S.L. Vaden's Blog

"The reason the earth element binds with you so well is because of your strong will and stubbornness. You push through all obstacles put before you. All but yourself. You, your doubt, your self-hate, and fears are what keep you from reaching your full potential. If there's one thing, I have learned in all my years. Is that what you feel, can raise you to great heights, filling you with peace and hope. Then to turn around and drop you like a stone in the ocean, sinking into deep darkness. But you have to accept all of these feelings. The good with the bad and learn from both. Don't be quick to anger, but practice caution. Be hopeful as well as plan for the unexpected. Believe in yourself while being humble. I know all of this sounds impossible, and on most days, it might be. That's why you take one day at a time, moving forward. Learning, growing, accepting your feelings, and moving through them, with them. Not letting them chain you down, but using them as guides."

Zelkova listened, staring at the green leaves above her, while the wind moved through them, and the morning light still shone brightly.

"You have to believe in yourself, be your best friend. Because the only one that will be by your side, every step of the way, is you. Stop fighting yourself, stop the inner warfare, or you will remain fixed, unmoving."

"Like a weathered stone, that has been beaten to a pebble." Her sigh followed the rhythm of the winds above her as it moved through the leaves.

"You must be as a mountain and stand above it all, or crumble under the pressure of life. That is your choice, Zelkova."

Taken from wattpad, The Legend of Zelkova - Zelkova, Before the Legend. S.L. Vaden

Over two years ago I found out that I had a gene mutation (MTHFR C677T 2 copies) after I received a letter in the mail from a lab informing me. It also told me to inform my family because it can run in families and is passed down from parents to child.

Finding out that I had a mutant gene was interesting and scary. My husband said that I have a mutant power. To which I replied, yeah, I can’t process methionine, super.

Asking doctors who knew less than I did made me even more concerned.

I turned to the internet to research medical articles on the subject of MTHFR, 2 – C677T gene mutations.

I found that in this gene mutation, or more accurately gene variant it is common for people to at least 1 of the C677T gene variants and there are things I can do to help mitigate symptoms.

“It’s a disorder of methionine metabolism, leading to abnormal accumulation of homocysteine and its metabolites.” In other words, my body can’t process or fully absorb methionine.

Methionine is an essential amino acid found in many proteins, including the proteins in foods and those found in your body’s tissues and organs. Although your body can produce the amino acid cysteine on its own, methionine must come from your diet.

What helps?

Doctors suggest taking vitamin B6, folic acid (folate), and vitamin B12. These help the absorption of methionine. 4

Because I have 2 copies of the variant I am only able to process methionine at about half the normal rate and the excess can build up without taking folate to help break it down.

Having too much build-up within the body could lead to cardiovascular disease, blood clots, heart attack, strokes, and other health conditions.4 (If homocysteine levels are kept at normal. Homocysteine is what the test for in your blood to see if you have the gene.)

Because of this, I have developed fibromyalgia and chronic headaches. Not everyone has the same symptoms or develop any or all that are listed below.

My main symptoms are connected to this mutant gene is as follows:

Headaches, nerve pain, muscle pain, and stiffness, sensitivity to cold.

But with a change of diet, almost all of this has gone away or greatly lessened.

The first year of finding out that I had this, I gave up red meats, chicken, turkey, and pork. But even with that, I could tell when I ate too much fish, cheese, or egg. My shoulders would hurt, and my headaches sent me to the ER three times.

After a year of that, I went vegan, lessening my protein intake even more. My body started feeling better, with little to no headaches, muscle pain, and sensitivity to cold.

Even with doing this, I still have high homocysteine levels. Meaning I need to take more B vitamins than I already am. But if I hadn’t gone vegan and had high levels, I would feel like I used to, in extreme pain.

Again, not everyone has the same symptoms. But if you do have this gene variant, I suggest limiting your intake of high methionine foods such as beef, lamb, certain cheeses, turkey, chicken, pork, certain fish, soybeans, eggs, and many other foods.1 I know it’s hard to change what you eat, but your future and body are worth it.

If you think you or someone you know may have this mutant gene, go to your local Cardiologists and talk to them bout MTHFR.

Please check out all the links below, scroll all the way down to read more info about MTHFR.

Thanks for reading. And may you have a healthy, happy day.

Symptoms (taken from link 3)

Conditions that have been proposed to be associated with MTHFR include:

• cardiovascular and thromboembolic diseases (specifically blood clots, stroke, embolism, and heart attacks)

• depression

• anxiety

• bipolar disorder

• schizophrenia

• colon cancer

• acute leukemia

• chronic pain and fatigue

• nerve pain

• migraines

• recurrent miscarriages in women of child-bearing age

• pregnancies with neural tube defects, like spina bifida and anencephaly

Signs and Symptoms of Homocystinuria (taken from link 2)

The symptoms will depend on the type of homocystinuria. Symptoms generally develop during the first years of life. However, some people experience symptoms during adulthood. Symptoms are often vague and difficult to detect. The most common forms of this disorder may involve the following symptoms:

• dislocation of the lenses in the eyes

• nearsightedness

• abnormal blood clots

• osteoporosis, or weakening of the bones

• learning disabilities

• developmental problems

• chest deformities, such as a protrusion or a caved-in appearance of the breastbone

• long, spindly arms and legs

• scoliosis

Less common variations involve these additional signs and symptoms:

• megaloblastic anemia, an anemia involving larger-than-normal red blood cells

• seizures

• failure to thrive

• intellectual disabilities

• movement and gait abnormalities

1. https://www.myfooddata.com/articles/h...

2. https://www.healthline.com/health/hom...

3. https://www.healthline.com/health/mth...

4. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/...

5. https://blog.agapenutrition.com/mthfr...

6. https://www.nature.com/articles/3780275

7. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/...

Time, effort, research, and staring at a blank page, all of these are part of the writing process.

When I started writing my first book, The Legend of Zelkova: Elementum, I didn’t know what I was doing.

All I knew was that I was having fun.

But as time went on and I wrote more books and articles, I began to see what all went into it. It’s more than just words; yes, that is the base of it, but the planning and endless hours of thinking about the plot and characters can make for sleepless nights.

This is where writing notes and making outlines help. If you have an idea, write it down, no matter where you are, what you’re doing, or what time it is. Because once the idea is lost, it’s gone for good.

So, keep a notebook handy or an app on your phone. Even if you might think the idea isn’t worth writing down, do it anyway. There’s no telling what other ideas might stem from it.

Write down the major points of the plot, an idea for the beginning, middle and end. Keep in mind these might change as you write and the story takes form, that’s alright. Sticking too much to an outline can hinder creative flow.

Once you write those down, make an outline of your characters and how they fit in the story and their connection to other characters. Again, this could change as you write.

Side note: Never be afraid to write outside of what you have outlined. Let the story flow and your ideas run.

What message do you have interwoven within your plot?

Mine tend to be about nature and how to respect it before we lose it forever. Another is to go against racism and sexism. I do this by including many different characters, not giving them the stereotypes, they might label as in the world we live. I want the reader to see the world through my books, which have different cultures and peoples. To see that everyone is unique, and that’s a good thing.

When describing different characters.

There was one book I tried to read. But couldn’t get past the first two chapters. Mainly because of how the women in the book were detailed. They described their looks and how their bodies moved, unlike the men in this book, where their personality defined them. I understand this can be part of the character, but keep in mind how readers will see what you write and how they might take it. Always keep your target audience in mind.

Have I lost you yet?

With each character, you can make as detailed notes as you want or as little. For my first book, I didn’t know how Carya would look until the end, making me have to go back and add her details. My character’s personalities form more than what they look like. That comes as I write.

How do I come up with names?

Everyone has their own way of coming up with names. I research names that fit the personality of my characters. With the Legend of Zelkova, they usually come from nature and different languages. Take Kasai, in my first book, and it’s the Japanese word for fire. Or Jardin, the French word for garden. Why do I do this? Mostly because I want to bring other languages to the mind of the reader. To show that the world we live in is vast and has many languages. I also like to use Latin and many others. Find what fits you and your story, this may take time, but you’ll find it.

Here comes the fun part (I mean that with all the sarcasm I can muster.), what I call the in-between story. It’s not the main story that moves the plot along. It’s the filler, the side stories. For me, these are the most challenging parts to write because I want to get to the main plot, where the action is. But the side stories are just as important as the main ones.

I’ve found through experience that the side story can weigh down the book, making it stall out or lag. So, as you write your book, keep in mind there can be too much of the “in-between” story. Just enough to cover the story of the side characters and to keep the story moving along.

During the writing process, you will hit lulls, and they can be long or short. These can be hard to get through. What helps is finding what inspires you. For me, that’s nature and music. So, I take walks, and hike, go to the park. Find new music to listen to, or relisten to my old favourites. Find what helps you and do that.

I’ve read a lot of people asking how many chapters a book should be. If you are looking to be published the traditional way, you want to focus on word count. That’s what the publishing companies ask for. How many words is your book?

1. What should my book word count be?

The following are average word-count ranges by genre.

General Fiction

• Flash Fiction: 300–1500 words

• Short Story: 1500–30,000 words

• Novellas: 30,000–50,000 words

• Novels: 50,000–110,000 words

Fiction Genres

• Mainstream Romance: 70,000–100,000 words

• Subgenre Romance: 40,000–100,000 words

• Science Fiction / Fantasy: 90,000–120,000 (and sometimes 150,000) words

• Historical Fiction: 80,000–100,000

• Thrillers / Horror / Mysteries / Crime: 70,000–90,000 words

• Young Adult: 50,000–80,000

Children’s Books

• Picture Books: 300–800 words

• Early Readers: 200–3500 words

• Chapter Books: 4000–10,000 words

• Middle Grade: 25,000–40,000 words

Nonfiction

• Standard Nonfiction (Business, Political Science, Psychology, History, etc.): 70,000–80,000 words

• Memoir: 80,000–100,000 words

• Biography: 80,000–200,000 words

• How-to / Self-Help: 40,000–50,000 words

All of these are average book word count ranges and should not be taken as the definitive word count you must reach in your book. We all know of outliers within each genre that have been published well under, or well over, these word counts.

With the info above, you can set your word count depending on what genre your book is.

When to end a chapter.

This can be hard for many writers, knowing when to end a chapter. And many tend to end it with the word count in mind. Some like to keep each one around 2,000 words or 800. For me, I try to keep in the range of what I just listed. But I also keep the story in mind. I like to end chapters on scene change, a cliffhanger, or a suspenseful scene. This keeps the reading wanting more. Of course, keeping a uniformed look with your chapter length will make your book look cleaner and well put together. But think of what will get the reader to turn to the next chapter.

Thinking of more than one book at a time.

This can happen when you have more than one book in your series. While writing the first one, you need to keep in mind the next one and even the one after that. You have to look into the future of your story and where you want it to go. To make sure they all connect. Many writers write their series all at once, but others like myself write them one at a time, publish them and write the next one. Either way, you have to think about the future. Keep your stories connected.

How to end your book.

Depending on how many books are in your series, you may want to end with a cliffhanger, keep the readers wanting to read the next one. Or end it happily and make something happen in the next one. The ending is up to you and where you want your story to end and the next one (if there is a next one) to begin.

Editing.

Oh, the torture of editing. Before you start, there are a few things to keep in mind.

When you’re rereading or editing your manuscript and want to delete something. Open up a new doc and transfer it there. Don’t get rid of it completely because the idea could be used in another story and might be forgotten if you don’t have a copy of it somewhere.

Keep more than one copy of your work on two different devices. Never have your eggs in one basket. If your computer or flash drive breaks, you want another copy of your hard work.

Back to it, editing can be a challenging process. No matter how many times you read it, there will always be something that is overlooked. This happens because we made the story, and it’s hard to see flaws in what we make, no matter how much we look at it. And this is okay. It happens to even the best of writers, including best sellers.

If you’re not seeking a publisher or publishing it yourself because you think it’s not good or needs to be edited more. Keep in mind this process can go on forever as long as you draw it out. Editing has to end at some point. Over editing can happy when you think about it too much.

Get someone you trust or an editor to look over it for you. Two pairs of eyes are better than one. I’m not saying to not edit but don’t over-edit. Keep all this in mind when you spend long hours wanting to scream in frustration. ‘Tis, the life of a writer.

You may ask, do I need an editor. I would suggest always get someone else to look it over at least once before you look over it one last time before sending it out. I had three different eyes on one book and still missed something. It happens. It’s all apart of being a writer. Don’t get discouraged. You will make it through this phase, just don’t overthink it.

Do I need beta readers?

That all depends on you. Finding beta readers can be easy for some, harder for others. They are good to have, but you don’t “have to have” them. I would much rather have an editor. But that’s just me.

Now that you’ve got your story going and have stared at your screen, blank or not. You are on your way. One word after the other, ideas flowing and lulls accruing. End the end, making a story, bringing characters to life can be very fulfilling. And most wouldn’t trade it for the world.

No matter how far you are in your writing, keep going. There will be times where you feel like it’s not worth it, and you should stop. Don’t listen to those voices. Don’t listen to the naysayers. Only you can write the book the way you are writing it.

Because you are unique, and so is your story. Be proud of what you have done and what you are going to do. Because writing a book is no easy task. It takes lots of hard work, long hours, and dedication. It may look easy on the outside, but it’s one of the hardest things anyone can do.

I believe in you and the story you are writing.

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or find me on social media. Thanks for reading.

1. https://thewritelife.com/how-many-wor...

For those who suffer from the pain of the past, from words that scarred, wounds that have never healed. This is for you, know that we are stronger than our pasts.

What we do in the past can and does haunt us. But we are not who we once were. Your past self is a different version of you. Younger and inexperienced.
Through the years, we learn, and a lot of what we learn is through our mistakes. And that’s how it should be—a learning experience.
But many of us hold on to those mistakes and take them with us like luggage through life’s travels.
This only weighs us down, making it hard to move forward.
While we walk our paths, we see others moving faster, achieving their dreams, and we wonder why not us?
The weight of the past can fog our minds and clog our hearts. Making thoughts muddled, and our hearts closed to new things.
It’s like trying to run a race with the flu. Difficult. This doesn’t mean you won’t finish your race. It might just take longer, and things might end up being harder in the long run due to not letting go.
I’m not saying forget. I’m saying, forgive. Forgive yourself for those past mistakes. Ones you can not take back, no matter how much you want to.
Forgive those who hurt you and try to understand that they probably don’t even remember or think of what they did to you.
This is hard not to pick at the scars of the past. It’s like shedding a layer of yourself. But when you do, you will be able to move more freely and breathe deeper.
With the loss of the past brings a promising future.
Let the present time be that—a present to yourself. One where you heal yourself and put past hurts behind. Find what brings you happiness. Concentrate on happiness, even the smallest things. Days will bring hardship but also joy, hold on to it, and never let go. Let it fill you and course through your veins.
For your future and present self. Forgive and shed what weighs you down. You deserve a bright future. One where the past does not haunt you, but is like a history book to be visited only when needed.

I was born into the world of white privilege. A world that without knowing back then gives me advantages and safety above others. I learned as I aged how people with skin that differs from mine had to fear what I didn’t. And were not handed advantages as I was.

This was the life I lived. One in which I did not have to deal with hatred, stares or fear because of my tone of skin. A pigmentation that was handed down from my ancestors. This somehow entitled me in the world’s eyes.

At a young age I started to see this world and saw the wrong in it. I never understood why others hated someone due to pigmentation. In the white world, I was scared for them, not of them. Actions, not skin is what make a person.

This white world is one I can never escape, but I want to people to embrace each others difference, because we all bleed, we all feel.

This was my life, and I wish for all races to feel this secure. I wish to break this world of exclusiveness. To have everyone on the same playing field. Because we are all in this world together, brothers and sisters in the human race.

And I wish every person in the world could live without fear and feel safe in their own skin.

So, I write. Giving my characters the diversity I see. Shining light on those who don’t tend to be written or shown as a hero or someone to take pride in.

The world I live in is full of color and I wish to show that in the worlds I create. In hope that younger generations can find someone in my book to look up to. And to show a world where everyone can live in equality.

I’ve been asked by many people what word count do I set for each day or week.

Even after five books, I still don’t set a daily word count for myself. I write more when inspiration hits. Which means my word count for a day could range from 0 to 3,000.

Some people do better setting a word count goal. That helps them feel motivated.

For me, it puts more pressure on than is needed. This doesn’t mean I don’t sit down and push myself to write. Because I do. It just means that I don’t put added pressure by word count.

Weather you write a little or a lot, you should feel accomplished, because you have written.

On days where you don’t write, that’s fine to. Use that time to rest, get inspiration and think of your next step.

One thing I do advise everyone to do, is to take notes. No matter where you are, or what time it is. If an idea comes to mind, write it down.

Another is to NOT delete your work. Even if you don’t want to continue it. It can serve for inspiration later on. Always keep your work, notes and all.

And no matter what you get done, be proud of what you have accomplished. And how far you’ve come from where you once were. Even if that means half a step or a mile. Just keep moving forward and you will meet your destination.

Be it sadness, depression, or epidemic.

Emotions are a tool to be used to convey your feelings and that of your characters into words.

Use what you are feeling in your story; this helps your story feel deeper to the reader and can help ease your tension.

I use writing as a type of therapy. To help me through dark times, I write. By doing this, you will see a difference in your writing.

So, use how you are feeling, sad, happy, stressed. Put these into words and make your own world where you can visit during dark times.

I’m not saying that it’s easy. Because it’s not, it is hard but a necessary part of being an artist.

When we look at trees, passing by as we walk down the street, or as we park our car, we don’t give much thought as to where they come from.
Like humans, trees didn’t start out on pavement or in pots. They came from forests, mountains and valleys. We are all native to the wild forests and fields.
The Legend of Zelkova: Elementum
Zelkova the parking lot tree, or street tree, is native to Japan, Korea, eastern China and Taiwan. Its scientific name is Zelkova serrata (Japanese zelkova, Japanese elm 欅 (ケヤキ) keyaki /槻 (ツキ) tsuki; Chinese: 榉树/櫸樹 jǔshù; Korean: 느티나무 neutinamu)

According to the Korean Forest Service, in 1989 the largest number of trees over 500 years old were specimens of Zelkova serrata.
Today Zelkova is rare in the wild, especially of the two westernmost species in the Eurasian group, Z. sicula (which is known to only exist in two small populations) and Z. abelicea. This is causing a call for conservation action.

Zelkova’s first cultivation outside of Asia was by Philipp Franz von Siebold, who took it to the Netherlands in 1830. And the tree has only recently been dubbed the “parking lot tree” and “street tree.”

To identify Zelkova serrata, it is a medium-sized tree that usually grows around 98 feet tall. It has a short trunk that divides into many upright and erect spreading stems that form a broad, rounded-topped tree head. The leaves are green to dark green throughout spring and summer, changing to yellow, orange and red in autumn.
It develops flowers in spring with leaves. The buds are oval with many arranged, dark brown scales.

I chose Zelkova for my main character in - The Legend of Zelkova, because of its rarity in the wild, and is not well known among the populous. Another reason is because of where it comes from, its history and the name itself.

So I ask you, the next time you pass a tree, think of the forest it once grew. Lush among its fellow plants. With rich soil, ample sun and fresh water. Don’t we all wish for the same?

Sarah Vaden/S.L.Vaden

There is a time and place for anger. It can be used to start a movement or as motivation to change something in life. However, it shouldn’t be used continuously and can harm those who over use it.

Anger can be a dangerous emotion. It’s true that anger breeds more anger. It can consume all other emotions if left unchecked. An entire personality can change and cloud perception of situations.

One thing that the emotion anger doesn’t like is being angry alone. Which is one reason why so many social media feeds are filled with angry comments. It feeds, seeking out more, wanting to grow.

It can become a state of mind that continuously needs to be fed with more situations or media to keep the anger going, almost like a high of sorts. So, one seeks out these things and can ignore the good things in the world or in their life.

Some who are reading this may feel anger in them now and you are entitled to feel that way. But why is anger building inside of you? Knowing the reason behind the angry, can help you direct it towards creating a solution rather than spreading unneeded or turning it internally, which is just as bad. Try and quell the emotion when you realize you may have no reason to be angry. The world can do without any extra.

So my take, is there is a time and place. Don’t rush to feeling angry. And let the emotion go. Anger will only grow inside you and fill you with pain. Making you see the world and all that’s in it as bad. Hate and anger tend to go hand and hand. Please be careful with using this emotion. Using it sparingly, and don’t let it consume you.
I myself practice daily. Because we all grow throughout our lives.

Side note: Showing passion, can sometimes come across as anger, depending on a person’s personality. But there is a clear difference. I hope if there is anyone out there that suffers from abuse, please reach out for help. Know, that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

S.L.Vaden

When I’m writing in different genres I think of them in two different universes.


In my fantasy books, I’m building new worlds where there are no limits, labels or restrictions holding the characters down. My fantasy novels tend to have hidden meanings within them that intertwine with the other books in the series, connecting them in more ways than you may think reading it the first time.

In my fantasy novels I also don’t put in sex scenes, and restrict kissing scenes and cussing. I do this because, in my fantasy world there are more to the characters’ journey than sex and anger. I don’t want my readers to be pulled from the main story or distracted from spotting the hidden meanings. There are times and places for those things but I don’t make it a constant or a major role in the story.

My fantasy novels are there to bring people into new worlds, to let them explore and find new freedoms. In this day and time where sex and anger is plastered everywhere on social media and tv. It can be nice to see something different and new.

Now, for my romance. If I don’t show these things in my fantasy then why do I show it in my romance? I do this to help the reader understand the characters more. To become the characters themselves and see where they may be coming from. In my romance novels. I take from the world we live in and put it into the story I’m writing. To help the reader better connect.

Overview:
Fantasy is for readers to explore. To want to become the characters they read. To see them as heroes and to make the world they live in now, a better one.


Romance is for the readers to connect and see themselves as the characters they read. And hopefully learn from the characters mistakes, growth and journey.


In both the world of fantasy and romance I hope my readers are able to walk away from the story wanting more but also feeling as if they will always carry a little piece of my story with them. That in some small way, it might have helped their day.