Now's the Wrong Time
On writing intergalactic laws and making space for a thousand wrong moments.
As winter makes it long awaited departure from Middle Tennessee, spring’s arrival is met with a sigh of relief. The changing of seasons feels even sweeter this year, getting to enjoy the brisk mornings and sunshine-saturated afternoons from the comfort of our new home. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of standing in the middle of a miracle. Plus, much of the building process was akin to building a story, and my metaphor-loving heart ate it up.
And in the midst of the joys and chaos of moving, I’ve been reminded of an important lesson: There is no such thing as the “right time”, especially not when it comes to doing anything creative.
While I’m a respecter of rhythms and recognize that not all seasons are meant to yield the same amount of fruit (looking at you again, winter), we must be careful not to allow a momentary pause to become an inadvertent hiatus all because we declared this season “wrong”.
Intentional, purposeful breaks are good and necessary. Unintended drifts, halts, all out stops are . . . normal. And also rather tedious to rebuild from.
As writers, we can romanticize the drafting process, thinking it will be like Bilbo working on his book from the comforts of his idyllic, cottagecore-worthy hobbit hole. We think that if we’ll just wait for the “right” moment, then the gates of inspiration will fling wide, and the words will come to mind faster than we can type them.
Better to wait for that perfect season and get out a lot of words quickly than to struggle through consistent, short writing sessions that are sandwiched between car line and homework and medical appointments . . . right?
I, too, have fallen prey to this lie more often than I care to admit.
Sure, those euphoric moments where the house is quiet and the ambience is *just right* happen from time to time. But the truth is, more words are written in the “wrong” seasons, the dry, inopportune moments than the right ones.
It’s why writers who are moms of little ones wake up an extra hour early or stay up late a couple times a week, stringing together story threads in between big yawns and even bigger cups of coffee. Or why college students pull all-nighters, brainstorming character arcs in between studying for midterms. We make space between jobs and side hustles and laundry and life, if only to squeeze out a meager one hundred words, all because we know two things to be true:
1. The chaos of life will always exist, and
2. Our stories deserve to be written.
Let’s say all you can find is one semi-free moment a day. Maybe it’s only ten minutes long, and you can just manage to write one hundred words.
Do you realize in a year, you’d have a novella? In two, you’d have a novel? All because you wrote a “measly” one hundred words a day in the “wrong” season.
You don’t need one “right” season. Just a bunch of “wrong”, ordinary moments spread out over as many chaotic days as it takes.
Turns out, the “wrong” season is the perfect one after all.
On that note, I’m excited to share some writing updates from the last few months of “wrong-moment writing”, along with a wonderful free resource for creatives available from a dear author friend of mine.
Writing Updates
I’m excited to announce the launch of my very first serial fiction, Flight of the Windbearer: Origin of the Windriders. Suitable for fans of Eragon and How to Train Your Dragon, this three-part story follows Nameless the dragon and a young windbearer named Jeyk as they make the journey to the peak of Mount Yooling in search of purpose, adventure, and—most importantly—a name.
Here’s an unedited sneak peek:
Heavy mist veiled the northern trail. It cloaked the towering mountainscape in a blanket of gray, unyielding to the fierce winds that whipped through the foothills. The nameless dragon trudged behind his young guide, dodging drooping tree limbs as they swung his direction from the boy’s clumsy movements.
His companion was in a pleasant mood. He whistled cheerily as they climbed, his gait steady and unhurried in spite of the frigid breeze.
Nameless, however, did not share his contentedness. How could he, after being kept up all night by the human’s incessant snoring?
“Heads up!” Jeyk called out, just as a large branch smacked Nameless in the nose. The dragon huffed, sending a pathetic wisp of smoke at the boy from his fireless frame.
The kid was doing it on purpose, he just knew it.
Just wait ‘til I get my flame . . .
Clambering through the thick fog, the travelers came upon a mountain creek, and both stopped instinctively.
“Looks like we’re pretty in sync after all,” Jeyk said, offering Nameless a toothy grin. He bent down to take a drink, breaking eye contact before the dragon could respond.
What a cruel joke from the Keeper, Nameless thought angrily, allowing the humans the power to decide whether or not to listen. He lowered his snout and lapped at the rushing stream, trying earnestly to spray icy water on Jeyk’s boots.
No response. The boy’s nonchalance was so scaling irritating.
A clap of thunder boomed overhead, and Nameless’s head snapped up. The churning clouds, barely visible through the haze, were making the young dragon nervous. He pawed at the riverbank, unspoken words burning a hole through his skull. He would not be ignored any longer.
After a Keeper’s minute, Jeyk straightened, looked Nameless in the eye, and nodded.
Finally.
This story is near and dear to my heart, and I’m eager to share it with you. Namely because it’s set in the world of my currently drafting YA fantasy trilogy (remember the blueprints?), and I’m chomping at the bit to share the pieces of this storyworld that I’ve been dreaming up for over a decade.
The first installment of this story is coming Tuesday, April 1st (not a joke, I promise). Stay tuned!
Project Docking Bay is currently in its second draft, and I am quite pleased with how it’s shaping up. I’ve spent much of the last couple months replotting and revising my original outline, making structural changes and reworking some story threads, and everything is finally falling into place. As a writer (and chronic overthinker), I already struggle to keep writing even when I don’t have all the pieces mapped out. This trait has been even more exacerbated while writing PDB because, though it is more science fantasy/space opera than true sci-fi, I want the scientific elements to be logical and follow the laws of my fantastical universe.
Additionally, I’ve been spending a great deal of time researching and praying about whether or not I would want to query this story. Barring an unforeseen and unexpected opportunity, I will be moving forward with indie publishing, with the goal of releasing in late spring 2026.
So, what does that look like?
After I finish my second draft, I will be working through another round of self-edits. (Side note: If you haven’t gone through Nadine Brandes’s Self-Editing Course, here’s your sign!) Then, it will be off to a couple of trusted writer friends for alpha reading. After implementing their revisions, I’ll send it off for developmental edits, followed by lines edits. A handful of beta readers will receive it next while it’s off for copy edits, then formatting. Finally, ARC readers will have the opportunity to read it while it’s undergoing final proofreading . . . and then, we launch!
There are so many moving parts ahead, but I am more confident than ever that this is the story I’ve been tapped in to tell. In the meantime, here are my two major prayer requests for this adventure:
First, that I may find the right editors, especially for developmental (structural) edits. I’m searching for someone who takes a collaborative approach to this phase of editing, understands and enjoys the science fantasy/space opera genre, and will believe in this story *almost* as much as I do. And while this isn’t an explicitly “Christian” story, I would love to work with a fellow follower of Jesus who believes in the power of implicit theming. If you have any recommendations, I gladly welcome them!
Second, discernment about whether or not to run a Kickstarter campaign for this book. I’ve gone back and forth on this for a while, and still do not feel confident one way or another. It is a HUGE commitment to ensure that the tiers and incentives are worthwhile, justifying the higher price tag of supporting the Kickstarter versus purchasing the book on Amazon or another major retailer. However, there are major benefits to running a successful Kickstarter as an indie author. Again, I welcome any and all insight.
Over the next several months, I’ll be sharing updates, excerpts, and information about joining my launch team and ARC reader applications. If you already know you’re interested in joining, let me know—you’ll make my month!😁
Finally, I am honored to be part of an upcoming multi-author novella series of Beauty and the Beast retellings, releasing late fall 2025. My fantastical retelling will be available for purchase as an ebook and paperback. More details to come including title reveal, story blurb, and street team & ARC reader signups. Stay tuned!
Free Resource for Creatives
Lastly, if you’re a creative who's been struggling to find their spark, or perhaps needs to recast their vision for their storytelling or art, there’s a great free resource available to you! My dear friend Hannah Shoop, author of The Camnoel Trilogy and the upcoming Peter Pan-inspired sweet Christian romance novel, Straight on till Morning, has created a beautifully designed collection of journal prompts aimed at helping those who desire to create with the perfect Creator.
Click here to access the Free Downloadable Journal Prompts for Creatives
Thank you for sticking with me through these mostly silent last few months. There are so many exciting (and terrifying) adventures ahead, and I wouldn’t want to make the journey without you.
I can’t wait to read what you and I write with our next one thousand “wrong” moments.
With joy,
Samantha Mendell
Such a good reminder. We oftentimes have to write when it’s not ideal. 💛 sometimes it’s a gift to us in those trying times too! I can’t wait to get my hands on Docking Bay 😍😍😍