Joy E. Rancatore's Blog, page 4

Death’s Bouquet

This story continues a series of short fiction exploring some of the Faerie Shepherds and Shepherdesses within my fantasy world. Read below the story for further explanation and head over to   the Tales of the Faerie Shepherds  if you’d like to read more!

I can smell death.

Occupational hazard, I suppose. I am shepherd of the death faeries after all.

Of course, all humans can smell it. Some have lost the ability over the millennia. Some choose subconsciously to block it. Others, though … they know.

The smell comes in waves: it ebbs and flows; it rushes the nostrils, and then it recedes. Perhaps that’s why the humans with the ability find it confusing, disorienting. A constant crashing onslaught would be harder to ignore, more certain, far more dynamic.

This scent is also not wholly unpleasant, aside from the whole “death is eminent” aspect. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not eager to bottle it and make candles and room sprays. I said not wholly unpleasant.

The scent trickles in on a sweet, redolent note, innocent, soft, faint … somehow familiar.

The next wave comes more bitter, discordant, lilting toward unpleasant. The fetor expands until, like a swimmer held beneath a wave’s onslaught, the victim of the fetidness prays for deliverance and one more breath of pure, clean air.

And then, as soon as it came, the odor is sucked back into the void but not before that initial sweet bouquet turns and sprays behind the remnants of rot—like roses after a funeral whose grief ran too long.

For the decades I’ve kept watch over these faeries, I’ve become almost accustomed to the incense of death. That is until the fragrant harbinger of doom wafted around the only woman I’ve ever loved.

“ Death’s Bouquet” Copyright © 2023 by Joy E. Rancatore. All Rights Reserved.

What do you think about this world of mine that I’m building? If you enjoyed this story, please head over to my site to read the entire Tales of the Faerie Shepherds series .

This month’s story flowed from the inspiration of a delightful monthly online writing prompt, #BlogBattle. As you will read on their site, “Blog Battle is a monthly writing prompt meant to inspire writers and entertain readers.” To read several outstanding stories inspired by January’s prompt, “Dynamic,” head on over to the BlogBattlers site!

You may just find a new favorite author to follow!

For more detailed weekly updates on my writing process behind this short story as well as my other works, please subscribe to my newsletter!

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Creative Health Focus

On Christmas Day, I shared two photos with my family. Both were of me on the same day, in the same outfit. The differences were one year and nearly thirty pounds. Seeing the change side by side impacted me.

I was angry to see how I had been, but stunned, proud, thankful and confident with how I’d changed. I was also determined.

Determined to not return to the place I was, to keep working hard to maintain the health I’d earned and to not take things for granted or forget how far I’d come … or why I took the journey I did.

Once the wrapping paper had been cleared and we’d walked away from the fudge, my husband told me he was proud of how hard I’d worked to improve my health in the last year. He told me how stunning it was to see the two photos side by side and how helpful sharing that and my story with others might be.

I agreed, and that’s why we’re here together!

With the switch to a new year come resolutions, and wherever you hear about resolutions, you invariably hear about dieting and exercise. If you have made such a resolution or have considered making one or—and, perhaps especially—if you’ve already “broken” it, I’m writing this for you.

Last year I focused on my health more than I ever have.

It wasn’t easy. I didn’t stick to “the plan” for the entire year, but I did accomplish more than I expected. I reached two goal weights, but I also achieved much bigger health goals. I also learned many lessons along the way—lessons about grace, commitment, priorities and truth.

In the spirit of one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned in my life, I want to share some details of this journey with you so you know you’re not alone. In my experience, feeling alone in something is the toughest opponent to overcome. Let’s knock that one out, shall we?

Why Did I Have to Prioritize My Health?

While I have had times in my life where I chose to prioritize health for the overall benefits, for vanity or for the simple fact that it’s a good thing to do, 2022 was a year where I had to prioritize it for a graver purpose.

In July 2021, I made a decision that I will regret in many ways for the rest of my life. It’s a decision that went against my gut. In the end, I suppose many great things have come from that decision, but they’ve come despite the situation it caused.

I got the vaccine, and it triggered rheumatoid arthritis.

The effects began somewhat subtly within the first twenty-four hours of the first dose and continued intermittently for the next three weeks. I decided whatever issues had been caused surely couldn’t get worse, so I completed the vaccination in August 2021.

On the drive home from that second shot, I struggled to grip the steering wheel. The pain in my hands continued and grew increasingly worse over the next several months. It settled primarily in my hands and wrists.

Seven months later, I publicly shared my experience in a video on my YouTube channel. Long story short, those first few months were dark. I struggled to pick up paper clips or other small items. Chopping vegetables or stirring dinner for my family became unbearable. Several times, I sat on our sofa, my hands at my side, in excruciating pain.

At those times, I couldn’t do anything but sit there and wonder how the rest of my life would look.

As an author, my hands and wrists are vital to the creative process. I wondered if I’d ever write with my hands again. My publication timeline for two books got put on an indefinite hold. I worried about taking editing clients—would I be able to continue that work? If prospective clients knew about my issues, would they still trust their work to me?

I battled through several flares as I did the initial research to determine what had gone wrong in my body. Thanks to a dear doctor friend, we ruled out some more serious diseases, but I was left facing an autoimmune disease with no cure.

Once I processed the situation, grieved what I’d lost, accepted the changes I may face and prayed for the energy to move forward, I knew my health had to become a priority. 

What Results Did I See? 

Over the past several years, I had gained some weight; then, during the first year of covid, I adopted some horrible eating habits. When my body was torpedoed with the inflammatory attack, I was at the heaviest I’d ever been.

First things first, I knew I needed to get back to my proper weight. Carrying less extra weight should at least help with the inner burden of inflammation. Plus, the process would improve my overall health and combat RA fatigue with extra energy.

It took about nine months, but I reached both of the goal weights I set for myself, losing nearly thirty pounds.

My energy levels soared; my pain noticeably decreased; and I didn’t struggle with severe flares again. I was able to write again and found my imagination renewed, my mindset improved and my focus laser sharp.

Pain continues to be part of my daily life, but it is manageable. I know which activities trigger pain, and I’ve learned when to rest and when to press on.

What Lessons Did I Learn?

Initially, I discovered the only exercises encouraged for people with RA are walking and swimming. As someone who has been an on-and-off fitness enthusiast, that was a tough blow. And, as someone who knew she needed to lose a good bit of weight, I doubted the effectiveness of walking alone to get the daunting task done.

As I stubbornly dove back into the habit of exercise, I learned I can still do things I thought I’d never do again. Now, that doesn’t mean there won’t be days I can’t do those things, but that’s okay. I will do what I can, when I can.

That led to another skill I had to learn: how to listen to my body. I had to recognize some of the fitness routines I used to do put too much pressure on my joints. Those aren’t things I can do any more. Other routines, though, may have some of those same exercises, but they’re condensed into smaller time periods and spread out with other less intense moves.

Of course, some days I can’t do those moves at all, even if they’re fewer and less intense. That’s when I take the Marine Corps approach and “Improvise, Adapt and Overcome.”

I pick a different exercise for that interval, modify how I do the exercise or reduce the time I spend on it. By making one of these decisions, I overcome any frustration that could potentially lead to depression or to the choice to not work out at all.

And, yes, I do listen when my body is overwhelmed and genuinely needs a day off.

One final lesson is more of a reminder than something brand new. I don’t have to change everything at once. It is okay to ease into things.

For example, one of the big changes my doctor and nutritionist had me make at the beginning was to drink more water. The amount they expected me to drink seemed overwhelming. I gradually eased from one bottle a day to two to three … and finally to four. Allowing myself to slowly adapt made the change much easier.

As I reached my first goal weight and continued progressing toward the second, I had no idea how many more lessons 2022 had in store for me.

How Did My Focus Get Derailed?

My father had a massive heart attack on August 1, 2022, which led to me becoming a caretaker for a week for my mother who had Parkinson’s and then to so many more life-changing events.

I won’t go through all the ups and downs, back-and-forths and details, but here’s the shortened version of the last four months of 2022:

August 1: My father had a massive heart attack.August 11-12: We moved my parents into a personal care home.Early September: My mother fell and broke her hip and had surgery.September 18: My father died.September 24: We had my father’s funeral.October 4: My mother was released from the hospital back to the personal care home.October 19: One of my dearest friends suddenly passed away (only two days after I found out she had cancer).October 28: We had Casie’s funeral.December 2: My mother passed away.December 10: We had my mother’s funeral.

I maintained some of my healthy habits during those months, but I slowly reprioritized and stopped exercise, strict diet and supplement taking. All I could keep in full focus were the three+ hour round trips that I made as often as possible and my children’s school.

Through those last few months of the year, I gained about five pounds. More than that, my energy waned, and my pain increased. I battled grief and depression.

At times I wondered if I could ever make plans or set goals again. I worried that I’d never get back to a season where I could write with any regularity or complete anything … and forget about actually publishing something.

What Good Came from My Lack of Focus on Health?

I share all that not for sympathy. I share the background of what caused my health to slide in order to relay several huge lessons.

First, I learned again how important grace is in our lives. After my mother’s funeral, I chose to allow myself grace through the holidays. Another time in my life, I would have beat myself up; I would have tried to keep everything going as it was. Instead, I recognized the need for a season of grace and rest.

As I reflected on that truth earlier this week, a few things struck me about what grace is not.

Grace is not giving up. It is not giving yourself an excuse. Grace is a gift we can allow ourselves when the season requires our focus and priorities to shift.

Second, I discovered each facet of my health focus is working. The first thing I had to let slide was my exercise, and I lost most of my energy because of that.

The next thing that suffered was my diet. I experienced how much sugar, bad fats and processed foods increase my inflammation. When I indulged too much in holiday sweets, I swear I felt that sugar fanning the flames in my joints.

And then, in all the back and forth trips, I reached a point where I wasn’t able to refill my supplements. I ran out of each at different times, and that allowed me to see—actually, to feel—how much each had been helping my body.

Returning to my health focus, this week I already feel better. I see improvement through the fact that I’ve been able to—over several sessions—type this entire post with little pain.

In the midst of all the upheaval and uncertainty of the end of 2022, we moved my parents’ baby grand piano to my house. That was the piano I learned to play on when I was five years old and used until I moved out on my own. It’s where I practiced for hours on end to lead worship in our church each Sunday when I was in high school.

When I battled the initial mounting pain in my hands and wrists, I recognized I may never play the piano again. Over the months of improvement, I discovered I could still play for a few minutes at a time.

We decided to make room for the larger piano and saved our pennies for its move. The day came for me to meet the movers. Everything went smoothly as I met them at my parents’ home and then back at my own. It did fit—with some creative reorganizing and downsizing of seating.

That night, I needed my piano more than I have in years. Instead of going to visit my friend Casie again in the hospital like I had the night before, I learned that her family was gathered around her to say goodbye.

God gifted me strength and relief that night as I played for more than an hour. It was my way of grieving and of using music to send my friend Home.

While I’m not always able to play that long, I can play. Music inspires my writing. While simply listening to music does that, playing the songs with my own fingers releases creativity like nothing else.

Third, I have gained an appreciation and a perspective I’m not sure I would have otherwise. Each aspect of my life that I’ve faced losing has become more precious to me. With that, my commitment to caring for my body has grown exponentially.

I know the realities of this disease, and I don’t know how long diet and exercise will keep the pain at bay. I don’t know how long it will be until I experience another major flare. So, while I’m able, I will play my piano and write my stories and I will thank God with every sweep of the keyboard and every tap of the keys.

Fourth, I have been given a great gift. I have been reminded of the importance of presence—being present in daily life. Too often, I zip through my day, missing moments with my children, overlooking opportunities to connect with my husband and putting off chances to get together with friends.

Sometimes being present requires a shift in priorities. Recognizing when it does and which priority can be moved is another lesson I continue to learn.

I will also never take for granted the ability to hold my husband’s hand in those simple moments of presence and connection.

What Benefits Have I Discovered in My Renewed Health Focus?

With the holidays behind us, I have written myself a mental thank you note for the grace and have embraced my health focus once again. At this point, it’s like a dear friend I’ve missed spending time with. We’ve eased back into where we were, and I’ve discovered a few new truths.

This week, I have experienced greater clarity and focus in my exercises. For some, I’m taking slower movements. But the upside is, I feel more controlled and realize I am zoning in on specific body parts better than I did before.

Along with a renewal of my health focus, I have made goals for 2023. Many of them are huge goals; some are small. All of them are—I believe—realistic.

I made them with practicality in mind, but I also set the bar at the dream level. As I did that, I admitted that I have no idea what lies ahead in this year. The three previous years did not go according to any plans I had. All of them were filled with challenges I never expected to face. 2023 could very well follow suit.

But, I cannot live in the terror of what ifs and worst case scenarios. I have to live in the hope of brighter tomorrows with a determination to seize the moments I’m given and the knowledge that I can “Improvise, Adapt and Overcome.”

I do believe, without a doubt, that my creative health focus will continue to make me a better author and creator.

And, finally, I realized two more vital truths: I can still do the hard work that comes with a focus on health. The benefits of that commitment are totally worth the struggle, the pain and the dedication.

Who Has Been in My Corner?

None of this journey would have been possible without all the support God has put in my life. We weren’t meant to do life alone on the good days, and we certainly weren’t meant to do that on the tough days and through the hard times.

My husband has encouraged me, cooked for me, joined me in diet and exercise and supplements and praised me for every milestone and little win.

My kids tolerate the diet—though they’ve come to see the benefits and will probably have healthier futures because of that. They help when they can and understand when I can’t do certain things and encourage me to keep going.

I have so many other family members and friends who have been amazing—always encouraging me and cheering me on. Some who even take the time to learn about my diet and do their best to help me follow it at dinner parties and other get-togethers or look for moments where I might need a hand.

Fellow authors and my readers and followers have been kind, understanding and supportive. I will forever be grateful for everyone who has left a kind word or sent me encouragement or recognized my grief or prayed with and for me.

My doctor has been incredible and a clear answer to prayer. She listens. She takes a holistic approach to health and is the perfect mix of encouragement and accountability.

How Did I Lose the Weight and Reclaim My Health?

For anyone who would like to know exactly what I have done to take charge of my health, I’ll share some details here.

Of course, these are the things that have worked for me. Not everyone responds the same way to the same things. And, of course, no two people with RA will react the same way to things such as supplements or exercise or diet.

Exercise: My favorite fitness programs were from Beachbody: 30-Day Fix and PiYo. Unfortunately, most of the programs put too much pressure and strain on my knees, ankles and wrists. I have been able to do the majority of the Toned in 90 Days program by VShred, with a few minor modifications. As I mentioned earlier, I do listen to my body and modify when needed. In the initial eight months of exercise last year, I worked out five to six days a week, adding in some of the Beachbody routines on the other one or two days. Now that I have started back with the goal to drop a few pounds initially and then to simply maintain my ideal weight and energy levels, I’ll be content with four days of exercise a week.

Diet: My nutritionist at my doctor’s office helped me begin a Mediterranean diet, which has been amazing for me and fantastic at combatting inflammation. She initially had me go gluten free as well, but that left me feeling worse than I have ever felt. After about six weeks of fatigue and fogginess, I ate a little gluten and immediately felt better. While I don’t overload on gluten-filled foods, I enjoy a proper balance. As I mentioned earlier, I have also increased my water intake, which helps immensely with my energy levels and so many other health aspects.

Supplements: I do take several supplements each day. The ones that are specifically for fighting inflammation are Omega health and turmeric. I choose to purchase most of my supplements from my doctor’s office because I want to make sure I’m spending money on something that actually works.

Medical Support: Finally, I go to my doctor regularly. At this point, I’m seeing her every six months. She orders blood work to keep an eye on specific levels. After reaching my goal weight and living a healthier lifestyle, my bloodwork showed significant improvement in my cholesterol levels and specific vitamin levels which had been deficient. We know it’s all working—outside and in!

What Tips Can I Share?

Not every day will go as planned. The challenge will rarely be easy, but the outcomes will be worth every second of meal prep, every drop of sweat, every supplement swallowed and every health appointment you keep.

Our bodies fuel our minds. When we energize ourselves and care for ourselves physically, that care and focus spills over to our creative lives and our work lives. Our emotional and spiritual sides guard and uplift the physical and mental. When we embrace the entirety of who we were created to be and focus on good health in each of these aspects, we are fully caring for the temple God gave us and can reach the full potential we have on this earth.

Grace is necessary when life gets knocked off our neat and tidy rails, but grace—like hardships—are only for a season. When you can, get back to where you were. You can still do it!

You are not alone. Other people have taken on the challenge of better health and are continuing in that process. You might know some of them. If you don’t, you can find them online or in your community. You can find countless stories like mine that can encourage you and remind you that you’re part of a whole race—the human race—who’s seeking to overcome something. Be brave, dear friend, and find your tribe. We’re always better with a buddy.

What goals have you set for yourself this year? What challenges are you working to overcome? Has health become a top focus for you this year? Does your physical health affect your creativity?

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Virtual Learning for Writers

Are you a writer? Do you like to learn? Do these topics catch your eye—Creating Memorable Characters, On Writing Plot, Viewpoint and Dialogue? Are you a Christian who seeks to infuse your faith into your writing?

If you answered yes, then get ready!

About the Master Class

The first Write2Ignite Master Class for Christian Writers of Children’s and Young Adult Literature will be held Saturday, September 19, 2020. This opportunity will be virtual and will feature award-winning author Joyce Moyer Hostetter.

The full day of workshops and breakout sessions with Joyce and the Write2Ignite Team is only $79. Plus, you can absorb all the new knowledge from the comfort of your home or wherever you like to Zoom!

Click here for the FULL SCHEDULE.

For me, one of the biggest draws is the inclusion of plenty of hands-on time for practicing new and improved skills, complete with immediate feedback.

If you’re ready to register NOW,

head to the Write2Ignite Registration Page.

Like many other writing conferences and book festivals, Write2Ignite made the decision to go virtual, allowing authors from anywhere to participate. With this new direction, they’ve decided to present one-day Master Classes—focused classes taught by master authors and teachers designed to help writers who want to become masters at writing for children and young adults.

One thing hasn’t changed: Write2Ignite’s focus and foundation.

Our focus is still on those who write for youth.

Our foundation is still Christ.

About the Master

I have admired Joyce and her writing for many years. Her historical fiction novels for middle grades are well written and meticulously researched.

Now, allow me to introduce you!

Joyce Moyer Hostetter lives right where many of her characters do—in rural North Carolina. She’s always on the lookout—hoping to bump into them. In the absence of a time machine that would take her to the 1940s, she immerses herself in research to discover what their world was like. Her book, BLUE won the International Reading Association Award, The NC Juvenile Literature Award and Parent’s Choice Silver Honor. It is used widely in North Carolina schools. AIM is a prequel to BLUE. COMFORT is a sequel, and DRIVE is an Okra Pick. HEALING WATER, set in Hawaii’s leprosy settlement is available via e-book.

Head to her website for trailers for her books, curriculum guides for parents and teachers and much more. You can also read my review of Blue and my review of Comfort on Goodreads.

About the Sessions

Joyce has some blog posts on each of her session topics that will give you a taste for what you can expect in the sessions.

Creating Memorable Characters —Tried and true strategies for creating characters. On Writing Plot: What’s the Problem —Structure and the power of conflict in creating a great plot. View Point and Dialogue —Dialogue that works overtime and strategies for creating an authentic narrator.About Your Next Steps

What are you waiting for?

Register today for your spot in Write2Ignite’s first Master Class, brought to you by Joyce Moyer Hostetter and the Write2Ignite Team.

Deadline to register is September 14!

Last About

Just in case you’re still not convinced to hit the Register button, I’ll let you watch what Joyce has to say about her upcoming Master Class.

Register Now!

*Please note: I am not an affiliate for the conference or any of the authors and receive no compensation for my recommendation. I’m just that sure you’ll benefit from participating in this online learning opportunity!

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Training to Write Fantasy

When an athlete prepares to enter a competition or join a team, he or she trains hard. They eat right. Consuming the right calories is as important as doing the right exercises for a serious athlete. 

Scholars train their minds before taking intense evaluations. They take practice tests and study. They might even seek a tutor to help them prepare. 

When a writer sets out to write anything, especially a new writer or one attempting a new type of writing, he or she must train. 

Later this year, I will dive into outlining and then writing my first full-length fantasy series. I have been world-building for this series off and on for about four years now as I’ve been publishing books in other genres, and I have written some short stories in this world. Although I’ve tinkered with my style and voice and daydreamed about this entire story, outlining and developing such a massive story in my own world is not something I’ve done before. 

Like athletes and scholars, I’m preparing for my own type of training—training to write fantasy. 

How Does This Look for Me?

Training to Write: Preparing 

Like every writer, I have much to learn—about craft, about my process and style, about my readers and about the industry.  

For this upcoming series, I have identified a few specific topics I need to research and study:  

How to world-build well 

It’s not enough to create another world, a new form of magic, my own creatures and characters, a language and rules to govern them all. I don’t just want to build a world; I want to do it well. The only way to do that is to study and then to practice (more on that in a moment). 

Some questions swirling in my mind center around the language I’ve already begun to build. When it comes to creating a language, what is the best way to go about it? Should I take a few extra courses in linguistics? Which of J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings can shed the most insight on his language-building prowess?  

Best practices for fantasy 

Not only do I want my writing to be done well and my story to be good, but I need to make sure I’m crafting a marketable piece of literature. Something that readers of fantasy will accept; something that non-fantasy readers might even appreciate. How can I create such a complex world and then present it in simplistic beautiful prose that readers of all preferences can enjoy?  

Understanding my sub-genre 

Descriptions of epic and high fantasy vary, depending on where you look. Based on the preliminary studying I’ve done on the topic, my work seems to embrace aspects of both sub-genres. If that is the case (and those descriptions even hold true following further study), am I crafting some sort of new hybrid? I lean toward believing the wisest man of all: “… there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9); which leads me to wonder who else has combined features of various fantasy sub-genres and to desire to study their works.

Training to Write: Exercising & Practicing 

The greatest athletes, scholars and writers spend vast amounts of time exercising and practicing. 

My exercise comes in the form of simply writing—every single day, without fail, in one form or another. I’ve been exercising this way for two decades professionally, but I’ve been a near daily writer for most of my life. 

Over these years, I’ve sculpted my muscles for focusing on a topic. I have strengthened my abilities to convey a message, move a reader or fill their imaginations with new images. And, along the way, I have raised my stamina for the self-discipline required to sit down and write everything from an email to a blog post to a book to an epic fantasy series. 

It’s in the practicing, though, where I use these strengths—these “muscles”—and their abilities to transform them into a desired product. I have practiced specifically for this upcoming series through these four outlets: writing short stories set in this world with some of the characters; dabbling with poetry since it will play a key role in my prose; daydreaming about my world, characters, languages and overarching story; and listening to the faeries when they whisper in my ear. 

 

Training to Write: Obtaining Tutors or Coaches

Coaches and tutors take athletes and scholars with promise, determination and natural ability and guide them to improve, to push themselves, to become more than they were. Writers have all the masters of language and literature who have gone before us to serve as our coaches. 

I have learned (and will continue to learn) from fellow writers around me, from authors who I follow and whose words I have found reliable and from the masters of my chosen genres. 

Without doubt—no comparison—the master of masters of fantasy is J.R.R. Tolkien. I have learned more from reading his books and studying the editing notes of his son Christopher in his posthumously published volumes than I could hope to learn from any of the most advanced degrees in existence. 

He was a genius in many ways. I am grateful for all the wisdom he has left behind in his notes, letters, essays, lectures, translations and published works. 

Yes, I will study others, as well; but Tolkien is my ideal.

 

Training to Write: Consuming Proper Nutrition 

How, you might ask, can a writer “consume proper nutrition”? Everyone knows we survive on chocolate and caffeine. 

I’m writing about what books we’re consuming. As I lead up to finally beginning the intense drafting of this series, I plan to read only fantasy. I mentioned this during my monthly Book Club on my Facebook page back in December 2019 and asked for recommendations from my followers. I received a ton of great recommendations for books I should read. You can see some of them in the comments of that month’s video. 

As I prepared my “meal” list for this “diet” of fantasy reads, I considered each suggestion carefully. Does it contain the lean content I need to study for my purposes or does it have too much “fat” to make it beneficial right now? Is this an author whose writing I enjoy and whose writing reminds me of my own in some way—or of how I’d like my writing to be? Does their work teach me something or inspire me in some way? 

Below you’ll find my list so far. I shared this list with fellow readers during my April 2020 Book Club and now I’ve finetuned it a little more for my purposes:

Phantastes 

George MacDonald 

The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy 

J.R.R. Tolkien 

The Chronicles of Narnia series 

C.S. Lewis 

The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear, also The Slow Regard of Silent Things 

Patrick Rothfuss 

Mistborn 

Brandon Sanderson 

The Last Legend: Awakened 

The Last Legend J.B. (Joshua) Wichterich 

The Lamb Among the Stars Series 

Chris Walley 

Further plans include: leafing back through some of Maggie Steifvater’s books and perusing Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments series, V.E. Schwab’s The Shades of Magic series and Amy Harmon’s The Bird & the Sword Chronicles. 

Training to Write: Stretching My Mind and Abilities 

As I take on the marathon outlining and drafting process, I will seek to maintain my flexibility when plans need to change or when new knowledge shifts my process or story or approach. 

My plan is to push myself to dig deeper, to write the more challenging scenes, to push the envelope on my writing style and even on the fantasy norms, if my story calls for it.

Training to Write: Giving It My All 

Once I’ve done the hard work of training, I have no choice but to follow through, make it all worth it and leave it all on the page. This story has been in my heart too long for me not to do my absolute best to bring it into being in the best way I possibly can.

Readers, what draws you to any book and what makes you claim it as a favorite? If you read fantasy, what are your favorites? Do you have more fantasy suggestions for me? If you do enjoy fantasy and have read some of my short stories, does my style remind you of other fantasy authors? Who? 

 

Writers, how does this look for you? Have you thought of it as “training” to write? If so, what does your training look like? What have you found to be the most invaluable training methods? I would especially love to hear from you if you’ve trained to write fantasy. Share your fantasy or craft tutorial recommendations! 

 

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#NotBored

As I’m writing this, most of the United States is under stay-at-home orders from the government, thanks to Covid-19. Our lives have been upended. Each family has become homeschoolers overnight. Many people have lost their jobs. Some people have more time on their hands than they know what to do with; for others, time is no longer an abundant commodity.

Either way, I’ve heard the following statement from way too many children and adults: “#AmBored.”

Before you write me off as not understanding your situation or for not having something applicable to say for you, I beg you to read me out. 

First of all, I believe we all need a change of adjectives because, quite frankly, you are not bored. I have three examples that should cover most of us because you’re something; bored ain’t it. 

#AmAnxious 

The news, social media, your friends, your mom—each one wants to be the first to blast you with gloom and doom and the latest tragedy. Not to make light, by any means; this pandemic is catastrophic, unreal and terrible. It is claiming lives and changing families forever. No one would debate those truths. 

With that said, I think we would all agree that our information sources too often leap to relay the horrors; to the point that, those become the only things we can hear or think about or see. Numbers and curves and statistics are running through our minds quicker than a Nascar driver around the final lap. Images of patients on ventilators, caskets and bar graphs fill our dreams. 

We are #Anxious. We’re worried and fearful and, perhaps, terrified.

When we allow fear to consume us and drive each action, we will remain enslaved to that emotion. Believe me, its only intent is to cripple us. 

And so, if this is your adjective, I challenge you to turn off the TV, to stay away from social media, to not answer the phone. Do whatever you need to do to silence the voices of terror.

Take time to clear your mind. Journal (pen and paper, computer, audio) your emotions and fears. Get it all out. Don’t hold any of it in; cry, if that’s your style. Do whatever you need to walk away and leave those emotions behind you. 

Move forward. You will need a daily clearing of your mind until this thing is over. Whenever you feel the anxiety rising, take a breath, close your eyes, clear your mind, journal out the thoughts … whatever it takes for you.

And then, you can’t put something off without putting something in its place. The Bible teaches us that (Colossians 3 is the best example). So, instead of dwelling on the statistics and the outcomes and the fear, think about all you have to be thankful for. Focus on your family. Meditate. Exercise. Bake. Listen to a podcast. Watch your favorite movie.

Put something in anxiety’s place, so it has no room to return. 

#AmOverwhelmed 

Maybe anxious is not your adjective. Instead, you’ve been going 100 miles an hour since this all started. Maybe you’ve hit every grocery store and dollar store in a thirty–mile radius in order to get all the toilet paper you possibly can for your family, your extended family and your entire block. You’ve TPed every neighbor’s porch (in the best possible way) and made sure to disinfect your way there and back.

You’ve taken advantage of every free program online. You’re caught up on taxes, taken the equivalence of an online masters program and baked enough bread for your entire city.

#Overwhelmed. 

Perhaps those examples don’t cover your situation.

Maybe instead you’re looking at the to-do list of this new “normal.” Perhaps you’ve got three kids—all school-age—each with varying needs and concerns. You’ve never taught a class of anything before, let alone all subjects for three very different students who also happen to live in the same house with you. Your husband got laid off. You don’t have those “three-months-plus-expenses” saved up (how many people actually do, right?) and you’re doing your best to feed your family of five on rice, dried beans and bread you have to make from scratch without yeast. On top of all the rest of that, you’re trying to figure out what you’ll do when this last roll of toilet paper is gone.

#Overwhelmed.

Maybe neither case fits you perfectly, but you’re definitely realizing overwhelmed is your adjective. It’s all just too much. Too much to accept or do or focus on. You may discover, at the root of this description, you’ve also got some anxiety pushing the envelope. You look at your list of things to do and you want to throw in the towel because it’s Just. Too. Much.

Maybe you realize your list is doable, but the worry combines with your responsibilities and you cannot focus on taking each task in turn.

Take some of the same tips from the first section and put them into play. Just stop what you’re doing, breathe, refocus or reprioritize. Maybe you need to journal and get some thoughts and emotions out. Maybe you need to go for a jog or take a nap or veg out until your mind is clear enough for you to evaluate your responsibilities and determine which is most important and which may just not be necessary right now.

You might discover five of those ten “must-get-dones” aren’t vital after all.

#AmRestless 

You’re not chewing your nails to the quick because you’re anxious. You’re not a whirlwind of unproductive energy. You’re like a school kid with spring fever … times a thousand. 

The walls are closing in, and all you can think about are the things you can’t do. You spend an hour staring out the window, picturing all your favorite stores (that are closed) and the park (that’s closed) and the arcade (that’s closed) and your grocery store (with its bare shelves) and … you must be bored. Right? 

Wrong. 

#Restless 

The exact same tips from the previous adjectives apply, my friend! Clear your head, consider your responsibilities and decide each one’s priority. Then, get to it! One task at a time. If you find your focus slipping, go back to step one and get your mind back in the game. 

#BeStill 

Perhaps you’ve discovered your adjective. You’ve declared your current state of mind—#AmAnxious, #AmOverwhelmed, #AmRestless. Now it’s time to consider something else to put in their place. 

#BeStill 

I can hear your thoughts. 

I thought we weren’t supposed to be bored? Isn’t standing still in the dictionary next to bored? 

No, no it’s not. 

What does it mean to be still? The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear these words is one of my favorite verses in the Bible, Psalm 46:10. 

“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth!” 

Earlier, I suggested you meditate. For me, as a Christian, meditation is quiet time spent in prayer or reflection on scripture. An excellent passage to reflect on, especially right now in the midst of our current world chaos, would be all of Psalm 46. 

Another great way to be still is to walk out into nature and just breathe, take in the beauty around you and give thanks for it. When I walk out my back door, I can be thankful for the fence that defines our yard and gives us a little privacy. I can sit on the patio and breathe in the smell of grass. I can look across the yard at our chickens and be thankful for the eggs they give us. I can pet my dogs and watch my kids play.

#GiveThanks

In those moments of stillness, I can give thanks. This is an action we can take as we switch out our adjectives and adjust our mindset from #Bored to what we really are (#AmAnxious, #AmOverwhelmed, #AmRestless) to a change of pace (#BeStill) to our end goal: #NotBored. 

So, in all of these suggestions and tips, I hope you will be intentional about giving thanks. I’ve learned that when I’m seeking for things to be thankful for and then focusing on those things and the feeling of gratitude, it is so much harder to be anxious or overwhelmed or restless or bored. 

Boredom Busters

Regardless of your adjective, you might discover you need a new activity to either provide you a diversion or to help you focus. Below you’ll find a list of 50 mind-healing activities for adults and 100 boredom-busting activities for kids. That second list comes to you from my two children! 

Some words of caution: if you lean toward the #Overwhelmed side, this is not a list of 50 things you now must do because culture demands you “Seize the Time!” and fulfill your life’s potential. These are simply suggestions of things you can do to relieve the strain on your mind and emotions so that you may live a more well-balanced life during these unbalanced times. Some of them require more time than others. Those would be more fitting if you are anxious or restless. Others are simple tasks that can clear your mind in a matter of minutes. Some won’t interest you (and therefore won’t help); others may stir a passion within you or introduce you to something you never considered before. And, each activity should be considered in light of your current situation. 

Whatever you choose to do (or not do) with these lists, I hope you choose to #BeStill and #GiveThanks and then declare yourself #NotBored! 

50 Mind-healing Activities for AdultsTake a walk. Take a steamy shower or relaxing bath. Allow your mind to wander and imagine something beautiful. Dig up a new recipe and try it out. Pray. Meditate on scripture. Read a book that’s been on your shelf far too long. Read a favorite book again. Watch your favorite movie. Watch a new movie you haven’t seen yet. Find courses or other online services your public library offers and utilize one or more! Write a letter to a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Take a mental vacation! Listen to the QWERTY Writing Life podcast, season 1, episode 46 for more information. Play dress-up or make-believe with your kids. Think of one thing you’ve always wanted to learn and determine if now is the time. Challenge yourself to get creative in the pantry and come up with a new recipe. Take the last challenge up a notch and get each family member involved. Who has the most creative dish? The tastiest? The most frugal? Play solitaire. Have a family board game night. Choose your favorite movie franchise and indulge in a marathon. Try your hand at writing something. Start a daily journal. Read through a book of the Bible or the entire Bible. Challenge yourself to make a list of things you’re thankful for or to make this a daily routine. Maybe it becomes part of your journaling routine—and you write something new every day that you are thankful for. Reconnect digitally with an old friend. Play “20 Questions” with your spouse or best friend or children. This time, make the questions all about them. Get to know them more! Research a new exercise you can do from home. Choose one drawer and spring clean it. Choose one closet and spring clean it. Clean out an entire room or attic or basement. Release your inner child and make a craft or color a picture. Research your family tree. Read an old diary. Call a family member or friend you haven’t talked to in a while just to say you love them. Make a list of acts of kindness you can do right now from your home. Send a thank you note for a kind word or a smile another person gave you. Help your child learn something new. Ask your spouse or child what they would love to learn, and then learn it with them! Find a way to thank the heroes in your community. Make your own movie. Get the family in on the fun. Write the script. Cast the parts. Design the set and costumes. And then, yell “Action!” Do something silly. Walk your dog. Make a new dessert and then enjoy it. Learn a new dance. Research another culture. Set goals for yourself in the next year. Make a bucket list. Listen to your favorite music. Listen to a song you haven’t heard in years. Make your own list, with you in mind!  100 Boredom-busting Activities for Kids

(#1-75 come from my 10-year-old son; #76-100 come from my 12-year-old daughter)

Watch Star Wars at your house Make a mud igloo Play with logs Play with bricks Make a mega stooky (awesome in the Origami Yoda book series) fort Light a fire Light a fire using sticks only Light a fire using dried leaves and glasses only Go outside and scream real loud Put this in front of a mirror and say it as loud as possible: NOROM A MA I Surf Go outside and yell: `Order Pizza!’ Start a band  Host an (online) party Make a hot dog stand Make a lemonade stand Jump rope Ride your bike Play basketball Play baseball Play soccer Join the FLYIN’ SPARKS BAND (If interested call XXX-XXX-XXXX) Play non-tackle football Play tackle football Play dodgeball Prank your friends Have a Nerf War  Raid the pantry Commence attack on the Death Star Have a Star Wars Marathon Have a DC Marathon  Make plans for Easter Fish from crawfish holes  Make funny faces Annoy your siblings Make lunch Make dinner Make enchiladas Make a LEGO city Buy LEGO sets Stock up on Nerf guns Make a poem and annoy your sibling with it  Get money Hire the FLYIN’ SPARKS BAND Make your own ice cream  Mill around aimlessly as you wish Order Popeye’s Buy an arcade Make comics Form a comic club Get video games Get Pokemon cards  Get clothes while you can cause no one is buying them Get Easter eggs  Order Domino’s Rock out Have a rap battle Become a DJ Raid the fridge Raid the freezer Breakdance Make a giant base because you never know when people might attack you Order Red Robin Hunt for squirrels Hunt for birds Hunt for cats Make secret tunnels leading all over the place  Make a secret handshake  Make up a secret language Make fake blood Make a pizza stand Have a throwing contest Have a LEGO-building contest Host a marathon of your favorite movies Make a chair   Watch TV Watch YouTubeVideo chat with your friendsPlay outside Listen to music Play a game Walk your dog Bathe your dog ReadSleepSwimPlay with LEGOsHave a pillow fight with your siblingsHave a water balloon fight Have a paint ball fight If you have multiple hoses have a water fight (something we have yet to do)Build a fort insideBuild a fort outsideThrow a ball at the wallClean out your roomShop on AmazonHave a dance partyWrite a letter to your favorite authorWrite a letter to your favorite singerWrite a list of a 100 reasons why the coronavirus sucks (Trust me; there’s more than a 100!)

Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for exclusive behind-the-scenes details and freebies, like TWO PRINTABLES WITH THIS POST’S LISTS!

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Heart’s Castle Entombed

This story continues a series of short fiction exploring some of the Faerie Shepherds and Shepherdesses within my fantasy world. Read below the story for further explanation and head over to   the Tales of the Faerie Shepherds  if you’d like to read more!

 

Its shape loomed above her now. 

Close enough, she could feel the beat resounding from within, pulsing throughout her trembling being. Marin need only breach the hidden portal to the mountain’s inner being. Once inside, she would follow the pounding to reunite with the part of her she’d lost during her vision long past. 

 She examined the rock before her. She’d felt it, battled it before. 

A shudder rushed through her, a sudden waterfall of ice. She relived the torment, the fall, the loss. Now was her final chance; her stipulation-bound restoration. 

Her eyes scanned upward toward the top she could not spy. Eyelids shuttered, Marin reached out with her smell, her touch, her hearing. 

All interactions merged with her greater Sense within until she felt its power grow inside her soul. It rose and swelled until the glow of red surrounded her and a song drifted from between her lips. 

 

I close my eyes 

And deep within 

I feel a song arise. 

 

The earth did swell 

And reached and raised, 

Formed where my heart doth dwell. 

 

My eyes fly wide 

To quickly scale 

New-birthed mount, my own pride. 

 

Far from my chest 

I feel a tug; 

From it, I find my quest. 

 

My heart ran free 

Away it soared; 

I chased, though it did flee. 

 

The music reverberated on the air as the final notes scampered and played, chasing one another along reddish bars dancing in the wind and swirling around a still-glowing Marin. She reached out a shaky hand with all the confidence of the Called and cast her inner power into the mountain before her. 

The rocks and earth gave way at her fingers’ touch. The side of the mount glowed coal-red and vanished in a breath, and she walked forward into its depths. Down sloping paths and around narrow, descending passages, she followed the pulse that had called her for so long. Its volume and intensity grew with each and every stride. 

A faint light shimmered in the distance, urging her to hasten her steps. She reached an opening—a child-size door in an earthen wall. Marin eased her way onto her hands and knees until she could peer through. 

Her breath caught at the panorama within the mountain. She stood on the threshold of an expansive throne room, too large to see any walls or ceiling. The golden floor glimmered beneath three earth-made stairs, as lights without visible source shone all around. 

Down. 

Down. 

Down. 

One step; she withdrew. The floor sunk beneath her toes. Another test, tentative. This time, she added weight on the golden covering that felt like spongy moss, until she trusted its solidity and added a following step. She bounced along across the endless floor. Looking forward, Marin blinked then shielded her eyes from a brilliance ahead. 

After walking forever and a breath, her eyes had adjusted to the destination light. She swallowed the cool sweetness of the air around her as she stopped in stunned silence. 

Before her, Marin surveyed the purpose of her quest: a throne, massive and towering; and, hovering above it, the light–source; the pulse-source. 

Marin’s heart. 

 

Read two previous installments relating to Marin and her Mountain:

“Heart within the Mountain”

“The Mountain That Stole a Heart”

“Heart’s Castle Entombed” Copyright © 2020 by Joy E. Rancatore. All Rights Reserved.

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What do you think about this world of mine that I’m building? If you enjoyed this story, please head over to my site to read the entire Tales of the Faerie Shepherds series .

This month’s story flowed from the inspiration of a delightful monthly online writing prompt, #BlogBattle. As you will read on their site, “Blog Battle is a monthly writing prompt meant to inspire writers and entertain readers.” To read several outstanding stories inspired by March’s prompt, “Castle,” head on over to the BlogBattlers site!

You may just find a new favorite author to follow!

For more detailed weekly updates on my writing process behind this short story as well as my other works, please subscribe to my newsletter!

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New Fantasy Book

Isn’t it GORGEOUS?!?!?!

I cannot wait to read more from Elizabeth’s world!

Read more about this novella below. If you’d like to know more about the author and her debut novel, Strayborn, check out this interview I posted a while back.

Keep scrolling for more on the author and all the important links you’ll need!

Book Description 

Curse of fire.

Hercule, the young heir of House Dragonsbane, has everything that wealth can purchase—that is, everything except for the one thing he longs for most: true freedom. And when a powerful goblin casts a curse on him, he may soon fall too far from ever finding it…

Held in darkness.

Zarren dreams of becoming a swordsmaster and a hero who saves lives, but first he must save his twin brother and himself from a cruel household. With nothing but faith, and the slim glimmer of hope to light their way, can they make their escape?

Book Purchase Links 

AMAZON |BARNES & NOBLE| GOODREADS

Meet Elizabeth!

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E.E. Rawls is the product of a traveling family, who even lived in Italy for 6 years. She loves exploring the unknown, whether it be in a forest, inside a forgotten castle, or within the pages of a book.

She runs on coffee, cuddly cats and the beauty of nature to keep the story wheels of her mind running, as she writes tales that will both entertain and inspire others, giving them worlds they can explore and become lost within.

Visit the Author 

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM

Get a taste of Strayborn with this FREE prequel story https://mailchi.mp/22a2f2dce8c0/eerawls 

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Indie Authors and the Case of Creativity

Creativity may be one of the greatest gifts humans enjoy. And, while it is undoubtedly a gift, it’s one that must be exercised, developed and nurtured. 

Indie Authors—like all writers and artists—rely on creativity for our very livelihoods. One fear we face is a loss of this precious gift. A stall in our imaginations, a glitch in our creativity software, an overload of the circuits that fire off original thoughts and ingenuity within us. 

So, how can we avoid such a disaster? 

Creativity Is a Process 

The first step is to remember that creativity shouldn’t be taken for granted or assumed in our day to day.

Creativity is a process. And, friends, that process is … practice. 

My writing partner-in-crime and co-podcaster, Mea Smith, and I examined the importance—and beauty—of practice during Season 1, Episode 45 of QWERTY Writing Life podcast. We share how our mindset on practice has shifted over the years as well as some of the benefits that have come from such a vital change of mind. You can listen to the episode or watch it on YouTube to hear our entire chat. 

Something that took me a while to learn is creativity doesn’t naturally fit into time blocks or ever-shifting life schedules. With mental training and self-discipline, though, it can. 

Let me explain. 

I’m not a full-time writer. I’m a wife, homeschool mom, editor, freelancer and author with a full social calendar and various community responsibilities. My lineup is similar to most writers I know. Because we juggle many roles, we can’t always chase our creativity when it comes out to play. I’ve had some amazing ideas smack dab in the middle of my kids’ school days or church or a kid’s birthday party. 

It took me a long time to learn how to take a moment when possible to jot down notes, in order to revisit that idea when I have the time, and then to move on with my current responsibility. It took me even longer to learn how to tug on the strings of that creativity when I do have a time block set aside for writing. 

Without practice, creativity doesn’t come with a handy on/off switch. So often, I’ve thought (and heard other writers say), “I can’t write unless I’m feeling inspired. I have to wait for the mood to strike. When it does, it’s magic! But, it only comes on its timetable.” 

That makes us and our process sound mystical and other-worldly, doesn’t it? Problem is, that doesn’t translate well into the real world where we have to cram creativity into brief time blocks between jam-packed schedules and often away from our comfy chairs and favorite drinks. 

And so, we train our creativity. We mold our magic-making minds to fit our real-life time blocks or time constraints. We learn to write at our local public library during our kids’ one-hour book club, surrounded by one person with unrelenting hiccups and another who’s watching videos, without headphones … and we’ve forgot our own. So much for blocking out the distractions with music. 

But, that doesn’t happen overnight. I’ve been pursuing this Indie Author life full force since 2016, and I still struggle sometimes with this. But practice and determination has carried me far. In these first four years, I’ve written, revised and published three books, not to mention all the blog posts, podcast episodes, short stories and other books and stories that rest in varying stages of publication readiness. 

Creativity is a process, and it’s a worthwhile one. It’s also one that can be molded for use in many aspects of life and work. 

Creativity Extends Beyond the Page 

Our creativity cannot stop with the page. The successful Indie Authors are the ones who take that creativity and mold it to fit every aspect of the business of being a writer.

Marketing and business management require truckloads of creativity. 

This was another important mindset shift for me. I had to view every aspect of my business as a creative outlet—each different, requiring a unique approach and every one a necessary piece of the production. I frequently ask myself how I can stand out in the crowd of books being published every day. I look at other authors to see what they’re doing well that might be outside of the norm. I consider what I would want from a favorite author. And, I listen to what readers are asking for. Asking these questions and making these observations are only two steps in the process, though. Once we have a few answers and examples and needs in mind, our creativity must then take over completely to make each pursuit our own. 

When I decided book club kits would be one of the best resources I could make for potential readers, I then had to think through what to include in them, how to market them, with whom to share the information and how to offer something unique from everyone else. I drew from lessons learned with technology, design, public relations, marketing and so much more. I pulled from conversations with other readers, booksellers and librarians. I recalled the fabulous book club kits my public library system in North Carolina offered. Once I combined all of this together, I then had to call upon my creativity to make this vision a reality—one that will appeal to potential readers. 

Creativity Requires Fuel 

Just like I looked around to other authors for ideas of unique marketing techniques or unusual extras to offer to readers, I also must look outside myself for the fuel required to keep my creativity going strong. 

It’s the same concept as needing to strength train in order to build up and then maintain sculpted muscles. In order to maintain a healthy body, we must eat good foods that will keep up our energy levels and replenish anything we sweat out or lose throughout our daily routines. 

To be fully functioning creative people, we must surround ourselves with creativity and consume as much inspirational content as possible. 

Reading other books inspires our own works and provides us with an outstanding course in how to (or how not to) write stories that will impact readers and linger in their minds. Music awakens some part of our brain that then rocks out our own lyrics to the tune of our heart and soul. Studying art exercises the part of our minds that looks for various viewpoints from which to consider the same setting or scene or story. Television shows and movies are simply stories acted out and can improve our abilities to tell tales in such a way that our readers can see them acted out in their own imaginations as clearly as if they were watching a screen instead. 

I hope you’ll join me in a shout of thanks for the gift of creativity. I also hope you will consider it differently than you have before. Practice with it until it’s something that listens to and responds to your urging when you have time to exercise it and explore its depths. Consider ways to draw from it for every aspect of your endeavors instead of just the obvious. And, finally, don’t forget to fuel it! Read, watch, observe … fill up your creative wells as often as possible. 

Here’s to Creativity, my friend!

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Challenging Yourself as a Reader

One of the best things about being an author is an effect I never dreamed I’d have. Many of the people around me have started challenging themselves as readers. They are reading more or being more intentional with what they’re reading. It’s exciting! 

Before the start of the new year, my husband and I talked about this. He shared some of his goals for reading this year, and we discussed how to maintain practicality in such a challenge. 

Looks Different for Everyone 

I believe this looks different for every reader; however, one aspect of the approach is necessary for all. Any reading challenge—regardless of what it looks like for an individual—cannot be carved in stone or fashioned in such a way that it becomes a drudgery or a burden. That’s a quick way to burn out and give up reading. 

At this point I will reference junior high, high school and college English classes. While that’s a topic for a whole other post, I have met far too many people (nearly all of them) who talk about literature in school and discuss how it took them years after graduation to love reading again. I am one of them. Still others haven’t regained that enjoyment yet. 

I think book clubs, online book discussions, book bloggers and reading challenges provide outstanding ways to draw people back to a love of reading. They can, of course, do the opposite if they get too rigid (or we try to take on too much). 

Examples

Since this concept varies from reader to reader, I thought it would be fun to examine some of the ways readers challenge themselves; so I sent out a set of questions on the topic to my newsletter subscribers and social media followers. The responses are just as diverse as I expected. Check out what they have to say!

I love reading, always have. I had never read the Jane Austen novels so that has been one of my reading goals. In the summer of 2019, I read Northanger Abbey. Last summer I read Pride and Prejudice. I have completed reading Emma and am currently reading Persuasion. Well on my way to reading all of her novels. I am loving reading these period fictions.

This college semester, I am taking a class on Film and Literature which is a concentration on the Austen novels. We have been watching Pride and Prejudice movie versions in the class. The BBC did an excellent mini-series with Colin Firth in it that we watched in its entirety in class. We saw a few scenes from the 1940 version done in Hollywood with Lawrence Olivier (not at all the same, the costumes were not true to the period—looked like Gone with the Wind dresses. Also, a zombie version, Pride, Prejudice and Zombies, was made in 2016. I watched that one last night on our cable channels. 

One thing that I didn’t know was that the movie, Clueless, is a modern adaptation of Emma, and a very good one according to our professor. So now I’ve got to re-watch Clueless.  I can also see some similarities in Jane Austen’s book, Pride and Prejudice, and the movie, Bridgette Jones’ Diary. If you have read the book and seen the movie, maybe you agree with me.

Tracey B. 

 

I am competitive and I love reading books, so I have learned to be wary of any challenge. I signed up on Goodreads to read 24 books this year. I read 8 books in January and I had to force myself to stop, because I could feel myself becoming obsessed with reaching the goal. I currently have 4 other books (each about half read) that are begging me to finish. There are 3 more on my current TBR shelf, and the library just sent a notification that my holds are ready for pick up.

Jo H. 

 

I try but [reading challenges] just stress me out. I pick a goal for total books on Goodreads and to read the Bible every year. That’s enough!

Amy D. 

 

I read what I want to read, but I do enjoy seeing if I can complete a challenge. It stretches me as a reader, or challenges my creativity to see if I can squeak what I wanted to read into the challenge categories.

Emily M. 

 

Well I’m a fairly new (consistent) reader and trying to push myself to read more so reading challenges are sometimes the motivation I need to keep going. I’ve been trying to challenge myself both in how many books I read but also in the content (not ONLY read fiction etc.) I wouldn’t say I really feel “stress” because ultimately it’s something that’s good for me so if I read then great, but if I’m not going as quickly as I’d like I try and give myself some grace. At least with me this year I started a reading challenge as a New Year’s resolution.

Amanda R. 

 

For me, a number of books is a challenge but also the length of the book is challenging! It’s hard for me, in between classes and work, to stay engaged in one book. I’ve been challenging myself to read books I have already bought that I started and never finished. 

Reading challenges can get frustrating and stressful if they aren’t catered towards more books I like. I’d love to branch out and find new areas of literature to understand. I get excited by new books. I just love being in a book store. 

I have tried a reading challenge or two or three and fail miserably every time. There is no set starting goal. I have in the past, with my busy schedule, challenged myself to read at least one book per month. But if I finish and started a new one before the month was over, I did have to finish the second also before the month was up!

Destiney T.

The Many Colors of Reading Challenges

As you’ve seen from the readers above, challenging ourselves comes in ways as diverse as readers. I have a few that came to mind that I wanted to give a closer examination. 

Just Read 

The first and simplest is also the most open-ended: Just Read. Sometimes we have to challenge ourselves to pick up a book and start turning pages. This could happen after a book burnout or when we decide for the first time to make reading part of our life or after we’ve gone through a little reading slump for some reason. Once we start and reading has moved past the “new-thing-I-do” to a habit, then we can add on to our challenge—one book a month; one a season; one a week. 

The danger lies with getting bogged down by numbers, especially others’ numbers. If you are on Goodreads—which I hope you are!—you can set your book goal for the year. This is a fun annual tradition to make, and it’s such a joy to look back at previous years to see what books you read in 2009, read your reviews of them and discover your shortest and longest and first and last books read for every year. It’s like a reading journal online! But, as with any good thing, it can become overwhelming and anxiety-inducing.

When you choose a single digit number but all the friends you see are choosing two- and three-digit goals, it’s easy to feel like you don’t measure up. Or, if you aim for the stars and set a goal of 100 or 50 and fall way short in December, it’s easy to walk away from the old year feeling deflated. 

Hold those numbers loosely and know that you can’t compare numbers because those numbers represent completely different people in different stages of life. 

Go Outside Your Comfort Zone 

I’m rather fond of this approach. Often when I ask readers their favorite kinds of books, they can answer me right away: cozy mystery, sweet romance, fantasy. That’s so great! But … it’s so easy to fall into a rut of only reading one type of book and miss a world-sized library of other options. 

Sure, it’s just fine if you have a favorite genre and that nine out of ten books you read come from there, but be brave and daring with book #10. Give it a shot! You never know. You might just find a new favorite genre or author. Even when I haven’t reached The End a fan of something new, I’ve always been glad I gave it a shot. 

My best example of this is Jane Austen. I’m sorry, friends, but I do not care for her books. (Please don’t kick me out of all the bookish circles!) I did try to enjoy two of her books—please don’t ask me which ones; I can’t for the life of me remember. At the last page, I realized I just didn’t enjoy it, but I turned back to that cover and thanked Ms. Austen for her contributions to literature. I have an immense appreciation for her. 

Another big way this plays out is with nonfiction. Most often, the readers I engage focus primarily (if not solely) on fiction. Shake it up every now and then! Learn something new—basket weaving, quilting, woodworking—or read a biography about someone you admire or want to know more about, perhaps your favorite cozy mystery author whose books you read all the time. Read a book of encouragement for your season of life—mother to young kids, stressed-out up-and-comer, gentleman closing in on the retirement date who wants to start a second career. 

Whoever you are and whatever you’re in to, the nonfiction section has a book (or thousands) for you. 

Earn Your RD—Doctorate of Reading! 

For the record, I think an RD should be a thing. 

What I’m really getting at with this is to encourage you to think of reading a little differently than you may have before. 

Think of reading as a degree that you can tailor to your desires, pick up and set down as you wish, continue for your entire life and even obtain for free (thank you to our fantastic public library systems). 

Are you as pumped up as I am?

What does this look like for me? 

Before I toss it over to you, I wanted to share what challenging myself as a reader looks like for me right now. 

Over the past few years, I’ve tried to be intentional in my book diversity. If I feel like I’ve read too many fantasies, I reach for a nonfiction or a classic. I’ve slowly picked at some of those classics I somehow missed, despite my English major. 

I’ve also chosen to be picky. If I don’t think I’ll enjoy a book or gain some value from it even if I don’t, I won’t pick it up. The reason for this is I have limited reading time; and what time I do have, I have chosen to give a good portion of to my critique partners and the authors I’ve chosen as my “people,” the ones whose launch teams I join. 

Currently, I’ve been choosing books based on research or a culture that interested me or my teetering stack of books I bought last year during my tour of area indie bookstores. Next month, I will switch gears to fantasy and that will likely be where I camp out for a while. I’m sure I won’t be able to go the entire rest of the year without reaching for another genre, but I am intentionally choosing primarily fantasy since I will begin writing my fantasy series this summer. 

To do this, I will challenge myself with a list. I have a bunch of titles already in mind, then my fabulous reader friends who join in to my monthly Logos & Mythos Book Club LIVE on my Facebook page gave me a whole other list of suggestions. Sometime before next month’s club, I will pull those two lists together and make an intentional plan for which books I will read first. 

What does this look like for you? 

Now, it’s your turn! I want to know how you challenge yourself as a reader. Leave me a comment and let me know what challenging your reading self looks like! 

 

I also have a few suggestions for you, if you’d like to give a structured challenge a try:

Mimi posts book challenges on her Instagram, books.n.blossoms. She also shares reviews and giveaways for Christian fiction and more on her website, Woven by Words. 

Christine, also known as The Uncorked Librarian, has a no-pressure challenge going on all year long. Check out her Mulan-inspired March Challenge. And, if you’re looking for something specific to read, she has a whole bunch of setting-specific book lists … like this one, featuring my novel Any Good Thing!

This summer, I will have my third annual Summer Reading Challenge over on my Facebook page . I hope you’ll join us! I do have a list, but you can read none, one or a hundred. I also have daily posts and opportunities to earn points. Oh, and did I mention … PRIZES!

Follow me and keep an eye open for more detailed posts as we get closer to summer time.

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Day in the Life of an Indie Author: What Does a Launch Day Look Like?

When I was a little girl and first dreamed of being an author, I pictured riding to a fancy rooftop restaurant in a limo, stepping onto a red carpet in fancy heels and greeting excited readers at my book’s Launch Party. 

Yes, I realize how ridiculous that sounds. I was only six! 

Of course, as an adult, there were those episodes of Castle that made me think maybe such things do exist. 

I’m here to share with you today that they don’t … at least not for me. 

Yet. 

What? I’m still a dreamer! 

While I’m fantasizing, let’s switch out that vision of the limo for one of me driving up in Dom’s car from The Fast and the Furious. I’d rather boots and jeans with a leather jacket than heels anyway. 

But I digress. 

What does a real-life Launch Day look like? 

Since I’ve survived three of them, I figured it was time to share my experience. 

Any Good Thing 

My first Launch Day. 

*moment to pause for a sigh over that sweet first* 

I woke up to the reminder that I was now—and forevermore—officially a published author. Before the next thought could come, the overflowing laundry basket caught my eye. 

Never have I loathed that thing more. We’re talking serious resentment, friends. 

As things got going, I made sure scheduled emails and posts were ready and checked my book’s order status. I juggled a full day with many, many social media posts—one every hour or some ridiculousness, including three live Facebook posts—while still teaching my kids a regular full day of school … and that doggone laundry. 

Around 10 p.m., I posted one last time before my husband and I popped a cork to celebrate that milestone. I was exhausted and felt a little silly for my overabundance of posts. 

Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Critique Partner 

This was my sweet co-author’s first Launch Day—yay for my dear friend, Mea Smith!—so, I wanted her to have some fun. We started ahead of the big day because that was the lesson I learned after Launch #1. We tried to host a special watch party on our YouTube channel, but YouTube decided to go ka-plooey during that hour. So, we had a mad scramble to come up with a backup plan and ran that puppy on Facebook instead. 

Stress sweating was involved. 

We planned out various posts throughout the day and had fun chatting back and forth. I rearranged my kids’ school schedule, so we had less work to do together that day. I did not do laundry. It was less stressful than my first launch. 

This Good Thing 

Launch #3, and I was feeling like a pro. I planned out a few posts and scattered them throughout Launch Week. No big deal. I planned a giveaway and decided to make it low-key and simple. I’ve learned those things have low ROIs (returns on investment), so I took a new approach and just had some fun with it. 

My kids got another light Tuesday in school. I didn’t do the videos that week that I had originally planned. You see, every time I get stressed (though I honestly didn’t feel stressed on that week), I have a giant fever blister that pops up on my lip. So, we had no videos, a few posts, no special wine—that night was a daddy/daughter event for my husband and oldest, and we were having a tight bank account week—and I had a blog post to write. 

In case you wonder, I didn’t even glance at that laundry basket. 

Lessons Learned 

With each launch I’ve learned something new. The first taught me to chill out; the second taught me that technology will likely fail and a backup plan might be better concocted ahead of time; the third reminded me that life goes on, even on Launch Day, so I better just roll with it. 

Another detail I’m pondering is how, traditionally, Tuesdays are launch days for new books. I read why somewhere, but I’ve forgotten the reason. That is how bookstores are set up, and I do love the Tuesday “New Release” photos many of them post on their social media pages. But … from my practical standpoint, why on earth am I launching my books on a Tuesday? 

You know what people do on Tuesdays? They go to work. They go to school. They have meetings. They fight over homework while cooking supper. And, doggone it, they have to do laundry. 

It just seems like a lousy day to promote a book. The last thing on my mind in the midst of all that mess is what new book I can get my hands on. So, day of the week is a detail I will be considering as I plan the next launch. 

Another thing I want to do more during future launches is find ways to get readers involved. I want to actually have a launch team, for one thing. That’s just been one more thing to attempt to coordinate, which is why I haven’t followed through with them yet. I’ve had so much to learn as I started out that I’m just now getting to a place where I feel I can add a more organized team to the mix. I’ve also considered having a launch party online—maybe Facebook, or even Instagram (if I can ever figure that platform out). Once again, though, who has time on a Tuesday night to sit around and play games and chat online in honor of a new book? What night would be good for that? 

I would also love to have an in-person launch party one day. Originally, I had planned one around the time of my first release, but very few of the people nearest and dearest to me were able to make it and money was tight. I hope to throw it one day as a thank you to all the people who have been so supportive and instrumental in my success as an author. We probably won’t dress up or be served by waiters in tuxedos or have an amazing car to race around in, though. 

You know what else won’t be there, though? 

Laundry. 

Now it’s your turn! How can I make future Book Launch Days more fun for you? Do you have any suggestions on ways to get readers involved or a better day of the week to launch?

What are some fun things you’ve seen other authors do? If you are an author, what have you done that’s worked well or been well-received by your readers?

And, most important, how can I make that dreaded laundry basket disappear?

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