Lara D. Elliott - Inspirations

This is my first time entering the Halloweensie Contest and I am so excited! The Halloweensie Contest is a writing contest run by Susanna Leonard Hil. The challenge is to write a children's Halloween story in 100 words or less using the words potion, cobweb, and trick. Enjoy! Maggie Mermaid’s Halloween Bash by Lara Elliott Photo by Mysticartdesign on Pixabay For Maggie Mermaid’s turn to host The Halloween Big Monster Bash,  She didn’t know just how to make  Her underwater bash a smash.  Jack-o-lanterns wouldn’t light, Candy melted in a lump, Her costume of a spooky ghost Became a saggy, soggy frump. “Instead of pumpkins, happy clams Will surely work much better here. Seaweed, just like cobwebs, draped To make a spooky atmosphere. “Ocean potion ‘stead of punch; A pirate’s patch for me to wear; Instead of candy, pearls and shells Become the trick-or-treaters’ fare.” The friends swam in and had a blast At Maggie’s...

Here's my submission for the Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy. It's a short story inspired by the photo below. Don't know what I'm talking about? Find out more  here ! UNICORN CANDY  This is the bestest time of the year when the unicorns come out to play! If we’re lucky, we might get to see one. The best way to do it? Unicorn candy! Unicorns love unicorn candy. You mean you’ve never heard of unicorn candy? Unicorns only love the sparkliest, most purpliest candies. Look at these that I got. See how the sugar sparkles! And so many different shades of purple. I’m sure to attract a unicorn this year. I just know it! Once we have our unicorn candy, we have to put it outside so they can see it. There has to be sun so the candy really glitters. And there has to be white puffy clouds that look like cotton candy. Unicorns love cotton candy too. And now we sit and wait.  Shh. Don’t scare them away. Be patient. Keep an eye out. Wooooow!  ...

I'm so excited to share with you that I have a new picture book blog! The past several months, I have been focusing on my picture book writing and have learned a lot and written a lot. I even started querying! On my new blog, I hope to help writers and readers of picture books with bringing a wonderful experience to children. Check it out here:  https://larissaelliottbooks.blogspot.com After a long break from noveling, I have also returned to a big rewrite of my "Uncrushed" idea (see my WIPs page for more info). Cross your fingers that this is the version that finally sticks. I've worked really hard on the outline and I really want this story to come to life! And lastly, a mental health check in. How are you? Are you surviving? I've had many ups and downs lately. More recently because of my busy work schedule, sleepless nights with my 1 year old daughter, general stress of everything at once, and the attempt to "make it" with my picture books...

I haven't posted in a while, so here's a quick update on what's going on. I tried revising my novels. Several of them. Nothing was really feeling like "the one." I even tried going back to an old manuscript to transpose it from 3rd person to 1st. I stalled on all my attempts to do anything novel related. So I stopped. I read a book. And another. I took a break. I stayed active on Twitter in the writing community. I chatted with my critique group. I did some beta reading for a friend. I think it was the beginning of May that an announcement was made for a picture book mentorship contest. It had been a while since I'd worked on any picture books, but it sounded like a good opportunity. Maybe I could write some more picture book manuscripts so I had some to choose from if I wanted to apply. Holy cow was I in for a ride! Over the next few days I wrote four drafts of new picture books! I tried rhyming. I tried unconventional composition. I was on a roll! ...

I was trying to link this year's NaNoWriMo story to the story of my first Nano which had so many obstacles to it. But, of course, that post was on my old blog! So, here it is for you. The tale of my first (and maybe my hardest) NaNoWriMo. Friday, December 4, 2015 How I (Almost) Failed at NaNoWriMo I haven't posted in weeks and that is because I was consumed with my crazy life and NaNoWriMo (that thing where you try to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November). Here's the gist of things: I recently turned that spark of writing desire into a flame of writing reality. However, my everyday life is not set up for a writing addict. Here are the reasons I shouldn't have had time to write this November. #1--I work full time. Not just 40 hours a week full time, but  at least  40 hours, sometimes 50 hours or more on the job. #2--I'm a mom. I have a 5 year old Kindergartener and a 2 and a half year old terror who need Mommy's const...

I did it! I won NaNoWriMo! Woot! NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is a writing challenge where you aim to write 50,000 words during the month of November. If you succeed, you ”win” and are gifted with coupon codes for wonderful writerly stuff. It’s not a competition against other writers, just a challenge for yourself. For the many people who don’t hit 50,000 words, the event is still worthwhile for the camaraderie of community, the establishment of a daily writing habit, and any bit of progress on a novel. My first Nano was three years ago. I had just started seriously writing a couple months before and had a completed novella. That Nano was a win and my first work over 50k. I had many challenges in my life at the time. You can read the story here . I shouldn’t have won, but I did. The following year, I only hit 20k. Took many months to hit 50k and the piece was a structural mess, so it’s still sitting. Last year I started a couple weeks early, but was able to reach 5...

It's amazing how one person's words, while positive in intent and directed at another, can cause hurt. Has this has happened to you? Someone else is praised for their outstanding work (and deservedly so) but it makes you feel lesser? This past weekend my work team put our "product" out in public. An outsider publicly gushed over the team leader (who really is amazing), but completely ignored the existence of the rest of the team. As one of the ignored ones, it hurt. And I shouldn't let it get to me, but it's bringing up old feelings of not being important and not being good enough. It's really affecting me more than I care to let on. I often feel this way in the writing world too. Another writer posts on social media about their success--they got an agent or won a contest or signed a book deal. And I'm over here jealous and feeling like I'll never be good enough. But I need to stop. That writer who scored the book deal took many years of hard...