Zeena & Ayshah...congrats on your writing projects. I considered writing my own memoir a few years ago but the subject will still too raw (my experience in a born-again cult). So, instead I'm writing a novel and play (and probably a screenplay) about self-destruction and redemption.

Ayshah...my advice about writing...create an outline about what you plan to write. I never believed in outlines, but they work so well. I created a 6-7 page outline that described my characters and that described what would happen in each chapter of my novel. It's simply a roadmap to guide me. The novel is constantly evolving...new characters appear, while others are dropped...new story arcs are explored. But having the outline to guide me works so incredibly well. I know where I'm going and I set goals to get there. I'd suggest doing the same. Right now, I have 9 chapters done, or 27,000 words. I set a goal of writing 2 chapters per month. I keep a running log of how may pages I've written and how many words I've written. That encourages me and gives me the boost to write more.

I'm about to start chapter 10 on the fourth of July. My goal is to be done with the novel by February and already have plans for a sequel and another novel involving new characters. Like I said, I want to turn the novel into a screenplay, too. I think I may need to clone myself!!

I would love to read your book about Aine!!