MY JOURNEY

I have always loved creating stories, ever since I was a kid writing on a donated Windows 3.1 computer. I don't remember most of the stories themselves. I lost them years ago. I just remember writing about friends going on adventures, and how natural it felt to sit there and make something up. When I got older, I shifted into screenplays. I noticed I started writing about my own life, just dressed up differently. Most of the time, it felt more like a journal entry than anything else. I didn't stop telling stories when I became an adult. I just never completed them. Stern Lake is the first time I noticed a difference.

Hi Stern Lake Community, This week I wanted to talk about my own reflections on what it would mean for me to pursue writing as a career. I've always found myself going into deep elaborate daydreams about my future about the different avenues I have wanted to take my whole life. There is a thrill in coming up with scenarios of a better more fulfilling life. With this particular dream however there is fear. Since I have decided to really commit myself to this path it feels real and with that comes the fear of the unknown aspects. What will it look like to find a publisher, and how my life might transform if I succeed. The fear of testing myself, to go into parts of this journey that make me vulnerable can be overwhelming, but it's also what makes this whole thing meaningful...

Hello, Stern Lake Community! This week, I want to take you behind the scenes of my writing journey and share some of the most valuable lessons I've learned along the way. When I started writing Stern Lake, I knew I had a story that I liked, but I didn't realize just how much work it needed. I realized how a good story needs a good foundational structure. I began to study story structure and one of the biggest lessons has been understanding the three-act structure—how the beginning, middle, and end of a story each play a crucial role in building tension and guiding the reader through the journey. I've also spent a lot of time diving into character arcs and backgrounds. Creating characters like John and Emily has taught me how a character's past can shape their actions and how their internal beliefs can drive them even when they didn't realize it...

Hello, Stern Lake Community! I wanted to take a moment and talk a bit about my story as a writer. Over the years, I've started and stopped so many different stories. It's been frustrating honestly, and it got to the point where I had to stay committed. My dream to be an author and that will never happen if I don't FINISH a story. So that brings us here, Stern Lake that book I have stayed with since 2021 and I am more motivated than ever to finish this one, I really love this story and I hope you all do too! I am so grateful to have you all along for the ride! Thank you for your support as I navigate the ups and downs of this creative journey!