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, …
5 Great Things About Today
When we’re besieged with bad news, it weakens our resolve and wrecks our emotions. It challenges us on a whole new level. This is one of those weeks. From fires, floods, and hurricanes to big and small heartaches in relentless doses, this week sucked us dry. And to make sure we didn’t miss a thing, media outlets provided ’round-the-clock coverage. …
Revisiting Hope
Have you ever experienced those moments you knew you’d remember with vivid clarity? Maybe it’s your wedding day. Your children’s births. A family celebration or a special holiday. Maybe, though, it’s more specific than that. Maybe it’s that sixty-second encounter, a fleeting impression, or a few fractured seconds in your twenty-four hour day. Perhaps, it’s that one thing—the thing that …
August Update
Greetings from the Ozarks! It’s great to be back with you today. As you may have noticed, this summer I’ve stepped back from blogging. Other than holiday breaks and a few short vacations, I’ve blogged steadily since 2011. I decided I was long overdue for a sabbatical. Our college gal’s been home for the summer and we’ve enjoyed reconnecting. Now, …
When Our Story Worlds Come Alive
For writers, there’s nothing quite as thrilling as breathing life and love into our characters and stories. Our hearts beat for those creative moments when fact meets fiction in bold, new worlds. We’re eager to get words on the page and begin our journey. From the first moment I envisioned the sleepy, little town of Ruby, Missouri, ideas flowed. The …
Success… Is It Too Late?
There comes a point in life, maybe during a career crisis or a season of self-reflection, our confidence dips. Our belief wilts. Is it too late? Has my chance already come and gone? Has the moment of opportunity slipped past, despite my desire to move forward? For the baby boomer generation, advancing years are a reality. There’s no denying the …
Summer Update
Ahh, how quickly summer goes. It wasn’t always this way. When I was a little girl, the long, hot days of summer stretched before me like a ribbon of taffy waiting to be savored. Sleeping in, lingering over lunch, and reading filled my days. I had some chores, but after I finished those, my time was my own. Often, …
How Do We Keep the Dream Alive?
Often, new writers plunge full steam ahead into their fledgling careers, barely giving thought to everything writing entails. Pursuit of “the dream” and all the glorious fantasies that go with it play out in delightful, creative scenarios because, after all, that’s what writers do best—we live in bold, imaginative worlds where anything is possible. It’s only when—oh, say, maybe five, …
Good News Calls for Chocolate… Take Two!
Ahh… I love good news. And you know what good news calls for, right? Good News Calls for CHOCOLATE… Take Two! *slices cake and passes it your way* Don’t be shy. There’s plenty for everyone. (And no worries. I’ve prayed the calories right out of it!) *tosses confetti* Remember when I announced I was a 2017 ACFW Genesis Semi-Finalist? Today …
In the Meantime…
Do you ever fantasize about a much-anticipated event? Ever imagine the outcome surpassing your wildest expectations? Of course you have. We’ve all envisioned a goal mastered, a dream obtained, or a deeply held desire coming to fruition. In our mind, we may even visualize each step, each success or blunder, it took to get there. Sometimes, the mere mental walk-thru is …