Writing Heads

18 years ago today, we said “I do.”

But, what surprises me the most is that I would say yes again if he asked me today.

The truth is our marriage hasn’t been full of laughter and smiles. It’s been adventurous - but not in the way I had hoped.

Several times over the years, we’ve teetered on the edge of commitment and struggled to regain our balance.

But, by the grace of God, we’re still together.

So happy to have survived our first big adventure, but certainly thankful to begin our next one 💗

💍

You can write an essay for a grade, BUT you’ll get a whole lot more out of an essay if instead of just chasing a grade, you chase

✅ your ideas,
✅ your voice
✅ your ability to engage in conversation.

Not sure how to do this? I have a handful of resources you can work through in a few hours to get you started on the right track.

And - let me know in the comments what you’re majoring in or studying! It’s been a while since I’ve been on here and I’d love to reconnect 🥰

👀This isn’t a health and wellness post.

It’s a post about showing up, doing the hard thing, and sticking with it — even when the results aren’t obvious, and no one’s watching.

A year ago, I made a quiet commitment to myself.
Twelve months later, I’m reminded: real change is slow, unseen, and worth it.

What’s something you’re working on right now that no one sees — but still matters to you?

🤯It’s incredible to think that I wouldn’t be the person/ mother/ friend / wife/ teacher / business owner I am today without having endured the struggles of writing an essay.

Let me know in the comments which life skill I listed makes it on your essay-writing-is-life list has 👇

And if I’ve missed one that rings true for you, put it in the comments and let’s keep this list growing!

✨You have ideas. You have things to say.✨

But tapping into your thoughts takes practice.

It’s like training a muscle—you don’t lift heavy on day one. You start with questions that stretch you just enough to spark something.

That’s what I had to remind myself this week. And it’s exactly what Find Your Voice and Write Like a Grad is designed to help you do: ask better questions, unlock clearer thinking, and write with purpose—even when you feel stuck.

You don’t need to wait for inspiration. You just need to know where to start.
Start here 👉 writingheads.com

Like sewing, writing is a process. You choose the fabric. You test the shape. You revise, fix, reshape. You problem-solve your way into something real. In the end, it’s not about perfection. It’s about voice. Ownership. Confidence.

On a side note - how is she already off to high school? 🥺

Have you heard of Bonhoeffer or read this book?

I’ve been working my way through Eric Metaxas’ book Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, prophet, Spy.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was many things, including a scholar and an author. Here’s my top 10 list of things I’ve learned about writing and how to become an intellectual from his biography:

1. Read all kinds of texts
2. Find people to match you intellectually
3. Reflect on your surroundings
4. Remain open to new ideas and experiences
5. Prioritize your faith and your friendships
6. Make reading/writing/quiet reflection a daily practice
7. Practice explaining your ideas to others often
8. Surround yourself with like-minded people
9. Habits build discipline and discipline builds character
10.Be firm in what you know, while constantly reevaluating what you know

Let me know in the comments which one resonates with you the most!

My students tell me all the time: “I don’t know what to say,” or “I need to do more research before I can come up with ideas.”

But these aren’t the real problems. The real issue? They’re asking the wrong questions.

Your writing is a direct reflection of your thinking. If your thoughts feel scattered, dull, or empty, it’s not because you need more research—it’s because you need better questions.

Your words are the mirror of your mind. The questions you ask aren’t just inquiries—they’re sparks that ignite breakthrough ideas.

Ready to transform your writing from the inside out? Type QUESTIONS in the comments and unlock a new level of creative power.

Yesterday marked 3 years of sobriety for Damon.

This picture of the two of us from early January - though pretty unremarkable to most people - is pretty special to me. I can count on one hand the number of pics Damon and I have taken in the last (almost!) 18 years of marriage where we’re both smiling and happy to be with one another.

For just over 14 years, addiction poisoned our relationship. And, when I think about the absence of pictures like the one above, I’m reminded of how dark and empty those years were.

In the past few months though, my camera roll has a couple pics of the two of us smiling together. It’s taken a long time, but - by God’s grace and faithfulness - our marriage is beginning to show signs of renewed love and growth. ❤️‍🩹

We don’t have an ideal marriage by any means - but I’m thankful for where we are and how far we’ve come.

It was like the sea parted and the ideas poured out!
And one simple question was all it took!

And - if you think about it, it’s really ✨not ✨ that surprising. We’re creative beings - dreaming and imagining is part of our nature. But, it is is surprising that when we sit down to write essays - things that are supposed to make us think in new ways and challenge us to dig deeper into ideas - that we jump to dry and boring questions. 🤷‍♀️

And the truth is - most students write essays that are fine using these generic kinds of question —but fine doesn’t get top grades.

Say YES! to creativity this weekend and grab my FREE 50 Unordinary Questions to push your thinking and pull up your grade!

What’s Inside? (Quick bullets for easy scanning)

✅ 50 original, unexpected questions to challenge your thinking
✅ A smarter way to brainstorm essay ideas (goodbye, writer’s block!)
✅ The key to deeper analysis—so your essays don’t feel surface-level
✅ A proven method to develop arguments that actually impress professors

Comment QUESTIONS and I’ll make sure it’s sent to your inbox ASAP.