As a writer, I’ve learned that seeking and embracing feedback can be one of the fastest ways to improve or even acquire writing skills. Continue reading “Manuscript Revision: Keep Your Focus”
Manuscript Revision: Keep Your Focus
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Insight From my Favorite Neuropsychologist
After I completed my graduate counseling classes, I worked as a Psychology Intern for a Neuropsychologist who often worked 10-hour days.
For those of you not in the field, let me explain. This is outrageous! Few can manage that sort of face-to-face, emotionally draining work for more than half a day. Hour after hour of meeting with clients, performing assessments, listening and helping them process their problems, doing cognitive rehabilitation, or teaching college students. Simply functioning at that level should earn him superhero status, but he did more than get by, he excelled.
One evening at the end of a long day, I took a seat across from his oak desk like I often did when all was quiet and I could soak up his wisdom. Only this time, he didn’t acknowledge me with a twinkle in his eyes, instead he rubbed his chin offering only his profile. Tears welled in his eyes.
Continue reading “Insight From my Favorite Neuropsychologist”
Book Review: Justice by Emily Conrad
I became an Emily Conrad fan when I read a pre-published novel inspired by the Biblical story of Joseph. In fact, if you know me in person, you may have heard me praising it and her writing style. Emily has a way of phrasing and crafting characters that makes me want to prop up my feet and become immersed in her world. So when I learned she had an earlier story inspired by Mary and Joseph, I had to get my hands on it! Continue reading “Book Review: Justice by Emily Conrad”
How a Writing Conference Helped Me Empathize with My Favorite Elf
I recently met one of my critique partners, Laurie Germaine, in person at the ACFW conference. We had so much fun sharing a room with Amanda Wen at the amazing Gaylord Hotel in Grapevine, Texas. And in case you’re wondering, not one of my fears that spawned this blog post about my conference anxiety came true. Although, I did have a close call with the hotel hair dryer finally deciding to roar to life just as I was about to leave the room. Thank God, I heard it and turned the possessed thing off in time, but as I flipped the switch, terror seeped into my bones. A vision of Robyn Hook burning down the beautiful hotel was a horror I hadn’t even imagined might have come true.
Just like Tinsel Kuchler—my favorite human-sized elf from Laurie’s novel! I understood a little of how poor Tinsel must have felt when she set the chemistry lab at her high school ablaze. She caused an explosion that ruined a stash of presents and sent the elves into panic mode to save Christmas. Thankfully, the current Santa’s hot, teenaged grandson and future Santa, Niklas Kringle, was there to lead everyone to safety. And yes, I admit it, I have a crush on this young Santa before the red suit and jelly belly! Continue reading “How a Writing Conference Helped Me Empathize with My Favorite Elf”
My Ride from Sceptic to Writer
I’m leaving for my first writer’s conference this Thursday. Gulp. Yes, it’s the conference that inspired this ridiculous story about my fears. I’m not really worried I’ll make all those mistakes and I know I’ve been blessed tremendously by experienced authors who have helped me create the materials I need to pitch my story to agents and acquisitions editors, but I’m nervous! And this will be the first time I leave my kids and husband alone together for three consecutive nights. So please, please pray for all of us.
In honor of this conference—where I’ll put on my writer-hat and announce to the world I have a story for them—I’m sharing a little of my journey from sceptic writer. Hope you enjoy! Continue reading “My Ride from Sceptic to Writer”
This Trial to Love Life
Convicted Innocent
I follow my mother into the courtroom to watch the trial of an innocent man. The audience’s soft murmuring silences. Familiar faces from my childhood and strangers gaze our way. Continue reading “Convicted Innocent”
Have Faith. Don’t Stash Your Stuff
This year we adopted a young Border Collie. I know very little about Bailey’s life before she became ours. The girl we got her from said Bailey had been abused, kept chained away from food and water, but didn’t go into detail. Other than to say, Bailey hated men, which apparently didn’t apply to the male’s in our household. Continue reading “Have Faith. Don’t Stash Your Stuff”
Chemotherapy Made Me Ugly…Beautiful
I have cancer. The words permeate my brain even through the haze of sleep. They haven’t been far from thoughts, since my diagnosis the week before. I offer up another pleading prayer for guidance and snuggle back to sleep.
My double stroller cast a long shadow in the cool morning. I push it along the sidewalk in front of my house, sauntering our way to my son’s elementary school around the corner. My youngest resting inside while my four and seven-year-olds run ahead.
I have a disease people die from. The words still ring surreal. This isn’t the sort of thing that happens to women with three young children to raise. Had I done something wrong? Was God done with me? Or maybe He just wanted me home.
Bloom in Season
As I walked my kids to school, my kindergartener got excited over the “helicopter” seeds that had fallen from a tree. He tossed one up and watched it spin to the ground and my other two boys joined him.
After a few moments, I forced them on and they found some dandelion thistles to blow. The seeds went flying onto the street and sidewalk.
The obvious parallel of the parable of the sower and how some seeds fall on the road and get trampled came to mind (Matthew 13). But when I tried to discuss it with them, somehow the lesson became about how all creation points toward our creator.
I followed them around the corner. “Yes. God made us just like he made the plants, flowers, and trees. But we have more opportunity to impact than a tree.”
Robyn Hook 