Author: J.I. Soucie

Christian, wife, mom, and pet lover with a love and passion for reading and writing.
Memoir, Reflections of the Heart

In the Morning Hours

J.I. Soucie

The early morning hours beckon me to awake. I’m not sure why but here I am taping on the keys to my keyboard. These seem to be the the hours where creativity kicks in. And all before the birds and sun awaken.

It is 3:46AM EST on this last day of November, and I have a couple of hours before I have to get my daughter up for school. These hours are mine and so the words must pour forth from my soul for I cannot hold them back. I have much to say on many topics. I have a couple of articles I’d like to write and then work on my memoir, Reflections of the Heart.

In Reflections of the Heart, I share my story of losing my mother as a teenager at 17 and how my faith in God saw me through the pain of loss and moving forward with my life even though it was difficult. I want to write this story to give hope to those children and adolescence who have lost either one or both parents. You are not alone and there is hope. There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel of grief.

Have you lost a parent while in your teenage years, or younger? What things did you do to see you through the grief and to help get yourself back on your feet? I’d love to hear your stories if you are comfortable sharing them with me. If you don’t want to leave a comment you can email me at jisoucie@hotmail.com.

Also, if you’re a writer, when are you most creative, early morning, mid morning, late morning, afternoon, evening?

My best to you in all you do today! God bless!

J. Soucie

Writing Tips

6 Key Steps To Finding Your Passion As A Writer

J.I. Soucie

Have you ever had a love of writing but at some point, find it died out and writing became more of a chore. Where did the enjoyment go anyway? The following article has some good tips to getting that passion back!

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By definition, writers are passionate creatures. You can be an exquisite writer by tapping into the passion of being yourself.

Source: 6 Key Steps To Finding Your Passion As A Writer | Write to Done

Writing Updates

Cold with Fresh Powdery Snow

J.I. Soucie

I look out my sliding glass doors and see a few inches of the white stuff. Yep! I’m talking about snow! My daughter will be so happy when she sees it’s snowed! She will want to go outside and play I’m sure.

My writing has tapered off lately. In my last post I wrote about preparing for NaNoWriMo. Well, that didn’t happen this year. Third trimester pregnancy fatigue and gall bladder attacks have plagued me. Trying to nurse my gall bladder with non fat foods and “gut rest” in which I only drink ginger ale when it acts up. Docs are hoping to limp me through the rest of the pregnancy so I can have the baby first and then have my gall bladder removed. Yippee! What fun!

I haven’t been working on a lot. Preparing the home for the baby and taking care of some clutter. But the writing desire remains strong. It’s always there whispering, “Hey, write something, will ya?” Oh, how I’d love to. Part of me is still trying to figure out just what I want to write. Do I want to write novels? Or stick with shorter works like poetry, articles, and short stories? I really have to stop and think about the time I have on my hands and I certainly don’t have time or physical stamina (right now) for writing a novel. So for now I think I’ll stick with shorter works. I’ve also been writing in my journal just trying to keep up the writing skills.

Writing time this week may be scarce as my daughter is off from school this week as well as doctor’s appointments and oh yes, preparing for Thanksgiving dinner and dessert. But I’m going to try to get a few minutes in, most every day on something even if it’s just in my journal. That’s something!

I always find this week challenging especially with NaNo. This week always was the hardest to get the word count in with so much going on. For those of you doing NaNo this year, how do you cope when your children are off school for vacation, or your schedules are hectic?

I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to comment. Have a great day!

NaNo Prep, november nano

NaNoWriMo Is Approaching! Ahhhhh! Prep time!

J.I. Soucie

Wow! I can’t believe October is almost here and that means planning for November’s novel in a month. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do NaNo this year because I was already making progress on my current novel, but I figure since this will be my last chance for a NaNo for a few years, due to having a baby in February, I had better take my chance while I can.

So I have started planning out a new novel. I have had the idea for a while but it has evolved and will probably do so as I continue. I don’t have a title yet, not even a working title. But I do have the basics of the story mostly written down, and I have the first four characters named but now have to write out some description for them. I see what they look like in my head, I just have to put those descriptions on paper! lol I also have to figure out birth dates because I need this girl to be 17 but I need to know what year she will 17 and that will give me the time period I’m writing in. Always interesting to find out.

Are you a planner, or a pantser? Do you have a specific way of doing thing that helps you get through the planning process? If you’re a pantser, I’m curious to learn how manage to write a book without planning it. I have tried it and struggle with it. I’ll have a good start but then get stuck when the ideas are all written out and I have no idea where the story goes after that. Not good to have writer’s block in the middle of NaNo!

Well, I’m off for now with much planning to do. Best of luck if you have started planning your NaNo novel!

Feel free to visit my NaNo profile and become a friend on the site. We can cheer each other on.

Memoir, Reflections of the Heart

Fear? What fear?

J.I. Soucie

Alright…I have to admit fear has been a big factor and has kept me from writing my book and yes, even writing on this blog and my other blog Voice 4 Butterflies. But over the last several months, there have been some changes and I am learning to kick fear out the door and write anyway. I can’t tell you how freeing it has been.

Fear was making me think any idea I had wouldn’t be good enough, or I’d second guess the idea I had going and completely stop and go to something else. And so I would jump around to other projects and could never focus on one.

You may have noticed this in my blog posts how I’ll talk about one project, and the next post will be about something else, and the next one a totally different project. Wow! Talk about a head spin! I probably left you confused as well as myself. I’m sorry for that.

I guess it’s just part of a writer’s journey in figuring things out for herself and working through creative anxiety and learning how to squelch it and move forward regardless. I think we all have to deal with this at some point. If not, that’s great! I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. It’s tough to go through and then really focus on one project and go through it no matter the anxious thoughts one has. Do you deal with creative anxiety? If you do, how do you work through it?

For me it’s about prayer and leaving fear behind when I set out to do something. When I start to feel it I do my best not to accept it. I really had to learn that I could allow myself to feel fear, or say “No! Not today not ever again!” and move one with my project.

So…you may be wondering what project I have jumped back to this time.

I’ve gone back to working on Reflections of the Heart which was previously titled A Daughter’s Reflection. Reflections of the Heart is a tentative title. If you have forgotten what it’s about it’s okay. As much as I have probably confused everyone I don’t blame you.

Reflections of the Heart is a memoir based on my experiences and journal entries as a 17 year-old who finds out her mother has late stage ovarian cancer. The story takes you on my journey to learning the horrific news, to being my mother’s main caretaker, to losing my mother, and then trying to find my way through grief, discovering who I am, and stepping out in faith. My faith was a huge part in how I got through everything. It may be a sad story it is also an enlightening one. I have over 1400+ words done in this rewrite and that’s not counting what I wrote longhand this morning. After this post, I’ll be going back to writing. The writing bug has hit big time and I’m relying on God’s strength to help me fight any fear that may try to deter me again. With my fists up, I’m going in!

Children's Stories

Hot, Muggy with Creative Winds of Change

J.I. Soucie

It has been a roller coaster for me trying to figure out what project to work on. I constantly change my mind because something about one project (namely some nonfiction ones) I just get a bad gut feeling with. I talked with my hubby this week and told him one of the new story ideas I have going and he thought it would make a good children’s story. And he brought up the Adventure of Summer and Bun Bun series I started a few years back when my daughter was a toddler.

Children’s story!! Say what!? I must admit I was taken back by what he said. Something inside me sunk. I can’t describe exactly what that feeling was unless it was my exceptions of always writing for an adult audience. And now my focus may have to change because so many of my ideas are actually suite more for kids. Not exactly sure what age group yet. I think it varies. Instead of planting my feet and saying “No way!” and throwing those story ideas out, I have decided to at least look into writing books for children. Doesn’t hurt to look at different avenues and go on a discovery mission. Maybe there is a part of my personality that really enjoys being in the more imaginary world of children’s literature. We shall see.

Have any of you found that your expectations on what you thought you’d always write actually changed because what you were writing didn’t “belong” in that category you were shooting for? How did it make you feel? What did you do? I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments below.

Best of luck to you all!

Uncategorized

Sunny and Breezy in the Writer’s Doldrums

J.I. Soucie

Okay… Here goes. I have to admit I think about this blog and about writing often. Does that mean I actually get to any writing? Um…no. I wish thinking about it meant I was doing the physical work with writing. Like Bobbi does in Stephen King’s The Tommyknockers. What writer wouldn’t love a contraption that typed up the story you were thinking about, even while you were asleep?

The thing is… I haven’t been doing much writing. I think about it constantly especially the current story Facade and several other ideas I could work on after I complete Facade. But I have to concentrate on completing one story or I’ll just jump around feeling all uncertain. Why uncertain? Here is the admitting part…I have low self-esteem and battle with self-doubt. There… :( I said it. 

I want to write and publish more but always wonder what I could write that would possibly interest anyone and have thoughts of, “What does it matter? Someone else probably has my idea anyway.” It’s hard to get past this. 

Do any of you deal with this? I am wondering how many writers, or other creative individuals, deal with either low-self esteem, or self-doubt, or both. I would love to hear your stories and what, if anything, you have found to help yourself through those rough moments, and actually get to writing your masterpiece.

A couple of nights ago, I did start writing a new short story from an idea I have had for several years. So that is prgress! Hoping to write more later today.

Best of luck to you all you creative indivdiuals!

General Updates

5 Common Book Cover Mistakes Made by Indie Authors – Writer’s Edit

J.I. Soucie

5 Common Book Cover Mistakes Made by Indie Authors – Writer’s Edit.

If you’re an Indie Author, how much time do you put into creating your book covers, or do you have someone do them for you? I try to do my own, but I am curious what others have done. I’d love to hear your comments. Feel free to leave a message below or email me at jisoucie@hotmail.com.

Secret Anguish

Hot Sticky Days Are Here…And So Is The Writing Bug!

J.I. Soucie

Today the writing bug has hit pretty hard. I finished a comprehensive article about Fibromyalgia for my other blog Voice4Butterflies.wordpress.com

Now I am taking a little break and going back to working on Secret Anguish, my story about Celiac discovery.  I will have to read into material to help me get back into the topic but I don’t think it will take long.

A place under the fan, a nice cool drink, and I think I’m ready to get these keys smoking!

I am in the rewriting phase because I didn’t like how the partial first draft was going. It was just rubbing me the wrong way and I struggled to go forward. So I am back reorganizing and I think I may possibly use an outline for this. I am not big on outlining but there are times I have to break down and use one. Now may be one of those times. So I’m off to continue work on my book. Back to chapter 1!

Do you use outlines for your work?

Do you work on more than one project at a time? Or do you prefer to only have one project on your plate?

I’d love to hear from you! Please leave your comments below.

Have a great day/evening!

Camp NaNoWriMo

CampNaNoWriMo April 2015

J.I. Soucie

Well, yesterday was the last day for Camp NaNo for April 2015. How did you all do? Were you able to meet your goal? Exceed it? No? It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Any words you were able to produce during Camp NaNo are progress. It’s no small feat writing a book so don’t be hard on yourself. I am proud of you for trying but now that Camp is over there is no reason to stop writing. Yeah, it does give some incentive to write daily I’ll give you that. But we should be able to carve out even small ten minute sections of time to make a little progress toward a bigger goal every day. Maybe rewarding yourself in some way when you reach a milestone in your writing will help.

As for me, you may be wondering how I did this round of Camp. Well, I exceeded my goal of 50,000 words but only by sixty-eight words. Still, I pushed last night with about a half hour left to make the 50,000 word mark. I would have had more time but I kept dozing off at the computer. Now who hasn’t done that before?

So I have I good amount of a first draft to work with. I do have to some restructuring and some rewriting to do. I am going to rewrite my story using some elements of fiction like dialog and inner thoughts to help bring my story to life in a more interesting way. I don’t want my book to be just another matter-of-fact I have this, here’s how I discovered it, ect. Boy, that would get boring so easily! Certainly don’t want that to happen.

Well, I guess it’s time to get started on some editing and get this baby into a well organized and well written second draft.

Cheers!