Category Archives: Writer’s Life

Listen. There are going to be days when one of your kids hides the computer mouse. It will be missing. All. Day. Long.

You have a choice. You can freak out. Let tension take over. Or . . .

What are the “or’s” again? 😉 OR you can remember it’s just a day. Or a few days. Or until you can run out to Walmart or ask a friend to order one Prime.

You are not going to write every day. You aren’t. It isn’t up to you and I roll my eyes at any book that suggests it always is.

It’s still ok! I promise! 🙂

Happy writing! Or reading! Or searching for computer mouses! Even losing your mind as may occasionally happen round my parts! lol

May our Lord sustain us!

PS. Thankfully it wasn’t IN a toilet, it was merely ON one.

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Press Releases

Were you ever taught how to read a newspaper article? Maybe that sounds funny, but I remember it distinctly. I want to say it was around fifth or sixth grade for me. The most important information was supposed to be in the first and last paragraphs. The first paragraph had a catch, something you care about, and the last paragraph offered closer or a possible next step. It occurred to me that that’s applicable for us if we ever want to write, or help write, press releases.

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Filed under Question Asked, Writer's Life, Writing Tools

Funny thing. I just can’t schedule what I’m going to write about. I have nearly a week’s worth of posts planned out, but . . . hmm . . . let’s see. What do I want to do today? Browse old drafts! 🙂

Good thing this is a hobby blog, right? Sometimes I can just do what I want instead of rolling with the waves as they pound upon the shore.

Happy writing! And, if you’re reading something good right now, let me know. I’ve started Elizabeth Ahlmann’s Demystifying the Proverbs 31 Woman and Peter Pan (technically Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens and then Peter and Wendy), but I have a feeling I’ll want to read as the holiday season gets rolling. No doubt under snuggly blankets, as I always recommend.

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Aren’t Creative?

Sometimes people don’t write, because they think they aren’t creative. I’d like to encourage them–and you–to write anyway.

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Multiple Good Things

Today I’m happy to share with you a link to Deac. Heidi Goehmann‘s blog for a couple of reasons. First, she’s prioritizing between multiple good things–and aren’t we all?! Second, she’s prioritizing writing! Yay!! Third, she has a big announcement about her I Love My Shepherd Products with a Message store.

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Almost Published But . . .

Almost published but . . . waiting to hear back from a publisher, struggling to find pre-readers, struggling with editing, shaking your fist at your website, etc.

Listen, it’s ok. “Almost published” has a few of its own unique struggles and burdens. Still, it’s ok.

All sorts of things can prevent you from finally holding your professionally printed work in your hand. It’s still ok.

I want to let you in on something you likely haven’t thought about. Once you’ve been paid for something, you’re technically a professional writer. What is sometimes glossed over is that sometimes you get an advance only to have your contract pulled. It’s happened to more people than you probably realize. 🙂 Mostly it’s an example of how economics and professional writing conflict! It’s still ok! You should keep writing and plugging away at the publishing game!

You may not have a lot of readers, but I bet each one of you has a reader if you write so much as a letter.

You may not have perfect grammar or an editor’s eye, but I’m glad you’ve taken the time and energy to put your words down. You have succeeded at sharing!

Shaking your fist? I’ve been there many times. Might I suggest a cup of something nice? Or some tension-relieving? 😉

Almost published is great. Seriously. It’s an accomplishment. Sure, you may want “published,” but if Jesus returns while a book is en route to its author for the first time . . . it’s still better that Jesus has come. 😀 Whether or not pre-readers have finished, publishers have gone through their submissions, etc.

Come, Lord Jesus.

 

In more materialistic news, CPH is having its yearly warehouse sale November 2nd through November 6th. I always start browsing the Not Quite Perfect section first. (It’s around all year, but somehow I forget about it.) I’m sure it’s purposefully in time for all our Christmas shopping.

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Luther’d have trouble, too

Usually I pride myself on being a reasonable person. Sure, I kind of try to do it all–I aim for Superwoman. Still, yesterday I was very depressed about my project and trying to be a writer in general. My kind, calming husband pointed out that Luther’d have trouble, too, these days.

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Filed under As Christian Writers, My projects, Writer Troubles, Writer's Life

Provincial Life

The Disney character Belle is supposed to be great: a clever girl, beautiful inside and out. Whatever. I hate neither her nor her story. But actually thinking about her a second, since I just started watching the live action movie for the first time, what’s her existential problem?! Provincial life?!

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Filed under As Christian Writers, Characters, Theological reflection, Writer's Life

Dear literary agent

If I could ask a literary agent some questions, here’s where I’d start.

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Ball keeps dribbling

I thought I was heading into a good time and place. I practiced and prepped. Got myself looking good on paper and sent in a proposal to an agent. I was going to post about how good it feels to have the ball in someone else’s court for a while! Sigh. Nope. The ball keeps dribbling.

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Filed under Publishing, Writer Troubles, Writer's Life