Are you a door holder?

Are you a door holder?

Do you notice someone behind you and pause to pass off the door? I know, I know—you’re in a hurry. You’ve got something to do/somewhere to go. We all do.

I always do the pause and pass. And when someone does it for me, I’m appreciative.

A few days ago, I was going into a store behind a woman and her teen daughter. She slowed to toss something in the trashcan by the door, and I know she saw me. But when she passed through the door, she let it slam in my face.

It wasn’t a huge deal. I’m strong and can open my own doors, but her lack of etiquette saddened me. I’m old enough to remember a kinder, gentler society where you were expected to hold the door for another. A time when people made polite small talk when checking out at the grocery store—instead of continuing a cell phone conversation.

A kind gesture or a kind word can make all the difference in someone’s day. 

I think we should make the effort to connect in small, civilized ways, don’t you? Especially now when we’re bombarded by the season's negative political ads, and offended by unkind political updates popping up on Facebook.

What small gesture makes you appreciative of others? How do you extend kindness to strangers you pass in your day? Let's think about it, okay?

The Writing Life

Have you seen this? 

It's been a poster on FB for a while, and it sure made me chuckle. I'll admit to four (maybe five) of the vignettes. Truth is a novelist incorporates their life experiences into their books. 

Not everyone is a novelist, but everyone has a reason for doing what they love. What drives your passion?

Advice from famous authors

Writers and would-be writers are always looking for wisdom from those who’ve gone before us.

I’ve assembled some thoughtful comments and put them in a Q&A format for you to enjoy.

 Question: When is the best time to begin a writing career?
Answer: "Today is your day, your mountain is waiting, so get on your way." ~Dr. Seuss

Question: From where does our writing ability come? Is it inborn? Learned?
Answer: As Mother Teresa said, "We are all pencils in the hand of God."

Question: Is it difficult to learn the craft of writing?
Answer: "Yes, it's hard to write, but it's harder not to."
~Carl Van Doren
And here's more advice on writing from other authors:
"Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go."
~ E.L. Doctorow
"Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It's the one and only thing you have to offer."
~Barbara Kingsolver

Question: How much time should a writer commit to his/her craft?
Answer: "The way you define yourself as a writer is that you write every time you have a free minute. If you didn't behave that way you would never do anything."
~John Irving
And as author Ray Bradbury said, "Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you're doomed."
Another thought to ponder is, "Either marry your work - take it seriously and do it every day - or date it - write only when you feel like it - but know which you are doing and the repercussions of both."
~Anonymous

Question: Is writing all about sitting at a computer and pounding out a story?
Answer: Not necessarily so. As Victor Hugo said, “A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is visible labour and there is invisible labour.”

Question: What about word count? Is there any advice on pacing yourself?
Answer: "The faster I write, the better my output. If I'm going slow, I'm in trouble. It means I’m pushing the words instead of being pulled by them."
~Raymond Chandler
Also, "If the doctor told me I had six minutes to live, I'd type a little faster."
~Isaac Asimov

Question: Must you have all the answers when you sit down to write your story?
Answer: "Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."
~E. L. Doctorow

Question: How do you know you've reached a level of success?
Answer: "Success comes to a writer, as a rule, so gradually that it is always something of a shock to him to look back and realize the heights to which he has climbed."
~P.G. Wodehouse

Question: Is there a secret to becoming a successful author?
Answer: "The secret of becoming a writer is to write, write, and keep on writing."
~Ken MacLeod

And I leave you with a final thought: " May I never grow too old to treasure 'once upon a time.'"
~Anonymous

Read some award-winning novels!

A few weeks ago I attended the American Christian Fiction Writers conference in Dallas. Each year at the ACFW conference there’s an awards gala. The gala celebrates unpublished authors with the Genesis Award, and published authors (whose books released the previous year) are honored with the Carol Awards.

These are wonderful books, and I’m pleased to share the winners with you!

The 2012 Carol Award winners ~

Debut Novel:

Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott (Thomas Nelson)

Long Contemporary:

The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell)

Long Contemporary Romance:

My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren (Tyndale)

Long Historical:

Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott (Thomas Nelson)

Long Historical Romance:

To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House Publishers)

Mystery:

Falling to Pieces: A Shipshewana Amish Mystery by Vannetta Chapman

(Zondervan)

Novellas:

An Accidental Christmas from A Biltmore Christmas by Diane T.

Ashley/Aaron McCarver (Barbour Publishing)

Romantic Suspense:

Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble (Thomas Nelson)

Short Contemporary:

Lakeside Reunion by Lisa Jordan (Love Inspired)

Short Contemporary Suspense:

Nightwatch by Valerie Hansen (Love Inspired Suspense)

Short Historical:

The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh (Revell)

Speculative Fiction:

Broken Sight by Steve Rzasa (Marcher Lord Press)

Suspense/Thriller:

Fallen Angel by Major Jeff Struecker/Alton Gansky (B & H Fiction)

Women’s Fiction:

Dandelion Summer by Lisa Wingate (Penguin Praise/Berkley)

*For the first time ever a book won with five perfect scores of 10. Since I was one of the five judges who found perfection in Lisa Wingate's book, I can personally attest that it's a wonderful novel. (I would have liked to give it a score of 12, but we couldn't go above a 10.)

Young Adult:

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)

Writer's Burnout

 Are you feeling burned out?

 Is your word count and productivity down? Don’t beat your head against a wall battling writer's block?

Shake those blues, and concentrate on something other than your work in progress.

Need some suggestions? (I thought you’d ask.)
1. Take some photographs.
• Grab your camera and take a field trip to a local park, busy shopping area, town square. Let yourself focus on whatever catches your fancy. You may look back at your images and see a spark of an idea in a situation, location or face of people being alone or interacting with each other. *Just don’t appear to be a stalker. This is what zoom lenses are for.

2. Take care of business.
• There are other tasks you can do that are writing related.
• Revise a manuscript
• Send out queries
• Research the market

3. Relax and smile. This is not the end of the world.
• Remember, “This, too, shall pass.”
• The more you worry, the harder it is to think clearly.

4. Vent your frustrations to someone you trust.

5. Take a break from writing.
• If the thought of having to write makes you feel ill or anxious, take a break. This is not the same as quitting. There’s nothing wrong will allowing yourself a brief sabbatical. Give your sabbatical a definite time frame. 

I Love Books!

Last night I returned from the yearly ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) writers conference. It was wonderful to be surrounded by so many kind and creative people. I learned lots and warmed my heart with the company of so many old and new friends.

And I brought some books home -- of course!

Boundaries—AKA Establishing Time and Space to Write Effectively Part 2

Last Tuesday we began our discussion on boundaries. If you’re really serious about being an author, you need to establish boundaries and develop good habits. Here are some suggestions to guard your time and be productive:

· If you have a spouse and (older) children in the home speak to them about the importance of uninterrupted writing time. Ask them to help you be productive by giving you time to write. For example, allow your family the opportunity to clean up and do the dinner dishes so you can get some 

writing done.

· Get up a few hours before others in your household to get some uninterrupted time on your computer.

· Shut the door to the room where you write. If you work in a room without a door (dining room, living room), light a candle next to your computer. When the candle is burning you’re not to be interrupted.

· Just say no. If you don’t consider your writing time to be sacred, no one else will either. It’s difficult to be productive when friends and family are calling to you, both with fun pursuits and the demands of life, but if you need to get your word count done for the day or week, tell them that you have to work.

· If you can manage it, try to eat a 30-minute lunch at work, and spend the other half of your lunch break writing.

· Do you work from home? Schedule all your errands for one day. Do you need to run to the Post Office? The dentist? Want to meet a friend for coffee? Schedule all your errands for one day. Running out of the house several times a week will eat into your scheduled writing time.

· Use a calendar. Figure out how many words per day you can comfortably write, and mark off how long it should take you to finish your writing project. Track your progress and watch your word count escalate!

· If my productivity is lagging, I’ll set a timer for 15 minutes and make sure I write at least 250 words. In an hour, I’ll write 1,000+ words.

· Practice discipline. Sometimes you must force yourself to sit down and write. Do it. Even if you only write a few hundred words, write daily.

· Keep your goal in mind, and visualize your success. Imagine how it will feel to write, “The End.” Visualize submitting your finished project to an editor or agent. Or take it a step farther and visualize your book sitting on a bookstore shelf.

· Set goals, and reward yourself. If you write x amount of words in an hour, allow yourself a walk around the block or a decadent snack.

· Make writing routine—try to write as a matter of routine every day, just like brushing your teeth or drinking enough water.

· Have an accountability partner. This doesn’t need to be a fellow writer. A friend or relative can check up on your progress and help to keep you on track.

To be successful, you must protect your writing time. Don’t feel as if it’s an act of selfishness. If you’re called to write, it’s up to you to carve out the time and space to do it. Write on, friends!

Do you have any suggestions to help writers protect their writing time? Come on, let's share!

Boundaries—AKA Establishing Time and Space to Write Effectively

If you want to be a writer, there’s no getting away from the fact that you have to write. And to write, you need time and space to create and complete your project.

People often don’t understand when a writer in their life chooses to sit by themselves and tap out a story on their computer instead of ____________. You fill in the blank: watch a movie, meet for coffee go for a walk, go out to dinner, play a board game, etc.

Remember the excitement you felt when you first decided to test the waters and become a writer? Remember the sparkling possibilities that dazzled your vision like shiny stars in a dark sky? It seemed so exciting. The thrill of completing that great novel or other writing project was the dream in your heart. Hold on to that dream.

The hard truth is that when you choose to become a writer you must count the cost of that decision. If you’re going to spend time writing, then you won’t have space to do lots of other stuff that used to occupy your day. There’s the price to pay for your decision, and it is calculated in time away from people you care about and hobbies you may enjoy. But if you’re sincere about your call to write, you’ll suck it up and get the work done.

Don’t lose sight of your writing goal. Diana Scharf Hunt, author and time-management guru says, “Goals are dreams with deadlines.” If you don’t keep your eye on the prize (a completed manuscript or articles or blog posts), then you won’t maintain the necessary motivation. Most writers will tell you that it’s much more satisfying to have written a book than to be writing a book. It’s work. Period. But it’s doable!

What do you sacrifice in order to find time to write?

*Check back in on Tuesday for some practical advice on guarding your time to ensure productivity. 

Pre-Autumn Thoughts -- Rest!

After the busyness of summer, the appeal of autumn beacons. Shorter days. Warm, cozy clothes. 

When my kids were little an older, wiser friend told me one reason to love autumn is because your children come home earlier from their after-school play. She was right. 

Welcome, autumn. I look forward to slowing down, resting, pondering the fading year. 

Thinking about 9/11

I imagine thousands and thousands of words are clamoring on the Internet today, trying to get attention and speaking about the significance of the day.

Rather than compete with words of my own, I’m sharing others’ words—thoughts on faith, hope, and love.

Faith . . .

Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys.  ~Madeleine L'Engle

Hope . . .

Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come.  ~Anne Lamott

Love . . .

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. ~1Corinthians 13: 1-7

Have a blessed day, friends.

Photo credit: click from morguefile.com

Ideas are in the air

As a writer where do you come up with ideas? If you ask a seasoned writer, they’ll tell you that ideas are in the air.

Ideas are all around you. All you have to do is be observant. If you write fiction, look at the people around you, what quirks make you think, “What if that girl with the blue hair and nose ring was a closet Young Republican . . .?” What about the man in the grocery store, racing with his clunky cart down the aisle as if he’s playing chicken with oncoming shoppers? Why is he in such a hurry? All it takes is a germ of an idea to settle into a writer’s brain before they’re off and dreaming.

Don’t despair if you see someone else chasing the same idea. No two writers will create the same story, and ideas are not copyrightable. Your execution of an idea is what makes it unique.

And what about non-fiction writers? From where does their inspiration come? The answer is the same, from life.

Be attentive to the people you come into contact with. Ask questions. For example, I once visited a library that had a display of Hopalong Cassidy memorabilia. I contacted the man who owned the display and requested an interview. By focusing on different aspects of his collection and his passion for Hopalong Cassidy lunch boxes and paperback books, I was able to tweak the material and sell the article to two different markets.

What thrills you lately? What annoys you lately? Both of those topics are fodder for an article, short story, or novel. Open your eyes, remove your earphones, breath in the fragrance of the season, and write what you sense.

How to enjoy a writers conference

Has your writing journey led you to the decision to attend a writers conference this year? Nervous? Eager?

For some writers, attending a conference is the highlight of their year. It’s an opportunity to spend time with others in the industry, to pitch their work to editors and agents, and it’s time to enjoy the company of like-minded folk.

Here are some thoughts to ponder before you go off to your conference:

Think outside yourself while you are at a conference. There are plenty of nervous souls and introverts putting themselves “out there.” The best thing you can do to assure yourself a good experience, is to reach out and make new friends. At my first national conference, I volunteered to be a meal greeter (aka door bouncer to make sure everyone was wearing a name tag). I still enjoy the friendships I made that year.

Give yourself a minute to sit in the lobby or join other writers when they have an impromptu brainstorming session. Some of those casual friendships you strike up might be the one’s you rely on for support and advice. Be flexible—someone may suggest going off campus for coffee or a meal. These are the times that life-long friendships can be forged.

If you’re going to have an appointment with an agent or an editor, read the conference notes (about their agency/publisher) if provided, or go online to research their company.

Don’t presume on a relationship that doesn’t exist, refer to agents/editors by formal names.

Be kind to the person with whom you have an appointment. Offer to give the agent/editor a bottle of water or cup of coffee. Remember, they may be weary from all the appointments they have to complete.

You may bring a proposal, sample chapters, or one sheet to meeting, but don’t be disappointed if agent/editor does not keep it. They can’t be burdened carrying home reams of paper.

Be friendly outside of the meeting, but don’t intrude on the agent/editor. You can chat about writing, but don’t ask them to stay up tonight reading your manuscript.

Most conferences will post a dress code in their brochure. Some have a very casual dress code. Regardless, present yourself well, don’t wear torn jeans or sweat pants.

Don’t feel you have to fill every moment of time with classes. Sometimes some alone time or some time writing your manuscript is better spent than lectures.

Plan on following up after the conference—and not only with proposals, but also by staying connected to the writers you met.

How to prepare for a writers conference

Are you going to a writers conference this year? I hope so. Conferences can be a great boost to your writing career. 

If you’ve never gone to a writers conference, attending a local one is often a good way to understand the rhythm of the conference culture. But if you’re confidant, dive right into a multi-day conference.

Some people get a case of the nerves thinking about attending a conference. Here are a few tips that might help you prepare for a conference:

Practice your pitch. You must be able to pitch your project in a 30-second speech. If you can memorize this blurb, it will help you greatly when you’re asked, “What’s your book about?”

Get a good night’s sleep. It’s important to be well rested before you arrive at the conference. There’s so much to learn, so many people to meet, and only so many hours in a day. Those attending conferences cram as much as they can into a few days. Be sure to start out the experience well rested and ready to go.

Plan out your wardrobe. I usually pair pants and shirts and make note of what I’ll wear each day of the conference. It makes the day that less stressful when you don’t have to stand in front of the closet deciding what to wear.

Pack Tylenol, Tums, whatever you may need. Bring business cards and perhaps a one-sheet that explains all the projects you have available. Pack your Bible and any inspirational reading that will feed your soul.

Consider bringing some of the following items: Clorox wipes to disinfect telephone, doorknobs, etc., small packages of tissues to have on hand, breath mints to use prior to meetings, and notebook/pens or a laptop for notes. I usually try to remember to bring blank note cards to write out and give to people who have been particularly helpful or kind (instructors or people who give critiques). 

Writing as a diet plan

Writing as a diet plan? 

That sounds crazy, but writing as part of your diet plan might just be the nudge some writers need to stay productive.

That is if you care about what you're writing.

A study found that people who write about what they valued lost weight. Apparently experts have concluded making ourselves happier acts as an appetite suppressant. I guess it's the other side of the spectrum of people eating when they're depressed.

So hustle over to your keyboard or notebook, and get writing!

For more information, check out an article about the study here.

Brain food for writers

To be more productive, should writers chew gum, drink coffee, and nibble on chocolate?

I never heard a writer crave chewing gum, but there’s a lot of talk out there about drinking coffee and snacking on chocolate while in the midst of the creative process.

A study found chewing gum was associated with higher alertness, reduced anxiety and stress, and improvement in overall performance on multi-tasking activities.

As far as “smart foods,” science has endorsed the idea that some food can indeed play a role in your cognitive abilities. Anything with caffeine will help boost energy level, help you to focus, and aid in concentration. Sugar (glucose) enhances alertness, fish with omega 3 fatty acids enhance memory, and avocados, rich in monounsaturated fat, contributes to healthy blood flow and helps to fire up brain cells. Walnuts contain antioxidants that increase memory. We are warned though, that too much caffeine or sugar will backfire and actually make you jittery (and perhaps overweight).

So tomorrow when you sit down to write, consider chewing gum, drinking coffee, and snacking on chocolate. And for lunch have some salmon with a few slices of avocado, a handful of walnuts, and a glass of orange juice. Then maybe you’ll pen that breakout novel.

For more info: WebMD: Brain foods that help you concentrate.

Authors -- Respect your readers

This old (2008) Associate Press news article caught my eye, and I think it has an application to writing.

Trust me, I'll explain. But first, here's the story:

Woman Shoots Self While Trying to Kill Mice

POTTER VALLEY, Calif. — A Mendocino County woman who was trying to kill mice in her trailer with a gun ended up shooting herself and another person.

The 43-year-old woman pulled out her .44-caliber Magnum revolver after she saw the mice scurrying across the floor of her trailer on Highway 20 in Potter Valley, sheriff's officials said.

But she accidentally dropped the gun, which went off as it struck the floor. The bullet went through the woman's kneecap, bounced off the keys sitting on the belt loop of a 42-year-old man in the trailer and grazed the man's groin before ending up in his coin pocket.

Authorities did not release the shooting victims' names.

The mice escaped the shooting unharmed.

----

Okay, here's my take on this bizarre connection: writers need to respect their readers. When tempted to take out the big guns (READ: over explain or add too much unnecessary detail), don't do it! Our readers are smart people. They like nuance, they like to use their imagination when reading a scene. All the dots do not need to be connected to be understood.

Sometimes the big guns just backfire!

Hooking readers with a great first sentence

I’ll say it up front: I’m a real sucker for a good first sentence in a novel. I may read on if the sentence is ho-hum, but I’ll read more eagerly if the first sentence pulls me into the story.

Like many readers I’ll peruse the books on a shelf and pick up novels by authors I’ve previously enjoyed or select a book whose title or cover catches my eye. I’ll flip it over and read the back cover copy and then turn to the first page. Reading the first lines of a novel is like going out on a blind date, I don’t know what to expect, but I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised, swept off my feet, and fall madly in love.

Some people contend that the most difficult sentences to write in a novel are the first ones. After all, they are the hook that draws people in. My favorite first sentences are the ones that make me ask, “what??” —the lines that peak my curiosity and leave me panting for more. Please don’t give me a weather report or tell me what the character looks like. I want to read a provocative statement or a question that has me hungering for an answer.

Here are a few of my favorite first lines:

In the moments before, she laid a hand on his arm. “No matter what,” she said, giving him a look, “you cannot stop.”
Mercy by Jodi Picoult

A grieving woman, I’ve decided, is like a crème brulee: she begins in a liquid state, endures a period of searing heat, and eventually develops a scablike crust.
Doesn’t She Look Natural by Angela Hunt

I watched her for three days, sitting by myself in the park underneath an elm tree, beside an empty fountain with a series of uneaten sandwiches in my lap and my purse at my side.
Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner

I sneaked down to the boat that night to say this couldn’t happen anymore.
Healing Stones by Nancy Rue

I Twittered a request for favorite first lines, and novelist Lena Nelson Dooley sent me a few:
The click of a rifle being cocked stopped J. L. in his tracks.
Golden Dreams by Kathleen Yapp

On the night of the first murder, a full moon sailed over middle Georgia.
But why Shoot the Magistrate by Patricia Sprinkle

Literary Agent Rachelle Gardner also responded to my Twitter plea for favorite first lines. She teaches a workshop on writing the first page, and here are some sample first pages that she shares with students:

I told you last night that I might be gone sometime, and you said, Where, and I said, To be with the Good Lord, and you said, Why, and I said, Because I’m old, and you said, I don’t think you’re old.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

From my first breath in this world, all I wanted was a good set of lungs and the air to fill them with—given circumstances, you might presume, for an American baby of the twentieth century. Think about your own first gasp: a shocking wind roweling so easily down your throat, and you still slipping around in the doctor’s hands. How you yowled! Not a thing on your mind but breakfast, and that was on the way.
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

I was six years old the first time I disappeared.
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult

In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly-fishing.
A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean

Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

There once was a boy named Eustace Clarence Scrubb and he almost deserved it.
Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C S Lewis.

I have been afraid of putting air in a tire ever since I saw a tractor tire blow up and throw Newt Harbine's father over the top of the Standard Oil sign.
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver?

Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov?

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen?

What are you thoughts on first lines? Which are your favorites.

For more on first lines, here's the American Book Review’s list of the 100 best first lines from novels.

What buying peaches has to do with selling books

 I bought some peaches the other day. Not headline-making news, but consider this, I knew that I had peaches at home in my fridge. 

The reason for my impulse purchase was because the clerk at the store stopped me to tell me how delicious the peaches were. She said that she really looks forward to eating one when they’re this fresh and ripe. She made those peaches sound like the most delicious fruit on earth. I bought them because she hand sold them to me.

Having someone talk up a product adds perceived value to that product. Seeing the clerk’s eyes light up while she talked about the sweet, juicy fruit made me want to experience the same pleasure.

If you’re wondering, yes—this is writing related. Anyone who is concerned that the book market is down can do something about it. You can talk up some great titles that you loved to your friends and family. We can all influence the purchase of books by influencing those in our circle to purchase good books (or even borrow them from the library).

Often when a new book comes out the author and publisher will find influencers to talk up the book. Word-of-mouth advertising is a powerful tool. I’ve been an influencer and have had influencers. It’s fun to put a book into someone’s hands and say, “This is a great book. I loved it, and I bet you will too.” I’m not bashful, and when I’m browsing in a bookstore and see someone looking for a book, I’ll strike up a conversation and recommend some books. It’s as easy as selling ripe, juicy peaches.

Oh, and those peaches? D-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s!

Upcoming -- ACFW yearly conference!

Are you a novelist or want to be one? (Wait, didn't that sound like that old magazine ad, "Be a model or just look like one? --LOL) If so, it's still not too late to register for the conference.

Six weeks from today I'll be hopping a plane to Dallas, TX for the yearly ACFW Writers Conference. The early bird rates disappear on August 19th, so don't waste time if you're interested in going. This year's keynote speaker is Michael Hyatt.

Attending a writers conference is one of the best things you can do for your career. Just spending time with others who share your enthusiasm will fire you up. In addition you get to participate in excellent continuing sessions and  workshops. You'll have the opportunity to meet with agents, editors, and mentors. If you'd like, you can pay to get a critique of your work.

Best of all you'll make new friends and spend time with old ones talking about the craft of writing. ACFW is a very welcoming group, so if you don't know anyone, don't worry. The conference even hosts a first-time attendees orientation and a before-conference email loop. Check it out here.

So who will I see there? Are you going?

The Soul Saver by Dineen Miller

I have to tell you about a good book I just finished reading. It’s The Soul Saver by Dineen Miller. It’s a story about faith and hope woven with suspense and spiritual warfare. Yes, it’s very good!

Lexi Baltimore has an unusual ministry. She sculpts the face of strangers God will lead her to so she can minister to them. Such an intriguing idea! Lexi's ministry connects her with a local pastor, which opens up a can of worms because she begins to compare her unbelieving husband to the pastor. One thing leads to another, and accusations and rumors swirl her life into a dark place.

Dineen writes beautifully. So well in fact that I spent time away from writing my story to read hers. Lexi was a warm and relatable character, and I loved the time spent with her. 

Do yourself a favor, put The Soul Saver on your to-be-read list.

Writer's block and how to get unstuck

Last Thursday I discussing writer’s block and strategies to get your productivity back on track. Writer's block doesn’t have to paralyze your writing progress. I gave you the first few suggestions, and here are some more methods to get your fingers flying over the keyboard: 

1. Work on another project for a while.
• If you can, switch gears to another project you have in the works or make notes on a subsequent project you’ve been thinking about. You may return to your “blocked” project with fresh eyes after a little time away from it.

2. Read a great book.
• Sometimes reading great writing gives you the itch to write yourself.

3. Try to write out of your genre.
• Write non-fiction if you’re a fiction writer. It could be just a simple letter to a friend or a short article on craft that you can share with writing buddies.
• Write a poem.
• If you write non-fiction, practice fiction techniques to use in your non-fiction writing.

4. Try freewriting.
• Give yourself a time limit of 10-15 minutes and let your fingers fly over the keyboard. Even if you’re writing crazy nonsense, you may spark a thought or idea that will springboard you back to work.

5. Take a creative fieldtrip.
• Visit a museum, listen to soul-stirring music, go to the movies.
• Sometimes spending time in other creative environments, spurs the desire to be creative in your own work.

Do you have any tips on getting unstuck that you can share? Please do. 

Goodbye and thanks, Maeve Binchy

Goodbye, Maeve Binchy. Thank you for all the hours spent lost in your lovely novels.

An undated handout image provided by Christine Green Authors' Agent in London, Irish novelist and playwright Maeve Binchy passed away after a short illness at the age of 72 on 30 July 2012. Photo credit: EPA/Liam White

For nearly 30 years, Maeve Binchy has been my favorite novelist. I loved spending time in the worlds she created. I loved her voice. I loved that she wrote about ordinary people living ordinary lives. I loved the attention she gave to the importance of relationships. I loved the gentle ways her stories unfolded.

I buy books on the craft of writing, and one of my favorites is by Ms. Binchy. It's called The Maeve Binchy Writers' Club. Filled with practical advice, it's also written in her casual, warm style.

Maeve was never one of those unapproachable diva authors who looked down upon the literary world. She was one of us. A writer who wanted to speak to average people. A writer whose books were taken on vacation, to the park, read during a lunch hour at work.

She was not a prolific writer, writing 16 novels, four collections of short stories, a play, and a novella, but her words touched hearts and entertained many. And isn't that what a novelist hopes for?

Do yourself a favor, pick up one--or all--of Maeve Binchy's novels and spend time in her world. You won't regret it.

Which novelist do you admire? Who's your favorite?

For more information on Ms. Binchy and her passing, read this BBC article. 

Writer's Block

Consider yourself the luckiest writer in the universe if you’ve never experienced a moment of writer’s block.

Consider yourself fortunate if you've never experienced a moment of where do I go now? Consider yourself blessed if you've never thought, how can I tie up this loose end? Aaargh!

The most important thing to consider when faced with the dreaded writer’s block is to realize that that this is probably not the last time you’ll be stuck. Personally, I think it’s part of the writing life. Everyone gets writer’s block, even if it’s an episode that lasts only 15 minutes.

The cure? Push through.

I’m sorry if you were expecting a more brilliant answer. There are several strategies that you can use to get your creative abilities firing again, and today I will give you five of them.

1. Pray
• Keep yourself spiritually charged. I believe we’re spiritual beings, and we shouldn’t neglect our spiritual health.

2. Keep a writer’s journal.
• A journal may include memories, jokes, story ideas, writing tricks, dreams, and descriptions of people, places or situations.
• A writer’s journal may be as simple as a little notebook you carry in your purse or it could be a word document on your computer.
• Don’t get stressed about when or if you should use a writer’s journal. The idea is for the journal to help you, not make you more stressed.
• If you use an item/idea from your journal in your work, be sure to either delete it or make a note as to when/where it was used.
• Train yourself to be alert for fresh ideas when they occur, and write them down.

3. Visit a bookstore.
• Is there a writer alive who doesn’t get jazzed walking through the aisles of a bookstore?
• Pull out the books that catch your attention. Read the back cover copy. Read the first few lines.
• Think to yourself, “I can do this!”
• Go home and write.

4. Sit down and write 250 crummy words.
• Sometimes just getting started gets you in the groove.
• Don’t worry if the words aren’t pretty. You can always go back and pretty them up.

5. Invest in your health.
• Go for a walk, hop on a treadmill—just get moving. Your imagination won’t work a maximum capacity if your brain is sluggish.