Friday, January 1, 2010

A New Year has Begun


I spent New Year's Eve writing.  Our family just hung out at home eating homemade hot wings and other yummy food and played with our new geeky Christmas toys.

I had a December 31st deadline to make for the Love is a Flame book coming out this year.  My procrastinating self had to wait until the last minute of the last day of the year to do this.   Well, I did it, my friends.  But not before I had stomach upset, headache, and a full fledged panic attack.  I told my husband it wasn't worth the $100.  But in my heart, I knew that was not why I was writing it at all. The Lord had restored our marriage and it has been an amazing blessing.  So I sat down and prayed.  I mean, I prayed.  Again, I gave him the painful and complex memories it dredged up and told the Lord it was His story and if He wanted me to get it done He'd have to help me tell it because I was not equipped.




So, I wrote it and sent it off sealed with another prayer.  This was my very first submission for inclusion in a book.  It seemed very fitting that it was my own love story.  Title:  Marriage . . . Interrupted.    Now the waiting.  The story is done and we will see where the Lord directs it, or re-directs it if He must.  It's His story after all.

What a wonderful place to be on the threshold of the new year.  Doing what I love most with who I love most.  Christ of course, but I had my husband's blessing on the project.

This antique postcard reminded me of one of my favorite Henry David Thoreau quotes:

If you have built castles in the air,
your work need not be lost; that is where they should be.
Now put the foundations under them.


This is my year to work on the foundations of my writing.  I need to take some of the writing that I have already done and anchor them into a position for potential publication.  At least I have to move closer toward that direction.  I just took the first step in this new year. 


Here are some other writing opportunities at Write On, Write On.

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year!!  Thank you for being such a blessing to me!





What would you like to see become a reality this year?


21 comments:

  1. Happy New Year!

    What would I like to become reality? A book contract! That would be fabulous. :)

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  2. Congratulations on getting your story sent out! I understand the stress involved, especially when it's a story close to your heart.

    I love the quotes. As always, your blog post helps inspire me to try harder. I want to get moving in the right direction with my writing, too. Last year I spent more time researching and writing blog posts than I did working on stories to submit. This year I WILL do better.

    Happy New Year!
    Carol

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  3. Sounds like great goals, Carla!

    What I love to become reality--to get an agent and a book contract by next year. That's definitely what I'm working towards now.

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  4. I like the imagery of putting a foundation under the castles in the sky. How true.

    My dream for this year is to see something accepted for publication - anything from an article to a book. It's been too long.

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  5. A book contract sounds like a wonderful reality! Let's keep hoping and praying!

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  6. Thanks, Carol. Yes, was a very emotional piece to write and I had already written a great part of it. But after I prayed the fear disapated and I just wrote, one sentence at a time and finally got to 2200 words.

    I think I did a little to much researching and blogging last year, too. It does tend to take up a bit of time that could be spent on actual writing!

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  7. Hi Carla -

    Congrats on making the story deadline! I liked your title a lot.

    I have quite a few stories hanging around that I could edit and submit to other markets. Maybe I'll add that to my list of goals.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  8. Thank you, Susan.
    Good idea. I think it's important to consider all markets that might give us publication possibilites. I hope it goes well!

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  9. Carla, Ever since I heard you mention your amazing reconciliation I sensed the Lord would use it in a special way. You've been obedient to share it on paper and now watch for the blessings!!
    2009 was such a wonderful year for me personally and writing-wise but not without its challenges, too. I pray for more of the same in 2010 and promise to pray for you also. You are such a special friend!

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  10. Congratulations on finishing your piece! I pray your submission will be accepted and you will be on your way! I too am focusing on my writing and desire to finish my novel and find an agent to represent me. Please visit my new blog and read all about my New Year Resolutions for 2010 at...
    www.resolutions10.wordpress.com

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  11. Well ... I can see that I'll have to return to mine your site more thoroughly. I love the resources here, not the least of which is your own compelling inspiration to write!

    I'll be back.

    Blessings,
    Kathleen

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  12. Thank you so much for your kind thoughts, Laura! I appreciate your prayers and will certainly keep you in mine.

    I knew I had to write that story, but then when I tried to finish it up I got so anxious. I said to Brad that maybe I was supposed to just include it in some fiction work. But he just encouraged me to do what I felt best. I'm glad it is written now. I'll let you read it sometime.

    Blessings!

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  13. Thanks for your prayers, Shannon. I checked out your new blog and hope your desires for the new year come to fruition!

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  14. Hi Kathleen, thank you for your nice comments. I'm so glad you came by and hope to see you 'round again!

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  15. Congrats, Carla - and blessings on your ms. How sweet that you could use your own story. Those are the most powerful, I think.

    But do you feel like there is always a part of you...or your life in each book you write? I do

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  16. Congrats on getting the story out! It is exciting to be on the threshold of a new year:) My reality? Getting more writing out and published, polishing off writing that's been sitting a while, and starting a novel.
    New Year's Blessings to you and your gang!
    Karen

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  17. I would like to see my husband's hard work rewarded this year...he is a business owner and takes a lot of pride in his work! :)

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  18. Muthering Heights, (love the name btw) that is a noble desire to see your husband's hard work rewarded. I pray that it will be so.

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  19. Yes, Pepper, I do! I think whatever is a part of us will naturally flow out.

    And again, thanks to you and all for the encouragement to me for getting my story out there. It was a huge step for me, especially considering the content being so personal.

    Karen, you and I are traveling similiar paths for sure.

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  20. I'm glad you met your deadline. What a fun way to end, 'er begin the year.

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  21. I love the title Marriage...Interrupted. It's so true to life.

    Happy New Year!

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