Encouragement
Words of Power
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. James 3:9-10 Words are powerful. Like a bit or a rudder, they can turn large objects by one small uttering, one small sentence. As…
Dare to Dream
The world pushes you to be sensible. Make choices that are normal, ordinary and expected. Do what has to be done and fall in line with the rest of the world. It doesn’t dare you to dream. Dreams live beyond that place. They catch a rainbow and ride into the clouds. Dreams are beyond the…
Homeschooling, Homesteading and Living to Write About It
by Mary L. Allen Cold weather has arrived in the mid-west! Usually this means fewer outside chores for yours truly, but this fall on our homestead, I still have pastured poultry field pens to move and a hundred chickens to feed. Then it’s time to tote wood from the shed up to the house for…
Constant Dialogue
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17(KJV) Dialogue is a vital part of novels. Writers can certainly add depth to characters through their actions, but the heart of the character is revealed through the words he or she speaks. At the same time, a novel with only dialogue would be exhausting. The silence within scenes, when…
Write About What Disturbs You
If you haven’t read The Help by Kathryn Stockett yet, let me encourage you to do so. Stockett writes of an editor giving the main character this advice: “Don’t waste your time on the obvious things. Write about what disturbs you, particularly if it bothers no one else.” This is good advice. What disturbs you? I tend…
Sharon Hinck and The Restorer–Expanded Edition.
Sharon writes “stories for the hero in all of us,” about ordinary people experiencing God’s grace in unexpected ways. Known for their authenticity, emotional range, and spiritual depth, her novels include contemporary fiction such as The Secret Life of Becky Miller or Stepping into Sunlight and the groundbreaking Sword of Lyric fantasy series which includes…
Thoughts on Waiting
If you have been writing for any length of time, then you already know about the challenges of waiting. “Thanks for sending me your poem! I’ll try to read it next week.” “I’m sorry I didn’t get a change to look at your story yet.” “If you haven’t heard from us in 60 days, consider…
No More Excuses! Just Write It!
After ACFW conference I thought I was ready to dig back into my WIP and pound out the words. But I wasn’t. Before sending off my proposal, my agent suggested I make a few changes, and so I dove into editing, again. Vacation hit right in the middle of editing and when I got back,…
Dream Killers
What’s holding you back from pursuing your dreams? Fear of failure? Lack of direction? Passion without purpose? Defeat and envy? Unsupportive family? Disappointment in the process? Or the fact you don’t have the know-how to take the next leap towards your dreams? I’ve suffered from many of these dream killers at one time or another…
Sacrificial Moments in a Homeshool Fishing Booth
Two of my homeschooling friends hosted a Fall Party this weekend. Perfect weather for it, too. We had outdoor games such as a “caramel apple walk”, treasure hunts, egg-and-spoon relays and a picnic-bonfire with a guitar-led sing-along time. At the outset, I found myself with another mom, slightly older than me and a complete stranger,…