We’re a week into NANO for this year. How’s it going for you? Are you hitting the target of 1,667 words per day? Or are you feeling so far behind you’re ready to quit? Please don’t. NANO has value. Maybe not for every writer, but for many of us it’s …
Recent Blog Posts
achieve
Failing My Way to Success
Another rejection. The email glares at me. The words of the magazine editor are a thousand pinpricks. “Doesn’t meet the theme of our issue.” This came right after an agent responded to a query with “not interested.” Which came after several no responses at all from other agents and a …
When Writers Slump
We all get those times when our get up and go got up and went, leaving us behind. It’s an effort to get up in the morning and to start on our daily activities, like going to work, doing the laundry, cooking, cleaning. Whatever tasks call us. Those times when …
Tested by Praise
“Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.” Proverbs 27:21 (NLT) Okay, I thought, when I recently read this Scripture. That’s interesting. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve read this passage but I can tell you this was the first time I …
Patience, NOW
There is a scene in Star Wars, Episode IV, where Luke is attacking the Death Star, about to drop a bombdown a chute to the core of the weapon. His wing commander tells him, “Wait for it. Wait for it. Did you know the Lord tells us basically the same …
Failing My Way to Success
Another rejection. The email glares at me. The words of the magazine editor are a thousand pinpricks. “Doesn’t meet the theme of our issue.” This came right after an agent responded to a query with “not interested.” Which came after several no responses at all from other agents and a publisher …
The Myth of Multitasking
When I worked in public service and in ministry, especially involved in hiring, it seemed every job description called for the ability to multitask. And every candidate listed multitasking as one of their strengths if not their greatest strength. Watching how others and I performed our job functions over the last …
Discipline is Painful
No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Hebrews 12:11 (NLT) emphasis added We’ve all been disciplined for much of our lives. Our parents disciplined us, sometimes with words, and sometimes …
Lessons of Life
This is Pillar 8, the last pillar in this series on the Writing Life. Below I share three of the lessons of life I’ve learned pursuing this dream and calling. I’ve learned so much more but sharing them would require a book. Lesson 1 Life Isn’t Fair Or, perhaps more …
Investing in Ourselves
Pillar Three of the writing life is investing. We invest our time, our talent, and our finances in growing as writers. Alton Gansky once said he had the secret to making a small fortune in writing—start with a large fortune. We invest in our writing with the hope we will …