New Assignment

It has been a long break from blogging and I am ready to return. I have been substitute teaching a lot and that has come to a close. At first I was a bit confused. I was so needed and suddenly I wasn't. Now I understand why. Right after my last stint with no dates on the horizon, I received an email requesting church camp curriculum for two grade levels. Usually I receive this request mid-March at the earliest, sometimes as late as early May and need to have it ready for June. This year I am so excited to have the opportunity to write for 4th and 5th grade and 6th and 7th grade camp. I have been studying the word "generosity" to prepare and letting the definitions of that word and many characters in the Bible roll around in my brain making connections that will eventually find themselves in the hearts and minds of the campers and counselors at camp this summer. Of all the things I love to write, camp curriculum holds a special place. This is an opportunity to a child or adult to come face to face with God in a place that is not given to distractions and stress of everyday life. In some cases the kids are just looking for a week away from home, or maybe their parents are looking for a week away from them. No matter the circumstances, God appointed them to be there that week, in that cabin, meeting those friends, under the leadership of this counselor studying the curriculum that God will give me to write. The process of writing camp curriculum is an absolute rush. I am given an idea from the directors, then the Lord and I get to work just talking and dreaming about what He desires the message to be. There is always a hook or something that the campers and adults take away from each lesson, and I work to introduce characters from the Bible that they may never have heard of, or studied in that way before. This year's theme is "Extravagant Generosity." I have enjoyed studying the word generosity this week. Being a lover of words, I find it absolutely fascinating the see the journey that words take. They have an original meaning on the language they are developed in, then they change as they are bumped along to other languages and new grammatical and spelling rules and social mores apply. Generosity has changed over the years. The Latin root is also found in words like genesis, genious, generation. I'll go into more later, but I am finding that the word "generosity" has had quite a journey and is more closely related to God that we think.
I plan to update this blog as I continue to write and find those characters who exhibited "Extravagant Generosity!"

Happy writing

REJECTION!

Well it was bound to happen, but so exciting. I got my first rejection letter from a publication. I know that you might not think this is so great, but I am thrilled to death! It is the first time that something I wrote has been rejected. So far it seems that things have come to easily on this adventure. First writing for a real newspaper in high school, then the overwhelming (in my circles) response to the Advent devotional, next was the experience in writing for Hometown Journey Magazine, and finally the Daily Devotional For Writer's (I had all three devotionals I submitted selected) response. I just knew that the devotion I submitted to the good folks at the Upper Room would be snapped up and they would wonder what they ever did without me-think the scene in A Christmas Story when Ralphie turns in his composition. This is not exactly what happened. I got my postcard in the mail with my rejection on it, but my name and the title of my devotion was HANDWRITTEN. Instead of just a run of the mill rejection, I got a handwritten one. That means, to me anyway, that someone actually read it.
I never thought Stephen King with inspire me, but after reading his memoirs I have been just that. He kept every one of his rejection slips as inspiration to continue to write and to rewrite and even rewrite that better. As I look at this little postcard with "I'm sorry" written on it, I know that I can and will write a better one next time, or rewrite this and make it even better. So I may not have anything coming out in the coming months, but I can continue to write and write and write some more and submit, submit, submit until I get it right.

Happy Writing

Writing Samples

I need writing samples with links to them on the internet for editors to review for prospective assignments. I wonder if a blog counts since it is on the internet, but it isn't real writing. After going through old articles written for magazines and trying to find them in archives online, I contacted a previous editor and asked for her help. She not only came through with samples of my published work, but she also requested a reprint of one article and took a couple of pitches from me for other articles. I have a quick turnaround time on one deadline, but it can be done. I am so excited to have an actual assigment for a magazine after writing bible studies and camp curriculum for such a long stretch. I still love writing devotionals, Bible studies and curriculum, but the challenge of article writing is fresh and new and I can't wait to see the finished product.

Happy Writing

Rejection

It is bound to happen in all areas of life, but when it your precious writing is rejected it is as if you are being rejected. I don't know why I would think that everyone would love to have my work as a part of their Christmas experience. I get so much more positive feedback than negative, but it is the negative feedback that sticks.
My only solace is this is what makes my skin tougher, my heart softer and my writing cleaner. I hope that with each rejection of my work I grow as a writer and not shrink as a whiner remembering that I just love to write. This is not about accolades or praise from others, but a direct response to the call that God put on my life.
I hope this encourages another writer someday.

Happy writing!

Opportunities

It is amazing how you can being 15 minutes early can provide all kinds of opportunities. I arrived 15 minutes early to an appointment and stuck up a conversation with a woman who was working on a laptop. As it turns out she is taking a writing course online and has had much success with various online freelance websites. I had never thought about this as a viable avenue in my writing adventure. Of course I began to research and discoved there are many people who have lots to say about working for these various outlets. It is comforting that I know a real flesh and blood person who has had lots of success and speaks highly of the experience. I am still investigating, but it would be a great way to get more experience and validation as a writer. Tune in to see where this new opportunity takes me!

Happy Writing

What a Blessing

I am so excited about speaking last night at YCA. There were so many encouraging comments afterward and I can't wait to hear about what God is doing in those families.
I have decided to submit some devotionals to the Upper Room and hope they will be accepted.

Happy Writing!

Welcome YCA!

If you were at YCA tonight welcome to my blog. It is a place to write about what is on my heart and my journey as a Christian writer. I imagine you came looking for some of the information I discussed tonight and as promised here are some of the tips I gave.
Life Savers: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." Remind your children that Jesus came to save them. Not their physical bodies, but their forever part. He wanted us to be in Heaven with him forever.
Hot Chocolate: John 4:13-14 "Whoever drinks from this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." As you drink hot chocolate this season remind them that after they finish drinking this they will want more. With Jesus we can have something that will be enough. We won't have to continue striving to please God, we will have all of him forever.
Christmas Lights: John 9:5 "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. John 12:46 "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." As you drive around looking at Christmas lights or put lights on your tree remind your little one that Jesus brought light to the world to show us the way to God. It is only by believing in him. Explain that when they believe that Jesus is God's son and he died for their sins they have that light and they can show it to the world when they tell others how much God loves them and what Jesus did for their sins.
Baking Goodies: John 2:8-10 "Then he told them, 'Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquest.' They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wiine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servents who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, 'Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.'" As you are baking this Christmas explain that just flour, raw eggs and even sugar and not very appealing by themselves. It is when you know what to do with it you can create something really yummy. When Jesus made this wine, he made it from water that people had washed their feet in. YUCK Jesus knew what to do with that and he knows what to do with our sins so that we can be exactly what God created us to be.
Pajamas: Luke 2:7 "and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, as there was no room for them in the inn." Christmas Eve is a time for anticipation of what the next morning may hold. As you get you little ones ready for bed in their pajamas talk to them about Jesus as a baby with the hope of the world resting on him. There was great expectation about what he was here to do and you and your children can hold great expectation about what God is going to do in and with you.
I hope this is helpful. I would love to hear from you as you take this journey with your family. Please be sure to comment on my blog and let me know what God is doing through this study. It is always such an encouragement to me to know that God is able to use regular people.

Happy Writing!