It’s late—just after 11 p.m. on a Thursday night. The world is quiet, the silence a sweet relief from the daily chaos. There’s no chirping and chiming of phones, no emails that need immediate attention, or crises that need to be averted. There’s just peace.

My mind is free to roam, my thoughts no longer consumed by daily tasks and mundane responsibilities. I can finally focus on what I love doing the most—writing. My fictional fantasy world awaits, and my characters are restless as fuck, battering my brain with their endless chatter.

Since Nick and Karina are the loudest, I’m starting with them first. I’m hoping to wrap up their short story and start working on their blogs by the end of this weekend.

I know Nick’s blog was supposed to be posted by this Friday, but I ended up scrapping it. It just wasn’t working. And I tried my damndest to make this story work. I finished the original draft a few weeks ago—which felt fantastic, BTW. For once I was ahead of schedule. For once, I wasn’t burning the midnight oil while trying to hit my deadline. I had some extra time to polish Nick’s blog. I was fucking elated.

So I let his blog rest while I focused on my other projects. I like giving my stories breathing room after completing them. The time away allows me to view them with fresh eyes, making it easier to catch any mistakes.

During those two weeks, I worked on my other WIPs, including Karina’s blog. As I was writing Karina’s blog, I started getting flashes of scenes from another story. Instead of staying in Luna Cove, I kept getting transported back to Zakopane. I would hear snippets of conversations between Nick, Karina, and Kari’s grandmother. Those snippets would quickly turn into entire scenes that I couldn’t ignore. And I didn’t.

I started writing this side story. I jotted down everything I saw and heard, thinking that once I got it written then I could go back to my regularly scheduled programming. I thought wrong.

I ended up losing myself in this new story. The scenes just kept playing out in my head, the images so vivid that it was like watching a TV show in high def. Nick and Karina’s voices were so clear at times that it was like I was standing right beside them. I was completely engrossed. I didn’t want to leave Nick and Karina. I had no desire to abandon this shiny new side short which had dominated my writing life.

But I had to. I needed to polish Nick’s blog so that I could publish it on time. Obviously, that didn’t happen.

Once I got back to Nick’s blog, I couldn’t connect with him. I couldn’t connect with his story. He wasn’t feeling it, and neither was I. I wasn’t about to force it. Anytime I’ve forced stories in the past, they always turned out to be flaming dumpster fires of shit. I wasn’t about to repeat my mistakes.

So, I trusted my instincts. I trusted my fictional people and went back to Zakopane. The moment I pulled that side short up, I connected with Nick instantly. And I knew it was meant to be. This was his blog—this was his story to tell this year. And it was Karina’s story as well.

Unfortunately, that meant I wasn’t going to hit my deadline. But I think it’ll be worth it. At least, I hope it will.

I have a ton of work ahead of me. Not only do I need to finish writing this story, but I also have to trim it, convert it to first person POV, and polish the ever-living fuck out of it. The good news is that I have enough story for both Nick and Karina’s blogs. I’m just not sure how I’m going to split it up yet. That’s the tricky part. That’s the part that’s giving me anxiety and making me question my own sanity. But I’m sure I’ll figure it out.

Determined to finish this story, I open my WIP and start reading over the last few paragraphs I wrote. Within a matter of seconds, I’m transported back to the majestic Tatry. The familiar faces flash before me, deep tones twined with softer lilts fill the warm air of Nick’s spacious mountain villa. I eavesdrop on their conversations, watching their expressions as I write down my notes.

Right now, I’m just a voyeur, an outsider looking in. But that changes within a matter of minutes as I tap into Karina’s head. Thankfully she lets me into her mind, allowing me to experience the events through her eyes. And that’s exactly what I do. I just write, immersing myself into her world while the real one fades away.

It’s just after 3 a.m. when I finally come back to reality. Their story is almost done. I just need to write the ending this weekend, and then I can let it rest for a week. I’m happy, but exhausted. My eyes are tired, and I’m in desperate need of a break.

I should go to bed. It’s been a chaotic week, and I need the sleep. But I’m not done writing. Not yet. Another one of my fictional people has been impatiently waiting in the wings. And I’ve been eager to learn more about Stavros’s best friend and fellow ER doc.

So, I pour a glass of wine, stretch my legs for a bit, and head back to my office. Darek pulls me into his world before I even get a chance to sit. I work quickly, trying to keep up with his impatient ass.

He’s out at the local bar with a fellow colleague, Ewelina. I don’t know much about her, other than she’s an obstetrician who has shoulder-length light blonde hair and soft sky-blue eyes. She’s more of a background character in Stavros’s story, so I haven’t had the chance to flesh her out. But I’m excited to get to know her, and Darek.

The two are seated at a corner table away from the crowd. Both are drinking beer, stout for him and a vanilla porter for her. They’re splitting a basket of soft pretzel bites with spicy beer cheese for dipping. They munch on their appetizers while sharing stories, talking about their families and personal lives. I learn a lot in a short span of time.

Darek is the oldest of five. He has two younger brothers and two younger sisters. He’s close with his parents and siblings, visiting them whenever he can. A pang of envy shoots through Ewelina as she longs to have what he does.

Ewelina’s an only child. Her father died when she was just a baby, so she never got a chance to meet him. It’s just her and her mom, but they’re not as tightknit as Darek and his family. Ewelina confesses that she only sees her mom during the holidays. They used to spend their birthdays together, but not anymore. Hell, they barely even talk these days. As the years go by, the distance between them continues to grow.

An overwhelming sense of loss and loneliness washes over her. And Ewelina can’t help but feel guilty, like the rift is all her fault. She tries to bury the heartbreaking memories, smiling through the pain as she talks. But she’s not fooling Darek. He notices the melancholy threading through her tone, noting the sadness in her soft blue eyes. And he feels like shit. So, he changes the subject. They start chatting about their favorite vacations, foods, and hobbies instead. The conversation flows, the two of them perfectly at ease with each other.

Once again, I lose myself in their small world. It’s almost six in the morning by the time I’ve finished writing their scene. I learned a lot tonight, and I can’t wait to start working on Darek and Ewelina’s WIP.

Satisfied, I close up shop for the night and get ready to hit the sheets. I love nights like these. I live for nights like these. They inspire me, invigorate me, and shut my imposter syndrome down. And tomorrow, I get to do it all over again.

Update

Stavros’s character bio has been posted. If you want to take a gander, just head on over to the Extras tab and click on Character Bios. I’ll be updating Nick’s character bio within the next couple of weeks. Alaina’s bio (Magic and Medicine WIP) will follow shortly.

I’ll also be posting new Life Bites, outtakes, interviews, and more within the next few months. So keep your eyes peeled for those. As always, you can find any updates on the Announcements page.

I do want to address one more thing before I go. I was asked about what was going on with my social media pages. As of right now, I’m still on hiatus. I do plan on returning to Twitter (X), IG, and BlueSky later this year. I just need to focus on myself, my family, and my writing projects first. I’m hoping to be more active by summer at the latest.

That’s all I have for you today. As always, stay safe and stay healthy.

Cheers,

Amelia

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