I left 2025 wrestling with a lot of doubt. That summer, I finished the first draft of a WIP I was quite proud of, Project Secrets (placeholder name). However, once I started receiving alpha feedback, I began to feel less proud of it. It’s not that the critiques were harsh; it was more that my readers didn’t seem to understand what I was trying to portray. There were scenes that made sense, but because they dealt with something I’m assuming my readers have never experienced or witnessed, they were deemed unrealistic.

It stung because I try to be as authentic and raw as I can with my writing. That’s why I was left wondering if perhaps my words don’t hold as much impact as I thought. If perhaps my stories will never mean anything to anyone. Then, I just spiraled from there.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to write anymore; it was that I felt more stuck than ever. Sure, I’ve dealt with feedback before, but it hit a little differently this time. I found myself rereading my story, trying to figure out why I loved what I had written when others saw so many flaws in it. It didn’t make sense.

Eventually, I closed that document and stopped opening it. I had started my first semester of university and, in some ways, used that as an excuse for why I wasn’t writing anymore.

“The workload here is more intense than at community college. I don’t really have time,” is what I often told myself. I knew that I was running but didn’t fully want to admit it. I knew I was holding myself back by holding on to that feedback so tightly. It’s not as if I was being criticized, though; it’s almost like I took it that way. Or maybe it was simply me taking their feedback and criticizing myself with it.

But when the spring semester came, I had an odd awakening.

I had enrolled in a class called The Intersection of Psychology and Creativity. The topic sounded interesting, and I figured it would be nice to take a class that wasn’t heavy-duty, except…I didn’t realize that we would actually have to create. Though I was determined not to back down because I was strongly encouraged to drop at least one class since I was at 18 units. I wanted to prove, however, that I could handle the load, so I stayed in the class.

And crazily, it was one of the best things ever.

My professor talked a lot about how, whenever we’re creating something, we should embrace its imperfections. There’s always time to go back and refine it, but if we focus so much on refining in the beginning, we’ll never produce anything. Sometimes we just need to create and get our creative juices flowing. Sometimes we just need to create for ourselves to get certain emotions out, and thus, it stays messy because no one else will see it.

That perspective made me realize I had been holding myself to too many standards, which is why the feedback initially stung. Seeing what my readers wrote made me think that I’m not a good writer because it meant I didn’t reach the perfection I sought. It meant that my draft was messy and still needed a lot of refining. That’s not a bad thing because it’s the first draft, and I think I was forgetting that.

So, I started embracing the imperfection by experimenting with free-verse poetry. For a majority of the creative assignments we had, that’s the medium I used, and it’s honestly the most I’ve ever written. It felt freeing to know that it’s okay that my writing isn’t always perfect, and it was nice to have a space where imperfection was accepted.

That’s why taking my writing break wasn’t a bad thing. It allowed me to gain a new perspective and rediscover why I love writing. It’s a way for me to create something raw that resonates with others about life's hardships but also about how they’re not the end. Life itself is messy, so why shouldn’t my writing be as well?

If you’re wondering if you should take a writing break, don’t be afraid to do so. It doesn’t make you any less of a writer or put you behind. Instead, you’ll come back stronger with a newfound motivation and a remembrance of why you write.

Don’t be afraid to simply be and see where you end up.

Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3.

I think this is working, right?

Well, believe it or not…I forgot this Substack existed. I logged into my account and saw that I had posts and a handful of subscribers. Then I discovered my Google Doc with all my post ideas. Let’s just say I was quite excited to start this at the time. And then it got me thinking…why don’t I bring this back?

After taking a long-needed break from writing, I’ve been slowly coming back to it. Last semester, I had the opportunity to experiment with free-verse poetry in a psychology-and-creativity class, which was more freeing than I expected. I was even able to get a piece published in a campus journal at my school. I’ve also been thinking a lot about writing personal essays.

As an English major, you're exposed to a lot, and I want to explore some of those things further or share my personal thoughts. And of course, sooner or later, I will find my way back to fiction writing. Many ideas have been swirling in my head that I should probably write down soon.

So, why am I saying these things?

Well, it’s simply to say that this corner of the internet will be getting a little revamp. I’m hoping this will not only be a space for me to share my writing and other musings, but also a community. One where other writers can share their writing lives and musings while supporting one another on the journey. I’m still working out the logistics, but let’s take it one step at a time.

Also, I just realized how rude I am for not formally introducing myself. My apologies, friend!

If you know me, hi! If you don’t know me, nice to meet you!

I’m Heaven, a fourth-year university student studying English (as previously mentioned) who hopes to work in book publishing and education. In my spare time, whenever I do have it, I enjoy reading, writing, hiking, taking photos, watching K-dramas, and city exploring. I also have a somewhat terrible obsession with matcha. I don’t drink it daily, but I probably still drink more than I should. At least it does have health benefits haha!

I’ve been writing since I was eight, but didn’t begin to take it seriously until I was fourteen. And boy, what a rollercoaster it’s been! I’ve written one novella, two novelletes, and countless short stories. I’ve attempted writing many, many, many novels, but they never saw the light of day. Perhaps that might change one day. 👀 I’ve also been published in two anthologies (one digital and one print) and in three school papers.

Let’s just say, I write a lot. And though I’m not proud of most of these works, I'm more grateful for words and for how they can impact people, even in small ways.

Either way, I think I’ve done enough rambling for now. We’ll see where things go and which way the wind blows for this little space, but I’m excited to come back!

Until next time,

Heaven

Charlotte couldn’t wait–excited for the glazed ham and warm apple pie they would eat.

As they turned a street corner, Charlotte noticed a girl around her age walking barefoot in the snow. She was shivering visibly, wrapped in only a torn woolen shawl, apart from her thin dress. Charlotte looked down at her own plaid coat. The thick, insulated fabric kept the cold off her arms and her hands nestled in the deep pockets.

“Surely someone will notice her and give her a warm coat,” Charlotte thought, not even thinking she could be that someone.

She watched the little girl hold a bundle of matches, offering them to whoever passed by her. People ignored her instead, rushing from here to there. Each time she was overlooked, her shoulders sagged a little more, and her frown deepened.

“Mama, there’s a little girl selling matches,” Charlotte said, tugging on the hem of her mother’s coat.

“Oh, that’s nice,” she replied absentmindedly, not even stopping to look at the child.

“But no one’s buying them from her,” Charlotte persisted, tugging her mother’s coat again. “She looks poor.”

“Well, I’m sure someone will help her,” her mother replied dismissively.

“Come on, my lovely ladies. We need to hurry back before we freeze to death,” her father chimed in, wrapping an arm around Charlotte’s mother. “And we have a great feast waiting for us at the Murray’s.”

Charlotte smiled, remembering again why she had been so excited for today.

Maybe Mama was right. Someone would help the little girl…it didn’t have to be her.

She soon forgot all about the little match girl the moment she stepped into the Murray’s home. Roasted meats and spiced cider filled the air, and the promise of a festive night awaited her.

But outside, the little match girl remained. Alone in the quiet streets that were powdered in snow, with only the flickering flames of her matches as her warmth.

That night, Charlotte climbed into bed with a full stomach. And all she could think about was what presents she might open the next morning.

Her warm covers engulfed her, quickly pulling her into a deep sleep.

But it wasn’t a pleasant one.

She stood barefoot in the snow. The cold bit at her toes, which made her shiver violently. She held herself tightly for warmth as she didn’t have a coat or scarf—only a thin dress that clung to her shuddering frame.

When she tried to move, she could only take a step or two. Her legs had become numb. And when she opened her mouth to beg for help, no sound came out. No one heard her. No one saw her.

With trembling hands, she struck a match. The small flicker came alive at once, and she saw home.

Her parents sat by the fireplace, sipping hot cups of coffee. Presents lay nested underneath the twinkling Christmas tree. Charlotte exhaled in relief, a small smile tugging at her lips. Though, as she stepped forward, the flame went out.

Darkness swallowed her once again.

Panicked, she struck another match. She needed her home, even if this was the only way to have it. For a brief moment, the warmth returned, and she could see the golden glow of home again.

And then, she saw…her.

The little match girl.

She stood in the snow, watching Charlotte silently from afar. There was something deep and knowing in her gaze that made Charlotte gasp in delight.

Maybe someone is finally going to help me.

A small smile tugged at her lips as the little match girl approached her. But before she could say anything, the flame sputtered out.

And Charlotte woke up, her heart pounding.

She sat up instantly, the dream replaying in her mind.

What if that’s exactly how the little match girl had felt? Hoping all night but becoming more hopeless instead?

Charlotte threw the covers off her and grabbed her coat. She silently slipped out of the house, the cold air soon nipping at her cheeks as she hurried back to the street corner.

She didn’t have far to go.

She grinned when she spotted the girl, relieved that she still had a chance to help.

But then–Charlotte froze.

The little girl sat on the curb, still and unmoving. Her small, bare hands rested limply in her lap, snowflakes clinging to her hair and eyelashes.

And yet…she was smiling.

It wasn’t as if the winter chill froze it on her face, though. Her smile was peaceful as if she had experienced a warmth that Charlotte couldn’t see. A warmth that no one could give her while she tried selling matches.

Did she see something before she closed her eyes for the last time?

A world that was kinder and without false hope? Had she been welcomed to a place where she would no longer go hungry and the cold wouldn’t touch her?

Maybe she found a home that wasn’t made by human hands.

Maybe she was wrapped in loving arms that no one here could see.

Maybe…maybe it was God who saw her when no one else did.

Tears slowly trickled down Charlotte’s cheeks as regret settled in her heart.

As the years passed, Charlotte often gave bread to the hungry, sharing warmth with those who had none. Every winter, she donated mounds of clothes and scarves.

And whenever she saw someone standing alone in the cold, she would stop.

Charlotte never forgot that little match girl; because of her, she never wanted to look away again.

MORAL:

Let not the comfort of plenty make thee blind, for many shiver in the cold unseen. And though the forgotten may find their home in Heaven, let it not be because of the neglect of those who could’ve loved them here.

I was encouraged to post this, so I did. xD I wrote this for an assignment in my Youth Literature class, but hopefully, you may have enjoyed it!

Until next time,

Cassie writes inspiring stories of hope and forgiveness for young adults. As she pursues publication, you can join her in geeking out over all things Harry Potter or Disney while snagging some book recommendations.

And the fun part? You will be entered in a giveaway if you sign up by October 21st! She’s giving away a signed set of the Wonderland Trials duology by Sara Ella along with its preorder merch AND some items that she designed herself. Don’t miss out!

You can head over to her Instagram bio or stories for the link!

And to find out more about Cassie and her writing, visit her author site: https://cassieporath.com/. She’d love it if you stopped by!

Until next time,

Sometime in August, I decided to put Gone on a halt completely. As much as I want to finish this project, I didn’t want to force myself when I was still struggling to even open the doc. It was going to make things harder, so I gave up pressuring myself and am letting be.

It was a hard decision to make because I put so much into this story, but it’s for the best. Now, don’t get me wrong, there is definitely a chance I will come back around and pick up the story again. It’s just for now, I still need a break from it.

Though, I do have some exciting news…

I am working on a new project!

Sometime in June, an idea popped in my head, though I didn’t have the time to work on it because of summer classes. Once July rolled around, I decided to finally do something about it. I mean, I couldn’t back down at that point when I had already created Pinterest boards haha!

And here we are in September, and the outline is close to finish!

This story is pretty different from what I’ve written before in many ways, so I’m a little nervous about writing it. However, I’m looking forward to seeing what will come of this story!

Within the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing more about this project, so definitely stay tuned.

Until next time,

It’s been quite a while since the last time you’ve heard from me, huh?

To be honest, I’ve been in a really strange place with writing for the past couple of months. It’s somewhat difficult to explain, but I think it really boils down to this: doubt.

After receiving beta feedback for my current novella, Gone, I was actually pretty scared. I mean, this meant that I was literally at the tail end of working on this story before beginning the publication process.

Partially, I wasn’t ready to let go of working on this story…it’s already been over a year, and I’ve grown to really love it. It’s been through so many changes, good changes, and I’ve seen how it’s developed into the story it is now.

But on the other hand, I wondered if it was terrible. Beta readers are basically test readers and knowing that they’ve read through my story and have shared their feedback made me nervous.

About a couple of weeks after my beta readers finished going through Gone, I finally decided to read their feedback, but I couldn’t finish. I was too nervous, even though from what I had read so far was helpful, encouraging, and better than I imagined. However, I wondered if that was only the beginning…would the feedback progress into something I wasn’t ready to see yet?

Although I know in my head that feedback helps with improvement, my heart and emotions didn’t quite catch up. To this day, I still haven’t finished going through the feedback even though I think about this story almost every day.

More recently, as I’ve been getting back into reading since I’m on summer break now, I have been inching towards the idea of going through the rest of the feedback so that I can move forward with this story. Of course, I’m still nervous, but I also want to finish this project because I’ve put so much effort into it.

I think taking a break has been great because when I come back to it, I’ll be seeing it all with fresh eyes. I’m kind of excited and I’m hoping to share my journey getting back into it with you all…so, know that you’ll be hearing from me a little more regularly again.

Until next time,

It’s more than merely writing words on a page or typing them on a laptop. The imagination has to be used to make these characters and plots come to life. 

As a result, it’s easy for our creativity to run low quickly. But not just any old thing can refuel our creativity. We need to use creativity to help spin those wheels and continue making something epic.

There are a few things that have been beneficial to me that I’d like to share with you all. Of course, they may not work for everyone because we’re all wired differently, but perhaps there might be something you can try!

1. Pinterest

Pinterest is a treasure trove for so many things.

For every story that I write, I always create a Pinterest board to capture the mood of the story. But also, I use them to spark inspiration for scenes when I’m facing the slightest of writer’s block or to enhance one that’s already written.

What makes scrolling through Pinterest creative is that inspiration always sparks. You find something that you want to try or add, and you want to see how you can make it your own!

The next time someone sees you scrolling on Pinterest, tell them that you’re creating.

2. Watch Good Movies + Television Shows + Read Good Books

What I mean by good is not necessarily the execution (although that is important).

What I’m talking about is storytelling. Being moved by the narrative as different emotions evoke and becoming inspired by the creative tapestry.

Are you drawn to the plot? Do the characters grab ahold of your heart? Are there moments that live rent free in your mind as you’re still attached, even after it ends?

It’s these things that ignite our imagination while also fueling our desire to craft stories that resonate just as deeply.

So, as writers, let’s not only seek good stories for pure enjoyment, but also to learn from them to infuse that same magic into our own stories.

(Should I write a post with some recommendations? Let me know in the comments!)

3. Partake in other hobbies

Yes, there is actually more to hobbies than just writing. xD

When we immerse ourselves with certain projects for so long, our creativity drains even faster and makes us want to stop. 

Don’t take this feeling as a sign to put a project on the backburner or that you need to work on something else.

Simply, it means that you should take a step back from writing and indulge in something else that’s creative. And this isn’t for the sake of finding inspiration for your story.

The purpose of this is to allow yourself to be creative in other ways that will fuel your creativity for when you get back to your writing projects.

For me, I often paint, graphic design, or attempt (emphasis on the attempt) drawing. 

I’m still allowing my brain to use creativity but just in a different way, helping me to fuel it back up for words eventually.

Creativity is not always easy to keep around because of the brain power that’s necessary, which is why we must do our due diligence to replenish it. Our stories matter because the One who gave us the ideas put them in our hearts for a reason. Don’t lose heart but discover what helps your creativity be at its best.

Until next time,

I’ve grappled with this on numerous occasions and have thought that my resistance was a bit strange. Mostly because I’ve noticed others eager to absorb feedback almost momentarily after acquiring it while I find myself waiting weeks to absorb critiques. 

Surprisingly though, this seemingly unconventional quirk has come to be more beneficial than I’ve given it credit for and I’d like to share two unexpected benefits that I’ve discovered through this.

1. Mental preparation

Let’s be real. It can be kind of scary having someone read your work. The thing you’ve put so much time, effort, and sometimes tears in. The thing you may have kept a secret for many months is finally being seen by someone else.

You don’t know what their thoughts are going to be until you eventually see their feedback. And you have to keep in mind that while they will praise the parts that are good, they’re going to point out the parts that need improvement, too.

When you’re so proud of something you’ve worked on, it can be easy to think that it’s the best thing ever and there’s nothing wrong with it. Because of that, when going straight into the feedback, it can be even more difficult to accept the criticism. 

When you wait to read the feedback, it allows you to mentally prepare for what the reader(s) will have to say.

Like I was telling my sister a couple of weeks ago: when you wait, it helps you to not be too prideful when you receive praise and to be humble when you’re told that some areas need improvement.

2. You Get Fresh Eyes

When waiting to look at feedback, it also essentially means not looking at your story until you’re ready to review it. You’ll be less biased when you take a step back and not touch your story.

The reason behind this is so that you can understand the reader(s) feedback a lot more along with their perspective. Otherwise, you’ll think they’re being nit-picky because you can’t see what they see if you’ve been looking at the story for quite some time.

There are some people (like if they have their manuscript in Google Docs or something of the sort) who will watch the feedback as it comes in. But that means you’re looking at the story after you just finished writing it and are still in that author's perspective.

The purpose of having people read your manuscript to provide feedback is because they are your test readers. They are the ones who will help find the flaws or inconsistencies to make it better.

As writers, we already know how things will play out and because of that, we don’t always make it explicit when we put it on paper. Thus, everything won’t make sense to the reader.

So, when we take a step back and then go into the story again with the feedback, we’ll be more willing to accept what they have to say and see where they’re coming from.

When we delay the urge to dive into feedback right away, it actually helps us to grow as writers. By allowing ourselves to take a step back a little, we’re opening ourselves up to a more receptive mindset. So, let this be an encouragement to resist the temptation to take a peek at feedback so quickly and discover when the time truly is right. 

Until next time,

It feels a little crazy to be embarking on this new journey, but I’m excited as well.

For a long while, I was craving to get back into blogging and though I did recently, I was starting to dislike WordPress. With it not being as user friendly anymore and also having to be forced to pay for features that used to be free, I figured it was time for a change.

I’m still getting used to Substack and though it’s much more straightforward, I’m new to this platform, so bear with me and any mistakes that my occur. 😅 Nevertheless, I’m so excited that you are here!

Who Am I

If you don’t know me personally or from any of my other platforms, my name is Heaven. I’m a freshman in college who is pursuing a Journalism degree in hopes of becoming a Multimedia Journalist in the future.

I have loved writing since the age of eight but didn’t start taking it seriously until I was fourteen. Since then, I have completed four short stories, one novelette, and I’m currently aiming to self-publish a novella later this year.

I’m primarily a Contemporary YA writer, though I have dabbled into Romance and Mysteries.

When I’m not writing, you can find me talking about writing, taking photos, reading, graphic designing, or watching k-dramas while drinking either boba or a form of matcha.

What to Expect

I’m sure you’re wondering what this space will be used for exactly.

To be honest, I had a little of trouble figuring this out for a while. Mostly because I want my content on here to be different from my Instagram, but similar in some fashion.

So, what can you expect?

• Book reviews

• News about current projects

• Writing advice/how-to’s (based on my experiences)

• Behind the scenes of current projects

This might change as time progresses or I may add new types of content, but at least this is a start!

I can’t wait to see where things will go from here and how this platform will slowly develop! I have a lot of ideas and am starting to plan things, so definitely stay tuned for more.

Until next time,

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