Lending a Helping Hand

Last weekend, my husband was taking care of landscaping in the front yard. Alan had finished cutting the grass and using the weedeater. He was gathering his tools and preparing to put everything away. With the mower and weed eater back in the garage, he walked to the front yard to pick up the extension cord and wrap it around the holder.

A group of about ten children were playing in the yard next door and across the street. We are blessed to have a wonderful neighborhood filled with loving families.

Finding Focus for Your Fiction by Marie Wells Coutu

If you’re like me, this whole COVID-19 shutdown has made it hard to focus on writing.

Between the news, social media, and families at home, there is much to distract us from our BICHOK (bottom in chair, hands on keyboard) tasks.

But it occurs to me that focus is key to telling our stories. So let’s turn our F-O-C-U-S to writing a scene and use it to deepen our characters and strengthen our fiction.

F-Field of vision. When your character enters a room, you can describe the whole room down to the last detail—and bore your reader. Or you can show what in that room is most important to your character. What’s in your character’s “field of vision”? What your character notices first reveals something about her. Depending on what is going on in her head, the first thing she notices may be a piece of furniture, the color of the walls, or a particular person. It might even be something or someone missing from the setting that she expected to be there. Narrow the field of vision for your reader, emphasizing the things that will develop the character or advance the plot.

O-Orient. You’ll want to help the reader understand what’s happening by orienting the scene. Make sure the reader knows where the scene is taking place. For your own information, try what’s called “blocking” in theater. Know where your characters are in relation to each other and to important objects, and “block” your scene as you write to show how they interact with each other. And bring your reader along when they move.

Of course, you can’t spell out every movement (or you’ll have a million-word novel), but if you have a character getting out of his Ford Prius and in the next line, he’s talking to someone in the kitchen, your reader will get whiplash. Provide enough information so your reader is oriented to the setting and your scene makes sense.

C-Concerns. What gets mentioned gets noticed. Consider the well-known advice that if you show a gun in Act I, it should be used before the play (or book) ends. Use that sort of focus to help your readers understand what motivates your POV character. Show what interests him, what his concerns are, and what’s important to him.

U-Unify. Give unity to your story by choosing scenes and plot elements that reveal the theme in different ways. The TV show Bluebloods is an excellent example: in an hour-long episode, three (or more) members of the Reagan family will deal with a similar issue from various perspectives through three different plotlines. For example, in a 2006 episode called “Justice Delayed,” Jaime and Eddy discovered thousands in cash in a dead man’s apartment; Erin sought to prosecute a man accused of killing his wife; and Frank and Danny dealt with a man released after 20 years in jail for murder and his son who confessed to a recent murder. By the end, the issue is brought into focus during a discussion at the Sunday dinner table.

In this episode, the themes of justice, second chances, secrets, and truth all played a part, but Frank pointed out the overarching theme of grace. By showing different facets of a complex theme, you can unify your plot and your novel.

S-Sharpen. Using a (virtual) spotlight to emphasize what’s important will help to sharpen your scenes. Eliminate the extraneous and focus on aspects of the setting and characters that contribute to the overall effect of the story.

Pages and pages of description of the moors in Wuthering Heights may have set the mood for the story, but today’s readers will quickly lose interest. By turning the spotlight on key elements, you can achieve the desired mood and help your readers experience the story through the eyes and hearts of the characters.

Narrow the field of vision for your reader, emphasizing things that will develop the character or advance the plot. @mwcoutu @MaryAFelkins #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.

Road Trip Writing

A trip for business or fun can provide opportunities for great stories. Before leaving the house, certain lists have to be checked and preparations made for travel.

Packing my medium sized black suitcase with daily outfits, pajamas, underwear, socks and toiletries can take time and many lists. I usually create a note of everything needed for overnight trips. A list for me and one for my husband. Of course, he never needs to view my notes because I pack for him, but that is another story.

One essential item I like to take along is a notepad. Whether a big lined tablet or small pocket sized paper, having pen and paper is vital for the trip. No laptop for me so these writing utensils are part of my important “list for trip”. A special pink bag contains various ink pens, paper, sticky notes and the ever important soft peppermint candy.

Writing everyday is a joy for me. A long story or just a few notes keeps my writing active and the creative process full steam ahead.

People ask, “Do you write when you travel? Isn’t that hard?”

My answer, “Yes, I write when I travel. I find moments here and there to absorb surroundings and notice the people.”

A very strange experience occurred on this trip when we checked into the hotel. Receiving our welcome at the front desk, the staff member handed us a coupon for evening appetizers. All checked in, we headed for the elevator. Arriving at our room, we soon discovered the room key would not work. Back down to the desk, hubby explained the key issue. We were given another key and a staff person accompanied us to the room to make sure the key worked( or probably to make sure we knew how to use the key).
The lady flashed the card in front of the door lock and “click” was heard. This alerted us that the door unlocked.

Big problem! We opened the hotel room door and noticed the room was already occupied. Suitcases were on the beds. Luckily no one was in the room or in the shower. Yikes!
Waiting in the hallway for another staff member to accompany us to different room, we reminded ourselves of our family motto. “It’s Always A Story With The Henderson’s.” A nice room was finally found and we continued with our visit.
I will definitely write about the hotel room incident.
Making notes of specific events helps me when I am ready to create a story or blog post. Having my pens and notepad allow me to jot thoughts and continue enjoying the trip. I will continue with my “Road Trip Writing”.

Do you write when you travel? Share an experience or two with us.

Making notes of specific events helps me when I am ready to create a story or blog post. #seriouslywrite @mimionlife

Stay safe and have a blessed writing day,
Melissa Henderson

Melissa Henderson is a writer of inspirational messages through fiction, non-fiction, devotions, guest blogs, articles and more. Her first children’s book, “Licky the Lizard” was released in 2018. Some of her passions are helping in community and church. Melissa and her husband Alan moved from Virginia to South Carolina in 2017 to be near son, daughter-in-love and first grandchild. The family motto is "It’s Always A Story With The Henderson".

Website and blog : http://www.melissaghenderson.com
Amazon link to "Licky the Lizard"
Facebook : Melissa Henderson, Author
Pinterest : Melissa Henderson
Twitter : @mimionlife

Writing During a Hurricane

Hurricane Dorian visited the Low Country of South Carolina recently. Our area was spared most of the devastating winds and rain the Bahamas and other areas experienced. Weather forecasters alerted us to the possibility of what was to come. Mount Pleasant SC and surrounding areas did not escape the hurricane, but we had less damage than other places.

Heavy downpours of rain and strong winds began covering our city as the hurricane entered as a Category 2 and turned quickly to Category 3. We were thankful when the storm left and cleanup could begin. When the sky was clear, wind and rain had ceased, we felt safe to venture outside to see the aftermath of the storm.

The electricity in our home flickered on and off. Flashlights were ready with new batteries. Provisions were already waiting in the pantry. Water, crackers, peanut butter, cookies and various hurricane essential items.

This storm brought opportunity to pause and write a few blog posts. House cleaning could wait. Laundry could wait. The television and radio were turned off. A good time for writing. If the power turned off and I couldn't use the computer, there was always paper and pen for jotting my thoughts.

I began typing words via the computer. Listening to the wind howling, I wondered if sitting near the window and the computer was a good idea. Paper and pen was the better choice. Turning off the computer, I located one of my favorite pens and a journal.

Ideas rushed into my mind. Stories about hurricanes, preparations for storms, safety of people and animals and ideas of what to do if the power turns off all jumped into my thoughts.

Telling myself, "I can do this. I can write during a hurricane." Boosting my confidence while positioning my chair and supplies away from windows, I was ready to write.

One lesson I learned about writing during a hurricane is that writers can find ideas for stories in any situation, even hurricanes. The longer I sat with pen and paper, the more excited I became over the story lines running through my mind.

From my personal blog posts to guest blog posts to children's stories to young adult stories to fiction and non-fiction, I was filled with story plots and twists.

I don't want another hurricane to visit the area but I am ready with pen and paper. Who knows what ideas will sprout?

Have you written any stories during a hurricane? Share what story lines entered your mind during a storm.

One lesson I learned about writing during a hurricane is that writers can find ideas for stories in any situation, even hurricanes. The longer I sat with pen and paper, the more excited I became over the story lines running through my mind. #seriouslywrite @mimionlife

Stay safe and have a blessed writing day,
Melissa Henderson

Melissa Henderson is a writer of inspirational messages through fiction, non-fiction, devotions, guest blogs, articles and more. Her first children’s book, “Licky the Lizard” was released in 2018. Some of her passions are helping in community and church. Melissa and her husband Alan moved from Virginia to South Carolina in 2017 to be near son, daughter-in-love and first grandchild. The family motto is "It’s Always A Story With The Henderson".

Website and blog : http://www.melissaghenderson.com
Amazon link to "Licky the Lizard"
Facebook : Melissa Henderson, Author
Pinterest : Melissa Henderson
Twitter : @mimionlife

Where's My Pen? Where's My Paper?

A leisurely evening walk through the neighborhood provides great opportunity for story ideas. A trip to the local grocery store, sharing time with grandchildren, staring at the clouds, or pausing to rest and take an afternoon nap can cause story ideas to pop into my thoughts at any moment.

One valuable thing I have learned is to always have paper and pen with me or close by. My husband and I have shared funny experiences like me thinking a cracker wrapper was a snake in the pine straw. Another example is the time I accidentally left a dryer sheet in my husband’s work pants and he found it during a meeting at his office. My husband and our son made a youtube video about the situation. They created a cardbox box and called the device “Automated Dryer Control Sheet System”. Our family enjoys lots of laughter with daily activities. With these situations, I made sure pen and paper were ready so I could jot story ideas.

There have been so many times when something unexpected occurs and I think, “That would make a great story.” Yet, by the time I was able to find a pen and paper, the idea had fizzled out and I had trouble remembering what was so unique about the situation. Time to somehow keep track of these ideas.

Other people use their phones to keep notes. I am not one of those people. I prefer my ink pens and notepads to collect ideas that sprout in thoughts. Whatever the method, having something to keep those thoughts fresh and ready to use for a blog post, article, devotion, story or even just to share with family and friends is very important.

Today, I will keep my small notepad with me and be ready when those experiences make me say, “I want to write about that.”

Today, I will keep my small notepad with me and be ready when those experiences make me say, "I want to write about that." #seriouslywrite @mimionlife

Keep writing and comment below with your favorite way to keep track of ideas.

Thanks for reading.
Have a blessed day,
Melissa Henderson

Melissa Henderson is a writer of inspirational messages through fiction, non-fiction, devotions, guest blogs, articles and more. Her first children’s book, “Licky the Lizard” was released in 2018. Some of her passions are helping in community and church. Melissa and her husband Alan moved from Virginia to South Carolina in 2017 to be near son, daughter-in-love and first grandchild. The family motto is "It’s Always A Story With The Henderson".

Website and blog : http://www.melissaghenderson.com
Amazon link to "Licky the Lizard"
Facebook : Melissa Henderson, Author
Pinterest : Melissa Henderson
Twitter : @mimionlife

The Best Chocolate Comes From Côte d'Ivoire by Peter Leavell

We want more from ourselves.

I mash the remote to watch someone make chocolate cake with chocolate chunks, chocolate frosting, and chocolate candles.

I’m on the couch and reach for the Peanut M&Ms on the coffee table. I drop the remote. Argh. I lean over and pick it up and set it on the armrest. Thankfully, I didn’t have to drop the raised footrest.

I refocus on the food connoisseur, who is taking the time to choose chocolate either from Ecuador or Côte d'Ivoire. I admire the stock snapshots. The cook makes his decision.

When it comes to flour, Europe is worried about Brexit, so their grain may be stressed. Russia is currently outproducing the U.S. in grain exportation, but the cold war is heating up again, so best not buy Russian flour. U.S. flour is the staple, but the chef is feeling like a change. He goes with flour made from Canadian wheat. We’ll see.

He never changes where he procures the eggs. The Buff Orpington chicken gets moody during the summer and longs for human connections, so the farmers bathe, massage, and council every chicken in hopes it lays the highest quality eggs. The hens have a great 401k, four weeks paid vacation, and double chicken-feed-and-a-half for two eggs.

Non-GMO, pesticide free, classical music playing during harvest of rapeseed produces the highest quality canola oil.

Mixed together and lovingly poured in a handmade Chinese stoneware dish, he bakes it in an equally handmade kiln to evenly heat.

There’s an admiration party at the end, when they light the chocolate candle which turns out to be ten-minute-long fireworks show.

I admire the cook’s dedication. The unrelenting focus on perfection and quality. If I was a chef, I would give it that much effort.

But no. I’m a writer.

I slog through another draft. I ignore a section that could be heightened with more research. I don’t rewrite the section that needs it. And the first page is fine as it is.

Meanwhile, somewhere, a mediocre chef turns on the TV and watches a show about the time it takes to write a book, admiring the effort of the author who recreates scenes at locations to get everything right, and rewrites three drafts, and the chef thinks if she were a writer, she’d put that much effort in.

Writers, here’s your permission. Go all in with your writing. You already admire the people who are obsessed. That admiration means it is inside you.

You admire greatness. That means you have greatness waiting inside of you!

Now, go be fanatical.

Cooks can be fanatics, writers can too! Click to tweet it! @peterleavell #writerslife #motivation #seriouslywrite

The Best Chocolate Comes From the Ivory Coast! Click to tweet it! @peterleavell #writerslife #motivation #seriouslywrite

You admire greatness. That means you have greatness waiting inside of you! Click to tweet it! @peterleavell #writerslife #motivation #seriouslywrite

Peter Leavell, a 2007 graduate of Boise State University with a degree in history and currently enrolled in the University's English Lit Graduate program, was the 2011 winner of Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, and 2013 Christian Retailing's Best award for First-Time Author. A novelist, blogger, teacher, ghostwriter, jogger, biker, husband and father, Peter and his family live in Boise, Idaho. Learn more about Peter's books, research, and family adventures at www.peterleavell.com

Story Ideas Abound - - Even in a Surgeon’s Office By Patti Jo Moore

This past Monday morning, I had skin cancer surgery on my face. ☹ Since the area was very close to my right eye, I was a bit nervous, but had been assured this particular surgeon was top-notch (which he was). After having the cancerous place removed, I returned to the waiting room sporting a puffy bandage along with a puffy eye, to sit until the results of my biopsy were back. Since I’d been told this could take a while (two hours), I’d come prepared with a devotional book, my trusty word-search book, and paper and pen. My husband was with me, patiently playing Solitaire on his Kindle as he waited. 😉

After reading devotions and solving word puzzles, I took out my paper and pen. I glanced around the large waiting room at the various people seated around me—all ages of men and women. A teen-aged boy sat beside his mom, a middle-aged man sat nearby, a young woman who appeared close to twenty sat near me, and a sweet, elderly couple sat about ten feet away from me. I didn’t know any of these people, but I knew they all have stories. My writer’s imagination took off, and I began scribbling notes on my paper. My husband even paused during his Solitaire game to see what I was doing.

Before I knew it, a nurse stepped into the waiting area to summon me back to the surgical area again. The surgeon congratulated me and said he’d gotten all the cancer cells in the first cutting, and grinned as he added, “You must be living right.” I quickly told him I’d had lots of wonderful people praying for me, so I was certain that’s why my surgery had a good outcome. When he responded that “having that higher connection” must’ve helped, my writer’s brain again took off. So, as he put a zillion tiny stitches in my face, my mind whirled with thoughts about the surgeon and his life. Was he a believer? What had inspired him to become a surgeon? Listening to the nurse’s comments also prompted story ideas, so when I left the surgeon’s office a while later, I had a plethora of ideas tucked away in my mind.

As writers, we know that story ideas are everywhere. But sometimes—even when we’re in a tense situation and not really focused on our writing—we can still be presented with ideas and characters for future stories. Not to mention that when we’re focused on others, our minds cannot dwell on our own situation and conjuring up worst-case scenarios (especially in a doctor’s office). I left my surgeon’s office feeling relieved (although in pain) and thankful for all the characters I’d “met” that day!

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thess. 5:18

In Tune With Romance 

Amazon Buy Link

Meg Mills is thankful she relocated to Coastal Breeze after becoming widowed two years earlier. As she makes plans to achieve her dream of owning a small bookstore, she begins doubting herself after being harassed by her late husband’s stepmother. She’s also confused at her strong attraction to the shy, lanky piano tuner who arrives for an appointment one day. Todd Davis is grateful for his aunt’s encouragement to move to Coastal Breeze after a painful divorce, and is soon captivated by an outgoing piano tuning client. But he’s an introvert, and feels certain the pretty widow wouldn’t be interested in him. When Todd is hired as the local church’s choir director, he hopes this will help him get to know the attractive widow better—if he can come out of his shell. When the cousin who bullied Todd as a youth unexpectedly arrives in Coastal Breeze, Todd must confront his greatest fear, while getting past the pain of his memories. Meg worries that her exuberant personality has driven Todd away—until she learns the truth Amazon Buy Linkabout his past. Can two people who are polar opposites help each other & find romance in the process?

Patti Jo Moore writes “Sweet, Southern Stories” and has lived in Georgia all her life. Her very first series, Emerald Coast Romances, is published by Forget-Me-Not Romances and is set on the Florida panhandle. Each book is a stand-alone, and Patti Jo hopes her readers enjoy “visiting” her fictional town of Coastal Breeze. The third book is In Tune With Romance and features Meg, an outgoing widow who wants to start her own business, and Todd, an introverted piano-tuner who must confront his greatest fear. Can two people who are polar opposites help each other and find romance in the process?

Patti Jo loves Jesus, her family, cats, and coffee. She loves connecting with other readers and authors. You can visit her on Facebook at Author Patti Jo Moore, or her personal blog at http://catmomscorner.blogspot.com   

Need a Kick in the Motivation? By Marianne Evans

I don't know about you, friends, but in my little slice of the world, life is moving at Mach 3 and I'm just hanging on for the ride. Between work life, writing life, family life, I get to feeling drained at times. Are any of you battling the time monster?

Those are the moments when I count on my faith, my family, my friends, to lift me up. So, with that in mind, I hope you'll allow me the privilege of, hopefully, giving you a shot in the inspiration. 

I pray you enjoy the following, and discover a few moments of joy and uplifting hope!

To start...….

Are you moving a mountain in your life right now? Is the season before you draining and full of an uphill exertion? Maybe there's purpose? An end result that isn't quite visible yet? …

I'm a 50-something, and, at work and in my writing life I sometimes wonder: Am I still "valuable?" Are my goals and objectives, my words and efforts, still important to building God's kingdom? When I feel doubt, I force myself to acknowledge the following:

It's often said worrying about tomorrow steals the joy you can find today. 

That in mind, I thought these words were so on-point (and I certainly need to take them to heart!! How about you?)

OH....YEAH. The power of perseverance. There have been (and, at times, ARE) times I come so close to quitting on the things I love. Is the same true for you? Do you feel knocked down?

KEEP. GETTING. UP.

Another powerful message of affirmation and being an overcomer.

C'mon now...you can DO it!!!!

And, when things don't go to plan....?

Tweak that crown on your head, stare into the mirror and remember...you belong to GOD!!

In conclusion, here's the most important piece of encouragement

I can offer you today...

With hugs, love, and many blessings to you, friends - until next month!

~~~~~

Sometimes, the hardest path to walk is the one that leads you home.

After college, Phillip Fisher shook the dust of Antioch, Indiana from his dress shoes and took off for Indianapolis. For the eldest of the three Fisher men, a business career promised stability and a fruitful future...until unemployment and exhausted resources force him back home.

He returns to Antioch to find his father's declining health, a family farm in disrepair, and heavy doses of resentment from his brother Aaron.

A repentant Phillip pays regular visits to Sundae Afternoon, the sweets and sundry shop run by Mila Thomas. Sundae Afternoon and the Thomas Grocery Market are staples of Antioch, just like the Fisher farm. A less than steady peace exists between the families, but Phillip always intrigued Mila. She admires his attempts to break free; at the same time, his return speaks of a noble, caring man.

But what happens once the farm is restored? What happens when Phillip is called back to Indianapolis? Mila’s roots are firmly grounded, and Phillip might leave all over again. Is returning home and the discovery of an extraordinary love, enough to bring them together forever?

~~~~~

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.

Celebrating Love by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

I’m an unapologetic royal watcher.  I’m also an ever-hopeful believer in fairytales. By that, I don’t mean I hold to unrealistic expectations in perfection – but I do believe in the power of love to overcome daunting odds. I suppose that’s the reason why my genre of choice, as an author and reader, is romance.

So, join me for a few moments at the just-celebrated wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (now TRH The Duke and Duchess of Sussex!). The fascinator's, the dresses, the pomp and pageantry, the stunning wedding gown and sparkling tiara! In a blink I was swept into the world of Windsor. The day just sparkled with sunshine and blue skies.

Then came Bishop Michael Curry’s sermon about the transformative power of love.

His words, to my mind, put the ‘Royal’ in this historic event. They got me thinking about the nuances of love, the struggles of love, the victory of love over daunting odds.

Let me share some of the quotes from this amazing, passionate sermon. Truth resonates, so does a level of encouragement I latched on to immediately.

‘We must discover the power of love. The redemptive power of love. When we do that, we will make the whole world a new world.’

‘There’s power in love. Don’t underestimate it. Don’t over-sentimentalize it. Just know it. There’s power in love.’

‘There’s power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will. There’s power in love to show us the way to live.’

‘Imagine our homes and families when love is the way. Imagine our neighborhoods and communities when love is the way. Imagine our governments and countries when love is the way. Imagine our world when love is the way.’

I realize anew, after watching a royal wedding that took me to church, the reasons why I gravitate toward books based on the discovery of love. The stories, the truth of love's power, calls me. Love celebrates the best of who we are and what we can become.

Could anything be more encouraging as we go about our writing journey?

~~~~~

Amy Monarch is a tireless volunteer at the Dupont Rescue and Recovery Center, an establishment for the destitute founded by her mother. There, Amy has kept her identity a carefully guarded secret. She is actually Princess Amelia Marguerite Louise DeLaGrande of Remeth. Working at Dupont offers the opportunity to serve in blessed disguise.

Fresh into a promising career in commercial real estate brokerage, Patrick Sawyer returns to the picturesque isle of Remeth intending to reconnect with his collegiate study abroad friends and figure out ‘what’s next’ in his life. Since his father’s passing, the world he knows leaves him uninspired. He volunteers at Dupont during his visit, and becomes enchanted by Amy.

But Amelia is trapped within a silken web. When she reveals who she is, Patrick pulls back. He’s not interested in royalty—at all—but how can she ever break free? How can she find a way to service and God’s plan for her life? Most of all, how can she reconcile the call she feels toward a remarkable man who may be ‘common,’ yet is ‘uncommon’ when it comes to matters of the heart?

~~~~~

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.

Don’t Wait, Dream Big by Carrie Lighte

In order to write, I need to walk. Particularly, I need to walk outdoors. There’s something about the rhythm of walking and the openness of landscape that releases my imagination, especially if I have writer’s block. I rarely return from a walk thinking the same thoughts as when I began.

A year and a half ago, I was out walking and thinking about a plot for an Amish romance novel. I’d never written a story with Amish characters, nor had I ever written a romance novel. But I could “see” the entire novel in my mind and I’d read about a publisher who was actively soliciting Amish romance novels—no agent required.

At the end of the hiking trail lay a small collection of stones painted in various colors. Some were decorated with faces and flowers, some were inscribed with words. Walkers were encouraged to take one or two and to paint and bring back a few for someone else to find.

I chose a blue rock with red lettering saying, “Don’t Wait.” A few days later, I took a green rock with the words, “Dream Big,” written in silver paint. I chose those specific rocks because they mirrored how I felt about writing the Amish romance novel.

I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. I dreamed big by working hard and soon I’d finished the book. I was very excited but a few people familiar with the publishing business listed all the reasons I shouldn’t get my hopes up. They also suggested I wait to submit the manuscript until I’d done X, Y, and Z.

I knew they had my best intentions in mind, so I carefully considered their advice and prayed for God’s guidance, just as I’d done all along. Then I submitted the book. Long story short, the publisher offered a contract. A year and a half later, I’ve completed three books in a six-book miniseries contracted with that same publisher.

I often wonder where my novel would be now if I’d taken the advice of those who told me to wait. I understand the publishing journey requires a lot of patience; without it, writers will neither survive nor progress. But sometimes we’re so thrilled to get our first awards/agents/contracts/etc. that we allow others to make decisions about our writing for us. I think that’s a mistake.

I’m not suggesting anyone should send out a first draft manuscript, nor do I think waiting to submit one’s work is a bad idea. The fact is I don’t know what’s best for anyone else’s creative process or road to publication. I only know that after much prayer and consideration, I was confident about my direction, despite the “expert” naysayers.

If I could decorate two rocks to give to the writers reading this, the stones would say, “Pray hard” and “It’s your path.” But I’d understand if you chose a rock with flowers on it instead, and I’d wish you joy and success along your way.

What would you paint on a rock encouragement?

~~~~~~~

Carrie Lighte is the author of the Amish Country Courtships Love Inspired miniseries. In addition to romance novels, she’s written and published poetry, short stories and greeting card verse. When she’s not writing or reading, she can be found hiking, kayaking or body boarding with her family on Cape Cod.


Anna's Forgotten Fiancé

An accident leaves Anna Weaver with no memory of her Amish hometown’s newest arrival—her fiancé! After a whirlwind courtship, their wedding’s in six weeks…but how can she marry a man she can’t remember? Carpenter Fletcher Chupp takes her on a walk down memory lane, but there’s one thing he wants to keep hidden: a secret that might just lose him the woman he loves.

Pinterest 101 for Authors by Taylor Bennett

Taylor Bennett

Inspiration.

It’s a word that sends shivers up and down the spine of every writer.

Inspiration—if you have it, you’re on the right track. If you don’t have it—if you spend your days chasing feather-light images and reaching to grasp half-formed ideas—writing can be a struggle.

So what do you do when your well of ideas runs dry? When you’ve tried everything you can think of but your creativity is still MIA?

Stop stressing and get on Pinterest.

Just because you can use Pinterest to market your book, doesn’t mean that there aren’t other uses for it as well. The second I get a seed for an idea, I hop on Pinterest. With the simple click of a search button, I have hundreds of thousands of images—of ideas—at my fingertips.

I search for images that fit the “feel” of my idea.

Sometimes I’m not exactly sure what that feel is, and that’s one of the things that Pinterest helps me discover. I start with pictures of my setting and characters. As I search for images, I take note of the color scheme—am I drawn to dark, moody shots or light, airy pics? Maybe it’s a bit of both at the beginning but, as I continue to refine my search, browsing images of important objects (jewelry, a special key, a treasured photo album, etc.) there tends to be a type of photo that dominates my board.

Before I look at my board as a whole, I make sure I have at least one picture for each of these items:

·          

* Main Character

* Supporting Characters

* Main Character’s House

* Other Important Locations

* Overall Setting (Oregon, Hawaii, France, etc.)

* Animals

* Important Objects

* Characters’ Cars

* Quotes

* Aesthetic Pictures (maybe you know you want to have a scene that takes place under the stars—find a few pictures taken of the starry midnight sky, or maybe your character takes a train ride—find a shot taken from the window of a train)

At first, add as many aesthetic pictures and quotes as you’d like—who knows what will jump-start your creativity? As you search for pictures, let your mind wander. Ask questions about the people/objects in the photos. If you don’t have an answer for every question right away, don’t worry about it. Just focus on telling a story with your Pins.

Stick with your board and keep asking questions until you have a solid idea for a synopsis, then start plotting. Take those ideas and emotions you gathered together on your board and weave them into a synopsis.

Once you’ve taken time to plot out your book and finally start Chapter One, you’ll be amazed by how easy it is to describe your story world. If you need to know something about what a particular character looks like/what they see out of their bedroom window/how long the chain of their necklace is, chances are, it’s already saved to your Pinterest board.

You can check out the inspiration board for my debut novel, Porch Swing Girl, here.

(https://www.pinterest.com/Taylor__Bennett/porch-swing-girl/?eq=porch&etslf=NaN)

~~~~~

Porch Swing Girl releases May 1st, but you can pre-order the e-book now.

Porch Swing Girl by Taylor Bennett

What if friendship cost you everything? 

Stranded in Hawaii after the death of her mother, sixteen-year-old Olive Galloway is desperate to escape. She has to get back to Boston before her dad loses all common sense

and sells the family house. But plane tickets cost money—something Olive gravely lacks.

With the help of Brander, the fussy youth group worship leader, and Jazz, a mysterious girl with a passion for all things Hawaiian, Olive lands a summer job at the Shave Ice Shack and launches a scheme to buy a plane ticket home before the end of the summer.

But when Jazz reveals a painful secret, Olive’s plans are challenged. Jazz needs money. A lot of it. Olive and Brander are determined to help their friend but, when their fund-raising efforts are thwarted, Olive is caught in the middle. To help Jazz means giving up her ticket home. And time is running out.

~~~~~

Homeschooled since kindergarten, Taylor Bennett is the seventeen-year-old author of Porch Swing Girl, which will be released by Mountain Brook Ink on May 1^st. When she’s not reading or writing, Taylor can be found playing her violin or taking walks in the beautiful Oregon countryside. She loves to connect with readers via her author website, as well as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (her favorite!), Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Links:

Website: http://taylor--bennett.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaylorBennettAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/writer__taylor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylor.bennett.author/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Taylor__Bennett/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/66039360-taylor-bennett

Order on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2CVIZOR