My Writing Process Does Not Exist and That Is Okay
A lot of authors out there have a writing process. Artists have a painting process. Creatives of all kinds seem to have these carefully structured routines with blocked off hours and dedicated creative windows and systems that keep everything moving forward on schedule.
If you came here looking for that from me I am sorry but I genuinely cannot help you there.
My full time author schedule is relatively nonexistent and I have made peace with that.
Here is what my day actually looks like. I wake up -- whenever that is, and it could genuinely be any time -- make my coffee, sit down at my desk, check my emails, and respond to what needs a response. After that everything is chaos. Beautiful, productive, completely unscheduled chaos.
I do not wake up at a certain time. I do not go to bed at a certain time. Some nights I am asleep by 10pm and up early ready to tackle the world. Other nights, because I spent years working night shifts and have always been a night owl at heart, I am going to bed at 6am and waking up at 3pm. And honestly it is what it is.
I have tried blocking out my schedule almost hour by hour. Breaks at specific times, creative work in specific windows, the whole system. It does not work for me and I think I finally understand why.
I cannot sit down and feel forced to be creative. I will be creative when I want to be creative. That is just the truth of how I work and I stopped fighting it.
Editing is the exception. Editing I force myself to do because if I do not create a deadline for myself I simply will not do it. There is no natural creative pull toward editing for me. It is all discipline and mild dread and self imposed consequences. But everything else -- the writing, the content creation, the building -- that happens when it happens.
My day looks like working for an hour or two and then going to hang out with my fiance. Then getting back to it when he is busy with his hobbies. Then working again late into the night because something clicked and I cannot stop. I probably work more than eight hours most days but the majority of the time it does not feel like work because I am doing something I actually love.
That is the thing nobody tells you about pursuing your dream full time. When the passion is real it does not feel like a job even when it is technically labor. Even when it is unpaid labor for stretches that would make a reasonable person quit. You just keep going because stopping does not feel like an option.
So no. I do not have a process.
I have a dream. I have a passion. I have coffee and a desk and a fiance who puts up with me disappearing into my work at completely unpredictable hours. And somehow, in the middle of all that beautiful chaos, things get made.
That is enough for me. 🖤
Bayou Bound Books Isn't Just a Book Brand. It's a Creative World.
Quick answer: Bayou Bound Books is the creative brand of Southern Gothic horror author Isabelle McGee (soon to be Isabelle Herrscher). It started with books, including Prompt To Grow, Get Out of the Swamp, and the upcoming Chasing 25, and has grown to include a monthly short story series (the Bayou Archive), branded merch, and original art prints. The books are still the core of everything. Everything else is an extension of the same creative world, not a separate business.
Why Bayou Bound Books Is More Than Just Books
I've spent the last several months building Bayou Bound Books as a full-time author brand, Southern Gothic horror, bayou atmosphere, Louisiana roots. That's not changing. Writing is still the center of everything I do, and it always will be.
But being a full-time author doesn't mean I'm only ever making one thing. I'm also a full-time creative, and that means the same world I write in shows up in more than just pages sometimes.
That's why Bayou Bound Books now includes:
Books: Southern Gothic horror and personal narrative, including Prompt To Grow, Get Out of the Swamp, and Chasing 25 (releasing July 2026)
The Bayou Archive: a monthly short story for readers who want a piece of this world every month
Merch: wearable pieces of the Bayou Bound Books world, fulfilled through Printful
Art prints: original creative pieces, now available as printed art, born from the same voice and atmosphere as the books
Are the Art Prints a New Direction for Bayou Bound Books?
No. The art prints aren't a pivot away from being an author. They're proof that the "author" part was never the whole picture. Bayou Bound Books has always been about building a full creative world rooted in Southern Gothic and bayou storytelling. The books are the foundation. The art is another room in the same house. You can shop them here: https://www.bayouboundbooks.com/shop/art
What's Next for Bayou Bound Books
The focus stays on the books first. Chasing 25 is releasing July 2026, with more Southern Gothic horror titles in progress after that. Everything else, the Archive, the merch, the art, exists to bring readers deeper into the same world, not to replace what got them here in the first place.
Editing Chasing 25: The Part Nobody Talks About
Starting the editing process feels a lot like being back in school and realizing the homework never actually ends.
I chose this. I love this. Writing and creating and building stories is the thing I would pick every single time if you gave me the choice again. But editing? Editing is the part I would skip if I could. It is the necessary evil of the whole process and I say that with full awareness that it is also one of the most important parts.
I picked the editing back up last week for Chasing 25 and I would be lying if I said I was not walking into it with a knot in my stomach.
Here is the thing about editing that nobody really prepares you for. No matter how many times you go through your own manuscript you are going to miss things. I know this because I lived it with Prompt To Grow. I went back after it was already published and found embarrassing mistakes on almost every page of the first edition. Some I went back and fixed. Some I did not. And as much as that stings, I have made peace with it.
You know when I notice the errors I missed? Once the book is already published and already in someone's hands. Every single time. Without fail.
That is not a failure. That is just being human. And honestly it is also proof that the work is real, that it came from a real person doing their best with what they had at the time. You can watch my work evolve if you go back far enough. The mistakes are part of that evolution. They show where I was when I made them.
But it does not make the editing process any less anxiety inducing.
There is something specific about editing Chasing 25 that makes it harder than editing a journal. This book is personal in a way that my previous work was not. Every chapter I go back through I am not just looking for errors. I am sitting inside moments from my own life and deciding how much of the truth to leave on the page. That is a different kind of work. It requires a different kind of nerve.
I am genuinely excited to get this book into the world. July 20th feels real and close and terrifying in the best possible way. But between now and then there is a manuscript that needs me to sit with it, page by page, and do the uncomfortable work of making it the best version of itself I am capable of producing on my own.
No professional editor. No team. Just me, the manuscript, and a lot of coffee.
That is indie publishing in its most honest form.
And I would not trade it for anything -- even on the days it feels like homework. 🖤
Book Launch date July 20, 2026
Bayou Bound Books Was Featured in Voyage Houston
I have to be honest with you. I did not expect this to happen this soon.
About a month and a half ago, I made the decision to go full time with Bayou Bound Books. No backup plan, no safety net. Just a commitment to showing up every single day and building something real. And slowly, things are starting to happen.
One of those things is this: Voyage Houston published a feature on me and Bayou Bound Books.
Voyage Houston is a local publication dedicated to highlighting the stories of creatives, entrepreneurs, and small business owners across the city. Being included in that conversation means a lot to me. Not because it makes me feel important, but because it is proof that the work is being seen.
I want to be clear about something. This is a smaller win. I know that. But a win is a win, and I am not in the business of waiting for something to feel big enough before I let myself be grateful for it. Every step forward is a step forward.
If you want to read the full feature, you can find it here: Meet Isabelle McGee of Houston
Bayou Bound Books is still early. There is a lot more coming. But for now, I am celebrating this one.
The Bayou Bound Books Merch Is Here and Here Is How You Can Help
Building an indie publishing brand from scratch is one of the most rewarding and humbling things I have ever done. There is no big publisher behind me, no marketing team, no safety net. Just me, the stories, and the people who show up for it.
If you have ever wanted to be part of what I am building here, here are a few ways to do it.
The free ones matter just as much:
Repost my content. Share a book link with someone you think would love it. Leave a review on Amazon if you have read one of my books. Mention Bayou Bound Books to a friend. Word of mouth is how indie authors grow and every single time you put my name in front of someone new it counts more than you know.
And if you want to wear the bayou:
I have merch available now and I am genuinely proud of how it turned out.
The black shirt has the Bayou Bound Books logo on the front and a full swamp scene on the back. Spanish moss, cypress trees, a skull on a stack of books, moonlight, and the words "Where the stories rot beautifully." It is dark, it is Southern, and it is everything this brand is about. It comes in both a classic unisex tee and a crop top so you can wear the bayou however feels most like you.
The grey shirt is a little more understated. The brand slogan "Ink dipped in soul, bound by the bayou" sits on the front where a pocket would be and the back features a hand drawn bayou house with Bayou Bound Books across it.
There is also a coffee mug in three sizes for those of you who do your best reading with something warm in your hand.
Everything ships directly to you. You can shop at bayouboundbooks.com.
However you choose to show up, whether that is buying a shirt, sharing a post, or just being here reading this, it matters. This brand exists because people like you keep showing up for it and I do not take that lightly. 🖤
Link to Black T-shirt: https://www.bayouboundbooks.com/shop/p/bayou-bound-books-tee
Link to Grey T-shirt: https://www.bayouboundbooks.com/shop/p/unisex-classic-tee
Link to Black Crop top: https://www.bayouboundbooks.com/shop/p/womens-crop-top
Link to coffee mug: https://www.bayouboundbooks.com/shop/p/white-glossy-mug
Southern Gothic Themes and Tropes Explained
Southern Gothic is not defined by one element.
It is a combination of themes and patterns that create a specific kind of atmosphere.
Understanding these themes is what separates surface level writing from something that feels authentic.
Decay and Decline
One of the most recognizable elements is decay.
This can be physical, such as aging homes or neglected spaces.
It can also be emotional or moral.
Something is always in the process of breaking down.
The Weight of the Past
History is never fully gone.
It lingers in places, in people, and in the way stories unfold.
Characters are often shaped by what came before them, whether they understand it or not.
Isolation
Many Southern Gothic stories take place in environments that feel cut off.
This isolation creates tension and removes the sense of safety.
It forces characters to confront what is around them.
The Unspoken
There is often a focus on what is avoided.
Conversations that do not fully happen. Truths that are implied but never stated.
This creates a layer of discomfort that runs beneath the surface.
Blurred Reality
Supernatural elements are often subtle.
It is not always clear what is real and what is not.
That uncertainty is part of the structure.
Why These Themes Matter
These elements are not just stylistic choices.
They work together to create a specific emotional experience.
One that feels slow, heavy, and difficult to fully explain.
Final Thought
Southern Gothic is not just about where a story takes place.
It is about how it feels.
And when these themes are used intentionally, that feeling stays long after the story ends.
How To Stay Consistent as a New Author
Consistency is one of the hardest parts of building as a new author.
Not because it is complicated, but because it requires discipline without immediate results.
Focus on Output, Not Perfection
Waiting for everything to feel perfect slows progress.
Consistency comes from producing regularly, not flawlessly.
The goal is to build a body of work over time.
Create a Realistic Schedule
An inconsistent schedule is often an unrealistic one.
Start with something you can maintain.
For me, that looks like structured blog posts and weekly story releases.
Consistency only works if it is sustainable.
Remove Decision Fatigue
Planning ahead makes consistency easier.
When you know what you are posting and when, you are not starting from zero every time.
That is why batching content matters.
Accept Slow Growth
Most of the work you put in early will not show immediate results.
That does not mean it is not working.
Consistency builds momentum over time.
Final Thought
Consistency is not about doing everything.
It is about doing the right things repeatedly.
And over time, that is what builds something real.
What Kind of Reader Is My Work For?
Not every story is meant for every reader.
And that is not a limitation. It is what makes finding the right work feel personal.
The writing I create through Bayou Bound Books is built around tone, atmosphere, and feeling. It is not confined to one type of person, background, or experience. But it does tend to resonate with readers who are drawn to a certain kind of depth.
For Readers Who Appreciate Atmosphere
If you are someone who values how a story feels just as much as what happens in it, this space was built with you in mind.
These are not fast moving, plot driven stories.
They take their time. They build slowly. They allow tension to develop in the background instead of forcing it forward.
You may not always get immediate answers, but you will feel the weight of what is there.
For Readers Who Sit With Stories After They End
Some readers move on quickly once a story is finished.
Others carry it with them.
If you tend to think back on certain lines, certain moments, or certain feelings long after you have read something, you will likely connect with this work.
These stories are meant to linger.
Not through shock, but through presence.
For Readers Who Are Comfortable With the Unexplained
Not everything in these stories is meant to be fully understood.
There are moments that stay open. Questions that are left without clear answers. Details that are felt more than explained.
This is intentional.
If you enjoy filling in the gaps, forming your own interpretations, and sitting with uncertainty, you will feel at home here.
For Readers Who Value Emotional Undercurrents
Even when the stories lean into horror or tension, there is always something deeper running underneath.
Themes of memory, identity, discomfort, and awareness show up consistently.
If you are drawn to stories that reflect internal experiences as much as external ones, this will resonate.
For Readers From Anywhere
While much of my work is influenced by the South, especially Louisiana, you do not need to be from there to connect with it.
The setting shapes the tone, but the feelings are not limited to one place.
Unease, nostalgia, tension, and reflection are universal experiences.
This space is open to anyone who recognizes those feelings, no matter where they come from.
More Than Stories
Alongside fiction, you will also find journal prompts and mental health focused writing.
These are not separate from the stories. They are another way of exploring similar themes.
They offer space to slow down, reflect, and look a little closer at what sits beneath the surface.
Whether you are here for storytelling, self reflection, or both, it all connects.
Final Thought
You do not have to fit into a specific category to belong here.
If you are drawn to quiet tension, to stories that feel lived in, to moments that stay with you longer than expected, then this space was made for you.
How Setting Creates Fear in Horror Writing
Fear does not always come from what is happening.
Sometimes, it comes from where it is happening.
In horror writing, setting is not just a backdrop. It is a tool. When used correctly, it shapes tension, controls pacing, and creates unease before anything actually goes wrong.
Why Setting Matters More Than Plot
Many writers focus on plot to create fear. The threat, the twist, the reveal.
But in effective horror, the setting often does the work first.
A space can feel wrong before anything happens inside it. That feeling builds anticipation. It prepares the reader to expect something without needing to show it immediately.
That is where fear begins.
Elements That Make a Setting Unsettling
Certain environmental details naturally create tension.
Isolation makes characters feel cut off.
Decay suggests something has been neglected or abandoned.
Stillness creates anticipation.
Familiar spaces that feel slightly off create discomfort.
These elements work together to build atmosphere.
The Power of Familiar Places
One of the most effective techniques in horror is taking something familiar and shifting it slightly.
A home that feels lived in but not safe.
A quiet road that feels watched.
A room that holds more silence than it should.
The closer something feels to reality, the more unsettling it becomes when it is altered.
Letting the Setting Lead
Strong horror does not always explain itself.
Instead of telling the reader something is wrong, the setting allows them to feel it.
Details matter. Tone matters. What is left unsaid matters.
When the environment carries tension, the story does not have to force it.
Final Thought
Setting is not where the story happens.
It is how the story feels.
And when it is done right, it creates fear long before anything appears.
Why I Write Dark Stories Rooted in The South.
I did not choose the tone of my writing by accident.
It comes from where I am from.
I grew up in the swamps of Louisiana, where everything feels a little heavier. The air, the silence, the stories people tell and the ones they do not. It is a place that teaches you early on that not everything needs to be explained to be understood.
Even now, living in Texas, that feeling has not left.
It does not.
The Weight of Where You Come From
Louisiana is not just a setting to me. It is a presence.
It is the kind of place where beauty and decay exist at the same time. Where something can feel alive and fading all at once. Where history lingers in a way that does not always feel settled.
That duality shapes everything I write.
Because the truth is, the South carries stories differently. They are not always direct. They are passed down in fragments, in tone, in warning more than explanation.
That leaves space for interpretation.
And that space is where my writing lives.
The Pull to Stay and the Need to Leave
There is a tension I carry that shows up in my work.
Part of me wants to go back to Louisiana and never leave again. There is a familiarity there that cannot be replaced. A sense of belonging that is hard to explain if you have never felt it.
And at the same time, part of me knows exactly why I left.
That push and pull is constant.
It feels like standing in a house that is slowly falling apart. You recognize every room. You know every sound. But something about it tells you not to stay too long.
That tension is not something I try to resolve in my writing.
I lean into it.
Why Darkness Feels Honest
I do not write dark stories just to be dark.
I write them because they feel honest.
Not everything in life is clean or easy to define. Some things linger. Some things sit with you longer than they should. Some things never fully make sense.
Dark storytelling allows space for that.
It allows me to explore discomfort without forcing a resolution. To sit in the unknown instead of trying to explain it away.
And in a place like the South, that kind of storytelling feels natural.
The Influence of Southern Gothic
The style I am drawn to is deeply rooted in Southern Gothic tradition, but I approach it in a modern way.
Less about spectacle and more about atmosphere. Less about what is shown and more about what is felt.
My work focuses on:
Slow building tension
Emotional undercurrents
The presence of something just out of reach
It is not about proving that something is there.
It is about making you feel like it might be.
More Than Setting
What I write is not just about location.
It is about memory, identity, and the things that stay with you whether you want them to or not.
The South becomes a lens for that.
The same themes that exist in my stories also show up in other parts of my work. In my journal prompts. In my mental health focused writing. In the way I approach reflection and self awareness.
It all connects.
Because at the center of it, I am exploring what lingers.
What I Am Building
Through Bayou Bound Books, I am creating more than just stories.
I am building a body of work rooted in atmosphere, tension, and emotional depth. Stories that do not rush to explain themselves. Stories that feel lived in.
Some will take place in spaces that feel familiar to the South. Others will carry that same weight in different forms.
But all of them will come back to the same place.
That feeling.
Final Thought
Leaving Louisiana did not separate me from it.
If anything, it made it louder.
It shows up in my writing. In the tone. In the tension. In the way nothing is ever fully resolved.
Like a house that is still standing, even as it slowly gives in.
Part of me will always want to go back.
And part of me knows exactly why I can’t stay.
That is the space I write from.
And it is not going anywhere.
How I am Building My Author Brand From Nothing.
How I’m Building My Author Brand From Nothing
Building an author brand from nothing is exactly what it sounds like.
No audience. No backlist. No built-in traction.
Just an idea, a direction, and the decision to take it seriously.
That is the stage I am in right now with Bayou Bound Books. And instead of waiting until everything is polished or published, I am building the foundation first.
Starting With a Clear Identity
Before anything else, I had to define what I actually stand for as a writer.
Not just genres, but tone and experience.
For me, that meant focusing on slow, atmospheric Southern Gothic storytelling. Work that leans into tension, discomfort, and the space between what is seen and what is felt.
At the same time, I am also creating journal prompts and mental health focused content. Not as a separate brand, but as an extension of the same themes.
Everything connects through tone.
That clarity matters because without it, content becomes inconsistent and forgettable.
Building Before the Product Exists
One of the biggest mistakes new authors make is waiting until their book is finished to start building an audience.
I am doing the opposite.
Before my long form fiction is released, I am building:
A website that acts as a central hub
A blog that supports search visibility
Short form content that introduces my tone and voice
A consistent series like my Porch Stories
This creates familiarity before the product ever drops.
So when the books are ready, there is already an audience that understands what they are stepping into.
Using Content as Infrastructure
Right now, content is not just content. It is infrastructure.
Every blog post, every short story, every piece of writing serves a purpose.
My blog is helping with search visibility and long term discovery. It may not get immediate traffic, but it builds over time.
My Porch Stories act as proof of concept. They show the tone, pacing, and atmosphere people can expect from my future work.
My educational content brings in other writers and creators, expanding my reach beyond just readers.
Everything feeds into the same system.
Focusing on Consistency Over Perfection
It is easy to get stuck trying to make everything perfect before putting it out.
That slows everything down.
Instead, I am focused on consistency.
Showing up regularly. Posting on a schedule. Building a body of work that grows over time.
Because consistency builds trust faster than perfection ever will.
Creating a Connected Ecosystem
Nothing I create stands alone.
The blog connects to my stories. The stories connect to my future books. The journal prompts connect to the deeper themes within the fiction.
This creates an ecosystem instead of isolated content.
So no matter how someone finds my work, there is always a next step.
What I Am Prioritizing Right Now
At this stage, my focus is simple:
Building a recognizable tone and identity
Creating consistent, high quality content
Establishing search visibility through my website
Developing a body of work that reflects my long term direction
I am not chasing quick results.
I am building something that lasts.
What This Means Going Forward
As Bayou Bound Books continues to grow, everything I am building now becomes the foundation.
The blog posts. The short stories. The early content.
All of it compounds over time.
This is not about launching one book and hoping it works.
It is about creating a brand that people recognize, trust, and return to.
Final Thought
Starting from nothing is not a disadvantage.
It is control.
It means every part of this brand is intentional. Built piece by piece, with direction behind it.
And over time, that kind of foundation is what makes the difference.
What is Southern Gothic Horror? A Modern breakdown.
Southern Gothic horror is less about what you see and more about what you feel.
It lives in the quiet tension between beauty and decay. In places that feel familiar but carry something just beneath the surface. It does not rely on constant action or obvious fear. Instead, it builds unease slowly, often without ever fully explaining why.
At its core, Southern Gothic is a subgenre of horror rooted in the American South, but its influence goes far beyond geography. It is defined by atmosphere, psychology, and the uncomfortable truths people tend to avoid.
The Core Elements of Southern Gothic Horror
To understand Southern Gothic horror, you have to look at what it consistently leans on.
Setting as a Character
The environment is not just a backdrop. It shapes everything. Small towns, isolated homes, overgrown land, and heavy heat all contribute to a sense of confinement and tension.
Decay and Decline
There is often a focus on things falling apart, whether physically, mentally, or morally. Old homes, strained families, and buried histories are common threads.
The Unspoken
What is not said matters just as much as what is. Characters avoid certain topics. Conversations feel incomplete. There is always something lingering beneath the surface.
Blurred Lines Between Reality and Belief
Religion, superstition, and folklore often overlap. You are never entirely sure if something is psychological, supernatural, or something in between.
Psychological Tension Over Shock
Southern Gothic horror does not rely on jump scares. It builds discomfort gradually through tone, pacing, and implication.
How Southern Gothic Differs From Traditional Horror
Traditional horror often focuses on clear threats such as a monster, a killer, or something tangible.
Southern Gothic horror takes a different approach.
The fear is often internal instead of external. It is implied instead of shown. It lingers instead of arriving all at once.
You may never get a clear answer, and that is intentional. The lack of resolution is part of what makes it effective.
A Modern Take on Southern Gothic
While the roots of Southern Gothic go back decades, the modern version has evolved.
Today, it leans more into atmosphere driven storytelling, emotional and psychological depth, and minimal explanation.
Modern Southern Gothic does not feel the need to define everything. It allows space for interpretation and trusts the reader to sit with uncertainty.
It also expands beyond traditional themes by exploring identity, mental health, and isolation in a connected world. This makes it more personal and often more unsettling.
Why Southern Gothic Horror Feels Different
There is a reason this style of horror stays with people.
It taps into something familiar.
Not just places, but emotions. The feeling that something is not right. The weight of things left unresolved. The discomfort of not having clear answers.
It mirrors real life in a way that more direct horror does not. Because in reality, not everything is explained and not everything is seen clearly.
That uncertainty creates its own kind of fear.
Where Bayou Bound Books Fits In
At Bayou Bound Books, the focus is on building stories and experiences rooted in this modern Southern Gothic atmosphere.
The work being created centers on slow building tension, heavy atmosphere, and the space between what is known and what is felt.
Alongside fiction, this also extends into journal prompts designed for self reflection and mental health focused writing that explores internal experiences.
These elements are connected. The same themes appear across all of it. What lingers beneath the surface. What goes unspoken. What people feel but cannot always explain.
Final Thought
Southern Gothic horror does not need to be loud to be effective.
It exists in quiet moments. In heavy air. In the feeling you cannot quite explain but cannot ignore either.
And once it settles in, it tends to stay.