One day, I was driving my Park Ranger truck back to my park house at the end of the day. It was the last day of work after a ten-day stretch. It was 5 PM, and I had the next four days off because by Wednesday I’d already logged 40 hours—and, best of all, I wouldn’t be on call.
When I was a Park Ranger, those days felt like the last day of school before summer break.
I was already mentally fast-forwarding to the freedom ahead—parking the truck, signing off the radio, grabbing what I needed. All the little things that would deliver me to rest and time to work on personal projects. And then it struck me: each step needed to happen in a specific order.
For example, I couldn’t park my truck while still driving the mile or so to my house. That would be…preposterous. First, I had to get to the house. Then I could park.
I’m not sure I’m explaining this perfectly, but in that moment, it made me laugh. I realized how often I expect things in my life to happen instantly, even though I know—logically—that some things take time. There’s a natural progression, and I don’t have to struggle through it. I can just enjoy “the drive home,” knowing the outcome is inevitable.
That idea has been sitting with me this week as I move through the steps of writing my books and creating the other things I feel nudged to bring into the world.
Some days, I want to rush. I get frustrated wondering why things aren’t happening faster. But then I remember:
I can’t park the truck until I get to the house.
I can’t go inside until I park.
And I can’t take off the uniform until I’m inside the house. (Okay, technically I could…but personally, I wouldn’t!)
Steps, steps, steps.
That’s where I’m at this week. I’m not in the reward phase of finishing a project, but I’m on the way. I’m moving in the right direction.
I mentioned in an earlier post how I was considering mirroring my workflow and writing plans to the seasons. If I were following that now, I would be planning and writing in the fall and winter.
I still love that idea and expect to return to it—but not just yet. First, I need to bring The AI Anomaly into the world.
I was trying to take my time with the writing, but this story wants out and it wants out now. I guess birthing stories is like birthing babies in that respect. When the gestation is done, the baby is coming. No point in resisting it, eh?
So, I’ve shifted my focus into making this happen sooner rather than later. I’m not trying to burn myself out in the process. My goal is to write 2–3 chapters a day (on weekdays) until I have a solid draft. Once that’s complete, I’ll be able to confidently announce a release date. That way, I’ll have plenty of time for editing and feedback from beta readers.
I’m looking forward to it—and I hope you are too. This “kid” is special to me.
I’ve mentioned in other posts that I grew up as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints (LDS). My siblings and I were read Bible stories and learned lots of church songs. We used to go to the “Old Folks Home” occasionally and make crafts with and sing for the elderly there. Growing up this way actually had a positive impact on my character.
Some things may have changed since I was a teen, but back in my day, when you started high school, you also began Seminary. Each morning before school, you’d go to the church and have an hour of scripture study. My family lived too far away to do that, so my older sister and I had to stay after church on Sundays and get our lessons and study then. I memorized many, many scriptures in those days!
However, a lot didn’t sit right with me, and it started to feel like a lie when I said the words, “I’d like to bear my testimony. I know this church is true…”
By the way, this isn’t a church-bashing post. I wanted you to get a feel for my history with this type of thing. I have always thought of myself as a Christian. I try to live the way I think that means to live as that is what makes the most sense for me.
Returning to Scripture with a New Perspective
Ever since I published Sentenced last year, I’ve encountered situations, interactions, and information that has me wanting to hone up on my scripture knowledge. If someone references something, I want to know firsthand what the good book actually said.
So, I’ve been reading the Bible the past couple of weeks. I’m in the Old Testament now. Then, I’ll move into the New Testament. And, I’ll head over to the Book of Mormon.
Unsettling Observations from the Old Testament
I have to admit that the Old Testament is incredibly disturbing. As a kid, I was entertained by the child-friendly versions of stories like Noah, Moses and the Red Sea, David and Goliath, Jonah and the Whale, etc. I know I read the Bible as a teen, and various portions of it at different times in my adult life, but reading it right now…DUDE.
Some things I’ve noted thus far:
God loves the smell of barbecue.
People raised cattle/sheep or warred with each other. Apparently, there was nothing else to do. Oh, maybe there was one other thing – have a crapload of wives!
Being a woman in those days must have been a nightmare.
Then there’s that part where King Saul tells David he can marry his daughter for the price of 100 foreskins. David goes over and beyond and brings in 200 hundred foreskins! Can you imagine what that looked like in progress – a bunch of dead men getting their penises scalped?
(Hopefully, God doesn’t smote me for being cheeky.)
A Random Thought on Spiritual Evolution
I’m not even sure why I’m mentioning all this now, other than it seems to represent some sort of shift. It feels like I’m going deeper into the roots of what shaped me as a person. The violence and anger of this history stands out to me.
None of this is intended to criticize what is written in the Bible. For me, it is an interesting experience to come to it with all the life experience I have now as a new lens to view what is there.
Sometimes I think about the concept that “Everything that is, is right now. It can be no other way.” It partly suggests an acceptance to what is actually in front of you. It also makes me think about all time happening at once – with only a vibrational shift separating us from other timelines.
And I wonder…what if the healing that we do for ourselves now as the human species is what allowed Jesus to show up for us? By doing this work now, we are unlocking our potential throughout and across time.
Hopefully, this won’t be considered blasphemous. I’m on my journey will you all, too.
I’m really enjoying how things are unfolding this past week.
Writing Progress on The AI Anomaly
First off, I’ve officially started writing The AI Anomaly! I’m only one chapter in, but progress is progress—and this is the part I love. Once I get into the scenes and start thinking about what the reader needs to see and hear, the story threads begin to reveal themselves in surprising and exciting ways. It’s a whole different beast from outlining.
I’d love to have a solid draft completed by the end of June. I plan to share some snippets in my weekly newsletter as I mosey along, so sign up if you haven’t already…
Launching the “Experiment Lab” for Self-Growth
My friend Dave Baldwin and I are brainstorming a new project—an “experiment lab” website where self-growth seekers can join us in 30-day challenges to stretch toward their next level. If you’re like us, you’ve probably read a mountain of books and started more programs than you’ve finished. This “lab” will be a playful motivational space to take action and actually implement some of those ideas together.
Sound interesting? We’ve created a tentative website for it with a place to sign up for updates. Check it out!
Teaching Aids and Potential Book Club Questions
I’ve also been developing teaching aids for my middle-grade and teen books. That felt like a no-brainer. But now I’m wondering if I should add some discussion questions to the back of Goddess Game—for book clubs or friends who read it together.
What do you think? Would you use them? Let me know in the comments below.
Creative Play Time
I spent a lovely afternoon this past Friday crafting with one of my nieces. We pulled out the polymer clay and tools and spent half a day making things. We talked about everything from random kid stuff to surprisingly deep topics. It reminded me that writing may not be my only creative calling—maybe I’ll end up connecting with young creators in other ways too.
