Do you ever get so caught up in the “must dos” of life, you sometimes forget to savor the moment? For me, especially lately, I’ve found that this is true. My life seems to be such a whirlwind right now that it can be a little tough to savor the stacks of laundry, the trail of dust, or a host of other household chores that …
Traveling Shoes
With summer quickly approaching, many of us think of putting on our traveling shoes. Just thinking about going somewhere new or different, or maybe even to a favorite vacation spot, can leave us itching to get started. I think for a lot of people, a big part of the excitement is getting away from it all. Some folks also choose …
Going My Way?
For those of you who write, you know a huge part of the process is the journey. For me, I began writing “stories” at a very young age. I continued writing throughout high school, with a brief lull during my college years due to time constraints. (Term papers don’t count–kinda hard to focus on penning romantic tales when your grade’s …
Daydream Believer
Many years ago, there used to be a commercial with a famous tagline. It was “Calgon, take me away!” I think it always centered around a woman soaking in a soothing bubble bath surrounded by a sea of–what else–bubbles! For a long time, I’d hear people actually quoting that commercial at the end of a particularly stressful day. It was a …
Keep Smilin'
For those of you who have ever gone through difficulties in life, you know how hard it can be to keep smilin’ at times. Occasionally, life throws us some nasty curve balls. Some may experience family drama, trauma, divorce, or illness. Dreams may be put on hold, aspirations shelved for the time being, and goals sidelined. Even the most positive person can …
Christian Fiction Basics
Yesterday I included some things you should and shouldn’t do when writing Christian fiction. The best rule of thumb remains: research, research, research! (In whatever genre you’re writing, it just makes good sense to google/study your area of interest.) And I’ll say right up front, I don’t know much about the sci-fi, fantasy, western, or mystery markets. I do know a little something …
Are We There Yet?
For those of you who have children, the title of today’s post may strike a significant chord. And even for those who don’t, since you’ve been a child, you probably remember asking Mom and Dad those very words yourselves. The same question is true for writers. During my writing journey, I often remember thinking am I there yet? I thought …
Deliberating Details
Now more than ever, I find myself immersed in details. When writing, I tend to want to throw in everything but the kitchen sink and that can lead to some real deliberating. Deciding whether or not to leave some things in, throw some things out, whittle other things down–it can be a real dilemma for those of us who love …
Preserving Integrity
We love to travel throughout the South. We enjoy the history, the Southern hospitality, the warmth, the cooking, and the relaxed way of life. Several years ago, we had the opportunity to visit a few of the museums in Mobile, Alabama. One such museum was the “Oakleigh House.” The grandeur of this beautifully restored home was breathtaking, particularly the sitting room pictured above. …
Monday Madness
If you write, do you ever find yourself turning off your words? I mean, really? If you’re able to do that, then I salute you! For me, I don’t know that the words ever “turn off.” I’ve gotten better about keeping things in their proper perspective, and I am learning to compartmentalize a wee bit better. That’s not to say that …