and driven to take time for such frivolity. I didn’t realize how much I was denying myself until I suffered the early burnout stages. I’d written full first drafts for five different manuscripts almost back-to-back, losing my mojo, my creative muse. Everything I put down on ‘paper’ was dry, bland, and yucky. I returned to those blog posts and articles on writer self-care and reread them from the perspective of someone desperately needing such advice….
Why I Love Being Canadian
In honor of Canada Day, July 1, I am writing about why I am proud to be Canadian. I promise not to be obnoxiously political (lol), but I want to address, in list form (in no order), what it is about Canada, my “home and native land” that I love.
What Is Narcissistic Abuse?
In the last blog post, I wrote about domestic violence: what it is, how to find help, and why I write about it in my stories. I mentioned that domestic violence or abuse is pervasive and destructive not just to the victim of the abusive partner but to anyone else in the family and society. I also said that this week I would discuss a type of abuse commonly found in domestic situations (though not exclusively so): narcissistic abuse. In my stories, I also write about narcissists and the abuse they cause others. For that reason, I will briefly define what it is here…
Domestic Abuse—What is it, and why write about it?
In the novel I’ve written and am in the process of pitching to literary agents, Ashes of Injustice, the female protagonist is a survivor of domestic abuse. This is a theme in other manuscripts and short stories I’ve written. One might ask what is behind my preoccupation with domestic abuse. The simple answer is that I’ve witnessed family and friends who were abused or are still in abusive relationships. I’ve seen its long-term damaging effects on individuals and families and feel the need to expose and explore it in my writing. I am a survivor of abuse—physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, spiritual, and financial. It’s a problem of epidemic proportions, not only in the part of the world where I live but in humanity. For these reasons, I expose it as a problem in my writing through the experiences of the characters I create. I strive not only to show the pervasive evil that domestic abuse is but also that it is possible to find freedom and healing from it…
I am a Sparrow
If you’re reading this post, you have probably landed on the first page of my website or blog and noticed the images of sparrows. It’s a running motif. Maybe you’ve asked, “What’s with the birds?” If you have, this post is for you. If you haven’t, I’d still like to explain the significance of the sparrow to you. You see, I am a sparrow…
4 Hobbies for the Introverted Writer/Reader
I write a lot. Most of my waking time is spent at my laptop or sitting outside with my Rocketbook and Pilot Frixion pens, writing, editing, researching, or brainstorming something new. I’m a bit of a workaholic and perfectionist. I have to force myself to stop and do something else with my time because it’s unhealthy to be obsessed with one job or pastime alone. So, over the years, I’ve tried my hand at several different kinds of hobbies. Being an introvert and not overly athletic, most of my hobbies are quiet and creative and can be done by myself….
Creating a Designated Writing Space
On my journey as a writer and aspiring author, I've learned that it’s essential to have a dedicated writing space—a place where the only thing I do there is write, so it’s designed to inspire me and help me focus. Without my dedicated writing space, I’m easily distracted and lose motivation and inspiration. In my room, I limit the things that distract me but include those that feed and comfort my muse….
9 Tips for an Effective Morning Routine
I’ve found time and time again that I get the most done on the days I follow a set morning routine. On days when I don’t follow a routine, I tend to flounder, and my productivity drops dramatically. I haven’t always had a morning routine. I didn’t have a morning for many years, especially during periods of my life where I allowed my depression to rule rather than doing everything I could to battle it. Life is better when you have a morning as part of it….