Word Praize

Dee's ACFW Event

      

I'm at The Master's Artist today sharing a fun quiz I created regarding the ACFW quiz. Stop by this week here and at Gospel Fiction for a week long blogging event about the ACFW conference.

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Counting the Cost - Stanice Anderson

The cost of writing and the publication of my memoir, I Say A Prayer for Me: One Woman's Life of Faith and Triumph?

I lost what little was left of the volatile relationships with my mother and brother. Both abhor the mention of my name. It is my understanding that most others in my family, whisper, “I’d rather not talk about it. You got to read it for yourself.”

Perhaps the only thing that spared my relationship with my dad was his death before the book’s conception.

If given the opportunity by some freak of the cosmos to slurp back every word in a warp-speed rewind into nothingness, would I?

Emphatically, “No.” I have no doubt that God predestined me to survive and thrive everything that I lived through thus far in order to write every word written and left yet to write. As well as, promised to meet every reader within the pages long before any of the manuscripts are completed.

The lesson in writing and the publication of my memoir, I Say A Prayer for Me?  God's word says it best..."Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22)  I rested from my written work, embraced the ministry that the Lord entrusted to my care, and made a decision to trust God in all things.

© 2006-2004, Stanice Anderson, www.stanice.com

AFTERWORD: Since writing this piece that was posted on my blog, Soul Shout, November 2, 2004, God restored what the locust ate.  2006 revealed a loving relationship with my mother steadily growing from the God-enabled seeds of forgiveness--once for all.  We are blessed among women, indeed.  I thank God who is faithful and grants us the desires of our hearts.  And now, I'm trusting God with my relationship with my brother.

Write Time

Working Full-Time and Writing
(or for any busy writer)

As always, remember that these tips won't all work for everyone, so pick and choose what's right for you.

Some tips for fighting writer's block

Many times, a stressful work or family situation can sap creativity and motivation. That's okay. Everyone has seasons in their lives when it's too difficult to write.

These times don't have easy answers. Before you do anything, pray for guidance. Any action you take or solution you try won't mean anything unless it's God's hand guiding you. As for practical advice:

--You can take measures to improve the situation at work or in the home.

--Try to compartmentalize your life so that your work stress doesn't bleed into your private life, or your family stress doesn't bleed into your writing time.

Are you easily distracted, unmotivated? Can't initiate or complete a project? Can't prioritize or pace yourself? While there's no one answer for these types of psychological roadblocks, there are several suggestions:

--Look at your expectations, write them down. They might need to be revised to something more manageable.

--Break your project into smaller chunks, smaller goals, such as: finish this scene today, or write for ten minutes without checking at email. Setting a timer can also help with this.

--Remember to reward yourself for goals accomplished, even small goals like 10 M&Ms for every page completed. Another option is the punishment system, like no bathroom break until you finish the chapter.

--Is your workplace cluttered and distracting you? Clear it.

--Do you feel unprepared information-wise? A bit of time spent in research might make you feel more confident in writing.

--Try creative exercises such as those found in writing books. Also "freewrites" often work very well: write for a specified amount of time, such as 8 or 10 minutes. Don't stop, just write gibberish if you have to, but let your mind go wherever it wanders. Take a short break and try it again. It may not work right away, but most writers discover their stalled creativity reawakens after a few freewrite sessions.

--Find a support group to talk about your problems and your writing. Sometimes all we need is a sympathetic ear, someone who understands your writing problems. There are several good online writers groups such as American Christian Fiction Writers, Christian Writers (for both fiction and nonfiction), and the Faith, Hope and Love chapter of Romance Writers of America. You can also participate in writing communities like Faithwriters.com and Writing.com to find a kindred writer-friend.

--Take a break from writing. Make it a limited duration, such as a week or a month, and use it to just relax, do the things you enjoy most, read, take the stress of writing off of you.

Camy Tang lives in San Jose, California. She previously worked in biology research, and she is a staff worker for her church youth group. She runs the Story Sensei critique service, and her Asian chick-lit novel has just been contracted by Zondervan.

Declaration of Independence

 

Today, August 2^nd, represents the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (1776). The U.S. Declaration of Independence was signed by fifty people on this day in 1776.

 

The Book of Galations - The Christian’s “Declaration of Independence”

(The “Magna Carta of Christian liberty”)

 Through Jesus Christ, we are declared independent. Dependent upon God, yet independent from the world system that is controlled and managed by Satan. Grace declares that we are complete, established, able to endure, and anxiety-free in our relationship with God. By casting all of our cares and concerns on Him, we are free to live a moral and righteous life without fear of retribution from this unkind world.

 

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. A-men’ ” 

(1 Peter 5:10).

 

 The Book of Galatians is an epistle of Paul the Apostle that is written to the churches of Galatia who have become content with their exercise of faith. They are displaying outwardly signs of works that becomes a concern of Paul’s. His letter to these churches is an attack against gradual turn from faith to works. He learns of their actions from a report that the Galatian churches were suddenly taken over by false teaching(s) of certain Judaizers. Paul’s message to the Galatians is so important that he chose to write it himself in lieu of dictating words to a secretary, as was his usual practice (chapter 6, verse 11).

 In Chapter 3, there is a clear explanation, with details, that the Holy Spirit is given by faith, not by works. In other words, there is nothing that we can do to “earn” this precious gift from our Heavenly Father.

 

“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth”

(Hebrews 9: 15-17).

 

“That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” 

(Titus 3:7).

 

Excerpt: Give God the Glory! Know God & Do the Will of God Concerning Your Life, © 2001, by Kevin Wayne Johnson.