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Hello readers & friends! I'm Caitlin, a writer of all sorts of things.
As a little girl, I often dreamed about becoming a detective, a doctor, a wizard, a ballerina, a spy, & on & on & on. When I got older, I couldn’t figure out which one fit me best, so I settled on all of them by becoming a writer and vowing to never go anywhere without a book. I’m also a high school English teacher which pairs well with my love of story.

I write fiction for middle grade and young adults, in the genres of fantasy and mystery, and when I’m not writing I spend way too much time on Instagram sharing about my life (which I sometimes also post on my writing space when I have more to say,) books, share cute pictures of my doxies, and peeks into my garden.

I’d love it if you subscribed to my newsletter, Lost In Story, where I also share notes from my writer’s desk, and book recommendations for all ages.

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Come follow me @caitlin_lore where I talk about books, life, and share lots of photos of my doxies!

day 12 // publish ✨ I’ve never really had a true answer to that age old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” • Once it was a Doctor. Then a Chef. At one time a Fashion Designer. Also a Criminal Pathologist. And so the story goes. • If you asked me today, I’d tell you that writer settles my soul. • For one, I get to be all those things & more through the avenue of telling stories, & two, in all the things in all the world, it just. feels. right. • It’s taken me a long time to settle in as a writer though & truly call myself that, even though I don’t have a book on the shelves. Yet. • Being a writer isn’t just a short term thing. It’s a life thing. Every moment. Every observation. Every character. Every story turns into words I carry over onto the page. • Some of those are seen widely, while others stay hidden for so long I might even forget them. • Some of those get published right here, while others end up published in my newsletter. • Some are stories only my students will see while others get passed around my critique group over & over again. • But someday, I know, because it just. feels. right. that I’ll publish some of those words in a book. • And when you ask me then if I always wanted to be a published writer, I’ll probably say, “No, but He did.” • • #hopewriterlife #notesfromawritersdesk • • @hopewriters • • • • [PS: subscribe to my newsletter via the link in my profile to stay updated about my writing life & more!]
day 11 // slant ✨ Writing is all about how we see. The experience. The wonder. The beauty. • The world around us. • I could have let these flowers stay outside & enjoyed them in their natural state.(Peonies! In June!) But instead, I cut them off last Saturday to bring the beauty inside, so I could enjoy them every time I walked past my dining room table, which is a lot. • They probably would have lasted much longer on their stalks, but this week they brought me smiles. • Because every time I walked by, I stopped to smell them. Something I would have missed out on had I left them outside. • Writing is similar. I could easily tell myself that I don’t need to keep working on my current manuscript because there are already too many middle grade fantasies out there. • Or I could not even begin to write the middle grade mystery on my heart because there are already some fabulous authors in that genre. • But these two novels are *my* stories. My own slant on the genres. My own slant on the world. • So I’ll keep revising & I’ll keep writing even if there are days that it feel futile. • Because someone out there needs my stories just as much as I need to write them. • • #hopewriterlife #notesfromawritersdesk • • @hopewriters
There’s a beautiful breeze whispering through the wind chimes. • My writing buddies are curled up at my feet. • I’m ready to meet Ruby & Tilly. • #startmondaywrite #caitiswriting #caitwritesfiction #summerofwriting #amwriting #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram
day 10 // reader ✨ I am a writer BECAUSE I’m a reader. Honest to goodness, if you ask me about my childhood, I’ll talk to you about all the books I read & that were read to me. • I’ll talk to you about Lucy & Nancy, Harriet & Macy, & how they were my best friends & myself growing up. • I’ll take you to Narnia & New York, Hogwarts & San Francisco. We’ll probably stop by Middle Earth & London, & maybe even Terabithia. • I’ll also tell you about the time I was in a Baby Sitters Club & a Spy for a little bit. Those few weeks I lived in a Boxcar & had a pet Pig. When I drank from an Immortal Spring & pulled a Sword out of a Lake. • The little bit of time I chased Ghosts & visited the Moors. Attended Balls & caught a Murderer. • I also yearned for my own Darcy (who hasn’t) & defeated Witches. • And every story I’ve ever read has nestled itself into my soul, shaping me into the writer I am today. • I’ve lived a thousand lives through the pages of books, & I can’t wait until my very own readers do the same. • #hopewriterlife #notesfromawritersdesk • • @hopewriters
day 9 // plot twist ✨ I am an unlikely gardener. As a kid, I loved being outside, but hated doing outside work. Instead of picking up sticks or raking leaves, I’d just wander around the yard with my Dalmatian, probably lost in my imagination. • But the women before me in my family are gardeners. Flower whisperers. Vegetable tamers. Green thumb aficionados. • And a few summers ago, when I started writing about a young girl, her grandmother, & their faerie garden, I found myself outside, digging in the dirt. • Today, I weed here & there when I’m outside. This summer I planted three raised beds of vegetables, with five more waiting for this rainy season to pass. • I have flower starts & pollinator beds. • There’s a little corner tea garden, filled with gnomes & spots for faeries to gather. • Some art installations & bottle trees inspired by my mother-in-law litter the space of my garden. • And there’s a rusty old tricycle in the corner, its basket blooming orange. • I think the women in my life would be proud of this little plot twist in my life. • I’ve created an inspiring place, literally in my backyard, for stories to grow & my imagination to wonder. And every time I come inside, my fingers are covered in dirt, & my heart is full of new stories. • I’m an unlikely writer, too, but I’m learning stories grow just like a garden. • #hopewriterlife #notesfromawritersdesk • • @hopewriters
day 8 // motivation ✨ I used to find myself motivated by the fact that *someday* I’d be a writer. But in the last few years, as I’ve started taking my writing more seriously, I’ve realized my notion of becoming a writer *someday* isn’t truly motivating. • Because the fact is: I AM a writer. • In recognizing that ‘am’ statement, I feel more rooted in the present, which is so much more motivating in terms of sitting down to write now instead of putting it off until later or someday. • But being a writer is hard, & there are lots of days I don’t believe in myself. • So writer me, back on that epiphany day, decide to leave love notes to myself so I would remember. • There’s this little sign on my desk. I have another one on my bookshelf. And yet another one on my desk in my classroom. All places I write hold that little reminder of who I am created to be. • And it has made all the difference. • #hopewriterlife #notesfromawritersdesk • • @hopewriters #caitiswriting #caitwritesfiction #amwriting #writer #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity
I don’t know about you, but I have big plans this summer. • There’s are stacks of books to read & novels to write. • So on this first Monday of summer, I’m doing the most #enneagram4 working-towards-growth-thing-ever, & organizing my space so it’s ready for a summer of creativity. • But you can bet I’m taking some nice reading breaks. And if you’re looking for some #summerreading recommendations, then I have just the guide for you! • It’s an exclusive download for my newsletter friends this summer, & you’ll find the link to subscribe in my profile! Just look for the Lost in Story newsletter button! • I’m the meantime, what’s your first read of summer?! • • #alostinstorysummer #summerreadingguide #reader #readingcommunity #goscribbler #amwriting #writingcommunity #bibliophile
And just like that, year 5 of teaching is in the books. Literally. • To be honest, I didn’t think I’d make it this far, & if I did, that year 5 would be my last. • But next year, I’m slated to teach my first creative writing class & I couldn’t be more excited. • Every year, teaching settles into my bones a bit more deeply. And since I’m being honest, it’s still not something I truly love, but this #enneagram4 is learning how to embrace it. • It helps that I get to read a lot of good books & share them with my students. • In my first 5 years, I’ve managed to complete my 40 book challenge even before the school year is up. But this year holds the record of 63 books from day 1 to day 180. • I’m looking forward to a summer full of reading & coming back to #YAlit so I can arm myself with even more book recs for next year’s students. • Here’s to breathing easy, lots of coffee, good books, & a new novel first draft. • #summer #summertime #teachersofinstagram #teacher #englishteacher #teachersfollowteachers #reader #readingcommunity #40bookchallenge #bookstagram
*Would you consider supporting literacy and donating a book (or two) to our classroom library? We're always looking for patrons!

*Would you consider supporting literacy and donating a book (or two) to our classroom library? We're always looking for patrons!