Morgan L. Busse's Blog, page 18
August 26, 2013
Sometimes it’s more about the Journey…
When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait for Christmas. Or camp. Or summer to come. Or for school to start. Long car rides to grandma’s house were excruciating. Or waiting for the bell to ring at 3pm.
As an adult, I haven’t changed much. I couldn’t wait to find out the gender of our first child. Or the second, third, or fourth. Then I couldn’t wait for nine months to be over. Or for my kids to be potty trained. Or to go to school.
I couldn’t wait for nap time so I could write. Or for that highly anticipated conference where I could pitch my novel. Or for that letter of acceptance. For that deadline to pass, or that release date.
I seem to always be waiting for something. But it wasn’t until I started biking a year ago that I realized there can by joy in the journey, not just in reaching the destination.
Field along bike path.
Near my house is a paved bike path that meanders through the countryside and follows the river in my hometown. It is a beautiful, calming ride. While biking one day, I realized how much I would miss if I was only focused on getting home. I would miss the turtles sunning themselves by the river. I would miss the way the wind would blow, moving the fields of wheat in waves like the ocean. I would miss the birds singing, or the bullfrogs croaking. I would be missing the wonders of my ride.
Ever since then, I have looked at areas in my life where I find I am in a hurry to reach the end. For example: I wanted to redeem this summer with my family. In the past, I couldn’t wait for everyone to go back to school, partly because I am an introvert and the chaos brought on by four loud, active children in a tiny house can drain me immensely. But this year, I chose instead to spend as much time as I could with them. It wasn’t easy, and I was tuckered out a lot. But I built memories with my kids: memories of bike rides and feeding the neighbor’s horses, of swimming along lazy rivers, of tea parties and baking cookies. The journey was a joy.
Now my kids are in school and I am looking for other ways to enjoy the journey. I have wasted too much of my past waiting for something to come. I want to enjoy what I have now. I want to enjoy the small rental house we have instead of pining for the day I own my own house. I want to enjoy writing the third book in my series instead of getting it done. I want to enjoy my husband and savor the times I have with him. These are the little joys God gives us, only sometimes we are in such a hurry we miss them.
How about you? Do you hurry toward the next thing, or do you savor what you have now? What small thing have you enjoyed today?
Sometimes It’s More About the Journey…
When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait for Christmas. Or camp. Or summer to come. Or for school to start. Long car rides to grandma’s house were excruciating. Or waiting for the bell to ring at 3pm.
As an adult, I haven’t changed much. I couldn’t wait to find out the gender of our first child. Or the second, third, or fourth. Then I couldn’t wait for nine months to be over. Or for my kids to be potty trained. Or to go to school.
I couldn’t wait for nap time so I could write. Or for that highly anticipated conference where I could pitch my novel. Or for that letter of acceptance. For that deadline to pass, or that release date.
I seem to always be waiting for something. But it wasn’t until I started biking a year ago that I realized there can by joy in the journey, not just in reaching the destination.
Field along bike path.
Near my house is a paved bike path that meanders through the countryside and follows the river in my hometown. It is a beautiful, calming ride. While biking one day, I realized how much I would miss if I was only focused on getting home. I would miss the turtles sunning themselves by the river. I would miss the way the wind would blow, moving the fields of wheat in waves like the ocean. I would miss the birds singing, or the bullfrogs croaking. I would be missing the wonders of my ride.
Ever since then, I have looked at areas in my life where I find I am in a hurry to reach the end. For example: I wanted to redeem this summer with my family. In the past, I couldn’t wait for everyone to go back to school, partly because I am an introvert and the chaos brought on by four loud, active children in a tiny house can drain me immensely. But this year, I chose instead to spend as much time as I could with them. It wasn’t easy, and I was tuckered out a lot. But I built memories with my kids: memories of bike rides and feeding the neighbor’s horses, of swimming along lazy rivers, of tea parties and baking cookies. The journey was a joy.
Now my kids are in school and I am looking for other ways to enjoy the journey. I have wasted too much of my past waiting for something to come. I want to enjoy what I have now. I want to enjoy the small rental house we have instead of pining for the day I own my own house. I want to enjoy writing the third book in my series instead of getting it done. I want to enjoy my husband and savor the times I have with him. These are the little joys God gives us, only sometimes we are in such a hurry we miss them.
How about you? Do you hurry toward the next thing, or do you savor what you have now? What small thing have you enjoyed today?
August 18, 2013
How to become a Writer
I am asked all the time where a person interested in writing should start. I remember wondering the same thing. It took two years for me to finally find resources, people, and places where I could learn the craft of writing. Here is what I found. Hopefully you find my list useful 
There are two parts to writing for a new writer: learning how to write and practicing it.
First, learning. I learned the craft of writing by reading books, attending classes or conferences, and learning from other writers. Here are some great resources to get you started.
Books:
-The First 50 Pages by Jeff Gerke (he’s my editor and good at what he does. His books and seminars are phenomenal)
-Plot vs Character by Jeff Gerke
-Fiction Writing for Dummies by Randy Ingermanson
-Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell
-Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King
-Stein on Writing by Sol Stein
Conferences:
The Oregon Christian Writers put on some great one day seminars and a summer conference. Here is their website: Oregon Christian Writers
Two nation conferences I have been to and recommend are the ACFW Conference and Mt Hermon Writers Conference
Organizations/Blogs:
Here are some blogs or organizations I am a part of that help writers learn:
-Randy Ingermanson’s blog Advancedfictionwriting
-Bestseller SocietyThis site is a great place for video and audio teaching and the instructor is Jeff Gerke for the fiction track. I think it’s about $35 a month and you can pay for one month or more.
-ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). This organization offers local chapters you can be a part of, online classes, a place to ask seasoned authors questions, and a yearly conference.
All of the above are great places to start learning the craft of writing.
As far as practice: write, write, write! My friend Randy says that you usually need to write a million words before you start writing something worth reading. I wrote for about six years and had a finished novel and the rough draft of another before I was published. I wrote when the kids napped, early in the morning, or at night. Even now I write for about 1-2 hours most days and get in about 500-1,000 words (everything in writing is measured by words).
Now, go forth and write!
August 12, 2013
CSFF Blog Tour-Captives
This month I have the pleasure of joining the CSFF Blog tour (Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy). The book featured is Captives by Jill Williamson.
Captives is a dystopia novel that revolves around a futuristic world where most humans live inside a walled city known as the Safe Lands. These humans, however, are infected with disease that has made them sterile. So now they are searching outside their city for uninfected blood by which to reproduce the human population.
Outside the Safe Lands are pockets of uninfected humans who live in small, rural communities. The protagonists of Captives are three teen brothers who live in one such community. The youngest brother longs for something more than the bare life he has and a chance to please his harsh father. So when an opportunity comes up for him to leave the outside and join the Safe Lands, he takes it. Unfortunately, he doesn’t realize that by doing so, he has turned his entire community over to the Safe Lands to be breed for future human beings. The middle brother is captured by the Safe Lands and the oldest seeks a way inside to save both his people and his fiancée.
I really enjoyed Captives. The feel of the book reminded me of the Syfy show Defiance and The Hunger Games. The three different brothers and their story arcs were interesting to follow; each one presented a different picture of the Safe Lands and their own place in their family (the beloved oldest brother, the smart middle brother, the artsy youngest brother who doesn’t fit in).
I highly recommended Captives for teen readers and up who enjoy futuristic dystopia novels.
To find out more about Captives and what others on this tour had to say, click on the links below!
In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
August 9, 2013
Christian Speculative Cons
Today I am a guest over at Speculative Faith where I talk about the future of Realm Makers: the potential for this burgeoning alliance to grow into a true Christian speculative con. Head on over and join the discussion, especially if you have some ideas for panels, guests, and classes.
See you there!
August 4, 2013
Realm Makers: 2013
Realm Makers: 2013 was a blast. Imagine about 80 Christian speculative lovers gathered in one place for two days. I can’t believe the place didn’t explode! We had some great speakers including Jeff Gerke, Bryan Davis, L. B. Graham, Robert Treskillard and more. Classes and panels included writing horror, worldviews and world building, swordfighting, and comics. And of course a night of dinner and cosplay
Here are the pics from my first Realm Makers conference:
Me and my friend Jill
Stephen Burnett and Phyllis Wheeler
Me and Becky Minor (Realm Makers founder)
Me and Kathy Tyers
At the book signing with Jeff Gerke (my editor)
With friends Jen and Joe
Sword fighting!
To find out more about future Realm Maker events, follow their website at www.realmmakers.com
July 28, 2013
Jesus Wept
I wrote this post two years ago and still find comfort in the truth I discovered during a dark time in my life: that God still cares about us even when He is working everything for good.
If you have been a Christian for any amount of time, you are told that all things work together for good and God’s glory. The suffering that comes into your life will make you a better person. Just give it to God.
Then you find yourself hit by life. The pain is far beyond what you thought it would be: It goes right to the core of your heart. And suddenly those platitudes you have heard uttered by Christians give no comfort whatsoever. You see no good in what you are going through. And you see God as a stoic being, moving around the pieces of life like a chessboard. You are only a piece to be moved around so God receives the glory.
I felt like this a couple weeks ago. I knew all things work together for good. I knew that my life is not my own, but for God to use for His glory. But I felt like God didn’t feel for me. That God was up above, moving around my life with a look of disinterest. I was only a means to an end. And my suffering meant very little in the grand scheme of things.
Then I read began reading the book of John. And God showed me a picture of himself. Yes, He is orchestrating all of our lives for good and yes, He does all of this for His glory (for when God receives glory, we bask in the warmth). But He is not looking down on us with a stoic expression. He is moved by our hurt.
Sometimes He weeps.
As a child, it was a contest to see who knew the shortest verse in the Bible. And in case you didn’t know, it is “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35). But I never understood the full power of that verse until a couple weeks ago. As I read John 11, I felt moved by the story of Martha and Mary and their brother Lazerus.
Lazerus is deathly sick. So his sisters send word to Jesus. They know Jesus can heal their brother. They have seen His power and miracles. But Jesus never comes. And so Lazerus dies. Can you feel their shock, their feelings of betrayal? Why did Jesus heal so many others but never came to help them, His friends? They bury Lazerus, probably along with their hope.
Now let’s look at Jesus’ point of view. Jesus receives word that Lazerus is deathly ill. But He has a plan: a plan for good and God’s glory. So Jesus waits. And waits. Until Lazerus dies. Then he tells his disciples they must head back to Judea so he can awaken Lazerus.
However, you do not see an unemotional Jesus in this chapter. Look how He responds when he sees Mary and the others who are grieving with her: “When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled.” (John 11:33). Jesus was moved by the grieving he saw.
They head out to the tomb. And at this point Jesus weeps. He sees the grief and hurt of the people around him. My friends, God sees the hurt and grief going on inside of us too. He is not callous to our battered hearts and lives. Even while God is using us for good and for His glory, I believe He is also weeping with us. We have a God who has also suffered. “Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.” (Hebrews 2:18).
Jesus wept. What a powerful verse. Those two simple words opened my eyes. I no longer see God as a stoic being above me, moving around the pieces of my life with a calloused hand. Instead I see a God who weeps with me.
July 21, 2013
Writing Book Three
When I published Son of Truth, I jokingly told my husband that I would probably receive death threats due to the way I ended the story. I never realized how real those words would turn out to be.
No, I haven’t received any death threats. But I had one reader very, very angry with me. So I went back and looked again at my story. Could I have ended it any other way? Was there a better place to conclude Son of Truth and begin book three? Honestly, no. Son of Truth ended right where it needed to before everything starts in book three.
So I write this post to assure you there will be a book three. All the story threads that have been woven into Daughter of Light and Son of Truth since the prologue (yes, that is a hint that the prologue is important) will end in book three.
Rowen will finally meet the Shadonae. She will discover who she really is and what happened to the Eldarans. Nierne will arrive back in her homeland to find it changed. Caleb will be forging a new identity as a Guardian and an outcast of Temanin. And Lore will find Rowen, but it will be a bittersweet reunion.
It is a relief to finally be writing book three. For six years I’ve known how this series would end. These characters have lived a long time in my head and I am both ready and sad for them to leave.
Thank you, readers, for joining me on this journey. I want to give you the best, most satisfying ending that I can. I have a tentative title for book three, but am not ready to release the name. Book three will hopefully release 2014. Until then, I will continue writing.
July 15, 2013
Blessed are the Poor
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3. (emphasis mine)
I started reading the Beatitudes today and the first one jumped out at me, probably because I’ve been struggling with finances the last few months. Each month I look at what we need, what needs paid, what we have, and ask what can we do without or what can be pushed off until the next month.
Ever been there? Pretty soon, after a couple months of living like this, you start to feel stretched out and stressed. I pinch every penny until it screams (and I start screaming along with it). We are living as frugally as we can, but I start to secretly wish for more. I wish for twenty bucks to take the kids swimming or out for ice cream. I wish I didn’t have to scrutinize every price tag and ask if the need is so great that we simply can’t live without it. I look longingly at what other people have and ask God why I can’t have that too.
You know the one thing I haven’t been doing? Talking to God about it. Instead, I’ve been treading financial waters, trying to stay afloat, keep our family going, and getting angry at everyone around me.
I have probably read the Beatitudes a thousand times, and know God blesses the poor, but today it hit me. There is nothing in that verse that says God will raise us above our need. Instead, it is our need that points us back to Him. We come to the end of ourselves (sometimes doing everything in our own power first, like I am apt to do), just to find He’s been there all along, waiting.
God has never let my family starve. He has always made sure we had a roof over our head (even when it looked like we would lose everything). He has provided for our needs. So why am I worrying? Perhaps it is because I have become discontent. Dan and I work hard, and in America there is this assumption that if you work hard, you will reap. But that is not reality. Reality is Dan is in ministry, not for the paycheck, but for the people. And I don’t write for a paycheck but for the joy of storytelling.
Being poor is not a virtue most people pursue. But it is one God honors. It is easier to realize our need for God when we are poor. We have nothing else. No distractions.
So instead of looking at what I don’t have, today I will turn my gaze on God instead and be thankful for what I do have.
July 7, 2013
What Shape are You?
For years, I felt out of place amongst most of the Christian women I knew. Many of them were quiet, submissive ladies who loved to run social events, Bible studies, and church potlucks. I would look at them and wish I could be as loving and thoughtful as they were. Instead I was an analytical, inquisitive, geeky, database-loving gal. And I wondered how could God use a person like me.
Then I was introduced to S.H.A.P.E. and realized God did not make a mistake when He made me. All the eccentric and unique parts of my personality, my past, and my position made me Morgan. I experienced true freedom when I finally embraced who I was.
That is something I am passionate about now: people discovering that, apart from their sin, they are exactly who God made them and there is nothing wrong with that. So let me share S.H.A.P.E. with you.
S: Spiritual Gift. Every single person in Christ is given a gift or an ability that wasn’t there before. Mine happens to be teaching. I hate getting up in front of people and talking. But the moment I am on stage, all fear leaves me. I love presenting God’s Word in a practical way so people can understand God.
H: Heart. What do you love? What are your passions? I love stories, cats, and junior high students . Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that. What you love is part of who you are. I love stories, therefore I write. I love junior high, therefore I work in youth ministry.
A: Abilities. What are you good at? Each of us has unique abilities. Some people can cook really well. Others can draw. Some are good at listening, or speaking, or working in the background. I am good at databases and organization (unless my kids are home, then mommy brain sets in 
). Dan, my husband, is really good at counseling people (he amazes me!). So think about what your unique abilities are.
P: Personality. Not only do we have different passions and abilities, we have different personalities. Outgoing, introvert. Feeler, thinker. I am a thinker-introvert kind of person. I cannot be around people for very long before I am worn out. Now that I know this, I can plan. For instance, Dan and I have discovered if I teach VBS in the summer, he needs to take time off the following week so I can recover (I am usually so drained I can hardly move). There are no bad personalities, only different. And all of them are needed in this world.
E. Experience. You can have two people with the same passions, abilities, and personality, and yet be different because of their experiences. One person might have grown up in the heart of Chicago while the other grew up on a dairy farm in Oregon. Two parents or one parent? Money or no money? Popular or unpopular? Moved a lot or stayed in the same town? I come from a divorced family that moved a lot and didn’t have much money. My experience has helped me reach young people who come from divorced families as well. Our experiences shape us. What experiences have shaped you?
I love how God has uniquely made each and every one of us. We are all needed, we are all special. How about you? What S.H.A.P.E. are you?
