Let me just say that of all the gifts God has bestowed upon me, patience isn't one of them. I might be good at things like scrapbooking, crocheting, cross stitching, computers, and even writing, but I have such a low threshold for being patient. Don't get me wrong, man do I wish it was better. I have come to accept this lack of quality as it is. It's something I have to work on on a day in and day out basis. I remember the day I found out I was pregnant with Mari. It was June 12, 1999, only … [Read more...]
The Journey with Lena Nelson Dooley
Please welcome this weeks guest Lena Nelson Dooley for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? God in My Writing Journey I can’t really tell all He has done, because it would fill more than a month’s worth of blogs. He has been ever-present in all my writing journey. He’s opened a number of doors that probably wouldn’t have been opened without Him. I’ll mention a few. Joyce Hart, of Hartline Literary Agency, and I met at the first American … [Read more...]
Day 11: Racing Hearts and Churning Stomachs
I think in life there are so many things that can make our hearts begin to race rapidly and our stomachs to do flip-flops all over the place. A new job. The first day of a new school year. Going on a first date. Or even standing up in front of a room of people getting ready to talk. And the list goes on. Nervous energy can either root us to the ground stopping any forward momentum or it can propel us forward giving us the courage we need. Sharing our writing with others is much in the same … [Read more...]
Day 10: Working Out
When I first glanced at the topic I thought about how I've been trying to work out on a daily basis by walking anywhere from a half hour to as long as 2 1/2 to 3 hours each day. It seems like most people who haven't worked out in a while dread starting a new exercise routine. When you first start out the body tends to become sore from the new way it's being used. But once you've gone a few times the body becomes accustomed to this and you actually begin to love how you feel after a … [Read more...]
Day 9: Getting Permission
I wasn't sure what I'd write about when I first saw the topic. In the book it talked about "But from grade school to college, most students would tell him that they didn’t have permission to write about themselves; the teachers gave them the subjects to write about. Established writers would tell him they had to write what editors wanted. If this has a familiar ring to you, or if you feel you need permission to write about yourself or whatever you need to write about, I give you permission. Now … [Read more...]
Day 8: The Voice that Chirps and Chirps
We all have those little voices inside our head. Sometimes it's just one. Sometimes negative. Sometimes positive. And sometimes they even go to war with each other. Kind of like the character Kronk in Disney's movie "The Emperor's New Groove". Whenever he's about to do something he shouldn't, an angel with a halo clothed in white appears on his left shoulder and a guy who seems to appear as a devil with horns and a pitchfork dressed in red pops up on his other shoulder. One represents good. The … [Read more...]
Day 7: Jumping Off
I have to laugh. Talk about something hitting home. I have been struggling to get back into my writing. I have a completed first draft of my fiction novel but have been unmotivated to just sit down and edit it. I have several story ideas, that as soon as they pop into my brain, I immediately write them down. Everyone I talk to tells me to just jump in and do it. Yet, I don't no matter how much I should. I could come up with a million excuses, or a better way to say it would be … [Read more...]
Day 6: Daring to Tell
I wonder how many closet writers there are because they're scared to get out of their comfort zone, daring to tell what's rolling around in their brains. Fear can be a great force within ourselves. It can stop us from doing so many things, things even God may want us to do. We have to remember that God will give us the strength we need to do things according to His plan. In our own human form we are weak and vulnerable. It is through Him that He gives an invisible shield of … [Read more...]
The Journey with Carole Brown
Please welcome this weeks guest Carole Brown for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? To Paraphrase Shakespeare . . . To be (a writer) or not to be (a writer). 2012 started out with determination to become published. I was already going through a discouragement period, and I felt little change as the months passed. Tidbits of things should have given me a hint that change was in the air. Or maybe better said, in my … [Read more...]
What I’d wish for if I had more time each day
What if we had all the time in the world each and everyday to do whatever we wanted. Well, I can't just name one thing as there are so many I'd love to be able to do all the time. 1. Spending quality time with my family. I think this goes without saying. :D 2. I'd love to be able to read as much as I want when I wanted to several hours throughout the day. Reading for pleasure. Reading to improve my writing. Reading nonfiction. I love to read. 3. I'd love to be able to have as much time as I … [Read more...]