On Writing, Dogs, and the Meaning Behind Words

I started a little Facebook and Instagram series this week about the writing process — part reflection, part therapy after some intense writing sessions for my new book.

The first post used one of my favorite quotes:

“I hate writing. I love having written.” — Dorothy Parker
So true after a long weekend of emotional writing.

The second one said:

“She meant to behave, but there were so many other options.”
That’s how I felt while plotting a few different directions for the next chapters.

Then came the third — a photo of a dog looking at a picture of himself on a phone, with the caption:

“Am I just shouting into the wind, or do I have something meaningful to share with the world?”

I meant it as a reflection on my book’s direction.

My husband thought I was lamenting my writing career.

That made me think — about how words matter. What we intend and what others perceive can be two very different things. As writers, that’s both our greatest challenge and our greatest power.

Here’s to choosing our words as carefully as we craft our stories.