HELLO TO HELPFUL HABITS by Patti Jo Moore

Happy New Year, my friends! 😊 I will confess I began what is now this blog post as a reminder to myself. Sure, I can comment to my family and friends that I plan to_______ (fill in the blank---exercise more, drink more water instead of cokes, be more organized, etc.etc.) in the new year. And they will smile politely, likely thinking they’ve heard me say those exact words before. Every January.😉

This year, instead of simply commenting about my plans, or even making a list that gets tucked away in a random notebook, I decided to not only write my plans, but write them and post the list where I can’t miss seeing them. For me, that would be on my desk next to my computer. Yes, I know this is common-sense, but if you’re like me, sometimes we need those common-sense reminders. 😉

I recently thought about reasons I haven’t been getting more writing done on a daily basis, and the glaring, obvious truth couldn’t be ignored. Facebook and emails. Sure, I love reading my friends’ posts on Facebook, and who doesn’t love receiving a newsy email from a friend, but I’ve gotten into the (bad) habit of checking those first, after my Bible time and as soon as I start my computer each morning. Before I realize, the clock is showing it’s almost noon, and I’m still scrolling through Facebook posts (“Just one more, and then I’ll log out and open my WIP”). Truthfully, I do like to check for prayer requests, and consider it an honor to pray for my friends, but with so many photos, funny memes, etc. on Facebook, it’s too easy to get distracted. *Sigh*

If you are a naturally disciplined person, I applaud you. But for those of us who easily get sidetracked, we might need a visual reminder. So I’ve got a sheet of bright yellow paper, a permanent marker that’s a bold shade of pink, and I’m ready to list my plans. The goal is for these to become daily habits, keeping me on track so I can be more productive with my writing—and my days in general. Because when I’m productive, that gives me a happy feeling, which in turn makes for a better overall day. 😊

Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40

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Sadie's Dream

In a coastal Georgia town in 1900, a young woman prepares to serve as a missionary in Africa.

After being jilted the previous year, she's certain she's meant to remain single.

When she meets a handsome businessman from Savannah, she begins struggling with doubts.

Over time she learns that the Lord's plans are best, and dreams really can come true.

Patti Jo Moore is a retired kindergarten teacher and lifelong Georgia girl. She loves Jesus, her family, cats, and coffee, and is blessed to be published with Forget-Me-Not Romances. When she’s not spending time with her family (including her sweet grandbaby) or writing her “Sweet, Southern Stories” Patti Jo can be found feeding cats—her own six and local strays.

She loves connecting with readers and other writers, and can be found on Facebook at Author Patti Jo Moore or her personal blog at http://catmomscorner.blogspot.com

I Can’t Do It All! (And My Words of the Year) by Patty Smith Hall

“I can bring home the bacon,
Fry it up in a pan,
And never, ever let him forget he’s a man,
Cause I’m a Wo---Man!”

This commercial was like a battle cry for the girls of my generation. For the first time in our lives, we were told that women could have it all, do it all. I remember as a teenager being excited at the thought. Growing up in an extended family where a girl was considered a failure if she didn’t secure a husband by the time she was twenty, it gave voice to my hope of attending college, having a career and making a difference in the world. Thank heavens, I was blessed with parents who believed I could do anything I put my mind to and encouraged me. Because of them and my husband, I’ve achieved some of those dreams.

Yet now, as I begin my fifty-ninth year, I’ve finally been hit in the head by a two-by-four. The commercial had it wrong. Nobody can have it all.

That two-by-four was a recent doctor’s visit for my annual physical. While all my tests and physical exam came back normal, the doctor had some concerns. The pain I have with a long-term back injury was up, and I stayed constantly tired. After further questioning, she came back with a startling diagnosis—I was physically and emotionally exhausted. Though I shared with her how much joy I found in my writing, she suggested I find something else that relaxes me and gives me joy. She also told me one more thing.

To give myself a break. She felt I was too hard on myself, expected too much from myself and that it had robbed me of joy.

This is extremely hard for me. I’m a type A personality, a first-born, a perfectionist. I don’t comprehend the word ‘stop.’ From the time I wake up in the morning to the moment my head hits the pillow at night, I go full blast, tackling a daily to-do list that’s as long as my arm. If there were more hours in the day, I’d fill them.

So, there are huge changes on the horizon in the new year for me. I’ve already started asking for help from my family and friends which is hard for me. I’m taking time out every night to indulge in reading more. I’m hitting the gym to lower my pain level. I’m making time for sacred rest, clinging to the knowledge that God values me whether I’m a success or failure.

Because I’m not supposed to do it all, and the truth is I don’t want to do it anymore. My worth is found in Christ, not whether I live up to my lofty expectations. With that in mind, I’m focusing on two words in the new year:

Breakthrough and Joy.

Do you ever find yourself trying to do too much? Do you expect too much from yourself? What is your word for the year?

The commercial had it wrong. Nobody can have it all. via @pattywrites #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

~~~~~~

Patty Smith Hall lives in North Georgia with her husband of 36+ years, Danny. Her passion is
to write tender romances based in little-known historical moments. The winner of the 2008 ACFW Genesis award in historical romance, she is published with Love Inspired Historical, Barbour and Winged Publishing, and is a contributor to the Seriously Writing blog as well as Journey magazine. Patty is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. 

4 Women Bring Southern Charm to a Cowboy Town 

Crinoline Creek, Texas, 1868
A Cowboy of Her Own by Patty Smith Hall

Bookish southern belle Madalyn Turner knows what she wants—to be a cowboy and own a Texas ranch. But books are far different from real life and soon she realizes she needs help.

Celebrate! by Sally Shupe

Happy December! The month of celebration. I thought about what I’d set out to accomplish over the year. In some areas, I accomplished everything I set out to do. In other areas, I fell short. But you know what? Overall, I am happy with how this year turned out. My writing has grown, I’ve made new friends, I’ve got some great new ideas for more stories for next year. I’m excited!

Don’t focus on what didn’t get accomplished this year, and why you couldn’t get those items marked off your list. Didn’t get that remodel done? Didn’t find that great new job? Didn’t get that one last box emptied? Or maybe you didn’t get that book written, or finish the outline for your next book. Instead, focus on what you did accomplish. Look at your completed tasks. Did you get an outline typed up, flesh out characters for a book, enter a contest, get feedback? Did you find a critique partner? Celebrate the little things you did get done! Reward yourself for continually working toward your goal.

So. What are you celebrating? Every step forward is a step to be celebrated. Didn’t completely follow that diet plan? Celebrate that you’re more active now than you used to be, or that you’re eating more vegetables than you used to. Don’t focus on the negative, on the things you didn’t get done, the obstacles that you couldn’t control. Did life get in the way of you accomplishing your goals? Look at what you did get done during that time. Sometimes just showing up takes everything you’ve got. Celebrate that! Celebrate all the little things that make life special to you. A sweet smile, an unexpected visitor or card, writing an extra 500 words, a new idea for your next book. A snowstorm-or maybe that’s just me lol.

While you’re celebrating the season, and the reason for the season, pull out all the little and big things you’ve accomplished this year, and celebrate those things. Merry Christmas!

Sally Shupe lives in southwest Virginia with her husband, two grown kids, 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 others 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 (now closed); 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 ACFW Virginia; and loves genealogy, running, and crocheting.

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

New Year, New Directions by Angela Arndt

Standing at a Crossroads

Well, the first full week of the New Year is over. Did you make any resolutions this year? How many are bent? Any broken? Or are you still reeling from all the hits you took last year and can't even think about resolutions? (Honey, I know the feeling.)

Last Year's Problems
Last year, did you have to really lean into God’s love? We all know that sickness, financial losses, work problems are hard on your overall health, but did you know happy times like weddings and celebrations can cause exhaustion, too? Psychologists have developed an instrument to measure the amount of stress you feel. The Perceived Stress Scale (the link goes to a modified version) measures the ugly, the bad and yes, even the amount of good stress in your life (if there is such a thing as "good stress").

A New Direction for 2019
You probably don't need a tool to tell you that you're stressed.  If you look online, you’ll find about a million ways to reduce stress and we all know that all the knowledge in the world is on the Interest, right?

No. Nope. No way

Don't trust your problems with people you don't know. If you're looking for a way to make 2019 a better year, here are a few suggestions.

What the Bible Says
Here’s a great place to start:

1. Be consistent in living a godly life. Titus 2, Romans 12:2
2. Set godly priorities. Hebrews 13:5, Proverbs 16:3
3. Read your Bible. Joshua 1:8, Romans 10:17
4. Pray constantly. (Yes, all the time.) 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Romans 12:12
5. Exercise. (I know it’s a dirty word, but you’ve got to do it.) 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Proverbs 31:17
6. Laugh every day. Proverbs 17:22, Psalm 118:24, Proverbs 31:25
7. Spend time with your true friends. Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 13:20

Speaking of New Directions
Speaking of true friends, the hostesses and regular contributors of Seriously Write are genuine friends. I’ve been so blessed by them, their encouragement, and their prayers. That’s why it’s so hard to say goodbye to you all. This is my very last post for Seriously Write as a hostess. I’ve decided to take a little bit of my own advice and step back, cut back on a few things, focus more on others.

Whatever positive step you decide to make, I pray that this year will be a better year than last.

Hugs, y’all!

Angela (Angie) Arndt

Seriously, folks ...
If you're experiencing other symptoms like depression, anxiety or panic attacks, it may be time to talk to a professional. Ask your pastor, doctor, or even your friends for recommendations. There are also apps to connect you to therapists if you're overwhelmed. If you can't connect with one, try another. Don't live this year in pain. Make 2019 the year you do something positive to help you feel better about your life.

About the Author

Angela Arndt

Angela Arndt writes women’s fiction with a thread of romance, telling stories of strong, independent women in difficult situations set in small Southern towns. Her biggest hope is that she will encourage her readers to overcome their own “back roads” and find joy in the Lord again.  Represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary Agency, Angela has a Master’s Degree from the University of South Carolina and continues learning the craft of writing fiction through the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Novel Academy. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, weekly on Joy on the Back Roads, and quarterly on Learn How To Write A Novel.
. 

New Year, New Possibilities by Annette M. Irby

2019*

Happy New Year!

A fresh year, a fresh start. I love this feeling, don’t you? Anything is possible. Here’s how to make the most of this new opportunity:

* Pray. Without God, we can do nothing. This truth can stump us at times, unless we take it very literally. Our breath comes from God. Our lives were His idea. So, let's cover our year in prayer. What does God want this year? How can we grow closer to Him? He's asking certain things of us. How can we both find and achieve those things? It's time to get alone, set an atmosphere, seek Him. Hear from Him. Enjoy Him. 

* Believe anything is possible. Nothing is impossible with God. How wonderful is it that God included several verses to this effect in the Bible? See Luke 1:37, etc. If you’ve got big dreams, keep believing they can come true. Work hard. Rest. Pray. Let God show you the next steps—or possibility a new dream.  

* Plan. I recently ordered a new type of planner. It’s put out by Susan May Warren and her team at My Book Therapy. It’s called My Brilliant Writing Planner. She includes sections for spiritual and physical goals and chances to review how things are going. And of course, there are areas for setting goals and making plans. If we’re going to make the most of this new start—this new year—let’s prayerfully consider our goals and make plans to reach them.  

* Celebrate every step in the right direction. There are plenty of opportunities to become discouraged as we chase our dreams and walk out our callings, so we should make a point of celebrating every effort we take in the right direction. Maybe that’s making time to write every day. Set a goal to do that daily. Celebrate the first day you sit down and write. Once you’ve gone a week—celebrate! A month—celebrate. You’re creating habits that will help you accomplish your goals. 

* Rest. We all need a time of refreshing. God commands rest, for our sake. It’s not lazy, it’s necessary. Take time to feed your soul, be encouraged and refueled. Then, you’ll be ready for work again. 

All His best on your new year, friends!

Your turn: What plans do you have for 2019? How do you make the most of a new beginning? 

~~~~~

Coming in March

 

FL on Whidbey Island

Finding Love on Whidbey Island, Washington

Could what drove them apart be what draws them back together?

Liberty Winfield lives with loss every day. She’d rather leave her history behind her, but when faced with moving back to her hometown, the past becomes unavoidable. She takes a job at the florist shop owned by her ex-boyfriend’s family from a decade ago. Now he’s unavoidable.

Clay Garrison knows the pain of ruing his mistakes. Most of his regrets center around Liberty. If he could undo his poor choices, he would. Liberty is back. He has one more chance to make things right. She doesn’t believe anyone could love her unconditionally, so he sets out to prove her wrong. He must also try to right the biggest wrong of their past, knowing that in doing so, he could lose her forever.

Will addressing the past together help them find love?

~~~~~

Annette M. Irby**

Annette M. Irby has been writing since her teen years when she sat pounding out stories on a vintage typewriter just for fun. Since then, she’s joined Christian writing groups and launched blogs so she could share the joy of writing. She likes to say she’s addicted to color as flowers and seascapes inspire her. In her off hours, she enjoys gardening, photography, and music. She lives with her husband and family in the Pacific Northwest.

Learn more here on her Seriously Write Page.

Links to connect with Annette:

Website: www.AnnetteIrby.com

Twitter: @AnnetteMIrby

Facebook Reader Friends Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/252272708574760

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/annette-m-irby or @AnnetteMIrby

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/annette_m_irby.com   

Book Review Blog: www.annetteirbyreviews.blogspot.com

* Graphic of 2019: Pixabay

** Author Photo credit: Sarah Irby at Irby Photos

Juggling Your Life by Marie Wells Coutu

Marie Wells Coutu

My husband likes to juggle.

Several years ago, he taught himself to juggle and got pretty good with four tennis balls. No, he didn’t try the more dangerous objects like knives or burning torches, thank goodness.

But he quit practicing for a while. Recently he decided to take it up again for the mental benefits, but he had to start back with two balls at once and he’s working his way back up to three or four.

I’m a juggler, too. Only I juggle writing, marketing, family time, paying bills, Bible study, exercise, dealing with legal issues such as wills and real estate, and spending time with friends (not listed in order of importance).

As we begin the new year, we all tend to struggle with juggling our various roles. How can we keep all the balls or plates in the air, including our writing?

Many writers like to use yearly planners that help you prioritize various aspects of your daily life. Use whatever works for you.

On a short-term basis, there’s a method I used in my job when I felt overwhelmed with too many tasks and deadlines, and it works for my retired life, too. (My apologies for not giving credit, but I honestly don’t remember where I learned it.)

Make a numbered list of all the tasks you have facing you, in any order. Beginning with the second item, put numbers at the end of each task as shown below, depending on how many items on the list.

Now you evaluate each task against the others in turn. So if “Feed the dog” is more important than “Pay bills,” you would circle the 2 in the second row. Move on to item #3 and compare it to each of the remaining 5 items, circling the number that should have a higher priority. Deadlines, possible penalties (for instance, having the electricity shut off if you don’t pay bills), and relationships all should be factored in for each item.

When you’re finished, calculate the total number of times each item is circled. See my example below, where I’ve used highlighting instead of circling the numbers.

In my example, the total counts wind up this way:

1. 4
2. 6
3. 3
4. 5
5. 2
6. 0
7. 1

Now, here’s my priority list, showing the items with the highest number first:

1. Feed the dog (if I had one, I’m sure he would complain until I fed him!).
2. Bible study (I need this!).
3. Pay the bills. (this might be different at different times of the month!).
4. Outline my next novel (finally I get to this one!).x`
5. Go for ice cream with my husband (on a different day, this might rank higher).
6. Market my latest novel.
7. Watch a movie (Might rank higher in some circumstances, such as if it’s for research).

Sometimes you may have a tie. If “Pay the bills” tied with “Feed the dog,” for instance, I would compare how the two items ranked against each other.

Ed, the Juggler

I hope you get the idea. Be as specific as you can. (Obviously “Market my novel” is too vague for this to be useful. “Write a blog post” or “schedule Facebook posts” would be more helpful.)

Once you set up the list with the numbers, you can easily revise it as often as you wish, eliminating the completed tasks and adding new ones. It only takes a few minutes to make the changes, and it gives you your plan of action for the day (or the next few days). If an item is enough to make the list, it will eventually rise to the top—or you’ll decide it’s not important and remove it.

Juggling can be a fun hobby, but when it comes to juggling your obligations, having a system to help relieves the feeling of being overwhelmed. I hope this system will help you juggle your priorities this year and achieve your writing goals.

About the Author

The Secret Heart
by Marie Wells Coutu

Marie Wells Coutu retired in 2013 from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. She now spends her time writing fiction—when she’s not busy having fun with her husband or with their four grandchildren. She has written three novels for Write Integrity Press, including the award-winning For Such a Moment and Thirsting for More. Her most recent book, The Secret Heart, released in February. She is working on a historical novel set in western Kentucky, near where she grew up.

Marie is a regular contributor to Seriously Write. For more posts by Marie, click here.

Journaling Hope by Annette M. Irby

Happy New Year 2017 banner on blue with stars and ornaments*

Happy New Year, dear friends! 

The new year can bring so much hope, can’t it? My personality tends to vacillate between glass half-full and glass half-empty, but at the new year, I’m a glass half-full thinker all the way! 

Like many of you, no doubt, I’ve seen that some years are much harder than others. If you’re coming out of a challenging year, I pray you’ll grab on to hope that God is at work on your behalf. Recently, during a supremely challenging season, I held on to the following truths about God. I journaled about them, writing them out. Reminding myself. They seem simple, but the following phrases were a lifeline for me. If you need encouragement right now, I pray these encourage you. 

1. God sees. 
2. God knows. 
3. God cares. 
4. God is working on my behalf. 

First, God sees. Maybe you’ve suffered injustice. God saw that. Maybe you’re patiently waiting for your breakthrough. God has seen your patience. Perhaps you’ve prayed unceasing about your situation. God saw that too. What’s more—He honors those prayers and your patience. 

Second, God knows. Not only does He witness what happens in our lives, He understands how those situations relate to us. He knows us. Intimately. He knows our situations. He is not unaware or uninformed. We don’t even have to express it—all that pain or anger—though we can put it into words, if we want. (Raise your hand if you journal like I do. Writing is cathartic, isn’t it?) 

Third, not only does God see and know, He cares. Deeply. Because He can see the impact of those hurtful things in our lives, and He knows how those hardships hit us personally, He has compassion. In fact, in my experience (both at salvation and so many times since) He is moved by that compassion. He can’t help Himself. He rescues. If you write out the list on this blog in your journal, feel free to add: God rescues. He loves to rescue. And whether our pride likes it or not, we all need rescuing at times. Jesus is the Redeemer. He is satisfied (His work is His food—see John 4) in rescuing, redeeming, saving. This truth—God cares—got me through that aforementioned season. I kept telling myself: God sees; He knows. He cares. And… 

Fourth, God is working on my behalf. Oh, if I didn’t believe this I’d be lost. The tricky part is we can’t always see Him working, so we feel we aren’t seen. That God doesn’t care. That God doesn’t know. We have to remind ourselves of our list. You know what… I need to amend my list. Here’s my new list: 

1. God sees. 
2. God knows. 
3. God cares. 
4. God is working on my behalf. 
5. God rescues. 

I can say that because He rescued me and others from that situation I mentioned. In fact, He did the impossible in order do so. Just ask. Like the characters we write about, sometimes we need to get through a situation. Sometimes we need rescuing out of a situation. What do you need? When Jesus walked the earth, He asked a certain question as recorded in the gospels a few times: What do you want Me to do for you? Try journaling your answer to that question. God likes to both place desires in our hearts and then answer them, fulfill them. (see Ps. 37:4) 

Do you need hope today? Try pondering this list. Perhaps write it out. Pray through it. See what God shows you. I’m thinking a year from now, you may see how He has shown up in your situation. My journaling review showed a stark contrast between the depths of that situation and following His rescue. 

Until God manifests His work, hang on to hope. Don’t let go, even if the cord frays. The more you entertain hope, the stronger that cord that’s holding you will become, until it’s strong enough to pull you up and out of your situation. 

God is the God of hope. He will help. 

Have a blessed and hopeful new year, friends. 

Your turn: Have you journaled through a difficult situation? Do you treat your journal as a prayer tool? Do you write out God’s answers? How has a journaling review shown you changes from one season to another? 

~~~~~ 

Annette M. Irby

Annette M. Irby is a freelance editor and Christian fiction author who dabbles in gardening and photography. She has recently fallen in love with her grandson. She enjoys spending time with her family and husband of over twenty-five years. You can learn more about Annette by visiting her website or her page here on Seriously Write. 











* photo credit: the awesome people at Pixabay.