3 Ways to Find Balance in The Writer's Life

by Patty Smith Hall

I have a confession to make. I am a yes-a-holic. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t seem to spit out that mean old word, no. I don’t know why. I see something that seems like a great idea, and the next thing I know, I’m signed up for it (most times, I’m even in charge!)

But that’s got to change, and what convinced me was one of those silly test on Facebook. A few weeks ago, I signed into to do one that composed a video of my life over the past year. I thought it would be fun as we’ve had an interesting twelve months with our oldest daughter getting married and the upcoming birth of our first grandchild. While watching it was nice, I was surprised that most of the frames featured one project after another rather than a healthy mixture of personal life and work.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m tremendously blessed to be doing a ministry I love and so very thankful that this last year has been productive. I signed three contracts, wrote six-novellas, signed with a new agent and began writing devotions for Journey magazine.

Each of these opportunities have been a gift and I’ve had the chance to work with some amazing people who have taught me so much about the craft of writing. But with the first grandchild due this month, I needed to make some changes. I began praying over what those changes should be and a word that would help me focus on achieving my goal. Finally, as the old year was winding down, the word came to me.

Balance.

How does that work with a busy writing career and an active family life? How does the girl who can’t say no find balance in her life? Here are a few ways I came up with:

1) Say yes to the best.

A few years ago, I talked to a pastor friend of ours about my problem with saying no, and he gave me this piece of advice. Only say yes to God’s best. He explained that there are a lot of good things out in the world—making waterproof mats for the homeless, working at the food bank, just tons of things. What you have to do if figure out what’s best for you? That’s not easy to figure out but if you put a little thought into it, you’ll come up with a short list of things that satisfy your soul. This is your ‘best’ list that should get the majority of your attention. And remember—what may be good to you is someone else's ‘best.’

2) Make a game plan.

I’ve become a planner over the years, probably from being married to an engineer. For me, making a game plan of the year, month, week and day prepares me—I know what to expect and each day as a familiar rhythm to it. As I tick off each item, I have a sense of accomplishment of a job well done. But how does one put balance into their plans? By following a schedule. Give yourself time limits. For example, I know that from nine to two Tuesday through Saturday, I spend fifteen minutes on emails and marketing then jump into my writing for the day. I shoot for at least a thousand words a day but I always write until two o’clock so if I go over, that’s great. At two, I check emails again then do something around my house or go work out or run errands. When my husband is home in the evenings and on Sunday, I don’t write unless I’m on a very tight deadline.

3) Forgive yourself

You’re heard that old saying—Man plans and God laughs. Yeah, stuff happens and schedules get thrown out the window. At moments like that, you have to cut yourself some slack. Life happens, and sometimes, despite our best efforts, we just can’t get things done. Don’t beat yourself up over it. I’ve found, at least with me, that I’m harder on myself than anyone else would ever think to be. So be kind to yourself. As Scarlett O’Hara said, ‘Tomorrow is another day!’

TWEETABLES

3 Ways to Find Balance in The Writer's Life by Patty Smith Hall (Click to Tweet)

I have a confession to make. I am a yes-a-holic.~ Patty Smith Hall (Click to Tweet)

Just can’t seem to spit out that mean old word, no.~ Patty Smith Hall (Click to Tweet)

Patty Smith-Hall is a multi-published, award-winning author with Love Inspired Historical/Heartsong and currently serves as president of the ACFW-Atlanta chapter. She currently lives in North Georgia with her husband of 30+ years, Danny; two gorgeous daughters and a future son-in-love. Her next release, New Hope Sweethearts will be available in July on Amazon.

Read More

Why Fiction?

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Tweet this: Why Fiction

Christian writers are often posed the questions:

“Why fiction when you could be writing nonfiction?”
 
“If you feel writing is a ministry, then why are you putting your time and effort into fiction?”
 
“A real Christian would be writing something with real sustenance, not fiction.”
 
When I first started writing in 1996, I swallowed my displeasure with those questions and composed a gracious response that sounded like I was playing defense for a losing team. 

Not any more. I’m proud of what I do, and I'm not ashamed of my purpose. After years of following my passion for communicating the written word through story, I simply term the individual questioning my life’s work as a “low information reader.” They mean well. 

"Isn’t nonfiction the means by which people learn how to live life to its fullest and better themselves?"

Not necessarily.
 
How many abused women purchase books about how to prevent a beating? Do those women reach for information on a retailer’s shelf about abused victim’s legal rights, or counseling, or finding courage in the midst of pain?
 
How many victims of human trafficking find freedom by asking their captor to buy them a book about overcoming trust issues or how to escape an inappropriate relationship?
 
How many addictions were resolved by forcing the sufferer to read a book about drug abuse?
 
How many marriages were saved because a woman shoved a counseling book into her husband’s face? 

How many relationships survived because a man insisted his wife read books about how to cook, clean, child care, etc?
 
You get the picture. 

It’s unlikely any of the above examples found solace, peace, answers, escape, or courage in a nonfiction book because they were either too frightened to be found reading it, or they simply weren’t interested. But that victim could read a novel about abuse, human trafficking, an addiction, or a failing marriage and learn how someone changed and grew into a better person. 

A novel provides hope and inspires the reader to make needed changes.
 
A novel is a non-threatening environment that offers sound solutions to real problems. The abuser, the captor, the addicted person, or the unfaithful spouse will not feel exposed when their victims engage in a novel. 

The writer plants the seeds of change and subtlety challengers the reader to grow beyond her own world.
 
If the suggestion of using story to change dire circumstances sounds familiar, then you’ve read your Bible. Jesus used stories to convict, teach, and comfort the people to whom He ministered. He orchestrated a means of entertainment through culture to reach the people of His day. Story still meets a psychological or spiritual need in 2016, and I believe story will be a means of helping people until this earth ceases to spin.
 
I challenge the novelist to explore the passions of her theme and premise. Don’t be afraid to tackle the tough issues with grace and truth within the pages of an excellent story.
 
Now I ask you: Why do you write fiction?

Tweet this: Why Fiction?

 
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Read More

Spoken Moments

Spoken Moments

Just in time for a presentation at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference last week, SPOKEN MOMENTS came off the presses. Twenty-two authors stood on stage to receive their one-free-copy. That was a happy bunch of writers, feeling blessed to have contributed their articles, received no payment, and donated all royalties to Samaritan’s Purse.

This is a book about the power of words. Here you will find stories from authors who share moments when words—from the Bible, the Holy Spirit, family, friends, acquaintances, business associates, and even strangers—impacted their lives. The stories are a testimony that words can hurt yet they can heal.

You will laugh, cry, nod your head in agreement, and shake your head in wonder at their examples of how God uses aptly spoken words to shape our lives and remind us of the saving grace of Jesus.

I am a novelist who never thought I would be working in non-fiction other than perhaps an occasional article or devotion. But, three years ago several of us were in the lobby after classes at the Blue Ridge writers conference. Cindy Sproles told about God showing up in an unexpected, miraculous ways. Then I told how God showed up in the Ladies Room at the Presbyterian Church. Others joined in. I said those stories should be in a book. Terri Kalfas, editor at Grace Publishing, overheard the talk about such divine experiences and called me two months later to say she was interested.

 

That led to my call-out for articles and last year at Blue Ridge I made a presentation of one-free-book to 23 of the 37 authors of DIVINE MOMENTS.

CHRISTMAS MOMENTS followed that one and SPOKEN MOMENTS is the third in the series. PRECIOUS MOMENTS (of/with/about children) is with the publisher and CHRISTMAS MOMENTS BOOK #2 will soon follow.

I’m now acquiring for STUPID MOMENTS, which may be embarrassing, humiliating, funny, serious, or have a faith meaning such as having lived apart from the Lord, or held onto unforgiveness too long, etc. These may be a short vignette or an article from about 500 to 3000 words, attached to an email, Times New Roman, 12 point type. Perhaps YOU have a story! Yvonnelehman3@gmail.com.

Authors of SPOKEN MOMENTS are: Sheryl Baker, Dan Balow, Joann Claypoole, Maresa DePuy, Susan Dollyhigh, Dr. Edna Ellison, Beth Ann Farley, Diana Flegal, Janice Garey, Tommy Gilmore, Dianna Good, Kelly Goshorn, Judy Haney, Lydia Harris, Sandra Hart, Dr. Dennis Hensley, John Kincaid, Alice Klies, Marcia Laycock, Kellie Lehman, Yvonne Lehman, Diana Matthews, Vicki Moss, Tamela Hancock Murray, Kimberly Pickens, Diane Pitts, Debbie Presnell, Colleen Reece, Toni Sample, Sherry Schumann, Mary Scro, Gloria Spears, Cindy Sproles, Nate Stevens, Fran Strickland, Ann Tatlock, Audrey Tyler, Gene Weatherly, Jan Westmark, Cindy Wilson, Dr. Rhett Wilson Sr., and Lora Zill.

YVONNE LEHMAN is author of 55 novels, founded and directed the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference for 25 years, and is now director of the Blue Ridge “Autumn in the Mountains” Novelist Retreat. She has joined Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas as Acquisitions and Managing Editor of Candlelight Romance and Guiding Light Women’s Fiction. She earned a Master’s Degree in English from Western Carolina University and has taught English and Creative Writing on the college level. Recent releases are a novella, The Reluctant Schoolmarm in Reluctant Brides and Name that Tune in A Gentleman’s Kiss (Barbour). Her 50^th novel is Hearts that Survive – A Novel of the TITANIC (Abingdon), which she signs periodically at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge TN. Her non-fiction compilations are Divine Moments, Christmas Moments, and Spoken Moments  (Grace Publishing). To be released in 2014 are Precious Moments and Christmas Moments Book #2. Yvonne blogs at  www.christiansread.com and Novel Rocket Blog.  yvonnelehman3@gmail.com

Read More