Happy 1st Ink Lizard Anniversary!

Today marks the one-year anniversary of my blog, the Ink Lizard! Lots has happened since that day, but there are a few writerly (yes I'm making that a word today even though spell check is angry with me) highlights of the past year that I can share with you.

1. The Ink Lizard was meant to journal my walk towards moving from writer to author. While I didn't have a clear answer when that change will happen, and still don't, there are things I do know:
     a) That while I rest in God's Word and listen to Him as I make choices in life, take chances, and work unto His glory, He will make then when apparent in His perfect timing.
     b) You never loose when you are making friends. Even if you don't know the purpose of a time in your life, God puts people around you to either challenge you, help or cause you to grow, or to support you. So make friends, and be honest with them and treat them like chocolate cake. (Don't drop 'em or smash 'em, and if you treat 'em right they will support you up with laughter and love).
     c) Write write write and never stop. You only fail when you give up.
     d) If a day seems overwhelming, pray, then consider your priorities and pursue only those things. Setting small goals is both encouraging and relieving!

2. My focus has not changed a lot since starting this blog, but what I have been writing seriously with focus has changed. When I started this blog I was pushing myself to finish a three-part series, Atremento Chronicles, beginning with White Hawks. This was the work of over a decade. But I realized it was holding me back from growing. After a lot of prayer and careful consideration I set it aside for a while to pursue other writing projects. I moved on to Lyla's story, implementing techniques I studied from books and followed from the Breathe Conference 2016. Something just never really clicked with that story, though, and I learned that it was because I was still not writing right for me. (Lyla's story is still in limbo right now.) I tried to do everything exactly right, and it was terrible. I knew I was a pantser but now I know it. I absolutely cannot write a story from an outline. I totally loose interest in it. (For those of you who don't know, there's two kinds of writers, the plotter and the pantsers, who fly by the seat of their pants. If you know me, you know this is a little odd because I really love to have everything planned out and accounted for... just for some reason I can't be controlled when I write.)
In the midst of struggling with Lyla's story, and with many other things last winter, I plunked myself down at my computer one Saturday without a plan. All I had was this strong urge to just write, and I didn't know who the characters would be or the plot. I didn't know what was going on, but somehow I discovered with Ember her own fears.
And here I am, beginning Chapter 4. This doesn't seem like much to you, but it is an accomplishment for me after the last several months, and Ember's story is only building. I have so much to tell, and I pray that you will be able to read her story in the future. I have learned to see Ember, but it was a process. Letting go of Nico and his friends was strange at first. It's slowly getting easier and I'm understanding Ember better.

3. My elbow has been 100% healed for a long time now, and I am extremely grateful for the use of my hands again and the energy to do more in the evenings. The Lord answered my prayers and healed my wrists after a time. I can weed, bake and cook, clean and give hugs and hold my favorite squishy little ones. I can write! I do not take these simple things for granted right now, doing these every-day things makes me really happy.

4. Finding time to read is still difficult. I do not have lunch breaks at all anymore, but I often divide up my mornings and manage about 20-30 minutes of reading before leaving work. It doesn't get me very far very fast into a book, but it is something so I'm not complaining. At least there are no more interruptions. :)

5. I am totally planning to go to Breathe this year and very excited to take part in it and see friends again!

6. A non-writerly thing to add: Jemma is learning a new trick- to jump through my arms in a hoop! I'm not really sure she gets it yet, though.

Happy reading, friends, and thank you for sticking with me. I appreciate prayers and would love to hear if any of you will also be at Breathe (will I see you there???).