Posts
Is Balancing Your Life Possible?
Reposted from 2009 I started blogging to try to find the balance between raising my family and working on my writing career. I interviewed close to a hundred moms and dads who seemed to have found that balance. Three years later I AM still searching for that balance. I’m starting to think balance is the…
How to Edit a Full-Length Novel to a Novella
When I contracted my novella in January and had to cut 30,000 words off my full length novel, I knew it was going to be hard. In fact, I almost bailed on submitting the anthology to Barbour because I knew that would mean cutting more than half of my story. The pain of deleting my…
When You Grow Weary in the Waiting
Even though I’m contracted for my first novella, there are moments of lulls in my writing life. Moments when I want to move forward, but I can’t for one reason or another. It’s a part of the writer’s life…waiting. Right now I’m waiting on the Writer…Interrupted blog to launch so I can rebuild my platform.…
50 Ways to Edit Your WIP
When I signed my first contract and agreed to chop 30,000 plus words off my 55,000 word WIP, I knew what I was getting into. Well, sort of. I knew it would be painful to cut that many words. I knew scenes I loved would have to go and be condensed. I knew it would…
St. Patrick: Who Was He Really?
I don’t think I really started to think about St. Patrick, the man until I got married to an Irish/German/American, and had kids. Growing up, St. Patrick’s Day was all about wearing green and drinking beer. Yet, if St. Patrick was alive today, I think he’d be heartbroken over what his name has come to…
Children and Lent
Lent is about life, not a lifeless tradition. It’s about drawing closer to Jesus by pulling away from the things that distract us from him. It’s about reorienting lives to make more room for God. And it’s something children can participate in. Our children have practiced Lent as long as I can remember. At seven…
Seasons of Writing and Waiting
In January, I was all set to dive into my WIP. I had just put my daughter in school full time, and I had my days mapped out by the hour. Then “I got the call.” The novella I submitted to Barbour for an anthology the week before was sold! After the shock registered, I…
More About the Season of Lent
I think those who are afraid of Lent don’t really understand it. Some remember the drudgery from their childhood of being forced to give up something they love. Others just don’t know what it’s about. For me, I remember the season of Lent fondly from my childhood. Giving up something I loved because I loved…
Making Room for God
Lent snuck up on me this year. Usually by this time I already know what I want to give up, but this year I’m clueless. I think it’s because in the last year my life has drastically changed and I’m making more room for God than ever. This time last year my morning devotions were…
Ten Reasons Why You Didn't Get Your Contest Entry in on Time
Since I was contracted in January, I’m ineligible to enter the Genesis contest, but I remember those days with fear and trepidation. Here’s to all of you who submitted on time or were planning on entering but… 10. You were too busy doing your taxes. 9. Your critique partners didn’t get your entry back to…