Final Day of Dragons, Devotions, and Donita K Paul - "Keep the Pages Turning..."

This is the final day with Donita K. Paul as she encourages authors to give our audiences writing that keeps readers turning the pages! 

Donita has done just that, with her very popular Dragonkeeper Chronicles. 

Stay tuned at the end for her brand new release in the Chiril Chronicles, coming in October, 2011  (you can preorder below)

AND there is still time to enter her wonderful giveaway of THREE books! (ends August 22) 

"Usually, when people get to the end of a chapter, they close the book and go to sleep. I deliberately write my books so when the reader gets to the end of a chapter, he or she must turn one more page. When people tell me I've kept them up all night, I feel like I've succeeded!"  
                                                                               -  Sidney Sheldon (was an Academy Award-winning American writer. His TV works spanned a 20-year period during which he created The Patty Duke Show (1963–66), I Dream of Jeannie (1965–70) and Hart to Hart (1979–84), but he became most famous after he turned 50 and began writing best-selling novels such as Master of the Game (1982), The Other Side of Midnight (1973) and Rage of Angels (1980). He is the sixth best selling writer of all time.)

Yes, yes, yes! This is a sadistic truth common to successful authors. There is not better compliment than for a reader to say she was kept up all night by cliffhangers. Of course, you must also know that writers spend many sleepless nights getting their characters in situations creating great tension and the physical need to see the conflict resolved. That’s writerese for “keep ‘em turning the pages.

 COMING OCTOBER of 2011 in the Chiril Chronicles - Book 3

Ellie is a simple country girl living with her large family. Hungry for adventure, she eagerly accepts an invitation to attend the royal wedding in Chiril’s bustling capital. En route, Ellie is separated from her traveling party. She finds herself lost in an enchanted city made by giants. Unable to leave, her only companions are the wild children, who roam the streets, and Bealomondore, the handsome artist and recently distinguished war hero. Ellie and Bealomondore must solve the mystery of the city and it’s children in order to break the enchantment and escape the invisible walls which imprison them. Throughout their quest, they learn about obedience, redemption, and love.

Buy now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble or CBD

All this week (until August 22) leave a comment and your e-mail address for a chance to win one of three great books by Donita! You may comment each day if you wish about the devotion, but your name goes in once.

1.  The Vanishing Sculptor (a fantasy novel, see the cover for it above)

2.  Dragon and Turtle Go on Safari (children's picture book)

3.  To See His Way (Heartsong Presents historical romance)

 

Farewell to My Very First Publishing House

My very first title with Heartsong Presents in 1997. See below on how you can win a copy

Wow, what a heavy heart. I just received word that the house which published my very first title, Mountaintop, is closing its doors. Heartsong Presents, a division of Barbour Publishing. Another casualty to a dwindling economy and the need to downsize, and one near and dear to my heart.

Heartsong Presents was one of the few publishing houses back in the early days that took on brand new authors like me and without an agent. They had a neat little book club that put out several books a month, so they were looking for writers. I joined the club first to see what books they published and met such popular authors now as Wanda Brunstetter, Colleen Coble, Loree Lough, Kristin Billerbeck, Donita Paul, even Tracie Peterson, all who began their now highly successful publishing careers with titles published by Heartsong Presents.

I developed a story I thought might go - a story of two hikers (imagine that!) who meet in the unforgiving White Mountains of New Hampshire and who learn to lean on each other and God when the going gets rough. I submitted it and anxiously waited. I didn't hear anything for a good long time and contemplated quitting the writing business (I had very little patience back then). I talked to a good friend of mine who said - "Hey, Lauralee, did God tell you to quit?" Well, no. And a few days later, the editor of the line, Rebecca Germany, called me on the phone to discuss my book and a contract. I was ecstatic! About a year later Mountaintop was born. And so too followed many other titles with this company, including my first ever historical book line.

The editors at Heartsong Presents gave me a chance with my work and alllowed me to grow in my writing.

Now sadly they are closing their doors. But I will never forget what they have done for me and the books they published to help launch me in my writing ministry. To my editors, line editors, copy editors, marketing, everyone in Heartsong Presents, thank you for 15 great years. I will miss you very much.


**Special Giveaway!! - I only have a few special copies left of my very first release, Mountaintop. I will be giving away one copy of this book near and dear to my heart. Leave a comment and your name and e-mail to enter. For anyone who signs up to receive this blog via e-mail or by Feedblitz, I will put your name in again for 2 chances to win (be sure to let me know). One name will be picked Wed, August 17th.

Odds at winning depends on number of entries received. Void where prohibited. 

On August 15 I am blessed to have an old  Heartsong friend, Donita K Paul, now a successful fantasy author, as my special guest blogger. Don't miss visiting with her!

Success at Growing Seeds

It's that time of year again here in Virginia where I start my seeds for this year's harvest. When I first began growing vegetables from seed, I didn't realize that there is a certain art to growing seedlings. That without proper care and soil, they can get diseased and die off (called damping-off) before they even grow their second set of leaves. Sometimes the fungus can be contracted in the soil, especially if the soil is not sterile. I went to the store and purchased a fresh soil mixture just for seeds. I used jiffy pots made of peat moss. I made sure the containers I worked with were clean. And once the seeds sprout, I only water the seedlings in the AM so the top surface of the soil dries out, preventing the fungus from developing. The seedlings are also put under a plant light until the second set of leaves appear, then they are repotted into fresh soil and pots. All careful beginnings of what I hope to be a healthy bounty of fresh broccoli or head of bib lettuce around May.

What an interesting metaphor for our writing. As our projects begin, they are the mere seeds of an idea. But as seeds, they need good soil to grow, adequate light and warmth, tender care, and careful nursing to prevent disease from robbing them of their final fruit. Just jotting down words isn't enough. Just as sprinkling seeds in dry soil do little. The seeds of our writing also need light (God's anointing), good potting mixture ( good themes that readers can relate to and good writing that sells in an competitive market), water (getting your work into the right hands once its polished). All are necessary to seeing your book grow and land a contract to be read and enjoyed by many.

GUEST Bloggers coming up! I am pleased to announce that Lisa Harris will be joining me as my guest blogger for March along with some wonderful giveaways! If you have not subscribed yet to this blog, please do (see the upper right-hand column) so you don't miss out on these wonderful giveaways and guests with important messages for writers in all stages of their career. In the coming months Blissful Writing Thoughts will also feature such Christian authors as Vickie McDonough, Martha Rogers, Loree Lough, Laurie ALice Eakes, among others.

You can also stay in touch with this blog by "Liking" me on my Facebook page!

A Year I Didn't Expect

As this year closes, I wanted to take a bit of time to reflect on 2010.

The year did not turn out the way I thought it would. I began 2010 with high expectations in my writing career. I thought a book would go through with a major publisher that did not. Instead, I was led on a 1500 mile journey back on the Appalachian Trail, a southbound journey that went over and beyond my expectations. I hiked solo for many weeks but discovered new friends and new places I will not soon forget. You can read about my journey here.

2010 saw us welcome a new member to our family - our blue tick coon hound, Eve, from the shelter. She is doing very well after a few months of intense training, and we love her.

2010 also saw my husband prosper in his business and my three books set in the state of Utah published.

I always wonder what a New Year will bring. But this year I have expectations of good things. I serve an awesome God Who has my best interests at heart. I know He will lead me and guide me for His name's sake. And so I welcome 2011 with my eyes looking upward and my determination set to do all I can with the time that is given to me.

Happy 2011!

In the Crossroads

I am officially in a crossroad of my life right now. Since returning from my journey on the Appalachian Trail in '07, I have been blessed with five book contracts and the joy of sharing my gift of writing. I have written and published many books. I have participated in numerous book signings, blog and radio interviews. Things were looking up in the publishing world, to be sure. I was even looking at entering the big leagues with a proposal making it twice to a major publisher's committee. Things were looking very good.

But then everything dried up. After this month there are no more contracts. The proposal at the major house fell through unexpectedly. I am looking at several months now with nothing happening. Not that there aren't new books in me or that will come forth eventually. I still have a few proposals in house under consideration. But I am looking at the summer and fall ahead of me and essentially a wide open area. Clearly I am at a crossroad.

I have always wanted to return and hike the Appalachian Trail again. Starting in Maine this time and heading south to Georgia (in '07 I did the opposite). I thought perhaps I might try it in 2011. But with the doors closing in certain areas, especially in writing, I am seeing an open door to perhaps go for it this year instead. Of course that has put me in a bit of a tailspin. And planning. And wondering if this is right. First came my husband, and he seemed on board. I have spoken to my editor and my other book projects in need of editing will fit into the timeframe I would be away. I have the equipment and some money. If my health hangs in there and my parents are all right, it looks possible.

Wow, this is NOT something I had planned to do this year. It makes me think of an old song by Nancy Honeytree that I have been listening to. About being ready to give our hearts to God.
She sings:
"Be ready when you give your life to God,
For He will surely change it,
Just when you thought you had it planned,
He is apt to rearrange it.
But your peace will be unmeasured as His plan unfolds from above,
You'll be glad you gave your life to the Lord of life-changing love.

So this where I am right now. Stay tuned as this plan continues to unfold before me. And I see which direction I do take.

I Scream, You Scream. We All Scream at Editing.

Courtesy of the website www.wonderbaby.org/images/ivan-screams.jpg

Okay, I must confess. This was me yesterday. Literally. I received the news most authors dread to hear. That your wonderful book did not make the grade with the editors. Look, I remember those papers we handed in in school. They had big red pen marks on them and a large letter on top that was the grade. Well, I got my grade from the editors. And it was not an A. Not a B either. Maybe a C for the idea only. But the writing was bad. The plot was wrong. The characterizations were lacking. It was poor work. It hovered at an F.

AAGH. I screamed. More out of the realization of how much work I would need to do to make it right. Like having to rewrite a good portion of the book (with many scenes from scratch). And all of this when I had another book due in that I was currently working on. And having only a few weeks to accomplish the revision.

Then for some reason I remembered a quote I saw on Anne of Green Gables, in the second movie. Gilbert is complaining about Anne's article that won a baking powder contest instead of something superior. The style, the mumbo jumbo, the poor plot. She screams at him. And he says quite plainly, "You can cry all you want. It won't make you write a better novel." That scene helped settle me down. Nothing was going to change unless I calmed myself and got down to business.

And I realized something else, too. This is not my little book. These are not my ideas. The book was entrusted to me by God. It's His work. I am a vessel of His truth through fiction. And I need to do it the best way I know how. I often wonder if God made some of the apostles rewrite books of the Bible because it wasn't what He wanted. :) That some of man's ideas were thrust in there, and He said calmly, Do it over, please. Of course that probably didn't happen. But I wonder. And if so, the end result was worth it--a life changing message that affects people today.

And so I have stopped screaming and have settled down. The rewrite is massive--the most I have ever had to do for a novel. But for all I know, it could be my best book ever. And that's a book worth writing...

A Peace-Filled Way

I am a day late posting this but learning quite a bit what it means to deal in peace. This was my word for the New Year, 2010. Above is a peaceful scene - the silent fall of snow from the sky, a major snow we had back in December, though 2 feet of snow in one blow also makes for interesting times!

When the New Year arrives, I spend time with God seeking out His word for me. And this year, peace rings out. Especially the verse in John 14 from the Amplified edition: "Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]" I like how the Amplified brings out more in the verse--stop allowing yourself to be agitated, disturbed, fearful, intimidated. How often we allow situations to arise in our lives where the power of peace is sapped, and we are overcome with worry, anxiety, fretfulness. Already this New Year I have found myself challenged by this verse to stay in God's peace despite what is going on around me. To not give way to doubt and fear. To allow His strength to move me from glory to glory.

I pray that you will seek God out for a mighty revelation for this year. See what word He has for you. And meditate on it continually as you walk out the New Year with Him.

Next week I will be featuring a guest blogger who will be blogging on "Finding a Character's Voice." Don't miss it!

When You've Got the Wrong Shoes On...

This is an actual picture of my shoe getting stuck in the mud when I was hiking the Appalachian Trail back in 2007. It reminded me of my hike last weekend - of which I had on the wrong shoes to do a fairly strenuous hike and ended up suffering for it (and having to leave the trail early). To this day - nearly a week later, I still have a toenail that remains red and painful. I wish I could go back and listen to that still, quiet voice that told me to check my shoes, insoles, and wear the right socks. I could have avoided lots of problems and finished my goal.

Sometimes we like to take shortcuts with our writing or other work we do. We don't take the time to make sure it's the best it can be but rush off, thinking it will do, that it's adequate enough. Like if deadlines loom or in trying to put together a proposal quick and get it sent off. But we can suffer for our haste. We can end up with the ugly red form of rejection because we didn't take the time to construct, polish and edit our work thoroughly so it's the best it can be. It's so easy to try and take shortcuts. Not to give it our all in our work. But it's liable to come back at us and make us suffer for it afterwards. But we can be wiser for it in the lessons learned. I know I will be the next time I hit the trail. I'll be wearing new shoes, good insoles and padded socks. And carry plenty of Bandaids and duct tape to work with my already injured feet. So, too, we can bring new life to our work and resubmit elsewhere. But take the time to do it the right way, and you may find a contract waiting for you instead.

Labor Day and the Fruit

When I think of the word labor, I do think of myself bent over the computer keyboard, "penning" a novel or trying desperately to work through my atrocious typing skills. Or I consider the other labors I perform during the course of the day - cleaning, laundry, picking tomatoes, thinking up a nice dinner. At times our labors can seem tedious and without purpose, especially when we see little or no fruit. And with that I am reminded of several scriptures from the Amplified version of the Bible.

1 Corinthians 15: 58 - ...be firm, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile (it is never wasted or to no purpose).

Jeremiah 31: 16 - ....for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord...

Luke 10: 7 - ...for the laborer is worthy of his wages...

As a writer, it can be a long road to seeing fruit from tireless labor. We can work days, weeks, months, even a year on a particular project but see no fruit. But even if we don't see it with our eyes, God sees it all. And He has His timing for bringing the labor we do to fruition. It may be a bumpy road without a destination in sight, obtaining the wages of one's hard work. But take heart. God is never early nor is He late with His payment for a job well done. He is always right on schedule with our paycheck and the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Words to Write By... Author Devotions

This week I am highlighting a wonderful devotional book that I was privileged to be a part of - a meaningful work for writers in every season of their lives. The book is "Words To Write By" by good friend and author Robin Bayne. In it are treasures for every writer by well known authors such as Robin Lee Hatcher, Deborah Raney, Jill Eileen Smith, Cecil Murphy, Margaret Daly, among others. It includes devotions in the areas of persistence and rejections, publishing and networking, encouragement and motivation, and many other important topics.

I asked Robin to share a little about this valuable resource that every writer (and reader, too!) should own.

Why did you decide to compile a book like this?

Because I enjoyed reading devotionals, and I loved finding interesting writing tips from my favorite Christian authors. So I decided to invite some of them to contribute a writer's devotional, and the results became "Words to Write By."

Can you give us a summary of the book?

Many writers keep a favorite quote or Bible verse taped to their computer monitors, or as part of their e-mail signature or website theme. Why do they do this? As a constant reminder of a principle or value which aids their writing production or their sanity. The words can serve as task-master, guidance counselor or just plain comforter.

I find this practice fascinating. Each one reflects a bit of my personality and beliefs, as do every writer’s choice selections. I have asked some of the best writers in the business to share their inspiration with us, their favorite words of wisdom, and explain why they find them so special.

Tell us about yourself.

Robin Bayne is the award-winning author of five novels and three novellas, and is a regular contributor to the “Spirit Led Writer” ezine. Her essays, articles and devotionals have been published in the God’s Way Book series, Cup of Comfort Devotionals, The Secret Place, Christian Communicator, Writer’s Journal and many other publications. She has given workshops at regional and online romance writing conferences and the Writer’s Digest World’s Largest Writing Workshop. She lives in Maryland with her husband of nineteen years and works a "day job" as a mortgage underwriter. Visit her at: http://www.robinbayne.com/

A blurb about the book from the publisher's web site -

Join a variety of well-known authors as they share the scripture or quotations they find inspiring to their writing. The devotionals they’ve contributed reflect all aspects of the writing life: basic motivation, rejection, publishing and succeeding. Spend some time with the writers you love and discover what words they write by.

Order this excellent book here.

I Have No Idea What to Write...

I have no idea what to write today on my blog. This is what is running through my mind as I sit here.

Usually I've had some momentous writing experience to detail in my blog for the week. Instead I spent time recounting some interesting experiences on my hike this past weekend, which I detail in my hiking blog. Perhaps that is to be my spiritual gauge for this week. The importance of blogs. Writing blogs. Blogs of every shape and size. Blogs that deal with your interests. Blogs that help you with your writing, whether they be one of inspirational content, a blog of personal interests, or a blog reviewing books and even other blogs. But they have one thing in common. They help you with your writing technique, exercising your gift, if you will, as you chronicle your journey and bring your thoughts into focus. I know many have advocated the idea of journaling as a way for writers to exercise their craft. Blogging makes that journaling come to life via the Internet - providing a place of unique publication where others can share in your words.

For me as a fiction author, it's not just writing novels, but also bringing my inner thoughts to life. To work on creating that nonfiction aspect of my career as well. Blogging has helped me do just that. From the online journal I kept when I hiked the Appalachian Trail last year with my son (and is now useful for creating my nonfiction book about the journey), to my current hiking blog that details trail experiences or even thoughts leading up to a 30 year dream come true (like the hike last year), to this blog chronicling writing ideas, they all serve an important purpose for me as a writer and you as the reader. And they are an important avenue of my writing ministry.

Hey, guess what? I found something to write about after all!

Expanding Your Profile

Well, it's time to wander off the deep end into unknown territory. As most of you know, I have leaped from being a fiction author for over twelve years into the newest realm of non fiction writing. I certainly don't know everything, even after attending a writer's conference, but I am trying to get my feet wet.

I am pleased to share that an outdoor magazine just recently accepted a small piece of my work for inclusion in their September magazine. It was an incident that happened on our hike a few years back for their CLOSE CALLS section. Click here for the article and scroll down until you come to Mountaintop Madness. When this came out, I was able to add it to my biography list I was compiling for my main event - my big non fiction book on our hiking experience.

I am also entering a writer's contest of sorts - that is, I am writing an article for a possible book compilation by Dr. Gary Chapman on the extraordinary things people do for love. Again I am taking an incident from our time on the trail last year when my husband performed a miraculous feat so he could see my son and I. This type of writing helps me practice in the area of non fiction while giving me the opportunity to sell. All in the name of building my resume for the important book I desire to have published.

If you have the desire to write non fiction or fiction, begin by writing. Look for opportunities to practice your craft, especially in the smaller areas like magazines and book compilations. Even writing contests. Go to a writer's conference and learn the techniques. Get involved in critique groups and other writing organizations. And then get your work on the editor's desk as soon as it's ready.

The Call to Write

Ah, writing. A calling. A ministry. A passion. These are all things I was desperate to learn when I arrived at the Write His Answer conference held in Philadelphia. There is something to be said about hearing passionate speakers speak about the craft of writing, to have scripture shared that pertains to writing, to sit and share with other writers as we each learn the craft of writing (in my case, at the non fiction clinic), to put aside nerves, trust God and speak boldly to editors about the projects on your heart.

It was the the push I needed to raise myself out of the doldrums. To know without a doubt that God has called me to write, and to write what He gives me. To trust Him with the timing of publication, but to do the work of writing. Once I recall hearing a message by Billy Graham at a conference long ago in the 1980's about "doing the work of an evangelist." Well, we are called to do the work of a writer. To learn. To listen. To apply. To then sit down and write. And that is what I received from the conference, a building up of my most holy faith to go forward in this difficult road of writing and see where it leads me. To be faithful in my calling and trust the outcome to God's capable hands.

And on that note...I have some good news to share.

I sold a novella to Barbour Publishing - a Civil war novella that will be set in Fredericksburg, Virginia around Christmas. More on that in another post...

Contemplations and Dreams

I had a very interesting dream last night. As you may have detected from previous posts, I have submitted lots of ideas for books but have not had any bites yet for publishing houses. Well, last night I had a great dream in that I received two contracts for books. How did I find out about them? I discovered them on a web site, actually, where several of my books were slated to be released in the future. I knew they were on the horizon, but the editor had yet to formally give me a contract on them.

Those are great dreams to hold on to, especially when little is happening in the publishing world. The dreams give hope to stay the course. But I did have a bit of good news - the editor at Blue Ridge Outdoors wishes to use an incident with my family hiking in one of his articles in September. While it is not a paying article for me, it gives exposure for my hiking escapades and a boost for the non fiction book I am writing concerning my trail adventure last year. Anything to pump up the resume for the book is good.

So there are little signs that God is still in control of this career of mine. It is all in His timing.

Unexpected Sick...

Well, my husband and I are supposed to be heading out tomorrow to visit relatives in New York, but instead we find ourselves battling unexpected colds. First my son got it from work, and now we have it.

Then our dog began to act strangely and having accidents in the house which is not like her. We took her to the vet today and found out she has a bladder infection and possible stones. So a bit of a double whammy as we are attempting to make this trip north to see our parents.

It's strange to wonder why these kinds of things happen, and when we are trying to do something right. I remember when I took off a few years back to attend a Christian Women's conference down in North Carolina. When I returned, full of God and things I had learned, lo and behold, a hail storm had come roaring in the previous day and utterly destroyed my garden. Here I was doing something deemed "good" and yet I got whammed.

Sometimes it's hard to see God at work during these times in our lives. But without them, we cannot continue to build in our faith and trust in Him that He has our best interests in mind, despite our condition. That He knows and understands and will see us through. Maybe you are at that point, thinking you have done some great things for God with your writing ministry, but instead of reward, there is trial. Take heart. God has not forgotten you. It may be an unexpected turn in the road. Or a time He wants you to build yourself up in your most holy faith. The trial is only for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime.

As we are heading to NY hopefully by Wednesday, I will blog when I return after July 8th.

Blazing Hot

Well, it is blazing hot in Virginia which is not atypical for the month of June, but it is certainly an eye opener as well that summer is here, and with a bang. The change of season always amazes me. How perfect it is and in step too with the months. Cold wintry days in in January. Pleasant spring breezes in April. Crisp cool days of color on October. And now hazy, hot and humid. We can count on it all happening in a perfect rhythm, just like the rising and setting of sun, because God is in control of it all.

So, too, we can count on God that He is also in full control of the seasons of our lives. The changes that can come. Maybe cold here. Hot there. But His timing is perfect, and each season is filled with its own special fruits. Maybe right now you are like me - in the blazing heat with your writing that appears to be wilting and drying up as you await an open door. But take heart. A new season is approaching, and it will not delay. The rains will fall, the tide will change, the weather will cool. And the doors will open at the most perfect time.

Next week I am on vacation at the beach, so I will not be blogging. See you on June 23rd!

God speed.

Hard to Know...

...what to write this week, that is.

As a writer, not much is happening...

Okay, scratch that.

As a writer, plenty of things are happening, though maybe not in front of my eyes.

It's called faith at work. Faith unseen. Thus I have not posted a picture with this blog post. I am working on faith unseen. Faith that things are happening with my writing ministry even though it is slow to come. I have so many proposals out there but have heard nothing and seen less.

So now one must walk by faith and not by sight.

However, I did hear from two readers this past week. One ordered a bunch of my out-of-print books. The other e-mailed me sweet and kind words about one of my books - The Wish (which recently came out in hardback).

"I would like to thank you soooo much for writing books that are wonderful in content, easy to read and Christian based. In today's world where there is mostly immorality and curse words, it makes reading worthwhile again. We have just discovered your books, recently having read The Wish. My 87 year old mother-in-law loved the large print but especially the story content. She recently had eye surgery and is having such a great time reading again. I read this book in one sitting and have put the other 2 Virginia Weddings and 1 Kentucky Wedding on call at the library. Please keep up your wonderful work. It is very much needed."

Wow, what a wonderful communication to lift one's spirits. And a gentle reminder that God is faithful, even as we walk by faith, not by sight.

Rollercoaster!

Today we spent Memorial Day at an amusement park here in Virginia called Kings Dominion. My hubby and I both had worked a concession stand at Christmas to help pay for season tickets as we both love rollercoasters. Today we rode a new one at the park called the Dominator. Now its supposedly the longest, floorless rollercoaster on record. I guess all these parks want to create the newest and greatest ride. It did have a lot of twists and turns. Ups and downs. Thrills and fears.

It actually reminds me of a song sung by 4 Him called "Ride of Life." The group compares the rollercoaster to life, its ups and downs, spinning you round and round. But wherever we go, and in whatever circumstance, God is right by our side on that ride, giving strength, supporting us, encouraging us to hang on, even if it gets rather scary. A nice thought, especially for us writers as we delve into the rollercoaster writer's life with its ups and downs, some that make you feel like you might crash headlong into the ground! The nice thing is, we are never alone in this both thrilling and fearful ride. God is always there, and He knows when it's the best time for us to take the ride and also, when to finish it so we might rest.

Dust, Dust Everywhere

We are getting ready for our son's big high school graduation festivity this weekend (he is graduating from the official Bliss home school). Lots of relatives and family coming in to celebrate. So of course out comes the duster to dust in places I haven't touched in quite a while. It's amazing what can gather just in the air we breathe. But once you have dusted away, it feels and smells much cleaner, and you actually feel better about it too.

With that, I saw a call by an editor looking for some new proposals. And I thought, hey, why not "dust off" one of my older proposals to ready it for a submission? Of course it's going to mean dusting off some areas to make it shine, like revising and reworking characters, plot, etc. But better than having it continue to sit in a file somewhere, never seeing the light of day, gathering computer dust - so to speak. After all, I worked hard to create the idea, even if it was eons ago. Why not put it to good use?

Are there any projects you are hoping to dust off and get out to publishers? Maybe now's the time to check your files and see what may be lying around. With a little fine tuning, it could sparkle and shine and land in the publisher's "to buy" pile! You never know...

Good-bye, Dear Ice Cream Cone...

Our writing. So like a flavorful ice cream cone that we want others to enjoy. But then suddenly, our beautiful, creamy creation falls flat when the editor sends us that note we dread. The rejection letter. Oh, the disappointment. It's hard to even describe. You really feel as if you, yourself, have been rejected. But of course that isn't so. It's just the words you have written, words that you have sweated over, that you have worked hard to create into an interesting and unique story everyone is sure to read. Maybe you even sunk more than the usual effort into it. You went ahead and researched it. Revised it numerous times, using study helps and other guides. Talked to other writers and had the idea critiqued. Or like once happened to me, took a three week vacation out west to research the project after an agent expressed great enthusiasm.

Only to have the the project fall flat on the ground.

I could share many, many stories of rejection over the past twelve years. Some were undoubtedly worse than others. One was a book I had written and rewritten for an editor of a major publishing house. Work on the book covered a span of two years, only to have the whole project rejected when the editor left the house That one probably stung the worse.

But every rejection hurts. So what do you do? Can't really scrape the ice cream off the floor again and put it back into the cone. It's all melted. Many times the rejection means something is wrong with the project. Maybe you need to look at the work with fresh eyes. Give it a new face lift, so to speak. Let others critique it. Or maybe even set it aside for a season and work on another idea you have.

I just heard recently of a project an author allowed her agent to market eight years ago when she was a newly signed author. It had not sold but another project did. The original story sat there while other ideas were sold. Now, suddenly, this year, the first story idea has been accepted for publication. Yes, eight years after being initially rejected by every publishing house.

So you never know.

Rejection doesn't meant the end of the world, even if it seems like it right now. So treat yourself to an ice cream cone with chocolate chunks and then get back to work. God has a way of working all things together for good, and in His perfect timing.