Seems everyone’s talking resolutions and words . . . hopes and dreams for the new year. I relish hearing about other people’s desires for the next 12 months. Meanwhile, I hung up my “Confidence” quote near my desk and positioned the “Confidence” ornament my friend Shari gave me from the rear view mirror of my Subaru Forester. Yes, that’s one …
In Others’ Words: Perseverance
It has been an interesting week. I could share all the details, but trust on me on this: It has been an interesting week. Now “interesting” is a vague word, I know. Do I mean interesting-bad or interesting-good? Well, yes. Yes, I do. One of the interesting events of the week was getting this blog up and running again. For …
In Others’ Words: Second (Novel, That Is)
“It wasn’t that she didn’t have a satisfying life–an exciting life, even. It’s just that at thirty-six years old, she’d hoped for . . . more.” Kendall Haynes in Catch a Falling Star There are many stages to writing a book. The initial spark of an idea. The fast-draft. The rewrite — and all the edits after that, leading up to …
In Others’ Words: Nonsense
Sometimes I have to remind myself to have fun. Relax. Stop being so, so serious. Yes, there are deadlines to be met. Children to raise. Problems to be solved. (Insert yours here: ____________.) But there has to be time for laughter. Nonsense. A little bit of “what if” and “why not.” All the “shoulds” waiting for your time and attention? …
In Others’ Words: Writing Road
Just having a bit of fun here today. I read this quote and thought: Where else does writing lead to? Writing leads to … late nights and little sleep. Writing leads to … the red pen. (I’m an editor. What did you expect?) Writing leads to … a serious break with reality sometimes. (The voices in my head are talking …
In Others’ Words: Worth the Dreaming
“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” Earl Nightingale (1921-1989), American motivational speaker and author I hang around writers. We’re dreaming all the time. Dreaming up imaginary characters — and how to mess up their imaginary lives so that we can create an …
In Others’ Words: Pretty is …
“Happy girls are the prettiest.” (1929-1993), Audrey Hepburn, actress Aren’t the girls in that photo pretty? Yes, I’m incredibly biased. You’re looking at a photo of my youngest daughter, my two oldest daughters (one’s the bride), and my daughter-in-love. They are each beautiful, inside and out. But look closer at that photo. Their beauty is accentuated because they …
In Others’ Word: Choosing Fun
“When you stop doing things for fun, you might as well be dead.” Earnest Hemingway (1899-1961), American author & journalist Sometimes I forget to have fun. Does that ever happen to you? I get so caught up in the business — also known as “busyness” — of life, that I can’t be bothered with something as silly as fun. I’ll …
In Others’ Words: Travel
“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill (1944-), travel writer I’m writing this post while I’m still in Colorado, but right now I’m in Texas! I’m near Houston, Texas, at a planning meeting for My Book Therapy, a wonderful writing community, and then I’ll be traveling to Dallas to attend the American Christian Fiction …
In Others’ Words: Sense
“Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.” ~William James (1842-1910), American psychologist Whatever I lack in common sense, I like to think I make up in a sense of humor. And I completely embrace William Jame’s idea that my sense of humor …