My name is Shelly. I'm an independent author. There that says it all, doesn't it? Maybe not quite. 

The intention of the diary of an indie author is to share the process of writing my debut novel. And any novel after that. 

I've always wanted to be an author, ever since I started writing poetry at age thirteen. 

Writing was my escape, my avenue toward healing. 

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Not unlike a lot of you who have found yourselves here, I was (and still sometimes am) mentally a mess. 

Which brings us to the second function of the diary. Mental health. See, a lot of junk comes up when you're trying to write a novel

and I am one of those people who needs to learn everything they can about a subject. I am hungry for knowledge. 

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I have been reading, listening to podcasts, and journaling to heal for the last fifteen years and still am continuing to this day. 

I have consumed over a thousand hours of research, ranging from mental health to neuroscience and spirituality. 

While I am not a doctor and hold no formal training in these areas, I believe spreading the message of the things I'm reading regarding purpose in life is important. 

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If you're searching for a change, if you're looking to find purpose and fulfillment in life and don't know where to start, check out my Substack. You can read for free at https://substack.com/@diaryofanindieauthor

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If you're a reader of contemporary fantasy, check out the for readers page. 

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If you're interested in following along the process, check out the diary page. 

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If you're interested in a certain topic or have a specific question you'd like me to dive into, email diaryofanindieauthor25@gmail.com