My Life is Based on a True Story

Living life is like a choose-your-own-mystery-story. I have dreams and ideas about the direction I want to go with my writing, but I’m still not sure how all things are going to pan out. I’ve been writing for several years now, but I’ve yet to have any of my manuscripts published. 

Currently, I’ve been revising (again) my YA novel Dreams that Awaken (working title). This book is about an orphan girl living in Steampunk Northern California who encounters Jesus in her dreams. I was inspired when I read a book a few years ago about Muslims in the Middle East who are serving Allah, yet begin to have dreams of Jesus. They awaken with this desire to seek him out in the daytime. They find him and give their lives to Christ when they realize his great love for them. I was fascinated about the idea of God using our dream-time to infiltrate our hearts and minds with his presence and purpose.

I love the creative process of writing and developing characters who deal with struggles much like our own. Searching for an agent and publisher is not for the faint at heart. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve my manuscript has been rejected. It’s never fun, but it’s always an opportunity to grow. Where my manuscript stands now is much stronger than where it was last year at this time.

Speaking of last year, I’m on the cusp of celebrating my website’s one-year anniversary! I purposefully chose to launch it on July 14 because that was the day I suffered the largest rejection of my life. I wanted to do something positive on the same day that nearly took out my desire to live. It’s been a long road of recovery; seeking truth, healing deep emotional gashes, finding myself again, and remembering my identity as a daughter of the Most High God. 

My life is based on a true story. It’s messy and full of mistakes. It’s silly and outrageous, but it’s mine. I have a vision for what I’d like to see down the road, but I’m determined to not let my future dictated by my past. I took a class by Brene Brown a few years ago that helped me develop bravery and courage. I think she says it best. 

“When we deny our stories it defines us. When we own our stories, we get to write the ending.”

What are you dreaming about for your story? Is there anything in the past that’s presenting itself as a major roadblock? If so, what needs to happen to get it out of the way? Your life is based on a true story. In what area do you need to find courage to live it well? 

Find it.

You can do this.

I believe in you. 

To celebrate the anniversary of the website, will you do me a favor? Will you share this blog (or another post that you enjoyed) with a friend and invite them to follow my website? I’m so grateful for you, dear reader. 

Sibling Rivalries and Family Drama

In my current WIP (Work in Progress), my main characters are teenage sisters Anna, Katie, and Julia. If you have sisters, then you understand the type of drama that can be part of the day to day life. Even though my characters are set in Steampunk California in the late 1800s, they too have difficulties in navigating their way.

What I love about these sisters is they portray the challenges all teenagers face at some point during their awkward stage of pre-adulthood. Struggles like loneliness, betrayal, searching for truth and identity while wanting to be part of their family, but individuals as well.

Katie, the eldest sister, has raised her siblings. She wasn’t ready to take care of her sisters when her parents abandoned them as children, but there was no one else, so she stepped into a role that she was ill prepared for. Julia, the proverbial middle child, is spoiled and selfish, but she has a deep churning within her own heart to achieve greatness, even if others raise their eyebrows at her methods. Anna, the baby of the family, has a tendency to be overlooked by others, but she has opinions of her own that she’s just learning to vocalize.

As in any story, I find myself relating to characters in many ways. In my current WIP I relate to Anna because she’s finding her voice. As a writer, I speak through my characters, but I also relate to their struggles. What characters do you find yourself relating to?

What's Your Story?

This month, the writing community is sharing their #WIP (Work in Progress). I’ve been working on a manuscript for several years now with the working title, Dreams that Awaken. I love this work because it tells the story of a young abandoned woman who is longing for something bigger than herself, something deeper than her trivial life. She’s searching for Jesus, but she doesn’t realize it and doesn’t know how to reach Him.

I’m not a storyteller by nature, it’s something I’ve had to work at and develop. I’ve always found comfort and solace in writing and enjoy the challenge of developing characters and instilling in them heroic qualities, flaws, and deep needs that are hidden in plain sight.

My main character, Anna, is an orphaned teen, who is being raised by her sisters in Steampunk California in the late 1800s. This was a time where claim-jumpers were hung over nuggets of gold because the noose is long and grace is short. Anna survives by working hard and standing up for herself, but her recurring dream of walking on a tightrope between the hotel and the hangman’s noose is unsettling.

Anna’s dreams reveal the inner turmoil of her heart, things she can’t articulate in the daytime make themselves known in the evening hours. Anna’s journey parallels our own struggle to find peace in our tumultuous life? Where can we go to find significance when everyone around us is hustling to get their basic needs met?

“But if you find yourself experiencing a desire to seek God, we have great news for you; God is already at work in you.” Henry Blackaby

What’s your story?

Do You Realize the Power of Your Story?

When I designed my website I thought long and hard about how I can bless you, my readers. I kept coming back to the phrase, “You Matter. Your Story Matters.” It may be only a few words, but it speaks volumes to me and the reason why I write. You are the reason I write.

I love books. I’ve been an avid reader since I was a kid. Books tell stories and more importantly, the author crafting the words shares part of themselves through the story. Regardless if the genre is romance, or steampunk, or biographical, the story is what holds our attention. The story is what captivates and motivates us to turn the page.

Your life story is still being written. Maybe things haven’t gone exactly the way you planned. Maybe you’ve got writer’s block and you’re not sure what direction you should take in life. Or you feel stuck in a “Choose your own ending” type book and you don’t want to make the wrong decision and get started down a path you can’t get away from.

But here’s the deal, your life is your story and the world needs to hear it. Even if you’re feeling like a minor character in your own world, maybe you’re on the cusp of a great adventure that will catapult you into being the hero. Regardless of your stage in life, you matter and your story matters. Share your story and be amazed at the power of your life.