Meet Lauren Scott

We recently connected with Lauren Scott and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

Thank you so much for this opportunity. Inspiration weaves its way onto paper from my love of family, spending time in the great outdoors, camping and backpacking trips, respect for redwoods, and finding joy in simple things. Life consists of many nuances, providing an abundance of writing motivation for my muse.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I enjoy small-town living in Northern California with my husband, Matt. After almost thirty-seven years, we are still each other’s best friend. We have two adult children who live out of state, and we couldn’t be prouder of them. Aside from family being most important to me, writing has been my creative outlet since I was a teenager. Poetry was the main genre back then and has continued to be a vital part of my writing process. Fourteen years ago, my son, who was fifteen at the time, suggested that I start a poetry blog – baydreamerwrites.com. I was as green as a granny smith apple, yet the more time I spent blogging, I learned the layout of the land. I have met amazing writers and made incredible friends.

Blogging morphed into an online classroom. From reading the blogs I follow, I have learned various poetry forms other than free style such as Tanka, Haiku, Etheree, Cinquain, Sonnet, Acrostic, and Limericks. I learned more about writing prose. Over time, I stepped out of my comfort zone, dipping my toes into short stories.

A dream of mine had always been to publish a book, and since I had written many poems, a poetry collection would be logical. The purpose of wanting to see my writing in book form was to create a legacy for my family. I write about many aspects in life, so I felt that my poetry would resonate with readers, help them through difficult times, or reaffirm that they are not living alone with their emotions. After researching, I found self-publishing to be more feasible. As I get older and time seems to slip away, waiting months for a traditional publisher’s reply is not viable.

Last year, I published my first children’s book. So, I am pleased to say that my writing has evolved throughout the years – this is called growth, and there is no age cap for growing.

Whatever genre I share on my blog, whether poetry, fiction, or children’s literature, I hope my readers discover a piece of writing that evokes a special memory. Maybe they will get a good laugh, after all, laughter is the best medicine. Or perhaps they will experience an ‘aha’ moment.

Above all, I hope they take away something special that prompts them to return to my corner of the warm and wonderful blogging community.

Last year I attended the San Francisco Writers Conference and came home with a plethora of information and knowledge. It was a wonderful networking experience and helped my children’s book, Cora’s Quest, move into publication. I plan to attend the conference in 2026. In May, I participated in a children’s book fair, which proved to be successful and another impressive networking event.

To summarize, I have published three collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams (2013), Finding a Balance (2015), and Ever So Gently (2023). In 2021, I released my memoir, More than Coffee in verse and prose. My first children’s book, Cora’s Quest, was released in December 2024. My writing has been published at Spillwords Press, a literary Ezine where I was voted Author of the Month in May 2023, Publication of the Month in October 2024, and Publication of the Month in June 2025. My work is also shared bi-monthly on the online literary site, Gobblers by Masticadores. I am a contributing author in the anthologies, Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships (2022), This is How We Grow (2023), Petals of Haiku (2024), and Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku (2025). My recent book was released in August of this year, King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry, which is a special poetry tribute to my family’s beloved Copper who crossed over the rainbow bridge on March 3rd.

Editing a new children’s story has begun, another poetry collection is in the works, along with a short story collection. To have many projects lined up is exciting because they provide a purpose in life and goals to work toward.

I am sure any Indie author agrees that receiving reviews feels like a warm hug. But the most rewarding for me is discovering that my writing is resonating and touching the hearts of others. What could be better?!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I would say the three qualities most impactful in my writing journey begin with writing every day, whether the writing is simply a scribble, a beautiful verse, or a compelling paragraph. Practice makes perfect, so keep the momentum going. Secondly, perseverance. Stay on track and do not look back. There will be bumps in the road but always keep your eyes looking forward so you can continue to grow. Lastly, keep swatting away any self-doubt that buzzes in your ear like a pesky yellow jacket. Focus on the positive feedback you receive, and let those words be your guiding light.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

Family has been my backbone through the entire journey. My husband has been the most enthusiastic cheerleader, staying by my side, while also lifting my spirits when I allowed self-doubt to take up residence. When my daughter and son were old enough, they were the cutest little supporters. Now adults, they have served as editors and always provide a new and wise perspective. My two sisters have offered their support, and I also value their feedback. However, I give a vast amount of credit to my friends in the blogging community who continue to encourage and inspire me to keep pen in hand and fingers typing on the keyboard. My heart is full of gratitude.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://baydreamerwrites.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baydreamerwrites/

Image Credits

All photos are my own.