All done--ready to go!

DONE!!! I thought I'd show a quick picture to show that I really have been busy! Now let the holidays begin! (PS Wish you could see my green grass and flowers:))

Reruns

What's the protocol for blogging during holidays?

I noticed it seems to run about half and half--some do and some don't. Many of my favorite sites offer new posts but some are advertising "I'm gone for the holidays." I almost wish I had a rerun post to post, kind of like last night's TV line-up.

I know I'm not getting much writing done this weekend. With my house almost decorated I can't concentrate on much else until all the clutter is back in some sort of orderly or livable fashion.

But Monday is around the corner and then it's back at it. In the meantime, hope you all are enjoying this time of making memories instead of writing about them!

Stepping out of the Sidelines

I'm decorating my home and tree today for Christmas. I know many of you do it too right after Thanksgiving. I can't wait to pop the tops off my bins and discover what's been stored in them--for three years.

That's right. I haven't decorated for Christmas since my daughter got married and moved to the west coast. No--before you wonder if I'm morbid or something, I did spend Christmas one year in Seattle and another year in PA but the days leading up to my travel, I kept the house bare.

Why bother? I thought. No one's going to see it. All our family lives far away and it's just my husband and I. We can enjoy the decorations at Christmas in the homes we visit without the effort.

My misguided decision now reminds me of when my daughter played softball. She'd often suit up and have to sit the bench as second string. But we encouraged her to play anyways because we told her she never knew when she would be called in to pinch hit.


A couple of posts ago, a blogger left this comment: After receiving too many rejection letters, I decided that I just don't have it in me any more to be told no thanks.

It broke my heart to read the words but at the same time made me think. My decision to not fully enjoy the holidays because my daughter isn't here anymore is actually living on the sidelines of life.

Choosing not to exercise a writing gift for fear of failure and rejection is living on the sidelines of writing. And that is as sad as my not dealing with my new empty nest.

The day will come when like the coach who finally put my daughter on first base and discovered her gift for catching, an editor will discover an article or manuscript that crosses his desk and send the email every writer hopes for. But unless we play--we'll miss that blessing.

So I'm going to decorate my table with a candy cane centerpiece and wrap garland around my dining room post. But the best news is I said yes to hosting our Sunday School party on Friday night here.

Are you suiting up and getting off the sidelines with not only your writing but life too? I hope so!

Thanksgiving Blessings

I know--I'm a little early but I wanted to share my Thanksgiving blessings today.

A little history . . . my husband lost his job last year due to the economy. We ended up going to SC for 6 weeks and lived in an extended stay hotel while he bid out a church.

Then came Thanksgiving. There is nothing lonelier than sitting in a restaurant surrounded by families with children and grandparents and knowing not a soul. I missed my state, my home, my daughter and familiarity.

So this year, as I set my table, I feel more gratitude on a holiday than I have felt in my entire life. Tomorrow, two young men we know will share our meal with us. My family won't be here but compared to last year--this is a huge blessing!

Sometimes we have to miss something before we realize how much we really have. I think I learned that lesson last year but it makes this year all the more sweeter!

Happy Thanksgiving!

PS . . . Who was that caller?

Ok . . . ok I left out a major portion of my story (as many of you astute readers pointed out) this morning.

About that phone call. My husband is a contractor---someone who gets up really early and actually watches the sun rise. Well, an ill advised telemarketer thought the wife needed to get up and share in that scene too by placing an untimely phone call.

He's since been advised to change professions.

Turkey Talk

No one is allowed to call my house at 7:30 am. Some brave person dared this morning and as I groaned under the covers, I couldn't help but imagine all sorts of scenarios.

With Thanksgiving only days away, and with us in Florida and everyone else we know thousands of miles away, I couldn't help but worry if someone died. Early morning or late night phone calls produce that kind of reaction in me. I can't help it--we've had the calls before.

Holidays bring out all kinds of emotions. We get together with people we haven't seen in months, we travel to new or familiar destinations, we invite others to share our table or we spend it alone watching the Macy's Day parade and an afternoon football game.

But in the midst of all these heightened senses--something else is growing. Something is taking shape as the hours tumble before us like the shriveled leaves on the lawn.

Our next story.

By the time this holiday ends--you'll have a new story needing to be written. So pass me the leftovers because I plan to make a pretty good casserole for next week.

Christmas Contest News

My writer's meeting is today so I will keep my post short as I have stuff to get ready for it yet.

We will talk about our goals, bring in new market ideas and finally take some time to critique a couple of stories if time allows. The meeting always lifts me up and makes me eager to get back to writing. I know this week I won't get much of that done with Thanksgiving but that's okay---it was a good month. Hope yours was too.

I received an email this morning from Women of Passions because their newsletter is having their yearly Christmas story contest. But, they need stories that will meet their guidelines in nine days. Do you have one you can submit? I plan to work on one this week. Great opportunity for someone to get published plus win a contest as they will publish more than one of them. I won two years ago and have since been published in an anthology they put out.

Do you have any market news to share too? Check out my other blog where I post opportunities as well.

Hope your Monday is full of good surprises!

Dog lovers, teachers, and other news

Houndhaven here in Central Florida is putting together a book about funny incidents that your Lab might have done. If you have a story to share to help out this worthy organization--click on the link and see where to email your story. As a former Lab owner--I still love these kind-hearted dogs and am playing around with the idea of adopting another one someday. I think once a dog owner--always a dog owner.

Some other news---I received a call late the other night from an editor at a magazine in CA. Thank goodness my husband didn't hang up on her! I had written an article for a teacher's magazine two years ago and pretty much had given up on seeing it published. She tracked me down and asked for my bio and picture as it is coming out in the next issue. I'll post a link when it does but it is a magazine for Christian teachers. I have a story in it about when I was in third grade and the kindness of that teacher.

Also--many of you know I started the query stage of my first book a few months ago. I sent to one agent and she sent me a no thank-you after reading three chapters. The agent I sent to in Sept. responded today that he is passing it over to a female agent in the company to better review. I am okay if this book gets rejected as I like the one I'm working on now better--but it was nice not to get a flat out rejection again and an offer for another agent to look it over.

That's my writer news for the week!

Fresh Ground Blogging

I can relate to Robin's words : However, there are so many time when I just don’t have anything that I feel is post worthy. I try not to let this be a discouragement. I consider my blog more of an outlet as well as a motivation to get me practicing the craft of writing.

I want to keep my blog interesting and fresh just like the manuscripts I write. I don't want my blogging to become a chore or redundant nor do I want the stories I write to either.

So much of blog writing reminds me of the writing I do on a daily basis for an article or a book. What an opportunity and arena to practice not only self-discipline but creativity.

Question: Do you find blogging has helped your writing process or hindered it?

BTW--the comments this week have been awesome and eyeopening! I hope if you haven't read them, you will. Blogging has become such a part of our writing culture and continues to change in how it is used. I know I have rethought much of what I do from your responses! Thank you!

Keeping Your Blogger Friends Happy

Linda said . . . it's a discipline of sorts to force me to think of things to post that I think might interest someone else.

Her statement about blogging got me to thinking about what I post on my blog. I began my blog by writing about a little about my life and where I went and then about my rejections and acceptances in writing.

But along the way, as many of you shared, we started writing for others in hopes to give something as well as documenting our writing journey.

What happens when you can't think of anything to blog about but you feel committed to write? Is it okay to talk about your dinner plans, pets, kids etc.?

Question: How do you tailor your blog for writers? What should you write about that will encourage, interest and keep your readers coming back for more? Like a book, should a blog be as interesting?

Looking in the Blog Mirror

I started off using the blog as a journal, just to document my quest for publication.

Renee began her blog much as I did. I used to write for myself and eventually I felt myself writing for others and trying to offer a service of sorts to help when I could with the writing process.

Do you remember when you did the same and did it feel strange when you began to write for unknown faces?

With that shift in blog focus, here's my next Question: How do you make your blog stand out from all the others and how did you choose to design it for user friendliness? What about its background and the gadgets on it?

Who . . . ?

When I looked back at my first blog entry written in the summer of 2006, I wrote a short blurb about my thoughts on blogging. I felt kind of stupid doing it and wondered if any one would ever see my words. But I wanted my blog to personalize my journey with my writing efforts.

In answer to my question yesterday, Mellisa wrote:

I am always disappointed when I go to an author's website and find that they don't have a blog. I think it opens the door on who the person is behind the book/story.

I feel that same way--I go looking for their blog to interact--to find the personal side of the writer. Not sure if that is a writer thing or just me. So when I started my blog--I wanted to interact with other writers to hear about their struggles as well.

Question: Who are you writing for when you write on your blog? How do you let people know in cyberspace that you are blogging at all?

Why should I blog?

I went to a writers' conference this past summer in PA and was amazed at how many of the attendees didn't blog. My friend, Donna, attended the FWA this past weekend and she also found out that a large number of Florida writers don't have a clue about blogging. So it got me to thinking about this thing I do.

I'd like to post a few questions over the next couple of days about blogging. Since I blog daily, it's a big part of my writing experience and if there is a way to improve upon it, I'd like to know.

So please answer as long or as short as you please. I look forward to your comments!

Question: As a writer, why should I blog--isn't a website enough?

Reaching to the Stars

Last Friday, at about 7:55 PM, my husband and I chased each other to the driveway in our bare feet and with almost the entire neighborhood, we looked up in awe as the space shuttle lit the night sky and rocketed toward the heavens. As it vanished from our sight, cheers from the surrounding patios filled the warm air like sports fans at the world series.

"Can you imagine the rush?" My husband glanced back to the now darkened sky.

I thought back to the time I sat glued to the TV as the astronauts landed on the moon. The memory now is as fuzzy as the reception of that 60's picture tube but the emotions still come through clearly-- cheers and hugs with my relatives as we celebrated in my uncle's crowded living room.

On that historic day every American shared in the pride of the brave astronauts' accomplishment just as my husband and I did again on Friday.

I'm feeling that way again today. My good writer friend Donna called yesterday to tell me she won second place in the Florida Writers Association writing awards. After screaming with her, I can't help but feel as though I've won too--since we've been together in this journey for so long.

I love sharing in the successes of other writers. I love cheering them on. I also love knowing someday they'll do the same for me.

It's a rush that reaches the stars!

A Moment

I mentioned yesterday that I wrote about 2000 words in a free hour I had the other day. Many of you commented that it sounded like a lot--I have to clarify here--I wrote a chapter and then did some editing that added some words. . . but I have yet to go back and reread what I wrote.

The freedom was putting down words on paper without worrying about the quality . . . much like I assume the writers who are doing the novel in a month are doing.

Normally, I self-edit as I go and then my books take forever to write. A friend of mine who just finished publishing her first book, told me she had 600 pages done already on her second!

It made me really wonder how well I use my time.It made me really wonder if I want to finish my books.

Sure, I write short stories and submit regularly but when it comes to books, well, I often look at them as a huge project that I can take forever on because it might not come together anyway.

Some faulty thinking for sure--but safe thinking. Sort of like building a house but never planning to live in it because the move might be too time consuming or I might not like the end product.

So when a blogger friend said, "Write today!" I did write without thinking of the results or the what-ifs or the length and instead enjoyed the pleasure of writing.

Sometimes it's nice to live in the moment. Don't you wish we always did?

A Gentle Kick in the Pants

Yesterday, I wrote about how I have decided to start a 28-hour reactivation course for my real estate license so I don't permanently lose it now that our economy has changed so much. I have until March to comply.

But I worried how my writing would suffer as I tackle my way through the online modules. Well, with a little encouragement from a friend (Angie) I managed to write almost two thousand words in the hour between my lunch and some errands.

Imagine what we can accomplish with only a little encouragement from each other--whether online or in person!

Of course I think there were some veiled threats that I might get a visit of sorts should I not write . . . but seriously, knowing that someone set a specific goal for me did play in the back of my head as I went about my day. I usually set my own goals but in this case felt my goal was not to write but to plow through this project so I could return to do what I liked most--writing.

I discovered yesterday that despite those projects that creep into my life--I can write if I set my mind and time to it without waiting for the perfect mood or environment.

Is there a writer you can encourage this weekend or next week? I'd love to hear how you did and what the results were!

Chapter 13

My husband told me this morning there is a story in everything we do in life. Of course, I already knew that.

He was only trying to rationalize what I have to do this next week. Being the clever husband he is some days, he figured out I could take a 28-hour reactivation course and resurrect my real estate license just in case we needed it some day.

I hate real estate.

I did it for three years and ended up being termed the "social worker" of real estate. I did it to get out of a job as a social worker at a nursing home that was sucking the life out of me. I did it until I found my real love--that being writing.

But the world has changed around us, and sometimes we need to do what we need to do. We always try to have a two year plan and this decision fits nicely into it where I could help out if I had my license but I could still write. Unfortunately it means hours on the computer studying information I would rather forget so my writing gets put on hold.

Life is all about the stories we live. I just don't know if I like this chapter.

What's your chapter like today?

Bathroom Etiquette 101

I couldn't sleep last night and Dancing with the Stars was not helping so I rolled out of bed and flipped back on my computer. I was trying to think of a better story to send to a publication and figured I could resurect one of my older ones.

Finally, I pulled up one about my mother-in-law.

That's when I wanted to puke. (No--not because it was about a mother-in-law. Mine is pretty awesome.) It was my title. Had I really called my story Bathroom Etiquette 101? No wonder it still sat in my reject pile. Then I whizzed through some of my other misfits and discovered what a serious problem I have.

My titles stink.

Where do all the great titles like Gone with the Wind, or You've Got Mail come from? Does being a good writer mean I have to think of a great catchy phrase to help sell my story?

I know having a great title can sell a book. I know that from personal experience as a bookseller. Quite often, as I placed my order, I'd glance through the titles and the catchy ones caught my eye first. Then I'd study the cover and read the blurb.

So what's a title-challenged person like me supposed to do?

Help!

Sharing the paintbox

I never considered myself to be talented although I had my dreams.

I tried pottery--ended up with lopsided bowls. I took two years of piano and quit after the teacher wanted to talk more about her marriage than the scales. I tried ice skating but my ankles didn't quite understand their role. And singing, well, I learned how to be a stage hand for my senior high musical right after tryouts.

Someone mentioned to me this week about our lives being like a canvas--a canvas for God to use. Of course, I started to think again about my lack of talent in art--but for only a moment.

Because writing is my canvas.

I write for both Christian markets and secular and I think that works fine. But as with any skill or talent, it takes hours of practice. But it also means giving over my canvas to God to see what picture He will paint with my life.

Not always easy.

Sometimes I like to do my own thing--send out an article before it's ready . . . query an agent before my work is professional . . .

I don't know if I'm meant to publish a book, write short stories, or maybe learn how to do devotionals. But when I hand over my paint brush to the One who does--I finally get to live my dream.

Have you turned over your canvas yet?

My Running Shoes

At church yesterday, the pastor talked about going that extra mile for God. The first mile is the easy one--but the second one is the one that takes commitment and perseverance.

I can't help but think how his thoughts relate to writing. I write a story and submit. Then I submit it again and again and sometimes I finally toss it away in frustration.

Many of us (me included) don't always want to do the edits a piece requires to get published. We don't want to read the articles or writers magazines or attend a writers group to learn the craft. We wrote the story and that should be enough.

And sometimes, we give up totally and convince ourselves writing isn't our gift.

Commitment and perseverance.

The writer's road requires plenty of both. I recently discovered through personal experience that the art of sending out queries isn't as easy as I assumed it would be. An agent didn't scoop me up one day later,(nor two months later!) nor did a publisher when I sent out a synopsis of what I thought would be the perfect fit for their needs.

The road to writing means going that extra mile to make your work the best you can make it--even if it means running into some stumbling blocks along the way.

Now today I'm putting on my best sneakers and continuing the race. Will you join me?

Snapshots of gold

Do you remember your first Christmas away from home?

Do you remember your high school graduation ceremony?

Do you remember the day you said"I do"?

How did you feel spending that first holiday without your parents--were you lonely, or sad or excited to be with someone else or someplace new?

How did you and your best friends say goodbye after you threw your cap in the air? Did you wonder if you would ever be so close again?

Do you remember the feel of your wedding gown as it brushed against your leg when your father walked you down the aisle--or the last hug your mother gave after she adjusted your veil?

Snapshots. Our memories are filled with photo albums of captured moments.

When I choose a short story, I pull a single snapshot from my album. Then I study it from every angle diving through the lingering emotions and moods, sifting until the fine memories rise to the top like gold.

Then I write from my heart until that memory comes alive once again.

How do you write your own stories that make the reader feel?

Fabulous Friday!

And the winner of the Chicken Soup book is . . . VICKIE

But I couldn't stop there--so I picked another winner . . . HEIDI

Congratulations for being such great blog readers!

(Email me your snail mail and I will send out your book!)

Check out this link to Cross & Quill. My first writing article appears in it this month. They are always looking for submissions!

Checking In

(Anyone who follows this blog knows I'm all about writing goals.)

MY WRITER'S WEEK

(Yay!)

• Submitted two short stories
• Received one rejection
• Critiqued stories for four writers
• Reviewed one chapter of my book with a writer in person
• Started one new article
• Worked on another article that is half-finished

How's your week shaping up? Everyone has a plan--whether it's doing the NaNo thing (I always get that wrong) or praying about the direction God is taking you with your writing or editing a WIP. How's your list look this week?

The Gift

Last Monday, my husband and I traipsed through the nearest ToysRUs store. We were on an early hunt for a Christmas present for our grandson. Aisle after aisle, we poked, shook, squeezed, rang and bounced toy after toy. Finally, in the sports aisle, we stopped together as if on cue. There in front of us, high on the shelf, it sat--the perfect gift.

It isn't always easy to find the perfect present for that special person. In the same way, it isn't always easy for the writer to write that perfect article or story. Finding the perfect phrase or verb or character's name often is like finding the perfect pumpkin in a pumpkin patch. Sometimes it can't be done.

But when it is done---oh what a sweet thing. When the words string together as if in a song that should be sung over a midnight lake . . . or the ending sounds like the final note of a concert under the stars . . .

That's when I stop and stare and know that my trip is over. My package is gift-wrapped and ready to be sent to my recipient--my reader.

Ahhh. . . The perfect gift.

Have you shopped for your reader this week?

A whisper in my heart

When I graduated from high school in rural Northeast PA, I decided to go to college to be a teacher. It's what most women chose to do in my town--that or nursing or stay home and be a wife. But after one semester and an A in Psychology, my heart shifted. I changed my major and counseled adults for fifteen years.

During my last two years in college, I dated a wonderful man and planned to marry him. But after one night out with friends, I met another man and again my heart shifted. I changed who I loved, married him and still call him my best friend after thirty-one years.

Time and time again, I find myself on one path and then I a shifting in my heart takes me to another place. I like to think that shifting is a whisper from God.

One of my favorite verses is "Be still and know I am God." (I'd have to jump out of bed and look up where it is found so I'll leave that to you.) I have a plaque on my office wall to remind me that sometimes my own ideas aren't always the best and if I am still and listen to what He is telling my heart--the better choice will be made.

When I write, I try to put words on the paper that my heart tells me to share. Sometimes, I want to write about one thing and then I shift to something totally different.

I'm experiencing one of those weeks. I had fully intended to work on my fiction but the whispering is stronger and now I find myself more excited to shift over to some nonfiction articles.

What about you? Are you listening and writing from your heart today?

Clearly She Spoke

How many of you write something--think it sounds as clear as a Florida fall day--and then when someone else reads it and gives you feedback--you wonder if they read your neighbor's story?

This phenomenon happens to me quite often here in Blogworld. Makes me wonder if my writing off-line sometimes does the same thing.Hope not.

But it makes me think I need to be less fluffy sometimes in my writing and get right to the point--like I do in my conversations with people.

So I'll get to the point now.

(I'll bet you're thinking ooooohhhh . . . she's going to spill something good.)

Hang on. Don't start making the popcorn yet.

I had a pretty up and down writing week last week--one acceptance--one agent rejection --and a box of my books came to my house with my latest story in it plus a nice check.

So I am starting this week without any expectations . . . except for one.

I Will Write.

Was I clear enough?

(Now spill your guts about your week's expectations. I'll get the ice cream.)

An invitation--throwing off the wet pants!

If you've never visited Elaine's blog I encourage you to do so today. Her father writes an incredible story. Why did this post hit me? Because I've been struggling with a thought and when I read what her dad wrote--I knew I'd found the answer.

OK--don't pop over there just yet.

Let me tell you what I've been thinking about first.

My Fiction Writing Skills.

Yes--my fiction skills because you see, most everything I've ever written and had published has been nonfiction--until I got the crazy idea that if I was ever to be a real writer I had to write a fiction book.

Going back to Elaine's father's post (you can read the real version later)--I thought about my three earliest memories. One of them had to do with wetting my pants in third grade. Really embarrassing for a shy little girl.

My second earliest memory is going to a family reunion with over fifty cousins and not knowing anyone. I wanted to sit by my mother's side the whole day.

And my third earliest memory is of when my mother left me at a Brownie meeting on the wrong day and I had to walk home across town all alone in a snow suit.

Most of my memories involve embarrassment and being insecure in a situation-kind of like I am with my writing. Elaine's father said most of us are still working on overcoming the feelings from those early memories. I think his words might be true when it comes to my writing.

Sometimes it is much easier to stick to what we feel comfortable doing. I like writing nonfiction--I have a nice folder of clips that I can riffle through when I feel unsure about my abilities.

But fiction--ah . . . now that's a family reunion just waiting to be attended. I have the choice to attend or stay home. Going won't make me a better writer but it just might be fun. This time I'm going to put on my biggest smile and walk into the crowd and see what happens.

How about you? Are you still working on pushing through some of your early memories and how are they showing up in your writing endeavors?

Now--please go read that awesome post and see what your take-away is!