Inked Author Monthly Wrap-Up—{{{April & May 2025}}}
- InkedAuthor31
- Jun 1
- 3 min read
Hello There!
Welcome to my tiny, but cozy, corner of the world.
It’s so good to see you!
This month’s newsletter is for all things book-ish, nerd-ish, life-ish and whatever else may have popped into my head.
Stay Weird! 🤟🏼
~Brandy
“Quoted”
🌱 I. Am. GROOT. 🌱
💭 “Success is falling nine times and getting up ten.” ~Jon Bon Jovi
💭 “A single chance is a galaxy of hope.” ~Star Wars
💭 “What they hate in you, is missing in them. Keep shining.”
~The Universe
STACKED: My T.B.R.
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Inky Updates
Ahhhh…Sweet Sweet summertime.
This year was a DOOZY—but I survived!
My kinder babies are now off to First Grade…and in a crazy twist of events—so am I!
And the best part? I get to take my best friend along for the ride. For the first time in our careers, we will be Co-Teaching!
Since she’s the literal Jim to my Dwight…this was the easiest YES for me.
And of course, StarLord is moving with me. He’s already settled in to his new digs.
Cheers for new adventures!
I. Am. Groot.
😎☀️🍻🌱
📝 Monthly Writing Tip 📝
Writing Retreats
We all know that CPs (Critique Partners) are the BEST tool an author can have on hand. I have several of these wonderful humans that I work with virtually, but I am also quite the Lucky Duck to have a local writers group too. We call ourselves, The Inklings.
The OG Inklings were a literary group formed in England that especially encouraged fantasy writing. J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were notable members. I loved these two as a child and still do!
We meet the first Monday of every month to catch up on all things writing, brainstorm, and critique each other’s work. After a few years, we had an idea to try to schedule Writing Retreats.
I have always wanted to take myself on a true writers retreat…holing myself up and spending the weekend doing what I love. And that urge grows stronger every time I see an email from the Highlights Foundation and their GORGEOUS writing cabins.
🏡🤤 :::DROOL::: 🤤🏡
With young kids, flying to PA is just not in the cards right now. So, as a group, we agreed on bi-monthly Writing Retreats. We agreed we would meet at 9am at the selected location and catch up. By 9:45, we all spread out and then write our little hearts out until around 1pm. Break for lunch. Then back to our writing spots to get more words on the page. We would finally break for the day at 5pm and then treat ourselves to a fab dinner out to celebrate our success for the day.
Originally, we started hosting these retreats at our houses, but when our shiny-sparkly new local library was built, we now hold our retreats there. They have BUT-TONS of places to spread out and work. Plus, LOADS of books available within reach to use as Mentor Texts.
Yesterday was our most recent retreat, and I was able to snag my my favorite spot—the little nooks they created in the Reading Room. It’s just so cozy and has everything I need to get going on a project.
Think about trying this yourself. Don’t have a local writer’s group? Start one!
If not…go for it on your own! Scheduling independent retreats for yourself would be very beneficial for your writing career. Pull out that calendar and block off a few sessions during the year.
Your stories deserve it!
Here was my cozy nook:
Obligatory Selfie:
📚 PB Line-Up 📚
Check out the Picture Books I am using as Mentor Texts next month!
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