Blog
Warring Agendas: Distractions or Opportunities?
“The world sets the agenda for the professional man; God sets the agenda of the spiritual man.” – John Piper One of my goals this year is to be more intentional. This means actively improving my craft and pursuing avenues of publication, but it extends beyond writing. I also want to be intentional with my…
Review: Lucky Baby by Meredith Efken
After years of swearing she’d never be a mother–particularly because she doesn’t want to turn into her mother, who withheld her approval from Meg–Meg longs to adopt a child. She and her husband, Lewis, adopt an older girl from China, desiring both to give Eva a home and to overcome their pasts of emotional family…
20 Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before…
1. Sometimes the book you’re most passionate about doesn’t do well, when a book you aren’t as passionate about succeeds. 2. Quality of writing doesn’t = sales. And the fickle nature of sales is nearly impossible to figure out. Best advice? Write what you’re passionate about and leave the rest in God’s hands. 3. People…
Be SMART About Your Goals
New Year’s has come and gone. Months ago many jotted down their resolutions, others put it off. Still, others already feel like a failure because each year their goals are the same. But why do most people fail in reaching their resolutions? It’s because they’re not S.M.A.R.T. about their goals. Before you are offended by…
There is NO Easy Button
Christianity is much more than simply believing in Jesus; it’s following him. We need to make that distinction because our culture is voyeuristic – we like to watch things…and that’s it. People in our culture don’t mind looking at Jesus, but few are actually willing to follow him. Following is much harder. Following Jesus is…
Impossible Dream
When I began writing my first novel back in 2003/04, I thought for sure it would not only publish but likely be a best seller. I thought that of the second as well. And the third. And the fourth. Every one of them was rejected. If you’re unpublished, you might be feeling a little nauseous…
The Grace of Who I Am
Romans 3:23,24 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (NIV) I know who I am, and I know my struggles. If I were to list them one by one, they would be embarrassing, ugly…
Five Tips for the Writing Dad (or Mom)
My alarm goes off at five. I get up. Flip on the coffee, stumble to the computer, and blink myself awake while the computer hums through its startup. I read a little of my work from the previous day and begin to fall into the clicking rhythm of creation. When the coffee burbles, I go…
Stash it? Trash it? Or Cash it?
Too much stuff? You’re not alone. Our families are getting smaller – but the top reason people move into a larger home is so they’ll have more room for their stuff. Combine that with another scary statistic… the average person spends 4 1/2 hours a week looking for stuff they can’t find. Sigh. I can…
Writing as a Sandwich Generation Granny Nanny
Writing “on hold” due to child-rearing, caring for elderly parents, etc.? Join this Sandwich Generation granny nanny, in the midst of interruptions!