A collection of hard-earned victories. From writing novels and pursuing new careers to overcoming obstacles and reaching long-term goals, this category celebrates the achievements that came through dedication, resilience, and a refusal to give up.
I’m still on the lookout for a literary agent β itβs both exciting and a little overwhelming. I’m especially curious about the experiences of other writers in Canada. How did you find your agent? Through conferences, referrals, cold queries, social media?
Any tips on what to avoid or what absolutely worked for you would be incredibly helpful. I’d love to hear both the good and the not-so-great stories β they all help paint a realistic picture of the process.
π And if you’re still searching too β how are you approaching it?
Feel free to share in the comments or reach out through the contact form. I’m eager to hear how your journey is going.
Inspiration is a mysterious thing, isnβt it? We often wait for it like itβs some magical force that will strike suddenly, filling our minds with brilliant ideas and our hands with unstoppable energy. But hereβs the truth: waiting for inspiration is a luxury we canβt afford.
Inspiration isnβt something you findβitβs something you cultivate. Itβs not about sitting idly by, hoping for a spark. Itβs about showing up every single day, ready to put in the work, even when the creative well feels dry.
Hereβs what Iβve learned:
Discipline fuels creativity β Write, draw, or create every day, even if it feels forced. Often, the act of working sparks the inspiration youβve been waiting for. And if you feel completely stuck, go back to what you created yesterday. Re-reading, tweaking, or editing it might reignite your ideas and help you move forward, inspired by what youβve already accomplished.
Find beauty in the mundane β Inspiration doesnβt always come from grand, life-changing moments. Itβs in the way light falls across a table, the rhythm of your footsteps, or the view from your carβs rear window.
Stay curious β Read widely, explore new places, or dive into a topic youβve never considered before. Curiosity is the birthplace of ideas.
Embrace imperfection β Not every creation will be a masterpiece, and thatβs okay. The key is to keep moving forward, learning, and growing along the way. This was one of the hardest truths I had to face: I will never be perfect, and neither will my projects. But we existβand thatβs enough.
Inspiration isnβt a destination; itβs a practice. Itβs about seeing the world with fresh eyes and putting in the effort, no matter what.
So, if youβre βlooking for inspiration,β stop waiting and start working. The muse often shows up when you do.
What inspires you? Share your thoughts in the commentsβIβd love to hear them!
P. S. A long time ago, I heard a phrase that inspires me since: “A writer is someone who writes.” So, keep writing.
I’ve found an article about this competition some time ago and guess what – as I have finally finished my IceBeastTale editing – I applied for it as well!
Are you waiting for any other upcoming competitions?
…the Ice Beast Tale is waiting for me to start editing it, I decided to switch my attention to another story.
Spent almost 8 hours yesterday writing first draft of Titan – the second part of #Chimera story. James Bristol started his first year at a university and found new friends. As well as enemies.
It still needs tons for editing and, first of all, my inner powers to perform that editing. But that will be tomorrow. Today I am celebrating. As The Ice Beast Tale is a story I’ve been trying to embody since I was eleven years old, I guess. And my dream has finally come true!
I almost remember the day when it all started with a word OraolΡ that came up to my mind. And here we are, decades later. Extraordinary feeling.
It is not the end of a story though, but a beginning. Which joys me most of all. As I am stuck with the characters I’ve been loving for years.
And as a New Year bonus to myself, I decided to duplicate my blog notes in Ukrainian. I never felt more connected to my people story than I am now. So let it be.
…failed! I promised myself I will have finished the 2nd draft of The Ice Beast Tale until the end of this Summer. But I didn’t. Still have 3 chapters to write π
Such a Tragedy! With a capital letter T.
But who cares π I don’t.
Still, lately I’ve been reading Max Frei books:
“Labyrinths of Echo” “Chronicles of Echo” “Dreams of Echo”
Highly recommend ^^
As stories come to an end I am a bit sad. But I am about to find another stories to dive into.
Discovered a couple of books that keep helping me with building the story plot. Definitely recommend if you are a new to story storucture and character’s build up.
Katie Marie (KM) Wayland: Architecture of the plot. How to Create a Memorable StoryΒ
Blake Snyder: Save the Cat!: The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need
Jessica Brody: Save the Cat! Writes a novel
and a cutiepie that MidJourney generated for me recently:
Gemella 