Tag Archives: writing

It Just Might be Time for Book #3!

Folks, it’s been a while since I put a book out into the world. I’ve been really busy with my freelance work, and that’s a lot of the problem. I’m not complaining that I get paid to write! But writing on the computer all day makes me not really want to write on the computer all night. You can’t blame me, right?

I can make all the excuses I want, but I think it’s time to finally work on the third book in The Dragon Keeping Chronicles! If you’re not familiar, you can check out The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keeping and Once a Wanderer. Honestly, this wasn’t even meant to be a series at first. I had only thought about the first book, but the story insisted there would be more! Then I thought the second book would be it, but no! There’s more! And, to be honest, there just might be a fourth.

I’ve already written the rough draft of Book #3, but this is what it looks like right now:

Yeah, not exactly ready to go to print! With a little bit of work, I hope that it soon will be. Wish me luck as I get it all typed up, and we’ll see where this series goes next!

Have you read any of the books in the series so far? Let me know what you think!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside DetectiveHer short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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Writer Friends Challenge: Day 24 – Fiction or Nonfiction

It’s Day 24 of the Writer Friends Challenge!

Day 24 – Fiction or Nonfiction: Both! I usually reach for fiction when I want to read, but there are also some great non-fiction books out there! I’m often doing research for my books, plus I’m a nerd who just loves to learn! Some of my favorites are A Field Guide to American Houses and Last Chance to See. One that’s still on my shopping list is Signs, Streets, and Storefronts: A History of Architecture and Graphics along America’s Commercial Corridors.

What about you? Don’t forget to check out my giveaway happening this month!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside DetectiveHer short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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Writer Friends Challenge: Day 23 – Finding the Right Word

It’s Day 23 of the Writer Friends Challenge!

Day 23 – What to do when you can’t think of the right word: What do you mean? Us writers always have all the correct words at our fingertips! We never forget how to say what we’re trying to say!

I wish! It happens all the time! Sometimes I’ll just rearrange my sentence, but it’s also incredibly handy to have the internet nearby! I’ve also seen quite a few people reach out for help in the writers’ groups I’m in.

What about you? Don’t forget to check out my giveaway happening this month!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside DetectiveHer short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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Writer Friends Challenge: Day 22 – Your Main Character Will Be Happy When…

It’s Day 22 of the Writer Friends Challenge!

Day 22 – Your Main Character Will Be Happy When: This is a tricky one, not because I don’t know but because I’m not sure how much I want to say about it yet! I’m working on the 3rd book in The Dragon Keeping Chronicles, but it’s still very much a work in progress. Let’s just say Aubrey puts family first over everything.

What about you? Don’t forget to check out my giveaway happening this month!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside DetectiveHer short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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Writer Friends Challenge: Day 21 – When I’m Not Writing

It’s Day 21 of the Writer Friends Challenge!

Day 21 – What do I do when I’m not writing: As I said yesterday, I’m always doing something! My favorite hobbies are collecting fountain pens, writing to my pen pals, reading, hiking, and quilting.

What about you? Don’t forget to check out my giveaway happening this month!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside DetectiveHer short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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Writer Friends Challenge: Day 20 – Writer Rest

It’s Day 20 of the Writer Friends Challenge!

Day 20 – Writer Rest: Rest? What’s that? Freelancing, writing my own books, and just keeping up with life (not to mention all my hobbies), I don’t really rest much! I always like to be doing something. However, when my brain really does need a rest from writing, and I can feel that I’ve juiced all the creativity out of it, I like to read or get outside. Both are peaceful and inspiring, and after some time I feel ready to start writing again.

What about you? Don’t forget to check out my giveaway happening this month!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside DetectiveHer short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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Writer Friends Challenge: Day 19 – Character Phobias

It’s Day 19 of the Writer Friends Challenge!

Day 19 – Character Phobias: My current characters don’t exactly have any phobias, but they definitely do have fears. The fear of loss definitely a big one in my current work, and it ties into all the other fears that come along with parenting.

What about you? Don’t forget to check out my giveaway happening this month!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside DetectiveHer short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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Writer Friends Challenge: Day 18 – Currently Reading

It’s Day 18 of the Writer Friends Challenge!

Day 18 – Currently Reading: My current read is No Place for a Lady by Louise Allen. I don’t always read romance, but when I do I definitely prefer historical! I’m about halfway through right now, so I’ll be sure to tell you guys what I think when I’m done!

What are you reading? Don’t forget to check out my giveaway happening this month!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside DetectiveHer short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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Writer Friends Challenge: Day 17 – Drafting or Revision

It’s Day 17 of the Writer Friends Challenge!

Day 17 – Drafting or Revision: 1000% drafting, and yes I meant for all those zeros to be there! It can be a challenge to get a first draft out, but I enjoy the spark of inspiration much more than I do going back and revising. Both parts are very important though!

What about you? Don’t forget to check out my giveaway happening this month!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside DetectiveHer short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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Writer Friends Challenge: Day 16 – Favorite Thing About Being a Writer

It’s Day 16 of the Writer Friends Challenge!

Day 16 – What’s your favorite thing about being a writer: There are a lot of things I love about my job, not the least of which is the fact that I get to tell all the stories that are swirling around in my head! I think at this point in my life, though, my favorite thing has to be the flexibility. While I do have a set schedule for my workday, I can move it around a bit to accommodate a sick kid who needs to stay home or an appointment I need to make. It’s not always easy to work from home, honestly, but I have to be grateful for those kinds of benefits!

If you’re a writer, what do you love about it? Don’t forget to check out my giveaway happening this month!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside DetectiveHer short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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Filed under Writing Exercises