I know. But don’t let the blog title fool you. It’s good truth. I promise! Today’s thoughts are all about the love. And who can’t use more of that? Great! Let’s go! {{{HUG}}} As a little girl, I created masterpieces. I rocked my world with art and zany inventions. I made stuff from unusual materials. Egg cartons, fabric swatches, wallpaper samples—you …
What Stories Matter?
Over the years, I’ve blogged often about story. As you would expect, stories are near and dear to my heart. I love to read them, write them, and listen to others tell them. It’s my firm belief that everyone has a story. Not everyone is a writer, but all of us have life experiences to draw from. We may journal, …
Knowing When to Shift Our Priorities
One of the hardest things a writer faces is knowing when to say “no.” We may try to temper it with “I’d love to, but I can’t just now.” Or “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I’ll have to pass.” Whatever lingo we use, saying no requires conscious effort and commitment. It doesn’t mean we’re insensitive to others’ needs or that we have …
Start With Baby Steps… Leap With Faith
There’s nothing more exhilarating than watching our children take their first steps. As any parent will tell you, that milestone also comes with a mixed bag of emotion. While those baby steps excite us, we realize we’re on the verge of something new—something thrilling, yet scary, too. We no longer have an infant on our hands. We now have a …
Don’t Let Fear Stop You ~ Dream Big
If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you know I’m a glass half-full thinker. I dream big. I weigh the realities and set goals within reason. I pray. I plan. I strategize. And then there’s this— I dream bigger. Over the years, I’ve often thought about dreams. In fact, I’ve blogged about them, too. Certainly, as a writer, my …
10 Friday “Feel Goods” to Encourage You
Friday. Ahh. Just the word puts a smile on my face. In light of this week’s controversy, upheaval, and pot-stirring, I’ve pulled out all stops. I’ve combed my blog archives to bring you some of my favorite posts—splashes of sunshine to kick-start your day. Snag a donut (*passes you a chocolate, cream-filled treat*) and grab a cuppa (’cause what’s a …
The Very Best Thing About This Writing Gig
The writing life is hard, my friend. There are highs and lows and in-betweens. There are good things. Bad things. God-ordained things (blessings in disguise). For a moment, let’s revisit the not so good things. A writer’s world is a solitary one…and most often, silent (unless there are littles still at home). We lose ourselves in our story worlds, and …
We All Start Small
The billboard caught my eye. A mama, a daddy, and a cute, cuddly baby. The caption? We all start small. Melted. My. Heart. How true. The billboard touted one of our area hospitals, but what resonated and stayed with me as I drove past was that single, simple truth. We all start small. Of course I loved the slogan concept …
ACFW Post-Conference Wind-Down
Today marks almost two weeks since I returned from the 2016 ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference. (For a recap see this post.) Wow. It doesn’t seem possible. During that time, I’ve written a few blog posts, sent out my September newsletter, and followed up on important business matters. A few days ago, I actually finished unpacking (I know), and …
Summer of Change
Like weather patterns, seasonal shifts are part of the writing life. Some seasons are warm and colored with joy. Other seasons are rainy and unsettled. Over our way, we’re in a season of quandaries and busyness. In fact, most of the summer has been filled with what-ifs and moving forward, despite some uncertainty. It’s been a summer of change. My daddy hasn’t …