I don't think there's a cookie cutter lifestyle to apply to all writers. It would be like saying all stay-at-home moms are great cooks or fantastic at keeping their homes spotlessly clean. With that said, I do think when we're wrapped up in a story we're writing we could allow it to take over our life if we were to let it. Writing seems to come to me in waves. When I'm hot and in the zone, so to speak, all I want to do is write. I don't want to watch TV or movies. I don't want to do any of my … [Read more...]
Day 19: The Five Characteristics of Good Writing
When I saw today's topic, I was kind of excited to read what another writer thought of as her five best characteristics to writing. I was surprised to find out she didn't even list one. Instead, she went on to talk about always being prepared and the fact there are no cut and dried answers when it comes to writing. Just in the short time I've been writing, I've been told many different things that should or shouldn't be done when you write. For example, using the words 'was', 'were', and … [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 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 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 Ava Pennington
Please welcome this weeks guest Ava Pennington for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? Step By Step I dreamed of writing for years, but never considered publication a realistic goal. My one success was a tribute to my mother published in a human interest column in a local newspaper. I wasn’t paid, but it encouraged me that someone thought enough of my writing to publish it commercially. Writing took a back seat when I began … [Read more...]
The Journey with Sally Bradley, Part 1 of 2
Please welcome this weeks guest Sally Bradley for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? in a two-part series. The first half having posted today. On Sunday, October 13, 2013, Part 2 posted. I hope you will enjoy her journey as much I have. One of the most amazing things about God is that He is well able to take true disasters in our life and bring good from them. Any Christian writer certainly knows this. My writing journey began a … [Read more...]
The Journey with Terri Main
Please welcome this weeks guest Terri Main for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? When I was 18, and recently published, I knelt at the altar one night after church. My knees still worked back then. Now, when I kneel, it's a matter of faith that I'll be able to stand up again. I laid my new pen, the one given to my by my parents as a graduation gift, on the altar and pledged myself to write for God. That was 43 years ago, and I have … [Read more...]
The Journey with Jean Davis
Please welcome this weeks guest Jean Davis for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? Ben cheats. I was at a meeting of a Christian writers’ group a few years ago. We’d been given a writing prompt with fifteen minutes to write. I didn’t want to read out loud the drivel I’d come up with. But when it was Ben’s turn, he received accolades. “That’s great, Ben! You wrote that just now?” someone asked. “How did you do that? Your piece … [Read more...]
Finding Something Interesting This Evening Online
As I sat here writing tonight and then went searching for some graphics, I came across an interesting one that had this on it: When To Shelve the Book You're Writing. Well, that little bit piqued my interest so I click on the graphic and it took me to this blog post: samanthaboyette.com/when-to-shelve-the-book-youre-writing. What this woman had to say was quite interesting. I know in the book I've been writing, or trying to write, every once in a while I think maybe I should move onto a new … [Read more...]
