Janalyn Voigt's Blog, page 17

Standing

Pin-friendly image

This is an original image I shot from my window while on a writing retreat. It was a restful time away, but when I returned home, it was to problems. While looking for something to add to the site this week, I rediscovered this poem, which I had written during a challenging time. It is my hope that it will encourage you as much as it did me, especially if you are going through difficulties.

©2014 by Janalyn Voigt

Join the Creative Worlds Newsletter

The post Standing appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.

Historical Reenactment Aids Fiction

Cindy Koepp and I have been chatting online for years now, and I’ve grown fond of her. One thing that Cindy and I have in common, besides a love of fantasy books, is that we both spent time as members of the Society for Creative Anachronism. Cindy became a fighter, whereas I was a bard singing medieval lays. I agree with the point she makes in her guest post.

Janalyn Voigt

Historical Reenactment Aids Fiction
by Cindy Koepp

Historical reenactment and historical re-creation groups vary in their levels of authenticity. Some focus on an accurate replication of the historical events, and anything less than complete authenticity is shunned. For others, anything remotely close is good enough. Some groups have smaller subgroups that vary in their authenticity.

Fighting in the Society for Creative Anachronism

When I got to college, I found out about a historical re-creation group: The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). I joined up and got into what the SCA calls “light fighting,” rapier combat simulation using fencing gear. The group I played with studied a couple 16th and 17th century fencing forms.

One, an Italian form called DiGrassi, was actually pretty easy to pick up. The footwork was straightforward. The blade work was a bit tougher, but I got the hang of it over the span of a year or two. We had access to a translated manual, so that made it easier to learn.

The other form was a Spanish one, La Destreza, which is more erect and much harder to learn. The only manuals were written in 17th Century Spanish, which has little in common with modern Spanish. Even native Spanish-speakers said it was like trying to read Shakespeare in its original grammar, syntax, and spelling. Still, a few of us gave it a try based on pictures, what little Spanish we could translate, and some well-reasoned extrapolation. We were never really sure we got more than the basics, but we had a grand time, and I learned a lot.

Reenacting the Battle of San Jacinto

I had been in the SCA for a while when a couple of my friends met some of the folks who reenact the Battle of San Jacinto. That battle was the last in the Texas Revolution. After the Battle of the Alamo and the Goliad Massacre, Texas citizens and military gathered near what is now Houston, Texas. Sam Houston spent the time training the men to fight and scout while Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna chased fleeing Texians, the proper name for Texans at the time, across the state. He finally arrived with a much superior force near where Houston’s forces were camped. The Mexican troops were resting when Houston began the attack. Fewer than twenty minutes later, Mexico had been defeated.

The yearly reenactment was part of a public celebration of Texan Independence Day. The reenactors my friends met were the pyrotechnics crew, and they needed a few extra hands to make the cannon shots more realistic. They supplied us with appropriate costumes, and we helped with the explosions.

The reenactors had the muskets already taken care of. They used loads that were only cotton patches and gunpowder. Lots of BANG! but no metal ball. The troops on the opposite side could fake being shot and fall over if they wanted to.

The cannons were a bit trickier. The pyrotechnic crew planted small charges in the field on both sides. The cannon crews would fire blanks just like the muskets, then the pyro crew waited a few seconds and detonated one of the small charges on the opposite end of the field. The charges were covered were loose dirt and cork to create some debris, and the chalk outlines warned the reenactors about safe zones.

The second day, after a smaller battle was staged as a demonstration, one of the reenactors had a few blank charges left. He gave me an opportunity to load and fire his musket. Those things are heavy. I couldn’t hold the gun at shoulder height without something to brace it on.

Historical Reenactment as Book Research 

Later, when disabilities and my day job caught up to me, I had to leave the SCA and other efforts at reenactment, but I found a use for all that otherwise esoteric knowledge. I write science fiction and fantasy. My fantasy tales tend to be set in a Renaissance type of setting, so some of my characters naturally ended up using rapiers.

I often use the Italian fencing form for one culture and the Spanish form for a different one. For one book, I used what I knew of rapier combat to invent a third, rather flashy but somewhat impractical style. It suited what I needed.

The San Jacinto re-enactment played an interesting part in my fantasy tales as well. The Renaissance setting involve black powder weapons. Although I did do a bit of research to verify what I remembered, I used that experience to describe characters using different kinds of pistols and muskets.

The reenactment groups I played with could be a little particular with the research details, but now, I find that most helpful. What I learned helps my writing, and – I hope – makes for interesting reading.

About Cindy Koepp

Cindy Koepp is originally from Michigan. She moved to Texas as a child and later received a degree in Wildlife Sciences and teaching certification in Elementary Education from rival universities. Her current adventures in education include pursuing a master’s degree in Adult Learning with a specialization in Training and Performance Improvement. Cindy has a published science fiction novel called Remnant in the Stars, a serial published online called The Condemned Courier, and a few teacher resource books. When she isn’t reading or writing, Cindy spends time whistling with a crazy African Grey. Cindy is currently an editor with PDMI Publishing and Barking Rain Press.

Books by Cindy Koepp
Remnant in the Stars

Two hundred years ago, the Aolanian home world exploded and a remnant of survivors escaped. As their convoy combed the galaxy looking for a new world to colonize, they discovered Earth and were given permission to establish a temporary base while they continued their search for a new home world. When an Aolanian exploration vessel goes missing after transmitting a garbled distress call, the uneasy alliance between the humans and the Aolanians is put to the test as two anti-Aolanian groups jockey to use this opportunity to press their own agendas by foiling the rescue mission.

Because his daughter was onboard the Kesha when it vanished, Calonti Sora reluctantly signs on as an astrogator with the Gyrfalcon, one of the ships in the search party. There he meets up with an old human friend, Kirsten Abbott. Together, they work to overcome prejudice and political plots as they race toward an enemy no one could expect.

Purchase Remnant in the Stars by Cindy Koepp

Learning Guides, Vol. 1

What do bloggers, homeschoolers, teachers, and students all have in common? They need topics to write about. This book contains a lesson with examples on how to write a coherent essay followed by over 250 writing prompts. Some of the prompts are based on a quote from a famous person. Others are suggestions of topics including comparisons, speculative fiction, expository essays, persuasive essays, personal narratives. There’s even a section on math-related prompts and resource links for more quotes.

Releasing Soon!

Join the Creative Worlds Newsletter

The post Historical Reenactment Aids Fiction appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.

Worlds of Wonder

Peter Pan flew to Neverland with a sprinkling of pixie dust. Lucy walked into Narnia at the back of a wardrobe. Dorothy banged her head and woke up in Oz. Sometimes I wonder what it would take to enter Middle Earth. What worlds of wonder might wait for me in the fantasy world of J.R.R. Tolkien?

The thought enchants me, a daydream that fully occupies, but then a hummingbird flits by, hovers mid-air to inspect me, and clicks away. Sunlight silvers leaves at the tops of the trees. A doe steps onto the lawn, lifts her head, and freezes at sight of me.

The Bible says that God is revealed in nature, and I believe it. I could never dream up half the marvels of Creation.

May I never take for granted the beauty of everyday.

Do you ever daydream about nature? What is the fantasy world you’d most like to enter?

©2014 by Janalyn Voigt

Join the Creative Worlds Newsletter

The post Worlds of Wonder appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.

Author News: Summer storms and what I finally can tell you!

Author News, July 2014 Edition

Today a summer thundershower struck with sudden force, its rain washing the sky before pounding into the dry earth. After perhaps five minutes, it vanished.  My summer is turning out to be a lot like that thunderstorm–frenetic activity followed by a clearing. And then more rain.  I’m learning, more or less patiently, to accept this pattern as my new reality.

Current Writing Project

I finally sent sample chapters for a romantic suspense novel to my agent, and I’m regrouping before diving into a short story for a Christmas collection. I’ll give more details on this fun project soon.

Upcoming Writing Projects

I’ve had to rethink the order that I’ll tackle some of the items of my schedule. I was hoping to shoehorn Elf Seeyer into the schedule, but the romantic suspense submission took longer than I expected, and I really need to get the last installment in my Tales of Faeraven epic fantasy trilogy to my publisher. Elderland beckons, so I’ll soon be diving back into DawnKing immediately after I finish writing that Christmas story.

Announcement

Finally, I can tell you what I’ve had to keep under wraps for months now! My literary agency, Wordserve Literary, has launched an ambitious new project. Faith Happenings is a website that connects those of the Christian faith by geographic location. You can sign up to learn the events in your area, find resources, locate speakers, or connect in many ways. I’m honored to be included as one of the regular contributors.

Speaking

I’m also scheduled to keynote on Plotting a Novel in 3 Acts at an NCWA meeting, and I’m in negotiations to speak on social media topics for writers at next year’s NCWA Renewal Conference in Western Washington. Inquire into my availability for your event. 

On the Home Front

Getting used to a home without any pets underfoot is both sad and freeing. Some day there will be more pets, but for now we’re taking a rest from the responsibilities of pet ownership.

My family will attend a minor league baseball game. Reminescent of the sport’s early days, minor league baseball involves a lot of heart. We’re also set to schedule a few hikes and some travel.

Pin-friendly image I took this picture near the Painted Desert.

 

 
©2014 by Janalyn Voigt

Join the Creative Worlds Newsletter

The post Author News: Summer storms and what I finally can tell you! appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.

Focus

Focus

Cracks split the pavement

And nurture weeds,

But in the garden flowers bloom.

I choose my world.

****************************************

Original poetry by Janalyn Voigt

Pin-friendly image

©2014 by Janalyn Voigt

Join the Creative Worlds Newsletter

The post Focus appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.

Stars Aren’t Born…They Are Made by Lorilyn Roberts

Lorilyn Roberts joins us at Creative Worlds to discuss the sacrifices a writer makes to create fiction worth reading. I admire both Lorilyn for writing this inspiring post and the beautiful pictures she provided for us to enjoy. Thank you!

Janalyn

Stars Aren’t Born – They Are Made
Guest Post by Young Adult Fantasy Author Lorilyn Roberts

As an author who provides sports captioning for television, sometimes my passions merge, giving me an unorthodox way of thinking about writing.

For many years, I wasn’t on a writing team. I’d write when I felt like it, and then would set it aside for long periods of time—until I published Children of Dreams – An Adoption Memoir, and joined the indie-publishing team.

For those who aren’t sports fanatics, most stars take years to make. Almost all of those giants who are household names are not only incredibly gifted but also had a lot of help along the way—i.e., avoided injury-ending careers, had astute coaches, supportive parents, and—most of all—opportunity. The stars also worked very hard, in season and out of season, and a wee bit of luck thrown in never hurts.

A star in the making doesn’t know he or she will be a star until it happens. Isn’t that what motivates all of us? The possibility, no matter how small, that someone somewhere will see us as a diamond in the rough and take a chance on us?

Maybe we need scouts in the writing world like we have in sports. Maybe we need minor leagues and major leagues like in baseball. We already have the fans—how many readers would love to discover the next C. S. Lewis?

What I like most about sports is the passion of the competitors to win. The best-of-the-best train all the time, when they feel like it and when they don’t. They never give up and often travel to the ends of the earth to hone their skills and compete in leagues and competitions no one has ever heard of.

Am I willing to do that? Am I willing to sacrifice my life to achieve my goal to become a full-time, self-supporting author?

The call of being a mother, taking care of my family, serving in my church, and helping others takes up much of my time. Little time is left after working a full-time job as a broadcast captioner. I have to set my priorities and accept my limitations.

But that doesn’t mean that magic can’t happen or God can’t make my dreams come true. Nothing worthwhile in life is easy. While I can’t give writing a hundred percent of my time, I can give my writing a hundred percent of me when I am writing—which often requires me to cut out other things I’d like to do but can’t.

Despite the sacrifice, the indie team works well for me. Until I am able to write for a living, I appreciate the freedom it gives me to write—even all night sometimes. I never limit my dreams—maybe one of my books will become a New York Times best-seller. I would compare that to hitting it out of the ballpark. If we don’t have big dreams, we will settle for mediocrity, and that is a waste when we see the stuff of which our dreams are made.

In the meantime, I’m content to learn from others further down the road and hone my skills. Most important of all, I want to enjoy the journey. As I finish my second book in the Seventh Dimension Series, The King – A Young Adult Fantasy, I am reminded of a saying I recently heard while captioning. “Stars aren’t born, they are made.”

When you look up at the night sky, look for the high-energy dust particles that form colorful nebulae. In the same way that the Creator’s gifts lie in wait to form a star, the raw talent hidden in an author is glorious when it makes its way onto the pages of a great novel.

Passion is the key. I’m finishing The King – A Young Adult Fantasy. Hopes of hitting it out of the park keep me going. In the meantime, I’m glad to make it to first base and create a little spark. Who knows, perhaps someday my little spark will become a shining star.

 *~*~*~*

Lorilyn graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Alabama in 1991. Her studies included spending two weeks in Israel at the start of the Gulf War and touring England, Australia, New Zealand, and several countries in Europe. She later attended the Institute of Children’s Literature and earned her Master of Arts in Creative Writing from Perelandra College.

Lorilyn has two daughters whom she adopted from Nepal and Vietnam as a single mother. She homeschooled both of them, the older one through high school, and believes that the hope of the United States may rest on the conservative values homeschooling families instill in their offspring.

“If we fail to teach our children how to live out their Christian faith practically, we will have lost an opportunity to impact the world for good. It only takes one generation to forget the past. As JRR Tolkien said, ‘There is some good in this world and it’s worth fighting for.’”

To learn more about Lorilyn, you can visit her website at http://LorilynRoberts.com and http://LorilynRoberts.blogspot.com

©2014 by Janalyn Voigt

Join the Creative Worlds Newsletter

The post Stars Aren’t Born…They Are Made by Lorilyn Roberts appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.

Life as an Author with Deadlines

Life as an Author with Deadlines

Despite my best intentions, I’ve been oversleeping a lot lately. My weariness is caused, no doubt, by the encroaching heat of summer combined with the extra physical exertion of vending at the Snohomish Farmers Market and the Northern Lights Rosewood XIII medieval festival, plus emotional exhaustion from delivering hospice care to a second dying cat.

In the mornings I struggle to wake, feeling like Dorothy in the poppy field, fighting the urge to sleep. Sometimes sheer willpower pulls me out of bed, but then my eyes start drooping partway through the day, and there’s nothing for it but to catch a nap.

I’ve been getting a surprising amount done, all things considered. That’s because I regulate my life with schedules. A menu hangs on the side of the refrigerator, telling me what to prepare not only for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but also in-between snacks. I have set morning, afternoon, and evening routines. I blog according to a plan, and my manuscript production schedule keeps my writing projects on track.  As a literary judge and book reviewer, I even read to a schedule, although I’ve been backing that one down in order to read at a more leisurely pace.

Is such a regimented life tough to live? It can be, especially when I oversleep and have to catch up to myself. The key to benefiting from routines and schedules is not to become inflexible in them. That sounds paradoxical, I know, but really it isn’t. Here’s my secret to getting more done: I treat routines and schedules as guidelines and make completing mine into a game I play each day. Sometimes the game goes well; other times, not so well. It’s all good, because tomorrow will come, God willing.

By now you will have guessed that I’m achievement-oriented but easy-going. That’s a wierd combination, but…guilty.

Enter deadlines to throw everything off. When that happens, my time is not my own. It doesn’t matter that a holiday is approaching, I have the flu, or that vacation nears. I must deliver within the time frame I am given. This usually throws me into crisis mode. I have been known to sit for endless hours at my computer, prising my fingers from the keyboard only to sleep for a few, scant hours. At those times, when my focus is intruded upon, I can become testy . Most writers respond in this way to being interrupted, but I try not to allow myself the excuse.

I’ll confess to secretly envying indie authors the freedom to set their own deadlines and manage their own time.  This is one of the reasons I’m embarking on a hybrid career (part traditionally-published and part self-published). I’ve noticed something, though.

Work expands to fill the time allotted for it.

It’s all too easy to put off until tomorrow what you intended to do today. Without a deadline, the tyranny of now can far too easily push aside my goals.

The logical solution is to set my own more-reasonable deadlines, where possible, and make meeting them into a game I play each day.

Even when I oversleep.

Pin-friendly Image

©2014 by Janalyn Voigt

Join the Creative Worlds Newsletter

The post Life as an Author with Deadlines appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.

Author News: Writing Projects, a Medieval Festival, and Sadness

Author News, June 2014 Edition
Current Writing Project

Editing a romantic suspense submission to send to my agent has turned into a rewrite of about half the sample chapters. The story will be better for this, however it does take time. I am so close, with just one more chapter and a read-through to go. Of course, that makes seem a lot like driving that last mile before the lights of home come into view.

Upcoming Writing Projects

Once I complete my romantic suspense submission, I’ll start in on Elf Seeyer, the short story that surprised me by turning into a novella, and also finish the last chapters of DawnKing, book three of Tales of Faeraven. It will be sad to conclude my epic fantasy trilogy, however, other projects await. Yes, there will be more fantasy stories, and if you are one of my fantasy followers, I think you’ll be pleased at what lies ahead.

A Pending Announcement

My agency, Wordserve Literary,  has something big in the works, and I’m thrilled to say I’m going to be part of it. I’d better not say more than that right now. I should be able to give a complete update by next month’s author news, so stay tuned.

Vending Books at a Medieval Festival

This week I’m taking a break from vending at the farmers market to offer my books at a medieval festival instead. I’m interested to see how I do selling to people who are more my audience for fantasy.

Speaking

I don’t have any new speaking engagements at the present. That’s restful after so much presenting during the first part of the year.

Podcasting

I’m outlining episodes for my Escape into a Better Life podcast. I am passionate about empowering others to step into the lives they were meant to live, which is the core message behind everything I write.

 On the Home Front

My family learned recently that the beautiful little stray cat we took in last September and who helped us through the death of our cat, Lady Guinevere, will probably not be with us much longer. Vanilla, or Nilly as we call her for short, had stopped eating and drinking, and is wasting away from what the vet believes is cancer.

We gave her a little time to see if she’ll improve from the steroid injection the vet gave her. He hoped to shrink the tumor under her tongue, and as far as we can tell, it has been successful. We had to give her droppers of water for a while there, even though she growled when we did. It was just too difficult for her to eat, and she also seemed to have no appetite.

After we had nearly given up, she began taking small bits of food and is up to half a can now. She’s also drinking on her own again. We’re starting to hope we’ll have Nilly for a little longer, although her cancer is not cured. As long as she’s not in pain, and she doesn’t seem to be any longer, we’ll keep helping her live.

She’s weak from not eating but still very sweet. I took her outside today and held her as she listened to the birds singing. A sublime look came over her face, and she thumped her tail exactly as if she was is perfect health and purred while she looked all around. I tried to hand her off to go in and cook dinner, but she dug her claws into my clothing and wouldn’t let go. I stood for a long time on the deck rocking her in my arms, content to capture the moment.

©2014 by Janalyn Voigt

Join the Creative Worlds Newsletter

The post Author News: Writing Projects, a Medieval Festival, and Sadness appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.

Wonderment

©2014 by Janalyn Voigt

Join the Creative Worlds Newsletter

The post Wonderment appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.

The Mystery in Writing by Michael Duncan

This month I’m pleased to introduce you to Michael Duncan. a fellow fantasy author. Michael is a friend that I know in person. We’ve interacted as writers off and on for several years now, through a critique group, a blog, and finally through our association with the same publisher, Pelican Book Group. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Shadows, the first installment in Michael’s Book of Aleth epic fantasy series, and I’m looking forward to continuing the story with Revelation, book two. If you enjoy medieval epic fantasy in the mode of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, I highly recommend his series.

Michael pastors a small church in Darrington, Washington, a town so remote that most people had never heard of it until the recent landslide occurred in the nearby town of Oso. The tragedy devastated the area, and Michael was right there, working to comfort the city he loves.

In today’s guest author journal, with simple honesty, Michael tackles a topic of concern to writers.

The Mystery in Writing
by Michael Duncan

I wrestle with a story in my thoughts. It’s a story that could change the world. It races around the rooms in my mind and I finally capture it in that one corner of my imagination that demands it be told. So I begin to write, and wonder… will the words actually reach anyone.

There is a mystery in writing.

You see, as a preacher, I can watch the effect of my words in the eyes of those who are listening (and in the yawns of those who are not). As a pastor, I work with people on a face-to-face basis and can witness the dramatic and profound life changes that take place within the hearts of those whom I ministered to.

But there is a mystery in writing.

I cannot see the faces of those who have purchased any book I ever wrote. I cannot look in their eyes and know if the words that I labored over had any effect in their hearts. It remains in darkness for me. I send the words of each page out into a world that will offer very little response to my work. So how do I know that my writing is having an impact on the lives of those who read it? I don’t… and that is the mystery.

There is no doubt that for many authors, this mystery is a very difficult thing to process. Just like anyone, we want to know that our work is well received, wanted—even needed. It’s hard to continually remain motivated to do something when there are very few quantifiable indicators that the work is valued.

Feedback on blog sites, comments on purchasing sites and other media give some clues to the mystery. But I’m going to be honest here: the big indicator that most authors are looking for are book sales. It gives evidence that there is interest and desire beyond the local reach of the writer.

As with many Christian authors, I try to console myself with the idea that it’s not about the numbers. I truly do write to honor and obey God, but my great dilemma is the mystery. How do I know… how can I know that the work of writing, which God has given me, is having any reach at all? There is one singular gage: sales. Who knows, maybe I’m alone in this (but I doubt it).

As a pastor and teacher of God’s word, I spend twenty to thirty hours a week in preparation to speak before God’s people. When Sunday arrives, or when the time comes if I’m leading a conference or seminar, I am so blessed when the hall is filled with people who are hungry for God’s word.

It is no different for me as an author. Hundreds of hours go into writing a book and it is such an encouragement to see the reach that the work is having. Every book sale, to me, is like having another person come into the worship center—filling up the sanctuary with hungry hearts. It might be the less-than politically correct thing to say, but I do want to see that the work God has given me is embraced by those beyond me.

So, for all of you who have purchased books from your favorite authors, know that you have encouraged them. As an author, it is a joy to know that my work is received.

Mystery solved.

And now I have another thought for a book – time to chase it around the attic of my mind for a while.

In His Grace, Michael.

About Michael Duncan

Christian author and pastor, Michael Duncan has served the Lord and the church for nearly 25 years preaching and teaching God’s Word. He has shared God’s message across the U.S. and beyond and is currently the pastor of his church, co-host and Bible commentator on the Alive in Christ radio network and has authored or co-authored five books, both fiction and non-fiction. He serves on the executive board of the Northwest Baptist Convention and is a former board member of the Northwest Christian Writer’s Association. Given the opportunity, he may be found on the golf course!

Michael and his wife Patty have been married over 20 years and have three very active and creative children.

Shadows: Book of Aleth, Part One –

A stolen text… When the Book of Aleth is stolen, Aaron, captain of the Royal Guard, is ordered by Emperor Therion to reclaim the ancient tome. The mission thrusts Aaron into a world he’s never known–a world of elves and dwarves, races long thought extinct; a world where everything he has known and believed is a lie.

A secret past… Forced to challenge his long-held beliefs, Aaron and his companions, two soldiers of the Royal Guard and two men of the Dwarvish kingdom of Brekken-Dahl, set out on a quest to recover the Book. Aaron resolves to discover the truth, and rescue the empire he is sworn to protect.

Visit Michael Duncan’s bookstore.

©2014 by Janalyn Voigt

Join the Creative Worlds Newsletter

The post The Mystery in Writing by Michael Duncan appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.