You Can’t Run from Your Calling By Leslie L. McKee

Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.

- Proverbs 3:5-6

Growing up, I wanted to be a writer, among other things. I wrote a few short stories, but I mostly wrote poetry. I’d carry a notebook with me everywhere I went. I entered contests, and I was even a finalist three years in a row for a prestigious summer program for high school writers. I considered a career in journalism. I continued to write on a regular basis until I hit college. There, it slowed a bit as I pursued other interests, but I would write something for special occasions or class projects. Writing, as a career, however, was pushed to the side.

I thought I knew where I was going with my career path, but things took a turn in 1994. That’s when I was hit by a car, and my journey with chronic pain and chronic illness began. I found some solace in journaling, but I never saw it as a career.

Over the next few years, my love of reading led me into reviewing for publications. I was writing again. Almost without even realizing it, I had come full circle … back to my love of writing. And yet, I still didn’t expect it to go anywhere.

People told me I should share my story of chronic pain and illness, but I’ve never been one to open up to anyone … especially strangers. So, I continued to be content with writing reviews and editing (a career that came out of my publishing connections). I had a job where I could read, and I loved it!

One day, I received an email that I would later recognize as a nudge from God. An editing connection sent me information on entering a contest to have devotions published by Ellie Claire/Worthy Publishing. The topic was one that I’d been toying with writing about for years, yet I never pursued it. I wrote back saying I was definitely interested. After I pushed send, it suddenly hit me: I had never written a devotion in my life! Sure, I’d read a lot of them, but I’d only written reviews or poetry. However, I had committed to submitting a sample, and so I did.

I never expected to hear back from them. So imagine my surprise when I was offered a contract to write ten devotions to be included in a 365-day compilation. It was at that moment that I realized God had done it again 😊

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” That is exactly what happened to me when I hit “send” on that email.

The Lord knew that desire had never truly left my heart. He’d placed it there, after all! It just took a bit of a “nudge” (by way of a car accident and a friend) to remind me of the calling that had been placed on me decades earlier.

God has a calling for each of us, and I fought mine for years. Perhaps you have, as well. Reread Proverbs 3:5-6. Consider memorizing it. Go to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him for guidance in every aspect of your life, including your writing. Then trust Him. He knows what He’s doing!

Leslie is an editor, reviewer, and author. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and The Christian PEN. Her devotionals have been published in compilations by Ellie Claire: Just Breathe, Refresh Your Soul, and Breathe: Devotions to Quiet the Soul. She has had flash fiction stories published, as well. Leslie is currently working on her first book, a devotional for women battling chronic pain and illness.

In her spare time, Leslie enjoys reading, crocheting, spending time with family and friends (and her turtle!), and rooting for the NY Giants.

Social media links:

Website: https://leslielmckee.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leslielmckee

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslielmckee/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeslieLMcKee

   (@leslielmckee for all social media sites)

The Most Frightening Thing About Being a Writer by Mary A. Felkins

In the spirit of scary, Halloweenish things, I wonder what answers I'd receive if I polled writers and asked them to share what frightens them most.

~Standing on stage to accept an award?
~Self-promotion?
~The unintentional deletion of an entire manuscript that can’t be recovered?
~Crafting a character whose difficult backstory matches our own?
~Being rejected?

This list would be endless, really. It would reflect the varied and relatable insecurities with which many of us wrestle.

But what lurks far deeper and likely delivers a greater fright might be the nagging voice of doubt,

“Why, oh, why am I doing this?”

That insidious message Satan whispers in throaty, lying tongue to lure us, time and time again, away from our primary calling.

To write.

Backside in chair, hands on keyboard, tapping away madly. (BIC HOK TAM)

Confession here. When my house is looking exceptionally polished, it’s evidence against me that I’ve allowed distraction to take priority over reaching my writing goals. On occasion, I’ve stopped to clean a toilet and felt a holy nudge…

“That’s not the seat that needs your primary attention right now.”

Pretty frightening.

But nothing is more frightening than gazing into the eyes of the Lord when we’re tempted to give up on this wildly unpredictable journey we call writing. To see an unsettling sadness in His eyes. Maybe like the look He gave Peter after the third rooster crow?

Scripture leaves Jesus’ expression directed at Peter to our imagination but, despite the unmatched compassion of the Lord for His most impulsive and mouthy disciple’s fallen state, I doubt there was any hint of a smile.

When I’m wrangling with a pitiful, “Why bother?”, I hear the voice of God say something like,

“You’re not thinking about giving up, are you, child? Listening to Satan’s lies again? Remember, I’ve called you to this. Thus, I will equip you.”

Halloween is only two days away, but nothing is more frightening than to abandon our writing journey when we’ve been assured of God's calling, to be held responsible for denying His chosen recipients of our writing to be encouraged by or inspired by… maybe even redeemed by…the Truth of the gospel of grace.

Let's all silence the frightening voice of doubt and cheer each other on, resolute in our calling.

Because God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 (NIV)

What about you? What frightens you most about being a writer?

I can’t think of anything more frightening about this writing journey than to abandon it all when I’ve been assured of His calling @MaryAFelkins #amwriting #amwriting #scariestthing #SeriouslyWrite

Mary A. Felkins is a contributor to writer’s blogs and a quarterly, on-line Bible study magazine. Her debut, inspirational romance novel, Call To Love, (www.pelicanbookgroup) will be released November 15th, 2019.

Raised in Houston, Texas –and forever a Lone Star girl- she and her husband Bruce moved to the foothills of North Carolina in 1997 and have four adolescent to young-adult children. She can be lured from her writing cave if presented with a large, unopened bag of Peanut M&Ms or to watch an episode of Survivor. A surprise appearance by her teen idol, Donny Osmond, would also do the trick, although she’d likely pass out.

If, upon introduction, she likes your first or last name, expect to see it show up in one of her novels.

Connect with Mary
To receive Mary’s weekly story-style devotions and quarterly book news via email, join other #Felkinsfans at www.maryfelkins.com
https://www.facebook.com/MaryAFelkins
https://www.instagram.com/maryafelkins/
https://www.twitter.com/MaryAFelkins

What if saying yes to love means trusting the kind of man you said you’d never marry?
What if pursuing a woman’s heart means restoring a painful past?

Two crisis-driven careers trained to answer emergency calls. But some calls come with too great a cost.
To trust again means surrender. Will they risk their hearts and answer the call to love again?

Find You and Do It Well by Sally Shupe

Welcome! Today is my first time blogging as a regular contributor here on Seriously Write. How exciting is that?! Thank you so much for having me here. I enjoy writing and sharing words of encouragement. I’m so honored to get to do that right here! I look forward to seeing you every 1st Thursday.

I have been so excited to share with you today. My hope is that my journey will encourage you in your writing journey. Writing can be a lonely job. But when we gather together, there is camaraderie, encouragement, hope, lasting friendships.

My writing journey seems to have taken a back seat to other pressing life events. It didn’t happen overnight. It didn’t happen all at once. I didn’t even realize it had happened. One day, I just realized I hadn’t been writing. Have you been there? Floating along and then all of a sudden realize you’re not doing everything you need to be doing? That’s where I was. Work, home, church, family, projects, everything was taking over my life, and my writing was taking a back burner. So what did I do? I’m so glad you asked!

I discovered I had gotten discouraged. Not having an office to write in and a set place to write, not being able to block off 3 hours of time to write every day, not being able to consistently write 1,000 words a day had taken the joy out of my writing. But you know what? We have the best job ever. We can work wherever, whenever. All we need is our imagination and pen/paper or a computer.

If writing is your calling, you can do it! Pick up that pen and start writing. Turn on that computer and start typing. Make your dreams come true starting now. Everyone is different. Everyone has different writing styles. Some write every day; some write on weekends, or only a few minutes a day. Some already have a contract; others are writing in anticipation of getting a contract. Get your imagination flowing, keep pen and paper with you at all times. Stuck in line at the grocery store? Pull out that piece of paper or your phone and plot out the next scene in your story, nail down the descriptions, goals, motivation, and conflict for your characters. Watching a movie? What do you do during the commercials? (Unless you skip them!) Plot out the next chapter in your story. Work on your synopsis. Can’t figure out how to get your characters from point A to point B? Use the commercials to jot down scenarios, and by The End, you just might have figured it out.

There are as many different ways to write as there are snowflakes. (Do you love snow? I love snow!) Your office might be your dining room table, or the arm of your chair, or a nice shady spot on your back porch. You may be able to write 500 words a day or more, or you may be able to write a few words at a time. But those words add up over time. The key is consistency. If you write 20 words a day, that’s 20 words you didn’t have before. Each one’s habits are different, but they are your own. What works for you may not work for someone else. What someone else does, may not work for you. Find you and do it well! No one else can be you. No one else can write what you write. Someone needs to read your words, but that will never happen if you don’t write them. Your mission for today: Go write!

Sally Shupe lives in southwest Virginia with her husband, two grown kids-a daughter still at home and a son nearby, and a whole bunch of pets: five dogs, three cats, a rabbit, and birds at the birdfeeder (and the mandatory snowman when the snow cooperates). She writes contemporary Christian romance, with two completed manuscripts and three more in progress. They are part of a series located in small town Virginia.

When Sally’s not writing or working full-time, she is a freelance editor for several authors who write fiction and nonfiction; students working on dissertation papers; a copy editor for Desert Breeze; a content editor for Prism (became part of Pelican); performs beta reading for various authors; publishes book reviews on her blog and with Valley Business FRONT’s monthly magazine; is a member of ACFW and a PRO member of RWA; loves genealogy, running, and crocheting.

Sally uses her love of words to write about God’s amazing love.

Connect with Sally:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sallyshupewritings/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SallyShupe1
Blog: http://sallyshupe.blogspot.com/
Email: sallyshupe1@gmail.com
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sallyshupe1/
Website: http://sallyshupeseditingservice.weebly.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-schreiner-shupe-8217a639?trk=hp-identity-name

Eat Your Vegetables by Tina Radcliffe

The writing journey is unmistakably challenging. At eleven traditional books in I can tell you I am only just beginning to understand how much I don’t know.

We live each day with more ups, downs, and rattles than a wooden roller coaster The path is often murky, the gratifications and paychecks shaky and definitely not timely.  It’s also a calling that keeps us humble though it requires us to toot our own horn to be heard. Should we toot too loudly, there is someone out there who will happily point out our shortcomings.

This calling requires introverts, people who live in their heads, to become social beings. Not only must we master our craft, but we must master the art of selling ourselves. We write the copy, and spin the copy, and sell ourselves like a bottle of Pepsi.

We routinely have our patience, our sanity and our ability to juggle six things at once tested. Often we fail. I contend that there is no balance in this profession. Even boundaries are precariously drawn and often smudged at the edges.

It’s also a lonely journey. Despite our ability to reach out and touch, the creative process is still a solitary endeavor.

Yet, we persevere because we don’t have any other choice. How can we not write?

 So I offer the few bits of wisdom I have picked up along the way. 

• Keep the faith. Keep that relationship strong and hold it close. It’s the only thing that stands between you and a world filled with destruction and chaos. 
• Write letters. I mean this. Pick up a pen and paper and send a card or a note of encouragement to those who mean something to you. Don’t forget this old-fashioned nicety.
• Tell your loved ones that you love them. Daily. Say the words.
• Don’t forget kindness as you go through your day. The world will buffer you like a cold storm, but your one smile when your eyes meet another’s can make someone’s day spin around from despair to hope.
• Your words matter. This is a calling. You don’t get to decide to hide your calling under a basket. Your job is to step into your gift.
• Do not abandon what you know to be true and right while you pursue your dreams. 
• You really cannot get up unless you fall down. 
• And finally, eat your vegetables. Chocolate is fine and dandy but good vegetables while sometimes boring will keep you strong and clear-eyed.

May the writing force be with you.

A freelance writer for over twenty years, Tina Radcliffe is an RWA Honor Roll member, a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist, a three-time ACFW Carol Award nominee, and a 2018 ACFW Mentor of the Year recipient. Her 11th book for Harlequin Love Inspired, Her Last Chance Cowboy, released in February 2019.  In addition to novel-length fiction, Tina has sold over three dozen short stories to Woman’s World Magazine. A former library cataloger, Tina is a frequent presenter on writing topics and an online instructor. She currently resides in Arizona, where she writes fun, heartwarming romance and eats her vegetables.  Sign up for her author newsletter and market newsletter at https://www.tinaradcliffe.com/

 

 

Her Last Chance Cowboy   

She came seeking family…
Will she find love at Big Heart Ranch? 

When pregnant single mother Hannah Vincent shows up professing to be the half sister of the Maxwells of Big Heart Ranch, horse trainer Tripp Walker is wary. Wounded before, he doesn’t trust easily. If only Hannah and her feisty five-year-old daughter weren’t so impossible to resist. Now, despite his doubts, joining this little family is quickly becoming the cautious cowboy’s greatest wish.

https://amzn.to/2EyRVN6

Do You Ever Feel Like a Fraud by Terri Weldon

Fraud - a person who is not what he or she pretends to be: imposter

 

I'll let you in on a little secret, sometimes when I tell people I'm a writer, I feel like a fraud. Case in point, when I purchased my new laptop I explained to the salesman I needed the laptop for writing not gaming. Then he asked me what I wrote. I replied, "Christian suspense."

 

Well, when he asked me if I wrote like Ted Dekker I wanted to sink into the floor. Then to top it off he added Frank Peretti to the mix. By then surely there was a scarlet F for FRAUD emblazoned on my shirt. I believe I mumbled something about wishing I wrote like them.

 

I didn't want to confess the mobility and freedom the laptop would afford me would help boost my word count.

 

Lately I've had definite issues with productivity in my writing life. I plan to write, I want to write, but I don't actually write.

 

Why?

 

Believe me, I wish I knew. I've come up with four possibilities.

 

1. Maybe writing was my calling for a season and that season is past.

 

2. Maybe I'm procrastinating because I'm not good enough.

 

3. Maybe I'm a hobby writer and not a "real" writer.

 

4. Maybe I just need to focus or set (and keep) office hours.

 

Those are questions that only I can answer. If you're having any of the same doubts then only you, with God's help, can answer them for you. But I do have a few suggestions to finding the answers. Pray and seek God's will. Tell Him your concerns. He will help you and guide you to the correct answers.

 

As for me, this is where I currently stand.

 

1. The fear that my calling to write was over distressed me. I WANT to write. I have story ideas and books in my mind waiting to be written. I don't believe my time as a writer is finished. 

 

2. If God called me then I'm good enough.

 

3. I am a "real" writer. As long as the devil can make me feel inadequate than I won't be productive.

 

4. I definitely need to focus and I definitely need office hours. I've tried setting them and not keeping them - doesn't help a bit. I battle staying on track. Discipline is key to my being successful as an author.  

 

As for the question the salesman asked me about writing like Ted Dekker or Frank Peretti . . . I'll probably always say I wish. But you know what - I write like Terri Weldon. God created each of us and we are all unique so no two of us should write alike.

 

Currently I'm working on a project that I'm excited about. Hopefully I'll have it finished by the end of summer at the latest.

 

And as far as feeling like a fraud, well I doubt those feelings will go away overnight, but with time, prayer, and words on the page I think they'll diminish.

 

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:14 (NIV)

 

How about you, do you ever feel like a fraud? If so leave a comment on how you overcome. I hope everyone's answer is a resounding no. If you don't let me know that as well. I promise, I'll still like you. 😉 

 

Terri Weldon feels blessed to be a full time writer. She enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in the Heartland of the United States. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and RWA.

Readers can connect with Terri: Website: www.TerriWeldon.com or Blog: Seriously Write

 



Do You Have Imposter Syndrome? By Marie Wells Coutu

Marie Wells Coutu

Viola Davis, who just won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, says she suffers from “Imposter Syndrome.” Maybe you do, too.

Yes, it’s a real thing. According to Wikipedia, the term is applied to “high-achieving individuals who are marked by an inability to internalize their accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a ‘fraud.’” Whether Davis has been officially diagnosed or not, I’m not sure.

But I am sure that a lot of us authors suffer from this syndrome to some extent, even if we don’t have a “clinical” diagnosis.

You see, we know that God has called us to write. He has given us more story ideas than we can use in a lifetime. He has provided us with the ability to put words together in a cohesive way, to create characters that come alive on the page, to describe settings and action in ways that enable readers to “be there.” And maybe He has even blessed us with an agent and/or a publisher.

But when a friend or reader says, “How do you write a book?” we don’t have a good answer. And worst of all, we’re afraid the next book we write (or the one we’re working on now) will be lousy.

We are afraid of being “found out,” that people will realize we’ve been faking it all along. That we really don’t know what we’re doing.

Can you relate?

Or maybe we’re writing intense stories with great emotional and spiritual depth, but personally feel like God is far away. We can reveal the internal battles of our characters but can’t admit our own struggles.

Is there a cure for Imposter Syndrome?

Absolutely. You may not find it in the secular journals, but you can find it in the Bible. I think King David suffered from Imposter Syndrome at times, especially when he had sinned. But turn to Psalm 139, where he says:

Every day of my life was recorded in your book before one of them had taken place. How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O God! (v. 16-17, GW)

David’s solution was to remember that God had made him and knew every aspect of his life. Not only did God know him, but He had “precious thoughts” of him.

And God has “precious thoughts” about you, too. You are not a fraud. If you are writing because of God’s calling on your life, He has given you the ability you need.

So when you feel inadequate or worry that your writing career will end when people realize you’ve been faking it, pull out Psalm 139 and read it. Over and over, until it sinks in.

Then keep writing.

About the Author

Marie Wells Coutu’s novels often deal with characters who suffer from Imposter Syndrome. At least, they worry that if their secrets are discovered, their lives will change drastically.

The Secret Heart
by Marie Wells Coutu

Her latest release, The Secret Heart, is a modern reimagining of Bathsheba and David’s story, featuring the governor and first lady of Tennessee. Keeping their secret is destroying their marriage, but revealing it could mean the end of any political career. Find out more at myBook.to/TheSecretHeart, visit Marie’s website at www.MarieWellsCoutu.com where she shares devotional thoughts regularly, or follow her on Facebook at Marie Wells Coutu, Author.


The Secret Heart

Beautiful Shawna Moore married Hunter Wilson, the governor of Tennessee, after a whirlwind romance, only six weeks following her first husband’s death in Iraq. Now, she wonders if the governor loved her at all or only hoped to avoid a scandal.

An investigative reporter—and friend of Shawna’s—is asking questions. If he discovers the truth about Shawna’s baby, Hunter’s chances for reelection could be ruined. But keeping the secret is destroying their marriage. Will Shawna convince Hunter to choose his family and drop out of politics, or will he continue to put his career first?

For a sneak peek, download the first chapter here. You can also read Angie's review of The Secret Heart here: The Secret Heart - An Innovative Retelling.

My Journey to Publication by Dana R. Lynn

Thanks for the invitation to be here today, Terri. It’s always an honor to be asked. 

Anyway, I was thinking about what I wanted to say, and I thought about my own journey to publication. I had wanted to write since I was a kid. I can’t even tell you how many manuscripts I had started only to throw them out (cuz back then we used paper). Sometimes, I would get as far as the second chapter before life intruded. 

Could I have plodded along, writing little bits here and there? Well, yes, I supposed so. But you see, I had no idea what I was doing. And quite frankly, once I started a project, the idea of getting thousands of words down was intimidating. So, I would allow other things to get in the way. I was a wife and a mother. I could barely find the time to fit everything in. I didn’t see how I would be able to fit in writing. Eventually, I decided I was called to be a reader, not a writer. And reading was easier, anyway.

Easier, yes. But not satisfying enough to satisfy the desire to write, the itchy feeling I would get whenever a new idea popped into my head. One day, in 2013, I saw that Harlequin was starting their then annual So You Think You Can Write contest. I decided to give it one more try. Imagine my amazement when my chapter made the Top Fifty. Suddenly, I had a major publisher requesting that I send in a full manuscript. Umm…it wasn’t nearly ready yet. But I was motivated. In less than two days, I finished it and submitted it. 

I didn’t win the contest. I didn’t care. For the first time in my life I had finished a manuscript. And I had received feedback. Feedback that encouraged me to learn. And to try again.  Eight months later, I received a contract from Love Inspired Suspense. I will never forget the joy of hearing my editor’s voice on the other end of the phone. It was amazing.

I learned several things. If God gives you a dream, don’t give up. Wait upon His timing. He picked the perfect time for me to realize my dream. The second thing I learned is the need to continue to learn about the writing craft. Figure out what you want to write. And if there is a specific publisher, what are their guidelines? Another important lesson I learned was to find other authors and learn from them. I did most of this online, through Facebook groups. I also joined a small critique group. 

Finally, and this may be the most important, is pray. If God has a writing ministry in mind for you, then He also knows who He wants you to minister to. Allow yourself to be led by Him.

Thanks for letting me come today! I have a new novella out, The Heiress’s Timely Hero, loosely based on the characters from Pride and Prejudice. Plus, I added in a little time travel spin.

Blessings!

The Heiress's Timely Hero

 

Anne de Bourgh’s life is in danger. From her own family. Her only hope is a man who claims to be from the future. His story is impossible, yet her instincts, and her heart are drawn to this stranger. Will he save her? Or will trusting him cost her everything?

Morgan James has faced his own mortality. Now, he feels like a shadow of his former self. Without purpose. Until now.

Five years ago, his sister went through a time portal on the family estate in England, and returned with her husband, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. He knows going through the time portal is dangerous. He also knows Anne will die a horrible death if he doesn’t.

He intends to save her. What he doesn’t plan is to fall in love with her.

But danger has followed them. Is there no time or place where they can find happiness?

Buy Links

https://www.amazon.com/Heiresss-Timely-Hero-Bride-Book-ebook/dp/B01MYDR99X

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-heiress-s-timely-hero

  Dana R. Lynn grew up in Illinois. She met her husband at a wedding and told her parents she had met her future husband. Nineteen months later, they were married. Today they live in rural Pennsylvania with their three children, two dogs, one cat, one rabbit, one horse and six chickens. In addition to writing, she works as an educational interpreter for the deaf and is active in several ministries in her church.

Writing Verses by Terri Weldon

The desire to write has been within me for years. Still, I let a great deal of time lapse without devoting the energy to the craft I should have. I let other things occupy my time, became discouraged too easily when I received rejections, and relegated writing to the back burner of my mind. Now my mind is usually a low fire so putting it way in the back wasn’t a smart move. 

 

The desire never truly left me though and it began to gain momentum. As it did, I began to notice verses that applied to the writing life when reading my Bible.

Oh that my words were not written! oh that they were printed in a book! – Job 19:23

My heart is inditing a good matter; I speak of the things which I have made touching the king; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. – Psalm 45:1

Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. – Jeremiah 30:2

This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. – Psalm 102:18

 I don’t know about you, and I’m sure there are many Bible scholars who would argue with me, but when I read these verses my heart thrills. Suddenly I think that I’m not wasting my time writing all these words. That God had me, you, and a host of other writers in mind when He wrote these verses.

 

After all, He authored the greatest story ever told – the Bible. Jesus used stories (parables) to teach the masses about the kingdom of heaven. So there is no reason to believe the desire or the call to write hasn’t been gifted to many of us. 

 

So the next time you sit down to write, find a verse that speaks to your heart. Then whenever you sit down to write say a prayer first. Ask God to bless your writing and pray the verse He’s given to you. 

 

The verses listed above are just a small sampling. There are many more. My favorite writing verse if the one from Jeremiah. It has graced the front of my business card for several years. 

 

What about you, do you have a favorite writing verse?

Terri Weldon is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in Oklahoma. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing.

Readers can connect with Terri: Website: www.TerriWeldon.com or

Blog: Seriously Write

 

Day Job Versus Dream Job by Susan Tuttle

This writing life can be a juggle sometime, can’t it? Especially when you’re balancing your writing with your day job. When all you want to do is quit the 9-5 and dig into what God has called you to write! Except you’re not making any money at this writing gig, so quitting isn’t exactly an option.

It’s hard when the passion over your purpose wants to eclipse the responsibilities of your day. Which is why I love three little verses in Acts. If you get a chance, crack your Bible open to Acts 18:3-5. It talks about Paul and how he was a tentmaker. Not just that, but how he worked as a tentmaker and preached on the weekends. Paul, who had a huge calling on his life. Paul, who burned to preach the Gospel. Paul, who wouldn’t even marry because he was so focused on spreading God’s Word. He worked a day job.

Friends, just because God calls us to something does not mean we are ready for that calling. There’s preparation for us and there’s preparation for the fields God is sending us to cultivate or harvest. While it may seem like our day job is competing with our dream, more likely it’s supporting the early stages of it. We need to stop pitting the two against one another and begin to be thankful for God’s provision of work while he trains and positions us for what lies ahead.

Hard. I know. But it’s doable. Just look at Paul J

Susan L. Tuttle lives in Michigan where she’s happily married to her best friend and is a homeschooling mom of three. She’s firmly convinced that letters were meant for words, not math, and loves stringing them together into stories that inspire, encourage, and grow women into who God created them to be. Romance, laughter, and cookies are three of her favorite things, though not always in that order. You can connect with Susan at her blog, Steps, Facebook, or Twitter.