Don't Forget

I don't have a lot of time to write a post today--hubby is giving me the afternoon to edit! Yay!

However, I did just want to remind everyone that my new blog schedule starts on MONDAY! I hope you will all join me Mon-Fri to engage in some stellar conversations. Can't wait to see you there! (And, yes, I promise to use a lot of exclamation points. I'm a rebel!)

It is Finished!

Okay, folks...prepare yourselves for big news.

The first draft of Dividing Spirits is officially completed.

EEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK!

Last Friday, I finally typed those infamous words--"The End".

What a feeling! I mean, this is techically my third completed novel, and still, the feeling never changes. The whole "I can't believe I actually did it--again." I breathed a sigh of relief and was high all weekend.

Of course, along with the floating on the clouds feeling came the mind-numbing doubt. DS needs a lot of work, and I know that. Yet, I always get that nagging in the back of my mind. It'll never be good enough. Who would want to read this? Why are you investing so much time in something that will never go beyond a select few friends and family?

Yeah...I get that a lot.

This being my third attempt, though, I've learned how to push those doubts aside and put my trust in the Lord. It's true--this manuscript may never go beyond my crit partners, and the few family members and friends that enjoy reading my work. Being that Dividing Spirits is a supernatural suspense, it may not find a place in the market right now. But you know what? God allowed this experience to run its course for a reason. I may not know it...I may not even ever see it, but I know there is a reason.

A great way to take my mind off of my fears is to set goals. You all know how important I think they are. So, here's my goals for the next few months.

1. I will finish my first couple rounds of edits by August 31st. Writing time will be scarce, so I'm not sure how I'll do this, but we'll see.

2. I will send my first few chapters to friend and editor, Salley Bradley (check out her website). While she has those, I'll prepare my query letter and synopsis.

3. When I get back her suggestions, I'll do another round of edits. Then I will prepare the manuscript for submission. I have a couple of agents/editors that I know I want to query, but I'm also going to submit to the CWG First Novel Contest.

So what now?

I dust off my keyboard, pull out the notebook full of notes, and sit down. I pop open my Diet Coke, and open that first chapter once more.

Time to edit.

Up and Coming!

I got that bug again.

Yep.

I have to write. Something. Anything. And I want to share with my friends!

So, starting in August, it is my goal to post Monday thru Friday on my blog. I’ve designed a layout of sorts that will hopefully keep me on track. This way I’ll be able to get my blogs done quickly and still have fun with them. After all, what’s the point if I’m not having fun, right? Or, more importantly, if YOU’re not having fun?

Why August? Why not now?

Two reasons. The major one being that I want to give myself a little more time to “adjust” to having three children, one of them being a newborn. The other being that I have a lot going on this month.

My parents and sisters will be here this weekend—which is great because hubby will be leaving on another work trip next Monday. My family is staying for a week and then they are going to visit some other relatives and taking my girls with them! So the following week, being with only the baby, I hope to have a writing intensive week in which I will finish Dividing Spirits. Yep—that’s the goal. The last week in July, my girls will be back, so I’ll be getting used to taking care of all three kids all by myself. I’m grateful that I get to kind of “ease” into it.

Back to the blog—

I have some fun new things planned, posts which include Friend of the Week, Websites/Blogs to see, Product Reviews…and some more of the old favorites: Let’s Share!, Verse of the Week, and lots on the life and craft of writing.

For the rest of July, I still plan to update as much as I can. But more likely they will be life/family related…although, there may be lots of complaining and moaning and cheering during the writing intensive week.

I considered going offline for writing intensive week, but I think the only way I’ll stay sane is to continue to connect with my online friends. I’ll just restrict my time to early in the morning and late at night with maybe a brief venture in the middle of the afternoon. We’ll see…

So, I hope you’ll continue on this journey with me. What’s new in your life? What changes are in your future?

Unconditionally

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

We all know the above verse. Even if you’re not a Christian, you’ve heard it. It is probably the most quoted line from the Bible. The words are the entire basis of Christianity and what makes us different. But how much do we really understand about the sacrifice both God and Jesus made?

As I sit here, holding my new precious bundle of joy in my arms, I cringe to think of ever letting anything bad happen to him. As parents, it is natural for us to want to protect our children from all things big and scary in this world (and there are a lot). We know, ultimately, they’ll have to face the world for themselves and we’ll have to let them go. But can you imagine sending your child off, knowing that when he has accomplished his mission, he will die?

I don’t think our human minds can quite wrap around that concept. We would be fighting our selfish nature to snatch up the child and lock him in a closet until the danger passed. No mother sends her soldier off to war, but fights it every step of the way. No mother of a death row inmate wants to watch their child die, but suffers a complex helplessness at the situation. We all want to save our children. And I imagine, in many ways, so did God. But being God, He knew what the world needed. A Savior.

Even Jesus, the human side of him, struggled with the path set before him. In Luke 22:42, Jesus prays that this cup could be taken from him, but that God will would be done. He knew what was expected of him, yet when faced with it, he still struggled. Just like a soldier on his way to war. Still, he willingly went with the guards, and he did not fight when they nailed his wrists and feet to the cross. He did not call down the angels of heaven when the pain became too much. When he struggled to draw in one haggard breath after another.

And yet, both God and Christ put aside their own wants and desires and made the greatest sacrifice. Because they loved us that much. While we were still sinners. They loved us. Unconditionally.