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Do You Want To Be More Productive, A Better Athlete, and Less Stressed? Drink Coffee!

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

Are you a coffee or tea drinker? Hot or iced?

I’m with Lorelai Gilmore…Coffee, coffee, coffee. Usually, I drink mine hot but in the summer months I love a good cold brew!  

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, but did you also know that it can help you be more productive, more athletic, less stressed and generally healthier?

More Productive

Coffee, or more specifically the caffeine found in coffee, helps maintain alertness which improves your performance and can enhance your mood.  Caffeine also ramps up your brain’s energy levels which helps enhance your memory, your ability to focus, and your problem-solving skills.  I know that having a cup of coffee in the morning, besides just making me a better Jennifer, does help my noodle wake up and feel more alert and ready to tackle all the things I have to do in a day. 

Better Athlete

Studies of all types of athletes – from runners to weightlifters – find that caffeine intake improves the amount of work you can perform during a given bout of exercise.  These studies have shown that caffeine can extend the time it takes to reach physical exhaustion and decrease the sense of effort during any sort of activity, even prolonged breathing. Coffee is absorbed quickly with peak blood levels occurring 45 minutes to an hour after consumption so drink up and power through!

Less Stressed

Did you know that even smelling a cup of coffee can reduce your stress? A study done at Seoul National University, studying the brain of rats, discovered that those who were exposed to the aroma of coffee saw changes in brain proteins that are tied to stress. So, take a few seconds each morning to really breathe in that wonderful smell of coffee brewing and feel the stress just melt away.   

Generally Healthier 

Research suggests that a cup of coffee can help alleviate symptoms from migraines and could even stop the painful headache altogether if consumed early enough.  This is because caffeine constricts blood vessels and helps counter the painful effects of blood vessel dilation in your head.  This is why many popular over the counter migraine meds have caffeine as an ingredient.

The oils in coffee, called kahweol and cafestol, are potent anti-inflammatory agents that can actually protect the brain against oxidative stress and DNA damage.  An inflamed brain is a poorly functioning brain.  Regular consumption of coffee can keep our brains safe and healthy in the long run. 

In moderation, 1-2 cups of coffee a day, coffee can be amazing for your productivity, your physical activity, your stress levels, and even your overall health!  So enjoy that cup of coffee and crush your day.   Coffee = Life

So, tell me in the comments below – do you drink coffee or other caffeine-fueled beverages like black tea? What do you think it does for you overall?

 

 

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How I’m Making Writing More Fun

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

I go through cycles of my author journey where writing feels really carefree, fun, amazing, and then there are downright muddy, painful, and just plain hard times too. I’m in a hard phase right now, as you know from last month but I’ve decided instead of just staying in the muck, I’m going to pull from my bag of tricks and work on making the writing more fun!

Music

I need music to write and edit but with my husband working from home and my son doing remote learning and our apartment being just a tiny bit too small it’s hard to find a space to play music, but since I’ve started writing more in the morning before everyone wakes up, my headphones have become my new best friend. It’s been so nice to listen to my Etta and Gina playlist while I work on my novel again. 

 

Timers

I’ve talked about timers before but seriously, playing beat the clock and doing quick sprints creates so much fun. Set a fifteen-minute timer and I try to see how many new words I can write, or how many paragraphs I can edit. Or even how many toys I can pick up or how many dishes I can clean. Pair this with music and my next tip – rewards – and you have a quick burst of energy and some good work getting done.

 

Rewards

Coffee is my number one reward when I write in the morning, but I also like to have weekly rewards for hitting my writing session goals. Time with a cup of tea and a magazine, time to just lay on the couch and watch an old movie (the Back to the Future trilogy is on Netflix – FYI), or just time to put on a face mask and lay down with my eyes closed. Lovely!

 

Location

The old joke about real estate (location, location, location) is true – if you’re used to writing in a certain spot, or going out of your house to write, and that isn’t feasible or working right now – switch it up. Usually write at your desk? Write on the couch! Usually head to a coffee house and that’s not possible right now?  Find a jazzy radio station, brew up a fancy coffee in your own kitchen, and try sitting at your dining room table! Typing not working? Try a quick walk in your neighborhood while you dictate some words to your phone. Write in bed, write on paper using a pen, just try something different. Take notes and think of it like an experiment – you never know, you might find a place or a situation that just works!

 

Mindset

Sometimes, the only thing you can do to get out of a funk is work on your limiting beliefs. If I’m thinking, “This isn’t fun anymore!” then I’m not going to have fun the next time either, it becomes harder to start writing. I use daily affirmations that I write down to help me stay on track, but when I get into a real funk sometimes I have to journal my thoughts out and see what’s going on. Lately, I’ve realized that I was more worried about the end result and not about the process – which is a real problem for me. So I worked on those issues with daily affirmations.  For example, Writing is fun. My writing is a joyous process, an adventure I get to take. My characters are friends who I love hanging out with. You get the idea, and it’s cheesy but if you’re writing them down in a notebook or journal – no one is going to see them. 

 

Story

Also, related a little to my mindset and the fact that I was stuck on results and thinking way too far ahead, I gave myself permission to work on whatever made me happy during that writing session. I’ve hopped around and written new chapters instead of working in a linear fashion, chapter one to chapter two, and so forth. If I feel like editing, then I go backward that morning. If I wake up and really just want to work on a blog post or some Instagram posts, then I do that without guilt. If I wake up and really just want to jot down a bunch of ideas for a new story or quickly write a short story (or some bad poetry) – then I do that. Anything to keep writing and to make the whole process FUN.

 

If you’re a writer – how’s the whole process feeling during this time? If you’re feeling mucky, can you infuse a tiny bit of fun into your writing again?  And if you’re a reader – how are you infusing fun into your day?  This isn’t just for writers, this is a hard time for everyone and I think we all need some levity, self-care, and rest in our days.

 

 

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3 Reasons Why I Love Using A Paper Planner in 2020

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

I keep seeing this one particular meme going around about the silliest purchase of the year is a 2020 planner. And I have to say that I totally disagree with this sentiment. I love my planner. In fact, I have two!  Okay, I actually have three planners and a few notebooks that I use, but today I’m going to talk about two from my large stack of organizational fun – my weekly Erin Condren life planner and my Erin Condren daily binder pages. And no, this post is not sponsored (I wish!) – Erin Condren just happens to be my planner of choice.

 

For me…there are three main reasons why I love using a paper planner over digital options only.

 

It keeps me on track

 

I have a section in the front of my weekly planner that has my quarterly goals, another section for monthly and weekly task lists, and then, of course, my overall schedule telling me when my son has google hangout sessions for school and appointments with my VA clients for me. My daily planner is where I list everything that needs to happen each day and its way messier than my weekly planner – it’s the workhorse that gets crossed up, notes taken and things moved around.

 

These things keep me moving forward on my goals, on task for work and writing projects and help me make sure I have time for fun & hobbies AND make sure we log on for all the things we have to attend. I know at a glance what’s coming up today, what’s coming up tomorrow, and even big items for the following few months. It gives me a sense of calm. I know – in a very big picture way – what’s happening and when.

  

It’s FUN!

 

Stickers have been a part of my life since I was a little girl in the 1980s with my giant albums of stickers that I would trade with friends over lunch. I used them to decorate my Trapper Keeper, diaries, and my bulletin board (where I had pictures of Joey Lawrence…because I was cool). I love stickers! I love functional, colorful boxes that help me notice an appointment on the page. I love cute little cartoons with coffee cups or laptops. I just love how bright and cute they are. Laying down stickers on a piece of paper is so much dang fun – it puts a smile on my face and makes me happy…and that’s really all I need right now. 

 

The other thing about paper planners is the online community – the Facebook groups and the Instagram channels – where other planner girls (and some guys!) talk about their planners, how they use them, what sticker companies they love and use. I have gotten some really amazing ideas and have some really great online friendships with these people. I feel like I’m a part of something much bigger than just me and my planner on a Sunday night. 

 

It’s my “Me Time”

 

Yes, I use planner time as my Jennifer/Mommy alone time. I spend about 25-30 minutes on Sunday night at my desk with my stickers and my digital calendar creating my weekly spread and then each morning and night I check in with my daily schedule for the messy to-do list.  I can listen to music or have it silent, I light a candle sometimes or turn on my salt lamp. I have some decaf tea or hot chocolate and I spend some time with my planner. I always feel so much better when I have that time, too. I feel ready to tackle another week, I feel prepared to face the meetings and the work. AND I’m a happier and a better Mommy when I come back into the living room to play a game or watch a movie.

 

Knowing I have my schedule organized and my planner all pretty makes me smile and keeps me calm. I don’t have to freak out about things because I know it’s written down, out of my head and onto the page. I know where things, things are getting tracked and noted. That makes my other “me times” easier – because they are also scheduled into my day. 

 

Do you use a paper planner or are you all digital all the time?  What do you use as your Me Time for the day/week?

 

 

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Who And What Inspires Me

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

The other day I dropped one of those Question boxes onto my Instagram story so that I could do a big Q&A style blog post, but I only got one real honest-to-goodness question, the rest were spammers and bots. I was a bit disappointed until I realized that the human question that was asked was sooooo good! I decided to dedicate a whole blog post just to it. So thank you so much Amira at @GoalSetting101

 

She asked me — Who Or What Inspires You?

 

To be honest, that answer can and has changed throughout my creative life and depends on which story or project I’m working on, but today I wanted to sit down and really think about overall, who and what inspires me on a day-to-day basis.

 

Who Inspires Me?

 

My son inspires me every day to keep trying, to never give up, even when things are hard. He makes me smile and laugh and is just the sweetest 8 year old ever!  My Mom inspires me by how hard she loves, how much she cares, and how much support she gives me. My husband inspires me by his strong work ethic, his wonderful sense of humor, and how much he wants me to succeed.  

 

For my first book, The Art of Lying, a random young woman walking through Central Park inspired the character of Rachel. Other writers, both people I know and people I just read, inspire me to keep moving forward, hands on the typewriter, butt in the chair.

 

What Inspires Me?

 

Coffee – first and forever. Modern Art. Before Corona, I would just go to MoMa or the Guggenheim and walk around soaking in the colors and lines. New York City, in general, inspires me, but Broadway and Time Square specifically. Just sitting with a coffee watching the whole city walk by was always fascinating. The energy and the electricity of the whole scene just filled me up with some kind of frenzy I can’t get anywhere else. TV and movies inspire me to write better characters, to deepen plot lines, to create more. 

 

The young adult experience inspires me in my writing – what they go through, the issues they have to face, and the decisions they have to make. Solving puzzles and figuring out the psychology of the human condition definitely inspires me to write compelling people, creating characters that my readers can fall in love with. And on a more whimsical note, tarot cards and astrology inspire me to keep reaching for the stars while keeping my feet on the ground. 

 

So, now I have to know – who or what inspires you?

 

 

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Working out at home is NOT easy…I miss OrangeTheory

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

Day 42 (I think) of quarantine and, luckily, we are doing okay.  It’s just – when you live in Queens, NY (you know, the epicenter of the epicenter) it makes going out to do anything tricky.  I haven’t actually left my apartment building in four weeks.  I’ve done laundry in our basement and grabbed mail & packages from the lobby, but I haven’t stepped outside in weeks.

 

I knew I needed to keep up with my exercise habit, I mean before this I was just a few classes shy of 100 workouts at OrangeTheory Fitness. I was feeling a part of that community, made great friends, and felt so much better. I had more energy, was sleeping better, just overall felt better.  And then the reality of my home life changing, adding in online schooling, and the fact that outside is kinda scary kinda stopped me from working out altogether.

 

For the first month of lockdown, I only did one at home OTF workout. You see one of the reasons I joined OrangeTheory was because I hate working out at home. I’m not self-motivated. I have no inner reserve to call upon to get the workouts done. I need classes and a coach and good music.  

 

After that first month, I wasn’t sleeping well.  My energy was shot and I was cranky. Part of this was missing exercise, but another part was just my overall routine was disrupted so I decided to create a new morning routine that would include some sort of movement.  I have a really old book on my shelf called “8 Minutes in the Morning” where you do two strength type exercises a day with a warm-up and stretching afterward.  I did the whole book about 15+ years ago when I lived in a studio apartment in Manhattan so I knew I could manage them here in Queens.

 

I looked through the book one weekend and then set my new routine up.  I would get up at 6 am – do my morning pages, affirmations, meditation, and then grab the old book and do the warm-up, moves, and stretching.  So far, I’ve only missed one day due to not sleeping well the night before. Otherwise, I’ve been really consistent and I just started week 3 this past Monday.

 

The book is a 4-week program so I’m thinking after it’s over I’ll either do the whole thing again or start doing some of the OrangeTheory YouTube videos. I’m back into the swing of things and feeling strong again. I’m feeling ready to tackle a longer workout.  It was really hard to go from 3 one-hour workouts a week consistently to nothing for a full month.

 

Now, I’m still feeling the effects of quarantine, but I am able to handle things better. I have more patience with myself and my family. I’m able to manage my stress levels, get really good sleep (most nights), and laugh instead of scream when things get tough.

 

How are you handling things? Are you getting in some movement? Are you able to get out and about where you live?  Just know that it’s still all okay.  I needed some movement, but it doesn’t look like it did before and that’s fine, so if you’re not able to do the things you did before, know that eventually, we will get back. I hope.

 

 

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How The “New Normal” Is Affecting My Writing Life

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

“How’s the novel coming?”

 

This question, to be honest, leaves me feeling cold lately.  The writing is just not flowing. Editing feels like I’m trying to create a beautiful statue from a giant slab of marble, slow and meticulous. Kinda tiring really. 😞

 

We discussed a few weeks ago the concept of new normal, well today I’d like to tell you how that new normal is affecting my writing routine.  Before Covid-19 I was just getting into editing my novel, doing my morning stuff and then writing before coffee. Then quarantine happened, kid and husband were home, work duties, school stuff, and general uneasiness threw off EVERYTHING!

 

It took me a month of lockdown to just get back into a morning routine, figure out how school and work could happen at the same time and keep everyone happy (including my clients).  Now, I’ve got to figure out when to write – not just the time of day or week, but how much energy do I have to expend to pursue my creative projects.

 

I ❤️️ writing, but it’s not what pays the bills and feeds my family.  It’s not going to help my 3rd grader with math (but if you know what will – send help because math and I don’t always get along). It can’t be my sole focus right now. I have to find a balance. 

 

Before I valued the weekends with my family, relaxing and catching up on things around the house and playing games of Roblox, but I have found that weekends are the perfect time to get my weekly editing sessions in now.  I had to learn to be flexible and think a tiny bit of the box.  

 

Weekends are so perfect because there’s no client work to worry about, no school to think about, my husband doesn’t have to be tied to his computer all day, and my son is happy doing his own thing sometimes.  I can get a few 20-minute sessions in and still have time for gaming, household cleaning, movies, and baking.  

 

So how’s the new normal affecting you? Are you using a more flexible schedule? Can you celebrate even the tiniest of wins this week, even if you’re not getting all the things done?

 

For me, I’m celebrating writing this post and writing the new ending of my novel! 🎉

 

 

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Why I Write Coming Of Age Stories for Young Adults

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

I write contemporary coming of age young adult novels.  

 

It’s a mouthful and it might not even be the correct terminology – I have no idea – but it’s what I write. I write books set in the now, in a real city in the real world with fictional characters going through things that real people would and do go through.  

 

They are not set in space (although I have a crazy idea for a police series about a human cop on an alien space station…but that’s for another time and place). There’s no dragons or witches…not the kind that fly on brooms anyways. My characters don’t travel through time, battle demons with swords, or play sports in mid-air. They go to school, deal with first loves, and have really big decisions to make.  I write about the small everyday things that are huge for that person and character.

 

And I love it!

 

I recently filled out an Author Business Assessment sheet for a class I’m taking and one of the things we worked through was our mission statement.  Who are we writing for and why? 

 

I answered that I write realistic, relatable characters for young adults who feel misunderstood, lonely, are bored sometimes, love their families and friends, and wish they had all the answers. 

 

My mission is to let them know they are not alone, that everyone goes through heartbreak, laugh so hard they cry, fear people laughing at them, and that horrible sick feeling in their stomach when they lose.  My books are pure escapism and entertainment, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make my readers feel something – they should…if I’ve done my job right.

 

Writing YA takes me back to when I was young and had decisions to make that would change the course of my life. To when I was first living on my own in Manhattan and I felt alone and scared, but also feeling hopeful and alive and loving the pulse of the city. Creating these characters keeps me young, keeps me up on what’s cool and what’s in – I mean, I can’t really figure out TikTok, but I know it’s a THING! 

 

Why do you like reading Young Adult novels? Do you stick to one niche or are you a voracious reader across multiple genres? I pretty much stick to YA at this point, but I was also in love with Stephen King for a while and James Patterson’s Alex Cross series.  I would love to know your answer so let me know in the comments below.

  

 

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An Interview With Etta And Gina

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

Today I would like to introduce you to Henrietta and Virginia, the two main characters in my current novel.  I thought it would be fun to do a little interview and see what these two are up to.

 

“Excuse me, did you just call me Henrietta? Only my Mom calls me that,” Etta says as she sits down across from me.  

 

“Yeah, we go by Etta and Gina.  Virginia? Wow, only my twin calls me that and only to annoy me,” Gina says and she sits down next to Etta.

 

“I’m very sorry.  I will remember from now on.  Shell we start with an easy question first?” I ask them.  The nod and giggle. “Etta, what is Gina obsessed with?”

 

“Oh, that’s easy — boys.”

 

“That’s not true,” Gina says, interrupting. “Cute boys!”

 

“Sorry, cute boys,” Etta says. “I forgot.”  

 

They playfully bounce against each other.  “Gina, what is Etta obsessed with?”

 

“Duh…baseball!” Gina answers.

 

“That’s right. I’m going to play pro, you know? The first woman to play for the St. Louis Cardinals!”

 

Etta raises her hand for a high five, Gina responds with a hard slap. “She’s amazing…we play together and I’m okay, but Etta is just phenomenal – I have no doubts she’ll play pro.”

 

“What do you want to do when you grow up?” I ask Gina.

 

Gina looks up at the ceiling and then down at the floor, “I have no idea. What do you think?” she asks Etta.

 

“Probably run a whole country,” Etta says, throwing her arms around her friend’s shoulder. “This girl is organized, brilliant, and can basically tell anyone what to do.”

“Wait, are you calling me bossy?” Gina says, giving Etta some serious side-eye.

 

“Yeah, kinda.”

 

I’m worried they are going to start fighting so I interject, “Etta, is it easy for Gina to admit she’s made a mistake?”

 

“Sometimes. It depends on the mistake. She owns up when she hurts someone’s feelings, she apologizes and tries to make things right.”

 

Gina leans forward and says, “Etta is stubborn though, she won’t admit anything.”

 

“That’s not true!” Etta yells.

 

“Remember when we were 10 and you accidentally broke my favorite plate and you tried to blame it on our dog?”

 

“It was the dog!”

 

“Etta,” Gina says slowly, “we didn’t have a dog!”

 

“That’s not my problem,” Etta says and then they both start laughing.

 

“Ok, I have a question,” Gina says and grabs the little microphone I had sitting on the table. She shoves it into Etta’s face. “Etta, who’s your current crush?”

 

“Ew…boys are gross still,” Etta sticks her tongue out and shuts her eyes. “They are good to play against but crush? No thank you.”

 

“Seriously? No one?  We have such cute boys at our school!”

 

“Name two?” Etta asks Gina, taking the microphone from her hands and putting it into her face.

 

“Easy…Todd and Mikey.”

 

Etta rolls her eyes so hard, that I think she’s now looking at her brain, which just makes Gina laugh. Which in turn makes Etta start laughing.  She puts the microphone back on the same table between us.

“Ok, I have a question for you,” Etta says again pointing toward Gina.

 

“I’m an open book.”

 

“Does Libby sometimes annoy you?” 

 

“Of course,” Gina says, flipping her hair back behind her, “she’s family – we all get on each other’s nerves. Don’t start about Libby, not here – we’re being interviewed.”

 

“Who’s Libby?” I ask.

 

“She’s my cousin – we are only a few weeks apart so she’s always around.  Our mothers are sisters and very close. Libby is an only child and most people call us the Templeton triplets instead of twins because we’re in the same grade.  I think teachers would get us confused except that we look nothing alike.”

 

“She’s always around.  ALWAYS!” Etta says crossing her arms. She reminds me of a toddler when she does this.  Gina matches her arm for arm and huffs.

 

“Do you have another question?” Gina asks, but I’m not sure if she means that for me or Etta.  I decided to jump in and take my chance to ask something else.

 

“Okay…Etta, what do you think Gina’s favorite memory of you two is?” I ask.

 

Etta looks over at Gina, drops her hands and smiles.  “Probably last summer, we went to the movies and saw three in a row (we paid too because Gina is very honest) and we ate popcorn and drank these huge sodas and just had the best day.”

 

Gina smiles too and uncrosses her hands, “That was a good day. I think Etta would say it was the day we met. Little league baseball mixed-gender something or other – I forget what it was called but my Mom signed us up – and by us I mean me and Carl (the twin).  Carl hated it from day one, but he finished that summer up.”

 

“Yeah, you and I were right next to each other for the line-up and you said, “Hi I’m Gina, what’s your name?” in this squeaky voice,” Etta said.

 

“And you said, “Etta!” like it was a cheer. And we’ve been friends since that day.

 

“That’s right! Best friends.” Etta says and she leans over and puts her head on Gina’s shoulder.  Then they start talking about how in the world Gina can think Mikey can be cute and I realize that the interview is pretty much over. 

 

“Hey, thanks for letting me talk to you today,” I say.

 

“No prob, this was fun,” Gina says.  Etta nods and smiles and goes back to making fun of the boys of their school. 

 

 

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Is This Our New Normal?

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

I’ve been quiet. I’ve retreated into old favorite TV shows, cuddles with my kid and Skype dates with my Mom. I’ve hidden away because I wasn’t sure what to say.

How should I deal with the new normal? How should I react to the fact that our Disney vacation (the one I’ve been planning for a year, and looking forward to for at least 2) is now canceled? How should I handle the fact that my son and husband and both home and we are dealing with online school? Can I be stressed out and grateful? Can I still be entertaining while also being a little scared?

Is it okay to be funny? Is it okay to tell stories? What is my role now? How do I reach the people that need to be reached? What does that even mean?

So, instead, I did nothing. I sat with these questions hoping an answer would magically appear, but instead I was just left with more questions. And I figure that’s how most of the country and the world is right now and you know what? That’s okay!

My big reason for telling coming of age stories is to share with young adults (and anyone that loves a good YA story) that they are not alone. That other people have embarrassing things happen, issues with their parents, problems at school, fights with their friends, first loves and dreams for the future.  Right now, almost the whole world is going through the same thing – fear, worry, and hope. Dreams for the future and aspirations for what comes next.

Will I say the right thing? Who knows. Will this message make someone feel better? I hope so.  It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to not know. It’s all okay. It’s okay to have a million projects going, or flop on the couch with a cup of coffee and the TV remote.  It’s really all okay.

I’m here to tell you that even us adults have no idea what we’re doing most days and even more so right now while we try to figure out day jobs, goals, kids, spouses, parents, shopping, and surviving while also laughing at an old comedy, or the joke your 8-year-old tells, or something funny your Mom says on Skype.  It’s okay.

If you are feeling lonely and scared, reach out.  Comment below and just say HEY…let me know what’s going on in your tiny corner of the world.  Are you staying in? Reading more? Watching that favorite TV show for the 10th time? This week it was Psych for me because Shawn and Gus always make me laugh! I would love to hear your story and hopefully, soon I’ll find the words to share mine again.

Stay safe,
Jennifer

Tarot cards laid on green background

The Long, Twisting Road From Writing Exercise To Third Draft

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

A long, long time ago (almost two years now) I decided to do a fun writing exercise here on the blog and created a character based on tarot cards. The thing is, I liked the idea and the character so much I decided to turn it into a full-blown novel, but halfway through the first draft I realized I didn’t like my main character, Leo, all that much and really wanted to write about his sister, Etta.

My editor agreed and I “tossed” Leo and started outlining Etta’s story. I wrote a whole new draft and sent it to my editor, but it still felt like it wasn’t quite right – it turns out, my editor thought the same thing and together we decided it needed another character to flesh out the story. 

Enter Draft #3 and now I’ve added Gina as a new, second point of view character and revamped almost the whole outline. She was always there, but more in the background and now she’s definitely foreground.

Now I have new characters (Gina’s parents for starters) and a new set of problems – which, as an author, is great news! Conflict = Story after all and my very first version of this idea was severely lacking in conflict. Let’s just say it was kinda boring and Leo was kind of annoying.

Why am I telling you this? Because sometimes writers get inspiration from a person walking through the park (my first novel) and that keeps them focused for a few years (!!!) and sometimes we have to take a kernel of an idea and work hard to get it right – making sure it’s the real story we want to tell. That it’s the best story we are capable of telling.

If you’re a writer, what journey has your latest story taken? If you’re a reader – do you like dual POV books? Or do you prefer one single narrator that tells the whole story?

 

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