Young Writers Society

I can't have caffeine right now and I am DYING for a cup of coffee. Or a Dr. Pepper. Or, really, anything with a large amount of caffeine. Put me out of my misery. Please.

Well, I just got back from another short road trip. It was fun, but I'm definitely glad to be home again.

Well, I just finished my first read through of my manuscript and I can honestly say that I liked what I read. There's a lot that I need to work on, but it's a good foundation. Most of the revision that needs doing is just expanding on what I've already written which I kind of already knew about. I've always been an underwriter and I don't think that'll ever change. I'm gonna nap now and then I'll open Scrivener and type out my Revision Sheet so that I can get started.

So, here's the thing. I have a husky. Her name is Rogue and she's the literal love of my life. I adore this little creature more than the universe. I've been sick the last few days and also dealing with anxiety. Let me tell you that Rogue has not left my side once. At the moment she's curled with her head in my lap and I could not be more thankful. She's perfect, honestly.

Even though the editing process is Hell on Earth, I still love these characters and their story as much as I always have. Belle and Clinton's story is one that I've been waiting YEARS to tell and I will never not love them.

I've been putting it off for over a week now, but I am going to sit down and teach myself how to edit/revise a novel. It's something that I'm not very good at and I need to get better if I'm going to make writing my career.

Editing has never and will never be my favorite part of the writing process.

I have to remove two characters in the second draft of my book and I'm honestly kind of sad. It makes no sense, but I'm actually mourning these characters.

This picture was taken earlier this year during my visit to the Bonnie and Clyde exhibit at Whiskey Pete's Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. You'll have to excuse my appearance here. I know I look atrocious. It was during the summer and I was also dealing with a flare up of several chronic illness at the time. Still, I will forever treasure this picture. And now I kind of just want to ramble about it for a while.

The shirt pictured beside me is the shirt that was worn by Clyde Barrow on the day of his death. As I was walking through the exhibit, this shirt was one of two items that I came back to several times. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge history buff. The Bonnie and Clyde story is something that I know enough about that I could write a non-fiction book about them. Something that I've learned throughout YEARS of research is that they weren't the monsters that media claims them to have been. There was a lot more to these two legendary figures than meets the eye. When I walked into the exhibit on the evening these pictures were taken, I remember staring at this shirt in particular and just feeling nostalgic for something I never really knew. I didn't know Bonnie or Clyde personally, obviously, but getting the chance to see this shirt and the other items at the exhibit made them all the more real to me.

All right, I'm done rambling for now. I've got a book to edit.

Throwback to that time earlier this year when I went to see the Bonnie and Clyde Death Car in Vegas. It was as we were leaving the casino where this car is located that the idea for my now-finished book was born. There's so much that I could say about this car and maybe someday I will. For now, though, all I can say is that I cannot wait to go see this car again.

What is my life right now? I'm twenty-five years old and my idea of a fun night is watching movies with my brother over Skype. Shouldn't I be.... I dunno, like going out and having fun or something? Or am I just weird?

Well, I've started putting out feelers to find Beta Readers for The Trail's Beginning. The thought that it could be published soon is terrifying, honestly.

It is almost 5 am and I have not been able to sleep. Why? Because my brother and I have spent the last four hours watching the old TV show 'Growing Pains' and laughing until we cried.

My brother thinks I title my drafts weird and now I'm questioning everything I've ever believed. Tell me if this is weird, yeah?

So, my first draft is always titled my Zero Draft. The reason being that my first draft is nothing more than the bare bones of the story. No frills, nothing but the major events needed to get from beginning to end.
My second draft is then called "Draft One" Because this is where I start adding the frills.

My brother was looking over my first draft and noticed the title and was basically like, "What in the heck is this?" It's not that weird, is it?

I just cried while re-reading my own book. Gah. Guys, this book is going to kill me. In the best way.