E.G. Bella's Blog, page 20

10 Quotes About Waiting

Waiting is hard.

To state the obvious.

At least it is when we’re waiting for something we consider good. When something I consider bad is approaching, I prefer to say I’m dreading it rather than waiting for it.

And I’m notoriously bad about both. I dread far too much (overwhelming situations, upcoming jobs I don’t think I’ll do well at, etc.) when I should just trust God, and I fail at being patient when waiting for something I want (celebrations, special events, etc.).

Patience has just never been easy for me, though I wish it was.

Growing up, my brother was the very model of patience for me. Because of his cerebral palsy, which meant that he had to wait on people to help him do a lot, I saw his patience on display daily. And it wasn’t grudging patience either. He would wait with a smile or a content look, and just…be patient.

I could never understand how he managed it.

My personality is more of the ‘get it done and move on’ type. When I want to accomplish something, I’m going to accomplish it. Now. Or else I run the risk of losing motivation and then never getting to it. As much as I don’t like it about myself, I know it’s true.

It’s one of the reasons I try to write rough drafts of novels, short stories, and even blog posts in as few sittings and as close together as possible. If I can get the initial lump of hard work done quickly, I have a far higher chance of finishing it. If it takes me a long time, I tend to lose patience, then motivation, and finally just move on to other things.

When I know an exciting opportunity or event is coming up, waiting is extremely hard. Part of me just wants to skip all the days from now until then, so I can get to said event sooner.

But if I did that, I’d miss so much.

Looking back, I now see that most of my growth as a person and a Christian has happened in periods of waiting. Waiting for a friend. Waiting to graduate. Waiting to resume life as normal (*cough* quarantine *cough*).

That’s when I’m faced with two choices. I can either rush and plow ahead, trying to make my goals and dreams happen in my own time. Or I can surrender my own agenda and trust God with the timing, knowing that He knows best, and that He’ll bring the best possible outcome when the moment’s right.

The choice is obvious, of course, but not easy.

After all, that growing is change. And it can be painful. It can – and often does – mean giving up things we consider important to us. It can mean accepting that the career, the relationship, the aspiration we’ve dreamed of may never come to pass.

Patience is passing our schedules into God’s capable hands, and leaving them there.

Not fretting about it. Not pleading with Him to hurry up and give us what we want. Not whining. Just whole-hearted trusting, even when we can’t understand His methods.

Seasons of waiting can be tiny or they can be enormous. But everyone waits through them, and everyone has the chance to either rush ahead on their own strength, or hang back and walk in step with God.

In my seasons of waiting right now, I’m trying my very best to walk with God, and not try to get ahead of Him. And it’s every bit as difficult as I thought – except that the more I learn about God, the more I recognize His work in my life. And the more I know and love His character, the smoother ride it is. He knows best and knows what He’s doing.

After all, as many have said and I can definitely attest to, God doesn’t answer prayers for patience by instantly zapping us into patient people. Instead, He gives us the opportunities to be patient. He leads us into situations where we’re forced to be patient if we want to do His will. He lets us grow by doing.

If God ever sees fit to do some patience-zapping on me, I certainly wouldn’t argue. But until then, I’m going to continue doing my best to learn, to grow, and to journey beside Him at His pace, and not mine. His plan truly is perfect, and His timetable is best.

And as I wait, I’ve found that patience is easier together. In addition to staying immersed in Scripture and prayer, consulting other Christians I trust often helps me keep perspective and stay focused on God’s plan. So today I thought I’d share ten of my favorite quotes about waiting patiently, with the prayer that they help you as much as they help me.

1. “Beloved, whatever you are waiting for or believing for, God will not be late. The Lord is the Healer. He is just. He is the dreamer of dreams and He answers prayers. Be assured that He will bring that prodigal home….. Don’t give up hope and one day you will see the resurrection you have been waiting for come your way!”
(Cindy Jacobs)

2. “Biblically, waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want. Waiting is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be.”
(John Ortberg)

3. “Sometimes when we’re waiting for God to speak, He’s waiting for us to listen.”
(Martha Bolton)

4. “When we surrender to His timing, He does mighty things in and for us, according to His will and His timing. God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. “
(Charles Stanley)

5. “If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts; for blessed are all they that wait for Him. He is worth waiting for. The waiting itself is beneficial to us: it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes. The Lord’s people have always been a waiting people.”
(Charles Spurgeon)

6. “Waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one’s thoughts.”
(Elisabeth Elliot)

7. “What then are we to do about our problems? We must learn to live with them until such time as God delivers us from them…we must pray for grace to endure them without murmuring. Problems patiently endured will work for our spiritual perfecting. They harm us only when we resist them or endure them unwillingly.”
(A. W. Tozer)

8. “We don’t like waiting, but that’s when God does some of His best work on our souls.”
(Charles R. Swindoll)

9. “I try to remember that walking in the will of God might mean waiting as much as it might mean moving forward.”
(Tessa Afshar)

10. “He who waits on God loses no time. ”
(Vance Havner)

Yes, waiting can be extremely hard. But I’m thankful for a God that we can trust to always know what’s best, even if it means things take longer or don’t happen the way we want them to. His plan for our lives is so much greater than we could ever plan for ourselves. What a blessing! My prayer for us today is that we can grow more and more patient, and consistently live in faith – no matter what happens or when.

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’RE learning about waiting for God’s timing!

Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
(Psalm 27:14 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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Blography Tag

Happy Friday!

Another blog tag it is! I was invited to participate in this unique one by Miles Lawson, its creator! I encourage you to click his name and go check out his post and/or entire site while you’re at it. His writing is superb!

First of all, the (seven) rules:

Link back to the original site. Mention the one who tagged you.Write an autobiography in seven words.For this, they do not need to form a complete sentence.To make it more interesting, answer seven seven-word questions.Tag seven other bloggers.Think of seven seven-word questions, or use the same ones as you answered.

And now, onto the questions!

Let’s start with my autobiography in seven words:
Has learned much, and continues to grow.

Starting simple, what’s your happiest childhood memory?

Oh wow…I have so many happy childhood memories. I don’t know if I have one that’s happiest, but whenever my entire family could be together and do something relaxing and fun was wonderful. One time that sticks out was when my whole family went for a long evening walk around town, visiting parks, just laughing and taking in the sights.

Which age would you choose to revisit?

Probably the age I was last year (2020), as crazy as that sounds. Externally, the world around me was going insane and it was certainly hard. But internally, it was my biggest year for personal spiritual growth and it helped a lot. If I could, I’d like to go back and do some things differently going into this year (2021) to maintain that growth more easily.

How would you have your biography end?

‘And then, closing her eyes, the King’s beloved daughter drew her last earthly breath. A moment later, she opened her eyes again to find herself at last whole in her Savior’s presence, the swelling warmth in her chest pressing onto her heart one word. One word that felt perfect. One word that felt right, and full, and true. Home. At last.’

What would you name the current chapter?

Am I There Yet?

(I feel I’m at that awkward, tricky stage where I think I know where I want to be someday, but not at all how to work toward it now. And what if what I want isn’t what God wants for me? Then is all the work and time for nothing? What’s the right choice? By the grace of God, I believe I’m slowly figuring it out, but the progress is still slower than I’d like.)

Who would you write a biography about?

My brother1 is the first person to come to mind, honestly. And then a dear friend. Both received much shorter lives on earth, and I would love to tell their stories. Stories that impacted the people who knew them so much, and I believe would also impact others.

With that, I think it should be more common to write biographies about ‘ordinary’ people. Everyone’s story is unique and powerful, and has the potential to improve others’ lives. But they have to be shared to make an impact. Those are the biographies I’d most like to write.

What are seven of your favourite (auto)biographies?

Confession time: I haven’t read many biographies or autobiographies in years. I used to read a lot of them in school, but since graduating, it’s been a while. Here are the ones I’ve read (or reread) most recently and have found most impactful.

1. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
2. God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew
3. Me, Myself, and Bob by Phil Vischer
4. Fly a Little Higher by Laura Sobiech
5. The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
6. Hearts of Fire by The Voice of the Martyrs
7. Unplanned by Abby Johnson

How have those biographies affected your life?

Most of the biographies I read are about Christians that have overcome seemingly impossible obstacles with God, and they have really inspired me to trust God the same way. I don’t know – if I were faced with the same persecution or hardships, would I have the courage and the strength to act as they have? Would I share their unwavering faith?

Reading the many, many incredible stories of how God’s worked in others’ lives motivates and encourages me to remain close to God, and to trust that He is always in control, always helping me grow, and always walking with me – no matter what is going on in my life.

Well, those are my answers! This was a really thought-provoking tag, and definitely got me thinking deeper about certain aspects of my life.

I’d like to nominate the following bloggers to join in, if they’d like (no pressure, of course!):

1. Vanessa Hall
2. Kristianne, at Whimsical Wanderings
3. Kristina Hall
4.The ladies at Teen Writers Nook
5. Liesl, at Quote, Unquote
6. Grace A. Johnson
7. Raina, at Enthralled By Love

And I’m going to keep the same questions that I was asked, partly because they are just perfect for a biography tag – and also because I couldn’t come up with better ones, haha.

Once again, thank you for joining me today! I really enjoyed answering these questions, and I hope you enjoyed reading through them as well.

I’d love to find out how YOU would answer these questions! Let me know on your own blog, or in the comments below. I look forward to hearing from you!

1.I talked about my brother, here, and my friend, here.

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What I’ve Learned in One Year of Blogging

Hello and happy Wednesday!

It’s true what they say you know: time really does fly when you’re having fun. Or, as seems to be the case lately, when you’re doing just about anything at all.

Thankfully, I can honestly say the past year of blogging and maintaining my website has been fun. And through the process, I’ve learned a lot – about writing, about blogging, about the blogging community, and even about myself.

When I started this website one year ago, I didn’t know what to expect. I just knew that every book I read about being a more serious author told me that I’d need an author website; a space dedicated to me and my writing, and that would make it easier for people to find my work. And it made sense.

The blog was mostly an afterthought; something I’ve contemplated doing for years but never thought I had enough to say for it to be worth it. But if I had a website already, I figured a blog might be a nice way for me to share some of my reflections on life and writing. Even if no one read them, I could still learn to better articulate my thoughts and work through any tough spots coming up in my life.

Well now – 12 months, 95 posts, and over 105,000 words later – I’m so grateful for the blessing of this blog. Not only has it helped me as I’ve written about my life and what I’m learning, but I’ve received messages from others who have been inspired and encouraged by my posts – which is one of my highest goals as a writer. Being able to reveal God’s heart through something as seemingly tiny as this blog is an enormous blessing.

My initial goal was to try blogging for a year, and if I didn’t like it or it just didn’t seem to be working, then I’d stop and at least still have put some content out. But I’m happy to say you’re stuck with me for the foreseeable future, because evidently I’ve caught the blogging bug. And I’m okay with that, haha!

As I mentioned, I’ve learned some good lessons about blogging over the past year. Here are the biggest ones…

Consistency Really is Key

I released my first post on September 18th, 2020, as a sort of introduction to me and my writing. Lots of care went into it, and I was extra meticulous about my wording and with making it sound poetic and ‘official’. After all, I was a blogger now, and that was intimidating. Everything had to be perfect, didn’t it? Two more September posts followed, as inspiration for topics struck, but overall, my approach felt halfhearted and forced.

That October, I released four more posts, and as I began to settle into what my writing/blogging ‘voice’ actually was, rather than stressing about sounding official, the posting process grew even more enjoyable. I actually released a post talking about my own journey with perfectionism – something maintaining this blog has helped me battle. From there, I started blogging 1-2 times weekly, and releasing 9-11 posts each month.

Being intentional with my consistency has changed so much! On the practical side, it’s meant that far more people are reached with my posts. I appear in their feeds more often, and the increasing amount of content on my site means that search engines find me faster. And personally, it’s been a fantastic way for me to practice scheduling, brainstorming, writing on deadline (self-imposed), and sharing my – imperfect – writing with others. Even when a busier schedule means fewer posts, I still aim to be consistent in what I do write.

Don’t Be Afraid to Be Genuine

This realization is what encouraged me to start blogging more. Though my initial posts were still personal and genuine, I worried that if I continued putting out content that showed my heart so plainly, I’d end up scaring others away or seeming unprofessional. But who says blogging has to be professional? What I’ve learned is that as long has thought behind it, being able to tell that a real person behind the screen is so important.

Which meant that I could be myself, without being worried or stressed about how others perceived me. I am myself – just as God made me, and no one else could share the same messages or write the same posts that I can. Not that mine are any better than anyone else’s, but they are me. Your posts should be you, and mine should be me, and that’s the simple truth of the matter. God uses our personalities, our thoughts, and our experiences.

The world is searching for honesty and truth. It’s seeking genuine connections with others. Personally, yes, I want to read a blog post that’s been thought through and had care put into it. But not ones without character. Reading impersonal posts about others’ lives; posts that never speak of hardships, struggles, or things they’ve learned; posts that give the appearance of perfect lives… it’s draining to me. I never want people to leave my site drained. If they don’t care for me or my writing, that’s okay. But I’ll keep being me anyway.

Finding a Balance Helps

Sometimes post ideas are easy to come up with and sometimes…well, not so much. Originally, I only wrote when inspiration struck. When some topic came to mind that had something to do with current events in my life. And it was neat to realize that topics for posts are everywhere, if I’m only open and intentional about seeking them out. The more I realized that I didn’t have to wait for inspiration to find me, the easier blogging became.

Now, I’ve thankfully found a good balance between writing about topics that have something to do with my current life situation, and also writing about topics just because I think they might be helpful to others or because those kinds of posts tend to be more popular. Of course I want to write posts that meet widespread wants, and I also want to write about what I want to write about, haha. Sometimes those overlap, sometimes not.

In general however, even if I think a post would be popular, I don’t write it unless I feel I have something valuable to add. In the end, I’ll always choose to write the post that maybe no one will want to read. But it’s the one that I feel passionate about, that I have real thoughts on, and that no one else can write. Finding that balance has helped. Sometimes they’re light and fluffy blog tags, sometimes they’re deep reflections on life, and sometimes they’re fun tips and tricks I’ve learned about writing. Whatever feels right at that moment.

It Should Be Fun

And while finding a balance, I’ve learned that the balance should include fun! At first, I wanted to make sure that all my posts were perfect and professional, and perhaps they were better quality (though I’m not sure). But they were also not as enjoyable to me. Sharing my heart was good of course, but actually sitting down to write required a lot of motivation, and I tended to procrastinate. If I thought it had to be perfect, it was draining.

But as I’ve learned that perfection is something best left to God, and that as long as I’m striving to point others toward Him I’m doing it right, then I’ve allowed myself to have fun with the blogging process. Yes, I can collect those quotes on friendship, and yes, I can also write about my favorite childhood books. Share my favorite jokes? Why not? Some posts are lighter and fluffier, some are deeper and more personal, but I have that freedom.

Which is such a blessing! If it’s not something I can truly enjoy, I know I won’t continue it. The few times that I’ve gotten sucked into writing on topics I don’t feel passionate about, or gotten stuck in a rut of all fluffy posts or all deep ones, it’s much harder to stay motivated to continue blogging. It goes hand in hand with being genuine. When I’m writing about what really matters to me, I enjoy it. And if not, I’m tempted to call it quits. Someone can write those other posts, but they’re just not right for me. And that’s okay!

There’s an Amazing Community

This has been the most unexpected part of my blogging experience so far. Not that I didn’t think there were amazing people out there, but I hoped I’d be blessed to meet them through my blog some day. I definitely didn’t expect to find that community from day one, which is what ended up happening! No, I didn’t receive lots of comments or views, and I still have a much smaller platform than many others. But even one person thrills me!

I’ve learned that it’s not the number of people that you interact with, but the way you can impact them. The way God can take our writing, our words, our experiences, and our passions and minister to others through us is what really matters. Why be proud of thousands of followers if they’re not seeing Christ in us? And why feel like a failure if only three people are reading your posts, but they’re being positively impacted by your words?

Over and over again, I’ve been blown away by the kind, supportive, and encouraging people around the blogging community. I’ve been blessed to get to know many wonderful and talented bloggers, and interact with readers that have made my day with their accounts of how my words helped them through something, or encouraged them when they were struggling. In my opinion, there’s no greater feeling than knowing you’ve been a blessing to someone, and in turn, I’ve been blessed by many others. That’s a joy beyond description.

I have so much left to learn about blogging, but I suspect – and hope! – that as long as I keep at it, I’m just going to keep learning and growing. The past year has been a fulfilling, stretching, and overall incredible journey, and I’m looking forward to continuing it!

Whether you’ve been reading my posts for a long time, some times, or if this is your first time, thank you. You’re prayed for more than I can even say, and I appreciate you greatly. And if you’re also a blogger, what lessons have YOU learned on your own journey? I’d love to chat with you, so feel free to comment below and tell me about your experience!

“I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers.”
(Ephesians 1:16 NIV)

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Daylight: Blog Tour & Author Interview

Happy Friday!

I’m thrilled to share something special with you today: the release of Grace A. Johnson’s 9/11-inspired short story: Daylight! And in honor of the occasion, I get to interview the talented author herself!

Grace is a fellow Christian author I’ve been blessed to get to know over the past year, and I’m thrilled to be participating in the blog tour to promote her latest published story–which releases to the public on September 11th! (On Amazon here, and available everywhere else, here.)

Even as someone who doesn’t typically care for romance stories, I really enjoyed this book! Grace’s prose was superb (there were so many beautiful lines that actually made me stop and reread them), and the variety of vibrant characters who felt truly real quickly drew me in. Every person, whether a cameo or a main character, brought their own story to the page.

The themes of hope, love, and perseverance that Grace presented were powerful and left me inspired by the end. It’s difficult to write about such an emotional and horrific event, but Grace pulled it off with tact, skill, and an overarching message of trusting in the God that brings light from darkness. And all within a short story! I’m definitely glad I read this one.

Before we get started with the interview, you should probably take a look at Daylight‘s cover and synopsis . . .

I love this cover!

It was too late.

The whole world knew it, the nations shaking their heads at the fallen United States, our beautiful country of hope and freedom covered in blood and ashes.

Only the devil could’ve planned something so disastrous.

Only God could save us now.

Only God could save August.

It was all my fault that he nearly lost his life, dashing back into the hailstorm of debris to save a man who was already dead. I can only hope that he’ll recover—that we will recover.

Because some things will never be forgotten.

Interview with Grace A. Johnson

I really enjoyed getting the chance to chat with Grace about Daylight, and I think you’ll enjoy getting to know her as much as I have! My questions are in bold, followed by her answers. First off though: an introduction!

The lovely Ms. Johnson herself!

Grace A. Johnson is a teenage Christian fiction authoress, book reviewer, and avid reader. She lives in beautiful (but humid) South Georgia, surrounded by farmland and forestry, with her parents and six younger siblings. She has written four novels, three of which are published, and a smattering of short stories and novellas, which you can find on Amazon. She’s also a homeschooler who loves learning about history, linguistics, art, and the world around her. You can find her on Goodreads, Pinterest, BookBub, or blogging on her website at www.graceajohnson.com. Join her for a virtual cup of tea and a free short story when you sign up for her e-newsletter!

And now for the interview!

1) First of all, I haven’t read many stories that center around the 9/11 crisis, but appreciated the time you took to give the situation justice in this book. What first inspired you to write this story?

Grace: Thank you! *grins* I haven’t read many either, so I’ll admit that the lack of 9/11 stories (at least in my genre) was part of the reason why I went with this setting. But the main reason was a song that was partially inspired by 9/11. My intention had been to write a simple aesthetic story, but the more I began thinking about how the song would shape the story, the more I began to fall in love with the idea of it being set in the aftermath of 9/11.

2) Obviously, when writing about a huge event in time like this–especially one that many readers would still remember well–relaying it accurately is crucial. How did you research for this story? Do you generally enjoy the research part of writing or not?

Grace: No kidding. I’ve never been so nervous about research…and this is the one era I wouldn’t have to dig for resources on! Most of my research was conducted through Wikipedia, Google Maps, and YouTube. I watched a National Geographic video with footage of the towers that really helped me picture and capture all that happened. Everything else was simply fact-checking what I already knew with what the internet told me. That, and my expert beta readers picking out anything I missed!

And to answer your last question, no, I do not. I absolutely despise research. Weird for a historical author, I know. I enjoy researching things like names, mythology, and strange stuff like perfumes from the 1680s and the origin of fruitcake. But when it comes to no-holds-barred, read-til-your-eyes-fall-out research into every single detail about a certain event or place – or, worse, plotting my character’s course through Google Maps and figuring out which building existed when – or, worse yet, translating entire articles into English – or, worst of all, calculating the distance from Port Royal, Jamaica to New York, then converting that into knots and determining how long it would take for a ship traveling 3 knots per hour to get from Point A to Point B…yeah. Not fun.

3) Another thing I appreciated about Daylight was the variety of characters! Despite the short length, each of them felt vibrant and real. How did you approach designing the characters for this story? Do you ever base them off of people you know?

Grace: Thank you! I almost never base characters off of people I know personally. Some of my characters are inspired by my ancestors, but as I’ve never met them, I doubt that counts. So, yes, I started from scratch with August and Sylvie. My character development for these two was limited, since the story is so short. I gave them each a short backstory, quickly wrote out the details of their appearances, then figured out their birthdates. That’s usually the amount of characterization that goes into my first outline for a story I intend to work on years into the future, so I started out with the bare minimum and winged basically everything else. I tend to wing a lot of things. *winks*

4) Which of the characters do you relate to the most? In what ways?

Grace: Oh, hmm. That’s a good question. I never delved into their personalities before writing – simply letting them pour out onto the page as I wrote – so I can’t really say who I’m the most like on a surface level, but the more I think about it, Sylvie and I share the same method of…coping, you could say. She tends to doubt herself and feel responsible for everything that goes wrong – so do I, and I think that bleed into her character as I started wrestling with her grief. August is way too upbeat and peppy for me to relate to him about anything.

5)  I’m curious—if you could spend a day with Sylvie and August, how do you think you’d spend it?  

Grace: Pig out on ice cream and pineapple pizza on the couch while watching Rambo. No, seriously. They are living my dream life! Sylvie and I might go shopping for a few hours (antiquing, actually, since neither of us could afford anything new) before meeting up with August for Italian. Ah, that’s the life…

6) What’s been the hardest part of writing this story for you? What’s been the easiest? 

Grace: The hardest part? Getting it right. Writing about an event that transpired twenty years ago is leagues different than writing about one from centuries before – people remember this. People alive today were there. People still mourn for what occured that day. And I had to capture the emotions and experiences they went through as best as I could, having never lived through anything a fraction as terrific.

The easiest, though? Probably capturing the era apart from the events. The early 2000s are easier for me to write in than the early 2020s – probably because I still listen to 2000s music (which drives my sister crazy), watch 2000s movies and shows, and reminisce over the simplicity of 2000s technology. That was also really fun, since I’ve wanted to write a story set in the 90s-00s for forever.

7) Who do you think would enjoy this story most? 

Grace: Ooh, good one. Most of my books have a limited demographic (as in, me), but Daylight is probably my most…inclusive work yet. It is a romance, but almost to the point where I wouldn’t even call in that (no declarations of love, no kisses, nothing that would make Jane Austen proud). It’s not quite historical, not quite contemporary. It wavers between a YA story (because Sylvie’s only eighteen) and a story for anyone, because 9/11 was an experience everyone, of all ages, shared.

So, to be honest, I think any American would enjoy it. Or even a foreigner who wants a glimpse into what we went through that day. It’s one of those stories I’m not going to try to box in, for fear of rejection. It’s one that I’m hoping will touch everyone who reads, no matter who they are or where they’re from.

8) What writing project is next for you? Any sneak peeks you want to share?

Grace: Projects, you mean. I’m still working on Bound and Determined, the third novel in the Daughters of the Seven Seas series…and after that, I don’t know. I’ll probably work on several more short stories (including one to bridge the gap between Prisoner at Heart and Bound and Determined), and once I finally finish BAD, I’ll have a bunch of other things I can work on. I do have a Daylight novel in the works, though! I’m only in the outlining stages, but it looks like it’ll be about 50-60k words (one of my shortest novels yet) and I do have a tentative title! Something Bright and Beautiful. It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

9) I think every author has special little tidbits, or ‘easter eggs’ if you will, about each of their stories. Things readers may never know about their story details or its characters, but we as authors have filed away and think are neat. Do you have any of those that you’d like to share about Daylight?

Grace: That’s a tough one! Well, let’s see… In the first scene, I mention that a song by Alicia Keys is playing. That would be “Fallin’,” which was #2 on Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 list. Later on, I mention that Sylvie drove her mom’s old Toyota Corolla Tercel…which I purposely chose after searching for some of the ugliest cars. Lemme tell ya, that’s one ugly car. And I used Sylvester Stallone as inspiration for (1) Sylvie’s name, (2) August’s appearance, and (3) their favorite movie, Rambo. I…may have an obsession. *winks*

Also, the title of the story and the opening line of the second scene (“A shaft of daylight breaks through the shadows sprawled across the wall”) both came from the song that inspired the story, “Sky Is Falling” by Lifehouse.

10) As a fellow young author, I’ve been very inspired by your writing and publishing journey. What advice would you give to aspiring authors and what’s one thing you wish you’d learned earlier?

Grace: What most people don’t know is that I didn’t learn anything before publishing, so it’s not just one thing I wish I’d learned – it’s everything. 

The main thing, though, would probably be that I didn’t have to publish Held Captive the moment my cousin and I finished editing it. Had I waited just a couple more months, tweaked the story a little bit more, and done some more research, then I could’ve published a book I wouldn’t cringe at every time I read. Not only that, but I might’ve had some time to research self-publishing and building my platform as an author.

Then I remember I was only thirteen.

My advice for aspiring authors?

Write.

And don’t ever stop. Keep writing. Keep reading. Keep breaking the rules and trying new things. Keep seeking God and His will for you and your writing. Pray and ask Him to guide you, to speak through you, to write for you.

And, seriously, whatever you do, don’t publish your first draft. Or your second. Or even your third. Work on your story until you can’t stand to look at it any more. Research different publishing routes and platforms. Build your brand and your following even before you start considering publishing. Get involved with other writers.

And whatever you do, don’t write for people. Write for God. Write for yourself, even. Write the stories on your heart, not the stories people tell you to write or the market finds popular. You can never satisfy everyone. You can’t write a story everyone will enjoy. So don’t try to. Just write what you feel led to, and God will take care of the rest.

That’s a lot of advice, I know, but that really only skims the surface of what writers need to know, trust me. I’m still learning most of these things myself, and I’ve been at this for nearly three years. There is always something new to learn, always room to grow, always a way from God to use you!

Thank you SOO much for doing this interview with me!! These questions are AMAZING and were a ton of fun to answer! I really appreciate you joining the tour and reading Daylight!!! <333

Thank YOU, Grace! Your answers were a lot of fun to read, and that advice is so true. Writing for God is the best use of our time and talent as authors.

And that concludes my interview with Grace! I hope you had as much fun as I did, and if Daylight sounds like something you’d enjoy, I also hope you’ll consider purchasing your own copy! It’s definitely worth the read, and if you preorder from September 1st-10th, the price is lowered to just $0.99!

Are you interested in potentially winning a free copy of Daylight? Then head over to this page to subscribe to Grace’s newsletter and enter her giveaway! From there, you can collect more entries by commenting on tour posts and answering the trivia question. One winner will be selected and notified through email, and the winner will be announced September 12th on Grace’s blog!

You can find full information about Daylight at Grace’s website, here.

Grace’s complete tour schedule and links to the participating blogs are as follows:

Sept. 1st: 
Blog Tour/Giveaway Kickoff – www.graceajohnson.com
Character Q&A – www.thepeninspired.wordpress.com

Sept. 2nd:
Review – www.Kristinahallauthor.wordpress.com

Sept. 3rd:
Review + Interview – www.egbella.com

Sept. 4th:
Review – www.teenwritersnook.com

Sept. 5th:
Book Club Kit – www.graceajohnson.com

Sept. 6th:
Spotlight + Review – www.whimsicalwanderings.home.blog
Author interview – www.gloryforgodalone.blogspot.com 

Sept. 7th:
Author interview – www.intomywritingjourney.wordpress.com

Sept. 8th:
Character Q&A – www.eccoltonauthor.wixsite.com/quillofhope

Sept. 9th:
What Readers Are Saying About Daylight – www.graceajohnson.com

Sept. 10th:
Review – www.vanessahallauthor.wordpress.com

Sept. 11th:
Review – WWW.abigailkayharris.wordpress.com
Review – www.thebookcubicle.wordpress.com
Never Forget – www.graceajohnson.com

Sept. 12th:
Giveaway Wrap-up – www.graceajohnson.com

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Daylight: Blog Tour & Author Interview2021 August Wrap-UpJoin My Street Team!

2021 August Wrap-Up

Hello and happy Wednesday!

I’m back again with a summary of the past month of my life – with writing progress reports, reading accomplishments, and general updates!

Though it’s been very humbling to look back at previous months and see all the goals I haven’t met, sharing my progress each month has also motivated me to keep as on track as I possibly can. And maybe someday it’ll help me be more realistic with the goals I set.

So without further ado . . .

General Update

In my July wrap-up, I mentioned that August looked to be less full than the rest of my summer, and that I’d hopefully get to catch up on some more things at home – including writing. That ended up being partially true. I did get to catch up on some things at home and also get a head start on some projects for the fall, such as figuring out a general blog posting schedule/content calendar for the rest of 2021 and creating a street team.

As always however, it was far from laidback. In addition to blogging and launch prep, I was blessed to attend a friend’s wedding, serve at a local food pantry, continue to help with youth group prep for the coming school year, work more hours, prepare materials for and teach the first day of a high school fiction writing class, and clean up and submit one of my novels to a writing contest (though with far less editing than it needed . . .).

As always, God’s continued to help me with each and every step. I’ve tried and am continuing to be extra intentional about spending time with Him daily, because I know that one of my first tendencies when I feel overwhelmed is to procrastinate prayer and Bible study. But it’s so important and I’m always so glad to have that time to recharge and draw closer to Him. I’ve never once regretted the peaceful moments alone with Him.

Fiction Writing

It’s interesting how I can be quite productive, and still not get to half the things I wanted or planned to, haha. Such as fiction writing. Though my fall is certainly not going to be empty, I’m excited for the chance to set aside dedicated writing time and be more intentional about actually reaching my fiction goals again. I miss immersing myself in stories!

Fiction writing goals for September are mostly the same as August’s:

~ Rewriting (2nd draft) my Cabin Girl prequel – probably about 70,000 words
~ Actually finishing Cabin Girl edits and formatting
~ Outline a side medieval-genre project

On the Blog

My posting schedule on the blog is starting to pick up again! I published six posts in August (just click on the titles to read them). Moving forward this fall, I’m planning to move back to my twice-weekly posting schedule, aiming for 8-10 posts each month. That said, I’m also not going to stress if life pulls me back to a few less than that. We’ll see how it goes!

~ Jolly Genre Jubilee Tag
~ All About You Around the Blogosphere Tag
~ Never Have I Ever – Writers Edition – Blog Tag
~ 10 Quotes About Putting God First
~ 5 Wellness Tips for Writers
~ Join My Street Team!

Reading List

I didn’t have an abundance of time to read in August, but still managed to finish a few books. Something about curling up with a good story at the end of the day is just such a good way to unwind (provided it’s not a terrifying story . . .).

The books I finished:

~ Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
(I wish I could recommend this one. Parts of it were insightful, and Hollis’ writing style is infectious and upbeat, but her message of happiness being the ultimate goal in life is just not something I agree with. God’s perfect plan often does not make us happy on earth. )
~ Daylight by Grace A. Johnson
(This is a short story, and one that I get the privilege of spotlighting on Friday! Though I don’t typically read romance, I really enjoyed this sweet, emotional story, and look forward to interviewing the author for her blog tour on September 3rd!)
~ Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
(I thought this looked like an intriguing dystopian survival story, but didn’t realize at first that it’s essentially a zombie book. Because I was already so invested in the characters and worldbuilding, I finished it, but I don’t plan to continue the series due to far too much gore and other content I’d rather not fill my head with. I can’t recommend it for those reasons.)
~ Six O’clock by Grace A. Johnson
(Another short story by Ms. Johnson! This one was disorienting at first and the prose more flowery than I usually care for, but it still drew me in and I ended up enjoying it. The author’s note at the end also cleared up any confusion, and ended the book with a hopeful tone in the midst of its heavier subject matter. I’m glad I read it!)

I’m still working on the the books I listed in July (Eragon, Beneath a Scarlet Sky, and No Wonder They Call Him the Savior), because my attention span when it comes to reading is notoriously short. But I will hopefully get to them soon!

Looking Forward

Ah, autumn. I’m definitely looking forward to the approach of fall – my favorite season! My schedule and obligations are changing a bit as the summer comes to a close, but I know I’ll stay busy. It will be interesting to see how everything works out, and what opportunities come up in these next few months.

Some highlights approaching for September include: starting to help with the next school year of my church’s youth group (including playing live worship music for the first time, which is both exciting and very intimidating), beginning a child care job with three precious little ones, working more, continuing to teach that fiction writing class, hopefully spend some extra time with friends and family members, and of course, writing.

Specific writing goals I’d like to reach include a lot more fiction! I miss working on my stories, and I’d love to get to do some more of that this month. I also want to dive back into Cabin Girl‘s publishing process. It got set aside during the craziness of the summer, but now I’m ready to recap what I’ve done, figure out exactly where I’m at in the process, and create a set timeline for finally sharing it with the world. I’m incredibly excited to do so!

What was YOUR August 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 September! As always, I’m excited to hear from you!

Recent Posts:

2021 August Wrap-UpJoin My Street Team!5 Wellness Tips for Writers

Join My Street Team!

Happy Friday!

I have a quick announcement to share with you today: the creation of my street team!

Technically, I opened wide sign-ups for it a little while ago, but as I near publication of Cabin Girl, I thought I’d make a formal post and spread the word a bit more.

All the information can be found on my Street Team page, but I’ll give it below, too.

What Is It?

Bella’s Street Team (that’s me!) is a group of individuals dedicated to sharing her writing with the world! Passionate about her stories and willing to creatively spread the word, they’re the driving force behind the promotion of Bella’s works.

If you’re on or considering signing up for my email list, you might wonder how this is different. My email list (that you can join here and receive an exclusive short story!) is where I send out announcements, fun freebies, sneak peaks, and writing recaps for you to stay up-to-date with my writing and publishing journey. While I’d love to interact with you, you can be engage with me as much or as little as you want. It’s very passive.

Those on my street team are signing up for more active roles. They receive much the same freebies and special content as my email list, but also get first looks and ARCs of upcoming releases – because they help promote them! The methods look different per person, but ultimately, my street team is best for those who’ve read and enjoy my writing and would like to help me spread the word through whichever methods work best for them.

What Do They Do?

The ways my street team can spread the word about my works is only as limited as their imaginations, but some common activities include:

Receiving ARCs (advanced reader copies) of my latest stories to read and reviewPosting those reviews via Amazon, Goodreads, their own blogs, etc.Sharing my announcements, blog posts, and reveals via social mediaGenerating interest through social media and/or word of mouthRequesting copies of my books through their local librariesOffering feedback on story ideas, titles, and covers, character names, and more!

Really, the sky’s the limit with what they can do – and I greatly appreciate all of it!

Are There Perks?

As well as being continually thanked and prayed for, members of my street team are the first to know about upcoming stories, announcements, giveaways, cover reveals, blog tours, sales, contests, and other special events! They can take part in as many of these events as they want, and even win special prizes for involvement.

Additionally, they receive exclusive content – such as short stories, printouts, early access to my books, custom swag, and more. They’ve been known to appear as cameos in my stories, receive shoutouts in my books and blog posts, and give feedback on everything from which story I write next (and characters and plot points within those stories) to promotion strategies. Occasional corny jokes may also appear while conversing with me . . .

Who Can Join?

Regardless of age, platform, or experience, Bella’s Street Team is open to anyone who is passionate about my stories and the messages inside, and is willing to creatively share them with others.

And if you’re not sure whether this is right for you, go ahead and fill out the form below anyway, and I’ll contact you so we can chat about it. I’d be glad to answer any questions you might have!

Your support means the world to me, and I’m so grateful for each and every one of you. If joining my street team is something that interests you, go ahead and submit the form below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Bella’s Street Team Application

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Join My Street Team!5 Wellness Tips for Writers10 Quotes About Putting God First

5 Wellness Tips for Writers

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Sometimes, I think writers forget that they too require proper physical care.

Sleep? Rest? What are those?

Tear ourselves away from our computers or notebooks? But why?

Drink water, of all things? Coffee or tea, sure, but water?

In the midst of crazy deadlines and while trying to keep a balance between our writing, work, family, other hobbies or obligations, etc. it can be difficult to remember to take care of ourselves. But a burnt out writer is ultimately an unproductive writer.

If we want to live the lives God’s calling us toward, and to do the best possible job in our writing, we also need to do our part in staying healthy and feeling good. That means not pulling all-nighters three times a week. Not existing only on fast food – or none. Not gluing ourselves to our chairs for entire days.

But being intentional about our health is hard. Especially as we get busier and busier. Taking good care of ourselves is usually the first thing to go when time is sparse. And it’s one of the largest hindrances to being productive and actually enjoying our writing.

So today, I thought I’d share my best tips for staying physically well as a writer. Of course, I’m no expert, but these are the main things I’ve found – through research, professional recommendations, and personal experience – that make a positive difference for me. I hope they’re helpful to you as well!

Stay Hydrated

This one is first on the list for a reason! Water is absolutely essential to us, and while most people know it, many still don’t drink nearly enough of the blessed liquid. Our bodies contain roughly 60% water. When we fail to drink the amount we need on a daily basis, we experience symptoms such as: fatigue and grogginess, headaches, mental fog, an inability to focus, increased risk of illness, mood swings, unhealthy cravings…it goes on and on.

But how much water is enough? The age-old recommendation to drink 8 glasses (or about 64 ounces) a day is still a good rule of thumb, but don’t be afraid to have more than that if you’re thirsty. 64 oz is now often considered the minimum. Basically, if you’re thirsty, drink! And if you’re someone who doesn’t feel thirsty often, make sure you’re drinking at least 8 glasses a day anyway. Your body needs it, and you’ll feel better for it.

What helps me most is to simply keep a water bottle with me! Seriously, at all times. For a while, I had to be very intentional about drinking often, but over time, it’s become a habit. On days when I forget my water bottle, or if I’m too lazy to fill it before retreating to my desk, I drink much less, and notice the consequences… Definitely keep a water bottle with you, and if you need help remembering to drink from it, try setting alarms. One glass every hour or so is usually a good starting place. A hydrated writer is a happy writer!

Get Up and Move

You know what’s hard? Reaching your daily step-count when you’re mostly sedentary. As someone who fluctuates between an office job and days of trying to be incredibly productive writing-wise, I often struggle with remembering and/or finding time to move. But that’s so important to do! Not only does sitting all day make it difficult to stay in shape, but it also causes posture problems, aches and pains, and poor circulation – to name some.

And yet, finding time for physical activity often seems daunting. When our days are packed and to-do lists long, when are we supposed to exercise? Well, one of the biggest helps to me was learning that movement doesn’t have to be in a large chunk to be beneficial. In fact, as great as full workouts are, light but consistent movement throughout the day has proven to be better for us than one block of heavy exercise and then nothing.

Try and get up – at least for a few minutes – every half hour. Walk around the room, do a few stretches, or even lift some weights – whatever you can do to get your blood circulating and your muscles loose. I’m still notoriously bad at remembering to do this, so alarms are my friend. And if you have the time for a longer workout, then that’s great! Half an hour of walking to upbeat Christian music is a favorite of mine. But if you’re pressed for time, focus on those short bursts, and I’ve also found that standing while writing is a nice change.

Sleep

Admittedly, I’m a hypocrite here. So far this year, I have yet to get a solid eight hours of sleep in one night, usually averaging much less than that. Nighttime is often a great time to catch up on things we didn’t get to accomplish during the day, after all. Or early morning. Getting up an hour or two earlier makes the entire day more productive. Sleep is a lot easier to push aside than deadlines or looming wordcounts. It just has to wait. Or does it?

As much as I like squeezing every possible hour from each day in favor of my to-do lists, I’ve found it’s not always a good idea. Eventually lack of sleep catches up to us, obviously hindering our energy levels, as well as our ability to focus, create, think quickly, be objective, feel positive emotions, and on and on. Just as electronics stop working without recharging, forcing our bodies to function when they’re out of ‘battery’ doesn’t work.

Sadly, I don’t have the perfect answer for this one, other than to encourage you to try and get more sleep. Even a half hour more will help. Sometimes I’ll strike a bargain with myself, and make myself go to bed at a good time every other night, allowing myself to stay up late and work on the ‘off’ nights. And of course, going to bed at a good time is crucial if you plan to wake up early. I still have a lot of work to do in order to get my sleep schedule to what it should be, but being well rested makes all the difference in energy and focus levels.

Munch Wisely

To use yet another metaphor, we have to put the correct fuel into vehicles in order for them to run, and our bodies are the same way. Ingesting the wrong ‘fuel’ will at best leave us deficient and feeling drained, and at worst lead to some very serious health problems. Obviously we write best when we feel best, so carefully choosing the foods we eat can really help our productivity, and also, who doesn’t want to feel good?

The best diet somewhat depends on the particular person. For example, I recently did a bunch of testing to determine why I’ve felt sick the past five years, and discovered that dairy, gluten, certain spices, and sugar all affect me badly in varying degrees. So now I avoid them as much as possible and have noticed a huge change in how I feel! But while I shouldn’t have dairy or gluten, others thrive on them. There’s not a one-size-fits-all.

So pay attention to how you feel after eating certain foods, and tailor your meals to give you the most energy and mental clarity. In general, forgoing things like fast food and soda, and replacing them with more vegetables, fruits, proteins, and whole grains (and water!) is going to provide you with the most nutrients – which will keep you as healthy as possible! And after all, we just don’t write well when we’re sick. Or maybe you do, and in that case, I’d love to hear your secrets, haha.

Destress

This little gem of advice is something I never gave much thought to in past years, but it’s so important! Life is full of stressful situations, no matter who we are or what we do. That’s just the way it is, and if we’re not careful, the stress can overwhelm us. The effects of stress are numerous: headaches, nausea, fatigue, feeling depressed, anxious, apathetic . . . It’s extremely hard to push through and get anything done when we feel so miserable.

But often, that push to get stuff done is a big reason we’re stressed in the first place. We have deadlines to meet, projects to complete, people to help, bills to pay . . . if we stop we’re sure we’ll fail. So we just don’t stop. But our bodies can only do so much, and are meant to have periods of recharge – physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Sleep is one huge part of that, but we also need to set aside intentional time to unwind.

I know how impossible this seems when we just have so much in their schedules. But stressed work is not our best work. This summer I’ve had to carefully consider where I commit my time. Is everything in your schedule truly meant to be there? Is there anything you can cut out? Maybe, like me, better time-management would help you. Can you set hard work hours to be as productive as you can – and then intersperse some short breaks to read a chapter or take a walk? And of course, time in prayer is the best recharge there is.

Well, those are five of my best tips for staying healthy and feeling good – even if you spend much of your day in a chair! And with that said, these tips are obviously not just for writers. They’re for anyone and everyone who wants to take the best care of themselves. Is that you? I certainly hope so! I’m far from perfect at any of the tips, but it’s a steady journey.

Did any of these tips stick out to you? Are any of them harder for you to maintain? What are YOUR favorite tips for feeling your best as a writer? I’d love the chance to learn from you – so let me know your thoughts in the comments!

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5 Wellness Tips for Writers10 Quotes About Putting God FirstNever Have I Ever -Writer’s Edition – Blog Tag

10 Quotes About Putting God First

Priorities are a popular topic these days.

What will we spend our time on? Who will we spend it with? What do we value enough to make time for in the first place?

With all the things expected of us, most of us don’t even have enough time for everything we need to do. Much less for activities and relationships that aren’t deemed crucial.

But what’s crucial to one person may be of little importance to another. To some extent, we all need to decide for ourselves what our priorities are.

What’s most important to you?

I’ve been asking myself this question a lot so far in 2021. This is one of my busiest summers ever, and with each passing week, I’ve realized that I just won’t be able to get to everything I thought I would before autumn.

Of course I’ll do everything possible to keep promises to others and honor commitments I made earlier in the year, but when it comes to any of the personal goals . . . some things have been and need to keep getting pushed back for a while.

More than ever, I’ve had to really examine the things I’m agreeing to and what I spend my time on. Is the opportunity something I can honestly give my very best to right now? Is it something I’m only doing because I feel pressured or obligated? Will it be beneficial to others, and is it something God means for me to do?

The answers are hard to find. And unfortunately, as I’ve searched for them, one of the things that’s often gotten pushed back is my quiet time with God.

If I’m honest with myself, I know that’s the worst thing I could possibly put off. And yet, when the to-do lists are long and my schedule is packed, it’s far too easy for me to think, “I’ll get to my Bible study later,” or “I’ll take time to pray after I catch up on some things.”.

But usually, by the time I get those other tasks done, I’m exhausted, the day’s spent, and I either forget to spend time with God, or excuse myself by figuring God wouldn’t want to spend time with me when I’m so out of it. Better to just wait until tomorrow.

And the cycle repeats.

I heard a quote the other day that really struck me: “Jesus is the Bread of Life. If you’re starving, maybe it’s because you’re only eating once a week.”

How often are you ‘eating’ from the Bread of Life? How much time do you set aside to read God’s Word and study it? How many days have you spent time in prayer?

I’ve experienced the incredible difference that spending regular time with God first makes. Last year (2020), I determined to do my Bible study and have quiet prayer right away in the morning, before anything else. Every morning I stuck to it, filling notebooks with Scripture verses and what I was learning about them, sitting and pouring out my heart to God, and then taking time to be still and listen.

And those months were some of the most productive, peaceful, and powerful moments of my life so far. Not that the world around me changed to make that happen. Far from it – in the midst of the 2020 craziness, those same months were full of cancellations and drastic changes (my graduation ceremony, my senior play, outings with friends and family…). And even with the cancellations, life didn’t slow down. If anything it grew busier.

But through it all, I continued to feel God’s closeness, and was often surprised by my own reactions to difficult news. Usual me would have sulked or grown upset. But this me actually, somehow, took it in stride. I found myself at peace and feeling assured that everything would be okay. God was (and still is!) in control, and no matter how hard things were, He was ultimately going to work things out for good. Romans 8:281 became my special motto for the year.

Looking back, having allowed myself to drift from that consistency, I long to feel that kind of closeness again. And I realize that the only thing keeping me from it is myself. God’s never changed. He’s never left. His love for me is constant, and He’s still waiting for me to come near, so I can recognize how He’s continually showing it.

I’m not going to keep Him waiting any longer.

The past couple of weeks, I’ve been extra intentional about spending time with God first. Before writing, before breakfast, before work – before any of the other obligations in my day. And throughout the day, I’m reminding myself to put God first in the things I do. When I write or work or interact with others, it should always be with the intention to glorify God.

I’m far from perfect. But I’m being intentional about it again, and already noticing the differences. When I choose God first, it doesn’t mean that my circumstances are any smoother. But it means I feel equipped to handle them well, because I’m not relying on my own strength or wisdom or patience (which is not much to speak of). I’m drawing on God’s.

And when I’m tempted to procrastinate my time with God, I’m reminding myself that a few hundred more words written or a couple more things off my to-do list are not worth forgoing His peace. God will help me get to what He means for me to get to, and I only need to continue listening for His directions. Everything else is just not as important.

It helps to be reminded all over again of those truths, especially when I’m extra busy. Of course praying helps, and so does talking with and reading the encouragements of wise Christians. So today, I thought I’d share ten of my favorite quotes about putting God first in life, with the prayer that they help you as much as they help me.

1. “If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead.”
(William Law)

2. “When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.”
(Ezra Taft Benson)

3. “When I put God first, God takes care of me and energizes me to do what really needs to be done.”
(Dr. David Jeremiah)

4. “The road that leads to Heaven is risky, lonely, and costly in this world, and few are willing to pay the price. Following Jesus involves losing your life – and finding new life in him.”
(David Platt)

5. “Your priorities must be God first, God second, and God third, until your life is continually face to face with God.”
(Oswald Chambers)

6. “When we come to Christ, we’re no longer the most important person in the world to us; Christ is. Instead of living only for ourselves, we have a higher goal: to live for Jesus.”
(Billy Graham)

7. “You’ll never come second by putting God first.”
(Brian Houston)

8. “Jesus taught that your highest priority must be your relationship with Him. If anything detracts you from that relationship, that activity is not from God. God will not ask you to do something that hinders your relationship with Christ.”
(Henry Blackaby)

9. “Following Christ isn’t something that can be done halfheartedly or on the side. It is not a label we can display when it is useful. It must be central to everything we do and are.”
(Francis Chan)

10. “Remember: In the end, you’re not living to impress your friends or your relatives or your coworkers. All of life is for Jesus.”
(Chris Tomlin)

There’s no doubt about it, putting someone other than ourselves first – our goals, our dreams, our wants – can be hard. But God blesses our commitment to Him. He draws near to us, and we can have the assurance that He’s always there, ready to help us with His strength, peace, and love. We only need to continue coming to Him. Getting to know our Savior better is something we will never regret.

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’RE learning about putting God first!

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or
‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.”
(Matthew 6:31-33 NIV)

1. Romans 8:28 NIV – ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.’

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

3. 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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Never Have I Ever -Writer’s Edition – Blog Tag

Happy Friday!

Three blog tags in one month? Yes, indeed!1 Blog tag posts are a bit easier to write, so they’ve been a good way for me to stay somewhat active this summer, while also allowing us to get to know each other better! And if we’re being honest, what writer doesn’t like to talk about their own writing sometimes, haha?

This tag was created by Bree at The Long Voyage, and looked too interesting to pass up!

First of all, the rules:

Link and thank the blogger who tagged you (I got this tag from Jan @The Doodlecrafter)Include the graphic somewhere in the post (or make your own!)Answer the questions truthfully and honestly.Tag 3 bloggers.

And now, onto the fun part!

Never Have I Ever . . .

…started a novel that I didn’t finish.

I…feel very called out and this is only the first question, haha! Over the years, I’ve actually lost count of how many novels I’ve started and have yet to finish. Some I don’t have any intention of going back to, but there are about half a dozen right now that I still want to complete. Sticking with a novel once I’ve started is definitely something I need to work on.

…written a story completely by hand.

Ooh, yes, I’ve done this! My first two and half novels (each about 50,000 words once finished) were written completely by hand. Nowadays, I use my laptop for speed and ease of editing, but I still like to outline and write occasional tricky scenes in notebooks. Something about handwriting seems to help my creativity flow better when I’m stuck.

…changed tenses midway through a story.

Only once, halfway through a short story. I’ve mostly written in present tense for the past couple of years and switching back to past tense for that story threw me off, haha. Otherwise, I’ve switched several other novels from past tense to present, but that was thankfully a deliberate decision after the first draft was finished (not easy to do, but still).

…not researched anything before starting a story.

Research and I have a tricky relationship. Yes, I’ve started several stories without any research . . . usually the ones that really should be heavily researched, and I’m just too lazy. On the flip side, sometimes I’ll get so caught up in researching tiny details that I delay writing the actual book. Depends on what I need to research and if I find it interesting.

…changed my protagonist’s name halfway through a draft.

Not often, but yes. In the latest medieval fantasy novel I wrote, I changed all of the characters’ names partway through chapter five. Which ties back to the previous question about research, because I changed the names to better fit the time period. I also recently changed the spelling of Éirinn’s name to be historically accurate (from Cabin Girl).

…written a story in a month or less.

Not counting short stories, I’ve done this four times! The very first novel I wrote (a Star Wars ‘fanfiction’), a medieval fantasy early last year, a novella last October, and a Cabin Girl prequel last November for NaNoWriMo. It’s exhausting, but sometimes I need the extra push to actually write – i.e. finish – the entire story before my mind moves onto other things.

…fallen asleep while writing

More times than I care to admit, haha. Always late at night (or technically early in the morning), when I’ve had a busy day and still have deadlines to meet. It’s quite jarring to wake up with your fingers still on the keyboard and a blinding white document in front of you, so I try my best not to make it a habit. Sleeping properly – in a bed – is important, folks.

…corrected someone’s grammar IRL/online?

Only if it’s someone who asked me to critique their story, or my siblings being loopy. Otherwise, I usually second-guess that I even know the correct grammar/spelling and just ignore it. Most of the time I can figure out what they mean anyway. And if I can’t, sometimes I’ll ask for clarification, sometimes I’m a coward and act like I understand, ha!

…yelled in all caps at myself in the middle of my novel.

Um, no. Do writers actually do this? I never ‘break the fourth wall’ like that in my novels because I’m always paranoid that I’ll share it with someone and forget to take extra bits out. What I have been known to do however is leave myself snarky comments and notes while I’m editing. The more ridiculous the blusters, the snarkier I get with myself.

…used “I’m writing” as an excuse.

I’ve definitely used this as a ‘reason’, but I can’t say that I’ve used it as an excuse. If I actually am writing or need to write, then I’ll say so. If I’m not, then I’m not, haha. If anything, I tend to procrastinate writing by claiming I’m too busy with other things. Which is usually true. Other times I just don’t feel like going back to plot holes or tricky endings.

…killed a character that was based on someone I know in real life.

Yes, but not because I was thinking of the person I based the character on. I try not to mold characters from just one person I know in real life, for many reasons. But all my characters tend to be combinations of numerous people, so yes, I guess I’ve killed plenty of them off. What makes me feel really bad is when I kill off characters with the same names as family.

…used pop culture references in a story.

So far I haven’t written much contemporary fiction, so not really. And I’m not sure whether I would or not. On one hand, I love the idea of being able to include things that are super popular now, especially if I get to use humor in addressing them. On the other hand, I’ve read stories that took this route and feel very outdated a few years later, so I’m still unsure.

…written between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.

More times than I should. Not past 4 a.m. though, and not usually past 2 a.m. I’m not naturally a huge night owl, but sometimes that stage when my brain is too tired to self-edit but can still keep coming up with story is an incredibly productive time. Bonus points since I don’t tend to remember what I’ve written the next morning and get to read it objectively.

…drank an entire pot of coffee while writing.

I’ve never drank an entire pot of coffee in one day and would like to keep it that way. One to two cups a day is great, but more than that just sounds like too much, haha. Most of the time, the only liquid I have near when I’m writing anyway is water, in a sealed water bottle. I’m way too paranoid that I’ll spill and ruin my laptop otherwise. Mugs are too dangerous.

…written down dreams to use in potential novels.

Occasionally. My dreams rarely make enough sense to even consider writing a novel from. And when they might, when I’m still dreaming and think, “Hey, this would make a good story,” I wake up with vague, emotion-tinted memories and not nearly enough to write a story from. So whether it would have been a good novel or not, I guess we’ll never know!

…published an unedited story on the internet/blog/Wattpad.

Never completely unedited. I’ve shared some stories that have only been lightly edited (even the short stories here on my site could probably use some more), but it’s far too embarrassing to find typos and plot holes after lots of people have read my works. So, I try to prevent that as much as possible. Nothing’s perfect, but still, I’m a perfectionist.

…procrastinated homework because I wanted to write.

Absolutely. When I need to do home(or house)work, I procrastinate by writing (and often, when I need to write, I procrastinate by doing that work from before). But yes, I’ve often shoved tasks aside because I’m eager to write more. I certainly won’t stop if the story’s flowing well. That kind of inspiration is not easy to come by, and I want to use it!

…typed so long that my wrists hurt.

Yes. I struggle with tendonitis, so it doesn’t take long for my wrists to hurt whether I’m typing, writing, playing piano, turning book pages, washing dishes, weeding, etc. etc. Thankfully it’s rarely so bad that I can’t continue typing. And breaks for stretches and ice are always a good way to loosen up the tendons again.

…spilled a drink on my laptop while writing.

Thankfully, no! As mentioned above, that’s one of my nightmares, haha. I take as many precautions as possible to prevent that from happening. Once, I think some kind of snack was spilled on the keyboard but I must have blocked it from memory because I can’t remember what it was. Dropping my mouse is a regular occurrence, however . . .

…forgotten to save my work/draft.

Let’s just say there’s a very good reason I’m in the habit of hitting Control+S on my keyboard any time I stop typing. It hasn’t been a problem lately (although internet issues did steal one of my blog posts recently that I had to completely rewrite), but back when I first started typing my stories, I lost quite a few sessions of work before I learned better.

…finished a novel.

Happily, yes, I’ve finished around six novels now – a pretty even split between historical fiction, medieval fantasy, and Star Wars fanfictions that I don’t even want to call fanfictions because they center around completely original characters, haha. Next, I’d like to finish a couple dystopians and another historical/pirate novel to add to the count.

…laughed like an evil villain while writing a scene.

I really wish I could say yes. Now I kind of want to, but no, that’s never crossed my mind before. My family might be kind of concerned, and I wouldn’t blame them. There are plenty of times I’ve been glad knowing readers will feel intensely or possibly even be upset at me for doing something to a character, but a full-on evil villain laugh just hasn’t occurred yet.

…cried while writing a scene.

Okay, this I have done. Not very often, but especially if I’m really into the scene, I’ve been known to make myself tear up. Never sobbing, but tearing up definitely. I wouldn’t want it to happen in public, but I take it as a good sign when a plot twist or character’s death, etc. makes me cry. As long as it’s supposed to be an emotional scene anyway!

…created maps of my fictional worlds.

Just once, this past June! I took a map-making class as part of a writing conference and seized the opportunity to create a map for a recent fantasy plot bunny. Unlike my sister (who has talent) I’m no artist, but it’s neat to be able to sketch out the different landmarks and cities from my story. Hopefully it’ll help my writing be more consistent too.

…researched something shady for a novel.

This seems like a rite of passage for authors. Yes, I’ve researched my fair share of shady things, haha. Poison, methods for receiving certain types of wounds, how long someone can last after such wounds, psychological manipulation . . . yikes, that sounds horrible, but I promise it’s just for my villains. You’re supposed to be creeped out by them, not me.

Wow, this has been even more fun than I thought! Thanks to Bree for coming up with this unique and entertaining tag – and to you for sticking around for it!

I’d like to tag the following people, in case they’re interested:

1. Kristianne, at Whimsical Wanderings
2. Vanessa Hall
3. Kristina Hall
4. And YOU, if you’d like to join in!

Once again, thank you for joining me today! I really enjoyed answering these questions, and I hope you enjoyed reading through them as well.

I’d love to find out how YOU would answer these questions! Let me know on your own blog, or in the comments below. I look forward to hearing from you!

1. The other blog tags I’ve done this month are the Jolly Genre Jubilee tag, and the All About You Around the Blogosphere tag!

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All About You Around the Blogosphere Tag

Happy Friday!

Another blog tag? I’m happy to say yes. The wonderful Vanessa Hall tagged me for this one, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to participate. Thanks, Vanessa!

Firstly, the rules:

Answer the questions below on your blog.Tag at least a couple other bloggers.Have them answer these questions!

Now, onto the fun stuff . . .

What’s your favorite book/book series and why?

Oh no, this is a question I always dread, haha. And just because I always have too many books I love to pick a favorite! The Bible is of course on that list – more like on a list of its own – as well as Blank Mastermind, The Chronicles of Narnia, God’s Smuggler, Hind’s Feet in High Places, the Harry Potter series, and a whole bunch more (including many sentimental favorites that may not be amazingly written, but I still like them anyway).

Who is your favorite author?

You might’ve guessed it, but I don’t have just one favorite author either. Quite a few of my favorites are actually members of a writing community I’m part of, so I can’t give their names. But other than that, some authors that have written work I really enjoy are Rosey Mucklestone, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Hannah Hurnard, Katherine Paterson, Isabella Auer, Daniel Schwabauer, and Jude Watson.

What is your favorite food?

Not corndogs. I don’t know why I have such distaste for them, but just . . . blech.

Otherwise, I’m one of those annoying people that doesn’t even have a favorite food, haha. It changes with the wind. I’ve recently figured out some dairy and gluten sensitivities, so in general, fresh fruits and veggies are the way to go. I also really enjoy making shakes: one of my favorites being banana, cocoa powder, and almond milk (and – cough – okra). I’m weird.

You can keep your corndogs and I’ll keep my okra, thank you.

What gives you inspiration for your books?

Everything.

Seriously – music, photos, drawings, movies, other books, current events, overhearing a snippet of someone’s conversation, random strangers, dreams, experimenting with popular tropes and trends . . . I’ve yet to ever run low on story ideas. The trick is choosing which ones are really worth telling. After all, I never said they were good ideas, haha.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Hmm, I know plenty of places that I’d like to visit (Africa, Ireland, Jerusalem, Alaska, France, etc….), but to live? That’s harder. Somewhere with temperatures that don’t fluctuate between extremes most of the time would be nice. Oh, and minimal allergy-inducing plants. And nothing that will eat me. I’d want to be least somewhat near loved ones, too.

The more I think about what I’m describing, I’ve got to cheat and answer: Heaven.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

An introvert. I love people and getting to know them, but after a tiring day, it’s solitude – rather than a party – that I need to recharge. Slightly off-topic, but the fact that I love theatre (yes, performing it) is surprising to a lot of people, as I’m naturally pretty quiet in public. But to me, pushing through any discomfort to reach the blissful point of just becoming the character is worth it. Any other introverted theatre people present?

If you had a warning label, what would yours say?

WARNING: WILL DISCUSS HER CHARACTERS UNTIL YOU’RE ASLEEP – AND THEN SOME.

Or something along those lines, probably. Most of the time I’d like to think I’m okay at holding myself back and not gushing about my stories at every opportunity. But if someone asks about characters within those stories? Proceed with caution.

Phew – those were actually harder than I thought they’d be! But fun, haha. I hope you enjoyed reading through them as much as I did answering them!

I’d like to tag the following people to participate if they’d like:

1. Kristianne at Whimsical Wanderings
2. Kristina Hall
3. Jordyn at Indie Edits By J
(and of course, YOU!)

Thanks for joining me in this fun activity today! If I’ve learned anything, it’s that I need to actually sit down and figure out what some of my favorite things (books, foods, etc.) are for the future, haha.

How would YOU answer the questions? Do you have favorite books, foods, or authors? What would your warning label be? I’d love to find out, so let me know in the comments below!

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