Stuck. Between the third and fourth chapter of the gazillionth revision of my novel. Somewhere a segue exists but currently – I can’t find it. I know it will come – somewhere over the rainbow. But the frustration of the moment calls for a break from writing and a massive piece of comfort chocolate. As […]
Filling in the Gaps Read More »
During my birthday month, I am celebrating one of those significant years. Although I usually ignore my age, somehow this one feels more important than the ones before. A definite ‘aging’ reminder of how quickly life has passed. Growing up during the 60s-70s, we were often reminded of end times prophecy. Encouraged to be looking
The doctor I see for my acupuncture treatments said, “It’s 30% treatment and 70% rest. You need to rest more.” Rest more. This was the first medical professional who said I needed to rest. Less strenuous exercise. Less work time. More rest. It takes a while to stop spinning from a productive work ethic to
Believe it or not, we are headed toward Q4 — the last quarter of the year. How quickly the months have passed! So how do writers deal with those annual goals when suddenly faced with October, November, and December? These final months can be the busiest and most stressful of the entire year. Who has
Q4 Goals for the Writer Read More »
As a wordsmith, I am constantly studying the meaning and usage of words. Words matter. Not only in how they are used, but also in our responses to them. How many of us can remember unkind words spoken to us by bullies, siblings, or even the responsible adults around us? Our childhood can be marred
The presenter of the webinar bragged about her use of ChatGPT. “I’ve spent hours teaching this AI tool how to write like me.” She encouraged the rest of us to invest in her program, but I declined. As a writing coach, I wanted to ask, “Instead of spending hours teaching ChatGPT how to sound like
The Problem with AI Read More »
The memories surface when I visit our church members in various senior facilities. Not the fancier facilities that offer all kinds of activities and several levels of care. But the places that are the last stop before eternity — what we used to call ‘nursing homes.’ As I enter the door, my olfactory sense is
The Smells of Aging Read More »
In those foggy moments before the alarm rings and consciousness reminds me of the day ahead, I listen hard for soul whispers. It is often in the early morning when the meditations of my heart remind me I am not alone. The treasure of Psalm 127:2 becomes reality, “God gives to his beloved even in
When Eternity Becomes Present Read More »
Ever had one of those seasons where doubt gnawed at your soul and kept you from living in abundant joy? Yeah, me, too. With a life-changing decision on the line, I followed my usual checklist for making choices: When the majority of these questions agree, then I feel ready to step into the decision-making process.
When Doubt Grows into Faith Read More »
Most of us writers majored in some type of language arts, communications, or just plain English. Even long after we attained our degrees and graduated, we are still attracted to different words, their definitions, and the ways we can construct sentences to convey their meaning. We are wordsmiths who love the written, verbal, and communicative
Language Arts – Past and Present Read More »