Melanie Nilles

With all the fuss about horses, I haven’t given much thought to what to write about. The deposit on the new horse has been sent and I’m waiting on a shipping quote, although I may end up going with a shipper that others I trust have given rave reviews, even if it costs more–at least I know the horse would get here safe and sound. Insurance is set up and I just need to send them a payment. And I’m hoping to find the right match of a new owner for Star. That’s the hardest part of all this.

Throughout it all, I have been working through the first draft of Dragon Child to send something decent off to my publisher in the next week. It’s a tedious process, but one that’s going well. I’ve gone through the first three stories, nitpicking about my writing and checking again for inconsistencies, of which I’ve found only a few minor ones. It will be nice to have it all done and submitted. And I have promised to post the map, which I will do soon.

I finally have a baby who has returned to a regular napping schedule coordinated with the others. YAY! After five weeks of her not wanting to sleep, she’s getting back to sleep. It is just a developmental phase with all the newly discovered mobility and realizing the world can go on without her. I have more time for writing now.

But after the latest edit of Dragon Child, I plan to take a short break from writing any new novels until the right story comes or until ideas on an abandoned story begin anew. I’ll probably spend time enjoying my new horse or maybe try my hand at writing a short or two *gasp!*. Honestly, I like writing novel-length stories better than shorts, but writing shorts would be a good exercise without the lengthy commitment. The market is tougher for shorts, however, than for novels. Nevertheless, as someone dedicated to writing, I always seek to improve my skills. Short stories are a quick, simple means to that end.

Better yet, maybe I’ll actually have time to read! Wow! It’s been so long since I sat and just read a book cover to cover (other than Harry Potter, which I wasn’t compelled to read in one sitting, except for my fear of reading spoilers before I finished it). That may be just what I do! I miss having time to read a good book. Now, to find a good book, or at least one that I would enjoy.

Okay, so I didn’t actually post about anything related to writing. I have…sort of. This is the life of a full-time mother, wife, horsewoman, early childhood education professional and business owner, writer, and science fiction and fantasy fan. It’s all the same package. Our real lives affect our writing lives. It is a part of writing. I just wear many other hats besides that of “Writer”.