Practice Makes Perfect by Terri Weldon

How many times have you heard the phrase practice makes perfect? I heard it in one variation or another until it started grating on my nerves. Anyone know why? Yep, you guessed it. I wasn’t practicing and I certainly wasn’t producing perfect stories so I didn’t want to hear it. 

 

But when I stumbled across articles about how an author’s writing improves the more they right, read countless blog posts on the importance of honing your craft by writing consistently, watched a buddy of mine grow from a good author to great one by improving with every book, and even noticed an improvement in my own writing the more frequently I wrote, well I couldn’t deny it any longer. What’s worse is when I went through a lazy phase and slacked off my writing schedule it was hard to jump back into my character’s head and write with the correct voice. 

 

Thankfully, I have a bit of a stubborn streak and stuck it out until I gained that lost ground back. I think every writer has a stubborn streak. If not we would never make it in this business. It is part of what makes us persevere when we get that rejection from an editor or those awful contest scores. Any of you been there? I have – more often than I’d like to admit. 

 

But by waiting a bit and then rereading the rejection letter or contest results and applying the suggestions to my writing, I’ve improved. Am I saying incorporate every suggestion you receive? Absolutely not. I’ve received contest results where two judges gave conflicting advice. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut. After all, it’s your voice. 

 

The important thing is to stick with it. Write through the setbacks, the hard times, the busy times, and everything else in between. When you think your story stinks keep writing. That stinky story can be edited into a masterpiece. Chances are that stinky story is much better than you think.

 

When I wrote my latest novella I had to delete thousands of words. My initial story just wasn’t working. But by recognizing the problem and tackling it I ended up with a much better story. I won’t say perfect, but I ended up with A Match Made In Sheffield, a novella I enjoyed and pray others enjoy it as well. 

 

How about you? Do you find that by writing consistently you are improving as a writer? Does practice make perfect in your life? Leave a comment and let me know.

Ellie Alexander is in love. And the only thing sweeter would be if Libby, Natalie, and Stephanie, her three unmarried, unattached granddaughters, could find the same happiness. Maybe with a little help from her and her beau Blake Parker . . .

A Match Made in Williamstown by Lady of Love Inspired Romance Jean C. Gordon — Libby Schuyler has avoided dating since her break-up with college-sweetheart Jack Parker. Out of nowhere, Jack shows up claiming Ellie is swindling his grandfather, Blake, through a travel agency partnership they’ve formed. Libby and Jack team up to protect their grandparents and get to the bottom of Ellie and Blake’s business and romantic relationship. While Libby and Jack fight their reignited attraction, Ellie and Blake conspire to bring the two together.

A Match Made in Sheffield by Terri Weldon— Natalie Benton bounced from one foster home to another until she landed on Ellie Alexander’s doorstep. Natalie’s vagabond childhood caused her to yearn for a secure life, which led to Natalie’s five-year plan: complete her law degree, marry the perfect man, become a partner at Montgomery, Haynes, and Preston, and produce one child. Getting arrested wasn’t in Natalie’s plan. Needing a public defender wasn’t in her plan. Falling for Grady Hunter, her public defender, definitely wasn’t in her plan. Can Grady convince Natalie there is more to life than her five-year plan? Is Ellie the only one who sees a future for Natalie and Grady?

A Match Made in Freedom by Lisa Belcastro — Stephanie Gould loves life on Martha’s Vineyard . . . until she runs into Kay and Tim, her former business partner and her ex-fiancé, who just returned from their honeymoon. Surprised by the heartache she thought was gone, Stephanie heads to the Berkshires to visit family and friends. Arriving in Stockbridge, Stephanie meets Captain Henry Lewis. Little does Stephanie know, her grandmother has already met Henry, and Ellie thinks Henry is perfect. Stephanie has no interest in dating, Henry included. If only Henry didn’t turn up everywhere Stephanie goes. When he walks up beside her at the Norman Rockwell Museum, Stephanie can’t deny her attraction, but she’ll do her best to fight it.

Buy Links

Amazon Kindle & Print: http://amzn.to/2pb4HuK 

Nook, iBooks & Kobo: https://www.books2read.com/u/3neJnB
Barnes & Noble Print: http://bit.ly/2qbmqEtMatchmakers  

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. She is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Terri is the award winning author of The Christmas Bride Wore Boots.

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

 

 

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