Stop while you're ahead...

Sometimes in life you'll come across things that you can't stop doing but should...

1.  Eating a third second roll at Roadhouse
2.  Saying "yes" to one more mile on the elliptical when your legs are already on fire
3.  Becoming a sucker customer at the car wash when they want you to upgrade to the next level
4.  Singing your favorite Disney song as loud as you can only to realize the car window is rolled down
5.  Watching your trashy beloved teen drama show (Make It or Break It, Vampire Diaries, Secret Life)

You're probably asking yourself..."What's the point of this post?"

Sometimes in your writing you'll find that the words come naturally and everything is going splendid.  However, all of the sudden you have no idea where you want to go in the story.  IT'S OKAY!  Stop while you're ahead.  You never want to end your writing time on a frustrated note. Rejoice in the fact that you were able to get material down.  In the words of a famous ginger, "The sun will come out...tomorrow."

Do we still laugh at the small things in life?

Writing lately has been extremely difficult for me.  No, I'm not having "the block" again.  My time has become sparse.  Studying for the ELA 4-8 exam, reading 8th grade material, and taking care of two spoiled well-loved dogs has consumed my summer.  However, I did manage to squeeze in some writing tonight as my two puppies snuggled next to me.

The bakery that Sawyer owns is getting ready for their annual Christmas Eve party, and everyone will be in attendance.  Sawyer begins reminisce about what Christmas Eve used to be before everything happened and finds herself longing for tradition.  The important thing that you have to remember about writing is to make sure you would enjoy reading your book.  "You are your worse critic."  That phrase comes to life when you decide to finally put your ideas down on paper.  As I was writing tonight, I found myself laughing out loud.  I'm sure Chase thought I was crazy beautiful.  One of my minor characters is an old man named Peter Fields.  He owns the bookstore across from the bakery and is Poppy's "BFF."  Peter enjoys playing the saxophone at Christmas Eve and last year he thought it would be funny to learn Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer and play it for Poppy.  I'm sure Granny Day was giving him a snide remark from heaven.

Laughing at your own material is good for the soul.  Have you laughed lately?

Can you have too much of a good thing?

I'm a firm believer in you can never have too much coffee.  You can never have too many hugs from your loved ones and the amount of prayers you can say has no limit.  However, I'm sad to say I did take a break from writing.  After I finished chapter 17, I was completely spent. I noticed that I as I was starting chapter 18 it felt more like a chore than a passion.  Your craft should NEVER feel like an obligation. I took a week break and I've come back refreshed.  Excitement filled my body tonight as I began chapter 18.  It was terrific!  You just need to step back and breathe sometimes.  Simply Flourful will have a BIG change soon and I hope the characters of Simply Flourful will be able to handle it.

Is your passion still fabulous or has it become a flop?

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark"

No, it's not a reference to Hamlet, although I did love that play.  I mean something is rotten in Simply Flourful. Yes, I realize my last post was about conflict surfacing.  However, I'm still writing on it.  I've been a little busy lately.  Finishing my last year at Navasota, moving to Dallas, and trying to find a job have taken over my life.  I feel a lot like Sawyer in that way.  Something is trying to take over her life and she is struggling with not allowing it to take away her passion.  She is learning to have more faith in God and in herself to keep the strength she once had.  I see a lot of myself in Sawyer.  My kitchen has been filled with the sounds of me baking lately.  I now see why Sawyer finds peace when she bakes.  Today I made an apple pie with a brown sugar oat crumble and a gingersnap crust.  It was simply delish!