Tag: Traveling

That ice is slowly melting.

Sara Mazariegos


As I read through my novel draft, I keep finding things I want to improve and/or cut. It’s eye-opening, even if it is also a bit frustrating. I’m planning to begin work on rewriting it next week. My goal is to basically “wrimo” my way to March 1st* and then take a break to read my other novel, and then trade places, etc.

It’s nice to have multiple projects to work on. Even if I want to scream “Why can’t you be perfect?!” at both of them.

One thing I’ve noticed I do as a writer (I’m sure I’m not the only one) is overexplaining myself. I’ll have my character (the narrator) say something, and then have an aside or sometimes just an additional thought that’s basically the same information, but in a joking way. I’ve crossed off these superfluous sentences more than twice so far. I wonder if I picked up that sort of writing from Marvel movies?

Either way, I’m annoying myself. Ha!

In other non-writing news, Luis and I are going to Disney World in April for my belated birthday, then back to Guatemala for another family wedding! We’re going to stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort for a special resort day to kick things off. To say I’m excited would be a vast understatement. 🥳

Get you a spouse who shares in your enthusiasm for things. It really is the best.

*giving myself about a month and a half to rewrite it since February is a short month, even with Leap Day.

It must be beautiful in Vermont this time of year. All that snow…

Sara Mazariegos

I hope you had a nice holiday season this year. It’s hard to believe 2024 is almost here.

I’m working at the office Wednesday-Friday, which feels very weird. The days feel off and most people aren’t working, so it’s like a skeleton crew and none of the tasks that matter are getting done, so why worry about the other tasks?

Holiday weeks off should be mandatory. If only I was the boss of everyone. 😉

No video this week because I’m giving myself a personal vacation even if I don’t have a work one. I’m also taking a break from writing, and I keep catching myself thinking about the revising I plan to do. “Not yet, brain,” I tell myself.

Luis (husband) and I are planning our next vacation. There’s something about browsing through Airbnb that cheers me up on a cold and rainy December day.

Nevermind that we considered Cleveland, Ohio before people reminded us that snow happens in February. So that’s been added to the autumn anniversary trip list. Hopefully Cleveland’s not bad in October. We’ve only got two anniversaries! (Dating and wedding.) We don’t travel for our birthdays. We’re not that extravagant.

…Okay, so we’re going to Disney World for my birthday next spring, but a) it coincides with another Guatemala wedding and b) it wasn’t my idea.

I’m like a five-year-old; promise me Disney World and I’ll be excited for months.

Don’t give up, no reason to be ashamed.

Sara Mazariegos

I always knew NaNoWriMo would hurt, but I’m going to be 10,000 words away from winning and it sucks, even though I knew I’d never get to the 50K during November. The progress graph mocks me.

Anyway, I’m on track to finish my novel draft on December 20th! Unless something goes awry. I haven’t had the most motivation this week, since I just got back from a really nice vacation in Guatemala.

I’m determined to edit this one the right way. I was all over the place with my last novel (I’m still going to work on that one! I refuse to give up.)

Here’s a video update from last week, since I wasn’t around to post it. 🙂


Razzamataz,

Best laid plans of mice.

Sara Mazariegos


Happy week three of NaNoWriMo! How’s your writing going?

I had an advanced Thanksgiving struggle last week, because we celebrated Thanksgiving/Veterans Day with my family on Saturday. (We’re going to be in Guatemala for Thanksgiving with my husband’s family this year.) Long story short: I ended up only writing 200 words on Saturday.

Not my proudest moment. But 200 words is better than 0 words! I’m still in it to win it (in December.)

Currently, I’m sitting at 26,162 words but I plan to turn that into 34,000 words before we leave on Sunday. *Tazmanian devil noise*

…I can’t actually make a Tazmanian devil noise.

With any luck, I’ll be able to write some (SOME) on my phone while I’m away, but I have family to visit and museums to see and a wedding to attend. It’s okay that I’ll be busy.

My goal for this NaNoWriMo, and future WriMos, is to be kind to myself.

As I said in my video up there, writing is supposed to be fun. That’s why it’s something we enjoy doing, right? Sure, it’s challenging at times, but if it’s not fun and exciting, what’s the point? Even published authors who do it as a job are supposed to love writing, right? So don’t beat yourself up about it if you have to take a break. Just don’t stop writing! Write when you can and get back on track as soon as you can.

Some advice for myself and for you.

Until next time,

Chilling challenge.

Sara Mazariegos

My husband and I are going on a week-long anniversary adventure up the East Coast. We’re visiting Eastern State Penitentiary (supposedly haunted and probably sad), Atlantic City (if ghosts were real, definitely haunted because of all them gangsters, see?), and the Lizzie Borden House (we’re staying the night! I’m so excited!! I don’t care if it’s not really haunted, some spooky stuff really happened here!)

Calm down, Sara. This isn’t a Haunted Mansion blog anymore.

When we told family we were staying in the Lizzie Borden house, the reaction was “You’re STAYING there?!” Mwahaha. 😈 I think she definitely killed her parents, but she had her reasons. (That doesn’t mean it’s okay, but life was hard for young, single women back then, so I also can’t say I blame her.)

In case you can’t tell, this trip will help me write an upcoming novel… in the future. I’ve got three books in the pipeline now.

I’ll have lots of fun stuff to report back next time!


Unless a ghost gets me, à la The Haunting of Hill House.

We use small words.

Sara Mazariegos

This is definitely one of my top three favorite music videos of all time.

My husband and I are traveling to Philadelphia this weekend to see Peter Gabriel! He surprised me by buying the tickets when I thought he was going to say I was crazy. :’) PG is coming closer to where we live, but in the middle of a week, so I thought we’d never be able to see him… But Philly is just around the corner from where we are. I’m just incredibly happy and excited to get the opportunity.

Peter Gabriel became a pandemic-era fave of ours because YouTube kept recommending we watch the Sledgehammer music video, so we finally did and then we were hooked.

In other non-PG news (that sounds like I’m about to get risque) I’m within the big climactic scene in my novel and enjoying it. I’ve noticed that my writing really gets affected by the things I’ve been reading or watching. I had a fresh burst of figurative language when writing yesterday and I’m not sure exactly where it came from or how I can make sure it keeps coming back!

I watched a video about how to effectively edit a novel — I’ve watched possibly too many of those, ha — and I had SO much three-ring binder envy. I’m the Leslie Knope from Parks & Rec or Amy Whateverherlastnameis from Brooklyn 99 kind of person, apparently. I always want to be the April or Rosa, the tough and moody lady, but realistically I’m too optimistic and eager to please.

My sister says I’m Spongebob.

Dangit.

Anyway, between planning for fun trips (more are coming!) and writing as much as I can per day while being reasonable, I’ve been having a nice early September. I’m looking forward to when it gets colder, though. I’m wearing a hoodie today, just on the off chance it decides to stay below 80 degrees.