Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 78

Tips on How to Overcome Writer's Block

In my early days (AKA "naive days") of writing, I actually bragged that I didn't suffer from writer's block. Ha! There's nothing like having to eat your words to keep you humble.



On my current WIP, I've written the first ten chapters at least ten times, and keep hitting the same brick wall. (The definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results...yeah, that's me...)



So, to beat the beastly block, I took to the internet to find out the best tips to overcoming writer's block. Hope these help you, too!




Exercise! Guilty here. Once an avid exerciser, I let my now crazy schedule take this out of my schedule. I'm happy to report that I'm making great strides in this department, and I can already tell a difference in my ability to concentrate and think. (A little coffee seems to help, too... ;)
Find balance! If your life seems like an out-of-control roller coaster, it's time to figure out what needs to go and what needs to stay. After that it's all about balancing it in a way that leaves you more ready to accept life's challenges. Allow time to nourish every facet of your life: emotional, mental, physical, relational, and especially spiriritual. And don't forget to allow time for rest, relaxation and fun!
Change your surroundings! We are all creatures of habit, bound and determined to stay in our comfortable little ruts. The only problem is that we continue to tramp the ground of our rut until we can no longer see daylight. Get outside your box. If you usually write indoors, try writing outdoors and see if that helps. If you write at your desk, try writing at the dining room table. (Hey, it's worth a try...)
Remove distractions! Turn off the television, radio and internet. If necessary, unplug your phone and lock the door. (Ear plugs might also be beneficial...)
Listen to music! Yeah, I know this contradicts the previous point, but listening to the right music might give you inspiration. Remember the movie, Romancing the Stone? As the heroine typed the final scenes of her western love story, she was listening to western-themed music. Who knows--the Rocky theme might inspire your greatest novel! =)
Sleep! Stuck on a certain spot in your story late at night? Get some zzzzzz's and attack it again first thing in the morning. It's amazing what sleep can do for our brains! This will also work for those midday sluggish sessions. Nothing like a fifteen-minute power nap!
Move on to another project! I've determined to have several writing projects going at once. If I get stuck on one, I'll move to another project until I hit the wall there. This way, those creative juices are always flowing...
Try a mind-map! Mind maps are just another organizational tool, like an outline or brainstorm session. Start with one central idea in the center of a blank page. As ideas come connect all the ones that relate with lines. This can help free that clog in your brain.
Go to a different part of your story! It's okay to write out of order. Yes, you might have to do some re-writing later, but you'll have to anyway. At least you're making progress!
Turn off your internal editor! This is a biggie for me. As a recovering perfectionist, I sometimes get lost in trying to make it perfect. I always end up more pleased with the final result if I just let loose and write. Again, you'll probably have to rewrite later, but that's okay. As they say, great books aren't written...they're rewritten.
Don't force it! Another biggie for me...sort of like trying to force an elephant into a pair of pantyhose. It never works, and when I do force it, the story sounds...well, forced... :/
Write everyday! Yep. Even if you don't have time or don't feel like it. Even if all you can squeeze in is ten minutes at 2 a.m. Do it!
Feed your brain! Research healthy snacks that are good for your brain. My favorites? Blueberries and peanuts! (Not necessarily at the same time...)

Hope this post serves as inspiration to get you unblocked. After all, we're writers, and writers write! Don't let excuses--including writer's block--keep you from doing your job!



Happy Writing!

Soil Matters

My paternal grandmother was an avid gardener. As a young child, I
marveled at the diversity and size of Nanny's garden, but it wasn't
until I was an adult--and a gardener myself--that I fully understood the
secret of her gardening success. Each year, Nanny mixed large amounts
of manure and compost with the dirt in her back yard, working it into a
dark, rich loam. Had she chosen to skip this all-important task, her
garden would never have reached it's full potential.



In Luke 8,
Jesus told a story about a seed sower. Some of the seed he planted fell
along a pathway where birds gobbled it up before it could take root.
Other seed landed on rocky soil. It sprang up quickly, but because of
shallow roots, quickly withered from heat and lack of moisture. Yet more
seed fell among thorns where it was choked out. Only the seed that fell
on good soil managed to reach maturity, producing a bountiful harvest
in the process.



And when His disciples asked Him what this
parable meant, He said . . . “Now the parable is this: The seed is the
word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the
devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may
not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when
they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they
believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what
fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their
way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and
their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are
those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart,
and bear fruit with patience." ~Luke 8:9, 11-15 (ESV)



APPLICATION:


Be aware of the enemy's tactics. Satan
will stop at nothing to keep us from believing and from bearing fruit.
Once we hear God's truth, we need to take every precaution that we don't
allow the enemy of our souls to snatch God's Word from us, resulting in
unbelief. As we sow seed and make disciples we also need to warn others
of Satan's strategy, so they're prepared.
Understand that trials and testing will come.
While the Bible often mentions the blessings of being a follower of
Christ, it tells of the struggles that will be ours as well. Don't allow
times of trial and temptation to pull you away from God. Instead, let
those hard times send you running to our Father who waits with open
arms.
Maintain your focus. It's so easy to
focus on the temporal, to spend life in selfish and fruitless pursuits.
This world causes our vision to stray to our worries, pleasurable
pursuits, and the accumulation of wealth and possessions. Don't allow it
to happen! Keep your focus on our eternal God and His purposes so you
can bear fruit for the Kingdom.
Hold onto His Word and persevere. Taking
the time and effort to keep our hearts open to God's Word is of utmost
importance. Study the Bible, pray, meditate, so the Word is deeply
planted in the soil of your heart. We must also continue to endure in
our walk of faith in Christ. Only then can we bring forth a bountiful
crop for Him.

Lord, keep the soil of our hearts open to the seed of Your Word so we might be fruitful for Your Kingdom.

BOOK REVIEW: NIV Once-A-Day 31 Days of Wisdom

ABOUT THE BOOK: This 31-day reading from the book of Proverbs from the New International
Version of the Bible will speak to your deepest needs as you engage
with God's Word. Practical and insightful, these devotions---written by
the staff at trusted ministry Walk Thru the Bible---will fill each day
with wisdom and understanding about who God is and what he has intended
for the lives of his people. NIV 2011. The New International Version
(NIV) translation of the Bible is the world's most popular
modern-English Bible---easy to understand, yet rich with the detail
found in the original languages.



MY REVIEW: If there's anything our world needs today (from both an individual and a collective standpoint), it's wisdom. The Bible makes it clear that wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD (Proverbs 9:10), and if we lack wisdom all we need to do is ask God who gives it to all liberally and without criticizing (James 1:5). When I found this book as a free download for Kindle, I was quick to snatch it up, eager for my own healthy dose of wisdom.



I wasn't disappointed. Separated into daily readings of the Proverbs--one day for each chapter--each one begins with a devotional interconnected with a verse from Proverbs. I found the devotionals to be "spot on" scripturally, and packed with nuggets of truth. And each nugget challenged my thinking and my walk. If you're searching for a little wisdom for your own life, I highly recommend NIV Once-a-Day 31 Days of Wisdom, available in both print and e-book format.

Look Up!

When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. Mark 16:4



I've
often heard it said that "obstacles are what you see when you take your
eyes off the Lord and put them on your circumstances." That adage has
proved more than true in my life. When I focus on circumstances,
obstacles abound, but when I turn my eyes to Jesus, those obstacles melt
away. This fact has also been proven true in the Bible on numerous
accounts: Peter walking on the water, Elisha's servant, and in the key
verse, the women who were the first to discover Jesus' resurrection from
the dead.



Can you imagine how the women who tended Jesus' body
must have felt as they trudged to His tomb after three days of utter
confusion and chaos. The Lord they had followed and put their hope in
had died!!! They must have been weary from weeping and grief, and
overcome by hopelessness, yet they rose early to finish their job. As
they made their way toward the tomb, they wondered who would move the
stone away from the entrance since it was far too heavy for them.



In faith, they continued their mission, not sure how things would work out.



I LOVE how this verse is worded: When they looked up , they saw that the stone had been moved away.



Now
I know this verse actually describes the women's physical actions, but I
can't help but see a deeper truth. When we look up to our heavenly
Father in faith and trust, He can move those stones out of our way!



"You
don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if
you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this
mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be
impossible." -Matthew 17:20 (NLT)



Father God, my
prayer is that You would help me keep my focus on You instead of my
circumstances. You are a God who is MORE than able! I trust You with all
that I am. Amen.

Save the Date for the 2012 Spring Bible Study Expo

Women’s Bible Study enthusiasts meet online this May to hear from the authors of 2012’s most popular Women’s Bible Study books. Mark your calendar now and plan to attend the live, free, online event, Thursday, May 17, 2012, from 1-5 PM Central Time, at www.BibleStudyExpo.com.

Every year, thousands of Bible Study leaders progress from one study to the next by visiting bookstores to check out options, getting suggestions from attendees or friends, and attending the spring Bible Study Expo full of interviews with the authors of the most recently released Bible Study books for women.

The Bible Study Expo features Women’s Bible Study authors Sheila Walsh, Pam Farrel, Cindy Jacobs, Mary Kassian, Renee Swope, Babbie Mason and many more from publishers including Harvest House, Thomas Nelson, Multnomah, Baker, Bethany House, Moody and others.

During the Expo, each author is interviewed for 15 minutes with the opportunity to share the story behind her most recent release. In addition, each will clearly define the target audience for her book and tell a little bit about herself.

“It’s a great way for Bible Study leaders to get to know the authors and to learn more about the newest Bible study books available to them this year,” explains Expo Hostess, Marnie Swedberg.

The Bible Study Expo was founded in 2009 to support Women’s Bible Study leaders.  The Expo itself includes four hours of live-streaming online audio interviews with the authors, including one free book give-away during each segment.

It’s 100% free to attend and anyone is welcome to pre-register now at www.BibleStudyExpo.com.

“It’s such a fun format, because there is no need to travel, to find childcare or to spend money,” says Swedberg. “It’s just a great time online getting to know the Bible Study book authors as well as other Bible Study leaders from all over the world.”

To register to win free books or to attend the live, online event, visit www.BibleStudyExpo.com today!

==========================

Bible Study Expo is a sub-site of www.Marnie.com, providing encouragement, practical help and God-focus to women since 1996. In addition to her role as Expo Hostess, Marnie is the online mentor to thousands of leaders from over 30 countries, the manager of the family restaurant and retail store, the author of 12 books and the host of a weekly radio talk show.

For more information about the Bible Study Expo, visit http://www.Marnie.com/media.php

Mother's Day Sale for Miller's Creek Novels!

Just wanted to send a quick shout out to let you all know that both
Miller’s Creek novels, TEXAS ROADS (Book One) and A PATH LESS TRAVELED
(Book Two) are temporarily discounted at the CreateSpace store (a
subsidiary of Amazon.com) for Mother’s Day. They’re regularly $12.99
each, but from now until Mother’s Day, they will be available for $8.99!




Please feel free to share the link to this page with all your
friends. Here are the links that will take you directly to the store:




Texas Roads – (Book One in the Miller’s Creek novels ~ 2009 ACFW Genesis finalist)










One secret kept, another uncovered . . .




Dani Davis longs for a place to call home. With quaint country
charm, quirky residents, and loads of business potential, Miller’s
Creek, Texas seems like the perfect place to start over . . . except for
the cowboy who gives her a ride into town. Then malicious rumors and a
devastating discovery propel her down a road she never expected to
travel.




Click here to go to the store to purchase.


















A Path Less Traveled – (Book Two in the Miller’s Creek novels)






Grief paints a celebration with shades of gray . . .




Trish James shoulders a secret, while her son wrestles with his daddy’s death.




Andy Tyler conceals his own haunting past, but becomes a
father-figure for her daddy-starved little boy and helps him through the
psychological trauma.




Trish is determined to forge a path for her son, but will that
mean leaving Miller’s Creek? Or is God leading her to…a path less
traveled?




Click here to go to the store to purchase.

Smashwords eBook Data

For all my writer friends out there in cyberspace, I found this presentation by Mark Coker, founder of SmashWords to be highly informative and interesting.Enjoy! How Data-Driven Decisions *Might* Help Indie Ebook Authors Reach More Readers


View more PowerPoint from Smashwords, Inc.

How Are You Using Your Weapons?

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On
the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ~2
Corinthians 10:4 (NIV)



A stronghold is simply something that
has a strong hold on us. Many times in the Psalms, God is referred to as
our stronghold, fortress, or refuge. We should want Him to have a
strong hold on us . . . and He does!



Unfortunately, there are
other strongholds as well, crafted by the enemy of our souls for the
purpose of stealing, killing, and destroying our lives. Praise be to
God, in His great goodness He also provides us with what we need to
demolish these strongholds--spiritual weapons.



Finally, be
strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of
God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For
our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore
put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you
may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to
stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your
waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your
feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In
addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of
salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And
pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and
requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all
the Lord’s people. ~Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)


For the
stronghold Satan places in our minds and thoughts, God has given us His
helmet of salvation. Once we accept His free gift of grace and life, we
are eternally safe. No one is able to snatch you from God's grip (John
10:28-29).
For the lies Satan wants us to believe, God has given
us His belt of truth. He is Truth (John 14:6) and His Word is truth.
Counteract those lies with truth!
For the stronghold of blame
and shame Satan so often uses on us, God has given us the breastplate of
His righteousness. While we can't be righteous on our own (Romans 3:10,
23; Isaiah 64:6; Matthew 5:20), God through Jesus Christ's atoning
sacrifice has given us His righteousness in exchange for our sin (2
Corinthians 5:21). There is NO condemnation for those in Christ Jesus!
(Romans 8:1)
For the war of hate and malice Satan has waged on
us and the rest of the world, God has given us feet prepared to spread
the opposite--peace. Not peace like the world gives, but His peace (John
14:27), but shalom peace--total well-being, and a peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7).
For
the flaming arrows of doubt, despair, desperation and depression Satan
hurls our way, God has given us the shield of faith. Our faith in His
grace, goodness, and victory over sin and death is more than enough to
quench those fiery arrows.
For the message of hopelessness and
destruction Satan screams throughout the world, God has given us the
sword of the Spirit--His Word. Meditate on it day and night to keep your
heart and mind focused on the good (Psalm 1:1-3; Philippians 4:8).
For
the separation Satan tries to bring between us and God (Genesis 3), God
has given us the blessing of prayer. No matter what, no matter where,
He is always there for us, and He's as close as the mention of His name.

WordVessel Welcomes K. Dawn Byrd

Bio:

K. Dawn Byrd is an author of inspirational romance, romantic suspense, and non-fiction. She is an avid blogger and gives away several books per week on her blog at www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com, most of which are signed by the authors. She's also the moderator of the popular facebook Christian Fiction Gathering group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=128209963444.



When not reading or writing, K. Dawn Byrd enjoys spending time with her husband of 16 years while walking their dogs beside a gorgeous lake near her home and plotting the next story waiting to be told.





Lessons from the Open Road

A couple of years ago, the idea of writing a devotional about the lessons I learned while riding a motorcycle came to me. I had no idea what I was getting into and how much writing devotionals would minister to me as an author. I jotted down notes for weeks, hoping to come up with enough lessons to take the reader through a month. Lessons from the Open Road ended with 33 lessons, each followed by Scripture and prayer.



Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes learning new things is hard. Just when I thought I'd mastered the parking lot where I was learning to ride my little Yamaha Virago starter bike, I pulled out, forgot to hit the brake, did an Evel Knievel, and jumped a short concrete wall, landing in some trees. My poor little bike limped home with a hole in the crankcase the size of a quarter. J-B Weld to the rescue!



I'm stubborn, too stubborn to quit. After I recovered from the sore neck that resulted from my stunt, I climbed back on the old iron horse. Eventually, I graduated from the parking lot and hit the streets. When I'd learned to ride well enough to satisfy hubby, he bought himself a new Harley and I inherited his anniversary edition Harley Davidson Sportster. And, when I graduated with my masters degree, you'd never guess what I wanted. Yep, a new bike. I became the proud owner of a Screamin Eagle V-Rod (picture attached.)



All good things must eventually come to an end. I enjoyed my days on the road, but found another passion. Writing. I work a full-time job and since there's only so much time in the day, I have to choose what's most important to me. The bike had to go. Occasionally, I miss it, but for the most part, I'd rather be writing. I'm hoping the devotions in Lessons from the Open Road will minister to your heart as much as writing them did to mine.



Lessons from the Open Road is currently available in ebook format and will be coming soon in print. I had planned to list it at no cost, but Amazon wouldn't allow me to do so. I've listed it at the lowest price Amazon allows, 99 cents, and all proceeds will be donated to my church's building fun for the new church that's currently under construction.



For more information about Lessons from the Open Road, you can check it out on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Open-Road-ebook/dp/B007OYYG64/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332895452&sr=8-1



Links:

Book giveaway blog: www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com

Young adult blog: www.zoe-mack.blogspot.com

Website: www.kdawnbyrd.com 

I'm also on Twitter (kdawnbyrd) and facebook (K Dawn Byrd.) I am the moderator of the Christian Fiction Gathering facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=128209963444) If you join this group, you'll get reminders about the weekly book giveaways.

Divine Interruption

When I wrote A Path Less Traveled (Book 2 in the Miller's
Creek Novels), I never dreamed how God would use the theme verse in my
own life. A few months ago, my husband and I "launched out into the
deep" and stepped out on a journey of faith at God's calling, so the
words to Proverbs 3:5-6 have become especially meaningful:



Lean
on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind
and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways
know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make
straight and plain your paths. (AMP)



Last week, we finally
reached the point where we had unpacked most of our essential belongings
and were ready to begin the process of establishing our business
through placing our candy vending machines. We hit the ground running
that particular morning and were well into our to-do list when our
oldest son called, requesting a ride to pick up his car at the
mechanic's shop.





Annoyance erupted within. Didn't he realize how much we had to
do? Didn't he know our livelihood depended on getting these machines
placed? How could he expect us to drop everything on our multi-paged
to-do list?



Then God's Spirit reminded me that part of our
motivation for launching into this new chapter was the desire to serve
others and to help our son and his family in their own hectic lives.

Now
my questions changed. What if this was God's way of directing my path?
What if this was a test to see if I was truly willing to follow those
God-urges in my heart? What if this was a divine interruption?



To
make a long story short, we did drop what we were doing to give our son
the assistance he needed. The result? We placed a machine at the
mechanic's shop.



If we will stop long enough in our crazy-busy
lives, we can hear our Great Shepherd say: "Over here. Follow me. I'll
take you down the right path for this day and all the days to follow."



My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ~John 10:27 (NIV)



Oh,
sweet Shepherd of my heart and life, thank You for directing my steps.
Forgive me for the times I've ignored the God-nudges in my heart. Make
me quick to listen for Your voice and less eager to follow my own
agenda. Help me always realize and remember that You care enough for me
to give direction and wisdom in the midst of chaos and confusion. Clean
out my spiritual ears so I hear and obey each whisper to follow You. In
Your Holy Name I pray, Amen.