Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, fellow writers! 

Your hostesses here at Seriously Write pray you have a blessed and joyous holiday with your loved ones. We're taking the week off, but we'll be back next week with more great posts to inspire and bless you on your writing journey as we begin a new year! 

God bless!

Lessons Learned Along the Writing Road in 2012 by Beth K. Vogt

As we journey towards publication and beyond, we may strive to gain as much knowledge as we can about writing, networking and the publishing industry. But we also might be surprised by other lessons that come our way. Author Beth K. Vogt shares some of her own. 
~ Dawn

Lessons Learned Along

the Writing Road in 2012

by Beth K. Vogt

There are certain practical lessons I’ve learned along the writing road, such as:

1. My commitment to not read reviews? Tough to do when people forward reviews – both the good and the bad. Or when I wander onto Goodreads and Amazon and Barnes and Nobles …
2. A reviewer’s opinion about my writing isn’t ’a judgment against me as a person – or even me as a writer. It’s an opinion. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Besides those two lessons, there is one lesson I learned in 2012 that changed me – emotionally, spiritually and mentally. And it’s this:

In God’s economy, my journey along the writing road is all

about making me look more like him and a whole lot less like me.

I am called to be a writer—enabled by God to be a writer. I am created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27)—meant to reflect him to the world through my words, actions and interactions. (2 Cor. 3:18) One of the things God wants to do is transform me—change me from who I am into the woman he wants me to be. 

How does he do this? Through the circumstances of my life. Some of my circumstances relate to me as a woman, a mom, a daughter, a sister, a friend.

But this past year as I shifted under the weight of the title “debut author,” a whole new set of circumstances materialized. At times, I cared (too much) about reviews and stars and followers and blog comments.

Guess what?

God only cares about how all those things affect me on a soul-deep level. And they do. They do. 

Success revealed my good and not-so-good heart attitudes. Some days I handled success quite well. And some days … well, I didn’t. At times I envied other writers’ front and center stage moments, wondering why the spotlight wasn’t on me. At times I doubted myself, spending too much time focused on me, myself, and I. That is a whole other form of self-centeredness.

With 2012 drawing to a close, here’s the truth I’m taking with me into 2013, with its 365 unblemished days:

In God’s eternal mindset, writing is a means to an end.

Yes, I will continue to pray that he bless the work of my hands. (Psalm 90:17) But I will also ask him to use my journey along the writing road to rub off my rough edges, revealing both my strengths and my weaknesses. And when I reach the end of the road, I pray I don’t recognize myself. Instead, I hope my life reflects God to the world.

Click to reach Amazon.

Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. She’s discovered that God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.”  Her inspirational contemporary romance novel, Wish You Were Here, debuted May 2012 (Howard Books.) Her second novel, Catch a Falling Star, releases May 2013. Beth is also an established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS International.  

To learn more about Beth, please visit www.bethvogt.com

If the world ends tomorrow…what memories have I made? by Michele Chynoweth

This is a time of year famous for reflecting back on the year(s) past. Perhaps, it is more poignant today with tomorrow’s predicted “End of the World” according to the Mayan calendar. Now I don’t really believe that’s going to happen. Of course, I have no idea – only God knows for sure. But if it did…

I would be grateful for the following:

- Having my two novels, The Faithful One and The Peace Maker, published by a Christian publisher. More than that, for having found my true purpose in life, in being led by my Creator to write inspirational fiction;

- Marrying my best friend Bill Chynoweth in October, 2010 and raising our “blended” family –my children Will (22), Mike (20) and Kendra (16) and his children Morgan (16) and Bobby (14). Now four of the five live with us (!) Stressful and challenging? Yes. Rewarding? Definitely, when I allow myself to see it;

- My wonderful readers – and all of the new friends I’ve made on my writing journey;

- And I would even be grateful for all of the hardships and painful times in my life: a childhood abuse by my Catholic school teacher, depression and the effects of the family disease of alcoholism, a failed marriage and divorce, a miscarriage, a business I had to close after 20 years due to the recession…because all of these have given me something to write about, something to share with readers to give them some hope and extend how faith really works if you believe.

This past weekend I watched the Connecticut school tragedy on the news and the movie, “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World,” with Steve Carrell and Keira Knightley. They both made me think that the world and what happens in it often don’t make sense. Like Job (and Seth Jacobs in my novel, The Faithful One, we can often find ourselves questioning God: “Why me?” or “Why do bad things happen to good people?” And, as God answers, most often it is beyond our mere human comprehension, and we can only comfort ourselves by realizing we have to turn our will and lives over to His care and just have faith in His plan.

Both shows made me also realize that we have to count each day as precious and really be present to those around us, because it is these special times – often unexpected, when you’re open to them – that become fond memories. (For example, when two of my teenage kids actually had fun for a few hours finding and decorating the Christmas tree two weeks ago.)

This past weekend, however, I found myself so busy in the “trappings” of Christmas (cards, shopping, wrapping), that I couldn’t concentrate on what was really important (God, family, friends). That made me wake up sad Monday morning. I realized I had spent hardly any time with my husband and children. So I think I’ll go home tonight and hug them all and tell them I love them – and hopefully spend some quality time with them – because you just never know how much time we have left.

Chessa's husband, Darren Richards, is a behind-the-scenes narcissistic abusive alcoholic. None of that changes when he becomes the leading candidate for President of the United States. Chessa’s worries about her husband reach a fevered pitch as he closes in on winning the nation’s highest office. How can she support his candidacy, even if it will mean becoming First Lady?

Meanwhile, Darren’s opponent, Leif Mitchell, is selected from his humble life as a stable hand and country rock singer to run for political office. His charm and leadership pave the way for him to become a national hero and a real threat as the leading Republican presidential candidate. A powerful Darren will stop at nothing to bring Leif down, causing Leif to reconsider his “high road” approach to politics.

When Chessa finds out Leif is preparing to seek revenge on Darren in an attack that will not only destroy her husband’s candidacy, but will probably cost other innocent lives as well, she is suddenly faced with a decision: Should she preserve peace at all costs, protecting those who would become collateral damage as a result of the ensuing battle – and in default, her husband—in turn sacrificing her freedom and risking her own life? Should she try to stop Leif, which may ruin his chances but save his soul?

Purchase Link for The Peace Maker 

Meet Michele Chynoweth

Michele Chynoweth has worked in journalism, advertising and marketing prior to becoming a published author. She has won several awards for her work including first place in the drama category of the Maryland Writers Association Fiction Contest.  She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, is recently remarried, has five children and lives in her native Maryland.

Michele believes that the stories in the Bible - and more importantly, the people captured in them - are compelling, but because they were written so long ago, readers today have difficulty relating to or comprehending them. She therefore would like to continue writing novels that "re-imagine" them through modern-day versions that grip today's readers and still get God's messages across.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/michelechynoweth

http://michelechynoweth1.wordpress.com

Ask O: Why Christian Fiction

Happy Wednesday, my writing friends,

My new book, Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska, releases in a couple weeks—January 1. Woo hoo! My co-author Tricia Goyer and I are having a blast with the pre-launch activities. And it’s been fun refreshing my memory about the story and the characters.

As I ponder the emotional and spiritual themes, I’m brought back to the intense journey the story brought me through. As I related to my characters’ fears, failures, and victories, I wept and rejoiced with her, feeling her emotions deeply—as if my own.

And I was blessed. By her struggles, courage, growing faith, and by God's grace to her.

This reminded me of why I read Christian fiction. I often hear writing coaches say we write first and foremost to entertain. I understand where they’re coming from. I do. A book must grab my interest for me to persevere, but I turn to secular fiction if all want is a jolly ride. I crave Christian fiction for a deeper reason. Don’t you?

Romance

I love a good romance. And by good I mean, well, good. I delight in a romance where the man respects the woman. Where the heroine longs not just to be fulfilled, but to serve and love sacrificially. I want to read not only a sexually pure book (I want that, too), but also one that cherishes that bond beyond the trashy way the world views it. Also, commitment, loyalty, forgiveness—I value these things and I relish stories that embrace them as well. Don’t forget the best parts about romance are the parallels to God’s love for us.

Suffering

As Christians we look at suffering differently than the world, don’t we? We know God doesn’t promise a perfect life. He promises something better—to be with us during every trial. We’ve all heard we must torture our protagonists. It’s true; a good story needs lots of conflict. What an opportunity we have to demonstrate God’s ever-present love through life’s struggles. When I see a heroine rescued by a tender loving Father, it resonates and I want to read more.

Inspired

Some of my favorite books have enlightened me in some way. I’ll never forget the character in one of Francine Rivers’ novels who couldn’t move, but found her purpose in silent prayer. When I struggle with low-energy, that character comes back to mind, and I’m comforted that I’m just where God wants me. Isn’t that incredible? Can we do that as authors? Inspire readers to cling closer to Christ, to find healing in their journey? I pray so. (By the way, I once asked Francine Rivers how to write such inspirational stories and she said to bury yourself in the Word. Great advice!)
 

So, friends, let' make our stories so gripping they can’t stop reading, but let’s not forget this incredible opportunity we have. I know for me, I pick up a Christian fiction novel, not only to be entertained, but to be blessed as well.

 

How about you? What are some of your favorite Christian fiction novels and why? I'd love to hear.

 

God bless and happy writing,

 

Ocieanna