Tag Archives: writing tips

May, Glorious May

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I’ll be the first to say–and the Juniors Halls will be the second, third, and fourth to add–that I have a few teensy, weensy flaws. And maybe a couple bad habits.

But unlike most folks who may have developed some bad habits over the last, say, 14 months, I stuck with the same old bad habits. Eating way too many chips–oh my word, have you tried the BLT potato chip from Lay’s? SO good!–and staying up way too late. (Mostly reading. So I think that could really go either way on the good/bad scale.)

BUT I also stuck with my good habits, which included singing. Singing pretty loud while I clean up or just…um, yeah… singing loudly. (Though I’m well aware that the Junior Halls may put this habit in the bad category or list it as a flaw. And to that I say, pfffft.)

Anyway, the point is, I was ready, friends. When I got the call that choir was starting back–CHOIR! ON SUNDAY MORNING! LIVE AND IN PERSON!–my vocal cords were thoroughly stretched. I may not have remembered every note I was supposed to be singing in the song choices but I could hit the notes (once I figured ’em out). It was glorious!

Well, maybe not too glorious for the poor Choir Director but honestly, I think he was so happy to be back with us that he happily put up with the likes of me singing all the wrong notes (loudly).

So in this lovely month of May when vaccinated people or people with natural immunity are reaching higher and higher numbers, I’m celebrating by singing extra loudly. Though I promise to tone it down a bit come Sunday ’cause the Junior Halls are right. Singing loudly when everyone else is not is just obnoxious.

(Also on the subject of bad habits, you can check out more of mine over at The Muffin where I share a few tips in “The Bad Habits You Need to Break to Be a Good Writer.” And happy May, y’all!)

Six Words

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So what a week, huh?

That crazy voting, the winners and losers, the tears, the tension…seriously, I was on the edge of my seat, watching. But enough about The Voice.

Something else is on my mind this morning–well, it’s been on my mind for a couple of days now and I thought that maybe it was time to share it.

512zor9gsfl-_sx332_bo1204203200_I read Daily Guideposts 2016 every night; I found the book when cleaning up Dad’s place and I brought it home, thinking how comforting it would be to read this devotional that Dad may have read in the months before he died. And it has been comforting–and inspiring and interesting.

So on Saturday, November 5th, I read about summarizing your faith in six words and I was immediately struck with the concept. Partly because I’m a writer and love a challenge, but mostly because I often preach about story, that if you can summarize it in a sentence, you know your story. And I wondered, do I know my faith that well?

And so I grabbed my pen and within a minute, I’d written these words:

“Love. Forgive. Serve. Repeat as needed.”

Maybe it’s simplistic, but those six words have resounded in my head and my heart this week. Love. Forgive. Serve. And who knows what mighty things my faith can accomplish when I repeat as needed?

I’d love to know what your six words would be. And before I forget, I also have a post over at the Muffin today, talking about favorite writing tips, websites, insider info. I’d love for you to share any of your favorites there as well. And you know you don’t have to keep your response to six words, right? But hey, you’re a writer–challenge yourself!

Was It Fast? I Thought It Was Fast.

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Holy firecrackers! Half the year is gone already! (Imagine me running around, bumping into walls) It’s just…well, that was fast, wasn’t it? Kinda puts me in mind of Jodie Foster (at the end of this clip from Maverick):

BUT this year, I’m using my Super Duper Writing Notes Idea and boy, it’s been working like a charm! (If you’ve forgotten exactly what the Super Duper Writing Notes Idea is, you can read this post on getting organized.)

And I had this thought–sort of Part Two of the Super Duper Writing Notes Idea–that at the end of each month, I’d share some of the really good tips from the month, all in one handy post for you. But…uh…I’m not so sure that I followed through on that. Still, it’s never too late to implement a good idea, so herewith a few of the great tips (courtesy of my Writing Notes, June, 2015):

1. Over at the Creative Penn, “29 Books Every Writer Should Read” (So 29 is a lot, right? Maybe just pick a few that appeal to you, but it was a great comprehensive list.)

2. Melissa Stewart’s blog, Celebrate Science, a blog for teachers, parents, and those writers interested in tackling non-fiction (specifically science) offered “21st Century Nonfiction Conference” (A handout of books, by category, that you can use as mentor texts, or just take a look at, if you’re interested in giving non-fiction a try.)

3. Anne R. Allen with Ruth Harris (and really, they have SO much good stuff at this blog all the time!) share “Edits, Editors, Editing: The Secret Weapon of Every Successful Writer.” It’s just packed with info, so you’re going to need a bit of time to get through it all, but editing? That’s a skill you can take to the writing bank.

So, a good slate of tips and such and not too overwhelming, I think, to start off your July writing. ‘Cause this summer is zipping by fast. (I thought it was fast. Was it fast? I thought it was really fast.)