I had a conversation with a friend this past week and she recounted a incident when someone told her she didn't have time to follow her dream of being an author. Beyond being incredibly deflating, the comment made my friend question her ability to write given her crazy schedule. When she expressed her doubt, I jumped in and was all, whoa, there…stop with the crazy talk, boo.

I've come to believe that people don't have or get time, they make time. If you love something, you cushion your schedule to make things work. If anyone tells you otherwise, they're lying.

It doesn't matter if writing a book takes my friend five months or five years…she's following her passion and what she needs in her life are people who believe in her ability to pen the last word. When it happens, I'll be the first in line to buy her book.

Speaking of books, here are a few Good Reads I finished recently…

On Writing by Stephen King. I've never read any of King's horror stories (me and Scary are like Gorbachev and Reagan), but I picked up this book on the advice of a friend. Let me just say that this is the best book I've read on writing. It's part memoir, part handbook, part awesome. If you like to write and want to get better, definitely grab this book.

Night Film by Marisha Pessl. This book just left me feeling bleh. It started incredibly strong and I couldn't put it down for two days, then it just went in too many directions, dragged on in the middle, and sort of rallied at the end. When I finished it, I read reviews on Amazon and it made me feel better that I wasn't the only person to feel the same way. If nothing else, the beginning alone made the book worth the read.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey . I don't know why I've been so into dystopic stories lately (Hunger Games was a gateway drug), but this book was a nice read while I wait for Allegiant (the third book in the Divergent series) to debut later this month. And now I feel like I'm two seconds from bragging about my Star Wars figurine collection. It was an easy read and I enjoyed the fast-paced, young-adult lure. If you're a fan of the aforementioned series, you'll likely enjoy this book too!

The Yonalosse Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiSclafani. This was a pleasant read, but I suspect it'll be one of those books I forget before the year's over. Does that sound awful? Maybe, but I'm a huge fan of stories that leave a lasting impression, narratives that change the way you see the world…and this missed the mark. However, if you're a fan of riding, this book might be just the ticket to merge the world of horses and literature.

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer. This book. THIS BOOK! And, wow, to write like Wolitzer would be a dream come true. She's incredibly talented at canvassing decades of different lives and stories and braiding them together. Weeks after I completed this book and the characters have stayed with me. Loved it. Truly.

Happy Wednesday!