Year In Review

It's that time, time to look back upon the past year and contemplate all the things that have transpired. Today is the last day of 2011 (and my Grandfather's birthday!  Happy Birthday Pappy!). Whether you're glad or sad, tomorrow is a new year.

This has been a year of firsts for me in a writing sense. I started my first book. Wrote my first words. Finished my first chapter (and a few more). Started a blog. Wrote eighteen posts on that blog! Met a loving community of fellow blogger/authors. All encompassing these things... I took the first big steps in fulfilling a dream of mine that I've always had. This has given me a great sense of accomplishment. It has been one of the most scary, yet fulfilling things I have ever done for myself.

Writing aside, it's been a great year. My husband and kids have all been healthy. I think I may have finally found something that is working on my migraines (knock on wood). I still have my job that most days I love to go to and also reminds me, on an almost daily basis, how truly lucky I am. I am blessed with a wonderful family and friends.

How was your year? Are you glad it's over or sad to see it pass? Did you have anything really great happen this year?

I wish you a very Happy New Year!! Stay safe.

~Coming Monday- Looking to the New Year

Holiday Madness

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, or whatever it is that you celebrate. I always have mixed feelings about the holidays. I would love to tell you that I'm a complete Christmas nut. Going all out on decorations and gifts, but the truth is... I don't really like Christmas that much. Blasphemy, right? In fact, if it wasn't for my kids, I could probably do without it completely.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not by any means a Scrooge. I decorate my house, send Christmas cards (although this year really late), make cookies, and buy gifts. I love to see the look on my kids faces as they run down the stairs and see what Santa left for them. The wonder and magic that twinkles in their eyes. That innocence that fairytales are real and if you wish hard enough Santa will bring you what you want for Christmas. If you were on the nice list, of course. I also love to get someone a gift I just know they are going to love. The excitement of waiting till they open it to see the look on their face. The feeling of goodwill that people seem to get this time of year. Spending time with family and friends.

By the same token, there are some things I can do without. The crowds at the stores and people being rude. The materialism and commercialism of it all. People spraying other people with pepper spray to get a good deal. There are so many things to do and not enough time. Most of all, I miss my Mom. It was her favorite time of year.

I did have a wonderful Christmas, though. My kids got everything they wanted from Santa and I had a great time spending time with family. My husband got me a Keurig coffee machine, that I just love! However, I'm glad it's over. Now maybe I can slow down... yeah right!

How were your holidays? Are you a Christmas fanatic, Scrooge, or somewhere in between? Are you happy they are over? What was your favorite gift this year?

Déjà Vu Blogfest

This Blog is the awesome idea of DL Hammons, Katie Mills (Creepy Query Girl), Lydia Kang, and Nicole Ducleroir. The idea is to repost one of your favorite posts in case people missed it or they just started following you and the really good stuff was posted four months ago. I just started my blog about four months ago, so I don't have a lot to choose from. I decided to chose the first blog I wrote. It was an introduction to who I am and tells a little about what I am trying to do. I hope you enjoy it.


My first blog ever

   So, I am sitting down to write my first blog and I'm feeling a lot of pressure. I want it to be witty, captivating, and funny. (Even though I'm not that funny in person.) I begin to really start stressing out about it. I can't think of a single thing to write. Starring at the blank page until my eyes go blurry. Finally, I say forget it. (Not really forget, a different word but you get the picture) It can be anything I want it to be or say anything I want it to say....because, it's MY blog.
   Who am I? My name is Jessica and for over the past 10 years I have been a nurse. When I'm not being a nurse, I am a mom to three beautiful children and wife to my wonderful husband.  In my spare time I LOVE to read. I can't even tell you how many books I have read in my lifetime, a lot. When I was in high school I got yelled at for reading in class. My kids still get mad at me 'cause I 'm reading when they are trying to tell me something.
     I have always had a dream of some day writing a novel. Then I could decide how it went, who lived and died, who fell in love with who, etc. When I was younger, I must have started about 50 of them, never getting past the first chapter. Never believing for one second that I could actually do it. Well, now I am.
    I decided to jump off the deep end and go after my dream. In the end it may never be published and only a handful of people may read it, but I'll have done it for me. I decided to blog about my adventure here. So, come along with me as I am just following a dream.

Better Late Than Never... Right?

I feel really bad. I promised myself if I was going to join a "group" or blog hop that I would be sure to do what was expected of me, or not sign up at all. Unfortunately, I was in bed for three days last week with a bad migraine and for anyone who's experienced one, there's no thinking when you have one.  So, I did not get my Insecure Writer's Support Group blog out last week. So, I decided to do it a week late. Thus, better late than never, right?

One thing that I've realized since I've started writing is, it's a roller coaster ride. One week I am feeling really good and confident and the next, who am I fooling, I'm no writer. The good feelings happen to correlate when I'm writing, when I have time and I am making headway on my WIP. The bad and insecure feelings come when I don't have time to write. The longer it is that I've written, the worse I feel. 

 The more I start to doubt myself and the harder it is to start again.

Right now I feeling pretty insecure. I have no time to write (obviously if I couldn't even get my blog done last week) and it makes me sad. It makes me doubt. It makes me question. I begin to think maybe I can't finish my book after all. The little naysayer voice is back again, whispering her doubts in my ear, that bitch.

What do I do? Keep moving. Hope that soon I'll have more time to write. Find a voice to drown out the naysayer's. Find a champion. Find a cheerleader. Have faith in myself that I CAN do this. Most importantly, just write.