Writing is Harder than I Thought

I am still chugging away at my novel! I am just over 24,500 words now and it has felt like a lifetime of effort! I flew through the first 20,000 and the last two weeks all I have been able to do is 4,000 words.

Being a mom, teacher and wife takes up all of my time. Add on housework, Christmas shopping, working out, grading essays, and countless other responsibilities that are required for caring for a two year old: there just is no time left to write. And when I do find the time, I feel exhausted and don’t want to write. Then I feel guilty. It has been a cycle! Ugh!

It has been a huge undertaking to commit to writing every single day. I have only missed three days since Nov 1. I am really proud to say that. Some days all I can get out are like 30 words, but it counts. It all adds up.

I have been learning that I don’t have be ashamed of small progress. I have to stop putting myself down when I don’t live up to the incredibly high standards I set for myself. Slow and steady. One step at a time. One word at a time.

I will write my novel. It will happen. It is happening. It’s growing everyday. And for that, I am proud!

19 Straight Days of Writing!

I have been writing for 19 straight days now! I have committed to working on my novel (FINALLY) since it is National Novel Writing Month. If you aren’t familiar with the NaNoWriMo challenge, it is to write a novel (50,000 words) in a month. I’m not sure if I will make it to 50,000, but I am at just under 15,000 already!

It has been an incredible experience so far. I have stretched my imagination, and pushed myself more than I thought I could. I feel like I am building confidence in my writing abilities everyday that I write. I have a general idea of where my story is going, but for the most part, I just let my creativity flow! It’s amazing! I love it.

Anyone else writing something?

Encouragement Goes A Long Way

Thank you for all your encouragement and words of wisdom about how I can overcome my writer’s block! It truly helps me refocus and stop being so hard on myself.

Tonight I had an incredible experience. I was fortunate enough to go out to dinner with an accomplished author, and she was able to share her story and provide me with valuable insight. She encouraged me to trust myself and my creative thought. Not to listen to the voice inside my head that says I’m not good enough, or my ideas are stupid. She made me feel like I wasn’t alone in my writing journey. She had been in my place, and so many others have been there before me. It’s not just me. She even said she would help me along the way. ❤️ My heart could have burst!

It felt as if God aligned this moment for me. Just as I was struggling with confidence in my writing ability, this incredible woman came to switch my mindset. As if God himself was encouraging me to go forward in good faith that he gave me a voice, and I can do it!

I just feel so invigorated! Like a burden was lifted and I can be free to express my creativity without judgment! It’s ok to let loose and trust in my own voice!

Writing is a Journey- How do you travel it?

How many of you are writers? Me too! I love stringing words together to make beautiful phrases and mental images. It’s my passion.

In earlier blog posts, I have written about my fear of beginning a novel. Or should I say, completing one. I have started so many stories, but they always seem to fade off when I hit writers block, or I can’t see past the event I am stuck on.

For whatever reason, once I hit this spot in my writing, I get in my own way. My doubts and insecurities as a writer surface and I just leave the project. I know it is unhealthy, and it’s my goal to move beyond it and finally finish.

How do you move past your fears and writers block? Does writing expose any of your insecurities?

Attention Writers and Dreams! I have a question

One of the biggest dreams in life is to write a novel. I always have so many ideas, but they seem to be equally partnered with just as many excuses. I start writing, and then I get writer’s block, and eventually give up on the idea out of pure frustration.

I feel frustrated with myself because if I had kept going through the struggle, I could have a decent manuscript by now. That thought alone is infuriating and it keeps me up at night.

Now that I have a child, it seems even more difficult to work on my writing. I hardly have time to myself, let alone time to dedicate to writing.

Have any of you had a similar problem? And if you have, how have you been able to handle it?

I’ll fight

I’ll fight the battle

Against my anxiety

Till the day I win! 

Encouragement needed

Most of the time here at the Persistent Platypus, I like to provide enouragement to those in need. However, this time I am in need of a little encouragement. I am very frustrated, and slightly anxious, about my job for next year. I am a special education teacher who works at a school with a high turn-over rate. The turn-over is mostly due to the fact that my school is literally in the middle of the desert and most people use it as a launch pad for their careers. Due to this turn-over rate, my position is always up in the air at the end of each year. Special Ed positions are always last to be scheduled because they have to wrap around the general education classes to be able to service the students in special education.

This is always a very stressful time of year for me because I am always in limbo. It is hard for me not to know, or not to plan for next year. I am fully aware that my anxiety doesn’t help the process get any easier. 

What are some ways that you have found to be helpful for you when dealing with uncertainty? 

Don’t forget

While in the middle of a difficult fight with anxiety, we can forget to continue living our life. We seem to draw into ourselves and focus only on surviving day to day without pain. What is difficult to remember is that the world continues on. Our lives are NOT over, even though it feels like it. I know. I have been there. Do not give up hope for fear. Continue to push onward and never forget that there is happiness waiting for you. Never stop looking for it! You are strong and you can beat it! 

If you would like to get more encouraging words and have support while dealing with your anxiety, Follow me on here and check out my Facebook page. The only way we can get through anxiety is by banning together and fighting! Together we are strong! 🙂 



Power of Words

As I have been reflecting on the growth of my Blog today and the decision to go forward with a Video Blog as well, I have been drawn to the idea that words are powerful. WE have been taught this concept since Kindergarten. However, with our society being saturated with social media, it is even more important to think about what we say. Our words, whether written or verbalized, hold the power to either spread positivity or negativity to those around us. As bloggers, our words are constantly under a microscope and I believe we should be examples of how to use our words to spread hope and love, not despair and loathing.

Let your beautiful words shine out brightly into the dark, cold world of criticism and malice.

Taking it to the next step!

After all of your fantastically supportive comments on whether or not I should start a Vlog (video blog) or not. I have decided to GO AHEAD and start one! YAY! I am really looking forward to this next step in my blogging experience and being able to have a new medium to experience myself and reach all of you! I hope you guys like it!

Do any any of you have a Youtube channel? Do you have any tips?