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[michaelashields-blog]

I’ve got some big life changes all happening at once this summer. For the first time ever, we, my little family, will be moving out of our hometown. I mean, it’s only an hour away, but as someone who has never lived anywhere else, it’s crazy and new. Even crazier, we have to try to sell our house and purchase the new one all within the next two months so we’re settled before my husband’s school year starts. Because of all of this happening very suddenly and needing to finish up quickly, I’m not sure how frequent my posting here will be. I’m not even sure if I’ll meet my two goals I set up for myself in my last post. The determination is there... I’ll just need to go easy on myself if I don’t make it 😉 — — #writersofinstagram #writerslife #writersofig

[michaelashields-blog]

#junelitwrit Day 1: #TBR and monthly goals . . . All that’s on my TBR for June is Lord of the Rings. I read and write fantasy, and yet I’ve never read LotR. Pretty sure it’s blasphemous, and I’m done being a little blasphemer. I’m a slow reader, so it will take me all of June if not some of July to finish the series . . . As far as monthly goals, I’m striving to get through the midpoint of my first draft. Along with being a slow reader, I’m also a slow writer. Thankfully, I’m going to have far more writing opportunities this summer than I have the last few months, so I hope to get tons written! I’d originally planned on slowly churning the rough draft out over a year’s time, but I think I could possibly finish the first draft by either Thanksgiving or possibly Halloween of this year. If that happens, I could start sharing more of my story with y’all! . . . So what about you? 🙃 — — #writer #amwriting #writing #writersofinstagram #amwritingfantasy #writerlife #writersofig #wordsmith #writingcommunity #books #bookworm #reading #bibliophile #bookish #booklover #writerscommunity #worldbuilding #fantasy #plotting #booknerdigans #lordoftherings #lotr #jrrtolkien #read #reader

[michaelashields-blog]

Starting the morning off right with some words, words, words. ☀️ ✍️ . . . I managed to write half a scene over the weekend, but that’s more than no writing! I’ll be working hard the rest of this summer to try to get as much of this first draft written as possible. — #writer #amwriting #writing #writersofinstagram #amwritingfantasy #writerlife #writersofig #wordsmith #writingcommunity #books #bookworm #reading #bibliophile #bookish #booklover #writerscommunity

[michaelashields-blog]

Morning cuddles with furry poodles 💕 Lots of plans with family and friends this weekend means less time for writing. However, it’s been nice spending time with friends this weekend. It’s so easy to get caught up in life and suddenly a year goes by and you’ve barely talked to people you enjoy hanging out with. . . Anyway...I’m going to take some of today away from the crowd today and hammer out a couple scenes. Then the fun continues tomorrow with more family ♥️ — — #writer #amwriting #writing #writersofinstagram #amwritingfantasy #writerlife #writersofig #wordsmith #writingcommunity #books #bookworm #yorkiepoo #yorkiepoosofinstagram #puppylove #doglover #dogcuddles

[michaelashields-blog]

My parents are on a road trip from Montana to Texas. They’ve made stops along the Grand Tetons, all through Yellowstone, and whenever they spotted some bison. I wanted to share some of the pictures they’ve been sending the rest of us over the last few days. . . #writersofinstagram #writerslife #writersofig #writing #grandtetons #yellowstone #roadtrip #photography #nature #naturephotography #wanderlust #travel #northamerica #nationalpark

[michaelashields-blog]

Another good round of writing last night! Whenever I write fights (not physical), the words just come to me easier than any other scene. I know what these characters finally want to say to each other, and they know exactly what to say to hurt the other most. Now I need them to make up so they can tackle the much bigger problem ahead of them and their country . . . ✍️ What’s your favorite type of scene to write? — — #writer #amwriting #writing #writersofinstagram #amwritingfantasy #writerlife #writersofig #wordsmith #writingcommunity #books #bookworm #reading #bibliophile #bookish #booklover #writerscommunity #writergirl #worldbuilding #fantasy #plotting #booknerdigans #authortobe

[michaelashields-blog]

I started reading Neverwhere by @neilhimself just a couple days ago right after my husband finished it. So happy to dive back into his prose! ALSO, Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar are the stuff of nightmares. . . . ⭐️ What’s the scariest character you’ve come across in books? 📚 — — #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerd #bookworm #reader  #bookphoto #neilgaiman #bookish #bookblogger #instareads #coverlove #bookobsessed #bookaholic #bookporn #bookphotography #reading #read #booknerdigans #londonvibes

[michaelashields-blog]

So, I got a question. In a lot of books and tv shows, girl's periods are almost never mentioned. My mc of my book is a female and she's on a quest that takes about a few months, so I was going to mention it. Like, it's not going to be in the readers face, but I want it in there because I think a period is something that should be normalized. What are your thoughts?

Every single one of my writer friends is mentioning periods in their WIP for the exact same reason, myself included.

You go menstruate the crap outta that story.

(Not really, but you know what I mean)

[michaelashields-blog]

Sometimes you just need to get up and watch the sunrise. My favorite time of day to think, read, and write. . . ☀️ Which do you prefer? Sunsets or sunrises? ☀️ — — #writerslife #writer #writersofig #writersofinstagram #sunrise

[michaelashields-blog]

I had an excellent writing session last night. The words flowed out, and I’m right at my first plot point. Major things are happening while the story really kicks into gear! . But, it has also become more obvious what the beginning of my manuscript is lacking. I’ve made notes to myself on what to fix and how to look at once I’ve completed my WIP. For now, it’s time to plow forward until this first draft is done! . . . ⭐️ When do you find yourself to be the most productive? Morning, afternoon, or evening? ⭐️ — — #writer #amwriting #writing #writersofinstagram #amwritingfantasy #writerslife #writersofig #wordsmith #writingcommunity #books #bookworm #reading #bibliophile #bookish #booklover #writerscommunity #writergirl #worldbuilding #fantasy #plotting #writersoninstagram

[michaelashields-blog]

Finally finished KEEPER! It took me longer than it should have. I’m not sure it was the book for me. I love Kim Chance and her positivity, but I had to force myself to finish her debut novel. I’m still planning on reading her next book to see how she grows as a writer. . . I’m taking a short break from fiction to pour something different into that creative well. Here’s to reading Serhii Plokhy’s The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine. And of course I need my blueberry muffin 😋. — — #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerd #bookworm #reader  #bookporn #bookphoto #bookish #bookblogger #instareads #coverlove #bookobsessed #bookaholic #bookporn #bookphotography #reading #read #bookreview #history #historybooks #ukraine #historybuff #lovehistory

[michaelashields-blog]

#maylitwrit Day 14: typed or handwritten? . I 100% prefer typing. I’m able to let those words fly out through my fingers into the keyboard as fast as I think them up. But handwriting? I’m painfully slow at that and end up second guessing every single mark on the page. . . . Kicking it in a Starbucks today. Somehow, the bustle around me made it easy to block out the world and work on my WIP, DEVOUR THE GODS, diligently. Without interruption. I’m super happy with all the work I am getting done today. It’s so exciting watching this come together firsthand. . . 🌟QUESTION for you! Do you prefer to work in a hectic, Starbucks-at-lunch-hour kind of atmosphere or a quiet corner, headphones in, tucked away from all other life? I want to know!🌟 — — #writer #amwriting #writing #writersofinstagram #amwritingfantasy #writerlife #writersofig #wordsmith #writingcommunity #books #bookworm #reading #bibliophile #bookish #booklover #writerscommunity #writergirl #worldbuilding #fantasy #plotting

[michaelashields-blog]

#maylitwrit Day 10: How do you keep creativity up? ✍️ 📚 . I read. I read history, I read myth, and I read the stories I love. Every book I read inspires me. I take from everything around me and feed that voracious need to create. The desire to create things never leaves me, and all I can do is add material to the flame. 🔥 . . . #writer #amwriting #writing #writersofinstagram #amwritingfantasy #writerlife #writersofig #wordsmith #writingcommunity #books #bookworm #reading #bibliophile #bookish #booklover #writerscommunity #writergirl #worldbuilding #fantasy #history #mythology #ilovehistory

[michaelashields-blog]

Starting my morning out just right with KEEPER. Finally got this little piece of Kim, and I’m excited to dive in! 💚💚💚 Oh hey! It happens to be @kimwritesbooks birthday today. This was seriously a coincidence but a happy one! Happy Birthday Kim Chance! 🎈 — #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerd #bookworm #reader #booklove #bookporn #bookphoto #ireadya #bookish #bookblogger #instareads #coverlove #bookobsessed #bookaholic #blueberrymuffin #bookphotography #reading #read #KEEPER

[michaelashields-blog]

I’m seriously in love with this book. My husband ordered The Prose Idda along with a couple Neil Gaiman books on a whim and on a similar whim, I picked this up to read as he finished up his Norse mythology book. It has been a very long time since I have felt this way, and I don’t even know how to describe this feeling. It’s just a happy book-reading kind of thing. I feel like I’m finally coming out of my 6 year reading slump. 6 *years*. — 🌟 Does anyone else have that one book that brought them out of their reading slump? I’d love to hear it! 🌟 — #bookstagram #bibliophile #booknerd #bookworm #reader #bookporn #bookphoto #ireadya #bookish #bookblogger #instareads #coverlove #neilgaiman #bookobsessed #bookaholic #bookporn #bookphotography #reading #read #readingslump #readingslumpover #middlegradebooks

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[michaelashields-blog]