E.G. Bella's Blog, page 13

The Bookworm’s Tag (#3)

Happy Friday!

Does this tag look familiar to you? If you’ve been around my site before, that might be because I’m back to do this tag for the third time! Previously, I participated in it here and here (the questions change each time).

This time, I’ve been tagged by Grace A. Johnson, who passed along some very fun-looking questions! Thanks, friend!

The tag graphic!

First of all, the rules:

Thank and link the blogger who nominated you (Again, thank you so much, Grace!)Include the tag graphic in your postAnswer the ten questions the blogger askedNominate between five and ten bloggersAsk your nominees ten book-related questions!Don’t feel bound to these rules(Most importantly) Have fun!

And now for the questions!

What’s one book that you wished you would’ve written instead? (i.e The False Prince, Chronicles of Narnia, Hunger Games, Charlotte’s Web, etc.)

Hmm, if this means a book I wish I would’ve written for the credit, then maybe The Lord of the Rings? I would love to have created something so deep, expansive, and interesting, and with so many powerful themes woven throughout. If it means a book I wish I would’ve written so I could change part of it, then I’d say…The Fault in Our Stars. That book sucked me in, and I think it had lots of potential to be really impactful. However, there was too much unnecessary content that keeps me from rereading it, or sharing it with others.

What type of book character would you be? (i.e best friend, comedic side character, wise mentor, etc.)

To be completely honest, I could definitely see myself being the minor but loyal side character that may or may not even have a name, because they’re going to die off in the first few chapters/minutes, haha. And if I managed to survive longer, then I think I’d still just be a loyal side character. I wouldn’t want the pressure of being the mentor, I’m not funny enough to be the comic relief, and I certainly hope I wouldn’t be the villain!

Do you prefer humorous stories, more serious stories, or both?

It depends on my mood, but in general, I prefer more serious stories. The best combination is when its a serious, deep story but has little bits of humor sprinkled throughout. Not enough to cheapen the story line, but enough to keep it from getting too dark. I’ve been told I’m weird for liking stories with sad endings (ex. Bridge to Terabithia), but I just appreciate stories that are so deep and well-written that they make you feel.

I never mind a good, clean comedy either though. Sometimes you just need to laugh!

What’s one book that you’d like to change the ending to?

I had to think about this one for a while, actually, but I’d change part of The Last Battle (The Chronicles of Narnia) by C. S. Lewis. Not necessarily the end of the book, but since that book is the end of the series, I’m going to say it counts. It’s always made me really sad that Susan turned her back on Narnia and Aslan, especially because I know it’s an allegory to what will happen in the end times, and that makes me think of real people I know. So I wish I could change that – both in the story and in real life. Maybe that’s a cheat answer, but oh well.

Which author is your favorite and why?

Oh no, not this question! There are far too many authors whose works I enjoy, and also, just because I like the author doesn’t mean that all their books will be my favorites. However, one great author I discovered this year is Nadine Brandes. So far, I’ve read her novels Fawkes, Romonav, and am working through her A Time to Die series, and I can honestly say they’re all in my favorite books list. Creative, engaging, and with strong but subtle Christian themes? Yes please! If that sounds good to you, I recommend looking her up!

Where is your favorite place to read a book?

Probably outside somewhere, provided its a nice day. There’s just something about hearing birds, and feeling the breeze and sunshine while flipping through pages that’s just so calming. And not in a busy public space or else I can’t really concentrate. Somewhere pretty quiet and secluded is perfect. Realistically though, I do most of my reading while sitting at my desk, or while standing and supervising little kids for my work. Right now I’m usually too happy to get to read that I don’t really care where it is, haha.

What genre of book would best describe your personality? (i.e drama, comedy, adventure, etc.)

This is a really good question! I don’t think my favorite genres to read (adventure, dystopian, etc.) describe my personality very well. Instead, I’ll get very specific and niche, and say historical fantasy. I’m not over-the-top adventurous, and am usually content not to rock the boat or draw extra attention to myself. I like things to be realistic and have structure. That said, I also have a creative streak and enjoy adding my own twists to things to give them just enough uniqueness and make them memorable. So I think that works?

What’s your favorite book cover?

This is yet another question that I never have a good answer for. I like so many covers, for all different reasons. Some because of their simplicity, some because of their depth, some just because of their colors . . . Previously, I’ve shared a mix of my favorites, and this is one of them! (I’ve never read The Girl the Sea Gave Back but I love the combination of the bold letters, colors, and the intrigue of the woman in the sea.)

Have you ever been carsick while reading a book during a drive?

I’ve never gotten carsick before, but I’ve definitely gotten very car-nauseous. Unfortunately, I can’t read anything while I’m riding in a vehicle without getting queasy. Signs aren’t usually an issue, but books or even reading much on my phone just doesn’t work for me. So that’s a bummer on long car rides, but at least I enjoy watching the scenery!

What’s one fiction book that’d you’d give to a friend with no hesitation?

Hind’s Feet in High Places by Hannah Hurnard. It’s a sweet allegory and one of my very favorite books. It never fails to encourage me and remind me of the character of our Good Shepherd, Jesus. Even without seeing the Christian themes and references, it’s a touching story, but when reading it and knowing it’s an allegory, it makes it so powerful. I know it’s not everyone’s style, but I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good book.

Because I’ve already done this tag, and tagged a bunch of bloggers each time, I’m just going to extend an open invitation to anyone reading this. If this looks like fun to you, please hop in! The more the merrier!

And like Grace, I’m going to pass these same questions onto you because I think they’re really fun and creative!

Here they are again:

1. What’s one book that you wished you would’ve written instead? (i.e The False Prince, Chronicles of Narnia, Hunger Games, Charlotte’s Web, etc.)

2. What type of book character would you be? (i.e best friend, comedic side character, wise mentor, etc.)

3. Do you prefer humorous stories, more serious stories, or both?

4. What’s one book that you’d like to change the ending to?

5. Which author is your favorite and why?

6. Where is your favorite place to read a book?

7. What genre of book would best describe your personality? (i.e drama, comedy, adventure, etc.)

8. What’s your favorite book cover?

9. Have you ever been carsick while reading a book during a drive?

10. What’s one fiction book that’d you’d give to a friend with no hesitation?

Well, thank you for joining me once more with this fun tag! I enjoyed answering these questions, and I hope you enjoyed coming along for the ride. Thanks for being a fellow bookworm!

How would YOU answer these questions? If you have a blog and want to participate, consider yourself tagged! Or if you’d rather let me know your thoughts in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you!

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10 Impactful Quotes About Fathers

Happy Father’s Day!

Last year, I wrote about my own father on Father’s Day, and allowed myself to gush about all the ways he’s a blessing to me, all the reasons I’m grateful for him, and all the things that cause me to thank God for making me his daughter.

I am so very blessed by and thankful for my father. He’s been an amazing dad to me, and I look back over my childhood with fond memories. I can see so many ways he’s taught me, influenced me, and helped strengthen my faith. Without his love and guidance, I definitely wouldn’t be who I am today (and I certainly wouldn’t have the same cheesy sense of humor). He continues to be an amazing dad, and my respect for him grows as I do.

Fathers have very important roles in their families, and in the lives of their children. A father’s influence changes so much. For a long time, I took for granted the fact that my father has been a great influence and leader in my family. Now I know that not everyone has a father (or mother) that they can say the same about.

It’s a broken world, and that means families are broken too – in all different ways. For me and others, that’s meant losing siblings. For some, it’s difficulties with one or both parents. The list goes on for each and every family. There’s no such thing as the perfect family on this earth. But God uses the situation that we’re in to draw us closer to Him, and to teach us more about Himself. It’s not easy, but He’s faithful.

A good father can be a very real example of how our Heavenly Father cares for us. A father that loves his children unconditionally, teaches them even when the teaching process isn’t pleasant, and is always there to encourage and support them as they stumble through life models the way that God loves, teaches, and is constantly with us. I’m thankful to have seen that sort of example firsthand.

Our parents are huge influences on our lives. And in the cases when they’re not the influences they should be, I’ve seen that God tends to bring other role models into those lives to fill those shoes. To guide, teach, love, encourage, support, and be an example of God’s character. We all need those kinds of role models in our lives. And some day, we may end up with the chance to be that role model for someone – if we’re not already.

It’s humbling and scary, and today I’m thanking God for the blessing of a father who’s shown me what being a good role model looks like. In addition, I thought it’d be nice to look at some quotes from other people who have spoken about their fathers. Whether it’s about their own father, or about the qualities of a good father in general, here are ten of my favorite quotes that I found…

1. “A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.”
(Billy Graham)

2. “Fatherly love is the act of giving your life for the sake of someone else’s needs.” 
(Nate Dallas)

3. “A father’s smile has been known to light up a child’s entire day.”
(Susan Gale)

4. “Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance.”
(Ruth E. Renkel)

5. “The presence and involvement of a father is unlike anything else in the universe. That’s because dads mimic what our heavenly Father does for us, His children—He protects, shelters, comforts and loves.”
(Joe Battaglia)

6. “Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, story-tellers, and singers of song.”
(Pam Brown)

7. “My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.”
(Jim Valvano)

8. “What a boy can use, and too often doesn’t have, are the heart of his father and the fellowship of men. A boy needs at least one man who pays attention to him, spends time with him, and admires him. A boy needs a role model, a man whom he can regard as a mentor.”
(Dennis Rainey)

9. “A father’s presence is more important than a father’s provision.”
(Paul Strozier)

10. “Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad.”
(Unknown)

It’s so easy to take the blessings in our lives for granted, as you probably know just as well as I do. So if you’ve been blessed with a father that you’re thankful for, please consider this a friendly reminder to show your gratitude in some way. They do so much for us, show so much love to us in their own ways, and they deserve to be shown acknowledgement, love and so much appreciation back. Not just on Father’s Day, but any and every day.

Did any of these quotes speak to you today? Go ahead and let me know your favorites in the comments, as well as if there is a certain topic you’d like to see more quotes about. While you’re there, I’d love to hear something you’ve learned from YOUR father!

‘Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them...’
(Psalms 127: 3-5 NIV)

1. I shared more of my quote collection in many previous posts, which you can find here.

2. To receive your own printable pages of the above quotes (and the ones used in my other ‘Quotes’ posts), sign up for my email list! Simply fill in the form here, and I’ll send you PDF copies of the quote collections – as well as an inspirational short story. I look forward to hearing from you!

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My Favorite Friendships in Fiction

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Friends are wonderful – to state the obvious. We enjoy having true friends that understand us, are there for us, will laugh and have fun with us, and will remain trustworthy and caring. Granted, it’s often tricky to find those friends, but once we do, they’re true treasures.

I also enjoy discovering those kinds of friendships in fiction – in books, shows, and movies. Many of my ideas of true friends came from stories that I took in when I was younger. And thankfully, most of them were actually accurate representations of what good friends should be like. Not all stories give good examples to look up to, of course, but many do.

And that’s what I wanted to share today. I thought it’d be a fun chance to look at some of my favorite fictional friendships. Ones that I’ve enjoyed reading about or watching over the years. There’s no such thing as a perfect friendship, but my favorites are the ones that are real, and either are inspiring from the beginning, or reach that point after character growth.

There are so many great friendships from fiction, and I had a tough time choosing ten favorites. My story intake is extremely varied – in all kinds of media and genres – and I’m not sure whether some of them will be recognizable, so let me know if you like any of these friendships as well! I’d love to know if you’ve read or watched any of these stories too.

And for the sake of narrowing it down, I chose not to include any romantic relationships (the truly good ones are based on friendship after all), or mentor/student relationships (even though there are many friendships that would also fall into that category as well). I focused instead on peer friendships; ones that are similar in age, position, and interests.

So with that said, some of my favorite fictional friendships are…

Jess and Leslie (from Bridge to Terabithia)

This was one of the first ‘older kid’ books that I ever read, and I remember finding Jess and Leslie’s friendship inspiring. The whole book brings out a lot of emotions for me, just because of how real it is. The emotions, the depth of the relationships, the hardships…I liked the complicated nature of Jess and Leslie’s friendship, and how close they grew. And all the ways that their friendship continued to influence Jess later on was touching.

Eep and Dawn (from Croods: A New Age)

I’m not sure how well-known this one is, but it was a pleasant surprise for me! When Dawn appeared in the story, I was fully prepared for the start of a stereotypical rivalry between the two teen girls over one boy. Instead, they bonded instantly, and spent the rest of the movie being great friends (maybe not the best influences on each other, but still…good friends). I really enjoyed the twist, and getting to see such a wholesome friendship.

Mandie and Celia (from the Mandie series)

It’s been years since I read this series, but I remember always liking Mandie and Celia’s friendship. They were such sweet friends to one another, supporting and helping each other through difficult situations. Mandie had a lot of other friends through the books, but Celia stood out to me as one of the truest. Not that their friendship was perfect, but they did their best, and young me wished for a friend like Celia.

Bruno and Shmuel (from The Boy in the Striped Pajamas)

This is another emotional one. I know the book is controversial for its accuracy (or lack of it?), but the friendship between these boys touched me. They were so young, and didn’t see their differences as negative, the way that the people around them did. They were just two boys, and two friends. The sad contrast between Shmuel’s maturity because of what he’d been through, and the complete innocence of Bruno due to his upbringing was powerful.

Mike and Sully (from Monsters Inc.)

Mike and Sully’s friendship makes me smile. They may drive each other insane with their antics and sometimes let each other down, but when the time comes, they’re always there for the other person – er, monster. I liked seeing how different they were, and how they balanced each other out, and yet, their passions, hearts, and senses of humor drew them together. It may be a kid’s movie, but I enjoy their realistic example of friendship.

Han Solo and Chewbacca (from Star Wars)

Another friendship where both parties balance each other out well! Han’s recklessness, spunk, and stubborn nature, are perfectly countered by Chewbacca’s loyal, usually more level-headed (yet also spunky) personality. I suspect Chewbacca wouldn’t get into nearly as much trouble on his own, but I love that he’s willing to jump into anything for Han. The dynamic between the two often makes me laugh, and they do make a great team.

Anakin and Captain Rex (from Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

Here’s another of my favorite from Star Wars. Supposedly Anakin holds rank over Captain Rex, but I’ve always liked that you can hardly tell. Rex is loyal and respectful to Anakin, but rather than take advantage of rank, the two treat one another as peers, equals, and most of all, as friends. They also make a great team, and work together very well. And of course, their banter is top-notch. I try not to think about everything that happens later on…

Merry and Pippin (from The Lord of the Rings)

What post on great fictional friendships would be complete without these two? They are another pair with incredible loyalty, and I love how they’re always there for each other, no matter what. The two went through so many trials, and it only made their friendship stronger. Merry’s level-headedness and Pippin’s adventurousness might lead to them driving each other crazy sometimes, but it also means they balance each other well.

Frodo and Sam (from The Lord of the Rings)

Yet another Lord of the Rings example! This one is more complicated for me, as I’ve always found Frodo to be a bit annoying at times. But Sam is an absolutely incredible, loyal friend to him, and I know there’s no way Frodo would have succeeded on his journey without Sam. What makes it funny is that my boyfriend and I have the same personality types as Sam and Frodo, respectively, and it’s very accurate – yes, even the sometimes annoying part, haha.

Thomas and Newt (from The Maze Runner)

Again, I’m not much of a fan of Thomas from this series, but Newt has always been my favorite. And together, they make a good team. I think Thomas’s impulsiveness and courage help draw Newt from his depression and hesitation when needed, and Newt’s maturity and experience keep Thomas alive, haha. I refuse to think about later events regarding Newt (particularly in the books), but I enjoy their friendship in the first book especially.

Well, those are some of my favorite fictional friendships! There are so many heartwarming, inspiring, and/or amusing friendships to be found in books or movies, and those are just a few of the ones that always make me smile. Thanks for joining me as I talked about them!

What are some of your favorite friendships from books or movies? What draws you to them? I’d love to hear about them, so feel free to let me know in the comments below!

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The Get to Know Me Tag – Writer’s Edition

Happy Friday!

I’m back to do another blog tag (another one that I’ve politely pirated from this blog).

This one is super in-depth! I’ve enjoyed reading the answers of several other writers, so I thought I’d join in. Maybe you’ll learn far more about me than you’d like to know, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take, haha. Hopefully you enjoy it – and I’d love if you stick around until the end to share some fun facts about yourself!

The lovely tag graphic!

Here are the rules:

link back to the person who created the tag. (That would be Savannah, right here). thank the person who tagged you  (I wasn’t tagged, but I found this open tag on Low Expectations, right here.)share the tag graphic (see above!)tag eleven bloggers 

And now for the questions…

Vital Stats And Appearance

(pen)Name: E. G. Bella

Nicknames: I usually go by Bella. Some people prefer E. G. though, and that works too!

Birthday: It’s in August (A magician…um, writer…can’t reveal all her secrets… *swirls cape*).

Hair color and length: My hair is a medium blonde and currently goes about six inches below my shoulders. It’s somewhat curly/frizzy too, so finding an accurate length can be tricky sometimes.

Eye color: Blue. And again, medium – not very light, not very dark.

Braces/piercings/tattoos: I had Invisalign – a form of braces – for a year and a half, but no piercings or tattoos (needles!).

Righty or lefty: Righty. I had a phase of trying to learn to be ambidextrous, but I kind of gave it up when everything was so much slower and sloppier, haha. I still try sometimes though.

Ethnicity: I believe Caucasian is the right term here. I’m a hodge-podge of a few different ethnicities, but the Norwegian blood is what has shown most, appearance-wise.

Firsts

First novel written: If this includes unfinished works, than my first novel was technically a ‘horse book’. I was very into books like Heartland when I was younger, so that’s what I decided to write about. Honestly, I don’t remember what my main storyline was, but I got about two chapters in, and I’m pretty sure I had something tragic planned for my main character’s horse… I promise I’m not this cruel in real life.

First novel completed: This would be my Star Wars spin-off novel (which later became a series). I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to share it publicly – due to copyrights and that fun stuff – but I still plan to go back and finish that series. It’s very near to my heart, and I had a lot of fun writing it. Also the main character was a girl my age at the time (eleven), and she got away with saying all the fiery, sarcastic things I would never even dare to, haha.

Award for writing: None. I’ve been a semifinalist in a novel contest twice, and won an informal short story contest though, which was really encouraging.

First publication: The Toymaker’s Doll – an allegorical ‘short’ story published in December of 2021. This is another story that’s very dear to me, and sharing it has been a very humbling, fulfilling experience.

Conference: I’ve attended two virtual writing conferences – both One Year Adventure Novel (OYAN) Summer Workshops – and in three weeks, I hope to attend in-person for the first time!

Query/Pitch: I’ve only done several ‘mock pitches’ with Allen Arnold during the aforementioned conferences, and those were nerve-wracking enough! I know some day I’ll probably do a real query/pitch, but I will need to improve before then, haha.

Favorites

Novel (that you wrote): Oh no, how am I supposed to answer this? I genuinely have things I love in all my novels (or else I wouldn’t write them), but I guess if I have to choose…I’d say it’s the Star Wars novel/series I mentioned earlier. Partly nostalgia, I suppose, but I also just love all the characters, plot elements, and themes.

Genre: Currently either dystopian or medieval fiction. I’ll read almost any genre though, and also really like historical fictions, fantasies, and certain contemporary and science fiction novels. I read a lot of non-fiction too.

Author: Ah, another hard question! I have so many favorite authors. One of them that I’ve been reading a lot of recently is Nadine Brandes. Between her creative and gripping plots, relatable characters, moving themes, and absolutely beautiful writing style, I’ve yet to read a story of hers that I don’t really like.

Writing Music: Any emotional instrumentals. Music with words tends to distract me. Sometimes I’ll use classical music, sometimes piano versions of Christian songs, sometimes soundtracks…it just depends on my mood and what I’m writing.

Time to Write: Either mid-morning, when my brain is at full power, or late at night, when my brain has called it quits and can’t second-guess everything I write. I don’t have many in-between modes, haha.

Writing Snack/Drink: I don’t eat while I write, just because it slows me down and I’m paranoid about my keyboard getting sticky. But I always have my water bottle with me, and drink quite a bit of sparkling water as well.

Movie: Again, I have a lot of favorite movies, but for the sake of choosing one, I’ll say Treasure Planet. It’s a very underrated but well-done movie. The humor is great, the sci-fi spin on Treasure Island is clever, and I especially like the growth and depth of all the characters.

Writing Memory: Hmm, one of my favorites was while writing chapter 8 of Cabin Girl. It was one of those rare moments when inspiration comes easily, and I just kept piling more and more disasters onto my poor heroine. The result was a really fun section to write, and a chapter that I’m consistently told is one of the most tense ones in the book – which I consider a success, haha.

Childhood Book: I used to read the Mandie books by Lois Gladys Leppard a lot, and the third one in the series was the first book I ever remember making me cry. It seems like a weird thing to remember fondly, but it shows how invested I was in those stories. I liked mysteries at that age, and enjoyed Mandie and Joe’s sleuthing.

Currently

Reading: Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed by Philip Hallie, Operation Grendel by Daniel Schwabauer, and The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer. So far, I’m enjoying all three!

Writing: Cabin Girl finishing touches, and the first draft of a medieval novel (not going to share details yet, but you’ll be hearing more about it, haha).

Listening to: Téir Abhaile Riú by Celtic Woman (specifically this amazing rendition). I absolutely love Irish/Celtic/Gaelic music, and I’m on that kind of a kick right now. I’ve also been listening to more hymns lately, such as It is Well (With My Soul) and Amazing Grace.

Watching: Not much, actually. I’m probably forgetting something, but I just haven’t had as much time for movies lately. I’d like to re-watch The Hunger Games movies soon though.

Learning: That I truly am completely lost without the Lord, and that relying on Him is not just one way to a fulfilling life – but the Way. Writing wise, I’m learning to develop better habits and focusing strategies.

Future

Want To Be Published: Yes, absolutely! I’ve started down this path, and hope to publish many more stories as the years continue – novels and short stories.

Indie or Traditional: Ideally both some day, but I’m focusing on indie publishing. I’ve discussed why in previous posts, but it just fits me and my personal writing priorities better – at least right now.

Wildest Goal: To be a full-time author, able to support a family through my writing. Is it possible? Realistically, it’s not common, but it has been done before. Stranger things have happened! I like the quote, “Shoot for the heavens, and you’ll still land among the stars.” I’ll do my best and follow God’s leading, and see where He places me.

I would like to tag:

1. Kate @ Once Upon an Ordinary
2. Maribeth Barber
3. Raina @ Enthralled by Love
4. Saraina Whitney
5. Vanessa Hall
6. Kristina Hall
7. Kristianne @ Whimsical Wanderings
8. Liesl @ Quote, Unquote
9. Jordyn @ Indie Edits By J
10. Grace A. Johnson
11. E. M. Colton

This was such a fun tag! I feel very exposed, haha, but these were very good questions, and I hope you’ve enjoyed this as much as I have. Thanks for joining me! Did anything surprise you? Do you share any of my ‘vital stats’, favorites, or future goals?

I’d love to learn more about YOU, so if you want to do this, consider this your tag! Or if you’d rather, feel free to answer any or all of the questions in the comments below. I look forward to hearing from you!

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What I’m Learning About Vulnerability

Being vulnerable is hard.

The definition of the word vulnerable is literally, ‘susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm.’ Being vulnerable means stripping away our walls, our barriers, our safety nets.

Vulnerability is honesty and openness, and allowing others to see our true selves – the good and the bad. The polished pieces and the broken ones. The strengths and the weaknesses.

Understandably, that’s very difficult to do. We naturally don’t want to reveal the deepest, most intimate parts of ourselves. Often, we don’t even want to reveal some of the shallower parts either, especially if they cast light on our mistakes or shortcomings.

We rarely allow ourselves to be vulnerable. After all, we’re much more easily attacked – physically and emotionally – when we’re being so open. To some extent, it’s good to withhold deep information about ourselves until we know we can trust another person. We want and need to make sure someone else won’t take advantage of our vulnerability.

But although we’re hesitant to be vulnerable with others, I think we all want others to be vulnerable with us. Speaking for myself at least, I don’t like when others wear masks. When people pretend to be someone they’re not, or they refuse to be honest about how they’re really doing, or open about their life. I understand why they hold back – I often do the same thing after all – but it makes it difficult to truly get to know someone.

I’m still pretty young, but my desire for openness and vulnerability with others grows with every year. When I’m getting to know someone, all I want is for them to be honest with me. To be themselves. Not everyone will ‘click’, but that’s okay. Not everyone is meant to be extremely close friends with everyone else. We all have certain people. But in order to find those people, we have to be able to know who they really are.

I try my best to be someone that others can trust. And as time progresses, and that trust grows, I pray that they feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable with me. It means a lot when others do the same thing for me.

Nowadays, it feels like people are more closed off than ever. Social media in particular has made it very easy to construct ‘alternate versions’ of ourselves. Whether it’s through pictures, writing, or voices, it’s often possible to portray ourselves as something completely different than we really are. I find it difficult to know who to trust.

And that’s why I think it’s so refreshing to meet someone who’s willing to be themselves. Someone who doesn’t try to hide the personality that God gave them. Someone who’s honest about their mistakes and weaknesses, and also doesn’t shy away from using the strengths and gifts that God’s blessed them with. Someone who invites others to know and be part of their story.

Lately, I’ve been contemplating this more and more. My personality does best with deep friendships. It’s difficult for me to consider someone a friend if I really don’t know much about who they are as a person. Their desires, their fears, their experiences, their thoughts…I feel most connected to someone, and really only connected to someone, when they share those aspects of themselves with me. Their trust tells me we’re really friends.

I know this varies a little depending on the person and their personality, but I still think we’re all seeking more honesty in the people around us. There’s something very refreshing and even magnetic about people who are vulnerable. We’re drawn to that openness.

Even though I appreciate when others are vulnerable with me, I still struggle with being that vulnerable myself. But I’m working on it. Over the past year or so, I’ve been making an intentional effort to open up more. To be honest about what I’m struggling with or feeling.

It doesn’t come naturally, it’s not easy, and it’s not fun, but it’s repeatedly led to deeper relationships with the people around me, and I’ve found help for issues I’m struggling with, just because I was open about them. I’ve also found I’m more empathetic as a result.

Being vulnerable ourselves also encourages others to be vulnerable. It’s inspiring – at least I think so. To see someone else opening up motivates us to do the same, to return their trust, and to allow them to know us for who we really are. I want to be that encouragement and inspiration for others, and I want others to know that they have a trustworthy friend in me.

I believe it’s even more crucial for Christians to be vulnerable. After all, we know the truth about ourselves. We are sinful people, we have weaknesses, and we make mistakes. Owning up to them, and being honest about the journeys we’ve been on is really powerful. And opening up about those hard things, also opens up the path to talk about why we’re still hopeful.

Why do we keep working at it? Why do we keep looking for the joy in life? Why do we give thanks? It takes vulnerability to talk about the truth, when it’s so often ridiculed. It takes vulnerability to bare our hearts and share our stories. It takes vulnerability to invite others into them.

But it makes such a huge difference. And I’ve found that not only do my relationships with other people fare better when I’m vulnerable, but my relationship with God grows deeper as well.

If I’m being honest about myself; who I am and what I’m learning and struggling with, I naturally want my story to be an inspiring one. I want to grow and be a better person, and overcome my weaknesses, and I need God to do that. So being more vulnerable with others also helps me draw closer to the Lord. I’m learning to trust and rely on Him more every day.

I still have a lot to learn about being vulnerable, but I’m on that journey and grateful for the lessons God is teaching me. No matter how difficult it sometimes is, I’ve not yet regretted the choice to be open, and to encourage others to be open as well. My prayer for all of us is that we’ll continue to grow in Christ-like discernment, empathy, and honesty.

What’s your opinion about vulnerability? Do you have any experiences you’d like to share? I’d love to hear your thoughts so please feel free to let me know in the comments below.

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians,
and opened wide our hearts to you. 
We are not withholding our affection from you,
but you are withholding yours from us. 
As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
(2 Corinthians 6:11-13 NIV)

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What I’m Learning About Vulnerability2022 May Wrap-UpThe Me & Music Tag

2022 May Wrap-Up

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Today’s post brings another summary of the past month of my life – with writing progress reports, reading accomplishments, and general updates!

So without further ado . . .

General Update

Welcome to June! It feels so crazy to write that, but yes, we’re really in June now. The weather where I live has been hanging between the 70’s and 80’s most days, with quite a bit of wind. I love seeing all the flowers coming to life, making the roadsides, gardens, and pots around houses very colorful. I could definitely do without the pollen allergies (I know I’m not the only one, right?), but that will hopefully improve soon. At least it better!

May was a month of transition for me. A handful of commitments finished up for the summer, if not permanently. One of those was the fiction class I was teaching. The students were wonderful and made it so fun, and I enjoyed the chance to share and talk about writing, but it is nice to have that lesson-planning time to use for writing again. In the past week since things have finished, I got more done than in the rest of the month, haha. And it makes me very hopeful for June, at least in the weeks I’m home (more on that later).

God has been so faithful this past month -as always, of course. I’ve just paid more attention lately. I mentioned at the start of May that I’ve been struggling with burnout, and that’s still true. Though I believe the physical and emotional burnout will and is starting to improve, I’ve been surprised at how much other kinds of burnout lead to spiritual burnout too. Not a crisis at all, but difficulty in praying, reading the Bible, and understanding what I’m reading. I’m confident that will improve too, with God’s help, and He’s already been there for me in many ways, including through some dear friends that have helped and prayed consistently.

Fiction Writing

As several of my commitments wrapped up near the end of May, I slowly got to add in more fiction writing again! That means there’s been a lot of work on Cabin Girl! And it feels very nice to be back at work at it again, and to see so much encouraging progress. I finished editing two chapters in the past two days alone (and my chapters are long, so that’s an accomplishment for me along with work and other priorities still going on).

In May, I wrote 1,179 words. That comes from my editing, as I’m adding in more character voice and bettering my descriptions. And while it’s one measure of progress, it’s not the only one, since I’m also cutting words and paragraphs that don’t fit in the story. In all, do I wish I was farther along in Cabin Girl? Absolutely. But am I motivated by some progress finally? Also, yes! I’m hoping to continue over the next couple of weeks especially.

On the Blog

Just like I announced in April, I’ve officially switched to my summer blogging schedule now! This is with the goal of giving myself some more flexibility, and hopefully getting to write a bit more fiction over the next few months. My new monthly goal is 4-6 posts, sprinkled among Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

I’m happy to say that May went well! It was so much easier to stay on track of the posts last month (with the exception of one post coming several days late, thanks to the flu. But I still posted it!). The final count for the month was six posts – so even the higher end of my goal!

I also managed to pre-write all of my posts for June, which is a huge blessing as I’ll be gone for about half of the month, and both frantically preparing to be gone and catching up on work the rest of the time, haha. So anything I can manage to get done ahead of time is very helpful.

Here are the posts for May (just click on the titles to read them):

~ 2022 April Wrap-Up
~ 10 Powerful Quotes About Mothers
~ The Fandom Favorites Tag
~ How I Decide Which Story Idea to Write
~ What’s Your Story?
~ The Me & Music Tag

Reading List

Also as I’d hoped, I got to read a lot more this month! It was so nice to dive back into both fiction and non-fiction. I never realize just how much I’ve missed reading other people’s writing (as opposed to only working on my own) until I get back into it again. It was a welcome chance to relax and learn.

I finished five books this month, three fiction, and two non-fiction:

~ The Selection by Kiera Cass
(Based on what I’d heard, I had no plans to read this series, but after finding the first two books at my local thrift shop for a dollar combined, I decided to give them a shot. And even though it wasn’t my favorite, and had enough content that I can’t recommend it, this first book pleasantly surprised me. I won’t be rereading it, but I can honestly say I’m glad I tried it. The premise and dystopian worldbuilding was a lot of fun, and I stayed very engrossed.)

~ The Elite by Kiera Cass
(Despite being pleasantly surprised by the first book, the second one seemed to disregard all my favorite elements of The Selection and magnify the frustrating parts (ex. love triangle). It still had its redeeming qualities, but I found myself skimming it multiple times. Unless I stumble across the third one at some point, I don’t plan to finish the series.)

~ City On Our Knees by TobyMac
(Another thrift store find! This wasn’t too revolutionary, but I really enjoyed the simple and inspiring stories about brave people stepping out and sharing God’s love with those around them, even when times were nearly unbearably hard. I always like reading biographies, and finished this collection of mini-biographies feeling inspired. It was a worthwhile read.)

~ Shards of Sky by E. C. Colton
(I actually won a signed copy of this touching story in a giveaway last month, and was thrilled, as I’ve been wanting to read it. The length reminded me of a middle-grade book, but the themes and writing style were so deep and beautiful. There was a constant air of mystery and tension that kept me engaged, but there was hope too. I’m glad to have read it!)

~ The Sacred Search by Gary Thomas
(After reading a chapter a week for the past several months, I finally finished this book! And I definitely recommend it for anyone who is either in a relationship, or looking to be in one some day. There were so many wonderful insights, conversation-starters, pieces of wisdom, and practical applications of Scripture, and I’m very glad I worked through it.)

Looking Forward

I feel very blessed to be starting off the summer on a positive note as far as productivity goes. The next few months will still be very busy with various commitments, work, family, friends, and of course, writing, but I believe I’m slowly reaching a better balance between them all. I’m looking forward to making progress on my goals, and setting aside extra time to grow closer to the Lord again.

June is going to be an incredibly full month! I’ll be away from home for two weeks, with a week before and between to try and prep for each long event. Week #1 away from home will be to counsel for a youth church camp. I got to counsel for this camp last year and enjoyed it very much. It was exhausting, often stressful, and I was very far from my comfort zone, but God moved in many touching ways, and I enjoyed sharing His Word with the kids.

After a brief return home to work, catch up on life, and re-pack, Week #2 away from home will be spent at a writers conference! Specifically, the One Year Adventure Novel (OYAN) Summer Workshop. I’ve attended this conference the past two years virtually, but this is their first year back to being in-person, and I’m thrilled to be able to attend. It’s the farthest I’ll have ever been from family, and though I’m nervous about it, I’m also looking forward to it greatly. And my hope is that I return feeling even more inspired to work on my writing!

What was YOUR May like? What kinds of things did you get to do? If you have a progress report on something, or books you read and would like to share, go ahead and let me know in the comments! And while you’re at it, feel free to include what you’re looking forward to and/or hoping to accomplish in June! As always, I’m excited to hear from you!

Recent Posts:

2022 May Wrap-UpThe Me & Music TagWhat’s Your Story?

The Me & Music Tag

Happy Friday!

I’m back with another fun blog tag! This one might be stolen…but is it technically stealing if I have permission? I found it on Mia Harden’s site (right here), and it looked like a neat chance to share some of my favorite songs – and hopefully learn about yours as well!

The snazzy tag graphic!

The rules:

Tag the creator of this blog tag, so anyone can find their way to the full list of prompts and graphics. (You can find that at Me & Ink ). Choose how many prompts you want to do (up to 17). Free feel to use (or not use) the headings or the graphics (either old or new versions).Name 1-5 songs per prompt and have fun!

And now for the songs…

~ She Used to Be Mine – Waitress ~
//She’s imperfect but she tries/ She is good but she lies/ She is hard on herself/ She is broken and won’t ask for help/ She is messy but she’s kind/ She is lonely most of the time/ She is all of this mixed up/ And baked in a beautiful pie//

I’m using this section for my latest favorite Broadway musical songs, and this is one of them! I don’t know the musical, but this soulful song has been tugging at my heart lately.

~ Words Fail – Dear Evan Hansen ~
//Words fail, words fail/ There’s nothing I can say//

Again, I haven’t actually seen this musical, just listened to the soundtrack. But this song grips me with how emotional and raw it is. Platt (the actor)’s vocal talent is also incredible.

~ If Only – The Little Mermaid ~
//If only you could know/ The things I long to say/ If only I could tell you/ What I wish I could convey//

I really like the depth and overlapping parts of so many characters in this one. The Broadway version of this story adds so much to it in my opinion – including this song.

~ Carrying the Banner – Newsies ~
//Ain’t it a fine life carrying the banner through it all?/ A mighty fine life carrying the banner tough and tall//

Newsies is one of my very favorite musicals, and this is only one example of the amazing songs from it. I love the energy and huge cast in this, and also…those harmonies!

~ Matchmaker – Fiddler on the Roof ~
//Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make me a match, Find me a find, Catch me a catch//

I grew up knowing this movie and its songs, but this one has been in my head more lately. It’s so catchy! And I love the fun dynamic between the sisters as they sing and goof around.

~ When You’re With Me – The Afters ~
//The sun shines brighter when you are here/ My heart beats louder, and time just disappears/ Everything is how it should be/ When you’re with me//

This is such a touching one, and it gets stuck in my head often. I love that the themes are not just on infatuation but on loving someone as long as they live, for better or worse.

~ Perfect – Ed Sheeran ~
//Baby, I’m dancing in the dark with you between my arms/ Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favourite song/ When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath/ But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight//

I usually stay away from more popular love songs, but this one is so sweet. I can see why so many people use it for first dances at weddings – it’d be perfect for that. Very cute.

~ Girl of My Dreams – Brandon Heath ~
//Falling in love is a beautiful thing/ Like every morning’s the first day of spring/ God must be smiling down over me/ I’m in love with the girl of my dreams//

This song is another very sweet one, and I love that it’s told in a story format. There’s humor and lots of relatability, also giving a touching picture of love, before and after marriage.

~ Bless the Broken Road – Rascal Flatts ~
//This much I know is true/ That God blessed the broken road/ That led me straight to you//

This has been one of my favorites for a long time. I really like its message, and the reminder that God can use our past, no matter how broken, to bring about good things.

~ Better – JJ Heller ~
//You make me laugh a little louder/ You make me dream a little bigger/ My life is so much sweeter/ ‘Cause you make me/ You make me better//

I love this one. It’s deep, but sweet and uplifting as well. This seems like the perfect song to send to your significant other to make their day, and remind them that you care so much.

~ It’s OK – Nightbirde ~
//It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay/ If you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alright//

This song nearly made me cry even before this truly beautiful woman passed away this year. Her journey was very inspiring, and these words touch me every time.

~ The Last Goodbye – Billy Boyd ~
//Night is now falling/ So ends this day/ The road is now calling/ And I must away//

I don’t often cry at songs, but this one definitely makes me emotional. The fact that it was sung by the actor for Pippin in the last Lord of the Rings movie is sweet, and the lyrics are deep.

~ The Call – Regina Spektor ~
//You’ll come back/ When it’s over/ No need to say goodbye//

Another one that tends to make me emotional. Again, I associate the song with a movie – Prince Caspian– but the lyrics are actually very deep, and I come back to them often.

~ I’m Still Here (Jim’s Theme) – John Rzeznik ~
//And I want a moment to be real/ Wanna touch things I don’t feel/ Wanna hold on and feel I belong//

I think it’s partially the fact that this song is paired with an emotional montage in Treasure Planet, but this one gets to me. Plus, I think a lot of people can relate to the lyrics.

~ Say Something – A Great Big World ~
//Say something, I’m giving up on you/ I’m sorry that I couldn’t get to you/ Anywhere, I would’ve followed you/ Say something, I’m giving up on you//

This is a commonly-known ‘sad song’, but for a reason, in my opinion. The music and lyrics are both very emotional, and the lyrics could apply to a lot of really difficult situations.

~ Better When I’m Dancin’ – Meghan Trainor ~
//But I feel better when I’m dancing, yeah, yeah//

An obvious one, but it never fails to make me want to dance. The lyrics may not be very profound, but the general catchiness of the song makes up for it in my opinion, haha.

~ Téir Abhaile Riú – Celtic Woman ~
//Here today and she’s gone tomorrow/ And next she’s going to Galway/ Jiggin’ around and off to town/ And won’t be back until morning//

I absolutely love Celtic/Gaelic/Irish music, and it always makes me want to dance. Instrumental, with lyrics and vocals…anything. The style is just one of my favorites.

~ Glow in the Dark – Jason Gray ~
//Doesn’t matter how deep, how dark the night is/ Keep hoping, keep on shining/ And they’ll see His light burning in your heart//

I’ve always liked this song, for the powerful lyrics, and for the upbeat tune, both of which get stuck in my head. It helps cheer me up and makes me want to dance every time.

~ King of New York – Newsies ~
//And there I be, ain’t I pretty?/ It’s my city, I’m the king of New York//

Yes, another Newsies songs, haha. But I can’t help but want to join in the boys’ choreography whenever I watch this. Actually most the songs from it are very infectious.

~ Cotton Eye Joe – Rednex ~
//Where did you come from, where did you go?/ Where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe?//

I hardly even notice the lyrics of this song anymore, but ever since I learned the line dance and a circle dance set to its tune, it makes me want to dance whenever it’s played.

~ Touch the Sky – Brave ~
//I will ride, I will fly/ Chase the wind and touch the sky//

Another example of my favorite Celtic music! I really like the movie Brave, for many reasons, but it’s spectacular music is definitely a huge factor. This song in partiuclar.

~ I See the Light – Tangled ~
//And at last I see the light/ And it’s like the fog has lifted/ And at last I see the light/ And it’s like the sky is new//

Tangled is another one of my favorite movies, and this is my favorite song from it. It’s just so sweet, and the instrumental is also beautiful. I enjoy playing on this on the piano.

~ On My Own – Les Miserables ~
//On my own/ Pretending he’s beside me/ All alone/ I walk with him till morning//

This song always hits me hard. The entire movie (or show) is very heart-wrenching, but this song and how Samantha Barks sang it is just very emotional and beautiful.

~ Out There – The Hunchback of Notre Dame ~
//And out there/ Living in the sun/ Give me one day out there/ All I ask is one/ To hold forever//

I still question why Disney chose this story to turn into a children’s movie, but I do appreciate most the music – this song in particular. Tom Hulce’s voice is fantastic.

~ We Don’t Talk About Bruno – Encanto ~
//A seven-foot frame/ Rats along his back/ When he calls your name/ It all fades to black//

Okay, I’ll admit it, I understand the hype behind this song, haha. I listen to it sparingly so I don’t get sick of it, but all the layers are incredible. I want to see it as a Broadway show!

~ Christ the Lord is Risen Today (hymn) ~
//Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!/ Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!//

This is one of my very favorite hymns, so obviously I want to sing along any time I hear it. Especially the Alleluia part. I wish it was played more often than just on Easter every year!

~ You Say – Lauren Daigle ~
//You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing/ You say I am strong when I think I am weak/ And you say I am held when I am falling short/ And when I don’t belong, oh You say I am Yours//

Lauren Daigle has a broader range than mine, but overall, I can sing most her songs pretty comfortably. I got to sing this one for a musical, and the lyrics are very touching to me.

~ The Place Where Lost Things Go – JJ Heller ~
//Well maybe all those things/ That you love so/ Are waiting in the place/ Where the lost things go//

JJ Heller is another artist whose songs I like and can sing comfortably, and this one often loops in my head (also from Mary Poppins Returns). It has such sweet lyrics.

~ Part of Your World – The Little Mermaid ~
//Up where they walk, up where they run/ Up where they stay all day in the sun/ Wanderin’ free, wish I could be/ Part of that world//

I’ve had a far-fetched dream of playing Ariel on stage since I was about six, so this song encourages me to pretend, haha. It’s also closer to my range than a lot of Disney songs.

~ Safe and Sound – Taylor Swift ~
//Just close your eyes, the sun is going down/ You’ll be alright, no one can hurt you now/ Come morning light, you and I’ll be safe and sound//

I first heard this song in the Hunger Games credits, and was drawn in by how hauntingly beautiful it is. It remains one of my favorite emotional, almost chilling songs to sing.

~ Fireflies – Owl City ~
//You would not believe your eyes/ If ten million fireflies/ Lit up the world as I fell asleep//

I have memories of this song playing often while my siblings and I played games with my dad. Hearing it makes me think back to those nights, and I think fondly of it for that reason.

~ Gated Community – Veggietales ~
//Oh! The Gated Community/ Is where we like to be/ Everything’s so lovely/ Oh, our hearts are filled with glee//

Veggietales was my childhood, haha. This is just one of their many amazing songs that I liked. Funny enough, I actually enjoy Veggietales even more now than I did as a child.

~ Blessings – Laura Story ~
//’Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?/ What if Your healing comes through tears?/ What if a thousand sleepless nights/ Are what it takes to know You’re near?//

God used this song to minister to my family in the midst of a very painful hardship, and it still reminds me of those first months of grief. Not a pleasant memory, but bittersweet.

~ In His Time – Maranantha ~
//In His time, in His time/ He makes all things beautiful/ In His time//

We used to have music playing every night at bedtime, and a Maranantha playlist was one of the most common ones for a long time. The songs still make me sleepy (in a good way).

~ Kung Fu Fighting – CeeLo Green
//Everybody is kung fu fighting/ Your mind becomes fast as lightning/ Although the future is a little bit frightening/ It’s the book of your life that you’re writing//

Guitar Hero, anyone? I don’t even know most the lyrics to this song, but I got pretty good at strumming the rhythm, haha. My family and I played it often, and it was a fun activity.

Now to peel myself away before I get carried away even more… What a fun one! Thanks for joining me as I got to ramble on about one of my favorite topics, haha. I think it’s fascinating how much music can influence us…through memories, associations, emotions, etc. It’s definitely a powerful thing, and I always enjoy sharing some of my favorite songs.

What are some of YOUR favorite songs? What music would you respond to these prompts with? Do you have any recommendations? I’d love to hear about them, so please feel free to do this tag on your own blog, or let me know your answers in the comments below!

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What’s Your Story?

I recently discovered that ‘Encourage a Young Writer Day’ happened last month. And while it’s obviously passed by a long shot, it got me thinking about how I would best encourage a young writer.

Technically, depending on who you ask, I could still be considered a young writer. But I’ve come a long way since my early writing days, as an uncertain eleven year old finishing her first novel. I’ve been writing stories since before I could even read, but it really wasn’t until finishing that first book that I realized writing was something I’d like to do seriously.

And looking back, wondering what encouragement would have helped me most, the same advice keeps coming back to me: just tell your story.

Don’t stress forever about making it flawless. Don’t compromise on truths or your values just because you think someone might not like it. Don’t beat yourself up comparing it to other stories because those other stories aren’t yours. Only you can write your story.

Something I’ve been told is that there are no original stories. Every type, genre, or trope of story has been done before. No matter how nuanced you think your character is, there is someone somewhere who’s created a similar one. No matter how creative your story world that you spent months on is, there’s another one out there that shares some of its aspects.

This could be really discouraging, and it definitely was to me the first time I heard it. But after thinking about it in-depth, I’ve realized that it actually takes some of the pressure off of us as authors.

No one expects us to come up with something they’ve never seen before. We don’t have to be creative geniuses or experiment with the craziest ideas, genres, or tropes. We shouldn’t copy other’s stories obviously, but we don’t need to stress over the fact that there will be similarities.

The truth is, if you and I were to each be given the same story prompt to write a book about – same plot, same world, same characters- they’d end up very different. Of course parts would be similar, but each of us would take the story in different directions. We’d develop characters differently, explore different parts of the world, emphasize different themes based off what we’ve personally experienced.

And that’s the key. No one else can write your story. If you’re being honest and infusing the lessons and experiences you’ve had into what you write, it’s unique. It’s you. There’s not a single other person who could bring your exact perspective into a story.

And that’s one of – if not my most – favorite parts of being a writer.

Stories are powerful. I believe that. Not in any creepy, ‘magic’ sort of way, but because they have the ability to influence people in a way that few other things can. Stories touch areas of the heart that can be very hard to reach. And a genuine, honest story can stick with people for years.

I think it’s because stories are a representation of reality. They may be fictional, but to some extent, they’re also drawn from the author’s real life – the people, places, events, lessons learned. I believe we recognize that when we read stories, and that’s one reason why stories have the power to impact us so deeply.

We read a story and recognize, on some level, aspects of that story that remind us of our own lives. So we read on to discover what the story has to say about them. We’re reading a fictional story – and perfectly aware of it – but we’re also reminded of pieces of our lives.

Stories are also powered by emotion. It’s the emotions that we as authors are appealing to while we write, and it’s primarily that emotional draw that distinguishes stories from textbooks or sermons. They tug at our hearts and stick in our memories, and so the lessons from those stories can stick with us for a very long time, even if we’re not aware of it.

I recently finished teaching a high-school writing class, and by the end, I’m pretty sure my students were sick of hearing me talk about how great and humbling the opportunity to write a story is. But I truly believe it. Stories can reach so many people so deeply.

Your story could reach so many people. Touch so many people. Impact their lives.

Don’t ever underestimate the stories you have to tell. The lessons you can share, the themes you can emphasize, and the experiences you can inspire others with. If your story is meant to be dramatic, deep, and epic, then embrace that. If your story is meant to be a light-hearted comedy, embrace that too – and enjoy the smiles you bring.

There is no wrong story to tell, only yours. So don’t be afraid to tell it. You have no idea who needs to hear it, or how you might influence others for the better. You have no way of knowing how God can use your story for good purposes you couldn’t have imagined.

And though I’ve been focusing on fiction, this applies to any writer. Telling your story can be through fiction, non-fiction, articles, poetry, songs, or absolutely any form you choose. If you’re a writer, you can tell stories, and no matter the medium, they still have the potential to be a great influence, inspiration, or encouragement.

So my best piece of encouragement for a young writer – or any writer, really – is simply to tell the story that’s inside you. And this might look like telling lots of stories, all with bits and pieces of your story planted inside. Those are the best kinds. Invest yourself into every story you write, and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and real.

The world is hungry for people willing to be vulnerable, genuine, and honest with it. And while it sounds counter-intuitive to do this through story, it’s actually one of the best methods. It’s ‘safe’ enough to not feel so abrasive or uncomfortable, but we as readers can tell when the author truly believes and is invested in what he or she is writing. We can feel it, and we remember.

When you start, don’t stress about making everything perfect. Don’t worry over the technicalities and grammar and formatting; all the tiny details. Those can be polished later, but first, just get your story out. Let yourself tell it without worrying about any other elements. And later, when you do polish it, don’t get held back by a desire for perfection.

Perfection isn’t possible (believe me, as much as I wish it was). Don’t let yourself keep from telling your story because you know it can’t be perfect. An imperfect story that’s real and genuine and touching will be worth so much more than a grammatically perfect story that lacks any real passion behind it. As I’ve said before, leave perfect to God, and tell stories that lead others to Him.

To me, nothing is better as a writer than hearing from someone who was positively impacted by one of our stories. Knowing that someone was encouraged, inspired, challenged, or blessed by something that you took the time and energy to share – even if it was very hard – is a true blessing. And it sticks with you for a very long time.

So go and tell your story. Someone, somewhere, needs to hear it.

Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what He has done for my soul.
(Psalm 66:16 ESV)

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How I Decide Which Story Idea to Write

Happy Friday!

(NOTE: This post was originally meant to be up on Wednesday, but due to the stomach flu/food poisoning Tuesday night, I’ve just now gotten to proofread and post it. Sorry about that! And now back to the post…)

From my own experience, I’ve found that writers tend to fall to one of two extremes when it comes to story ideas. Either we have a million ideas and tend to struggle with choosing and focusing on just one, or we have absolutely no ideas and struggle to write – not because we don’t want to, but because we don’t know what to write about.

I think all of us fall into each extreme at some point in our writing journeys. Some months we can’t seem to stop coming up with exciting and intriguing ideas. Other months we’re Googling writing prompts and scouring advice articles in a desperate attempt to come up with something that’s not completely cliché or boring.

Most of the time, I don’t have trouble coming up with potential stories. I actually keep a document with every intriguing – at least to me – idea that I come up with, and there’s around thirty-five partially outlined stories on that document right now, not counting sequels.

If I need to come up with an idea for a short story quickly – such as for a contest or something, then I definitely struggle sometimes. But in general, my problem is that I don’t know which story to work on, and after I’ve chosen, I have trouble focusing on just that one.

Today’s post isn’t about coming up with story ideas, but I plan to talk about that soon as well. So if you struggle with finding good ideas, stay tuned and hopefully that future post will be helpful to you. But today, what I wanted to share were some things that I consider when trying to decide which story to write next.

When choosing a story idea to work on, I like to consider five things:

ScheduleSkillset InterestsLife ExperienceResources

And when I mention each one of these, I’m referring to my current schedule, skillset, interests, life experiences, and resources. All these things naturally change over time, so I think it’s important to examine them again any time I’m choosing a new story to work on.

Schedule

Obviously the shorter the project, the faster it can usually be finished. A 5,000 words or less short story is going to take far less time than a 125,000 word fantasy epic. So what kind of time do you have to devote to writing at this current stage in your life? Do you have a significant amount and want to tackle a longer, more intricate story, or even a series? Or is life crazy busy right now and you’d feel better sticking to some shorter projects for a bit?

When I consider schedule, I don’t only consider length of the potential project, but also the depth. After all, there’s nothing wrong with writing a longer story over a long period of time. Chipping away at it over months and years is how many books have been written. But some stories are deeper and more complicated, and require more mental energy than others.

I have several complicated story ideas that I want to work on, but I know that with my current schedule and how mentally drained I am by the time I can usually write, it wouldn’t be the best use of my time and energy to choose them right now. I might not have the time or energy to write a twisting mystery novel or epic fantasy, but I can and am enjoying some stories that are easier for me, such as contemporary or medieval fiction. So looking at the amount of time and energy that I can currently devote to writing is always helpful.

Skillset

As writers, we’re constantly growing and learning more about writing (or we should be, anyway). I’m so glad to look back at my writing journey and see huge positive differences between my first stories and my latest ones, and I suspect you can do the same. It’s always encouraging to see ourselves improve at our craft. And it comes in handy, no matter which story we’re writing.

That said, some stories require more skills and specific knowledge than others. For example, research. I’ve spent the past couple of years learning everything I can about pirates, so that I can write my pirate novels accurately. Now I feel pretty comfortable writing stories about them. But I know the bare minimum about the Civil War, so if I was going to choose to write a story in that time period, I’d have a lot of research ahead. Which isn’t bad at all, but I should be aware of it and make sure I have time to do it properly.

Writing skills in general are something else to consider. The more complicated the story, the more nuanced the characters, the more twisting the subplots…the more experienced I should be in order to write it well. I may currently have developed sufficient skills to write good YA adventures, but I’m choosing to wait on that political drama dystopian until I’m better equipped to write it in the way I feel that it deserves. I want my writing to do the idea justice. So in the meantime, I’ll keep writing and practicing, and learning all that I can.

Interests

This is a fun, and pretty obvious one. But I will start off with a disclaimer: if you’re being hired to write a certain story, or have a contract with a publisher that is asking you to write about something specific, or in a specific genre, obviously you have to honor that if you’re going to keep the job/contract. So in some cases, you may not get to choose your story based on what you want to write about.

But in most cases, if you’re getting to choose which story idea you write next, you should definitely consider your current interests. What genres are you most enjoying right now? What plot elements are sticking out to you? Are there characters you’ve seen recently that inspire new ones of your own? Basically, what are you most interested in right now?

It’s always easier to write a story if we’re interested in it. Whether it’s the genre, plot, characters, world, themes, or anything else, we’re far more likely to finish it – and do a good job with it – if we’re enjoying the writing process. So if you have a choice, it makes sense to choose to write a story that genuinely excites you. Different stories will call to you at different places in your life, so which ones jump out at you most right now? Write those.

Life Experience

Just like our writing skillsets continue to grow throughout our lives, so does our store of experiences. The more time that passes and the more situations and new things we try out, the more we learn and grow. Those life experiences change us, often in ways we don’t even realize. We learn new things about people, places, themes…all sorts of things that get used in stories.

Which is why I also consider my life experiences to date before tackling a story. Especially if it’s one that I know will be sensitive, or requires a special amount of ‘insider knowledge’ to write properly. That’s not to say I think we can’t write about anything that we haven’t personally experienced – that’s impossible. While there’s controversy, I don’t agree with only writing what we know.

But I also don’t want to ignore what I do know. For example, I haven’t lost my spouse to cancer (like my character might), but I’ve lost several dear ones to illness, and can draw from those experiences. While there’s nothing to stop me from writing a story about themes I haven’t experienced – provided I’m sure to humbly and openly learn from those who have – I usually find that stories that I can personally relate to on some level turn out better. I’m more motivated to finish them, and others can tell that my heart was fully invested into it. So I like to choose story ideas that mean something to me personally.

Resources

Last but not least, the resources that are available to me are very important! In a way, this encompasses all the previous points, but to me, it also includes things like teaching courses, access to community of fellow writers (beta-readers, brainstorming buddies, pure support), writing equipment and software, and so on. Some stories require more specific resources to write the way I’d like, so I keep that in mind.

Now, stories can be written with an absolute bare minimum. I’ve written plenty of stories with a pencil (and an eraser, let’s be honest), and an old notebook, or simply with a Notes app on my device. So our ability to write stories definitely doesn’t depend on the latest, greatest gadgets or resources. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right?

But especially when it comes to community, I like to at least know what support or help I have available to me before diving into a story that’s way over my head. If I know a story is going to require a ton of brainstorming help, or I’d really like to have a team of beta-readers to help me with plot development, I try to either see if that’s available to me currently, or if I can find it, before I start. And if not, I might set it aside for a little bit. I try to use what’s available to me in the best way that I can (but don’t always succeed, haha).

Well, those are some of the things I consider when choosing with story to work on next. As challenging as it can be sometimes, I’m grateful that I don’t usually struggle to come up with story ideas – only with choosing which one to write next! Should all my ideas be written? Probably not, and I’m sure not all of them will. But I enjoy fleshing them out!

How do YOU decide which story idea to work on? What does your process look like? I’d love to hear what works best for you, so let me know in the comments below!

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The Fandom Favorites Tag

Happy Friday!

It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to do a blog tag, so I’m excited! And this looks like such a fun one, too. I was tagged by the lovely Maribeth Barber (you can find her original post here – I definitely recommend heading over to read it). The original tag was created by Eva-Joy (right here).

Though I enjoy a lot of different story worlds and love so many characters, I’ve never considered myself a die-hard ‘fangirl’ of anything in particular, so I’m very interested to see what I’ll come up with for this. I have a suspicion that once I start it’ll actually be difficult to narrow it down to my very favorite stories, haha.

Let’s find out!

The fun tag graphic!

The rules:

Compile a list of up to ten of your favorite fandoms. Books, movies, TV shows—you name it!Tell us about your favorite character in each of those fandoms, along with an explanation of why that character is your favorite. (Your reasoning can be however long or short you’d like it to be.)Tag however many (or few) friends you’d like to participate.

And now for some of my favorite fandoms (in no particular order)…

Star Wars

I admit, this is a very hard one, as Star Wars is probably the biggest fandom I have. But I’d say my favorite character is Obi-Wan. He’s a constant through almost all the main stories, and I admire his character and growth. Poor guy goes through so much, and still doesn’t stop doing what he believes to be right. His wit also helps, haha. There are so many characters I like in Star Wars (looking at you Qui-Gon and Ahsoka), but Obi-Wan is at the very top.

(On a semi-related note, one of my favorite book series when I was younger was the Jedi Apprentice series by Dave Wolverton and Jude Watson. Those books gave me a deeper view of Obi-Wan’s growth, and were the main reason I ended up liked Qui-Gon so much too.)

The Hunger Games

Okay, okay, bear with me…my favorite character from The Hunger Games is Haymitch. And it’s complicated. Do I agree with his choices or condone his actions? Absolutely not (although who really condones anything that happens in that series?). What I like is the depth of his character. At first glance he seems like a shallow drunk who doesn’t care what happens in the games. But as the stories progress, we see he’s simply so wounded that he hides his vulnerability behind apathy and alcohol. It’s terribly sad, but he feels like such a real character to me, and I appreciate that. Plus, his and Katniss’ banter is a highlight.

The Chronicles of Narnia

This feels like a cheat, but my favorite character from Narnia is definitely Aslan. And for pretty obvious reasons if you look at the symbolism between the Great Lion and Jesus. But he’s the one I most looked forward to seeing, and the sections with him in them were the ones I stayed most interested in. His love for his people, his sacrifices, his comforting, encouraging, and strengthening those who came to him…it’s pretty powerful stuff and I love him for it. It also helps remind me that Jesus inspired those traits in Aslan, and that He’s the ultimate example of love, sacrifice, and steadfastness.

Treasure Planet

You can tell how much this movie means to me by the fact that this GIF makes me want to cry, haha. It was one of my brother’s favorites, but I never appreciated the story itself until I was older and learned more about good story structure. Now it’s one of my very favorites. And though there are so many good characters, my very favorite is John Silver. Though he’s technically the antagonist, the fatherly relationship he develops with Jim and the depth of his character win me over. If you can’t tell, I like characters with a lot of depth. And wit. Silver has both.

(Fun fact: Silver heavily inspired the antagonist of my own novel, Cabin Girl.)

The Lord of the Rings

Once again, so many good characters in this series, but at least one of my very favorites is Pippin. I actually relate much more to Merry, and I have a feeling Pippin might drive me crazy in real life, haha, but I still really like him in these stories. He’s relatable, loyal, funny, kind, and hopeless in the best possible way when it comes to causing trouble in the plot. He also grows quite a bit as time goes on, maturing to a much more reliable Hobbit. I think he’s a pretty underrated character.

Tangled

This is another movie that’s pretty special to me for various reasons. And it’s such a close call between Flynn/Eugene and Rapunzel…but I think I’d have to say Rapunzel is my favorite. She and I are similar in a lot of ways, but also different too. She’s far more bubbly and outgoing than I am, and she’s basically impossible not to like. She makes me smile any time she’s on screen. I admire how optimistic and determined she is, and also like how she and Eugene balance each other out so well. Plus, she has a chameleon for a companion.

Phineas and Ferb

So, even though this is technically a kids show, I first watched it when I was older, and I continue to enjoy it very much. In fact, I think I’m more entertained by it than my younger siblings, haha. The humor is incredible. And though I really like Perry’s character, I’d have to say Doofenschmirtz is probably my favorite. He’s so hopeless that I often pity him, but he’s also hilarious and is constantly making me laugh. He’s also surprisingly sweet when it comes to his daughter. In addition, his and Perry’s tumultuous ‘enemy-ship’ is just perfect.

Psych

Though I really wish this show didn’t have so many adult references, it’s one of my family’s favorites. The humor and general zaniness is so good. And as for a favorite character, I think it’d have to be Gus. He’s at least slightly more level-headed than his friend Shawn (most the time), and yet is easily persuaded to join in on the crazy schemes if it means helping Shawn out. He’s extremely loyal, which is to be admired, especially considering the trouble Shawn gets them both into.

Honorary mention is Carlton Lassiter, for his no-nonsense approach to handling Shawn, and the character growth he shows as the seasons progress. I like seeing his ‘tough-guy’ exterior melt as time goes on.

The Maze Runner

If you’re not familiar with these stories, I’m not going to spoil anything (if you are familiar with them, you probably know what I’d like to talk about here). But Newt is definitely my favorite character in these stories. To be honest, I don’t like most of the other characters, but Newt’s no-nonsense, loyal, determined, and approachable demeanor won me over. He seems real to me, and I was constantly rooting for him throughout the books and movies. He’s also one of the only people who could keep Thomas in check – which was needed.

The Emperor’s New Groove

Another one of my all-time favorite movies! The sense of humor in this one is just perfect. It has enough clever plot and touching themes to stand on its own as a story, but the general wit and cheesiness is what really makes it stand out to me. And Kuzco is my favorite character. Again, his character growth is a huge factor, as well as the fact that he’s hilarious – especially after his unfortunate mishap (no spoilers…). This is my go-to ‘feel better’ movie.

Hey, we did it! And I definitely enjoyed this – hopefully you did too! There are just so many wonderful and impactful stories in the world today, and this tag has only reminded me of the importance of great characters. It’s also interesting to see how the characters that I love most in other fiction have influenced my own characters…imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?

I’m a little late to this one, and I’m not sure who else has been tagged already, so I’m going to leave this open for anyone who wants to hop in! What are YOUR favorite fandoms? I’d love to find out, so feel free to let me know on your own blog, or in the comments below!

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