Explanations, but not Excuses

There are few words to express a lack of presence online. So I'm not sure how I'm supposed to start this post. I could say, "I've been busy," but that would be only too true for all of us. At least, us as in Americans. And "I've been depressed" is just, well, depressing. It's true. I've been struggling for the past two semesters, and I finally want to get things going again here. I have plans for this summer, and I want to share it with you all. I want to catch up on life from the past. So, in the interest of keeping things short and sweet, as is my new resolution to blog posts (so they don't eat up my life), I'll give a quick overview of things to come and then end this thing.

The past:

1. Calvin College Festival of Faith and Writing (my first writers' conference!)
2. Novella class
3. My second long-term experience with depression

As for the future, there's just one thing: 

Seven weeks in Tansen, Nepal!

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Gone For a Month...And An Award?

I am a bit ashamed. And embarrassed. I slink back to my blog with low aspirations of reception because I have neglected it for a month. And yet, in my absence, it seems I have received a blogger award?! From Kate Coursey, which is an honor is itself, as she is a kick-butt author and teen with multiple books finished, one undergoing editing by Scholastic Press, and another being represented by Edward Necarsulmer IV at McIntosh and Otis. Her accomplishments are enough to encourage any teen author, so check her out!

My Birthday and 19 Words of Wisdom

There have been lots of news I've been hiding from everyone. Or rather, the news crept up on me without my remembrance, so I'm not really responsible for it, right?

"Guess what? It's my birthday!"

A) I'm in Black Hills, South Dakota taking summer science classes

B) Yesterday was my birthday!

Creating the Killer Title

It came to my observation the other day that successful novel titles are all very similar. Classics, fantasy, romance, children's books - they all have one thing in common. Nouns.

How to Keep Your Blog From Destroying Your Life

 Blogs aren't supposed to destroy your life, but it can happen. Here is the countdown to life explosion and how to avoid it.