“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jr 29:11)
This month marks the two-year anniversary of my journey as a full-time professional writer and editor. Last year at this time, I looked back on the lessons I’d learned my first year. Now, I’ll examine the lessons I’ve learned in year two. Continue reading “A Look Back at Year Two”
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thes 5:11)
Recently, I joined a couple of friends for a writing challenge. We all set our own word count- as long as it was over five thousand words – and we gave ourselves fifteen days. Whoever met her goal first would be declared the winner, and the other two would have to buy her dinner. Continue reading “Holding Myself Accountable”
This post was originally published on June 25, 2017.
“…may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God…” (Ephesians 3:18-19)
When I was a sophomore in college, I changed my major from accounting to English for two reasons: 1). I hated accounting and at 19 just couldn’t imagine working with numbers for the rest of my life; and 2) I loved words and wanted to be a writer. After graduation, I pursued several jobs as a writer, but most of those jobs were far from home. So instead of becoming a full-time writer, I began working in government and nonprofit positions where I used my writing and presentation skills. I then pursued writing part time. Continue reading “Growing Through Fear and Rejection”
“For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life.” (Prov 6:23)
Earlier this year, I submitted several entries to the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. (OWFI) writing contest. I entered more categories than I ever had before – eight – including several categories in which I stretched myself. As the feedback started trickling in, I was surprised to see my highest score was in poetry – something I don’t write and an entry on which I spent about five minutes late one night when I couldn’t sleep. My mystery book received a good, but not great, score. I received my worst scores in the two categories that have historically been my best – juvenile fiction and flash fiction. I admit that I didn’t expect much from my flash fiction entry. It was a last minute entry, and I didn’t take nearly enough time to fully develop the story. But I had entered the juvenile fiction story in a different contest a few years ago and placed, so such a low score was kind of a shock. Continue reading “Receiving Correction”
“Her children arise and call her blessed…” (Prov 31:28)
With Mother’s Day coming up next weekend, this seems like a good time to acknowledge the women who have influenced me the most in my life. From my mom to her mom to my dad’s mom, these women have provided strong examples of who a Christian woman should be. Continue reading “A Mother’s Influence”