Corisa Berry

Do you collect journals? I feel like I own as many notebooks as I do books 🤣 A very aggressive yet very short hail storm knocked out our power this morning so I am taking the opportunity to do some writing by hand. Sitting down and actually writing out scenes has been a source of frustration for me for about a year now. Either the words come so randomly that I jot them down in the nearest journal or I get this flood of ideas when I try to write and don't know where to start, so I don't start at all 🤦‍♀️ However, I decided to try writing morning pages recently and it's been surprisingly helpful. Spending time writing down 3 pages worth of whatever comes to mind has done wonders for clearing out my head. It's like having a conversation with myself that I can look back on later. Plus, 3 pages is a small enough number to not feel overwhelming, but large enough to get thoughts and words flowing. Anyway, if you're in a writing funk I highly recommend trying this out. Happy writing!

Process I've had a bit of an obsession with snowberries lately. Not only are they everywhere in Washington, but I'm learning that these little guys have many uses, aside from just being toxic like I originally thought. Native Americans in Washington and Oregon had several topical uses for them, and they provide food and shelter to various animals throughout the winter.  I'm learning that my creative process is much like this little cluster of berries; somewhat toxic at times, but useful in many ways that often hide beneath the surface—ways that sometimes require a bit more thought and digging.   My process is always there, though it changes with the seasons and oftentimes goes unnoticed until it's the last thing standing. It often comes in clusters of inspiration and motivation,  then disappears for a bit only to return again.  I have a habit of fighting against my creative process,  wanting it to be something that I have complete control over.  But creativity doesn't work that way. My process is wild and fluid and moody. It does was it wants and works when it wants. And, surprise surprise, the moments when I stop fighting against it are the moments that I thrive.  What does your creative process look like?

craft rituals One of my goals for November is to reconnect with my rituals when it comes to creating. Ritual, for me, breeds creativity and comfort. Ritual takes time. It’s like an act of granting permission and slowing down, allowing myself to enter a space that is truly my own. Whether it’s driving to my favorite spot or brewing up the perfect cup of tea, it’s a commitment to the moment of creativity that’s about to take place. Creation Rituals: -  Chai tea with oat milk; iced in the morning, hot at night. It’s doesn’t feel right to write without tea. -  Music while driving alone. I carry a small notebook in my car because I always get flooded with inspiration while driving. -  Candles at midnight. There is something about writing by candlelight in the late of the night that get’s my brain going. -   Forest walks to the sea. My brain needs time to wander while I walk in nature. I have the privilege of living where the evergreens grow right up to the water’s edge, so that’s a plus. -  A new notebook. New ideas need a place of their own. @thedailymagpie and @monicahayauthor are hosting #writingbymoonlight this month. If you are interested in more prompts like these to help you cultivate creativity and self-discovery, then be sure to check it out!

It’s harvest time! This is the time of year when we take stock of what has grown over the past year, decide what we will leave behind and what we will carry with us, and look to the coming year. Time has been a bit messy for me this past year, mainly because I’ve allowed it to escape from me. Things have felt consistently busy, leaving no space for slowness, ritual, and play. It’s constraining and exhausting, making it compelling to escape into the romanticized worlds in books and shows. My goal for November is to take back my time and romanticize my life. I want to appreciate not just the things I have, but who I am and what I have to offer. November To-dos: · Dust off my camera. I miss taking photos. But photography takes time, and I haven’t felt like I’ve had much of that lately. In an effort to slow down and ignite creativity, play is at the top of my to-do list. So, expect more photos, most likely of mossy trees, rainy settings, homey meals, and teacups with books. · Bake more bread. To me, breadmaking is the epitome of slowness. It takes patience and intention and it’s not something that can be rushed. · Write in the dark. My voice comes alive at night and in the early morning. With the days getting shorter, it should be much easier to take advantage of the dark.   ·  Play with herbs. It’s been a while since I’ve made my own teas and herbal concoctions. I’ve been craving meadowsweet and peppermint and cardamom and ginger. What do you want to actively cultivate moving forward?

Hello October! I haven't been active in this space for a while. Writing is hard sometimes and life gets busy, and it's hard to talk about writing when you lack the motivation to put words to paper.  As cliche as it sounds, I truly believe there is magic in October. Things feel easier even though life gets busier. I sometimes think summer is too wild for me. I enjoy the structure and comfort that October brings. The crisp air and orange leaves make me want to plan adventures and cook fancy dinners. I want fresh-baked sourdough, squash soups, misty mornings, and eerie winds. And I'm oh so happy to have the Washington rain back. I am starting this month motivated and happy and inspired—which feels much more "me" than I've felt the past few months. I'm goal-setting today and can finally see a path forward, where much of this year has been a scramble. I've been craving conversations about books and writing goals, so I'm excited to be back here.  I hope you all can experience a bit of the magic this month!

Hello twenty-nine 🖤

Hi! It's been a minute since I've posted on here last, but I found myself missing this space recently. I haven't been functioning creatively as well as I'd like to, so it was hard finding the motivation to post anything on IG. Writing hasn't really been happening either (at least not the writing that I'd like to be doing), so I'm excited to get back to that too.  I'd like to phrase my creative break as "filling the well," but to be honest, the well is probably overflowing with the amount of Netflix, Kdramas, and webtoons I've consumed. Really, I've just been in a funk. I'm kind of a believer in letting things work themselves out, but at this point, it feels like it's dragging on, so I'm forcing myself to take some small steps to get things flowing again.  So, my to-do list for this month:  - Read a chapter a day from an actual book. My books are starting to collect dust, and it's making me feel bad.  - Write something. Anything. I've been randomly plotting and planning here and there, but that act of writing itself has been non-existent.  - Create a functioning work schedule. I really feel like this is the root of all my problems. Since I work from home, I feel like I constantly have to be working, and it's taking up all of my time. I guess people aren't lying when they say balance is important. - Pick up my camera again. Taking photos instantly puts me into a creative mindset. Plus, the PNW has been looking extra pretty lately.   So yeah, that's the plan. Not guaranteeing I'll stick to it (I am an air sign after all), but maybe putting it out there will hold me a bit more accountable. Maybe.  I'd love to hear what you all are working on? Any new goals or projects? Anything new in life?

Hi! My reading, writing, and social media have been on pause for about five months but I cracked open my Scrivener today and it was very exciting. I think I started writing my current project too soon. I got excited about the idea and dove in before I fully understood my thoughts, so once I hit the midpoint, I completely stalled out and started hating it. After letting it sit in my head for the past few months, new ideas have formed, and I began to miss it. I don't know if I'm quite ready to start writing it yet, but rereading everything I've got down has my brain working again. Have you stepped away from a project for some time and then come back to it? Any tips?

Hi! It's Wednesday and Veteran's Day. Hope everyone is doing well. I haven't posted a book review in a while, and I had some free time today, so here we go.  This Time Next Year was one of my Book of the Month picks for November, and I am so happy with this pick. This book had all the elements of a RomCom that I absolutely adore, but it also felt like so much more than that. And while I was rooting for the romance (obviously), I couldn't get enough of Minnie's interactions with all of the other characters. Leila is wonderful, Bev, Fleur, and Alan crack me up, and Connie's and Tara's growth wad inspiring.  It is so good guys! It is quirky and snarky and colorful, but it also explores the importance of family and friendship, and the struggles we go through in everyday life. I was swept away by this story. Also, I made Minnie's Steak Gyllenhaal Pie recipe that @sophie_cousens snuck in at the back of the book and it's wonderful. I think it should be a requirement that books that mention delicious food include a recipe at the end. I would seriously try them all.  Have you read this one yet? What are you currently reading? Have you ever made food inspired by a book?  #evergreenreaders #momswhoread #pnwreader #bookstagram #bookreview #ireadromance #bookstafeature #booksofig #bookofthemonth #thistimenextyear #sophiecousens #bookblogger #romancestagram #bookishlove #booksbooksbooks #booklife #readmorebooks #bookcommunity #whattoread

Happy NaNo everyone! I don't have the time to participate this year because of chronic time management issues, but I love the energy that everyone is putting out, and I'm jealous of all the words being written.  "Thinking is messy. Writing is thinking turned inside out." This is something my English professor said in a lecture a couple of weeks ago and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind because it's basically my life. Things don't ever go according to plan. I am always reading more than one book at a time, and can't write chronologically to save my life. I am a messy writer  and thinker and reader and lifer I sometimes get frustrated when I look at my manuscript and I've got chapters 1,2,3,4, and then it skips to 10. Or when the essay I'm working on is missing its second body paragraph but it has a damn good conclusion. But that's just how I function.  I may complain about it, and I will continue to attempt to "get organized" with the help of my bullet journal, but really, I like the mess. It keeps things interesting, and I'm learning to accept the madness as part of my process. And when those missing chapters get filled in, it's always exciting. In other news, I've been collecting writing craft books and would love all of your recommendations. What are some of your favorites and must-haves?

Feeling a little bit fancy and a little bit witchy today, so here's a selfie. @kristindwyer and @adrienneyoungbooks created the #findmywritingcommunity a couple of weeks ago, and I was a bit busy at the time (and not feeling fancy or witchy), so I figured I'd participate now.  I am a YA writer, pantser, and underwriter with a bad habit of writing multiple stories at one time. I love writing dialogue and lore and fangirling over my favorite ships. My favorite genres are fantasy, historical fiction, and romance. I currently have 3 projects I'm working on, with one that I hope to submit to AMM early next year.  A bit about me! I am a Gemini, enneagram 7w8, mom to two humans, and amateur baker. I watch a ton of Kdrama and believe that peanut butter and chocolate is the best flavor combination.  I adore this community. I have been fortunate to meet some of the most wonderful writers I can learn, share, and celebrate with. I'm excited to get to know more writing friends (and betas). Please feel free to reach out!! #storyteller #writersofig #writer #amwriting #momswhowrite #amwritingya #amwritingfantasy #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram #bookstagramer #writerssupportingwriters #aspiringauthor #authorsofinstagram #authorsofig #evergreenreaders #pnwblogger #writingcommunityofinstagram

This has been my mood all day. Too many things were scheduled for this week, and some of them are fun plans, but it's just a lot. I feel like I do this quite often, actually. I pack my schedule and tell myself I can handle it, but it ends up being really overwhelming. Also, I forget that kids don't understand all of my time isn't their time, and if im sitting, I must want to be climbed on or asked for 20 things in a single moment. It's been a day. It's okay, though. How are you with time management? Do you have any fun plans tonight? I plan on eating a giant bowl of peanut butter and chocolate ice cream and watching Record of Youth.

It's Friday! This week has been a tough one, but I made it, and I'm still chugging along. I have one more assignment to finish before I jump out of the student role and do a deep dive into my manuscript this weekend. I think I've only had time to write one day this week, which is not great, but I understand that it's necessary. I decided I'm probably going to have to adjust my timeline for finishing this first draft. I don't want to feel like I'm trying to squish too much in, but I also think I might want to challenge myself and see if I can handle it 🤔 We'll see! How was your week? Do you keep your goals and deadlines flexible, or do you stick to them no matter what?

Happy autumnal equinox!! 🌻🍂🧙‍♀️ How is your week going so far? It honestly feels like it should be Thursday 😂 I'm still trying to work out a schedule that fits in my schooling, my kids schooling, writing, and general life stuff. I think if I cut out sleep, laundry, and doing the dishes, I can fit everything in. Also, we've been eating Lunchables all week 🤷‍♀️ It is what it is. I did make time to pull out my fall decor though 😏 In other news, I got the best book mail yesterday, and I'm trying to figure out how to read them all in October. Clearly, I need more time in the day 😂 What books are you looking forward to reading this fall?

If something inside of you is real, we will probably find it interesting, and it will probably be universal. So you must risk placing real emotion at the center of your work. Write straight into the emotional center of things. Write toward vulnerability. Risk being unliked. Tell the truth as you understand it. If you’re a writer you have a moral obligation to do this. And it is a revolutionary act—truth is always subversive. ― Anne Lamott This quote is was at the top of the syllabus for my fall English class. I decided to go back to school this year because my brain didn't feel like it was being challenged. I miss being forced to think critically about things. I miss the accountability and the deadlines and the almost tangible feeling of working toward something.  I've been questioning this decision on and off for months. Am I going to be able to handle the workload? Will this interfere with my writing? How will I find time to study with two young kids? But opening up that syllabus this morning and seeing this quote made me realize that this is exactly what I need to be doing. Already, it has reminded me of something that I seemed to have forgotten, something that I feel has been missing from my writing. So, this is just a reminder to myself and anyone else that needs to hear it to follow your gut, and don't second guess yourself because something seems hard or scary. As @jaimexjohnson has reminded us a couple of times this week, we can do hard things.