Write on the Scene

I Get Writer’s Block (But Not the Way You Think)

April 30, 2025

A person in a vibrant red blouse sits in a wheelchair, reading a book, with a library backdrop filled with books.

I used to get stuck trying to finish projects.

If you had peeked inside my digital life a few years ago, you would have found three separate Google Drives — yes, three — filled with partially done manuscripts. Novel ideas, short stories, blog posts, even book outlines. All of them started with a burst of excitement… and all of them eventually abandoned somewhere along the way.

The beginning was always easy. The fresh energy, the new idea, the adrenaline of finally sitting down to create — it carried me through the first few pages, sometimes even the first few chapters. But somewhere between the middle and the end, I’d hit a wall.

The doubts would creep in: Is this even good? Will anyone care? Am I wasting my time?
That wall of self-doubt and fatigue was where most of my projects went to die.

What Changed: From Half-Finished to Done

It feels good to say that I don’t have that problem anymore.

So what changed?
Honestly, it wasn’t a fancy new writing system or a productivity hack. It was a mindset shift. I stopped expecting every project to feel perfect all the way through. I stopped thinking that doubt or difficulty meant I was on the wrong track. I realized that feeling stuck wasn’t a reason to quit — it was just part of the creative process.

Finishing became my new goal, not perfection.
Even if the project didn’t end up exactly how I envisioned, I promised myself to cross the finish line. Over time, this built my confidence. It also helped me realize something important: creative energy isn’t linear. It comes in waves. Learning to ride the tough waves made all the difference.

Now I Have a New Problem: Too Many Ideas

These days, I have the opposite issue: more ideas than I will ever have the time to explore.

Every day, it seems like a new project tempts me — a novel concept, a blog series, a course idea, a business plan. I keep a running list on my phone and in several notebooks. It’s exciting, but it’s also a little overwhelming at times. When you’re flooded with ideas, it can be just as paralyzing as having none at all.

The pressure becomes: Which one should I pursue first?
What if I pick the wrong one?
How do I balance it all without burning out?

Having an abundance of inspiration is a good problem to have, but it’s still a problem that needs managing.

How I Manage Creative Overflow

Here’s what’s been helping me:

1. Capture Everything.
I don’t trust my brain to remember good ideas later. As soon as an idea comes to me, I jot it down — even if it’s just a rough sentence fragment. I use a mix of digital notes and physical journals, depending on where I am.

2. Prioritize Projects.
Every few weeks, I review my idea list and pick the top 1–3 projects I want to focus on.
I ask myself questions like:

Which idea excites me the most right now?
Which one fits best with my current goals?
Which project feels “ripe” for development?

3. Set Clear Seasons.
Instead of trying to work on 10 things at once, I set seasons for my focus.
For example, one quarter might be for finishing a novel draft. Another might be for building a course. Giving myself permission to focus for now — knowing I can circle back to other ideas later — keeps me grounded.

4. Embrace Letting Some Ideas Go.
Not every idea is meant to become a project. Some are just stepping stones to something else.
I’ve learned to trust that the best ideas will keep coming back to me, stronger and clearer over time. The ones that fade away probably weren’t meant to be long-term pursuits.

Final Thoughts: Progress Over Perfection

I still get writer’s block — but not because I can’t think of anything to write.
Now, it’s more about choosing what to give my time and energy to. It’s about making peace with the fact that I can’t do everything at once (or maybe ever).
And that’s okay. Creativity isn’t about capturing every single idea.
It’s about showing up for the ones that matter most, finishing what you start, and trusting that there will always be more where that came from.

If you’re still struggling with traditional writer’s block, take heart:
Consistency beats inspiration. Progress beats perfection.
And one day, you might just find yourself in the strange, beautiful place I’m in now — flooded with ideas, grateful for them all, and focused on finishing what matters most.

Uncategorized

I’m Too Tired from Life and Work to Write

April 23, 2025

A toddler with curly hair playing with a yellow toy laptop while sitting on a soft carpet, with an adult partially visible in the background.

Let me just go ahead and say it—being tired is a lifestyle for most of us. Whether it’s the kind of tired that comes from working a full-time job, raising babies, managing a household, dealing with chronic illness, or all of the above (hello, that was me), it’s a whole miracle when we even think about writing, let alone sit down to do it.

So if you’ve ever whispered to yourself, “I want to write, but I’m just too tired,” I get it. Truly. But I also want to challenge you—gently, lovingly, and maybe with a side-eye—to do it anyway. Because tired or not, your voice matters.

I Was Tired Then—and I’m Still Tired Now

Back in the day, I had what I called my “good government job.” You know, the kind with a steady paycheck, a little PTO, and a whole lot of paperwork. I was also a single mama for 12 years before becoming a wife. I cooked, cleaned, ran errands, stayed up all night when my son had a fever, and somehow still showed up to work the next morning like everything was fine.

During that time, writing often sat in the backseat. Not because I didn’t want to write—I did. Badly. But by the time the day was done, I barely had the energy to spell my own name. You know how many nights I fell asleep with a notebook in my lap? Too many to count.

Fast forward to now—retired, but wrestling with my MS body that doesn’t always want to cooperate. Some mornings I wake up and feel like I’ve already lived three lives before I even brush my teeth. But still, I write. Not always perfectly, not always at length—but consistently.

If You Want to Write, You Have to Make It Happen

I’m not here to hand you a productivity planner and tell you to “just do it.” Life doesn’t work like that. But if writing is something that tugs at your spirit—if it whispers to you in quiet moments, or taps you on the shoulder when you’re trying to sleep—you owe it to yourself to make room for it.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

You don’t need hours. Sometimes 10 minutes is enough. That’s enough time to jot down a few lines, an idea, or a title you want to revisit later. It all adds up.
Write tired. Write through the fog. Write when your back hurts. Write when your eyes are heavy. Not because you have to—but because you get to. That small act of resistance—of showing up for yourself—means more than you know.
Make it fit your life, not the other way around. You don’t need a perfect morning routine or a cabin in the woods. You need a note-taking app, a napkin, a voice memo, or that old notebook in your bag or backpack. Use what you have.

You’re Not Lazy—You’re Human

Let me be clear: this isn’t about hustle culture. This is about honoring the part of you that wants more. You’re not lazy because you’re exhausted. You’re not a failure because you haven’t written your book yet. Life is a lot. But you can still carve out space for your dreams.

And if today isn’t the day you write? That’s okay too. Rest is part of the process. Give yourself grace. But come back to it tomorrow. Or the next day. Just don’t let go of it completely.

Writing Is Worth the Fight

For me, writing has been a lifeline. It’s how I process, how I pray, how I protest, how I praise. It’s the way I turn pain into purpose, confusion into clarity, and tiredness into testimony.

So yes, I’m tired. You might be too. But writing is still worth it. And so are you.

Journey

I Suck at Writing, But I Keep Showing Up Anyway

April 16, 2025

Some days, I sit with my words and think, What’s the point? I write my heart out—raw, honest, and vulnerable. I craft the sentences carefully, reread them with hope, hit publish, and then… silence. No comments. No likes. Barely any reads.

That’s when the voice creeps in: Maybe I suck at writing.

When Effort Doesn’t Match Response

It’s frustrating when you pour your soul into something and it barely gets noticed. It feels like you’re screaming into a void, while other people are out here whispering and getting standing ovations. You wonder, What am I doing wrong? You check your formatting, question your title, second-guess the story you told.

But if I’m being honest, the hardest part isn’t the silence. It’s believing that silence means I’m not good enough.

I start to spiral—Maybe I’m not talented. Maybe I should quit. Maybe I’ve been fooling myself this whole time.

The Truth: I Don’t Suck at Writing

(And Neither Do You)

I’m learning to separate my work from my worth. Just because something I write doesn’t blow up doesn’t mean it wasn’t powerful, needed, or good. Maybe it just hasn’t reached the right eyes yet. Maybe its impact is still unfolding. Maybe the person who really needs it hasn’t come across it yet.

That doesn’t make the work less worthy.

It doesn’t make me less of a writer.

This journey is long. And it’s not always glamorous. Sometimes the “likes” don’t come. But that doesn’t mean the words were wasted.

Reframing the Silence

Instead of asking, “Why didn’t this go viral?” I’ve started asking better questions:

Who did this help?
What did I learn from writing this?
Did I honor my voice today?

It’s not easy. Some days, I still stare at the stats and feel that sinking feeling. But I remind myself: the applause isn’t the only evidence of impact. Some of the most meaningful feedback I’ve ever received came quietly—in a DM, an email, or a comment months later.

Writing is planting seeds. Some sprout fast. Others take their sweet time.

Why I Keep Showing Up

Because I believe in the power of words.
Because I know how much reading someone else’s truth has helped me.
Because I made a promise to myself: I will keep writing, even when it feels like no one’s watching.

The response may not be immediate, but that doesn’t mean the work isn’t valuable. Sometimes the post you almost didn’t write is the one that someone else desperately needed to read.

I keep showing up because I believe my voice matters—even when the internet tries to convince me otherwise.

Encouragement for Anyone Who Feels the Same

If you’ve ever written something that felt important and got crickets in return, you’re not alone. If you’ve ever wanted to delete a post because it didn’t get enough engagement—same. If you’ve ever whispered to yourself, “I suck at this,” I want you to know: that voice is lying.

You don’t suck at writing.
You’re just in the middle of the story.

And stories take time.

Keep going. Keep writing. Keep showing up. Your words matter more than you know.

Final Thought

Maybe this post won’t get a ton of likes either. Maybe no one will share it. But I wrote it anyway. For me. For you. For the quiet creators who are doing the work even when the spotlight feels miles away.

Because one day, someone will stumble across your words and say, “This is exactly what I needed.” And in that moment, you’ll remember why you never gave up.

Beginning

I Don’t Have Enough Time to Write Because of My Job

April 9, 2025

I hear it all the time from aspiring writers:
“I want to write, but I just don’t have the time because of my job.”

And let me tell you—I get it. I’ve been there. For years, I worked a full-time government job. It was stable. It paid the bills. But it also left me mentally drained and creatively parched. Still, I wrote. I wrote when I was tired. I wrote when I had no business writing. I wrote in the cracks of my day—because it mattered to me.

Now that I’m retired, I have more time, yes—but I’ve never forgotten what it felt like to fight for every minute to write. So this is for those of you trying to balance the dream with the demands.

Writing in the Cracks of Life

I didn’t have the luxury of long afternoons with endless cups of tea and gentle inspiration. I wrote before work, in the quiet darkness of the early morning. I wrote during my lunch break, notebook propped on one knee, sandwich in the other hand. I even scribbled dialogue during long, boring meetings—pretending to take notes.

Writing wasn’t just something I wanted to do someday. It was something I needed to do every day. I knew I wouldn’t be in that job forever. And when the time came to walk away, I wanted to have a writing life that was already in motion. I didn’t want to start from scratch—I wanted to have something built, waiting, and ready.

You Don’t Need a Lot of Time—Just Intentional Time

Let’s be honest: you’re probably not going to get three uninterrupted hours a day to write. But you can find 10 or 15 minutes. Writing in small, consistent chunks adds up faster than you think. A 300-word lunch break draft today might become your next published piece tomorrow.

Even 10 minutes of writing a day equals over 3,000 minutes a year. That’s a whole lot of words, friend.

Put Writing on the Schedule

If your job runs your life, start running your calendar like a writer.
Schedule writing sessions the same way you schedule meetings and doctor’s appointments. Block time. Set reminders. Stick to it. Protect that time like it matters—because it does.

When I started treating writing as a non-negotiable instead of a nice-to-have, everything changed. It wasn’t just a creative outlet anymore—it was a promise to myself.

Your Day Job Can Feed Your Writing

Believe it or not, your job might be giving you material. I used to write about coworkers, wild meetings, and office politics. (Don’t worry—I changed the names!) Life at work can be frustrating, but it’s also full of characters, tension, conflict, and dialogue—everything a good story needs.

So next time something ridiculous happens at the office, take a note. You might just use it in your next scene.

Time Isn’t Always the Problem

Let’s keep it real: sometimes we do have time, but we fill it with distractions. Scrolling. Streaming. Saying yes to things that aren’t aligned with our priorities. If you truly want to write, you’ll need to be honest about where your time is going—and where you can reclaim it.

Saying no to 30 minutes of scrolling might mean saying yes to a finished chapter.

Keep Your “Why” Where You Can See It

Why do you want to write? To share your story? To help others? To finally finish that novel you’ve been dreaming about?

Write your “why” on a sticky note and keep it close. Let it anchor you when you’re tired, discouraged, or overwhelmed. Let it remind you that your voice matters—and your story is worth telling.

You’re Not Alone

Writing with a full-time job is hard, but not impossible. I did it. And you can too. The key is consistency, grace, and determination.

You may not be able to quit your job today. But you can still build the writing life you want—one paragraph at a time.

So go ahead, blow that taco stand… metaphorically for now. Just make sure you’ve got a notebook in your bag and a story on your heart when you do.

Journey

I Have Kids and I Can’t Find Time to Write

April 2, 2025

If you’re a parent and a writer, you’ve probably said this before: “I just don’t have time to write. My kids need me constantly.” I get it. I’ve been there. The energy it takes to keep little humans alive, fed, and loved is no joke. But I’ve also learned that if writing is important to you—if it fuels you, keeps you sane, or feels like a calling—you’ll find ways to fit it in. It won’t be perfect, but it can be possible.

Writing During Nap Time and Work Breaks

When my son was little, I squeezed writing into the slivers of my day. I wrote during nap times—those quiet windows where the house was still and I could think straight. I didn’t waste those precious moments scrolling. I opened my laptop or grabbed my notebook and got to work.

I also wrote during breaks at work. He was with the sitter, and I was technically “on the clock,” but if I had even five free minutes between tasks or during lunch, I opened Google Docs and added a paragraph or two. It wasn’t about writing thousands of words at once. It was about staying connected to my voice and showing up for my creativity in small, steady ways.

Including My Son in My Writing Routine

When he got a little older and started crawling, things got trickier. I couldn’t just plop him in a swing and expect quiet time anymore. But instead of giving up, I adapted. I gave him a toy laptop and sat him right next to me in my home office. He’d tap on his keys while I tapped on mine. Sometimes he babbled stories to himself, and I smiled, knowing I was modeling what it looked like to honor your creativity—even in the chaos.

That season taught me that kids don’t always need to be entertained by screens or flashy distractions. Sometimes they just want to feel included. Giving him that space beside me gave me the space I needed to write.

Making Use of Activity Time

When he got into taekwondo, I made another shift. I brought my phone with me to practice and wrote in Google Docs while sitting in the waiting area. It was too hot to sit in the car, and I wasn’t going to waste that hour just scrolling or zoning out. Instead, I used that time to work on my projects. Whether it was a blog post, a chapter, or even just brainstorming ideas, I got into the habit of writing during those practice blocks.

It wasn’t always easy to focus with the noise of the studio and people around me, but it trained me to write anywhere. It reminded me that writing doesn’t have to be this precious, quiet, candle-lit experience. It can happen right in the middle of life.

Stop Waiting for the Perfect Time

The truth is, if you’re a parent waiting for long stretches of peace and quiet to write, you may be waiting a very long time. There’s always something demanding your attention—school forms, tantrums, dinner, laundry. The list never ends. But if writing matters to you, you have to find a way to sneak it in. Ten minutes here. A sentence or two there. An idea recorded in your voice memos while you’re driving.

It adds up.

You Deserve to Create, Even as a Parent

Sometimes we convince ourselves that pursuing our creativity is selfish when we’re raising kids. But I’d argue the opposite. When your kids see you making time for something you love, they learn that it’s okay to have dreams of their own. When they see you showing up consistently, even when it’s hard, they learn resilience. And when they see you doing what makes you come alive, they learn that joy is worth prioritizing.

Parenting and writing don’t have to compete. They can coexist. Some days, your words will flow. On other days, you’ll barely squeeze out a sentence. But every little bit counts.

Writing is Worth Making Time For

So yes, I have a kid—and yes, it’s hard. But I’m still writing. And so can you. Maybe it won’t look like it used to. Maybe your writing life has to shift and flex with your current season. That’s okay. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is progress.

You can be a present parent and still honor your creative purpose. You can tell your stories in between the moments, in the cracks of your day, in the middle of real life. And trust me—those are often the best stories anyway.

Journey

“I Don’t Have Enough Time to Write”: Why That’s Not My Struggle

March 26, 2025

Out of all the challenges I’ve faced on my writing journey—self-doubt, imposter syndrome, lack of direction—there’s one complaint I’ve never been able to relate to: “I don’t have enough time to write.”

Don’t get me wrong, I understand why people say it. Life is full. Between jobs, parenting, relationships, responsibilities, and everyday distractions, time can feel like a rare luxury. But for me, writing has never been about having time. It’s always been about making space.

Writing in the Margins

I’ve written at odd hours and in strange places. I’ve scribbled notes on receipts, drafted scenes in the car, and outlined chapters in my head while doing dishes. Writing has always been part of my life, not something I do only when everything else is done. I’ve learned to write in the margins of my life—those little moments people often overlook.

Late at night, when the house is quiet and everyone else is asleep, I write. Early in the morning, before the world wakes up and the demands of the day rush in, I write. If an idea pops into my head while I’m cooking or folding laundry, I pause, pull out my phone or a notebook, and write it down.

Writing doesn’t wait for convenience. It shows up when it wants. And I’ve learned to meet it there—wherever and whenever that may be.

When My Son Was Little

Some of my most productive writing seasons happened when my son was young and enrolled in taekwondo. Twice a week, I’d drive him to practice, sit in the waiting area, and pull out my phone. While other parents scrolled social media or chatted, I opened Google Docs.

I wrote in 5- to 10-minute chunks. Sometimes it was a paragraph. Other times, a full scene. But those short, focused bursts added up. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t quiet. But it was time I made work for me.

Of course, I had to be mindful. When it was my son’s turn on the mat, I’d watch him. But in those moments he was waiting or warming up—I was writing.

My Lifelong Best Friend: Google Docs

If I had to name one tool that kept my writing life afloat during the busiest years, it’s Google Docs. Accessible from anywhere, synced across all my devices, and always ready when inspiration strikes—Google Docs was like a second brain.

I could start a blog post while waiting in line, jot down dialogue on a walk, or revise a chapter during lunch breaks. No more excuses about not having my laptop. If I had my phone, I could write.

This kind of flexibility allowed me to keep writing when life was hectic. It removed the friction between the idea and the page. And sometimes, that’s the difference between staying stuck and moving forward.

Writing Is a Priority, Not a Perk

I never treated writing like something I’d get around to once everything else was done. It wasn’t a hobby I squeezed in for fun. Writing was (and still is) a priority. Just like brushing my teeth, feeding my family, or checking in with friends, writing had a place in my day.

That mindset shift made a big difference. It’s easy to say we don’t have time, but often, we do—we’re just not permitting ourselves to use it for writing. We think we need long stretches of uninterrupted time, a quiet space, or the perfect setup. But most of the time, we don’t. We just need to start where we are, with what we have.

If Time Feels Tight…

If you’re someone who says, “I don’t have time to write,” I want to gently challenge that belief. Maybe you don’t have hours. Maybe you’re juggling more than most. But is there 10 minutes you could claim as yours?

Could you write a few lines before bed? Could you speak an idea into your notes app while walking? Could you brainstorm during your commute or lunch break?

Writing doesn’t demand perfection. It asks for presence. And a little presence, over time, goes a long way.

Make Room for the Words

At the end of the day, writing isn’t about having the time. It’s about making room for the words to come. Some days, it’ll be a flood. Other days, a trickle. But if you stay open and keep showing up, the words will find you.

And who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll look back and realize you wrote a book in the margins of your life—five minutes at a time.

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