I'm Back: What Two Months Away Taught Me About Writing, Creativity, and Library of Life
If you've been following along for a while, you may have noticed that things have been a little quiet around here. For the past two months, I stepped away from my blog, not because I stopped writing, but because I was pouring every ounce of creativity into one of the biggest opportunities of my life.
This summer, I had the privilege of participating in a writing residency. For two months, my days revolved around stories, creativity, and asking myself one important question:
How can I become a better writer?
I went into the residency hoping to make progress on Library of Life. I left with something even more valuable: a new perspective on creativity, storytelling, and the kind of author I want to become.
Before the residency, I thought a successful writing day meant adding thousands of words to my manuscript. If I didn't hit a certain word count, I felt like I wasn't making progress.
But I learned that creativity doesn't always look productive.
Some days I spent hours rewriting a single chapter. Other days I deleted scenes I'd spent weeks writing. There were moments when I questioned entire storylines and wondered if I was making my book worse instead of better.
Looking back, those were some of the most important days.
Writing isn't just about creating something new. Sometimes it's about having the courage to let go of what isn't working so your story can become what it's meant to be.
One of the biggest surprises was how much Library of Life changed.
Characters became more layered. Relationships felt more authentic. Scenes that once existed only to move the plot forward started carrying emotional weight. I found myself asking deeper questions:
Why would this character make this choice?
What are they afraid of?
How do I want readers to feel when they finish this chapter?
Those questions transformed the way I approached my second draft.
Editing can be frustrating, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Somewhere between deleting paragraphs and rewriting conversations, I fell in love with this story all over again.
For a while, it felt strange not posting here.
We're so used to sharing every milestone online that stepping away can feel like falling behind. But this experience reminded me that not every season of growth is meant to be public.
Sometimes the most meaningful progress happens when no one is watching.
Those quiet moments gave me the space to experiment, make mistakes, and grow without feeling like I had to document every step.
Now, I'm excited to start sharing what I've learned with all of you.
I'm currently continuing to edit Library of Life as I work toward traditional publication, and I couldn't be more excited for what's ahead.
Over the next few months, you can expect more behind-the-scenes looks at the writing process, updates from my publishing journey, book recommendations, reflections on creativity, and honest conversations about what it's really like trying to build a career as an author.
This blog has always been about more than writing.
It's about the stories that shape us, the dreams we're brave enough to chase, and the lessons we learn along the way.
I'm grateful you're here for this chapter.
Whether you've been reading since my very first post or you're just finding this blog today, thank you for being part of the journey.
I'm excited to see where this next chapter takes us.
Until next time,
Madisen
I'd Love to Hear From You
One of my favorite parts of writing isn't just creating stories—it's connecting with the people who read them.
So I'd love to hear from you:
Have you ever stepped away from something only to come back with a new perspective?
Share your experience in the comments below. Whether it was a creative project, a career goal, school, or life in general, I'd love to read your story.
And if you'd like to follow along as I continue editing Library of Life and navigate the traditional publishing journey, be sure to subscribe so you never miss a post.
Here's to new chapters—both on the page and in life.
