He’s Got a Plan
I’m so glad God has a plan for each of our lives. His purpose, His will, and His plan for my life have taken lots of twists and turns over the years. Ultimately, it’s always been good (although it didn’t always feel so good) whether it’s been in my family life, my work life, my church life, or my personal life.
Although my family was tainted by heartache, God’s plan for family life has a special purpose and framework. You get married, have children, raise them to love God and be productive people, and then watch them start their own families. What a beautiful plan God created for the family unit, and I’m blessed to experience it now.
In my work life, I’ve gone from being a preschool teacher to a grade-school teacher to a missions curriculum writer to an editor and editorial director to an author and now a full-time freelance writer/editor/writing coach. Whew! It can make my head spin just to think about it all, but I’ve loved every season the Lord gave me in these unique and wonderful opportunities. Now, as I work on my novel, I continue to trust in His plan for my writing life.
In my church life, though I’ve been a part of several churches over the years, in every one I’ve been blessed and made a point to serve wherever I could as well as be a part of a small group when I could. Each time I’ve had rich, and sometimes stretching, experiences that have helped me to grow and mature in Christ.
And personally? Oh what a treasure each of my friends and family have been—from childhood until now! Some have been lifetime friends; other have passed through my life like a fragrant breeze. Some have shaken me to my core and caused me to kneel at His feet in tears, while others have taught me the meaning of humility, contrition, and redemption.
Through all the journey of discovering His will and purpose for my life in each season of it, I have found that He, alone, is the One who can work it all out for my very best, and He will for you, too. May your discovery be as amazing as mine has been, and may you find Him faithful in every season of it.
“In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will,” Ephesians 1:11.
How have you seen God lead and guide you into His plan and purpose?
Switching Hats
Since I spent a good deal of my professional career as an editor, switching hats from a writer to editor is as simple for me as standing up, walking away from my computer, getting a snack, and returning as “Editor-in-Chief.”
Shazaaam!
I know that, once I’m done writing my draft manuscript, there’s a whole lot of work to be done. And I’m so grateful that I can turn off my writing self and disengage from the emotional connection I have to the words I put on paper. I know that many, if not most, writers struggle with this rewriting, revising, and editing phase, so that’s why I serve others as a freelance editor from time to time.
So here’s a glimpse into the editing journey I experience. I hope it will give you some tips, ideas, and inspiration for switching hats and putting on your own editing hat.
Before I start editing, I pray for wisdom, and I give the draft some time and space. I call it “letting it get cold.” Then, when I’m ready to tackle it head on, I first do a spell and grammar check and deal with any of the obvious. After that, I look for anything that needs slashing, cutting, adding, deleting—well, you get the idea.
I view the editing process as a unique form of creating. It’s like when my husband creates something from a raw piece of wood—cutting away the unnecessary, sanding off the rough edges, and finishing it with a lovely stain to make it a beautiful masterpiece.
As I edit, sometimes I rewrite a whole section and make the story a lot better. Other times I delete whole paragraphs, scenes, or sections. Sometimes I dig down in the weeds and use my thesaurus to find better words.
Many times I have to be brutal with my work; other times I have to hold it loosely and know that another pair of eyes and a different brain—my craft group, beta readers, agent, and/or editor—can see what I can’t see. I know that every writer has weaknesses, and I am no different. I can end up with pet words that I use too much. Or I can get caught up in a scene and wax way too elegantly on a point I’m driving home rather than keeping it short and sweet.
Sometimes I’m simply so exasperated with my writing that I get discouraged. Or I doubt my abilities and inspiration. That’s when I take some time with the One who gave me the ideas and talents and abilities in the first place. And He always finds a way to reorient me and restore my vision.
So when you have to switch hats, put on your editor’s hat with a positive attitude. Hold our work loosely and let the Holy Spirit show you the flaws and the challenges. And be open to change whatever needs changing. You’ll be glad you did.
How do you switch from the writer to the editor hat? I’d love to know!
Turning Scars Into Stars
The Merriam-Webster dictionary says the word vulnerable means that one is “open to attack, harm, or damage; easily hurt or harmed physically, emotionally, or mentally”. But vulnerability also means that one is open and sensitive and transparent. Since I’ve already been through the “hurt” part, my heart’s cry is to let my characters be open and transparent enough help others through their hurts simply by being vulnerable and sharing a story of loss, pain, scars…and stars!
In my first two non-fiction books, Countdown for Couples: Preparing for the Adventure of Marriage, and The ReMarriage Adventure: Preparing for a Lifetime of Love & Happiness (Tyndale Publishers), my husband and I were quite transparent about the mistakes we made in our first marriages and the hard lessons we learned through the pain, hurt, and scars.
In my Irish Quilt Legacy, I was repeatedly challenged to be vulnerable, for the story is loosely based on my life and my family heritage. As I plotted out my dual story line, I toyed with the idea of deleting half the story line and running for the hills every time I included a bit of my story. I knew I’d have to relive some of the scars of my past, revisit some of the pain, and rehearse some of the most emotionally traumatic moments of my life. And I didn’t want to go there.
But I put it down on paper and then I spent hours, days, weeks, and months facing some of the scars that I prayed would turn into stars…stars that could light the way toward healing for some of the readers who have faced similar pain and scars.
In the process, I fell in love with my characters and chose my words carefully. I wept with those in my story who wept, and I laughed when they did. I held my breath when I didn’t see the answer to a problem, and I rejoiced when God showed up and overcame obstacles that seemed insurmountable.
In a small way, I lived it all over again. I revised it, edited it, prayed over it, and sent it to my agent. And I’m waiting (patiently?) for a publishing contract. But even in the waiting, I feel a little bit vulnerable.
Friends and family will see a part of my life that I’ve conveniently put in a box on the highest shelf, way back in the farthest corner of my closet. Readers, known and unknown, will see glimpses of my character’s messed up life and broken heart and wonder just how much of that is me. Have I been too open, too exposed, too vulnerable? Though that’s the price of vulnerability, I pray it pays off by connecting with and bringing hope to my readers.
How vulnerable are you as a writer, a friend, a person? I’d love to know!
Great Expectations
As I booked my flights for the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) confererence, it dawned on me. I’ve been going to writers conferences for over 15 years, but this is the first time I’ve solely gone as a writer!
I’ve been on the faculty for dozens of conferences. I’ve taught workshops, had appointments with writers, sat on the other side of the table from those trembling, nervous writers hoping I’ll say “yes” to some of their writing. Now I’ll be on that side of the table. Wow!
I’m especially excited about this conference. It’s the first one that’s completely for fiction writers, and now that I’ve made the transition from non-fiction writing to writing novels, I can’t wait to be in the thick of things with like-minded creatives.
So I took a few minutes to assess my expectations in hopes it’ll help me (and you when you attend a conference) to be realistic about my expectations and prepared for the adventure of the conference. Here goes:
I expect to have a blast! I’ve always enjoyed the excitement, energy, and fun of conferences, so now that I don’t have to teach or have meetings all day, I expect to soak it all in and enjoy the journey.
I expect that I’ll learn so much in the general meetings and in the workshops and as I meet people that I’ll nearly burst with new knowledge. As a lifetime learner who thrives on learning, fill me up, and away I’ll go. I can’t wait!
I expect I’ll meet a whole bunch of kindred spirits. Since we writers are a unique lot, it’ll be awesome to renew friendships, meet new friends, and connect with like-minded folks who just want to serve God through their writing.
I expect that I’ll be a bit nervous when I meet with the editors who are or will be looking at my first completed novel. Though I’ve been on that side of the table, this will be new to me, but I’m still looking forward to it.
I expect I’ll recharge my batteries even though I’ll get little sleep and be exhausted by the time I leave. There’s nothing more energizing than inspiring speakers, great worship, making new friends, and experiencing a conference to keep me up at night, get my creative juices flowing, and recharge my imagination.
I expect to have good food, great conversations, and divine moments.
I expect to participate in some great times of worship and prayer and moments with God.
I expect I’ll have some new adventures, new experiences, and new inspirations that I can’t even imagine.
All I can say is…bring it on!
What is the best part of going to a writers conference for you? I’d love to know!
Be-Atitudes of a Writer
As I began to write my second novel, The Fabric of Faith, I heard a sermon on the beatitudes. I’d heard a dozen or more sermons on that topic before, but as I pondered what the preacher talked about, I couldn’t help but applying it to the writing life.
Matthew 5 says that Jesus taught the multitudes, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they, which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they, which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
How can we apply the concept of “be-attitudes” to our writing life, our creative life, or just life in general in a new and fresh way? Although not in order of Matthew’s beatitudes, here’s what I came up with:
- Be patient. Writing is perfected over time.
- Be content. Enjoy the journey and stop wanting more.
- Be prepared. Learn all you can about writing.
- Be proactive. Schedule writing time and remember, you reap what you sow.
- Be clear. Communicate well.
- Be tenacious. It doesn’t matter how you feel; if God’s called you to write, never give up.
- Be doers. Write! Write! Write!
- Be connected. Find other writers and do life with them.
- Be dead. Die to your personal plans and live for God’s plans for your writing life.
But Jesus wasn’t finished. He went on to say, “You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
How can we “salt” our writing to make our readers hungry and thirsty for Him?
And then Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Writers, creatives, and friends, let your light shine!
What other be-attitudes would you add to this list? I’d love to know!
Character Development
As a fiction writer, developing the characters in my books is a journey into psychology, anatomy, and sometimes chemistry! Sheesh! I never thought I’d have to go back to science class to write a novel. But sometimes I do.
In my second book of The Irish Quilt Legacy, The Fabric of Faith, one of the characters suffers from post-partum depression. Though I never went through that with my two babies, I know friends who did. They were sad, quiet, withdrawn, and depressed. Yet I really never researched the “whys”—until I created a character, which is experiencing this debilitating condition.
What is going on in the body, mind, and soul of a person who is depressed? My research is giving me a measure of love and compassion that I wished I’d have shown to my friends when they were going through it. And the compassion for this condition will undoubtedly show up in my story.
The bottom line is, fictional characters need to be fully developed and not just stereotypes. They need to be relatable and have emotions and feelings that readers can really connect with. And they need to have likes and dislikes, quirks and mannerisms, fears and dreams, and thoughts. They need to worry and fret, desire and long, get angry and resentful, forgive and have faith, just real people. And they need to experience life similar to your readers, even if the character lives centuries apart from today’s readers. They have to make hard choices and face tough challenges and struggle with life. And they need to wrestle with issues of faith and God and eternity.
So as I develop each of my characters, I must fully engage with them and “know” them deep within their soul. I need to know their emotional makeup and the psychological quirks and the scars and the pain they’ve experienced. I need to know their physical assets and weaknesses, their fears and their dreams and their beliefs about God. Then they become real, and in that reality they can live their lives in the story.
How do you connect with the characters you create? I’d love to know!