Encouragement
Speak No Evil
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 I am often guilty of forgetting this verse. Or worse, choosing to ignore it. As one who…
A Bumpy, Humbling, and Exhilarating Slog toward Publication
by Elizabeth Camden My road to publication was long and bumpy. I daydreamed about my first manuscript for years before I got up the courage to start writing. I honed and polished it to a diamond-bright shine. It was exactly the kind of novel I adored reading and I considered it a masterpiece. I sent…
The Perfect Blog: Setting Your Words Free
It’s Monday. The day I’m supposed to blog. And I have some GREAT posts in my draft folder. I’m really excited for you to read them, eventually. Unfortunately, they’re doing you and me no good sitting in my draft folder half finished. So what is it going to take to set them free? Schedule Time to…
What Do You Do When You Have Nothing Left to Give, But You Can’t Quit?
You rest… That’s what I did yesterday afternoon, after I prepared lunch and several meals for my family for this week. After I cleaned the dishes and kitchen with little help from my “busy” family. After I helped with homework and did some “dance therapy” not caring who walked in while I was Cha Cha-ing…
The Nature of Art
The opening line of Anne Lamott’s writing memoir Bird by Bird states, “The very first thing I tell my new students on the first day of a workshop is that good writing is about telling the truth.” As a Christian writer, I often wonder at how truth in fiction is achieved. After studying the parable…
Anyone Else Feel Like Cinderella Back from the Ball?
The clock struck midnight and I had to run home, back to reality, before my beautiful gown turned into the rags meant for the daily grind of life. And now I’m here. Home. My gown is hung in the closet waiting for next year, and thankfully, I didn’t lose a shoe, but it feels like…
Purpose-full Interruptions
But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with Your saving truth. Psalm 69:13 One of my grandkids had a major writing project and it was really stressing her out. She felt so frustrated and “stuck!” We worked…
When You Got Nothing More To Give…
I’ve been busy taking care of family and life and trying to get ready for ACFW. Guess which one always takes a back seat? Luckily, this year I don’t have to worry about pitching because I’ve got nothing to pitch. It’s bitter sweet. Having nothing means that all my manuscripts have made the CBA rounds…
The Book That Wasn’t Suppose to Be…Is
Digging Up Death, the book my agent signed me with four or so years ago, which he shopped around, but couldn’t sell to the CBA, the story I labored over for several years, and had to bury, then resurrect and rewrite, only to bury it again has been resurrected and given new life…and a beautiful…
When God Stops by
I confess: I don’t always go to church. Like today, the morning after a jam-packed Lindy Hop weekend with lots of fun, friends, and busyness. Not only is my body tired and achy, but my soul wants quiet…peace. And sometimes that is found at home…alone. So when I awoke this morning, I tended to my…