First Timer - News and Writing Prompt

First, I need to make an announcement. The winner of
of last week's drawing for Brave New Century is Elaine Stock!

I would say, “Lucky me!” However, I believe I’m blessed, not lucky. Anyway, I had my first book signing at Blue Frog Books and More in Howell, Michigan on Saturday, July 12th. It’s an awesome little mom and pop bookstore where they’re always glad to see you. Old-fashioned service and a passion for books are their hallmark. Our tables were set up in the back. The store walls are lined with beautiful wood bookshelves and you can inhale the fragrance of new paper and fresh ink—something you can’t do with ebooks! Thank you,
Rob and Penny, for hosting us!

Kathy Rouser, Linda Glaz, Gail Martin and Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans, Linda Glaz and Gail Gaymer Martin, all lovely Great Lakes authors, joined me. We were only missing Jerry Slauter, who had to cancel. But we had a lovely Christian fiction afternoon, allowing us to gab about writing and the market and meet new readers. Lots of fun!

Your writing prompt challenge this week is to think of a “first” in your life. Examples: First day of school, first kiss, first day behind the driver’s wheel, first house, birth of a first child . . . only limited by what you can come up with. Take five to ten minutes and think of the impressions that “first” left on you—the scents, the sounds, what you saw or tasted, how did the day feel? Have fun on your trip down memory lane. 

Linda Glaz and Marianne Evans

Weekly Writing Prompt

Thunderstorms. Lightning, thunder and sheets of rain! Oh my! From soft, romantic summer rains to turbulent, windy storms, we’ve seen lots of rain this last month.

Think of the last rainstorm you were really aware of. Were you out in it? Or just watching from the inside of a house or car? How did the rain feel? Or sound? How did the air around you smell? What did you see? Take a few minutes to write about a recent thunderstorm and the circumstances you were in at the time.

Give yourself permission to really enjoy your writing time. You may find a new story taking shape or perhaps a stellar piece of creative nonfiction!

Later this week on the blog: More Books ’n’ Blurbs

Next Monday: July’s Monday Motivation

Weekly Writing Prompt

Everyday Miracles

My weekend devotional post was about seeing the miraculous in how God’s greatness is manifested in creation. I used for example a time when I was rather down and I believed the Lord had put a rainbow in my path, so to speak, to remind me of His faithfulness and closeness to me, which cheered me up.

Is their some way the Lord has spoken to you through His creation? Take a few minutes to think about how He has or what you see, hear or touch in nature that causes you to want to give God praise. Take five to ten minutes to write about one of those experiences in all the detail you can remember. Let the joy of the Lord flow through you as you write!

If you'd like, please feel free to share something in the comment section too!

Weekly Writing Prompt - Sounds!

Sitting here by an open window as spring blossoms into summer, I am enjoying the

symphony of crickets chirping outside. I hear traffic passing on a near by road, too.

It spreads out as the evening goes on. What are the sounds of summer where you are?

Take a few minutes, close your eyes and enjoy the rich mix of sounds of the season.

Can you go for a walk near a pond and listen to the funny noises frogs make? Or do

you hear the pounding of an Amtrak train on a track in Chicago. When I hear the distant

whistle of a train, it takes me back to childhood since there were train tracks only a half

mile away from our home. There's something comforting about the high-pitched noise. 

Describe the sounds you hear. Are they comforting or stressing? Do they make you think

of the past or look to the future? Try to relax and enjoy the cacophony of sounds around

you. Feel free to share some of your favorites in the comment section below. Happy writing!

Weekly Writing Prompt: Going Home?

They say you can’t go home again and I’m not sure why! We bought my childhood home from my parents and lived there with our family for eleven years. I stopped there last week when I was in the neighborhood to look for cuttings from a lilac bush. Unfortunately the bushes had been torn out, but it was fun to visit the premises and meet the latest owner.

Why do you think there’s a saying, “You can’t go home again”? Is it because you’re not the same person you were growing up there? Bad memories? Needing to put the past behind you? Hmm . . .

This week’s writing prompt: He stood on the sidewalk facing his past, the home he’d grown up in. The wind stung his cheeks, even as the windows glistened in the sunshine. Walking up the path to the house he  decided . . .

My childhood home, but the beautiful canyon stone and brick were
painted over by the next owner. 

Memorial Day Writing Prompt - Be Inspired by Poetry

The writing prompt is a little different this Monday. I hope you won't mind my alluding to Memorial Day and posting the poem below as a reminder of those who have lost their lives in battle. If you would like more information on the history of Memorial Day and the subsequent selling of silk poppies, which was inspired by the poem below, please see an article, which I previously posted on the Novel PASTimes blog.

John McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields surrounded by war and suffering in France. In 1915, after a young friend of McCrae’s died, he performed the funeral in the absence of a chaplain. Prompted by this death, McCrae poured out his emotional response to what he’d been experiencing as a physician during WWI, by penning these words.

In Flanders Fields
            By
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD 
Canadian Army

In Flanders fields the poppies blow   
Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie
         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.

Writers can easily be inspired by such heartfelt, beautiful poetry. Today’s writing prompt is multiple choice: 

1) Write a poem about what Memorial Day means to you. 2) Use In Flanders Fields as a prompt to write a scene involving war. Or 3) Write a “thank you” note to those who have given their lives or served in the military.  

Use one or more of the above ideas and be inspired to gratefulness! And great writing!

Weekly Writing Prompt

Having ridden on a ferry back and forth to Mackinac Island, as well as cruised under the bridge, this past weekend, I have been blessed to feel the lake breeze on my face (and sting my ears). The waters of Lakes Huron and Michigan sparkled like aqua-blue tinted gems in the May sunshine. Greening buds were springing to life on the island and both sides of the straits. The air was scented with a promise of a late spring, but not every day on the water is so perfect.

Writing Prompt: You’re in a small motorboat fishing, when fog quickly rolls in. Before you know it, a ferry is heading for you and they don’t seem to be aware you’re in their path. You . . .

What will you do next?

Disclaimer: Of course the photo above has been doctored to suit our purposes and I’m sure this is unlikely to happen in the Straits of Mackinac. Enjoy being creative with the scenario anyway!

Check out my friend, author Karla Akin's, blog today! It’s her birthday and she’s giving away her book! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KARLA!

And tomorrow is my son, Matthew's, birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MATTHEW!

Taking Time for a Teapot

I enjoy shopping for antiques and collectibles. It’s fun to find a vintage or retro treasure or two . . .

maybe more. The photo below is of a hand painted Lefton teapot in the Magnolia pattern. It’s vintage at best. I usually like roses on china, but something about the delicate look of the hand painted flowers called to me. I suppose it rather reminds me of the Desert Rose pattern of my good dishes.

The teapot was acquired on a recent trip to Lakeville, Minnesota, visiting a place called Hot Sam’s. This antique store, housed in a two-story log cabin, contains an eclectic mix of items. The long driveway is flanked by unique metal sculptures and cast-offs, such as classic cars and junkers, statues, etc.

Searching through the stacks of teacups and saucers I wondered what kinds of homes the china pieces had come from, a middle class home? Or an upper class estate? Or were they treasured pieces in a poor family, handed down by a beloved grandmother? While they probably didn’t come from any place like Downton Abbey, I still thought each plate, cup, creamer, teapot has a story.

This week’s writing prompt: She placed the Magnolia teapot on the table, while she waited for her guests. As they arrived . . .

Ideas: You can write about 1) the ensuing tea party, 2) show a conversation with the teapot in use or 3) write about what the teapot means to the hostess. How has she acquired it?

Come back Wednesday for a new installment of "Wednesday Whimsy" with Lilybits, the tail-less wonder and see what she has to say this week.

{PD} image from the Graphics Fairy

Changes

Changes . . .

Changes are coming to Writing, Whimsy and Devotion. For the next few months I will be trying a different schedule. Each Monday I will post something, which will hopefully be a fun, creative, inspiring writing prompt for you.

Then going month to month I will post:

Week One: An article on motivation for writers.

Week Two: Wednesday Whimsy where Lilybits will interview her friends, put in her two cents on a cat’s life, etc.

Week Three: A devotional in the spirit of my current Saturday Spiritual Uplift.

Week Four: An interview with an author or a book review.

Dear Readers: I hope you will keep coming back to Writing, Whimsy and Devotion, I love your comments, so please let me know what you think of these changes and what you like best about Writing, Whimsy and Devotion so far. I hope that you have been encouraged by each post. Next Monday, May 5^th, we’ll continue examining the layers of characterization.

This week’s writing prompt:

She never thought she’d live in a castle, let alone a mansion. When she entered the center hall of the damp building she never expected to find . . . 

Monday Motivation - Keeping it Real

Research. According to Dictionary.com research is: diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or revise facts, theories, applications, etc. In fact, it comes from two French words, which mean “to search.” You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that makes sense.

Writers, especially authors of historical novels seem to revel in research. And I do love to learn more about a subject when I’m really interested in it. However, I am a victim of two things: A wandering mind and lack of patience! Even when I was in elementary school, I would be looking up facts for a report on an animal and I would inevitably start reading about some great writer, artist, statesman, an exotic place or beautiful plant in the encyclopedia. So many facts, so little time!

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These days I sometimes don’t ask the right question and this leads to frustration. When I want to pin down whether a certain product was available in 1900, but I can’t find anything exact about it’s history, I panic. Well, okay, I want to pound the desk, but doing that won’t make any difference. My impatience becomes visible. And I keep trying, but it may mean making a change in my story.

One of my favorite resources for research is finding good, but inexpensive used books online for studying my subject and having them sent right to my door. Often books, if they’re in the public domain, and are available for anyone to read right there online. And of course, don’t forget interlibrary loan. Then there are journals and historical books found in the stores of museums and historical sites, but they may be a costlier investment.

This week I’ll be tackling some rewriting, but I will also be spending time in research, journeying into the past to ancient Egypt. I’ll definitely be praying that the Lord leads me in the right direction to find some things I need to know.

If you’ve put a manuscript aside and you need some impetus to get back into your story, try setting aside some time for research this week. Get yourself back into the mood for working on your story and save time later by having some facts at hand.

Writing prompt: The archaeologist slid further down the narrow passageway into the Pharaoh’s tomb and became
wedged . . .

Take several minutes to explore how you might feel in the archaeologist’s place and how she or he might get out of this predicament!

Please share your favorite methods of research in the comment section below. Do you delve into research before writing? During writing? Or after the first draft is written? Which do you think saves the most time?

Monday Motivation - Would You Write More if You Had a Longer Day?

Time is a fleeting commodity. If we could extend by six hours, we’d manage to need another meal and probably a nap to get through a longer day. So if we had more hours, we would probably wind up making ourselves busier and not necessarily accomplishing much more.

A little over a week ago I pulled something out of place in my lower back. Once the back was feeling a bit better, I strained the muscles around my hip as I tried to catch up on things too soon. That slowed me down again. As I looked around at what I couldn’t do, I focused on what I could do.

I had more time for editing and rewriting, catching up on emails and correspondence and some creative endeavors. Translation: More sitting than usual. After a little r & r with hubby on the weekend, I am overly positive about Monday, in fact most Mondays I am ready to attack the house and writing. Somehow I think I will be Super Writer and Homemaker. Usually by Thursday I realize there’s no way I will accomplish everything I’ve set out to do for the week.

So there I am: I have the same seven twenty-four blocks of time I did last week. For me, this is where a list comes in handy. As all the chores I need to catch up on flood my mind, writing time isn’t swept over with the tidal wave of to-dos. Whether it’s on the list or written in the appointment book, I have made sure writing time gets noticed. Barring sickness or emergencies, if I don’t make the time for writing it’s nobody else’s fault. That block of time didn’t get sucked into a vacuum, but once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Right now I’m able to take chunks of time, as in two or more hours, and go at it. But writing time in your life it may look a bit different. It may be twenty minutes outlining what you want to write before the kids get up or you leave for work. It may be thirty minutes researching your topic at lunch time and taking a few notes. Or it may be an hour at the end of the day to write what you outlined that morning after your family goes to bed.

Whatever works for you, don’t be a victim of the tyranny of the urgent, use time wisely to make the most of your writing—starting today.

Writing Prompt: They strolled through the woods to find . . .

(Incorporate as many senses as you can into this pleasant spring stroll!)

Monday Motivation - More Write Prioritizing

More Write Prioritizing

Household chores are done, check. Laundry placed in dryer, check. Seated comfortably in recliner, check. Homemade low-fat caramel latte sitting on the end table at my side, check. Cat sleeping on lap, check. Flames are dancing in the fireplace and music is playing on the radio. My circumstances are now just right for my daily writing appointment. However, why don’t I just check my email and get it out of the way first? Then I won’t be curious if anyone has replied about something important. Well, then I should answer another email, write a little, read a blog, make a comment, recommend the article on Twitter and Google +, write a little more, hit like on friends’ Facebook statuses . . . Oh look, it’s nearly time to make dinner.

Now my two hours of uninterrupted, productive writing time has become 45 minutes. My ten in the morning writing appointment didn’t start until 2:30 p.m. But  it only took a couple of minutes to check my email, right? Wrong! While I do admit to truly being present for my writing appointment three times last week and being fairly productive during those times, it certainly made me look more closely at what I am truly doing with my writing time. I sure am easily distracted!

A successful author friend of mine encouraged me to make writing even more of a priority. She challenged me not to even check email or any social media before I write until I hit a set daily word count. Hmm . . . Or I’m thinking, at least hit goals for the day, whether it’s finishing an outline or a chapter.

This week’s goal is to move writing time to the next priority after time with the Lord and a little exercise. I don’t have to have everything perfect first. The dust bunnies aren’t going anywhere!

I do miss the days of physically having to plug in the modem to be on the Internet, though. Yes, I can turn the connection off while I write, but distractions are only a mouse-click away. What about you—how do you unplug from the Internet and social media while you write? Please share in the comment section below!

This week’s writing prompt: The first time I went to see a movie in the theater I . . .

Enjoy the walk down memory lane today!

Monday Motivation - Write Prioritizing

Write Prioritizing

Shortly after Jack and I were married, we moved into our first house. It wasn’t all that big—less than 1,000 square feet, but it was ours. That little brick abode might as well have been twice the size. I wasn’t sure where to begin when it came to cleaning and keeping it organized. I remember asking my sister-in-law, who was an exemplary homemaker, for advice. She recommended starting with a list and taking care of the few items that were most important that day. 

Despite years of homemaking efforts on my part and books galore read on the subject, there are many times I simply return to making a list when I’m feeling overwhelmed. Every day we tell ourselves what is most important by doing—or not doing--that activity. Last week I let the tyranny of the urgent take over my schedule.

I thought I was making my writing important by setting a word count goal, but it’s time to step that up and make and appointment with myself each day, blocking out writing time. So after devotions, this week I will put writing at the top of that list. What I mean is that I will put “writing time” near the top and see if I can better accomplish my goals, make the best use of my time rather than a mediocre effort.

What about you? How do you complete the tasks, which are truly important to you? Please feel free to share your expertise in the comment section below. 

This week’s writing prompt: She had looked forward to her vacation in Aruba, but when she awoke from her nap on the plane, she found they had landed in . . .

Oh boy, you can just imagine! Right? Have fun with this one.