Advice from an Author

A few months ago, my sister-in-law, Coren, found out that a lady at her church who she always talked to was a published author. She asked me if I would want her to approach her for me and I jumped at the opportunity! The author was Elizabeth Ludwig who has written The Edge of Freedom series as well as other novels. She very graciously allowed me to contact her, but warned me that since she had a deadline coming up that she wouldn't be getting back to me right away.

About a month later, I heard back from her. She pointed out several areas that I need to work on in my writing. It was humbling in a good way to discover how much I still have left to learn. As I looked at the terminology she used I remembered once again that I'm still very much an amateur. I felt completely overwhelmed because it hit me that I really should invest in some creative writing classes or seminars, but I don't know what time I would devote to that since I already feel like I'm overbooked. I realized that it may not be possible now, but in the near future, I may have the time and should research those options.

Fortunately for me, she also critiqued my first chapter of my first book. I have to admit that I was embarrassed that she had read the first book. I love Best Laid Plans because it was the first one, but I also know it has serious flaws in it. As I looked at her critique though, I saw that she had explained the terminology that I hadn't understood from her email and pointed out places where I needed work and they were issues that I knew still needed fixing. It helped clear several issues up for me and just in time, too. I got her email just as I finished writing book four and was about to do my read through. With her critique fresh in my mind, I was able to edit my book and specifically focus on the issues that she had brought to my attention. I focused primarily on two as I edited. One was keeping the point of view from drifting from character to character within the same section. If I needed to switch point of view, I either started a new chapter or a separate section. It was amazing how often I broke this rule of writing. I'd hate to look back through my previous books and see how many times I did this wrong. The other was focusing on adding action to my dialogue to prevent my characters from becoming "talking heads". There are definitely a lot more things I need to work on, but I felt like those two were pretty glaring faults that needed immediate attention.

Elizabeth also suggested that I join an online critique group. I had never heard of this before. Apparently these groups are writers providing critique for other writers and it's free. The understanding is that you will also provide feedback in exchange for other writers giving you help on your work. She specifically recommended The American Christian Fiction Writers and The Bayou Writers Group, but she said that there are several you can find just by doing a search on Google. She did caution me to find a group that specifically wrote the same genre as I write and like to read since I'll be expected to read other authors' works as well. Can I tell you that at this point I very much welcome feedback from other writers, but feel like I have absolutely nothing to offer in return? It's kind of intimidating. However, I know that this would be a great opportunity for me to learn.

I just have to mention here that this whole experience has been incredible. Even though at times it felt daunting to realize just how much I have left to learn, it was good for me to actually see the places I need to work on, not just know deep down that there were things that needed work. Besides that, Elizabeth was always very encouraging even as she pointed out the areas that I was doing things wrong. She not only pointed out where I need work, but also things that I was doing right. I very much appreciated her willingness to come alongside and help a new writer. She could have said that she was too busy, but she took time out of her schedule to give me feedback that I really needed to hear.

I'm very excited about book four! Being able to edit with specific areas to focus on was so helpful and I think it's helped make the book even better! I've sent the book out for the final editing and am waiting for their notes to finish up the book. I expect it to be published in September.

Deadline

I was talking to my friend, Mayra, about a month ago and she told me that she had a writing teacher who had asked the class what was the single most important thing a writer needed .  The class gave several answers, but none of them were the answer that the teacher wanted.  The teacher said that the most important thing for a writer to have was - a deadline.

I laughed and nodded when she told me this story, because I have found it to be very true.  My first book took me over five years to write.  I didn't have a deadline or a goal even and so I wrote when the mood struck me.  There would be long gaps between writing sessions.  However, once that first book was finished, I gave myself a deadline of having the second book out in one year.  I knew that if I took five years for the next book, I would be starting from the ground all over again.  The next year I gave myself another deadline to have the third book out by a year and I made it.  I added another deadline of having a Christmas novella written and ready to be published by Thanksgiving and I made that deadline, too.  

This year, I have struggled so much with my deadlines.  My original goal for this year was to finish the KW Consulting series, start the next series and write a Christmas novella.  I had planned to have book four finished in the spring, but publish it in September when all the other books in that series have been published, but that didn't happen.  I always underestimate how much time I actually have.  I often find myself just struggling to squeeze in thirty minutes to write.

My latest goals have been to just write book four of KW Consulting and start my next series, but drop the Christmas novella for this year.  I just don't think I'll have time to do all three.  However, I'm still hopeful that I'll get two full length novels written within the year.  I had set a new deadline to finish writing book four by the end of June.  Technically, I missed that deadline, too, but since I finished it at one in the morning on July 1st, I'll count it as an accomplishment.  

I'm so excited to have book four finished.  It was a new challenge for me to have to keep up with multiple plots and story lines.  I hope that when I go through and reread it that I'll find that they flow as well as I think they do.  So the next step is for me to read through the book, making sure to make any edits that I find.  Then I'll send it out to be edited.  I'm hopeful to have the book back in August so that I can make the changes that need done and have it published in September.  While that book is being edited, I'll begin work on the next series.

Each step in this journey is a learning experience.   Sometimes I'm amazed at how much I've learned in four years and sometimes I'm daunted by how much more I have to learn.  I'm feeling excited about the recent progress I've made.  I can't wait until book four is ready for publication!

Father's Day

My husband was saying that he heard on the radio that there is a large difference in the amount of money spent for Mother's Day and Father's Day.  Mothers have a lot more money spent on them than fathers do.  I think there are many reasons for that, but I do feel like as a culture we've sort of pushed fathers to the back burner and given them the feeling that they are less important than mothers.  However, fathers have a valuable position in the family.  I know my life would be vastly different without the influence of the fathers who have touched my life.

My father is a person who I've always been able to talk to.  Even if all I need is someone to gripe to, Dad was there to listen to my complaints.  If I needed advice, he was there for me for that, too.  And if I wanted to learn something new - well, Dad could go on for hours if he was teaching something.  As a Papa, he's the grandpa that throws the kids high in the air (to the horror of onlookers) and gives shoulder rides.  He's the one that will play Red Light/Green Light or Mother May I with the kids.  My dad always believed in us, even when others didn't.  My dad never once discouraged me from trying my hand at writing. If you talk to him about his children or his grandchildren, you can visibly see the pride that he has in each one of us and he celebrates our different strengths.

This was the first year that I didn't buy a card for my Grandpa Larsen.  I shared in a previous blog post that my grandpa passed away in January of this year.  Realizing that I wouldn't be buying him a card this year brought back some of that sadness all over again, but then I realized that he was spending Father's Day with his Heavenly Father and I know that for my grandpa that's the best gift ever!  I can picture him sitting at the Father's feet, not saying much, because my grandpa was a soft-spoken man, but just absorbing everything that was being said.

My Grandpa Smith is a firm believer in love being an action word.  He would pick me up from preschool in the church bus just because I liked to sit in the very back row.   When he'd pick me up from high school he'd bring a soda or give rides to my friends.  One time I mentioned that I needed to take my car in for emissions and the next day my grandpa showed up at my house and took my car through emissions for me.  Grandpa also shows his love by teasing.  He always tells us that he only teases the people he loves.  He loves to get the grandkids all riled up and they quickly learn to give it right back to him, which just tickles him even more.

Joel has been such a a wonderful father to our kids and I'm so glad that I have him by my side as we parent together.  He's patient with the kids while they are learning new skills while I tend to get frustrated with them.  He stands beside me on decisions we've made together or backs me up when I make a decision on my own.  He takes part in the discipline of our kids so that I'm not always the "bad guy".  He loves to spend time with our kids one on one so he'll take them out and do things with each one like miniature golfing, go to the movies or bowling.  I think some of his favorite moments are the times we're all piled on the couch together watching a movie or when we have a family game night.  He teaches the kids by actions as well as words.  I have been so blessed watching him interact with our children and I know that a big part of why they are such wonderful children is that they have a wonderful father who loves them and guides them.

When I married Joel, I also got a special father-in-law.  He has the same belief in love being an action word as my Grandpa Smith.  I don't know how many times he's come over and done yard work for us or helped with a home improvement project.  He's quiet, but has a great sense of humor.  He demonstrates to his children and his grandchildren what a good work ethic is and what it means to have a servant's heart.  His work was often done quietly and without notice, but that never mattered because he was serving his Lord and didn't need recognition for it.

Without these men my life would be so different.  Without my dad, I wouldn't know random information (particularly about history and science) or have had someone who I could talk to when there wasn't anyone else.  I may not even had tried writing, afraid of what might happen, without his encouragement.  Without my Grandpa Larsen, I wouldn't have learned the importance of being able to sit quietly at times.  Without my Grandpa  Smith, well life would have been a lot more boring without his teasing and I wouldn't have seen how love can be an action.  Without Joel, I wouldn't have my kids for one thing, but even if I did, I know that my kids have benefited from having him in their lives.  I know that I am a better mother with him at my side.  My father-in-law raised a wonderful son and I am forever thankful for that, but he also shows my kids what a servant's heart looks like.  These men have many traits that overlap, but the single trait that they all share is that they love the Lord and want to serve Him with all their hearts.

Summer Activities

Summer brings to mind relaxation and fun, a break from the every day chores of life.  No school, vacations, swimming - nothing but fun in the sun!

My summer, however, begins with Vacation Bible School.  My sister and I have co-directed our church's VBS for the past two years.  We both absolutely love VBS.  I loved it as a child and I love it still as an adult.  I love the themes, the crafts, the songs, the games, but most of all I love seeing kids learn about Jesus.  It's the most fun and exhausting week of the year!  But for us, VBS starts earlier than that week.  Planning began almost as soon as last year's was over and in January we begin monthly meetings with the other directors.  The week before VBS is spent making props and sets for the platform, making sure room assignments are ready, having final meetings, stuffing bags for the leaders and basically just getting everything in order for Vacation Bible School to happen.  Then the week finally arrives and we get to have fun - most of the time!  We get to wander around and see everyone's hard work pay off.  We get to have kids run up and hug us or give us a high five.  Best of all, we get to see children give their lives to God!  That is truly what makes everything worth it.  We finish the week with a program for their parents and a carnival where we both spent some time in the dunk tank and got attacked by water balloons as we ran an obstacle course.  The kids loved it!

VBS is busy enough, but our church also has a musical bootcamp that runs through the week of VBS and the week after for the middle and high school kids.  The kids spend two weeks learning music, choreography and drama to perform for their families, but also get to choose other electives like sign language, woodworking, kung fu, art and knitting.  It's a fantastic program and the kids have a blast!  This year, both Ashley and I taught an elective.  Ashley taught sign language and I taught knitting.  We were also both music mentors which means we sit in the choir with the kids and sing with them so they can hear what the music is supposed to sound like.  It was a lot of work, but so much fun.  It made for two exhausting weeks though.  In fact, I didn't even make it through the second week.  The second week, my son got sick on Sunday, my daughter got pink eye on Tuesday, I got the stomach flu on Wednesday and Thursday and my other daughter was sick on Friday.  I think we were all a little run down by this point.  

This week, my kids still have some events going on, but I'm not helping in any of them which is such a relief.  I still don't get to have those lazy summer days, but nothing is urgent this week.  I need to work on my house (several weeks of running constantly has created a landfill in our home) and I am taking time to get back to my writing!  I've missed it so much!  I'm so glad to be able to get back to Kate, Georgia, Brooke and Isabelle!  I almost hate to set another deadline for myself because I've already miss so many, but I'm hoping that I'll have book four done by mid July at the absolute latest.  I'm hoping that now that things are settling down a bit, that I'll be able to have some extended times of quiet to sit and write to my heart's content.  

I hope that your summer is filled with activities like these, but also with moments of quiet and relaxation.  Take time to read a book, watch a movie, do your favorite hobby, relax at the pool - whatever it is you like to do to unwind.  If you haven't read the first three books in the KW Consulting series, go check them out!  Then you'll be ready for book four when it comes out in September.  You can find them by clicking the links below. 

Best Laid Plans (Book 1)

Smell the Roses (Book 2)

Dress for Success (Book 3)

Romance in the Little Things

Today is my fifteenth wedding anniversary. At fifteen years, we're past the honeymoon phase and we're well into married life.  We have three children together and we're in the phase of life where the kids take the majority of our focus and attention.  We talk about the past and when it was just the two of us and we look forward to the future when it will be the two of us again, but different this time, yet we enjoy the stage of life we're in - even when it's crazy.

I've been thinking lately about the difference in romance when someone is dating and when they're married.  I think that often romance changes when you're married.  When we were dating it wasn't uncommon for Joel to buy me flowers, always red roses, but he bought me more flowers in the four plus years we dated than he has in our fifteen years of marriage.  Why?  Because things change.  To be honest, I don't miss those big gestures.  I try to focus on finding the romance in the little things.

I find romance in working side by side with Joel, whether that's doing dishes or yard work or cooking.  I find it when I see him lovingly teach our children or spending time with them.  I find it when we're sitting on the couch with three little ones sprawled all over the top of us as we watch a movie together.  I find it when we climb into bed at night, completely exhausted, but secure in the knowledge that he's right next to me.

It's in the friendship we have and the knowledge we have of each other.  It's watching his face as he talks and, even though his voice doesn't change, I can tell that he's feeling strong emotions by the way he holds his mouth.  It's being able to laugh together often.  It's a small touch on the arm or the back as we pass each other.  It's talking late into the night because he's still the person I want to tell everything!  It's him knowing that I don't like onions and ordering our meal without it just for me.  It's knowing that compliments don't come easy for him, so I treasure each one he gives me because I know it was sincere.

It's caring for one another.  It's taking care of each other in sickness and in health.  He's nursed me after I had my wisdom teeth out, after I had each baby, after I had my gall bladder taken out and through more mild sicknesses like flu, colds and bronchitis, not to mention the times I had to get stitches.   I've nursed him through gall bladder issues, diverticulitis, pneumonia and the common illnesses.  He knows that when I'm sick, I want him to take the kids somewhere and just let me rest.  I check on him when he's sick and keep the kids out of his hair.

It's loving each other for richer or poorer.  We've had our financial issues - mostly caused by our own poor decisions and yet we've pulled through them.  We've never been rich, but we've been blessed.  We had to learn the hard way in a lot of instances, but we learned together.

It's loving for better or worse.  We've had moments where our blessings have been so blatantly apparent that we can only praise God for them.  We've had moments where we didn't know how we were going to pull through and we could only fall on our knees and plead with God to help us through.  In both situations, we also clung to each other.  When we're happy, we celebrate together and when we mourn, we weep together.  I don't know how often he's held me while I've cried, but I also can't tell you how often he's held me as we've laughed with sheer joy.

I was only nineteen when I made those vows to my husband, but I meant every single word.  I plan on being with this man until death parts us.  Our romance may have altered through the years, but it's still alive and active.  I'm so thankful for the fifteen years we've been blessed with and pray that God gives us many more.

Mother's Day

I found myself in a very grumpy mood this mother's day.  It's not because my family forgot about Mother's Day.  My kids and husband gave me a bicycle, a helmet and a seat and helmet for my youngest child.  My kids also gave me handmade cards, my daughter gave me a laminated book of her artwork and my son bought some things at the Awana store for me.  It was lovely.

Here's the thing, I believe that mothers should be honored.  We work hard every day and we rarely get a break.  My mom worked hard for us and would still do anything for us.  My grandma was right beside her, helping out with us any way she could.  I want to take time to honor them and thank them for everything they have done and still do.

What upset me was stupid!  It was something that was not important.  In the grand scheme of things, it didn't matter at all, but it bothered me that there is no good way to celebrate mother's day.  If you go out to eat, you have to wait forever.  If you eat at home, the moms somehow end up working.  If you pick up something, you end up settling for something that nobody really wants.  I feel like every year we end up doing something that no one is really excited about, it's just what's easiest.

Later, I realized how selfish and shallow my reasoning for my crankiness was.  I have so many blessings.  I have three wonderful children who were so excited to share Mother's Day with me.  I know so many people who would love to have children, but for one reason or another have not been able to so far.  I have an amazing family that I was able to spend the day with.  I have friends who were missing their mothers this Mother's Day.  They would have been happy to grab anything with their moms just one more time.  When I started realizing this, it's amazing how quickly my attitude changed.  Instead of being cranky about having to settle on our dinner options, I was thankful for all the blessings in my life.  I know that someday my children may not live close to me.  I know that someday I may not have my grandma or mom around anymore.  I need to embrace these moments instead of griping about things that don't matter.

Once I changed my attitude, I was able to appreciate the day.  I was thankful for the thoughtful gifts that my children, parents and grandparents gave me.  I was thankful for the phone call from my nieces.  I enjoyed watching my children and my nieces play in my grandparent's backyard.  They got to learn games that I played as a child and I found myself laughing as I watched them play.  I enjoyed time talking with my family and playing games with them.  By the time I went to bed that night, my grumpiness had completely evaporated and it had been replaced by gratitude.  It's amazing how quickly my attitude can adjust once I focus on what's important and stop dramatizing what is ultimately unimportant.

Fictional Characters

All characters and events are purely fictitious.  Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental.

I've seen this in books before and I understand why it's there.  If someone happens to have the same name or a similar name and it appears like the character could be based on them, people are all too willing to sue.  Just look at the lady who wanted to sue Disney over the movie Frozen because she claimed it was her life story.  

I've never put this in the front of my books.  I've always kind of figured it was implied seeing as the book is a work of fiction and fiction by definition means it's not true, it's made up, it's all imaginary.  So I was a little surprised when my dad jokingly asked if he was the model for Georgia's dad in Smell the Roses.  If you haven't read that book, Georgia's dad is not a very nice person.  Almost every scene I wrote with him in it, I was gritting my teeth,  because I just couldn't stand him.  It shocked me because I wondered if other people might think that he was based on my dad.  My instinctive reaction was a firm, "NO!"  My dad said, "Where did you get him?"  I said, "Out of my imagination, Dad.  He doesn't exist.  He's a fictional character."  My dad is the exact opposite of Georgia's dad.  He was always very supportive, very loving.  He never treated one of us better than the others.  When we were in trouble, we knew it was because he loved us that he disciplined us.  He wanted us to learn from our errors and grow from them.  

My dad's question made me realize that maybe others out there wonder if my characters are based on my family or my friends.  The answer is no.  I've never had a certain person in mind when writing a character.  I've said before that my characters seem to take on a life of their own.  I don't think I could mold them into someone else even if I wanted to and I really don't want to.  I love my characters the way they are, flaws and all.  

The other question I've heard is whether the love interests are based on my husband.  Or even worse, if they're my dream men, as if I settled when I married my husband and wish he was more than what he is.  Just like all the rest of my characters, the men are not based on anyone.  They are products of my overactive imagination.  The truth is, I wouldn't trade Joel for any of these guys.  When I write them I'm not thinking, "I wish Joel were more like this."  Although sometimes when I write them I do think, "Thank You, Lord, that Joel isn't like this."  As much as I've enjoyed writing Jeff, Mark and Travis, they each have their own flaws and issues and honestly I'm glad I only have to deal with their issues on paper.

So if you're ever reading through my books and think, "This sounds a lot like so and so.  I wonder if she based this character on them."  The answer is no.  My characters are their own little entities.