Sticky Note: Choices

The most important story we'll ever write in life is our own-not with ink, but with our daily choices.

— Richard Paul Evans

Remuneration

Do you ever feel like your hard work goes unnoticed? I've been struggling with this lately in many areas of my life. The only sanity I find is when I choose not to focus on that because it only generates resentment and in turn makes it hard to stay motivated. Sometimes there are things that I'm working on that require an extra deal of time and effort. I try to manage things in such a way that everything isn't always due at once, but there are times when projects or deadlines overlap and it puts an immense amount of pressure on me. This week was one of them all around. During these times, when I'm working extra hard, some of the little things get tossed to the wayside. Yet aren't these the things that others seem to notice, what you're not doing? I feel like screaming (although I'm not a screamer or even a yeller), "I'm not slacking, in fact, I'm working extra hard, not that anybody is noticing!"

As writers we can be working diligently and become very consumed with our work without anyone seeing any fruit from our labor.  "How is your writing coming along? . . . When are you ever going to get that book published? . . . I don't have time to write for free." The answer is never easy without having to enter a dissertation.  Replying with a word count often meets with dead stares. Trying to explain the publishing process is another matter entirely. It appears though we are writing with an expectation of no remuneration whatsoever. If we are hoping for publication the pay comes later, although the reward can be found in the work itself. Not every one gets that. It's important to resist the compulsion to try to justify ourselves to everyone. It's also important to keep our eyes on the task at hand and remember that we ultimately answer to one authority -  the One who called us and equipped us for our occupation. He notices. Let's stop looking to be remunerated with respect or appreciation, and offer our gratitude instead. That gratitude can be a great motivator.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23,24

Your thoughts . .

Rejection or Redirection?

Well, it had to happen at some point. I got my first rejection letter.  You may recall that I submitted my marriage story to an anthology on the cusp of the new year.  At last I heard. And I've been rejected.

Sigh.

I waited seven weeks to hear back from the editor and during that time I tried to prepare myself for the possibility that it wouldn't be accepted. A reason was given that there were so many to choose from that they had to be very selective and it did not necessarily mean that the writing was poor.

I had to be sure.  So I went back and re-read my entry. I still like it.  That's because it is important to me. My hope is that the story can bless others. But this obviously was not the venue for it.  I'm disapointed, but not as much as I thought I might be, suprisingly enough. I'm trying to consider it not a rejection of me, or of the message. 

But what about my writing? I must consider that. There is another opportunity for me to submit it else where (which the editor encouraged) and when reading through the guidelines I found they don't want it to sound like a testimony.  They want a story.  Ah, I think that's what happened with this first go round.  My "story" wasn't written in story style, it was sounded very much like a testimony. So I'm learning.  I'm going to revise it and try again in story format.

I really don't feel too bad about it. It's not really a rejection. It's a redirection. When I submitted it I prayed that God would allow it to be published through the avenue He desires.  I just took a wrong turn, and you know, I'm used to doing that.  I'm actually looking forward to seeing where it ends up.  I don't know if I'll handle it this well if I get another refusal, or if my book proposal gets rejected, but at least this is good experience. I also know I'm in good company.

So, on a more cheerful note. . . Tonight I was at a business dinner for work and had the opportunity to present information to our some community organizations (the first of two this week) on the issue adult literacy on behalf of my employer (Literacy Volunteers).  A newspaper representative was present and I was asked to write some articles about adult literacy. I had no idea that was going to happen.  I was also asked to write another article for a paper that I contribute to periodically. This was all very affirming.

Things don't always go as we anticipate. Life is that way. Full of twists and turns, ups and downs.  Rejections and redirections.

How do you handle rejection? Any words from the wise?

What Can You Say About This Photo?

 There's only one more week left to post your entries for the first writing prompt/giveaway!  In up to 1,000 words see what you can write about this photo.  Post it on our Mr. Linky tool and read the posts that others have submitted!  We already have a few entries and I'd love to see more.

Go here for details for guidelines, how to post, and prizes!

Sticky Note: Longings

"Hold all longings to be published in an open hand with a heart willing to follow God's leading even if it means leading you away from your dream. Work at the craft with all of your heart, as working for God not men. Pray for guidance and wisdom and a teachable spirit. Don't ever think your words are golden and can never be changed. The only truly inspired Book has already been written. The rest of us need to rewrite until we get it just right.

Above all, be sensitive and obedient to do and to go where God is calling you to go. It is more important to be in the center of God's will than it is to be a published author. But also, hang onto the dreams God gives you until He tells you to let them go. In His time, all things will come together just as He's planned."

Jill Eileen Smith, from an interview at Writing for Christ

A Writer's Week in Review

What does a writer do? As for this writer, writing has become somewhat of a lifestyle for me and encompasses more than writing alone.  Here's a look a somewhat typical week for me; though my random projects are ever-changing. I didn't get as much writing on my novel done as I would have liked to, because of those nasty migraines, but I did get quite a bit of other tasks accomplished (that required less time and concentration on my bad days). I also visited a few blogs (less than usual) and participated in a few writers' email loops, read for review (& enjoyment), and did some plotting.

Friday:  Worked 10-2.  Afternoon migraine, took 3 hr. nap. Notified I was a finalilst is a short writing contest. Critiqued 30 devotional writings.

Saturday:  Attended Maine Fellowship of Christian Writers: 18 present, lesson was on writing book proposals, planned August conference, put on scheduling committee and assigned to prepare conference promotional materials and MFCW website. Researched writers conference schedules, and speaker topics. Did a quick website update for a client.

Sunday: Migraine am, up at 2 pm.  Prepared sample conference brochure (wrote content). Had a nice Valentine's day (btw, hubby got me a beautiful oversized mugged and a butterfly bookmark - perfect!).

Monday:  Submitted tentative schedule to conference scheduling committee. Received a research book I had ordered. Novel research. Checked out a few writing markets. Checked on a submission status to no avail.  Signed up for American Christian Fiction Writers Book Club. Did a characterization assignment at Kaye Dacus's writing blog.

Tuesday:  Worked 10-2.  At work created tip sheet on adult literacy in the workplace (on the job writing is still writing). Picked up mock up of conference brochure and other desktop publishing projects at the printers. Spent time with author friend and mentor, Susan Page Davis, who I share being a member of MFCW, ACFW, and a critique group. We chatted over cheese bread sticks and Pepsi and discussed the writers conference, critiques, current projects and ideas, and the business of writing, etc. Contemplated submitting a series proposal for a work that I have waiting in the wings just needing revisions. Migraine pm.

Wednesday: Worked 10 -2. Took a nap. Wrote 300 words and did edits on my wip. Signed up to be an influencer for a regency romance. Was asked to do a guest blog post and started writing it.  Worked on another guest blog post that's coming up.  Made some new facebook friends. Did a fiction critique, 2 more in queue.


Thursday: Migraine am, slept until 1 pm. Novel research online.  Received another requested to review a book. Studied "writer's voice". Put up blog post at Something Olde. Prepared 2 blog posts for future use.  Read 2 must read blog posts Chip MacGregor, Jim Rubbart, Tiffany Colter on Marketing and Interview with author Jill Eileen Smith on the Craft of Writing. Wrote another 200 words on my wip, not much, but now I'm totalling 15,500 in the past 6 wks.

What does your week look like? Do you get to write as much as you'd like to? Do you schedule it in or just grab time when you can like I do?

Books to Devour

I'm currently reading "The Silent Governess" by Julie Klassen. The story is deep, delightful, and engaging. It's just my taste and I'm devouring every word. The books I enjoy reading most, that I can really sink my teeth into, are compelling historical fiction novels with an element of romance. Sometimes it is a coming of age story, a journey, and sometimes an outright historical romance. They tend to have a more serious tone (though I enjoy lighthearted scenes to break it up), often a strong spiritual theme threaded throughout (yet not preachy and overdone), authentic internal struggles (that show that characters are as human as you and me.), are rich in historical detail (scattered throughout), and provide vivid settings and characterization (without information dumps), I also enjoy a touch of mystery and adventure (to spice it up). I want it all!

I enjoy Catherine Palmer and M. L. Tyndall books that have a touch of adventure. Susan Page Davis historicals are entralling, Ruth Axtell Morren's deep and romantic. Laura Frantz writes with a good measure of it all. I also like the novels of Cathy Marie Hake and Deeanne Gist who's blend of the whimsical with serious issues make the reading irresistable.

Though I know I'm not in league with any of these excellent authors, these are the kind of stories I try to write while working on my own unique style - and hopefully those that potential readers will someday want to devour!

What kind of novels do you tend to devour? What kind of stories do you write and hope readers can sink their teeth into?

Is it Ever OK to Stop Writing?

Dare I even ask?  Suspense writer Brandilyn Collins says, "yes". Her article for unpublished authors is liberating, and I suspect that published authors will even find it refreshing.

Five Reasons Why the Unpublished Can Stop Writing

Sticky Note: The Heroine's Fears and Flaws

A great romance has the hero figuring out the woman’s fear – maybe prying it out of her, maybe just knowing her enough to realize the truth. And as he figures it out, he begins to address it. To make her feel safe, or even try and overcome that fear. See, women also want to be protected, even if they don’t admit it. So, as your hero becomes more heroic, the woman will release her fears.  And overcome her flaws.


Susan May Warren, My Book Therapy

Valentines Treasure Hunt

Here’s a little Valentine treasure hunt for you.
Enjoy the verses!

 Happy Valentines Day!!!

You can make your own hearts with the Acme Heartmaker.

Eagle's Wings

My morning had started off in a bad way. I was overwhelmed and my day had barely started. As I headed out to work I noticed an eagle flying overhead and he seemed to follow me as I neared the end of my road. I waited there as long as I could, before a car came up behind me, all the while the eagle circled overhead, never leaving me.  What was he about I wondered? What was I about?  Too many things, I knew.  Too many things. 

As I mentioned yesterday, I have a lot going on.  So it seems.  Most of what I do is on a project basis, so I am not involved in so much of it simultaneously. I work at my "real job" only 15 hours a week. That is all I dared to commit to given my health issues, migraines and otherwise. But when I lose days at a time, all else goes to the wind.  Then I feel like I'm doing many things, none of them too well. I'd like to stress, that is how I feel.  I have learned to not pay attention to these discouraging feelings so much through the years.  I have also learned not to over commit. Yet, somehow life gives us opportunities for checks and balances and it seems as though I am in such a place again. Does this ever happen to you?

One thing I have done is to try to keep my activities "focused" on that "one thing I do" which is to minister to others with my creativity, and I'm trying to define that further by centralizing much of it around writing.  But sometimes there are seasons that we get more busy than others, whoa to me when my health interferes. 

I felt like that eagle was heaven sent. As it glided up above with his magnificent wings outstretched it reminded me that I was underneath the everlasting wings of God. That he saw me and knew what I was dealing with, what I was about. Yes, the Lord knows what I am trying to accomplish and he also knows my limitations. He reminded me to take refuge in his wings.  Do what I must for the day, in his strength and not mine alone. When I focus on the many things at once I am easily overwhelmed, but when I focus on him I am empowered.

He will cover you with his feathers, He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Psalm 91:4

The LORD recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge! Ruth 2:12

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

How are you faring today?

What a Headache

I'm a migraineur, as some of you know. Sounds so fancy, but believe me there is nothing fancy about it.  A little bit about the -eur suffix: it occurs regularly in occupation names as in restaurateur, coiffeur, chauffeur.  Therefore, I'm a migraineur because I'm excellent at it.  I am occupied with it. . . all too often.



My chronic migraines have been increasing again, primarily because of the winter weather, so after spending about four days in migraine I have become a bit discouraged from the time it robs me of as I lay recuperating.  It makes me feel like a flaneur:  one who strolls about aimlessly, a lounger and I'm getting tired of playing catch up from all the unproductive time when typically I am such a travailleur:  one who works dilligently.

I'm regularly occupied as a part-time administrator for a literacy organization and am also a website developer - an entrepreneur: one who organizes and manages an enterprise.  Some even consider me a connoisseur:  a skillful or knowing person.  Yet, I am oft times simply a douceur: one who lends the gift of service for projects at various times in the role of conference planner, designer, desktop publisher, Bible Study teacher and literacy volunteer tutor. But, I have had to diminish the quantity of time I can spend doing these things due to the fact that I am a migraineur.

My passion, howeveur (LOL), is what I fear I am missing the most.  I am a litteratuer: one who occupies herself with literature.  I don't want to forever be considered an amateur: persuing an art non-professionally, as I am quite serious about my goal to become a raconteur: a storyteller.  I am a writeur, you see, as well as a migraineur. And the two are not at all compatible.

What gets in the way of your writing?

Love is . . .

Keli Gwyn at Romance Writers on the Journey is holding a contest.  Say what love is in 14 words or less.  There are great prizes including gift cards for Barnes & Noble, See's Candy, Baskin Robbins and, Taco Bell.

The Mirror of Our Imagination

I just love George MacDonald and when I saw Ariel Lawhon's post over at She Reads I couldn't resist asking permission to reprint her post.  I hope you enjoy!

Most people have never heard of an old Scottish storyteller named George MacDonald. Born in 1824, he was a friend to such literary giants as Lewis Carroll, Walt Whitman, Charles Dickens, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Over the course of his prolific career, MacDonald wrote over 70 books, one of them a fantasy called Phantastes. Years later an avid skeptic named Clive Staples Lewis picked up the book in a train station book stall.

“A few hours later,” said Lewis, “I knew I had crossed a great frontier.”

Creative Expletives

Is it ever appropriate to use bad language in Christian writing? Sometimes there may be a call for it, especially if it's coming from the mouth of an unsavory or flawed character.  Big caveat:  Never actually use the improper words.  Since we try to keep it clean in Christian writing inference is often a helpful tool. It actually uses much more creativity and imagination to avoid using these words that are truly not necessary.

Romancing the Kiss

For the next three week Pepper Basham at  Faith and Fiction on Fire is featuring a A Kiss to Build a Scene Blogfest with authors who are sharing their wisdom of how to create a great kissing scene.  As you know, in Christian fiction this is tricky business.  I'm hoping to learn some from the experts!

One of my favorite kissing scenes was Lael and Captain Jack in The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz.   Another was from Ruth Axtell Morren's The Rogue's Redemption.  I featured that one as my entry in the Kissing Day Blog Fest  at Writer Wannabe in December.

In Gail Gaymer Martin's Writing the Christian Romance she says that while writing a kissing scene "The description usually deals more with the inner response - the feelings and emotions of the characters-than a depiction of the action of the kiss."  And isn't that also true of the moments leading up to that kiss.  In Sunlight and Shadows I'm trying to figure out the when, the where, and the how of my hero and heroine's first kiss.  Timing is everything, you know.  There is so much more to romance than the actual kiss so I'm trying to provide just the right story elements leading up to it, but what will begin with resistance will also cause them to pull away from one another and fight their growing attraction, not only physically, but in their heart of hearts.

"In the silence of the moment somehow their hearts spoke, yet there remained a quiet resistance." ~ Sunlight and Shadows (WIP)

So let's talk about kisses.  What makes a kissing scene truly romantic?