Tonya Renea

Moving!

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:33:00 +0000

This blog has moved. You may now find me here: http://www.ourtravelinshoes.com/
I hope that you will stop by for a visit soon.
Sincerely,
Tonya

Behind...

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:35:00 +0000

I've fallen behind and I could give you a million excuses, but the real reasons are:

Life got hectic - had some things to handle and pray about.
For some reason blogger wouldn't let me upload photos.
My internet went down. - a common occurrence over here.
I was tired, very.
...and I've been looking at new blog designs.

But never fear...I still have my daily photos (minus 2...but you've had extra pictures) and here they are:

{Day 8}

Yes, Karen Kingsbury is part of the reason I am also behind. I've read the first 3 of the Above the Line Series and I'm 1/2 way through number 4. I would be done with it by now, but I'm afraid its not going to end how I want it to...so I'm pacing myself in case it frustrates me. Other than that - the series is great and I've really enjoyed it. You should read it if you haven't.

{Day 9}

This is my daughter Ashlynn, the musician in this house. She's been playing for about 5 years, now I think. She's pretty darn good. She is practicing for her grade 2 exam that she expects to take in March. Recently, she has decided to take singing lessons as well. So we're going to try them for a couple weeks, see how she likes it and then move forward. My mom says I should write books about Ashlynn. She does give me a lot of stories, but so does Brier...just in different ways. Ashlynn is the soft harmony and heartfelt stories.

{Day 10}

I've recently become addicted to Pasta Salad. Sooooooooo good! I buy the box and I add fresh tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, Parmesan cheese and ohhhhh so good. You gotta try it!

{Day 11}

My beautiful pen from Italy. I've been slowly...like at a snails pace been putting my office together. I'm trying to decide where to put this. I like it on display! It's so pretty.

{Day 12}

The cd tower has returned to my office once again...you notice there are no cds on it? Never is. I store cds in the binder books. The cd tower works great for my small books and other small items.

{Day 13}

Doesn't this photo make you want to say, "Got Pens?"

Yes, those are SOME of my pens, markers, and pencils. I was sorting them today...you know finding out which ones still work! I need some drawer dividers, so I can separate them out accordingly. For right now, they're dumped in the drawer to the right. Oh and yes, I did throw a few away. I've more hiding around the house though. Time to track them down and get them all in one location.

...and now I'm all caught up! Whew!

However, it is Sunday...so what am I thankful for this week?

Sleep - it seemed rare this week.
My husband and his bravery to be a true friend.
Friends, that stop by for a chat or want to go out to lunch.
Pasta Salad
Pens
Flat tires
The accidental bumping into someone here and there - sometimes that someone really needs someone to talk to.
Children who understand when Mom & Dad need a moment.
Prayers
...and everything else God has blessed me with.

On my other blog, Life in England, I'll be writing a bit of a story about someone specific I'm thankful for. So be sure to stop by and check it out.

Have a wonderfully blessed Sunday!

~T~

Day 7 - Patience

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 23:34:00 +0000

{Roxie}

This little girl is teaching me a whole new level of patience, personally and by her example! She goes and sits by the container with her food in it, 20 minutes prior to time to eat...and patiently she waits. As a writer...patience is a must.

~T~

Day 6 - My Desk!

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:01:00 +0000

Copied from my England blog - because today my writing life and England life connected. It happens occasionally :) I would have posted last night, but my internet kept dying. I really did not forget to post. I tried. It took me twice just to get it to post on my other blog! The beauties of the internet!

First, I'd like to say, "Happy 38th Birthday, honey! I love you so very much. God sure knew what he was doing when he created you to be my husband, I'm not sure who else could put up with me. There could not be a more perfect fit. You work so hard, and yet you work just as hard at home; helping with the house, the kids, the dogs...sometimes I think you do more than I. A lot of times that's even true, I apologize that the Lord blessed you with a lazy bum for a wife :) I am most appreciative for all the hard work you do. We would not be who we are or where we are if it were not for you. Thank you for being so great. I love you!"
Second, I'd like to add a bit to my daily pictorial journal. Sunday's are meant for the Lord. That's the way I was taught and the way I believe. So to remember this as the Lord's day, throughout this pictorial adventure on Sunday's I am also going to let you know what am thankful for each week. Those moments that stand out, those that make me feel blessed beyond measure.

Today's picture is obviously my desk!

{My Desk}

{Matching Cabinet}

Both which give me a few things to be thankful for:

A husband who spoils me and is willing to put furniture together for me...even on his birthday!
A nice place to write, scrapbook, and it even includes storage.
That the money for both arrived just in time, as they were on sale until today!

I must admit, I feel rather important sitting here at a real desk instead of a 5ft table! I really like this. I've wanted a desk for a long while now. I've wanted what I've been calling my Dream Desk from The Original Scrapbox:

No, I did not get it...but I got one that I am happy with and that is what matters right? Now, I think I'll save my change for the workbox - which could take a long time! However, when we finally leave England...it might be time for it. Who knows? Dreams are meant to be dreamt right?

I believe my new furniture will suit me well, and I believe it will give me future things to be thankful for as well.

There are a few other things that occurred this week that I am thankful for:

Ashlynn and her kind spirit. Thursday afternoon when I picked her up from school, she did yet another thing to melt my heart, bring a silent tear to my eye, and fill me with joy. There is a student named Mark, 3 years (classes) below her. He is a special needs child. For some reason on Thursday Mark did not want to go home. He was voicing this to his parents loudly as we walked behind them. They were parked ahead of us and so as we went past Ashlynn stopped. She didn't tell me she was going to, she just stopped...so of course I did to. Then she said very enthusiastically, "Hi Mark! I'll play with you tomorrow okay?" Mark dried his eyes, smiled so big I swear you could have seen sunshine and said, "Okay!" Then he got in his car without another word. Then we walked on to our car. I was speechless. Not many kids would have stopped, let alone even speak. The fact that Ashlynn took that small moment out of her day, her time...to bless another...well my cup runneth over. She is simply amazing.
Internet - so I can share these things with you...even if I have to reset the router a 100 times...without it I could not connect with so many.
My camera - which has been getting a great workout this week!
Puppy kisses :)
Brier and his persistence. Had he not been so persistent I'm pretty sure his friend Josh would not have come round on Saturday. They had a great time together playing football, the wii, and all sorts. Sometimes Brier's persistence drives me insane and I want to shout, "would you just hang on a sec"...but I am thankful he has this trait. It may be one of his greatest strengths and it may do him well in his future. At least I know he'll never give up! :)
Good friends who enjoy celebrating birthdays, playing games, and just hanging out.
Rug Dr...even if I didn't push the silly red button!
Laughter - because it feels so good! I've had plenty to laugh at this week.
And most of all, I'm thankful for the birthday boy himself, whom without I would be utterly lost.

For those of you that have taken the time to read this blog today, I thank you. I pray that you have had many great things to be thankful for this week and that God may bless you in the coming week.

~T~

Day 5 - Story of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 22:47:00 +0000

My son got a puppy for Christmas, as many already know. Potty training has it's ups and downs. Roxie seems to do really well when it is just she and I at home. Yet, when the family is all home of an evening it's as if she goes brain dead. My husband wanted to wait a month to shampoo the carpets...I've a very strong sense of smell and so we're shampooing this weekend. I offered to help. David went to IKEA today to buy my desk (so excited!!!) and while he was gone I shampooed the hall and dining room...or so I thought. He showed me how before he left, but I missed one very important step. You see this:

Nice big red button, right there on the handle...you're supposed to push it! Oops! I knew he told me to push something, but I thought he was talking about that little black lever. I couldn't figure out why on earth I needed to move the handle up and down. So needless to say, I deeply vacummed the floor...it sprayed no water, and the brushes did not move...all because I didn't push the darn red button! I think that 'brain dead' thing is catching!

So there's a story for ya! I try to be helpful, I try real hard to get it done before he gets back so he won't laugh at me...and what happens? He gets the last laugh anyway and says, "Oh honey, I really do love you." I'm glad I could provide him with some entertainment. My grandpa says that's how one manages to stay married.

My mom once asked my grandpa, "Daddy how have you managed to stay married to Mama all these years?" Grandpa's reply was simply and very memoriable. He said, "It hasn't been boring."

Enough said.

~T~

P.S. I dislike red buttons :)

Day 4

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 22:11:00 +0000

Some may think this does not involve writing...boy are they wrong! One of my favorite things about scrapbooking is journaling. I love writing the story of my family.

I've had a subscription to Creating Keepsakes for YEARS! It has been one of my favorite go to magazines for scrapbooking for a long time. I still enjoy it, although I do admit not as much. It seems to have gotten thinner, and they've reduced the amount of issues. Economic crunch and all you know? On top of that, there are tons of ads! I like ads about new products...but I like layout ideas, journalling tips, techniques to try, and organizational information more.

Yet, I still receive my CK - they've not lost me completely...yet. I keep thinking if I hold out long enough, they'll get back to the basics, back to the thicker magazine and back to the monthly issues. So I keep praying for the economy and for CK to survive during this time.

~T~

Day 3 - A village Pub

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:59:00 +0000

Oops! I missed day 3 - we were having a mini birthday celebration for my husband and friend Ashley. If you'd like to read about that or see the daily picture for that one check out our England blog - where I am also playing the 354 pictorial journal.

Here' is day 3 for my writing picture:

"Golden Boar Inn Bar & Restaurant"

This is a pub in a village a few miles from here. I was stuck at a traffic light due to road construction and finding the Ivy Roots spread along the outside of this pub intriguing. So I took a photo. Who knows if I'll ever write about it or not, but a lot of times when I am out driving along some where I see something that triggers my imagination. Street signs, Village names and signs, Churches, Pubs, fields, sun shine...it just depends on the day and where I'm going and every once in a while the imagination takes flight, I forget where I am going and end up missing my turn.

~T~

Day 2 - Yellow Ribbons Tied

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 23:27:00 +0000

I've not forgot about my picture for today...and today I spent working on putting together a Newsletter for the spouses of my husband's flight. I volunteer as the Key Spouse and what I am supposed to do is keep in touch with the spouses that have a spouse deployed. I need to make sure they are okay, see if there is anything they need, and keep them updated on the happenings around the base and at the shop.

I receive tons of emails full of information. I was told to simply forward them...well not everyone enjoys receiving TONS of emails. So I sifted through the 93 messages I had and created a newsletter. I titled it "Yellow Ribbons Tied". When your spouse, son, daughter, father, mother, or whom every in your family is deployed...it's tradition to tie a yellow ribbon.

The newsletter ended up being 6 full pages! I did get to do a "little" bit of my own writing, but not much. I look forward to sending it out tomorrow and seeing what type of response I get from it. I worked really hard on it, loved every moment of it, and I am thrilled with out it turned out.

My husband did some editing for me and he thinks it should be sent to all spouses. That makes me feel good.
~T~

354 Pictorial Journal Project

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:26:00 +0000

     Okay, so I was catching up on some blog reading earlier today and stumbled upon Jen's blog and saw her 365 day project. I became inspired. I am a regular slacker when it comes to blogging and so after reading a few of her posts, I decided I would try it too. Yes, I'm late! But I didn't know about it till today...so mine is actually 354 days.

     Hopefully, it will serve as a reminder to me, because I as I looked back over 2010 to write my annual Christmas letter...I found I had no photos for February! Meaning I had no idea what we did in February! Almost like it didn't exsist...we skipped it.

     I've not really made a list of goals for 2011 yet, but I would really like to be more current with my blogging...so wish me luck in this adventure and if you are playing along too - let me know! Maybe we can remind one another!

Day 1:

Why this photo? Because today I sat down and blogged again. Yes, I blogged at Christmas, with promises of trying harder...so here we are 1-11-11 and I'm finally getting to it. Now, with this project to help keep me on task hopefully, I'll be more current.

I am doing the pictorial journal project on our Life in England blog as well. The pictures there will be much different, as the pictures on this blog are stickly to be writing related. Why? To also keep me in check on my writing...let's see if it works!

What are some things you are doing this year to keep you on task? Find anything that really works? Trying something new? Leave a comment and let me know how your new year is going! God bless.

~T~

We Did It!!!

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:42:00 +0000

It was touch and go there for a while but we did it!

I came in at 50,055 and Ashlynn winning at 30,007!!!

I think I wrote this Dec. 1st and forgot to post it! Oh, my goodness. It was a wonderful experience and now that Christmas is over I look forward to getting back to perfecting my story.

Tonya

Day 21 of NanoWriMo

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 16:21:00 +0000

...and we're still chuggin' along. The locomotive has ran out of steam a time or two, but we keep finding unique ways keep the fires burning. Word sprints, word wars, and even threatening to haul my daughter upstairs like a sack of potatoes, set her in the shower and drench her! They threat gave her enough initiative to write over 800 words in an hour!!! Although, she did claim that drenching her would be child abuse :-)

Today, I'd like to share with you our stats.

Ashlynn
1: 507

2: 941
3: 699
4: 906
5: 1,005
6: 420
7: 1,365
8: 49
9: 287
10: 1,013
11: 882
12: 2,211
13: 1,065
14: 1,000
15: 1,020
16: 768
17: 697
18: 108
19: 293
20: 863

She has had 7 day's were she typed over 1,000 words! Isn't that awesome? 11 years old and rocking Nano!

Current total: 16,099

...and myself...

Tonya
1: 1,532

2: 1,720
3: 1,715
4: 1,012
5: 2,562
6: 919
7: 204
8: 1,762
9: 2,001
10: 1,538
11: 2,044
12: 1,818
13: 1,807
14: 685
15: 119
16: 271
17: 1,717
18: 122
19: 1,323
20: 72
9 days at or over the daily goal of 1,667.

Current total: 24,943

Today, we are both shooting for goal (the catching up goal) - to get ourselves back in the GREEN and out of the horrid red!

Ashlynn's goal: 3, 390.
Has typed: 1,564 - she rocks uh? :-) Come on you know you wanna CHEER for her!!!

Tonya's goal: 2,506
Has typed: 0 (this blog) :-)

....now you've been updated and even though this blog is probably over 1,000 words...its does not apply to my Nano project! So Goodbye!!! I'll updated you again soon!

Much love,

~T~

P.S. Next threat "squirting easy cheese on Ash" hehehe - I love this kid!

Is it love or not?

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 11:28:00 +0000

I really don't have time to sit here and blog, but I had to tell you something funny. Before I started NaNoWriMo this year I downloaded Susan Mae Warren's Book Buddy. Everyone raved on and on about how much they loved it. Some of them even named it! Okay - well I am not in love with my book buddy yet...

He says things to me I don't understand. So I have to ask and then I feel, "I should really know this, how am I to be an author if I don't know this!" See why I'm not in love with him?

Today, I'm reading on MBT and some one is going on and on about how much the book "From the Inside Out" is helping them. I'd put off purchasing it for a week now...but today I decided okay maybe I need a little more help. I am having trouble getting my characters in order, I feel like my story is all over the place (kinda like me), and just maybe this one will help me. You know, everyone has to find the right fit, correct?

I decide to purchase it. I realize I can purchase a download copy, which means I can print it and have it in my hands today. Living in England - I can not tell you how much I LOVE that! I so miss Barnes & Noble and all the other book stores! Patience has never been a strong suit of mine, oh trust me I try to be patient...but sometimes well it just doesn't work =)

I download the book, I begin printing it...thinking all the while I'll be able to have this in my hands and take to work with me. I work 3 hours every Thursday at the Pub next door, just to help them out. It's never very busy - so books go with me. Half way through the printing, I run out of ink!!!

I had just a text my husband earlier asking him to by more and some computer paper...so here I sat discouraged again. As I looked around the office, what did my wondering eyes find? INK! My husband saved the day and he doesn't even know it! He is going to later tell me, "I should take up stock in ink and paper". Trust me, I know this man!

I change all the inks - they're all empty...oops! I begin printing again, feeling excited that I will get to take the book to work with me after all. What a wonderful day, right?

WRONG!

I ran out of paper with only 32 pages to go =( What to do, what to do...

I think to myself, don't I have some funny computer stationary somewhere? I look through the filing cabinet...what's in there? Computer paper, some with rainbows, some with flowers, and some with a cottage scene. Once again the day is saved!!!

I load the paper and I sit back and laugh. I wonder if anyone else has ever downloaded a book and printed it on rainbow and flowered papers?

I don't know if I am going to LOVE this book or not...but at the moment it is really making me smile!

~T~

P.S. My husband rocks!!! And I do LOVE that man!

Changes & NaNoWriMo

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 13:45:00 +0000

I started writing this post on Oct. 29th and here it is Nov. 7th and I'm finally getting back to it! That will teach me I guess...

Oct. 29th 2010

I should be finishing 93 birthday party invitations instead of writing this...but I need a moment! I love to make cards and scrapbook. I have an entire room devoted to the hobby...but the 'mood' has to be there in order for me to sit down and do any of it.

However, I am forcing myself to sit down and push these invitations through for three reasons.
1. The people that ordered them need them a.s.a.p.
2. I am getting paid for them.
3. I want to get back to writing!
So today that is what I am working on, with big hopes that they will not take the entire day.

Why am I blogging instead of getting to it? I've a few things I'd like to mention in case you are visiting my blog for the first time. This blog was originally designed to share my scrapbooking/cardmaking adventures, show off photos of my newest creation, and so forth. I found I was not posting as much because my crafting takes a backseat from time to time. Yet, I paid money for the blog design, therefore I hate to do away it and I have been doing some revamping.

There are some things that are still a work in progress:
1. Not all the links across the menu bar work properly yet.
2. The blog address has changed from http://tuesdaysattonyas.blogspot.com/ to http://tonyarenea.blogspot.com/
3. The name in the header will also be changed to Tonya Renea, hopefully.

...and there may be other changes later.

So if I am not blogging about scrapbooking/cardmaking what am I blogging about? My other passion, one that I do not share often enough. My writing.

I've been writing for as long as I can remember. I have notebook after notebook, journal after journal, and I do not go anywhere with out pen and paper. The glove box in my car has a small notebook and pen. My purse has the same thing. If I find myself without either, I end up buying a new cute little book and pen. It is a part of me, it's who I am.

A few years ago I took a class at Church called, Ministry by Strength. I was asked to write about the history of God in my life. While my classmates had a timeline, a paragraph, or few sentences...I had a 9 page story! You see I may not sit down and write every single day, but every single day something happens that makes me think, "I should remember this, it could really work in a story" or "I should email so and so because they need some encouragement right now".

No matter where I am at in my life or what I am doing - writing as always been a part of it. It was during the Ministry by Strength class that I realized who I wanted to write for and what genre.

Nov. 7th 2010

I finished those invitations and handed them over. I also made enough money to treat myself to the one thing I kept putting off ordering. A bar stool. My writing station is in my craft room and my office chair would not raise to the height of where my computer sits. The bar stool arrived Friday, Nov. 5th and my dear hubby put it together for me. I know sit comfortably at my writing station. No more reaching up to type :) Everything is level.

NanoWriMo began on November 1st and I have successfully written every day.

Nov.1st --- 1,532 (below goal)
Nov.2nd --- 1,720 (met the 1,667 daily goal)
Nov.3rd --- 1,715 (met the goal again)
Nov.4th --- 1,012 (below goal)
Nov.5th ---2,562 (great day!)
Nov.6th --- 919 (slow day!)

My current word count is 9,460. As you can see I've been busy. Therefore, I forgot I'd started a blog on Oct. 29th and I apologize. I will try to post once a week during NanoWriMo and keep you updated on my total word count.

I've not added today's word count in yet - as it's still early. I'm hoping to be at or above 11,669 by the time I go to bed...too bad blogging doesn't count!

My daughter is also participating in Nano - the Young Writer's Program. She has to type the same amount of words. She has done well so far.

Ashlynn's Word Count

Nov. 1st --- 507
Nov. 2nd --- 941
Nov. 3rd --- 699
Nov. 4th --- 906
Nov. 5th --- 1005
Nov. 6th --- 420

Total: 4,478

Not bad for an 11-year-old is it?

However, she gets stuck a lot and she did tell me the other day, "I think Nano causes depression because if this is what authors feel like in the middle of their books, I don't want to be a writer."

If you are participating in Nano I hope it is going well for you! There has been lots of cheering going on over at MBT - that group is AMAZING!

I'm off to get today's word count in, the kinks on my blog are still being worked out. I will let you know when every thing is functioning properly. God Bless and have a great weekend!

~T~

Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:24:00 +0000

October 21, 2010 at 9:48 am

The last few days have not gone as planned. Tuesday, I decided to take a bath, clean the house up, write, and read. I accomplished two things off that list and one of them twice. After my bath, I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to clean and rearrange my entire bedroom. I foolishly put on black clothing, black Nike pants and a black top. Within an hour I was covered from head to toe in spider webs and dust – needless to say my room needed attention! Once I’d completed the dusting and clearing of spider webs behind and under furniture, I took another shower! Then I finished putting things to rights in my room. That was my Tuesday!

Yesterday, I thought my room is clean, I had a good nights sleep, so I think I will write today. I began foolishly again and set my goals for the day too high! I thought let’s double our current word count. That didn’t happen. I barely added a hundred words! I was all ready to go, but the words were NOT coming. I was battling with scenes and trying to figure out just the right way to get them out there.

Example: In my current WIP the Heroine’s mother is divorced, she remarried, and divorces again. Now, I do not want to encourage divorce, but it is a real everyday thing that we deal with. If I begin the first chapter with the Heroine’s parents married and later her mother has a different last name that might confuse the readers. The fact does remain that the Heroine’s parents ARE divorced.

The other issue is a prologue. I’ve read the pro’s and con’s of a prologue and I am looking for a way into the story without providing a prologue, yet at the same time I believe the prologue would solve my “back in time” problem. I do not want the readers to feel as if the Heroine is always reflecting, always lost in thought – even though she does have her head in the clouds most the time.

The alternative I finally came up with yesterday was to add a therapist to the character line up. Now, I’m looking for away to slide her in and see if it will effectively replace a prologue or not. I would not want my work to be discarded because it has a prologue and I’m a newbie to the publishing industry. Yet, I’m not fully convinced that my story does not need one.

I’ve a few options to play with and see what I can do. While I’ve been mulling these things over, I’ve organized files on my computer and off my computer into binders. I also have one very clean bedroom.

I tell you about this because you may have a great story to tell, you may be working your way through it, but challenges will arise. Don’t let them knock you down. Keep trying. If God has placed a story on your heart, he’ll help you find a way to get it out there.

In Him,

~T~

Getting Real

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:17:00 +0000

October 18, 2010 at 10:37 am

Since I became a member of ACFW, I have found myself engrossed from head to toe in nothing but information on perfecting the craft of writing. Some might find the information boring to read, but I find it enlightening, encouraging, and even a bit uplifting. Just last night I reading some thoughts about a writer’s life and the description of a writer. You know the dictionary says a writer is “a person who commits his or her thoughts, ideas, etc., to writing." I like the definition because it makes me feel like it is okay to say, “I’m a writer."

Do you know how scary that is? I used it for the first time today – on my brother. We were chatting on Facebook and he was informing me that I type way too fast. So I told him, “I’m a writer, it’s what I do. I’ve had years of practice. I can type with my eyes closed or not even looking at my computer screen.” He basically said, “Yeah” and moved on.

I think one of the biggest problems for a writer is the lack of understanding from family and friends. I can not count the times I’ve told someone I know that I’m working on a new story, poem, or project and been greeted with an “Oh“. Not really what I was looking for, but then again how can I expect them to understand unless they too are a writer? We all have our own desires, passions, and dreams. It’s difficult when we have trouble sharing them with those that are close to us.

However, I have learned there are others like me, who burn the mid-night oil, have voices of characters in their heads interrupting their sleep and showers. I am beginning to feel my writing come alive, beginning to feel it become real, and not like some little hobby that I only share with selected people once in a while. I believe until I’ve actually published a book (if that day comes) that I will always dread the, “So what have you written?”, question, but that does not change that I am indeed a writer.

I am thankful to have found a few places where I feel at home in the writing world. If you are a writer and you are looking for or longing for a place of acceptance for what you do, a place where sitting at your computer hours on end is okay then take a look at ACFW and MBT. So far I’ve found them both great places to be.

I’ve struggled with a specific scene in my current WIP and after spending several hours reading information from ACFW, MBT, and more – one thought came to me, “GET REAL“. Not as in, “Get real, you’ll never write a book, let alone get it published." My WIP has a lot of truth in it from my life experiences and because I’m flipping it and creating a fictional story; it proves to have its challenges. One thing I hear over and over is “just start writing." I’ve done that, but in my attempt to piece the puzzle of truth and fiction together, I forgot to be real.

Yes, my WIP is based on a few life experiences. Yes, I want it to be a fictional book; Christian romance to be precise. The thing is I already know the story in my heart, so what is it I need to do? I need to get real and just write. After that I can tweak it, flip it, dress it up, and whatever else I want to do to it.

First things first. It’s time to get real, dig down deep, and let it all out. I know that God will guide me through this and I feel thankful that he has led me to places where I feel accepted for what I do.

In Him,

~T~

P.S. Do you know how excited I was when I clicked proofread and it said, “No errors were found”.

Taking the Plunge

noreply@blogger.com (~T~) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:10:00 +0000

Taking the Plunge
October 15, 2010 at 9:24 pm

About a year ago I wanted to get a membership to ACFW. For some reason I did not.

I know it was about a year ago, because that was the first time I signed up for NANO. Nano is where authors of every kind and stage sign up for the crazy train. It departs November 1st with the goal of writing 1, 667 words a day and arrives November 30th with the completed goal of a 50,000 word novel. My crazy train didn’t make it past the first day, of course I started 2 days late.

This year I’ve decided to really give it all I’ve got and make that 50,000 word goal. I started fully preparing myself back in August. Re-reading books I own for inspiration, ideas, and direction. Then I started looking online for help and stumbled upon MBT. Then I some how joined the MBT Voices group on ning. I just realized I had done that the other day and so I began reading, commenting, and learning. I’m like a sponge just taking it all in.

You may ask; Why I want to join the crazy train? The answer to that is, I believe I can write a book. I’ve always wanted to. I’ve written since I was about 8 years old. I’ve written poetry, short stories, articles, little sermons, letters, and more. You name it, I probably tried it! I feel I have several stories within me to tell and I believe in them. Most importantly, I believe God gave them to me for a reason.

In grade school I won a few writing contests. In 1999, my senior year, I had a poem published in Heartland’s Young Poets Contest, for high merit. I still remember the thrill I felt that day. Followed by an immediate downer, I had to buy the book it was published in! I decided maybe being an author wasn’t my dream after all.

However, here I am…still writing. It’s an uncontrollable habit.

In September 2010, I had an article published in my home town newspaper; The Appleton City Journal. They ask readers to send photos of themselves with the paper while on vacation. My mother-in-law came to visit and we took her photo with the paper in front of Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the Eiffel Tower. I wrote a little article to go with the photos. I did not know if they would use it or not. Then my mother-in-law called to tell me the photo had been in the paper and that I made her cry. I had to ask what I’d done to make her cry; apparently my article was also in the paper.

I lived in Ohio two years ago, I served 3 years in a Women’s Ministry called Mom to Mom. It was there that I learned I had a heart for women and my writing began to take something of a more meaningful nature. I was always writing, dreaming, and always had ideas for stories. The problem was I did not know what direction to go with any of it.

I began to pray. I am an avid reader and so I began paying attention to the way things were done in the books I would read. That wasn’t enough; I sought out books about writing. I still look for those books, I find them fascinating! The more I can learn, the more equipped I will feel.

It took me a while to see what direction my writing should go. My time in Ohio was a big help with that. It was then that I knew the right way for me to write, was for God. I realized God needed to be first in this too. So I write for God first, my readers second, and myself last.

Today, writing has become such a part of my life that I would feel as if I’d lost a limb without it. I have not actively sought publication, but I am always writing; always trying to learn. I have more journals than any one woman needs. What I need is to learn a way to organize it all!

My current WIP (work in progress) has been in the works on and off for a year. It has no title. I tend to title things last, although a lot of my poems are simply numbered. It is my first attempt at actually writing a book. The story is a fictional spin-off of my life and a dream I had long ago that never became a reality, because God had other plans for me. It’s a story about one woman’s longing to be truly loved, accepted, and wanted. Something I believe all women battle with even to this day.

The heroine fears of being hurt, used, and rejected the way her mother had been. Resigning to never be treated that way she puts a wall around her heart, becomes as cold as she can be, and rarely (if ever) lets anyone in. What she hadn’t prepared herself for was the love and acceptance she would find through Christ Jesus, or the people he would put in her life to chip away the ice.

I’ve a long ways to go and a lot to learn. I battle with run-ons, grammatical errors, titles, and more. I know this is going to take prayer, hard work, and time. With having this story weigh on my heart for over a year, I feel I am finally ready to see this through, no matter the reason the Lord has laid it upon me.

So as I move forward into several new areas of my life, I thought I would share with you what I learn. Maybe you’re looking for a little direction too.

~T~

P.S. This is nearly 1,000 words – think I can write 50,000 in a month?