Having Confidence in Writing

Here’s a question for you. Have you ever had a string of good news? Publisher asks for more stories from you or perhaps you are asked to read your book to a group, or maybe a long awaited answer to a piece of writing you have submitted is finally accepted?

These writing events can happen at any time. Recently, several emails and letters arrived with good news about my writing. Upon reading the messages, my first thought was to thank God for His blessings. I thank Him for giving me words that He wants to share.

Crossing the Canyon by Marie Wells Coutu

Planning for a recent family trip to the Grand Canyon started because my husband wanted to run rim-to-rim for the second time. That means starting on the North Rim, running down into the canyon, across the Colorado River basin, and (mostly walking) up to the South Rim—in one day.

This excursion is not for the ordinary hiker. It takes planning, training, mental toughness, and excellent physical conditioning. (In other words, it’s not for me!) But our daughter-in-law, who is also a marathon runner, was up for the challenge.

That journey across the canyon had similarities to my journey as a writer:

1. It started with a goal. My husband and daughter-in-law wanted to accomplish the goal for no other reason than to say, “We did it!” I became a writer (and I imagine you did, too) because of a passion inside me to tell stories, which evolved into a desire to be published so that others could read my stories of redemption and hope.

2. It required preparation and training. They each spent hours running, working out, practicing going up and down steps and hills. (There are a lot of steps on the mile-high descent and ascent.) As a writer, I’ve needed a lot of training and studying. And each new book requires preparation as I develop my characters and think through my plot.

3. There were obstacles, including some painful ones. My husband fell twice, once into a cactus that left its needles in his arm. He still bears scabs on his knee and legs where the rocks scraped him. Becoming an author also features many obstacles and sometimes we carry the scars with us: limited publishing spots for new authors, a plethora of competing books, criticism and negative reviews, lack of sales, competing priorities, and, at times, plain old discouragement.

4. Turning back was not an option. Once they started down the trail, their “support team” left to begin the drive to the South Rim to pick them up. Returning to the North Rim would have done no good and would have meant failure. Sometimes as writers, it’s tempting to give in to discouragement and abandon the dream. But we have to persevere, to keep our eyes focused on the goal, if we have been called to write.

5. The trip is more rewarding and successful if not attempted solo. Because they traveled together, they could urge each other on, share the experience, and celebrate completion together. I have writer friends who have cheered for me from the beginning—and I continue to make new friends along the way. Those who “finish” first—by getting an agent or a publishing contract—reach back to encourage, offer a hand or peptalk, and provide advice.
When you get discouraged about your writing career, remember what Paul wrote to the Galatians, as paraphrased in The Message:

“You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn’t come from the One who called you into the race in the first place” (Gal. 5: 7-8, MSG).

He concluded the chapter with this admonishment:

“Since this is the kind of life we have chosen . . . let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original” (Gal. 5: 25-26, MSG).

No matter where you are on your writing journey, keep on keeping on. It’s the only way to cross what may seem like a canyon before you.

The journey across the Grand Canyon had similarities to the writing journey. @mwcoutu @MaryAFelkins #amwriting #writingtips

Marie Wells Coutu finds beauty in surprising places, like old houses, gnarly trees, and forgotten treasures. When she’s not writing about finding restoration and healing through God-designed journeys, she enjoys taking broken things and making them useful.
She is currently working on historical romance novels set in the 1930s. One manuscript won the 2019 Touched by Love Contest and the 2019 Sheila Contest, and a second novel also won in the Sheila Contest.
Her published novels are women’s contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, For Such a Moment, won the Books of Hope Contest. The Secret Heart, her newest release, and Thirsting for More, the second book in the series, were finalists in several contests.

You can find more about Marie and her novels on her Facebook author page and her website, MarieWellsCoutu.com,
Follow her on Twitter @mwcoutu or on Amazon.

Writer Under Construction by Terri Weldon

Today’s post is a little out of the norm. Right now my office looks like a construction zone. And let me tell you, it’s not conducive to writing - at least not for this writer. My computer isn’t hooked up and unlike so many authors I actually use a desktop computer. 

I somehow connected the router and modem, hope I’m even calling them the right things, up to where the phone isn’t working. Since the phone isn’t required for my internet service I’m not sure how I managed that one. 

Not to mention my desk is covered in books that need placed on bookshelves. 

My plans for a lovely, private, and organized office have gone askew. Believe me, I thought I’d be back in my office by now. I need in that room!

All of this has made me think about how rarely things in life go the way we think they will. I should have factored delays into my schedule and I should have asked for help in reconnecting my internet! lol

Writing is a lot like my office. When you’re working on your book don’t let moments of chaos and confusion overwhelm you. Stay focused and even if it takes longer than you originally planned you’ll finally type THE END.

As for me, I hope to have my dream office soon. Maybe I’ll share a picture or two.

What about you - where is your favorite place to write?

Terri Weldon is a blessed to be a full time author. 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 and has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. You can connect with Terri at www.terriweldon.com 

Five Factors by Carrie Stuart Parks

Next month, September, I’ll be joining my mentor, Frank Peretti, at the ACFW conference in Nashville. We’ll be presenting the Early Bird portion called “On Writing.” This has been an amazing ride—to go from writing how-to art books to becoming an award-winning, best-selling author in just a few short years. Maybe I should more accurately call it an adventure. Adventures have a lot of pitfalls, wicked witches, and setbacks along the way. So let me present five factors to success.

1. A mentor. I’ll have to admit having “the Dean of Christian Fiction” as my mentor was huge. Frank and his lovely wife, Barb, had been friends for years. We met through Frank’s and my husband, Rick’s, mutual love of the banjo and all things bluegrass. When I wrote a short story for Barb for Christmas one year, Frank saw potential in my efforts. It was his choice to mentor me. For eight years. I’m a slow learner. I listened to everything he said and did it. I’d show up with post-it notes, highlighters, red pens, paper clips, and the writing I’d done the day before (or re-writing as the case may be.) If he said I had to fix something, I fixed it. A good mentor is priceless, but you have to …

2. Listen. If your friend, mom, beta reader, critique partner, mentor, or 1st cousin once removed on your mother’s side said that a sentence was strongly phrased, they got lost, they couldn’t figure something out… fix it. Don’t argue that it was your sheer genius at work. If one person doesn’t get it, multiply that by hundreds—your reading public. This is because you’re…

3. Too close. You are too close to your work. In your head, you have that scene clearly in front of you, the sounds, dialog, action, smells, where you are going…but that doesn’t mean you’ve actually written it on the manuscript. This can be frustrating because you’ve worked on this story for so long you hate it, yet it’s still your baby. The good news about writing is there’s always . . .

4. More to learn. I estimated I read over eighty books on writing, went to countless conferences, took numerous on-line classes, entered competitions, and studied the craft from every angle. I still do. Never accept something as “good enough.” If you have to, put it aside and work on something else, then come back to it. Because you need to be . . .

5. Persistent. I had fourteen proposals go out on my original book. Fourteen “no’s.” Each time I got rejected I’d mope a bit, then get back to work.

Of course, there’s so much more, but we’ll start with these five. God bless you as you write.

An artist hiding from an escaped killer uncovers one of World War II’s most dangerous secrets—a secret that desperate men will do anything to keep hidden.

 

After the murder of her twin sister, Murphy Anderson changed her name and appearance and moved to Kodiak, Alaska, to avoid the press and publicity. But when local authorities discover she’s an artist and request her help in drawing a dying man’s memories, she unintentionally ends up in the limelight again—and back in the killer’s crosshairs.

The deathbed confessions of an Alaskan hunter have Murphy drawing the five bodies he discovered on remote Ruuwaq Island ten years ago. But what investigators find has them mystified. Evidence suggests that the bodies were deliberately destroyed, and what they uncover in an abandoned Quonset hut from World War II only brings more questions.

As one by one the investigators who were at the hut die, Murphy knows there is something much darker at stake. What happened on this island during the war? And who is willing to kill to keep its secrets buried?

Amazon Buy Link - Formula of Deception

Carrie Stuart Parks is an award-winning, internationally known forensic artist. Over the past thirty-six years, she has worked on major criminal cases for such agencies as the FBI and ATF as well as numerous police and sheriff’s departments throughout the US. She is the author of over twenty books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Along with her artist-husband, Rick, a former visual information specialist for the FBI in Washington DC, they travel across the US and Canada teaching forensic art courses. They are the foremost instructor of forensic art in the world.

She has won numerous awards for career excellence. Carrie is a popular platform speaker, presenting a variety of topics from crime to creativity.
Connect with Carrie at: www.CarrieStuartParks.com; Facebook: Carrie Stuart Parks, Author; twitter: @CarrieParks

More than a Love Story by Angela Ruth Strong

There was a time when I quit writing romance. My happily-ever-after had ended, and I felt like love stories were nothing more than fairytales.

This was about ten years ago, right after my sister’s wedding. She got married, and I got divorced. It’s hard to be around happy couples when you’re all alone, so I went and bought myself a ring. It was a simple platinum band engraved with the words “Unconditionally Loved.”

Fast forward ten years. I’m now remarried, and my sister’s going through a divorce. She worked hard to try to save her marriage, and she’s devastated. Today is her birthday, and she doesn’t feel much like celebrating.

As a gift, I wrapped my “Unconditionally Loved” ring.

I never imagined anyone else would ever wear this band, but as I thought about what to get her and what I’d needed when I was in her shoes, I realized I already had the perfect gift. A symbol of God’s never-ending love.

This is the same reason I write love stories again—as a symbol of God’s never-ending love. There are a lot of romance novels out there, but they can’t be love stories without God because God is love. I don’t want to write fairytales, I want to write novels that help women make wise decisions and avoid the heartbreak both my sister and I have gone through.

Wherever you’re at this Valentine’s, I want you to know you are unconditionally loved. This love may not come from the person you want it to come from, and you may not even feel like you deserve it, but that doesn’t matter. You are loved, and accepting the fact will change your life.

This is the lesson my main character learns in my latest novel, Finding Love in Eureka, thanks to the powerful bond she has with her sister. Rosie supports Genevieve and helps her find her way back to her first love—Christ.

This is the love story my own sister needs right now. This is the love story we are all looking for. May it be your story this Valentine’s Day.

How has God shown you he loves you lately?

Raised in a family of six adopted siblings, Genevieve Wilson fights to keep her dysfunctional brothers and sisters together, but everyone still seems to leave. If she’s not good enough to prevent her birth parents from giving her up or her siblings from abandoning her, then there’s no way she would ever be enough to have a lasting relationship with the successful pilot from work—which is exactly what makes him a safe subject for her daydreams.

Matt Lake is dating the perfect woman and working a great job. Life is easy until he starts to enjoy hanging out with the airline employees more than with his girlfriend—one employee in particular. He tells himself he’s only intrigued by Gen’s quirkiness, but nobody else makes him smile the way she does.

Can Matt give up the flawless life he’d planned in exchange for the messiness of love? And if so, will Gen risk her heart on reality when it’s never paid off in the past? 
 

Angela Ruth Strong lives in Idaho with her hubby and teenagers. Besides writing, she works at an airline and teaches yoga because she'd rather get paid for her hobbies than actually work. That doesn't mean writing is easy, but her readers are worth it. Her books have won both Idaho Top Author and the Cascade Award, and she's had her novels selected as TOP PICK for Romantic Times. She also started IDAhope Writers to encourage other aspiring authors along their journey. She'd love to hear about your journey as well, so feel free to drop her a line at angelaruthstrong@gmail.com.

Web and Social Media:

www.angelaruthstrong.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1557213161269220/

https://twitter.com/AngelaRStrong

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Love-Eureka-California-Resort-ebook/dp/B078HSC3NV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518064026&sr=8-1&keywords=finding+love+in+eureka

https://www.christianbook.com/finding-love-in-eureka-california/angela-strong/9781943959426/pd/959420?product_redirect=1&Ntt=959420&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finding-love-in-eureka-california-angela-ruth-strong/1127874053?ean=9781943959426