I have one “homemade” gift that does play to my strengths and has never failed to delight: the photo calendar.

As another year ends and I still have not achieved my goal of being traditionally published, I’ve been considering why I write.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to my quote list to cheer myself up when I’m sad. With hundreds of quotes, I can always find something to make me smile. I’ve also used the list for writing inspiration: a few select quotes—or derivations of them—have made it into my novels.

Here are the ideas that have most helped me to make friends as an adult.

The revision process for Patrice Carey Hale's Little Mermaid retelling, Knife and Shell

What to expect when you camp in Kanab, UT.

Exploring Lennox Castle Hospital.

I could pretend that getting to the top of Ben Lomond was worth it, but I’d be lying through my teeth.

If you’re ever in this particular bit of Scotland and decide to find the Devil’s Pulpit, make sure you’ve got the location and GPS because there’s no sign.

I should have remembered the way to the reservoir enough to know that we were going off-track, but it had been five years since I’d been to Dovestones, I am directionally challenged, and I had an unfounded trust in Google, so we merrily followed the wrong path