Many years ago, there used to be a commercial with a famous tagline. It was “Calgon, take me away!” I think it always centered around a woman soaking in a soothing bubble bath surrounded by a sea of–what else–bubbles! For a long time, I’d hear people actually quoting that commercial at the end of a particularly stressful day. It was a …
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. …
Monday Madness
If you write, do you ever find yourself turning off your words? I mean, really? If you’re able to do that, then I salute you! For me, I don’t know that the words ever “turn off.” I’ve gotten better about keeping things in their proper perspective, and I am learning to compartmentalize a wee bit better. That’s not to say that …
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 …
Courting Unique
When I first began polishing my book proposal toward the completion of my manuscript, I must have edited and re-edited a dozen or more times. I guess this is normal. I mean it never really occurred to me to leave it just as it was. These were the pages that would be a deciding factor in whether or not my entire manuscript would be requested …
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 …
Treading Water
Sometimes, do you ever just get tired of treading water? Of keeping your head above the onslaught of ocean waves lapping at your chin? Over the years, I’ve found that it’s much easier to just dive in and take a swim. Occasionally, I’ll make mistakes or bungle something, but I’ve not drown yet! That’s how it is with anything we want to be successful …