Inspirational Triggers
Last week my best friend dragged me to see The Lucky One. She insisted I had to see it (insert drooling here). While I haven’t read a Nicholas Sparks book in a long time (don’t get me started), I love the movies based off his books. Who doesn’t swoon over A Walk to Remember and The Notebook? I wasn’t sure we would make it because it was the last week the movie would be played at our theater and, well, I have a baby permanently attached to me. My friend ignored my...
Read MoreBeing a Confident Writer Before the Contracts
Last month I posted about being a new writer and the challenges we face emotionally with the daunting task of completing a first novel staring us in the face. I wish I could say after we do that, it’s all smooth sailing from there on out, but the truth is, it’s only the beginning. Sometimes the only thing scarier than the impossible (I wrote a novel) is too many possibilities (now what?). Because the question that comes after you’ve accepted you’re a writer is,...
Read MoreTime, To Rediscover Your Story
If you’ve written even a couple of stories in your writing life, I’m sure you’ve, at one time or another, lost sight of your story. It happens to me all the time. I’ll have an incredibly clear vision of what my story will be, but once I’ve been writing for a while, my story takes twists and turns I didn’t plan on and before I know it, it looks nothing like I originally thought it would. Sometimes this is a great thing but other times, it stops me dead in...
Read MoreCultivating Your Writing Energy
I can usually tell within the first hour of waking up how the rest of my day will go. If I start off the day in a great mood, it fuels my productive energy and I carry that feeling with me throughout the day, helping me plow through my to-do list and prepare my mind to write. Unfortunately, a sluggish mood will also hang around and can be harder to derail. Everything will move at a snail’s pace and even if I do finish my work in time to write, I usually don’t have the focus. I...
Read MoreWho Cares About Writers?
A few weeks ago my mom stayed for an impromptu dinner at my house. Even though we live fairly close to each other, it’s difficult to get together as much as we’d like with our busy lives and all. When we do get together, there’s a lot of catching up to do. Mostly I talk about my family since taking care of them is where my pride lies. Sometimes I’ll tell her a bit about my work. Oddly enough, even though writing is a huge part of my life and claims an hour or two of...
Read MoreFind Value in Your “Mistakes”
There are two types of writers–the ones who hate their work immediately, and the ones who hate their work eventually. Either way, it’s inevitable that at one point or another, you’ll read back what you’ve written and think, “what was I thinking?” and “who let me call myself a writer?” and “thank goodness no one will ever read that.” It’s tempting to want to build a fire right there on the desk and watch all evidence of such a...
Read MoreBeing Green: What It Means to Be a New Writer
I have something embarrassing to admit. Before I wrote my first novel, I thought you had to be a chosen one. Seriously. I thought it required a fancy degree or some special certificate or maybe an old man in a wizard’s hat came out to your house, interviewed you, and gave you a learner’s permit if he found you suitable. It seemed like such a daunting task that surely an average girl like me could never do it. About four years ago, in my infinite quest for an excuse to give it a...
Read MoreMy Romance With Writing
Since as long as I can remember, I’ve had an overactive imagination. My husband would call it obsessive worrying. The TV show Parenthood so eloquently called it “catastrophizing.” But you, as a writer, will understand. Tell me right now you’ve never heard a bump in the night and started imagining what it could be. A burglar? The creepy neighbor next door who, you’re pretty sure, hates you because you turned off your lights last Halloween instead of handing...
Read MoreHave Passion for Your Writing
I spent the morning watching the Lifetime movie about J.K. Rowling’s life that my husband’s parents recorded for me. Clearly it’s no secret she’s my idol. I always find it interesting to learn more about where my idols come from and wonder if one day my story of simple beginnings will lead to everything I’ve ever dreamed of. National Novel Writing Month 2011 is just days from being over and I’m thrilled to report I’m on track to win. I’ve had a...
Read MoreThe People Who Touch Our Writing Lives
I had a rare opportunity last week. I use the term “opportunity” loosely because it didn’t feel like it at the time. At the time, I felt uncomfortable and awkward, but more uncomfortable and awkward than that would have been pretending like it never happened. I don’t do well with “confrontation.” The Change If you’ve been hanging around here long enough, you’ll remember in The Story of a Writer (me), part of my journey included coming...
Read MoreJamie Raintree
Jamie writes what she likes to call everyday fairytale love stories, featuring the little moments in life that are truly magical. She lives in Northern Arizona with her husband and daughter and is currently editing her second novel.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |