Cara C. Putman's Blog, page 62

When You Can’t Go

ACFW is about three weeks away -- Gack! That means there's a lot of excited chatter...including yours truly. For me, it's like a once a year family reunion with my writer peeps -- including so many of the Writer Alley pals and Grove girl sisters. These folks understand a big piece of my life. This year I'm coleading a continuing education session, so I'll be pretty busy preparing for that. Today though my heart is turned toward those who won't be able to attend.

Homeschooling Curriculum Choices

I've spent the last week evaluating where my kids are and which curriculum will work best for them. Let's be real. It can be daunting. Overwhelming. Make you want to suck your thumb in a corner. And I don't attend curriculum fairs for this very reason. It's simply too much. So how do I reach a decision that I pray will work for each child this year? I answer the following questions:

Fiction Friday: History Meets Fiction in Shadowed By Grace Video

This summer I got the privilege and joy of teaching 29 undergrads in Italy. Yes…I just typed that magical word…Italy. My family was based in Siena while I taught every day for two weeks. Then we had some flexibility as we split time between students and seeing a bit more of Italy…particularly Rome. This was […]

What if Our Dreams Came True

I’m just back from living a dream — spending a month in Italy. Hard work, but a dream. For ten years, I worked toward the dream of writing for one editor at one house. I’ve had the great privilege of writing many books for many wonderful editors, but there was a special click when I met […]

I’m just back from living a dream — spending a mont...

I’m just back from living a dream — spending a month in Italy. Hard work, but a dream. For ten years, I worked toward the dream of writing for one editor at one house. I’ve had the great privilege of writing many books for many wonderful editors, but there was a special click when I met […]

Four Tips when writing about something you’ve never done

Several years ago when my writing bud Nicole O’Dell asked me if I wanted to be part of a novella collection with her, my initial reaction was “of course!” Nicole is so prolific and accomplished I couldn’t imagine not writing with her. And if it also meant I could help a Valerie Comer, a debut […]

Traveling Tips for Writers: Part 2

 Last week I started explaining what tools I make sure I have in my writing suitcase as I launch on a new writing adventure. Those included a killer what if, a lead character I can build a story around, and a setting that can become a character in the book. Since it’s still vacation season, I […]

Summer Plans? 4 low-cost ideas to try with your kids

Summer is officially upon most of us. The calendar is turning to July and that means school has been out awhile for most of us. It also means we need to fill the empty days that seem to be dragging on. Whether you homeschool or not, here are a few ideas to get you started. Then let […]

Traveling Tips for the Writer: Part 1

It’s summertime and that means many of us will take vacations of some sort. Maybe we’re staying close to home and exploring places around us. You know you drive past them everyday and never quite make the time to stop. Or maybe you are traveling where the flight takes 10 or 15 hours and you […]

If You Only Knew…

  As a writer I have this quirk…it might be one you have, too. My mind constantly spins with what-ifs. If my husband is late, I wonder what-ifs…and they’re rarely positive. I wonder what-if so and so wins the election. What-if such and such happens when we travel? Did you know I seriously clean the […]