Sereph is for sale!

Writing

My finally completed science fiction/post-apocalyptic novel, Sereph, is now available for purchase for Kindle and Kindle for PC!

Check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Sereph-Morgan-Wiegert-ebook/dp/B00FW9P00Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1382231428&sr=1-1&keywords=sereph

“By the 24th century, the growing rift between rich and poor has created a double-sided world. To the northeast of the ruined landscape of what was once the United States, seemingly utopian Sereph City remains intact, advanced, and thriving following a series of devastating world wars. But those to the south are not so lucky. Poverty, war, and the effects of environmental destruction make life outside Sereph City and its outlying sectors nearly impossible. 

In a world where walls serve not only to defend but also to isolate, Naomi, living in the country’s southernmost city, should never have seen Sereph City. Yet she is haunted by her unshakable memories of the place and the physical effects of attempted genetic modification. When she meets someone like her, they begin a dark journey in search of answers–and revenge. Soon enough, the place she has been struggling to forget becomes an unavoidable destination, and every step brings them closer to learning the reality of what happened to them.“

On (Almost) Finishing a Novel

Writing

I’m nearing the end of my novel, and it feels amazing.

I have less than a chapter to go before I write my final scene. It’s hard to write an ending, but not as hard as writing a beginning. The past six or more months of work is finally paying off. I feel good about what I’ve created – the world, the characters, the story. And it makes me strangely happy to know that, hopefully soon, I will be able to read my book in a format other than a Microsoft Word page–and so will other people!

It’s been a long journey. Some days have been great, and I’ve been able to pump out pages of quality, imaginative work. Other days–like the three-week-long period when I was moving into a new house–have been not so productive. I had down days when I felt like it wasn’t worth it to continue because I would never, ever finish. Thankfully, I also had a fair share of times when I felt inspired, optimistic, and motivated. Those days kept me going, along with the encouragement of my friends and family, and now I’m nearly done. I have dreamed about finishing a novel since I was ten years old. That the time is almost finally here is overwhelming–in a good way.

On Making Mistakes

Art

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” – Scott Adams

Even after drawing for almost my entire life and considering myself an artist for at least the past few years, I am still an amateur.

Most likely, I will be for many more years to come. In the meantime, what this means is that my art contains mistakes, all of which I notice, most of which I try to fix, and some of which I see, ponder, and decide to keep. That doesn’t automatically mean that the mistakes I leave intact are particularly artful or that they add something to the drawing in any way. But the Adams quote above at least inspires me to think I’m doing something right.

Leaving some of my mistakes allows me to get used to dealing with the fact that not all of my art will turn out the way I want it to. And because I am fairly new to the game, it happens a lot. My imagination runs wild with ideas that I sometimes struggle to get out on paper. Other times, it works out better. But when it doesn’t, and I mess up or can’t articulate the picture in my head the way I want to, I try not to get too disappointed. I know I can’t be perfect, and sometimes being imperfect results in a work of art that I can still be proud of.

Realizing I am still growing and that every new piece is practice for the next can be tough, but reminding myself of that ultimately makes me a  happier artist. I no longer get discouraged like I used to, and criticism is easier to consider and take in stride. It doesn’t mean I’m never frustrated — because I certainly am. But in the end, I am able to see my drawings for what they are, and I become more and more encouraged by my talent as an artist with every new piece.