Monday Motivation: The Marathons of Life

With the Detroit Free Press/Talmer Marathon coming up, I admire those I know who are participating in one of the events. For various reasons, running hasn’t been something I’ve taken on for a long time. I’m just a boring walker. (Not of The Walking Dead zombie variety!)

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/nbcornwall/8110812868/

I had been ignoring the weight gain of the last couple of years that is due to hormonal changes and stress, so I am now faced with the reality of changing some of my eating habits-- more vegetables for one, less on-demand chocolate for another. I’m also working on increasing my exercise, whether walking through the neighborhood, getting on the treadmill, popping a walking DVD into the player, or working out with weights.

Gone are the days in which I could work this hard and lose five pounds in a week. That’s been my problem lately, I want to give up too soon. I am trying to get it into my head and heart that lifelong fitness is a marathon, not a sprint.

Many other things are also like this in other areas of life. Broken relationships take time, love and patience to repair. Building a good marriage takes perseverance. Overcoming bad habits takes a relentless commitment to change. Writing a three or four hundred page novel doesn’t happen in a day. It can take months or years, but you have to take the first step by writing the first word, first paragraph, first page--and repeat.

Those preparing for the marathon this weekend didn’t start last week. They’ve been working at it for a long time. What might have seemed impossible at one time became doable, because they took the first step and kept moving forward.

What marathons are you facing in life today? Ask the Lord to guide you in your first steps to move in the direction He wants you to go.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

(Hebrews 12:1-3)

Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to trust You today. Guide me to take steps and move forward in the direction you want me to go. Help me to persevere and not give up as I take one step, one day, one moment at a time. Thank you that Your mercies are new every day!

Please leave a comment--share something you are learning about walking in faith in the longterm. We love your comments!

Motivation for July - Writer's Terror!

Is writer’s block just that? Let me word it another way: Is there really such a thing as writer’s block? I have never liked that term. I know I can write when I put my mind to it. There are so many characters and stories in my mind, waiting to get out, that it’s not for lack of material.

Then there were the times that I was drained physically or emotionally that, try as I might, it didn’t seem I had enough emotion to write into my character’s lives. At one point, I even felt the Lord’s gentle voice telling me to “rest”—at least from writing fiction—and I began to write devotionals for a time. That was a good learning experience for me.

After I became unemployed again in early February, I thought how great it would be to have plenty of time to work on my writing. However, that was part of my problem. I no longer had to reserve my writing time for twenty minutes or so at Starbucks before work, or during lunch and hope to find additional time on the weekend. I had a whole day before me, so why not start with coffee and email, then write a blog post. When I was done with all that I needed to get going and run errands, clean or cook. Before I knew it, another day was gone and I would go to sleep with thoughts in my head of how wonderful it would be to write tomorrow.

"The Scream" by Edvard Munch {PD in the US}

Some days I accomplished a little, but what was stopping me from digging in and racking up those word counts? I read books that encouraged writers to keep writing, saying encouraging me to write over 2,000 words a day, that it wasn’t that difficult. I took the advice of keeping a writing appointment each day, but still wasn’t making the kind of progress I wanted.

Each day I would look at that rectangle of white on the screen and the words rolled around in my mind, but they didn’t make it quickly onto the page. I’d ask myself where I should start or what should come next, but I would begin with trepidation. Only after I had taken some time and worked myself into the “zone” was I able to relax.

What was causing this block to my productivity? Fear caused my lack of confidence and snail like pace. My internal editor was on high alert and critical of everything.  The fear of failure lurked within, holding me back.

Then I decided to read Jim Denney’s, Writing in Overdrive, where he hypothesizes that some of the world’s greatest writers did their best work in compressed amounts of time, giving themselves to the pure joy of writing. Hmm . . . I’d also read over and over that if you write a first draft, you give yourself something to work with—it doesn’t have to be perfect the first time around.

Talking with other inspirational writers who were very productive, I was invited to participate in a group, which keeps you accountable for daily word count, but most importantly, they prayed for me. It was the first time in my writing life I prayed a different way for my productivity—and for others’.

Making a word count goal for the month, giving it to the Lord and sharing it with others made a difference. I started to take off and really enjoy writing again. No longer was it a mechanical process to be feared, but a story freely taking shape. Mind you, my draft will need plenty of editing and rewriting, but I have another novel manuscript first draft nearly finished.

What made the most difference in curing my writer’s terror? Accountability, prayer and allowing myself to enjoy writing again each played a big part. I still have my slower days, but pushing and challenging myself to a larger word count than usual helped turn writer’s terror into creative productivity.

May you go and achieve even more!

Leave a comment or follow for a chance to win Brave New Century this week!

June's Monday Motivation - Deep in the Mind's Eye

Watch anybody these days. They’re in the moment, whether they’re texting, playing video games or listening to their iPod while on the computer and using any number of additional electronics. Eventually they’ll be able to wear a computer on their face and complete even more of these tasks while walking. (Check out this Google Glass demo.) After all, why waste time just walking and enjoying the outdoors when you could be multitasking? Sometimes walking and chewing gum seem like a challenge. I’m not sure how I feel about practically never disengaging from media and electronics!

However, readers who’ve been immersed in electronic media all their lives are impatient. One way writers keep them in the moment is through deep point of view (POV).  Today’s reader doesn’t want to be slowed down by she said or he thought. No more long rambling pages of narrative one might find when reading Ann of Green Gables or Pride and Prejudice. While these classics live on with loving followings, today’s editor wouldn’t likely take a second look at such historically lovely prose if written these days.

Even readers of the previous generation are used to being somewhat immersed in the life of the character through media. In television and movies, they see the character’s world up close and personal. However, they aren’t always right in the character’s head.  Deep POV allows the reader to “see” with the character’s eyes and experience with their senses.

Here are some examples:

Before deep POV: Moira watched as Tad terrorized Nathan in the cafeteria at lunch time. She thought about what a jerk Tad was when he tripped her brother and stomped on his lunch bag.

She suddenly didn’t feel so hungry any more and put her sandwich down. Anger rose within Moira and she . . .

After deep POV: Moira couldn’t believe it. Didn’t Tad ever get tired of bullying others? Nathan slammed face first into the cafeteria floor. But tripping her little brother wasn’t enough for Tad. He had to squash his victim’s lunch bag under his clodhopper feet too. What a jerk!

The last bite of Moira’s sandwich sat like cement in her throat. She stood, running toward the commotion with clenched fists. Tad’s going down!

In the second example the reader gets more of a feel of what’s going on inside Moira’s head. While it’s still written in third person, deep POV gives the reader a front row seat rather than a removed passive view of things. Once you know your character’s story arc, who they are as a character and how they react, deep POV is one of the innermost layers of character development. It takes practice, but is a very rewarding way for the reader and writer to get even better acquainted with the character. While it is a partly a narrative method, interspersed with creative dialogue, it’s a very helpful method of deepening characterization.

For more in depth information on deep POV, here’s a great article on The Editor's Blog. Enjoy!

This is a writers’ and readers’ week at Writing, Whimsy and Devotion. What's on the blog this week?

Tuesday – Weekly writing prompt.

Wednesday – Review of Kate Breslin’s debut novel, For Such a Time.

Friday – Interview with debut novelist, Shelba Shelton Nivens.

See you tomorrow!

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

Monday Motivation - Character: From the Exoskeleton In

The World Book Encyclopedia of the 1960s had a fascinating clear plastic overlay of the human body. As a little girl, I loved to play with that section, rebuilding the 2D human body, layer by layer, system by system. I don’t remember the order, but I’m pretty sure the bare skeleton made up the first layer. You would add a layer of muscles, one of the cardiovascular system, different organs, etc., until I finished with a layer of skin.

Though I’m quite a visual person, I have seldom used pictures of models or actors to build my characters. Not that it’s a bad idea, in fact, it probably helps keep one’s facts straight, like eye color. But often we build characters from an outside exoskeleton in instead of vice versa. (Not that people actually have a hard exterior exoskeleton like an insect, but you get my drift.) The danger in that is we create a two-dimensional character. And somehow I picture my characters looking like ordinary people instead of supermodels.

However, we often become acquainted with real people by seeing and studying them from the outside. We see, not only how they look, whether tall or short, color of their hair or eyes, shape of their face, but how they react to the environment around them. A person’s expressions and mannerisms can tell you something about their personality for sure. You miss so much of that in a still photograph of a model made to look perfect.

Here’s a little exercise for you: Think of a character you are developing or one you’ve already created. How do they look when they’re happy? Do they have any special mannerisms? Can you describe your character’s smile or something else they do without using a cliché?  For example, you could write: For just a moment, his smile lit up his face. Instead, let’s try something different: His smile grew in increments, then quickly disappeared, as though he had a tic in the side of his face.

My sentence could still use some work, but I’m trying to convey a hesitant, nervous smile. You don’t have to describe a smile; you could describe a frown, a yawn, gum chewing, hand waving or any other expression or mannerism you want to use to give your reader a better picture of your character. Don’t take more than 10 minutes and have fun! If you're stuck, use someone from the picture below. Everyone's smile is a little different from the others. 

bing.com/images

Next week, I’ll talk about another layer of characterization.

How do you beef up your character's appearance? How can the outside give us a hint to the person within? Please leave a comment below. I love to hear from you!

Saturday Spiritual Uplift - A Likeminded People

A Likeminded People

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (Philippians 2:1-4, NLT)

Do you ever have those moments, hours, days, weeks or months when you feel like you don’t have the strength to get through your trials? Times when the bad news seems too much and you long for a touch of the Spirit? I had a week like that, but the good news is that God sent encouragement in a totally different area of my life.

Today I was at a meeting with a workshop for writers on the current Christian fiction market. I had planned the meeting out and attempted to gain publicity, though it was shorter notice than I would have liked. Finally, I figured if there weren’t many people in attendance that was the way the Lord was planning it. There were seven of us, so we were all sitting together at one table while agent Linda S. Glaz presented her material.

Each attendee had an opportunity to share what they were working on. Some shared what they liked to read. There was the peace and joy of Christians coming together to share their passion for the gift of writing, which the Lord Jesus has called them to share with others, in obedience to Him. Make no mistake, it’s not an easy road. Rejections and criticism are more abundant than praise and contracts!

Great Lakes Chapter

With a Christian writing group, they are more likely to encourage one another and share their ideas without fear, because there is support—not that everyone always agrees. However, this was a time where I was amidst the camaraderie, which inspires, had a chance to make new friends and reconnect with old, and truly felt that I’m not alone.

While other areas of my life have been very painful recently, God was so good to give me refreshment in the midst of a tough journey, reminding me there are many positive things to focus on. All is not lost, all is not bad. He is there leading me in green pastures, refreshing my soul, giving strength for the days ahead. 

Thank you, Lord for a the blessing of a wonderful day and the fellowship of likeminded believers. Open my eyes to the love You show me each day. Please use me to encourage and lift my brothers and sisters in Christ.

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!)

Wednesday Whimsy - Monkeying Around with Toby

We’re monkeying around at Writing, Whimsy and Devotion this week! Meet Toby, Patty Wysong’s pet monkey! Patty is a writer and blog/web designer extraordinaire and always has something encouraging to share with fellow writers.

Hi, Toby! Thanks for joining me today on Wednesday Whimsy.

Thank you for inviting me! I was so excited when Mom told me! By the way, I love your name. Liiiiiily. Bits.

LilyBits. 

Sounds yummy. But I’ll be good. I promise.

I like my name too! Please tell us a little about yourself.

Me? I’m a white faced Capuchin monkey. I’m the baby of the family and live with my brothers and one of my sisters and Mom and Dad. But I can never get enough attention, not even being the baby. Playing volleyball is fun but my favoritest thing is giving Mom the slip and running down the hall and seeing how long I can stay loose. She always gets me, though, with that ol’ marshmallow trick. No matter how hard I try to resist, those marshmallows get me every time. I love marshmallows. And lollipops. And soda. And… Mom says I’m a junk food junkie. We make a good pair.

How long have you owned your humans?

Hmm. Must be a few years now. I don’t think their lives have been the same since I joined the family.

I hear you’re part of the entertainment industry. What do you do? Do you like to travel?

Oh, I looove traveling. See, that’s me. I get to ride in the front seat with Mom. I nap on her lap until we get to the good parts then I jump up and look out the windows. You should see those drive-through window workers when they see me. By the time we get to the pick-up window it’s full of people and I have so much fun. And I love it when we’re stuck in traffic, even if Dad doesn’t. There’s so many people to wave to, but Mom worries I’ll cause an accident so sometimes she makes me go in my pet carrier. I hate that.

At work I have to wear clothes. It’s not too bad, really.  My favorite outfit was that Santa suit Mom made me. It was nice and warm and I got lots of attention when I wore it.  My favorite part is watching the people. Did you know biker dudes giggle sometimes? They do! I really like them. Mom’s trying to teach me to be a big boy and take quarters and shake people’s hands.

Did you have to take lessons? Or were you a natural?

Well, I’m a natural at sitting for pictures with people, but Mom’s still teaching me to take quarters and shake hands with people. I had it down by Christmas but I tell ya, all those loud people wanting to grab my hand…sometimes it’s scary. But I’ll learn to be as good as Fonzie.

Who’s Fonzie?

Fonzie’s my big brother. He’s a monkey too and an ace at taking quarters and shaking hands withpeople. He’s so cool.

Everybody thinks monkeys like bananas best. What’s your favorite food?

Bananas? I only eat ‘em if I have to. But I love papaya and cantaloupe and sweet potatoes. My favoritest food is Mom’s homemade mac ‘n’cheese. It’s the bestest.

What’s the best way to train your human?

Toby texting.

Well, I know I’m supposed to, but I’m not gonna share my marshmallows, so I use kisses. It gets Mom every time.

What does Patty write?

Sappy romances. It’s so embarrassing.

How do you inspire Patty to write?

Mom tells me what she’s thinking about for a scene and I let her know if it’s any good. When I ignore her she knows her idea stinks. That happens a lot. If I snuggle, I like it, and if I bounce off the walls it’s because I thinks it’s a fantastic idea. But then Mom gets to playing with me and forgets the idea before she gets back to the computer. I try to remind her about it but she’s hopeless sometimes. I tell ya, we’d have a best seller if I could write all the good scenes she’s forgotten.

How can we best help our writing humans?

Learn to spell so they understand the things we text and type on their keyboards.

Do you ever get in trouble for helping “too much”? Or does your human have a sense of humor?

Yeah, Mom doesn’t like it when I poke at her keyboard and she hates it when I walk on the thing. She doesn’t know that I’m trying to write those scenes she’s forgotten. Thankfully I’m so cute that I don’t get in trouble for it and Mom can’t stay mad at me for too long. 

One more question, I’ve heard my human use the term “monkeyshines”. What does this mean? Do monkeys actually shine?

Toby with his mom, Patty.

Monkeyshines? Sounds like a lollipop to me!! And I looooove lollipops.

Thank you, Toby, for being on my blog today!

Thanks for having me, Lilybits. It was fun talking with you!

(Was I good? Mom said I could have a lollipop if I was good.)

Yeah, for a monkey you were really good. You didn’t bite or anything! You can come back any time!

Since Patty quit running from God's call on her life and surrendered her pen to Him, she's been happy. Life is never dull as she juggles being a wife, mom to a handful of kids and a couple of Capuchin monkeys, life on the road, and being a writer. As long as she's obeying God's leading, she figures that sanity is a novelty and not a necessity in the zoo she lives in. Patty clings to the promise that God will enable her to do what He asks of her, otherwise she would be living with the scaredy cats at the Funny Farm and not just occasionally visiting. You can find her blogging at www.PattyWysong.com and on Instagram, too, where she daily sneaks in a few sane moments. 

Feel free to take a moment to say "hi" to Toby and Patty

if you like in the comment section below!

Monday Motivation - Three Rs

Three Rs:

Read, Relax & Refuel

Perhaps it was the first picture book your mom read to you, an old leather bound version of The Secret Garden you found at your grandma’s or a copy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe you borrowed from the library which sparked your desire to write. Every fiction writer has fallen in love with real hard copy books while growing up. From the scent of fresh ink and paper in a brand new book to the softness of well-worn pages and the musty scent of being on a shelf somewhere for a long time, books speak to our longing.

The stories within help us to fall in love with words again, the power they have to create pictures in our imaginations and take us away from the pressures or boredom of daily life. To pick up a good book and read it for an hour can be like a mini-vacation.

There are days when we are discouraged or stuck, when we might even sit and stare at a prewritten outline and find every word we write a chore. While we might able to force ourselves to produce words for a deadline, there are times when we might feel empty and need to put fuel in the tank of imagination and emotion before we can write.

One day a few weeks ago, I was at the local post office, which is around the corner from the public library. So often I’ve looked up books I wanted for research online, only to reserve them and pick them up quickly to be time efficient. That day I decided to give myself the luxury of looking around the library for the fun of it, picking up books to look at . . . just because.

I may have spent only an hour and a half there, but the time relaxing and reading and soaking in the atmosphere of being around books filled me up again with new ideas, more creativity and a renewed desire to handle real books! Yes, I must confess, that I have a Kindle app on my Google pad and it’s wonderful for taking with me and for reading at night, so as not to disturb my light sleeping husband. Stopping to peruse e-book volumes and downloading new books may have the same effect as going to the library. However, that special time at the library helped me remember how I first fell in love with words and stories and books. 

When I still had children at home, taking the time to treat myself to a mocha or a caramel latte at a cafe, while writing in a notebook often gave me the time off I needed. Or I might take a book with me to read. This gave me the chance to refuel as well.  I have often felt that I can’t or shouldn’t take the time to read, relax and refuel.

The reality is that if we don’t take that time, even occasionally, the emotional energy we need to write isn’t there. Taking those needed times out can help you to become a more productive writer when you get back to your laptop.

 

What helps you to relax and refuel for your writing? Please share.

Writing Prompt: He carried the bag of garbage into the alley. Sure he was being followed, he turned and found . . . .

Write a few paragraphs and enjoy the fun of it, incorporating as many senses as you can.

Monday Motivation - Becoming a More Productive Writer

"Secrets" to Becoming a More Productive Writer

What is the secret to becoming a more productive writer? (Tweet this.) 

1) Make it a priority to make time for writing.

2) Write.

Let me restate that: Find what works best for you and show up for your writing appointment. Write.

Not much of a secret, you say? No, but it’s what you have to experience on your own.

As I’ve taken time, especially this year, to find out what is keeping me from becoming more productive, I’ve learned some things about myself. In all my years of family life, caring for my husband, children and parents, I set writing time on a pedestal as some unattainable, ethereal reward from another realm. It became something I didn’t deserve to do, because I had to get everything else. Done. First. I felt somehow if I didn’t I was being selfish.

Yet every time I heard a sermon on the Parable of the Talents, where the frightened servant buries the money given to him, I would wonder if that’s what I was doing with my writing. God gave me a desire, a love for stories and words, which I put on hold, and sometimes rightly so, but sometimes out of fear. I feared not writing something perfect, not being good enough. I feared what others thought.

There are times and seasons, but there are also moments we can seize—times when husbands can watch children for a couple of hours on a weekend, when we could leave early for work and write for a half hour at a coffee shop on the way to work. If you’re a homeschooling mom, as I was, what about taking a half hour at lunchtime while the kids read on their own or watch an educational video to do some writing or just some brainstorming on your own? If this is what God has given you to do, it’s all right to give yourself permission to take the time and enjoy it.

I had to learn to give myself permission to enjoy my writing, whether it was good or bad. I am still working and struggling through this, not allowing my perfectionism to slow me down or keep me from sitting down and writing. But one thing I have learned over these last few weeks of purposefully making new goals and attempting to follow through, I am making better progress, because I am planning for it. I’m not waiting for it to happen. Some. Day.

Last week, I decided to take the challenge my friend gave me not to check email

or social media before I reached my word count. I started the week with a 1,000 per day word goal and ended with a 500 a day word goal. I lost my resolve and started checking email when I thought it was important or at least after 500 words. Sigh.

However, I made it to 3500+ words last week. Yay! This week, I will have some research, editing and rewriting to do, but I am hoping to at least reach this word count. I will be happy to reach between 500 and 1000 new words each day, so we’ll see.

My advice to you: Start small with a goal you can attain. (Tweet this.) Can you put aside two hours this week to do research for a story you’re writing? Can you make a goal to write 500 words each day? 250 words? Can you set aside five days to do some writing? Three days? One day? It’s okay, no matter how big or how small, make it a goal you will strive for and achieve. Then show up, write and rejoice in the progress you are making!

What are you working on that you would like to make progress on this week? What are your goals? Please share!

Writing Prompt:  Sunshine on a cold winter’s day makes me feel . . .