Resolutions and One Words for 2018

with guest Sherrinda Ketchersid.

Christmas has passed and I’m breathing a sigh of contented relief. The parties are over, the presents are unwrapped, and it is quiet in my house. I have an empty nest, so the times when everyone is under our roof, laughing and playing together, well, it is the most wonderful time of the year. While I love the loud roar of family about me, I must confess I enjoy the silence that comes when they leave. This is the time I clean up, organize, and begin to dream of the year to come. 

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? I used to but never could keep them. I don’t know if they were too drastic or if I chose the wrong thing to focus on, but I never could make those resolutions a habit. Then I heard about the My One Word revolution. What you do is choose a word that you want to focus on for the year. Just one word. It is a word that will shape your life and everything you do for the coming year. 

This choosing of My One Word has changed my life. I no longer fail at keeping resolutions. There is no more guilt – no more failure. Now I make decisions based on My One Word. I chose my dreams, goals, and activities based on My One Word. Every little step I take falls under my word. It was about progress, not perfection. 

Let me share some of my past words and how they have shaped me.

2014: ANTICIPATE–After a financially difficult year, I wanted… no, needed… hope. I wanted to anticipate a year of blessing from God. I don’t mean I expected riches and comfort, but God did bless in that area. I got a new job with a $6,000 increase a year, with a smaller commute. Our cars did not break down that year. It was the year we were able to get back on our feet and help others.

2015: BRAVE–I’ve never been a brave person. I’m one of those people who cares too much about what others think. I don’t want to buck the system or rock the boat. But y’all, that is no fun! So this was the year I opened an Etsy shop, I spoke at a teacher meeting about my Bible Journaling, and I did some things I’ve always wanted to do, but was too afraid to try. This was by far my favorite year. 

2016: SURRENDER–Yep. I dislike this word and I didn’t want it to be my word, but God kept putting it before me, so I… surrendered. I didn’t know why this had to be my word, but by the end of the year, it made complete sense. This was the year where difficult family situations arose and I had to put aside my Etsy shop and time for me in order to focus on others. It was a time I had to give up control and leave things in God’s hands. It was a perfect word for that year and I gained peace in the beauty of surrender. 

2017: THRIVE–After surrendering so much the year before, I wanted to thrive! This was the year God allowed me to write again. God led me to set aside writing five years earlier due to it becoming an idol in my life. In December 2016 I felt the nudge to write once more, so I prayed about it and God answered my prayer with an email from an incredible published author who wanted to mentor me in 2017. Don’t you love it when God answers prayers so beautifully? And boy, did I thrive! Here is what I have learned this year:

• I learned how to edit a manuscript.
• Out of the 6 writing contests I entered this year, I finaled in 4 of them.
• I started a newsletter – even though I’m not published or have much to say yet! 
• I have a wonderful writing community to encourage and motivate me on the journey.
• I’ve stepped up and organized our church’s ladies Bible studies this year.
• To get healthy, I began a low carb eating plan and have lost 46 pounds so far. 
• After prayer and planning, I took a leap of faith and quit my good paying job to pursue my writing and calligraphy. 

So are you curious what my One Word is for 2018? It is CULTIVATE.

 I’ve really been taking stock of different areas in my life and feel like I need to tend those areas better. Whether it be my spiritual walk, my relationship, my writing, lettering or homemaking, I want to till up the hard soil and make it a place where I can grow in each of those categories. I don’t want to get stagnate and lifeless. I want to flourish.

Cultivating takes work and discipline, yet the fruit of that labor will be worth the effort! Just think of the possible fruit that could come from cultivating: hearing God better, deeper marriage, stronger friendships, stronger writing (get an agent or book contract!), extra income, and a lovely, organized home. That sounds like a great year to me!

As a writer, I intend to cultivate my writing this year by incorporating the following:

• Critique group – I have joined a group where I will be sharing my work. Yes, this is scary, but the rewards will be tremendous.

• Read at least 1 book on the craft of writing per month. 

• Keep following Seekerville and learning from the masters. (This is a given, but I need to join in on the conversation more and ask questions!)

• Keep writing daily.

• After I finish my second manuscript, try a different, more marketable genre. (Medieval is currently not the right era for the Christian market.)

• Blog twice a week. This was difficult while working full time.

• Newsletter once a month. 

• Read one fiction book a week, especially in a different genre. 

I pray this is not too ambitious, but since I will have more time this year, I want to utilize every minute. I want progress, not perfection. I want to grow and tend to the things that matter most. It doesn’t have to look perfect. In fact, messy forward motion is still progress. Get your hands dirty and make what matters a reality in your life. It will be worth it.

Do you have a My One Word for the New Year, or do you make New Year’s resolutions? What are you looking forward to most in the year to come? In what area do you want to make progress in during 2018?

   Share in the comments for a chance to win a hand-decorated Moleskine journal and a $10 Amazon gift card. Winner announced in the Weekend Edition.

2017 Genesis finalist, Sherrinda Ketchersid is a born and bred Texan, preacher’s wife, mother of 4 children, and grand-mom to 3 cats. With the children grown and out of the house, she spends time weaving her love of romance with history to bring joy and the hope of love to those who may one day read her stories. 

You can connect with her through:
Personal blog: Sherrinda.com  
Facebook: Sherrinda Ketchersid  
Twitter: @sherrinda  
Instagram: @sherrinda  
Monthly Newsletter Sign-up here.

Create a Great 2015

with special guest Rachel Olsen, coauthor of My One Word.


In 2012, in lieu of resolutions which I always break, I spent the year with the one word CREATE. I will nurture my creative impulses –maybe I’ll even take up poetry or painting, I thought.

I sensed God too wanted me to focus on my creative work. Apparently He did as that year I signed a contract to co-write the My One Word book with my pastor.

I’ve had two one words since then but since Seekerville is filled with my favorite types of people (writers and readers), I decided to share with you three things I learned from my one word CREATE.

I’d been writing for roughly 15 years at that point – academic articles, newspaper articles, devotional writing, and non-fiction books. I love words, and the creative process of writing.

I also love the notion of being a writer and “the writer’s life.” It’s all so enchanting in an Ernest Hemmingway kind of way (minus all his drunken stupors, of course).

And yet, any creative endeavor is hard at times. There are days, weeks, sometimes months, when it can come slowly and laboriously.

Add to that the pressure of a contracted deadline, and what was once a fun, creative act turns stressful.

Everyone assumes it would be amazing to get paid for their art. And it is. Until you get paid for art you haven’t yet produced. Now you must produce art on demand. This is often the case with a non-fiction contract or a multi-book contract. There is a definite shift that happens with that.

You learn that to be a professional, you cannot wait upon inspiration. You cannot while away hours in a coffee shop with your laptop waiting for your muse to show up and hand you a warm latte. 

I learned you have to pray, then sit down and create whether you feel all Earnest about it or not.

Embracing this may make your life seem less “enchanting,” but it will make it more productive.

I also learned the act of creation isn’t done when you type “The End.” Now you have to let editors tweak it and let readers critique it.

I’ve found that part of the art of creating well is handling critique well. I have to take it in and examine it for what it is worth. Learn from it if need be (and need doesn’t always be). But then I have to lay it aside and press on with the call to create. I cannot let someone’s opinion—even if it has merit—sideline me from my life, and my calling.

For the longest time there was but one low-star review on My One Word: Change Your Life With Just One Word (now there are two). I responded right there on Amazon to my critic, in love.  I corrected any false perceptions they had about the work, apologized for any ways the work disappointed her (I truly want everyone to enjoy it), and then wished her well. She responded. I responded. She responded again.

At the end of our exchange she thanked me and wished me blessings on this book.

I love the fact that her review and my response is there on Amazon, because it is evidence of my personal character growth as an artist. I didn’t stew on that critique, letting it paralyze me. Nor did I get angry with her. And the outcome was entirely positive.

My friend and fellow-writer Emily Freeman says:

  “How we respond when confronted with the critics has the potential to be the most beautiful art we’ll ever make – we have the capacity to reflect the relational glory of God no matter who we’re with, what we’re doing, or what’s gone wrong.”  (from A Million Little Ways)

 If we’re honest, our inner editor can be way harsher than our loudest critic.  We judge our work, comparing it to others, and too often decide we don’t have what it takes. 

For me that’s no longer acceptable because if I refuse to create—because I am afraid, or feel inferior, or for any reason really—I’m refusing to live the life God has called me to live. Not to mention I’m refusing to use the talents He has given me to invest, and there’s a little parable about that …

 
 I always choose a verse to go along with my one word for the year. The year my word was CREATE I chose Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, Oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” This verse often shifted my priorities from my act of creating and its product, to what God seeks to create in me.

I came to understand that part of a steadfast spirit is refusing to give up when it feels hard, and refusing to give in to doubt about what I am called to do, or how well I can do it.

The third thing I learned that year is to celebrate the art I make. In Genesis we see that God took the time to stand back from His finished work and declare it good. So can I.  

God Creates the Word

It is said that some of the great European painters were barred from the museums where their masterpieces hung – because they would come with paint and try to tweak their paintings.

I believe we must get to a place where we stop seeking to improve it, and celebrate the work we’ve made. By the time I finished writing my earlier book It’s No Secret, I had become a better writer in the year-long writing process.  When I looked at earlier-written sections of the manuscript, I felt I could write them better if I could rewrite them. 

I also knew I’d be a better writer by the time that book hit the shelves many months later. We always want to show the world our best work – what we are fully capable of.

So I chose to regard that book as tangible evidence of my growth as a writer. That is how I was able to celebrate it and release it to my editor, and then into the world, even though I felt it could be improved upon. And you know what? I am proud of the writing in that book. It is good.

Jennifer Lopez once released an album called This is Me ... Then. (I don’t own the album; I just like its title.) That makes perfect sense to me. She knew that later she will make different and perhaps better art, but this creation was a reflection of where she was at that point in her life.

That is one of the wonderful things about art of any type – it is in some way a reflection of us, our growth, and our journey through life. Just as we are a reflection of God and His on-going redemptive work.

Perhaps this notion can help you be more at peace with each piece of art you create too.

In summary:

• Create like it’s is your job - it’s a calling - and not like it’s some elusive, unknowable process you have little control over. That’s the first thing. 

   

• Your job as creator continues on after you create your art—you must usher it into the world and love on those who partake in it. Not everyone will adore it and that’s okay.

•   Find a way to appreciate each piece of art you make, including those you crumple up and toss in the round bin littered with gum wrappers on the floor by your desk. It’s all part of the process. Besides, your Creator delights over each one of His children—even the non-best-sellers, and the non-published. (smiles)

So blessings on your art this year, fellow creators. If you are a dancer, do your dance. If you are a painter, paint your visions. If you are a cook, combine your flavors. If you are a photographer, capture the world as you uniquely see it.

And if you are a writer, string your pearls on the page. And take the time to call it good.

Warmly - Rachel Olsen


I’d love to hear in the comments below what you’ve learned that helps you stay sane about the writing life. I’m always appreciative of wisdom earned.

Let me encourage you to choose one word to be your focus in 2015. I’ve not yet chosen my word for this year. I usually allow myself several weeks to pick. Plus, I’ve been hard at work on a coaching program to help others live out their words. So I’m open to inspiration – if you’ve selected a word for this year, post it in the comments below.

 More about Rachel Olsen:
 
Born in Virginia, I now I live with my husband and two children on the North Carolina coast. Wilmington could not be a better place for me, with the beach that I love, the university I enjoy, and the church I’m devoted to.

I absolutely love words, wit, making connections and creating forward momentum. So my choices of vocation will not surprise you: I teach, I speak, I write and I coach.

I also like decaf lattes, epic stories, and peach pie (hold the Cool Whip). I think laughter is the best medicine. I believe each of us have talents to stir, creativity to unleash and potential to reach on the way to becoming who God made us to be.

You can find out even more about Rachel on her web page www.rachelolsen.com

Connect with her on Facebook and @RachelOlsen on Twitter.

 

The concept of My One Word is simple. Lose the long list of resolutions—all your sweeping promises to change—and do something about one thing this year instead of nothing about everything. Choose just one word that represents what you most hope God will do in you, and focus on it for an entire year. This single act will force clarity and concentrate your efforts. As you focus on your word over an extended period of time, you position yourself for God to form your character at a deep, sustainable level. Growth and change will result.


Today Seekerville is giving away four copies of My One Word, (print or ebook) to commenters. You don't have to post your MY ONE WORD, simply post. An additional winner will be drawn from those who shared the post and emailed their info to Seekerville. 

BONUS! Rachel generously added two more giveaways!
A copy of the MY ONE WORD DVD Study
A MY ONE WORD Coaching Program Level One Membership

Winners announced in the Weekend Edition.

A huge thank you to Rachel for adding us to her very busy schedule. Keep your eye on K-LOVE where Rachel is being interviewed.

Just Do It

You may be surprised to discover that my Christmas tree taught me something. Yes, the tree is inanimate and other than being adorned with lovely ornaments that fill me with delight and nostalgia, it’s never been a teaching tool...until now.

Before I explain, let me give you some back story. Okay, that’s just wrong for a writer. Mary’s asking, “Where’s the explosion?” Well, this is not fiction, this is truth, the kind that creeps in on padded feet and requires some explanation.

I’ll start with my husband, a hard working, take-charge, get-er-done kind of guy who is unconcerned with details.

I’m, ah, well, different.   

I didn’t realize how different until we were taking the ornaments off our tree. He suggested we remove all the balls, put them on the couches and then box them. I nixed that idea as many of the balls are adorned with glitter. Glitter has a life all its own. Did you know you can never dispose of glitter? All you can do is to move its location. Usually that new location is my face. Have you ever tried to get glitter off your face? Enough said.

I suggested we take a box, find the right size balls of the same color that fit the holes, remove and box them. He muttered that would take longer but agreed. I’m happily traipsing around the tree in search of blue balls with silver tops, leaving the blue balls with gold tops for the next box when...

Can you see where this is going?

...I noticed my dh had lost his zeal for my method. I took this photo of his boxes. True, some balls had gotten broken over the years so my system isn't perfect. Still, this is the best he could do? Really?

I’ve been told I’m a perfectionist, but I always pooh-poohed the idea, knowing my desk is cluttered, my rubber stamping area is a mess, my spices are not alphabetized, not even in the same spot. Clearly I’m not a perfectionist.

What the tree taught me is I’m a tad...persnickety. At least about some things. Sadly, often things that don't matter. I wasn’t delighted with that insight but other instances came to mind that confirmed it, like my inability to relax in a room with a picture askew, my inability to set the table without spoons even when they aren't needed, my inability to write a rough draft without revising.

What to do?

It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Not that I’m canine. LOL I'm hoping my answer for getting hung up on the little things will be my word for 2013.

“Do.”

“Do” requires action. Action means moving about, getting things done. I chose the word because I need exercise. I need to handle more chores. That go-getter husband of mine steps in and fills the vacuum but who wants to be a kept woman?

Stop waving your hands! You know you wouldn't.

I’ve discovered I talk a good game, but instead of talking about something, I just need to do it. That sounds simple, but we know it’s not. I've failed at resolutions more years than I care to count. What I love about “Do” is it’s not specific. "Do" can encompass all kinds of goals, be they goals for better health, goals for serving and witnessing, goals for writing and promoting. Why the list is endless.

Being too picky about trivial things impedes action, slows me down and messes with productivity. "Do" is the antidote. I don’t expect to change who I am. "Do" may take me longer than it would take you due to my fussy nature, but the more I focus on "do" even if I have to fold the towels just so, I'll still make headway. 

I not only need to do more physical activity, I need to write more, write quicker. "Do" eliminates procrastination. "Do" eliminates getting stuck searching for the perfect sentence, perfect word, even the perfect plot. "Do" means forging ahead. Seeing that word count pile up. Maybe not as fast as some, but more than the norm for me. 
With "Do" as my guiding word, I expect to accomplish more this year.

Speaking of accomplishments, I'm thrilled to have a new Love Inspired Historical out in April and want to share the cover and blurb. The Bride Wore Spurs is my first book set in the West and I'm excited about the story! Who doesn't love a cowboy?

The Cowgirl Takes a Husband!

 To keep the Texas ranch she loves, Hannah Parrish will wed a man she doesn’t. Cowpokes won’t take orders from a young, single female. But while her exasperating neighbor Matt Walker jokes about her being a mere debutante, Hannah is a rancher to the core. Just like Matt.

“Will you marry me?” It’s a question widowed Matt never intended to ask again. Now spirited Hannah is asking him for a marriage of convenience! Yet whether she’s birthing a calf or caring for a young orphan, the tomboy next door is becoming the partner Matt always hoped for. Now he must convince her the greatest strength comes in trusting your heart to another—and your future to God.…

In case you missed my Fort Worth thrill of sitting on a longhorn, I’m sharing a picture of that too. I’m proud I didn’t just think about climbing aboard, I actually did it.

“Do” is a big word.

For breakfast I brought perfect cinnamon rolls slathered with icing, fresh squeezed orange juice, crisp but un-charred bacon and eggs sunny side up without one broken yolk. Persnickety in the kitchen makes for great food. LOL

Leave a comment for a chance to win an IOU copy of The Bride Wore Spurs. Tell us your word or resolution for 2013. If anyone struggles with obsessing over the small stuff, please share so I don’t feel so alone and weird. I suspect Grammar Queen is a tad obsessive, don’t you? Hoping she stops by with her antidote. 

  

What Readers Want... And Don't Want!

Good morning, Seekerville!

Cub Reporter Ruthy here, following up on an assignment given by Seekervillager Amy, a reader who shared some thoughts and concerns she's encountered the past few months in "READERLAND", a cozy, delightful window-seat loving community where books and cats roam free....  :)

But first, a word from our sponsor:

My One Word

Instead of  quickly discarded resolutions, "My One Word" is a way of changing behavior... or focus... by picking a word to help us be:

 A better man/woman.

A better friend.

A stronger child of God.

A tougher competitor.

A gentler, kinder person.

A more compassionate brother/sister.

More productive.

More disciplined.

More in tune with life.

Seekerville is keeping a file of your words

HERE

Mosey on over and check out your word... that way when you forget what your word was, we'll help you remember!

And now, back to our regularly scheduled program....

We received Amy's e-mail in December. She talked about being an avid reader, loving blogs, loving authors, and winning prizes, but then she mentioned a few things that made us wince: (And when I wince, I run for the anti-wrinkle cream because time is of the essence at my age!!!)

1. Authors snatching e-mails and using them to ask readers to buy their books.

2. Authors sending unsolicited newsletters.

3/ Authors contacting winners of books asking winners to make sure the book is read and review posted by a certain date.

Whoa. Wow. Well. I'm frowning as I re-type that, and frowning drives up my anti-wrinkle cream expenditures and that becomes pricey.... But if AMY felt that way, you can bet many others have similar thoughts. They say for every one letter you get as an author, a hundred others share those feelings but remain silent. (This also helps an author assess how his/her books fare in the marketplace, by the growing e-mail response book-by-book).

And Amy went on to assure us that Seekerville was never among the places that pestered her, and that our authors weren't involved. Which was a good thing because I instantly blamed Connealy.

It's what I DO.

But she wasn't guilty so I couldn't blame her. More's the pity!

#1. We Love Readers.

Therefore, we took the e-mail seriously.

Writers are expected to promote.

Readers are expected to buy books.

WELL DONE, CAROL!!!!!!  BIG SMOOCH TO YOU!!!! AND WE BARELY THREATENED HER TO BUY THESE!

Sounds simple, right? Except when it's not.

I put the word out that I was looking for straight talk.

Oh. My. Stars.

Well. I got it, LOL!

From one reader: "With the transition from personal pages to author pages and being a “friend” as well as a “liker,”  I got to see sides of my favorite authors I honestly did not want to see, particularly in this last political season. The rants and raves, as well as the downright hatred of some toward those they disagree with, turned me off to the point I had to unfriend them or now have a major stumbling block in my mind when it comes to reading their next book.

Writers using Facebook for political rants????  Say it ain't so, Joe!  :)

This reminds me of a contest entry I judged years ago where the Texas heroine declared her dislike of Republicans and the Bush family.... In the opening pages of the book. My notes to her were:  "Political views are fine but personal. Are you sure you want to alienate 50% of the reading public in the first three pages of your novel?"  Authors, take heed: Your political agenda should be kept personal or risk losing reader base. It's that simple.

And I personally jumped off the Facebook author page bandwagon after I created mine. I saw it as a no-brainer: why ask people who like me already to jump through hoops? Not my style. I'm approachable with or without Facebook so I play on my regular Ruth Logan Herne stream and giggle with my "friends".... and I don't do cheesy things to drive my friend count up. If your books touch enough hearts, the friends will come. And that's a God thing.

Edwina offered several great points, and when Edwina talks, Ruthy listens:

1. Even though our readers love to read fiction (well now, there's a no-brainer for ya), I believe they want facts woven into the story. Whether the facts are spiritual or of this world, I think readers want to learn as they read. I call this type of book - faction.

"FACTION" = Factual Fiction.... Edwina, I love it. And I'll tell you why: Folks know if you're talking out of your head, if you're skimming reality and haven't done your homework. And even when an author is limited in size and scope by a 40,000 word book or a 60,000 word book, making sure you use intelligence and facts to support your story is huge. Limiting the same so that you don't bore a reader to tears is also clutch. I love that Melissa (Melissa Endlich, my editor at Love Inspired) reins me back if I go too deeply into fact... but she wants the backdrop strong enough and factual enough that the reader doesn't feel cheated. Her vision helps me attain that balance.

For this book I toured the Cornell Agricultural School's sheep farm prototype in St. Lawrence County. And  I talked with two sheep farmers there, and one in Wisconsin who taught me about working dogs... lambing...ethnic sales for lamb in big cities...STAR breeding... What a fun time that was... And I got to meet so many great people!

 Heather made a good point with this comment: "Over use of of Jeremiah 29:11 and similar verses. And I know  authors probably don't have much input on covers but I get tired or seeing women with perfect skin, perfect teeth, perfect eyebrows, perfect figure. I'm amused when I see covers of Amish books where the women are wearing makeup."

Heather, the first point we have complete control over.... It's not as if the Bible doesn't give us a gazillion and one meaningful quotes.  And I admit to using The Serenity Prayer often as a basis for guidance... But I also try to mix in secular quotes (historic military figures and political figures are GREAT for this...) because there are some great adages and sayings and proverbs out there.

The second one, regarding book covers... Oy, that's a juggling act. Some authors have more say than others, but it literally comes down to Art/Sales/Marketing team choices. Covers entice.... So I think we're not likely to see much change there. We can make a mental pact to ADD TWENTY POUNDS to all female cover models from now on, okay? Skinny legs are over-rated.  ;)

Mary and Donna agreed on animal abuse: "Any kind of animal abuse turns me off. If a story goes in that direction, I put it down.

  

Mary and Donna aren't alone... you can kill off characters, but don't you dare touch Rex and Fluffy!!!!  Mary went on to say this, and I think her words are key, ".... especially if it's gratuitous."

And that's it, right there., Animals and people die. If treated as a fact of life and an organic part of the story (aging animal, end is near, car accident, guilt-ridden owner, child loses pet, learning experience that prepares them for life's ups and downs...) you can have animals die, but you cannot do it carelessly and not in an abusive way. We know it happens, but your readers don't want to cry and throw your book across the room.

And Anna had some great advice for us:

What draws me in:

A unique voice

Well developed characters

Stories about humanity

Stories that evoke emotions

Stories that leave me bound to them for a long time.

Tension and intrigue

Historical period transformed in a realistic way

Stories that are different and unique.

Unique settings

International settings

But Anna doesn't like:  

Descriptions not drawn out in historical novels

Dialogues and situations not suitable to the time and place

Characters being stupid and using weak motivations to act the way they do

Anna also doesn't like the predictability of category romances... She misses description!  :)  

Dawn's understandably annoyed by mistakes in books: 

Grammar and spelling mistakes. I feel like I catch at least 5/book. Not minor or questionable ones... full-out wrong words. For example, the one I'm reading now has "that" instead of "than".... Then the sentence doesn't make sense and I have to re-read it 3X.

Dawn, that one's going to happen on occasion, but it shouldn't happen 5X-in-a-book. Because manuscripts go through revision processes and several editors and type-setters, an occasional mis-struck letter will happen. But it should be rare. Of course, if you look at books like mine (60,000 words), if there are two mistakes in a book... That percentage is really good! 2/60,000 would get me A-ROD'S contract with the Yankees!!!  And speaking of Yankees:

I just had to put in one gratuitous pic of Jeter.... Who (I hear) is recovering nicely, thanks so much for asking!!!  :)

Six weeks until they report for spring training... aye, caramba!  Ice cream and the boys of summer.... Color me happy!!! Oops, off-topic.... Sorry!!!

So, authors.... We've got stuff to think about. I adopted the rule-of-thumb as advised by my editor and agent: When on social media, be a friend ten times more than you're an author.... For every one post you make about a book.... Make ten about life... hope... faith.... love. 

We know that I shamelessly exploit small children and animals to win hearts... :)  Be natural, be yourself, but be attentive to others.

I think what readers are telling us is simple: Don't mess with their genteel image of us... and keep writing great books.

Hey, coffee's on. Food's inside. And I've already thrown a hand full of names into the cat dish because today's somewhat questionable "What Are You Thinking" prize is a twenty-minute (or so!!!) phone call with ...

Well...

Me.

Really, if you'd rather have a book, I'll UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY!!!!

:)

My One Word: COMPLETE

Myra here, continuing our New Year’s focus on My One Word. This is my first year to choose a word, so I wanted to get off to a good start. I began in December by downloading the book to my Kindle, then journaled on the questions at the end of the first few chapters to discern my word.

The word I chose is COMPLETE.

I’ll be meditating on my word as it applies to all facets of my life, but COMPLETE has many important connotations that relate directly to the writing life.

For example, writers need to COMPLETE their manuscripts.

But that’s too simplistic. Let’s dig deeper by considering several synonyms:

AUTONOMOUS. Acting independently, or having the freedom to be independent. As writers, we work in solitude. Whether our deadlines are contractual or self-imposed, we’d better have the necessary self-discipline to get the writing done without someone constantly cracking the whip.

SOLID. Stable, dependable, reliable. Okay, those terms definitely do NOT apply to a writer’s income! So instead, we need a solid belief in ourselves and our stories. To succeed as writers, we must keep doing the work even when the tangible rewards seem few and far between.

UNDIVIDED. Concentrating on or completely devoted to one object. If you’re alive, your attention is divided. Students, moms and dads, adult children of aging parents, anyone who works outside the home, anyone who works AT home--you know how it goes. Something or someone is always pulling you away from the writing. That’s why we need to carve out some undivided space in our lives where we can write without distraction. An hour at the coffee shop, twenty minutes while waiting in the carpool line at school, a couple of weekend hours when your spouse or an older child can cover the home front.

UNLIMITED. Not restricted in terms of quantity or extent. That’s a hard one for writers. Besides how much writing time we can sneak into our busy lives, we’re also limited by genre standards, publishers’ word counts, market trends, and a host of other conditions beyond our control.

But let’s not be limited by our imaginations or our aspirations. Best-selling author Debbie Macomber was the keynote speaker at ACFW a few years ago, and during one of her talks she handed out note cards to each participant and asked us to write down five big (I’m talking REALLY BIG!) dreams we had for our writing futures. I still have my card pinned to my bulletin board, and it serves as inspiration to keep writing and keep dreaming, because that’s the only way dreams can ever come true.

PERFECT. Having all the required elements or characteristics; free from any flaw. Face it--you will never write the perfect manuscript. No matter how many times you rewrite and revise, you’ll always find something to fix. And if you don’t, your critique group or your agent or your editor will!

But do you have everything you need right now to be the best writer you can be right now? Are you studying craft books? Attending workshops and conferences? Trading critiques with writers whose opinions you respect? Are you keeping abreast of publishers’ guidelines? Reading industry blogs? Most important, are you actually writing and not merely talking about writing? If so, you may not be doing everything perfectly, but you’re definitely doing everything right!

EXTRAORDINARY. Very unusual or remarkably great. So you’re not the next Debbie Macomber, Karen Kingsbury, or (dare I say) Mary Connealy or Julie Lessman. That’s okay. Your job is to write your stories, not theirs. Some say there are only seven basic plots*, and if that’s true, you have only to look at the thousands of novels published over the last couple of centuries to realize how different writers can take entirely different approaches to the same general premise. That’s because each of us is unique. Our culture, faith, family, and life experiences continue to shape our outlook, and thus our stories. So yes, each of us is extraordinary in our own way. Embrace that truth and write the stories you were given to write.

Finally, here are some definitions of COMPLETE.

Used as an adjective it means having all the necessary or appropriate parts; entire; full; finished; to the greatest extent or degree.

As a verb it means to finish making or doing; to make something whole or perfect.

I chose COMPLETE as My One Word because far too often I give in to feelings of inferiority, incompleteness, and worst of all . . . envy. I expend too much emotional energy comparing myself to other writers. Gals like Ruthy, who apparently doesn’t even need to sleep and never runs out of story ideas. Or Mary, who consistently writes 1000+ words a day and could produce enough books in a year for two or three writers. Or Julie, whose bubbly personality and flair for romance have garnered her lifelong fans. Or Tina and Pam, who have launched award-winning writing careers even while working full-time-plus!

To counteract these erroneous self-judgments, I’m leaning on several pertinent scripture verses:

“. . . and in Him you have been made complete . . .”--Colossians 2:10 (NASB)

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”--James 1:4 (NIV)

And perhaps my favorite:

“. . . he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”--Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

Are there areas of your writing life where you feel lacking, inadequate, incomplete? What’s one thing you can do today to bring about some meaningful change?

Join the conversation and I’ll choose not one but two commenters to receive a copy of my January release, A Horseman’s Hope.

Grace Lorimer is too busy for a relationship. And love is definitely out of the question while she works her way through college to earn her occupational therapist certification. Besides, her mother’s string of failed relationships and broken promises prove romance is not worth risking her heart—even when she begins to care deeply for single dad Ryan O’Keefe.

Four years after his girlfriend, Shana, became pregnant, Ryan still can’t believe he’s a father . . . and can’t imagine being anything else. His daughter is the light of his life. Now if only Shana could embrace motherhood and the three become a real family. . . .
   
Then Ryan receives shocking news about Shana, and his world is torn apart as he faces losing his daughter. Suddenly old feelings for Grace resurface, but is a whirlwind marriage of convenience the answer?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 *There are two schools of thought on the Seven Basic Plots:

1. Overcoming the monster
2. Rags to riches
3. The quest
4. Voyage and return
5. Comedy
6. Tragedy
7. Rebirth

Or . . .

1. [wo]man vs. nature
2. [wo]man vs. [wo]man
3. [wo]man vs. the environment
4. [wo]man vs. machines/technology
5. [wo]man vs. the supernatural
6. [wo]man vs. self
7. [wo]man vs. god/religion

What's Your Choice?

OMG! How in the world am I supposed to follow the fun we had yesterday playing with Vince Mooney and the Tag Game? What a hoot! Okay, let me regroup here.

Now.

What was I going to say??  Oh yeah...

Happy New Year, everyone! I know it’s already the 6th, but I haven’t had the opportunity to wish you all well into 2011! My mother taught me never be rude, LOL!

I had a fuzzy concept on which to base my post today, something having to do with scheduling and goals and stuff like that. It just wasn’t gelling together for me. No matter how I turned it, the thoughts in my head were not translating onto the page.

No fear. The problem has been solved.

Did you happen to catch the great post by Tina on December 30 about What's Your One Word? If you didn’t, you really need to click on that link and read it. It will completely revamp whatever muddled thoughts you (or really, in this case ME) might have concerning all the muddled and time-consuming details sketched out for the new year. In taking the concept of the One Word to heart, all my shooting star ambitions have molded together with amazing clarity.

My word for 2011?



CHOICE.




I really have a hard time with the concept. I don’t want one piece of chocolate-I want the whole box.


Jeans on sale? Why buy one pair when half a dozen would be so much better and they all look cute?


ACFW conference a week away? I want to get business cards made, get my hair cut, a manicure, create my one page, make book marks, need new shoes, shorts, slacks, etc.


You get the picture. I’m sure many of you have the same feelings only dare I say, you can either say no to yourself, or plan your time wisely.


Sadly, I fit into neither of these categories. And to top it off…I’m very forgetful.

So, now that you know my deep down secrets ~ yes, confession is good for the soul ~ in choosing my One Word, I have wrapped up all my niggling fallacies and determined appropriate treatment.


CHOICE.


Time doesn’t expand for us to accomplish all the goals we want to in life, we have to choose the things that will fit into our day. Wow. When my friend Leslie Ann Sartor smacked this reality at me a few years ago, I realized I’d been trying to stuff 10 pounds of sugar and spice into a sandwich bag my entire life.

This year is going to be different.

I have been given responsibilities in my life: a husband, children, a job and a writing career. If I step back and look at this, I’d say my sandwich bag is pretty well filled. So now comes the hard part.

Learning to say no.

And in saying no, I must now learn to plan. Since selling a book, I now have an additional set of deadlines I must meet. I must think ahead. I must embrace, for example, the summer is my busiest time of year for my day job. It’s also the best time for camping and fishing. It’s also the kids’ summer break.

Add onto that the perpetual reality of writing the next book, marketing in person and on blogs (guest and my own), research, revisions, field trips – gotta scope out those cowboys, ya know – conferences, workshops, and the list goes on.


CHOICE.


I’ve taken a few steps into these uncharted waters.

In my appointment calendar, I’ve made note of all the immovable dates and deadlines for my day job in red ink. I’ve marked out all the vacation time my kids plan to spend at home. I’ve penciled in some of my husband’s favorite activities. When I thumb through my calendar, I can see the days and weeks I need to set as priorities.

I set aside at least 2 hours every day for writing. I’d like to increase that to 3 or 4, but let’s start with what I know I can work with. Weekends are my wildcard days. Usually that’s where my writing time increases.



So far. So good.


Now I just need to learn to work around them rather than through them, on top of them, underneath them.

This is definitely a work in progress. Choices don’t come easily to me. I can’t write 1500 words and watch the NCIS marathon. I can’t participate in NaNoWriMo and take an online class on character building. I can’t pledge to Weight Watchers and eat that box of chocolates (believe me, I’ve tried.)

So? How about it? Have you chosen your One Word? Or written your goals? Or determined to break/make a habit?

Time to share. What difference are you planning for your life? How will it help you?Leave a comment, I’ll be giving away a copy of my debut book, Rocky Mountain Hero. AND I’ll be giving away a copy of Tina’s debut book The Rancher’s Reunion if you’re trying the One Word method and how you're applying it to your life.

May 2011 be the best!!