Lydia Howe's Blog, page 33
September 7, 2015
Short Story: A Picture is worth 1,000 Words
I haven't written a short story in a long time. A couple years ago I was in the habit of doing what I called "A picture is worth a 1,000 words" stories, which is where I choose a random picture then time myself to see how long it took from the first moment I saw the picture until I had written a short story that was exactly 1,000 words about the picture.
It's a great exercise for me as an author so when my wonderful friend suggested I write a short story for my blog post today, I jumped at the chance. I convinced her to pick out a picture for me, then I set my stop watch, looked at the picture, wrote the story and did a quick edit on it. It is exactly 1,000 words long.
From the time I first saw the picture until it was in the condition you see below was:31 minutes and 20 seconds.
I hope y'all enjoy!
source It shouldn’t have surprised me after all we’d been through, but somehow it still did. I took a deep breath, willing myself to have the courage. It didn’t work. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” I tried to keep my voice calm, but even I could hear it’s frayed edges. “You’re not scared, are you?” Kallie’s eyebrows lifted slowly as if she was assessing my mood. “I’m not sure that I would call it fear,” I tried backpedaling. “I just think it’s a really good idea to check all of our options and make sure we settle on the right one before we plunge ahead and, you know, take the dive.” I cringed at how my brain worked in puns even when it was stressed out. “You do realize that we’ve been working toward this moment for the last three months, right?” Kallie sighed and ran a hand through her tangled blonde curls. “I thought you had decided to follow the map until the end.” “That’s before I realized that the map was leading us straight into water.” I shuddered. “We have absolutely no clue what could be down there.” I pulled my sweater more securely around my shoulders. “We’ve already dealt with so much because of this map and I’m not sure if it’s worth it any more.” The sigh that blew from Kallie’s lips was filled with frustration. “I’ll do it alone if I have it.” “You can’t do that.” I echoed her sigh with one of my own. “The instructions clearly state that there needs to be two of us.” “And if you’re backing out than what am I supposed to do?” “I didn’t say I was backing out.” “You didn’t?” Kallie’s sarcastic tone of voice reminded me of when we were little girls and she would hang around bossing me just because she was the older of the sisters. “I’ll do it.” The words came out of my mouth before I had even thought them through. “Lets go then.” I held up a finger. “I’ll do it, on one condition.” “You’re a little safety-lover, aren’t you?” Kallie dropped her backpack and reached up and massaged her shoulders. “Which is a good thing if you recall correctly.” There had been three times since we’d started out pursuing the treasure that the map promised that my overthinking and cautiousness had saved us. “Yes, it is a good thing most of the time, but really, just because you have a fear of swimming shouldn’t make our whole quest suffer.” I had to concede, she did have a point. I rubbed my hand over my face, trying to erase the fear that was building up. I thought of when we had received the map in a letter from our grandparents. It had been exciting at the time but neither of us had been ready to tackle the huge journey it would send us on. We’d prepared for several months, snatching every spare moment we could while keeping up with the rest of our lives, then when our grandparents sent us another letter telling us it was now or never, we had took deep breaths and plunged into the escapade. The last several months had been full of weekend trips, late night figuring and adventures we’d never even dreamed of as we spent our time finagling our lives around following the treasure. “Are you ready yet?” Kallie’s voice broke into my memories. “We have no clue if it’s safe or not.” As much as I enjoyed the hunt and hanging out with my sister, I was ready for life to go back to normal. “I can tell by looking at you that you’re ready to give up.” Kallie’s voice was filled with accusation. “We can’t spend the rest of our lives doing this.”
“We still have our lives, this is something we’ve been doing on the side.” “Come on, getting over your fear of the water will be good.” Kallie started down the steps; holding my hand tightly, she pulled me along with her. The fear I had felt up on shore got stronger each step we took. I gasped for breath, trying not to let my phobia get the best of me. I hated water. “What if this is just another clue?”
“You can’t give into your fear.” Kallie addressed my real question. When we reached the last step before the staircase entered the water Kallie slipped her arm around my shoulder. “Facing our fears makes us stronger.” I bit my lip and then dipped my toes into the water. It wasn’t as cold as the air promised it would be. Deep breath. I continued the decent, Kallie at my side, until the water was waist deep. Then shoulder deep. Filling our lungs with air we continued a few more steps and then bumped into something solid. If I hadn’t been under water I would have screamed. A moment later I opened my eyes to find that we were in a hallway of sorts the door was quickly closing behind us.
“What in the world?” Kallie and I slowly ventured forward, eyes widening with each step. “An under water passage way?” There were drains on the floor that the water we had let in with us was swirling down. We reached another door and opened it, then gasped in delight. “This is it! This is the treasure!” Kallie threw her arms around me then twirled me around in a big circle. We were standing in a huge, beautiful and elaborate room that was filled with books of every size and description and plush chairs to sit on while reading them. Lights had been flickering on since we had come through the door and soon the whole room was sparkling with beauty. “This is a far better treasure than I had ever dreamed of.” I felt a huge grin slip over my face as my fear I had harbored during the last stage of the journey melted away.
It's a great exercise for me as an author so when my wonderful friend suggested I write a short story for my blog post today, I jumped at the chance. I convinced her to pick out a picture for me, then I set my stop watch, looked at the picture, wrote the story and did a quick edit on it. It is exactly 1,000 words long.
From the time I first saw the picture until it was in the condition you see below was:31 minutes and 20 seconds.
I hope y'all enjoy!
source It shouldn’t have surprised me after all we’d been through, but somehow it still did. I took a deep breath, willing myself to have the courage. It didn’t work. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” I tried to keep my voice calm, but even I could hear it’s frayed edges. “You’re not scared, are you?” Kallie’s eyebrows lifted slowly as if she was assessing my mood. “I’m not sure that I would call it fear,” I tried backpedaling. “I just think it’s a really good idea to check all of our options and make sure we settle on the right one before we plunge ahead and, you know, take the dive.” I cringed at how my brain worked in puns even when it was stressed out. “You do realize that we’ve been working toward this moment for the last three months, right?” Kallie sighed and ran a hand through her tangled blonde curls. “I thought you had decided to follow the map until the end.” “That’s before I realized that the map was leading us straight into water.” I shuddered. “We have absolutely no clue what could be down there.” I pulled my sweater more securely around my shoulders. “We’ve already dealt with so much because of this map and I’m not sure if it’s worth it any more.” The sigh that blew from Kallie’s lips was filled with frustration. “I’ll do it alone if I have it.” “You can’t do that.” I echoed her sigh with one of my own. “The instructions clearly state that there needs to be two of us.” “And if you’re backing out than what am I supposed to do?” “I didn’t say I was backing out.” “You didn’t?” Kallie’s sarcastic tone of voice reminded me of when we were little girls and she would hang around bossing me just because she was the older of the sisters. “I’ll do it.” The words came out of my mouth before I had even thought them through. “Lets go then.” I held up a finger. “I’ll do it, on one condition.” “You’re a little safety-lover, aren’t you?” Kallie dropped her backpack and reached up and massaged her shoulders. “Which is a good thing if you recall correctly.” There had been three times since we’d started out pursuing the treasure that the map promised that my overthinking and cautiousness had saved us. “Yes, it is a good thing most of the time, but really, just because you have a fear of swimming shouldn’t make our whole quest suffer.” I had to concede, she did have a point. I rubbed my hand over my face, trying to erase the fear that was building up. I thought of when we had received the map in a letter from our grandparents. It had been exciting at the time but neither of us had been ready to tackle the huge journey it would send us on. We’d prepared for several months, snatching every spare moment we could while keeping up with the rest of our lives, then when our grandparents sent us another letter telling us it was now or never, we had took deep breaths and plunged into the escapade. The last several months had been full of weekend trips, late night figuring and adventures we’d never even dreamed of as we spent our time finagling our lives around following the treasure. “Are you ready yet?” Kallie’s voice broke into my memories. “We have no clue if it’s safe or not.” As much as I enjoyed the hunt and hanging out with my sister, I was ready for life to go back to normal. “I can tell by looking at you that you’re ready to give up.” Kallie’s voice was filled with accusation. “We can’t spend the rest of our lives doing this.” “We still have our lives, this is something we’ve been doing on the side.” “Come on, getting over your fear of the water will be good.” Kallie started down the steps; holding my hand tightly, she pulled me along with her. The fear I had felt up on shore got stronger each step we took. I gasped for breath, trying not to let my phobia get the best of me. I hated water. “What if this is just another clue?”
“You can’t give into your fear.” Kallie addressed my real question. When we reached the last step before the staircase entered the water Kallie slipped her arm around my shoulder. “Facing our fears makes us stronger.” I bit my lip and then dipped my toes into the water. It wasn’t as cold as the air promised it would be. Deep breath. I continued the decent, Kallie at my side, until the water was waist deep. Then shoulder deep. Filling our lungs with air we continued a few more steps and then bumped into something solid. If I hadn’t been under water I would have screamed. A moment later I opened my eyes to find that we were in a hallway of sorts the door was quickly closing behind us.
“What in the world?” Kallie and I slowly ventured forward, eyes widening with each step. “An under water passage way?” There were drains on the floor that the water we had let in with us was swirling down. We reached another door and opened it, then gasped in delight. “This is it! This is the treasure!” Kallie threw her arms around me then twirled me around in a big circle. We were standing in a huge, beautiful and elaborate room that was filled with books of every size and description and plush chairs to sit on while reading them. Lights had been flickering on since we had come through the door and soon the whole room was sparkling with beauty. “This is a far better treasure than I had ever dreamed of.” I felt a huge grin slip over my face as my fear I had harbored during the last stage of the journey melted away.
September 4, 2015
When Life Hands You Lymes #86
Good morning, y'all! I just spent a while reading the last couple chapters of When Life Hands You Lymes because guess what? We only have three segments left after this one! That means September is the last month that I'll be posting segments of When Life Hands You Lymes on Noveltea. I'm so excited about that. You, me and this book have been through a lot together!
Today was also the first time I've read the ending to the book since I wrote it back in April. Of course it needs a ton of work, but it was pretty cool getting to actually read the ending! I hope y'all enjoy this segment and as always, comments are appreciated.
Have a great Friday, y'all!
“It will be good to see Dr. Shay again.” Mom shifted in her seat. “I’m glad you all are coming along.” I gave Darrick and Julia both a thumbs up. Mom had been so excited about the health tips Dr. Shay had given her when we visited back in January that the whole family who lived at home was flying out in one of our personal planes with Dad as the pilot. “Do you think you’re over Lyme disease by now?” Darrick peered at me intently, as if trying to see into my thoughts. “I’m don’t feel like I am.” I shrugged. “The doctor did say that because of the high level of stress my body has been under while trying to fight the disease that I’ll continue to feel bad for several months after the disease itself has been killed.” “Right, and you’re not having any herxhimer reactions any more so that’s a good sign, right?” Julia asked. “I’ll say it is. I wasn’t sure I’d survive her wrath when those spirochetes were dying off.” I glared at my brother. “I wasn’t sure I would survive it either, so cool it.” “What will you do if you find out that you are over Lyme disease?” “I will go for a run all by myself and laugh and cry and celebrate. Then I will take my violin to the top of a mountain and play while watching the sunset.” “You’ve thought about this before?” Darrick seems surprised. “How else do you think I convince myself to keep going? Of course I think about the next step on the road to recovery. I want to be whole. I want to be better. I dream of diving back into life and experiencing it like a healthy person would.” “We’re close you know.” Darrick punched my shoulder. “To Colorado?” “To recovery.” “You think so?” It was so hard to find the balance between being hopeful and being realistic. I didn’t want to set myself back by having too high of expectations, but I didn’t want to be cynical either. And the balance between the two was being rather elusive. “Yep. I think so.” Darrick grinned at me then turned to look out his window. I followed his example and sighed in delight at the gorgeous mountain ranges below us.
Our night at the hotel was filled with games, popcorn and coconut juice. I sighed. “I can hardly believe we are here to go to a doctor.” Julia was brushing her teeth as I lie in bed, arms above my head. “It feels like a family vacation, yet I have this feeling in the pit of my stomach like tomorrow is going to be huge.” “It will be huge.” Julia turned off the light above the sink and crawled into the bed next to mine. “No matter what the doctor says it’s going to be progress. Even though you don’t feel perfect you are getting better and that’s what matters right?” I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me in the dark. “I almost don’t want to find out that I’m over Lyme disease.” “Why?” “I dreamed of feeling all the way better when I found out I was over Lyme disease, but recently I’ve realized that might not be the case.” “Meaning you don’t want to find out that you’re ‘quote and quote healthy’ when you’re still struggling so much with your health problems?” “Exactly.” I rubbed my face with both hands and let out a little moan. “I feel so complicated at times.” “I don’t think that’s complicated.” Julia’s words are slurred like she’s falling asleep. “It’s natural that you want to feel well so you can thoroughly celebrate getting better and moving on with life.”
I don’t bother answering, Julia’s probably asleep anyway. After forty-five minutes of my brain continuing to twist and turn down previously-explored pathways I slipped out of bed and rummaged as quietly as possible through my backpack until I found my journal and pen. Going into the bathroom I shut the door then turned on the light. I placed a towel on the floor then sit down with my back against the door and opened my journal. Normal. I crave it. Only I don’t know what normal is any more. Is it some hardship that I’ve glorified? A picturesque ideal that will never exist in my life again? Am I supposed to find a new normal? Be content with my current state of being? If I do hear that I’m healed from Lyme disease will I be able to rejoice or will I only mourn my continued lack of energy and not feeling well? I feel so much better than I did a six weeks ago. I’m leaps and bounds beyond where I was six months ago. Yet I crave to have the boundless energy Julia seems to have. To be able to go, go, go like Mom. To be pain free and live life without the fear of sudden break down of total exhaustion. God, am I ungrateful for the gifts You’ve given to me? I pray not. I am thankful. I do rejoice at how well I’m feeling. But sometimes it feels like it’s not enough. I’m on a journey and in the far distance I can see the beauty waiting for me, beckoning me to come but the path is treacherous. I leaned my head back against the cool wooden door and closed my eyes, taking a few minutes to breath deeply. To exist in the moment. To not worry about what I will or won’t hear tomorrow. My destination looks like it’s far away in the distance, yet I can see it. I’m happy to continue the journey. If I find out tomorrow that I am over Lyme disease though, what will I feel like then? I know I have a problem with feeling guilty about the silliest things and I don’t want to feel guilty if I find out that I’m healed when I’m still suffering.
I sit there twiddling my thumbs for few minutes then put the lid back on my pen and go back to bed. “Whatever You have in store for me, God, I’ll be happy and I will rejoice.”
Today was also the first time I've read the ending to the book since I wrote it back in April. Of course it needs a ton of work, but it was pretty cool getting to actually read the ending! I hope y'all enjoy this segment and as always, comments are appreciated.
Have a great Friday, y'all!
“It will be good to see Dr. Shay again.” Mom shifted in her seat. “I’m glad you all are coming along.” I gave Darrick and Julia both a thumbs up. Mom had been so excited about the health tips Dr. Shay had given her when we visited back in January that the whole family who lived at home was flying out in one of our personal planes with Dad as the pilot. “Do you think you’re over Lyme disease by now?” Darrick peered at me intently, as if trying to see into my thoughts. “I’m don’t feel like I am.” I shrugged. “The doctor did say that because of the high level of stress my body has been under while trying to fight the disease that I’ll continue to feel bad for several months after the disease itself has been killed.” “Right, and you’re not having any herxhimer reactions any more so that’s a good sign, right?” Julia asked. “I’ll say it is. I wasn’t sure I’d survive her wrath when those spirochetes were dying off.” I glared at my brother. “I wasn’t sure I would survive it either, so cool it.” “What will you do if you find out that you are over Lyme disease?” “I will go for a run all by myself and laugh and cry and celebrate. Then I will take my violin to the top of a mountain and play while watching the sunset.” “You’ve thought about this before?” Darrick seems surprised. “How else do you think I convince myself to keep going? Of course I think about the next step on the road to recovery. I want to be whole. I want to be better. I dream of diving back into life and experiencing it like a healthy person would.” “We’re close you know.” Darrick punched my shoulder. “To Colorado?” “To recovery.” “You think so?” It was so hard to find the balance between being hopeful and being realistic. I didn’t want to set myself back by having too high of expectations, but I didn’t want to be cynical either. And the balance between the two was being rather elusive. “Yep. I think so.” Darrick grinned at me then turned to look out his window. I followed his example and sighed in delight at the gorgeous mountain ranges below us.
Our night at the hotel was filled with games, popcorn and coconut juice. I sighed. “I can hardly believe we are here to go to a doctor.” Julia was brushing her teeth as I lie in bed, arms above my head. “It feels like a family vacation, yet I have this feeling in the pit of my stomach like tomorrow is going to be huge.” “It will be huge.” Julia turned off the light above the sink and crawled into the bed next to mine. “No matter what the doctor says it’s going to be progress. Even though you don’t feel perfect you are getting better and that’s what matters right?” I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me in the dark. “I almost don’t want to find out that I’m over Lyme disease.” “Why?” “I dreamed of feeling all the way better when I found out I was over Lyme disease, but recently I’ve realized that might not be the case.” “Meaning you don’t want to find out that you’re ‘quote and quote healthy’ when you’re still struggling so much with your health problems?” “Exactly.” I rubbed my face with both hands and let out a little moan. “I feel so complicated at times.” “I don’t think that’s complicated.” Julia’s words are slurred like she’s falling asleep. “It’s natural that you want to feel well so you can thoroughly celebrate getting better and moving on with life.”
I don’t bother answering, Julia’s probably asleep anyway. After forty-five minutes of my brain continuing to twist and turn down previously-explored pathways I slipped out of bed and rummaged as quietly as possible through my backpack until I found my journal and pen. Going into the bathroom I shut the door then turned on the light. I placed a towel on the floor then sit down with my back against the door and opened my journal. Normal. I crave it. Only I don’t know what normal is any more. Is it some hardship that I’ve glorified? A picturesque ideal that will never exist in my life again? Am I supposed to find a new normal? Be content with my current state of being? If I do hear that I’m healed from Lyme disease will I be able to rejoice or will I only mourn my continued lack of energy and not feeling well? I feel so much better than I did a six weeks ago. I’m leaps and bounds beyond where I was six months ago. Yet I crave to have the boundless energy Julia seems to have. To be able to go, go, go like Mom. To be pain free and live life without the fear of sudden break down of total exhaustion. God, am I ungrateful for the gifts You’ve given to me? I pray not. I am thankful. I do rejoice at how well I’m feeling. But sometimes it feels like it’s not enough. I’m on a journey and in the far distance I can see the beauty waiting for me, beckoning me to come but the path is treacherous. I leaned my head back against the cool wooden door and closed my eyes, taking a few minutes to breath deeply. To exist in the moment. To not worry about what I will or won’t hear tomorrow. My destination looks like it’s far away in the distance, yet I can see it. I’m happy to continue the journey. If I find out tomorrow that I am over Lyme disease though, what will I feel like then? I know I have a problem with feeling guilty about the silliest things and I don’t want to feel guilty if I find out that I’m healed when I’m still suffering.
I sit there twiddling my thumbs for few minutes then put the lid back on my pen and go back to bed. “Whatever You have in store for me, God, I’ll be happy and I will rejoice.”
September 3, 2015
September Is
September has always been, and probably always will be, one of my favorite months of the year. The crisp hints of autumn in the air, the foggy mornings, the brilliant blue skies, and the vibrant colors all combine into something almost magical.
September makes me think of new beginnings and fresh thoughts. September always brings a deluge of memories and happiness makes me excited at the dawning of each new day. On the cold days I am thrilled to cuddle up in my sweatshirts and sweaters and fun outside in bare feet with the frosty ground making my feet tingle. During the warm days I bask in the sunshine, soaking in the extra rays before they weaken for winter.
September is a warm mug of tea and a flickering candle. September is a evening spent with family and friends around a blazing campfire with lots of good stories and snacks. September is a subtle change, a shift in the world around me as we prepare for a new season. September is the happiness from childhood and adulthood merging and making me dance like a little girl again.
September is like cotton candy and swinging and apple-carmel suckers and squirmy little puppies and snail mail and fuzzy blankets and folding warm towels and family laughing together. It holds a special place in my heart that whispers promises of dreams coming true and special memories awaiting.
I am so very happy that it's September.
September makes me think of new beginnings and fresh thoughts. September always brings a deluge of memories and happiness makes me excited at the dawning of each new day. On the cold days I am thrilled to cuddle up in my sweatshirts and sweaters and fun outside in bare feet with the frosty ground making my feet tingle. During the warm days I bask in the sunshine, soaking in the extra rays before they weaken for winter.
September is a warm mug of tea and a flickering candle. September is a evening spent with family and friends around a blazing campfire with lots of good stories and snacks. September is a subtle change, a shift in the world around me as we prepare for a new season. September is the happiness from childhood and adulthood merging and making me dance like a little girl again.
September is like cotton candy and swinging and apple-carmel suckers and squirmy little puppies and snail mail and fuzzy blankets and folding warm towels and family laughing together. It holds a special place in my heart that whispers promises of dreams coming true and special memories awaiting.
I am so very happy that it's September.
September 2, 2015
August 2015 in Review
What I Focused on in August
1. Glorious family time! I spent almost half of the month visiting with family out-of-state2. My writing: Getting the second draft of WLHYL finished and sending it to beta readers & studying the craft3. Figuring out how and working on helping crisis pregnancy centers
Birthday Challenge and Dream List Update
Birthday Challenge:
1. Read 23 Non-fiction books {5}4. Write 23 book reviews {2} (here and here) 6. Walk 23 miles in one week {Completed 8-15-15}22. Make 5 blankets for a pregnancy center (or something like that) {3}
Dream List: None
Reading Update
Fiction: 5Non-Ficton: 5Reviews: 2
Traveling
Nights gone: 13 New States or Countries traveled to: None
What I've been Learning
I've spent a lot of time recently reading about writing. As I'm faced with the task of tackling the next draft of WLHYL I've realized all over again how deep the well of writing is and how little I actually know about the craft. I've studied how to write proper plot lines, how to give characters unique traits, how to avoid clichés, how to use the correct grammar and what pitfalls to avoid while trying to give a character unique speech patterns. I've learned about character arches, distinguishing traits, reliability, how to grab the readers attention, how to engage a reader in the story, the proper way to start a book and the proper way to end a book. I've been studying about dialog tags, about action beats, about story structure and book synopses.
I've also read several non-fiction books about missionaries recently and I've been challenged by their overwhelming faith and trust in God. They faced seemingly insurmountable odds and yet stood strong in God, believing that He would work through them.
In August I also studied about crisis pregnancy centers and how I can help them. I didn't spend nearly as much time on that as I was planning on, but I did get a good overview of things I can do and have started working on that. It's exciting to know I can make a difference in the lives of mothers and their babies especially with all the horrifying abortions that happen each day.
This month I had fun making several meals from different countries. I really enjoy cooking foods that I'm not used to and following a recipe with spices that I'm just barely familiar with makes for an adventure in the kitchen. I hope to do more of this kind of cooking in September.
Other Things
The first twelve days of the month were spent with family out of state. I really enjoyed getting to hang out and play lots of games with everyone. My grandma, dad and I have a card game that we made up about four years ago and have played almost every time we see each other. Playing cards with Grandma and Dad will be a cherished life-long memory.
I was also extremely happy to visit some of our retired missionary friends while we were gone. I am always so inspired when I sit and listen to them tell breathtaking accounts and speak with such faith and conviction.
While we were away from home I also started my "walking 23 miles in one week" challenge. I know that doesn't sound like much and normally it wouldn't be, but for various reasons I hadn't been walking a lot so it was a push to get myself back in the habit of walking each day. It was fun.
I've been fighting off health issues all year long and we finally came to the conclusion that I'm allergic to our house. (We built on-to an old house and I've had issues in the past with new building materials because chemicals bother me a lot.) This discovery prompted an "all windows open & door closed" rule in my office, so my work space has been a very warm yet fresh air haven for me. Plus, I've been working on being outside of the house as much as possible. We even got my tipi set up (we took it down around the time we moved last year), so I'm now able to do my writing work out in that exciting location.
August 23rd was the first wedding anniversary of my best friend who I was excited to be the maid-of-honor for last year. We had fun dressing up in our wedding clothes and taking some pictures, along with her new little one.
* * * I would be delighted to hear what y'all did in August.
Also, I've had several people contact me recently and tell me that they've been having trouble with commenting on my blog. I'm sorry about that! I'm not sure how to fix it, but I hope to figure that out soon... If anyone has suggestions on how to fix this problem you can contact me at: aidylewoh@gmail.com
1. Glorious family time! I spent almost half of the month visiting with family out-of-state2. My writing: Getting the second draft of WLHYL finished and sending it to beta readers & studying the craft3. Figuring out how and working on helping crisis pregnancy centers
Birthday Challenge and Dream List Update
Birthday Challenge:
1. Read 23 Non-fiction books {5}4. Write 23 book reviews {2} (here and here) 6. Walk 23 miles in one week {Completed 8-15-15}22. Make 5 blankets for a pregnancy center (or something like that) {3}
Dream List: None
Reading Update
Fiction: 5Non-Ficton: 5Reviews: 2
Traveling
Nights gone: 13 New States or Countries traveled to: None
What I've been Learning
I've spent a lot of time recently reading about writing. As I'm faced with the task of tackling the next draft of WLHYL I've realized all over again how deep the well of writing is and how little I actually know about the craft. I've studied how to write proper plot lines, how to give characters unique traits, how to avoid clichés, how to use the correct grammar and what pitfalls to avoid while trying to give a character unique speech patterns. I've learned about character arches, distinguishing traits, reliability, how to grab the readers attention, how to engage a reader in the story, the proper way to start a book and the proper way to end a book. I've been studying about dialog tags, about action beats, about story structure and book synopses.
I've also read several non-fiction books about missionaries recently and I've been challenged by their overwhelming faith and trust in God. They faced seemingly insurmountable odds and yet stood strong in God, believing that He would work through them.
In August I also studied about crisis pregnancy centers and how I can help them. I didn't spend nearly as much time on that as I was planning on, but I did get a good overview of things I can do and have started working on that. It's exciting to know I can make a difference in the lives of mothers and their babies especially with all the horrifying abortions that happen each day.
This month I had fun making several meals from different countries. I really enjoy cooking foods that I'm not used to and following a recipe with spices that I'm just barely familiar with makes for an adventure in the kitchen. I hope to do more of this kind of cooking in September.
Other Things
The first twelve days of the month were spent with family out of state. I really enjoyed getting to hang out and play lots of games with everyone. My grandma, dad and I have a card game that we made up about four years ago and have played almost every time we see each other. Playing cards with Grandma and Dad will be a cherished life-long memory.
I was also extremely happy to visit some of our retired missionary friends while we were gone. I am always so inspired when I sit and listen to them tell breathtaking accounts and speak with such faith and conviction.
While we were away from home I also started my "walking 23 miles in one week" challenge. I know that doesn't sound like much and normally it wouldn't be, but for various reasons I hadn't been walking a lot so it was a push to get myself back in the habit of walking each day. It was fun.
I've been fighting off health issues all year long and we finally came to the conclusion that I'm allergic to our house. (We built on-to an old house and I've had issues in the past with new building materials because chemicals bother me a lot.) This discovery prompted an "all windows open & door closed" rule in my office, so my work space has been a very warm yet fresh air haven for me. Plus, I've been working on being outside of the house as much as possible. We even got my tipi set up (we took it down around the time we moved last year), so I'm now able to do my writing work out in that exciting location.
August 23rd was the first wedding anniversary of my best friend who I was excited to be the maid-of-honor for last year. We had fun dressing up in our wedding clothes and taking some pictures, along with her new little one.
* * * I would be delighted to hear what y'all did in August.
Also, I've had several people contact me recently and tell me that they've been having trouble with commenting on my blog. I'm sorry about that! I'm not sure how to fix it, but I hope to figure that out soon... If anyone has suggestions on how to fix this problem you can contact me at: aidylewoh@gmail.com
September 1, 2015
Flight School - Celebrating a Book Launch with a Review + Giveaway
I've got to start out this post/review by saying I'm pretty impressed by Jason McIntire's amazing diligence, timeliness and organizational skills when it comes to setting up a book launch. I even emailed him for tips so I can have a head start for my next book release. Great job, Jason!
Jason first contacted me about reviewing Flight School several months ago and I'm happy I could agree to read it and be part of the book launch. (Book launches are exciting times for authors, folks!) I know that authors and their support crew spend so much time getting ready for the release of each new book and I feel honored to take part in this special day.
Here's a little bit about the book:
Back cover Blurb: On the verge of adult life, Chris Rivera is eager to get started on his career as a director of Christian movies. But he'll have to do it without his best friend Ben, who has traded childhood toys for law books... and a very pretty study partner.Meanwhile, Jessie is getting a lot of attention from conservative neighbor John and trendy friend Galen – each of whom, for drastically different reasons, seems a little too good to be true.In the face of hard questions and big temptations, how do you know which choice is right? And where do you get the courage to make it?
Age Range: 12 and Up
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction
Pages: 257
Point of View: Third person, omnipresent, the story followed about five to ten people throughout the story
Find it on: Amazon, Goodreads, Elisha Press
What I thought: Flight School reminds me a lot of a book that should be read aloud to the whole family as a bed time story, one chapter at a time. There are a lot of situations that provide great lead-ins for parents to discuss their beliefs and standards with their children.
The storyline follows the different members of the Sparrow/Rivera family and the adventures, problems, excitement and growing pains they experience growing up. I especially enjoyed reading from Ben's point of view, probably because he's the oldest (I think) and therefore I was able to relate to him the best.
This is the second book in the series and since I didn't read the first book I was a little bit lost. For instance: most of the book I wasn't sure how old the characters were or where they lived, but I was still able to figure out most of the story.
It's clear to see that a lot of research and thought went into Flight School and I always appreciate that in a book. Also, props to the editor. As an author I often cringe while reading because of grammar mistakes, but this book was wonderfully cringe-free.
This book wasn't exactly my cup of tea, but I did enjoy reading it. I felt like a lot of the "issues" that were talked about in the book were discussed one-sided and I didn't agree with all of the conclusions, but that's something I find rather common in books I read.
The characters were interesting and a lot of them had their own story lines and character arches, which is something I often have trouble with when it comes to my own writing. All too often I focus on one character and everyone else is one-sided. Jason does a good job of making the majority of the characters come alive and hold their own place throughout the book.
All in all Flight School was God-honoring, entertaining and filled with experiences that a most people will be able to relate to and learn from.
Giveaway, Giveaway, Giveaway! I'm pleased to announce that Elisha Press is generously hosting a giveaway where four winners will each receive a copy of Flight School. Check it out here ! I know that as an author I'm always excited at the thought of getting to actually give out free copies of my books to happy readers so why not help spread the word and excitement? Happy readers unite!
About the Author: A 2005 homeschool graduate and partner in family business ventures, Jason McIntire writes as a hobby. His Christian stories are built around solidly biblical ideas, but packaged in his own light-hearted, often humorous style.
* * *
Congratulations, Jason! I'm so happy for you and your new book!
* * *
If y'all have a question for the author, just leave it in the comments and he'll be by to answer them!
Jason first contacted me about reviewing Flight School several months ago and I'm happy I could agree to read it and be part of the book launch. (Book launches are exciting times for authors, folks!) I know that authors and their support crew spend so much time getting ready for the release of each new book and I feel honored to take part in this special day.
Here's a little bit about the book:
Back cover Blurb: On the verge of adult life, Chris Rivera is eager to get started on his career as a director of Christian movies. But he'll have to do it without his best friend Ben, who has traded childhood toys for law books... and a very pretty study partner.Meanwhile, Jessie is getting a lot of attention from conservative neighbor John and trendy friend Galen – each of whom, for drastically different reasons, seems a little too good to be true.In the face of hard questions and big temptations, how do you know which choice is right? And where do you get the courage to make it?
Age Range: 12 and Up
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction
Pages: 257
Point of View: Third person, omnipresent, the story followed about five to ten people throughout the story
Find it on: Amazon, Goodreads, Elisha Press
What I thought: Flight School reminds me a lot of a book that should be read aloud to the whole family as a bed time story, one chapter at a time. There are a lot of situations that provide great lead-ins for parents to discuss their beliefs and standards with their children.
The storyline follows the different members of the Sparrow/Rivera family and the adventures, problems, excitement and growing pains they experience growing up. I especially enjoyed reading from Ben's point of view, probably because he's the oldest (I think) and therefore I was able to relate to him the best.
This is the second book in the series and since I didn't read the first book I was a little bit lost. For instance: most of the book I wasn't sure how old the characters were or where they lived, but I was still able to figure out most of the story.
It's clear to see that a lot of research and thought went into Flight School and I always appreciate that in a book. Also, props to the editor. As an author I often cringe while reading because of grammar mistakes, but this book was wonderfully cringe-free.
This book wasn't exactly my cup of tea, but I did enjoy reading it. I felt like a lot of the "issues" that were talked about in the book were discussed one-sided and I didn't agree with all of the conclusions, but that's something I find rather common in books I read.
The characters were interesting and a lot of them had their own story lines and character arches, which is something I often have trouble with when it comes to my own writing. All too often I focus on one character and everyone else is one-sided. Jason does a good job of making the majority of the characters come alive and hold their own place throughout the book.
All in all Flight School was God-honoring, entertaining and filled with experiences that a most people will be able to relate to and learn from.
Giveaway, Giveaway, Giveaway! I'm pleased to announce that Elisha Press is generously hosting a giveaway where four winners will each receive a copy of Flight School. Check it out here ! I know that as an author I'm always excited at the thought of getting to actually give out free copies of my books to happy readers so why not help spread the word and excitement? Happy readers unite!
About the Author: A 2005 homeschool graduate and partner in family business ventures, Jason McIntire writes as a hobby. His Christian stories are built around solidly biblical ideas, but packaged in his own light-hearted, often humorous style.
* * *
Congratulations, Jason! I'm so happy for you and your new book!
* * *
If y'all have a question for the author, just leave it in the comments and he'll be by to answer them!
August 31, 2015
I Need Your Help: 24 Before 24 Suggestions ~ Giveaway
My brain has been jumping around during the last few weeks trying to figure out how I can accomplish as much as possible during August on my 23 Before 23 Challenge. I have one month to finish it up and while I'm quite confident in my ability to check off 22 of the challenges (I didn't start early enough on #8), I just need to have them organized and do it in a profitable way.
I've also spent a minimal amount of time trying to figure out what I want my 24 Before 24 Challenges to be. I really, really like the challenges I had for this year. I felt like they were realistic, helped make my year more profitable and bettered me as a person. Plus, they weren't incredibly overwhelming and therefore I have been able to chug away at them regularly and not get stuck.
Since I was thinking about what I want my challenges to be this year, I thought I'd ask y'all to give me your suggestions. Sounds like fun, right?
And of course I wanted to make it more fun than just "leave your suggestions below" so I decided to host a giveaway along with it. (Yay for giveaways!) For every comment you leave with a suggestion you get to add an entry to the giveaway.
Y'all can go as wild, fun, serious, crazy, or off-the-wall as you want with your suggestions. Just remember that I only have 12 months to accomplish it! And... Ready... Setty... Go!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
To give you the heads up on what types of challenges I've done in the past, I gathered up the challenges from the last three years and I copied them below. I bolded what I consider to be my favorite/most helpful challenges.
21 Before 21:
1. Walk 100 miles (not all at once)2. Get Where Dandelions Grow published3. Host a writing contest on my blog 4. Work up to 1,000 words of quality writing in a 15 minute time period5. Put marbles (etc…) in a jar that count out until I’m 26 (it’s an inside thing) {6. Read 30 non-fiction books7. Write at least 100 words on my TGS WIP every day 8. Find an artist for my creation books9. Go to Hawaii10. Read 3 books about WW2 11. Re-write Star Glow 12. Get two of my books for sale in print13. Find a solid answer for my JM book14. Get my drivers license15. Have five published authors gust post/be interviewed on my blog 16. Get a first draft written for my goals for the next five years17. Read 2 books about Lyme Disease18. Reach 75,000 words in this years’ journal19. Write down amazing things I’ve done, at least 101 things20. Track my food for 100 days21. Write 2 in depth character sketches
22 Before 22:
1. Write and send 22 snail-mail letters2. Go for 22 days (not in a row) without Internet3. Go for 22 days (not in a row) without computer4. Read 22 non-fiction books5. Read 22 fiction books6. Write 22 thousand words in my journal 7. Memorize 22 (Bible) verses 8. Move to our new house9. Go to Florida10. Go to Europe11. Go for 22 days in a row without sugar12. Host a writing contest on Noveltea13. Do a guest post or be interviewed on other blogs or host a guest poster or interview on my blog 22 times14. Track all the money I spend for 22 days15. Do the 100/100 challenge with Limes 16. Write the continuing Limes story on Noveltea - at least 500 words a segment17. Get my drivers license18. Do my idea with the jar and marbles/beads, etc...19. Get WDG totally edited20. Write the first draft for my AK's book21. Get my second Creation Quest book totally ready for publication22. Write ten book reports/reviews
23 Before 23:
1. Read 23 Non-fiction books2. Write 1,000 words for 23 days in a row3. Write 23,000 words in one week4. Write 23 book reviews5. Track all the money I spend for 23 days6. Walk 23 miles in one week7. Write a card a day for 23 days8. Track all the money I spend for 23 weeks9. Memorize 23 verses10. Listen to the book of Eph. 23 times11. Read the Proverb of the day 3 months (not in a row)12. Write a list of the next day, 23 days in a row (not counting weekends)13. Go to bed before 10:30 23 times (not in a row) 14. Get up at (or before) 6:15 23 days in a row15. No texting for 23 days (not in a row)16. Crack the whip 23 times in a row17. Reach 100,000 words on WLHYL18. Send/give gifts to 13 random people19. Stay off of sugar 23 days in a row20. Write a list of 500 things I'm thankful for21. Fill up a physical journal22. Make 5 blankets for a pregnancy center (or something like that)23. Write monthly reviews on my blog within 5 days of the end of the month whenever internet is available
I've also spent a minimal amount of time trying to figure out what I want my 24 Before 24 Challenges to be. I really, really like the challenges I had for this year. I felt like they were realistic, helped make my year more profitable and bettered me as a person. Plus, they weren't incredibly overwhelming and therefore I have been able to chug away at them regularly and not get stuck.
Since I was thinking about what I want my challenges to be this year, I thought I'd ask y'all to give me your suggestions. Sounds like fun, right?
And of course I wanted to make it more fun than just "leave your suggestions below" so I decided to host a giveaway along with it. (Yay for giveaways!) For every comment you leave with a suggestion you get to add an entry to the giveaway.
Y'all can go as wild, fun, serious, crazy, or off-the-wall as you want with your suggestions. Just remember that I only have 12 months to accomplish it! And... Ready... Setty... Go!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
To give you the heads up on what types of challenges I've done in the past, I gathered up the challenges from the last three years and I copied them below. I bolded what I consider to be my favorite/most helpful challenges.
21 Before 21:
1. Walk 100 miles (not all at once)2. Get Where Dandelions Grow published3. Host a writing contest on my blog 4. Work up to 1,000 words of quality writing in a 15 minute time period5. Put marbles (etc…) in a jar that count out until I’m 26 (it’s an inside thing) {6. Read 30 non-fiction books7. Write at least 100 words on my TGS WIP every day 8. Find an artist for my creation books9. Go to Hawaii10. Read 3 books about WW2 11. Re-write Star Glow 12. Get two of my books for sale in print13. Find a solid answer for my JM book14. Get my drivers license15. Have five published authors gust post/be interviewed on my blog 16. Get a first draft written for my goals for the next five years17. Read 2 books about Lyme Disease18. Reach 75,000 words in this years’ journal19. Write down amazing things I’ve done, at least 101 things20. Track my food for 100 days21. Write 2 in depth character sketches
22 Before 22:
1. Write and send 22 snail-mail letters2. Go for 22 days (not in a row) without Internet3. Go for 22 days (not in a row) without computer4. Read 22 non-fiction books5. Read 22 fiction books6. Write 22 thousand words in my journal 7. Memorize 22 (Bible) verses 8. Move to our new house9. Go to Florida10. Go to Europe11. Go for 22 days in a row without sugar12. Host a writing contest on Noveltea13. Do a guest post or be interviewed on other blogs or host a guest poster or interview on my blog 22 times14. Track all the money I spend for 22 days15. Do the 100/100 challenge with Limes 16. Write the continuing Limes story on Noveltea - at least 500 words a segment17. Get my drivers license18. Do my idea with the jar and marbles/beads, etc...19. Get WDG totally edited20. Write the first draft for my AK's book21. Get my second Creation Quest book totally ready for publication22. Write ten book reports/reviews
23 Before 23:
1. Read 23 Non-fiction books2. Write 1,000 words for 23 days in a row3. Write 23,000 words in one week4. Write 23 book reviews5. Track all the money I spend for 23 days6. Walk 23 miles in one week7. Write a card a day for 23 days8. Track all the money I spend for 23 weeks9. Memorize 23 verses10. Listen to the book of Eph. 23 times11. Read the Proverb of the day 3 months (not in a row)12. Write a list of the next day, 23 days in a row (not counting weekends)13. Go to bed before 10:30 23 times (not in a row) 14. Get up at (or before) 6:15 23 days in a row15. No texting for 23 days (not in a row)16. Crack the whip 23 times in a row17. Reach 100,000 words on WLHYL18. Send/give gifts to 13 random people19. Stay off of sugar 23 days in a row20. Write a list of 500 things I'm thankful for21. Fill up a physical journal22. Make 5 blankets for a pregnancy center (or something like that)23. Write monthly reviews on my blog within 5 days of the end of the month whenever internet is available
August 28, 2015
When Life Hands You Lymes #85
Hey Everyone! Here it is! The 85th segment of my fictional story, When Life Hands You Lymes. Please sit back and enjoy.
“The days when the herxheimer reaction started were the worst. The most horrible and plain-laced, guilt-driven and miserable days of my life. I curled up in bed, begging God to let me die. I didn’t know how to handle what was going on and I had lost the fresh face of hope that had been offered to me when I had been feeling better. The seconds, minutes, hours and days crawled by in a haze of pain, confusion and heart-wrenching calls to God to sustain me, then they blurred as weeks passed. “When I finally began to feel better, I was skittish. I’d gone through too many ups and downs to even let myself hope that one day I’d be all the way better. So I pushed the thought out of my brain. I had learned to cope while being sick and I could continue on. It was all I knew. Somewhere back in my far distant childhood I knew I’d felt energetic all the time, but those days were more like a dream than anything else by this time. “When I finally realized that the herbs were indeed doing their job and I would continue to get better and one day soon I’d be free of Lyme disease, I began a legit freak out. At first I didn’t know what was going on. I spent many hours at night staring at the ceiling wondering what in the world was happening. Then finally it hit me. Being sick was my comfort zone. It was all I remembered. I am so used to being me, I was so used to having Lyme disease that I wasn’t sure how to function with being healthy. “Pain, brain fog, tiredness... It’s all part of my life. It’s so engrained in my brain that I was’t sure how to get rid of it. And, I wasn’t sure what I would do without being sick. Somehow, without me knowing it, Lyme disease had snuck in and became part of my identity and I hated it. I was ashamed of it. That right there is the most terrifying thing I’ve ever said. My days were spent trying to re-work the facts in such a way to give me peace of mind and help me be able to say that no, I wasn’t actually scared of being healthy. And if the whole truth be known, I wasn’t just scared of being healthy. I was terrified. I was so confused and so out of my comfort zone and so in over my head that I felt like an emotional wreck half of the time. Then I beat myself up because logically that was the stupidest thing I had ever thought or done or even considered. “I’m logical. I know how to deal with emotions. I know how to box up my thoughts and categorize them and make sense of all the little leftovers. But with this I felt absolutely helpless. I was frozen with fear. I felt stupid and humiliated. If I had any pride left from my almost three years of being sick you may be assured that my pride has met it’s death under the swift and unmerciful master of my dread. “And yet I knew that I wouldn’t be able to get all the way better until I could condition my mind and come up with the right mindset. That made me feel even more guilty because in essence that meant that I could be doing leaps and bounds better by then, but my stupid, embarrassing, horrifying fear of being healthy was holding me back.” Turning around rapidly I pounded the bed with my fist, “Did you hear me, Julia? I’m scared to death of being healthy!” I screamed the words, my heart thumping wildly. “I know,” I whispered. “I must be going crazy.” I tried to find the strength to pull my eyes up and meet Julia’s gaze, but I was afraid. I didn’t know what I’d see. Condemnation. Confusion. Boredom. Fear. Maybe even hatred. “Madalyn. You’re the strongest person I know.” Her words came out so soft that at first I wasn’t sure I had heard them right. Of course she couldn’t have just said I was strong. I had just confessed I was scared of being healthy. In my mind that was the ultimate sign of weakness. How could someone become so immersed in themselves and their sickness that healthy no longer seemed like the right choice? “Madalyn.” Julia called my name again, and this time I dared to look up. “You, Madalyn, are the strongest person I know.” I opened my mouth, maybe to argue, maybe to defend myself in case she was being sarcastic, but then I stopped. Because right there, stamped on her face, amid her tears, was the smile of acceptance and love that I had craved for but thought was so far away. “Really?” Confusion washed over me. Had she not heard a word I had just said? “Being sick is your comfort zone right now. It is what you know. Being healthy must be a terrifying thought. But you’re fighting. You’re fighting those fears. Fighting those boarders of your comfort zone and you’re going to break though. I know you will.” For the first time in several months, my heart began to hope again. “You really believe that, Julia, don’t you?”
“One hundred percent.”
“The days when the herxheimer reaction started were the worst. The most horrible and plain-laced, guilt-driven and miserable days of my life. I curled up in bed, begging God to let me die. I didn’t know how to handle what was going on and I had lost the fresh face of hope that had been offered to me when I had been feeling better. The seconds, minutes, hours and days crawled by in a haze of pain, confusion and heart-wrenching calls to God to sustain me, then they blurred as weeks passed. “When I finally began to feel better, I was skittish. I’d gone through too many ups and downs to even let myself hope that one day I’d be all the way better. So I pushed the thought out of my brain. I had learned to cope while being sick and I could continue on. It was all I knew. Somewhere back in my far distant childhood I knew I’d felt energetic all the time, but those days were more like a dream than anything else by this time. “When I finally realized that the herbs were indeed doing their job and I would continue to get better and one day soon I’d be free of Lyme disease, I began a legit freak out. At first I didn’t know what was going on. I spent many hours at night staring at the ceiling wondering what in the world was happening. Then finally it hit me. Being sick was my comfort zone. It was all I remembered. I am so used to being me, I was so used to having Lyme disease that I wasn’t sure how to function with being healthy. “Pain, brain fog, tiredness... It’s all part of my life. It’s so engrained in my brain that I was’t sure how to get rid of it. And, I wasn’t sure what I would do without being sick. Somehow, without me knowing it, Lyme disease had snuck in and became part of my identity and I hated it. I was ashamed of it. That right there is the most terrifying thing I’ve ever said. My days were spent trying to re-work the facts in such a way to give me peace of mind and help me be able to say that no, I wasn’t actually scared of being healthy. And if the whole truth be known, I wasn’t just scared of being healthy. I was terrified. I was so confused and so out of my comfort zone and so in over my head that I felt like an emotional wreck half of the time. Then I beat myself up because logically that was the stupidest thing I had ever thought or done or even considered. “I’m logical. I know how to deal with emotions. I know how to box up my thoughts and categorize them and make sense of all the little leftovers. But with this I felt absolutely helpless. I was frozen with fear. I felt stupid and humiliated. If I had any pride left from my almost three years of being sick you may be assured that my pride has met it’s death under the swift and unmerciful master of my dread. “And yet I knew that I wouldn’t be able to get all the way better until I could condition my mind and come up with the right mindset. That made me feel even more guilty because in essence that meant that I could be doing leaps and bounds better by then, but my stupid, embarrassing, horrifying fear of being healthy was holding me back.” Turning around rapidly I pounded the bed with my fist, “Did you hear me, Julia? I’m scared to death of being healthy!” I screamed the words, my heart thumping wildly. “I know,” I whispered. “I must be going crazy.” I tried to find the strength to pull my eyes up and meet Julia’s gaze, but I was afraid. I didn’t know what I’d see. Condemnation. Confusion. Boredom. Fear. Maybe even hatred. “Madalyn. You’re the strongest person I know.” Her words came out so soft that at first I wasn’t sure I had heard them right. Of course she couldn’t have just said I was strong. I had just confessed I was scared of being healthy. In my mind that was the ultimate sign of weakness. How could someone become so immersed in themselves and their sickness that healthy no longer seemed like the right choice? “Madalyn.” Julia called my name again, and this time I dared to look up. “You, Madalyn, are the strongest person I know.” I opened my mouth, maybe to argue, maybe to defend myself in case she was being sarcastic, but then I stopped. Because right there, stamped on her face, amid her tears, was the smile of acceptance and love that I had craved for but thought was so far away. “Really?” Confusion washed over me. Had she not heard a word I had just said? “Being sick is your comfort zone right now. It is what you know. Being healthy must be a terrifying thought. But you’re fighting. You’re fighting those fears. Fighting those boarders of your comfort zone and you’re going to break though. I know you will.” For the first time in several months, my heart began to hope again. “You really believe that, Julia, don’t you?”
“One hundred percent.”
August 27, 2015
The Evolution of Writerly Me
This morning I feel like a writer.
I'm sitting in my office all bundled up in cute socks and a pink sweatshirt, my windows are open, my Berrylicious candle is burning and a steaming Sisters mug of peppermint tea with stevia and creamer sits to my left. I have The Final Move by Chris Rice playing on my iPhone, I can hear a steady background symphony of crickets and birds outside and the muted sounds of the day getting underway downstairs.
I just finished ordering six new writing books that will hopefully help me up my craft and pull me to the next level. I had to wince when I thought of spending so much money at once, but it's called investing in myself, right? So it will be worth it.
I'm currently in the middle of reading another book about writing and how to edit before sending the book to the editor. I read this book back when I was 18 and I'm enjoying seeing my disgruntled comments in the margins. Really now? I hate it & I don't understand, but will work on it. I don't agree - duh!I really don't like this, but if it's a must, I'll work on it. I do have to say though: I made up my mind at that time to be a teachable little fledging writer and I stuck to that decision.
My first editor (who I contracted to help me with a book I was self-publishing) will probably never have a clue how much grief I went through while learning from him. (He's the one who recommended this book I'm reading and it's no wonder! I was a clueless little person.) Every time I got my chapter-by-chapter edits back I would growl at the changes, arguing out loud about how my way was better and You most certainly can smile while talking! I would fuss and whine and stick my tongue out at the computer screen, then leave for a little bit. When I came back in I would re-read the edits in a much better mindset, thoughtfully mulling over what he had to say and coming to the conclusion that what he said did have merit. By the time I read the edits for the third time I would be singing his praise and dancing little jigs when I thought of how my book was being polished.
There were always a fair amount of edits that I still disagreed with and would moan in pain as I faintly gave in and made them, He's the editor, I'm the newbie writer. He knows better than me and besides, I'm paying him for this so I should really listen to him... It was difficult but taught me a lot about listening to someone who was more experienced in the field of writing.
To this day there are still a few of those rules that I balk at and reject in my head, but mostly I've converted over. I see the point in why writers are supposed to use certain techniques and shun others. Nowadays when I read a (probably self-published) book that clearly disregards writing rules (and not in a cute "wow, they can pull that off" kind of way), I wonder if the author had a horrible editor, or if they were unteachable.
And it makes me very happy for my editor. And very thankful for how much he taught me and how he was willing to break me into the world of edits even though it was probably a daunting task.
(And, just so you know, you're not supposed to start a sentence with the word "and", but I regularly do it on my blog and quite unashamedly. I try not to in my books, though. Oh, and you're not supposed to use very many "ly" words in a book like I did a moment ago when I said "regularly" and "unashamedly." That's something else that I try to steer clear of in my books but disregard entirely when I'm happily being writerly little me and blogging.)
What about you? Can you relate to the whole "I used to totally disagree, but now I understand" feeling?
I'm sitting in my office all bundled up in cute socks and a pink sweatshirt, my windows are open, my Berrylicious candle is burning and a steaming Sisters mug of peppermint tea with stevia and creamer sits to my left. I have The Final Move by Chris Rice playing on my iPhone, I can hear a steady background symphony of crickets and birds outside and the muted sounds of the day getting underway downstairs.
I just finished ordering six new writing books that will hopefully help me up my craft and pull me to the next level. I had to wince when I thought of spending so much money at once, but it's called investing in myself, right? So it will be worth it.
I'm currently in the middle of reading another book about writing and how to edit before sending the book to the editor. I read this book back when I was 18 and I'm enjoying seeing my disgruntled comments in the margins. Really now? I hate it & I don't understand, but will work on it. I don't agree - duh!I really don't like this, but if it's a must, I'll work on it. I do have to say though: I made up my mind at that time to be a teachable little fledging writer and I stuck to that decision.
My first editor (who I contracted to help me with a book I was self-publishing) will probably never have a clue how much grief I went through while learning from him. (He's the one who recommended this book I'm reading and it's no wonder! I was a clueless little person.) Every time I got my chapter-by-chapter edits back I would growl at the changes, arguing out loud about how my way was better and You most certainly can smile while talking! I would fuss and whine and stick my tongue out at the computer screen, then leave for a little bit. When I came back in I would re-read the edits in a much better mindset, thoughtfully mulling over what he had to say and coming to the conclusion that what he said did have merit. By the time I read the edits for the third time I would be singing his praise and dancing little jigs when I thought of how my book was being polished.
There were always a fair amount of edits that I still disagreed with and would moan in pain as I faintly gave in and made them, He's the editor, I'm the newbie writer. He knows better than me and besides, I'm paying him for this so I should really listen to him... It was difficult but taught me a lot about listening to someone who was more experienced in the field of writing.
To this day there are still a few of those rules that I balk at and reject in my head, but mostly I've converted over. I see the point in why writers are supposed to use certain techniques and shun others. Nowadays when I read a (probably self-published) book that clearly disregards writing rules (and not in a cute "wow, they can pull that off" kind of way), I wonder if the author had a horrible editor, or if they were unteachable.
And it makes me very happy for my editor. And very thankful for how much he taught me and how he was willing to break me into the world of edits even though it was probably a daunting task.
(And, just so you know, you're not supposed to start a sentence with the word "and", but I regularly do it on my blog and quite unashamedly. I try not to in my books, though. Oh, and you're not supposed to use very many "ly" words in a book like I did a moment ago when I said "regularly" and "unashamedly." That's something else that I try to steer clear of in my books but disregard entirely when I'm happily being writerly little me and blogging.)
What about you? Can you relate to the whole "I used to totally disagree, but now I understand" feeling?
August 26, 2015
Some of my Favorite Bible Verses
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, ~ Ephesians 3:20
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ~ John 14:27
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. ~ Proverbs 4:18
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew there strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not be faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. ~ Psalm 46:10
When thou passes through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since though wast precious in my sight, though hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; ~Isaiah 43:2-5
But let all those that put there trust in thee rejoice: let them ever short for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. ~ Psalm 5:11
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break froth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. ~Isaiah 55:12
Ask of me, and I shall given thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. ~ Psalm 2:8
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. ~ Isaiah 41:10
But thou, O LORD, art a whiled for me; my glory and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid down and slept. I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me around about. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. ~ Psalm 3:3-8
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. ~ Psalm 121
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ~ John 14:27
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. ~ Proverbs 4:18
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew there strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not be faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. ~ Psalm 46:10
When thou passes through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since though wast precious in my sight, though hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; ~Isaiah 43:2-5
But let all those that put there trust in thee rejoice: let them ever short for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. ~ Psalm 5:11
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break froth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. ~Isaiah 55:12
Ask of me, and I shall given thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. ~ Psalm 2:8
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. ~ Isaiah 41:10
But thou, O LORD, art a whiled for me; my glory and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid down and slept. I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me around about. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. ~ Psalm 3:3-8
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. ~ Psalm 121
August 25, 2015
Surprised by God - Book Review
Surprised by God By Anthony Bollback
Find it on: Unfortunately after I wrote this review I tried to find the book on-line but couldn't find it. I will continue looking for the book. Sorry folks! (If y'all find it, please let me know!)
First PersonOne Point-of-ViewNon-Fiction160 Pages
About the Book
Written in story form without a lot of dialog, Mr. Bollback's Surprised By God is humorous, interesting and full of encouraging and surprising encounters his family experienced while spending five years as missionaries in Japan in the 1950's.
Why I Choose this Book
After a recent visit with the author, a long time friend and writing mentor of mine, I decided to re-read his books.
What I Thought about the Book
I read Surprised by God several years ago but forgot how engaging and interesting it was. This book captures Mr. Bollback's sense of humor and story-telling abilities quite well and I at times I almost felt as if I were sitting in his living room again, listening to him.
Mr. Bollback's journey has taken him to China, Japan, Hong Kong and all over the USA, including Hawaii. This book focuses on his years in Japan and what he learned and experienced during that time. Mr. Bollback's descriptions are detailed and it wasn't hard to picture the settings he talked about in the book.
Filled with living by faith and prayer, miracles, learning the culture and changing lives, Surprised By God is an amazing book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Conclusion
This book is a jewel and I highly recommend it to anyone, especially people who have wondered what it would be like to move to a new culture and try to fit into life there. Told in a very child-friendly manner, this book is perfect for the whole family.
Rating
I'm giving Surprised by God Five stars and recommend it highly.
Find it on: Unfortunately after I wrote this review I tried to find the book on-line but couldn't find it. I will continue looking for the book. Sorry folks! (If y'all find it, please let me know!)
First PersonOne Point-of-ViewNon-Fiction160 Pages
About the Book
Written in story form without a lot of dialog, Mr. Bollback's Surprised By God is humorous, interesting and full of encouraging and surprising encounters his family experienced while spending five years as missionaries in Japan in the 1950's.
Why I Choose this Book
After a recent visit with the author, a long time friend and writing mentor of mine, I decided to re-read his books.
What I Thought about the Book
I read Surprised by God several years ago but forgot how engaging and interesting it was. This book captures Mr. Bollback's sense of humor and story-telling abilities quite well and I at times I almost felt as if I were sitting in his living room again, listening to him.
Mr. Bollback's journey has taken him to China, Japan, Hong Kong and all over the USA, including Hawaii. This book focuses on his years in Japan and what he learned and experienced during that time. Mr. Bollback's descriptions are detailed and it wasn't hard to picture the settings he talked about in the book.
Filled with living by faith and prayer, miracles, learning the culture and changing lives, Surprised By God is an amazing book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Conclusion
This book is a jewel and I highly recommend it to anyone, especially people who have wondered what it would be like to move to a new culture and try to fit into life there. Told in a very child-friendly manner, this book is perfect for the whole family.
Rating
I'm giving Surprised by God Five stars and recommend it highly.
