Not Mom's Favorite

I laughed the first time I saw this photo and the caption underneath it: Not Mom's Favorite. It made me think of all the times my sisters and I teased one another about who the favorite child was (and is) in my parent's household. Of course, Mom never really had favorites, we just liked to say she did.

My relationship with God is a lot like that. When I am blessed, I feel like the bigger chick, receiving freely from my Father's hand. When I am not, I feel like the smaller chick, always watching while someone else receives the blessing. The reality? God has no favorites. He bestows blessings on all of us, just not the same way.

I should hold my published book in my hand this coming year. The last word from my editor was a release date of April 11th. How I thrilled to hear those words...but a part of me grieved for friends who have worked so hard and have yet to get THEIR phone call. It will happen someday I know. They are much too talented and dedicated for it not to. Still, who am I, that God should choose to allow the desire of my heart? Certainly, it is not because I am His favorite. More like, His favored.

And so, my prayer for the coming year is that my words will somehow bless another person. I pray I will bring honor to the Lord, and that He will use me to accomplish His purpose. I know not why or how. I know only that I am willing.

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The Traditions of Christmas

Of all the traditions of Christmas, my favorite has to be the opening of gifts. I’ve always loved seeing the expression on my kids faces early Christmas morning. Nothing else compared to the joy and excitement they felt one time each year. The only drawback was that it was over too quickly. Like the rush that comes from eating too much sugar, the letdown immediately following the gift opening seemed anticlimactic somehow…a little disappointing after the weeks of anticipation and buildup.

The answer came quite by accident.

Several years ago, my sister sent me a package of presents. Excited by the box, my kids scrambled about, peeking inside at all the unwrapped gifts. I couldn’t see the point in withholding the items, since they’d both already seen what was inside, so I gave them their gifts, and for the remainder of that day, my two kids enjoyed the present sent to them by that one person.

The next day, we decided rather than fight the throng of people at the movie theater, we’d stay home, pop some popcorn, and watch a movie. Pirates of the Caribbean had just come out, and since the DVD was sitting under our tree, wrapped as a gift to my daughter, we decided to let her open it, and my son of course got to open one of his. As a family, we enjoyed the gift of the movie, huddled together on our couch.

And so the tradition began. Now, every year, we start opening one gift a day, several days before Christmas. No longer do the kids rush to rip open presents, discarding one the second another one is passed to them. Inside, they savor their presents, taking time to appreciate the gift and the giver for one whole day, looking forward with anticipation to the next day, and the next person. It is and always will be, my favorite tradition of Christmas.

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Choose Your Battles

Editing can be a long process. Having survived my first content edit, I had begun to think it was smooth sailing ahead, and it was, until. . .

Line edits.

Things that had escaped my attention did NOT escape my line editor. She was as meticulous as a surgeon, carving up my manuscript like a Thanksgiving Day turkey. Despite the pain, I agreed that many of her suggestions were necessary and that the changes would make my story stronger. But what about the ones I didn’t agree with? As a first time author, was I obligated to accept all of her recommendations? Would not accepting them mark me forever as a “troublesome” author?

Fortunately, I’d sat in enough workshops to know that asking questions is not frowned upon by most editors, and I’m blessed with a great editor who welcomes communication with her authors. She answered my questions, gave ear to my concerns—after all, her goal is the same as mine. We both want to make my story the strongest it can be.

Bottom line? It is not a sin to question the recommendations your editor makes. You do, however, want to maintain a level of professionalism in your communication with her, so she doesn’t cringe every time she has to open an email from you. Most important of all—learn to choose your battles. Your editor is on your team. Next to your momma, she wants your books to succeed more than anyone else, and she’s working hard to see that it does.

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A Grateful Heart

What a crazy year 2007 has been.

Among other things, I became a part-time youth minister at our church. All of sudden, my walk with Christ became more than personal. It was public, watched by my family, my youth group, my church. I realized the enormity of living out my faith in such a way to bring honor to God, became agonizingly aware of my sinful nature, and learned to trust in Jesus in a way I never had before. Certainly, I’ve learned to depend on Him to make up for my shortcomings, and I’ve stepped out in faith, believing that since He’s called me to this task, He’ll also equip me.

Just last week, I paid a visit to the home of one of my youth group students, and I realized what a blessing it is for each member of my family to have their own room. I took hand-me-downs to a young girl whose family did not have money to go school clothes shopping, and I realized how fortunate I am to own a closet full of outfits and several pairs of shoes. As I write this, the words flowing easily from my fingertips, I realize how many of my students struggle just to get through English.

I’ve been so blessed.

I’ve told God that several times over the course of my life. I confirm it anew each day that I get up and do what I love—pour out my thoughts onto a blank page.

Thank you, God, for this precious gift. It is with a grateful heart that I consecrate my words to You, asking that You take them, and bless them, and use them for the honor of Your Name.

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Please, oh please. Can I be the Bad Guy?

What is it about writing bad guys that is so much fun? Just the other day, I wrote a scene in which the bad guy held the hero at sword point, his lips curled in an evil sneer, the lust for blood making his face warm with glee. It was fun!

Reading the bad guy is a delight, too. Admit it. Don’t you love the shivers you get reading about a really nasty character late at night, the covers pulled to your chin, the shadows in the corners of the room making you jump?

So what is it? What makes these bad guys so interesting? Deep down, I think it’s because there is a part of me that wishes I could be really bad. It’s the flesh part, but still…I wonder what it might be like to act and think like one of my characters, without regard for feelings or consequences. Could I scheme like the murderer in my latest cozy mystery? Plot maniacal twists and turns like the villain in my historical? I think so. I might even be able to get away with it. After all, I’ve had to learn something from all that research I’ve done on police investigations.

Hmm…guess I’m not so far from that sin nature after all. Buuwhaaaaaa…..

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My Mom, The Writer

My son had to write a paper for a college English class. Wanting to impress the professor, a demanding but well-liked man, Ben asked me to proof his essay before he turned it in.

What? My son wants me, the writer and freelance editor to proof a college English paper? Feeling proud and a teensy bit smug, I graciously agreed to critique the paper.

Now, my son is an apt student. He did well in high school and so far, has managed to hold his own in college, but this sweet, intelligent, bright boy had no idea how to write a creative essay. So, I fixed it. Quite well. I added descriptions. Sensory details. Even a touch of romance when I included a blurb about his girlfriend.

Ben was a little concerned when he saw the changes I'd made, but I assured him that my suggestions were exactly what his paper needed to earn a good grade. Still dubious but trusting his mom, the writer, he turned in the paper.

A day went by. Then a week. Finally, the long anticipated grade - "C"

What was that crazy, boneheaded professor thinking? Did he not recognize great writing when he saw it? How could he claim to be a teacher of English? I almost drove down to that university, intent on giving the professor a piece of mind...until I read the comments he'd handwritten on the top of the page:

Your overall premise is good. The writing is strong and conflict was evident. However, the assignment was to write a comparative essay on two of the major car companies. I'm not sure that "bitter rivals intent on mutual destruction" was quite what I had in mind. I did think the "soft highlights created in my girlfriend's flaxen hair from the glow of the dash lights" was a nice touch though.

Needless to say, I doubt my son will be asking me to critique another paper any time soon. Unless he's writing a fiction essay...

DISCLAIMER: Don't worry. I didn't REALLY write my son's paper for him. Honest. Nothing in this post is true, remotely accurate, or in any way created to be taken seriously. Well, almost nothing.

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Do I Really Need a Newsletter?

Brandilyn Collins.

Deb Raney.

DiAnn Mills.

What do all these people have in common? You guessed it. Newsletters. And not just any newsletters. Fabulous newsletters. Newsletters with layouts the editors at Cosmopolitan would be envious of. In depth articles. Current news and facts. Writer’s helps. Sound like a lot of work? I thought so, too. So why do they do it?

Author and speaker, Randy Ingermanson said it best in a workshop he taught at the 2007 ACFW conference. Marketing.

What did he mean by that? Well, we all want to draw people to our websites, right? We all want to increase our readership and expand our fan base. Randy suggests giving people something for free to help draw them back again and again. The best way to do that is through a quality newsletter packed with outstanding content.

So I started researching. How exactly do I go about putting together a quality newsletter? I’m not a newspaper editor after all. How do I know what’s outstanding content and what’s not? Believe it or not, that part SHOULD be easy. I may not work for Cosmopolitan, but I know what I like, what helps me improve and grow as a writer, what appeals to my eyes and what doesn’t. Creating a great newsletter means fulfilling all of those things, and being satisfied with the look and feel of the overall product.

There are various views on how often to post a newsletter. Some authors insist it should be done monthly. Otherwise disagree and say it should be quarterly. Still others—twice a year. I must admit, my personal preference is a larger newsletter sent out a little less frequently. After all, who wants all those newsletters cluttering up their inboxes every month? (My apologies in advance if you are one of those authors who submits monthly.) Give me a quarterly newsletter with a little deeper content and news that’s fresh. That’s what I like to see, and therefore, what I’ll probably submit, once I get the process of putting it all together figured out anyway. So keep an eye out. The Cozy Corner newsletter should be coming your way soon.

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