10 Must Haves for NaNoWriMo by Julie Arduini

Cue “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” because it’s almost Christmas  National Novel Writing month, otherwise known as NaNoWrMo. Over 250,000 writers sign on with the hopes to create a 50K novel in 30 days. The participants range from those who have no writing experience and want to join the madness to published authors who need to crank out the first draft of their next work.

I started in 2010 with a “win,” because I hit the magic 50,000.  Spectacular Falls is a contemporary romance probably in an 8th draft as I take it through two critique groups affiliated with ACFW. It’s nowhere near what I started with that crazy NaNoWriMo experience, and that’s a good thing. More on that in a bit.

My 2011 attempt wasn’t a win, but a good lesson. I tried to write Discovering Nancy Struthers without plotting ahead of time, and in a month’s time, I only logged 16k. Now I know I have to plot. I guess deep down I knew that, but wanted to try.

This year I’m excited because while editing Spectacular Falls, a secondary character started waving at me, trying to get my attention. When I finally looked her way I realized she has a story. I have To Protect and Serve plotted out, and I’m ready to go. My typing fingers are twitching and I’ve been adding extra caffeine to my already insane intake as part of my pre NaNo training regiment. If you participate, you know what it feels like.

If you plan to participate in this year’s NaNoWriMo, here are resources and tips to make the most of your month.

1. Sign up at nanowrimo.org and take advantage of the forums. Every genre you can think of has a forum. There are threads for plot questions, venting, music choices while writing, and more. There are regional forums where you not only connect online, but can attend local write-ins.

2. But don’t go too crazy with your new friends. Like Facebook, the NaNoWriMo site gives the option of friending people, although I think the term might be buddy. Your personal page allows sharing information about your novel, right down to creating a cover for it. This is fun, but if you start this in November, you’re wasting precious writing time. If you get social with your friends on the NaNo site, you’re setting yourself up for frustration at the end of the month when you are low on your word count. Use connections for questions, not social time.

3. Join My Book Therapy and take advantage of their resources. Susan May Warren and her cream-of-the-crop team are the best cheerleaders with amazing writing helps.  Susie has a discount on her Book Buddy for MBT-WriMo participants. She has an incredible graphic that takes your novel from start to finish that I saw on their blog this week. They have accountability where you log every day, even if your count is 0, but by logging in, you have a shot at winning prizes. Again, watch your time, but the resources are great.  My “winning” year I listened to the soundtrack they had available every day.

4. If you plot, Scrivener has a free trial that consistently receives rave reviews. I’m trying yWriter this year. It’s free and I read good things about it.

5. Look at your calendar and plan accordingly. The NaNoWriMo friends I know are college students. Wives. Parents. They caregive for aging parents. Take children to appointments. There is this day in November called Thanksgiving where family expect a turkey. There will be certain days you won’t write a lot, if at all. That’s okay. There are excel programs that color code the word counts and do the math to help you stay on track for a win. A Google search should help locate one, or one of the forums.

6. Don’t turn into Chevy Chase or Jack Nicholson. It’s been a few years since I watched “Funny Farm,” but I remember Chevy Chase’s character was determined to write the great American novel. It didn’t take long before he was impossible to be around, and he lost everyone and everything around him. If there is a Christian version of Jack Nicholson’s character from “The Shining” (Okay, probably not,) I was delirious my first year. A complete recluse who answered my family’s requests for food and clean clothes with grunts. I don’t even remember Thanksgiving beyond retreating to a quiet room away from my family I rarely get to see. Take breaks. Enjoy life. After November 30 comes December. You will have to face your family again. Don’t forget them during NaNoWriMo.

7. Write totally, really, crazy, badly. A newbie writer is full of flowery adjectives and adverbs. One of my favorite quotes is from Stephen King who said, “The road to hell is paved with adverbs.” When you get the courage to share your baby, it’s heartbreaking to learn your words are going on the chopping block. Under normal circumstances, you’ll be grateful for their editing. If you have writing experience the temptation is to pen your November novel with your self-editor ready to go, scanning your pages to delete the adjectives and adverbs. You’ll fight the urge to polish the sentences. NaNoWriMo is the one time you have permission to go crazy with the adverbs. Write whatever comes to mind. It will be bad. The goal is to get it written in November. You have to turn your editing off and re-live your beginner writing days. Cringe and move on.

8. Get in the mood. I work better with candles lit, preferably a balsam scent because my work is set in the Adirondack Mountains. Sometimes I use my Pandora playlist. My writing space is a recliner. Be comfortable.

9. Exercise. My muscle tone took a hit my first year. Exercising gets the brain circulating as well. I ended up having ideas for my work when I got my sad body moving. Keep snacks beyond arm’s reach. I tend to become so consumed that I can polish off a bag of cookies without knowing. Make yourself get up, take only a couple snacks, and return without the bag.

10. Have fun. Yes, there are success stories where NaNo writers found publishing bliss. First they had to write it. Use November to, as Larry the Cable Guy says, “Git ‘er done.”

Are you NaNo’ing? I’m on the official site and My Book Therapy as JulieArduini. Just remember #2.

If My People Pray 2012 by Julie Arduini

About six weeks ago I posted my love of political news. With the election less than a month away, I thought I’d share an update of sorts.

There is a movement called If My People Pray 2012 where Christian leaders participate in a short video praying over a topic that lines up with 2 Chronicles 7:14.

¹⁴ Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. (NLT)

Leaders include Vonette Bright, Kirk Cameron, Ken Ham, Mike Huckabee, Anne Graham Lotz, and more. Topics include praying for marriage, sanctity of life, pastors, entertainers, revival, and other issues that should be on our prayer radar.

For the 40 days before the election people with a burden to pray commit to do so each day. The video features the leader that day praying. There are prayer points and a call to distribute the videos and prayer point to others through social media and e mail. In these tech savvy days there is also an app available for the iPhone, iPad, and Android.

For the United States of America, we appear divided, and that saddens me. The best course of action isn’t to stand, but to kneel.

I hope you’ll join me in praying for our nation.

Banned Book Week: Have You Read These Challenged and/or Banned Classics? By Julie Arduini

This week is Banned Book Week. I thought I would share, courtesy of the American Library Association, the classic books that have most often been challenged for removal or outright banned.

Have you read any of these?

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger

The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

The Color Purple, by Alice Walker

Ulysses, by James Joyce

Beloved, by Toni Morrison

The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding

1984, by George Orwell

Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

Catch-22, by Joseph Heller

Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley

Animal Farm, by George Orwell

The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway

As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner

A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway

Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston

Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison

Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison

Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell

Native Son, by Richard Wright

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey

Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut

For Whom the Bell Tolls, by Ernest Hemingway

The Call of the Wild, by Jack London

Go Tell It on the Mountain, by James Baldwin

All the King’s Men, by Robert Penn Warren

The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair

Lady Chatterley’s Lover, by D.H. Lawrence

A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess

The Awakening, by Kate Chopin

In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote

Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie

Sophie’s Choice, by William Styron

Sons and Lovers, by D.H. Lawrence

Cat’s Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut

A Separate Peace, by John Knowles

Naked Lunch, by William S. Burroughs

Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh

Women in Love, by DH Lawrence

The Naked and the Dead, by Norman Mailer

Tropic of Cancer, by Henry Miller

An American Tragedy, by Theodore Dreiser

Rabbit, Run, by John Updike

What’s your opinion on banning books? We live in a free country but most of these challenges come from wanting to protect students from objectionable themes. Are there any titles above that you would refuse to have in your home? Any contemporary novels you would like to see banned?

I look forward to dialoguing with you on this.

Older Life-Changing Books by Julie Arduini

It’s been a peculiar reading year for me. Although I’ve enjoyed reviewing new releases on my website, my life-changing reads this year aren’t from 2012. Not even close. Of course the Bible is a daily read and a life-changer, but I thought I would share the two books I not only devoured, but am highlighting nearly every sentence and visiting Amazon to purchase for others.

Secrets of the Secret Place: Keys to Igniting Your Personal Time with God. This Bob Sorge book is from 2001 and I have no idea how it missed my reading radar until now.

From Amazon: This book has one purpose: to fuel your passion for the secret place with God. Divided into 52 short chapters, it can serve as a companion to your devotional life. It will help defuse struggles related to the secret place and inspire you to develop a personal connection with God.

I stopped counting at how many times I’ve bought this book for someone else. I took months to read this one because every sentence had a nugget for me to hold onto. I can’t even give a breakdown of the chapters because I loaned my book out, and when I get it back, I plan to read again. I can’t say enough about this book.

 

A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness. I’m not always able to participate in our local Sunday School class, so I went to the library to grab this book by Gene Edwards. My very used copy is from 1980 I believe, and I see there is a 1992 and 2011 re-print.

From Amazon:

From the Back Cover

“What do you do when someone throws a spear at you?”
Light, clarity, and comfort for the brokenhearted.
To the many Christians who have experienced pain, loss, and heartache at the hands of other believers, this compelling tale based on the biblical figures of David, Saul, and Absalom offers comfort, healing, and hope.
Christian leaders and directors of religious movements throughout the world have recommended this simple, powerful, and beautiful story to their members and staff.
You will want to join the thousands who have been profoundly touched by this incomparable story.

I love a good in-your-face book, but not to throw it at someone else and command them to read it, but for me to absorb the truths and change for the better. There is nothing worse than being wounded by a church. I’ve been there. I ate this book up. It’s a short read, but a transforming one.

Are there any books on your list that aren’t recent releases?
Images from Amazon

When It Isn’t Time by Julie Arduini

One  of my first memories was as a pre-schooler before there was pre-school. I took a stack of hardcover books from the upstairs shelf and waited outside for a school bus that had no plan to pick me up. It wasn’t time, I wasn’t old enough. And I was devastated.

Years later I was in high school, a candidate for the National Honor Society. It was the first round of eligibility and I knew it was a long-shot. Still, I dressed better than normal in case my name was called. It wasn’t, and one girl whose name was called couldn’t resist pointing out how I was all dressed up with nowhere to go. Although I was inducted the following fall, it was hard to come to terms that spring that it wasn’t my time.

Then, as a young adult, a chorus of voices sang the same song regarding my future. There was a young man that everyone thought would make a great spouse because we had Christ in common. I was new enough in faith I wasn’t sure up from down, so I went along with the chorus. As you can guess, that relationship and our future was a figment of imagination. Marriage? It wasn’t time, and I’m so glad. Because the man God chose for me was worth waiting for.

With all those waits, you’d think I’d be okay when I face another delay.

Yet, here I am.  The first hour after school let out for the summer I broke my wrist. The right one I use to write. I wore a splint to my elbow, three casts, a velcro brace, and therapy to learn the bone started to heal in the wrong direction. Now there are bones stacked on each other, and that means surgery. I thought my healing would be done by now, and instead, I’m starting all over. It clearly isn’t time for me to move on.

That means my writing takes a hit. My plans were to be done editing my first contemporary romance and be moving forward. It isn’t time. At this time I’m able to write a little bit, and critique the submissions I receive from the groups I’m in. I can whine about how it isn’t fair, and I confess, I have, but what good does it do?

I believe everything has purpose, and my God doesn’t make mistakes. He has reasons for giving me this schedule, situations, and setbacks. I remember being frustrated because my toddler and I were late for a meeting and I had to pull over and fix his car seat. We were already late, but I knew I had to fix it. Turns out, the very time I pulled over a deer ran out in front of highway traffic I would have been in the middle of. Instead of being in the accident, I just missed it.

God knows what He’s doing.

When it isn’t my time, it’s still God’s.

And I’m okay with that.

How about you? How do you handle delays? Are you experiencing anything that you realize isn’t time yet?

Clock image by photobucket

Laura V. Hilton Wins 2012 Clash of the Titles–COTT–Laurel Award

Julie’s note: Laura is in my critique group, and if this makes sense, I am in one of hers. She is a gifted writer and I’m so excited for her. Congratulations, Laura!

If you aren’t familiar with Clash of the Titles, two authors/books compete against each other in a themed clash. The winner is designated by reader votes, and all winners are in the running for the annual Laurel Award. Check COTT out today!

2012 LAUREL AWARD WINNER

Author Laura V. Hilton’s novel, A Harvest of Hearts, is the winner of 

Clash of the Titles’ second annual Laurel Award.

Congratulations, Laura!

Laura will receive: a beautiful banner to proudly display on her website, a year-long page on COTT dedicated to the winning book, A Harvest of Hearts, a podcast interview with author and Christian Authors Guild board member, Cynthia Simmons, a feature tour on COTT’s Blog Alliance, and a lovely plaque.

A Harvest of Hearts was chosen by a panel of judges who, by means of a score sheet narrowed the list of competing authors to three. From there, the panel put their choices to a straight vote, and A Harvest of Hearts took the crown.

Special thanks to each of our judges who volunteered their time to this contest.

BOOK SUMMARY:A participant in a swap of Amish men, independent yet kindhearted Matthew Yoder can’t wait to leave the vast farmland of Lancaster County and make a fresh start in Missouri, where he’ll move in with the Stoltzfus family until he finds a place of his own.

Strong–minded yet filled with compassion, Shanna Stoltzfus always dreamed of becoming a nurse, despite her father’s threats to shun her. Determined to follow her heart, Shanna ran away and enrolled in college. But when her classmates embark on a medical mission trip that Shanna can’t afford, she must turn to the last place she wants to go for help: home.

Even though Shanna still flirts with the people and practices of her Englisch life, Matthew is fascinated by the Stoltzfuses’ prodigal daughter, and a close friendship soon blossoms between them. When the tension escalates between Shanna and her father to the point where his health is in jeopardy, Shanna is forced to face some tough issues, including the question of where her true home is.

PURCHASE THE BOOK ON AMAZON

 

Confessions from an Armchair Political Junkie by Julie Arduini

Ah, the unofficial end of summer. My kids return to school Monday. The summer shows I DVR’d (The Closer, Rizzoli and Isles) finished airing. Although I don’t think God had my DVR schedule in mind when He inspired Solomon to pen Ecclesiastes, there is a season for everything.

The season full of life right now is politics, and I’m ready. I live in a swing state so I expect not only the phone calls, but the knocks on the door. I’m certain our city will see at least one presidential or vice-presidential candidate. Okay, so I’m not thrilled with the constant television ads, but I love the fervor.

I’m not a professional, but I look forward to the morning talk show analyzing the latest poll, ad, or debate. I don’t like confrontation, but I enjoy discussing the candidates and their latest moves. I silently critique the speeches. When I return to my hometown, my husband knows one or more nights will turn to morning before my mom and I finish chatting about politics. She instilled my love for democracy early and we laugh remembering how I cried in the first grade when my peers chose Jimmy Carter for president. I was always about current events and my opinions on what and who made a good president. Once the election is over and we know who our president is, I’ll try to find their biography at the library, or a book they wrote. Don’t even ask how giddy I was in 2000 with the indecision. It was drama and conflict at its best.

How about you? With the conventions and all that follows, do you look forward or dread the season? Is there a program or debate you tune in, or intentionally tune out to? Whether a politician or not, who would you like to see run for office? What president, living or dead, do you wish you could interview?

photobucket image

 

Do You Root for the Underdog? By Julie Arduini

I’m drafting this at the start of the Olympics, so when you read this, everything could be different. Work with me if it all changed, but guess what?

Michael Phelps is an underdog.

It isn’t only because he came in fourth in his first race, a swim he only earned a spot for by 7/100th of a second, I believe. In his interviews he admits he struggled after the last Olympics. He not only made unhealthy choices for his body, he walked away from the sport in every way for six straight months.

While his competition practiced daily.

His underdog status got me thinking. After all, I live an hour from Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Each year the football flags in my neighborhood are all for the Browns. But mid-season after they have lost a few games and the Steelers are posting wins, I’ve seen more than one house switch to the black and gold flag.

My husband is a die-hard fan for the sports underdog. Although he is a Yankee fan from childhood, he always picks teams that stats would lead you to believe have no chance of winning. He does the same for racing, golf, and basketball.

I’m drawn to kids that aren’t society standouts. I think every child is worth encouraging, so I love building up the ones that might not hear positive talk otherwise. Our daughter has had health struggles that in physical aspects, make her the underdog. I remember watching teachers at her field day giving her favor because they were rooting for her.

Julie Arduini’s daughter a few years ago when her health issues were more active. To this day, people give her favor and cheer for her when she tries things that are a physical challenge for her.

How about movies? Our church hosted an outdoor movie night where we watched Dolphin Tale. It was a sweet story where I was cheering for the dolphin and the young man who lost his legs. Remember the Olympic themed movie, Cool Runnings? I get caught up in that movie every time.
What about you? Who or what is an underdog you pull for?

Social Media and Writing: What? Why? By Julie Arduini

One aspect of therapy on my wrist that I didn’t anticipate was talking about my writing life. The therapist admitted she crafted a story and wanted to have it published, but didn’t want “everything else that comes with it.”

That everything else was social media. She admitted she was on Twitter but had no plans to ever send a Tweet. Facebook? No. Pinterest? Instagram? She didn’t even know what they were. Her hope was that a publisher would see her story, publish it, market it, and everyone lived happily ever after.

I think that is every writer’s dream, but reality is a different story.

The economy hit publishing outlets as hard as anyone else. When budgets are strapped, marketing departments get the squeeze. It is now more of the author’s burden to market their work than ever before. Social media is an easy and cost-effective way to get the job done.

What’s out there these days?

Facebook–Yes, it keeps changing, and it can be a time consumer. For me, it’s been a great way to promote my writing and gain an audience before my publishing goal comes to pass. I have a writing page where once a day I tend to ask a question with some aspect of surrender to it that will engage conversation. When someone new becomes my personal Facebook friend, I thank them and invite them to like my writing page. I have my blog auto-feed to both pages. If that was all I did, and yes, I tend to spend too much time on FB, I could be done in 10 minutes or less.

Twitter–This is similar to FB’s status updates, except you are limited to 140 characters per update, AKA a tweet. It’s important to be personal on Twitter, not always sharing links to your Amazon page, etc…It takes discernment, but it is possible to build a following that truly cares about your work and will interact with you. I use Tweetdeck, a grid of sorts with different categories I created to keep track of my followers. Forwarding or Re-Tweeting (RT) is a great way to be friendly and not spend a lot of time. Those few seconds it takes will pay itself back when you do have news that needs to be spread.

Google+–I think this is another fast, easy way to share your work. Each day I share a link to my blog. I scan and give a + to other posts by friends I like. It isn’t a time waster. It isn’t very social in my opinion, but for marketing, a breeze.

Pinterest–Think of a virtual bulletin board where you decide what goes on your boards. That’s Pinterest. This should be an author’s dream because you can have a board where you pin your book covers, website, Amazon page, etc…Pinterest gives the flexibility to create as many boards as you want with as many “pins.” A pin is anything on the Internet (except FB) that you canput on your board after adding a bookmarklet. Anyone visiting your board can click on the pin and it will take them directly to the website where the pin originated. My boards are close to my brand–things that are good, bad, chocolate, or about surrender.

Instagram–This is fairly new to me and if I understand correctly, a product of smartphone apps. Again, created out of FB’s creativity, you take pictures and add them with a caption instead of writing a status update. This doesn’t seem to be straight marketing, at least not what I’ve seen. I added pictures from books where my work is featured, but most pictures I’ve seen are of nature, random moments, and loved ones. It’s a great way for potential readers to get a glimpse of you without constantly telling them where to find your writing. It’s another audience to find, and again, the time commitment is minimal. Like Pinterest, I suggest using FB as a means to find followers, etc…Saves time, and you know who potential followers are if they are current FB friends. Find me as JulieArduini.

LinkedIn–It’s a resume, as far as basic definitions go. I think in other fields LinkedIn is a must, and I’m on it, but I don’t use it for marketing beyond making sure my blog and Twitter accounts auto-feed.

And that’s the best advice I can give: Make sure you auto-feed your blog to your social media accounts. It’s an easy way to gain an audience and be that marketing department your book needs.

Lessons from Aurora and other Tragedies by Julie Arduini

I loved Vicki’s post and on my own personal blog I shared how drawn I am to the stories coming out of Aurora. Maybe it’s my mama’s heart or the nose for news I’ve had since I was a child. When there is a tragedy, I’m always looking for take-away lessons for my own application, and to share with my kids.

Aurora is no exception.

I found three principles to not only honor the victims, but transform my own life for the better.

1. Forgive.Craig Scott was a teenager and a survivor of the 1999 Columbine shootings. I was a new mom at the time and I cried with the rest of America when Katie Couric interviewed Craig soon after. Although he survived, his sister, Rachel, did not.One of the news shows I watched last weekend featured Craig, now an adult with a decade plus perspective on the impact the shooting had on his life. He told of a long season I didn’t know he struggled with, or to what extent: forgiveness.No one could blame Craig or his family for harboring ill-will towards his sister’s killers. But the bitterness was toxic and accelerated inside his heart and spewed like lava over his actions. One day the rage hit rock bottom when he recounted pinning his brother down and holding a knife to him.He realized he had to let go of the unforgiveness. He explained forgiving didn’t excuse the people or what they did, forgiving was unlocking the prison door and realizing it is you that is set free. I’ve heard this before, I’ve even shared it. But what a powerful statement when it comes from a shooting survivor who saw the path of destruction he was on.
2. Know the One, True God who created you. This isn’t so much an altar call based on what if today was your last day (which I hope you know your eternal destination because we aren’t promised tomorrow) but a reflection on why God made you the way you did. One of my favorite stories comes from Lysa TerKeurst in Made to Crave where she recalls a high school dance where the boy confessed they could never date because she had “tankles.” She grieved over his statement for years until one day she asked God why He made her with tankles. In the quietness of her heart He asked if she had coordination issues, which she admitted she did. With love He told her that was why she had tankles. Those thick ankles supported her and kept her from broken bones. What was a curse suddenly became a blessing.

Aurora survivor Petra Anderson has a miraculous story about why God created her brain the way He did for such a time for this. I strongly encourage you to read this post to learn about what doctors discovered.

Julie Arduini and her dad on her wedding day

3. Release tributes to the living. Alcoholism robbed my dad and I of critical years, but I’m thankful the many good years we shared were precious. When he was near death, I was the last to have a conversation with him that he was able to comprehend and respond to. I let him know there were no regrets, there was love, and a promise because of our mutual faith in Christ we would see each other again. While he waited, I asked that he watch over the baby I miscarried. The peace and joy I had sharing this tribute was something only God could put together, and I’m so glad it did as a tribute and not an eulogy.

The victims from Friday’s senseless tragedy thought they were seeing a movie, a couple hours plus of summer entertainment. They had no idea it would be the last thing they would ever do on Earth. To honor them and all who have died in such tragic fashion, can I challenge you to join me by giving tributes to those around you? Nothing fancy, but a verbal pat on the back to the one who never asks for credit. For the weary mom or the dad working three jobs. Have you given applause to the grandparents who gave up their empty nest to raise their own grandchildren? Have you encouraged a teacher? A colleague? Doctor? Gas station attendant? How about your own child or spouse?

It’s important to me to take what the devil meant for harm, to transform for good. I know applying these lessons won’t bring loved ones back, but it’s my way of honoring those who no longer have a voice, and those still living who deserve to see the best out of me before it is too late.

By the way, the lyrics to this Matthew West song, Forgiveness, really sum up how hard it is, yet how it really is the right thing to do.

Creature of Habit, or Loyal? By Julie Arduini

I thought I’d use today’s post to think out loud with . I’ve been thinking about NBC’s abrupt changes to The Today Show and how they handled dismissing co-anchor Ann Curry and bringing on Savannah Guthrie.

I’ve watched NBC morning news since the late 80′s. I remember getting ready for school and knowing how on time I was by the news programming before Today. Ann Curry delivered the news then, and I kept watching when she started announcing the news for Today.

Fast forward and it was the same thing. The Today Show was my clock against college classes, getting ready for work, newlywed days, and as a working, then stay-at-home mom. The mere thought of using another show? I couldn’t wrap my mind around such a thing.

When Ann said goodbye, so did I.
Image from Google/PopSugar

When Ann gave her farewell, I was upset for her. I love my news and in this reality television obsessed world, true journalism seems like an extinct field. She’s a true newswoman who offered information and compassion without bias. Steve Cupas, NBC  News President, justified letting her go from the co-anchor spot by saying she didn’t do well in cooking segments and celebrity interviews.  (Read here, if interested.) This news girl viewer has a pit in her stomach thinking that needing to be a pro at cooking segments means more than reporting on our country and world.

I decided right then I was done with that show. I’ve switched to GMA and like a new job, I’m trying to bond with these new people and how they do things, so I can apply it to my own schedule.

It got me thinking–did I make the switch out of loyalty to Ann Curry? Did I stay with The Today Show because I was a creature of habit? After all, I only like Colgate toothpaste. I always order the same Mexican (chicken chimichanga) and Chinese (chicken and broccoli) meals. I tend to read books by the same authors, rather than a bestseller list or recommendation.

What about you? Do you see yourself as a creature of habit, loyal, or are they the same?

Are You a Speed Reader? by Julie Arduini

Thanks to a right broken wrist, I’m behind on writing goals. Although my fall could have been worse, I’m thankful I can still Kindle read with ease.

My second of three fiberglass casts. My daughter bedazzled it.

I recently found a fun link through Facebook that sent me to Staples. They have a technology game of sorts that tests the speed you read. Since childhood, people teased me for reading so fast. So, I put myself to the test.

Here’s the link. Take the test and leave a comment regarding how you did. I received 688 wpm.

What Speed Do You Read?

Happy reading!

Writer and Speaker

Surrendering the good, the bad, and—maybe one day—the chocolate

Ever Have to Break Up?

My love for reading is so deep I would get in trouble in school for reading ahead.  Books were loyal friends that kept me guessing. I was able to travel around the world without leaving my room. The characters weren’t part of a story, they were my constant companions.

It’s been a couple decades since I’ve been a student, but my passion for reading is stronger than ever. My reading style tends to be by author. I choose an author and work on getting my hands on all their work. If I enjoy it, I keep an eye out for their new releases.

A few years back I learned about a character-driven author who had stand alone titles, and a series in the works with a favorite non fiction author.  Once I devoured that series, the author continued the saga on her own. Multiple books followed sharing the fictional lives of a mid west family. Even as my life transitioned through marriage, motherhood, and a move, once I knew a new book was coming out, I hit pause on my own life. I became consumed with thoughts surrounding this fictional family–what trial would overwhelm them? Would their be a marriage? A divorce? A health crisis?

Once the overall series surrounding the original family wrapped up, I realized I was so intertwined in the author and especially this family, I needed a step back, a breather. I felt bad because the author crafted such a great story it was almost a downfall. Turns out several friends admitted they stopped following the author because the same series that consumed me, took over their thought lives. The lines between fiction and non became blurred, and my friends decided when the author transitioned the series, they were going to make the break.

Guess what? The author has a new release, a stand alone that re visits the series I fell so hard for I had to walk away. Because it’s just one book, I’m flirting with returning to the family I loved so much I temporarily ditched my own.

How about you? Have you ever had to break up with an author or a series of books because you became too involved? Is there such a thing as an author being too good? Would you ever go back after a break up?

Writer and Speaker

Surrendering the good, the bad, and—maybe one day—the chocolate

photobucket image

The Fifty Shades of Gray Comments Over The Fifty Shades of Grey by Julie Arduini

I know, the blog title is a bit complex by design. I don’t have time to do this often, but when there is a blog post in cyberspace that garners a lot of comments, I’m as intrigued by the comments as I am the post. I thought I’d share a recent comment reading experience.

The blog post is by Dannah Gresh at Pure Freedom. She’s an author and speaker passionate about encouraging moms to help daughters pursue purity (especially if mom did not) and to open lines of communication when it comes to Christians and s*x. Her post is about the mainstream book that is capturing a lot of attention for its content, Fifty Shades of Grey.

There are over 250 comments on Dannah’s post on why she won’t be reading this book, and I find the remarks fascinating.

Dannah admitted she had not read the book and her post was why she would not be.

And the comments started coming.

The comments vary between those chastising her for judging Fifty Shades readers without reading the book. Those who feel the book is harmless reading. Wives taking issue with other commenters because their marriage is a struggle because of men involved in por*ography, and they agree with Dannah that the book is the same for women.

Do you know what I found the most curious? Christians who defended the book and their personal marital tastes. They felt the book was harmless, even when other commenters used Scripture to apply why the book should not be read. The Christian defenders of Fifty Shades of Grey went as far to say some of the acts in the book are ones they implement in their own marriage. That brought such a firestorm that Dannah’s husband Bob addressed it in a comment, and Dannah wrote a subsequent post explaining why the two–being a Christian and that act–can’t co exist.

My takeaway from the comments was that we are in the last days. The true defeated one is working overtime practicing the one weapon in his arsenal that continues to work: deception. From deception seems to come the by-product of Christian division. The comments in that post was obvious there is a lot of deception and division going on. To say the comments were spirited would be an understatement. As of this writing, there are 255 comments on that post.

There’s a lot to comment on with this post–the book, Dannah’s post, and the comments. I’ll ask this: have you ever been mesmerized by the comments on a post as much as the actual post?

*Disclaimer–the links provided are to a Christian author and her site, but the linked post content contains mature and graphic themes.

Writer and Speaker

Surrendering the good, the bad, and—maybe one day—the chocolate

Summer Reading

With eighteen days of school left, everyone in the household has summer in mind. Lemonade packets face front in our cupboards and the hot chocolate hibernates in the back. My husband plans to drain the pool cover and ready things for another swimming season.

Which for me, means summer reading.

It’s hard for me to write when the kids are swimming because it’s hard to see the laptop screen. I also can lose myself in the process and forget I’m outside for a reason, and it could mean life and death if I’m not paying attention. I’m also not a millionaire, so I don’t want to take the chance of a big splash fest short circuiting my laptop and my labor of love. Not my kids, my contemporary romance.

 

 

So reading it is. My question for everyone is, do your reading habits change in the summer?

Do you read more?

Less?

Traditional books?

E-readers?

Here’s another question that’s made for good discussion with my friends. Does the quality of your reading change in the summer? For instance, when I went on vacation earlier this year, I saw a lot of what my senior citizen friends call “bodice ripper” covers. They were steamy romance looking covers that women admitted was light reading they preferred on vacation. Once home, it was back to more academic reads.

Is that true for you? Perhaps during the “school” year your reading consists of biographies and other non fiction work, but for the summer, you want some good fiction to take your mind off things, or at least take you somewhere else that you can’t afford for a real vacation.

Me? I mix it up throughout the year. When I cruised, my lounge chair was stacked with writing how-to books, intercessory prayer reads, and free fiction I downloaded for my Kindle.

I’d love to hear about your summer reading plans. Share with me a particular author or title you want to read, too.

By the way, I recommend subscribing to Empowering Christian Women. Karla does a great job letting readers know about free Christian reads for Kindle. Remember to double check the price, as that changes without notice. Keiki also has a site full of E-reader finds at Vessel Project.

Writer and Speaker

Surrendering the good, the bad, and—maybe one day—the chocolate

photobucket image