Progress Report

Yesterday I posted about all that I need to accomplish over the next month. I sat down and started writing my homeschool article today and I have it a third of the way completed already. I also read and finished my next writing assignment for the course that I am taking. I will wait a few days and then read over it again before I submit it. I praise God that I made some real progress today. I also read some great advice on a writing blog this afternoon. If you discipline yourself to write 1000 words every day over the next three months, you'll have a completed manuscript. Hmm. Something I may need to challenge myself to do once I get home from the conference. Definite food for thought.

• Two writing assignments to finish by September 14 and September 30th. I finished an additional one and emailed it today. - Both assignments completed and sent.
• I need to write a pitch.
• I need to compose a one-sheet.
• I need to finalize my first chapter.
• A homeschool unit study article to write. - completed and sent.
• I need to finish reading a book and blog a review. - read and written

Working on My To-Do List

August is winding down and I find myself with a growing 'to do' list to accomplish before the end of September. There are quite a number of things that I need to accomplish with different writing projects. Then I also need to work on finishing up lesson plans for our homeschool year too. Here is my list.

• Two writing assignments to finish by September 14 and September 30th. I finished an additional one and emailed it today.
• I need to write a pitch.
• I need to compose a one-sheet.
• I need to finalize my first chapter.
• A homeschool unit study article to write.
• I need to finish reading a book and blog a review.

I can't remember if there is anything else or not. It will be a busy month with being gone September 16-20, especially as I prepare for the American Christian Fiction Writer's conference in Indianapolis, IN. I continue to remind myself to take things one step and day at a time.

Back to Planning Today

Yesterday I managed to write about a half page on my Christian historical novel that I am writing. I didn't get far, because I realized that I need to do a bit more outlining of my chapters. So far I have had a very generalized overview of what I want to cover, but I feel the need to get back to the drawing board and get a little more specific.

Today will find me not likely writing so much as planning and figuring out the direction I plan to head. Proverbs 29:18a encourages, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." All right, perhaps that is a dramatic example, but I think there is truth there as well. It is important to plan and have a vision. Obviously, we need to seek the Lord's guidance as we figure things out. So I will be spending some time seeking God's wisdom and direction for my writing project, because above all else I want to be in the center of His will with following this call to write that He has given me.

Getting Back in the Groove

The past three weeks have been a blur of activity in our family. Much has happened. I am excited to finally get back into a 'normal' groove, if there is such a thing! :) Today my son and I started his 11th grade homeschool year. One of the blessings of being back to a school schedule is that I should hopefully start having more regular time of being able to work on my writing. I'm off to do that as soon as I finish this post.

I'm thankful today for cooler temperatures that feel more like fall. This is my kind of weather! I feel that I'll be able to think more clearly without the heat of summer! :) What a joy to be back in the regular swing of things!

I'm on Vacation

I'm going to be away for a few days for a mini vacaction. I am hoping to get some writing time in while we are gone, since I haven't had the opportunity to write the past week and a half. I am looking forward to having some time alone with the Lord as I seek His wisdom and insight for direction this fall. I hope to post again early next week.

Prayer for Balance

In less than a week we are tentatively going to beginning our homeschool year. I can hardly believe it is my 15th year homeschooling. Where have the years gone? I can hardly fathom that there are only two years left in this era of our lives.

I am asking for prayer as we begin our school year. I need wisdom and discernment for juggling our schedule, so it can include time for me to write my book and also work on my writing assignments. I pray for God's direction and guidance as I spend time in prayer concerning this over the upcoming weekend.

Novel Track Report

I just wanted to quick share a report from July when I participated in ACFW Novel Track. A total of 124 writers participated in this project and we all wrote a total of 1,403,468 words for the month! Wow!!

A Mind of Their Own

My characters in the story I am writing have begun to have a mind of their own. Before sitting down to write I had briefly planned out where I planned to go with each chapter. I had a general outline. Then I sat down to actually write.

I have been surprised with every chapter I have written so far. My characters don't do what I had planned for them to do. They do and say things that surprise even me. Even though I have a general idea of what I think is going to happen, it doesn't always go that way.

I chose a friend that is an avid reader to read each chapter as I finish it. She helps to make sure that things are clear in how I write things, and that I haven't missed anything. I commented to her that my characters are starting to have a mind of their own. She responded that she likes where the characters are taking themselves! :) What a joy to write when even the author gets surprised by her characters.