Maybe it’s a Miracle. Maybe it’s Maybelline.

Maybe it’s my new haircut. Maybe it’s buying prepared food from Clean Eatz and Wegman’s (so I don’t have to cook after work). Maybe it’s my Muse. Maybe it’s my new bras. Or possibly my playlist. Maybe it’s the limerence. Or maybe it’s that I don’t live in a suburban hell anymore, next to one of the busiest Interstates in these United States, with constant noise and neighbors above me who were 100% chaos at all times (unless they weren’t home).

Whatever it is, I have written over 6,000 words on my novel since this weekend with 3,765 on a Monday night – after working until 5:30. It might as well be a miracle. Being away from the living room and my daytime “office” helps. Not having the TV on also helps. While I have a TV in my bedroom, the streaming apps I use the most don’t work so well on this TV and so it stays off.

For me, as a writer, there comes a moment in a story when I fall in love with my characters. That happened for me last night. I couldn’t stop writing. Today, though I spent much of my day writing for work, I got in my car to come home and thought, “Dude, I want to write. I miss Ben and Arden.” I love it when that happens. I officially love them and the cast of characters that surround them. I am a happy camper.

Now to get in a few minutes on the novel, before I crawl into my bed…

-EM

P.S. I use Scrivener for writing novels (which is pictured in the screenshot). You can set word count goals per session – which I love. My goal is about 1,667 words per session. Anywho, I don’t delete folders when I decide to make major changes in the novel in case I want to use it later. The former chapter two, down at the bottom is no longer chapter 2. I tried to move the plot along much too quickly. There could be some stuff I can use later, so I hang onto to everything. It’s easy to drag and drop. I am now at chapter 11. I’ve been seeing readers on TikTok and on one of my favorite author’s Facebook groups talk about wanting authors to bring back chapter names. I’ve always loved chapter names. I had one book I wanted to use lyrics for every chapter too – but then I found out how hard it is to do that and I kicked that idea to the curb. I think I’ll go with chapter names. These are sort of random right now. On my second pass, there’s a good chance most of them will change. Except I have a feeling “What the hell am I doing here?” and “The perfect getaway for people who don’t like people,” will stick.  🤣 Okay, done rambling now.