Productive day

Yesterday was a productive day in many ways. I was able to drop off some work, pick up some work, attend my critique group, and watch a new favorite movie.

My critique group ended up being only two of us, but it was a productive time for us both. Linda and I had only met once before at the writer's conference, but we got to know one another better yesterday. I read some of Linda's assignments for her journalism class and hopefully gave her some pointers.

I showed her the intro, questionnaire, and first three chapters outline for the book. She had some good input on the writing and strongly encouraged me to get some articles written about the military families since there are so many stories to tell within the book. I am thinking this will be a great way to get the initial stories out and build readership, which is something publishers like to see.

She has a contact for me who is head of a Family Readiness Group here at Fort Carson. And today on my Weight Watcher's message board group, I met a Navy wife. The Lord keeps opening so many doors. I need wisdom on how and when to walk through them. So much to do, so little time!!

And the movie I watched is a definite new favorite, "Stranger than Fiction." It has a little language and one scene of nudity (not sexual), but it is funny and also makes me think. It brings up the question of who is in control of our lives. What sort of life we lead depends greatly on what we think our purpose is and if we are really in control.

As a Christian, I know Who is in control and because of that hope, I can have peace and purpose. My life is not given over to futility. The other level I relate to in this movie is as a writer. Ah, the world of writing is a world within itself, even for the non-fiction writer. And how much more so for the fiction writer. So many have said their characters are "real" people to them. And this movie portrays that in a tragic yet comedic way. Anyway if you want a movie that makes you think, laugh, and ponder, this would be it. (Just keep in mind the couple of offensive things listed above.)

My wonderful DH is planning on working on my web site today and we are hoping to finish it! That would be great if we can. He has put so much time into this, on top of everything else for which he is responsible.

Blessings!

More writing

Well, I just spent the last hour writing more for Hidden Heroes. It is starting to be a tad less difficult to write now that I have some structure. :)

I wrote more on the intro about where this whole concept came from. I know that the Lord placed this burden, this deep, deep concern on my heart for our wonderful military families. As I have pondered this more, He has shown me that some of it was birthed in my own experiences as a young girl when my dad shipped out to Thailand during the Vietnam War. As I have spent time remembering that and talking with my mom about it, I have realized how deeply it affected me.

As I spend time researching and talking with military families, I am so humbled to write this book. I don't know if I can fully express my heart, but I know it is not of me. Everyone I speak to, military or not, writer or not, leaps at the idea. Every response I have gathered has caused me to cry. It touches something so deep within me, causing me to be so grateful to these courageous families. And I long to shout from the rooftops of the depth of their sacrifice and love for our country. I want the nation to stop for just a moment and say thank you. Which honestly seems too small.

The other night my husband and I watched a movie, "We Were Soldiers," which came out a few years ago. We had borrowed it from our nephew several months ago and had been waiting to watch it. We knew we needed to be in the right place to watch it since we had heard it was intense. And it was intense. But the intensity for me wasn't the battles, which I confess to blocking with my hands most of the time. It was how the Army colonel and his wife took ownership of their troops and families. By ownership, I mean that they felt responsible. They took the burden of caring for them. That is the message I feel led to write: how can we as individuals reach out and care for military families around us?

That is why I wept from the beginning of the movie until after the final credits. I wept for the incredible loss of life. I wept for the wives and children who paid the high price. I wept for a nation that was and is unprepared, and at times unwilling, to acknowledge their sacrifices so that we can be free. Isn't it ironic that the ones who pay so high a price are the ones we sometimes choose to ignore because seeing them shakes our comfortable world? Anyway, enough preaching!

As for the writing, I also took the responses I have received to the questionnaire thus far and plugged the answers into the proper chapters. Next I will look at expanding those into full stories as I talk further with these ladies. I have several more contacts to pursue so I am off to follow up on those.

Blessings.

Sounding board

I just got off a phone call with a dear, dear sister. She has no idea how vital she is in my life. She is a sounding board for me. Especially in writing the book, but in every area of life. We talk of our families, of how teenagers are, of what the Lord is doing in our hearts, of the calling on our lives. As I talk with her, I am reminded so much of God's goodness. I am reminded of how to laugh, how to pray, how to cry, how to intercede, how to carry others' burdens. She is a treasure to me.

Sherre reminds me of the old Girl Scout song (at least that's where I learned it):
Make new friends, but always keep the old, one is silver, and the other's gold.

What that song doesn't allow for is that friends move from being silver to gold. Sherre is definitely gold. As I talk with her about writing the book and she shares more of her story, she encourages me. She spurs me on to remember the vision of this book. She always broadens my vision of how and why God is callling me to write it. I hope everyone has a friend like Sherre in their lives. We all need to have someone who can not only urge us on, but help us to laugh along the journey.

Blessings.

Accomplishments

Well, yesterday I made my focus statement for the book and I outlined chapters. Both are very rough, but they give me a starting place, which is something I have lacked.

I am planning on spending a bit of time starting to plug in responses I have received into the appropriate chapters, even when the stories are just rough answers. That way I have some structure to start with. I definitely do better when I have structure! Now I am off to write.

Blessings!

Writing one of Melissa's stories

Today's project is working on one of Melissa's stories. She was gracious enough to fill out my questionnaire about military families. So today I will work on a piece from her responses. I am just writing at this point and not trying to tie things all together yet. I figure that as I write, the links will become more obvious to me.

I also had a thought about getting some more writing "out there." Our newspaper has an online version for each neighborhood which is open to anyone posting stories, etc. I am going to start doing a "mom" blog on it each week and see if maybe they will pick it up for either the print version each week or perhaps the Pikes Peak Parent which is a larger monthly insert across the region.

And I have two more editing projects I have to get off my desk today. Nothing like being busy.

Writing update and accountability

Well, today's writing consisted of doing my next lesson. The only "fun" part of it was getting to discuss what my book idea is about and who my target audience is.

Yesterday I was working on a piece told to me by a dear friend about a lesson the Lord taught her in the midst of a difficult move. (Sherre if you see this, know that I will be calling you soon for more details!!) He told her to plant flowers. That has stuck with me on so many levels. The Lord wants to beautify our lives, but many times He is asking us to get down in the dirt so the preparation is what it needs to be, otherwise the flowers won't thrive. I like to enjoy flowers and I don't even mind planting them. But I don't particularly like to prepare the soil ahead of time (can you say, manure?) and I don't like weeding. Both of which are necessary for flowers to thrive. And Jesus promised us a life which will thrive. (See John 10:10.)

The Lord required my friend to plant perennials even knowing that as a military wife, she would only get to enjoy them briefly. But how many of us only want to plant when and where we choose and what will bring us pleasure? The lesson Jesus was teaching my dear sister was that it wasn't about her. It was about investing right where she was that day. (Ah, yes, that lesson we have to be taught over and over it seems.) Her story has stuck with me vividly.

I also thought I would post my book idea so if anyone has anymore thoughts along this line or you know someone who is in the military, please send them my way. The book is about America’s unsung heroes: military families.

They are resourceful, tough, adaptable, and resilient. They face day-in and day-out battles to stay strong, to take care of life at home, to fight fears and questions, to keep the home fires burning. They have to be ready to move across country or overseas whenever Uncle Sam orders.

How do these courageous women and men waiting at home fight off the depression, loneliness, fear, and boredom? How do they manage to preserve a relationship not knowing when, and sometimes if, they will see their loved one again? What strength and resourcefulness do they exhibit as they juggle paying bills, nursing sick children, holding down jobs, fixing the leaky toilet all while waiting to hear if their loved one is safe one more day?

These are our unseen, unrecognized warriors. They may not wear the uniform, but they fight to maintain life at home so our soldiers can fight without distractions. The battles these hidden warriors face not only rage while the loved one is away. They may continue even when their soldier returns: He or she may be battle-weary, experiencing post-traumatic stress, or injured. These are the stories of America’s hidden heroes. They are our neighbors, our co-workers, and the parents of our children’s classmates.

In understanding military families and their incredible sacrifices, we can learn to how to support them daily, lending an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, and a heart to rejoice with them.

Blessings!

Writing for the Soul conference

Wow! That about sums up the Writing for the Soul conference. There were about 400 people in attendance and we were all so encouraged by the wonderful speakers. Before I even begin to tell of all the Lord did in me, I must commend the speakers. Each one, regardless of their level of success (and they are very successful), all credited the Lord with their gifts, all established that their writing was a platform from the Lord to tell others about the gospel. I had gone to the conference not knowing what manner of people I would encounter. I have to say, I didn't meet one person with ego issues. All were humble and grateful. I would strongly encourage other writers to attend a Christian writing conference if possible.

The writers and editors I met were wonderful. New friends were instantly made. And each time I shared with either another writer or an editor what I felt led to write about, the response was incredibly positive. Each one would say something about how important it is right now for us to support not only the military personnel, but their families as well.

Now as to the contacts I made: the day before the conference I met my writing mentor and she was so encouraging and told me which publisher I should approach. She introduced me to that editor on Thursday night and gave a strong recommendation for both the project and me. On Friday I met with that editor from Moody and she wants to see a proposal from me. That is very positive since they don't always ask to see a proposal.

I also met with Focus on the Family and MomSense magazines to discuss writing for their publications. Both were very encouraging and not only gave me the standard cards, but passed along direct contacts for the editors with whom I would be working. The Editorial Director from Focus actually encouraged me to call and meet with the editor in person. That is almost unheard of in the publishing world.

At lunch on Saturday, I was at a table with the CBN.com representative. After hearing the Hidden Heroes book idea, he told me to stop by after lunch. I did so and he opened him Palm and cell phone to pass along personal contact information for a woman who has a son who has been deployed three times to Iraq. She runs a speaker training service and has written some articles on this topic. The doors that were opened to me were incredible. Contacts are normally more closely guarded, but here everyone was freely sharing.

At Saturday night's dinner a group of us ended up sitting with the Moody editor. A gentleman at the table was asking each of us about our writing. I was able to share the concept again about our military families and the editor was able to see for herself the avid attention everyone gave to the idea. I had tried to communicate this to her when we met, but what an opportunity the Lord provided for her to see how the public responds to it.

On Sunday evening, I had the blessing visiting with my sister who was in town overnight. I drove to pick her up from a friend's house. When her friend asked about my writing, she eagerly jumped in saying she had some families she knew who would be excited to talk with me.

The doors which are opening are wide. I just have to walk through them. I stand in awe of the Lord and what He is doing. The next few weeks will be filled with writing a book proposal and contacting the magazines. When the Lord opens a door, no one can shut it. I pray that I will be attentive and faithful to follow His leading in all of this.

Blessings.

Exciting news

Well, some exciting news on the writing front! Yesterday my questionnaire for military spouses went out in a Family Readiness Group newsletter for the Texas National Guard. I am not sure of the reach of this newsletter, but I already received a reply from a lady in Omaha. I feel as though the ride has begun and I am just holding on tight! I am trembling, yet also very excited to see how the Lord brings Hidden Heroes (my working title) together. These families sacrifice so much. What an honor to tell their stories.

On a similar front, next week is the Writing for the Soul writer's conference. I will be learning from some of the best in the Christian publishing world. I am unsure at this point if I will be meeting with any publishers or agents one on one. Still praying over direction there and doing research.

Also, my Christian Writer's Guild mentor will be here to speak at the conference. I offered to act as tour guide to her on Wednesday. We will have the majority of the day to discuss all manner of writing and querying. I am thrilled to have some time getting to know her and also to be able to pick her brain.

Blessings.