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 …
A Bird’s-Eye View from the Ozarks
Last week I talked about the importance of stepping away from social media for a time. (You can read more here.) For writers, it’s somewhat of a catch-22. We know we must write. We know, too, we must stay connected to a degree. However, the tendency to check in throughout the day (when we’ve promised ourselves a respite) can be …
ACFW Conference Countdown
As of today we are nineteen days out from the national ACFW conference! Wow. Thrilled! How did it sneak up so fast? Despite the busyness just now (my father recovering, baby bird flying the nest), I’m anticipating one of my favorite writing conferences of the year, and counting down the days until I see old friends and new in Nashville. …
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 …
ACFW Conference Prep
Today, we’re approximately five and a half weeks out from the annual American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) conference. I’m excited! While there have been some highs and lows this summer, I’m so grateful for God’s watchcare and provision. As always, I’m reminded of blessings I sometimes take for granted. Like for instance—reliable transportation, a comfortable home, good health, and a …
Writing When the Unexpected Happens
Wouldn’t it be nice if everything went according to plan? I think we’d all breathe easier. *sigh* Well, as you know, life is rarely predictable. BUT here’s the good thing—writers understand that without conflict there is no story. In fiction, conflict makes us turn the page. In real life, conflict is similar, yet different. It puts us in the driver’s …
Sharing Great News
A few months ago, I shared that I was a 2016 ACFW Genesis (Double) Semi-Finalist. Today I’d like to share more great news. I received word that I finaled in both categories I entered! I now move into the finalist stage of ACFW’s Genesis Contest. I’m humbled and ohh so blessed to have advanced in this prestigious contest. To have …
How Writers Can Use Pinterest
A few weeks ago, you may remember I joined Pinterest. My opinion? I love it. As with anything new there’s a bit of a learning curve, but for the most part, Pinterest is fairly easy to navigate and get the hang of. Although I’m late to the Pinterest party, I’m glad I waited to join. As I said in my …
Should We Write “Real Life” into Our Stories?
There are dozens of directions I could take with today’s post, but for time’s sake, let’s talk possibility and plausibility. Since this isn’t a writing blog (although I do share thoughts on the process from time to time), I won’t bore you with rights and wrongs. The truth is everyone and their Great Aunt Alice has an idea of what …
Gratitude and Good News
Oh, my goodness. Life does move in fits and starts. On Wednesday, I shared my recent kitchen blunder. You may remember it involved the perfect meal and my less than perfect timing. As promised, today’s post is Part Two of my little fiasco along with a bit of good news. (Great news, actually. Keep reading!) Long story short—I scalded the …