My Writing Journey - First Came Reading - Part 1

Unlike some authors, I didn't come from my mother with pen and paper in hand, spouting stories. Writing slipped into my everyday life almost unnoticed and hid if I caught a glimpse of her in my mirror.

When I was in elementary school, writing was the furthest thing from my mind. The learning curve for reading was like climbing Mt. Everest. Thankfully, three awesome teachers provided the tools I needed to master this skill.

My parents, who were strong believers, started taking me to midweek service. The Word of God and much prayer on their part got me through this difficult period in my education.

One day, everything clicked. Letters and words made sense, and I was off and running.

Writers:  When did you first develop an interest in writing? Did you face any unusual challenges?

Readers:  How did your love of reading begin? Please share.

Photo Credit:  cieleke

Plotting/Devo/Chuckles/Cookies/Marketing

1.  For those writers who want to take a shot at plotting (not me, thank you very much), Wendy Paine Miller gives some pointers on the process.

2.  Devotional Time: Edie Melson, at The Write Conversation, asks, "Am I carrying baggage or luggage?"

3.  A chuckle for you compliments of Linda O'Connell, at Write From The Heart.

4.  Jessica Nelson guest posts at Craftie Ladies of Love Inspired. "No Chocolate Chip Cookies? What?!?!

5.  Zoe M. McCarthy gives 32 Marketing Ideas to Promote Your Book.

Writers:     Are you a plotter or a pantser? Have you every tried a plotting method? Please share.

Readers:  Which link was your favorite this week and why? What kind of links do you prefer?

Photo Credit:  Daino_16

Make "Someday" Today!

Once people discover I'm a published author, they'll often make statements like, "I'm going to write a book someday." I've learned a thing or two over the years:

1.  It takes a quality decision to write a book. I can talk about it for a decade, but unless I take steps to make that dream a reality, it will never happen.

2.  We've all heard it:  Writers write. We can hang out at writing blogs, hobnob with authors, go to conferences, but that won't make us a writer. It takes sitting down, opening a document, and working on a project.

3.  If we wait until we have time, we'll never write. We must MAKE TIME to write. This may mean giving up or curtailing a favorite hobby. When writing became a priority for me, I had to limit the time I spent crocheting and doing crafts.

When I first started, I was working with my husband in a small business. We talked and decided that part of Wednesday would be my writing time. No matter how much time we set aside, consistency is critical. That time was blocked off on my calendar, and my husband held me accountable.

Getting into a habit takes time: Make "someday" today!

Writers:  Did you have a moment when you decided writing was something you would pursue? Please share.

Readers:  These principles apply to many areas of life. When did you stop dabbling in an area and get serious about a project?

Photo Credit:  O_M

Social Media/Silenced/Characters/Devo/Questions

1.  Are you on Pinterest? Working Writers has an article on how to get more out of this Social Media site.

2.  Atlanta, Georgia's mayor has declared that if employees have different beliefs than those of the city, they must check their beliefs at the door. This is one of the many attacks on free speech and endanger all of us, both Christians and non-Christians alike.

3.  Marian Merritt guest posts on Zoe M. McCarthy's blog. She gives 5 easy tips on how writers can deepen their characterization.

4.  Devotional Time:  MaryAnn Diorio shares her teaching on Believing is Seeing.

5.  Karen Lange, at Write Now, asks some questions that can enrich our writing.

Writers:  What are some of the questions you ask when working on a manuscript?

Readers:  Are you on Pinterest? What kind of pins do you enjoy?

Photo Credit: mst_b

A Temporary Pause in My Writing Journey

Please note that my books, The Moses Conspiracy, The Scent of Fear, and the Christmas Wish, are temporarily unavailable for purchase. I am moving on to another publisher, and I will let you know when they become available again.

I am excited for the future of my writing and look forward to new opportunities. In the meantime, I will still be on social media and celebrating your successes. Thanks so much for your support!

Writing Crutches/Twitter/Spying/House Cleaning

1.  Blogging Bistro had an article about Google penalizing websites that were not mobile friendly. Not being the techy sort, I got lost in some of the jargon. However, I thought some of you might benefit from this information.

2.  Cindy Sproles guest posts at The Write Conversation on the subject to throwing away your writing crutches. Now, doesn't that sound intriguing?

3.  Edie Melson, at The Write Conversation, does her best to convince us that Tweeting and Writers were meant for each other. She gives examples of how to construct a tweet using hashtags. I may have to print this one out.

4.  World Net Daily reports that a U.S. city is spying on churches in its community an demanding they get licenses.

5.  Jeanette Levellie, at Hope Splashes, shares how she handled the drudgery of house cleaning (almost without pain).

Writers:  What do you think of Twitter? Please share.

Readers:  It's your turn to share your cleaning secrets. Ready, set, go!

Photo Credit: cx ed

Warned! Now what?

 

In the Old Testament the watchman had an important job. He kept an eye out for invading armies. If he saw one approaching, he sounded the alarm, so the citizens would not be taken by surprise.

Many are warning about the conditions here in America. You don't have to be a prophet to read the signs of the times. Yet, it's one thing to see approaching danger and another to take action. Wringing our hands or taking a fatalistic attitude won't accomplish anything.

Kingdom Intercessors United is calling the Church to prayer. While it's important to participate in our government by voting, contacting our representatives, etc., that's only one small part of protecting our freedoms.

It's time for united, concentrated prayer. Here is a prayer for our nation KIU has provided that you can use in your daily devotions:

According to Psalm 91, I confess that America dwells in the secret place of the Most High and we as a nation abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Lord, You are our refuge and our fortress, our God, in You do we trust. We trust you God to protect this nation from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. You shall cover us with Your feathers, and under Your wings we will take refuge. May the Word of God and the Name of Jesus be this nation's shield and buckler. We will not be afraid of the terror by night nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of any destruction that the enemy may plot, for anything that is hidden will be revealed to our national security.

I confess that no evil will befall this nation; neither shall any plague come near or within our borders. Heavenly Father, as an intercessor, I give your angels charge over this land. As a nation, may we set our love upon Jesus, call upon Jesus, and honor Jesus.

I also pray that the decisions made by our leaders would be divinely directed by you; therefore, the leaders would be men and women of discernment, understanding and knowledge so that the stability of America will continue. I pray that the righteous would be in authority so that the people in our land can rejoice and live in peace. Amen.

Writers and Readers:  Do you pray for our nation on a daily basis? What are your thoughts on the subject? 

Note: Please no theological critiques. We're only interested in praying for the nation.

Photo Credit: coloniera2

Powerful Words/Super Blogger/Avoiding Snack Attacks

1.  Zoe M. McCarthy gives tips on how your words can possess power. As writers, we are not only trying to give our readers facts, but to paint word pictures that evoke emotion.

2.  Chad R. Allen did an interview with super blogger Jonathan Milligan. I particularly liked his blog template and how he keeps the ideas flowing.

3.  World Net Daily reports on disturbing medical experimentation with cells from aborted babies.

4.  Jeff Goins, at Goinswriter, talks about the process of finding your calling in life. I thought he did a great job giving expression to what is often viewed as a difficult process.

5.  Susan, at Writing Straight from the Heart, shares how she averted a snack attack. :)

Writers:  Do you consider your writing a calling or a profession? Please share.

Readers:  What's your favorite way to avoid a "snack attack?"

Photo Credit:  plattmuck

On My Nightstand - The Mulligan by Terri Tiffany

This book focuses on a young woman, Bobbi, determined to fix the relationships in her family by taking up the dream of her injured twin brother. The author does a great job showing character growth and kept the story moving forward.

I was impressed with her use of first person. It's a tough assignment for any writer, but Terri handled it like the pro she is. I'm not a fan of golf, but she kept me turning pages. Since I have limited reading time (who doesn't these days?), I couldn't read it in one sitting. Oh, but I wanted to and couldn't wait to get back to the story.

Way to go, Terri! Be sure to check out The Mulligan on Amazon.

My Rating: 5 Stars

Disclaimer: Neither the author nor the publisher provided this book or gave any payment for this review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Writers: Have you ever written anything in first person? Please share your experience.

Readers: Do you like books written in first person (totally in the main character's point of view)? Please share.

The Insecure Writer

It seems there's a Facebook group for everything out there. One of them caught my attention when a friend highlighted it on her blog: Insecure Writers.

Whether you're pre-published or published, there are plenty of questions rattling around your brain:

Pre-published

1.  Am I really a writer?

2.  Is what I'm writing good enough?

3.  Will anyone want to read what I write?

Published

1.  Can I handle the marketing and still find time to write?

2.  What does it mean when readers are silent?

3.  Will I be able to write another book or am I a one-book wonder?

In the next few Monday posts, we'll take a look at some of these questions and hopefully discuss them in the comments.

Writers:  What are some of the things that concern you (pre-published or published)?

Readers:  What does it mean when you're silent about a book you've read? Does it automatically mean you didn't like it?

Photo Credit: yoshiako

Tool Chest/Christianity/Devotional

1.  Dena Netherton, at My Father's World, My Father's Words, gives 7 Ways to Build Your Tool Chest. This is great advice for both writers and non-writers.

2.  Pamela Christian always writes unique blog posts on what Christianity is all about. She tackles the subject, "Distinctions Unique to Christianity," in her latest post.

3.  Susan Panzica posted this devotional for Presidents' Day. (Okay, I'm a little late to the party here, but I thought she made some excellent observations.)

Writers:  We've often talked about ways to prime the creative pump. What non-writing activity gets your ideas flowing?

Readers:  Do books (other than the Bible) inspire/influence your daily life? Please share.

Philippians 4:19

Photo Credit:  vierdrie

What Bugs Me About Reviewing Books?

Reading is one of my favorite activities. It's not unusual for me to have 2-3 books going at the same time.

I also enjoy recommending books, but the rating system of stars leaves much to be desired. While I may enjoy the story, perhaps certain aspects of a book don't sit well with me. For example: I've read stories that I loved, but they had some technical/formatting/writing issues.

So...I propose that we have a two-tier system for reviews like the ice skating world. They rate skaters on their technical ability and then on their artistry.

Writers and Readers:  What do you think of my idea? Should I incorporate this into my book recommendations/reviews here on the blog?

Photo Credit:  drivving

Purpose/Humor/Surviving a Writing Drought

1.  Jennifer Slattery, at Faith, Friends...and Chocolate, asks, "Are You Living on Purpose." Whether or not we're writers, our schedules can leave us with no down time to just enjoy life.

2.  Carol Heilman guest posts at Seriously Write. She talks about letting your humor show.

3.  Kathleen McCleary posts at Writer unBoxed about surviving a drought (the writing variety). I'm always interested in how writers handle those times.

Writers:  Do you include humor in your writing? Please share.

Readers:  Do you take time to relax, unwind, and re-charge? What's your favorite way to take a break from that endless to-do list?

Have a blessed week!

Photo credit:  michaelaw

For The Love of Reading

I'll never forget the first time I set foot in a library with my mother. Reading didn't come easily to me, so it was somewhat intimidating.

With my first library card in hand, we entered the children's section and found some interesting titles. One of the books was called, "The Doll's House." It was about tiny people who lived in a child's doll house. At night, when everyone was asleep, they'd gather food crumbs and other essentials to daily living. I was totally hooked.

By the time I reached sixth grade, I was reading seven books a week. I turned to bookstores and catalogs as the library ran out of titles to satisfy my voracious reading appetite. Christmas and birthday Wish Lists always included books.

I longed for Christian books about kids like me. They were few and far between in those days, but the ones I found brought me closer to the Lord.

Today, parents and children have so many great Christian novels available. Libraries will often purchase books on request or borrow them from another library. Visiting the library can provide hours of FREE entertainment for youngsters and adults.

Writers and Readers:  Do you recall your early reading experiences? Please share.

Photo Credit:  alko

Brain Freeze and Writer's Block

Every time I finish a book, the thought crosses my mind: Will I be able to do this again? What if I can't think of another story? Ice cream can't begin to compete with the brain freeze these questions generate.

Once the pain subsides, I go back to square one. I remember how God helped me write the other books. Prayer got me over the hurdles of plot twists, getting characters out of trouble, and a host of other problems.

As a seat-of-the-pants writer, my process is simple. An idea is born, and I sit down and write. One baby step after another, one word, sentence, paragraph, chapter after another. Then I type, "The End."

I'm not a daredevil or risk taker by nature, so this feels rather like jumping off a cliff. Each new project requires a leap of faith. From past experience, I know everything will work out okay.

Still - that first step - it's a tough one. I will get through this. I will survive.

Writers:  What's the toughest part of writing for you?

Readers:  Many situations can create anxiety. How do you get past it and take on new adventures?

Photo Credit: becco