Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak by Melinda V. Inman

Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak 

‘Tis the season. The political arguments have begun, or rather, have merely continued. The election season conflicts of four years ago never ended. How can Christian writers help to keep peace in a fiercely divided nation mid-pandemic and racial conflict? Therein lies the rub.

What's Your Vision by Sally Shupe

Encouragement comes in many forms. A smile from a stranger. An encouraging word at just the right time. A phone call from a friend you haven’t heard from in a while. An unexpected letter in the mail. During this time of distancing, aloneness, hiding behind a mask, encouragement may be hard to find. You can’t see smiles behind masks. It’s hard to talk behind a mask, so you may keep your conversations short. But, now more than ever, we need to encourage and lift up each other.

One thing I’ve learned about remote working/flexible schedules/etc. is there’s no way to know what someone is going through or facing. If your conversations are over text or email, it’s hard to read tone and what’s not being said. Is your coworker having a hard time being stuck at home? Is your friend busy working and homeschooling?

How are they dealing with that? Now is the time to reach out and be an encouragement to others!

It’s been said writing is a lonely profession. Just you, your computer or pad and paper, and the words. Who says it has to be that way? Let’s band together and be an encourager. Let’s lift each other up. At work, it’s nice to hear someone from high up thank you for your work and dedication. It’s exhilarating to hear from a reader who really connected with your words. Let’s be intentional with our words of praise.

What’s your vision? Starting a book? Deep cleaning a room? Sticking with an exercise program? Share in the comments and let’s encourage each other! We are not alone. If you’re going through something, someone else is coming out of it. Who will you encourage?

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

It’s been said writing is a lonely profession. Just you, your computer or pad and paper, and the words. Who says it has to be that way?

Now is the time to reach out and be an encouragement to others!

Sally Shupe lives in southwest Virginia with her husband, has two grown kids-a daughter still at home and a son not-so nearby, and a whole bunch of pets: four dogs, three cats, a rabbit, and birds at the birdfeeder (and the mandatory snowman when the snow cooperates). She is an aspiring Christian author of small town contemporary inspirational romance, with two completed manuscripts and several more in progress.

When Sally’s not writing or working full-time, she is a freelance editor for several authors who write fiction and nonfiction; students working on dissertation papers; a copy editor/content editor for several e-book publishing companies; performs beta reading for various authors; publishes book reviews; is a member of ACFW; and loves genealogy, running, and crocheting.

Sally publishes weekly blog posts that can be found through her website: https://sallyshupe.weebly.com/, and she posts on the first Thursday of the month at https://seriouslywrite.blogspot.com

Tips on Using Your Book Reviews by Jo Huddleston

Oh, how we love those four- and five-star book reviews readers give us on Amazon! On the other hand, how deflated we feel when we read those other, less complimentary reviews.

Upon reading discouraging book reviews, many authors determine they’ll never read a review again. But the lure remains, and occasionally writers will sneak another peek at their reviews if just to learn the average stars their books are garnering.

But instead of allowing good reviews to puff up our egos or bad reviews to devastate us, here are tips how you can use them all beneficially:

Is Your Comfort Zone Hurting You? by Emily Conrad

 When was the last time you purposely ventured from your comfort zone?
Oh, I know--you've been forced out of your comfort zone plenty this year. And that may have you feeling like you're scraping by and unable to handle any more challenges right now.
That could be the case. There's a time for everything, and it could be that right now, you're called to draw close to God and rest.
But I've also found that sometimes, what leaves me feeling unmoored and exhausted is I've clung too closely to a comfort zone that's no longer benefiting me.