Happy Sunday, Everyone!
It’s a wet, wet day here in Tennessee—well, it has been for a few days now. I’m not sure about you, but I love storms: thunder, lightning, and the whole works. Just not the destruction that can come with them.
During storms, I either get sleepy and want to nap the whole day, or I feel creative and have to do something—write, draw, paint, or even read. Today has been one of those lazy days. Even though we’re at our favorite coffee shop and I’m writing, I could totally take a nap. 😂.
After I finish today’s post, I’ll be working on my book (Dangerous Desires). I’m closer to the ending than I thought, and I’ve decided to continue in the same direction I originally started—in other words, I’m leaving the bad guy in (for now).
The closer I get to finishing, the more mixed my feelings become.
When I write and finish my children’s books, I’m excited to complete them and get them published. I don’t have the same kind of apprehension that I’m feeling now about this novel.
Maybe it’s because I’ve poured so much of myself into these characters. They feel real to me, and I want them to be loved, accepted, and enjoyed—even the villains. My children’s book characters are usually adored right from the beginning. Children and adults alike tend to love them, and I never doubt that they’ll be accepted.
But adult characters are different. Adults are way more critical—I know I am when I’m reading a book. I’ve actually put a book down because I disliked one of the main characters so much that I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up again. That was 40 years ago, and I still remember exactly why I didn’t like that character.
In fact, that experience is on my list of reasons why I have to write the kinds of characters and books I do—it reminds me of what not to do.
If you hate one of my characters, I want it to be because they’re so well-written that they pissed you off for the right reasons. The bad guys should be pushing your buttons—you should want to see them get what they deserve in the end.
Not because they were so poorly written that you couldn’t bear to finish the story.
So, the closer I get to the ending, the scarier it gets. I’ll find out whether my characters—and in turn, myself—are accepted and worth reading.
It’s scary.
I have so many characters waiting to come out and live their stories. I can only hope and pray you’ll like them, accept them, and enjoy getting to know them. I want you to feel like you’re sharing their lives with me.
Again… It’s scary.
When I write the book to go along with my workshop (a.k.a. one of the six types of autobiography), I’ll definitely be hoping that one is enjoyed too. Still, not as much as my novels.
An autobiography will draw from parts of my real life—the good, the bad, and all the in-betweens. Whether anyone likes it or not, it will be done. But my characters, even though they come from me, are more like my children.
So I’m going to close this post and go work on my “child.” 😂. I also have a few speeches to write.
Oh—and on a completely different note (no pun intended)—I’ll be singing on Thursday with my friend Mary and someone else at a local veterans’ retirement home. I’m excited! It’s been years since we sang together, so I’ll be practicing soon too. I love our vets and I love to sing, so it’s a great combo.
Anyway, till next time…
Have a great week filled with hugs, love, laughter, and blessings. 🥰
We are Creatively Unlimited! 
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