It's All About Discipline by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

My writing time—those moments when I can sit in front of my computer and completely lose myself in my characters my stories—is limited.

Only by acts of supreme discipline, by making sure I commit even a small part of my day—every day—to my craft have I been able to keep moving forward as an author. There are no tricks. No secrets to share. All I have is this, and it’s truth: Long-term writing requires discipline. 

If you find yourself in the same boat as me, keep three words in mind: Sit, plot, type. 

Some of what you produce will be garbage. Some of what you produce will be beautiful, and take you (and maybe even your story) by complete surprise. But at the end of the day, in order to succeed, you have to log the word count. You have to commit yourself to task of sticking to your scheduled writing time even if you’re exhausted, even if that blinking cursor just keeps blinking at you. Push forward, even if you write no more than a few words, a few scene ideas, a few plot twists. 

Also, don’t limit yourself. If you’re trying to write chapter 3, but developments in chapter 5 are calling, write chapter 5. Don’t waste precious time agonizing. Write the scene that’s living in your heart and mind, then save it to be inserted later. Or, outline that plot twist and save it. When I create, I write fresh, and then re-read it the next day when I continue my story. This gives me an opportunity to polish and tweak, to add layers. I review again and again as my story grows, so I don’t hang myself up on writing perfectly the first time. Round one? I simply want to write from the heart. 

The holidays are coming, and there is so much for which to be thankful, so many blessings to rejoice in and to share. As an author, try to remain dedicated to the stories you have to tell. Guard your time as best you can, and keep pushing forward. It’s all about the discipline. 

Until next month friends—be thankful, share richly, and be blessed!

~~~~~

Dustin Farrell is expected to succeed. He’s gifted with the means and ability to take the world of business development by storm…and he’s doing just that, right on plan. 

As Christmas approaches, he’s called home, to Hope Creek, Tennessee. He’s been given a slam-dunk objective from his investors: Take a small, local art shop and expand it into the retail mainstream. 

Lillianna Bennett, Dustin’s former high school classmate, is part owner of Purple Door Art Market. Long ago, her shy sweetness captured his imagination, but nothing came of the affectionate flame between them. 

Until a reunion at Christmas Inn. Dustin presents his offer, realizing the wallflower of his youth has bloomed into a confident, talented woman with the kind of free-spirited heart for which he always longed. And he wonders: Is a life of expectation, and ‘more’ what he really wants? Will his professional quest end up compromising Lillianna if her gifts and business become part of a wider view? 

Most of all, will love be lovelier...the second time around?

~~~~~

Marianne Evans is an award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create. Readers laude her work as “Riveting,” “Realistic and true to heart,” “Compelling.” 

Her Christian fiction debut, Devotion, earned the Bookseller’s Best Award as well as the Heart of Excellence Award. Her follow-up novel, Forgiveness, earned Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year honors as did her book Hearts Communion. She is also a two-time recipient of the Selah Award for her books Then & Now and Finding Home. 

Marianne is a lifelong resident of Michigan and an active member of Romance Writers of America, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President. You can connect with Marianne at www.marianneevans.com.

Encouraging the Writer Within by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

There are times when nothing pulls me in like a hard-hitting quote by a person I respect and/or admire. There are times when nothing eases the panic and anxiety of a looming deadline like finding Snoopy hard at work on his Great American Novel, tapping furiously at his typewriter, or pacing atop his dog house in the colorful panels of a Peanuts comic strip. Yeah, I’m pretty flexible like that…

So, for this month’s dose of encouragement, I hunted up some gems that I thought might hit home. Enjoy the journey, friends; blessings on your writing, and your spirits! (PS, I've captioned a few of these with my own reactions - hope you don't mind! I want to hear yours, too, so leave a comment!)


You gotta start with humor!! :-) 

I love this 'mission statement' so much! #TRUTH!

Can I get an AMEN??

Hello Facebook & Twitter.....!!!

This is what we do, folks - and isn't it a blessing???

I love me my Snoopy!!!

I actually sent this cartoon to my editor a while back - too funny!

 

And in conclusion.......

 

~~~~~

 

Marianne Evans is an award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create. Devotion, earned the Bookseller’s Best Award as well as the Heart of Excellence Award. Hearts Communion earned a win for Best Romance from the Christian Small Publisher's Association. She is also a two-time recipient of the Selah Award, Then & Now for Best Contemporary Romance and Finding Home for Best Novella. Marianne is a lifelong resident of Michigan and an active member of Romance Writers of America, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President.

~~~~~

Forgiveness

Country music bad boy Chase Bradington is on the comeback trail. Fresh from rehab for alcohol addiction, and transformed by the power of Christ, Chase is battling to rediscover the music he loves and a career he nearly ruined. Then he meets up and comer, Pyper Brock, and instantly sparks ignite.

Pyper knows of Chase’s reputation, so despite a rampant attraction to the handsome and talented icon, she soundly dismisses his romantic overtures. Decades ago, her father, in a drunken rage, tossed her and her mother onto the streets. No way will Pyper make the mistake of falling for a man whose done battle with the bottle.

What happens when Chase’s quest to win Pyper’s love breaks down chains of resentment and eases the long buried wounds of her childhood? And what happens when Pypers father shows up in Nashville, clean, sober and seeking a chance to apologize?

Can Pyper follow a pathway to peace when it comes to her father? Can she fully trust Chase? Above all, can a sin damaged past be released in favor of forgiveness?

Releasing 11/1/2016 ~ Available for pre-order now at Amazon.com in PRINT and E-BOOK formats

That Pregnant Pause of the Publishing World by Susan Tuttle



Susan Tuttle

I have three children, and I remember each of my pregnancies vividly. Nine long months, a few where it looked like nothing was happening, and a few where it was more than evident I was pregnant. And it never failed how at the very end I’d hear the lovely question every pregnant woman longs to hear: “Have you had that baby yet?”

It was even more fun when you were overdue.

Well, for many of us on this publishing journey, it’s much the same. In the very beginning we keep our writing status to ourselves. We enjoy writing small stories or articles, perhaps journaling, but no one knows. It’s our little secret. Yet we’re slowly growing and at some point we can’t keep our writing to ourselves anymore. So we announce to anyone who’ll listen that we are, in fact, a writer. We’ll be pursing publication and all the amazing wonder it entails. We look forward with anticipation at what’s to come. We are giddy with excitement and possibility.

We don’t mind the growing pains. And we experience some wonderful moments along the way. We publish a small article. We are picked up by an agent. We hear wonderful news from a publisher. It’s like the gifts at a baby shower landing in our laps. Fun to unwrap and they point to what will one day arrive: publication and the delivery of our book baby.

Except, much like pregnancy, we don’t have an exact date. We grow, we expand, everything starts to feel uncomfortable and the wait unbearable, but nothing arrives. And then it starts…the question every writer pursuing publication for any length of time loves to hear: “Have you gotten a contract yet?”

It comes in all forms from all angles from well-meaning friends and family. And each time we smile, tip our head, suck in a long breath, and answer as sweetly as we can, “Still waiting.” It’s not that we mind the questions, it’s that we aren’t in love with the answer. We are stuck in the pregnant pause of the publishing world, and just like you can’t force a baby out (okay, not easily, but you get my point), you can’t force this delivery to happen any sooner than God has on his calendar.

That’s because God is the only Author that gets to write our time table. We need to learn to appreciate this pause and understand that he’s preparing us for his perfect timing. He knows exactly when we’ll be ready for our book baby to be born. Don’t rush it. Just wait for him to fill your arms with every promise he’s given.

Because God never forgets to deliver on the dreams he’s planted.

Susan Tuttle is a homeschooling mom of three who is crazy about coffee, dark chocolate, and words—both reading and writing them. Combine that love of words with her passion for leading women to a life-changing encounter with Christ, and you’ll find her crafting Inspirational Contemporary Romance stories laced with humor, love, and healing transformations. When not cheering on her Ironman hubby, chasing the family dog, or tackling complex math problems to teach her kids (yes, even the third grader), you can catch Susan at her blog, Steps.

Susan contributes on the first Thursday of each month. 

The One Thing God Can't Do By Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

“There is one thing God cannot do. One impossibility.” Father Greg paused his homily for a moment. He surveyed the church, waiting, taking in our doubting, puzzled expressions. Impossibilities? For God? No way. “The one thing God cannot do is this: He cannot ever stop loving you.”

What powerful words. What a powerful truth I struggle to absorb and fully believe.

I see my flaws. God sees my heart. I see my failures, God sees my hope. I see my doubts and insecurities which mount by the day it seems. God holds me close and whispers, ‘My child, be still. The battle is Mine, and you are My beloved.’

I encourage and support; I work hard to write the best stories I can. I rejoice in the success and ministries of so many precious people in my life while sometimes beating myself up at the same time, wondering if my message, my call as a writer, isn’t as effective or as ‘good’ as theirs…especially in those moments when I feel like my own world is in a waiting pattern. The process of going still in trust and faith is very hard for me.

The battle is Mine, and you are My beloved.

There have been times of late when waiting for word on contracts, edits, release dates, is akin to falling. Am I trusting? No, I’m anxious. Do I know God will catch me? I like to think so, but, in the heat of battle, in my broken humanity, that’s hard to believe when the world spins by and I feel like I’m, perhaps, the unfruitful vine. In those moments, I reach out, like Peter in the storm-thrashed waves. I cry out, ‘Lord, help my unbelief,’ and there Jesus is, grabbing my hand, lifting me, affirming me with the gift of family, friends, and encouraging moments of support.

The lesson I seem to be learning of late is that in every way—great, small, seen and unseen—God has assigned me a mission. God dwells in as I carry it out. That kind of Spirit-led call is what fired up the apostles, and they probably had no idea the impact their lives would leave behind. In much the same way, I might never see or know the lives I touch through story. It may be one, it may be thousands or more. Doesn’t matter. I’m driven to follow God’s lead. He knows. He loves...no matter what. And, he uses the gifts He gave me to draw people to him. At longest last, I find trust.

‘Not to us, O Lord, but to Your name give the glory.’

God cannot stop loving me…and he cannot stop loving you. What’s your battle? Whatever it is, please remember, you’re central to the success of God’s plan. His good plan. His perfect plan.

What a blessing!

~~~~~

Click to tweet!

The one thing God can't do...

Not to us, O Lord, but to Your name give the glory.

Find your mission, then learn to trust!

~~~~~

Ethan Miller’s family has done…what?

His profile is plastered on MingleInFaith.com. Now this career focused, happy-to-be-a-bachelor is forced to endure an episode of speed dating.

Interior designer Natalie Gibbs is on the dating circuit, eager to find ‘the one,’ but she has strict rules about the manner in which she’ll embrace a romantic relationship. She wasn’t even supposed to meet Ethan Miller, but God had other plans.

Ethan spends a month each year in Honduras, offering eye care to the underprivileged. He senses a sweetness to Natalie that prompts him to invite her along on the next mission trip.

The voyage leads them far from their home base of New York City, but straight into the hearts of the Honduran people. Slowly, Ethan’s heart is swayed toward the idea of love. But Natalie’s mission work teaches her about a love that reaches far beyond romance.

What’s God’s plan? Should their hearts combine – or does He want them to serve, and learn, from one another and an extraordinary date night?

~~~~~

Date Night, is part of the Pure Amore imprint at Pelican Book Group. Pure Amore is a Book of the Month subscription service featuring Christian romances centered on the concept of pre-marital purity and abstinence that doesn’t surrender one moment of the thrill to be found when two people fall in love. Check it out at Pelican Book Group!

~~~~~

Marianne Evans is a multi-award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction with over twenty titles to her credit. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create.

Happily married and the mother of two, Marianne is a lifelong resident of Michigan who is active in a number of Romance Writers of America chapters, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President.

Connect with Marianne:

Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon ~ Pinterest

Purposeful Writing by Lisa Buffaloe

Our written words matter. Lisa Buffaloe is back this Mixing-It-Up Monday with some great affirmation. Read on! ~ Annette

Purposeful Writing

By Lisa Buffaloe

All writers have their purpose and reasons for writing. Sitting and typing for hours, days, weeks, months, and years, doesn’t come without a source of passion. Perhaps ideas niggle at your brain and won’t allow you to take a shower without jotting some idea on the shower wall. Or your thoughts and words bubble up all the time and need an outlet.

Maybe your writing stems from a heart-breaking situation. And even though life was tough, God brought you through to the other side, and now you want to help others. You can ask a million writers and come up with a million reasons. There is this need to communicate, to share, and to connect with others through the written word. As writers, we want to make a difference, leave a mark, and change a life.

I have e-mails, cards, and letters I’ve kept for decades. The words written gave me hope, encouragement, kept me from doing something I’d regret, gave me guidance and wisdom, or gave me joy.

Whether someone is a best-selling author or a blogger in a remote corner of the earth, every word written touches lives. You were created for a purpose. Write with purpose.

~~~~~

LisaBuffaloe is writer, speaker, happily-married mom, and host for Living Joyfully Free Radio. Her past experiences—molestation by a baby-sitter, assault, rape by a doctor, divorce, being stalked, cancer, death of loved ones, seven surgeries, and eleven years of chronic illness from Lyme Disease—bless her with a backdrop to share about God’s unending love and that through Him we find healing, restoration, and renewal. She is the author of Prodigal Nights (2011 Women of Faith Writing Contest Finalist), Grace for the Char-Baked and a contributing author of TheOne Year Book of Joy and Laughter.

(print version)      (eBook version)

The Bumblebee

How many of you have heard the old story about the bumblebee? Supposedly, a scientist compared the weight and measurements of its body to its wingspan and judged that bumblebees cannot fly. However, the bumblebee just keeps vibrating its wings and buzzing away from flower to flower.

Lately I've been getting little love notes from God. No, I'm not hearing voices, but do you ever find yourself seeing things with a common theme over and over? Lately, my theme has been, "Don't be afraid."

"Don't be afraid," you ask? Am I climbing a mountain, taming lions or fighting a war? No. I'm just writing a little novel and sometimes it terrifies me. The what-if-asaurus hovers over me as I type, his stinging stinky breath settling over me like a cloak, telling me I'm going to fail or I'll never finish or even, I'll finish and be published (which in some ways is even more terrifying).

But these little love notes keep popping up for me. Scriptures such as Deut. 31:6 -

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."

Or I may "happen" to read blog posts or inspiring articles while waiting in the doctor's office on conquering fear. Over and over again, I find this topic keeps popping up and you know what it tells me (besides the obvious)? It's telling me that Someone loves me enough to make sure I hear His message. It also tells me to keep on going, even when the little voice inside me says I can't do it. I'm supposed to keep on writing even if what I wrote last night sounds ridiculous the next morning.

And I have to do more than just show up. Remember the bumblebee can't fly unless it vibrates its wings. I've got to move my fingers and try, at least. And I've got to trust Him to do the rest.

Reaffirmation

Reaffirmation
Net's Notations Tuesdays
Refreshed by God Series

Ever read a novel and think, “I could write better than that”? Then, you sit down to write and all your skills have vanished?? *grin* It’s probably God’s way of keeping us humble.

I’m sure we all know the difference between pride and self-confidence, but just in case…

God called you to write, right? Right. Or you wouldn’t be reading writers’ blogs, spending hours plotting your next novel and plodding through writing craft books. A tome entitled “The Art of War for Writers” (James Scott Bell) wouldn’t appeal to you, if you weren’t a writer.

How often do you doubt that call?

Whenever I cannot learn a new technique quickly, I doubt myself, and where I’m at.

Whenever I think I should have this stuff down by now (how long have I been at this?).

Sometimes when I prepare for my critique group’s meeting.

Sometimes when I witness the success of other authors and how they now have to market themselves like crazy, travel all over the planet (*grin*) and make much of themselves.

So, when I feel incapable, there’s one thing I can do that will help: pray. One Source to turn to when I worry about all the things pulling at me: God.

Dear God,

Please remind me what You said when You called me. Remind me of that initial nudge toward writing. Remind me of the pleasure of knowing I’m doing what You’ve called me to do—the shared pleasure of participating together with You in the work. (Thanks Paul Young for that image.) And affirm me, like the loving Father that You are. Where I lack, fill me up, both in skills and confidence. Don’t let me tip the scales toward pride, but help me walk humbly with You. Affirmed. Confirmed. And one day, established, as a mature believer and a success at being all You’ve called me to be.

In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

“But the God of all grace, He calling us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, He will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10)