Wendy Parciak
@wendyparciak.bsky.social
Writer and career multi-tasker, with obsessions for MG--speculative / grounded fantasy & lit fic, music (Juilliard, cello), ecology (PhD), & dogs (agility trainer), http://kidseyebooks.com, http://wendyparciak.com., https://happytales.substack.com/
Bowing to the Stick God. Wouldn't it be nice if life (and settling on what to write next) were so simple?
#WritingCommunity #writing
#WritingCommunity #writing
November 17, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Bowing to the Stick God. Wouldn't it be nice if life (and settling on what to write next) were so simple?
#WritingCommunity #writing
#WritingCommunity #writing
What do you do while you're waiting for inspiration for a new story?
I go back to my finished writing projects and revise/query them some more ... and some more.
#WritingCommunity #writing
I go back to my finished writing projects and revise/query them some more ... and some more.
#WritingCommunity #writing
November 15, 2025 at 8:41 PM
What do you do while you're waiting for inspiration for a new story?
I go back to my finished writing projects and revise/query them some more ... and some more.
#WritingCommunity #writing
I go back to my finished writing projects and revise/query them some more ... and some more.
#WritingCommunity #writing
Does your age have anything to do with what you write?
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#WritingCommunity #writing
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#WritingCommunity #writing
How Old Are You?
Don't worry, you won't need to count the candles on your cake for this one.
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Does your age have anything to do with what you write?
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#WritingCommunity #writing
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#WritingCommunity #writing
I don't even know for sure what genre this book is (literary? mystery?), but Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy is so well-written and compelling.
What's your favorite book these days?
#writingcommunity #writing
What's your favorite book these days?
#writingcommunity #writing
October 21, 2025 at 8:16 PM
I don't even know for sure what genre this book is (literary? mystery?), but Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy is so well-written and compelling.
What's your favorite book these days?
#writingcommunity #writing
What's your favorite book these days?
#writingcommunity #writing
What do you do to get the creative juices flowing again?
#writing #writingcommunity
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#writing #writingcommunity
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
Stuck in a Rut
And It Keeps Getting Deeper!
open.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 10:55 AM
What do you do to get the creative juices flowing again?
#writing #writingcommunity
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#writing #writingcommunity
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
I wish I could put music into words. Listening to the International Chopin Piano Competition has inspired me once again to try.
#WritingCommunity #writing
#WritingCommunity #writing
October 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I wish I could put music into words. Listening to the International Chopin Piano Competition has inspired me once again to try.
#WritingCommunity #writing
#WritingCommunity #writing
Do you write nonstop for hours, or do you take lots of little breaks? I do the latter.
My favorite way to recharge at the moment is to watch some videos from the 19th International Chopin Competition. A little tension plus a lot of gorgeous music = perfection!
#WritingCommunity #writing
My favorite way to recharge at the moment is to watch some videos from the 19th International Chopin Competition. A little tension plus a lot of gorgeous music = perfection!
#WritingCommunity #writing
October 8, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Do you write nonstop for hours, or do you take lots of little breaks? I do the latter.
My favorite way to recharge at the moment is to watch some videos from the 19th International Chopin Competition. A little tension plus a lot of gorgeous music = perfection!
#WritingCommunity #writing
My favorite way to recharge at the moment is to watch some videos from the 19th International Chopin Competition. A little tension plus a lot of gorgeous music = perfection!
#WritingCommunity #writing
On another calm, gorgeous day, my story-telling soul can't help but think this means disaster looms ahead. Perfection forever would be boring, right?
#WritingCommunity #writing
#WritingCommunity #writing
October 5, 2025 at 5:29 PM
On another calm, gorgeous day, my story-telling soul can't help but think this means disaster looms ahead. Perfection forever would be boring, right?
#WritingCommunity #writing
#WritingCommunity #writing
When all the world's asleep, do you read ... or write?
I start with reading, but after awhile, I find myself at the computer and there's my WIP, still open from yesterday. It's inevitable.
#WritingCommunity #writing
I start with reading, but after awhile, I find myself at the computer and there's my WIP, still open from yesterday. It's inevitable.
#WritingCommunity #writing
October 4, 2025 at 10:04 AM
When all the world's asleep, do you read ... or write?
I start with reading, but after awhile, I find myself at the computer and there's my WIP, still open from yesterday. It's inevitable.
#WritingCommunity #writing
I start with reading, but after awhile, I find myself at the computer and there's my WIP, still open from yesterday. It's inevitable.
#WritingCommunity #writing
In the end, any good story is about change.
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#writing #WritingCommunity
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#writing #WritingCommunity
Transitions
Or: How to Carry On When You’d Rather Dig Your Heels into the Ground and Grind to a Halt
open.substack.com
September 25, 2025 at 11:59 AM
In the end, any good story is about change.
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#writing #WritingCommunity
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#writing #WritingCommunity
Are you ready to write or play? Or -- wait a minute -- maybe those aren't so different after all.
#WritingCommunity #writing #writers
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#WritingCommunity #writing #writers
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
It’s All A Game
An escape from life ... or a way to live?
open.substack.com
August 26, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Are you ready to write or play? Or -- wait a minute -- maybe those aren't so different after all.
#WritingCommunity #writing #writers
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#WritingCommunity #writing #writers
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
How do you do it? I really want to know!
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#writing #writingcommunity #writers
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#writing #writingcommunity #writers
Finding Balance
Where do you sit on that lifelong seesaw of work and play?
open.substack.com
June 26, 2025 at 10:34 AM
How do you do it? I really want to know!
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#writing #writingcommunity #writers
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#writing #writingcommunity #writers
Finding Joy
The mundane things that give me hope when I need it most
open.substack.com
May 20, 2025 at 11:03 AM
From buoyant hope to abject despair, and back again ... such is the life of an aspiring writer.
#WritingCommunity #amquerying
#WritingCommunity #amquerying
May 18, 2025 at 1:06 PM
From buoyant hope to abject despair, and back again ... such is the life of an aspiring writer.
#WritingCommunity #amquerying
#WritingCommunity #amquerying
I love nothing so much as having a piece of my work to edit, to sit and puzzle over until its meaning becomes clear.
#WritingCommunity #writing
#WritingCommunity #writing
March 17, 2025 at 11:06 AM
I love nothing so much as having a piece of my work to edit, to sit and puzzle over until its meaning becomes clear.
#WritingCommunity #writing
#WritingCommunity #writing
When I have to shift gears between writing, revising, & querying, I feel as if I'm leaving the warm house to brave the frozen wind. Anyone else have a tough time with this?
happytales.substack.com/p/nothing-bu...
happytales.substack.com/p/nothing-bu...
Nothing but Skin and Bones
Shifting gears is brutal!
happytales.substack.com
March 4, 2025 at 12:04 PM
When I have to shift gears between writing, revising, & querying, I feel as if I'm leaving the warm house to brave the frozen wind. Anyone else have a tough time with this?
happytales.substack.com/p/nothing-bu...
happytales.substack.com/p/nothing-bu...
FINISHED!
And now the fun begins (revision #1 of MG novel #9).
Good thing I love editing.
#WritingCommunity #writing
And now the fun begins (revision #1 of MG novel #9).
Good thing I love editing.
#WritingCommunity #writing
February 20, 2025 at 9:04 PM
FINISHED!
And now the fun begins (revision #1 of MG novel #9).
Good thing I love editing.
#WritingCommunity #writing
And now the fun begins (revision #1 of MG novel #9).
Good thing I love editing.
#WritingCommunity #writing
Hey, if I can do this, so can you!
happytales.substack.com/p/are-you-re...
#WritingCommunity #amwriting
happytales.substack.com/p/are-you-re...
#WritingCommunity #amwriting
Are You Ready?
Is it time to throw caution to the wind?
happytales.substack.com
February 11, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Hey, if I can do this, so can you!
happytales.substack.com/p/are-you-re...
#WritingCommunity #amwriting
happytales.substack.com/p/are-you-re...
#WritingCommunity #amwriting
The irrepressible nature of hope means: I always forget it's still winter in February.
But the good thing about that is: it's easy to hunker down and write!
#WritingCommunity #writing
But the good thing about that is: it's easy to hunker down and write!
#WritingCommunity #writing
February 1, 2025 at 4:55 PM
The irrepressible nature of hope means: I always forget it's still winter in February.
But the good thing about that is: it's easy to hunker down and write!
#WritingCommunity #writing
But the good thing about that is: it's easy to hunker down and write!
#WritingCommunity #writing
When you get stuck writing a scene, do you:
1. Give up on that story altogether?
2. Sit there for hours trying to figure it out?
3. Do something else for a bit?
#3 for me. A solution always surfaces while I'm outside. And oh, doesn't that feel good!
#WritingCommunity #writing
1. Give up on that story altogether?
2. Sit there for hours trying to figure it out?
3. Do something else for a bit?
#3 for me. A solution always surfaces while I'm outside. And oh, doesn't that feel good!
#WritingCommunity #writing
January 26, 2025 at 11:54 AM
When you get stuck writing a scene, do you:
1. Give up on that story altogether?
2. Sit there for hours trying to figure it out?
3. Do something else for a bit?
#3 for me. A solution always surfaces while I'm outside. And oh, doesn't that feel good!
#WritingCommunity #writing
1. Give up on that story altogether?
2. Sit there for hours trying to figure it out?
3. Do something else for a bit?
#3 for me. A solution always surfaces while I'm outside. And oh, doesn't that feel good!
#WritingCommunity #writing
What can't you live without? (writing, anyone?)
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#WritingCommunity #writing
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#WritingCommunity #writing
Inseparable
Are you inextricably bound to anyone or anything?
open.substack.com
January 14, 2025 at 11:21 AM
What can't you live without? (writing, anyone?)
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#WritingCommunity #writing
open.substack.com/pub/happytal...
#WritingCommunity #writing
The cold hard truth of the new year is that there are no more excuses to keep me from my WIP.
Anyone else getting ready to take the plunge?
#WritingCommunity #writing
Anyone else getting ready to take the plunge?
#WritingCommunity #writing
January 2, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The cold hard truth of the new year is that there are no more excuses to keep me from my WIP.
Anyone else getting ready to take the plunge?
#WritingCommunity #writing
Anyone else getting ready to take the plunge?
#WritingCommunity #writing
Do your drafts usually come out too long, too short, or just right?
Mine are usually in the just-right to too-long range. Nothing a little editing can't fix!
#WritingCommunity #writing
Mine are usually in the just-right to too-long range. Nothing a little editing can't fix!
#WritingCommunity #writing
December 17, 2024 at 8:14 PM
Do your drafts usually come out too long, too short, or just right?
Mine are usually in the just-right to too-long range. Nothing a little editing can't fix!
#WritingCommunity #writing
Mine are usually in the just-right to too-long range. Nothing a little editing can't fix!
#WritingCommunity #writing