Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

May you have a blessed Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year! I'll be taking a short blogging break until January 4, 2016.

Writers/Rhetorical/Indie/Saying Goodbye/Gingerbread

1.  Are you always wishing you could write like your favorite author, sing like your favorite performer, or have the success of an Olympic athlete? Linda Yezak guest posts at Everyone's Story about her struggle to embrace her writing.

2.  Margie Lawson guest posts at Writers in the Storm, about Using Rhetorical Devices. This gives some great instruction. Be forewarned, there's mild language in this post.

3.  For those of you contemplating Indie publishing, Traci Tyne Hilton discusses Four Things I Wish I'd Known Before Indie Publishing.

4.  Carol Garvin wrote about saying, "Goodbye," to favorite seasons and characters. Illustrated with her photos, she expressed that wistful feeling of moving on.

5.  Baking Christmas Cookies is a tradition in many households. For those with a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, it might seem like those days are over. Here's a recipe for gluten free Gingerbread Cookies. There are many others you can find with a simple Google Search.

Writers:  What are your favorite Rhetorical Devices?

Readers:  Does an unusual turn of phrase enhance your reading pleasure or distract you?

Photo Credit:  Lotus Head

Blog Break

Hi -

Due to computer issues, there will be no blog posts except one for Friday, 12/11, and one for Friday, 12/25, which were already scheduled. Hopefully, everything will be resolved by January 1st and posts will resume.

Thank you for your understanding.

Susan J. Reinhardt

Marketing/Voting/Tiny Baby/Confidence/Devo

1.  Katherine Grubb guest posts on Chip MacGregor.com about four no-fail ways to market your book and grow in confidence.

2.  With election season in full swing, U.S. voters are inundated with candidates seeking our support. Kathi Macias wrote an insightful blog post on the subject. I hope you'll check it out.

3.  Imagine giving birth to a baby at 25 weeks gestation. This little one was given no chance to survive, but she surprised everyone. The pictures are amazing. Read this heartwarming story of Naomi.

4. Gail Elaine Kittleson guest posts at The Write Conversation. She talks about finding the confidence to write.

5.  Dena Netherton wrote a devotional on Five Ways To Avoid Regret.

Writers:  How long did it take you to gain enough confidence to submit your work? Please share.

Readers:  Was there ever a time in your life where everyone declared there was no hope that a certain situation would turn out okay? Please share if you are able. I'll start. After my husband died, it looked like my job prospects were dim at best. Through much prayer and obedience to that still, small voice of the Lord, I eventually landed a great part-time position that went full-time two years later.

Photo Credit: Anonymous/Unknown