The first draft of my next novel is done and sent off to my editor! #booksky

There is no one way to write a book. To be successful at writing, you need to find the system that works for YOU. I start with a theme or question. For others, it may be a character’s journey or a setting that sparks a story. To start, notice what makes you most excited and curious. #booksky

Part of my writing process is getting major plot points down on paper, moving them around, and literally seeing what works. It allows for so much flexibility! And better yet, it’s fun, too. #booksky

I love connecting to the characters I write, and Iast weekend visiting our local farmer’s market, I wondered what Leeta would think. Her home planet of Fure is dry and dull; this is how I imagined a tour with her would go. I had to look way up to talk to her, she’s 6.5’ tall, I’m 5’2. #booksky

I’ve been doing yoga 25+ years. Such gift to the mind, body and spirit! Take your typical typing posture, turn it inside out, and you’ve got camel pose!! My husband David took this photo of me and I made a painting. Have you ever created art based on a photo? #booksky

Social media has made it much easier for teens to be impulsive--to get back at someone immediately or participate in a new trend without a lot of time to consider it. The solution isn’t to discourage social media altogether; it’s empowering mindfulness. open.spotify.com/episode/0fUK...

1/6: Two days ago I walked into our downstairs bathroom and saw this Western Screech Owl sitting on our plant shelf right outside the window. (He has been three days now. Gone at night, back during the day.)

Writing like there’s no tomorrow. Current deadline Wednesday. Still took time to pick some luscious #blackberries in the garden. You can’t pick them without getting stuck with thorns… But it’s so worth it. #writinglife #gardening

The making of a novel. Sometimes the story, with its plots and sub plots and intercutting scenes, is so big you can’t hold it all in your head. That’s when low tech paper, pen, scissors, and a big table come in very handy. #writinglife #booksky

0 Days to Go. Today is the deadline I set to deliver the first draft of my new novel to my editor. Did I make the deadline? Can deadlines be changed? Watch to find out. #booksky #indieauthor #anniefoxauthor #firstdraft

2/2: To keep working til the job's done. Hm. I can see that. Bees don't quit. Never. So when the Muses come with creative inspiration I've gotta be working. And if not? They go sprinkle their magic fairy dust on someone else.

2/2: Maybe. (Kidding) Editing's the real work of writing so I'm totally in. So why all these clouds? I need breaks from words. Instead of getting my head OUT of the clouds, it's nice to put my head IN them.

1/2: 3 days until my first draft deadline. Today’s episode is brought to you by #clouds made by Nature and photographed by this human. #writinglife #naturephotography Why clouds? Because they're amazing, ever-changing and self-editing. Are you saying you wish your first draft would edit itself?

Uh-huh. Each one’s different. It’s sweet how much you like trees, but shouldn’t you be writing? You’re right. I should be writing. Good! So when are you getting starting? As soon as I finish showing you these trees. #booksky

4 days until my first draft deadline. Today’s episode is brought to you by #trees (the real and the imaginary) #writinglife #naturephotography #ArtMadeByAHuman Four days? Not much time left, Annie. Know what I love best about trees? You’re gonna tell me even I don’t respond. #booksky

1/2: 5 days until my first draft deadline. Today’s episode is brought to you by Gracie’s Smiles #WritingLifestyle #doglife Your dog is so cute! Yeah, she’s sweet Is she helping you work on your draft? She warms my feet That wasn’t the question She gives me moral support Also not what I asked

6 days until my first draft deliverable. Today’s writing break is brought to you by #BakingLove. #WritingLife #WritingLifestyle You’re baking instead of working on your novel?! YES and NO. Meaning what? Yes, it’s true, while I’m baking I’m not writing. (Except during the dough rise, like now.) 1/2

7 days til my first draft deliverable. So why aren’t you writing, Annie? I am! I just needed a break. If you used AI you wouldn’t need breaks. Yeah… uh… not gonna do that. Today’s writing break is brought to you by the color #purple (no I’m not stealing the title for my new novel) #writinglife

Last Saturday we stood up for #JusticeForSurvivors (David Fox and I are in the upper left corner of the first E. (See us?) #sanfrancisco #democracy #RuleOfLaw #HumanBanner

Gracie the Dog is with her favorite kids. (My favorite kids, too!) #dogs

No caption needed.

Reporting live from the #HumanBanner at Ocean Beach #SanFrancisco with @davidbfox.com and about 1500 new friends who came out on a cool gray morning to stand up for #Democracy the #RuleOfLaw #JusticeForEpsteinSurvivors #AccountabilityForPedophiles and their enablers and… all the things!

@davidbfox.com and I are ready to join the #HumanBanner at Ocean Beach SF #ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles

Calling all creatives! Need motivation? #Inspiration CDB? #Bees keep showing up, getting the job done, no whining. (Buzzing doesn’t count) Whatever you’re working on… keep it up. You’ve got this! #WritingLife #CloseupPhotography #Nature

This is what happiness looked like for us at our daughter‘s camping/festival-vibe wedding. Two full days of love, laughter and magic in the woods. @davidbfox.com

Working (hard) on my third novel… #YA #magicalrealism #romance (Hope that’s a thing). Took an art break yesterday to give my story brain a rest. I call this painting “There are no words” #watercolorpainting

When you hike you follow a trail mapped out by others. When you write fiction you’ve got to make your own trail. Lost your damn plot line and your way out of your story? Keep showing up with the only tool you’ve got. Imagination. You’ve got this! #WritingLife #Hiking #Dogs #Creativity

I write different genres of fiction because I like variety in my creative challenges. Looking at the colors on a single hydrangea blossom, I think Nature enjoys creative challenges too! #flowers #gardening #photography #writerslife

What I love about where I live: 20 miles south I get the bridge and the ocean. 20 miles north I get cows. #SanFrancisco What do you love about where you live? #sonomacounty #marincountycalifornia

I planted seeds for rock roses but all I got was this. #gardeningfails