Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “Writer’s life in the Ozarks”
Last March I decided to do something out of sheer frustration. I started a newsletter. You may remember I blogged about newsletters and additional reasons for starting my own, but the brief version is I grew tired of other mediums limiting (controlling) my visibility. Consider Facebook, for instance. Of my followers, only a very small fraction of people actually see …
Dream. Just the word spurs our imagination. And while we’re at it, if we’re going to dream, why not do it in a big way? Isn’t that the purpose—to envision something extraordinary? I’ve always said: Goals are something I try to realistically shoot for with God’s help. Dreams, however, are something beyond the tangible, but completely possible with the One …
We knew it had to happen sooner or later. Wintry weather’s finally arrived in the Ozarks. *sigh* Time to whip out our snuggies! (Snuggies are those delightful blankets with arms that were all the rage a few years ago. I still use mine.) Today I’ve battened down the hatches, fired up the coffeepot, and opened my chocolate stash. I’m prepared …
Many years ago I sat in a meeting with “Jackie.” I’ll never forget the awkwardness of that day. (You can read more here.) Jackie rarely spoke well of others and often voiced her discontent with everything from A to Z. In short—she was no fun. I believe her attitude reflected deeper issues, specifically her own self-doubt. She was trapped in …
It’s true that life is a series of stories. Good and bad, humorous and poignant, true life stories are the best because they’re real. They’re the ones we remember. They’re the stories that breathe fire into our fiction. Striking just the right balance between fact and fiction is somewhat of a mystery, and yet, when it happens it’s sublime. I …
The first week back to work after a lengthy Christmas break is always hard. For those who have children at home, there’s back to school. For folks who commute to work, it’s back to familiar. For writers, it’s all about that sweet spot. Our writing routine. Work in some form. Hitting our stride. Settling in. Making the most of effort …
Welcome back! Happy New Year! I’m delighted you’re here. If you’re like me, the end of the holiday season is met with mixed emotion. Additional time spent with loved ones is wonderful, and when it’s over I’m a little sad. It’s nice, though, to get back into the swing of things. While I enjoy a brief respite from social media, …
Merry Christmas, my friend! This week as we approach the big day, I pray you’re able to slow down, reflect, and breathe in the joy of the season. Sometimes, we get so caught up in spend/buy/bake/overdo mode that the true meaning of Christmas is shoved to the back burner—celebrated almost as an afterthought rather than the centerpiece of the holiday. …
Hello, my friend! I hope you’ve had a great week! Temperatures shifted where we’re at in the Ozarks. A few days ago we had highs in the upper fifties. Today, we can subtract about eighteen or so degrees from that. Brrr… It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! Of course—they tell us by the big day, temps should creep …
I love to kick off the week with great news! You may remember I mentioned I was a finalist in ACFW’s First Impressions writing contest. Well, yesterday, after a fabulous Christmas luncheon with my local ACFW MozArks writing friends, I received the most wonderful e-mail. I won in my category! I was in my favorite hobby and craft store (in …
