This should have a catchier title, but...it gets to the point, right?
Last weekend, I had the privilege of spending three days with five amazing women. We met on Facebook, shared a common publisher, and decided to share a booth at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville, TN.
My feelings before the trip were ambivalent. I was both excited and nervous about sharing a 10x10 space with online acquaintances. I was anxious about selling enough books to make a return on my investment. I had that little feeling in the pit of my stomach at the thought of navigating downtown Nashville with only my sometimes questionable GPS. I began to feel sick the week of the trip, and that part of me that fears the unknown considered how bad it would be if I backed out. But I decided to tough it out and awoke early on Friday morning, dropped the children off at school, and made the three hour trip to Nashville with no problems.
The weekend was nothing like I planned.
The ladies I now count as friends were fun, vivacious, dedicated, prayerful, energetic, wise, and gracious! We smiled, we cried, we sang, we shared confidences, we handed out hundreds of each others' promotional materials, and we sold some books. All in all, I would say God was smiling on us. He definitely reminded me to consider his ways above my ways. I went to Nashville for a business trip and ended up on a spiritual retreat. How amazing that three ladies from Tennessee, one from Wisconsin, one from Oklahoma, and an Alabama girl could bond so quickly!
So I have to send a shout out to my fellow authors and encourage you, if you haven't already, to check out their work!
Dee Dee Wike has authored Good to the Last Drop and A Pleasing Aroma, both powerful devotionals that will uplift you with their wit and wisdom. Her daughter, Joy, certainly infused our days with her namesake!
Amanda Stephan has authored The Price of Trust and has a new book, Lonely Hearts, coming out next month.
Darlene Shortridge has authored Until Forever, and is working on her second novel.
Victoria Burks has authored A Legacy of Love and has a new book coming out in a few weeks.
Thanks, ladies for reminding me its not all about the bottom dollar. Its about the message, the journey, and the friendships we develop along the way!
Showing posts with label second chance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label second chance. Show all posts
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Hold Fast to Hope
After a few dry months, where words were as elusive as water in the wilderness, I finally managed some writing today. I've been trying to write the prequel to Second Chance, starting the story when the Summers siblings first discover their parents' deaths. It journals Jaden's path as he takes on the mantle of head of the family. While dealing with the loss of their parents, Avalin and Quinn also question their faith. I've been stuck 30 pages into the story for months, until today.
I always back up and reread what I have previously written to help refresh my memory and put myself back into the story. I had completely forgotten the last scene I penned, and fully believe it was not a coincidence that today I had the urge to revisit this story.
In the latest scene our characters are at church. In the sermon, the preacher uses a well quoted verse from Jeremiah; "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to give you hope and a future." While one character in the story takes joy in this scripture, the Summers siblings do not. In fact they react with anger, not understanding how they can have hope while facing their personal tragedy.
As I read that, my heart was heavy. Over the past month hundreds in our state (Alabama) have suffered loss through violent storms. Flooding has devastated parts of Tennessee and Arizona. Then Joplin, Missouri was struck just yesterday.
I can't imagine losing a loved one in such a violent way. And while my story is purely fictional, the emotions inherent with loss are real. I sat at my computer struggling to answer the question my characters asked. If God is a loving God, why is he allowing so much destruction? How can we have hope and a future? And as I tried to reconcile the Summers's struggles, this verse continued to play in my mind: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105.
How aptly it applies, both to the fictional plot in my story, and more importantly to the struggles in our daily lives.
Right now we may only be able to see the light at our feet, and not the whole path in front of us. I don't know why God has allowed the weather to cause such wide spread destruction. But I do know God is good because his WORD tells me. His word—that promise of his goodness—illuminates the air around me. Though I know not the fullness of his purpose, and cannot see the path in front of me right now, I also know he is faithful. If he says his plans are to give us hope and a future, then we can take him at his word. And when the time is right, he will light our path and allow us to see that future more clearly.
My prayers continue to go out to those who have lost loved ones. I don't mean to trivialize your pain. My own struggles with loss did not come swiftly through physical disaster, but slowly due to age and sickness. So while my experiences may not match yours, the pain of loss still tears at our hearts with the same sorrow and at times seems unbearable.
I hope that you will find comfort in knowing the God of the universe knows your name, and while he has allowed these events to occur, he still loves you. His WORD is full of comfort, and he can give you strength when yours fails.
So hold to hope. Hope that God is still in control. Hope that his mercies are new every morning. Hope that each day you continue here is an opportunity to share Christ's love with others. Hope that in heaven there is no more pain. Hope that the day will come when you will be reunited. Hope.
I always back up and reread what I have previously written to help refresh my memory and put myself back into the story. I had completely forgotten the last scene I penned, and fully believe it was not a coincidence that today I had the urge to revisit this story.
In the latest scene our characters are at church. In the sermon, the preacher uses a well quoted verse from Jeremiah; "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to give you hope and a future." While one character in the story takes joy in this scripture, the Summers siblings do not. In fact they react with anger, not understanding how they can have hope while facing their personal tragedy.
As I read that, my heart was heavy. Over the past month hundreds in our state (Alabama) have suffered loss through violent storms. Flooding has devastated parts of Tennessee and Arizona. Then Joplin, Missouri was struck just yesterday.
I can't imagine losing a loved one in such a violent way. And while my story is purely fictional, the emotions inherent with loss are real. I sat at my computer struggling to answer the question my characters asked. If God is a loving God, why is he allowing so much destruction? How can we have hope and a future? And as I tried to reconcile the Summers's struggles, this verse continued to play in my mind: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105.
How aptly it applies, both to the fictional plot in my story, and more importantly to the struggles in our daily lives.
Right now we may only be able to see the light at our feet, and not the whole path in front of us. I don't know why God has allowed the weather to cause such wide spread destruction. But I do know God is good because his WORD tells me. His word—that promise of his goodness—illuminates the air around me. Though I know not the fullness of his purpose, and cannot see the path in front of me right now, I also know he is faithful. If he says his plans are to give us hope and a future, then we can take him at his word. And when the time is right, he will light our path and allow us to see that future more clearly.
My prayers continue to go out to those who have lost loved ones. I don't mean to trivialize your pain. My own struggles with loss did not come swiftly through physical disaster, but slowly due to age and sickness. So while my experiences may not match yours, the pain of loss still tears at our hearts with the same sorrow and at times seems unbearable.
I hope that you will find comfort in knowing the God of the universe knows your name, and while he has allowed these events to occur, he still loves you. His WORD is full of comfort, and he can give you strength when yours fails.
So hold to hope. Hope that God is still in control. Hope that his mercies are new every morning. Hope that each day you continue here is an opportunity to share Christ's love with others. Hope that in heaven there is no more pain. Hope that the day will come when you will be reunited. Hope.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Helpful Hint #6: Write What you Know...Or Learn about it First
I have never been one to write about my own experiences for others to read. I've kept a journal off and on for years. But to share my own life? Too personal, too painful, or too boring.
So fiction is my form of escape. I leave my own world of daily grind and live in someone else's for a while. Creating characters, placing them in settings I would love to visit, and giving them problems to solve, delights me.
However...I have learned that "writing what you know" is important. May I give you an example?
When I began writing Second Chance I knew the characters and had a vague idea of the plot. I wanted my hero to be FBI agent, Ian Martin. I looked at the FBI website and investigated the types of cases in which they might be involved. It was a superficial study, to say the least.
I also knew I wanted my characters to leave the US during the course of their search. I chose Spain, to honor a friend of mine who read my chapters as soon as they were written. So my characters ended up flying to Lisbon, Spain, with the FBI agent to investigate the disappearance of their parents.
Now. If you haven't guessed what's wrong with this picture, allow me to point out two major problems:
1. Lisbon is not IN Spain.
2. The FBI doesn't have jurisdiction overseas.
Are you laughing yet? Obviously, I didn't do my research! Not only that, my friend (who grew up in Spain) kindly informed me that my scenes set in that country looked more like a suburb of Any Town, USA than Spain.
So. I hit the computer a little harder! I spent time researching Lisbon, Portugal, and surrounding cities, to make my description more authentic. As I researched, I fell in love with the landscape, the history, and the people. Portugal is now on my ever growing list of places I wish to visit some day.
To address the problem with the FBI and overseas, I tried making my hero into a CIA agent, but it just didn't sit well with me. So after further research, I found a loophole in which the FBI does work with overseas cases involving Americans. They still don't have jurisdiction and must deal with local police in that country or INTERPOL, but I could make that work. (After more research involving INTERPOL, of course. I had learned my lesson!)
My point? You don't have to draw from personal experience to write everything you write...but you better spend some time learning about your subject before hand. Otherwise you may end up with a mess like me! I continue to be thankful for good friends who knew the difference, and weren't afraid to question me! And I have learned that researching new topics for other stories can be fun:)
More helpful thoughts regarding this subject:
http://www.suite101.com/content/write-what-you-know-a49048
http://www.writersservices.com/res/ml/r_factsheet_2.htm
So fiction is my form of escape. I leave my own world of daily grind and live in someone else's for a while. Creating characters, placing them in settings I would love to visit, and giving them problems to solve, delights me.
However...I have learned that "writing what you know" is important. May I give you an example?
When I began writing Second Chance I knew the characters and had a vague idea of the plot. I wanted my hero to be FBI agent, Ian Martin. I looked at the FBI website and investigated the types of cases in which they might be involved. It was a superficial study, to say the least.
I also knew I wanted my characters to leave the US during the course of their search. I chose Spain, to honor a friend of mine who read my chapters as soon as they were written. So my characters ended up flying to Lisbon, Spain, with the FBI agent to investigate the disappearance of their parents.
Now. If you haven't guessed what's wrong with this picture, allow me to point out two major problems:
1. Lisbon is not IN Spain.
2. The FBI doesn't have jurisdiction overseas.
Are you laughing yet? Obviously, I didn't do my research! Not only that, my friend (who grew up in Spain) kindly informed me that my scenes set in that country looked more like a suburb of Any Town, USA than Spain.
So. I hit the computer a little harder! I spent time researching Lisbon, Portugal, and surrounding cities, to make my description more authentic. As I researched, I fell in love with the landscape, the history, and the people. Portugal is now on my ever growing list of places I wish to visit some day.
To address the problem with the FBI and overseas, I tried making my hero into a CIA agent, but it just didn't sit well with me. So after further research, I found a loophole in which the FBI does work with overseas cases involving Americans. They still don't have jurisdiction and must deal with local police in that country or INTERPOL, but I could make that work. (After more research involving INTERPOL, of course. I had learned my lesson!)
My point? You don't have to draw from personal experience to write everything you write...but you better spend some time learning about your subject before hand. Otherwise you may end up with a mess like me! I continue to be thankful for good friends who knew the difference, and weren't afraid to question me! And I have learned that researching new topics for other stories can be fun:)
More helpful thoughts regarding this subject:
http://www.suite101.com/content/write-what-you-know-a49048
http://www.writersservices.com/res/ml/r_factsheet_2.htm
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