Fitting it all in.

I'm Canadian, so I'm not in the mad frenzy of preparing for the American Thanksgiving weekend that fast approaches. However, I realize that many of my blog readers are living that frenzied lifestyle now, and will be for several weeks more as the Christmas rush gets underway both here and abroad. I think the American way has seeped over the boarder some to our advantage, though. Since our Thanksgiving is celebrated mid October, we have several extra weeks to spread the Christmas to-do list over, and thus maybe we aren't quite as rushed as our American friends.

So, my question today, is how do you fit it all in? The Thanksgiving celebration, Christmas shopping, celebrating, sharing, giving, and work, be it writing or otherwise. What method of fulfilling this madness do you live by to discover the New Year with satisfaction and joy, not guilt, despair, and exhaustion?

Praying for a Peace to fall on us all,

Eileen

32 days left this year to reflect and celebrate our Saviour's birth.

Why Do Many Die-hard Writers Seek Anonymity?

I suspect there are as many answers to this as there are writers. An e-mail note from a special person brought this topic to mind, and got me thinking. I'm one of the die-hard writers that truly does prefer anonymity regarding my chosen path to write, but why is that? And to whom do I wish to keep my writing a secret? Considering I keep this blog, and have a website that clearly tells of my writing, I mustn't be trying to hide my love of writing from everyone. Right?

It's true, I'm not. Letting people in cyber space and other writers know that I'm attempting to be a published author is much safer and far more comfortable than having to deal with people of close proximity asking "How's the writing going?" every time you happen to cross paths. After a while they, too, learn to stop asking, and discover vicariously through you that this business is slow going. Either that, or they come to think that you're just an awful writer and living in a dreamworld to waste such precious time trying to get a story down worthy of publication. Either way, it's the writer who has to live with the feeling of incompetence every time they hear that question. A huge reminder of how difficult this business is. Do we really need this added frustration? I think not.

The truth is, few people who haven't attempted to learn the craft of fiction writing understand that the average author has sweat and toiled over learning this art for a good number of years before the glory day of publication arrives. Even more writers never see that glory day despite years and years dedicated to honing the craft. Nevertheless, I believe time spent writing is never a waste. Not if you write with a desire to please your Heavenly Father. For God can use our training-years in so many wonderful ways. I know, because I've experienced a few eye-openers already as a direct result of my writing.

If you are called to write, write for the immense gifts that writing can bring to your life. And if someone asks just one too many times, "How's the writing going?", invite them to join you on this writing journey. Worst case scenario is that they'll take you up on it and they'll get published tout de suite, but hey, then you'll always know that your encouragement had a place in his/her success. And that's the next best thing to being published yourself.

Blessings to all!

Eileen

84 days to reflect and celebrate our Saviour's birth.

Does a Clean House go with Writing?

I have to ask: How does a writer with a family keep their house clean? Is it a sin to have a messy house, if you're busy with other matters you believe are His will?

If it is, then I think I'm getting mixed signals on my call to write. Because I can't seem to consistently write and keep a tidy and clean house. If I attempt to keep the housework up, then I never seem to get to my writing needs, and if I put my attention toward writing, then there's never time to clean and organize before the next wave of furry comes running through my doors--usually at 3:20 when the bus drops them off.

Oh, how amazing it would be to write in a home that was tidy for the majority of the time.

I looked up 'clean' in my Bible's concordance. There are 25 references to the word and varying forms of it. Of them, I found one that referred to cleaning items, and interestingly enough it placed it in low importance compared to keeping a clean heart, etc. Here it is: Mt. 23:25 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
But then I think of how our body is a temple and to keep it strong and healthy for God to use accordingly we must protect ourselves from falling ill where possible. Germs, etc. from a messy house, especially one with pets, as mine is, is therefore a concern.

So, here I am again, wondering how I can balance these two needs? If I'm called to write and to keep my house in order, how do I manage to do both satisfactorily? I'm open to guidance--anyone feel called to help?

Pressing onward,

Eileen