Friday Round-Up - #216

Phyllis Zimbler Miller guest posted at Joylene Nowell Butler's blog on the subject of producing an ebook. She gives some great tips in an easy-to-digest form.

Writers: Have you considered publishing an ebook? If you have already done so, please share your experience.

Readers: Do you own a Kindle or Nook? Again, please share.

Stretch Your Muscles

"Ouch." Yes, that's me suffering because I didn't stretch before and after my workouts. Oh, I got away with it for a season, but it caught up with me. My hamstrings shortened and affected my back. When one part is out of whack, it messes up other areas.

My quiet time with the Lord is like that stretching. It loosens muscles tightened by intense writing sessions. When I spend time with Him, my brain processes thoughts better. My mind doesn't cramp so easily when my characters get themselves into a jam. Creativity leaps and does a happy dance over my keyboard.

The chiropractor said things wouldn't go back to normal overnight. Yet, every day there's improvement. When I've been in a rush or just plain lazy about hanging out with the Lord, it takes effort to regain lost ground.

Writers:  Do you talk to the Lord about your writing? How does your quiet time strengthen you?

Readers: How do your values affect your reading choices?

Photo Credit: lundeholm

Friday Round-Up - #215

Laurel Garver, over at Laurel's Leaves, gives a great tip on how to fix long, dull descriptions.

Writers: How do you hand setting descriptions?

Readers: Do you skim over descriptions?

Have a blessed weekend!

Is Anyone NOT Writing a Book?

Whether it's Christian TV or regular TV, all the guests seem to be promoting a book. From How to Lose 40 Pounds in a Week to 10 Steps to a Deeper Walk With God (both titles I made up), it's like one long-running infomercial.

Are people writing because of:

1) A bad economy?

2) A me-to, let me jump on the bandwagon mentality?

3) Easy access to training via Websites/Blogs?

4) A desire to leave a legacy?

5) A passion for a cause?

6) They feel called of God to write on a particular subject?

7) A combination of the above or something else?

Writers: Why do you write? We're fond of talking about inciting moments in fiction. What was your inciting incident that catapulted you into the writing arena?

Readers: Do you get overwhelmed with the number of books out there? How do you decide what books you'll read and what books you'll pass on?

I'm choosey about what I read. I want material that's wholesome, has a Christian worldview, and a great story.

Photo:  lusi

Friday Round-Up - #214

Michael Ehret talks about goal setting for the organizationally challenged. Confidence is built one small success at a time.


Writers:  What kind of intermediate goals have you set for your writing journey?

Readers: This can apply to other facets of life, but what goals have you set for reading? Will you try a new genre this year or several new authors? Please share.

Photo credit:  4seasons

Floating Along

Growing up, we had a small pool in the backyard. A tube provided lots of daydreaming possibilities. I would imagine myself arriving on a tiny island or as a grown-up with a family of my own. Maybe I'd be a Candy Striper, volunteering in a hospital or become a nurse.

Once I got out of the pool, I put feet to my dreams. I investigated hospitals with Candy Striper programs, but the only one was too far away from my house. After research into the nursing profession, my interest waned. 

Some of our dreams have little substance. They're passing fancies that flit into our minds like a butterfly and then float away. Others imbed themselves in our hearts and never let go.

Like writing.

Like ministry.

Like family.

Have you put feet to your dreams and explored whether they're a flighty idea or a God-breathed pathway?

Writers: What were some of your ideas that didn't pan out? How did you decide they weren't for you?

Readers: How did you find your life path?

Friday Round-Up - #213

Janice Hardy guest posts at the Bookshelf Muse. She gives examples on how to smooth the flow of your prose.

Writers: Do your paragraphs sound like lists? How do you detect the problem and fix it?

Readers: Do you prefer books written in first person or third person?


Have a blessed weekend!

Broken Habits

I removed my glasses and rubbed my eyes. Daily tasks called for my attention, and my mind re-focused.

Hours later, I sat in the parking lot at work. I went through my ritual of putting away my driving glasses and saw the case to my reading glasses gaping at me. How had I missed the clues before leaving home? My heart sank. No reading glasses equal an inability to perform my job. I called my boss and retraced my steps.

They were right where I left them: on top of my Bible. Somehow I'd broken with my habit of returning them to their rightful place.

Distraction is my enemy in the early morning hours. I'm accustomed to operating on auto-pilot for repetitive tasks, while my mind is occupied with important issues like world peace. If I miss a step in the regular sequence, I'm sunk. The whole routine can turn into a nightmare of forgotten glasses, inside out socks, and lunches sitting on the counter.

My writing life functions in much the same way. Turning on the lamp, firing up the computer, and gathering my papers are familiar procedures. Alas, a stray note or a telephone call can sidetrack me and knock out my best intentions.

While auto-pilot works great on optimum days, a little extra attention doesn't hurt.

Writers: How do you keep your writing time from slipping away unnoticed?

Readers: Do you have automatic routines? How do you keep them from spinning out of control?

Photo Credit:  lgowerf

On My Nightstand - Band of Sisters by Cathy Gohlke

 

When Maureen O'Reilly's mother dies, her aunt insists she take her sister and move to America. A letter from an old friend of their father promises a start in the new world. 

Her hopes are dashed when she discovers that the old friend has died, and the family disavows any knowledge of the promise. Olivia Wakefield, the daughter, decides to honor her father's commitment even though her family disapproves.

Maureen finds a job at a high-class department store. Women begin disappearing, and she wonders if she hasn't stepped from the proverbial frying pan into the fire. When several people offer their assistance, her trust issues make it difficult to accept.

Cathy Gohlke hits the target with her latest book. She has a way of putting a face to historical issues. Intricate family and friend relationships drive the story forward, and the decisions made can open the doors to love or slam them shut forever.

The author has a wonderful talent for creating realistic characters and situations. Their actions were always understandable even when I groaned at some of their choices.

I highly recommend this panoramic view of an female immigrant's life in the big city. If you want to see first-class writing, read Cathy's novels.

Disclaimer: The author provided an Advanced Reader Copy. As always, the opinions expressed are completely mine, and I received no payment for this review.

 

Hanging Curtains

Remember the old Peanuts line: Happiness is a Warm Puppy? Lace curtains put a smile on my face. I'm a sucker for the delicate designs, the fresh white color, and the old-world charm.

Unfortunately, the putting-up-curtains gene didn't come with the I-love-decorating gene. Getting on step ladders, stretching, and getting the edges of curtain rods to hook onto microscopic brackets is not only maddening, but downright dangerous.

My latest stint with taking down draperies, washing, ironing, and re-hanging them almost ended in disaster. The valance on the bathroom window required a major stretch from the top of the step ladder. I felt myself wobbling, but thank God, I was able to regain my balance. That's when I called for reinforcements, a.k.a., my neighbor.

With everything back in order and no broken bones, I mulled over the experience. My writing journey can mimic certain aspects of the dreaded curtain adventures.

1) No matter how I stretch to attain a skill level, there are times when I must seek expert advice. This comes in the form of critique partners, craft books, and asking lots of questions.

2) My early tries with window coverings were ignorance is bliss ventures. When I brought my fledgling fiction attempt to a writers conference and presented it, I had no idea what I was doing. Thanks to kind writers and editors, they showed me how I could improve my novel.

With much trial and error, my knowledge base expanded on both fronts. Everything, whether it's curtains or novels, has a learning curve.

3) The end result brings much satisfaction. New or freshly laundered curtains give the room a boost, and a well-written article or novel gives me that same "ahhh" moment.

Writers and Readers: Finish this line: Happiness is...   Then explain why. Let's have some fun today!

Photo Credit: humeniuk

On My Kindle - Angel Sister by Ann H. Gabhart

Kate Reece Merritt takes care of everyone: her sisters, her mother, and even her father. Yet when the young teen finds an abandoned child on the church steps, her caregiving moves to a whole new level. Little Lorena Birdsong adores Kate and believes she's an angel.

I loved this sweet story! Ann H. Gabhart captures every nuance in the complicated relationships between family members and townspeople. Her characters draw you in and capture your heart.

If you gravitate toward character-driven fiction, you'll find much satisfaction in this novel. I'm glad I picked up Angel Sister and discovered another author to add to my favorites list.

Writers: Have you written children into your novel? What are some of the steps you take to make them authentic?

Readers: Do you like books that delve into the hearts and minds of characters or do you find them tedious? Why?

Have a blessed weekend, and Happy Birthday to my dear Mom!

Small Beginnings

My blogging friend, Carol, inspired me with her post about making a difference. I hope you'll visit her and check it out.

Do you ever wonder if your writing or blogging makes an impact on anyone? I do. Carol's post reminded me not to despise small beginnings. The young woman she wrote about collected $164 in pennies when she first began fund raising. Little by little, the amount grew until it's now in the millions. She inspired others to join in her efforts.

Our voices may be a whisper in cyberspace or print, but someone is listening. As that person catches the vision and runs with it, the sound amplifies. We'll never know the true extent of our influence until we reach our heavenly home.

Writers: How do you maintain a healthy perspective on your writing journey?

Readers: Has a devotional, blog post, or book encouraged you to press on through a difficult situation? Please share.

I'll go first, speaking from a reader's perspective. After my husband died, I read a book where one of the characters dealt with grief. The author handled the subject and brought much comfort to my aching heart.

Photo credit: aquima

On My Nightstand - Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen

 

There's no grace for Charlotte Lamb when she makes a disastrous choice. She leaves home and family for London's Milkweed Manor to hide her secret.

The desperation of the other women opens her eyes to unpleasant realities, and marks her life forever. Like them, she's faced with situations that threaten to rip her heart in two. Can she put aside her own desires to protect her loved ones?

When a former suitor shows up at the Manor, she's terrified. He treats her with respect, and she soon discovers the pain he carries.

While this was Julie's debut novel, I missed it. Now, I fully appreciate her talent. Anyone who writes such a stunning first book has a bright future in publishing. Her thorough research, engaging characters, and amazing ending made this a memorable reading experience.

Julie Klassen = automatic purchase for me. Don't miss this author's work.

Give Me A Breather

A few weeks ago, I announced a scheduling change. I'm now blogging twice a week, Monday and Friday, instead of three times a week.

While I enjoy visiting blogs, the numbers are mind boggling. There's no way I can go to a blog every day and comment. I appreciate bloggers, who give me a breather by their sensitivity to my time constraints.

Shorter posts also endear me to a blogger. I can't stay on a blog for 20 minutes. There are exceptions to this rule. For example:

1) An author interview. Still, we can ease the suffocation by breaking up a long interview into two or three parts.

2) An award post that includes fun questions. While it's tempting to write a mini-autobiography, I make a conscious effort to keep my answers short and snappy.

3) A guest post. When arranging guest posts, I always give a word count requirement. I don't want readers to walk away because they're overwhelmed by the length of a piece. I will stretch to 500 words, but that's it. If the topic requires greater exploration, I'll split it into two parts.

Bloggers: What are some of the guidelines you use to keep your blog reader friendly?

Readers of Blogs: What sends you over the edge with reading blogs? The length? Topics that don't resonate with you? Please share.

Photo credit: sxeyetisxe

Winner of Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing

Congratulations to:

                                           RHONDA SCHROCK!

Please send me your snail mail address, and I'll forward it to Paula Rose Michelson.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway.