I recently chatted with someone who was very discouraged about the direction her writing seemed to be taking. After writing for 25+ years, “The process,” she said, “has begun to take its toll.” We talked at length about the path to publication and I asked her what her current goals were. “Well, they’re the same as they’ve always been. I want to …
I Now Pronounce You…
Recently, I stopped at a fast food restaurant for an iced tea and a salad. Seated two tables across from me was an elderly couple in their early eighties (I’m guessing). The gentleman sported a somewhat wrinkled blue work shirt with faded blue jeans and sensible looking shoes. His wife wore a beige polyester dress, complete with a strand of dime store beads. Pausing briefly …
It's All About the View
A few years ago, we visited Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a beautiful, little gem cradled within the magnificent Ozark Mountains. During our trip, one of the most unusual and awe-inspiring places we stopped at was Thorncrown Chapel. Thorncrown is a 48-foot feet glass chapel ensconced within a lush, wooded setting, and it boasts over 425 windows and 6,000+ square feet of glass. It is, indeed, a sight to …
Should Writers Start a Blog?
Well, I’m sure I’ve said it before. Writers are a bit of an odd lot. Sometimes, our minds never turn off. We keep late hours, savor words like candy, and we’d rather spend our free time roaming a book store than vacationing in Hawaii. (Kidding. I think.) Writers write. We create. We pen tales from snippets of life and from our own imaginations. We search out …
Collecting Wisdom
I remember as a little girl, I would often collect “treasures.” These might be ordinary items to someone else, but to me, these things were priceless. Old, shiny buttons, colorful scraps of fabric, and “wheat pennies” were a few of my favorite collectibles. I also found a few other things that I would toss in my “treasure box” (AKA an old, …
Touching the Intangible
For children, it’s easier to believe in the unseen. They haven’t fully experienced life yet. They believe in pretend and their imaginative, carefree worlds and playmates are their now. They live life on the edge because that’s a fun place to be. Fear of tomorrow isn’t yet on their radar. God’s little ones see the world in rainbows. Adults see it in black and white, …
Stuck on You
Since I write heartfelt, homespun, contemporary Christian romance, I often contemplate which content to leave in, what to edit out. I’m deeply aware that my words, my thoughts, and my novels as a whole should always reflect the love of Jesus Christ first and foremost. Any other relationship is secondary. As a Christian, I’ve made the following commitments: to point others toward …
Bells, Whistles, and Other Baubles
In secular fiction there seems to be a lot of the “sensationalism” factor. Whatever will grab readers’ attention, implement it. If it’s shocking, say it. Off-color? Write it. A little violence? Add it. Owning one’s actions? Well, heaven forbid! The accountability component just doesn’t seem to be there sometimes. In some of the stories I’ve read, it may take reading the entire book before a …
Doesn't It Just Get Your Goat?
Recently I spoke about marketing, gimmicks, and being a savvy consumer. As I mentioned before, “gimmicks” affect everything we buy–from the simple to the complex. Marketing tools and tricks abound. Many of the purchases we make are based on desire, eye appeal, and internal/external expectations. Distributors know that if they play on our sympathy, we’ll usually cave. If they convince us …
Seasoning. It's Not Just for Chili.
I think in life we all experience difficulties, hardships, and trials from time to time. Some folks may endure these struggles temporarily. For others, the season of suffering may seem never-ending. (I’ve talked about this in my earlier posts Comfort During Trials and Mountaintops.) As writers, we’re deeply in tune to these times of “seasoning.” These experiences mature us–not only as individuals, …