Blog
Proof It
Raise your hand if you’d rather proofread someone else’s work than your own. Count my hand raised. When it comes to others’ work, grammatical mistakes leap out, waving their arms and begging for a red-pen rescue. For all the delicate etiquette of criticism, it’s easy and oddly satisfying to search out and correct someone else’s…
Making a Conference Notebook
There’s nothing worse than waiting in line for your editor or agent appoint wondering about the unknown…nothing worse EXCEPT walking into that meeting unprepared when the editor or agent asks to see your One Sheet OR your first chapter, and you fumble through your papers to find it OR don’t have anything to offer. That’s…
A Stand-Up Guy by Michael Snyder
Once again, I’ve fallen for the cast of characters created by Michael Snyder: a lovable, quirky, and most definitely messed-up cast. First, there’s Oliver Miles, a comedian who starts to get some notice when he decides to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in his acts. The thing is, this…
Why We Should Listen
In July, I wrote about how fear keeps us from writing. To illustrate my point, I shared how in 2006 I prayed for more time to write. I told you how God promptly answered my prayer, as I was laid off the next day and given nine months’ severance pay. Rather than trusting God and…
Team Hope
“God doesn’t miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you’ve shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who…
Back to School … and Work
FROM THE ARCHIVES Something absolutely amazing happened this week. My youngest child started preschool. For the first time in over eleven years of stay-home momhood, I have the house to myself. The dog and cats are outside. The TV is off, radio is off. I can hear the refrigerator running as I type. And that…
Scheduling Your Family: How Do You Choose?
I hate to bid farewell to summer, the season of flexibility and spontaneity. Eventually, though, summer schedule gives way to fall, and the freedom to be flexible is replaced by appointments, deadlines, expectations. The whole family shifts to a more disciplined, scheduled life. And the hardest part, I think, is the time of transition when…
My ACFW Conference Journey
Since I started writing fiction seriously and pursuing publication in 2005, I never missed an ACFW conference…except last year. Each year my motivation to attend ACFW was different. Each year I had new goals and dreams. Each year I grew as a writer and took home something specific I would need on my journey ahead.…
Coffee Cup Ministry
“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples–when they see the love you have for each other.” (John 13:34-35 – The Message) I remember a number of years ago when I…