IWSG Writing Regrets AND Rest is Part of the Trellis

 

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Many thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh, all of the IWSG, and this month's blog hop volunteers for August 2026.

The awesome co-hosts for the August 5 posting of the IWSG are Shannon Lawrence, Diedre Knight, Liza, and Pat Garcia! 

The IWSG has been a part of my writing journey for over a decade and I am thankful for all the encouragement and support I have received, but more importantly, I am thankful for the community.

This month's optional question is: As a writer/author what is something you regret? Or something that you wish you'd done differently in your writing process?

My biggest regret is giving into fear and doubt at various times in my writing life, following the "wrong for me" advice that I knew was "wrong" deep in my gut, and not pivoting at times when I knew a pivot was needed - again, not trusting my instincts.

Some of this is that I didn't know what I know now: my strengths (based on the Clifton Strengths test) are ideation, strategic thinking, connectedness, achiever, and learner. There are weaknesses alongside those, but honestly, I process and draw conclusions on data points and ideas that I've taken in from a variety of places without necessarily walking through the "A to Z" logic of it step by step.

Trusting my own "intuition" that isn't really intuition but a lot of ideas coming together has been a huge step forward for me, but I'm still learning how to do that, and learning how to take what I "know" and create systems that rely on those strengths. So, my doubt in my own process is what I think has held me back the most, and discovering how to play to my strengths is both helping me as an author and healing me as a person.

Perhaps that's one of the reasons I've been thinking so much lately about trellises, gardens, and growth.

On my podcast, The Truth About Storytelling, I've started a short series called Growing the Gifts We've Been Given. In the first episode, I talked about how our strengths need trellises like healthy structures and rhythms that support the gifts we've been given instead of leaving them tangled. This week, I've been wondering about something else.

What if rest isn't the opposite of growth?

What if it's part of the trellis?

The more I think about my own writing journey, the more I realize that growth hasn't come simply from writing more words or working harder. It's also come from learning to notice, to listen, to take long walks, to read widely, to pray, and to give myself enough space for ideas to connect.

In other words, I've been learning to trust both the way I grow and the One who grows me.

Rest is a Part of the Trellis

We often think growth comes from doing more.

Working harder.

Producing more.

Trying longer.

But gardens tell a different story.

Healthy growth includes seasons of rest, renewal, and quiet preparation.

This week, I found myself asking a simple question:

What if rest isn't the opposite of growth?

What if it's part of the support that helps us flourish?

Walking, reading, prayer, creativity, listening for birds, or simply sitting quietly for a few moments may not look productive, but they often refill the well we draw from every day.

As you go through your week, I'd encourage you to consider a few questions:

• What truly restores you?
• What helps you notice beauty?
• What leaves you with more hope than when you began?
• Where might God be inviting you to receive instead of striving?

Rest isn't stepping away from growth.

Rest is one of the ways we grow.

IWSG: Publishing and Joyful Reading

 

Thank you Alex J. Cavanaugh for this blog hop!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The Awesome co-hosts for

July 1 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Cathrina Constantine, and Jacqui Murray!

Joyful Invitations to Read

This month's IWSG question asks:

Is there anything you'd like to see changed, added, and/or rearranged about the book publishing industry?

My answer is simple.

We Are the Publishing Industry

It's easy to think of "the publishing industry" as traditional publishers, but I don't think that's the whole picture.

Authors, indie publishers, booksellers, librarians, teachers, bloggers, reviewers, and readers all help shape the culture around books. We all have a role in inviting people to read.

A Reminder from Realm Makers

Last week I attended Realm Makers, a conference for Christian writers, where I spent several days talking with readers, writers, editors, publishers, and fellow creatives.

One thing stood out over and over again.

People still love stories.

Kids want adventures. Adults want books that leave them with hope, wonder, courage, and memorable characters. They aren't just looking for another product—they're looking for an experience.

My Hope

If I could change one thing, I'd love to see all of us help make reading joyful and invitational again.

Let's recommend books because they delighted us. Let's welcome new readers instead of assuming everyone already knows the language of publishing. Let's celebrate imagination as much as marketing.

As authors, we don't simply create books.

We invite people into stories.

That's something worth celebrating.

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Now that I'm home, I'm back to revising Dark Blade Unchained, the third book in my Dark Blade Trilogy, and I'm sharing more writing thoughts on The Truth About Storytelling podcast. Thanks for following along on the journey!

What about you? What would you like to see changed in the publishing industry?

Dark Blade Unbroken Proof Copy Arrives

 I'm excited to share that the proof copy of Dark Blade Unbroken, Book Two of The Dark Blade Trilogy, has officially arrived.

After months of writing, editing, formatting, and production work, it's always a special moment to hold a new book in print for the first time. I'm especially pleased with how this edition turned out, from the hardcover presentation to the interior chapter artwork.

The next step is a final proofread and quality review to ensure everything is ready for publication. Once that process is complete, work will continue toward the release and fulfillment schedule for the trilogy.

At the same time, revisions on Dark Blade Unchained, the concluding volume of the trilogy, are underway.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this series and journey through Aramatir. More updates will be coming soon.

Dark Blade Unbroken

The Dark Blade Trilogy, Volume 2

New alliances. An unbroken blade. A battle drawing ever closer.

IWSG June: Ideas Everywhere

 

Thank you to Alex J. Cavanaugh and this month's round of volunteers who make this blog hop possible and fun! Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!

This month’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group question asks whether story ideas tend to come from one place or from many different sources. For me, ideas seem to come from everywhere — dreams, reflections, conversations, music, walking, and simply noticing the world around me.

Sometimes a story idea begins with a single image while I’m out walking. Sometimes it begins with a question, a conversation, or a piece of music that sparks an emotion or atmosphere. Other times, an idea grows out of noticing acts of courage, or small moments of beauty in everyday life. I think that’s part of why I’m so drawn to storytelling in the first place: stories help us process the world around us while also imagining worlds beyond it.

Lately, I’ve been balancing podcasting, revisions, and ongoing work in the world of Aramatir.

I’m currently participating in a BookFunnel promotion featuring my sci-fi novel Lift Off, and I’ve released several recent episodes of The Truth About Storytelling, including conversations about film, mythic heroes, cozy storytelling, and why stories like The Mandalorian and Grogu resonate so strongly with audiences and families.

I’ve also continued reading chapters from Dark Blade Forged on the podcast.

Meanwhile, revisions continue steadily on Book 2 of the Dark Blade Trilogy. During the process, I realized I needed to make some major changes to several events in the story, but I feel it will be stronger for those changes.

Thank you for continuing to support my stories, podcast, and creative journey. I hope your own creative projects are growing in meaningful ways this season as well.

IWSG May: Inspiring Feedback

 

Many thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group for this long-running monthly blog hop!

 

The awesome co-hosts for the May 6 posting of the IWSG are Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi!

Optional Question: What was the most inspiring feedback you’ve received from readers, agents, editors, or beta readers?

This is actually a hard question for me to answer, not because I haven’t received encouraging feedback, but because I’ve been blessed with more than I sometimes remember when sales feel slow.

A few moments stand out.

Several years ago, I received an unexpected email from Hannah Heath asking if she could interview me for her blog because she loved my books. I remember thinking, Who, me? Really? I had no idea how she found my work, but I was incredibly honored—and encouraged that my stories had reached someone in that way.

Last year, I had another unexpected moment. While traveling to Mongolia for my first mission trip—on my birthday, no less—I received an email from a reader who had picked up Dark Blade Forged at a car show I attended. She loved it so much that she asked not if, but when I would be coming to her city in California for another event. That kind of enthusiasm stayed with me. It reminded me that readers are out there, even when I can’t always see them.

And then there was a conversation with an agent last year about a book that isn’t published yet. He saw something in my sample pages—enough to ask for revisions and hand me his card. That moment meant a lot to me. It reminded me that I’m growing, and that there’s more ahead if I keep doing the work.

What encourages me most isn’t just praise, it’s the personal connection. When someone takes the time to reach out directly, it means the story mattered to them. And that’s why I keep writing.

Update:

I’m currently deep in the revision trenches, working on Book 2 of my trilogy. It’s slow, steady progress, but I can feel the story coming together. My goal is to finish revisions and order a proof copy in May, then move on to Book 3.

One step at a time and thankful for every reader along the way.

What inspiring feedback have you received?