If you saw the movie Julie and Julia then you know that this movie was based on the true life story of a young woman (an underdog in a dead-end job) named “Julie” whose kitchen idol was–who else–Julia Child, chef extraordinaire. Julie sets out on a mission to master the art of French cooking within a certain amount of time. …
Traveling Shoes
With summer quickly approaching, many of us think of putting on our traveling shoes. Just thinking about going somewhere new or different, or maybe even to a favorite vacation spot, can leave us itching to get started. I think for a lot of people, a big part of the excitement is getting away from it all. Some folks also choose …
Going My Way?
For those of you who write, you know a huge part of the process is the journey. For me, I began writing “stories” at a very young age. I continued writing throughout high school, with a brief lull during my college years due to time constraints. (Term papers don’t count–kinda hard to focus on penning romantic tales when your grade’s …
Christian Fiction Basics
Yesterday I included some things you should and shouldn’t do when writing Christian fiction. The best rule of thumb remains: research, research, research! (In whatever genre you’re writing, it just makes good sense to google/study your area of interest.) And I’ll say right up front, I don’t know much about the sci-fi, fantasy, western, or mystery markets. I do know a little something …
Are We There Yet?
For those of you who have children, the title of today’s post may strike a significant chord. And even for those who don’t, since you’ve been a child, you probably remember asking Mom and Dad those very words yourselves. The same question is true for writers. During my writing journey, I often remember thinking am I there yet? I thought …
Deliberating Details
Now more than ever, I find myself immersed in details. When writing, I tend to want to throw in everything but the kitchen sink and that can lead to some real deliberating. Deciding whether or not to leave some things in, throw some things out, whittle other things down–it can be a real dilemma for those of us who love …
Preserving Integrity
We love to travel throughout the South. We enjoy the history, the Southern hospitality, the warmth, the cooking, and the relaxed way of life. Several years ago, we had the opportunity to visit a few of the museums in Mobile, Alabama. One such museum was the “Oakleigh House.” The grandeur of this beautifully restored home was breathtaking, particularly the sitting room pictured above. …
Forest For the Trees
Sometimes, just like in “real life” my fictional characters can’t always see the forest for the trees. (I wonder why folks don’t just say because of all the trees, but I won’t hop down that bunny trail just now.) Have you ever watched a movie or television program only to become frustrated with a particular character? Frustrated that he or she can’t seem …
Angels Among Us
I’ve been talking a lot about “God things” lately, but it truly is a God thing how He sometimes uses the little things to get our attention. And it’s these little things that make an impression in a BIG way. Take, for example, this interesting phase of life I’m in. I’ve been writing as long as I can remember. I’ve been …
Springing Into Action
In life, do you ever just get those crystal-clear moments that “this” is exactly what you were created to do? I’ve been experiencing a lot of those moments lately. I can’t really explain why this happens; I feel it’s totally a “God thing.” Through Divine Intervention, I think God loves to just blow us right out of the water sometimes. Be it His …