Worldbuilding isn’t always about maps or measurements—it’s about mood. It’s about the spaces we retreat to in our minds. The settings that leave impressions. The places that hold a certain kind of quintessence—even if they only ever lived in daydreams, Pinterest boards, or quiet morning playlists.

When I started building the world of Moons and Shadows, I wasn’t trying to create just "one" land. I was chasing a feeling. A place that could hold heartache, healing, mystery, and meaning. These four inspirations anchored that journey—and still whisper to me when I write.

At its surface, Moons and Shadows is a fantasy story - epic in scope, rich in mystery, layered with tension. But beneath the plot, beneath the quintessence, there are deeper threads that run through every page. These five themes have quietly (and sometimes loudly) guided every decision, shaped every character, and grounded every moment of this story.

Writing a book will stretch you. Publishing one will rebuild you. These past two years—writing Moons and Shadows—have been the most creatively fulfilling and emotionally demanding experience of my life. Not just because of the words, but because of what they required of me. So today, I’m sharing six writing struggles that taught me something deeper—not just about being an author, but about being myself in the process.