“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” Mark Twain

Showing posts with label Handmaiden to a Princess. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Handmaiden to a Princess. Show all posts

Biblical Flash Fiction - Smile

My first attempt at a novel began as the result of the FaithWriters Writing Challenge - and a relatively minor Bible character by the name of Michal. This is one of the challenge entries I wrote featuring her - and probably one of my favorites.

Hope you enjoy it as well :)

Smile

Graphic source
"His bravery knows no bounds, it seems," Jonathan muttered. "It seems I was right about him."

"He has certainly caught the king's eye." Ahiram helped his master remove his armor and hang it on the proper hooks in the armory. "First a musician, then an armor bearer for the king, and now a giant slayer."

Jonathan nodded. "He has caught my eye as well." He bit his lip. "God is surely with him."

Ahiram nodded. "From what I have seen, his faith in the Lord never falters. He is quite an example to the other armor bearers."

Jonathan nodded, leaning against the armory wall. "David is certainly a courageous and Godly man. He is a man to befriend for certain. I have no doubt he will play a crucial role in the growth of my father's kingdom, and I would like to be beside him in this. It seems he can only do good for Israel."

The two men heard shuffling outside the armory door. Jonathan looked out to see his younger sister walking--no, skipping--away down the hall. He almost called after her, but turned back to Ahiram instead.

"The next time you see him, Ahiram, send him to me."

**

"Oh, Rivka. Did you hear? He did it. It was David, Rivka!" Michal sank into her bed, cheeks flushed and a broad smile overtaking her entire face. "I'd heard the giant was killed and the awful Philistines defeated, but he did it, Rivka." She sighed. "David--my David--killed him."

She snickered. "Your David, child? Have you spoken to him even once since Jonathan introduced you that day?" Rivka winked. "I don't think he's yours, dear, and he may never be."

Michal's face turned a deep crimson. "But Father said whoever killed the giant would get his daughter's hand in marriage. And I am the king's daughter, after all."

Rivka sat on the bed and put her hand on Michal's back. "This is true, dear. However, Merab is yet unmarried, and you know that traditionally she must be married off first."

Michal gasped, and buried her head in her hands. "But Merab couldn't care less about him. Father wouldn't do that, would he?" Michal looked into her servant's eyes and knew exactly what Rivka thought about that proposition. She began to weep softly.

"Now, now, Michal. One never knows." Rivka rubbed Michal's back. "Don't lose hope, dear. God works in surprising ways."

She leaned into Rivka. "Jonathan did say he would put in a good word with father, didn't he? And Merab is already being courted. Perhaps it will happen."

Rivka smiled. "Yes. Perhaps it will. But it will not likely happen on this day. So today, Princess Michal, you must prepare for the women's victory banquet. Your mother will be expecting you and Merab to look your best."

Michal popped out of bed and opened her wardrobe, rifling through the dresses hanging there. She pulled out a ruffled blue gown and placed it against her front side.

"How about this?" Michal's eyes sparkled. "David smiled at me when he saw me in it at Father's throne room a fortnight ago."

Rivka raised her eyebrows. "It's a lovely dress. But you likely won't see David, I'm sure you realize. You know as well as I that the men's banquet and the women's banquet are separate."

"Perhaps not." Michal gazed out her window. "But one never knows, does one?"

"I suppose not, Michal. I suppose not."

**

Michal glided through the palace toward the women's banquet hall, stopping in the garden when she noticed her brother Jonathan standing beside a sycamore tree.

"Congratulations, Brother. God was with us once again."

It was only once she was standing right beside him that she saw he was not alone. Just to the other side of the tree was another of her father's fighting men.

Michal willed her face from reddening as she gazed at the giant slayer, then dropped her eyes quickly.

But not before she saw him smile.

 
Scripture Stories: Timeless Truths

Busy Busy - A Goals/Progress Update

I don't know about you, but I am having a hard time believing today is the first day of the last full month of school for my kids this school year. May? Really??

Photo credit
April was, if I may say so, a crazy busy month - mostly with non-computer-related things. I almost don't want to review my goals. But I will. Ready??

Here they are - from last month's post:
  • Post, on topic, at least twice a week to my blog (with 2/3 of it fresh content) - this does not count teaser posts to other blogs I post to.
  • Finish the last Margie Lawson and Ane Mulligan lessons.
  • Once I know exactly what I need to do, a minimum of five chapters a week "fixed" for Ailing Body Nourished Soul.
  • Until I know about ABNS, a minimum of 5k a week in Handmaiden to a Princess. After that, 2k a week minimum.
I only posted once last week, but otherwise I did manage two on-topic posts each week the other weekz, for a total of seven on-topic posts. Five of them were fresh content.

I did the last Margie Lawson lesson, but haven't touched Ane Mulligan's. I WILL do it. Eventually. I've done as much as I could with Ailing Body, Nourished Soul for the moment and am waiting on feedback so I can get busy on restructuring the book.

As far as Handmaiden to a Princess? I'm to 32,650 - which means I managed just over 11,500 this past
month.

Not great - but that's enough looking back. Time to set some goals for this month (which will include four exciting days at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference - thanks to some AMAZING online friends!).

And here we go:
  • Post, on topic, at least twice a week to my blog (with 2/3 of it fresh content) - this does not count teaser posts to other blogs I post to.
  • Prepare one-sheets for, and present pitches on, Flitter's Foggy Day and A Story of Faith.
  • Work at least some every week on Ailing Body, Nourished Soul
  • Enjoy and learn much from the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in North Carolina the week before Memorial Day.
Will leave it at that for now. Definitely looking forward to this month! Thanks for reading - and cheering me on!

 
Scripture Stories: Timeless Truths

A New Month - New Goals (a goals/progress update)

Well, March didn't go quite as planned - but that is DEFINITELY okay. In fact, it's pretty wonderful. In case you missed it - my nonfiction won a contest! After a bit more work (not sure exactly what yet, but I should know soon!), it looks like Ailing Body Nourished Soul is on the road to publication!

Image courtesy of Vlado / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


This fact put a bit of a twist in my writing plans for the month (and following), but I still did fairly well, I'd say.

How well, you ask? Let's look at my goals, straight from last month's goals/progress post:
  • Post, on topic, at least twice a week to my blog (with 2/3 of it fresh content) - this does not count teaser posts to other blogs I post to.
  • Write a minimum of 40,000 words in Handmaiden to a Princess
  • Be done with ALL the lectures in Margie Lawson's Defeat Self-Defeating Behaviors.
  • Try to at least read the emails/lessons  in Ane Mulligan's free ACFW Course on Motivation, Goal, and Conflict.
 Well, ALL my posts were fresh content this month - but one week I only had one of them, so I almost managed the first goal. I did NOT make 40k in my novel - but I did manage exactly 21,000 - plus some needed revisions for Ailing Body, Nourished Soul.

I am on the wrap-up for the last Margie Lawson lesson (and, assuming all goes as I expect on this tech-free Tuesday, I will be finished before April 2 is over) - so, again, close. And Ane Mulligan's class? REALLY good - and helpful. I have done all but the last lesson (which I WILL get to!).

So, enough looking back. Time to move AHEAD with my goals for April!
  • Post, on topic, at least twice a week to my blog (with 2/3 of it fresh content) - this does not count teaser posts to other blogs I post to.
  • Finish the last Margie Lawson and Ane Mulligan lessons.
  • Once I know exactly what I need to do, a minimum of five chapters a week "fixed" for Ailing Body Nourished Soul.
  • Until I know about ABNS, a minimum of 5k a week in Handmaiden to a Princess. After that, 2k a week minimum.
Thanks again, folks, for your encouragement, and following along with my progress. Have a great week!

 How was your March? Have you set April goals?


Scripture Stories: Timeless Truths

A Hiatus for December - A Goal/Progress Update

It has been a busy month - and December looks to be similar. Something, it seems, has to go.

For the month of December, it's gonna be my blog. Yes - I'm taking a one-month blogging break - more details below.

But first - how did I do on my November goals, you ask? Let's see - cuz they're listed below, fresh from my goals/progress post from last month.
  • Take notes necessary in Plants of the Bible by Michael Zohary and The History of Ancient Israel by Michael Grant (my two library books) for Handmaiden to a Princess.
  • Keep up in ACFW's November loop course on weaving the spiritual thread into your story.
  • Fix up Ailing Body, Nourished Soul for the One Hope contest, based on my dear friends' read-throughs. Would LOVE to be ready to submit by my next goals/progress post.
  • Do some plotting (snowflaking?) on Handmaiden to a Princess with the new ideas I have. Thinking serious writing may begin either in December or January.
Well, I'm ALMOST halfway through the Plants of the Bible book, and haven't started Michael Grant. But at least I'm making progress, right? I did keep up in the class, though I didn't do most of the assignments cuz they required a manuscript (or at least part of one). And, well, with all my replotting of Handmaiden to a Princess, I don't feel like I have anything to work with. Saving those assignments for when I have something to work with, yanno?

AND, I'm making progress on going through Ailing Body, Nourished Soul. I'm not ready to submit back to One Hope, but I'm certainly further along than I was. And I haven't touched plotting/ snowflaking.

And this, in part, is why I'm taking a break from blogging for December. Got some things I NEED to get done (including some not mentioned above). A great majority of my posts lately have been reposts. Comments and visits have been down. I'm feeling like I need a DIRECTION for my blog, and trying to figure it out and posting to it at the same time has not worked yet. And December is busy anyway.

I'll probably still let you know about my posts at other blogs - and who knows? Maybe some amazing inspiration will strike me and I'll post about it. But don't count on it - okay? And I'll be back in January - hopefully with a new direction and focus for this place.

And on THAT note, here are my goals for December:
  • Take notes necessary in Plants of the Bible by Michael Zohary and The History of Ancient Israel by Michael Grant (my two library books) for Handmaiden to a Princess. Would love to be able to return both books before the end of the month.
  • Fix up Ailing Body, Nourished Soul for the One Hope contest, based on my dear friends' read-throughs. This MUST be submitted back to them by December 31
  • Do some plotting (snowflaking?) on Handmaiden to a Princess with the new ideas I have. 
  • Pray about a direction/focus/whatever for my blog.
 Thanks for your support. And by the way - don't think, just because I won't be posting here, you won't be able to find me. I'm at FaithWriters (in fact, I'm their blogger!), on Facebook (in two places!), twitter, and ACFW. Or drop me an email. I am NOT hard to find. Trust me ;)

So.. how was YOUR month?

 
Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

Running Out Of Time - A Goals/Progress Post

My year of learning is coming to an end. And it has been so VERY worth it.  I've taken a HUGE number of classes since January, and unless something surprising comes up, I'll only be taking one more before the year ends (see below for details on it :D).

My deadline to submit my complete nonfiction manuscript to the One Hope contest  at Write Integrity Press (which I finalled in! Winner gets cash and a publishing contract!) is only two months away, and I still have me some work to do. And I do NOT like turning things in at the last minute.

But enough about how short time is. How did I do in October, and what are my plans for November? Read on to find out

Here are my goals, direct from last month's goals/progress post.
  • More research for Handmaiden to a Princess
  • Keep up in the Mastering Goal, Motivation, and Conflict class at Savvy Authors
  • Keep up in October's free ACFW course on characterization
  • Prepare a chapter of Handmaiden to a Princess for the free edit Cindy Vallar (teacher of the writing and researching historical fiction class I took) offered to all her students.
 I kept up in both classes - and both were WONDERFUL learning experiences. (check out tomorrow's writing craft recap post for some of what I learned) They helped me think out some stuff - plot, character, action, etc - for HtP, and have caused me to actually feel READY to write/plot out this book - which is going to be QUITE different than what I thought in the beginning way back when (or even at the beginning of this year!). Actually looking forward to moving forward with it. Soon :)

I did SOME research, but not a whole lot. Checked a couple books out from my local library, and have found some others at a local college library that I'll investigate later. Started taking a bit of notes too.

I did NOT prepare the chapter for the edit - but his was a deliberate decision. With all the changes I'll be making to the plot and such, I'd rather get a critique on a chapter that at least resembles what I'd be submitting to agents/editors eventually. Here's hoping I get that chapter written in a timelyish fashion. But not in November.

Speaking of that-month-that-starts-tomorrow...

Here are my goals.
  • Take notes necessary in Plants of the Bible by Michael Zohary and The History of Ancient Israel by Michael Grant (my two library books) for Handmaiden to a Princess.
  • Keep up in ACFW's November loop course on weaving the spiritual thread into your story.
  • Fix up Ailing Body, Nourished Soul for the One Hope contest, based on my dear friends' read-throughs. Would LOVE to be ready to submit by my next goals/progress post.
  • Do some plotting (snowflaking?) on Handmaiden to a Princess with the new ideas I have. Thinking serious writing may begin either in December or January.
So, there ya go. I'm optimistic (as usual) that I'll make this progress. With God's help - and YOUR wonderful encouragement - I just might! 

So - How was YOUR month?

 
Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

Longing for Routine - A Goals/Progress Update

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Summer was good, but I'm ready for the kids to go back (only three days here!) so I can have a bit more quiet to get my stuff done. THOUGH, I really was quite productive this past month. Wanna see? Just keep reading.

So, here are were goals for August, direct from last month's goals/progress post:
  • Do a complete read-through/fix of Ailing Body Nourished Soul to prepare it for two dear friends to look it over/submission to the contest.
  • Look through many of the resources I learned about from my Writing and Researching Historical Fiction class last month, doing some research for Handmaiden to a Princess.
  • Take full advantage of my my one free month at www.bestsellersociety.com (a perk of taking the Jeff Gerke class last month!). Looks like an awesome resource!
Well, I finished my Ailing Body, Nourished Soul read through just this past Thursday (by the skin of my teeth, I tell you LOL), and have sent it off for its "friend edit." I don't need to submit it to the Write Integrity Press contest until the end of the year, so she (and my other friend who will look at it shortly) have  plenty of time.

And I CANNOT say enough amazing things about the Bestseller Society. I learned so, SO much in my month there! Made it through TWENTY-FIVE lessons in 31 days - and took pages and pages of notes. If you can afford it, I truly cannot recommend it more highly (and you can get a 14-day free trial to check it out.). There are classes on fiction, nonfiction, and marketing (and those 25 I took? That's not all of them - there were a few I couldn't get to in both the writing tracks, and I didn't even TOUCH marketing). Be sure to watch for my Writing Craft Recap post with just SOME of what I learned (it should be up this coming Thursday here at my blog). (And no, this is not a paid announcement)

However, with all that excitement (plus it being summer, and a vacation thrown in, I did NOT get to my Handmaiden to a Princess research. Oh well! :)

So, how about September? Well, here we go:
  • Look through many of the resources I learned about from my Writing and Researching Historical Fiction class in July, doing some research for Handmaiden to a Princess.
  • Get as much as I can out of September's free ACFW course: Plodding vs. Plotting - How to Get Your Novel Moving, taught by Henry McLaughlin.
  • Prepare a chapter of Handmaiden to a Princess for the free edit Cindy Vallar (teacher of the writing and researching historical fiction class I took) offered to all her students.
Well, with school starting, and getting back into routines and such, I think that's plenty for me. And I really should be keeping my house clean too ;).

Thanks  for reading, and encouraging me. You guys are wonderful!
 
Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

A Full Brain - A Goals/Progress Update

Can hardly believe it's August.

Truly. I have to say that July was a GREAT month for me on the writing front. Not only did I take, and learn A LOT from, two different online writing classes (watch for my writing craft recap post tomorrow!), but I got some exciting news regarding my nonfiction manuscript, Ailing Body Nourished Soul.

Photo credit
My manuscript is one of five finalists in the Write Integrity Press One Hope Contest for Non-Fiction! I now have until the end of the year to submit my complete manuscript for final judging. The winner will receive a standard publishing contract (!!) and a cash prize. So, yeah, I'm excited :)

But how did I do in July? Let's see. Here are my goals, directly from last month's goals/progress post.
  • Keep up in the FREE ACFW online course, Description, Dialog and Dirty Words by Publisher Jeff Gerke (sound intriguing, doesn't it?)
  • Keep up in Writing and Researching Historical Fiction (runs July 9-August 5) at Savvy Authors - sounds like one I can use. Yathink?? ;)
  • Fix up and send out the proposal for Jennifer Slattery and my tween bib fiction devo book to Write Integrity Press.
Both classes were AMAZING (the Historical Fiction one is still going on - I think one more lesson). I HIGHLY recommend you come back tomorrow for my writing recap post. LOTS to share! And I did submit that proposal to Write Integrity. Waiting :)

So, a good month. And what's in store for August, you ask? Glad you did ;)
  • Do a complete read-through/fix of Ailing Body Nourished Soul to prepare it for two dear friends to look it over/submission to the contest..
  • Look through many of the resources I learned about from my Writing and Researching Historical Fiction class last month, doing some research for Handmaiden to a Princess.
  • Take full advantage of my my one free month at www.bestsellersociety.com (a perk of taking the Jeff Gerke class last month!). Looks like an awesome resource!
 Sounds like a bit, especially considering there's a bit of a vacation in there, and it's SUMMER, but I think it just may be doable :)

Thanks for reading!
 
Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

Pushing Forward - A Goal/Progress Update

We're halfway through the year. NO- I can't believe it. It can't actually be July, can it?

Yup - that's "The Nile" for real (photo credit)
I know - denial is a river in Egypt.

ANYhow, I guess I should look through my yearlong AND monthly goals (hope you agree).

I have four 2012 overarching goals: to 1)learn a lot about the writing craft and apply it, 2)restructure Ailing Body, Nourished Soul and get it out, 3)work on planning, etc., the second tween bib fiction devo book, and 4)continue to build my name recognition/platform.

I've taken a LOT of classes so far this year, and am learning tons (check out my writing craft recap posts - another coming this Thursday!) AND am beginning to apply it to my writing. As far as ABNS, I've JUST submitted it to a contest whose first prize is a publishing contract and some cash (it's still open - check it out here). We've worked a bit on the second tween bib fiction devo book, but are waiting until we sell the first before we do much work (and speaking of, I'm planning to send a proposal to the same publisher who's hosting that contest :D). And for building name recognition/platform - I think I'm doing pretty okay there.

Okay - enough of the overarching stuff - how about goals for June? How'd I do?

And here are my June goals, right from last month's  goals/progress post:
  • Keep up in the FREE ACFW online course, The Snowflake, by "The Snowflake  Guy" himself, Randy Ingermanson. I have heard SO much good stuff about this method for planning a novel, and I read his wonderful post about it - and am TOTALLY intrigued. Looking forward to working through this with him. I know I will learn TONS!
  • Work on what I've learned in my classes this year to Handmaiden to A Princess, "fixing" another 60 pages of the manuscript. That brings me very, VERY close to the end of what I've got written so far.
Photo credit
 I DID keep up in the Snowflake class, though I must admit that first week was a doozy (over 1,000 emails). I learned a TON - mostly that I'm DEFINITELY a plotter, and I need to go through EVERY STEP of Randy's method (he covered four, and there are a total of ten) to get my book idea , etc. in shape. I WILL work on that - eventually. And you can pester me if it's been a while and I haven't mentioned it.

As far as editing - I made it  through ALL the pages I had left in Handmaiden to a Princess - Just out of those 60 plus pages, I cut at least TEN PAGES out. And it's tighter. We'll see if I'll actually be able to use any of it once I have my story REALLY figured out.

So, how about my July goals? Check them out below:
  • Keep up in the FREE ACFW online course, Description, Dialog and Dirty Words by Publisher Jeff Gerke (sound intriguing, doesn't it?)
  • Keep up in Writing and Researching Historical Fiction (runs July 9-August 5) at Savvy Authors - sounds like one I can use. Yathink?? ;)
  • Fix up and send out the proposal for Jennifer Slattery and my tween bib fiction devo book to Write Integrity Press.
Considering it's summer, I'm thinking that's plenty. Thanks for reading, and cheering me on!

 
Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

Into The Unknown - A Goals/Progress Update

Yeah. I've said it before. But I gotta say it again.

 THIS YEAR IS FLYING BY!

As of you reading this, my children have four and a half days of school left. My little Andrew will be in MIDDLE SCHOOL next year, and my baby is going into third grade. :::thud:::

But THAT'S not what this post is about. It's about my writing goals. And June is a month of questions. Mostly about how much time I'll have to get stuff done. The kids will be home most of the month, and my driving time will be decreased dramatically. Does that mean I'll have more or less time? Beats me.

ANYhow - let's start with May. How did I do? Well, let's look at my goals, right from my goals/progress post from last month!
  • Keep up and learn from the month-long online Setting as Description class I'm signed up for in May (actually started yesterday) at Savvy Authors. This one sounds GOOD, especially for a biblical fiction writer like me. And I'll bet it's not too late to sign up, since it's only been going for 24 hours. Join me? (though I SHOULD mention there's already an assignment due at the end of today - which I've finished so I can ENJOY my tech-free day!)
  • Work on what I've learned in my classes this year to Handmaiden to A Princess, "fixing" another 30 pages of the manuscript.
  • Learn from Janice Thompson's FREE class on the ACFW course loop - Adding Humor to Your Writing (this one sounds FUN!). (this is a "want to" - will let this one slide if I get too overwhelmed - can always go back and look at it later)
 Oh! Oh! - I did meet one of my goals! (almost). That setting as description class? WONDERFUL! Learned tons (watch for my post this coming Thursday on what I learned about the writing craft in May). However, I did NOT do the last assignment. May was crazy AWAY from the puter, so didn't want to drive myself even more crazy by pushing too hard. But it REALLY was a great class- and I'll likely be taking another from this same teacher (Devon Ellington) at some time in the future.

I didn't manage to keep up in the ACFW humor class, but I DID save the lessons for later perusal. And I WILL peruse later. Promise.

I did work on Handmaiden to a Princess, though that thirty-page goal was only a pipe dream for a crazy-busy month like May (I ALWAYS forget how busy May is until I'm in the middle of it). And I'm a really, REALLY slow editor. Do I really need to tell you I finished May on page 34, which means I only made it through ten pages? I didn't think so ;)

So, that was May. Now, on to June! I'm actually setting a pretty ambitious goal for my editing for June - partly because I'm in an accountability group about it - Novel Track-Editing, through ACFW. So keep that in mind.

Without further ado - my goals for June:
  • Keep up in the FREE ACFW online course, The Snowflake, by "The Snowflake  Guy" himself, Randy Ingermanson. I have heard SO much good stuff about this method for planning a novel, and I read his wonderful post about it - and am TOTALLY intrigued. Looking forward to working through this with him. I know I will learn TONS!
  • Work on what I've learned in my classes this year to Handmaiden to A Princess, "fixing" another 60 pages of the manuscript. That brings me very, VERY close to the end of what I've got written so far.
I think I'm leaving it at that this month. Looks like PLENTY, along with my other duties here and elsewhere.

Thanks for reading this far - and for encouraging me throughout this journey of mine!

Do you have goals for June? What are they?

Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

Writing Craft Recap for April

2012 is my "learning the writing craft" year. And once a month, generally on the first Thursday of the month, I will share some highlights of what I learned. And here I go.

This was my month, mostly, to apply what I learned the first three months - but I did pick up some knowledge along the way. I'm sharing it below.


From editing the first three chapters of Handmaiden to a Princess:
  • Description is generally more effective when it's short and to the point.
  • Finding JUST the right word is incredibly difficult.
  • My default writing is overly descriptive - but I know how to fix it!
  • Varying sentence structure and length can make a HUGE difference in how well your writing flows.
From the last two-thirds of Characters, Emotion and Viewpoint by Nancy Kress (check last month's post for what I learned from the first third!):
  • The basic techniques for creating humorous characters are exaggeration, ridicule, and reversal of expectations.
  • Keep ethnicity, family background, region, gender, education, and circumstances in mind as you develop your character's dialogue/dialect.
  • Real dialogue and fictional dialogue are NOT the same.
  • The most important thing to remember about love, sex, fight, and death scenes is that the characters should perform them in keeping with the personality you have given them so far.
  • The most important emotion in fiction is frustration, because without it, there is no plot.
  • The main expression of your character's frustration should be action that moves the story forward.
  • Though dialogue may lie, the body doesn't.
  • If you use more than one POV character, it's important that the reader knows this fairly early in the story.
  • When writing in third person, use the fewest points of view you can get away with and still tell the story you want to tell.
  • Omniscient point of view isn't just head-hopping. It must include authorial presence.
  • The single largest aid you can give yourself as a writer is to regard your fiction as your characters' story - not your own.
From the May issue of The Writer and the May/June issue of Writer's Digest:
  • Your theme should be intrinsic to the story.
  • Your fiction should contain an abundance of places where your description of the setting calls the reader's attention to whatever theme you are striving to convey.
  • One of the richest veins to mine for story subject is where two contradictory statements are equally true.
  • A quote by Tawni O'Dell: "You don't decide to become a writer and then start writing. You write and write and then accept one day -  with a mix of immense pride and mild horror - that you are a writer."
Hope you learned something as well. Watch this spot next month, where I'll share what I learn in May - including from Devon Ellington's class Setting as Character (which is ALREADY amazingly helpful!), and possibly Janice Thompson's Humor in Writing class on the ACFW course loop.

Questions? Comments? Observations? What was most interesting or helpful to you?

 
Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

Where'd That Month Go?? A Goals/Progress update

Since this is the first Tuesday of the month, I'm on my monthly "tech fast" - no computer, no texting (and my cell phone is NOT smart, just fyi). Looking forward to it (yeah, I wrote this post early). My son has a morning dentist appointment, and my daughter's guinea pig gets to go to the vet around lunch. Otherwise, hoping for some longhand writing, reading, cleaning, and basic chilling. 

Of course, that's NOT stopping me from sharing how last month went, and what my plans are for May - which arrived ENTIRELY too fast for me. Sheeeesh.

ANYhow - my goals for April, straight from last month's post, were:
  • Review the classes I've taken since the beginning of 2012 (Mistakes that Scream Novice, Six Stages of Change - The Character Arc, Empowering Characters' Emotions, and Deep Editing) and work on applying what I've learned to Handmaiden to a Princess, starting with page one and working through til the month,or what I've written so far, is done - whichever comes first.
  • Finish reading and learning from Characters, Emotion, and Viewpoint by Nancy Kress (I'm about 1/3 of the way through currently. Learning tons here too!).
  • Write another short story, likely for the FaithWriters Writing Challenge, applying what I've learned thusfar.
Well, I didn't exactly review the lessons per se, but I did review what I learned in my head, and began applying it to my MS. And BOY did I have a lot to apply! I'm slowly working my way through the 90 or so pages (30k words approximately) that I have written so far - have made it through 24 pages (aka the first three chapters) so far.

I did finish Characters, Emotion, and Viewpoint (great book!) - watch my blog on Thursday for what I learned from it, and a few other writing-related publications I made it through this past month. I didn't write another short story, but that's okay. Was busy with "life" stuff.

So, I did all right. How about May, you ask? Well, here I go.
  • Keep up and learn from the month-long online Setting as Description class I'm signed up for in May (actually started yesterday) at Savvy Authors. This one sounds GOOD, especially for a biblical fiction writer like me. And I'll bet it's not too late to sign up, since it's only been going for 24 hours. Join me? (though I SHOULD mention there's already an assignment due at the end of today - which I've finished so I can ENJOY my tech-free day!)
  • Work on what I've learned in my classes this year to Handmaiden to A Princess, "fixing" another 30 pages of the manuscript.
  • Learn from Janice Thompson's FREE class on the ACFW course loop - Adding Humor to Your Writing (this one sounds FUN!). (this is a "want to" - will let this one slide if I get too overwhelmed - can always go back and look at it later)
So, there you go! Thanks for reading, and cheering me on. Onward I go!


Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

SOO Much "Smarter" - a Goals/Progress Update

Spring has sprung!
April. Really?

Can you believe we're 1/4 of the way through the year? I know I can't. My kids are in the fourth quarter of the school year (and on spring break, but that's beside the point!). The year is simply flying by. And I've been striving to take advantage of every minute of it.

How have I been doing, you ask? Well, since we're done with the first quarter of 2012, I think I'll look over my goals for the month AND the year - just to see how I'm doing.

First - my 2012 goals, from my post in late December:
  1. Learn as much as I can about writing from various places, applying what I've learned to Handmaiden To A Princess and any other writing I do.
  2.  Restructure my non-fiction book Ailing Body, Nourished Soul into more of a "help" book, and get the new version out to publishers/agents.
  3. Work with Jennifer Slattery to put together the second Story of Faith devotional book (New Testament biblical fiction devotionals for tweens).
  4. Continue to build my name recognition/platform.
 Lessee - I'm definitely making progress on #1 with the classes I'm taking - though not as much with the applying (but that will change in April - stay tuned!). As for #2, that's still in the thinking/pondering stage - have done a bit, but not a ton. As for the Jen book, we have it outlined, and for now, that's where we're leaving it. As far as building name recognition and platform, I'd say I AM making progress there, though I'm not sure I can quantify it at the moment. Overall, I'd say I'm on track for my goals for the year.

But how about March in particular? Well, let's see. Here are my March goals, from my last goals/progress post:
The Margie class was wonderful (and keeping up is relative - there were times I was behind, but I DID finish - as much as I could, anyway, by the time the class was over yesterday, other than the wrap-up, which I'll read in the next day or two), though probably geared more toward someone who was further along in their fiction WIP than I am. It is DEFINITELY information I can, and will, use. SUPER class. (watch for my post this coming Thursday on what I learned from it, and the other writing craft opportunities I had in March)

As I mentioned above, I did do SOME implementation of what I've learned into HtP, but not as much as I need to (if I had, I NEVER would have gotten the reading and assignments done for my Margie class!). But that's okay. I am SEEING places that need to be fixed - and I know - generally anyway - what to do.

And I DID write a short story - for the FW challenge even - incorporating what I learned. And I ECed with it! Read it here if you want. It was fun to write, and a great encouragement to me to see I was "getting" and could apply what I've been learning.

So - a good month! Full of information I can use. And April, I have decided, is a month where I will USE it. How? Check out my goals below:
Busy on my WIP this month!
  • Review the classes I've taken since the beginning of 2012 (Mistakes that Scream Novice, Six Stages of Change - The Character Arc, Empowering Characters' Emotions, and Deep Editing) and work on applying what I've learned to Handmaiden to a Princess, starting with page one and working through til the month,or what I've written so far, is done - whichever comes first..
  • Finish reading and learning from Characters, Emotion, and Viewpoint by Nancy Kress (I'm about 1/3 of the way through currently. Learning tons here too!).
  • Write another short story, likely for the FaithWriters Writing Challenge, applying what I've learned thusfar.
So, that's the plan. Thanks for reading along (and this is NO April Fool's joke, by the way).
 
Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

Marching into March - A Goals/Progress Update

Even though this was a short month, I STILL can't believe February is over! It FELT like a good 29 days - but let's see how I did on my goals.

And here they are - direct from last month's goals/progress post:
  • Keep up on the Margie Lawson class - Empowering Characters' Emotions - I'm taking in February (This is an incredible teacher - and class. Can't recommend it more highly. So much to learn - lots of reading, but SO worth it - and it's not too late to sign up!)
  • Finish my Ailing Body, Nourished Soul read-through and continue to ponder what God wants me to do with this manuscript.
  • Be intentional about applying what I've learned so far this year to my writing (blog posts, at least one "new" short story, and possibly Handmaiden to a Princess)
Hmmm - well, I definitely kept up (and learned A TON) from Margie Lawson's class. I'll be doing a post - likely a week from today - about some of what I learned, and hopefully, I'll have a GUEST POST FROM MARGIE LAWSON on the FaithWriters blog some time in the near future. You do NOT want to miss it. She's fab!
 

I did finish reading through Ailing Body, Nourished Soul - but I'm still contemplating what to do with it. I'm wondering if it needs to "go on the back burner" until I have other writing under my belt. Or if it needs to be in  a different format. Or if it was my "practice book." OR if I need to "Margiefy" it (almost definitely) and try again as I originally was going to sell it (perhaps). ANYhow - that baby's up in the air.

And as far as applying stuff I've learned to my writing - not bad. I have NOT written a new short story, but I've been working on "fixing up" Handmaiden to a Princess. So - not bad.

But what about March, you ask? Well, here are my goals:
 Okay - that looks good. Thanks for reading along, and cheering me on!

Do you have goals for March? What are they?

 
Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

Not Just A New Year - A New Month :)

Yeah - I've already talked to you about how I did in 2011 (click here if you missed it) and what I plan to do in 2012 - God willing, of course (check out THAT post here!). But there's still the matter of my shorter-term goals. So if you can bear ONE MORE goals and progress post in a week (yeah - that's three), read on. This one, I don't think, will be as long.

How'd I do in December? Well, let's check out my goals, fresh from last month's post:
  • Three blog posts a week minimum
  • 10k in Handmaiden To A Princess
  • Start working on "reworking "Ailing Body, Nourished Soul 
  • Get back into my "usual" routine
I actually managed about four blog post a week - maybe a touch more. I didn't write any more of Handmaiden to a Princess, but I did read through it and make some observations about HOW MUCH I need to learn. Made some changes, too. That's what inspired me to dedicate this year to learning my craft more (click here for details).

I did start reworking Ailing Body, Nourished Soul, but have barely started. At least I made a bit of progress. And yeah, I managed #4 (that was an easy one, don't you think?).

Considering the holidays, I am not disappointed in how I did. But January is another month (and the start of another year!). And I'm planning to do MUCH better about sticking to my goals. AAANNDD, for January, they are below ;)
  • Keep up with the two online classes I'm taking this month (1. Avoiding Mistakes that Scream Novice on the ACFW course loop[free to ACFW members!] and 2. Six Stages of Change - The Character ARC at Savvy Authors ) and make good progress in The Art of War for Writers by James Scott Bell.
  • Completely read through Ailing Body, Nourished Soul, noting thoughts of how to "transform" it into less of a memoir and more of a "help through struggles" book.
  • Work with Jennifer Slattery on determining the 52 New Testament biblical fiction devos in our next project.
Okay - that looks like a lot. I think I'll stick with those three - plus my blogging.

And now, off to DO it ;)

Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

How'd I Do in 2011?

I'm a goal-setter, as many of you know. And one important part of the whole goal process is looking back and seeing "how you did." And, being as there's less than a week of this year left, I figured now was as good a time as any to look back at those goals I set for 2011 back in January. And I can tell you that it was NOT my best year. But let's get specific. SO - here are my goals, straight from last year's post:
  • Get an agent for my nonfiction MS Ailing Body, Nourished Soul (the professional edit for it is 99.9% done--once it's complete, it's heading to the agent's assistant who requested it. If that isn't enough, I query others)
  • Complete AT LEAST THE SECOND DRAFT of my Biblical fiction, Handmaiden to a Princess
  • Keep my name "out there" - keep building my platform (facebook, twitter, blogging, reading blogs, guest blogging, writing for group blogs, etc.)
  • Keep my "life priorities" in order (spending time with the family, keeping the house clean(er), being more attentive, etc.)
  • Once a month (generally on the first Tuesday of each month), have a technology fast day. No computer. No email. No internet. No texting. (this scares me, but I am SO feeling called to do it, and I probably need MORE than that.)
So, I suppose we should go through these one by one. Agent? Nope. Though it was not for lack of trying. I submitted to nine different agents, with no acceptance, though some gave me INCREDIBLE feedback - including a suggestion to make it more of a "how-to" book - which sounds good to me :)

Second draft of Handmaiden to A Princess? Again, no - but I have made progress, and have learned a LOT about my writing, and what I still NEED to learn. I really HAVE grown in my writing, and know where I'm going - sorta ;).

Keeping name out there? Pretty good, I'd say. Am involved in another group blog and a facebook devotional community, I write for the FaithWriters blog, and my presence on Facebook and twitter have expanded (plus what I was already doing!).

As far as life priorities, you might wanna ask my hubby, but I think I am doing better in general.

My Tech-Free Tuesdays have DEFINITELY been a success. They have been wonderful for me, and I have completely succeeded with "staying away" (with the exception of one month when I fell on my face and needed text message moral support :::roll::: ).

So, not bad. Not great, but not bad. But overall, I think I did pretty well in keeping with my 2011 verse:
clipartNevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever  situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. 1 Corinthians 7:17 NIV (emphasis mine)
I think I DID, generally, bloom where I was planted. :)

And as far as goals for next year? Check out Wednesday's post for that (this one was getting a bit long. Don't you think? ;)).


How did YOU do for any goals you set for 2011?

Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

What NaNo Did - A Goals/Progress Post

In case you don't know, NaNo is National Novel Writing Month - when a bunch of crazy people (including me - this year for the first time) attempt to write 50,000 words of a novel between November 1 and November 30. It runs every year, and ended last night. Click here for more info.

Going into it, I really didn't know what to expect. I didn't think it would be easy by any stretch, but I figured I'd be able to manage it - or at least come close.

So how did I do? Why don't we start with my November goals, taken from last month's goals/progress post?
  1. Keep up on the blogging I "need" to do (FaithWriters blog three times a week, Monday Manna, a2z, and my three group blog posts) minimum. Anything else is gravy. (some of this I've prewritten before November)
  2. Write 50,000 words in Handmaiden to a Princess (yes - typing that TOTALLY freaked me out!).
  3.  Do NOT read every blog on my google reader (this COULD be a goal that's hard to keep, believe it or not - but if I don't, there's NO way I can get the writing done I need to!).
Well, I did manage to keep up with my "required" blogging - and even managed one "gravy" post. So I'm pleased in that department. And as for #3? Also a success. With only a few exceptions, I only read the posts from my If I could only read ten blogs list - as is evident from the SEVEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-NINE posts from November that I deleted from my google reader so I could start fresh in December. (Can't wait to get back to reading my friends' posts again!)

And then there's goal #2. The one that freaked me out when I typed it. AND the one I did not meet.

In fact, I came just under 20,000 words short. Check out my word count for the month:





But I learned. A LOT. And I now have some pretty serious questions to ponder. They include, but are not limited to: ** I write best (or at least fastest!) when I am "competing" - whether it is against others or the clock.** I need to look at small goals (baby steps, yanno?) rather than larger ones. ** If I set big goals, I WILL get overwhelmed, and possibly freak out. (yeah - I know this one from experience) ** For me, writing a novel is very, VERY hard. A lot of things about it are completely contrary to my natural tendencies to write. ** My previous statement MAY mean I am not meant to be a novel writer. But it may not. Seeking God about this. ** Fifty thousand words in the month of November is possible - though not in any way easy - for me. (yeah, I know I didn't make it. But once I learned some of the other lessons, I realize that if I had used some of the strategies from the beginning, it likely would have been doable). ** I have a lot to learn about writing well. A LOT. ** I am a plotter with slight pantser tendencies. I should have plotted more beforehand. ** Open Office counts "open quotes" as a word on its own in its word count (hassle!)

And that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. It was definitely a good experience.

But what about December, you may ask? Well, here are my goals.
  • Three blog posts a week minimum
  • 10k in Handmaiden To A Princess
  • Start working on "reworking "Ailing Body, Nourished Soul 
  • Get back into my "usual" routine
It seems there may be something else - but that's what I'm sticking with. Thanks SO much for reading, and for your support! Onward I go!


Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

Friday Fiction - "Handmaiden To A Princess" Excerpt

It's been a LONG time since I hosted Friday Fiction, but when the lovely Sara "Sawa" Harricharan mentioned the possibility of posting a NaNoWriMo excerpt, I figured it would be fun!

Soooo, here I am :) Remember - this is NOT edited (I didn't even reread it! LOL).

Be sure to link up in the gadget below my story. Don't forget to browse the links, read a few pieces and leave a comment or two. We all love the feedback. Happy reading!


Handmaiden To A Princess - NaNo excerpt
Dew still covered the ground as Ashia walked along the flower-bordered walkway from the princess' quarters she had just left. The sun, scarcely above the horizon, shone directly in her eyes, so much that shielded her eyes with her left hand. Her right, however, grasped as small knife. A necessary implement for her morning duties.

The closer she got to her destination, the slower she walked, until she came to a complete standstill at the entrance to the king's flower garden. Eyes closed, she inhaled slowly and took in all the scents of the nearby flora. The smile across her face widened. And once she opened her eyes, what she saw warmed her cheeks.

“Nahum. I didn't expect to see you here so early.” She lowered her eyes slightly, trying to calm the flips in her stomach.

He chuckled, his brown eyes sparkling. “I am always here at this time. It is you who are early. Does the princess have an early engagement? Did she request flowers still fresh with dew?”

She willed her smile to tone down. “Oh, nothing like that. I simply didn't sleep very well, and thought I would get an early start, and perhaps have time to mill about before I needed to return.” She shifted the knife from hand to hand.

Nahum nodded and smiled. “Then I shall leave you to your milling.” He turned and walked up one of the paths, stopping at a patch of pansies.

As he knelt, Ashia turned, heading down the main garden path toward the center. Sitting on a log beside one of many patches of growth, she once again inhaled the many scents of the flowers around her. A red and yellow lily caught her attention. She brought her face within inches of the bloom, inspecting every bit of it. Not an imperfection in sight.

Next, her fingers caressed the petals, the silky feel making her fingers tingle. Finally, she lifted the knife, which she'd placed on the ground beside her, and cut the stem about a handsbreadth down from the bloom.

“One more,” she muttered, “and the princess will be satisfied.”

Ashia rose, the lily in one hand and knife in the other. Inhaling, she surveyed the nearby flower beds, watching for a bloom to complement the one she'd already chosen. Perhaps another red and yellow flower. Or maybe just one of those colors. 

She released the air from her lungs as a tall hyacinth, the same shade of crimson as the lily, caught her eye. She raced toward it and dropped to her knees in front of the multi-flowered blossom. Holding the lily up beside it, she smiled. “Perfect.”

Something brushed against her shoulder. “Those do complement each other beautifully. You really do have an eye for color and beauty.” Nahum's voice made her look up. His brown wavy hair covered his right eye. She resisted the urge to brush it away from his face.

She smiled at him, then returned to the flower. After cutting it from the stem, she rose. “Thank you, Nahum. I do enjoy all that grows here. A touch of beauty in a frightening, uncertain place.”

“That it is.” He beckoned her toward a small bench not far away. They both sat.
“And the Lord said that it was good.” Nahum stretched his arms out and extended them from in front of him to his sides. “My scriptures say that Yahweh made all of this: every tree, plant, mountain, hill, person, star in the sky. And that it is good.”

Ashia fidgeted in her chair. “If this is true, I wonder why he made the nettle? Or the mosquito?” She lowered her voice and head. “Or the madman.”

Nahum raised his eyebrows. “Or war. Or death. But He is sovereign. And much of what he did create is lovely. Especially in this garden.” He leaned to the side and picked a daisy from the ground. “For you. A bit of beauty to take with you into the cruel world.”

She grinned, stifling a chuckle. “My god would ask for this flower as a sacrifice, perhaps. He would demand I focus on pleasing him, rather than lightening my mood. To him, beauty is useless unless it is benefiting him.”

Nahum's brow crinkled. “My God also desires sacrifice. He is a just God, who does not take our transgressions against Him lightly. Yet, He also blesses those who love Him and gives us beauty to appreciate. He values nothing more than devotion to Him, and truth.”

She snickered. “And mine values gold, silver, and spices. He gives us nothing unless we beg, and even then there is no guarantee. We must please him, or face his wrath.”

Nahum sighed. “And yet you worship him. You sacrifice to him.” He looked into Ashia's eyes. “Forgive me for my questions, and do not answer if it makes you uncomfortable, but I'm curious. Do you believe your God created the world? Why do you sacrifice to him? What makes him worthy of your worship?”

Ashia's insides tightened and she felt her face pale. “I really don't know what to say. I know he has kept me and my family safe. And the rituals are so important to Mama. I guess I never really thought about it before.” She forced a smile. “But I will.”
 **
Thanks for reading! Be sure to link up below, and read some of the other stories. You'll be blessed!



Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

Out of the Frying Pan...A Goals/Progress Update

Can it REALLY be November?

Apparently.

In fact, if I'm "on schedule," by the time you read this, I'll have already had my tech-free Tuesday on the first, when I wrote close to 2,000 words in my current WIP (longhand). But as I'm writing this in October, no guarantees.

But November is for later. How about we start with my goals from last month?

Here you go - right from last month's goals/progress post:
  1. Finish fleshing out my 12-step plotting, do characterization, outlining, etc. for Handmaiden to a Princess so I'm prepared to write 50K words of it in November (yes - I'm doing NaNoWriMo - for the first time!)
  2. Keep up and  learn as much as possible from the free ACFW course on Plotting and Outlining (to help me prepare for NaNoWriMo).
  3. Four blog posts average a week
  4. More thinking about Ailing Body, Nourished Soul.
  5. Edits of the biblical fiction devos with Jennifer Slattery
Well, I did a decent amount of preparation for NaNoWriMo (click there to be my NaNo buddy) - finished my 12-step plotting, filled out character sheets on five of my characters, and some other stuff. Of course I could have done more, but it's November now - and at least I don't have less!

The plotting and outlining class was pretty good (I did keep up), and I have been pondering ABNS (which will almost definitely become more of a "how to survive a crisis" type book - eventually). And JEN AND I FINISHED OUR BIBLICAL FICTION DEVO EDITING! Just waiting to hear back from a publisher about it. High hopes here :) And with 20 posts this month, I easily made the four posts a week thing.

So, in a word or two - a good month. And now on to THIS month.
  1. Keep up on the blogging I "need" to do (FaithWriters blog three times a week, Monday Manna, a2z, and my three group blog posts) minimum. Anything else is gravy. (some of this I've prewritten before November)
  2. Write 50,000 words in Handmaiden to a Princess (yes - typing that TOTALLY freaked me out!).
  3.  Do NOT read every blog on my google reader (this COULD be a goal that's hard to keep, believe it or not - but if I don't, there's NO way I can get the writing done I need to!).
I do believe that's enough. :) Thanks for reading, and encouraging me. Be sure you become my NaNo buddy if you're playing along - no promises I'll chat, but I like to be connected.



Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength

New for Me: A Goals/Progress Update

October 1. It's officially Fall (yay!). My baby brother turns (gasp) 35 today. AND it's time to look back, and forward. Before I review my goals from last month (from here), I'll say I THINK I did fairly well this month. But let's check out my goals to see.

Goals for September:

  1. Finish fleshing out my 12-step plotting and most of the rest of the "prewriting" stuff and get to writing Handmaiden to a Princess (looks familiar, eh??)
  2. Finish my LAST THREE biblical fiction devotionals for my project with Jennifer Slattery.
  3. Four blog posts average a week
  4. Do some serious thinking about changes I may need to make to Ailing Body, Nourished Soul.
  5. Finish a book edit for the dear and lovely Rita Garcia.
  6. Keep up on my new project, starting VERY SOON (stay tuned!! heheh) 
Still working on #1 - but making progress (and that's okay - because that's part of the new I mentioned in the title :). More on that later.

I did finish writing those last four devos - waiting for critiques back on them. I did manage four blog posts a week - a little bit more, actually, as I did 21 in 30 days. Good for me :) I also finished my first edit of Rita's book - waiting for her to get the fixes back to me so I can work on the second edit-through. And that new project is Living By Grace, which is going quite nicely, thank you (PLEASE stop by if you haven't already!)

As for thoughts on Ailing Body, Nourished Soul, I do think I know where to go with it if I don't get a positive response from the last agent who has it. I got another rejection - with a great suggestion for just WHAT to do with it - earlier this week. Still praying - but I AM contemplating.

And that brings me to October. And my goals for that month.
  1. Finish fleshing out my 12-step plotting, do characterization, outlining, etc. for Handmaiden to a Princess so I'm prepared to write 50K words of it in November (yes - I'm doing NaNoWriMo - for the first time!)
  2. Keep up and  learn as much as possible from the free ACFW course on Plotting and Outlining (to help me prepare for NaNoWriMo).
  3. Four blog posts average a week
  4. More thinking about Ailing Body, Nourished Soul.
  5. Edits of the biblical fiction devos with Jennifer Slattery
So, those are my plans, God willing. Thanks for reading along, and cheering me on! And if you're NaNoing, connect with me!! (I'm joanne sher there. Original, eh? ;))


SO, WHO'S NANOING?

Riding God's Grace Over Rough Roads

Back To Routine: A Goals/Progress Update

my girl at the Kalamzoo Air Zoo :)
This has been a good, fun summer. Fairly productive too. And don't get me wrong - it's been good having the kids around(most of the time LOL). But I'm a routine girl, and summer doesn't lend itself to a set schedule - at least not mine.

So, I am looking forward to the kids getting back to school, Bible study starting back up, AWANA, etc. AND, more predictable time to work with fewer interruptions. (School starts in SIX DAYS here)

But how about August, you ask?? Well, here are my goals, straight from last month's post:
  1. Finish fleshing out my 12-step plotting and most of the rest of the "prewriting" stuff and get to writing Handmaiden to a Princess
  2. Write four biblical fiction devotionals for my project with Jennifer Slattery
  3. Send out two more queries for Ailing Body, Nourished Soul
  4.  Four blog posts average a week
Well...I made SOME progress on my plotting, but I am NOT done.  Handmaiden to a Princess seems to be lower on my list of priorities lately - what I work on when I get the other stuff done. Hoping to move it a bit higher this month.

I managed three biblical fiction devos - though I'm more than halfway done with the fourth - and only two more to go after that! And I got one query-proposal out. The second (a proposal that needs to be sent snail mail) is printed. I'm giving it its last read-through, after which I'll print whatever pages need to be fixed and stick it in the mail - either today or tomorrow (so I'm not putting it on my goal list -cuz it's GONNA be done!). Blog posts? With 17, that's quite close to four (though maybe a TINY bit shy, since this is a 31-day month).

So then - enough looking back. Time to set some goals for September (the month I get my life back?;) )
  1. Finish fleshing out my 12-step plotting and most of the rest of the "prewriting" stuff and get to writing Handmaiden to a Princess (looks familiar, eh??)
  2. Finish my LAST THREE biblical fiction devotionals for my project with Jennifer Slattery.
  3. Four blog posts average a week
  4. Do some serious thinking about changes I may need to make to Ailing Body, Nourished Soul.
  5. Finish a book edit for the dear and lovely Rita Garcia.
  6. Keep up on my new project, starting VERY SOON (stay tuned!! heheh)
So, that sounds like a list for me to tackle! So I guess I'd better get to it, eh?

Thanks for reading - and your support!

    Riding God's Grace Over Rough Roads

    My One Word: 2016 and 2017

    Most who know me know I am a very goal-oriented person (in fact, I already shared my goal wrap-up for 2016 and my new ones for 2017 on this...