We are almost to the finish line of 2025. What started out as a year of devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, became for me: racial attacks in the form of hate speech, job change, closed door, closed door, closed door, more hate speech.
I took a trip to Ojai, a beautiful part of Southern California and had a much needed day of rest. While on my way back home, I met a Godly couple who prayed over me. Doors I thought would have opened for my writing in LA, remained shut. I prayed and was in agreement as to why. Yet my heart was heavy and needed clarity.
I've gone back to revising a novel that almost sold. As I work on the revisions, I'm finally allowing myself to let it be the novel it always needed to be.
Faith in Christ is my identity. And in this novel, if you look really hard you can see glimpses of Christianity in the previous version. The one that almost sold! I need to be true to myself and my writer voice. I've always wanted to write an action-filled, faith-based, YA scifi novel. What couldn't have happened until 2025, is a full, no holding back, revision to this novel. My character struggles to understand faith that is not hers, yet it's the one thing she needs to survive what is to come.
In revising this novel, I have allowed myself to let go and write, trusting God with the outcome. This novel is finally becoming what it was supposed to.
There are two months left in this year. My goal is to have the revisions completed by December thirty first. I wish I could say edits would be done as well, but I'm already pushing three hundred and sixty pages on the draft alone.
I'm enjoying this process. I'm having fun revising, adding lines, adding scenes, cutting dialogue that doesn't ring true to my character. Pausing and reflecting on her and what is happening to her and her friends. Using the writing voice God created me with.
Before the year is out, I urge you to take time away. It could be as simple as a drive an hour outside of town. Take that time. Pray. Reflect. Act. And if you are a writer, write!
