Proverbs 4:23

 

"Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJ)

How Drawing Can Help You Write

    Last year during NaNoWriMo, as I was writing my manuscript, I sketched and even colored a number of pictures. Drawings of characters, room layouts, sketches of tools, and outfit designs.
   It really helped me visualize the story, and when I was debating on how to describe something's color, comparing colors on the drawings really helped. Not to mention that looking at a picture of the characters, seeing their faces and having a picture of them doing things, was encouraging and cool.
   Even if the art isn't exactly a masterpiece, it can help the creative juices flow. And if you don't like drawing but have a friend who does, giving them a description and asking them to draw the character is really awesome!
    Does anyone else out there draw pictures of their characters or scenes from their stories? Would anyone want to design the book cover of their story?

Psalm 50:14

"Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High."

Psalm 50:14 (NKJ)

 



    Giving thanks is wonderful! And really a pleasant thing to do. Thinking about all the blessings God has given thoughtfully and freely, knowing that He's glad to give them, and thanking Him for being so good. It's not only right to be thankful, but it's nice to remember all of the wonderful ways God has blessed us in life. A comfort to realize just how much he cares for us. Don't you agree? :)

    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Week!

Having Heart In What You Do

    Everyone who's taken on a trade or tried to learn a new practice knows that you've got to care about it--really care about it--and be glad to improve it. Otherwise, as time goes on, you notice imperfections in your work that make you really upset, grasping new concepts becomes more difficult, and practicing becomes tiresome and even boring sometimes. That's when the temptation to quit shows its deceitfully relieving and tempting face.
    You've got to have passion for what you do--not just thinking "I have to do it", but taking heart and really enjoying doing it. Knowing that it's not for nothing.
    For a writer, every paragraph written with eagerness and attentiveness creates a heart-felt passage and flexes their creative muscle. Every song a pianist practices faithfully keeps their fingers flexible and produces beautiful, harmonious sound. Whenever an actor works hard and gladly in the play/musical/opera they perform in, they gift an audience with a real and heart-felt performance.
    When someone really cares about what they do, and they put all they've got into it, the work can really be amazing.

Isaiah 26:3



"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJ)

Charlotte Woods On Sacrifice

 

"The first thing is to really commit and be serious about it. You have to say 'no' to other things."

~Charlotte Woods

    Agh, one of the difficult parts in a writer's life. Sacrifice.
    Time is short--especially when you go to school and/or have a job, so every hour is precious. Great writing takes time, so often a writer has to give other fun things up so they can use that time. Sometimes it's something small, like putting off a chore, and other times it's something more difficult to give up, like watching the season finale of an awesome series, or sleeping in on a rare day off.
    It's not fun, giving those things up. But when it's done and the time is invested in writing, it really shows in the final product. Don't you agree?

Matthew 24:35

 

"'Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.'"

Matthew 24:35 (NKJ)

 

    The Lord's words are kind of like rock. Sturdy, solid, and reliable, it doesn't change. You can grab onto it and trust that it won't vaporize or anything. God's words are dependable, able to help you through any situation, and not needing to be revised in order to suit the transforming world. Isn't that great? :)

Always Enough Time

    Man, ever had one of those days where it's like you've crammed work into every hour and finish only in time to go to sleep? It's like time burns like paper!
    But on those kind of days, doesn't everything that needs to be finished get done? All that boring work completed and (for the time being) over with. There's not an extra minute to spare, but there was just enough time to do everything important.
    I think it's cool how the Lord does that, giving us enough time to complete what needs to be done (unless we procrastinate, of course). In a busy world with long lists of things to do, He always gives us the time we need to accomplish the things that matter. It's nice, don't you agree? :)

NaNoWriMo Begins!

    Two days ago, National Novel Writing Month officially began.
    NaNoWriMo. A month where the eager, determined writer writes like crazy to complete their first draft. Some writers spend long hours of their day writing for this--especially when they have Thanksgiving Break. Others just do a little bit every day and accumulate their word count goal gradually. But the goal for everyone remains the same: to finish that first draft by the end of the month.
    It's a considerably short deadline. Finishing a manuscript in a month is no easy feat! Writing challenges like this can be really difficult, but they're also fun, and they help people grow as writers.
    Deadlines tend to give extra incentive to finish the first draft. Whether it be a personal goal or something assigned by a publisher, typically a writer has strong determination to not miss that deadline. There's more on the line with a race against time. More reason to work harder.
    Is anyone out there doing NaNoWriMo this year? Does anyone have other personally set deadlines for their writing?

John 13:35

 

"'By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.'"

John 13:35 (NKJ)