Month: February 2015

This is quick. Short.

Earlier tonight, I was hangry. And I mean HANGRY. Just ask my husband. If you were to look “hangry” up on Urban Dictionary, you would see a picture of me. And if you don’t, it’s only because they haven’t updated it yet.

Instead of doing my usual tear-inducing running to my bedroom to escape for a moment, I sat down with my computer. And typed. Amid the noise of kids playing the Wii U, amid the noise of my husband’s computer game. Amid my own feelings.  I typed. I didn’t know why I was angry (until I typed the word hangry, that is), but I wrote and wrote and wrote, and man. Did it feel good!

So let me tell you something. I’ve always known that writing was therapeutic, but never “in the moment” have I sat down to take my mood out on my keyboard rather than my loved ones. My advice? The next time you’re in a bad mood, frustrated, disappointed, or, yes, hangry, write it out. Don’t think about what you’re writing. Just write.

I highly suggest it. Your situation may not change, but I can tell you that your attitude just might.

And to my family…

I’m excited for April. Not only do two of my kids have their birthdays, and not only is it my wedding anniversary (9 years this year!), but it will also be my first writer’s conference!

Wordsowers Christian Writers group will be hosting their conference on April 24-25. The more information that is released, the more excited I become! I also sent in the first couple thousand words of my current work-in-progress for a critique. This will be the first time someone who doesn’t know me will be reading something of mine.

Yeah…I have those little niggling doubts in the back of my mind that I’ll be told I “stink,” to “never write another word again,” and whatever else probably every writer struggles with (especially at first). But you know what? You can’t grow as a writer if you never open yourself up for criticism. And that goes beyond writing. It takes courage to put yourself out there, and I know that I’ll hear from readers–and perhaps other writers, editors, or publishers–who can’t stand my writing, but that’s where I grow. I’ll either take their criticism and wallow in sorrow, or I’ll take their criticism and improve upon myself. Or I’ll just ignore it all together. 😉

What I realize as I get older is that I need to care more about what God thinks of me than what others think of me. As a people-pleaser, that’s hard, but it’s all part of growth.

Okay. I didn’t plan to go there, but I did and now I’m done. Something else that’s exciting before I go: I ordered business cards!! It’s important, when you go to a writer’s conference, to have something you can hand to people when they ask for your contact information, and a business card fits that bill nicely. Much more nicely than a scrap of paper! And something I learned: it helps even more to have your photo on the card so they can put a face to the name; after all, you’re usually meeting quite a few new people at each conference you go to!

A number of weeks ago, I was lamenting my manuscript’s standstill. I’m what is called a “fly by the seat of your pants” writer, meaning I just don’t outline. I start writing and go wherever my fingers on my keyboard take me. But that isn’t always conducive to a good story!

In steps Lisa Phillips, a published author (you can find a link to her site on my “Check It Out” page), who recommended K.M. Weiland‘s Outlining Your Novel. So I bought the book and the workbook! Since then, school and kids have been keeping me busy…fine. And HGTV and Pinterest. Anyway, I’ve been productive this morning and have finished my homework that is due tonight (um…that’s not last minute, is it??) and next Monday (see? I can work ahead when the mood strikes!), so I plan on starting the workbook (alongside the book itself) tomorrow! (I would start today, but it’s already past lunch and my kiddos get out of school soon, so as soon as I post this, I’m going to make a quick lunch then peruse Pinterest to look for ideas to transform my kids’ jeans with holes in them. What?? It’s a good use of time, too!! I’m upcycling!) Who knows, I might even start this evening. 🙂

I think a little more structure will do my writing–and therefore my readers–some good. Don’t you?

And now I have that song stuck in my head!

Most publishers these days really like to see authors have followers on social media before they offer a book contract. So what do you do?

Create a FB page and a web site to get that rolling! My WIP (work in progress) is only about halfway there (well…maybe a little less than halfway!), but I took an important step today and joined American Christian Fiction Writers. I’m terribly excited that this journey is picking up speed! And I’m even more excited that you’re coming along! So keep your eyes peeled for updates as I continue work on my novel…and complaints about how school gets in my way. *snicker*