Posts
A Novelist’s Movie Review: Catching Fire
by Ron Estrada Catching Fire, the second part to The Hunger Games trilogy, opened last week just in time for the big Thanksgiving movie rush. Of particular interest to writers is the big question of how to treat the middle part of a trilogy. While not the focus here, I always stand on two rules…
Practicing Hospitality During the Holidays
Oldie but Goodie Repost What does it mean to practice hospitality? I recently had the opportunity to utilize my home as a ministry tool and host two sisters in Christ for a week. As you might guess if you frequent my Home Management posts, this was a bit of a mountaintop moment for me. However,…
Watching a Movie with a Purpose
by Ron Estrada This week kicks off the big movie season for Hollywood. Thanksgiving weekend will launch some of the biggest flicks of the year. In fact, Catching Fire, part two of the Hunger Games trilogy, has already opened. It’s on my “to see” list this week. As a writer, though, you shouldn’t just sit…
The Balanced Life?
Guest Post by Jennifer Maggio Yeah right! Some of you may be thinking. The elusive balanced life that many of us aspire to seems harder to achieve than ever before. We are balancing soccer practice, house cleaning, full-time jobs, family duties, friendships, church functions, writing, and more. How do we manage our to-do lists while still finding a…
A Funny Thing Happened On My Way To Thanksgiving
Oldie but Goodie Repost 2012 Last year I wrote about listing your Thanksgiving “Lessons-Learned” to track those once-annual thoughts of adjusted recipe measurements and where the fancy serving platter is stored. (Mine was in the guest room closet. Obviously.) I’m sharing my notes from this year’s feast, because sometimes the best you can be…
Leave Martha off Your Guest Thanskgiving Guest List
Oldie But Goodie There are two words that send my normally calm husband into panic as Thanksgiving Day approaches – and they are not “dry turkey” or “lumpy potatoes.” The two words that make him break out in a cold sweat are “Martha Stewart.” My husband knows how easy it is for me to get…
Professional Writer?
by Ron Estrada At some point, the average writer will make a decision: to continue writing for pleasure and occasional payment or to make it a career and become a professional writer. Either is fine. Some of you may not want the stress of producing words to keep your finances in the green. It’s no…
Thanksgiving and Community: Who Will You Invite to Your Table
Oldie but Goodie Repost “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:7 I used to dread the holidays. Sometimes I still do. I grew up in a NY Italian family that celebrated every holiday together. Then I…
Getting by with a Little of Help from my Friends
I’m just back from a ten day trip, so I’m still recovering mentally and physically, but I just wanted to give a shout out to my amazing critique partner in crime who helped me stay a float at Writer…Interrupted. Ron Estrada is off celebrating with his bride of 23 years in the Big Apple! He’s…
What I Learned While NOT Writing
As I race toward a self imposed deadline, I’ll be posting some “Oldies but Goodies” on Mondays, unless inspiration hits! Be sure to read until the end for my thoughts today! Jan 2007 Ten months ago I placed my writing on the altar, realizing that publication had consumed my life and my writing had become…