Have you ever tried walking a straight line in the snow? No matter how much you think you’re walking as straight as a compass, when you turn around, you realize your path is comparable to that of a dog on a sidewalk full of fire hydrants.
Well, that’s been me the last few months. I set out on this blog journey to pursue God’s love and I feel as if I’ve lost sight of what straight and true is. I think the end of last year derailed me. Continue reading “A Confession (There’s More series, pt. 5)”
I’m embarking on a new adventure. God willing, I’ll never be the same.
And you’re invited. 
What is it? Well, the good news is this adventure doesn’t involve death-defying acts or a big budget. The bad news is I have no idea how this is going to work. But that’s what makes it an adventure, right?
Here’s a little glimpse into this new series: Continue reading “There’s More: a new series”
There are few Bible personalities I really connect with. You know: Ruth was so good, and Esther was fearless and beautiful, and Mary was amazing. Paul is hard for me to get my head around, and the disciples, well, they were interesting and funny, but relatable? Well, maybe not so much.
But start talking about Jonah, and I’m right there with you. Somewhere amidst that moody, intense, prophet nature, I sense a personality at war with itself. He knew what was right, but he also knew himself. Maybe even doubted himself. And feared failure. And likely even feared success. Continue reading “The Jonah Within”
Last month was weird. Wild weird. Good weird. The weird I love.
Why? It was writers conference time.
Ah, the time word scribblers from across the country converge to spend three tumultuous days swarming around a crazy-carpeted venue, wearing our most professional clothes and most uncomfortable shoes. When we stain our hands scribbling notes in classes, workshops, and sessions. When we buzz on four hours or less of sleep. When we shakily tell agents and editors about the manuscripts we’ve poured blood, sweat, and years into. When we overtake a hotel and consider everyone with a name tag a kindred spirit, regardless of whether they write suspense or romance. Continue reading “The Weird I Love”
What a crazy few months it’s been! Thought with this month’s post I’d give a bit of an update.
I recently got back home from my working traveling adventure. Three months, fourteen states, and 12,000 miles later, I’m energized and ready to dive into another writing project. My next manuscript, In Lieu of a Plot, will be a full-fledged rewrite/ironing out of last year’s NaNoWriMo project. This story just won’t let me go, so I’m going to pounce on it and put it to page–officially, this time. (Meaning, other people’s eyes will be allowed to see it. Eventually.)
So, even though ILOAP is what I call a humorous historical, I’m presently researching funeral customs in all its morbid details and am learning interesting things along the way. For example, did you know that the word “parlor,” referring to a home’s sitting room, went Continue reading “The Power of the Impossible”
Here I am hours before I have a post due and I have to admit I honestly tried going to bed early. I tried all the excuses about why I should just skip this month’s post. Most of them were quite valid, and it was a most interesting debate, but you can see which me won. Continue reading “On the Eve of a Deadline”
It’s always exciting when a writer friend has news about her writing, and today, I get to announce the release date of Suzannah Rowntree’s debut novel, Pendragon’s Heir.
I met Suzannah when I was living in New Zealand. She was visiting from “across the ditch” (Australia). When I first met her, we fell into easy conversation about genealogy and the English Civil War, of all things. There we were, an Australian and American in New Zealand, talking animatedly about history and our English roots.
So, it’s no surprise that Suzannah has a passion for the “olden days” which is displayed in Pendragon’s Heir. Here’s a bit of what we may expect from the book:
Blanche Pendragon enjoys her undemanding life as the ward of an eccentric nobleman in 1900 England. It’s been years since she even wondered what happened to her long lost parents, but then a gift on the night of her eighteenth birthday reveals a heritage more dangerous and awe-inspiring than she ever dreamed of–or wanted. Soon Blanche is flung into a world of wayfaring immortals, daring knights, and deadly combats, with a murderous witch-queen on her trail and the future of a kingdom at stake. As the legendary King Arthur Pendragon and his warriors face enemies without and treachery within, Blanche discovers a secret that could destroy the whole realm of Logres. Even if the kingdom could be saved, is she the one to do it? Or is someone else the Pendragon’s Heir?
You may or may not have noticed an absence of posts here of late. And for that, I refer to my May 21st post, “When the Words Won’t Come.”
A lot of things were happening at once for me, and I had to let some aspects of writing go in order to keep my focus and prevent complete burnout. I needed a break in order to refill so that I could continue to pour out.
In the future, The Empty Inkwell will have a new post once or twice a month. (Wouldn’t want to get tired of TEI, now would we?) Some people enjoy predictability—I do too, to a point—but right now, I’m putting emphasis on quality rather than quantity. Continue reading “The Empty Inkwell: Changing and Returning Soon”
Love it or hate it, editing is an important part of every writer’s role. If you’re like me, 75% of time spent on a manuscript will be refining, be it through rewrites, edits, proofreading, or tweaking after feedback.
Today at When Readers Write, I’m blogging about The Writer as an Editor. In my post, I share seven helpful editing tips I’ve learned in my experience as a writer and freelance editor. Hope you stop by and let me know what your editing process looks like!
Exciting news! A group of writers and I have put together a new blog for fellow word addicts. When Readers Write will feature author interviews, short stories, book giveaways, glimpses into our writing lives, and oodles more.
Out of the ten of us behind When Readers Write, we’ve got a lot of fiction genres covered–from suspense to historical. I’ll be discussing speculative fiction, books, and all things literary over coming Tuesdays.
I’m eager for you to meet some of my writer friends! Stop by When Readers Write and feel free to subscribe, comment, and share.
