Pressing Me Out of My Comfort Zone

Amy's 20th birthday

As many of you know, my daughter passed away 6 1/2 years ago at age 28 after a lifelong battle with multiple disabilities. Two months after Amy's death, I participated in a workshop taught by the talented writer/author Alice Wisler on Writing the Heartache. This workshop freed a fountain of words that poured out of me. 

Over the next 10 months or so, I continued writing and showed some of my scribbling (for lack of a better word) to a couple of author friends and was encouraged by them to take my writing to the next level and submit a couple of articles for publication. They were super kind in offering advice and even critiques but my deep-seated fear of rejection and lack of confidence kept me from taking that next step, until God intervened.  

In October 2018, I was contacted by the founder and senior editor of the online publication Broken but Priceless:The Magazine asking me if I would be their guest writer in January. My initial thought was "I am not a writer" and that's what I responded back to Erin. She told me to pray about it because as she was praying about who to ask, I kept coming to mind. That gave me pause. Even though we are friends on social media, I had never spoken to Erin about writing. 

Embracing this opportunity the Lord provided, I emailed Erin back to tell her I would do it even though I couldn't imagine why anyone would want to read what I write. For many, it wouldn't seem like a big deal or even a challenging thing to do. For someone who fears rejection and lacks confidence, it's a big thing. I have much to learn about the craft of writing but I know this is the path I am supposed to be on at this time. Where it will lead, I don't know for sure. But I know the One who does and that is good enough for me!

Philippians 4:13 ~ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

If you would like to read my article titled Grief is not Temporary, you can sign up for your FREE copy of the magazine to be delivered to your inbox. Erin Elizabeth Austin and those who write regularly for Broken but Priceless share a much needed ministry encouraging those who live with chronic illness or are caregivers for someone suffering a chronic illness/disease. 

If you are in a hurting and/or desert place, I hope that you'll find refreshment among the stories shared by these women. I know I've been encouraged by their faith and fortitude in the face of their many trials and tribulations. May God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and give you peace. Amen!

Here is the link to the magazine if you would like to sign up>>>Broken but Priceless Ministries

Guest Post ~ Writer Carrie Fancett Pagels ~ Why do a serial?

Why would authors write an anthology together?

1. Fellowship in writing. It can be a great process to share ideas, brainstorm, and discuss possibilities--because typically most writers are working solo.
   
   
2. Practice. Some serials are like a writing challenge almost. There is a serial I was involved with two years ago, that will just be coming out in a blog hop in 2013, in which you had to write the next section to CONTINUE the story. Now this is a stretch, let me tell you. Because if the previous writer left you with a conundrum you had to solve that, plus you had to go over all the earlier information with a fine-tooth comb to be sure that your section was CONSISTENT with the characterization and storyline. Honestly, part of the fun, though is that VOICE will be different for each author and so such a project does showcase each author’s voice.
   
   
3. A gift to readers. The reason I asked the Colonial Quills authors if there were some willing to do a Forted Frontier Christmas anthology with me was because I wanted to have something as a present for our faithful readers. So each week from November through mid-January, we have short sections of a story. This type of format is very different from the other serial I referenced, and is easier in many respects because each author could add characters and storylines to the serial because this was not a writing challenge nor a single story per se—rather all of these characters by all of these authors were enroute to a destination near where our original characters were forted.
   
   
4. A chance for unpublished authors to demonstrate a sample of their writing skills in fiction. Within our group there are a number of us who are not yet published in fiction, including myself. Within our anthology, even other members got their first chance to read some of their colleague’s writing! And hopefully readers will discover some writers whose books they have not yet read but whose sample, in the anthology, intrigued them.
   
   
5. Practice in writing shorts. Doing a complete clean section takes focus, especially if you are mindful of what came before and what is coming after your section.

Come on by and visit us at Colonial Quills to read our serial anthology and see how this all works. http://colonialquills.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_4.html

Thanks for having me Anne!

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Bio – Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D

Facebook Author Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carrie-Fancett-Pagels/317053071710640?fref=ts

Facebook Personal Pagehttp://www.facebook.com/carriefancettpagels

Twitter https://twitter.com/cfpagels

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/carriefpagels/

GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5548131-carrie-pagels

LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=131454255&trk=tab_pro

Carrie Fancett Pagels (www.carriefancettpagels.com) writes “romantic” historical fiction. She is represented by Joyce Hart. ACFW MidAtlantic Zone Director. Blogs at “Colonial Quills” (http://colonialquills.blogspot.com) and “Overcoming With God.”

Guest Post ~ Diane Estrella

That’s what I’m here for…..

This has to be one of the best tag lines. And it is so true of writer/blogger extraordinaire, Diane Estrella.  Diane says she is good for a moment's distraction but I have found her to be a supportive and encouraging friend, and knowledgeable about so many things!  Today Diane talks to us about blogging. 

I need to pay close attention ;-)

Diane's website: http://dianeestrella.com/

The Benefits of Blogging by Diane Estrella

What is a blog/blogging?

“A blog (a portmanteau of the termweb log) is a personal journal published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete entries (“posts”) typically displayed in reverse chronological order so the most recent post appears first. Blogs are usually the work of a single individual, occasionally of a small group, and often are themed on a single subject. Blog can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

The emergence and growth of blogs in the late 1990s coincided with the advent of web publishing tools that facilitated the posting of content by non-technical users. (Previously a knowledge of such technologies as HTML and FTP had been required to publish content on the Web.)

Although not a must, most good quality blogs are interactive, allowing visitors to leave comments and even message each other via widgets on the blogs and it is this interactivity that distinguishes them from other static websites. In that sense, blogging can be seen as a form of social networking. Indeed, bloggers do not only produce content to post on their blogs but also build social relations with their readers and other bloggers.

As of 16 February 2011, there were over 156 million public blogs in existence.” ~~~per Wikipedia

Some Benefits of Blogging:

• Obey God’s word

Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord. Psalm 102:18

Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘ Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book.' Jeremiah 30:1-3

Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full. 2 John 1:11

• World reaching ministry and witness. You are connected to the World-Wide-Web and you never know who you will reach.

I can assure you that whoever believes in me will do the same things I have done. And they will do even greater things than I have done, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12 (ERV)

• Reach family and friends that don’t know God and influence them. You can say many things on your blog that you may not have the opportunity or the ability to say to them in person.

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• A place to just get started publicly writing. C’mon and dip your toe in!

• Cross promotion…. you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours!

• As you follow and watch other blogs, especially agent blogs, you will “be in the know” about upcoming trends, first to see and hear new info and leads. You can directly interact with these people via commenting, through Facebook, etc.

• Blogging will evoke no shortage of emotions out of you! Fun, soothing, exhilarating, frustrating….

• Use it as an opportunity for journaling.

• You may be one degree of separation away from the contact you need to make!

• Connect with others in your niche or have the same passion as you.

• Do you consider blogging a chore? It will be a discipline to build your writing skills.

• For all future author wannabees, it will be required! Truth is: every author has to have a blog today. I don’t think it is an option anymore.

• Poetry and other difficult genres to enter into can be done here

• Blogging provides a way for agents or publishers to find you at your home base.

• Place to brand yourself, make your platform, www.yourname.com

• Say what’s really on your mind, Be regarded, acknowledged, this is your pulpit, can hit on hard areas like politics.

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• Make friends. Yes, even BFF’s!!!

• Sell stuff. Do you or someone you know have a side-business?

• Get freebies! Books, product promotions, etc.

• Make Money~~~Ka-ching!!! Sell ad space or get paid to write blog posts.

• Blogging can and will lead to other things in your future.

Phew!

There you have it, my list.

What’s your favorite reason to blog? Do you have other ideas that I missed?