We're Constantly Kept

This article from Laura V. Hilton was originally posted in March 2015, but it was such a good lesson, I thought all those of you who have recently joined would enjoy it. ~ Angie

I was recently asked in an interview to share a time I felt God’s separation—His departure from my story. I was unclear whether the context of the question meant God Himself stepping back and rejecting it, or the plague of writers known as writer’s block. Ugh, writer’s block. I’m told that comes from not knowing the characters well enough. I am not a plotter. I rely heavily on God while writing, and God knows my characters and the story He wants me to tell, even when I do not.

I stared at the question, not knowing what to say. I have known disappointment when a story I felt close to was rejected by a publisher. I have been saddened by not always achieving the dream for my books I wanted, but I have never known God to leave me or my story.

God’s word brings a promise: “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.’” Hebrews 13-5:6.

God doesn’t ask us to write any of our stories alone. He will never abandon us and will answer our prayers for clarity of words, for the guidance in writing plot, for wisdom in the spiritual application. Jesus is the only one who can honestly say, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46.

His presence may seem faint or quiet at times, but it is never absent. He always stays near, sometimes reaching us through a song, a friend or loved one, another book, His Word, or a walk through the woods while we spend time in prayer and meditation. His Word guarantees that we are constantly kept.

How do you find God’s voice when He seems quiet?

About the Author

Award-winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and three of their children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom, and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Laura also has two adult children.

Laura V. Hilton

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Bird House in September 2015.

See below for information on Laura's latest, The Christmas Admirer. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.

Connect with Laura
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit her blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ &http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Laura_V_Hilton or@Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

The Christmas Admirer

The Christmas Admirer
by Laura V. HIlton

by Laura V. Hilton

Benaiah Troyer has loved Susanna King for as long as he can remember, but other than a lone summer filled with romantic buggy rides, marrying her remains an elusive dream. When his parents died in an accident a year ago, he broke up with her—for her own good. After all, they left him as the sole caregiver for his three younger sisters and his grandparents. What woman wants to step into a ready-made family like his? Still, he leaves her monthly gifts from “A Secret Admirer,” hoping she’ll know that someone loves her, even though he isn’t free to step forward.

Susanna has never gotten over losing Benaiah, and hopes he’s her secret admirer, but now the clock is ticking. Susanna’s father is remarrying in January and his wife-to-be doesn’t want to leave her Amish community and family in Iowa. So when Susanna’s daed sells his glass-blowing business to his right-hand man, Benaiah, she’s left with three options: 1) Go with Daed to his new home with a new frau and step-kinner, 2) Flush out her mysterious secret admirer, or 3) Resign herself to life as an old maid. She doesn’t want to follow Daed where his new frau is leading him. And number three isn’t happening. Marrying Benaiah is her greatest desire—but he broke her heart, and now he treats her like a pesky younger sister. Can she make him see her as a woman, one who could stand by his side as he cares for his family?

As Christmas approaches, Susanna and her friends start making gingerbread houses for select members of the community. Susanna plans for hers to go to Benaiah’s family. But while her gingerbread may find a home—will her heart?

For more posts by Laura V. Hilton, click here.

What To Do When Your Manuscript Is Stuck by Vannetta Chapman

Vannetta Chapman

I love new ideas. You know that moment--the one where you're looking at a brand new page, on a clean new document. That place where you are just beginning. It's like an unmarked page on a brand new calendar. There are limitless possibilities!
Fast forward a month, or several months, and suddenly you're rather tired of these people you have created. You're not sure where they're headed, or why they're going there. You really wish you could just move on to another project. Or maybe that's just me!

So what do you do when your manuscript is stuck in the mud? How do you move on? I'm working on my twenty-fifth manuscript, so I have some experience with this phenomenon. Here are a few things that have helped me over the hump.

• Stop and write your ending. I do this every book now. I begin at the beginning, and then write until I'm bored. That's usually somewhere between 30 and 40 thousand words. When I find myself STUCK (playing more solitaire, cleaning out the bottom desk drawer--you know the symptoms), I move on and write the ending of my story. This might be one chapter or a dozen. You might be asking, “How can you know the ending if you don't know the middle?” I just envision where I want my characters to be when the book is done.
• Take a break! Sometimes you need a day or two, maybe even a week, away from your manuscript. Set a defined limit and give yourself time off, then start back at it with a well-rested mind.
• Go to the hammock with a pen and paper. Write down 10 things that could happen to your characters. Don't police your thoughts. Anything goes here! Be as outlandish as you'd like. The next day look at your list, pick one idea, and follow that thread.
• Consult your notes. If you had any original notes for your manuscript (or even an outline, maybe a synopsis), pull it out and look at it. No doubt, your characters have developed in different ways than you imagined and your plot has taken a few curves. What about those original notes still appeals to you?
• Pray. You initially felt that God put this story on your heart to share. Ask for guidance and a direction. Ask that God bless your words and your work and use it to touch lives.
• Keep writing. Even when it feels like you're writing complete nonsense, keep writing. Push through until you find the path your characters are supposed to take. Yes, you may delete some of these pages later, but deleting is not a problem. Just. Keep. Writing.

Being stuck is not a sign of imminent disaster. In my opinion, it's a natural part of the writing process. Hopefully one of these ideas will help you when you’re stuck in the mud. Now it's your turn. What suggestions do you have for writers who are stuck?

About the Author

Murder Freshly Baked
by Vannetta Chapman

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. Her novel, Falling to Pieces, was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award winner for best mystery. She writes Amish mysteries for Zondervan, Amish romances for Harvest House and Amish novellas for Abingdon and Zondervan. All of her books have been Christian Book Distributor bestsellers. Her most recent release is Murder Freshly Baked, the third book in her Amish Village Mystery series. Chapman lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.

Murder Freshly Baked
When delicious baked goods become lethal, a trail of poetry leads to a sweet-toothed killer.

The Amish Artisan Village of Middlebury, Indiana, might be the last place you would ever expect to find a murderer. But Amber has been managing the Village for decades and there’s nothing she hasn’t seen. Or so she thought.

When poetic notes begin appearing around the bakery, warning that some of the pies have been poisoned, Amber is as confused as she is concerned. Who poisons pies? And more to the point, who leaves poems of warning after they’ve done it?

Can Amber and Hannah help the police before the Poison Poet strikes? Both women will need to draw on their faith to preserve the peaceful community they’ve built in Middlebury . . . and to protect the girls who work in the Amish Artisan Village.

Tips for Overcoming Writer's Block by Rosemary Hines

Rosemary Hines

There’s nothing more frustrating than sitting at your computer with deadlines looming and no words flowing. Here are a few ideas for overcoming writer’s block that I shared recently on my author page.

1. Take some time to step back and reread the whole story you have written up to this point. Sometimes that process ignites an idea that will ignite the flow again.
2. Get alone with your main character and interview her. Ask her why she is getting stuck. Where is she hoping to go next with her life and what is holding her back? Ask her to share her innermost fears with you as well as her hopes and dreams. Give her time to open up to you. Maybe she is in need of a visit from someone who will encourage, motivate, or inspire her to press on. Maybe she's needing to be jolted by a life altering event that neither of you expected when you began writing her story. My guess is that if YOU are stuck, it's because SHE is.
3. Think of a captivating scene that would draw the reader into the text (scary, tense, exciting) and put your character in the middle of that scene. As you begin to describe the scene and her reactions to it, she may begin to tell you the next chapter herself.
4. Set a timer. It’s amazing how limiting your writing time can actually help increase productivity. Make it short, like 5-10 minutes. During that time, write from your stream of consciousness as you think about your character, story, or the process of writing itself. Knowing you won’t have to sit there staring at the computer screen or yellow pad for hours can really open the floodgates. Even if you begin with something simple like this example: “I have no idea what to write, but I’m going to keep going until the timer rings. As I think about my character, I wonder what keeps her up at night. Does she have the same worries about ________ that I have right now in our family? Does she ever think of escaping and running away? If yes, where would she go?”
5. Step back from the manuscript and clarify/define the theme of your story. Especially in Christian fiction, we have an obligation to consider the message we are communicating. When I taught writing, I always had my students begin with a theme or life lesson readers could take away from their stories. The world can offer stories with ambiguous themes or pure sensationalism, but we are called to a higher bar of using our words to communicate Truth. Your story might be stuck because the theme or life lesson has not yet been defined. Give specific purpose to your character’s journey and the path will become clearer.
6. Get some fresh air. Take a walk alone with God. Check in and make sure your relationship with Him is up to date and intimately connected. As you walk, open up and share with Him your roadblock. Then be observant. Look at the amazing intricacy of creation surrounding you. The God, who made it all, dwells within you and desires to speak through you in your story. Sometimes we get so consumed with the writing and the deadlines that we forget to draw our inspiration from the Author of Life.

About the Author

Into Magnolia

Rosemary Hines is the author of the Sandy Cove series ~ contemporary Christian fiction with a message. She taught writing at a secondary level for fifteen years and has been published in such magazines as Signs of the Times and Woman’s World. She and her husband live in California where they enjoy spending time with their children and two new granddaughters. For more information and other helpful tips, you can follow Rosemary on her Facebook author page at https://www.facebook.com/RosemaryHinesAuthorPage and visit her on the web at www.rosemaryhines.com

Derailing Doubt by Christine Johnson

Christine Johnson here. I’m thrilled to be with you today. Not so thrilled that I still have to battle the Big D. You know what it is. That little voice that says your writing is horrible, that you’ll never write again, that no sane reader would ever spend real money on your book. Doubt. This one is nasty. It’ll cripple your writing. I thought it would disappear after I got published. Nope, it just thinks up new ways to sneak in and set up shop.

So how do I put the Big D on the last train out of town?

First: Pray. Surrender your writing to God and let Him remind you that not only did He give you these stories for a reason, but also He’ll equip you for the challenge. I love Debby Giusti’s Writer’s Prayer and use it constantly.

Second: Write. Write anything, no matter how lousy. Give yourself permission to let loose and send the internal editor on vacation. Be totally wild and over the top. Torture your heroine or give her the most gorgeous hero or whatever brings back the joy of writing. Most of all, just do it. Which brings me to…

Third: Pretend That It’s Just for Me. I don’t know about you, but the pressure of writing for readers or editors can make me tense. Okay, maybe it’s just me. I have no problem when the writing is going great, but when dredging up each word feels like digging a lake with a teaspoon, I tell myself that this story is for my eyes only. Yep, I psyche myself out. Sadly, it usually works. If not…

Fourth: Remember Who is in Charge. This should probably be number one. God is Creator of all, including stories, and if He never gives me another one, I must trust that He has something more important for me to do.

Fifth: Friends. Not just any friends—writer friends, those amazing treasures who both encourage and give the much needed kick in the behind when necessary. They remind me of steps 1-4 when Doubt has my mind so confused that I can’t think straight. Cherish them, for they’re priceless.

I’d love to hear what you do to derail Doubt.

Christine Johnson writes historical romances for Love Inspired Historical. Set in the Roaring Twenties, her small-town dreamers seize adventure while holding fast to home and family. This month’s release, Legacy of Love, highlights the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb ninety years ago. Inspired by the find, the heroine sets out to unearth a long lost fortune right in her hometown, but what she discovers instead will tear open old wounds and drive away the man she loves. You can find out more about the author and her books on her website at  http://christineelizabethjohnson.com  or on Facebook at Christine Johnson Author.

When in Doubt by Linda Condolora

The dreaded blank page - some days it is our nemesis, some days, a symbol of endless possibilities. Too many times, instead of fueling my creative juices, the blank page has filled me with doubt. I have found myself staring at the page as questions invaded my mind, one after another. What do you have to say that anyone could possibly want to read? Who are you to call yourself a writer? Why not just give up writing – life would be easier. Did God really call you to write? I’m learning to ignore those thoughts and remind myself of the importance of what we do as writers. If you ever find yourself doubting and questioning why you write, let me share with you some facts that help me and hopefully, will help you as well.

First and foremost, words matter to God. For example, He commands the Jews, in Exodus 20:7, not to misuse His name. And in Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus warns that we will have to give an account for the words we speak and be acquitted or condemned by them. Obviously, God cares about the spoken word. But what I find more interesting is how important the written word is to Him. Back to Exodus 20:7. This verse is part of what we call the Ten Commandments and the Jews call the Law. God did not depend only on word of mouth or prophecy to communicate with His people. He also used the written word. Here, He even did the writing Himself. Exodus 31:18 tells us, “he gave him (Moses) the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.” God used the written word to communicate His law to His people, and it was written in His own hand.

Second, God calls some from among His people to write. The entire Bible, inspired by the Holy Spirit and penned by men of God, was written down and painstakingly copied – every jot and tittle – so we would have the very words of God in our hands today. God used His people then to write His word, and He is still using people to write down His message for everyone to read. At some point, you became aware of God’s call to write and you answered it. It is a difficult calling and can be lonely, but it is an important task to be undertaken.  Whether you write fiction, non-fiction, devotionals or Bible studies, God has chosen you to get His message out to the people.  

So, the next time you face the blank page and begin doubting the call, remind yourself of how highly God values the spoken and written word. Take some time to recall the moment you realized He had called you to write for Him. Remember, He chose you from among His people for this task, and God doesn’t make mistakes. Then write. Write with the passion of one who is called. Write for Him.

Linda Condolora is a writer of Christian non-fiction, a speaker and a teacher of Ladies’ Bible classes. She has had articles published in ChristianWoman Magazine, has been the keynote speaker at regional retreats and is currently working on her first book. She lives in central NY with her husband and enjoys studying the Word, scrapbooking and spending time with her family, including her new granddaughter.

To find out more about Linda, book her for your event or connect with her, please visit:

Web: http://www.lindacondolora.com

Blog: http://www.blog.lindacondolora.com

Speaking: http://www.speakergram.com/register_event/Linda_Condolora

http://www.womenspeakers.com/speakers/search.php?city=East%20Syracuse

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linda.condolora

Twitter: @LindaCondolora

Writer’s Block – A Practical Approach

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about writer’s block and how to be encouraged as you work your way through it. For today’s This-n-That Thursday, I thought I’d give you a few exercises to help you do just that.

If your writer’s block happens in the middle of a project:

1. Character diaries – Choose one of your characters and begin a diary. How does your character feel at this point of your story? What does he/she think is going to happen next?
2. Timeline – Make a timeline of the action leading up to this point, and then make tentative timelines that detail what could happen afterwards.
3. Brainstorm – Write down every single idea, regardless of how silly. (This is also a good way to silence that inner editor.)

If you have writer’s block at the beginning of a project:

1. Research Trip – Go somewhere to do research on your project. If you are writing a historical, go to a local museum or library. If you write mysteries, interview a private investigator. Take lots of notes and see if you can get inspired.
2. Committee – Form a committee of your writing buddies and ask them to help you bounce around ideas. You can do this virtually by using Skype or some other video conferencing program.
3. Free write – Just open a blank document and start writing. Sometimes the blank page is so imposing to a writer. Getting something down on the page cuts down on the pressure. Titles – Brainstorm prospective titles for your next project. (Remember, “brainstorm” means write down everything.)

If you’d like more exercises to help you combat writer’s block, here are a few websites:

The Writer’s Block

Overcoming Writer’s Block

Hack Your Way Out of Writer’s Block

I’d love to hear from you as well. Have you ever had writer’s block? How long did it last? How did you finally break it?

~ Angie

Pressing On - Writer's Block

Writer's Block

Philippians is one of my favorite books in the Bible. It is a compact book so full of deep wisdom and practical direction. One of my favorite verses in this little gem of a book is the last part of the 13 – 14th verses of chapter 3:

“… Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me …” (Philippians 3:13b – 14a, NIV)

Written by Paul around the first century, it still holds the Truth today. Did you know that Paul has a chronic physical problem? In his second letter to the church at Corinth, he tells them that he prayed for healing, but God told him, “No.” At that point, most of us would give up, but instead of wallowing in self-pity, he made a decision to embrace his weakness. In fact, verse 10 of chapter twelve says,

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10, NIV)

No, he wasn’t crazy. He was saying that when he reached a point where he couldn’t do anything (you know you’ve been there), that’s when he let God take over. And God would always work in mighty ways. That’s the prize that Paul wanted – the life that God created just for him.

And we can apply that to our writing life as well. We've all had a time when we "hit the wall." The dreaded writer's block can hit at any time. You know what it's like: staring at a blank page or screen, hoping and praying for just one good sentence, erasing more than you type. Not only is it unproductive, it's downright scary. All you can think of is, "What if I can't write any more?"

I've always heard it said that the best way to break through writer's block is to write. James Scott Bell sets a daily goal of "the nifty 350." He says that if he can get past those first 350 words, then the rest of his writing is easier. But he does press on to write that set amount of words, he doesn't just sit there.

And that’s where we’ve got to do, too. The prize that God planned for us is just over that hill of writer's block, pain, discouragement, or grief. So rather than wallow in what we can't do, or rest on what we have done, we need to start fresh each morning. We just need to depend on God, looking to His word and be comforted knowing that He will give us the strength - and the words - we need each day.