Robin Gilbert Luftig's Blog, page 45

Be Alert–the Caged Canary Stopped Singing

Coal mining in the 20th century many times included taking a caged canary into the depths underground. These birds were sensitive to carbon monoxide, a potentially deadly gas devoid of color, taste or smell, that often formed in the mines. A dead bird in the cage meant the miners needed to be alert–deadly conditions were at hand.

Watching the political banter over the past months has been telling. Pointing fingers and one-upping from both sides of the aisle took front and center stage while pressing issues were left untouched.

I think the Canary has stopped singing. Please, let’s heed the issues at hand that can be deadly. We still have time.

5 of My Favorite Writing Tools

Having the right tools for writing always helps the process go smoothly. Tools can be anything. Did you start with your favorite pen when you began jotting down your thoughts? Or what about reference books–I thoroughly enjoy thumbing through them even when I’m between projects, just to get the feel of what’s out there. Do you have your favorite software? Do you support Microsoft Word person or Google docs?

Here’s my list of four top writing tools. I use different tools when I’m working on different phases of writing:

Beginning a project I start with an Excel spreadsheet. It helps me spread out my thoughts, pace the action, and  see glaring holes in the storyline.
As I begin the first chapter, I rely on the Review tab in Microsoft Word. I leave sidebar comments along the way. Did I leave a hint to a sub-story I want to include later? Can I insert an innocent phrase that will leave devastating repercussions later? All these need to be noted so I don’t forget them later on.
Delving into the story, I rely on two computer monitors so I can refer to different areas within the project. Have I given too much backstory? Am I being consistent?
I am a huge fan of shared files. I’m sure there are others, but I use Dropbox. It’s easy. It’s free for my level of use. But most importantly, I can grab it wherever there’s an internet connection. If I come up with an idea while cooking dinner, it only takes a moment to grab the laptop and go. There’s even an app for that!
Last but definitely not least, is attending writers conferences. These are vital to the writing process. I have met some incredibly gifted writers, and all they wanted to do was share their knowledge. The people you meet may become some of your best friends.

Those are my top five. I have more. I don’t know where I’d be without my ever-present Thesaurus and Dictionary. Another tool I’m beginning to use is Scrivener. And we mustn’t forget the simple tools like your favorite chair, tea, or background music. They’re all important.

We all have our favorite tools, what are yours?

Being Distracted While Writing

Distractions when writing is one of the greatest challenges for a new or struggling author. Pretty colors. Cleaning the oven. Organizing your closets. The strangest distractions can seem important when ideas aren’t flowing. Or perhaps the more visible success of fellow writers has you in a bit of a funk.

Snap out of it!

Regain your focus. Remember what your purpose is. Revisit the reason you decided to sit at the keyboard in the first place.

Take a break if you need it. Read this post if you’d like. But get back to work. You’ll be glad that you did.

And now I need to get back to work, too.

Fighting the Comparison Battle

Writers tend to play the comparison game. When that happens we lose sight of what’s right before us: we are individuals. Our walks are different from anyone else’s. Our insights are different, too. Experiences. Challenges. Blessings. The sum of these plus others attributes make up the characteristics of who we are. But make no mistake, we are even more–we are Sons and Daughters of the Creator of the Universe.

Lucinda Secrest McDowell’s blog in The Write Conversation is filled with wisdom and guidance to get you through rough patches writers sometimes face.

Be unique and let God use you as He has designed. You will be forever blessed when you do.

 

Healing a Broken Spirit

Stories of people with broken spirits are threaded throughout the scriptures. Elijah wanting to die (1 Kings 19). The widow with the last of her olive oil (2 Kings 4).  The woman the issue of blood (Luke 8:40-47). Even Jesus wept, asking His Heavenly Father to take the cup He needed to drink from him (Luke 22:39-45).

Turning to God for help made the difference, and it makes the difference for us. Here’s a short poll for those how have a favorite go to scripture to get them through dark times. I know I have mine own. But I want to hear yours!

Take Our Poll

I can’t wait to hear what you have to say.

PA-ACFW Conference

Hey friends! I’m speaking in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on November 5th for the 2nd Annual Keystone Christian Fiction Writers’ Conference! If you’re in the area, come and spend the day with us. It’s going to be fun, informative and hopefully inspiring. I would love to have you stop by my class and share some time with me there. Agents from Hartline Agency will be there. Jeanette Windle is the Keynote and other published authors will be there to share their knowledge and support.

You can find more information at the Pennsylvania ACFW website.

Hope to see you there!

Write What You Know

I always thought being a Christian fiction writer was the next thing to sainthood. Not only did the author write the most entertaining story possible, but they also left the reader with a message. Their story had a purpose.

When I decided to write fiction I struggled with all the criteria I felt I needed to meet. Would my story be believable? Could I show Christ like I wanted to? Would my words sound preachy? I stressed over my fears for months until I remembered a simple quote from Mark Twain that set me free.

“Write what you know.”

I am a Christian. I live a Christian life because of my love for Christ. I strive to do good, but so often fail. I know what it means to live in a fallen world. I know heartache and other emotions—sorrow, joy, fear, disappointment, struggle with vengeance—all the makings of a great novel.

So I write what I know.

Nowadays my challenge has changed. Writing has taken on a different meaning. I need to be selective in sharing what I know. What experiences do I know that could connect with readers? What emotions can I express on the page that would connect with a reader to pull from them their own emotions? Sorrow? Joy? Disappointment? Struggle with vengeance?

I still read novels by others so I can learn more about my craft. I go to writers conferences to sharpen my skills as well as participate in critique groups to stay connected with like-minded people.

But I always come back to what I know.

I challenge you to do the same. Attend this fall’s writers conference. Connect with fellow writers on Facebook and share your ideas. And write what you know. You’ll be a blessing to others when you do.

 

 

September Blogging Ideas

Did back-to-school shopping freeze your brain? Has the weather thrown you for a loop?

If you’re looking for topics to stir conversations, check out Edie Melson’s September’s Idea Starters. If you haven’t done so, follow her blog. She never runs short of informative as well as inspirational items for writers.

 

 

When the Pieces Start Falling Together

How many times have we questioned why sand has been kicked in our face on the Beach of Life? Circumstances doesn’t go as planned … we suffer an incredible loss … our words get twisted then used against us. We stomp our foot and scream to God, “This is not fair! Where are you, Father? Why don’t you make this right?”

But we hear nothing back—radio silence from our Heavenly Father. What do we do? We want to roll up our sleeves and fix things. We know exactly what we’d do to fix things. But Scriptures begin to come to mind: “Never will I leave you nor forsake you,” “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” “In all your ways submit to God, and he will make your paths straight.”

This is when we  have a choice. We can choose to not pay attention to our circumstances and, instead, choose to trust God. When we do, we might do it a bit begrudgingly, but we trust, nonetheless.

Amazingly, after a time we start seeing the pieces come together. Weeks go by and out of the blue there’s an opportunity—a blessing—that was never anticipated. It could be a new job opportunity is offered to you. Or maybe someone suffers from incredible injustice and, because of the experiences you have just endured,  you have the chance to offer Godly wisdom to them.

When God taps us on the shoulder for service, it comes at a cost. Many times there is pain, loss, and injustice. But God’s presence never waivers, and  we always gain more than we are asked to give.

I hate that I am still surprised when I see God’s hand move in miraculous ways. But I love the fact that I never tire seeing of his Grace and Mercy.

Surviving the Unknown World

August 1983

The cool air and the long rays of morning sun greeted the three of us as we traveled the long driveway. It took everything in me not to start crying.

“Today’s a great day!” I said, with too much pep in my voice. I wanted to make sure I told him all he needed to know for this special day. “You’ll meet new people and it’ll be terrific!”

We continued to walk, hand in hand as we always had in the past. He stopped, looked up into my eye, and with a sober voice, “It is a great day, right, Mommy?”

Little Sis skipped along singing Great day, It’s gonna be a great day … She had no idea the somberness of this moment. But how could she? How could she know what it felt like to lose a baby into an Unknown World?

Soon the bus pulled up and stopped. My son climbed the big steps before him. I watched as he entered the bowels of the yellow-orange bus that had been sent to take him away. He found a seat by the window and settled in for the ride. The top of his head was all I could see as the bus wheezed. jerked a bit, and then drove away.

I cried all the way home. Little Sis and I filled our morning with a lot of nothing special, passing the time until time for Big Brother to return. When we saw the big yellow-orange carrier turn the corner we ran to greet him, smothering him with hugs and kisses. He walked differently on the way home–a bit taller, his shoulders back straight. He had faced the giant called Kindigar’n, and he had been victorious! I survived the first day of school.

August 1984

Once again, the three of us walked down the long driveway. As before, I did everything I could not to start crying. This time, Big Brother held Little Sis’s hand as we strolled along.

“Today’s a great day!” Big Brother told his sister. “I did this last year. You’ll be great.”

This time, Little Sis squared her shoulders when the yellow-orange bus pulled up. Without a look back, she marched up the steps just as Big Brother had prepared her to do. She trusted him. They would be fine. But what about me? Who would walk back to the house with me?

At the end of the day, the yellow-orange bus pulled to our stop. Big Brother and Little Sis came bounding down the steps. My arms ached just a bit for the babies who had grown up so quickly. I had survived my second first day of school.

August 1994

My baby … Youngest Boy … and I sat on the front steps of our new home and waited for the yellow-orange bus. Youngest Boy’s older siblings were already arguing about getting the best seats on the bus. But Youngest Boy and I stayed apart, getting a sense of what was in store for each of us.

“Today’s a great day,” I said softly, hoping my peaceful demeanor would give him the confidence.

“Really Mommy, a great day?”

“One of the greatest ever!” I hugged Youngest Boy close.

Too soon the yellow-orange bus stopped in front of the house and my three gifts from God rambled up the steps, Youngest Boy needing a bit of assistance. I wiped tears away as I watched the bus round the corner and drive out of sight. I sighed, went back into the house, and drank my coffee. I had survived my last first day of school.

Today

Driving to work this morning I watched from my car as mommies walked their young ones to the different bus stops along my route. I saw them wipe tears away as they did their best to ready their precious babies to meet their own Unknown World. I reflected my own firsts. Then it hit me: Today I am facing the first day in twenty-nine years when I didn’t have a child experiencing some kind of school. Elementary, middle, high school or college–they were all behind me.

For a fleeting moment I longed for just one more shopping trip to pick out the perfect backpack, the most awesome outfits, or the most confusing calculator. It doesn’t seem all that long ago that I watched that big yellow beast carry my sweet ones into the new season of their lives. I can still envision the top of Big Brother’s head through the bus window, the squared shoulders of Little Sis as she marched into her future, or the tenderness of Youngest Boy as he struggled with mastering the bus steps.

I think I’m going to text my three children and let them know that I’m very proud of them. They have met their Unknown World and survived … and I did, too.

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens Ecclesiastics 3:1

Reposted from August 22, 2012.