Laura Teagan's Blog, page 32

Why I Write

I’ve been writing for seven years now, almost eight. In the past seven and a half years, I’ve learned that my love for words only grows. In school, I’m a creative writing minor and I’m constantly surrounded by amazing stories.

As long as I can remember, I’ve been looking to entertain. To tell a great story. I’m always one looking for the joke to tell, the funny “that would happen to me” moments. Writing is a way to tell a story that is so much more than just myself.

Writing is the food for my soul. There’s nothing like that thrill of writing an intense scene or finishing a draft. That feeling of finding a new plot bunny. Words and books are my life. Other things are too, but all I want to be is a writer. My major was specifically chosen because it’s a writing intense major. My minor is full of writing, the list goes on and on. Writing is the way I feel alive.

For a writer, writing is something we can’t quit. I hope I never quit. I hope for the rest of my life, I’m writing something. Writing is what I do, a writer is what I am.

Stepping Stones

In four months, this book and I will be done. The relationship I have with this book will drastically change. No longer my story to hold and cherish and write, but it will be the story of everyone else. The story for everyone else. Maybe I’ve thought into this way too much, but I wonder, how do you mentally prepare for everyone reading your book? I’ve made a lot of progress through therapy, but will it be enough to withstand the criticism some will have with my book (it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, I know)?

I’m almost to the point of bridging the new beginning to the old ending, and then I’ll have to just tidy up the ending, change a few details here and there. It’s almost done. And, because I’m always one to look off into the future, my mind is eyeing the possibilities of what comes next after The Assassin. obviously, I have a sequel I’m really excited to write. There’s also books that I want to write that aren’t apart of this series. While fiction is my main forte, I’m thinking about a possible ebook about self-publishing later on (you know, once I’ve actually self-published).

School, while it’s important, has always felt like a distraction to my writing. When I get home, there’s homework and assignments to do. A year out from a “big girl” job (hopefully), I wonder, will it be like that when I’m working? Only time will tell, but I can’t wait for the day that my “big girl” job is full-time writer.

This post is also featured on Ginger + Co. 

Introducing Ginger + Books

As a lifestyle blogger, I’m constantly looking something that fits. A name that would fit me and everything I needed. So, now after years of looking, I’ve found my spot. Ginger + Co. Which meant it was time to bring the author website to a new spot too. So, I’m bringing in my writing website under this “brand” too for Ginger + Books.

There’s something nice about being under one brand, but still having my own space. Here, I’ll begin sharing tips and maybe an occasional book review. You can still follow along on Facebook, twitter,  G+ and pinterest.

If you’re a bloglovin person, you can follow along as well. I am so excited for this and I can’t wait to see what Ginger + Books brings.

Refresh + Rewind

So, I kind of did a little design update this weekend. I've added a few things (like the gadget so it gives you other posts to read under this one!). You've got access to a *few* pages, and once I go through the rest of them and clean them all up a bit, you'll get to see the rest. 
This week will just be posts as I'm off to Seminar! So, this week will be a "rewind" week featuring photos and posts that came from Howdy Girl about last year's Seminar. I'll talk about this year's Seminar in a couple weeks! However, in the next few weeks, I'll be introducing (maybe, if my camera and computer work together) some vlogs! I'll do some blogging tips, Mary Kay make-up tips, writing videos (I have two that probably need to be redone) and some fun videos that are going around the interwebs. 
Also, coming to the blog in August, I'll have a fun series that I think will run until the rest of the year. And then next year, I'll do a different series that day. There's lots of fun things I've got planned up my sleeve for the blog. 
There's also a lot of things up my sleeve for life, like DIQ and releasing a book, but those are posts for another time. 
Stick around this week to check out Seminar from last year! 

TIGF :: Things I'm Grateful For

My Business | I've been working this week and connecting with people in my unit and listening to videos and calls and I love this Mary Kay life I've been blessed with. I'm so ready to dive in head first and finish DIQ to become a director. After such a great turn around in my personal life in the past year and the personal growth I've seen in myself, I love being able to see other women experience that too in Mary Kay. That's probably my favorite thing about my job.

Rain Storms | It rained for, like, a nanosecond the other day and we lost power before hand, but now they're saying it'll storm all week next week while I'm at seminar. I love the summer rainstorms.

Reading | I haven't been writing at all lately, but I've been reading during lunch and while it's only usually ten pages a day, it's still more than I get to read during the school year. What are you watching?

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

A Heart Like Mine

photo credit // j. noel photography
After ten years with depression, I've learned a lot about myself. I pushed myself to go into default grateful mode. By default, I wasn't depressed because I had to force myself, but for a long time, I wasn't happy either. In March I left three friends behind and one in particular seemed to be the magical gate opening me to this fairyland of "Happy".

For a week or so, I thought about all the things that could have ended differently between said friend and I. I take my blame for everything I did, I'll be the first to admit, but she taught me something no one has taught me before.
I hate pity. I think it's disgusting. It's nasty. It's a disease almost. In my fight against depression, when I wanted to mope, I tried to always think about how I had things going for me. Yeah, a lot of times I was miserable, but I'm a huge believer in not whining on social media, and if I do, I try to add a humor aspect to it. No one likes a whiner. 
I may hate pity, but I'm probably one of the most empathetic people you'll ever know. I've been through a lot emotionally in my twenty years and I can relate to a lot of people. There's something so powerful about connecting on such a deep level with someone knowing exactly what they're feeling because you've been there. Being able to help someone because you've survived that. Empathy is something I totally admire in people, but for the rest of my life, I'll consider pity one of the stupides

July Goals

These are a bit late this month and it's already the eighth day of the month! I'm not sure I can handle how fast this month is already going!
This month is two specific things in mind: Mary Kay and school. With some editing and blogging in between. I love summer months because I have so much more time! There's going to be a shift in this blog in the next few weeks, but it'll still be the same crazy ginger life!
Looking back at my June Goals, wow, I fail. I only completed THREE of these. Yikes.
June Goalsfinish The Assassinsurvive ASL fourDIQ blog postFinancial aide blog postblog post about "The Laura Way"Become a Start ConsultantSend The Assassin off to the editorplan out my five year plan and my five year back up planpack and move back to Dallas for two monthsDIQ, it needs to happenDrool over that gorgeous director's suit I'm going to be wearing in just a few short monthsbegin working on a new book while I wait for editor notes, whether it's a totally new idea or the sequel to The Assassin
Obviously I'm going to be a lot in July
July GoalsSeminar Week PostsRewind Seminar Week PostsNew Blog DesignGet into DIQSurvive EconomicsGet ahead with blog postsFinish The AssassinSend The Assassin to my beta and my editorUm, figure out when I'm going to actually release it (I have a sinking feeling that it may not actually happen this year).Go to the gym every day that I can.Paint my furniture for next year and get my deskWrite at least a 1000 words every day (minus Seminar days).Declutter

What are some of your July Goals?

Influenster SurfsUp Voxbox

Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
One of the cool things about blogging is the opportunity to work with brands, including ones I've known about for a long time and some that I've never heard of. This was my first box (known as a Voxbox) with Influenster. This box, the SurfsUp Voxbox is all about summer fun and given my fun water park times last week, what a perfect opportunity to try out some of their stuff. 

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration After Sun Lotion | I used this twice the past week. One day when I was in the pool for a couple hours and then right after my sunburn water park trip. It worked well the day I was at the pool. Made my skin feel nice, but Tuesday when I was burned, it couldn't keep up with the amount of hydration my body was craving. 

Covergirl's Bombshell Curvaceous by LashBlast Mascara |  Even before my Mary Kay days, I don't think I ever tried Covergirl, I typically used Almay. So, I was excited to try this because so many people seem to love their stuff. The tube is kind of big and awkward to hold compared to most mascara tubes. I also thought it was strange how the wands weren't the part that popped out. Definitely not what I was used to. When I followed the instructions, I was kind of bummed by how little they did to my lashes. I have long lashes, but they're kind of whimpy, but this really didn't do anything except make them clumpy. 


SinfulColors Professional Nail Polish | The color was called "Songs of Summer" which kind of surprised me because I don't know if I'd consider it a summer color. It feels a little muted for summer, but nonetheless, I really grew to love this color. It's a light green, which isn't something I'd ever buy myself but I really like this. It did chip the first couple of days, but after about the second or third day, the chipping slowed down a lot and most of the polish is still on my nails a week later. 


First Aide Shot Therapy | I was skeptical of this when I saw it, but saved it for a road trip because I figured I'd need it with three younger siblings in the car. Turns out, for once, they didn't give me a headache. Saturday though, I spent three hours straight listening to economics videos of my professor droning on about economics. At the end, I felt a headache coming on and decided to give it a shot. It works pretty well, but gosh it tastes awful! It was very bitter and I think next time, I'll just tough it out or take some pills instead of this liquid stuff. 


Jamba At Home Smoothies Jamba Juice | We don't have Jamba Juice in Huntsville, so it's been at least a year since I had Jamba Juice from the actual smoothie place. This stuff was good, but I can't actually tell you if it tasted like the real stuff. Also, I feel like it would be easier to make a smoothie with my own stuff at home. 

TIGF :: Things I'm Grateful For

Linking up with Ashley.
Grandparents and Aloe Vera | I've been MIA most of this week because my family went to Schiltterbahn (a fantastic waterpark) Tuesday. Even though I applied sunscreen multiple times, I am still bright red. Three days later. Tuesday night, my grandparents went out at 10:30 and brought me all sorts of burn medicine like aloe vera and other stuff. Thank goodness, but I'm ready to have healed! 
Writing | The nice thing about car rides to my grandparents' house is that I usually get a lot of writing done, Sunday I got 3,000 words done and it felt amazing. I haven't had a word count that high in a long time! 
Reading | When I wasn't writing, I was reading. I finally finished Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Great book and I wish there was a sequel. I'm definitely planning to pick up Rowell's other books as soon as I can. 
What are you thankful for this week? 

Things I Didn't Know When I Started a Mystery Book

1) Mystery Books are Usually a Mystery While You Write | Even when you think you know exactly what's going to happen while writing a mystery book, usually the ending you have will not be easily found. People will die before you get to the ending, others will fall in love, some will pull out secrets you didn't know existed. 

2) It Would Take Me Seven Years to Work on It | In August, it'll have been seven years since I started my book. Sure there have been attempts to write other books and there's been hiccups, but seven years, at only twenty, that's almost half my life. It's kind of cool to have watched it evolve since I started way back when I was thirteen (my brother is thirteen, so I think I'm gonna start teasing him now "When I was your age, I was writing books!). As cool as it is, I really hope the next one doesn't seven years. 
3) Mystery Books are Often Series | Look at all the great mystery authors and many have great book series. Well, you wanna know how many books I'll have in my series when I'm done? Ten. And then I'll start it all over again with a different character. 
It's a good thing I like my writing job! 
Do you read mystery books? If not, what do you read?