Authors Just Write

Are your creative juices clogged?

2012-02-10T08:09:00.000-08:00

What a mess! I've spent the last hour shredding papers that covered a corner of my office. I wouldn't say that I'm a totally messy person but I will admit that God has not blessed me with the best organizational skills. I have to work at organizing and clutter free living.

This morning I decided to get this done. I'm tired of stepping over this bag of papers to get to my books and printer. I've been shredding for over an hour. My shredder clogged up several times and I'm starting to sneeze from all the dust. I hate boring work, but it did give me time to ponder a few things. This mess made me wonder if our brains are clogged with junk. Can the mess we carry inside rob us of creativity?

Wouldn’t it be great if we had a mental shredder that we could turn on and let it totally eliminate all the junk that destroys productivity?  All the would haves and could haves and should haves that muck up our creativity could be removed by the touch of a button . When the shredder was done with lost hopes maybe it could go to work on all the resentment, hurt feelings and guilt issues. Of course I wouldn’t be able to stop until it had obliterated my self-esteem issues and that great big ball of fear.

*Sigh* I know that God has offered to do that and we should let Him.  But somehow trapped in this human body of mine, all too often I’m sifting through those shredded pieces looking for the hurt and pain that God has already trashed.

Wouldn't it be great if we could clear out the clutter and get down to pure thought?

I hope you will join me in this prayer.

Dear Jesus,

Please help me today to let go of the junk in my life. Teach me how to prevent it from cluttering up my mind. Show me how to allow your heavenly shredder to eliminate the thoughts that rob productivity and keep me from fulfilling your will in my life. Help me to shred bad thoughts and leave them alone...forever. As our minds and hearts are swept clean, fill them with creativity, love, energy and peace. Give your authors a wonderful day of freedom. Freedom from the past, from the hurts, from the fears and from anything that can clog up our work. Give us the power to spread the word and the good news that you will always make a difference in our lives. Thank you Jesus, Amen

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Why writers are so important...

2012-02-08T07:39:00.000-08:00

If you are sitting in your office wondering if your writing will have any influence on this world, watch this video. This is precisely why we write!

Now get busy and change the world!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Recognizing our true fight

2012-02-07T09:59:00.000-08:00

Humans love to find that comfy place of rest. I've never met a human that strives to be overworked or completely stressed out. Even the warrior or the instigator will try to find a place of comfort. I have to admit there are times when I long for quiet days, peaceful thoughts and a totally easy life.

I decided to share a short bio of Bonhoeffer because he faced the problems all writers face. He had to choose between a life of ease and a life of purpose.

When he talked about the fact that the church was not speaking boldly against the Nazis and Hitler, he was passionate. "Cheap Grace is the mortal enemy of our church. Our struggle today is for costly grace." I read those words and gulped. I need to find a voice that isn't seeking comfort or cheap grace - but rather a passionate voice that strives for costly grace.

In other words, get out there and speak about sin and injustice! I hope his life gives you a renewed determination to voice your opinion.

The following is brought to you by American Minute

British Journalist Malcolm Muggeridge explained how Hitler's universal health care plan eventually led to the Holocaust:

"We have been accorded, for those that have eyes to see, an object lesson in what the quest for 'quality of life' without reference to 'sanctity of life' can involve...The origins of the Holocaust lay, not in Nazi terrorism...but in pre-Nazi Weimar Germany's acceptance of euthanasia and mercy-killing as humane and estimable."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer rebuked German Christians who stood silent while Hitler intimidated church leaders to accept the socialist, anti-life agenda of the National Socialist Workers Party (NAZI).

The New York Times reported Oct. 10, 1933:

"Nazi Plan to Kill Incurables to End Pain; German Religious Groups Oppose Move...The Ministry of Justice...explaining the Nazi aims regarding the German penal code, today announced its intentions to authorize physicians to end the sufferings of the incurable patient...in the interest of true humanity.

The Catholic newspaper Germania hastened to observe: 'The Catholic faith binds the conscience of its followers not to accept this method.'...In Lutheran circles, too, life is regarded as something that God alone can take...

Euthanasia...has become a widely discussed word in the Reich...No life still valuable to the State will be wantonly destroyed."

Bonhoeffer warned Germans not to slip into the cult of Führer (leader) worship, as he could turn out to be a Verführer (mis-leader, seducer).

Jimmy Carter, in his book Sources of Strength, 1997, wrote:

"Rev. Niebuhr urged Dietrich Bonhoeffer to remain in America for his own safety. Bonhoeffer refused. He felt he had to be among the other Christians persecuted in Germany.

So he returned home, and...in resistance to Hitler...preached publicly against Nazism, racism, and anti-Semitism...Bonhoeffer was finally arrested and imprisoned.

Born FEBRUARY 4, 1906, he died April 9, 1945, just a few days before the allied armies liberated Germany. He was executed on orders of Heinrich Himmler. He died a disciple and a martyr."

Jimmy Carter concluded:

"The same Holy Spirit...that gave Bonhoeffer the strength to stand up against Nazi tyranny is available to us today."

As a young man, Bonhoeffer was deeply effected by the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York, where he taught Sunday School and formed a life-long love for African-American spirituals.

Bonhoeffer challenged believers:

"To endure the cross is not tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ"

In his most widely read book, The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer wrote:

"Cheap grace is the mortal enemy of our church. Our struggle today is for costly grace."

On February 16, 2002, Dr. James Dobson told the National Religious Broadcasters:

"Those of you who feel that the church has no responsibility in the cultural area...

What if it were 1943 and you were in Nazi Germany and you knew what Hitler was doing to the Jews...Would you say, 'We're not political-that's somebody else's problem'?"

Dobson concluded:

"I thank God Dietrich Bonhoeffer did not give that answer, and he was arrested by the Nazis and hanged in 1945, naked and alone because he said, 'This is not right.'"

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

The Misunderstood Box

2012-02-06T08:12:00.000-08:00

I am not a sports fan type person. I don't think there's anything wrong with sports or games, but since it was never a part of our family - I don't enjoy competitive games.

There's one sports image that has come to mind several times lately. I know nothing about hockey so correct me if I'm wrong. It seems that while everyone in the game is encouraged to "fight, fight, fight" over a hockey puck, the players are often penalized and forced to sit out the game in a penalty box that looks a lot like a time out corner for a two year old.

While I think it's a good analogy for a parent to teach their own toddlers that "even adults are put in a penalty box if they do something wrong..." I often feel for the players. It seems they have to walk a fine line between what their coaches and the spectators are screaming and what the referee is demanding. Lately I've wondered if the feel like they are "Alone in the misunderstood box". Perhaps they are thinking, "I did what they wanted and instead of being rewarded, I'm stuck in here."

I'm sure the fear of being shoved into that box is why so many writers quit before they begin. I admit I am plagued with that fear. What if I write something important but others don't understand where I'm coming from and are even less willing to ask for clarification? What if they attack me?

We have been trained to think negatively about our work. Editors want us to be our best so they go over our manuscripts with a microscope. Publishers want to stir the masses but it can't be too far into the negative or the masses will stop buying - so...they scrutinize every viewpoint. When your piece actually hits the market, passionate souls are poised to throw rocks at your now glass house.  All that's needed to get the fear juices going is to watch a newscaster present a new book in a negative light or find out that some new author is being sued for his/her opinions.

Writing that touches a reader's heart must be felt by the author as well as the reader. If you don't share your feelings, the reader will get a sense that your writing is flat or bland.

The path to writing that touches readers is as frightening as walking a tightrope over the grand canyon. You must share your story, your viewpoint, your wisdom and hope that you are understood. You must put your life on the stage and hope it doesn't draw tomatoes.

I don't know about you but I struggle everyday to be sure I have learned the truth. Can I be trusted to share nuggets of wisdom with those around me? I listen to a lot of "stars" on the stage who have no idea of truth and consequently are leading others down a dark path. I hate that. I don't want to be like that.

I work and pray and beg God to help me have a voice on stage. When the moment arrives, I'm excited. I step to the front and share my story, my life, my wisdom. I am sure people will "understand" and like what I have to say. I'm sure that I've worded it right and my purpose is clear. My editors are sure that it will strike a cord and will be helpful to others.

When I'm through, the hall is silent. 10, 15, 40 people give me the thumbs up and then quietly walk out of the room. I smile. I'm glad. I was hoping for thunderous applause (what can I say - I'm human) but a thumbs up is nice too. I accept the fact that not every article or book is going to be a knock it out of the park winner. I glance down to the second row and watch as someone wrinkles his nose and shakes his head. Two more join in the opinion. I feel small. I listen to their opinions and suddenly I'm being sent to my room...alone and misunderstood. The things they said weren't right. They don't know me. The accusations were completely off base. It must be my fault. I didn't write clearly. I was over dramatic. I confused the issue. The walls of the Misunderstood box begin to form and there's no way to fix the problem. They didn't get my point and I'm helpless.

Alone in this miserable misunderstood box, I begin to question my calling. I start to wonder if I'm qualified. I wonder if I have the right to continue. Maybe I wasn't called at all. Yep...you can follow this can't you? You've probably wondered these same things even before you sent the piece in. Maybe even before you wrote your piece. What if no one understands what I'm trying to say. Our world is poised to attack anything they don't understand. What if they attack me?

Matthew 10: 22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

We have a calling to be strong. We have a calling to tell the truth. We have a calling to be real and not so pious that no one can relate to us. We have a calling to make a difference. You can't make a difference in this sick and needy world unless you are real, honest and bold.

Last week an atheist blew me away about an article I wrote on my Family Tracks blog. Girl Scouts have been in the news because they are pushing a leftist, atheistic view. I commented and the attack was ruthless. This week Kyria posted my article Do you see me? While 45 people liked it, the star rating and the comment section was brutal. They questioned my life, my marriage, my faith and said I made them uncomfortable. What should I do? If I comment back to them I might seem argumentative. If I leave it alone others might not read the article because it's rated so low. If I contact my friends for help, I might seem weak and unable to withstand a little criticism. Alone and miserable in the misunderstood box.

It's a fine line we all walk. As authors we must be tough as nails. Why? Why do we have to stand on that stage, smile at the flying tomatoes and continue to speak? Because of the one. Jesus said that the one lost sheep was worth anything the Shepherd had to do to save it. (Luke 15:4-7) In the middle of all the flurry of negative comments, I received one personal e-mail that thanked me for exposing Girl Scouts. "I was about to allow my daughter to join. We are devout Christians and she's too young to be attacked by left leaning forces. Thank you for helping me avoid a problem."

And on the Kyria site, there was one comment in the middle of all the negative. "So inspiring...so much that it helps me to continue with the good works even though its not appreciated but that someday, somehow , somewhere there's a reward for our good deeds since our God is not a wicked God who will not forget our labour of love.Thanks Kyria for this initiative...keep up the good works...it just might be what somebody needs to get his life back. God Bless you real good for being real about our struggles and the practical solution therein."

That one person is worth all the pain we have to endure to get the message across.   Most writing courses will tell you to have a clear picture of your readers (plural) in mind when you write. Let me suggest that it's helpful to remember the one reader....the one individual that will connect with what you have to say. Love that one struggling lost sheep that needs to see your hand of help or hear your message. And what is that message? That Jesus is there and is real for every problem, every situation, every issue and moment in our lives. When we are good and when we struggle - Jesus is there.

I do have a suggestion. Every author must sit in a quiet lonely room or office and produce work. That can become a dangerous place to be. We often see the world through the articles we write. Be sure you have author friends that you can share struggles with. I hope you will forward or suggest that your writing friends become a part of this blog. We need to be just as verbal with our support of other writers as we are about the work we show to the world. I hope all of you who read this blog will consider how important it is to comment, to share and to pray for each other. We need the support of our friends. When I wrote a friend and cried on her shoulder - not only did she understand (which took me out of the box) but she prayed and then she re-read the article, commented on the site and sent me a comforting e-mail.  *Sigh* Thank you God for a wonderful support system. Thank you for Laura. I can write again.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Tools of the Trade

2012-01-23T09:03:00.000-08:00

This blog will always be committed to the mental health of writers and authors. Finding my way in the demanding world of writing has been one of the hardest things I've ever done. Becoming an actual "paid" author not only takes discipline and new ideas but it's also drains you emotionally, demands a tough skin, requires lots of research that never ends up on the page and you must have scheduling techniques that rival Nasa.

Many of you have written and asked for my personal techniques for handing all the "extras" that go along with writing. Since that seems to be a personal journey for each writer, I've been hesitant about going there. There are days when I flounder and wonder why I'm doing this. There are days when I'm so excited about a topic it's hard for my fingers to keep up with my brain. There are days when my head aches from research and other days I moan because I can't meet a friend for lunch.

Debbie Macomber spoke at the Mount Hermon Christian Writer's Conference. I was excited to sit by her at lunch. She is a darling person and one of my favorite fiction writers. She has sold billions of books and is still going strong. In her very first talk she explained that no job can be done successfully without purchasing tools of the trade. Even if you decide to become a dishwasher in a local dive restaurant - you will probably purchase a good set of plastic gloves.

She went on to insist that many new writers think all they need is a pencil and paper in order to write a best selling novel. While there is a small amount of truth to the simplistic view - it isn't likely that you'll go on to sell that great novel. You have to investigate the proper procedure for submitting, who to present to, how to get noticed and ultimately pay postage or invest in technology to get your writing to a likely publisher.

"Never feel guilty about the money you spend to reach for your dreams." She went on to tell the audience about how hard it was to take $100 a month from her meager family budget in order to purchase supplies, read books, attend conferences and submit her work. Yet....it was that investment that finally helped her reach her dream.

After that conference, I began to think of my tools of the trade as "education". Suppose a "University of Authors" made the claim that enrollment in their school guaranteed publication. They promised that after two years of study graduates earning a B or higher would publish their novels. The cost $2,500 Publication of your novel even with a small company would net you $3,000 and the hope to publish other novels. Sounds like a decent deal.

For those of you that have asked....yes...you can visit the websites of your favorite authors and most of them give writing tips. You can research writing tips on line. You can purchase tapes and MP3's from many of the best writers conferences. You can check out writing books for free at the library.

However, I recommend that while you build your own library of "free" materials, that you also think about building an office of specific tools of the trade. Good books that you can read over and over - making notes in the margins. Join writing groups and associations. Become part of a group of writers that share ideas and an understanding ear.

And....above all....own specific tools that inspire you. Tools that get your creative juices going. Perhaps that will include inspirational tapes. Maybe it's books by genre authors in your field. Subscriptions to magazines or even technological tools.

Last November I purchased an Apple iPad II. I received money for my birthday and had a kindle in mind. My laptop was having issues and I like to write on trips or when I'm stuck waiting for the doctor or a friend. My son suggested the Apple iPad instead of the Kindle. The battery runs much longer than most laptops and can be used to write articles. I can access Facebook and other social groups. I can read books from Kindle and I can check my e-mail.

What I've found is that because the Apple is so light and easy to throw in a purse - I'm writing more. It's a "fun" way for me to complete work even when I can't access my PC. I'm also reading more (which is a plus). While Ron listens to music in the car - I pop open the Ipad and read a few pages in a book. I'm so glad Jamie convinced me to spend a little more and purchase technology that would help my writing as well.

Don't ever feel guilty for purchasing the tools of the Trade. You need them in order to be considered serious about your writing - and in the long run - it will pay off!

God loves you and wants you to write,

Debbie

I'm not a fan of selling to my friends and colleagues. However, since the life of a "regular" author isn't filled with paychecks (that's only for best sellers), and since I do a lot of freebie work for hurting families - I have included a link to Amazon on each of my blogs. By using this link your price stays the same but amazon throws a few cents at me for promoting their marketplace. Check out the following products...they are a must for my writing!

Authors wanted, thin skin need not apply.

2012-01-19T12:39:00.000-08:00

Before we become authors, perhaps we should all be required to take a class on rejection. I thought the more I was published, the more the fear of submitting would go away. Yet, here I am with several articles and a book under my belt and I still think twice about sending that article.

I do push the send button more often. Those fears no longer stop me from trying, but I'm surprised that there's still a little twinge just before the click. I thought perhaps it was a reflex that would melt away in time until I sat one dinner table away from Jerry Jenkins.

We were attending an awards banquet and Jerry and his new book Riven was up for Book of the year. He faced three ladies and a man whose experience and publishing popularity was small compared to him. The moment before the name was announced I glanced at his face and saw it. It was a small nervous twitch and an expression that questioned whether or not he had a chance. His wife took his hand. When the name was called (and it wasn't his) his head dropped. He took a deep breath, mustered a little more strength and raised his head and hands to applaud.

If someone whose done so much for our lives and created so many stories can feel that twitch before he knew he was accepted - why wouldn't I feel it? Why wouldn't you?

To be a good author I think we have to understand that it's enough to be on the stage talking. It doesn't matter if we are liked or even if we are published. It does matter that we are doing our best to perfect our craft and that we keep trying.

So today....here I sit....alone in my office...a little nervous....a little intimidated...but ready....yes, I'm ready....push the button. *Sigh* It's now out of my hands.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

HAPPY NATIONAL AUTHOR'S DAY!!!

2011-11-01T13:03:00.000-07:00

November 1st is National Author's Day

In 1928 Nellie Verne Burt McPherson was president of the Bement Illinois Women's Club. She is recognized as the originator of the National Author's Day.

McPherson was a teacher and avid writer. She wrote a fan letter to the fiction writer Irving Bacheller explaining how much she enjoyed the story “Eben Hoden’s Last Day A’Fishin”.

Bacheller sent her an autographed copy of another story. McPherson decided to show her appreciation by electing for a National Author’s day to honor American writers. The National Author’s Day was recognized by the Department of Commerce in 1949.

Isn't that great! Now you can celebrate Mother's Day, Father's Day, Thanksgiving and.....you're own personal work day.

I'm so proud of you!

God loves you and has called you to write!

Debbie

The Lord is my Shepherd...

2011-08-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

When I wrote the last post I had finished talking with three different editors who were very discouraged. I was dealing with my own problems and about as discouraged as I've ever been.

Understand please... that the kind of discouragement I'm talking about isn't the kind that keeps you from working or distracts you so much that you can't write. I continued to press on and meet my daily writing goals. The type of discouragement I felt was like the little black cloud that seemed to hang over Charlie Brown. I had heard so much negative talk and had so many personal problems that writing was a chore. For the first time in my writing career, I wasn't excited about putting words on paper. I still had the ideas, still had the thoughts...I just didn't have the desire to write.

I'm feeling better now. My personal problems haven't disappeared. In fact, they have probably intensified. So why am I feeling better? Check out my Family Tracks blog to see what I've been doing the last two months. It's very exciting. Yet, I've discovered that acquiring a lot of exciting writing possibilities isn't why I'm feeling better.

I found out what I crave and need in this profession is interaction with people who are going through the same situations I have. My Dad is a minister and in our denomination we used to have a thing called, "Testimony Services". Every so often on a Sunday evening, Dad would open with "Testimonies". He would pray a simple prayer and then sit down. One by one people in the audience would stand and share something they were going through and give a short "testimony" about how God was helping them cope. Sometimes they were funny or sometimes they made you cry. Sometimes they were short and sometimes Dad would have to stand by the pulpit and give his comments to hopefully shorten the process.

I remember one older woman (in her 80's) that always gave the exact same testimony. She would use a cane to stand. She would steady herself and then smile. "The Lord is my shepherd and that's all I want." She would look around the room to be sure she had been heard. Then as if it were an Amen, she would tap her cane loudly and sit down.

As I talked with other authors and professionals this month, I began to understand how important "Testimonies" are. By sharing my feelings, I learned what other - more successful authors have done to fight those same feelings. If you are discouraged or having a difficult time with your writing - reach out to other writers. Share your concerns with them and be open to their wisdom. When we stand together and share our Testimonies, we will be stronger and our tasks will be lighter.

And yes....we will all come to understand that "The Lord is our shepherd and that's all we want."

If you have a writing testimony you would like to share, please send it to debbie@debbiejansen.com. I would be happy to post it.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Don't give up!

2011-06-17T08:43:00.000-07:00

Since I last posted, I've been working with several authors and publishers. It seems we all need to cling to Galatians 6:9.

"And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint."

It is hard to maintain our writing tempo when we feel sorrow, pain, stress or we just plain feel persecuted. It doesn't matter if it's coming from Satan or another person or even if it's just a part of life. Going through trials or difficult situations can cause us to lose our "passion and heart" for writing. We still care. We still want to help. We still feel the desire to make a difference. Yet, something is wrong. We lack the "spirit" that once drove our passion. We feel like we are hydroplaning. In other words we are moving through our normal routine but in that routine we feel helplessly out of control.

As I've told my friends, we all need to cling to the verse that I've quoted over and over these last few months. "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you." Isaiah 43:2.

In other words....don't be afraid! Hold God's hand and push through the darkness. Put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

It's also important to surround yourself with encouragement. Read your Bible, listen to good music, read an inspirational book. Center your mind on the fact that "With God all things are possible!" The more we can quote that to ourselves, the better our chances of actually believing it.

I am convinced that there are powers at work in the supernatural world that are trying to discourage God's people. Not only must we continue the fight to keep God's church encouraged...we must be encouraged in our own work. We are God's voice. We are God's hands. Don't give up! Keep working and soon....very soon....you will reap the rewards of a disciplined and dedicated life.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Does Pain influence your writing?

2011-05-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

I am pleased that so many authors are finding their way to this blog. Many of you have shared the blackest fears your are facing. I understand completely. Authors are strange people and we need all the emotional help we can find.

That statement was not a criticism. Authors must twist and turn every thought we have. We must look at situations and problems in a different way. We don't have the luxury of "spouting off" (although some do). If we take our job seriously, we must be logical and analytical. We need to find the little details and shine a bright light on them. Most people don't look for hidden meanings, wooded bunny trails and possible dire consequences. Authors are the voices that yell into the darkness -"Hey yawl! I found a new trail and I think it's gonna be a good one!"

People follow authors and that's a huge responsibility. We know that we have the potential to change the world - or at least our little part of it. That responsibility weighs heavy on "good" authors minds and often pain comes along for the ride. That pain is both good and bad. Like fire - it can help us light the way and inspire our readers to move forward. Also like fire - out of control pain can devastate the reputation and productivity of an author.

Let me explain.

It is part of an author's job to keep up with the news so our writing will be fresh, contemporary and help our readers to either escape the problems of today or find new ways to deal with those problems.

Authors have to face rejection letters, weeks and often months without a paycheck, criticism from so called friends, attacks from strangers who don't know anything about our research or point of view, mounds of research and that cluttered desk that calls in the night - clean me, write me, answer all your e-mails. Our mind is constantly rumbling with ideas because we know that we are only as good as our next sale. Even when the desperately needed check arrives - at that moment we are unemployed again. Add to that the fact that we don't sit in some ivory tower waiting for a waitress to bring food or a maid to clean our home and you will find the breeding ground for excuses. Nope, we are not a privileged group. We also deal with all the personal issues of health, family, finances and faith - juggling our lives in the same way non-writers do. About the time we are inspired and pounding those keys at our computer....mother calls and needs to go see the doctor - immediately! Susie calls from school to say she forgot the notebook for her class project and without it she will get a failing grade. The pastor calls wanting to know if you will take soup to a sick shut-in.

Finally at 10pm you sit down to write in peace and suddenly you are overwhelmed with pain. I personally don't like to call it depression. I'm not convinced that properly describes what I feel. Instead, when I think about the news - I feel pain. It's a sense of loss that others just can't see the truth. I see where certain philosophies lead and I know that individuals are about to walk off a cliff. That hurts me! It pains me to know that evil is so busy influencing the world. It feels as though devious people who only want to make a buck - have no problem leading innocent readers down a dark and evil path. I don't understand how some people sleep at night. How they can write such obviously wrong things and then get on TV and try to defend them. I hurt for their readers.

For me....that pain leads to sorrow and to prayer. I beg God to show me how to have a greater influence. I lift teary eyes to heaven sobbing for God to lift my burden. I feel so alone, overwhelmed and just not capable of finishing my task. And that pain influences my writing. How? Either I pound the keys with anger - which thank goodness I never share those writings:) or...I am so discouraged/careful that my writing lacks power and inspiration.

It's at that point that I have to ask God to help me find middle ground. I can't allow my circumstances to keep me from writing. I can't allow the tidal wave of other's pain to weigh me down and keep me avoiding the door to my office. I have to shake it off. Not with an "I don't care" attitude, but rather with the knowledge that I am laying those problems at the feet of Jesus and asking..."Can you watch these for me, while I do the writing you've called me to do?"

I have to take a walk, listen to a song or a writers class, exercise or just call a friend. I have to remind myself that for this moment everything is okay and the most important thing I can do is write the words God is placing in my mind.

I'm not the Savior of the world - God is. Looking for instant results, crowd pleasing words or the next best seller isn't my job. My job is to accept the Holy Calling of Writing and do the work God has placed before me. If I do that...then I am pleasing to the one person that really matters - God.

Dear God,

Help me to do your will today. Help me to shine a light into this dark and depraved world. Help me to handle the "situations" of my life with grace while I also find time to follow your Holy Calling. I ask you today to bless my writing friends. Help us to unite in the great task of spreading your word. Bless our efforts and may they join together creating a sea of voices that will overwhelm evil and unite in the acknowledgement that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Give all of my writing friends a productive and peaceful day....

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

A safe encouraging friend

2011-05-01T08:28:00.000-07:00

We all know that writing is hard. Just when you think you are on a roll and the ideas are coming fast and furious - something happens and your creativity comes to a screeching halt.

Maybe the children are sick or your husband didn't get that raise. Maybe you receive that dreaded rejection notice or you find out your pastor is leaving. The worst of all is when an "un-safe" friend whose only read two books in her life decides to tell you all the things she felt was wrong with your last published work. Her opinion shouldn't be that important and yet...today....it reaches into your life and turns off all your creativity.

You begin to ask yourself if writing is worth it. You begin to question if you can complete your goals. That one little bud of doubt has encouraged an entire garden of fears.

When you feel this way, you need a drummer. A friend that will beat the drum of encouragement and keep your eyes focused on your goal. You need a safe encouraging friend to counterbalance the fears you face. Every writer should have at least one encouraging friend - outside relative status - that can keep you motivated. I am blessed to have several of those types of friends. Each of them seem to sense when I'm down. They don't call and keep me on the phone for hours or try to counsel or talk me out of my doldrums. Instead, they send me a ray of sunshine by e-mail.

"Thinking of you today. I love your writing."

"Keep it up Debbie. I know it must be hard but I love your work."

"I was praying for you. I know it must be hard working like you do - and most of it for free. Just want you to know that I appreciate all your writings. They mean so much to my life."

Each one of those precious friends share in any success I may have. Their encouragement has kept me going when I wanted to quit.

It's a chilly day with gray clouds and rain. I'm staring at a desk covered in piles of papers and red important stickers that announce - "Do me first!" We've just returned from a hard and difficult trip. I have to have a root canal and dentists scare me. I was praying for God's strength when I received the following e-mail.

Jeremiah 29:11

"for I know the plans I have for YOU," declares the LORD..."

Never give the devil a ride, he will want to take over the driving.

Dear Woman of God

Be still for a while and praise God for His favor, His grace and His awesomeness

God is able to do the impossible and is always near. He loves us unconditionally.
Dear God: This is my friend, whom I love and this is my prayer for her

"Help her live her life to the fullest. Please promote her and cause her to excel above her expectations.

Help her to shine in the darkest places where it is impossible to love. Protect her at all times, lift her up when she needs you the most, and let her know when she walks with you, She will always be safe."

Love you Girl!

It is very important that writers cultivate safe and encouraging friends. Thank you Pat for your encouragement today! God bless you!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Hard work is important

2011-03-31T12:12:00.000-07:00

This blog is about the "soul" of a writer. It's not my job to teach you how to write...but rather to keep you writing. Since we all receive those dreaded rejection letters....I thought we should take a moment to laugh and realize that we probably are doing better than we think. Imagine if the following letter was a proposal for a writing assignment.

Resimay

To hoom it mae cunsern,
I waunt to apply for the job what I saw in the paper.
I can Type realee quik wit one finggar and do sum a counting..
I think I am good on the phone and I no I am a pepole person,
Pepole really seam to respond to me well.

I no my spelling is not to good but find that I Offen can get a job thru my persinalety.
My salerery is open so we can discus wat you want to pay me and wat you think that I am werth,
I can start emeditely. Thank you in advanse fore yore anser.

hopifuly

Yore best aplicant so farr.

Sinseerly,

BRYAN

Now don't you feel better? At least you know how to use spell check. As we all know, working hard at your craft does pay off.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

The Schedule

2011-03-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

If you want to be tested on any particular issue....just write it down or announce it to the world and boom! Testing is bound to come.

The last 2 1/2 weeks have been a blur of illness, legal matters, writing deadlines etc....blah, blah, blah....

Everyone has those issues. Some popular authors have worked on their schedules long enough that they seem to take those issues in stride. Lately I've felt like a Texas Cowboy trying to herd thousands of cows without any help. I crack the whip on one end and get that area in line only to have to rush to the opposite end and crack the whip there.

I DO HAVE GOOD NEWS.......the more I work with my schedule, the easier it gets to say no to some things and to stay in line with my goals.

Here's what I'm doing now.

1. I'm being good to myself. NO more guilt. You see...I love people and I hate the thought that they might think I don't care or that I'm putting them off. Often that's meant that I've had to stop my writing in order to accommodate their needs. Of course, I would never tell someone in an emergency that I couldn't stop...but I'm redefining emergency. I'm giving myself permission to say no to things like, "Do you have a minute to talk?" That's a lie...no one talks for just a minute.

I'm learning to say, "I'm in the middle of writing. This will take me about an hour. Can I call you back then? I really must meet this deadline." Most people are willing to wait and it's giving me a little more freedom to stay on task during the day. In fact, just last week that philosophy helped me stay on task and sell another article. That's just cool!

2. I'm trying to set actual work hours. I imagine this "boss" in my head that insists that I meet my writing goals for the day no matter what. I've even imagined that I had to call in sick. My boss (I've named him GW) asked if I couldn't just come in and make a few notes for him. I pushed my aching arm and sat at my desk and did the one finger typing thing - all because GW needed me. I know....sounds like one of those flaky psycho tricks....but it has helped. I'm getting my head in line with the knowledge I've always known - writing is a business and you must have some structure for it to work.

3. I've made a list of every writing project I feel is important enough to complete. That list is sitting by my monitor. It's my goal for the month and for the year. I have to admit that at first it was discouraging and overwhelming. But when I added the following it became an exciting encouragement.

4. Every morning I begin my day by praying over my list. I ask God to give me the energy and the "expertise" to know how to accomplish those goals. Knowing that I have a partner in this helps me to stay focused and to know where to go for strength when I'm tired.

5. My plan today is to make a list of the things I have accomplished in my writing career. Every time I'm discouraged I plan to go over the list for a quick look back at the things I have accomplished!

Please write and let me know what you are doing to stick to your schedule. I would love to share those thoughts with others.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Is it possible for any author to follow a schedule?

2011-03-08T19:22:00.000-08:00

Over the course of my writing career I've made hundreds of schedules. I've written them out, plugged them into computer programs, used sticky notes, tried to keep it in my head and left messages all over the house. I've used calendars, lists, notecards and e-mails. I've written everything down, prioritized and edited until only two items remained. I've tried to think ahead, think behind and not think at all.

I'm frustrated and sick of the whole process. Yet, I understand that without some type of structure...without some type of schedule - my writing will never be produced. Why is it necessary to talk about schedules here? After all, aren't you supposed to be writing about my mental frustrations as a writer?

If you can't produce and you can't tame your schedule....you will always be depressed about your writing because you can't sell something you don't have finished! It's important to your mental state of mind that we work on a schedule so you can get on with your writing.

Please understand that I don't evade my work. I love my work and avoiding it isn't something that I ever think about doing. But...there's always someone, something or some problem that seems so pressing that it pushes and pushes until my writing time is cut down to only a few minutes. It's at that point that I have to choose between my books or my blogs or that great new article for some magazine. If only I could spend an entire day writing. Or...as my working outside the home friends says...."If only I could have one Saturday or week-end a month to devote completely to my writing."

As authors we must have that quiet alone time to write. If we are to produce the work that God has called us to do....we must have time to do it. The only way to make that time is to schedule. But how?

Yesterday I had planned to tell you exactly how I was going to do it. I had new plans and I was sure they would work. Yesterday was no different than any other. I tried to write and my arm just wouldn't cooperate. I tried to get my arm settled down and had to take two phone calls. "Debbie!" Ron called with an emergency that just wouldn't wait. My pitiful schedule was ruined....again. I sat at my desk and cried. "Lord please help me. I need a plan." The thought came to me that I've always started my plans by writing down what I wanted to do. But...I've never investigated what I actually do during any one day.

Hum....So, today I started by writing down the hours and plugging in my day - as it happened. I'm hoping that this will give me an idea of how many times I'm interrupted and for what reason. Then perhaps I'll be able to either schedule around them or find a way to move those things to another slot and make way for more writing.

I have an idea of what Today looked like. Tomorrow I'll document my day again but...I'll also try to move around 30 minutes here or there and see if I can work within the confines of the sort of schedule already in place.

Wish me luck!

Let me know how you plan your days.

God loves you and has called you to write.

Debbie

Distractions can destroy an Author's productivity

2011-03-07T16:53:00.000-08:00

"I'm gonna write a book....."

"I've got a great idea for an article...."

"I know I could be a great writer if...."

I've often felt sorry for people who have wonderful ideas but can't seem to produce the work. In fact....just between you and me....there have been times when I've wondered if I should go over and stand in their line. It seems when I feel the most inspired to "produce" that's when I'm also the most distracted. Someone calls, another person begs for help, an emergency e-mail pops up or my wonderful handsome husband announces he wants to take me to lunch.

None of those are bad....but when added together they can rob an author of the time needed to produce. Successful authors must have quality "butt in chair" time in order to produce good work.

There are a lot of great books that deal with time management. There are books just on time management and books that get specific with special plans for authors. My favorite is the book by Jim Denny, Quit your day job! It's a wonderful book that covers all the bases. In Chapter two he helps the reader determine if he's serious about being an author. He asks the question, "Do you write at least an hour a day, every day?" How can you call yourself a writer if you are not writing at least an hour a day in your spare time? He then goes on to say, If you can't find time to write, make time. Get up an hour earlier or go to bed an hour later. If you're not writing an hour a day, you haven't developed the discipline and focus to write full time.

Sounds pretty harsh and yet he's absolutely right. Many people often have desires and dreams, but in reality they don't have the drive or passion to make those dreams come true.

Now before you get upset and start praying for me to wake up tomorrow with a thousand wrinkles - having unfulfilled desires isn't a bad thing. Sometimes those dreams can carry us through tough times or help us face an unfulfilled life with the hope that maybe someday...perhaps....it will all fall into place. No one is knocking the fact that you do have dreams.

But...if you are ready to make those dreams a reality, then the reality is that you will have to design a schedule, stick to it and produce the work. There's just no way around that fact.

When I was younger I dreamed of playing the piano. I loved piano players. What fun to plop down and instantly create all sorts of tunes that would take listeners on a journey through their emotions. Unfortunately for me, I didn't have the talent or the drive to make my hands learn the necessary steps. As a teen I remember talking to a young classical pianist. She could play Bach and Beethoven and transition to jazz and pop. I leaned on the upright piano in the choir hall and dreamed out loud. "I would give anything if I could play like you." She smiled back and said..."I did."

If you want to be a writer and to serve God with your talents, you can find a way. It's not impossible. It won't cost much....just everything you have."

All this week we will go through the process of finding time to write. Join me as I plan my schedule and get down to business.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Fun Video #2

2011-02-18T12:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I told you about my arm and included a fun video with some famous authors. Some of you wanted to know more about my arm. You can find information about this... On the mend .... at my Family Tracks blog.

Since I had a tough morning at therapy...let's have another laugh from Angela Hunt, Robin Hatcher, Terri Blackstock, Carolyne Aarsen and Kristin Billerbeck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJMkh3nPe3Y

You guys are just cool!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

On the mend and anxious to write...

2011-02-17T09:55:00.000-08:00

Thank you for all your prayers. My arm is doing much better. I have a condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. Over 20 years ago a doctor threatened to amputate my arm because he couldn't get the problem resolved. So....anytime my arm acts up, I'm nervous.

However, I have a wonderful doctor who feels we can fix the arm with therapy and avoid the problems connected with surgery. Unfortunately, it eliminated my ability to write for a while. It will take time for me to work up to being as productive as I have been.

So...be patient. I'm anxious to get back to writing and my idea notebook is overflowing. Today, I thought I would leave you with a little fun. Angela Hunt recommended a YouTube video about writing. After listening to the interview, I wondered if Angela had anything on YouTube. I'm not an Internet social bug by any means. But...wouldn't it be wonderful - I thought - if I could hear her teach on line....perhaps at a writer's conference. I typed in her name and found several Angela Hunts. To my delight there were a couple of videos of her....but to my surprise it wasn't what I thought.

I laughed....and laughed....and finally did a chair dance at my own desk. Hope you enjoy the following video of the wonderful life we writer's enjoy. Thank you Angela Hunt, Robin Hatcher, Terri Blackstock, Carolyn Aarsen and Kristin Billerbeck.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1isSh3UjeDc

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Definition of an Christian author

2011-02-03T07:56:00.000-08:00

Authors are a strange group of people.

We are constantly unemployed – and okay with that. We are only as good as our last article or book and we are constantly striving toward the next one.

We brag about being our own boss yet we are the worst task masters around. We skip the party or the family gathering because we must submit our latest ramblings. We are up all hours of the night trying to capture at moment of inspiration and tie it to paper before it's forgotten. After all, that could be the one thought that’s accepted. It could be the one thought that touches another human or changes the course of history. It could be the one writing that springs a new movement into life.

At family functions we hold our purse close knowing that if we experience a great thought, pen and paper is close at hand. We work all the time. Every moment is an opportunity for insight. Every action can lead to an Epiphany. Every social situation can provide material for our work. While we experience the joy and love of our family and friends - the mind is always on, always writing, always searching for a story within the situation.

We try to see the world from all sides. We participate in a weird sort of hopping dance as we delicately try not to be captured by the knotty problems that connect the opposing sides. Like investigators of a spiders web, we avoid the glue that might attach us to the very problem we are investigating.

We are the voice of reason, the instigators and the comforters. We can be fun, sad, serious, excited, angry and compassionate – all at the same time. We are the voice that expresses the good in life and illuminates the bad.

We are the voice of the people. We cry for the victim, we march for those in slavery and we sing for the victorious.

We are overwhelmed by duty. Our readers are constantly in our minds - floating through our work - crying for help - in desperate need of comfort or insight or information. We are consumed with the quest for truth and the need to bring that truth to people everywhere. We desire truth in our own lives and in our personal convictions and social interactions. The worst thing you can do to an author is "lie" to them. It's an unforgivable act. We crave knowledge, insight and most of all universal truth.

With so much going on in our heads, we are not always easy to live with or easy to talk to....yet, there is no deeper love than the love of an author. That love expands with every story, every situation, every person we meet.

This great dedication to our work starts at the feet of Jesus. We know that while we may suffer for our opinions or for shining that bright light on truth....we are fulfilling the call of our Heavenly Father. It is from that perspective that we find meaning that others miss. It is from His framework and His wisdom and His strength that we ultimately can provide answers that work.

We are driven by a Heavenly force and that makes our work the most important thing we can do in life. When we allow that force to bleed through us and into our writing - we are fulfilled!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Debbie Macomber - a friend and great encouragement

2011-01-19T10:35:00.000-08:00

A good writer is also a good reader. Attend any writing class and you will hear those words. I constantly feel like I'm behind on my reading. Maybe it's because I always have a stack of good books that I know I'll get to sometime....but just haven't had time.

We were all laughing too hard to make a good picture!
Debbie Jansen and Debbie Macomber

A few days ago I decided to move Debbie Macomber's book Knit Together up to the top. I sat at lunch with her a few years ago at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference. What a joy! She was so encouraging and a lot of fun to be with. We laughed....we talked....and we cried. I can still hear her saying, "We have the same name and that makes us forever friends! Don't listen to the negative voices Debbie. They just don't matter. Follow your heart and your dream. Don't give up."

I have an MP3 recording of her talks. When I'm especially down I'll pull them out and drink in her inspiring words. Talk about someone who had all the odds stacked against her....Debbie had an uphill climb. Yet, she kept trying and kept pushing and now she's one of the biggest selling authors out there.

Her book, Knit Together describes her challenges and her journey to success. I hope you will purchase her book. I promise you it will be a great source of strength for those challenging days that every writer faces.

And if you aren't sure you want to pursue a full writing dream....get the book anyway. It will encourage your life no matter what dream you have.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Are you afraid?

2011-01-18T15:39:00.000-08:00

A lot of new writers I know are afraid. It’s an underlying thought in all their conversations.

“I have this great idea. Not that anyone will want to read it…..but I really want to tackle this subject.”

“I know God has called me to do this. I have thoughts that I know didn’t come from me. No one is going to like what I have to say, but someday….I know God wants me to say it.”

“I want to write about that but I’m no expert on the subject. I guess I better leave that to someone else.”

And then there’s the fear that so debilitates that they can’t write without approval. Those young writers who can’t even write a comment to this blog or any other for that matter – all because they are afraid that they might not say it right or that they might be attacked or that they just might make a mistake.

Fear can totally eliminate your HOLY CALLING. Fear has far reaching tentacles and can infiltrate every area of your life. Fear can and most of the time will attack your “inspiration” with a vengeance. Why are we so fearful? You can’t watch TV for more than 15 minutes without being bombarded with subliminal fear. Humor has gone from being situational or slap stick to being a complete emotional destruction of one of the weaker characters. And the worst of all is the thought that someone in the media will find out about something you’ve said and will hold you up to public ridicule.

Commercials are worse. We are bombarded with the fact that the only way we deserve anything that’s being shown is if we are beautiful, popular and smelling sweet. Those who are overweight with bad breath, wrinkles and bad hair – those people don’t deserve respect or any of the fun stuff. And if even if you are one of the beautiful people….try saying something stupid and O’Riley will label you a pinhead.

Add to that the way the news sensationalizes anyone trying to do something good. If they decide they don’t like the message, they will attack the messenger. They will be more diligent than the CIA at tracking down something bad about your life. “Why are you writing this book? When you were three you were a spoiled brat.”

Man! Why would anyone ever want to speak up? Only the most courageous of all will stand up during a confrontation and take on the resident bully!

Writers must be courageous! Writers must take on the battles of truth, Christianity, love, parenting, greed, politics etc….

We start the arguments that lead others into fighting the war! What a responsibility. That responsibility includes understanding your craft enough to know how to create a desire to eliminate evil without inciting deep seeded anger. While I believe there is a way to speak out and not incite violence, why would anyone want to blow the whistle on evil and risk the chance of being attacked?

Because it must be done! The world needs your voice! God asked you to speak up and you must!

I don’t have time to learn all there is to know about computers….I have to trust computer techs to know what they need to know so I can trust them with my precious computer. Likewise…I don’t have the time to become a doctor. I have to trust my doctor to use his expertise to keep me healthy.

Whatever God has called you to write about….the world needs to know your views so they can make an intelligent decision on what to do. This country has been and hopefully will continue to be the best country in the world – mainly because we have free speech.

Please don’t take that free speech lightly. If you allow fear to keep you silent, that’s the same as hiding your light under a bushel. Remember the old song This little light of mine?

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, no! I’m gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, no! I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

If God has given you a message to deliver, you must follow through. You can’t allow family, friends or even the media stop your message. You must speak up against evil. While we still have free speech, you must have the courage to speak.

I didn’t and it made me miserable. For years I was tied in knots worrying that someone would be negative about what I had to say. It took years of prayer and study of God’s word to finally bring me to the point that I no longer care about the negative statements of others. What I do care about is doing God’s will and being logical about the issues of life. What I do care about is responding properly to social issues.

And guess what? I’ve had less negative statements since I developed a determined attitude. While there are less negative statements….there are also more positive ones. That tells me that God will protect and lead as we follow His will. How wonderful!

What are you waiting on?

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Happy New Year????

2011-01-10T08:35:00.000-08:00

My parents (age 78 and 82) live in Georgia. I'm an only child and I live in Ohio. My children are scattered. One in Illinois, one here in Ohio and one in Arizona. We were/are extremely close but it's getting harder and harder to have everyone meet here at the same time.

For the past twenty years I've had my parents come up for Thanksgiving and stay until New Years. It gave them a special time to experience a lot of quality time with all of us. It was nice being together when the children were young and as they moved into the work force - it was helpful to have one place for everyone to gather. It also gave me peace of mind to know that my parents wouldn't be alone on a major holiday.

Was it a challenge at times? Of course. Were there times when it interrupted our normal schedules? Yes. I was cooking more, celebrating more, concerned about more people and were they okay and.....you get the idea.

Looking back I wouldn't change those times for anything. It was a special gift that I could give to my parents and to my children.

But now....I see problems and a need to formulate a new plan. My parents have multiple illnesses and special needs that require more interaction from me. Fulfilling those needs means less time to write. My adult children have needs and that can also take away from my writing schedule.

Some of this truly is my fault! I was a stay at home mom who wrapped herself around her family. I was the go to person and I served my family with great pride. My commitment to family is a huge part of my resume and my ability to be a "mommy detective". Then...God called. He placed within me a desire to use my writing talents to share my knowledge and research with others. My family wasn't/isn't doing anything wrong - they love and appreciate me and I want to serve them. They are proud of my work and encourage me to continue. But how do I make the transition from total involvement to creating a place for my writing?

Here's the problem. Being with them and taking care of my family is the right thing to do. Yet...even the right thing to do may cause damage to the calling God has placed in my life. Damage can be as strong as a complete rejection of what needs to be done or it can be as simple as procrastination in favor of daily disturbances.

It's as if I'm standing in the middle of a field with my family all around me. It's proper and right that I take care of them. Amie needs this. Jamie wants that. My parents need this and Ken is calling for advice. I look up to see Ron on the outside of this circle of love patiently waiting for his turn. His sad eyes look at me as if to say, "I'm waiting. I know you are busy, but I hope you will have time for me."

Suddenly on the edge of this field I see Jesus. He has a big package in his hand. It has a bright red bow on top and bold black letters across the side, "Debbie's Writing".

I want both. I want to serve my family and yet I want the gift God has for me. I realize that he is not going to bring the gift to me. I have to walk away from the normal - loving - situation I'm in and walk toward the package. It's not going to come to me and stand in line waiting for my attention. I have to make the time to walk toward my gift. I have to consciously make the effort every day to open and protect and cultivate that gift.

Sound familiar?

Every popular author I've talked to admits they have this problem. It's nothing new. Just like the selfish and mean who fight for your attention - the ordinary, absolutely good things will also fight for your attention.

If we are to change this world, if we are to following our Holy calling, if we are to get the work done - we must find a way to handle this issue.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas season with your family. I hope that you had a great start to a Happy New Year.

I believe it's time to get busy and "be about our Father's work". With only a mere 7 days of "Happy New Year", while Congresswoman Giffords was getting back to work - evil attacked with a vengeance. You may have watched the news like I did and cried. I was horrified that a nine year old girl had to endure that horrible situation. Then when I read about her life Christian Taylor Green - I was reduced again to tears. You may have shook your head in horror and prayed for all the victims. But...you also may have listened to some views and shook your head in amazement at the ignorance of their rantings. What to do? What to do?

WRITE....Go to your computers and write. Write the truth. Write with compassion and strength and the knowledge that you have answers that others don't. Be verbal. Be strong. Be filled with the Holy Calling God has given you. You must write and be part of the conversation.

Ephesians 5:15

"Be very careful, then how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."

This world is evil and I'm afraid that in many ways I have not been wise. I've been so busy being good to those I love that I've sacrificed a portion of my calling. I want to make changes, but how?

#1 The first thing we should always do is take our problems to God. I'm going to spend time everyday praying for God to give me wisdom on what area's I need to change in order to have more time for my work. I think I give a lot of time to my work now....but the reality is that I could do more.

#2 I have made schedules before but when they don't work - I quit. Just because my schedule is interrupted doesn't mean I should be unstructured.

I hope you will join me today in prayer. Prayer about God's will for your life and prayer about how to structure your life for optimum work. Let me know if you have insight into these issues. What changes do you need to make in order for God to use your work to it's fullest?

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Thank you for all your prayers!

2010-12-13T19:20:00.000-08:00

I think God must look at people like me with a "tsk, tsk, tsk" every so often. I'm always concerned about doing the right thing. I spend a lot of time researching my opinions, my work ethics and my daily routines - just to be sure that I'm on task and doing what God would have me do.

Then there's a little hic-cup followed by a medium hic-up followed by a large gasp and an explosion. There I stand in the middle of a rubble of hopes and dreams and wonder what in the world happened. All my plans, all my research, all my hopes and dreams are merely a pile of broken pieces surrounded by a lot of dust. I quickly look around and wonder if others have noticed. "I'll bet she thinks I messed up." "Maybe he wonders why I'm not finished with this project or that one." "Oh my, please dear God....please don't let her feel like I've let her down!"

I fret and worry and wish that I could somehow be perfect - but alas! Failed again.

I love writing on my blogs. I love my readers and want to help them. But this week, I've felt like the little hic-cup of last week's surgery blossomed into an explosion of events that couldn't be helped and yet prevented me from writing.

Have you every felt pushed along by circumstances? Have you ever wondered what your friends thought of you? Have you ever felt like you failed and yet you know you did the very best you could?

If you answered yes to those questions then you are just like everyone on the planet. Even the most productive, resourceful and sanctified Christian has had at least one week or one month of stressful "I'm not preforming at my best" days.

And if you answered no to those questions - then you probably aren't human. You must be an angel only visiting and using the computer because it would be something novel to do. (Which means you probably don't need my writing anyway.)

The best news of all is that God understands. He expects us to "be" the best person we can be. He wants us to "strive" to do all that he has called us to do. But....I know that he is also compassionate. He can read our hearts. He knows when we are goofin' off and he is also aware of those special times when the circumstances were just out of our control. He knows the truth about our lives and he loves us anyway. Ahhhh....isn't that reassuring?
My surgery went fine. It took a lot more out of me than I thought it would and therefore my busy schedule was interrupted much longer than I had hoped. But....I do appreciate all the prayers and thoughts and I hope that I'm now on the mend!
I love you all and I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas Season.

God loves you and has called you to write,
Debbie

FYI

2010-12-05T18:08:00.000-08:00

Just in case everyone is wondering what's going on with Debbie and her sites.....I have been preparing for surgery. I will have what I hope will be minor surgery tomorrow morning.

Please say a prayer for me. Hopefully, I will be able to return to daily postings beginning Tuesday. I have so much material to send your way!

God bless you and I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season!
Debbie

Writing is too hard:(

2010-11-15T07:35:00.000-08:00

I shook my head and couldn't believe Jimmy McMillan and his party of "The Rent is too d*** high". It caused a lot of pundits to smile and even a few to agree that the rent is too d*** high.

Since then (although I don't use those words) a couple of times I've sat at my desk and thought. "Writing is too hard". It is you know. It is very hard.

It's frustrating when I have a brilliant idea and can't hang on to the right words long enough to grab that pen and paper.

It's hard when I have to read some passage from The Chicago Manual of Style five times because I just don't understand (and maybe don't want to understand).

It's gut wrenching to read that rejection e-mail and wonder if you will ever get that piece published.

WRITING IS HARD

But...on the other hand....writing is a calling that I just can't abandon.

So today....I'm at my desk - once again. Praying for inspiration - once again. Refusing to clean the den until I write 1,000 words - once again. Hearing my mother call and begging her not to interrupt the process - once again. Feeling guilty about all the things that need to be done and yet here I sit - uninspired - once again. Holding on to the promise that if I force myself to continue the process and to push through all this, I'll finally be published - once again.

I think it's that last once again that keeps us all pushing and writing. For comfort I read a quick passage from Jim Denny's book, Quit your day job!

I have actually met a surprising number of unpublished writers who are probably a good deal more talented than I am - but they'll never get published. When I've asked them about their disciplines and habits, they've told me they have none. They write only when "inspired." When I've suggested that they need a daily writing routine, they adamantly resist my advice. They have their idealized image of "the writing life" and they don't want the realities of hard work, focus, discipline, and persistence to mess that up.

Writing is a job - a tough and demanding job. You can't succeed as a writer until you understand and accept that fact.

Thanks Jim...I needed that!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Don't let the Beetles destroy your writing

2010-11-10T12:45:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not talking about the singing group. I'm positive that writers have the ability to attract beetles that will effectively destroy their best work. I've watched the insect variety destroy my best roses while the the smallest beetle works on other various flowers in my garden. I've tromped down woodland paths and seen how their constant chewing has brought down even the mightiest of trees.

According to Wikipedia....."Beetles are the group of insects with the largest number of known species. They constitute the order Coleoptera which contains more described species than in any other order in the animal kingdom, constituting about 25% of all known life-forms. About 40% of all described insect species are beetles (about 400,000 species), and new species are frequently discovered. Some estimates put the total number of species, described and undescribed, at as high as 100 million, but 1 million is a more likely figure."

I think we should add a new beetle species. I like to call it "journaoptera". This species of beetle is dedicated to eating away at your work by creating tiny holes that weaken your piece. The "justaminute" beetle refuses to latch on to the host. This culprit quietly calls to you from another room or makes a quick call on the cell phone. "Can you help me for just a minute. It won't take long. I promise." The front fangs are laden with a sugary substance that numbs their bite and makes you feel guilty if you don't leave your work.

Another insect in this species is the "depromioptic". This little creature makes his home just under your eyelid. He is the tiniest insect yet his poison is the most deadly. Every time you look at your work, his poison covers your eyes with doubt. Each word takes on a clouded perception allowing his partner "giveitupfornow" to convince you that your piece will never be ready. Victims embeded with these two insects rarely send their work to an editor. The devastation they produce leaves a weak area where "discouragatic" can enter and bury his blood sucking fangs. This beetle will gorge on the life blood of creativity until the writer is so weak that producing saleable work seems like an insurmountable task.

The nastiest beetle is the "contradicanub". This insect carries guilt like a tanker carries gas. He sits on top of the skin making thousands of little scratches and depositing guilt until it covers the writer like a heavy blanket. "You can't write today. You promised to take your mother to the store. Don't finish that article until the house is totally cleaned. That information can wait until you spend time with your husband. You need rest...you can't be nice to your family and write until you get some rest. How can you spend time at the computer when your church needs you? After all, don't most famous writers recommend that you get out there and live life? What about your children? Who comes first, the work of God or your writing?"

Beetles can destroy your writing. Beetles can eat away at your work until you lose your desire to do what God has called you to do. Arm yourself with the right kind of insecticide.

Read good books on writing. Pray about your calling. Realize that most men and women who do what God has called them to do - had to sacrifice in order to get the job done. Don't let anything come between you and what God has called you to do!

Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Psalm 96:3

Have you encountered a writing beetle? If so, let me know about it.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Are you interesting?

2010-11-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

Have you ever stood for what seemed like an eternity and listened to a friend who bored you to tears? Maybe they thought you needed to know about their crabgrass or what they ate for breakfast. Maybe they thought you should know that earwax can be used as a glue substitute or that they couldn't sleep last night because they wondered why paint sticks to ceilings.

It really didn't matter what they talked about, you just couldn't wait to get away! Why? Perhaps it's a good friend, a special Uncle or a child you love dearly....but still....you are bored and can't wait to bail.

And then you meet with a dear friend that seems to be able to make anything interesting. You laugh at the dumbest stuff and you sit on the edge of your seat engrossed in some story about how dull life really is. What makes the difference?

Your slant on life can be the difference in conversation (or writing) that depresses the listener and conversation that lifts the listener. So what changes our slant?

Social psychology proves that when a person is engaged in life their outlook is different from those that seem to cocoon. In the writing world that is especially true.

If all you do is write about your opinions and your life, your writing will seem flat and uninteresting.

But, if you take the time to get involved with others, listen to their opinions, lift the veil and look at problems from their point of view....your writing will be like a fine tapestry rug. There will be depth and beauty entwined in everything you write.

So today I beg you to get out of the house. Make time to live your life, visit with friends, talk to relatives. Enjoy who you are and the things God has placed around you. Then, when you come back to your office to write - let all that sunshine filter through and highlight new colors and textures.

Could be...this will be the day inspiration flows through you like sunshine through fall leaves.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Hurricane Writing

2010-11-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

For marriage, words can be the most powerful advantage or disadvantage. We all know how a sweet compliment from our spouse can make our day. We also know how a disagreement over breakfast can ruin our day.

For parenting, words can be the most powerful trainer in your child's life. It's been proven that it takes 10 compliments or praises from a parent to cancel out one negative statement.

Words are powerful. Words can also impact groups and nations. In 1946 Frank Capra directed the movie "It's a Wonderful Life." He adapted it from a screenplay by Goodrich and Hackett. If you haven't seen it, it's a must! The moral of the movie is that no one is an island. Everyone has an influence over someone else. Because of that, suicide is never an option and neither is wishing you were dead. All of us can go back and find a "good" reason for our life. No matter how tragic the events of our life, there was some point where something we said or did changed the course of another person's life. That's why our actions matter. That's why our lives matter. We cause change to those around us. Anytime this movie played the theatrical owners receive letters from people who were contemplating suicide and change their minds because of the movie. The year it was released, thousands sent in letters. There have been thousands more since then.

I was thrilled to have another article published on line by Marriage Partnership and Kyria.com (a division of Christianity Today). The article was titled, Does Faith Hide Marital Abuse? and it was an explanation of how scripture can be twisted to keep victims in abusive marriages.

This article has once again taught me that all writers must be concerned about their holy calling. We must continue to write even when storms swirl around us. We must push even when everything seems to be stamped with rejection. Even when it seems we make more mistakes than we should, we must keep writing. God can't use our words unless we continue to produce words!

Early in the comments on my article a woman admitted that she was contemplating suicide. Several readers responded to her and so did I. Just yesterday she posted that she had decided not to commit suicide. I cried and prayed for her for hours. I was thrilled that she had found hope in the words I used.

Here's my hope for you. Anyone writing that article could have been used by God. It's not me...it's writing stuff that we know God can use. It's addressing the problems we see and using whatever form we like. Perhaps you use fiction better than poems. Whatever way is best for you - address the issues and write!

Writing has been painful for me lately. My 82-year old mother fell and broke her foot. I had to drive to Georgia and bring her here. She can't use crutches and I have to take care of her completely. She has dementia and Obsessive Compulsive disorder plus several immune diseases. It's been difficult for the last six weeks. Last Tuesday, my son when back to Georgia to get my 78 year old Dad. They both will be here until after Christmas. There's a lot to do for both of them. And...Ron still is without work, bla, bla, bla....

After talking with Jim Denney and Barbara Curtis I decided that perhaps God was teaching me a difficult lesson. Perhaps he wanted me to learn how to write in a Hurricane. I pushed to write the article for Marriage Partnership and to work on others. I'm still pushing to finish a book. A minute here, an hour there, stay up late, get up early, miss that function, sneak away from mother here......it all adds up to producing another piece of writing.

Please don't believe Satan's evil words. When he says, "You can't do that. Put it off. It's too hard. You just don't have time." - get back in his face and scream...."I'LL MAKE TIME".

I'm friends with someone who was a fantastic writer. He had several things published and could have had a prominent career. Unfortunately he let his daily life come before his writing. He used day to day life as an excuse for not producing. He's now very ill and may lose his life. He still talks about the book he wanted to write and the things he could have done. How sad for him and for the world that his time is gone and those ideas will never be shared with others.

Your writing is important. God can use you. Don't let the little things - or even the big things in life keep you from being used by God. Who knows, you may save a life or even a country!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

This is so true! Thanks Rodney Atkins!

2010-10-07T17:52:00.000-07:00

I don't usually post family things on this blog.....but this is so true. Get out your kleenex and be prepared to get on your knees.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

We all have a part to play....

2010-10-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago my husband and I drove to Georgia to get my mother. She is 82 and had broken her foot. Dad at 78 is not able to care for her. I knew it was going to demand a lot of my time but chose to make sure this was a "sharing" and "loving" time for us both. We have been reading and praying together and it's been a sweet time that I will always remember.

Today we started an older book of Max Lucado's. I thought of all of you while we were reading. As authors we work hard to perfect our craft....and yet we also know that without God's inspiration every word we use is nothing more than dribble. I hope you enjoy the following excerpt from Max Lucado's book When God Whispers Your Name.

My wife loves antiques. I don't. (I find them a bit old.) But because I love my wife, I occasionally find myself guiding three children through an antique store while Denalyn shops.
Such is the price of love.
The secret to survival in a shop of relics is to find a chair and an old book and settle down for the long haul. That's what I did yesterday. After cautioning the kids to look with their eyes and not with their hands, I sat down in a overstuffed rocker with some Life magazines from the fifties.
That's when I heard the music. Piano Music. Beautiful music. Vintage Rogers and Hammerstein. The hills were alive with the sound of someone's skill at the keyboard.
I turned to see who was playing, but couldn't see anyone. I stood and walked closer. A small group of listeners had gathered at the old upright piano. Between the furniture I could see the small back of the pianist. Why, it's only a child! With a few more steps I could see her hair. Short, blonde, and cute like...My heart, it's Andrea!
Our seven-year-old was at the piano, her hands racing up and down the keyboard. I was stunned. What gift of heaven is this that she can play in such a way? Must be a time-released gene she got from my side of the family. But as I drew closer, I saw the real reason. Andrea was "playing" a player piano. She wasn't making the music; she was following it. She wasn't commanding the keyboard; she was trying to keep up with it. Though it appeared she was playing the song, in reality, she was only trying to keep up with one already written. When a key would dip, her hands would dash.
Oh, but if you could have seen her little face, delighted with laughter! Eyes dancing as would her feet had she been able to stand and play at the same time.
I could see why she was so happy. She sat down to attempt "chopsticks" but instead played "The Sound of Music." What's more, she couldn't fail. One greater than she was dictating the sound. Andrea was free to play as much as she wanted, knowing the music would never suffer.
It's no wonder she rejoiced. She had every reason to. And so do we.
Hasn't God promised the same to us? We sit at the keyboard, willing to play the only song we know, only to discover a new song. A sublime song. And nobody is more surprised than we are when our meager efforts are converted into melodious moments.
You have one, you know, a song all your own. Each of us does. The only question is, will you play it?
By the way, as I watched Andrea "play" that day in the antique store I observed a couple of things.
I noticed the piano got all the credit. The gathered crowd appreciated Andrea's efforts, but they knew the real source of the music. when God works, the same is true. We may applaud the disciple, but no one knows better than the disciple who really deserves the praise.
But that doesn't keep the disciple from sitting at the bench. It sure didn't keep Andrea from sitting at the piano. Why? Because she knew she couldn't fail. Even though she didn't understand how it worked, she knew it did.
So she sat at the keyboard - and had the time of her life.
Even though you may not understand how God works, you know he does.
So go ahead. Pull up a bench, take your seat at the piano, and play.

As Writers we need to pray for heavenly inspiration and intervention. As authors we know that He needs our willing hands to pen the words that He knows will inspire readers into action. We also know that the work ends when we refuse to make the time and effort to be His willing hands.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Help Get the word out!!!

2010-09-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

As writer's we are called to get the truth to every living creature! When there's a storm coming it is our job to let people know about it. The following is a post I wrote on my other two blogs. I hope that you will find a way to pass this discussion on and to get as many people talking about it as possible. Let me know if you are inspired to write something about this. I would like to know your thoughts.

Why would anyone want to have children now?

Our country is in chaos! Our world is on the verge of another world war! Murder, drugs, crime - it's all over America and the world. Why would any young couple want to have children now?

What if your child will be the person God had designed to bring this country back to Him? What if your child was destined to be the next Billy Graham or the next great gospel singer or the mother of the minister that would show millions to Christ? What if your child was God's pick for the president of the United States in 2040? What if your child is one of many that will join together to fight against the loss of our religious freedoms? Maybe she's to be the next great missionary and will have the powerful words that will change millions of muslims or atheists or buddist or whatever to God. What if your child may face danger....but his/her heroic acts will destroy the next Hitler?

"But Debbie, is it fair to bring a child into a life where he may suffer?"

"Suffering is a part of life. We all suffer in many ways. The only thing that makes our measly little lives count is that we Overcome suffering and that we get through those hard times with grace and with honor and with dignity. Avoiding pain while others suffer is the coward's way out. It's sad that even if your child isn't born....you've still made him a coward. You've made the choice for him."

"I'm not making that choice just because I don't want to see him suffer!"

"Yes, you are. You are saying to the world that your bloodline has nothing to offer. You couldn't possibly have a child that would be a strong hero or that would offer ideas and plans for a better future. Your only hope is that you give your child an easy enough time so he wouldn't have to work hard. You have said to the world and more importantly to God that you will not allow your future child the opportunity to be a major player in God's plan? Do you have that right?"

I hope you will watch this terrifying video and tell all your friends about it. The best way to conquer any country or any religion is quietly - by simply over populating them with another culture. God have mercy on us! While we play church and go about our selfish lives....the enemy creeps closer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz1EMqp341I

Debbie....do you hate muslims? Asolutely NOT! But...I do think their religion or cult or whatever you want to call it is a threat to freedom of religion and other social freedoms. They believe that they have a right to kill infidels and they define that as anyone who is not muslim. When they enter a country it is not with the intent to blend in but rather to force their lifestyle and opinions on others. That is the danger. I have a link in the sidebar that will take you to a website Islam - Religion of peace? that will not only explain what they believe but will also list the ways they intend to carry out their missions. The most striking thing for me was to learn that they believe in lying. Lying to the infidel is not only taught it is rewarded.

I simply think we need to be informed and we need to be pro-active. I can't be the frog that thinks he's soaking in a nice hot tub only to find out too late that he's being boiled to death!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Practice for a heavy load....

2010-09-14T13:06:00.000-07:00

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time

How do you build a skyscraper? One brick at a time

How do you become successful? One step at a time

How can you carry a personal heavy load and still manage to write? I practice....

We moved to Ohio around 20 years ago. We bought a lovely home that had a lot of room. It had a nice yard and a very special bonus. It had two apple trees. The one in the front was in full bloom when we looked at the house. The one in the back had a few blooms on it. Since I had tried to cultivate an apple tree at our last house, I was excited to be the proud owner of two healthy apple trees.

Unfortunately, their fruit wasn't that good. The apples were very small. The backyard tree looked a bit battered, the apples had brown spots and the fruit was too tart to eat. We managed to use a few of them to combine with other apples and make cider - but most of the fruit was never used. The front yard was a little better. We made apple sauce and used some of the fruit for pies - but it was so pitted with bad spots that the yield was very small.

We talked about spraying the trees and having someone look at them but life was busy and we never seem to get it done.

Last year we had a company fertilize and work on our grass. The wonderful side effect was that the trees exploded with fruit. The bad spots were better and the taste was better. In fact, the front tree had so much fruit that one of the branches broke.

This year the same explosion of fruit began. With my daughter's wedding and all the preliminary things to do, we didn't have time to cultivate the trees. After returning from her wedding we noticed that the tree in the back was so laden with fruit that two large branches were bent to the ground. It didn't take long for us to hear a large crack.....and then another. We used 2 x 4's to hold the branches up enough to allow the fruit to continue to mature.

I took pictures of the tree and wondered. Why would doing the thing you were created to do cause you to break? These trees had always produced fruit. It may not have been edible or the best....but it was fruit. Why break now? Was the tree just too old? Or...maybe just maybe, the limbs had everything necessary to produce excellent fruit but the limb itself was not strong enough to support excellent fruit in large quantities.

Isn't that like life? Have you ever watched someone go from obscurity to abundant success and then break from the pressure or lose their personal life because they were went wild with success? Even when we are on the receiving end of blessings - if we aren't ready....if we haven't practiced or prepared - we will break.

Pressure doesn't know the difference between good stuff and bad stuff. If we have practiced handling all the stuff that's thrown at us along the way, it won't be hard to handle.....a larger career.....more demands.....constant movement......concentrating even during a personal storm.....keeping up with deadlines.....knowing when to say no or when to get involved.

For those of us that still consider our writing careers in the "beginning" stages - I would suggest that you take a look at all the stresses in your life. Don't see them as deterrents to a writing career. Instead, see them as a chance to practice being a writer in all circumstances. See them as a chance to see how well you can work or survive under pressure. Use your current circumstances to build a life of commitment to your work. Learn how to develop the Habit of Writing even when it is under attack or not as pleasurable as you would like.

Then when success comes and your publisher wants you to handle your family, write the second book in your series and go on a marketing tour - you can smile and say...."I'd be happy to. I can handle that load with ease because I've practiced and I'm ready for the job!"

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Why we do what we do....

2010-09-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

This blog is dedicated to the "psychological" health of the writer. That statement seems like an oxymoron. Writers do what we do because we've been through some trauma or overwhelming event and we have something to say to the world. I personally don't understand the popularity of twitter. (Even though I sold an article on it - coming soon!)   I don't really care that Suzie just brushed her hair - unless of course she's my daughter and even then I'd wonder why she's writing about it instead of rushing to meet the bus.

Most writers read a lot! We love those 300 page books. We love the smell and the touch of a favorite novel or the comfort of a worn non-fiction.  We drum our fingers on the desk while we chew on a subject, tear it apart and hopefully have each little piece figured out.

We are no different from our readers. Life can be just as demanding and often just as painful as it is for anyone else. When life hits full force robs a writer of peace and creativity it also hurts our work. I recently had another one of those hurricane months. I wrote my dear friend Jim Denny and asked for writing help.

"I feel like someone painted a bulls eye on my back. I sit at my computer and instead of it being something that I love....it feels like a huge weight.  For the first time in my writing career I find myself sitting at the computer wishing I was somewhere else....anywhere else.... What should I do?"

Jim is the author of hundreds of books and articles. I love his book Quit your day job! It has been a featured book in the sidebar since this blog was created. Be sure and check out all his books. He's a talented author. I took Jim's class during the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer's Conference. His class literally changed my writing style. To receive such an informational return e-mail from him was not only exciting, but seemed to bump me out of my slump. I asked him if I could also share it with you. I hope it helps.

Hi, Debbie—

So sorry to hear what you've been going through. I was thinking I've had a tough year (bad economy is squashing my industry, among other things), but I sure haven't had a near-death experience or a job loss in the family! I'm sending up a prayer for you and your husband right now.

I'm rarely excited about the writing process. Like you, I do love to write, but the engine never wants to turn over in the morning. I just sit down by habit, and try to lose myself in the process. I reread and edit some of the previous day's writing or do some other writing-related chore. Soon I'm writing without really thinking about the fact that I'm writing. Habit is the main thing.

There is one thing that gets me excited about writing, and that is reading my favorite writers. When I read good writing, the kind I read just for the joy of it, it makes me want to write. I don't know if that will work for you, but sometimes I will read a short story or an article by a writer talking about the writing process, and that will get me charged up.

I'm not sure I ever successfully block out the emotions of life. For example, if something makes me angry or depressed, the most immediate effect is that those emotions will keep me from writing. You can't be creative when there is emotional crosstalk in the brain.

But after some prayer, reflection, reading the Psalms, and taking a few minutes to recover from the emotional hit, I try to USE that emotion to fuel my writing. When I'm angry, I pound the keyboard or shout at my voice dictation software.

So, if possible, USE the emotions, don't try to shut them out. Write what's real. Write about what you are going through as a way of getting through it. Not necessarily as a way to write something that would help someone else, but just to process it with brutal honesty (maybe C.S. Lewis's A Grief Observed would be a model for this approach). Getting a saleable article or book out it might be a byproduct, but that's not the goal. The goal is just to unleash the honest and creative engine within you.

I remember having to write my Timebenders science-fantasy books for kids right after 9/11, and that was tough. I had writer friends who said they just stopped writing for weeks or months after 9/11. I didn't have that luxury, because I was on a very tight deadline. So I pushed through it and tried to use my emotional turmoil to add depth and feeling to the writing.

Also, don't feel you have to write in a straight line, chapter 1, then 2, then 3 or whatever. Write the section that appeals to you at this very moment. If you can't write whole chapters or articles, write patches. You can stitch it all together later, but just keep writing, and write what you are really passionate about. Getting those sections accomplished will increase your positive feelings, and will cause your love of writing to reignite.

Check out this article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/aug/16/charlie-brooker-writing-deadlines/print

I identify with a lot of what this writer says. You may, too.

Also you might want to try the "Write or Die" writing software. You can test-drive it online at:

http://writeordie.drwicked.com/

It forces you to write quickly and uncritically by setting off alarms if you pause too long in the writing process. If you try it, let me know what you think. I bought the desktop version, which is only $10. I use it for producing raw, first-draft fiction. I like to set it to the lowest, least-threatening settings and write in 20-minute stretches.

Hope something in all this was helpful.

God bless you,

Jim Denney

Ahhhh.....that helped so much! I took his advice and I'm writing again.

You can find a wonderful interview with Jim that gives even more insight into his writing at Absolute Write

His personal website is http://www.denneybooks.com/

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Who cares?

2010-07-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

Being an author is a difficult life. You have to want to write more than anything else in the world. If you feel "called" to be an author....the difficult life becomes more complicated.

Very few authors are hermits. Hermits do not make good authors. As authors we need to be out there - observing and living life. Authentic writing stems from the fact that we are in the trenches with everyone else.

While everyone else can concentrate 100% on their families, their jobs and their external relationships - authors are often distracted. The average Joe can put his life into categories. For example, the norm is to eat breakfast with the family, go to work while they go to school etc.., come home and spend time with the family, spend time with friends on the week-end and spend time at church on Sunday. Each area of his life has a category.

An author's life is much different. While we are eating breakfast with the family, we scribble a funny saying on a napkin. While we are at work we scribble thoughts on a notepad. If you are a full time writer, we are thinking of family and friends so we have something to write about. In the evening while spending time with the family we have a notepad close by for those moments of inspiration. Watching TV can cause us to write furiously. Going out with friends sparks a great conversation that must be recorded.....and on and on and on.

In other words....we are constantly working and looking for that nugget of gold that will lead to an article or book that just might inspire our readers.

Have you ever been enjoying the company of friends only to realize you haven't heard the last few statements because you were thinking about your article?

On a discouraging day I wondered, who cares? Why does it matter so much? What if I don't write that book....will the world just crumble? I'm driving myself nuts over something that might not matter.

I prayed most of the day and finally asked God to give me a scripture. I thought about the passage in John where Jesus asked Peter three times, "Do you truly love me, more than these?" (John 21:15-19)

I turned to that passage and read beyond that situation. Peter was looking at John and wondering if he was going to live forever. Then my eyes centered on verse 24. I'm not a great theologian so maybe this means something different but on that day - it spoke volumes to me.

John 21:24

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

What a wonderful goal for an author - To be God's recorder. To be trusted with the truth. To be counted on for accuracy, compassion, strength, passion, inspiration and a host of other virtues. How exciting to be the person who keeps it straight for all those busy people with compartmentalized lives.

Are you an author that the world can count on? Are you diligently "recording" life and pointing to truth?

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Wasn't that mistake great!

2010-07-13T16:29:00.000-07:00

Perhaps writing is the only craft where we can make mistakes with Joy!

I was fretting over my writing when a dear friend stepped in for an intervention. "Don't worry so much about being perfect. Instead, use a notebook to record all your mistakes."

I swiped at a tear forming in the corner of my eye. "Why would I want to record my failures?"

"They aren't failures if you use them as a training tool for improvement. You are a smart gal. If you make a mistake once....are you going to make it again?"

I thought about it for a moment. All the mistakes I'd made when I first started writing have diminished because of the new thought process I use that filters everything through checkpoints. "Hum....I guess you are right. I don't make the mistakes I once made." It didn't take long for me to roll my eyes and continue...."Now I make new ones."

"Yes, but once they go in your notebook they will become tools for learning and probably mistakes of the past. How else are you going to grow?"

I smiled. I hugged her neck. And today I checked my notebook. It includes a lot of mistakes....that I don't make anymore.

I hope you will take your negatives and turn them into positive writing tools.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Calling all big mouths!

2010-07-07T13:09:00.000-07:00

The Oil spill in the gulf......

Sharia law in Michigan.....

The Role of the church.....

Children losing their innocence....

The Divorce rate.....

Abortion.....

The loss of American Christianity and the hope of the world......

So many topics and so little time....

I'm only one person. I spend 6-8 hours a day writing. While I love my job (most of the time) some days I get so tired of writing I just want to get away. For me, that's when frustration and writer's block sets in. Yet, there's so much to say and so much to do that I wonder if I can do it all.

Nope, I can't do it all. The world needs you. We need your input, your knowledge, your wisdom, your viewpoint. Unfortunately, many new writers want to give up by saying, "That topic was covered by Today's Christian Woman. That topic was covered by Glenn Beck. I can't add anything to it. I agree with them, but who cares what I think."

I want to scream when I hear that point of view. Your thoughts are needed. You will reach people I can't. We need everyone in the world using every talent they have. Your writing is important. If you don't feel like you are polished enough for publishers....start a blog. Write your thoughts down and save them to a disk. Get a pad and use the old pen and paper routine. But for the sake of our children....write, record, document, share!

The following video cause me to ask a new question. What do you think this country would be like today if no one had recorded the founding of this country? What if there were no stories about Paul Revere? What if there was no record of George Washington, no writings from Ben Franklin, no history of the Revolution? How would our children have developed over the last 200 plus years? How would injustice increased?

We need all the big mouths we can find! Voice your opinion, share your thoughts, document the facts and let the whole world know.....

I hope after you watch this video you will get busy writing! We need all the writers we can find!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Get out your Map!

2010-06-21T08:27:00.000-07:00

I'm sure every traveler at one time or another has looked at another person and demanded, "Where's the map?" Getting lost isn't fun and wasting time feels even worse.

I wonder if sometimes we apply the "Aren't we there yet!" mentality to our writing. It's important to produce work quickly. It's not cost productive to write one magazine article a year or produce one book every ten years. In order to consider yourself part of the writing industry - you need to be writing. Right?

Yes and no. If you'll allow me to switch metaphors - we all want our writing to be spiced with passion. We crave to hear the words...."That moved me to tears" or "That changed me forever". We want all our words to be flavorful steak but instead too much of it is just mashed potatoes.

I've written a lot of mashed potatoes. The words are on the paper, they have all the major points and I've even sprinkled them with a little salt, pepper and butter.....but they still lack the passion that would elevate it to more than a side dish.

That's when I take a walk, turn on some music or pray for guidance. Sometimes this helps and sometimes the mashed potatoes continue to lay in their lumpy status.

I talked with a dear friend last week who is being criticized for not writing on a regular basis. Apparently the attacks (though by well meaning friends and family) have caused her to stop talking about being a writer. She's even thinking of giving up completely.

What a terrible shame! She's an insightful person with a great talent. And....the world needs what she has to say. She is fighting a debilitating disease and could comfort thousands who are in pain.

My suggestion: Writing is not a destination, it's a journey. Some people have the talent, finances and time to produce mounds of great information (steak) in a relative short amount of time. That's great.

Luke 12:48 From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

It's important to remember that everyone's talent is different and we all travel different roads. While we all need to enter the world of writing with gusto, I also believe God allows us to go through difficult training that will take our writing to the next level. If we ignore that training the results can be disastrous to our writing skills.

Some writers are allowed to sit by the lake, enjoy the view and cook steak all day long. Other writers are climbing steep mountains and feel as though they are hanging on cliffs. Some are in the desert where their head aches from the lack of stimulating refreshment. What we need to remember is that God does not leave us in those valleys, hanging on a cliff or baking in the desert.

Writing want-a-bees fight with internal demons, low finances, busy schedules that don't include writing time, rejections, uncertainty and low self-esteem. Within the want-a-be lies the diamond that God purposely put in place. It's not quite ready and it needs a little more time, but when the timing is right and it's discovered it will out shine anything that was produced during the "training" period.

When the writer emerges from their training, they can produce the steak a lonely reader needs to survive. The writer who survived the desert will produce water for the dying soul. The writer who finally made it off the rocky cliff will produce meat that strengthens the weary saint.

Before the want-a-be begins to produce the talent the master has put within him, he must struggle through his own mountain or heated desert. He must work, and wait. He must wait and work. Until finally....his map shows a different road. Finally he has the experience coupled with God's inspiration to turn down the path that leads to the lake.

No one can tell you when it's time to sit by the lake and produce - no one but God. Don't listen to others. Listen to God.

Don't give up. Please don't give up. Keep working and trying and waiting for God to say..."Get out your map and turn this way. I'm waiting to bless you and the time is now."

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

I have potential.....right?

2010-04-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

Last Monday the doctor removed my cast! I am so excited to finally be free of that form fitting, heavy, hard contraption. I was sure my freedom would make it easy to get back to work. After all, my calendar is full of big red x's as I waited for this day.

Not so fast! I haven't reached freedom yet. The doctor removed the cast and replaced it with a boot that is tighter, more restrictive and twice as heavy. I've been instructed to ease into walking by daily adding 20 pounds of pressure until my entire weight is on that foot. "This may be a painful process since we did so much work on your foot..." Smile - show teeth -write on patient's chart. "So I'm going to send you to therapy."

He was doing the smiling....not me. I am very grateful for all he's done and I know this is the right procedure, but I am tired and want to be done with this. I don't want to lug around a 50 pound boot, spend two hours a day going to and from therapy and another three weeks dealing with pain and swelling. I want this part to be over as well. I want to get on with the good stuff like buying cute little shoes. Why does this have to be so hard?

Do you feel like that about your writing? You work a little on what you think is important and you pray over it for a good month. Finally, you ask God for strength and courage. You let a writing friend see it or you send it to an editor and it comes back dripping in red ink. At the top in big letters are the words...."YOU HAVE POTENTIAL....KEEP WORKING!" Your eyes center on those words and your heart skips a beat as you take in the meaning.....I HAVE POTENTIAL! Sounds great. Feels great. I HAVE POTENTIAL!

It's time to get supper on the table so you put the manuscript on the steps to take to your office. After supper you read those words again as you proudly march up the steps. I HAVE POTENTIAL. It feels good to be appreciated. You gently lay the papers on your desk and take your seat to make this your best work.

POV is lightly written in the margin on the first page. As you flip through the pages POV gets bigger and bolder with every page. By the last page she has written it five different times. SP seems to dominate every paragraph. On the first page she's written "Consult the Chicago Manual of Style = CMS". CMS is on every page at least five times. At this point you slump back in your chair. You twirl around and face a bookcase hoping to stop the tears that are flooding your eyes.

Determined to become a better writer you slap your hand on your desk and take another look. There are so many abbreviations that you have to Google "editor's marks" in order to understand what she's saying. The negative comments seem so strong that you begin to wonder if "YOU HAVE POTENTIAL" is code for "Don't quit your day job". You can't take much more so you shuffle off to bed.

A week goes by without a single sentence being changed. You spend another week working on your daughter's birthday party. You promised to help with a choir concert at church, your son needs someone to help car pool to little league, you need a vacation....and on...and on life goes.

Two months have passed and the manuscript that had so much potential is now at the bottom of a mail pile. Once in a while you move some of the mail just so you can see the words, "YOU HAVE POTENTIAL". You smile. It was a nice idea. It's too bad it didn't work out.

From time to time people ask you if you are still writing. You smile, nod and turn away. Too bad it didn't work out.

I think we all have experienced avoidance in our writing journey. It's hard to take negative comments and still push through and get the writing done. But if we are to be all that God called us to be we have to understand that just like my foot or any task that's hard, if we push on - it will be worth it. I just don't think I could live with myself if I stopped. How could I face the future knowing that perhaps one more push and I would be in the winners circle?

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Don't listen to the voices!

2010-03-31T09:22:00.000-07:00

Recovery time and being confined to bed provides a lot of time to think. Sometimes that's good....but sometimes those voices seem to swirl around me.

I'm not crazy. Well....at least not clinically. We all hear voices from time to time. Those thoughts that highlight the slightly untruths until beads of perspiration dance across our forehead and our stomach is invaded with little men in pointy hats and spike shoes.

"What makes you think you can write?"
"No one reads your stuff."
"You haven't sold in a while because you aren't good."
"You'll never make it, why don't you get a real job?"
"Wait till that new article comes out and then everyone will know for sure that you aren't a writer."

I was suffering through one of those times last night and instead of crying I grabbed my iPod. I listened to Debbie Maycomber's lectures from Mt. Hermon 2008. She began by telling everyone her writing story. She's dyslexic, had financial troubles along the way and is a very creative speller.

Her lecture ended with the plea to not listen to the voices. "If I had listened to all those voices that said:
Debbie's such a nice little girl but she'll never amount to anything.
Throw that manuscript away, it can't be fixed.
You'll never be a real writer......I wouldn't have had the great life that writing has provided!"

If she had listened to all those voices she wouldn't have kept trying and she would have missed the pleasure of being on every best seller list, of selling over a million copies of the book that an editor said to throw away, and the joy of knowing that she IS a great writer.

Don't listen to the voices! Instead, shake them off. Go for a walk (wish I could). Listen to an inspiring talk or read an inspiring message.

Now get busy and be all that God has called you to be!

God loves you and has called you to write!

Debbie

Writer's overload block

2010-03-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

I'm sure there's not a writer alive that hasn't experienced writer's block. We all face the white screen hoping that some mystical transition will take place and in a white cloud of smoke - pulizer prize winning words will appear.

I'm wondering though if some of you have experienced writer's overload block. That's when my agent likes the proposal but thinks it drops off here and there and needs some punching up. "Can you check all 40,000 words against the Chicago Manuel of style and make sure chapters 3, 5 and 8 don't drag as much as they do."

"Sure I can do that." I respond in my brightest voice.

It's only days later when I stare at the mountain of work and wonder if I'll ever be able to complete the necessary fixes. My head hurts and I wonder why I ever started this project in the first place. Sound familiar?

A lot of famous people have the same problem.

Dorothy Parker is quoted with "I hate to write. I love to have written." Many writers have used this quote to express their frustrations with writing.

Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand. ~George Orwell, "Why I Write," 1947

Being an author is having angels whisper in your ear - and devils, too. ~Graycie Harmon

A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people. ~Thomas Mann, Essays of Three Decades, 1947

One ought only to write when one leaves a piece of one's own flesh in the inkpot, each time one dips one's pen. ~Leo Tolstoy

If I'm trying to sleep, the ideas won't stop. If I'm trying to write, there appears a barren nothingness. ~Carrie Latet

Writing is a struggle against silence. ~Carlos Fuentes

Every writer I know has trouble writing. ~Joseph Heller

Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead. ~Gene Fowler

Today, I'm plowing into my book and taking it one word at a time. Just like the old saying how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Today, I'm biting at my manuscript.

Huff....Puff...stare into space....

I'll leave you with the best quote of all.

Ink on paper is as beautiful to me as flowers on the mountains; God composes, why shouldn't we? ~Terri Guillemets

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

On the mend....

2010-03-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

I've spent the last month learning a lot about medical issues and the power of God. I had to have massive reconstructive surgery on my foot. For weeks before the surgery I planned ways I could continue to work while in recovery. I moved my computer into the bedroom and practiced how to place the pillows so I could elevate my foot and still work.

I am slightly claustrophobic and therefore was nervous about the cast. To occupy my mind and keep me concentrating on other things, I lined up a lot of work to do. I felt confident going into the surgery that I was prepared and that this would actually make me stronger.

Ahhh.....but I didn't consult God about what He wanted me to learn. Isn't that always the way? We try to plan and direct the show ourselves - when in reality God wants us to step aside and let Him show us a new path.

2 Cor. 12: 9-10

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Are you like me? Do you want to plan everything about your writing career? Do you want to do such a great job that you can offer it up to God by saying, "Look, I did this all by myself and now I've decided to give it to you."

We think that by doing all the right things that somehow we are gaining God's approval. When in actuality he wants this journey to be a "joint" effort. He wants to be part of the process. He doesn't want or need our success. What he does want is a relationship and to be a part of the process.

There were complications after surgery. After coming home I found I couldn't take the pain medicine and we spent another week trying to find something that would ease the enormous pain. Just four days after I was home, Ron called to let me know he was losing his job. I spent hours crying and days looking at a dormant computer and wondering if I would ever write again.

Finally....I gave it up. Finally, I hit bottom and realized that I can't do anything without God's help. Finally, I admitted my writing was worthless without his input.

In my despair and bottomless pit of pain - God showed up. He touched me and within hours the tears were dry and the pain was bearable. Please allow me to change one word in this verse...

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in YOUR weakness."

I can't promise that I've once and for all learned my lesson. My nature is to plan and that's just part of what I do, but I hope that the next time I face a difficult situation I'll turn first to the Savior and ask, "What would you have me do this time?"

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Experience Life....

2010-02-10T08:36:00.000-08:00

When my children were small I liked to read their compositions. They were full of wisdom, dreams and yes....fantasy.

I say fantasy because when you read words like "I won't ever do...." or "I know my life will..." your heart breaks because you know the time will come when "they will do" or "Their life won't be what they envisioned".

I made a decision not to burst those bubbles. Children need to feel positive and empowered. It's not a parent's job to keep them down - life issues will handle that extremely well. Instead, it is our job to give them wings.
Over the last few months I've been gripped in the process of experiencing life's attacks on my own personal wings. It seems I've been thrown every road block possible. I've had to take the time to re-evaluate, spend time with God and redirect my efforts.

In the process I've learned something deeper. I've learned that it's not the wings that make us powerful....it's the struggle to build the wings that make us powerful.

I once heard a story of a lady who had a big window over her sink. One spring she looked in the corner and saw a cocoon. For days, every time she washed dishes - she watched a butterfly struggle to get out of his cocoon. She prayed for the butterfly. She tapped on her window thinking it would inspire the butterfly. She even tried to push a little food near the cocoon thinking it might be hungry. Every time she watched, the butterfly seemed to work and work but very little was done.

When only two small strands still blocked the entryway, her compassion got the better of her. The lady took a pair of scissors and snipped the two strings. Thinking she was now part of the process she was excited when the butterfly drifted out of the cocoon and landed on her porch. She giggled with pride and waited for it to fly. The butterfly fluttered his wings for a few minutes and then became very still. The lady tip toed into her kitchen hoping to finally see him fly away. Within 20 minutes he dropped over and died.

She was heartbroken. She called a friend who sent her deeper into tears. "By cutting the strings you sealed his death. There's a special liquid that must cover the wings in order for the butterfly to be able to fly. It's squeezing through the narrow opening that pushes that liquid from the body and onto the wings. By making the process easier, the wings weren't coated and the butterfly couldn't fly."

As writer's, God has challenged us to make a difference in this world. We are called to explain, instruct and inspire. We can't share our wisdom with the world until we have also been through the fire. We must explain our own lives. We must follow the instructions for our own lives. We must fight our way through the darkest tunnel until we find our own inspiration. Only then can we turn and shout with confidence, "Listen to me....here's what I've learned."

No matter what you are facing today or how bleak the road ahead.....be determined to "Experience Life" so you can turn and share it with others. Be careful not to wish it away or to refuse to learn from God. Pay attention and try to learn all you can from your own experiences. That is our holy calling. That is our mission.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Striking the Middle of the Road

2009-11-20T09:38:00.000-08:00

In a writer's class a publisher once said, "Be careful what you write...if it's negative you will lose readers. You don't want to do that." Another publisher said, "Stay away from either side of an issue. Try to take the middle ground."

I won't reveal who those editors and publishers are because I like them personally and I enjoy a good relationship with them. I believe that they are good people who are trying to do their best to lead writers into "full time" status.

We all want that. We all want to find our writings in the front pages of a magazine or on the best seller list. But I'm wondering if that middle road thinking hasn't driven part of the confusion in America today. More and more we are being polarized on opinions of religion and politics. That polarization might not have happened during other times in history because it would have been shot down by a majority that held tightly to conservative beliefs.

Once we began to entertain the idea that a more centralist way was "perferred", that centralist view began to grow until now it's suffocating freedoms and beliefs.

It's not easy taking a stand. For the last year I've felt that "something" (I call it Satan) didn't like what I was doing and was fighting to stop all writing efforts. I've called on friends to pray and collegues to stand with me as I fought to write what I believed was true.

Talking about a "spiritual" being that might be attacking me to keep me from writing was not popular. Yet, I felt it. I knew it with all my heart and I have spent hours in prayer asking for guidance and strength. I'm now asking for you to stand with me in prayer - not only for my writing, but for all writers of the truth.

I think it comes down to this scripture in Revelations 3:15-16 (NIV)

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

I know that it's scary to write what you believe in. I know what it's like to be attacked. But....I also know that I can't take the easy road. I have to write what God has called me to write. Before you decide to take the centralist view, think about what the Biblical writers went through in order to proclaim the truth of Jesus and of God. Think about all the writers down through the ages that have continued to distribute the truth no matter what the consequences. Think about standing before your heavenly father and seeing him smile as he says, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant!"

Don't be afraid. God will be with you. Trust Him and write His Words.

God has called you to write,

Debbie

Building a platform or building a nervous breakdown.

2009-10-25T20:26:00.000-07:00

I talked with a young writer today that was completely discouraged.

"I'm supposed to write, I'm supposed to build a platform and promote myself as a speaker. I'm supposed to contribute to other blogs so mine will increase in numbers and somewhere in the middle of all this I'm supposed to be centered and take care of my family. I need finances to keep writing and I may have to take a job. I'm overwhelmed and heartbroken."

Most people have an image of a writer sitting in a cabin in the woods, listening to nature, sipping a cup of coffee and plunking out a best selling novel. Of course, he has servants to do the cleaning, his mailbox is stuffed with checks and when he's done with this novel he will return to a life of fun and games with his family.

Actually if we think about it for a moment, we have fantasies about every job position. It's rare that we look at a job and think it's unappealing unless it's on the cable show Dirty jobs where the star is trying out chimney sweeping or pig farming. We tend to see every job as one that has beautiful people working effortlessly while making millions. Rarely do we see positions where the boss looks like a big green monster to his employees.

Writing is hard work. It's not a dream job unless you love books and love writing and can't wait to put your ideas on paper. It's not a dream job if you don't find your soul lifting every time you write a phrase that hangs in the air and tickles your heart like a child watching twinkle lights for the first time. It's not a dream job unless you can't imagine yourself doing anything else and hate every moment you are away from the computer.

So what can you do to control the chaos and illuminate the feelings of wonder?

Imagine that you a successful executive. You have all the power to make every decision and you are in total control. You can make the employee schedule and you can decide how much marketing will be done. Give yourself permission to take a day off and to be nice to your grandmother.

I think we get off track when we are so bent on being published - right now....that we put our publisher's in the seat as an imaginary CEO that's always looking negatively at our work. We let that image drive us to frustration trying to put everything in place all at once. If we retain the right to make a writing plan and work hard to execute that plan....we will gain respect and one day we will be published.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Feature This by LouAnn Edwards

2009-09-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

The first reason not to write feature stories is you’d rather be doing something else, like having your eyebrows ripped out by the roots. I resisted the idea at first. The roll-your-eyes brat inside me said “I can’t believe I have to do this” like the sixth grader who’s been told for the next five months in PE they’ll be learning the Fox Trot. I simply stomped my middle school foot, crossed my arms and pouted under the basketball hoop muttering, “I don’t wanna!!”

In spite of a disparaging attitude, my first two attempts at interviewing went well. So, when a co-worker approached me about doing a profile for the company newsletter I readily agreed. After all, how hard could it be? Big mistake.

Margaret Johnson the “Fun With Watercolors” instructor was waiting for me at the historic art museum with twelve of her students. All I had to do was grab a few paint class trivia stories, and I’d be free. I hopped up on what looked to be some sort of antique heater apparatus, got out my notebook and fired off my first question.

“ Margaret, what do you like best about teaching art?”

“Well”, she cautiously began, “please call me Marge. Let’s see… I don’t know. “

Great. Now what? “Well, can you tell me what your class has been working on?” I tried again.

“Well, we’re working on mixing colors. You see, the six tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary and a secondary, our neutral achromatic colors are black, white and gray, a triad uses colors at the points of an equilateral triangle, of course a double split compliment, also called tetradic uses two pairs of compliments…”

I was trying to decipher one word of useable quotes when I felt something hot. I jumped down from my perch, where I was sitting on a blaze from what must have been a working steam heater. Yikes! I’m supposed to be getting quotes that burn through the page, not burn through my pants. There had to be an easier way. I had completely flubbed this interview, and didn’t have a clue how to salvage it.

I knew I needed help. But where? I remembered reading about a successful writer who’s talent thrived after taking a graduate level writing class at Harvard. That’s what I needed! It was the thrill of having a professional analyze “your baby.” And if you happen to give birth to an eleven-pound screamer only a mother could love, you just take the course again. Of course, not being sought out by Harvard, I would have to use my imagination and just pretend I was in the class.

Using complex visualization techniques (laying in a hammock with a cold drink) I imagined the somber scene of a graduate school classroom with a stern looking professor at the front of the room clutching my feature story. He was tall, white haired and pointed his finger in my direction.

“Miss Edwards. How did you lose control of this interview?” he said frowning.

“Ah..I dunno.” (I never was good at thinking on my feet in class).

“Well I suggest you figure it out!

I squirmed in my seat, with a furtive glance at the clock.

“You see,” he continued, “You’re writing with action, emotion, feeling…have you been thinking about that, Miss Edwards?”

“Um hum.” Well, actually no. I’ve been thinking about what kind of tan the girl next to me has… it’s so real looking. I wonder if it’s from the sun, a tanning bed, or that new spray on stuff….”

“Well,” I nervously continued, “I think next time I’ll get control, and I won’t sit on any heaters, and…”
“STOP!” He yelled. I think he even slammed a stick on the desk, but I’m not sure-. “ What is your take away here?”
“Ah…don’t sit on antique heaters?”
At this point Professor Picky decides he has a sick headache and he should have listened to his mother and gone into the dry cleaning business with his cousin Earl. Dry cleaners don’t have days like this. He dismisses us all in a fury. Mental note: strike out visualization.
In the meantime my limited expertise is still in demand. My neighbor says she has an “in” with some exciting new subjects for me to interview--Elmer the worm harvester, and a new group at the retirement home called the “Ladies of Seizure.” I can hardly wait.

LouAnn - I love this piece! I'm still laughing!

God loves you and you are called to write,

Debbie

Writing is like a....

2009-09-16T06:11:00.000-07:00

Men may not understand this, but writing for me is like "birthing a baby". My latest book seemed to take over my life. For the last month I have been totally consumed. I've spent every waking moment on those last details. Even when I did take time to go out with my family, my mind was on the book.

Now that it's finished, I can finally relax - at least for a few days until another idea grips my mind and I'm off and running again.

For all of you that wonder if you are truly a writer....ask yourself a very important question. "Could I be happy if I put my pen down and never wrote again?"

If you can answer yes to that question, you do not have the soul of a writer. But, if you feel sad even asking the question, if tears fill your eyes thinking about the ideas that will die in your head, if you think you have six fingers and one of them is an ink pen - you are a writer and you need to keep at it!

Writers are a strange breed. We are constantly thinking about our next project and all the wonderful ideas we can bring to others. We worry about mental pictures and sentence structure. We agonize over words and change things like he ran to he bolted - to he galloped - to he shuffled and back to he ran. We sit at the supper table and write notes on the paper napkin. We can't find time to clean the closet but our notes for our next book are filed and catalogued.

With all our eccentricities - the world needs us. They need our imagination, our insight and our light to help them find a way out of their problems.

So....Get busy. Find a little time today to put some ideas on paper. Get out there and change the world with your writing!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Follow me to a mini writer's conference

2009-08-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

Mary Nichelson is an editor with a wonderful blog. This week she published what I would consider a mini writer's conference. She interviewed 8 writers and posted their comments. I've just finished reading it and it's wonderful.

If you need a little encouragement for your writing - check out the following link. And while you are there, be sure and add Mary's World to your favorites list.

http://marysworld411.blogspot.com/2009/08/welcome-to-christian-fiction-101.html

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

What the world needs now.....

2009-08-13T05:24:00.000-07:00

I hope every writer - new or old - understands the emergency we face today!

Your political differences aren't the issue. Your calling to be a Christian writer is the all consuming issue.

Humans crave information. Humans will become anxious and in some cases depressed if they don't have access to "answers" or explanations about their fears.

This country is in turmoil. Millions of people are frightened and frustrated. They need information. They need to hear from you.

The English statesman Robert Bulwer-Lytton said, "The pen is mightier than the sword".

But what about these other quotes?

The pen is the tongue of the mind. Horace

The strokes of the pen need deliberation as much as the sword needs swiftness. Julia Ward Howe

There are a thousand thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up a pen to write. William Makepeace Thackeray

In a mood of faith and hope my work goes on. A ream of fresh paper lies on my desk waiting for the next book. I am a writer and I take up my pen to write. Pearl S. Buck

Whether or not you agree with the writings of these people is not the issue. The fact that they are writing should be as important to you as your faith.

People need information. If God has given you a talent you must use it. It is your duty and should be your passion to join the ranks of others that are writing. If you are new and not sure about the publishing industry - start a blog. Get involved. We must share the good news and promote the strength of America and her freedoms. Don't sit on the sidelines and watch the news - get involved and WRITE!

Will it be hard? You bet it will. I'm on a deadline for two books. I have three blogs that I've committed to presenting 90% original material. I don't just search the net and comment - I actually write content. I have another blog that I contribute to. It's hard to feel like I have enough time in the day to sit down with my family much less get outdoors.

Your commitment doesn't need to be that involved - but you must commit to some time. If you don't set aside time to write and actually produce copy that can be shared - you will never reach your goals.

The sad side to letting time get away from you, is that the people around you will be struggling without the insight you could provide. I will pray for you and for all Americans, but in the meantime - write!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Wanted Christian Writers

2009-07-31T13:28:00.001-07:00

This post will be very small. Please go to my main blog http://www.family-tracks.blogspot.com/ and read today's post.

Washington is attacking our freedoms at an alarming rate. This country is depending on writers with integrity and Christian values to sound the alarm and to be part of the non-violent revolution to take back our Christian nation.

You have thoughts, ideas and plans that can help us all. Please, spend time in prayer, spend time in research and then write, write, write.

I encourage you to read my family tracks blog and use any of the research included there. I know when you see the facts spelled out and you go to the government website, you too will feel the urgency to get involved. Please share this blog and others with as many people as you can.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Getting Serious with LouAnn Edwards

2009-07-15T16:16:00.000-07:00

Lou Ann Edwards is a wonderful writer. She also has a bio that will leave you saying "WOW!" She has agreed to be a contributor to our blog and give all of you a little humorous lift to your work. Check out her bio in the side bar and hold on to your side.

Get Serious!

LouAnn Edwards

Follow your dreams--that’s what new writers are supposed to do. I’ve read all the latest books on the subject and I’m ready to begin my first important assignment —getting serious. No more tinkering around with restaurant napkins or putting brilliant quips on deposit slips at stoplights. According to the million or so writing experts out there, we fledgling artists must take four essential steps on the ladder to byline stardom.

Demand Cooperation: This is the first step in gaining the respect of your family. I wasted no time. I lined up all the offspring in the kitchen to make my announcement.

“All right you guys, from now on I demand respect for my profession as a soon to be published writer. I’m taking my writing seriously and it’s time you did too.”

“Mom, you write on airsick bags.”

“Hey, that was just once, Mr. Smarty pants, and I couldn’t hold the sentence till we landed. From now on, people are going to be paying me lots of money for what I write.”

“I need a note for not doing my homework” the 10 year old offered.

“That will be 10 cents a word” I fired off.

Envision Yourself A Writer: Speak the language of success the experts say. Practice saying “writer like” phrases. I practiced my favorite line over and over in front of the mirror. When the attacks on my time came, I was ready.

Can you chair the committee on the “Fun with Fudge” fundraiser? Nope! I’m on deadline.
Bake Viennese Stuffed Cabbage for the scouts potluck? Sorry…. I’m on deadline.
Unfortunately, I decided to try it out on my dad. At 82, between his lack of hearing and a staticy cell phone, communication is a little bit of a challenge.

“Dad?”

“Hello, hello? Is someone there?”

“Dad, I’m calling to tell you that I’m running a little late today. I’m a writer now. I’m on deadline.”

”On what? I wouldn’t trust any of those new drugs.”

Well maybe I’m just not saying it to the right people. Next week will get better.

Get Organized: One author says the key to good organization is owning the right equipment. An absolute must on the list of essentials is a telephone headset. All the published professionals wear them. It makes sense to me. After all, how would I interview important big shots typing with a phone between my teeth?

I’m really excited about this one. I can feel just like the clerks at Old Navy and Burger King drive thrus –only I don’t have to wear low-rise khakis or saddle up to a deep fryer. I wonder if they come in the new spring colors?

Network: Writers are a friendly bunch they tell us. Hobnob with the success stories and learn their secrets. But why stop at other writers? Why not go straight to editors and publishers? I checked the back of some books and magazines and jotted down the e-mail address of someone I’ll call Joan. Joan is the editor of a famous national magazine, and I figured she’d be just tickled to network with a friendly new contact like me.

Dear Joan:

Wow! I’m a writer too. Have you heard of me? Oops, my mistake! I haven’t been published yet.

Any ideas for that yet Joan? No pressure, but I’m sending you my favorite thirty stories I just completed which would be perfect for your magazine. What was the name of it again? Ha ha, just kidding, Joan. I’m a humor writer, can you tell? I’ll bet you’re just splitting your panty hose with laughter about now.

Hey, maybe your people could pay my way to New York, and we could talk about it. Let me know!
Your great new friend,

Louann

I never heard back from Joan. So much for networking. But, I have a few hundred more editors to contact. Besides, by the time I get finished at the office supply store loading up on a laptop, printer, headset phone, file cabinet, envelopes, stamps and a “writer at work” sign I’ll bet I have good news waiting in my mailbox.

If nothing else, maybe another kid needs a note.

I Love it, LouAnn!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Be yourself - no matter what!

2009-07-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

Do you get discouraged trying to be what someone else wants you to be?

Like me, you've probably listened to a lot of writing classes where the teacher asks you to step outside of your comfort zone. That's great! We all need to push the limits of our talent.

Be careful however, about trying to take on a role that isn't you.

Barbara Curtis is a wonderful writer and has written over a thousand articles plus 8 or 10 books (I've lost count). She is extremely talented at writing for the general public. She knows how to word issues so that someone with a different opinion can accept her writing.

I've tried to learn from her (she's a wonderful teacher) and hopefully I have changed for the better. But....I doubt that I will be a columnist.

I took a class by her on how to be a columnist and I've thought about it since. I think I would be okay with a column in a monthly or bi-monthly magazine but I'm not sure I could be one in a local paper. I don't know why....but it just doesn't feel right somehow.

I also listened to a lot of teachers who promote magazines. I love writing for magazines and I'm so excited that an article I wrote was published last week by Marriage Partnership on line.

http://www.marriagepartnership.com/ It was a fun article titled, Me and a Red Corvette. Looking back several years to that fun event was truly satisfying.

I have at least a hundred magazine articles in process that I should be sending out, but books seem to call to me. I'm happy working on chapters and I get involved in fixing all the little details that need to be mulled over in a book. I love reading books. I love getting into the meat of an issue and chewing on the mix of flavors and textures.

Will I continue to write for magazines and maybe even do a column or two? Yes, of course, but my heart belongs to books.

I have a friend who has a great book sitting on her desk and she won't send it out. She's trying to get some articles published first. That's fine....but it's like watching a child put on daddy's clothes. It just doesn't fit her.

That's why I hope you will study your craft, be the best writer you can be --and when all is said and done, be yourself. If that book is finished and ready for an editors eyes - send it out! If you hate working on books and love devotionals - send them out!

Be true to yourself and your work will show enthusiasm, creativity and excellence.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

I write when the "spirit" moves me....

2009-07-10T09:20:00.000-07:00

I've met a lot of new writers who think they can rise above the "awful" consequences of the commercial writing world by saying...."I only write when the spirit moves me."
I could probably fill a graveyard with rejected manuscripts that were conceived with this false philosophy.

This comment has a dual purpose. First of all it eliminates the need for self examination and it provides a quick response to rejection. "Well, that editor wasn't in the "spirit" or he would have seen the message that God intended."

The truth of the matter is that God, the Holy Spirit and our Holy Calling demands much more of us than just putting words to paper. If we are truly writing the "words of God" then we are responsible for doing it in such a way that the common man (and that includes an editor) will see heavenly perfection.

Writing the words as the spirit leads demands that we become Masters at our craft.

Robert Louis Stevenson was once asked if he loved to write. He replied, "I hate to write, but I love to have written."

Job cried out, "Oh, that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!" (Job 19:23)

Epictetus, the Greek philosopher, wrote "If you want to be a writer, write."

Joseph Pulitzer said, "Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light."

In his book, How to write what you love, Dennis Hensley states.."Have you ever wondered why editors often give the majority of their freelance assignments to a select group? The answer is obvious. these writers have the traits those editors look for in writers.....An editor who trusts and respects you becomes your advocate and sponsor."

How can you become a respected writer? Work at your craft. Study the words you put on paper. Study grammar, word position, other writers and read read read. Spend time writing even when your mind feels stale and your body desperately wants to go outside.

Work at your craft even when the "spirit" has left and soon you will find that your writing transcends loftiness and exhibits both spirit and excellence.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

I did it my way

2009-07-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

If you have attended any writer's conference, you have probably heard an editor say "You need to write with your audience in mind." You may also have heard them say, "If the audience is too small it's not cost effective for us to print your book or article."

Those types of statements may lead you to believe that you have to change your focus, your beliefs and ultimately who you are in order to be paid for your work.

Don't go there.

Should you take marketing and audience into consideration when you write that query letter - yes! But don't take it into consideration when you are beginning to write.

What???

Creativity is an illusive mist. It comes and goes at will and you need to be prepared to make use of it when it appears and push through the desert when it's gone.

One of the traits of creativity is that it must be free and it must involve your own standards, beliefs and ideas. It must come from you. That's where all the passion and excitement is located - deep within you.

If you try to write another person's thoughts - if you try to be them - you will turn out miserable, unfeeling work. Your plan then, should be to write your passions. Get excited about your ideas and your writing. Don't consider the world or what they will think - be who you are.

Just don't forget the last step! When you are down to the re-writes, apply compassion, consideration and those marketing concerns. Don't betray the core of who you are but learn to "edit" so your reader can accept who you are.

Claire W. in God Help me Create says it this way....

"Only we can set standards that are appropriate and that help us in our work. If we try to adopt the standards of parents, family, or friends, we may lose all joy in the creative process.

We may also be hurt trying to please the recognized authorities or the critics in our field. However dependent upon their approval we may feel, adjusting our work to their standards will probably rob us of both pleasure in and respect for our work.

Essentially, the work we do is aimed at people who are like ourselves. The "audience" we try to reach, the "market" we try to sell to, is made up of people who delight in the things we delight in, who believe in the things we believe in, who are moved by the things that move us.

In setting standards, we must honor our own sense of what is right and good. If we do so, it is likely that others will recognise the integrity of our work and respond to it favorably."

Any man who will look into his heart and honestly write what he sees there will find plenty of readers. Edgar W. Howe

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Jerry B. Jenkins, Writing for the Soul

2009-06-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

I hope you schedule reading time into your writing day. Good writers are also good readers.

One of the greatest values of reading other writers is the connection we make with their lives. Writers are lonely people. We quietly walk around the library doing research. We quietly look through books on sale at the bookstore. We quietly sit at our computers doing more research or trying to solve the next mystery so we can put it in our new book.

If we don't make connections with other writers we can become stale and lose the fire in our writing that touches the reader. I've been reading Jerry Jenkins book, Writing for the Soul. In the chapter, Keeping the Goal in Sight, he talks about being in New York in 2001 when the Twin Towers were attacked.

"Months later we visited Ground Zero, a hole too big to comprehend until it was brought into perspective by the sight of a cement truck at the bottom that looked like a toy.

I was struck that our job as writers is to provide that kind of perspective, touch points to make clear the enormity of the themes we examine. Though we may be writing fiction, if our focus is clear, we reveal reality in all its pain and joy. And as inspirational writers, we have a duty to do justice to a worldview that may bend but will never be crushed under the weight of hopelessness.

There is a place for the stark reality of the kind of writing that despairs of the seeing hopelessness of man's inhumanity to man. And while we must not flinch in the face of such a bleak worldview, our burden, our task, our privilege is to represent hope. That doesn't mean Pollyanna stories in which everyone lives happily ever after - at least this side of heaven. People still suffer. Innocents still die. But we are believers, and if we cannot crack the door to hope, we dare not call ourselves inspirational writers."

Wow! Jerry - how true. I encourage you to get his book. You can use the link in the sidebar.

God has called you to write,

Debbie

Watch out for the beetles!

2009-06-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

Many years ago my dad preached a sermon about beetles. Not the kind from Britain, but the kind you find in the garden or boring into a tree. He shared all kinds of information about beetles. Mainly that they hide under the bark or somewhere in a stalk and destroy the plant from the inside out.

He encouraged his congregation, to not let the beetles chip away at our faith. In other words, it's easy to let all the "little" stuff in our lives slowly move us in a different direction. We may not even feel it or know it until we look back and realize that our lives have taken a different path.

Yesterday, I was traveling back from another state and decided to write down everything I do in a day and how much time it takes me to do it. Everything I listed was important. Everything I listed needs to be done. The shocker was that it takes about 7 hours and 30 minutes out of my day!

We all know how much "writing" can be done in that amount of time. I thought about all the articles and books and poems and children's stories I could have written over the last year if only I'd put some of those things on hold.

Friends are important but two hour lunches aren't. Laundry is important but perhaps I could cut the time in half if I used other methods. Good meals are an important time to catch up with family but maybe I should settle for the quick salad rather than using 2 hours of prep time for a family favorite.

In his book, Quit your Day Job, Jim Denny refers to our HOLY CALLING and discusses how we need to protect that calling and work toward our goals.

I encourage you to plan your writing day. Write down everything you do and determine if it's really important or if it's a beetle stripping you of precious writing time. If you and I are going to change the world with our words (and I believe we can) we need to schedule wisely and keep a sharp lookout for all the beetles that can destroy our goals.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Alienate more friends!

2009-06-09T15:04:00.001-07:00

"I've always wanted to be a writer. I know I have a wonderful idea for a novel."

"Can I read it?"

"Oh, I haven't written anything, I just know I could. Maybe someday when I have more time."

"More time?"

"Yes, you know. When my children are grown and I don't have so much to do at church. Maybe when we have more money or my husband retires - yes, I think then I'll write a book."

Does that sound familiar? Haven't we all been tempted to put the computer away and concentrate more on our family and our friends. Why be in such a hurry to be a success? Why should I sit here day after day and work - alone? Especially when everyone is fussing at me because I'm missing out on this special day or that family function.

The fact is that any career means a choice must be made. If you decided to get a simple job at the local Chick-fil-A, choices would have to be made. There would be times when you would have to say...."Sorry, I have to work. I would love to be there but I can't get off."

Unfortunately for the lonely writer and his keyboard - many people don't feel like we have a "real" job. Most of our friends and families believe that fairies fly into our offices at night and correct that 80,000 word manuscript. And if it needs revisions, surely the editors will take care of all that. (Which is like saying the CEO of Wallmart will clean the toilets if the janitor needs a day off.)

I recently sent a "rant" off to a dear friend and writer about someone who just didn't get the fact that I had a real job. He was kidding of course, but I had to laugh at his response.

You ask how I handle extended family and friend's intrusions. I think what it boils down to is that all the people who can't or won't understand my situation as a writer are now so completely alienated that they NEVER call anymore. You just need to alienate more family members and friends and you'll have it made!

He was being funny of course - but what can you do to help others understand your work?

1. You can't convince them you have a real job if you don't feel it yourself. Make sure you have answered this question in your own mind. Do I want to be a full time writer? If the answer is yes then you will have to put in the hours to make it happen.

Just because you may not get a paycheck every week doesn't mean that you aren't investing in your business. Every time you spend the day writing, researching or marketing...you are building your business just the same as if you put $$$ toward it.

2. Part of your contemplation should be understanding what you want from this new career. If you are in this for the money - Don't quit your day job! Most writers are some of the lowest paid people on the planet. But....if you want to be a writer because you feel "called" to the task and if you can't imagine a life without writing - it will be easier to accept the pitfalls that come along with the job.

3. Do you feel compelled to write? When you are in the mall and you see some event that sparks the creative juices, do you pull out a pen and scratch a few notes on the back of a bag? It may never become an article. You may always have that torn piece of bag stuffed in your drawer, but you knew you had to write it down. That's the first sign of being a "real" author. You have to write. You can't live without it.

4. Gather your immediate family and get them on board with your "calling". Explain what it means to you. Let them in on your goals and dreams. Ask them to help you reject the jabs of others. By doing this not only will you have help explaining to Aunt Martha why you can't attend her luncheon by the fish pond....but you will also have a team of people encouraging you and pushing you forward.

5. No one will ever believe this is a real job unless you do the work and submit it. You must think of this as a "job". Work toward that goal. Each of us has to work at the tempo that fits our own personal circumstances. Some of you can only work pieces here and there. Others may be able to put in part time work. And still others may be able to jump full time into the job. But none of us will be taken seriously until we send those manuscripts out. It's not being accepted that's important. It's being out there. It's being able to say...."I did it!"

Again, I urge anyone that wants to be a writer to get Jim Denney's book, "Quit your day job!" It is one of the most complete writer's guides to getting the job done that I've ever read. You can use the link in the sidebar to purchase this book. It's helped me through many agonizing questions.

So, don't be discouraged when friends criticize the fact that you aren't there. Smile and know that by alienating your friends you are one step closer to your goals.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

blah! blah! blah!

2009-04-29T04:56:00.001-07:00

As a writer I've never had a problem with ideas. I took a class with Angela Hunt and liked the way she expressed her idea process. She said that she was never without ideas. "Instead of wondering what I'll write about next, I feel like all these ideas are circling around my head like planes at an airport. They wait for their chance to land and unload all their potential."

Sounds good to me. I have so many notes for articles and books it's crazy. It's been hard for me to understand when other author friends express writer's block.

But....now I think I understand. Writer's block comes in many forms. It may be a lack of ideas or it may be a lack of writing skills. It may be procrastination or it may be just frustration.

For me, writer's block comes more in the form of writer's Blah. Ideas are still plentiful, yet I've sat at my desk for hours without writing two words. I have an idea....I have a plan....but the hands just aren't moving.

There may be reasons for my lethargic behavior. I've been sick and my energy level is still very low. Deadlines are pressing and even though I know I should be busy - like a teen that's overwhelmed during finals week - my head just doesn't want to do the work. I'm forcing myself to get it done - and I know that's what needs to happen - but the "joy" I've experienced before isn't there.

Now what? I don't want to go through this journey feeling like I've lost the enjoyment of the process.

Sometimes when our brain is too tired to participate, it's best to just walk away. What? You've got deadlines and you're going to just walk away?

Yep....I'll just walk away. I looked at the sky and breathed in the fresh spring air. Yesterday, I took a garden tool and made about 25 stabs at the garden. Not enough to get sweaty. Not enough to take up the entire afternoon. Just enough to free up my mind.

Then, I sat on my porch swing and thought about my children. I sipped at a glass of ice water and drug my feet on the porch.

Finally, I prayed and asked God to help me to focus. It was just enough. I took a few more deep breaths before going inside. I settled into my desk chair, said another quick prayer and finished my first deadline.

Whew! That was a close one.

God loves you and has called you to write.

Debbie

Just let it go!

2009-02-24T05:45:00.000-08:00

I was talking to a writer friend last night. She's been working on a novel for 10 years. It's completed and she even has an idea for the cover. It's been completed for about two years. I've read parts of it and it's pretty good.

But....she keeps saying, "I think it needs a little more tweaking."

I think all writers suffer with that type of fear. We want the world to like what we write so we are continually trying to write something of "worth". That's a great philosophy - until - it robs us of a career. There's a lot of things wrong with that type of thinking.

1. When you do finally believe it's perfect and you present it to an editor, they will probably want to know how long you've been working on it. If you say ten years, they will gulp wondering if they will be able to get another book out of you. If the first one is successful, they will want a follow-up book. And they will want you to write it in less time.

2. Think of all the information and stories you could have written in the time you spent re-writing the first one. The world has missed at least 9 books while you were fussing with one.

3. Authors should be willing to speak and get out and meet people. If your book is published, your life will be filled with speaking engagements and book signings. You are going to have to produce other books while all that is going on.

4. After a few re-writes, your writing will suffer. If we used a line graph to represent the first few re-writes of your book, the line would soar to the top. Every writer must do some re-writing. But as you begin to challenge every word, the line will curve and finally drop off the bottom.

So...if you are getting ready for a writer's conference like I am - or if you are sitting at home playing with your book or article - it's time......Just let it go!

I have a huge project that I will present at this conference. I hope it's liked and received with a big - "yes, let's publish!" But even if it isn't, I'll take the criticism and rework it and present it again. For now...I'm just going to Let it GO!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Can you be this bold?

2009-02-20T12:21:00.001-08:00

One News source reported on a 12-year old girl who wanted to give a speech presentation for her class.

Lia is a preteen from Canada who decided to speak out against abortion in her school's speech contest, despite teachers and school officials who encouraged her to pick a different topic.

"What if I told you that right now someone was choosing if you were going to live or die? What if I told you that this choice wasn't based on what you could or couldn't do, what you had done in the past, or what you would do in the future? And what if I told you [that] you could do nothing about it? Fellow students and teachers, thousands of children are right now in that very situation," she says in her speech.

You can read the entire article here:
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=425610

I went to You Tube and listened to her speech. By the end I had tears in my eyes. All I could think about was if that young lady could present the kind of poise and grace in her delivery of "unwanted" truth....then I had better find the courage to speak the truth as well.

As I've said so many times before, this world needs strong, dedicated writers that will "highlight" the truth. I hope you will join me in working to be the "salt and light" that this old world needs.

You can view her speech here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtP6tW4AlR4

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Are you Afraid to write?

2009-02-14T06:17:00.000-08:00

We all have dreams. There are things we want to accomplish for ourselves and for God. It's exciting when we start the journey of writing. We have a wonderful idea and we know that it will bless or encourage or even teach readers more about God.

As you begin to write you visualize the reader and his current mood. Perhaps you stop to watch the news or read an article in the paper. You realize how militant some people are. You understand that the words you have just put on paper will incite some people to attack you. You try to remove anything negative or offensive to anyone but as you refuse to take a stand, your writing looses it's strength.

In his book, Against the Night, Chuck Colson writes, "I believe that we do face a crisis in Western culture, and that it presents the greatest threat to civilization since the barbarians invaded Rome."

We serve a God who commands us to trust Him. Even when we face the "spirit of the antichrist," we need not fear "because the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world." I John 4:3-4

We need to pray all the time (Eph. 6:18) and be strong in the Lord and in his might power (Eph. 6:10) knowing that Jesus has already won the battle.

Pastor Samuel Namitiiti from Uganda stayed with me the last few days on his way to the Mt. Hermon Writer's conference. He was telling us about how his church was surrounded by Idi Amin's soldiers and how they machine gunned the church for over 30 minutes. He told how one young man stood and blew his trumpet during the entire time and how all the people prayed. After the shooting stopped not one person was hurt. Even with glass flying all around and bullets piercing different pieces of furniture no one was hurt.

Horrified, I asked if he was afraid. "No. I was concerned about what might happen to my family or what I was going to face - but I was not really afraid. You see, I realized that I am not a creature of this world. I am an eternal being with an eternal home. What happens in the span of this journey is inconsequential to the thin moment that separates me from my heavenly home. It's but a breath that takes me from here to there. Here is the test....there is the reward."

Wow! I can never say it enough - authors.....we can and MUST change the world.

Acts 18:9-11

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Inspiration is rampant at Writer's Conference

2009-02-06T06:37:00.000-08:00

This blog is dedicated to lifting the spirits of any writer! I believe that we are the hope for the future. Nothing on the planet can inspire and change a nation like a well turned phrase.

I hope you will join my efforts and make comments or be a guest blogger on this site. I can see that the stats for this blog are climbing, but I would like to connect with you personally and I know other readers would like to meet you as well. If you are a guest blogger, I will highlight your book or website.

Many of us are preparing for Writer's Conferences. All year long we do our "thing". We sit in our lonely little offices, struggling for insight while sludging through re-write after re-write. We receive rejection letters and send e-mails to editors that are never answered.

But once a year, after saving all our pennies, we get on planes, trains, buses and cars - making our way to a Writer's conference. There we connect. We eat our lunch with an editor and absorb a how to class with a famous author. We participate in discussions and sit on community benches thanking God for this privilege. We pray with others who are also struggling to be published and we feel renewed when they pray for us. We jump for joy when someone compliments our work.

Attending a Writer's Conference is the most important thing you can do as a writer. If you are serious about being published - you must pick one and go. You will not only get the instruction needed to correct any flaws in your writing, but you can "feel" the acceptance, patience and inspiration in the air.

If you are low on funds, check out the possibility of a scholarship. Many conferences offer some type of help. While conferences without editors can be helpful and cheaper - I've found that connecting with that editor on a personal level is huge! (Picture - Debbie with Ginger Kolbaba of Today's Christian woman)

I will attend the Florida Christian Writer's Conference February 26-March 1. This is a wonderful conference and editors from large publishing companies will be there. http://www.flwriters.org/

I will also attend the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer's Conference in California April 1 - 7. They offer a mentoring clinic just prior to the main conference. A mentoring clinic will give you personal attention and can point out those little changes that will make a positive difference in your manuscript. http://mounthermon.org/adult/professionals/writers-conference

Next time, let's discuss the proper way to approach an editor. Do you have a story about an experience at a writer's conference? Send it to me and I'll post it here.

If you attend one of these conferences - please look me up and say hello!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Do you need "inspiration" to write?

2009-02-01T16:27:00.000-08:00

I remember sitting in a writer's conference and hearing Dennis Hensley announce, "Everyone in America wants to write a book." He went on to say, "Very few people have the drive and determination to follow through."

His comment made a valid point but I was sceptical that it was true. One day I was sitting in an emergency waiting room. I had my pen and paper poised and was scribbling away. I opened a writer's manual and read for a minute and then went back to my writing. A lady next to me asked, "Are you studying for an exam?"

I stopped and smiled at her. "No, I'm a writer."

"Oh, that's great. I have an idea for a wonderful story. I've never read anything like my story. I know it would be a great seller."

"Are you a writer?"

"No, well....I would like to be. I have this great idea, but I just don't have time right now. One of these days though." She looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "Yeah....one of these days."

Over the last three years I've met a lot of those people. They have great ideas but just can't find the time or the will power to put those ideas on paper. I think one of the saddest excuses is the one about "inspiration".

Five years ago a young man told me he was working on a great book. I listened to his idea and it was an exceptional one. Unfortunately, this young man is under the impression that you can only be a "great" writer when you are inspired. Putting words on paper and working through them later won't produce a truly inspired piece - or so he thinks. Recently I asked him how the novel was coming. "Not so good. I've just got so much going on in my life that I can't find the inspiration I need."

"How much have you done?"

"I've almost finished the introduction."

How sad. In five years he's only completed about three pages. Writing is a job that will not wait. If we are going to help people or spread the gospel or give society the information it needs for change....then we can't waste time. I like how Jim Denny deals with inspiration in his book, Quit your Day Job.

Habits are better than Inspiration

Over the dozen or so years that I've been writing full-time, I've discovered something about myself: My creative energies rise and fall. I have learned to become keenly aware of those energy levels. There are days when I feel creatively depleted. I don't feel that inner motivation, intensity, and drive to write. It's not that I feel physically tired. I just feel creatively spent, listless, and uninspired.

Yet there are other days when I wake up full of an inner fire, my mind bursting with ideas, my fingers eager to dance on the keyboard. I think that's the experience some people describe when they say they feel "inspired" to write. I enjoy writing on days when I feel inspired -- but I have found that such days are rare. Most days, writing is work. I enjoy my work, so that's okay, but rarely do I feel "inspired" when I work. I get my work done by simply being there and slogging through it, hour by hour, day after day.

It's my habit. I write everyday. On those rare occasions that I go a whole day without writing (Christmas, family vacations..) I have a vague, nagging sense that I should be writing. Something inside tells me that it's not right to not write.

That's the power of a habit.

If I only wrote when inspired, my output of published books would be a slim fraction of what it is today - and you wouldn't be reading this book right now. Fact is, there are many days I drag my unwilling carcass to the computer, slump in my chair, groan inarticulately, and begin grinding out my day's allotment of words. Occasionally, while I am sitting in that unwilling, uninspired state, I feel something come over me: the magic of inspiration. The words on the screen take on a life of their own. Ideas start flowing like wine. Soon, I find I can't type fast enough to keep up with the magic.

By the time I'm ready to stop, I've racked up two or three thousand words. If I hadn't started writing purely by habit, I would have missed the lightning bolt of inspiration when it finally struck. So, I write daily and diligently, inspired or not. As someone once observed, "The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair."

Habits are constant. Inspiration is variable - it comes and goes. That's why habits are better than inspiration. It is habit, not inspiration, that builds writing careers. Inspiration makes you feel energized while you write, but inspiration isn't writing. Only writing is writing and you can write whether you feel inspired or not.

(Used with permission)

So.....what are you waiting for???? Get busy!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Do you want to be a published author?

2009-01-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

I've always wanted to be a writer. As a teen I found joy writing little stories and poems. My grammar and spelling was horrible so being a published author wasn't something I thought possible. About ten years ago I started writing seriously. At first I didn't believe I would ever publish. I didn't think I was good enough. When people asked if I was working on something the answer was always, YES! I sounded excited and it was a real thrill to share my ideas.

But if someone asked if I was published, my head would turn, my countenance would change and I'd softly reply something like...."It's almost ready" or "It's done but I'm in the process of sending it out." Both of those remarks were code for "nope - not gonna happen anytime soon".

I've told you about meeting Vikie Crumpton of Baker Books and how she encouraged me to "just do it!" She inspired the feeling of urgency. She helped me to feel "challenged" to get my work out there. Still those questions nagged at me. What if I'm not the best? What if I make a mistake? What if it isn't that good? What if....what if....what if...?

Quit your Day Job, by Jim Denney is packed with tons of helpful tips and writing ideas. If you don't have his book - get it! He's also very encouraging. In his last chapter he discusses the enemy of writers. Enemy No. 3 is self-doubt. The following is quoted with permission from Jim Denney's book. Later this month he has promised to do a blog interview with Just Write.

"Self-doubt is the most common to all writers' afflictions - more common than writer's block and carpal tunnel syndrome combined. Self doubt is really a form of fear. We are afraid of what we might find out about ourselves - that we are not as talented or brilliant or creative as we thought we were. We are afraid of rejection - that editors and readers will see our work and condemn it (and us with it). We are afraid of failure - that we will put our work out into the marketplace, and it will be a resounding flop. Most paradoxical of all, we are afraid of success.......

To be a working writer, you must overcome those fears. A working writer willingly accepts the burdens of success and chooses to live courageously. Understand, courage is not the absence of fear. It is doing what you have to do despite your fears. And that means that you persevere, you press ahead, you write, disregarding your fears and self doubt."

As we all look forward into 2009 and all those writing challenges and writer's conferences - let's pray for courage. Courage to get our writing into the hands of editors and publishers. Courage to have passion about what we write and courage to "just do it"!

You are called to write,

Debbie

We Can Lead The Way !

2008-12-05T06:13:00.000-08:00

It's impossible to get through the day without talking with someone about the recession - depression - hard times. It seems that every level of our society is suffering right now. One young woman even scrunched her nose and said, "Maybe we should just eat worms and die."

YIKES! While I do feel for young people whose dreams are being challenged before they even get started, I hope our country has more courage than that!

Writers are the true hope of this country

Throughout dark times of history it was always the writer or the speaker that proclaimed some hopeful statement at the top of his lungs. Statements that touch hearts and reach into dark cells of depression. Statements like, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself."

My grandfather sat by an old radio and listened carefully to the fireside chats of President Roosevelt. With tears in his eyes he hung on every word. He had lived through the depression and desperately needed hope. President Roosevelt was able to lift an entire nation with his speeches.

Writers have the ability to shine light on possible answers and strengthen the resolve to make progress.

If you are struggling with financial issues, you may may wonder where you will get the strength to be encouraging to others.

When I was in third grade, I was very shy in school. We had moved from the south to the north and I was in unfamiliar territory. I had a nasty teacher that loved to yell. I tried to keep quiet and out of sight. I was sure that if I could become invisible she would never call on me. But....the day came when she did. I swallowed hard and ignored the butterflies in my stomach. I gave the right answer but would have preferred to go to the nurses station. Instead she asked me to write it on the board. I remember standing on wobbly knees, terrified of her evaluation of my writing skills and cringing with every scratch of the chalk on the board.

To my surprise, she not only complimented me, she patted me on the back. I stood there in front of the class with her hands on each shoulder as she continued to talk about the lesson. To this day, I don't remember what the lesson was about or the correct answer I gave. All I remember is that from that moment on, I determined to live my life - not hide from it.

I practiced involvement to such a degree that I proudly accepted a nickname given by friends at college. "Motor mouth" may seem silly to others but for me it was a declaration that I would never shrink from life. (My best friend "Jet Jaw" seemed to support my efforts...ha ha)

I urge you to join with me and let the world know that there is hope!

This world needs our thoughts and our viewpoints. As Christians we have a deeper understanding of this world and it's purpose. So shake off those wobbly legs, dust off the keyboard and let's get busy shinning the light of hope.

"And the Lord said to me, 'Write my answer on a billboard, large and clear, so that anyone can read it at a glance and rush to tell the others.'" Habakkuk 2:2

Merry Christmas - you are called to write,

Debbie

Now is the time for all good authors.....

2008-10-27T06:23:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how typing is taught to the current generation, but I'm sure it's different from my high school experience.

My first typing class dates me. I remember sitting in a class with 25 desks perfectly aligned. Each desk had a standard (non-electric) typewriter. You know the style. At the end of each sentence you had to return the carriage. All the keys had masking tape on them so there was no advantage to looking at your fingers. The teacher would call out letters as if we were marching to a tune....the tune of 25 plunks as each key hit the carriage drum and bounced back. Every so often you would hear someone say, "Oh no, shoot" or "phooey" as they discovered several keys lodged in a pile on the carriage.

After a month or so of finding our way around the keyboard we smiled as we proudly typed, Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. Over and over we typed similar sentences trying to memorize every key as our fingers danced to the rhythm.

I have forgotten most of the sentences we typed, except for, "Now is the time..." It was easy to remember this one. It seemed patriotic. It called to a deeper sense of purpose. I was a teen when John Kennedy announced, "Ask not what your country can do for you....ask what you can do for your country." I was energized and felt that I was important. I felt privileged to be in a country where I could take up the cause to help others.

Authors....we must continue that cause. Even with media and television, it is still the written word that slices through the hardest heart. We have a job to do. No matter how this election turns out, our writings will continue. We have the ability to change lives by what we write.

I hope you will take the time to type this line several times and let it take root in your heart. "Now is the time for all good men/women to come to the aid of their country." Your voice needs to be heard. When you feel alone and your writing seems to be an endless debate of grammatical rules - don't give up. "NOW is the time for all good men/women to come to aid of their country."

More than ever, non-Christians need our words. If you knew that plowing through that unedited manuscript and getting it to a publisher would mean 150 souls would be saved - would you do it? Would you do it for a hundred? How about 75? How about 32 or 22 or even 11? Would you work hard for a month if you knew that 2 people would meet you in heaven and thank you for your service?

"Now is the time for all good AUTHORS to come to the aid of their country."

Will you join me?

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Grammar Monster

2008-10-02T08:57:00.000-07:00

Authors have to face a lot of writing monsters. There are times every writer feels like this picture as we wait for the next creative idea. What is your writing monster?

Maybe it's the monster of procrastination. We often feel like we could find those "illuminating" words if we only had our house clean or our e-mails sorted through. We are sure we will be more productive if we finish the bills, take a walk or wash the car - first.

The monster of preparation doesn't feel like a monster - after all the research must be done. But if piles of documents clutter our desk and loaded pod casts cause our computer to crash, the monster is winning.

The monster of friendly phone calls can delay writing for most of the day. If only our friends could understand that writing is a job and takes as much time as any other profession.

The monster of duty can take a huge bite out of our day. "You're not really busy today are you? Can't you pick of the kids?" or "Since you are at home all day can you take widow Sims to the doctor - the church would really appreciate it."

The monster of needs is a legitimate monster that must be fed, but can turn quickly and demolish creativity and stomp on our deadlines. The need to be with my husband can morph into a four day vacation from work. I need to spend time with my children can become an entire week that leads us further from our goals. I need a break from writing can become years of unfulfilled goals. We must take care of our needs while finding a balance that returns us to our committed goals.

My personal monster is grammar. As a well-known writer suggested at a writer's conference, I try to "throw up in the computer in the morning and clean it up in the afternoon." Unfortunately, just when I'm hitting that afternoon slump, the grammar monster attacks. "Is this passive? Does that verb need a dangling modifier with a participle injunction for the creative facility of noun usage." Yeah, I know. Doesn't make sense, but sometimes neither does grammar.

I think it's important for authors to play games. We need to relieve the tension of a paragraph that just won't sit on the page. I have decided that I'm a dragon (monster) slayer and that it's my job to chop at all the monsters until I have a piece of writing that speaks to the public.

Grammar monster - chop chop - "Take that you evil misspelled word."

Procrastination monster - chop chop - "Get away you demon, I will create!"

Well...you get the idea. I am convinced that a writer is like a laser of light cutting through the darkness to bring hope.

We must always remember our goals, our God given talents and how much this world needs to hear the truth.

If we slay our monsters, we will bring light to the world and that will always make us smile.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Writing is like Smashed Apples

2008-09-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

If you've read my other two blogs you know that IKE made a visit to Ohio. When I found out I had no cable, Internet or phones; my first thought was this is good. I'll have time to write, write , write.

Unfortunately, clean-up after a storm like IKE takes more than a few minutes. It took almost an hour to corral the apples that littered our driveway.

While I was thinking and praying about the faith and parenting lessons in those fallen apples, I also thought about my writing. How many times did I think a day would be filled with productive writing only to be disappointed? I'd sit at my computer ready to flow with great nuggets of wisdom and instead have the phone ring with an emergency. "Can you come quick?" The caller begged.

Finally, I had my notes in front of me and again the wonderful idea hit. It was perfect! The right words in the right order were filling my brain and pushing at my fingers. I clicked on the appropriate box and prepared to fly through my thoughts. I looked up to find that my computer had crashed and would not budge.

I grabbed a piece of paper just as the phone rang. It was mom. For over an hour she cried and told me about the death of a friend. Later that night, I switched to my laptop. I typed away. Finally the words were coming together. Finally the notes were in place. Ron called with bad news about the car but it didn't matter....the words were there on the screen.

Laptops are wonderful when there's nothing else, but there are times mine carries out the vengeance of all my past sins. If I move my thumb slightly over the pad as I type, it will highlight several paragraphs and wipe them out before I realize what has happened. A computer geek told me what to do to get it back...but on this particular day it didn't work.

I stared at the screen with only one sentence remaining. Tears rolled down my cheek. It had been perfect. Just the right words....just the right message....just the right article....and now it was gone.

Like hurricane IKE ripping apples from my tree, my day had ripped a beautiful idea from me. I tried to recreate those words, but they just wouldn't come. Finally, I walked away...sad.

Have you ever had that happen? So excited about a project only to lose it?

When I was little I remember a book that used to sit on our coffee table. It was called Apples of Gold. It was full of positive uplifting sayings and thoughts. Mom had another devotional book that sat beside her bed called, "God's apples of gold".

A word spoken in season, how good is it" ! "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" . Proverbs 15:23, 25:11 (NKJV)

As I raked up the apples from IKE many were smashed and some were bruised beyond the point of usable. But there were a few apples that could not only be saved but would produce beautiful pies. Thinking about the idea that I thought was lost, I returned to my now happy computer and began to write. I didn't reconstruct the exact words or even the exact thoughts. What I did do was make an apple pie. I took my enthusiasm and the general idea and mixed it with some patience and relaxation and found that I like the new one much better.

We are called to write. We are called to write when it's sunny and everything is as it should be. We are called to write when it's raining and our hearts are sad.

I am sure though, that we are at our best when we are called to write after the destruction of a storm.

I pray that you will find "Apples of Gold" in all your writing.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Inspiration

2008-08-20T14:59:00.000-07:00

Inspiration is very hard to come by. It's based on our physical, mental and social health. We writers are a strange brew. We sit alone for hours working with words and yet we crave a hug or a touch or a simple - "Wow that's great!". We agonize over verbs and tenses while we secretly hate our jobs. We push on to find that phrase that will inspire others knowing that at the moment we are not inspired. I've often wondered how I could possibly describe the dichotomy of emotions we face.

I'm not sure this poem fully describes our pain but it does describe the one thing we long for. We crave for someone to "get it". We want more than anything for others to read what we write and understand the deeper recesses of our thoughts. We want them to see the world as we do and to love it as much as we do.

We "fight" to make a difference in our world. We fight with ourselves, with the busyness of life, with the verb that just doesn't ring true, and with the tired eyes that just won't give up. We fight to touch another human being with our thoughts.

I hope Lois A. Cheney touches you. This is poem #59 from her book, God is no fool.

fifty-nine

Thank God.

Thank God for those who see into us, through us, and to the self that is beyond ourselves.
There have been those few who refused our superficial roles, who have seen beyond our clever chatter; who have waited beyond our preoccupation.
Reaching through our facades, which we have very carefully built, they have seen a beauty which we all have, but which, for most of us lies buried deep inside.
The beauty was planted there by God.
He then touches those few, who through love, touch us.
Much of the positive which we do and think is in response to those who have smiled past the shell into the white light.
Thank God and thank them, and pray we never stop trying to measure up to what he and they believe we can be.

Wow! Don't you just love that? Isn't it so true?

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Finally !!!

2008-08-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

My new book has been completed, edited and is now with the typeset proof reader. I've redesigned my website and eliminated all but three blogs. Once again I'm ready to hit the floor running. (check it out http://www.debbiejansen.com/)

I think one of the hardest requirements for a writer is that it must be a way of life. It's difficult to schedule your time and determine what will be a part of your life and what won't.

I'm not suggesting that it's too big of a job - absolutely not, but it does take planning. And I think for many new writers that planning stage is the hardest. For example, a new writer must....

Teach family and friends to understand that time in the office or quiet time looking at the clouds is actually work time and should not be interrupted.

Let go of treasured activities in order to make time for the writing process. No one can do it all and if your life was full before you decided to write - something has to go.

We want that book done NOW. We have to learn that it's a process and we simply can't lock ourselves in a room until it's done.

We must read, research, read, research....with all that reading and research when do we stop to actually write?

We see stories in our heads 24/7. We must carry paper with us all the time just in case those words begin to flow. How discreet can we be when the words are flowing in the middle of a theme park?

We are CEO's as well as writers. We must be involved in promoting, scheduling, taxes, finances, selling, speaking, web design, blogging - in other words we are a one man/woman band. That's hard!

So, what are you saying Debbie? I'm not good at multi-tasking, should I quit?

Heavens NO! I'm an old person and I'm not good at multi-tasking either. Quitting will not solve that issue - planning and practicing will.

I've gone through a lot of plans. Still searching to find the most perfect one. Along the way, I've discovered some answers that have made my writing time more productive. I'm still working on other issues.

This week I'm working on "accepting". I'm taking a lot of deep breaths and telling myself that it's okay to let some writing wait one more day. I'm not on a deadline and until I am, I'll just keep working a little each day until it's done. (How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.)

In his book Writing for the Soul Jerry Jenkins states, "Get serious about your career by declaring yourself a writer. Do it now, and don't look back......Your results will mirror your commitment. Put in the necessary time and do the rewrites to make your own success inevitable. Make your own breaks. That's what separates hobbyists from real authors. Study, do the research, develop a thick skin, work hard, learn to take editing, and learn to edit yourself. Have you arrived yet? Neither have I."

Cool huh? Jerry is still practicing just like we are.

God loves you and has called you to write

Debbie

Rushing to meet a deadline

2008-04-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

When a deadline looms, life stops. As authors we are constantly unemployed and often find ourselves working long hours to make deadlines we wish could have been changed but we accepted because we needed the work.

It's not easy telling a friend that you can't talk and lunch simply isn't in the cards until another 10,000 words are written. "But that's not really the case," she fusses. "You just don't want to go."

She may have a demanding job herself, but because we work at home authors suffer the same attacks anyone endures when they don't have a boss who requires a time clock. Our time clock is internal.

That drive to be disciplined in our work also causes too much alone time. Being alone with no one to talk to but the dog can sometimes breed fear. It may not last. It may be gone within moments, but it seems to erupt at the most inconvenient times and it always takes away from creative thinking.

I stopped for a moment today and realized that those fears need to be handled. I need to refuse the negative thoughts and re-claim God's call on my life. I know I'm just tired, but I still need to be strong. Perhaps, you have felt those moments of insecurity. Perhaps you might like to use my remedy.

I took a moment and thought about all the friends and loved ones that care about my writing. Not secondary friends...but the really close friends who check on me from time to time and actually want to know about my success. I prayed for them and was comforted in knowing they are praying for me. I sent the following e-mail:

Writing is one of the hardest things I do. I sit in my office alone facing a sea of papers and research. I click around on the Internet finding bits and pieces. I push back in my chair - stare at the ceiling and wonder if anyone will like what I've written. I walk to the mailbox alone and wonder what God is doing in my life. I check my e-mails several times a day wondering if that article or chapter resonated with the editor.

All that alone time is fodder for Satan's attacks. I KNOW God has called me to this, but there are those moments of weakness when I stare out the window as prickles run through my stomach. I KNOW GOD HAS CALLED ME...."but what if"....my weak little mind whispers.

It's in those moments that I think of special friends. I'm sure they are praying for me and that I have a bond with their spirits. It's then that I thank God for their prayers and their encouraging words. I AM CALLED TO THIS WRITING THING....I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK....I WILL CARRY ON....

This is one of those moments and I want to stop and say, thank you. Thank you for all you mean to me. Thank you for lifting me higher. Thank you for your love.

Let me know if you have ever felt this way. I would love to be part of your circle of praying friends. Perhaps your friends would appreciate an e-mail too.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Jerry B. Jenkins

2008-04-09T18:41:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful time at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer's Conference this year. I know I've said it before, but if you want to save for the most important tool in writing - save for a large conference. There are several around the country.

Meeting other writers, being totally immersed in the study of writing, and meeting editors and speakers - all make for a fantastic experience. While having your manuscript critiqued by an editor will bring out all sorts of emotions, the best ego booster ever is meeting an icon and peeking into his/her career.

What I've found is that successful writers are warm and caring people. They have walked the path of an unpublished author and they know how you feel. They want to help. They want to share their experiences and they want to give you a lift as you make your way along.

Jerry Jenkins is just that type of author. He is best known for the Left Behind series written with Tim LaHaye, has been awarded four honorary doctorates and authored over 170 books.

Former editor of Moody Magazine, Dr. Jenkin's writing has appeared in Time, Reader's Digest, Parade, Guideposts and dozens of Christian periodicals. His non-fiction books include as-told-to-biographies with Hank Aaron, Brett Butler, Bill Gaither, Orel Hershiser, Luis Palau, Walter Payton, Nolan Ryan, and Sammy Tippit, among many others.

He also assisted Dr. Billy Graham with his memoirs, Just As I Am, a New York Times bestseller. He considered the 13 months he spent assisting Dr. Graham the privilege of a lifetime. Jerry owns the Christian Writers Guild, speaks widely, primarily on writing, and is a sought-after humorist. He and his wife Dianna have three grown sons and four grandchildren and live in Colorado.

In talking with him, I found him to be kind and concerned. I purchased his new book and had him sign it for me.

You can order his book Writing for the Soul through the link at the end of this blog.

I love the section titled, Am I a Writer? He discusses what we should call ourselves (I've stumbled over that one many times) when we have yet to be published. After listing different titles he states, "It doesn't matter. You are what you say you are. If you have decided to be a writer, you're a writer, published or not." Later in that section he makes the bold statement..."Your results will mirror your commitment. Put in the necessary time and do the rewrites to make your own success inevitable."

Wow! How true....Now don't you feel good?? Let's get busy!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Good News! You can do it!

2008-04-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

If you feel a little discouraged today...don't be. You can do it! If God has given you the desire and the inspiration to write - you can do it. It may take a while and you may have to work hard - very hard. The good news is that you can do it.

How do I know? How can I sit here at my computer and know what's going through your mind hundreds or thousands of miles away? Because my darling friend - everyone has those thoughts of fear. Everyone wonders if they are good enough, smart enough, inspired enough or just plain do I have enough time?

All through high school and college I loved to write. I loved to construct challenging situations with a surprise ending. I loved watching someone read my story with a ho hum and then laugh or cry at the ending as their eyes danced with surprise. Gotcha.

Unfortunately every paper was returned with A++ for content and D- for grammar. No matter how hard I tried it seemed impossible to receive higher than a C- on grammar. For years I went on with my life sure that I was not meant to be a writer.

The fire still burned. It was only a smouldering ember...but it was there. When my children were all in school I once again picked up the pen convinced that my writing would only be for my family.

You probably know this story well. There's something in your heart or mind that keeps you from writing. Some little thing that you are sure you can't overcome.

I am positive whatever it is that steals your commitment to writing - it can be overcome.

I found out that I'm not an idiot. I can learn grammar. My writing was wrote rotten, but I are learning. (ha ha) The real dragon isn't what we can't do....the dragon that must die is our lack of determination.

Debbie...you have no idea how hard it is for me. I'm struggling financially and I have medical issues. It's just too hard. You have no idea.

Would you like to hear about a lady who had to take money from her meager household budget to buy the supplies to write? She knew everytime she used a piece of paper that it was coming at the expense of her family. Add to that a medical problem. She was dyslexic. Writing is hard enough when you don't have problems. Writing and creating understandable text is extremely difficult when every letter is twisted.

I attended two writer's conferences within one week of each other - I survived! Wonderful opportunities opened for me. I haven't written on this blog simply because I have deadlines that must be met. That's a wonderful problem.

The Good News for you is that I talked with a lot of writers and editors. No one said their career just took off. Everyone had a story about how long or hard the struggle was.

The Keynote speaker for Mt. Hermon Christian Writer's Conference was Debbie Macomber. She is a romance fiction author and humorist, has become one of the best-loved authors in America, having written over 100 novels with more than 60 million books in print. She's won the Rita and the first-ever Quill Award (reader's choice) for romance fictions, as well as the "triple crown of publishing" - having a book hit the NY Times, Publisher's weekly and USA Today bestseller lists nine times. In September 2007, Debbie's new book, 74 Seaside Avenue, bumped Harry Potter's newest book out of the #1 NY bestsellers spot! Debbie is a much-loved speaker. Her presentations are filled with humor, and listeners come away with inspiration, encouragement and deep spiritual insight.

She was all that! She was warm, funny and even more gracious in person. Her first talk was entitled, "How to become famous in 20 years or less." She told us how difficult it was to take money slotted for her children and spend it to learn her craft. Imagine our surprise after listening to all her accomplishments to find out that she is dyslexic.

The point of her talk can be summed up in one piece of her story. When she went to her first writer's conference and approached an editor to discuss her submission she was told that her novel was awful. When she fought through the tears and disappointment to ask, "How can I fix it?" She was told that the best thing for her to do was to throw it in the trash. As she relayed her story with love and compassion - I heard sniffing throughout the audience.

We all know what it feels like to be told that your work has failed. Be encouraged....her story didn't stop there. She was wounded but she continued to work at her craft. She continued to study and to write. She continued.....

Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall the first time that editor heard that Debbie Macomber was on the NY Times bestseller list? I would.

Guess what? We all have that chance. We all have the right to share our voice, our thoughts, our beliefs. We all have the right to continue to work at our craft and to be heard!

At lunch Debbie and I talked about the voices in our heads that continually tell us that we aren't good enough or inspired enough to write. She smiled and dipped her head slightly to make sure I heard what she said,

"We can't afford to listen to those thoughts. We have to fight through them and realize that God has given us a gift. A gift we must share. Tell your readers to work hard but never, never give up!"

There you have it....straight from Debbie Macomber. Don't give up. Keep trying and someday you'll make it.

Check out Debbie's website at http://www.debbiemacomber.com/ I encourage you to read her books. She's wonderful.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Giving up -- what difference does it make?

2008-02-19T11:36:00.000-08:00

CK wrote and asked...

"I have spent a lot of my free time learning all I can about the publishing world. I've polished my grammar and worked on personal marketing. I have a ministry with abused women and I feel like I've learned important tips that should be passed to a greater audience.

I feel like a failure even asking this question publicly, so please don't use my full name. How can I know if I will ever make a real difference? My world is so small. I feel God in every conversation I have with a battered woman. What if that's all God wants me to be? What if my voice isn't developed for publication? I keep wondering if maybe I should just quit."

CK - you are not alone!

I don't know anyone that hasn't felt that way. I've felt that way and I know others that deal with those same issues.

I won't dare presume that I could know God's will for your life. I do know with 100% certainty that no one will ever get the Good News to this hurting world without pushing through the "tar" barrier.

The "TAR" barrier stands for "Things are rough". Rough can stand for anything we are facing that wants to stop our progress - even our own discouragement.

When I was a kid in the South we used to love those super hot days. The tar roads of our subdivision seemed to be covered with a steamy heat wave. My friends and I would find sticks to poke at the bubbles or big rocks to ease down into the goo. Even worse though, was to be playing tag and chase someone across an especially gummy part of the road. The goo didn't stop me, but it sure made running fast difficult.

Being an effective writer is some of the hardest work anyone can do. The only job that comes close is being a mother. A mother will work 18-hour days for years without pay, acknowledgement or even the hope of success. She gives willingly of all her talents and all her energy. Her only hope is that when her child reaches adulthood that he/she will turn around and say, "Thanks, Mom." Years of work for a simple "Thanks, Mom" before he/she heads out into the world. I dare say though - no one will deny the great importance of that her contribution. Her child will be different because of her dedication.

You sound tired and overworked. Maybe you are putting so much time into preparing to write that you don't "feel" like writing. Inspiration is a funny thing. It usually only strikes when we are rested.

So here's a few tips:

Take a vacation from your writing. Not a long one, but give yourself permission to rest. Hug your child, kiss your husband and go for a walk.

Try writing something small for a while. Start a blog or send encouraging notes to a friend. Write small items and build day by day to larger pieces.

Read, read, read. Reading helps us to get in the flow of writing.

Ask God to center His perfect will in your heart.

Let the scriptures inspire you. Here's a few to consider just for writers:

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

I Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, (writes) he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:13-16 For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing,"

Philippians 2:13-16 is my favorite verse. It tells me that God is in charge of results. I am only in charge of doing my best and continuing on the path he has laid before me. My energy, perseverance and success are all in God's hands. I am just his vessel.

I love the way Marlene Bagnull puts it in her "Writer's Statement of Faith".

"[Not in my own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in {me} - energizing and creating in {me} the power and desire - both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight" (Phil 2:13, AMP)

CK - you will never be able to effectively tell the world what you know without God's help. Don't go it alone. Ask Him daily to stand beside you and give you the inspiration you need to be all He has called you to be.

Let's pray, "Dear God, please help CK and all your writing soldiers to be encouraged today. Help us to remember that you are in control. Help us to lean on you for our strength, our encouragement and our talent. We offer our writing to you first. We ask that you bless it and help it to multiply to those that need it. We trust you for the direction of our lives and our talents."

I will be praying for you. You can do it!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

When your writing is tested.....

2008-02-09T10:56:00.000-08:00

My life has been a journey. Sometimes I can clearly see where God is leading. Sometimes I can't. There is a knowledge buried deep within my heart that my journey here is not routine. God has called me and I must follow his purpose.

His calling has led me down many wonderful roads. The best road yet is the knowledge that I am called to write. I am impatient at the time it seems to take for me to learn this business. However, there are times when I look back and I'm grateful for the small tender ways God is tweaking my thoughts. I am grateful for the years he has taken to gently change and redirect my writing.

This last year has been my hardest and deepest lesson. Perhaps it was my final. (I hope so?!?) If God has more trials in mind for me, I am sure that I will survive based solely on the lessons I learned this summer.

Last March I attended the Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference. Even though I was scared, totally inexperienced with conference requirements, felt in awe of the talent pool and sure that my abilities were inadequate....I pushed on through. There were rewards. I made friends, contacts and had a favorable return on a critique. I was so excited to win the MP3's of the conference. I left with a hopeful heart determined to make 2007 a successful year.

I could make this a long post by giving you all the details, but let me just list the issues I faced when I returned home.

My son (a music minister) was having trouble at his church. "Please come out Mom and see what you think." I spent a week with him.
When I returned home, my mother had arrived and stayed for six weeks. It was obvious she has beginning dementia.
Three days after she left I went to the hospital with chest pains. Stayed overnight - I'm okay.
MRI for chest pains revealed a spot on my lung and two on my thyroid.
We experienced three deaths in the family.
My son decided to leave the church and move home...we helped him.
My daughter decided to leave her job and move to Florida. We helped her.
I am the Administrator for our church library and we were in the process of changing 8,500 items from the card system to a scanner system.
My husband Ron was told his retina might be pulling away from the eye.
Ron's job was causing enough stress that we worried about his heart.
I have TMJ and the bite split was causing problems that resulted in more migraines.
One doctor was adamant about more testing of the spots on my thyroid.
My husband and sons were leaving on their annual motorcycle trip when I received a letter urging that I see the doctor at once about possible cancer. We prayed and promised to trust God together.
That evening Ken called and said, "Stay calm Mom, everything is fine. Jamie is fine." I panicked as he continued, "There's been an accident."
Jamie had extensive surgery 4 days later. He had two pins in his hand and 9 screws and a plate in his leg.
I was sitting beside him the night after his surgery when the BP monitor went crazy. His BP went to 260. Nurses flew in from every direction. 45 minutes later it happened again. Tests revealed he had two blood clots pass through his heart. Everyone kept saying... "Most of the time people die with this."
Jamie has a huge photography business. For the next three months (because he couldn't walk) we all had to pitch in so he could save his business. Since everyone else had rigid schedules - I kept my house clean, his house clean, helped with his business and went to weddings with him - pushing his wheelchair and carrying equipment.
I finally had a biopsy done (had to postpone because of accident). It was more painful waiting but I finally found out, Thank God I'm cancer free.
Ken found a wonderful job in Illinois. We helped him move to Illinois, finished moving from his previous employment and kept his dog for a while.

That's not all, there's more....but it's enough for you to get the idea that this year will be used as a benchmark. From now on when something bad happens we will instantly feel better by saying, "Well, at least it's not as bad as the summer of '07 !"

Why am I telling you all this???? What could this possibly have to do with your writing soul???

YOU CAN DO IT ! I found out that if you "know" in your heart that God has called you to write, you can do it! Maybe it won't be in your time frame. Maybe you won't accomplish everything on your list. Maybe you will only complete chapter one instead of a three book series...but YOU CAN DO IT!

While all of that was going on I cried a lot. I also looked at the sky. I wondered how I could take the peaceful clouds and the beautiful colors and bring them down to my crazy life. How could I possibly "feel" the peace of heaven during the tremendous storms of life?

One moment at a time. One tiny second at a time. I learned to accept a little peace here and a little peace there. I learned to savor the smiles and the moments of quiet. I learned to do as Paul instructed...

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Phil: 4:12

I found great strength in the writing contacts and friends I made at Mount Hermon. Holly Miller has always been a great source of strength and comfort as my dearest friend. As I said in my first blog, I would close my eyes and see the face of Vicki Crumpton as she insisted, "Just do it Debbie, Just do it." I remembered the encouraging words of Nick Harrison, Barbara Curtis and Jim Denney. I felt their encouragement and it made me want to go the extra mile and push - just a little longer. What a comfort it was to sit and read Marlene Bagnull's devotional book for writers, Write His Answer.

You can also find that strength. If you are called, you must continue to "fight" for your writing talents. As Holly Miller has told us..."You must MAKE time for your writing."

I am living proof that you can do that. During all the stress, worry and turmoil I found tid bits of time to accomplish the following.

Finished my website.
Wrote over 150 blogs.
Sent out articles.
Reworked my book.
Read 12 books.
Redesigned my business.
Started 10 new blogs including this one so I could help more people.

And how did that help my writing? Just like everyone at the conference insisted, if you spend at least 15 minutes a day writing, you will improve.

God is so good. Jamie is alive, Ron's eyes are perfect, my children are doing well in their new jobs and I am cancer free. What an added plus that I now have this wonderful blog to encourage others.

Not only will I continue to keep God #1 in my writing, I will pray for you that God will keep you centered in His perfect will.

I am not special. God isn't just working on me. I know that no matter what you are going through, God will bring forth your talents. YOU CAN DO IT!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Exciting News !

2008-02-04T06:17:00.000-08:00

Your ideas are needed !

In designing this weblog page, it is important to us that YOU are the focus. Over the next six weeks I will have the opportunity to interview over 25 authors and editors. I have a list of questions that I would like answered. I am sure they are not the same as yours.

You can be a part of these interviews by sending your questions to debbie@debbiejansen.com

I will be attending The Florida Christian Writers Conference as well as Mount Hermon Christian Writers conference.

Your participation will insure that my interviews with people like Sally Stuart, Barbara Curtis, Judi Perry and Ces Murphey will include the questions you want to ask.

Also, as described on the What's New page, you can win an autographed copy of When the Heart Cries by Cindy Woodsmall. To win her book simply send in a short story about your favorite act of love. It can be a story about spousal, parental or agape love - true or fiction.

If you are a frequent reader of Just Write, be sure and let me know. Your name will be included in a drawing for the book Writing Clinic by The Writer's Digest.

February/March are exciting months!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Holly Miller, author and editor

2008-01-21T13:48:00.000-08:00

I was not sincere about a writing career until I met Holly Miller. She is genuine in her love for writing and authentic in her encouragement for other writers. She has given me the best gift of all..."the desire to be my best as a writer and the call to get busy, now!"

It is my great pleasure to have Holly Miller as our first interview. I know you will appreciate her thoughts as much as I do.

Holly G. Miller is senior editor of The Saturday Evening Post, author of 14 books and professional in residence at Anderson University. She has won writing awards from the Associated Press, Evangelical Press Association, Society of American Travel Writers, Midwest Travel Writers Association, Women in Communication and Society of Professional Journalists.

As a freelancer magazine writer she has had more than 3,000 articles published. Last year her published interviews included conversations with Sally Field, Suzanne Somers, Judge Judy, Tony Bennett, Dr. Oz and Bob Newhart.

Holly is currently under contract to write a second edition of her magazine-writing book “Feature and Magazine Writing: Action, Angle and Anecdote” with co-author David Sumner.

I've read her book and it's a must if you want to write for magazines.

Just Write: How did you get started in your career?

Holly: I was a journalism major in college, and after graduation I took a job as a police/political reporter for my hometown daily newspaper. Whenever I got an assignment that I thought might be of interest to a larger audience I rewrote it and tried to market it. My first major break came when I interviewed humorist Erma Bombeck. We ran it in our newspaper, the Associated Press picked it up (it later won an AP writing award) and then I rewrote the interview for Writer’s Digest magazine.

Just Write: Were you published immediately?

Holly: The first thing I wrote was a silly first-person experience piece. Amazingly, it sold (I’ll never forget receiving the check for $100!). I decided that freelancing was a piece of cake.

Just Write: Do you have any rejection letters?

Holly: Yes! After I sold my first piece, I changed my mind about freelancing being a piece of cake. It was TWO YEARS before my next sale!

Just Write: What went through your mind the moment you received the good news that you had sold your first piece of writing?

Holly: I must have spent that $100 check a million times in my head. Should I invest it? Buy something sensible? Frame it? Splurge on something to wear that would be so wild that everyone would remark about it?( That would give me an opening to say, “Oh, I bought this with my latest freelance check.”) In the end the $100 went toward a new set of tires. So much for daydreaming!

Just Write: In the beginning of your career did you ever think the publishing industry was bigger than your talents or abilities?

Holly: Sure, every writer is plagued with feelings of inadequacy. Every rejection letter brings a new wave of insecurity.

Just Write: How do you deal with those feelings?

Holly: I go through a series of emotions when my work is turned down: First, I want to quit writing, toss my computer in the trash, and take up ceramics. Second, I get angry—how could an editor reject something that I worked soooooo hard to produce? Finally, I move into my “I’ll show ‘em” phase. That’s when I get fired up and go back to work.

Just Write: Most conferences stress that we all have a voice. What do you believe are the characteristics of the influential voice destined to produce change?

Holly: Each year I judge a national writing contest sponsored by the Evangelical Press Association. All entries have been published, so the writers aren’t newcomers. What sets a winner apart from the rest of the field is often the voice. Some writers have the confidence to tackle provocative topics head-on; they develop a style that isn’t like everyone else’s; they go beyond just clear writing and move all the way to inspired writing. They are willing to take risks.

Just Write: Juggling personal priorities and writing goals can be difficult for most new writers. It’s even worse when day jobs and small children are involved. How do you set your priorities?

Holly: When I was starting out I didn’t get a lot of sleep! I would work very late at night when the house was finally quiet. Then I would be up early to get everyone off to work/school. Sometimes I worked in snatches—20 minutes here or there. A writer doesn’t FIND time to write, she MAKES time to write.

Just Write: Denny Boltinghouse of Simon & Schuster-Howard Books told a class at a conference that he was not there to sign contracts; he was there to make friends. New writers have a hard time seeing editors as neighbors and friends. Do you like to hear from people you meet?

Holly: I like a writer who hands me her/his card, tells me his areas of specialization and says, “If you ever have an assignment in my neck of the woods, please call.”

Just Write: What is the #1 personal mental trait you would like to see all new writers develop?

Holly: Writers have to be inquisitive. They have to be interested in EVERYTHING and know how to ask good questions to learn more. The term “life-long learner” may be a cliché, but the concept is solid. I get very frustrated with Christian writers who say they don’t read newspapers, watch TV news, go to films or read current books. I believe you have to know the world you want to change.

Just Write: What is your favorite book and/or magazine?

Holly: I’m a news junkie, so I probably like Newsweek and The New Yorker best. As for books, I loved “Bel Canto” and “Mr. Timothy.” Currently I’m reading “No Ordinary Time,” a biography of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt during the war years.

Just Write: What is your favorite Bible verse?

Holly: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Eccl. 3:1)

Just Write: Have you ever been discouraged with your career?

Holly: Rarely have I felt discouraged. Like all writers, I have good days and not-so-good ones. But I’ve never wanted to do anything else. I feel sorry for people who say, “If I had it to do over, I would….” I’d be a writer.

Just Write: New writers may look confident on the outside but inside they wonder if they have what it takes. Our inner turmoil is the most discouraging thing we face. What overall piece of advice would you like to share with them?

Holly: Writing is hard work. Writing is a business. If you truly want to write for a living, set aside your doubts and jump in. At the end of every day ask yourself, “What did I learn today that I didn’t know yesterday?” Make sure you always have an answer to that question.

Thank you Holly. Thank you for your dedication to your own skill and for sharing your advice with us. May God bless you today.

It is always inspiring to hear that successful writers like Holly Miller walked the same sleepless road we are on now. I urge you to purchase her book and get excited about your career. After all...I'm just waiting for the day when I can interview you.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Christian Writers' Market Guide

2008-01-14T13:26:00.001-08:00

It's that time of year again! Christmas is over and the last few decorations are finally in their box. The article that's been rolling around in your head is ready to splash onto the page.

After a hard day of dancing with words you push back in your chair, wiggle your toes, stretch your arms to the sky and let out a satisfying sigh..."At last, it's done. And it's good."

Your eyes fall on the tattered Christian Writers' Market Guide for 2007. "I'll be glad to get the new one. This one is barely hanging on."

If you are a new writer and you are looking for that first sale, Sally Stuart's Christian Writer's Market Guide is a must. For seasoned writers, it is our writing Bible. I won't go into all the reasons why it is a must have....you can find that out on any of those other "let me tell you how to sell your stuff" sites.

For me, the book represents HOPE. Anytime I get discouraged I go for a swim in a new section of the book. I immerse myself in the fact that there are hundreds of places I can contact.

"See there Debbie, it's not over! There are still plenty of places to send your article. Get busy Gal! Get with it. Until everyone in this book has said no, you can still make it!"

To get Sally's book, you can use the following link. If you like, you can visit her website at http://www.sallystuart.com/

Thanks Sally for all your hard work and for the "HOPE" you give.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Joining God's Army

2008-01-07T21:18:00.002-08:00

What is your morning routine? Once I pry my eyes open, I stumble down the steps to make coffee. I'm not really awake until the 5th sip. I make a bowl of cereal and then sit down to catch up on the news. Later in the day I check back every so often to see what's going on in the world.

Yesterday I caught a quick sound bite about an atheist movement. Today I googled "American Atheist". There were 2,150,000 results. I couldn't believe the stories of their determination. They have shopping sites where you can buy things like Anti-religious t-shirts and heathen (their words not mine) mugs. No wonder there have been so many lawsuits and personal attacks. They want to rid America of any and all religious ties. Their Christmas motto is "Atheist are the reason there's reason." Their bumber sticker boasts, "Atheism - there's no substitute for being right."

Lately I've felt under attack. Not just on a global level, but on a personal level as well. The big bad wolf seems to be knocking close to home and it's more than intimidating. Perhaps now I know why. There is a movement to strip this country of our freedom of religion.

I went to my knees. I am convinced that the Christian Faith is facing it's biggest fight yet. I have enjoyed the religious freedom in this country and losing it isn't something I want to live through. I asked God to show me His will for me during this time.

I thought about all the things I could do to fight for my religious freedom. Everything I thought about had consequences. If I joined a march - we could be stopped or jeered or even physically attacked. In some places if I stood in a pulpit and spoke strongly against evil, I could be sued. Many churches are facing lawsuits because they took a stand on sin. If I expressed my feelings to a co-worker I could be sued or even arrested. We all know the consequences of sharing the gospel in public. The week-end headlines boasted about a woman who was kicked off a bus for reading the Bible to her daughter. I read another account where a person going door to door witnessing was beaten. We aren't even allowed to discipline our children in public.

Fear gripped my heart. I prayed for people who are athetist but are my friend. I prayed for the division that may be looming ahead. I prayed for my own timid heart. What can I do to stop this horrible trend? What is the best thing to do? Should I just keep quiet, attend church and pray for our country? Once again I asked God to show me His will.

What is the one priceless freedom that so far has not been stopped? Writing - The printed word - freedom of expression - freedom of the press. This country does not burn or ban books.

Individuals or groups might ban books - but the government does not. Thank God we still have a governmental policy that freedom of the press must be preserved. We may not be able to preach it from a pulpit, but writing it in a book can't be stopped. We may not sell a lot of books and we may be attacked verbally on a talk show, but printing will continue. Lawsuits may try to stop the printing presses, but most of the time printing continues - and controversy even increases sales. Even better - Atheist can't open the door to book banning because we would also be allowed to ban their material.

"The Pen is mightier than the sword." Not only is it unstoppable, it is powerful. Reading changes hearts. Reading gets inside you and haunts you. Reading changes lives.
It seems to me that if a person wants to change the world, he should write.

Write with conviction.

Write with purpose.

Write as if the future depends on your words.

As I closed my eyes to pray again all I could see was this great army of men and women. An army carrying only one tool....the printed word. As we write fiction and non-fiction we change this world one reader at a time. We open his heart just a crack so God's light can shine in. The next writer widens the crack and the next and the next.

Once this great army forms we can change the world. Don't you agree? Send me an e-mail and let me know how you feel.

Will you join God's army and help spread the gospel through your written words?

He's waiting....

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Marlene Bagnull

2008-01-07T21:18:00.001-08:00

Marlene Bagnull is a wonderful writer and speaker. I attended a conference with her several years ago. I could list her accomplishments but take my word for it...she's great.

She has written a wonderful book for the soul of a writer. Write His Answer addresses all the mental hoops writers insist on jumping through. It's a treasured Bible study for Christian Writers.

I love the first quote in the book. It's from Habakkuk 2:2. "And the Lord said to me, Write my answer on a billboard, large and clear, so that anyone can read it at a glance and rush to tell the others."

I love the holidays and I love doing things for my family. But during such a busy time it's easy to lose sight of what we do. Somewhere in the casseroles and wrapping paper I forget that I've been called. I forget that God has given me a voice and a message.

We must NEVER forget. We must strive to keep that billboard foremost in our minds. We are called!

I can't write what God has laid on your heart. He needs your voice and your experiences to touch people that are "like" you. And guess what, you can't write for me. My slant is totally different from you. We are all part of an army that God needs to carry out his will.
Please pray with me....

"Dear God, help me today to remember why you called me to write. Help me not to stress over the marketing and the technical side of writing.

Help me instead to open my mind and see individual faces of people that you want me to help. Let me see the struggling mother, the discouraged father, the hurting teen, the burnt out pastor. Give me a word for them. Let my head and my hands be yours as you bring encouragement and peace to those people.

While I need to do my very best, remind me that I have been called. Remind me that it will not be easy, but you will be there with me. Remind me that I serve you first. Let my words be your words destined to help a hurting world.

I love you Lord....Amen"

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Hot Flash Fear

2008-01-07T20:53:00.000-08:00

I'm 57 years old. I'm very secure in my life. I have a great family who loves me and is proud of my writing. I'm confident of the advice I give during lectures and classes. I'm confident of the counseling advice I give to clients.

If you are younger you may not identify with hot flashes. Eventually it's a life process all women experience. We should look at hot flashes as a badge of honor stating that we've made it through the wonderful life cycle of child bearing. Maybe we should even be celebrating our success.

It's hard to celebrate the sneaky surprise of an attack. Annoying hot flashes can come at the most inappropriate times. Just the other day I had a very important appointment. I was presenting my ideas, looking great and commanding the attention of everyone around me. As if hit by a sneaky sniper, my face turned red, my forehead began it's sprinkler routine and I thought I would suffocate on the spot. Embarrassment is a mild word for how I felt. I was rescued by another woman in the group who began her own hot flash routine.

In order to sound "cool" I've started calling my hot flash session "power surges". Somehow it seems like I'm in control if I call it a power surge.

I wish I could experience "power surges" with my writing. There are times when I have a great idea and it seems to be rolling through my fingers and onto the screen with lighting speed. Out of the corner of my mind comes a hot flash of fear. In no way could I ever express it as a beneficial power surge. It attacks without cause and continues to attack until I have to stop and return fire.

"What makes you think you are a good writer?"

"This topic is too big for you."

"No one will want to read this."

"You are neglecting your family to write something that won't sell."

"You are wasting your time."

"You remember the submissions editors show in conference classes as what not to do? This submission will be shown next year. You will be laughed at as not knowing what you are doing."

If you've received even one rejection letter or had one person verbally say, "It's good...but..." Then you have probably experienced Hot Flash Fear.

So how can we return fire?

1. Move away from the computer or where ever you are writing. You won't be wasting time. Just take a few minutes to pray and ask God for strength. Getting away from the computer will reset your thinking.

2. Force your mind to think on the good returns you've had. Think about the people who love your writing. Think about the people who have given you great reviews or who have published your work.

3. If you are just starting out and the good returns are few, list the ways you have improved and see your work as a time-line toward success. No one would fuss at a freshman at college because he couldn't do senior work. Don't let yourself be attacked because you are a freshman with plenty to learn.

4. Take a moment and re-read your favorite passage. Just a few lines that have made you proud will let your sub-conscious know that you have potential.

5. Re-commit your writing to God. Ask Him to lead and guide you as you work. Ask Him to open your mind and help you to be a better editor.

Now get back to work. This world needs your voice and needs to hear what you have to say.

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie

Welcome

2007-12-31T05:53:00.001-08:00

Writing is the most rewarding thing I do.

Writing is the hardest thing I do.

Writing both excites and hurts.

All it takes for me to carry a cloud through the day is for a friend to shrug when I share what I've written. What am I suppose to do when a family member that has been 100% supportive takes a week to read my latest piece? Do I ask if they liked it? What if they didn't? Maybe I don't want to know.

Writing as a profession is more than just putting words on paper. Writing becomes a part of your soul. We struggle with the technical, stress out over punctuation, spelling and to bullet or not to bullet. Re-writing becomes an obsession. We have trouble concentrating on conversations while a phrase rumbles in our head. We pull over to the side of the road searching for pen and paper for our latest idea. Why? It's all in the attempt to find that one link that will cause our reader to "feel" the power of our message and have it touch their lives in a positive way.

We spend hours alone involved in the process of writing, waiting for that moment of insight to hit us. When it does the elation is overwhelming. We turn to share it - but we are alone. We run down the stairs - excited and happy - "This is so cool! Listen to this!" Our family smiles, listens once again and tries to be supportive by saying - "That's nice. Good job."

Nice? Our face drops two floors. Nice? Our balloon deflates because we don't see our excitement reflected in their eyes. They don't work with words like we do. They don't appreciate the beauty of a well turned phrase. They don't want to read an essay or study the value of a best seller. They prefer to wash the car, go to a movie or call a friend.

While the hissing from a deflated balloon is still in the air, we jump to the negative. Is it that they don't like what we do? Am I a bad writer? Should I just give up and quit? No, no, no. That's not the case. They love us and they love what we write. They just aren't writers. They have a hard time getting excited about how the Greek form of a word sounds like pudding dropping to the floor.

ONLY WRITERS CAN TRULY UNDERSTAND WRITERS.

Just Write is dedicated to you - the writer. You won't find any technical tips on this site and you won't find help with publishing your work.

What you will find is a blog dedicated to the writer's soul and psychological well being. What do you need to keep your spirits high when you receive rejection letter number 50? What do you need when you wonder yet again, "Am I good enough?" What do you need when you know that God has called you but you no longer "feel" him as you write? What can you do when life has hit you so hard that the excitement of writing has turn into just another chore?

Grab a cup of coffee and meet me at Just Write. We will talk it over and find ways to keep you motivated. There will be interviews with other writers and editors concentrating on the emotional side of writing.

This is your blog. Your place to find friends, make connections and receive the encouragement you need to keep writing. Submit questions, ask for specific topics to be covered, participate. Together we will keep writing and influencing the world.

While at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference I met with Vicki Crumpton of Revell/Baker Publishing. She was wonderful as I went on and on about wanting to be a professional writer. She listened patiently as I worried about being the type of writer an editor doesn't appreciate.

Vickie has a beautiful smile. That wide smile of hers affirmed my inner desires as she said "Just do it, Debbie. Just get your stuff out there." I sat quiet for a moment until the weight of her simple words found root in my writer's heart. As we parted, she nodded once more and said with excitement in her voice, "Just do it. Just write."

I returned home to incredible problems. Within six months I had to deal with overwhelming problems including a motorcycle accident that almost took the life of my son, his recovery and a cancer scare for me. Huge problems that before would have caused me to put writing on the back burner. But Vickie's words pounded in my head. "Just do it." The encouragement of those words have kept me writing and allowed me to do some of my best work.

Won't you join me? Lets work together and Just write!

God loves you and has called you to write,

Debbie