Katie Ganshert's Blog, page 23
October 21, 2012
4 Essential Building Blocks of Story
I don’t do character charts. They are the opposite of helpful for me.
Instead, whenever I endeavor to begin a new story, I sit down, write the protagonist”s back story, and thanks to Jeff Gerke and now, Lisa Cron, I search for….
A dark, significant moment from the character’s past
This could be anything….
As a child, the character could catch his mom having an affair.
She could discover she was an “oops” baby while eavesdropping.
Bullies might call her ugly or fat or any other mean thing bullies li...
October 18, 2012
Friday Faves
Chin-Grabbers for Everyone:
When the God of Heaven Sends You to Hell by Kelli Standish (@KelliStandish)
Talk about powerful, spirit-soaked, truth-filled words–this is an honest-to-goodness must read. I guarantee you will never look at Jonah the same.
What Women Want: Purpose by Wendy Paine Miller (@wendypmiller)
I just love the way this woman writes.
Four Ways to Make the Most of your Season by Sarah Markley (@sarahmarkley) on (in)Courage
“Comparison will steal your passion, chase away your joy and...
October 16, 2012
Word Flubs
I was composing a tweet recently and typed, “All the rage”
And then I had to stop and Google whether or not it’s all the rage or all the rave.
From what I could find, the first is the correct version.
And my critique partner pointed out that it’s not “another thing coming” but actually, “another think coming.”
Huh. Who woulda known?
These little errors got me thinking of all the words I mix up…
Like how up until fifth grade, I honestly thought those cement things that separate the grass from the st...
October 14, 2012
Literature through the Years
It started on the couch of my childhood home. 1404 Lincoln Road. My brother and I would sandwich my dad on the middle cushion while he read Berenstain Bears and Little Critters and I’d search for that spider. Anybody remember that spider?
I went to a special reading teacher in first grade because they thought I might have dyslexia. Her name was Mrs. Detmering.
And then my second grade teacher, Mrs. Getty, read the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books out loud to the class and books began casting their spel...
October 11, 2012
Friday Faves
Chin-Grabbers for Everyone:Why You Need to Finally Face the Fear of Failureby Tim Sinclair
Do you have goals or dreams? Then consider this a must-read post. I especially like it because facing fear is a big issue in my upcoming novel, Wishing on Willows.
God is in the Right Nowby Melissa Tagg
Wise, wise words about the significance of today. God doesn’t time-travel. He works in the present.
When You’re Up Against a Glass Ceilingby Lina Abujamra
Have you been striving for that one thing but can’t s...
October 9, 2012
It’s All Extra
In church on Saturday evening, I sang these words…
Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bow to none but heavens will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer’s crown
No burden great can hold you down
In strength you reign
Forever let your church proclaim
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave
And the only thing I could think was that it’s all extra.
In light of the cross and His obedience and the empty tomb and the torn veil…
All the rest...
October 7, 2012
Finding the Time
When people find out I’m an author and I write novels, they usually want to know how in the world I have the time.
I mean, I have a kid at home. I have a husband. We’re adopting (which is a time-consuming endeavor). I’m involved at church.
When do I have the time to sit down and write words?
Beth Vogt wrote a post a few weeks ago that featured a quote from Lucille Ball.“I think knowing what you cannot do is more important than knowing what you can.” And the post completely resonated.
Because THIS...
October 4, 2012
Friday Favorites
Chin-Grabbers for Everyone:
10 Almost Reasons Why We’re Adoptingby Kathy Buchanan
I met Kathy in person recently and she’s wonderful. She and her husband are also adopting from Africa, so we made an immediate connection. A lot of their reasons for adopting are the same as ours.
I love adoption blogs. So if there are any that you frequent, pretty please share a link in the comment section!
The Things I Never Thought I’d Sayby Kathy Buchanan.
This post made me laugh on a day I really appreciated the...
October 2, 2012
The Ups and Downs of Adoption: A Love Letter to a Boy Who is No Longer Ours
Yesterday, I sat down to write a blog post. I only managed a few lines before someone delivered the kind of news that gives your chest a nice, hearty wallop.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share any of this online, but I’d already announced the good news about our referral early in September. An update would eventually be necessary. Plus, I’m a writer. Which means the best way for me to process anything is…..revelation of all revelations….through writing.
Here are the lines I had written…
We all w...
The Ups and Downs of Adoption: A Love Letter to a Boy Who is No Longer Mine
Yesterday, I sat down to write a blog post. I only managed a few lines before someone delivered the kind of news that gives your chest a nice, hearty wallop.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share any of this online, but I’d already announced the good news about our referral early in September. An update would eventually be necessary. Plus, I’m a writer. Which means the best way for me to process anything is…..revelation of all revelations….through writing.
Here are the lines I had written…
We all w...
