Q & A

That's a great question! Over the next year, my primary writing goal is to complete the first draft of The Secrets Within and begin preparing it for publication through beta readers and the query process. (If you are interested in being a beta reader, please reach out to me!)

I also plan to revise and submit one of my short stories I developed during my graduate program, For Her, to a literary journal or magazine that publishes psychological suspense or speculative fiction, while continuing to research markets that align with my writing style. 

Lastly, I plan to return to another novel developed in my graduate program, No One Home, and prepare it for publication after gaining experience navigating the publication process with The Secrets Within. 

My writing process has evolved into one that values consistency over routine. Because I balance graduate school with teaching, government contract work, family, and other commitments, I currently do not have a dedicated writing time each day. While I am generally most focused and productive in the middle of the day, I write whenever I am able to carve out uninterrupted time. I enjoy writing in a quiet environment where I can minimize distractions, often with instrumental classical or gothic music playing softly in the background. Rather than waiting for inspiration, I have learned that simply showing up to write with intention keeps my creativity moving forward. 

Creativeness also comes from observing the world around me—watching people interact, listening to everyday conversations, and noticing the small details of ordinary life. Whether it is a conversation I am part of or one I happen to overhear in public, those moments can spark ideas for characters, dialogue, or storylines.

My writing schedule varies depending on work and school demands, but I strive to write between 3,000 and 5,000 words each week. Some weeks are devoted to drafting new chapters and other writing projects, while other weeks focus on revision, editing, and research (so much research!). Most importantly, I have learned that every stage of the writing process is productive, even when I am not adding new words to the page.

Characterization is probably my greatest strength as a writer because I enjoy creating characters with peculiar personalities, motivations, and flaws. My writing tends to focus on the characters’ emotional journeys, which helps make their paths, decisions, and conflicts feel more authentic.

Revision is a close-second strength because I am comfortable receiving feedback, revisiting my work multiple times, and making significant changes, such as swapping chapters or enhancing secondary characters to better support the main character’s motivations and narrative arc. This skill helps to improve the story rather than becoming attached to the first draft. 

Accidental repetition is a big challenge because I sometimes reiterate ideas, descriptions, or sentence patterns without realizing it during early drafts. Peer feedback and attentive revision help me to identify those areas and replace the repetitions with stronger, more varied writing.

Conciseness also remains one of my greatest areas for growth. I naturally write in detail and often include more description or exposition than necessary. One of my continuing goals is learning when to trust the reader, allowing the story to speak for itself without overexplaining and ensuring that every sentence serves a clear purpose.