Hugs/Write Boldly/Homeless/Legacy/Turkey Recipes

1.  Respected writing teacher, Margie Lawson, posts at Writers in the Storm about, "Fresh Writing Sells: Make Hugs Carry Power." A simple hug can turn into a powerful statement that grabs the reader. Please note this isn't a Christian website, but there are only minor things that might make you wince.

2.  Heather Webb posts at Writer Unboxed on, "Writing Boldly, Without Fear." Are you afraid to give your character flaws?

3.  WND reports on Kentucky's law that makes it illegal for a ministry to help the homeless.

4. Harry McLaughlin posted on The Write Conversation about what kind of legacy are we leaving. He's not only speaking to writers but everyone.

5.  Do you have a pressure cooker? With Thanksgiving approaching, I thought you might be interested in some turkey recipes. I found some on Pinterest and decided to share the website, Berry and Maple, with you.

Writers: Which writing link interested you the most?

Readers:  Do you ever check out the writing links? What information did you find surprising?

Photo Credit:  A Syed

First 500 Pages/Prevent Errors/Divorce Shocker/Devo/Pressure Cooking

1.  Bill Ferris, at Writer Unboxed, gives tips on how to Nail Your Novel's First 500 Pages. Think about the agent or editor with a stack of proposals. If you don't grab their attention in the beginning, it's an instant rejection.

2.  Zoe M. McCarthy is a favorite writing blogger. In this post, she gives "4 Ways to Prevent Errors From Invading Your Books."

3. Breaking Christian News shares "Divorce Statistic Shocker." It's not as bad as we've been led to believe.

4. Audrey Frank posts at The Write Conversation about the opposition we face when obeying God's direction. It's related to the writing life, but can be applied to any situation we face.

5.  I'm enjoying my new Crock Pot Express Multi-Cooker (similar to Instapot). Yesterday, I made a pot roast and herbed carrots. Here's the link for Home Pressure Cooking that I discovered on Pinterest. This post gives recipes for egg bite molds.

Writers:  How do you approach your novel's critical beginning?

Readers:  What is a big turn-off when reading the first few pages of a book? Mine? I read a story which introduced at least 10 characters in the first couple of pages. While I usually will give a book some time to get moving, this was too much for me.

Photo Credit:  Constantin Jurcut

Writer/Wow on the Page/Steelers' Shazier/Devo/Dairy Substitutions

1.  Gina Conroy asks, "How Can You Tell If You're a Writer?" This journey takes time, patience, and commitment. If you're struggling with doubt, this article may help you get past it.

2.  Margie Lawson guest posts at Writers in the Storm on, "Putting Wow on the Page." She gives great examples and shows why and how they work.

3.  Breaking Christian News reports on the comeback of Pittsburgh Steelers' Ryan Shazier. He credits God with his recovery, but the media has censored his testimony.

4.  Beth K. Vogt, at The Write Conversation, talks about See The Small Joys. Don't miss this uplifting post.

5.  So many people deal with sensitivity to dairy products (including me). I recently found this Dairy Substitution Guide on Pinterest. Even if you're not lactose intolerant, most likely you know someone who is.

Writers:  Do you ever struggle with writer's doubt? Please share how you deal with it.

Readers:  I was surprised that so many people are lactose intolerant. Where do you go for information on recipes that deal with a variety of food allergies? Please share.

Photo Credit:  David Siqueira

Meaningful Punch/Former Plotter/Chip and Joanna Gaines/Finding Daddy/Cookies!

1.  Zoe M. McCarthy talks about ending paragraphs with a meaningful punch. Do your paragraphs excite the reader and urge them to turn the page?

2.  It cheered me to see a former plotter extol the virtues of pantsing (going with the flow of story without a rigid outline). Anna Elliott gives some tips on how to make the process easier, which I'm going to apply to my next book.

3.  I hope you enjoy this heartwarming story as much as I did. Chip and Joanna Gaines, stars of the hit show, Fixer Upper, made an elderly woman's day.

4.  Adelee Russell shares the stories she used to tell herself. Don't miss this real-life testimony of finding a father's love.

5.  We're at that point in the year when the yearning for past traditions kicks in bigtime. Cookie baking always triggers happy memories of Mom, Grandma, and I creating lots of yummy confections. Check out the Hershey website and the mouth-watering variety of cookie recipes.

Writers:  How do you keep paragraph endings moving the story forward? I sometimes use a statement that raises story questions or reveals some hidden thought process.

Readers:  During this time of the year, do you search for inspirational stories like the one about Chip and Joanna Gaines? Please share the type of books you like to read during specific seasons whether it's Christmas or some other holiday.

Photo Credit:  Iolela

Journaling/Obstacle?/Pro-Life/Writer Quote/Recipes

1.  Positive Writer continues with a post on Creative Journaling. It's geared toward novel writers, but I can see how it would be valuable to non-fiction writers. Readers: How about experimenting with this to help you write book reviews or just for fun?

2.  As writers, we've come up against detours toward publication. Kathryn Craft guest blogs at Writers in The Storm and examines the question, "Obstacle or Opportunity." It made me look at some non-writing offers in a different way.

3.   Missouri's governor recently signed a sweeping pro-life bill into law. One feature is that pregnancy centers will not be forced to counsel about abortion. Read the entire article at Christian Headlines.

4.   Edie Melson, at The Write Conversation, posted a Nathaniel Hawthorne quote for writers.

5.  Do you want some new recipes for the holidays? Why not give some of these a test run? Check out My Incredible Recipes.

Writers:  How do you handle opportunities that may not fit into your writer goals at this time, but could reap dividends down the road?

Readers:  What did you think of the quote for writers? Do you agree or disagree?

Photo Credit:  Justine FG

Stranger Danger/Part-Time/Dead Sea Scrolls/Devo/Recipe

1.  Orly Konig-Lopez posts at Writers in the Storm about Stranger Danger. This refers to your characters' likes and dislikes, experiences, etc. becoming foggy in your mind after finishing the manuscript. She gives tips on how to avoid key pieces of information.

2.  Balancing your writing, holding a full-time job, and family commitments is beyond tough. Jerry B. Jenkins tells how he managed before he quit his day job, as well as guidelines on when to pull the plug.

3.  More Dead Sea Scrolls? Breaking Christian News gives the latest information.

4.  Lynn Simpson invites Joy to her blog, a member of her writers group. She talks about submitting to God's plan for our lives. Yeah, I remember a time when I faced a major decision in this area. It's a lesson that bears repeating.

5.  Recipe Time! These Candied Almonds look delicious. Be warned - they're not a diet food. :)

Okay, I'm feeling a twinge of guilt here. How about a low-carb, ketogenic, diabetic-friendly fudge? Check this out.

Writers:  How do you make time to write?

Readers:  Does archaeology in relation to the Bible interest you? Please share.

Photo Credit:  Saivann

Treading Water/Time Management/Revival/Recipe/Shopping

 

1.         Heather Webb's article, at Writer Unboxed, spoke to my current situation. I'm between publishing contracts, spent the summer nursing a broken wrist, and editing my latest novel. Are you in a season where you feel like you're treading water? Check out this post.

 

2.         Writing, holding a full-time job, caregiving, and ministry responsibilities are my life. When I saw Sandra Ardoin interviewed author Amy Clipston on the subject, I jumped over there to see if I could get some tips.

 

3.         There's revival in Iran despite persecution. While believers cannot meet together, the internet has provided a way for them to connect. Check out the story here.

 

4.         There's a chill in the air, and our thoughts turn to pumpkin recipes. I found these low-fat pumpkin/cranberry muffins that take only 35 minutes to make.

 

5.         When the seasons change, the need to pick up some new clothes can  be tough on the budget. Check out these tips on shopping clearance sales from Money Crashers.

 

Writers:  Are you making progress in your writing or do you feel like you're treading water? Please share.

 

Readers:  Do you shop clearance sales? If you have any tips, please share.

Photo Credit:  Micah Burke

Writing Tips/Negative to Positive/Supreme Court/Recipe/Devo

1.         Have you ever wondered if it's okay to use trademarked names in your writing? Check out this article on Daily Writing Tips.

2.         A bad review - sooner or later we all get one. Molly Jo Realy guest posts at The Write Conversation and shares how she turned a negative into a positive.

3.         Our religious freedom is in danger. See this article on Christian pharmacy case being refused by the Supreme Court.

4.         I saw this yummy-looking recipe and thought you might like it - Parmesan Garlic Vegetables.

5.         Blogger Buddy, Rhonda Schrock, delivers a powerful devotional on handling envy.

Writers:  Have you used brand names in your writing? Please share.

Readers:  How do you handle the green-eyed monster?

Photo Credit:  Ashley Wilkinson

Blogging Smarter/Subsidiary Rights/God's Not Dead/Social Media/Recipes

1.  Jennifer Slattery guest posts at The Write Conversation on Blogging Smarter by Narrowing Your Scope. If you're already blogging as a fiction writer but want to eventually write non-fiction (or vice versa), how do you build another platform by maintaining the one you've already established?

2. Susan Spann guest posts at Writers in the Storm with Part 2 addressing Subsidiary Rights. Now this may seem like a dull subject, but it's essential when dealing with publishing contracts. What you don't know can cost you big time. I suggest bookmarking this article for future reference.

3.  Christianheadlines.com reports on cast members of God's Not Dead speaking out about their faith.

4.  Social Media can eat up a ton of time. Edie Melson, at The Write Conversation, gives 7 Reasons Your Social Media Life Is Busier Than It Should Be.

5.  Jeanette Levellie shared some easy recipes (only 4 ingredients) on her blog around Easter. I thought you might enjoy them.

Writers:  How do you keep social media from eating up all your time?

Readers:  Have you seen any of the recent faith-based movies like God's Not Dead, The War Room, or Risen? Please share.

Photo Credit:  Svilen Mileve

Windows 10/Non-Fiction/Love/Turkey/Alphabet

1.  All those with Windows 7 and 8 have been prompted to install Windows 10 for free. Hmm, Microsoft giving away an operating system for free? Here's an article about the move toward having MS peering over your shoulder every time you're on the Internet.

2.  I realize that not all writers are into fiction. The Write Conversation had a post on picking the right story. Items covered:  Does the story I'm using to illustrate a point relate well with my topic? Does the story have the same mood as the rest of my writing? Is the story believable?

3.  Let's face it, in the publishing business marketing is a fact of life. How do we get past our discomfort with it and learn to embrace the process? Kathryn Craft, at Writers in The Storm, talks about how love sells books. Yes, love!

4.  Turkey is the star of Thanksgiving Dinner. Check out their recipes for some mouth-watering ideas.

5.  Marja Meijers, at Fresh Insights On Ancient Truths, is going through a Bible Alphabet. She's up to the letter, "G." 

Non-Fiction Writers: How do pick your topics?

Readers:  Have you downloaded Windows 10? Please share your experience with the browser.

Photo Credit:  Maria Rodrigues