Where I’m At: A Little Writing Update from the Shadows
Hello lovely readers!
I thought it was about time I popped in with a cozy little update on my writing journey—the highs, the haunted bits, and everything in between. Whether you’re new to my world or you’ve been following the breadcrumbs through the dark forest, thank you for being here. Truly.
Lately, I’ve been dancing between projects like a ghost at a masquerade. My main focus has been on From the Ashes. The characters have been whispering their secrets to me at odd hours, as they tend to do, and I’ve welcomed them with open arms and far too much coffee (tea and maybe hot cocoa, too, because why not?).
I’ve reached my fourth round of self-editing and landed at a glorious 82,277 words, which is a significant leap from my initial 62,786! Every single word feels like it belongs, like it’s always been waiting to be unearthed. This round took a little longer than I planned (the best ones often do), but I am absolutely head-over-heels in LOVE with how the story is singing now. The Victorian-inspired prose hums with life, and the characters feel more flesh-and-bone than ever.
From the Ashes is still very much me—stitched together with my signature style and eerie ink—but it also marks a shift. It feels a little different from my two self-published novels. A little bolder. A little deeper. I won’t lie, that difference makes me a touch nervous. But more than anything, I’m so, so proud of how far this story has come. The next big step? Beta readers (Eeep!). I’ll be posting a separate piece soon on how to apply, so if you’re intrigued, keep your lanterns lit.
In other exciting news, I’ve recently joined Medium, where I’m beginning to share work not found on this blog. Right now, you’ll find horror, mystery, reflective musings, and short stories nestled there. A little library of shadows I’m slowly building, essentially. A couple of the posts are free to read, and the others are part of the paid subscriber tier. If you do check it out, thank you. Every read means the world to me.
There’s another idea brewing in the cauldron: a faceless YouTube channel where I can share my written work aloud. Stories told in the dark, with voice and silence in equal measure. I’d love to collaborate with other writers one day, too. There’s something beautiful about hearing another person bring your words to life or lending your voice to theirs.
Lately, I’ve also been pulled toward more reflective writing, as I touched on in my previous post, The Lantern I Carry. I’ve been craving the kind of pieces that peel back the veil. Not only the stories themselves, but the why behind them. The themes. The real-life ghosts that haunt the heart before they ever appear on the page. So keep an eye out for more personal posts soon: the kind that feel like journal entries written by candlelight.
Oh, and something mysterious is brewing behind the scenes…
Let’s just say I’m dreaming up something special for From the Ashes once it’s ready for publication. Special and spectral, laced with secrets from the story itself. I won’t say much more (I’d hate to spoil the surprise), but…you’ll want to be watching the shadows.
That’s the beauty of writing, isn’t it? It changes with us. It grows alongside our seasons, our heartbreaks, and our quiet victories.
Until next time—keep your lights low, your beverage of choice warm, and your shadows friendly.
With love & a little moonlight,
A
bigail
