Sarah Holman's Blog, page 116

NaNoWriMO!

That is right! Tomorrow I will start NaNo for the first time! If you are joining, make sure to add me as a buddy! http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/sarahh-974488

My life isn't perfect

I realized while I was away from the blogging world that I have an annoying habit. I only post bad things that are going on in my life when I have a deep spiritual lesson to attach to it. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does make me sound like I always have the answers but I don't.
Over the past few days, I have been dealing with anxiety. I really don’t know exactly why one night I woke up in a panic about something silly but I couldn't stop worrying about it. Over the past two days it is slowly subsiding.
I am frustrated at times when it seems the only thing that I can do to fix a problem is pray. It isn't that I don’t think prayer works, because I have seen it work time and time again. However, I’m a problem solver, I don’t like being dependent on someone else to solve a problem. God uses times like this to remind me that I’m completely dependent on him.
So, you see, my life isn't perfect.

I'm back

After almost two months of being without a computer of my own, I am back... With a nice new laptop I might add

I have really missed blogging. I've missed sharing my thoughts, struggles, and my daily life with all of ya'll. I plan to make for that fact by posting almost everyday for a while. It might be a short post about a writing project I am working one or a deep, thoughtful post.

Book Review: The River by Michael Neale

From the back cover: “You were made for The River . . .”Gabriel Clarke is mysteriously drawn to The River, a ribbon of frothy white water carving its way through steep canyons high in the Colorado Rockies. The rushing waters beckon him to experience freedom and adventure.But something holds him back—the memory of the terrible event he witnessed on The River when he was just five years old—something no child should ever see.Chains of fear and resentment imprison Gabriel, keeping him from discovering the treasures of The River. He remains trapped, afraid to take hold of the life awaiting him.When he returns to The River after years away, his heart knows he is finally home. His destiny is within reach. Claiming that destiny will be the hardest—and bravest—thing he has ever done.
The common writing advice for today’s authors is to show, not tell. However, many modern books fall into telling you what the point of the story is, or the lesson they wanted you to learn from it. The River was a refreshing change from the norm and trusts the readers to understand this subtle allegory for themselves.
The book design by itself gets five stars. It is made to look like an old, worn book, with rough cut pages. This book would look great on a self or a coffee table and is tempting to any book lover. The design matches the wonderful story inside.
This sweeping narrative not only gives you they story of Gabriel, but an amazingly beautiful and powerful allegory of God. Every time someone talked about The River, it was obvious to me they were also talking about God. Yet, it was written in such a way that that fact isn’t in your face. It pulls you into the story and the allegory rolls gently over you… like a river.
I read this book in one day, even though it wasn’t fast paced or suspenseful. It was a well written and engaging story that left me feeling refreshed.  It also made me want to go spend the day at a river.
If you are looking for a break from heavy story plots and still be challenged, or just a nice Sunday afternoon read, I would highly recommend The River.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson through Book Sneeze in exchange for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Visit day 1

Yesterday was an amazing day for me. For the first time in over a year I was able to give Jessica and Rachel of Young Homemakers a hug! I was hopping to post photo's of us meeting but my sisters computer is giving me trouble.

I will try to update you every day. For now, I am off to get ready for your Birthday Bash (since we don't get to see each other on our birthdays, we will be celebrating today.)

Writing Saturday: X is for … Trying to find an X word

X is the start of very few words, even when it sounds like it sound be. Sometimes writing can seem as hard and as difficult as finding a word that starts with the letter X. But keep at it, you will break through and your book will be worth all the work you put into it.
Many people want to write a book, but few succeed in ever finishing their story because they’re not prepared to write, even when it’s hard.
What do you do when you hit an extra hard spot in your writing?

We Will Never Forget!

Writing Saturday: V is for Validation

Let us be honest with ourselves; as authors we seek validation from others. We need people to read our books and tell us they loved them.  If they say that hated them, it hurts us. So how do we seek validation without becoming obsessed? Here are a few tips to help you.
1. Know that you cannot please everyone. Even the books on the bestseller lists get negative reviews. There will be people who don’t like your genre, your style, or the fact you mention God. However, there will people who love your book for those same reasons.
2. Give the book to some friends first. Tell them you are learning and would like their opinions but can’t take harsh ones yet. Your friends will often respect that and you will learn to take some criticism, along with the good things they have to say about your book.
3. It is okay to give the book to people you know will like it. Family member s and friends who will like it no matter what can help boost your confidence and make taking the criticism better.
4. There are some days that you should never try to read what others are saying about your story.  Make sure that you are emotionally ready to handle it.
5. Know that as long as you are honor God in your story (this does not mean it has t be preachy) He is pleased with you work.

Writing Saturday: U is for Upward

 Toward the end of C.S. Lewis The Last Battle the characters repeat the phrase ‘further up, further in’ several times. Us writers should make this our motto. We should always be moving to a higher level of writing and deeper into our characters.
At times we get discouraged at our writing. We read something we have written and we feel like tossing it out the window or deleting it off our computer. We read someone else’s work and realize that we just aren’t as good; our work doesn’t meet our own expectations for it. Those are times that we need to realize that we are on a journey and we are working ever up, ever in.
It not only takes time to write (like we talked about last week) it takes perseverance for the journey from where are story is to where we want it to be. Sometimes we have to struggle to push the stories quality upward. Sometimes we need help, but don’t give up. You can do this! You just have to keep moving further up and further in.
Sometimes our characters feel flat and lifeless. That is when we have to move deeper in. We have to discover who they are at the core of their beings. What is their biggest fear in life? What has been their greatest victory? We have to move further up, further in.
Do you feel ready to tackle you story again?  I know I am.  I plan to work hard to make my story even better. When I get discouraged, I will just remember to keep going…
Further Up, Further In.

Multitudes on Mondays:

#231. I am thankful for the lovely day outside#232. For my sister Mikayla at my side#233. The wonderful and restful Sunday I had#234. The texts that brightened my day#235. The team of Meditations of His Love#236. For quilts in the making#237. Good books#238. A wonderful family#239. For internet#240. My sister Rose

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROSE!!