I've been contemplating the saying, "All good things must come to an end." Or something like that. I find myself reflective this afternoon as I hit 'send' on my final (50th) lesson with Christian Writer's Guild Apprentice course. Since I began two years ago, the program has been totally revamped and now only lasts for eight months and 16 lessons.
I think I can honestly say that I have grown and improved as a writer these past two years. I definitely haven't 'arrived' and know I have a long way to go - actually I think learning about writing and improving needs to be a continual process. I'm excited about my writing future. As a dear friend recently said, "Your dance card is filling." I have almost completed my first chapter of my new novel. My Apprentice course is complete and I'm preparing to take the Craftsman course in November. Until then, I'll be kept busy with edits, writing homeschool articles, etc.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
Roller Coaster Week
It's been a week of high and low emotions. I love how God encourages us when we need it the most. Since I finished homeschooling a couple weeks ago, I've been seeking the Lord on how to order my days as I enter a new chapter in my life. In just a little over a week my youngest will be gone for about two months, only returning home for a brief visit on the weekends. I will find myself with more time on my hands, and I desire to use it for His glory.
Yesterday I was accepted into an advanced fiction writer's course with Christian Writers Guild. My new class will start in November and includes a five day intensive workshop in Colorado working with gifted authors such as DiAnn Mills, Jerry B. Jenkins, etc. It provides a tremendous learning opportunity and I'm quite excited about it. My 'homework' before I begin, is to read these three books - Dialogue by Gloria Kempton, The Fire in Fiction by Donald Maass, and The Power of Body Language by Tonya Reiman. The first two books I personally own, and the last one I'll be borrowing from our public library. In fact, it's already in transit from a branch library.
I also received feedback yesterday from three judges - representatives from Love Inspired Historical and Barbour Publishers. Both are ones I hope to target in the future with my writing. Even though I didn't win the contest, I had extremely positive feedback from the judges sharing minor things to tweak. It was a real encouragement.
This week I've written over 500 words with my new novel, and have worked extensively on characterization. I can't wait to see what this new set of characters will find themselves getting involved in, and what dilemmas they will face. I find novel writing to be so much fun, and I'm eager for how God will use this ministry in my life.
Yesterday I was accepted into an advanced fiction writer's course with Christian Writers Guild. My new class will start in November and includes a five day intensive workshop in Colorado working with gifted authors such as DiAnn Mills, Jerry B. Jenkins, etc. It provides a tremendous learning opportunity and I'm quite excited about it. My 'homework' before I begin, is to read these three books - Dialogue by Gloria Kempton, The Fire in Fiction by Donald Maass, and The Power of Body Language by Tonya Reiman. The first two books I personally own, and the last one I'll be borrowing from our public library. In fact, it's already in transit from a branch library.
I also received feedback yesterday from three judges - representatives from Love Inspired Historical and Barbour Publishers. Both are ones I hope to target in the future with my writing. Even though I didn't win the contest, I had extremely positive feedback from the judges sharing minor things to tweak. It was a real encouragement.
This week I've written over 500 words with my new novel, and have worked extensively on characterization. I can't wait to see what this new set of characters will find themselves getting involved in, and what dilemmas they will face. I find novel writing to be so much fun, and I'm eager for how God will use this ministry in my life.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
New Beginnings
Today is a new day in the new chapter of my life. I started work on a new novel I am writing. I haven't gotten very far - only 182 words, but at least it's a beginning. I plan to hammer out some more details with my character,s so I can breathe life into them. As I typed the words today, it was a sweet reminder of how much I enjoy writing. Can't wait to see what God is going to do in my life in this aspect.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Tenacity
I find myself on the brink of a new chapter in my life, where I'm finally able to write full time, retiring after 16 years of homeschooling. I've been seeking the Lord in regards to my schedule, and how I should be spending my time. I find myself a bit fearful as I look at the unknown future spreading out before me. I finally will have the time to move my dream of writing and being published into something hopefully concrete.
Missy Tippens said, "We'll never know what we'll have to show for our writing unless we stick with it." :) In order to one day be published I need to edit, query, submit, and pray, otherwise it will just remain a dream. So today, Lord, that is what I'm choosing to do. I'm making an active decision to write, and seek out what you have for me, and to wait for your perfect timing. Use me as an instrument of Your peace.
Missy Tippens said, "We'll never know what we'll have to show for our writing unless we stick with it." :) In order to one day be published I need to edit, query, submit, and pray, otherwise it will just remain a dream. So today, Lord, that is what I'm choosing to do. I'm making an active decision to write, and seek out what you have for me, and to wait for your perfect timing. Use me as an instrument of Your peace.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Brief Hiatus
I've decided to take a brief hiatus from blogging. Things have been
really busy with the final days of homeschooling, and preparing for my
son's final evaluation, and graduation in less than three weeks. I look
forward to getting back to writing once we've accomplished this mile
stone in our lives - completing 16 years of homeschooling. Whew! I hope
to return in mid May. :)
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Countdown
After 16 years devoted to homeschooling my two sons, I find myself down to the final 18 days of my homeschooling career. It seems hard to believe. I'm ready to move on to a different area of focus in my life, but also find I'm a little sad to see homeschooling end. Although I must admit, I am very excited about life after homeschooling, where I'm finally able to devote full time to my desire to write, and eventually get published beyond bi-monthly magazine articles.
The next five weeks will be filled with our final days of homeschool, as well as lots of paperwork on my part, as I prepare for my son's final homeschool evaluation, and filling out the necessary forms required to receive his diploma on May 11th and June 16th. He'll have two graduations. The first one with the organization that has supported us through our entire homeschooling career - CHAP. We've attended their homeschool conference each year. Then in June, my son will receive his official diploma from PHAA.
When homeschool is a thing of my past, I will be moving on to concentrating on writing my next Christian historical romance. I have ideas for several books, and am anxious to get started writing again. So as I'm in the final countdown until I'm finished with homeschooling, I'm also preparing my heart for what God has next in my life.
The next five weeks will be filled with our final days of homeschool, as well as lots of paperwork on my part, as I prepare for my son's final homeschool evaluation, and filling out the necessary forms required to receive his diploma on May 11th and June 16th. He'll have two graduations. The first one with the organization that has supported us through our entire homeschooling career - CHAP. We've attended their homeschool conference each year. Then in June, my son will receive his official diploma from PHAA.
When homeschool is a thing of my past, I will be moving on to concentrating on writing my next Christian historical romance. I have ideas for several books, and am anxious to get started writing again. So as I'm in the final countdown until I'm finished with homeschooling, I'm also preparing my heart for what God has next in my life.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Face to Face
Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending a one day mini writing conference with my Mother. We had a nice time together, and also meeting other local writers. The workshops were informative and inspiring. As I spoke with a writer at lunch, I realized the importance of face to face communication.
I have the distinct pleasure of being a part of ACFW - American Christian Fiction Writers. There are many avenues of encouragement and learning through the group. They offer monthly courses, a prayer loop, genre loops, daily blogs, a yearly conference, etc. Members have the ability to connect via the world wide web and through email. As encouraging as all this has been for me, I realize how important it is to actually meet with people in person. Perhaps it's because you can see people's facial expressions. But there is something special about communication with others when you are actually all together.
It's been a week since I met with these other writers, and still I feel the influence from that day of connecting together. My writing has been a bit at a standstill as of late for several reasons. One is that I have been sick for the past three weeks, and just haven't felt up to it. Then there also is the fact that we are down to the last five weeks of my son's homeschool year. When we finish, I will have completed 16 years of my homeschooling career. The next month or so will be spent finalizing graduation requirements, working on final grades, homeschool evaluations, etc. Since it is our final year, I'm devoting my time to my son and our last homeschooling days.
But even with all that going on, I still decided to enter two more writing contests. I had the courage to do so because of my time spent with other writers last weekend, and also because of an email of encouragement from a friend of mine. I praise God for the different ways that He uses people to encourage us - in person and online.
I have the distinct pleasure of being a part of ACFW - American Christian Fiction Writers. There are many avenues of encouragement and learning through the group. They offer monthly courses, a prayer loop, genre loops, daily blogs, a yearly conference, etc. Members have the ability to connect via the world wide web and through email. As encouraging as all this has been for me, I realize how important it is to actually meet with people in person. Perhaps it's because you can see people's facial expressions. But there is something special about communication with others when you are actually all together.
It's been a week since I met with these other writers, and still I feel the influence from that day of connecting together. My writing has been a bit at a standstill as of late for several reasons. One is that I have been sick for the past three weeks, and just haven't felt up to it. Then there also is the fact that we are down to the last five weeks of my son's homeschool year. When we finish, I will have completed 16 years of my homeschooling career. The next month or so will be spent finalizing graduation requirements, working on final grades, homeschool evaluations, etc. Since it is our final year, I'm devoting my time to my son and our last homeschooling days.
But even with all that going on, I still decided to enter two more writing contests. I had the courage to do so because of my time spent with other writers last weekend, and also because of an email of encouragement from a friend of mine. I praise God for the different ways that He uses people to encourage us - in person and online.
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