Wow. I can’t believe ACFW 2016 has come and gone. This year’s American Christian Fiction Writers’ conference, in particular, was a thrilling ride. While this conference marked the fourth one I’d attended, it was my first ACFW conference as a Genesis double-finalist. I didn’t win in my categories, but I was so blessed and honored to have my work recognized …
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 …
When Writers Grow Up
As a child, I remember being a rather philosophical thinker. I thought about deep things. What made the sky blue? How did roosters know when it was time to crow? Were there really pots of gold beneath rainbows? Why were some folks wealthy and others poor? I pondered the more simple quandaries, too. How come the Avon lady only visited our home during lunchtime? Would …
Good Things
Hello, my friend! Welcome! So good to see you here. If you’ve read the paper or watched television lately, you know we don’t lack for bad news. Well, you won’t find that here. Today we’re talking good things. First, a brief update. I’ve had a few unscheduled blog breaks. Remember those busy seasons I’ve mentioned? Well, I’m in one now. …
Pre-Published? 10 Things to Do While You Wait
If you’ve followed the world of writing/publishing for any length of time, you well know the ups and downs of this fun (and often crazy) career path. Just this week, another brick and mortar store in our neck of the woods took a hit. They’re closing mid-December. I’m sad to see it go, but I can’t say I’m surprised. They’d …
Can’t Get Enough Fall? Five Seasonal Goodies to Inspire You
Over our way, we’ve had an unusually warm fall, but now there’s a new chill to the air. The seasonal shift is more obvious as days grow a little shorter, and rainy patterns set in. While some of the hills and hollows blush with color, other areas have peaked and faded. The month has slipped by in fits and starts, …
Are too Many Memes Hurting Your Brand?
In today’s brave, new world where endless memes and selfies are the order of the day, we’re seeing an unprecedented trend of over-the-top marketing. For instance—recently, I received an e-mail that made a poor impression. The wording was veiled in polite courtesies, but the overall (and probably well-intentioned, but missed-the-mark) message was this: “As you know, I’m so-and-so. I’ve sold …
Finding Time to Write During Your Busy Season
At our house we’re in manic mode. Our daughter is a senior in high school this year and involved in a variety of activities—one of which is varsity tennis. While we enjoy watching our daughter play, tennis season is always a busy time of year for us. When she isn’t practicing, she’s playing. (At the end of this week, she …
Mid-Summer Lull: Encouragement for the Season
Like the weather patterns, seasonal shifts are part of the writing life. Some seasons are warm and colored with joy. Other seasons are rainy and unsettled. Here are some thoughts I’ve shared about seasons: Don’t Compare Your Productive Season to Someone Else’s When Seasons Affect Our Writing Goals How to Thrive Despite the Odds Waiting, Writing, and Why You …
What Inspires Your Summertime Muse?
Here in the Ozarks we’ve hit a rainy patch. Usually by now we’re basking in sunshine and warmth, but this week it’s been rain, rain, rain—with more on the way. (It seems we have Tropical Storm Bill to thank, in part, for our drenching.) Not to seem ungrateful, but I wish we could share some of our moisture with our …