WHY DID I QUIT MY DAY JOB?

Darlene Franklin’s greatest claim to fame is that she writes full-time from a nursing home. She lives in Oklahoma, near her son and his family, and continues her interests in playing the piano and singing, books, good fellowship, and reality TV in addition to writing. She is an active member of Oklahoma City Christian Fiction Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Christian Authors Network. She has written 26 books and more than 200 devotionals. Her historical fiction ranges from the Revolutionary War to World War II, from Texas to Vermont. You can find Darlene online elsewhere at http://darlenehfranklinwrites.blogspot.com/, http://mydailynibble.blogspot.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/darlene.franklin.3

WHY DID I QUIT MY DAY JOB?

Lately I have been struggling with a crisis about my calling to write. My pre-published friends wonder why I complain. I am where they hope to be: writing full time, with close to thirty published titles under my belt, and more books under contract. I am blessed. I know that.

But doubts creep in when day after day I struggle to write. My health is fair-to-poor, and the days I don’t feel 100% far outnumber the times I feel well. I want to write more and instead have to write less. Getting words on paper challenges me all the time, and it’s even harder when my body seizes with pain or allergies clog my head.

So I found myself asking: am I truly called to write? I know I can write. I even know people enjoy my books. But have I made a difference? And if I haven’t, why do I put myself through the hard work (some days it feels like torture) of producing a quality book?

Recently I wrote the 100^th post on my new blog, http://mydailynibble.blogspot.com/. I reread many of my posts, and surprised myself to discover I had written about God’s call to write—encouragement taken from the Bible, Genesis through 2 Kings. Some of the lessons I had learned:

·      Write all the words, sharply (Deuteronomy 27). What differentiates a writer from one who wants to? A writer writes. Period. Write from the heart, and hone my craft.

·      My voice is unique (Numbers 18). No one else can tell my stories the way I will. It is an exclusive calling; if I don’t write them—no one can and no one will.

·      Treat God as holy by writing about Him and presenting Him artistically (Leviticus 21-22.) In my writing, I present holy (not perfect) people doing holy things—in real life settings.

·      Exodus 37-38 provided a lot of lessons, including:

·      The God who gifted to write romantic fiction may also lead me to write a different genre, even nonfiction.

·      I’m not a household name, but one of a group of largely unknown authors who write Christian fiction.

·      In My Daily Nibble, I seek the break down the law (both the Torah and all of God’s Word) in bite-sized nuggets of understanding.

·      God doesn’t call me to be anyone other than myself. My writing can’t and shouldn’t copy someone else’s style.

·      Writing is often an act of faith.

·      Whatever God wants me to write, He won’t give up on me or leave me, but He will see me through to the finish. (Joshua 2)

·      Writing may/will move me out of my comfort zone. (Genesis 31-32)

At the same time, I spoke with a supportive friend. She pointed out the obvious: “Maybe you are under attack. Maybe God has something even bigger that you are or will be working on, and Satan is trying to stop you.”

Oh. Suddenly it made sense to me, especially in light of all the things God had shown me in His word.

If I needed any additional “signs,” God gave me a three-book contract—while I was in the hospital for a week.

So I am once again doing the hard job of writing and asking God for daily strength.

Many writers—so close to 99% I would almost dare to say all of us—fight self-doubt and discouragement. Visit the milestones when the call seemed the most clear. Remind yourself why you started writing—why you should continue.

One final thought: The last time (before now) that I seriously considered quitting was ten years ago. At the time, I had no books published although I had been writing for over ten years. I asked God, am I foolish to pursue this pipe dream?

The answer I got was—I don’t have to know if God wants to write five years from now. I only need to know if He wants me to write today, on this particular project.

Don’t worry about the rest of your life. Ask God for wisdom for today.

Hidden Dreams


Mary Anne is on the run.


Her father's been murdered, and now the mob's after her, too. Leaving New York City behind is the only way to stay alive. Yet Mary Anne Lamont finds herself stuck in Maple Notch, Vermont, when her car crashes straight into Wallace Tuttle's truck. Wallace and his family offer her warmth and welcome, no questions asked. But she doesn't dare give them her real name—not without risking their safety too.




At first, Wallace chides himself for being distracted by the glamorous flapper. Mary Anne certainly doesn't fit his image of a future wife. But underneath the bleached bob and big-city ways is a courageous, caring woman. When the danger she's been running from draws close, Wallace must risk everything to prove his faith in Mary Anne, in God's plan, and the dreams they've come to share.

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Finding My Tribe ~ by Guest Blogger Darlene Franklin

Award-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin loves music, needlework, reading and reality TV. Talia, a Lynx point Siamese cat, proudly claims Darlene as her person. Seaside Romance and Prodigal Patriot, both historical romance set in New England, became available from Barbour this summer. Visit Darlene’s blog for information on book giveaways and upcoming titles.

Finding My Tribe

One of the buzz words circling the writing community nowadays is the concept of building our “tribe,” finding that core group of readers who in turn will enlist other readers.

In the five years since my first book, Romanian Rhapsody, came out I have grabbed every opportunity to make myself known that presented itself. I created my own blog, I appear on other people’s blogs, I participate in several writers’ loops, I’m on Facebook. As a result, I have discovered fellow writers and even some readers do recognize my name.

Yay! But what next? How do I find readers who (let’s be honest here) aren’t also writers?

I found a partial answer in an unexpected place. My new church suggested I sell books at the annual crafts fair. I agreed, then almost fainted when they quoted me the cost for the booth—$30. A part of me wanted to refuse, perhaps out of pride. I had never paid for a book event before. Why start now? Would readers even frequent an event for shoppers looking at handcrafted toys, homemade soap, sculptures, and adorable holiday clothes?

They did. In fact, I did better than most of those other booths—perhaps because my product was different. It only took a few questions. “Do you like to read? What do you like to read?” and launch a discussion on our common passion—books. I met teachers and writers, mothers and teenagers, church members and strangers. I added to my tribe.

Look what can happen when I don’t put God—or my writing career—in a box.

Bridge to Love

“I must accept the parson’s word about what

transpired between you.” Papa spoke directly to Beatrice.

“But I will not suffer that young farmer to speak against me. What did he say?”

“Surely that is a private matter between the two young people,” Mrs. Cabot said.

“He said”—Beatrice raised her voice over Mrs. Cabot’s objection—“that no matter what his feelings toward me may be, he refused to ask me to act against your wishes.” Her voice came close to breaking into tears.

“That is well.” Papa stared at the tea cup in his hand as if

ready to throw it against the fireplace. “These are my wishes.

I forbid you to speak to him or see him again. The man is not

fit to be the husband of my daughter.” He returned the cup to

Mrs. Cabot. “I’m afraid I have no taste for tea this afternoon.

Come, Beatrice, we are finished here.”

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Work Smarter, Not Harder by Darlene Franklin

Award-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin loves music, needlework, reading and reality TV. Talia, a Lynx point Siamese cat, proudly claims Darlene as her person. Seaside Romance and Prodigal Patriot, both historical romance set in New England, became available from Barbour this summer. Visit Darlene’s blog for information on book giveaways and upcoming titles.

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER

Whether a full or part time writer, we all struggle with time management. Whether we aim to finish a book in a year or in a month, we wish we knew some time-saving tips. In the words of today’s work place parlance, we want to work smarter, not harder.

Here are a few tips that I have found useful:

1. Set priorities. Focus on one project at a time (unless you know you multitask well).

2. Work in small segments: fifteen minutes (five minutes if fifteen is too long!). Half a page.

3. Work with someone else. I find a friend online. We challenge each other: “By the end of an hour, I want to finish ...” Then we check in with each other. I am more likely to concentrate during that hour.

4. Minimize rabbit trails. I find it helpful to set aside research questions, such as spelling or dates, for the editing phase.

5. Minimize interruptions. Find the time and place that works with your family and maintain those boundaries.

6. Assemble the supplies you’ll need. Have your research books, paper, and pens in place.

7. Nothing scares me as much as a blank page. End in mid-scene. Sometimes I’ll write a few phrases like “Wanda overhears conversation” that remind what I want to do next. Next time I start, I already know what comes next.

8. If possible, work during your prime time of day, not when you are sleepy.

9. Find the balance of writing, editing, and developing stories that works for you. Experiment with changes if you feel bogged down.

10. Take breaks. Find a way to recharge your artist’s mind or else it may run down like a dead battery.

What are some ways you have found to work smarter, not harder?

A Woodland Christmas

Four couples carve a niche for love in the Piney Woods of East Texas.

An itinerant woodcarver, moves from town to town in the woodlands, delivering “sawdust sermons” that hold even more value than the furniture he crafts. Will the advice he dispenses help four couples find their way to the miracle of love at Christmas?

Bridge O’Keefe leaves Chicago to teach Indian orphans in Texas. She is astonished by the hostility the Comanche face from locals like Seth Krueger who blame them for the death of his parents.

Mary “Polly” Jessup holds onto a promise of marriage made five years ago, but when Joseph “Joey” Carpenter returns from law school with a new outlook and a new girlfriend, her future hopes are dashes.

Emma Pickett is on a quest for vengeance, but meeting Caleb Kelley sidetracks her for a moment and tempts her to forgive and forget—until she learns the man she seeks is his father.

Gabriella Noell is on a mission—to find her grandfather and reunite her family. R.C. Sparks, a wealthy businessman, has been convinced by his sister to take Gabriella along on their journey, but he refuses to let anything impede his business.

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