I’ve always been an avid reader. For writers, it’s a must. Reading keeps our minds active. It takes us to new worlds and allows us to live vicariously through our favorite characters. It also keeps us abreast of the changing markets, the current trends, and what’s working and what’s not. We read others’ “voices” while discovering our own. We hone …
For Better or Worse
I remember as a child often hearing older people lament the perils of progress. “I wish everything would just stay the same,” they’d remark to just about anyone who would listen. I didn’t fully grasp what they meant at the time, but as I grew older it began to register. Progress was when my Nana’s beloved home was razed and bulldozed down to …
Jumping in Without a Lifejacket
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 …
The Journey of a (Great) Story
There are some novelists that who just sit down and write. Others may choose a more structured approach preferring to outline and plot the entire book before actually writing it. I have to admit that I fall somewhere between the two. I tend to be a very organized person. I want to know all the twists and turns and the outcome of …
Bogged Down? You Must Be a Writer!
I think, as writers, we often wonder if we ever accomplish enough on a daily basis. One glimpse at our desks reveals the awful truth: no. Character sketches, sticky notes, expense receipts, resource books, and stacks of other various papers and projects taunt us with, “You could have done more!” And then there is the actual thing that we’re supposed to be (want to be) …
Donning Our Chefs Hats
Writers plot. We create. We craft stories in many genres. We show characters at their best, and even love ’em at their worst. Sometimes, our tales may take a different tack–a more exciting twist– than what we’d originally intended. It can be an intense thing when this happens because, often, it’s during these spine-tingling times when we realize what’s happening is out of our control. For …
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 …
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, …
Making the World Go 'Round
There are several key essentials that we require as human beings: food, clothing, shelter, and some sort of external stimuli. Throw in unconditional love and that makes for fairly well-adjusted individuals, right? Well, usually, but not always. Most experts would agree that these things give us a head start; they equip us with what we need to survive. The unconditional love aspect is huge because of its enormous impact …