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DCDubsWrites

Writer | Reader | Dreamer

About

Novels

Published Works

Event Reviews

I’m always looking for new writing experiences to learn more and push myself! Every event has taught me more about writing and myself. I’ve added links to each event so you can go directly to the source if you’re interested in this experience for yourself!

Note: no one asked me for a review, and I’m not making any money or anything off these! I’m genuinely just sharing my own personal experiences.

  • NYC Midnight’s Short Story Contest
  • Inked Voices
  • National Novel Writing Month

More to come:

  • Writer’s Digest Conference
  • Personal Retreat at Highlights Foundation
  • Author Mentor Match
  • SmokeLong Quarterly’s March Micro Marathon

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Welcome!

Welcome

Hi! I'm a fantasy novelist. Here you'll find my short published works, a description of my current projects, and any upcoming announcements. Feel free to peruse my work and help yourself to my freebies, or sign up for my monthly newsletter for what I've learned about the nebulous and intricate world of writing!

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dianaceewrites

✨Fantasy MG, YA, & Adult and CNF Author
📓Lifelong notebook collector
👑secret Disney princess

According to this plan, I should be on chapters 30 According to this plan, I should be on chapters 30-31 today, but the truth is, I just wrapped up 21. Some of those chapters are brand new. Some barely need any tweaking. Some days I’ve gotten through three chapters. Others I’ve barely made it through one. But… progress is still progress, and July isn’t over yet! 

#writingschedule #revisinghard #writingiswork
I don’t usually like working on two projects at I don’t usually like working on two projects at once, but this story literally won’t leave me alone. Now I’m 10k words and it almost feels like it’s writing itself, so I pretty much have no choice but to jump in and ride along. I didn’t expect to write a YA One Dark Window x Bridgerton monster love story, but here it is, and here I am ✍️ 

#writingprojects #wip #writinglife☕️ #writersnotebooks #alwayswriting
I’m thinking about the Nora Roberts quote (“Wh I’m thinking about the Nora Roberts quote (“When juggling as much as you are, remember that some balls are glass, and some are rubber.”) as I try to figure out revising my novel, drafting a new novel, query research, watching writing lectures, and improving my website. And those are just the writing related balls— some plastic, some glass.

So here it is: at some point, I will drop a ball. I won’t make a goal. But you better damn well believe I won’t drop a glass one. 

#jugglinglife #writermama #dailyreminder❤️ #priorities #writingprojects
I think my body remembers this time of year, of wh I think my body remembers this time of year, of what it used to mean to me. That suddenly I could stay up later, because with summer vacation, I could sleep in. Recharge. Refresh. Even more so, I think my body remembers being pregnant with my daughter. My fingers are (a little) swollen, even though it’s not hot, and I can’t sleep in— even as my body wants to stay up late. And with her birthday rapidly approaching, I think I feel it physiologically, the sense of time passing, the marvel that I gave birth to this perfect little person, and that I get to watch—and shape—who she becomes. 

#morningreflections☀️ #summerweather #writermoms #morningmusings🌻 #writingaboutlife
For various reasons, I’ve been thinking a lot ab For various reasons, I’ve been thinking a lot about weddings lately. About how they’ve changed from the weddings I attended to as a kid, what I love about them, how grateful I am that my husband and I had the wedding of our dreams. My favorite part about weddings is seeing how people create a day that is uniquely them, their story, and who they are. And maybe that’s exactly why I love writing so much. 

Special shoutout to @cournmuffin , who created the literary quotes decor for my special day. They’re hanging above my desk now. ❤️

#weddingwhimsy #sliceoflife #writinglife❤️
Writing parenting hack: my toddler loves playing “desk”. She sits on my lap, working on her own little masterpieces. Sometimes I listen to an audio book. Sometimes I jot down some ideas or another 100 words (before she immediately wants the pen I’m using). Sometimes I check my email. More often than not, I sit and watch her create her magic. 
📓
Knew I was saving all those stickers from old planners for a reason! 

#writermoms #writermomlife #stickers #washitapelove #creativelifehappylife☀️
Two weeks later, and I’m ready to dive back in ✨ 

It might not seem like a long time, but I’m so excited to read and plan and dream and make a wonderfully long to do list of all the ways to bring this story of surprises more to life. ✨

#amrevisingfantasy #cozyfantasywriter #firstdraftproblems #kindlescribe
❄️🪄Cozy Winter Fantasy 🪄❄️ I gave m ❄️🪄Cozy Winter Fantasy 🪄❄️

I gave myself a week off, and I’m getting so excited to dive back into my cozy winter fantasy project. Think LEGENDS & LATTES meets GILMORE GIRLS!

Vibes: 
💎jewel-based magic 
🕰️enchanted antiques 
👯‍♀️rivals to besties
🧙🏼‍♂️adventuring grandpa
⛸️ winter fun 
☕️hot chocolate 
💜learning to forgive yourself 

If you’re interested, come along for the ride 🪄

#wip #moodboardaesthetic #cozyfantasy
65k words, 41 chapters, 4 months, 2 days ahead of 65k words, 41 chapters, 4 months, 2 days ahead of my goal. I can’t wait to dive back into this story and make it shine ✨

#cozyfantasy #amwriting #timetorevise #writinglife
My (self-imposed) goal was always to finish the fi My (self-imposed) goal was always to finish the first draft of cozy winter fantasy by June 1st. I might achieve it. I might not. I’m not going to rush or scribble words just for the sake of scribbling. But I am going to push myself onward because I know I’m ready for the next step. I’m itching to dive in and fix all the problems, smooth out the plot, do whatever it takes. But I can’t do that until I finish this. So… here we go. 10 days, 12 chapters.

#amwriting #writinggoals #writerlife☕ #firstdrafts
True story. 😂 All jokes aside, he’s super sup True story. 😂 All jokes aside, he’s super supportive of my writing dreams. Although he’s one of those “I like to read but don’t actively seek it out” people, he’s always willing to let me bounce ideas off him, edit my query drafts (he’s a very concise writer), or support whatever writing related activity (retreats, programs) I want to do. Plus, whenever he has extra time in the mornings, he tells me to go write— he’s got our daughter. 

Becoming a published novelist is my lifelong dream, but so is he, and I will never lose sight of that. 

#husbandappreciationpost❤️ #writersupport #myromanempire #writingdreams
Maybe it looks like a win because my total was hig Maybe it looks like a win because my total was higher than the goal, but at least 2k words were ultimately discarded. What the 0 days don’t reflect are the days that matter the most: my toddler being sick and hanging with friends. My birthday was in there somewhere, too. The zero doesn’t reflect the days I spent brainstorming and prewriting and diving into notes and craft books to figure out what wasn’t working. 

But it’s a win. Because it’s about progress, not perfection. 

#wordcountgoals #wordcountwednesday #amdraftingfantasy #writerlife☕
I don’t think I’ve ever struggled so hard to w I don’t think I’ve ever struggled so hard to write a scene. To be honest, I still don’t know what the block was, other than I knew what I needed to have happened in the midpoint and it just wasn’t happening. But I brainstormed, I reread save the cat!, I sent countless rambling voice notes to friends, I wrote by hand, I talked to @writtenbysky on the phone, and FINALLY I have something for the first draft. 

For now. 

Bad guys close in, here we come.

#amwri̇ti̇ng #firstdraftproblems #savethecatwritesanovel #stillwriting #writerfriendsarethebest
Late, but still writing. Traveled, but still wrote Late, but still writing. Traveled, but still wrote. Fell short, but kept going. 

#amwriting #wordcountgoals #perseverancenotperfection
Some days, I don’t count my words. But that does Some days, I don’t count my words. But that doesn’t mean I’m not writing. I watch webinars, plot chapters, plan my newsletter, talk writing with my friends. Shop (mostly necessities, sometimes a little self-care.) I travel. But no matter what, I’m always giving my all to my perfect little family. ❤️

#writermoms #writerlife #wordcountgoals #sliceoflife #grateful
Week 2 Word Counts: I’m chugging along! One of t Week 2 Word Counts: I’m chugging along! One of the reasons I love having a word count goal is that it helps me stay motivated. On the day I wrote nothing— a day in which we took our daughter to a children’s museum and had a day full of adventures—I knew I’d make up for it (or try to) the next day. And I sure did.

11 days left until the end of the month… let’s go! 

#wip #amwri̇ti̇ng #wordcounts #wordcountgoals #writinggoals
I love discovering a free little library… and I I love discovering a free little library… and I love leaving a book encouraging people to find a sustainable, individual way to become civically engaged. It’s the little things. @emilyinyourphone 

#freelittlelibrary #democracyinretrograde #bookrec #civicengagementmatters
I read this to celebrate Black History Month (I’ I read this to celebrate Black History Month (I’m aware it’s now April), and it was such a fascinating read. Originally published in the 80s, it spoke a lot about activism in the 60s and 70s and the future, their writing process, and of course, race. I’ve learned a lot about both humanity and writing, and I’m so glad I took the time to read this.

#womenwhowrite #blackhistorymonth #ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ
Only 2 days out 7 did I technically hit my goal. A Only 2 days out 7 did I technically hit my goal. And that’s okay. What the numbers don’t reflect? The two hours I spent sending out queries, or the half hour prepping my sub for my writing group. It doesn’t reflect the two characters I created or the beta reading. 

Progress is perseverance, not perfection. 

#writinggoals2025 #wordcounts #amdrafting #allthewriting #progressnotperfection
My newest discovery with novel planning: using tab My newest discovery with novel planning: using tabs to color code my notes! I love using a blank page notebook, but not having everything in sections can be tricky. The tabs have made it super easy to find the pages I want. 

I’m curious— do you organize your notes? 

#writingtips #novelplanning #notebooktips #writerhacks
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