Today officially marks the start of my summer schedule since school is now over. My two oldest daughters have been safely delivered to Kemur Camp (a horse camp for girls) for a week of being a student helper and a full-fledged camper (depending on which daughter I speak of), and so hubby and I have our youngest daughter home alone with us this week. Seems strange to have only one child at home. We haven't experienced that since Alisha (our oldest) was eighteen months old. In two weeks, all three daughters will be off to Kemur Camp for another week of girls fun, while Phil and I have some alone time.
So what does this mean for me and my writing?
It means a summer schedule is in order. And since I don't write while my family is home--or at least not while they are awake at home, early mornings begin today. For the summer my writing will take place in my office haven from 6:00 am to 9:00 am while the girls enjoy their sleep-in summer schedule. I'll arise at 5:30 am for devotion and Bible reading time before delving into my fictional world. I've mixed feeling about this. Anticipation, and yet a tinge of laziness threatens me too.
But in line with writing like a professional, I know these early mornings need to be followed. I managed to do it last summer, so I know I can succeed. Anyone else joining me on this early rising adventure?
My goal is to avoid Internet access during this time, too. These three hours will be strictly writing time. Throughout the day, I'll take mini breaks as the girls are occupied with friends to do my blog hopping and writing, and my email updating.
So, tell me, how will you handle your summer? How do you keep writing a priority when the family is home and in vacation mode?
Surrendering to Him,
Eileen
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Building an Online Presence
I thought I'd share news about an upcoming teleseminar by Sheila Wray Gregoire. The teleseminar will take place this coming Monday, June 29 at 9:00 pm. ET. But even if you can't make it at that time, if you register, you can download it to view at anytime afterward.
The topics covered will be:
The topics covered will be:
How to Find your Online Niche
How to Draw People to Your Blog or Twitter page
How to Host an Online Party!
How to Keep in touch through emails, newsletters, and more!
How to Collect email addresses.
There is a $10.00 US fee for this teleseminar. With that in mind, if you're interested in learning about building an online platform, you can find more information about it here: http://sheilawraygregoire.com/buildanonlinecommunityp459.php
I'm going to try it out and hope that I learn some tips. Like how to use and maximize the impact of Twitter, Facebook, and blogging.
Pray we all have a wonderful weekend!
Surrendering to Him,
Eileen
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Are you a Hobbyist or a Professional Writer?
I hope you'll come check out my Writer's Rest post today. Come see what I discovered at the Write! Canada writer's conference last week on this very topic.
Surrendering to Him,
Eileen
Surrendering to Him,
Eileen
Monday, June 22, 2009
Processing A Writer's Conference
I've had a day to get my thoughts in order, but yet there still seems to be a haze lingering around my brain matter. Ever feel that way? Like you can't quite organize your thoughts and come up with a clear understanding of what transpired?
Writer's conferences have a way of doing that to some of us.
Okay, I'll try my best to divulge what I found to be the highlights of Write! Canada 2009 for me. (By the way, Write! Canada is the largest Christian Writer's Conference in Canada. It attracts over 200 attendees each year. That may seem small to you American's, but remember, our land mass may be close to yours, but our population isn't.)
This was my third year attending this conference, and I must say that each year the Worship time ranks high in my memories. Singing and praising God, and hearing His word spoken aloud before breakfast each morning is truly a gift. Each time I leave a worship service at Write! I tell myself that if this alone was offered, it'd still be more than worth attending.
But, of course, the worship time is not all that is offered. Socializing and learning with fellow writers is both encouraging and inspiring. Hearing newly published authors tell their joyful story in the midst of encouraging you to keep going is truly a blessing. Their sincere interest in wanting to help you succeed comes through their words of encouragement, gracious advice offered, and knowledge shared. This is what a writer's conference is all about. Sharing!
My focus at this conference this year was not so much to expand my knowledge of the craft, but with getting a better idea of what is really involved in publication. Since I will also be attending ACFW's conference in the fall, I figured I'd save the craft-building classes for that one, and learn a little more about what hopefully is to come for me sometime in the next twenty years or so. As a result, I learned many things. Here's a few for starters.
1) How to focus on my writing as a career, not a hobby.
2) What agents really do, and why you need to do your homework before seeking one out. And that there is a reason why it's so difficult to partner with a good agent.
3) Contracts have many similarities to fourth year Algebra and Calculus post-secondary classes. NO FUN!
4) I have so much more to learn...
5) The image you portray does mean something.
6) Some bloggers actually can make money. And somehow do so by simply putting a PAYPAL link on their blog. (Don't worry, I'm not headed in that direction.)
7) I have so much more to learn...
8) Edits don't end until the author puts his/her foot down. Learn when to do it!
9) There will always be someone who writes better than you, but you don't have to write like them to share your words with the world!
10) Published authors are generous people who want to help you succeed.
11) There are many sides to an individual. Don't be blind-sided by a third-party viewing. (This can be used in character development big time. Talk about multi-dimensional character building!)
12) Editors don't all rip your work to shreds.
13) And, since this list needs to end somewhere and a baker's dozen is a good number--once again--I have so much more to learn... BUT, I also discovered, that I know a thing or two, too!!! Now that's progress.
On Wednesday, I'm going to dig a little deeper into the first item listed above over on Writer's Rest.
I pray you all had a wonderful weekend and that your writing is shining brightly these days. Blessings prayed for you all!
Surrendering to Him,
Eileen
Writer's conferences have a way of doing that to some of us.
Okay, I'll try my best to divulge what I found to be the highlights of Write! Canada 2009 for me. (By the way, Write! Canada is the largest Christian Writer's Conference in Canada. It attracts over 200 attendees each year. That may seem small to you American's, but remember, our land mass may be close to yours, but our population isn't.)
This was my third year attending this conference, and I must say that each year the Worship time ranks high in my memories. Singing and praising God, and hearing His word spoken aloud before breakfast each morning is truly a gift. Each time I leave a worship service at Write! I tell myself that if this alone was offered, it'd still be more than worth attending.
But, of course, the worship time is not all that is offered. Socializing and learning with fellow writers is both encouraging and inspiring. Hearing newly published authors tell their joyful story in the midst of encouraging you to keep going is truly a blessing. Their sincere interest in wanting to help you succeed comes through their words of encouragement, gracious advice offered, and knowledge shared. This is what a writer's conference is all about. Sharing!
My focus at this conference this year was not so much to expand my knowledge of the craft, but with getting a better idea of what is really involved in publication. Since I will also be attending ACFW's conference in the fall, I figured I'd save the craft-building classes for that one, and learn a little more about what hopefully is to come for me sometime in the next twenty years or so. As a result, I learned many things. Here's a few for starters.
1) How to focus on my writing as a career, not a hobby.
2) What agents really do, and why you need to do your homework before seeking one out. And that there is a reason why it's so difficult to partner with a good agent.
3) Contracts have many similarities to fourth year Algebra and Calculus post-secondary classes. NO FUN!
4) I have so much more to learn...
5) The image you portray does mean something.
6) Some bloggers actually can make money. And somehow do so by simply putting a PAYPAL link on their blog. (Don't worry, I'm not headed in that direction.)
7) I have so much more to learn...
8) Edits don't end until the author puts his/her foot down. Learn when to do it!
9) There will always be someone who writes better than you, but you don't have to write like them to share your words with the world!
10) Published authors are generous people who want to help you succeed.
11) There are many sides to an individual. Don't be blind-sided by a third-party viewing. (This can be used in character development big time. Talk about multi-dimensional character building!)
12) Editors don't all rip your work to shreds.
13) And, since this list needs to end somewhere and a baker's dozen is a good number--once again--I have so much more to learn... BUT, I also discovered, that I know a thing or two, too!!! Now that's progress.
On Wednesday, I'm going to dig a little deeper into the first item listed above over on Writer's Rest.
I pray you all had a wonderful weekend and that your writing is shining brightly these days. Blessings prayed for you all!
Surrendering to Him,
Eileen
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
A Crazy Week of Preparation
Getting ready for conference is like preparing for a month-long family vacation on a deserted island. Time consuming!
With the extra chauffeuring duties for my oldest in the midst of high school exams, doctor appointments, and a hamster who insists on welcoming infection, I've had a run this past week and a half. But all's good. I think I'm on track.
Two things came to mind during my mad rushes recently:
1) You know you're a writer when you pass the road-side lottery sign that shouts Five Million Dollars and you think, what would I do if I won? Would I quit trying to get this writing thing right? No. Never. But I would hire a house keeper and gardener so that I could write more!
2) Writing is merely a collection of words; given enough permutations, you're bound to get it right. (That's the editor in me screaming for hope!)
So, tell me, what strange and wonderful things come to your mind unexpectedly as you rush to get something done?
Surrendering to Him,
Eileen
With the extra chauffeuring duties for my oldest in the midst of high school exams, doctor appointments, and a hamster who insists on welcoming infection, I've had a run this past week and a half. But all's good. I think I'm on track.
Two things came to mind during my mad rushes recently:
1) You know you're a writer when you pass the road-side lottery sign that shouts Five Million Dollars and you think, what would I do if I won? Would I quit trying to get this writing thing right? No. Never. But I would hire a house keeper and gardener so that I could write more!
2) Writing is merely a collection of words; given enough permutations, you're bound to get it right. (That's the editor in me screaming for hope!)
So, tell me, what strange and wonderful things come to your mind unexpectedly as you rush to get something done?
Surrendering to Him,
Eileen
Monday, June 15, 2009
A Soldier's Reunion by Cheryl Wyatt
A Soldier's Reunion by Cheryl Wyatt, June 2009, Steeple Hill, Love InspiredBack Cover Blurb: A Man From Her Past
Despite a decade apart, this isn't the reunion Mandy Manchester expected! She thought she'd put high school sweetheart Nolan Briggs behind her. Now he's back...and the pararescue jumper literally sweeps her off her feet. He's ready and willing to rekindle what they once shared. Mandy, though, isn't prepared to put her heart at risk. He left her before--she won't trust him again. Can Nolan teach this grounded girl to take a leap of faith?
My Review: True to Cheryl Wyatt's form, her fourth book in the Wings of Refuge series, A Soldier's Reunion, starts out at a fast pace with a bang. Mandy and Nolan are characters you can relate to and would love to have lunch with, and getting a peek into the characters introduced in the previous stories is always delightful.
I've never been a big fan of the many reunion stories driven by the old: the parents forbid the true love so they parted and of course, all promised correspondence was stolen by said parents without the girl ever suspecting. But Wyatt redeems this familiar plot by weaving some original spins into this story. She delivers, once again, an enjoyable fast paced story.
A Soldier's Reunion is in stores now where LI's sell, and you can also order it on Amazon here.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Three Chapters Revamped...Finally!
I'm sighing hugely right now. After brain-draining, slow-going days and weeks of revisions, I've finally gotten through edits of my initial story for the umpteenth time.
As a result, I totally revamped the initial three chapters and I need help.
My crit group has endured so many revisions of this book that I can't ask them to look at these chapters again. Besides, they must know my characters as well as I do, so they wouldn't notice if I've stripped too much backstory out or not at this point.
So...I'm looking for two or three writers who love reading inspirational romances, willing to swap 30 double-spaced pages with me for fair, honest critiquing. Any takers?
Update: Got my takers! Thanks everyone!
Surrendering to Him,
Eileen
As a result, I totally revamped the initial three chapters and I need help.
My crit group has endured so many revisions of this book that I can't ask them to look at these chapters again. Besides, they must know my characters as well as I do, so they wouldn't notice if I've stripped too much backstory out or not at this point.
So...I'm looking for two or three writers who love reading inspirational romances, willing to swap 30 double-spaced pages with me for fair, honest critiquing. Any takers?
Update: Got my takers! Thanks everyone!
Surrendering to Him,
Eileen
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