Blessings

It's been a week since I received the call telling me I am a semi-finalist with the 2013 ACFW Genesis contest. I am blessed beyond measure. God continues to send wave upon wave of His grace upon my life. He gets all the glory and praise.


In what ways has God blessed your life?

Learning in Colorado

As I write this I'm in the state of Colorado, in Manitou Springs, on a snowy, beautiful day. It's breathtaking to be up close with the snow covered mountains, and Pike's Peak in easy view. Well, Pike's Peak isn't exactly visible with the clouds hovering at the peaks right now. :) I prayed for it to snow while I was here.

I've been here since Wednesday and will be leaving tomorrow afternoon. I've had the opportunity for fellowship, learning and stretching through a writer's conference/residency. A good bit of the material I was already familiar with, but I've learned some exciting things this past day that will help my future writing career. I'm blessed by the opportunity I had to participate.

I love the many different ways that God provides opportunities for learning and growth each day. Sometimes we aren't as excited about the path He puts us on. It may be painful or riddled with complications and stress, but He always knows what is best for us.

When I return home I know there will be many things demanding my attention again. But I praise Him for the opportunity for growth and learning and a respite from things for a short time. I pray that God will use the things I've learned as He continues to guide me along this writing path.

Stepping Past Fear

Writing can be a difficult thing. I think a lot of writers struggle with fear and insecurity from time to time. (Please don't tell me I'm the only one!) :) Fear of rejection, insecurity of knowing whether you'll be able to produce material as good/great as you wrote before.... The list can go on and on of ways that Satan tries to discourage us from succeeding in the areas where God has called us - to write for Him.

Each time I sit down at the keyboard to work on my current revisions, I have to remind myself yet again, to not give in to those fears. It's a struggle as I try to get back into my characters of a story I wrote over eight months ago. I have to refresh my memory as I try to craft new scenes to replace ones that need to be rewritten.

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13b-14

Lord, help me to focus on that one thing - straining toward what is ahead, to the goal, to the prize. May I rest in you as I strive toward what you have for me.

Interview Your Characters

I had an interesting writing assignment for a course I've been taking, and didn't think a whole lot about it at first. My lesson was on characterization, and getting to better know the people who will be playing out in the various scenes in my new book. One section of the assignment consisted of interviewing your characters to get them to talk so you get a better understanding of their 'voice' and what motivates them.

I like to write Christian historical romances set in the 1870's in the Midwest. So I pretended I was a reporter of a newly formed newspaper and set to work interviewing my characters. I sat my hero and heroine down at separate times :) and started firing questions at them. I've only written part of the second chapter, so my characters don't really know or like each other yet.

As I interviewed my duo, I was surprised by their answers and what motivates them. Some of it was part of the background that I already had been developing, but some parts surprised even me. If anything, now I have a better feel for my characters, and may even adopt some of what I used in the interview in my actual novel. Next time I get to a part of writing where I'm not sure which way to go, I'll have to pull out my reporter hat and start interrogating again. :)

Joy and Pleasure

Yesterday I finished the revisions of the book I've been working on over the past months. I chose to rewrite part of my ending, and I think I like the new one better than the original. As I was writing that chapter, I felt such joy and pleasure in the process. I realize how much I LOVE WRITING. It brings me such joy, and I praise God for the opportunity I have to do it. Someday I hope to actually get paid. :) But for now, it's enough just to get the words down on the page. I pray one day God uses my words to bring glory and honor to Him, and that hearts will be changed. Not because of me and my feeble attempts, but because of Him.

Revision Stage

It's been a while since I've posted. I've been dealing with a kidney stone the past few weeks, and haven't writting a whole lot. I'm in the midst of revisions, and have managed to weed through 92 pages of my current WIP - work in progress. I admit there are some challenging changes ahead of me, but overall I feel that the corrections I'm making is helping to improve the book and make it better. Hopefully the editor agrees. :)

I've been particularly blessed to do some brainstorming with some writing friends of mine, bouncing ideas, to see what would work, or not work. It's such a blessing to be a part of the ACFW - American Christian Fiction Writers network. I've learned so much by being a part of this group, and also by going through a writing course with Jerry B. Jenkins, Christian Writers Guild. I'm looking forward to taking an advanced fictin writing course, starting in November, where I'll be working one on one with a published author.

I praise God for the people He brings into our lives, who help us along in the journey. My prayer is to honor Him, and to bring glory to Him in the words I write, and in the way I live my life. May He be praised.

The Birth of a Character

I'm in the process of creating new characters for book two in the series that I'm working on. This is always a fun part of the writing experience, although I admit to having itching fingers, anxious to get the story down on paper. But in order to do that, I first need to breathe life into characters to play and interact on the pages.

One of my characters played a minor role in the first book, so this one will be his story. So for now I'm perusing books on personalities, and writing books about characters. I can see the heroine beginning to come to life with her foibles, insecurities, and strengths. I even have gone as far back as her childhood to learn her history - or back story.

So what memorable characters have you discovered in your reading and what makes them come off the page and live in your imagination?