The Moral of the Story (part 2)

Whenever we discussed what topics our classes wanted to study at church "how to know the will of God" came up often.  Most of us would love for God to just write His will on the wall for us or speak to us with a booming audible voice so that we would know for sure that it was God talking.  However, there are many ways to know the will of God.  Sometimes it says what the will of God is in the Bible.  "For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men." (1 Peter 2:15)  Other times it can be through the wise council of others.  

One of the things I've always found helpful when I'm having trouble deciding which direction to go is prayer.  That was another theme I tried to get across in "Best Laid Plans".  Whenever I hear someone say "I guess all we can do now is pray" in a tone that is heavy with defeat, it just irritates me so much.  Prayer is so powerful and I think it's an area that most Christians struggle with (myself included).  We so badly want to do something and often we feel like praying isn't doing.  So much is accomplished with prayer.  Whenever I've put myself in a position of fervent prayer, I find that the problem that I stressed so much about suddenly becomes very clear.  Those are the times that I feel like God is very near.

In the fifth chapter of James, he talks about the power of prayer.  "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.  Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.  Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit." (James 5:16b-18).  I think we'd be amazed at how many things have happened simply because someone prayed earnestly.

I think one of the first times I remember feeling awed by the power of prayer was when I was a teenager.  It was on New Year's Eve and a woman from our church was sick.  Her name was Betty and she and her husband, Walt, treated us like family.  Because of that we ended up calling them "Grandma" and "Grandpa" even though they were not blood relations.  That night Betty got very sick with an infection that turned septic.  The doctors told her husband that there was nothing they could do and suggested that he take her off life support.  My real Grandpa was with him that night. Walt told him that he wasn't ready to say good-bye, so my Grandpa told him to keep her on life support.   I remember going outside and praying earnestly for Betty.  I'm not sure if I believed that God could or would do anything, but I prayed for a long time with tears running down my face, pleading that God would somehow heal Betty.  Betty not only survived her ordeal, but was healthier and better than ever after going through it!  She has even outlived her dear husband and is still living today.

I could list many more instances where prayer has had such an amazing impact.  I'm also sure that I don't even know a fraction of the times that prayer has accomplished tremendous things!  I need to stop considering prayer the thing I do when my back is against the wall and start living a life of prayer.  I'm sure that if I could become a true "prayer warrior" that I would be astounded at the things that God does.

Best Laid Plans by Courtney Lyman

The Moral of the Story (part 1)

I think one of the key components that makes "Christian" romance different from regular romance (other than the absence of obscenities and sex scenes) is that it ought to have some sort of moral to the story.  At least, I feel like you should be able to see some sort of point to the whole story.  I know it's not on the same level as fables or allegories, but I feel there should be some kind of emphasis that the writer is hoping the reader will pick up on.

Honestly, I'm not sure if I knew what I wanted to emphasize when I started writing "Best Laid Plans", but sometime during the process I was keenly aware of what my focus had become.  To me, it's in the title - you can map your life out to the best of your ability, but sometimes God steps in and changes everything.  Sometimes it's a pleasant change and sometimes it's a difficult change, but God has the right to do so and it always ends up being for the best, even when you can't see it at the moment.

In James there is a series of verses about how when we plan things out, without consulting God's will, it is a form of arrogance because our life is a vapor and we have no idea what is in store for us.  "Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." (James 4:15)  I don't think God wants us to wander aimlessly without any plans, but He wants us to realize that ultimately He has the authority and He knows our entire story where we can only see a small part.

This is not something that comes easily for me.  I am a planner and when my plans change I tend to get angry or frustrated.  Many times I freeze up and can't come up with an alternate solution - or won't come up with one.  I need this reminder.  I think we can also throw out a glib "Lord willing" when we mention our plans, but it almost becomes a superstition like knocking on wood.  If you say "Lord willing" then God won't change your plans.  I think it's important (again speaking to myself) to learn to say "if the Lord wills" and mean it!

I know it's not always easy to give up your plans.  A few years ago my mom was going to turn fifty.  The whole family was all going to go to Disneyland to celebrate, but a month before her birthday my mom was in a serious car accident.  She was sore and shook up, but seemed all right.  However, two weeks after the accident my mom went in for an MRI and they found that in the accident she had broken the vertebrae in her neck.  Now we had already known that God had protected my mom in that accident.  There were just too many odd things that happened that even the professionals couldn't explain.  This one, though, showed us the extent of God's protection.  The surgeon came in to talk to my parents and he told them that he had seen patients with half as much compression on their spinal column as she had that were permanently paralyzed and that she should have been paralyzed at the time of the accident.  He had no explanation for why my mom could still walk!  My mom needed surgery to relieve the compression and replace the damaged vertebrae.  Our plans needed to change because my mom would have to spend her birthday recovering from her surgery and in a neck brace.  It wasn't what we planned and it was not what any of us wanted.  It was difficult, but in it all God showed His hand.  My grandma wrote in my mom's birthday card that year "How does it feel to be a miracle?"  My mom's answer?  "Very humbling, because He had no reason to choose me."  It isn't a time that we look back on with delight, but it was a time when we all became very aware that our God is not just a distant God who is unaware of our lives, but a God who is deeply involved with us and desires to be a very personal God.

I think God uses my writing to teach me and show me what I need to work on in my own life.  Then if that also happens to be what someone else needs to hear then that's just an added blessing.  

Best Laid Plans by Courtney Lyman

Back to Work

Now that vacations are over and our busy summer has slowed down, it's time for me to get back to work.  It's been a fun summer, although sometimes I felt like I was always on the run, but I'm excited to get back to writing.  My self-imposed deadline is looming, and I still have so much to do!  I need to finish writing the book before I go back to the beginning to do a quick read through to check for any blatantly obvious errors, correct any contradictions in the story line and add more details when needed.  After that, I send it to my team of editors to correct anything I missed and let me know how the story can be improved.  Finally I'll need to format everything for publishing and get my cover artwork done.  After that I can publish my second book!

Being a stay-at-home mom/housewife/author can make it difficult to find time to write.  It seems like it's ideal since "stay-at-home" would appear to imply that I am at home most of the time.  In actuality, I feel like I'm seldom home, but rather running the kids here and there and everywhere.  Right now I'm in the process of getting the kids ready to go back to school.  School time would be an excellent time to write - except that I still have a toddler at home.  She certainly keeps me busy!

When I am at home, I tend to need to do the "housewife" chores - laundry, dishes, cleaning, cooking, etc.  Although my kids can pitch in and help, the bulk of the responsibility still rests on me.  Have you ever heard the saying, "Cleaning the house with kids in it is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos"?  That's so true.  Even as they help, they also seem to find new things to drag out.  I'm not complaining really because I love my children and I appreciate that they are old enough now to help me out.  There are times when it would be nice if the house could magically stay clean so that I could slip in some writing while we are at home.

Even though my "author" job is the only one that brings in any income, it's certainly not my most important job.  My family has to come first.  God really blessed us to allow me to stay home with my children and I take that responsibility very seriously.  Writing has been an added bonus on top of what He's already given me.  He's allowed me an opportunity to do something I love to do while staying home with my children and bring in a little extra income for my family as well.  I'm very blessed!

If you'd like to check out my first book, you can click the link below.Best Laid Plans by Courtney Lyman

Vacations & Locations

Our family has been on two long vacations this summer.  From Arizona we went to Iowa for my cousin's graduation and were able to stop for a time in Missouri and Colorado on our way home.  Just this past week we went to Minnesota for my husband's grandpa's 90th birthday and were able to see Mt. Rushmore on our way up.  They were both fantastic times spent with our families and we enjoyed them immensely.

I particularly enjoyed the trips because I got to see states that I have never seen before and visit places I have never been.  Living in the southwest of the U.S. means that I see a lot of desert and mountains which I absolutely love.  It was great to see the Rockies, the Badlands, prairies, lakes and forests across the country.  I love seeing God's creation in such tremendous diversity.  I believe these trips may help me as an author as well.

I purposely set "Best Laid Plans" vaguely.  I wanted it to be almost an "Any Town, U.S.A." if possible.  It was great to see such a large stretch of the country to be able to broaden my view a bit.  Hopefully in the future I can feel more comfortable having a specific setting to place my characters in.  That's what I'm working towards.

I know I have a lot to learn.  I'm just beginning on this road and I'm very aware of my inadequacies.  I've loved hearing the encouraging reviews I've received and I especially enjoy the constructive criticism that has been mixed in.  I hope that I can learn from each of them!

If you'd like to check out my book, just click on the link below.
Best Laid Plans by Courtney Lyman

A Bunch of Characters

I don't know how other authors do it, but my characters come to me sort of nameless and shapeless at first.  As they begin to interact with others, they begin developing personalities and physical characteristics.  The last thing they usually get is a name.  Usually a name will "come to me" so to speak.  Sometimes I love the name and sometimes I have a moment where I want to say "Really?  That's their name?"  It's actually rather odd.  You would think that I have more control, but somehow the characters almost seem to name themselves.

Georgia was a character that named herself.  It wasn't really a decision on my part.  That just seemed to be her name.  It wasn't until I began to write her story that I realized why that was her name.  While I was writing I actually thought, "Oh!  That's why her name is Georgia!"  It wasn't planned ahead of time.  I don't know why it sometimes happens that way, but I always think it's cool when it does occur like that.  It feels as if they are more alive that way because it's almost as if I'm learning about them as I go.

When that happens, it's only after they have a name that I write them into the story.  Sometimes, as I'm writing, a character comes in that I suddenly have to name.  In that case, it's usually the name that first comes to mind.  I've only had a couple times when that name ended up changing because it didn't seem to fit.

Someday I'd like to write a book where the names mean something.  I read a series one time where I liked the main character's name well enough that I had to look up it's meaning, and it fit the character so well that I ended up looking up several more characters names to find that their name meanings fit perfectly with their characters as well.  I think it would be fun to write a book where the characters have names that are relevant to their personalities or positions.  I enjoy researching names and meanings so I think I could have a good time with that.

For now though, my KW Consulting Series characters have been naming themselves and it seems to be a system that is working.  If you haven't read book one yet, you can click on the link below to purchase it and if you have read it, I'm hoping that book two will be available this fall.

Best Laid Plans by Courtney Lyman

Father's Day

There is a book called The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  In his book Gary Chapman says that there are five love languages and that everyone has one that is their specific love language and they might have a secondary one as well.  His idea is that when we don't feel loved in a relationship it's because we may be speaking different languages.  According to him, the five love languages are physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, gift giving, and acts of service.  These languages can affect any relationship.  It's not solely in for marital relations.

One of my love languages is words of affirmation.  A kind word, an encouraging word can put me in a glow that can last for days.  I'm pretty sure that my dad also has words of affirmation as one of his.  He has probably encouraged me verbally through the entire writing process more than anyone.  When I first brought up that I was writing a book, my dad talked about "when" my book would be published, not "if".  He's always been positive that my book will do well and that I would succeed as an author.  I love that he never tried to convince me to try something less risky.  He never once intimated that I might fail.  I love that about my dad.

Another thing I love about my dad is that he actually read my book.  I wrote a romance novel.  That is not my dad's "thing".  He reads a lot, but he enjoys histories, biographies and thrillers.  Romance is definitely not what he wants to read.  Yet he bought my book and read the whole thing.  I would have understood if he hadn't read it, but I appreciate that he did.  Again, he only had positive, uplifting words for me afterwards.  

My dad has been such a support for me.  He encourages me when I get discouraged.  Most of all, he believes in me - or I should say, he believes that God can work in me.  He always reminds me that God is in control of my situation and that my future is in His hands.  I have been blessed with a wonderful father!  I love you, Dad!  Thank you for your constant faith in me!  Happy Father's Day!

Best Laid Plans by Courtney Lyman

Rejected!

There is a certain risk of rejection in being an author.  In traditional publishing I think you pretty much need to accept that you will be rejected tons of times before you will receive an acceptance.  I got to avoid that part of publishing.  I didn't send out my manuscript to every publisher I could think of only to have it sent back repeatedly with varying degrees of harshness in the letters accompanying it.  I just went ahead and published it myself.

I did send it to a writing competition before deciding to self-publish.  It was through Women of Faith and Westbow Publishing.  I did not make the top thirty and I have no idea how far under the top thirty I was.  I choose to believe that it just wasn't the type of book they were looking for and not for any other reason.  Wishful thinking, I know, but I'm fairly certain that I would never have taken the next step if I hadn't decided that was the reason.

Putting the book on Kindle, I was concerned about people not being interested or people writing negative reviews.  What I didn't know is that when someone returns it, I can see that.  When you buy a Kindle book you have a short window of time to say that it was a mistake and send it back.  When I look at my sales report it has a column for books sold, books returned and net books sold.  It's amazing how difficult it is not to take it personally when a book is returned.  There's always a feeling that they quickly read the first chapter or two and then decided that it wasn't good enough.  Again, I lie to myself and choose to believe that they had intended to buy another book called "Best Laid Plans" (because there are a million books with that title) and bought mine by mistake.

I've actually been rather blessed by this as well.  It's not often that I have a book returned.  I think maybe in the nine months it's been available, I may have had eight to ten books returned.  Yet each one sort of makes you wonder.  I have to remind myself that there have been lots more who haven't returned my book and be thankful for those.

On a side note, I've had a bit of a break from writing lately.  We were on vacation for a couple of weeks and last week was just really busy.  Today I finally got to sit down and write again.  It was so nice to get back to Georgia's story.  I have a feeling that my climax is coming soon!  I'm very excited about how this story is developing.  I'm hoping that I can have it available by September - my self-imposed deadline.

Best Laid Plans by Courtney Lyman