Encouragement
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,…
Audience of One
I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. Away from me all who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my cry for…
Notes from a Newbie
I remember the day I started seriously writing. It came at the hand of a hard critique. But not just any hard critique, the careful critique of a true mentor and friend. She graciously agreed to take a look at my writing project and give me her thoughts. I’d started writing a testimony of sorts,…
You Are Not Insignificant!
It happens every ACFW conference. The excitement and utter terror of stepping into the hotel, perusing the lobby while people huddle in groups exchanging hugs and greetings, and trying to figure out where they fit in. Others like me, feeling out of place. Thankfully, this year when I arrived at ACFW I had a scheduled…
Writing for God’s Glory vs. Writing for Publication
Like many writers in the early stages of their careers, I can be found spending some portion of most workdays soaking in advice and information from websites like this one. As I gather perspectives, dichotomies from which I’m sure you know well. The passion of art versus the realities of business. Writing what’s in your…
Dropping the Mice In: Ridding Ourselves of Critical Voices
Anne Lamott says that what often gets in the way of our writing is all the critical voices we hear each time our fingers touch the keyboards. What I’ve come to learn as a writer-person is that I first have to quiet my brain enough to even hear the voices. I’m not sure if the…
ACFW: My Conferene Journey in a Word or Two
I don’t know when I began the tradition of summing up my ACFW conference experience in a word, but looking back over the years God seemed to be speaking one or two words specifically for me concerning each conference. Maybe with all the excitement and conference overload one or two simple words was all I…
He Cries When We Cry!
Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. —Psalm 30:5 Sometimes, the hardest time to write or talk is when your going through an inner conflict of the heart, of the mind, of the spirit. When everything within you cries out no more, no more!! Yet it is through those tears,…
Interview with Writing Mom and Author Jody Hedlund
Be a Trailblazer Contest: During the month of September, Jody is running an epic contest with a prize package worth $300. Here’s the link to the contest page: http://jodyhedlund.com/contest/ Tell us a little about your family and your call to write. I’ve been married for twenty years to my college sweetheart. My husband has been…
Are You Ready for Publication?
Not your manuscript. You. Here’s the test: Strip down to your pre-fall Garden of Eden nakedness and stand on the fifty-yard line during halftime at the Super Bowl while everyone submits critiques of your body on the JumboTron. If you can handle that without buckets of drugs and/or a lifetime of therapy, then you’re probably…