An idea kept nudging me as I prepped for the release of Catch a Falling Star. The book’s imaginary characters wrestle with the question “What do you do when life doesn’t go according to plan?” Real people wrestle with that same question every day. And this thought wouldn’t be silenced: Why not have writer-friends blog about how they handled life …
In Others’ Words: Losing
I like to win. Hang around me long enough — and especially if you play a game like Scotland Yard or Bohnanza! with me — and you’ll learn that I don’t like to lose. I know how to lose well, but, well … I embraced the whole “If you’re going to play, then play to win” mantra years ago. Let’s …
In Others’ Words: Listen
At times I am the worst of listeners. There’s a Vogt family joke that somebody needs to make me a T-shirt with this statement printed across the back: If you can read this, then I can’t hear you. My responsibility? To wear this one-of-a-kind T-shirt whenever I’m seated at my desk, writing. Hhhhmmmm. I’m going to need more than one …
In Others’ Words: Humility
There’s nothing like a good friend — or two — to keep you humble. The best of friends celebrate your successes when they are nothing more than dreams. These friends cheer you on, assuring you that you can do it, you will do it — whatever “it” is you’re pursuing. The best of friends tell you it’s okay to cry …
In Others’ Words: Childhood
In Your Words: Was Walt Disney right? Do too many people grow up? Have you retained any of your childhood — your childlikeness — despite the passing of years? How do you grow up and still stay young? How do you grow up and still stay young? Click to Tweet Growing Up: Was Walt Disney Right? Click to Tweet
When Life Doesn’t Go According To Plan: Guest Post by Debut Author Carla Laureano
My novel, Catch a Falling Star, asks the question: Is life about accomplishing plans … or wishes coming true … or something more? Today’s post is the ninth in the “When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan” Wednesday blog series, 11 guest posts by authors and writers, including Deborah Raney, Rachel Hauck, and Susan May Warren, who explore the question: What do you …
In Others’ Words: Rest
I turned in my manuscript for my third novel one week ago. I finished teaching at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference yesterday. Today I exhale. Today, I rest, really rest, for the first time in months. I know what rest equals rest to me — and it starts with looking at the calendar and the word “deadline” isn’t …
In Others’ Words: Reputation
I’m in North Carolina this week, teaching at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. So, pardon me if my post is even shorter today than usual … it’s already after midnight on the East coast! I do love this quote by Abraham Lincoln (and I also love photographs of trees). When I read this quote the first time, I …
In Others’ Words: Finished
Guess who forgot to post her blog last night? That’s right: me. My excuse? I was caught up in prepping my manuscript so that I could push SEND and well, um, send it to my editor — all 87k+ words of it. I woke up this morning. Smiled at the thought of being done … and then thought, “Uh-oh. I …
In Others’ Words: Joy
I like to tell people that I don’t aim for happiness because happiness is based on circumstances — and circumstances come and go so quickly that there’s no way to get a firm grasp on happiness. Instead, I’ve learned to search for joy, something deeper and more substantial than tissue-paper-thin happiness. Joy anchors me no matter what the day holds. …