Showing posts with label career. Show all posts
Showing posts with label career. Show all posts

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Now a Freelance Contributor at Brit + Co.

Hey guys! I took an unexpected week off from blogging here at High Heels & Flip-Flops, but I promise it was for a good reason!

As I hinted at a few weeks back, I was recently selected for a new freelance writing gig, and today, I’m excited to share that I’ve joined the team at Brit + Co. as a weekly contributor. My first post, Beyond White: 15 Ombre Wedding Gowns, went live a few days ago, and I’m so grateful to all of you who already took the time to offer likes and kind words via social media.


Stay tuned for upcoming posts focused on weddings, food and more, plus some other new posts here. Lately, I've been struggling with topic ideas and interesting things to share on this blog, so if there's something you'd like to ask me or read about, feel free to let me know. 

As always, thanks for reading and following! :)
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Thursday, April 17, 2014

Five Things Thursday: Random Musings

Happy Thursday! Today, I’m excited to join Diana and Tairalyn for their new weekly Five Things linkup, where bloggers can share any five things currently on their minds. Want to join in? Check out my five things below, share yours and then head on over to The World Around Her or Little Miss Mama to add your link and join the fun!


1. Now that it’s finally spring, I’m trying to get outside and exercise more often, even though it’s been tough getting back into it following months of lazy, out-of-shape lounging. During last weekend’s run, I barely made it a mile before wanting to stop and walk, but I guess something is better than nothing, right?

2. Last week, I was excited to get word that I’ve been selected for a new freelance writing opportunity with a women’s lifestyle site. I’ll make an official announcement and share my first post once it goes live, but for now, I’m just grateful for the upcoming opportunity, even though I’m at the same time disappointed that a fellow writing buddy who applied with me wasn’t accepted. Have you ever had an experience like that, where you got good news but a friend didn’t? It’s definitely sapped some of the joy out of the announcement, even though I know she’s genuinely happy for me.

3. My husband and I have been trying out a lot of new recipes lately, and last weekend we whipped up a tasty new addition that will definitely be a keeper in our house this spring and summer – kung pao salmon. Would you like to try it, too? Stay tuned for a recipe recap post next week!


4. Now that my husband and I have decided to stay here in the DC area for the foreseeable future, we’re looking forward to starting our house hunt during the mid-to-late summer. So far, we’ve gone to a couple seminars, put together an initial list outlining what we do and don’t want, and have also starting scoping out potential neighborhoods we like. The thought of making such a huge purchase still feels a bit daunting at times, but as we keep getting more of a solid feel for what we’re doing, it’s starting to get a lot more exciting, too!

5. If the weather is nice this weekend, we’re hoping to head to a Lao New Year Festival where we can enjoy some tasty eats, including the utter deliciousness that is crispy rice salad. Have you ever tried it before? Here's also wishing an early happy Easter to all who will be celebrating! 
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Wednesday, October 9, 2013

All Women Stalk Roundup: October 9, 2013

It's been a little while since the last update, but for those who are following along, here's my latest (and final) roundup of All Women Stalk posts. Even though I'll no longer be blogging over at AWS after this, I'm hoping to continue sharing new advice-focused pieces right here on High Heels & Flip-Flops in the near future. Are there any specific topics you'd love to read about? Feel free to let me know!

Image Source: All Women Stalk

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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Lia & Matt’s Southern Summer Wedding

With Labor Day weekend now officially over, there’s perhaps no better way to bid summer farewell than by reflecting back upon how this year’s season first began. While for you that might have meant taking an inaugural trip to the beach or firing up the grill, for me, the early days of June brought the opportunity to coordinate a unique Southern summer wedding for my former classmate Lia and her fiance Matt.

Even though it was a cold day in January when I first met up with her, Lia’s clear vision for an intimate vineyard celebration – complete with a cocktail-style reception and plenty of creative touches honoring the couple's mutual love of books, wine and the rolling Virginia countryside – immediately intrigued me and made it seem as if summer was already just around the corner.

Here, I hope you’ll enjoy a selection of photos from Lia and Matt’s wedding day as shot by the talented Helen and Heather of Honey Hill Photography, who captured everything from the adorable bird-themed cake topper to the innovative wine-cork guestbook and outdoor picnic games. 






Lia, carrying a basket filled with baby's breath and a beloved book, made her way down the aisle to "Storybook Love" from The Princess Bride while close to 80 relatives and friends looked on. Keeping things simple and laid-back, both Lia and her bridesmaids went barefoot throughout the day. 









Post-ceremony, the couple and wedding party posed for photos all around the grounds of Paradise Springs Winery, including alongside an historic cabin where Lia and her bridesmaids had spent time getting ready earlier in the day. Meanwhile, guests enjoyed taking part in either a group wine-tasting or improvisational comedy show.  








During the reception, guests were free to mingle inside a rustic red barn, where a wine-cork guestbook and basket of homemade cookie favors welcomed them, or outdoors on the lawn, where picnic tables offered everything from books and magazines to playing cards, cootie catchers and Connect Four games. The couple's first dance to "Come Rain or Come Shine" by Don Henley was the perfect way to kick things off. 






Showcasing a vine-themed design and handmade "love bird" topper, Lia and Matt's cake was a huge hit. A delicious array of food and drinks featuring buffalo chicken dip, pulled pork sliders, lemonade and sweet tea was also displayed nearby, while various other tasty bites were hand-passed throughout the afternoon.

Congratulations, Lia and Matt, and thank you for letting me be a part of your day! May you make many more wonderful summer memories together.

Venue:
Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton, Virginia  

Catering: 
Janelle Bowles 

Officiant: 
Dave Johnson 

Photography: 
Honey Hill Photography

Musicians: 
Carol Gaylor & Bruce Katsu

Bakery: 
Wanda's Cakes

Coordination: 
Heather & Stephen Walrath
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Friday, August 9, 2013

All Women Stalk Roundup: August 9, 2013

After taking a brief break during my trip to Hawaii, I'm back to blogging regularly over at All Women Stalk. As always, please feel free to stop by and check out my latest batch of posts.

Image Source: All Women Stalk

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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

All Women Stalk Roundup: June 25, 2013

I'll be back on Thursday with a post previewing our upcoming trip to Hawaii, but in the meantime, here's my latest roundup of All Women Stalk posts for those who are following along. Thanks very much to everyone who has been so supportive throughout these past few incredibly hectic months!

Image Source: All Women Stalk


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Thursday, May 23, 2013

All Women Stalk Roundup: May 23, 2013

Despite not being able to blog as frequently here throughout the past several weeks, I've still been writing regularly over at All Women Stalk. For those who are following along, here's my latest roundup of posts.

Image Source: All Women Stalk

LIFESTYLE
TRAVEL
WEDDING

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Thursday, April 25, 2013

Busy Days Ahead

Since returning from California a couple weeks ago, I’ve definitely been keeping busy with several exciting projects. First, along with continuing to write weekly posts for All Women Stalk, I’m also working as a publicist and coordinating a beautiful early June wedding.

In other news, I’ve now fully made the switch to vegetarianism, although I do still eat fish and dairy, and I'm also finally making progress on getting back in shape for my sister-in-law’s July wedding. A close friend visited last week, along with Stephen’s mom, and in addition to everything else, I am still entirely determined to complete my novel.

Wine-tasting with one of my best friends from California.
All in all, I’m pleased with the various things I have going on, and I’ll do my best to keep blogging here at least once a week, along with continuing to follow your blogs. As most of you know, my goal with this blog isn’t to attract a large number of followers or even track my stats.

Honestly, as long as I’m able to continue using this site as a fun and easy way to connect with family members and friends, including many of you I’ve been lucky enough to meet through blogging, I'll be happy. Thanks so much for reading and sticking with me! 
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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

All Women Stalk Roundup: April 17, 2013

Even though I took some time off from writing for All Women Stalk during my recent trip to California, I still have a handful of new posts to share with you this month. Feel free to check them out if you're interested!

Image Source: All Women Stalk

LIFESTYLE


PARENTING


TRAVEL



WEDDING



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Friday, March 22, 2013

All Women Stalk Roundup: March 22, 2013

Another month, another fun batch of posts for All Women Stalk! For those who are interested, here’s my latest roundup. 

Image Source: All Women Stalk



BEAUTY

7 Marvelous Mary Kay Beauty Products

8 Best LUSH Products for Acne

FOOD

8 Delicious Disneyland Restaurants

HEALTH

7 Smart Ways to Manage Endometriosis

LIFESTYLE

9 Tips for Bringing a New Kitten Home

7 Simple Ways to Be a Conscientious Consumer

TRAVEL

10 Best Disneyland Kids' Rides

10 Best Disneyland Adventure Rides

7 Terrific Southern California Theme Parks

7 Exciting Disney California Adventure Park Rides

7 Great Reasons to Tour Europe While in College

WEDDING

7 Creative Wedding Guestbook Ideas

8 Wedding Welcome Bag Essentials
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Thursday, February 21, 2013

All Women Stalk Roundup: February 21, 2013

After having a chance to get into the swing of things and start sharing my advice with readers, I think it’s fair to say that I absolutely love my new weekly writing gig at All Women Stalk, where I've been busy posting up a storm lately!

In case you’re interested in any of the topics I’ve written about, here's a quick roundup linking to my recent articles. Please feel free to stop by and say hello or even just share suggestions for future posts, since I’m always looking for new ideas!

Image Source: All Women Stalk
BEAUTY

7 Must-Have LUSH Products

FASHION

 7 Tips for Traveling in Style

 LIFESTYLE

7 Thought-Provoking Broadway Musicals

7 Wine-Themed Decor Ideas for Your Home

 LOVE

7 Sexy Boudoir Shoot Tips

TRAVEL

7 Big Island Hawaiian Adventures

7 Amazing Washington DC Museums

WEDDING

7 Budgeting Tips for Your Wedding

7 Tips on What to Bring to Your Wedding Dress Fitting

7 Wedding Items Worth Splurging On

7 Gorgeous Alfred Angelo Wedding Dresses

7 Beautiful Alfred Angelo Bridesmaid Dresses

7 Awesome Engagement Shoot Tips 

7 Wine-Themed Wedding Ideas

7 Wedding Day Emergency Kit Essentials
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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Now Blogging for All Women Stalk

I'm thrilled to join the team at All Women Stalk, where I'll be blogging about weddings, travel and more several times a week. One of my first posts, 7 Budgeting Tips for Your Wedding, just went live a couple days ago, and I'll have a lot more going up soon. 

Image Source: All Women Stalk
Feel free to stop by and say hello sometime!
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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

So What! Wednesday: January 16, 2013

It’s been quite a while since I last linked up with So What! Wednesday, but because I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, including some big “life questions,” I figured this would be as good a time as any to jump back on board. Today, I’m saying “so what” if:

#1 – I’m back on track with my workouts, but am still not down to my goal weight. I know that if I keep up the hard work, though, I will definitely get there this year!  

#2 – Now that Stephen has officially turned 30, I’m especially dreading my own birthday in September. Even though I’m proud of many things I’ve accomplished during my 20s, and everyone keeps telling me that 30 is “just a number,” there’s something inside of me that’s not yet ready to leave this “younger” phase of my life behind.

#3 – My several recent attempts at becoming a vegetarian have failed. While I now rarely meat at home, and usually only have it for special occasions that include some of my favorite dishes, cutting it out completely just left me feeling too deprived. I also surprisingly gained weight during my meatless stints, since I ended up replacing lean meats with more cheese and dairy!  

This spicy bean and veggie stir fry is one of my favorite meatless meals!
#4 – I’m still not ready to have a kid, even though it sometimes seems as if everyone around me either already has a baby or is expecting one this year. I have nothing but congratulations for those who are ready to start their families, but I have too many other things I want to do before babies come along and take over my life.

#5 – Since leaving my congressional job following the 2010 election, I haven’t been following a “traditional” career path like many of my peers. This is in part because Stephen and I had initially considered moving back to California – a plan we then rethought due to several can’t-pass-it-up career opportunities that came his way. But even though I may not have gone back to working a 9-to-5 job as of yet, I've still earned my master’s degree, worked on various writing and wedding coordination projects I loved, traveled, and spent lots of time with family. Figuring things out career-wise is definitely at the top of my goal list for 2013.  

What are you saying “so what” to this Wednesday?
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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

‘Crazy Busy’ Syndrome

Got five minutes? If so, Tim Kreider’s New York Times piece The ‘Busy’ Trap, one of the most thought-provoking items I’ve read in a while, is worth taking a moment to check out.  

This poignant op-ed speaks to an issue I’ve thought about quite a lot recently – the fact that in our culture, being busy beyond belief has become, as I once heard described in a similar piece, a badge of honor. More and more often, it seems that if someone is not "crazy busy" all the time, especially here in the land of over-achievement (aka DC), we too quickly write them off as a personal and professional failure. Worst of all is the fact that we self-inflict so much of the "craziness," fearing that if we're not constantly pushing ourselves to the breaking point, we somehow haven’t accomplished enough.

Image Source: PAWS
I've always considered myself to be an ambitious and driven person, overwhelmed by dreams that may at times exceed my grasp. But last year, I learned the hard way that I don’t have to consistently take on everything in sight, all at once, to be “successful.” To my personal relief, I discovered the joy that comes in prioritizing, balancing, and focusing on only those matters that are most important at any given time.

No longer do I willingly overschedule myself with a long list of things I "should" be doing. No longer do I feel guilty when people look at me like an alien for choosing not to rush back into working full-time at the moment, a choice I'm fortunate to be able to make financially. Instead, I'm unashamed to be using these post-graduation summer months to travel, including to see my Nana and family out in California, and also to make sure I'm giving myself enough time to thoroughly consider the various career paths, each rewarding in its own way, before me. No longer am I afraid to say no or embarrassed to admit that I take the time to relax, read, hang out, and enjoy some of my favorite things in life, even those that aren't considered to be especially "productive."

How about you? Have you ever battled “crazy busy” syndrome, and what do you think this trend says about our society as a whole?
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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

So What! Wednesday: June 6, 2012

Happy mid-week, everyone! Life around here has been pretty low-key lately, so today, I’m linking up with So What! Wednesday, which I recently stumbled upon over at From Match to Marriage. Here, a few things that have definitely got me saying “so what” this week.  

So what if…

1) Stephen and I celebrated our second anniversary this Monday by going out for BBQ chicken pizza and margaritas at Fireflies, one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. It may not have been anything fancy, but sitting on the warm patio at sunset with a drink in my hand is always a win! The pretty purple flowers he brought home were a nice touch, too. 


2) There are days I second guess myself and think the first draft of my novel totally sucks. But no matter what happens, it’s really all about the journey, the effort and the fact that I’m having fun bringing my characters and story to life.

3) I’m not losing weight or getting back in shape as quickly as I’d hoped before our trip out to California next week. But every day is a new opportunity to be healthier and work harder, right?

4) It took a few months longer than expected for my article highlighting this year's hottest wedding photography and videography trends to come out in Inspire Smart Success magazine. But who cares about the delay when honestly, I’m just thrilled and incredibly grateful to see my work published?


5) I’ve been slow to jump on the Instagram bandwagon. I’m finally starting to play around with the features and post pictures more often, so feel free to stop by @heather_28.

6) I squinted and ruined every one of the "anniversary pictures" we tried to take while visiting museums in Downtown DC over the weekend. At least I got some fun shots of National Geographic's Titanic exhibit and of the Capitol from the Newseum rooftop! 



Well, that's my list for the moment. So far, what’s your biggest “so what” of the day?  
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Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Mission Accomplished

After two years, 14 classes and more papers and projects than I can possibly count, last night officially marked the end of my grad school education! Happily, the evening ended on a memorably positive note, as I closed out one of my favorite classes of the entire program to a round of applause from fellow classmates and also found out that I had received full points on a rather difficult assignment.

After the craziness of the past couple weeks, it’s surreal to think that I’m really, truly done and am now free to begin planning for the next phase of my life and career. I definitely have a few big decisions to make, and while that can certainly be overwhelming and even a bit frightening, I’m also incredibly excited about the new adventures to come!

Super cute graduation card from my in-laws. I love owls! 
Thank you all so much for your kind comments and support following my husband’s injury and my Nana’s diagnosis, too. I’m happy to report that Stephen is feeling so much better and that his shoulder is healing up much more quickly than we originally anticipated. Now that school is done, I’ll also be heading to California later this week to spend Mother’s Day with my mom and Nana, both of whom I can’t wait to see!

I hope you’re all having a wonderful week, and thanks for sticking with me throughout the past several weeks of mayhem. It feels great to finally let some of the stress go and get back to doing the things I love with the people I love! 
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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

A Writer’s Life: It’s a Wrap!

This round of ROW80, that is…not my actual work in progress, which still has a long way to go, but in my humble opinion is definitely off to a strong start. How did I do in achieving my goals for this round? Let’s take a quick look.

1) Consistently write at least 2-3 High Heels & Flip-Flops blog posts each week. Check! I successfully kept up with my blogging schedule throughout the past several months and have every intention to stick with it.

2) Finish reading at least 1-2 novelist advice books to help refine my technique and focus. Check! Though I didn’t quite have enough time to fully complete The Successful Novelist throughout the past week, I did complete Story Structure Architect earlier in the session.

3) Complete the remaining historical research necessary to flesh out my plotlines and ensure their accuracy. Check! I feel good about the key pieces of research I have in place and am confident that I’ll be able to fill in the rest as I write my first draft and later make revisions.

4) Complete 50 pages of solid opening content by the March 22 deadline. Check! Although my content is certainly rough at this stage, I did meet my goal and am pleased to now have on hand a detailed plot outline, a character development guide and several opening chapters to give me a good foundation.

Image Source: writersbreak.com
And there you have it! I’m quite proud of the progress I’ve made throughout the first round of ROW80, since this program was a great motivator and stepping stone as I initially got started. Even though I had originally planned to also join in for round two, I’ve actually decided that I won’t be.

Why? Well, most importantly, with all the changes and potentially big decisions I’ll be facing over the next couple months, I’d really like this project to be something I can work on a bit more quietly and privately, without any pressure to meet a certain number of goals or to consistently share my progress with others. Will I still continue to make time for my WIP? Absolutely, hopefully getting ever-closer to the finish line with my first draft.    

Of course, I may also still share the occasional update with you here and hope to continue talking about my experiences as a writer in general, since I’ve really enjoyed sharing more about that aspect of my life. Thank you all for your ongoing friendship and support, and I hope you’ll keep working hard toward achieving your own goals, whatever they may be! 
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Thursday, March 8, 2012

Reader Q&A Answers: Part Two

As promised, here are the rest of my answers to your Q&A questions. I had so much fun doing this and definitely hope to do it again sometime in the future. Cheers!

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

I’d have the power to see the future, giving me the chance to try changing certain things for the better ahead of time.

Tell a story about an embarrassing moment.

Slipping and falling down the stairs at work a couple years ago while rushing to a hearing. Luckily, I wasn’t hurt, and my friend was there to help me up. Tons of other people saw it happen, though!


How has the transition been from working in government to working in the wedding industry?

While there were many things I enjoyed about my job in government (my salary, for one), since leaving over a year ago, I’ve really been able to see how the environment and responsibilities were stifling my creativity. Though I still go through  "identity crisis" feelings now and then over all the recent changes I’ve been through, overall, I can see a huge difference in my happiness and outlook compared with back then. In exploring my love of weddings, I’ve also reignited my passion for writing, imagining and daring to dream big. I’ve become more comfortable speaking my mind and being vocal about issues I care about, without the past concerns about whether doing so would be a conflict of interest with my government role. My publishing grad program has also opened my eyes to a ton of new opportunities and has shown me that I definitely don’t have to box myself in. The future feels so much more exciting now!

What is your favorite food to eat? To cook?

My favorite food to eat would probably be a platter of spicy chicken enchiladas. My favorite food to cook is pesto pasta, because it’s tasty, fast and too simple for me to mess up!

What is the one little thing that brings a smile to your face?

Petting my kitties and watching them play. Animals are so innocent and inspiring to me.


What do you enjoy about being married?

I love spending every day with my dearest friend and dreaming about what the future holds for us.

What is your favorite upcoming spring trend?

I’m really excited about pastels and color-blocking. Pastel nail polishes have always been favorites of mine, and I’m looking forward to trying out some new shades and combos this year.

When you moved to the East Coast, was it your first time seeing snow?

My first time seeing snow was actually when my family visited Big Bear in California’s southern mountains when I was about six. Moving to DC brought my first experience seeing snow in a city, non-resort environment, though, and it was definitely exciting, even though I’m not a fan of snow overall. Somewhere, I have a picture that was taken by a fellow intern my first winter here, showing me standing in the snow with the Capitol dome rising behind me. I love thinking back on it and remembering my first few months in DC!


Have you had to deal with any bridezillas yet? If not, how do you think you would handle one?

I generally try to avoid the term “bridezilla,” since it is such a loaded, emotionally charged word. I think that too often, many brides (including me), have on occasion been afraid to speak up for what they really want in fear of being called or considered a ‘zilla. That said, I think it’s also very important, whether as a bride or wedding professional, to make sure that your personality and communication style are compatible with those you choose to work with. When two people understand one another and communicate well, it generally eliminates instances of intense frustration. I've had a great experience with each one of my brides thus far. Though they have each had different personalities and desires, in every case, we were able to work extremely well together, ensuring a positive experience on both sides. 
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Wednesday, March 7, 2012

A Writer’s Life: Crossroads Ahead

Today’s ROW80 check-in begins on a high note. Yesterday, I got word that, so long as everything goes according to plan, a magazine article I feared had been rejected a few weeks back is actually scheduled to be published in April. To say that I'm excited about this is definitely an understatement. Plus, since I was also honored to have this piece picked up online via The Favour Shoppe, I’m very much looking forward to the increased exposure for myself and my sources. I’ll be sure to share more details once the issue has been officially published, but for now, things are looking good.

Also, while an intense round of class projects unfortunately kept me from posting my check-ins throughout the past couple weeks, I’m absolutely still on track to fulfill my goals for this round, and here's why.
  • In spite of my busy schedule, I’ve still been blogging regularly at least twice a week. This week, I’m posting four times, which is even better!

  • I’ve finished the major initial research needed for my novel, and should likely be able to fill in the rest as I go. I may even be able to further flesh out certain details during the revision phase, once I have the basic plot down on paper.

  • I’m on track to finish reading The Successful Novelist within the next two weeks.

  • Between my even further developed outline, recently created character development pieces and actual intro chapters, I’m just shy of competing 50 pages of "opening" content. Though I initially hadn’t planned on counting the outline and character development materials toward this goal, I now feel that I might as well. After all, they are vital pieces of the puzzle that critically impact my ability to continue moving forward. I can already tell that having solid versions of these items on hand will now make things go so much faster as I work on completing my first draft.
Image Source: smworth.blogspot.com
With my graduation fast approaching in May (hooray!), I’m also approaching a major crossroads and will be spending the next couple months carefully exploring my post-grad goals and opportunities. Hopefully, I’ll be able to share more with you as I go through this process and things start to come together cohesively. 

At the top of my goal list this week is to begin creating a personal website sharing details about my various professional experiences and aspirations. If anyone has good advice in terms of how to best go about doing so, I definitely welcome the input! Have a great day, and stay tuned tomorrow for my answers to the rest of your reader questions, which I first started answering in Tuesday's post.

Do you have a personal website, besides your blog? How did you initially go about focusing and structuring it? 
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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

A Writer’s Life: When to First Share Details About Your Novel?

I’m thrilled to share the news that my article on 2012 wedding trends, featuring advice from top industry pros, has been published at TheFavour Shoppe. Please feel free to stop by and check it out!

An especially busy class schedule meant I wasn't quite as productive as desired when it came to my WIP this week, though I am definitely still on track with my goals to blog regularly and finish reading The Successful Novelist before this round concludes. I also happened upon an interesting issue that I've since been thinking about and am eager to share with the ROW80 community for feedback.  

In one of my publishing courses last week, our instructor shared the story of a fellow writer's group member who is completing the final draft of her first novel while working to secure an agent. The professor went on to reveal details about the book’s theme, plot and characters, and even ended by saying that during the previous semester, she’d brought in segments of the work for the entire class to critique.

Image Source: lifehack.org 
While I suppose there does certainly come a time when it’s all right to open your work up to outside opinion, I was a bit surprised that this author would reveal her book to such a wide audience without having yet secured an agent or finalized the piece. I could, however, be entirely incorrect, and since I am still in the early stages of my first draft, I must say that I honestly haven’t yet revealed many details about my novel to even my husband or closest friends.

What do you think? Am I completely off-base in my assessment, and how do you truly know when the time is right to reveal the details of your work, whether to family, friends, a critique group or other fellow writers? 
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