One more step on the journey. ✅ Website: Carissasimao.com ✅ Feedback from CPs ✅ Self-edits complete Now I can check off putting money aside to hire an editor. Got a raise this week. Now I can save up for editing and marketing before I self-publish next year!

I never realized how badly I wanted my husband to like my writing until tonight. Pleased to say he did not disappoint. 😊

Even my husband, who hates cats, laughed at this!

This is painfully accurate! xitter.cf/Authoralexp/status/133…

Survived day 1 of driving since my accident. Promptly had a panic attack as soon as I got home. Therapist friend says this is normal. Trying to be okay with that. But today was progress. So who won #NaNoWriMo20? I didn't but I still feel good about the 30k words I did write.

So, Friday afternoon, I got into an accident. My car is totaled. I'm in a lot of pain (learning my Fibro flares feel much like walking away from a wreck). Nothing is broken but everything hurts. I may not win #NaNoWriMo20 unless the pain lets up. We'll see... #amwriting (not)

#NaNoWriMo20 Day 17 Yeah, I know. I'm really bad about updating this. There's so many places to share! NaNo tracker, writers group, my Facebook page, here. That's a lie. I haven't updated my Facebook page, but I should! 30,201 total words so far! I'm feeling real damn good!

The series in writing only has 2 - the protagonist and the love interest. I've considered adding others, but I felt it would water down my story.

Discovery writer moment : spend all day thinking about how a future plot point might go. Start writing random dialogue and figure out exactly what needs to happen at that plot point. #amwriting #WritingCommunity #NaNoWriMo20

I don't know what's more exciting - hitting the 20,000 word mark for #NaNoWriMo20 or finding out I got a raise today, RETROACTIVE TO MAY! On the one hand, that's a lot of words! On the other hand, I damn well earned this raise and it's so nice to be recognized. Oh and...

I used to think that if I didn't outline, I'd write a bad novel. I tried outlining a novel and it still sits unfinished. I've accepted that I'm a discovery writer. This #NaNoWriMo20 story is the greatest proof of it. I have an end goal in mind, but how I get there is a surprise.

#NaNoWriMo20 Day 9 - 3,901 words. Is there a greater feeling in the world than coming to the scene you've been imagining for days? I'd say no. There's such ecstasy in watching your imagination come to life in the page. It's only surpassed by the thrill of what's to come.

#NaNoWriMo20 Realize I forgot to update the last couple of days. Day 5 - 0 words. I took a much needed break to enjoy video games with friends. Day 6 - 1,989 words. Day 7 - 2,394 words. Still averaging more than I need to stay on track. I now have a total of 12,662 words.

#NaNoWriMo20 Day 4 - 2,178 words. I seek stability in my words. I find peace on the page. The prose is not perfect, but like me, it does not have to be. It just has to BE. 🤷🏽‍♀️ The world is insane and I'm feeling poetic. I'm sure one has nothing to do with the other. #amwriting

#NaNoWriMo20 Day 3 - 2,274 words. This puts me averaging more than 2,000 a day so far. Also had some ideas for the plot as I wrote. This is why I only plan out a skeleton. I come up with better ideas as I write than I ever could while outlining. I know. I tried it. #amwriting

I'm turning off my phone tonight. I never turn off my phone. But tonight, for my mental health, I'm going to focus on writing. I might work on my business. Might play a game. Anything but dwell on on tonight's nonsense. I've done my part. I can do no more.