R.F. Gammon Author

Know the Novel: Both My WIPs

by R.F. Gammon - October 15, 2024

HELLO it is that time of year again! I am not participating in FicFrenzy this year (because I have an insane amount of stuff happening in October/November) and I am not participating in NaNoWriMo this year (because MY GOSH who needs NaNo? Who LIKES NaNo? I'm literally so over NaNo. Gonna write a breakup song about how NaNo broke my heart), but I'm still doing tons of writing (to procrastinate all the stuff happening in October/November!) so I wanted to jump on the Know the Novel tag!

This tag is originated and maintained by the immaculate Christine Smith and if you don't follow her...what are you doing with your life? Go read about her amazing sounding book and more.

Anyway, today we have not one but TWO WIPs to discuss because I am an over achiever and cannot sit still. Let's talk my two current novels!

Pentegreens Book 1: The King's Daughter

WIP Known only as: Trucker

1. What first sparked the idea for this novel?

TKD: This WIP is so old that I couldn't even tell you at this point. It's been kicking around in my brain in some form or fashion since I was 6 years old. That thing is older than some of my readers at this point. I don't know where it came from, but at this point: I'm writing the non-toxic romance we all need to see in this Booktok world.

Trucker: A combination of my fascination with long-term nuclear waste storage, my visit to Washington State and the North Cascades, and my constant inability to not write complex and painful brother-sister relationships

2. Share a blurb (or just an overall summary)!

TKD: Six months of war have brought the enemy to Princess Esma Pentegreen's very city. The revelation that the mysterious Lord Dauthang has been hunting her down all along is bad enough, but then the enemy general's son appears in her father's throne room, begging for amnesty. They can't trust him. Esma knows she can't trust him. But as her family begins to fall under the weight of war and the enemy draws closer, she begins to wonder: could he be less of a monster than she'd imagined? Or is he just another enemy?

Trucker: Tyler hauls vegetables from Canada to Seattle in the aftermath of nuclear war. His sister, Sienna, defends their town from looters and enemies. But when Sienna's ex, Franco, shows up to warn them that his definitely evil father is trying to take over the supply chain, things go dicey.

3. Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects of the setting?

TKD: This book in the series takes place almost entirely in Esma's capital city of Misue and the surrounding forests. It's a lot like Minas Tirith, but as the years have gone by, I've really worked to try to make this place more of its own unique setting and not just Middle Earth. What that leads to? A whole heck of a lot of industry. Also a military encampment in the middle of the woods.

Trucker: This is set entirely in the northernmost part of the Pacific Northwest. I fell in love with this area when I visited and I cannot wait to go back. The tallest mountains in the Lower 48 and tiny towns nestled among them? Mountains literally named Mt. Tribulation and Mt. Damnation? I love this setting and it is one of the most surreal real-world places I've ever been.

4. Tell us about your protagonist(s).

TKD: Princess Esma Pentegreen is our main character. She's a shy but determined girl who is determined to see justice and who loves good and beautiful things. Her entire thing is trying to stop a war by understanding the other side, and her heart is so full of love for everyone around her.

Trucker: We have two in this one, Tyler Harris and Sienna Harris. Tyler is a happy-go-lucky mountain man who's prepared for anything, because he knows what happened last time he wasn't. Sienna is a tough-as-nails sharpshooter who cannot feel any emotions or love or anything else, because she knows what happened last time.

5. Who (or what) is the antagonist?

In both books: the MMC's evil dad!

TKD: There is a real series villain, Lord Dauthang, who the DnDers would probably call the BBEG. But in book 1, he's entirely offscreen and behind the scenes. In TKD, the real villain is Burashna Woods, general of Dauthang's army and governor (read: king) of Esma's neighboring nation, Venaria. He's made a deal with Dauthang for nefarious reasons (vengeance and power), and he's ready to do whatever it takes to get what he perceives as justice...and to protect his family from the Pentegreens at any and all costs.

Trucker: The villain is Peter Bismark. Sienna was in a relationship with his son, Franco, until Franco started working for him. Sienna still blames Peter for killing her dad. For years, Peter has had a rival trucking and logistics business, which Sienna's father never saw as a big deal...until Peter started caring less about the money and more about gaining power in a nuclear apocalypse. Now everyone has concerns.

6. What excites you the most about this novel?

TKD: I feel like I've finally unlocked the story and I'm so excited to finish this draft, edit it, and start PITCHING IT EEP

Trucker: I've never written apocalyptic before, but it's so fun and also I'm in love with my prose so far

7. Is this going to be a series? standalone? something else?

TKD: First of a series of four, plus two prequel novellas

Trucker: currently standalone

8. Are you plotting? pantsing? plansting?

TKD: the whole book is already written and this is just a scene by scene rewrite, so...plotting I guess?

Trucker: PANTSING BABY WHO NEEDS A CONCLUSION

9. Name a few unique elements in this story.

TKD: fire and ice motifs! Extremely slow burn to the point where you're concerned that they'll never actually 'fess up! Multiple villains! Soft, kind female protagonist who never actually stops being soft and kind!

Trucker: long-term nuclear waste storage! Magical realism in the apocalypse! Folklore!

10. Share some fun “extras” of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map you’ve made, a special theme you’re going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).

Since I'm already writing both of these: How about a couple of snippets from each?

TKD snippets:

Esma looked up into her mother’s eyes and saw the flames still dancing there. Mama had not given up.

She couldn’t either.

“I’m so weak,” she whispered before she could stop herself. “And I’m so afraid. I’m useless and hopeless and—”

“None of that is true, my love.” Mama ran her fingers through Esma’s hair. “You are not hopeless. Your hope is the fire that burns in your heart and it keeps all of us looking up. You always, always point to the Mighty One. You find something bright. You grit your teeth and you keep going.” She placed both hands on Esma’s shoulder, and the warmth in her fingers dispelled the cold entirely. Esma let out a sigh of relief in the sudden heat. “You don’t have to fight. Letting your eyes stay on the stars and your hands stay full of warmth? That’s enough. That’s all you need to do. It makes you strong.”

A sob choked from Esma and she fell forward. Mama sank to her knees before Esma’s chair and pulled her into her arms. Her shoulder was so soft against Esma’s cheek.

The murmur of Mama’s words filled her ears, like a lullaby from beyond the sky, from the Mighty One himself.

“Listen to me, my daughter. You are not a failure. You are my brave, beautiful girl. You are the most precious thing in my life, and if I lost you, I would tear the world apart to get you back. I will never let you go. I love you more than you can ever even imagine. You are my strong, strong daughter and you are enough.”

There, in the safety of her mother’s arms, Esma could finally let the tears fall fast and thick and free.

There were eyes on Rishatta. He could feel their weight, their judgment, their questions. He had always been the camp enigma, the one no one understood. He was the general’s son, a man without a rank, unwilling to fight, unwilling to stand down. His father was the most powerful man in Venaria, and all he had was a thin chill. He loved Venaria. He loved his people, his nation. He was a living scandal. He had never belonged. He had never found somewhere he wanted to belong.

Trucker:

Donna shook her head. “It’s funny. You know Yellowstone?”

Sienna nodded. When she was a kid, Mom and Dad had taken them there on a road trip. At the age of six, she’d done nothing but complain about how long the car ride was. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, she just wished she could get back in that car and see them again. This time, she’d do it right. This time, she wouldn’t take it for granted.

“When I was small, I heard about how if Yellowstone erupted, it would kill us all. It would be the worst possible natural disaster. And Mami used to take no end about Krakatoa and the ashfall from that, and how it made the sun go black. People remember volcanoes forever.”

Sienna tried to smile but couldn’t find it in herself. “I try not to.”

“I was so afraid that there would be a natural disaster, back in the day. So scared that Yellowstone would blow up and kill us all with ash.” Donna shook her head. “Who’d have thought that humans could do that ourselves?”

“We’ve always been capable of destruction far beyond our greatest dreams. It’s just that people decided to think past their dreams. They made it reality.”

The Keeper did not blink. He did not move. Tyler had never, in all of his years, seen the Keeper blink. He stood motionless as stone, staring at the mountains like he belonged to them. Perhaps he did. Perhaps he was a spirit, just like the mountains.

His boots, pure new leather, creaked as he took a step toward Tyler.

Tyler gulped and backed up.

“They call it the Blast,” the Keeper whispered, his voice echoing through the canyon, even louder than the rushing water below. “But it was far more than that. The trees, the earth, the fields…they will all die, Tyler Harris. They will burn, and no one will stop this.”

Roaring sounded behind them. Tyler’s stomach turned to ice. The biker gang? The ruffians who would simply not leave him alone?

The icy air bit into his neck. It was too early in the year for heavy snowfall, but he had to hurry. Perhaps the prickling on his neck was just his fear, but he knew better. Fear would be easy. Snow was far harder. “I have the coin,” he said, trying not to rush, because everyone knew better than to rush the Keeper. “Let me get it, and I will pay passage and cross.”

“You must not let this place perish,” the Keeper whispered. “They warned of thousands of years of fallout. They warned about all of the darkness stored below, of the things no one has ever seen. But they do not know anything. There is far more below.” He raised his hand to the waterfall.

Tyler’s skin was ice, far more than the air. “What are you saying?” he hissed.

“This place,” the Keeper whispered, “is not a place of honor.”

Ice. It was creeping down Tyler’s neck, drowning him, gripping his throat with fear. The words were familiar, somehow, hidden somewhere in the back of his mind like he could think of something, anything, that he’d heard before—

So anyway that's my WIPs! What are you all working on? Which of this stories intrigues you more? Chat with me in the comments!

4 comments

Hobbies for Writers: Five Things To Refill Your Creative Well That Don't Involve Words

by R.F. Gammon - September 02, 2024

We're writers. Therefore, we're (usually) readers. Therefore, we blog or make videos. Stories. Words, words, everywhere. They're all around us. They're everywhere we look.

But what if you're burnt out? What if words are exhausting to you right now? What if you want to read, but you start to feel like if you read any more books right now, you'll hit serious creative burnout?

Creative burnout is so real and so dangerous for us as writers. It saps our strength. It takes our feelings and turns them into all-encompassing heavy weights that keep us from getting words onto paper. That's our goal. That's our purpose. That's what we were MADE for. And yet it's so easy to feel like finding the words is impossible.

I faced that as I finished the first summer of graduation. I was burnt out personally in a lot of ways, exhausted, and uncertain how to finish writing books. I had just finished a first draft that in many ways was cathartic, but in a lot of others was exhausting and difficult to process emotionally. This was a recipe for disaster. I'd also just hit a point of reading 120 books in 2024. While I'm very proud of that number, I also am SO burnt out from reading, and I'm still taking a break from reading so that I don't just force myself to do it for numbers' sake.

Here's how I kept myself from burning out: creative outlets that didn't involve words. It's not hard to find them, although they do take a little more work than just picking up a book. Let's talk about five things that will help you, as a creative, to become a more well-rounded person and also keep you from burnout.

1. Handicrafts, especially needle crafts

I used to crochet a TON, but now I'm /really/ getting back into it. I used to only make little projects like potholders or scarves, but I'm now crocheting bookmarks, coasters, and flowers and trying to get into things like clothing.

Needle crafts are amazing because they're intensive and occupying, but you can also multitask while you do them. Talk to friends! Watch a show! Listen to a podcast (or even an audiobook) or music! It's wonderful and it works. Also, the investment to payoff ratio is incredible. You can finish so many little crochet projects very quickly, and that, my friend, is dopamine. WE ALL NEED THE DOPAMINE.

2. Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles are SO GOOD for your brain. I don't have any science about that, specifically, but what I can tell you is that there is nothing bad about doing a puzzle and succeeding. Again I say: dopamine, cousins. Dopamine.

In addition: it's addictive! It's fun! It's amazing! Do more puzzles, I am so serious.

3. Exercise

I can imagine you all booing me right now. I am booing me too. Frankly, I haven't been good about working out at ALL (I do not have a gym membership right now, and I am FEELING the pain of that). But exercise doesn't have to mean cardio or anything like that (unless you like cardio! In which case: yeah, go right ahead, queen!) Go for a walk. Go for a stroll. Do some jumping jacks. If you're like the kid I babysit, do some burpees (he claims they're the best thing ever. I find that suspicious). No matter how you do it, get your body moving. It's so good for you and it'll actually get the creative juices flowing like nothing else can.

4. Music

This can look like listening to music or making music. Personally, I think everyone should have a musical outlet. If you're not a singer, find an instrument. If you don't have a budget, that's okay! Personally, I get my music from playing piano. You can usually find pianos for VERY cheap on Facebook Marketplace, but another option is to get a very cheap ukulele and learn to play four basic chords. That will open literally so many doors. I know that's just another skill thing, but it is SO helpful and cathartic and it'll make you so proud of yourself.

5. Cooking/baking

It is finally starting to cool off (not really, but let a girl dream) and that means fall, which means baking. Baking means all kinds of sweet treats, which is always a wonderful idea. Even if you have tons of dietary limitations (like me), there are awesome, simple recipes all over Pinterest for bakers of every skill level. Alternatively, if you don't have a ton of free time or disposable income: try using the ingredients you already have to make a really creative dinner at least one night a week. If you have kids, they may not love this, but the adults will be either very supportive or very personally opposed. I suggest starting by combining a seafood (any kind works great!) or white chicken meat, honey, and soy sauce with a little garlic and sriracha if you like spice. Tofu also works for this if you are vegetarian.

In conclusion: Not every hobby has to do with story. Sometimes, it's okay to skip the TV or skip the book or close the laptop and do something with your hands. In fact, I sincerely recommend it. I've been doing all of these thing a LOT this summer and going into this fall, and it's been life-changing.

(Also: It is breaking my Instagram reel addiction, which is ALWAYS a good thing).

What's your non-word creative hobby? Let me know in the comments!

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Big Life Updates: First Half of 2024

by R.F. Gammon - June 17, 2024

Hey guys! It's been a long few months since I've posted to the blog, but I wanted to go ahead and drop a nice juicy life update for anyone who might still be reading my blog. Real life has been huge, but I'm working on trying to reconnect here on the blog. It's been a busy, busy, busy season, so let's dive right into recapping January-June!

The flu!

Let's start with the worst one: having the flu TWICE in one year is a bit much. I haven't had it since I was like...I don't even know. I think it's been something like 7-10 years since I've had the flu, so I certainly wasn't expecting to get it 3 times in 15 months--but here we are. Get your flu shots, kids. Don't be like me and procrastinate and say "I'll get the shot next Saturday." GUESS WHAT YOU WILL HAVE NEXT SATURDAY INSTEAD. [disclaimer:notmedicaladviceandnotsponsoredthisisinfactajoke]

Photos taken minutes before disaster (also known as Faith Has the Flu and Does Not Yet Know It)

Girls' Trip to Baltimore

I've always wanted to travel over a spring break, and finally got the chance! It was a budget trip, but I had SUCH a good time seeing Inner Harbor, going to museums, visiting little coffee shops, and cooking budget frozen dinners in the hotel microwave.

New favorite photo of myself at the Walters' Art Museum

Bonus: me hysterically laughing at Edgar Allen Poe's tombstone

Other Big Life Things

Big Life Things will be announced probably in the year end post, but...big fun life things occurred in March ;)

The Eclipse

We only got about 93% totality where I was, but it was still so fun to go see this. The craziest thing? How much light still comes from 7% of the sun. Even at peak, it was so bright compared to the pictures of the total eclipse and my memories of the 2017 total eclipse.

(Turn around, bright eyes...*disappears in a whoosh of smoke*)

Terrible Photo of Partial Eclipse

Sherlock Holmes: The Stage Production

I was stage manager for our college's show, Sherlock Holmes and the Strange Case of Miss Faulkner, or just Sherlock, as we lovingly called it (the title is just a bit of a mouthful). It was SO fun to put this on, assemble the stage, bring it all together, attach everything...I really did have such a good time putting this show on, and we had the best cast EVER.

This photo was taken seconds before our producer started freaking out because he thought my foot was on the soundboard. Optical illusions aside: I am not actually interested in property damage.

Final College Dance

This was a surreal experience, but it was SO fun. I went with amazing friends and had a wonderful, wonderful time during the five minutes of dancing I participated in. The rest of the time we...hung out with too loud music. Oh well.

Theme was "floral garden party." I went as a Roman Emperor instead

Graduation

My four years of college are OVER! I had the best senior year I could have hoped for, and graduated with highest honors and a fancy piece of paper that says I understand English. Whoohoo.

Literally the only picture from commencement that's just me

Washington State

I have never been to Washington State or the Pacific Northwest, but we finally went and my goodness. I loved everything about it. I even got to visit Forks and make tearful videos about it (being a twilight reader is one of my main personality traits. Personally my favorite character is Bella's truck. #TeamBellaIsSingle) But the coast? The TREES? The glory? It was gorgeous. I sang so many hymns walking around the parks. God's grandeur is never more evident to me than when I'm at a national park. Also many, many, MANY plot bunnies were acquired on the trails.

Mt. St. Helens

Seattle

San Juan ferry line

Mt. Rainier waterfall

Mt. Rainier dome

the Oregon beach

North Cascades (highest alpine peaks in the lower 48)

Surgery

If you've followed me for a while, you will know that I've had chronic health issues for a great many years. I have a diagnosis now--endometriosis--and I had laparoscopic surgery to get rid of the lesions and help my body recover. It'll never be perfect--this is a chronic condition and can be alleviated but not fully removed--but God's been so good in letting me have relief in this way.

Surgery recovery was not the worst I've ever had (that honor goes to wisdom teeth), but still not fun. But now I'm doing SO WELL comparatively!

Anyway, that's been my past six months, in case anyone's been wondering what I've been up to! Let me know the most exciting thing that's happened to YOU so far this year <3

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How One Keeps Up With Writing in College

by R.F. Gammon - March 04, 2024

Ah, writing in college. It's so much harder than anyone tells you it's going to be, isn't it? They act like if you just care enough, it'll happen.

As a senior, final semester of college, even as an English major...that's not how it works.

There is a better way. I promise. I think it's important to remember that you can make time for anything if it's important enough to you. So if you love to write: you need to find time for it. No one else can do that for you, babe. No one.

So assuming that you care enough to find a way to fit it in: what are some methods to doing that?

Obviously I'm not an expert. But I /have/ been trying to write in college for four years now, so I think I know at least a little bit. Bear in mind that this is fully coming from an ADHD perspective, so the word "schedule" will not occur in here (because that isn't how I operate). But here they are: my top four tips for making sure you write in school!

1. This is not the time for that story you don't care about.

We all have multiple Kinds of stories, if you know what I mean. There's that story that feels marketable. There's that other one that's sort of fun but kind of meh. There's the one that doesn't matter at all. There's the editing project that makes you want to scream. And then...there's THAT STORY.

That's the one you want to work on when you're busy.

Because let's face it: you need something that's going to make you genuinely excited. You want a story that gets your brain firing and your excitement whirring. You aren't going to care about a book that you're writing because it "might sell." Write about your passion project. Write your favorite story. Rewrite the old WIP that just makes you thrilled. Write something that makes you excited to work on it, something you think about all day until it's actually time to write.

2. Set a goal (either in time or in words).

I tend to think in terms of word count when it comes to my WIPs. For me, it's easiest to set a goal of "write 500 words per day" or "write 5,000 words this week" and work toward that. I know not everyone works like that, and that those word counts can be more restrictive for some, so maybe set a goal of time if that works (fifteen minutes a day, half an hour a day). For me, I really draft very fast, so I'll write 1,000 words a day in about 20 minutes and that's my writing time. Making myself set that 1,000-word goal gives me something concrete to shoot for AND a potential ending date for the book, and both of those are huge when you're struggling with productivity.

3. Get right back on it once you miss a day.

This is the hardest thing for me, as an ADHD writer who really struggles to create habits. BUT it's an absolutely crucial practice. Get back in the saddle! One day isn't going to kill your streak, but multiple days will. So don't let it become several days unless you have a VERY good reason. For instance: I lost my streak during homecoming because it was SO insanely overwhelming to work and put together (I was not having fun at homecoming, I was organizing it. Lol. Help). You'll have your own hard seasons, but you can pull through. I believe in you.

4. Celebrate your wins!

Don't write in solitude. This is always true, but especially when it's a challenge to do it in the first place. Find a friend who cares about your writing and see if she'll help you stay accountable. I had Brooke help with this, and I also made sure I was telling my roommates when I wrote so they could give me the stink eye if I didn't. But just as important is celebrating when you do it. Have people you can TELL when you finish your manuscript or complete your streak. It's a big deal and it's worth celebrating! You're chasing your goals and you're doing great. That's huge.

I hope these tips are helpful as we get back into school, especially if you're a freshman or early on in your college career! Let me know down below how you fit writing into your schedule, and if you have any other tips to suggest!

3 comments

Writer Resource Reviews: Podcasts and YouTubers Edition!

by R.F. Gammon - February 12, 2024

Hey guys! Today I have a resource list that I'm hoping will be really helpful for y'all :)

I've been really into audiobooks, podcasts, and podcast-style YouTube lately, so I'm hopeful that sharing some of my favorites (especially about writing) will inspire you guys and tickle your creativity! I have a few favorites that really get my creative juices flowing and I'm so excited to share about them.

The Writing With Ana Neu podcast and channel

Spotify | YouTube

Ana Neu is a writer whose advice is fabulous and who is just infectious in her joy about writing. She's a law student from Australia whose whole mojo is encouraging people to chase their craziest ideas and write for themselves first. Her tips have actually inspired me so much, and I listened to her every day on the way to work this past summer. If you're looking for pure inspiration and excitement, Ana is a wonderful resource.

Kate & Abbie Emmons

Spotify | Kate's YouTube | Abbie's YouTube

Kate and Abbie are old-time bloggers who have now made it really huge in the vlogging/podcasting world. They're both published authors in wildly different genres, which means that they have a TON of advice in all sorts of different perspectives. I find their advice to be best-suited for those who aren't entirely certain where to start and need very clear and formulaic advice for feeling truly comfortable as writers. I strongly recommend their podcast for long car trips, too--their voices are both so fun to listen to and I deeply enjoy just playing five episodes in a row.

K.M. Weiland: Helping Writers Become Authors

Spotify | YouTube

This might be the best writing podcast in existence. K.M. Weiland is a full-time author who spends so much of that time on putting together the best resources imaginable. She's so good at what she does, and I'm a huge, huge, HUGE fan of her podcast. With over 600 episodes, there's content here for everyone at every level of experience, and I could not recommend this more strongly. Her books on story structure are also top-tier, and while I have yet to read any of her novels, I'm very much looking forward to doing so.

These are my top three podcasts and I love them so much. If you have writing podcasts please drop me a recommendation--I'm always looking for more people to ramble about their writing. Help me fill up my car time, please!

2 comments

Time Management for Writers: The Dos and Don'ts

by R.F. Gammon - February 05, 2024

Without time management, we don't get writing done. I think it's also important to note that no matter how well you're doing it, you're engaging in time management. You might be managing your time poorly, and you might be doing it without much thought, but you are still managing your time. This is the same principle you might apply to money: you might not be employing specific budgeting tools or exercises, but you're still using your money.

The best way to manage your time does exist. It's a very specific method of time management and it's called YOU DO WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU AND YOUR LIFESTYLE.

This is really different from what I hear from most "productivity experts" and gurus, but the thing is: most of them are single, relatively wealthy men with 9-5 jobs and no health issues. I don't know many writers who fall into any of those categories, and those who do don't meet all of them for sure. A lot of tips are catered specifically to one demographic and have absolutely no flexibility for parents, married couples, people working more than one job, people whose houses are far away from their jobs, etc.

So to do time management well, we have to remember: It's about what works for YOU and your lifestyle, not what works for the gurus who make their livings off telling you what to do.

Tip #1: Don't try to shoehorn in things that you just don't want to do.

When you're making your schedule, don't be guilt-tripped into adding things you see others do. You don't like the gym? Don't add it. It's that simple. If moving your body doesn't mean the gym, don't go to the gym. That simple.

Tip #2: Do focus on the things you already do.

Back to the subject of exercise: maybe your preferred way to exercise is going for a walk. That's definitely mine, with weightlifting in a strong second. But maybe you used to do that after lunch and you haven't made time to do it since. Instead of trying to rearrange your schedule to work in that noontime walk, find a new time to do it. Walking matters to you. Could you go after dinner? Could you go later in the evening? Could you go early in the morning? Could you maybe just walk a couple times a week, to start with?

Instead of focusing on unrealistic additions to your schedule, focus on scheduling IN the things you aready do or want to be more consistent in. What is your ideal day? Work towards that.

Tip #3: Don't neglect your writing.

You're a writer. That's a crucial part of your identity and your life. It's also an entire other job and that's a big deal. A lot of times, I think the problem with time management tips is that these gurus stick you with dozens of little things you didn't need or want to do. For instance: if you have a perfectly good system for meal prepping, DON'T CHANGE IT. (Go back to #1).

But your writing is not just another task. This is a HUGE deal that we can't just neglect. I've neglected my writing at so many different seasons in my life and I'm so tired of that. It's time to add it back in.

With those three big tips out of the way: How do we work in our writing? Unfortunately, I'm going to tell you to tune in next time to find that out ;)

2 comments

Faith Gets Ambitious: 2024 Writing Goals (When Are My Writing Goals Un-Ambitious?)

by R.F. Gammon - January 22, 2024

Hello all! It's me, back again with more goals for 2024. This time, we have a thousand books we're going to write. Or at least try to write. Let's figure this out.

Working Title: Dragon Tales

First off: We have Dragon Tales book 1. That's my actual current WIP at the time of writing this post and it's a hot mess, but I love it. I ended up having to start over, even though my first try was at 70k. Why was this? Well, let's discuss.

Normally, I write books with a TON of POVs. The original form of the Pentegreens series? 7 POVs by the end, including 2 villain POVs. Holding Up the Sky? 7 POVs. My Greek mythology book? Going to have 5 POVs. I was very used to this concept and I enjoyed it. I loved these big, vast books that delved into so many characters' heads. I was fully prepared for 6 POVs in Dragon Tales.

And then I realized: Dragon Tales was too complex.

I think books need to start out with less complexity, even if they're planning to get there eventually. Lord of the Rings doesn't start with the POVs of all 9 companions; it starts with just Frodo and adds in subplots and side quests and other POVs as the story progresses and widens. And THAT is what I needed. Not a book with so many spread out people. That will come later. So now, I have gone through and cut out two of the POVs and an entire subplot. We have actual MCs. We have an actual main plot. Things are tight and that is good.

My goal for this year: Finish this book, clean it up, and send it off to a second pair of eyes.

Working Title: Family Feud

My second planned WIP for the year is one I'm simply calling Family Feud. I can't share too much yet, but basically: imagine the world of Ancient Rome, with the messiest politics imaginable and a queen who doesn't want to be the one responsible for fixing it. I'm so excited to share more about this one when the time is right.

Goal for this year: Have a draft.

Working Title: Wanderess & Winged

I've been trying to write this for forever, so I think I probably should actually get on it. Basically: Greek mythology is cool. Ensemble casts are cool. The Greek heroes need a makeover. I'm going to write a book that does that.

Goal for 2024: Rewrite this for the third time (third time's the charm?)

Editing Projects

Yes, I definitely have too many projects slated. However, with college graduation on the horizon, I figure: better more goals than less for this year. I can't wait to share some of these with you guys.

There are three editing projects I really want to get on this year, but I'm holding those cards close to my chest. Honestly, most of my writing stays close to my chest these days. I'm sharing vibes and not much else. I've really been a fan of the authors who drop everything about a project at once when it gets picked up by someone, and that's one of my goals. I'm especially planning on hybrid publication in the next couple years, so I'll be both querying and pursuing self-publication. Stay tuned for more on that :)

What will you be writing this year? Let me know down below if you're working on any new projects you're especially excited about!

8 comments

2024 TBR

by R.F. Gammon - January 15, 2024

Hey everyone!

In 2020 I made a month-by-month TBR. This year's will be simpler, but I'll be thrilled if/when I can get to these particular books. Some of them are new releases, but a LOT are backlog books for me, so we'll see how this shapes up!

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

This is one of the few C.S. Lewis books I haven't read yet. I've been meaning to get to it forever, and we actually own a copy now, so I'm excited to see what Lewis has to say. His theology tends to make things click for me in a way few other things do.

The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black

Le sigh. I'm not actually excited about this book after The Stolen Heir was one of my least favorites of 2023, but I'm going to read it anyway because Jude and Cardan are in it and I want to know what happens to Oak.

Destroy the Day by Brigid Kemmerer

I am DESPERATE for this book. I need it yesterday. Oh my gosh. I cannot wait and I NEED IT NOW OH MY GOSH. That's about all I have to say after the ending of book two ripped out my heart and stomped on it.

Into The Fire by Hayley Reese Chow (cover is not yet revealed)

Into the Churn was one of my top books of 2023, so I'm on the edge of my seat for the sequel. It functioned pretty well as a standalone, but I can't WAIT to find out what comes next.

Lore by Alexandra Bracken

This one looks like a not-so-great Greek myth retelling, and I like my mythos faithful to the source material, but I'm willing to give it a try, if only because Greek mythology is my favorite thing.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

2024 is going to be the year I finally catch up on Austen. I still need to read this one, Persuasion, and Emma, and I'd like to reread Sense and Sensibility. Austen was one of the greatest early novelists and kind of invented the genre, so I love the concept of delving deeper into her work.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

This is another classic I'd love to read this year. It's a THICC boi, hence why I haven't gotten to it yet, but I'd like to delve more into history and literature and their intersections (as that is my preferred field of study) and this feels like a great starting place.

A Crown of Chains by Erin Phillips

I had the privilege of meeting Erin last summer, and I can't wait to actually read this book. It's an Esther retelling and it just sounds so so good. Biblical retellings are my jam.

So there you have it: 8 books I'm making a priority in 2024. What's on your 2024 TBR? Let me know in the comments!

5 comments

2023 Wrapup Post: More Reading Than I've Ever Done, ALMOST DONE WITH COLLEGE, Writing (??)

by R.F. Gammon - January 01, 2024

Hi friends! The TIME HAS COME. What time, you ask? The time for that yearly wrapup I do every single year!

I absolutely love these posts--they're such a fun little time capsule for me as a person. I've changed so much since 2017, and it's been super fun to look at the six (6????!!!) years of blogging I've done and see all my change and

Music of 2023

I didn't honestly listen to tons of music this year. I had a few favorite artists and a few genuinely heart-wrenching songs that got me, but I actually ended up getting way way way into podcasts and podcast-style YouTube this year.

Some favorite artists:

NOAH FREAKING KAHAN. Stick Season (and especially the extended version) is just the story of my life. I actually wish I could still gatekeep Noah Kahan. I don't normally do that with artists, but guys *sobs* guys. So many people listen to Noah Kahan and I KNOW that none of them are from rural New England. The vibes of his music are great regardless of where you're from, but songs like You're Gonna Go Far, Northern Attitude, New Perspective, Homesick...it's the kind of thing that only Noah's target audience are going to fully understand (and that's okay!) As a kid from rural Maine...wow. Wow. Wow.
PVRIS. Brooke has been trying to convince me to get into PVRIS' music for a very long time, and this year I finally relented. And she was right, of course.
Fall Out Boy. I've always loved Fall Out Boy, but this year WE GOT A NEW ALBUM and it was everything my emo kid heart could have wanted.
Fleetwood Mac. I read Daisy Jones & The Six this year and decided to look into the band that inspired the book, and GOSH they lived up to that. Daisy Jones was good and all, but FLEETWOOD MAC. It's just another level. Obsessed with this coked-up band from the '70s and their diss tracks.
Paris Paloma. I LOVE me a good feminine rage track.
Gracie Abrams. I haven't really been into the whole sad girl with a guitar genre, but Gracie's lyricism truly hits another level. She's so vulnerable and soft and I just love it with my entire heart.
Alec Benjamin. Y'all deserve another male singer on this list. Also I love folk-sy boys who sing about their feelings. We need more of that.

Books of 2023

Y'all, this was my biggest reading year since 2018. I wish I were joking. That year I hit 110. This year? ALREADY AT 116 ON THE 16TH OF DECEMBER, BABY. Final count? More than that.

I've already done a ton of posts on my reading for this year, but I'll just tell you all the books I gave five stars this year. These are all books I recommend (not all of them to everybody. I will give content/trigger warnings if they apply; look for the *).

Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis
*Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (normal Shakespeare levels of crudity and sexuality, meaning it's clean if you don't comprehend Shakespearean English and nasty if you do)
*That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis (extreme violence)
Miracles by C.S. Lewis (sensing a pattern?)
Til We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis (reread)
Illuminare by Bryn Shutt
Munich, 1938: David Faber
Holding on to Hope: Nancy Guthrie
*The Odyssey by Homer (it's a classic. There's a lot of violence and a lot of nudity, etc. It's ancient Greece)
*Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games series reread; watch for violence)
The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine (reread)
*A Name Long Buried by C.M. Banschbach (2nd in a series; pretty intense violence, language, and depictions of PTSD)
Into the Churn by Hayley Reese Chow
The Traitor's Game by Jennifer Nielsen
*The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (reread; some sensual stuff and violence)
*A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (7th reread; clean but an extreme look at grief)
*Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (reread; very very intense, with themes of murder, assault, and other very dark elements, but with a LOT of hope)
*Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross (THIS WAS SO GOOD. Some sensual content but it's also incredibly sweet)
Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Duggar Vuolo
*What is a Girl Worth? by Rachael Denhollander (this is a memoir that is INCREDIBLY intense in dealing with the Larry Nassar case. It's very graphic and very vivid. It hurts to read but it's worth it)
Of Sea and Smoke by Gillian Bronte Adams
The Plague by Albert Camus
*The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black (see The Cruel Prince)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shafer (the book is way better than the movie)
The Heart of the Curiosity by H.L. Burke

Writing in 2023

I have issues y'all. I can't write as obsessively as I used to and so I blame myself for that. I did a few projects here and there, but I think I can honestly say this is the first year in a long time I haven't finished a new WIP. That stings a little. But that's okay. Truly.

Because writing isn't about the rush. It's not about the slamming through projects. It's about learning and it's about joy. This has been a year of many, many, MANY doubts and much self-introspection. I wanted to do so much more this year, but I didn't. And I'm realizing: That is okay. I'm allowed to not have a thousand words per day. I'm allowed to struggle with writing. I'm allowed to need time.

Eventually, I will be done with a bestseller.

Here's the handful of little projects I've put together:

I did a little bit of querying for one of my older WIPs. It didn't get anywhere, but that's okay. I'll be rewriting that draft (yet) again before too long.
Edits on A Deal of Knives and I really do think I'm going to try to do things with that book someday? We shall see.
I started slowly but surely working on Dragon Tales and we're at like...60k? I'm not paying much attention to word count this time, because it's not really affecting the actual story. So many rewrites are needed anyway that I can't focus on that.
Lots of academic writing. When you're an English major, you don't write much fun stuff. But I'm enjoying my academic studies.

Life in 2023

JANUARY: I moved back to college//started bullet journaling//took 17 credits on top of my part time job//at this point, I thought I could do everything

FEBRUARY: saw The Horse and His Boy on stage//deadlifted 80 pounds//hung out with my sister

MARCH: ran a debate tournament//worked more than I've ever worked in my life//hit 800 followers on Insta

APRIL: turned 21//ran a symposium//spent so much time at home

MAY: visited Smoky Mountains National Park//went camping//new job//ran graduation

JUNE: read SO MANY BOOKS//got into audiobooks//hung out with the grandparents//applied for internships (oh well)

JULY: cleaned out my email inbox (this is HUGE y'all)//VBS at my church//vibed//my sister graduated from high school!

AUGUST: helped run a wedding//orientation//hung out at the library

SEPTEMBER: got cast in a play//hospitalized (again)//made SO MUCH MONEY from babysitting

OCTOBER: visited my friend in Missouri//survived Homecoming//went to another friend's wedding//went to the mountains//lots of beauty and lots of amazingness

NOVEMBER: actually, my entire life this month was Clue//I played Yvette (the French maid) and ended up as the accidental stage engineer//still read a ton

DECEMBER: trip to California//home for Christmas//YOU CAN COUNT ON ME

So that's about all for me! Let me know some things that you did in 2023, and maybe your top book or song for the year! I'd love to hear about your life :D