The Art of Over Committing by Terri Weldon

Throughout the years I’ve tried my hand at a number of things, some I mastered, and many I didn’t. But there is one thing I’ve learned to excel at – over committing. Hmm, I don’t think I’m hearing anyone cheering.  Don’t feel bad, it doesn’t make me happy either. In fact, it’s been known to cause me a great deal of stress, something none of us needs added to our lives. 
So why do I do it? Well, all the things I committed to were worthwhile, even fun. And doesn’t Proverbs 6:9 say, “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of they sleep?” Yep, it does. The problem with me quoting that verse is I was guilty of finding a Bible verse to justify my actions. Not smart. 

To live a healthy, well balanced life we have to make choices. My day job is a necessity, so I have to allocate a huge chunk of my time to the job. That means I can’t commit to so many evening activities that I can’t function at work or I end up sick from lack of rest.

Writing is dear to my heart. If I’m going to commit to being an author then I have to choose other activities to give up. That’s a real problem for me. I want it all. Do I sound like a two-year-old? Trust me, I’ve acted like one from time to time. 

Recently, I’ve come to the realization that I have to prioritize. Pick out the things that are nearest to my heart, the things God wants me to do, and start letting the rest go. Yeah, it is hard and if you were to ask the people closest to me how I’m doing at not over committing, well, they’d probably laugh.

I feel like I’m doing better. At least now I realize it is a problem. With that realization also came an awareness that by committing to so many “good” things that I never spent time on the things I love the most. That was an eye opener. So let me leave you with a different verse, Proverbs 16:9, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” Spend your time wisely, my friends.

If you have tips for keep balance in your life I hope you’ll leave a comment and share your wisdom with me. Trust me, I can use all the help I can get!

Pastor Jacob Thompson is in need of a director for the living nativity program and veterinarian Molly Kincaid offers to take on the job. The task involves far more than Molly bargained for, nonetheless she’d do anything to help out the man she secretly loves – even sew costumes or cast eight-year-old Wesley Simpson as an angel.

Jacob’s daughter Emma longs to have a mommy of her own, but the widowed pastor has vowed to never remarry, and isn’t ready to open his heart to love again. Molly dreams of filling the void in both their lives, but fears she lacks the necessary qualities to be a pastor’s wife.

As Molly and Jacob work together on the living nativity, their feelings for one another grow. Will Molly realize she is just what Jacob and Emma need in their lives? Can Jacob be released from his grief stricken promise? Could this unlikely duo prove to be a match made in heaven?

Terri Weldon is a lead analyst by day and an award winning author by night. Her novella The Christmas Bride Wore Boots won the best novella category in the 2016 Lyra Awards. She enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, spending time with her family, 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. She is a member of the Seriously Write Team (www.seriouslywrite.blogspot.com). Readers can connect with Terri at www.terriweldon.com

Books by Terri Weldon

The Matchmakers
The Christmas Bride Wore Boots
Mistletoe Magic

Time and a Freaking Out Writer

by Peter Leavell @peterleavell

My emotions broil until my insides turn to jelly. It’s all about time.

I’ve written about time before. I even had answers. So, why am I a quivering mess of goo?

I’m not alone. Writer men come to me in tears. Day job. Family time. Lawn. Boom. Day over. Writer women’s fingernails are daggers piercing their palms. Whirlwinds destroyed the floor they just cleaned. Expectations. Church duties. Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Day job. Boom. Day over.

God gave me a need to write, and then took away my time!

We’re serious writers, and we know what it takes to compete with the person who has a spouse with a satisfactory job and the kids are away creating their own havoc in the world. #jealous (This isn't a competition! Drive to be your best, and don't listen to agents and editors who say there are hundreds of manuscripts for every publishing slot.)

—Study of craft.
—Study the market.
—Read 1000 pages for every 1 we write.
—Maintain five social media profiles, two blogs, and a website.
—Research our topic.
—Know agents, acquisition editors, and publishers.
—Write, rewrite, edit, and galley proof.
—Do it all so well, people pay money to follow you.

Comments from people who have time that turns my blood to lava:
#jealous

—I’ve got writer’s block.
—I’m not feeling it today, so I’m going to binge watch Downton Abbey.
—I know you asked for half an hour of quiet time, but you never sit down, and I’m feeling sad, so I need you to help me cheer up.
—How’s your book coming?
—I found a spelling eror in your last blog.
—You need to put more thought into your work.
—You love writing more than you love me.
—I wrote 10,000 words today!
—You’re going to come home and just sit there in a make-believe world when there’s so much going on in real life?

You know who you are. You know what you can do. 

Tips to help with time:

—Keep a planner. It’s okay—no, not okay, it’s essential—to manage every half-hour and tell people no. Or yes, for a specific amount of time. Time management takes practice!

—Home a den of entertainment and noise? Create a culture of reading and learning. Sit down with your spouse and discuss steps to fill the house with books where the TV used to be, both mentally and physically. Talk about what you’ve learned. Then, family members are eager to keep learning. I can chat later about how we cultivated this culture in our home.

—If writing actually works, and you do publish, people will want to hang around to be with you because you’re famous. Famous like me. (so laughing right now) You’ll need to learn to control situations. Honestly, I failed here, and am just learning now how to control conversations.

—Give yourself a few moments of downtime.

—You’re not going to be the best. But you’re not called to be the best of anything. At home, work, or art. Read Galatians in the Bible. You’re not a slave to those thoughts. It’s freeing to be yourself, and to bring your best, not be the best.

— Consider studying a bit of Reformed Theology and the connection between Christ and art. Should you make your artistic passion part of your devotional life?

—Novelist might be on your business card  but you’re a businessperson, a content creator. Blogs and social media posts have as much impact as novels. So, if a post is all you can handle in a day, great job.

—One idea about craft, taken in during a five-minute break, is better than an entire book of ideas crammed and soon forgotten.

Readers don’t handle an author’s excuses with grace. They want action! Reading material! Which, if you think about it, is fantastic! But don’t forget, a little self-care makes your writing better. Exercise, read, and pray!

Do you have tips that help with time frustrations?

~~~~~

Peter Leavell, a 2007 graduate of Boise State University with a degree in history, was the 2011 winner of Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, and 2013 Christian Retailing's Best award for First-Time Author. Peter and his family live in Boise, Idaho. Learn more about Peter's books, research, and family adventures at www.peterleavell.com.

The Destructive Power of Procrastination by Terri Weldon

I originally wrote this post for Seekerville where I was a guest blogger, but procrastination is such a huge problem for so many I thought I'd share it here as well.

It’s time for a true confession – I’m a habitual procrastinator. I’ve battled the problem for years. 

Webster’s Dictionary defines procrastinate as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. I could end the post here. Then ask all the procrastinators to think how putting things off affects your life. But if you’re anything like me you’d probably pull a Scarlett and say you’ll think about it another day. That would get us nowhere. 

Procrastination has had a detrimental effect on my writing life. I long to do things in a timely manner, yet it never seems to happen. So what are the negative or destructive powers of procrastination?

1. Missed Contest Opportunities. I’ve seen announcements for some great contests. Final round judges would be agents and editors I’d love to read my manuscript. Then I’d look at the deadline for entering. A month away, plenty of time to get my submission ready. So I’d close the email (big mistake) and forget all about it. It’s hard to land the perfect agent or editor when they never have an opportunity to read your work. My new plan of action when I see a contest I want to enter is going to be different. I’ll stop right then, prepare my entry, and send it off. Wow! I can’t even imagine what that will feel like. 

2. Slow Rolling Revisions. I did a little research on procrastination. It’s more than a time management issue. People tend to delay when they feel fear, dread, or are anxious about something that is important to them. Can anyone say revisions? If an editor asks you to revise a manuscript, deep inside you hope they’ll buy your book. There’s also fear of rejection. Fear could be the systemic issue stopping you from jumping on those revisions. After all, I think the editor expects to receive the revisions in a timely manner. My personal fear is the editor will turn me down for being tardy with my revisions. Whereas they’d ask a writer with a faster turnaround time to make additional revisions. Any opinions? I’d love your thoughts or experience with this? 

3. Lost Submission Opportunities. Pelican Book Group has an open call for Christmas stories every year. The submission are due by the end of May. Knowing the date should leave plenty of time throughout the year to write a Christmas novella. Yet as a habitual procrastinator I’m never ready. When you see a publishing opportunity such as a contest Love Inspired is running, do you have a polished manuscript ready to submit? Having a ready to submit manuscript is a must in this business. Anything less can cost you a chance to be published by your dream publisher. 

So far it seems like I’ve painted a pretty dismal picture. I apologize for that. Like so many weaknesses, procrastination is a lifelong battle. It can be overcome. Forgive yourself for being a procrastinator. Throw out the past and start with a clean slate. Then ignore your feelings and get started writing. Focus on the action you need to take. Progress will make you feel better. 

Last year I made a commitment to indie publish a Christmas novella. And I did! I didn’t have a clue how to indie publish anything. Fortunately, I have two friends who’ve had success indie publishing. I also had the unfailing support of my sister. So I focused on revising an existing novella. Once my revisions were complete, I had the manuscript edited and proofread. Then I asked another friend for recommendations on who to hire to create my cover. Thankfully my very talented friend volunteered. Didn’t she do an awesome job? I just hope my story is half as good as her cover! And on December 1, 2016 my novella, The Christmas Bride Wore Boots, went live. 

Did I do everything perfect? No, but I learned a ton. Most importantly, I met my self-imposed deadline. Let me tell you, that felt great. It renewed my confidence in my ability to write another book. I even decided to make this a three book novella series – The Berryhill Brides. Now I’m eager to write those novellas. 

Just remember the destructive power of procrastination can be overcome. You have it within you to break the cycle. For me, the key is in recognizing what drives my procrastination. Don’t let feelings of inadequacy stop you. I’m sure I’ll fail from time to time. That’s okay. I’ll choose to forgive myself, because then I’ll actually move forward instead of focusing on my mistake. Mark Twain has been quoted as saying, “If your job is to eat a frog, eat it first thing in the morning, and if your job is to eat two frogs, eat the big one first.”

Are you a procrastinator? If so, what helps you overcome the problem? If you aren’t a procrastinator, I hope you’ll share a few tips for meeting deadlines.

The Christmas Bride Wore Boots - Berryhill Brides Book One

Pastor Jacob Thompson is in need of a director for the living nativity program and veterinarian Molly Kincaid offers to take on the job. The task involves far more than Molly bargained for, nonetheless she’d do anything to help out the man she secretly loves – even sew costumes or cast eight-year-old Wesley Simpson as an angel.

Jacob’s daughter Emma longs to have a mommy of her own, but the widowed pastor has vowed to never remarry, and isn’t ready to open his heart to love again. Molly dreams of filling the void in both their lives, but fears she lacks the necessary qualities to be a pastor’s wife.

As Molly and Jacob work together on the living nativity, their feelings for one another grow. Will Molly realize she is just what Jacob and Emma need in their lives? Can Jacob be released from his grief stricken promise? Could this unlikely duo prove to be a match made in heaven?

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

How Do You Do It? by Susan Tuttle

Life has been crazy busy around my house lately. August raced past in a blur, and September has slammed me in the face. With our new schedule starting, I’m forced to find a new way to organize my time. See, I just returned from ACFW where I was rejuvenated and energized in my writing. In fact, I had the time there to brainstorm a new series I’m starting. But…it’s September and homeschool along with extracurricular fun is also starting. Whether you work full time, have kids starting school, or are watching your grandchildren, the writing life can be hard to squeeze in around the demands of our day-to-day life. So how do you do it?

Plan:
During one of the lunches at ACFW, I had the chance to sit with two women who use planners. I loved this idea! They purchase a planner with a layout that works for them and then build in time for everything from grocery shopping to exercise to plotting. These blocks of time are what they follow as closely as they can, readjusting on a weekly basis to accommodate any changes. With their days scheduled at a glance, they don’t waste time wondering what task to tackle next. It keeps them focused and moving forward.

Guard:
However you choose to block out your time, guarding it is important. As writers we often don’t have offices to commute to, and that means we are writing in the same space our family is living. Laundry piles can call to us. Kids can knock on our bedroom doors. A favorite television show can blare from the other room. While distractions come in all shapes and sizes, it’s up to you to guard your writing time. That may mean giving up on something else you love to do so that you can reach your word count for that day or week. Your book won’t magically transform from your mind onto the page—I know, I’ve tried many times. It takes time at your computer, pounding on those keys.

Attack:
Once you’ve planned your writing slot and guarded that time, attack your manuscript. Sit down and write. Even if it feels like a boulder instead of a block stunting your creativity, put words on the page. You can always, always, always change the words later. And without a doubt, even when they are unsalvageable, you’ve learned more about your story by simply writing them. A nugget you didn’t know about your character. A sentence that suddenly steers your plot in a new direction. Or a big neon sign that says NO, this isn’t the way your story should travel. Whatever the wisdom gleaned, words on a page are never wasted.

So there you have it! And since I’m at the plotting stage of something new, I’d love any advice you’ve found works for you. Happy writing, friendsJ

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.