LTUE Fantasy Conference

This last week at LTUE I got to participate as a panelist and speak about two of my favorite things: creating awesome villains, and young adult writing. Both panels went well, but I think the villain panel would have been even better had I dressed up as Maleficent... Maybe next LTUE. 

I love going to writing conferences like LTUE because of how motivated you feel when you leave. After going to classes, listening to panel discussions, and meeting new writing friends, it's hard not to feel passionate about your own writing goals. 

So, fellow readers and writers, prepare yourselves. It's time to go after those goals. Ready? Charge! 

Dreams

Sometimes you see a quote that just resonates inside of you. 

Today I came across this quote and fell completely in love with it. 

"She turned her cant's into cans and her dreams into plans." 

It's so simple, but it means so much to me. 

 I haven't always done this in my life--in fact I think it's extremely difficult to act on your dreams and carry out goals. So many times I've thought of life plans, dreams, and goals that I wanted to accomplish, but then I got scared.

 So often I become insecure and convince myself that either the dream is too big, or difficult, or that I'm not good enough. 

Why? Why is it scary to dream big? 

Before I got published I hardly told anyone that I was working on a novel. I had so many family and friends that were shocked to find out I was getting published. The common response was, "I didn't even know you were working on a book!" 

I suppose I was afraid of failure. I didn't want people to feel bad for me if I couldn't get published. 

But why did I care? Failure is a necessary part of growing and learning, something that I try to always keep in mind. 

This summer I've started to create some very big goals. Some days I wake up confidently ready to conquer anything. A lot of the time I question myself. 

Now I want to change that. That's one of my new goals. 

I don't want to be afraid to dream big. I want to go forward boldly and face fears. I know it will be hard, but it's worth it. I hope you'll join me on this journey. Let's turn our cant's into cans and our dreams into plans! 

Motivational Monday

I know that we often get down on ourselves. We get negative thoughts that tell us our goals are too far away and unrealistic. Sometimes those thoughts turn into a constant nagging voice that makes us feel like we can't do it. We don't want to become disappointed, and it's easy to sabotage ourselves.  Eventually, that little voice eats away at our goals and dreams. 

And you know what I say?

DON'T LISTEN TO THAT NEGATIVE VOICE.

You're dreams are important and you can reach your goals. 

Before I was published, I would sometimes get so down on myself that it became hard to write. One thing that helped when I became discouraged was to listen to the words of authors and leaders who worked hard and made their dreams happen. 

Reaching your goals is hard, we know that. It's easier to give up before we even have to leave our comfort zone and try. But you know what? We can do hard things! 

So here are your words of inspiration for the day from Walt Disney, Henry David Thoreau, J.K Rowling, and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." 
Walt Disney

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." 
Henry David Thoreau 

"Anything's possible if you've got enough nerve." 
J. K. Rowling

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." 
Walt Disney. 

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals."
Henry David Thoreau 

"Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string."
 Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Motivational Monday! 

Release Date June 2012

The release date is here! June 2012. Hip hip hooray!

I’m so excited for The Shapeshifter’s Secret to come out. It has been a dream of mine for a long time to get published, and working with Cedar Fort has been such a positive experience.

I remember scribbling down incomplete short stories in Jr. High and wanting so bad to one day become an author. I’ll never forget when I was 13 years old, and I told my dad I wanted to write books. Looking at me confidently, he said, “Then do it.” He passed away shortly after that, but I’ll never forget how encouraging he was. He really taught me to just go for whatever ambitions I had in life.

My mom was incredibly supportive too. She was consistently feeding my creativity with fantasy novels, trips to book stores, and summers filled Harry Potter (seriously we watched The Sorcerer’s Stone everyday for one summer straight).

It has been a lot of hard work to get to this point, which included harsh criticism and rejection. Both of which can make anyone question their aspirations. However, I kept going because of motivation, passion, support, and prayer.

I know that rejection is part of the process. And even though it can be brutal, it helps you grow, which is hard to see when you get a letter that begins “Dear Author, thank you so much for submitting your story…unfortunately we’ve decided…best of luck though!”

Having gone through that and finally getting to this point has been really exciting. I really hope to encourage other writers to jump in with both feet when it comes to getting your work out there, even when you’re right in the thick of it.

“Why do writers writer? Because it isn’t there.” –Thomas Berger.