Short and Sweet by Julie Arduini

Ask any writer and crafting the manuscript isn’t the hard part. It’s the shorter works in the process–the pitch and synopsis that send chills down an author’s spine. Every word counts. No space for passive verbs. Advice like “write tight” and “When in doubt, cut it out” echo through our tired minds.

Today I’m scheduled to pitch to Love Inspired. I’ve edited, revised, honed, tweaked, and prayed over 100 words. If it garners interest, I move on. If it doesn’t, guess what? I still move on.

Yet as I’ve worked on this, I’ve thought about short notes. Everyone writes them. Whether we’re quick on time or space, we think of the best words to convey our feelings.

Think about it. A text. Post it notes. Reminders. Quick letters to a spouse left on a coffee table. A love note scribbled from steam on a bathroom mirror. An emergency message. A wanted ad. Some of my favorite sitcom episodes are made from the miscommunications those fast writings. The most haunting short story I remember is Hemingway’s six word flash fiction: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

It might be my imagination, but last month I saw a necklace with a small, glass bottle attached. You could detach the bottle and include a message. Of course, that got me thinking. If it were an eco-friendly thing to do, what would I write? What would you say?

Of all the short and sweet notes out there, I realized encouragement is my theme. Most of my texts are encouraging others. It’s what I jot on mirrors. I’d let a random bottle reader know they are so important to God that He wanted them to find the bottle.

Perhaps I think too much, but I really have been paying extra attention to these things. Do you work any harder on short notes to make sure you got it just right?

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Three Take-Aways Regarding Surrender by Julie Arduini

Last week I had the pleasure of sharing my surrender journey with Dawn Mac and her Life Beats radio audience. Despite the technology glitches threatening our chat, there were a few themes that I think apply to anyone, whether they write or not.

1. It’s a process. I knew I wanted to write since the 6th grade. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive a great education when it came to grammar. Teachers told me to make writing a hobby, not a life. It took a personal relationship with Christ that started after college, growing in that relationship, and time to surrender the fears and write. When I finally yielded to the call on my life and promised to write for Him, I was thirty-six years old.

I mentor women in both group and one-on-one settings and it’s a regular reminder that surrender is a process. I think we put way more pressure on ourselves than Christ does.

2. You feel alone, but you aren’t. I believe my spiritual life comes in seasons much like natural ones. When it’s a personal winter, that’s when I surrender the most, and feel desolate. Sometimes the things God asks me to let go of aren’t bad things, it’s just time. Releasing things or people is painful and raw, but I’ve come to learn God’s purposes are to grow me. Winter is a preparation time. I trust Him. When I feel the most alone, I remember Hosea 2:14, NIV.

Therefore I am now going to allure her;
    I will lead her into the wilderness
    and speak tenderly to her.

He indeed speaks to me in the harsh winds and difficult times. I’m better because of them. Because of Him.

3. Freedom is worth the pain. Surrender is hard. I’ve surrendered fears, the past, bad habits, and even people. It’s never easy. One of the questions Dawn asked was what does freedom through surrender look like? It’s hard to put into words, but I assure you, it’s worth the journey.

The story I shared was how obsessed I was with being accepted and feeling like I was enough. I worried so much what people thought

From A Taste of Home, where I got the idea to dazzle my in-laws with this years ago.

of me I would lose sleep imagining what others must be saying about me. As a newlywed and a very craft-challenged person, I felt I couldn’t show up to Christmas dinner without bringing a centerpiece. A handcrafted one. An eggplant carved into a penguin that I stayed up until 2am to finish. Guess what? No one noticed the thing. Their focus was on family, and I was part of theirs. Once I surrendered that fear, I lived far from them and wasn’t able to bring things to dinner like before. It didn’t matter. I walked through the doors knowing I belonged, and just coming was enough. It was the most freeing feeling in the world.

Although having surrender as a theme is a daunting task because I realize I have to live it before I share it, I had the opportunity to tell the Life Beats audience that I’m blessed to do this. I’m a speaker, mentor, non fiction writer, and now as a fiction writer hoping to publish a fun, quirky romance filled with the Adirondack Mountains and chocolate. Even in a romance genre there is a surrender thread where characters have to literally let go and let God.

Something I think we can all relate to.

If you’d like to listen to the broadcast, click here.

Passion Play’s Supporting Characters by Julie Arduini

Each year our church shares the greatest story ever told with a Passion Play. It’s a Broadway-like production with as many as 100 in the cast that also features an ensemble and live animals. The actors are lay people with a desire to gift the Lord and the community with five presentations between Palm and Easter Sundays.

We’ve been part of that church for eight years and my husband and children have been involved for most of those years. That means I not only see the presentations each year, I’m often there for rehearsals. I’m quite familiar with the story and what to expect in each scene. Thing is, each rehearsal and performance moves me. I’ve yet to watch even one healing scene and remain unfazed. When Jesus lifts the dead girl and she returns to life, I sob to the point of fearing emitting noises that would distract from the show. We nearly lost our daughter at three months old, and I envision Jesus lifting her for healing that day, something I will never take for granted. It truly is the greatest story ever told.

Our son, circa 2007.

Between the play and the History channel’s The Bible, I’ve been  thinking about what writers would call the supporting characters. They are part of the story, well-developed if done right, but don’t overshadow the protagonist. When I think of Jesus and His journey to the cross, there are so many who have a story of their own.

Peter–The disciple who spoke first and thought later. He loved Jesus with fierce passion, only to deny Him when it mattered most.

Now a teen, he plays Philip, a disciple, this year.

Barabbas–A criminal set free. In our play, we reflect on the possibility that the one who first realized and perhaps appreciated Christ’s sacrifice would be Barabbas.

The thieves on the cross–One mocked Jesus. The other understood  they deserved their punishment, but Jesus did not. He asked Jesus to remember him, and Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43, NIV

Mary–I didn’t fully appreciate her place in the story until I saw Passion of the Christ. She sacrificed twice. First, choosing to be the vessel to her and our savior. Second,  watching His death. Not understanding how this violent murder equals redemption and life. A mama’s heart shattered.

John–He not only witnesses the crucifixion of his beloved friend, he promises Jesus to care for Mary.

Judas–Deceived by money and false promises, his kiss is remembered today. He died a tormented soul.

When I think I found the secondary story to focus on, another aspect of Christ’s love pops up and I’m enchanted by Jesus all over again.

Our daughter in her first year as a town’s girl, 2011.

 

 

 

 

This holiest of weeks, what supporting character captivates you? Any of the above? Herod? Pontius Pilate? Someone else? I’d love to read your thoughts.

Have a blessed Easter!

Saying Goodbye to a Beloved Character by Julie Arduini

I admit it, I watch Dallas. I know it’s a soap opera and is a stark contrast to my Bible Series post last week.

I watch because right or wrong, the show brings back happy family memories. We had our share of adversity in our personal lives back in the day, but come Friday night at 9, the TV was on and we were taking guesses at what “good ole’ JR” had up his sleeve that week. My dad has been gone nearly 9 years and I can still hear his giggle when JR had a smart comeback. It’s nostalgia, but watching the reboot version blending the characters I grew up with and the new, it’s as comfortable as a pair of fuzzy slippers on a winter’s night.

The actor who played JR Ewing, Larry Hagman, passed away last November. Last night his character was laid to rest in a tribute episode. The hour long show impacted me on a few levels, way deeper than I expected a serial drama to.

image: dallastnt.com

-The nostalgia. Characters from the original show returned, honest about their run-ins with the legend. In a humorous scene, all his ex-wives gathered around the fireplace and remembered their marriages to the same man. Again, some of my happiest memories were watching this show as a family. To see the characters again  brought back my own memories, as well as show reflections.

-Family is family. You don’t have to watch the show to know the Ewings have a lot of enemies, and their own infighting. Last night JR’s nemesis, Cliff Barnes, burst on the scene to “pay his disrespects.” As soon as he opened his mouth, all infighting ceased and the Ewings bonded together. When JR’s only son with his beloved Sue Ellen, John Ross, started to raise a first to defend his deceased daddy, his cousin stepped in and offered to throw the punch for him. This reminds me of my husband’s recollections growing up. He comes from a bigger Italian family and confessed he fought often with his brothers. But if someone went against one of the Arduini brothers, the boys had each other’s backs. Even in the sudsiest of shows, Dallas proves family is family.

-Grief brings a paradigm shift. When my dad passed away, the patriarch was gone. My mom was a widow, and my sister and I were without a dad. Everything changed. Although we returned in time to a normal, it was a new one. Watching Bobby Ewing return from identifying his big brother’s body, you saw the shift take place. He immediately excused himself and went to work behind den doors. He is now the patriarch and all plans to honor his brother were on him. He’s also traditionally known as the “good” brother, and now he’s conflicted. It’s the Ewing way to avenge an Ewing death, and the burden is his to make it happen. Will he remain good, or will his remaining days on South Fork be a blend or total character change? With death, nothing remains the same.

-The Daddy Complex. What made the first Dallas so engaging boiled down was a quest of an older son wanting the love of a harsh, hard pleasing father. That became an obsession for JR’s character because after the first season, Jim Davis, the man who portrayed patriarch Jock  Ewing, passed away and Jock’s character was also gone. JR never got to hear his daddy’s approval, and his mom’s love focused on younger brother Bobby. The rest of the show was JR chasing a dad’s approval he would never get, and keeping a feud alive with a family that started with Jock’s friend turned enemy.  The fight continued between Jock Ewing/Digger Barnes sons, and the Ewing/Barnes feud continues today.

In the reboot, John Ross was constantly motivated by wanting JR’s approval, yet conflicted because his mom suffered so because of his father’s misdeeds. Before JR was killed, he let his son know he not only loved him, but approved of him, calling him a Ewing from “tip to tail.” My writing side was fascinated with the tribute episode because the quest ended, but now the story lines multiply. Why? Because the son, the brother, and those that truly loved JR will avenge his death. And in writing, of course with every action comes a reaction.

Can you think of a character on TV or a book that impacted you when they died? Did any death scene or tribute trigger something about your life?

image: TNT

The Christian Reaction to The Bible Series by Julie Arduini

Whether you have an actual water cooler at work or where ever you spend your Monday morning, chances are the topic of conversation was the History Channel’s 10 part series on the Bible. The ratings are in  and over 14 million people watched the first offering, produced by husband and wife team Mark Burnett (producer of Survivor, The Apprentice, and The Voice) and Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel.)

You know what, I’m disappointed. Not in the episode, but in the negativity by Christians who made up part of the viewership.

Here is some of the feedback I read on my Facebook feed:

-Too Hollywood

-Biblically Inaccurate

-How could Focus on the Family promote such heresy?

-Is Roma Downey even saved? Should she even be representing this Holy Book?

-Way too much was missed/ignored

My takeaway, perhaps because I have a writing background, is this is  a production full of  people doing their best to represent God’s Word. They are mere humans, and even with the best of intent, they are not perfect. Because it is a production, there are going to be points we can quibble about. I’m sad that debate outweighs the heart to tell the greatest story of all time.

I read someone was mad because Sarah headed for Moriah during Abraham’s sacrifice.  Since we don’t read about her in Genesis 22 as far as the sacrifice scene, some people felt her presence on screen was too much liberty with His Word. But I think to focus on that is missing the big picture.

People I never expected to talk about God’s Word are conversing and asking good questions. I heard morning show anchors speaking in depth about it. I sat with my teenaged son where he paused for two hours from his friends and hobbies to watch this, talk with me, and look things up in his Bible. That will always impress me.

I wonder if the criticism would be there if Ted Turner were behind this, or Spike Lee? What exactly are Christians looking for? I mean, we all do understand Charlton Heston was not really Moses in his offering of The Ten Commandments, right?

Anyway, I was moved by the first installment. As a wife and mom that had a dying child we had to trust God for, I was more than inspired and moved by Abraham and Issac. What left me unimpressed were the harsh criticisms and arguing amongst Christians. I turned off the TV believing this was an offering to the world showing how personal God is, and wants to be with us. It wasn’t about religion, but relationship. God is real and longs for us to know Him. To see the Red Sea part reminded me how much He is for us.

Here is what I shared on my Facebook page:

We can’t re create what God created and expect perfection, but I applaud everyone behind the project for having the passion to try. It has started conversations between all ages and walks of faith. My teen son and I watched together, talked through the whole thing, and he went to his Bible more than once to check things. That will always impress me. If you walked away unimpressed because of religious matters, I’m sorry, but I think you missed the point. I saw/read their interviews and they were prayerful and wanted to be reverent. Their passion is to show the world the relationship Christianity brings. And if you believe and couldn’t find that aspect, to me, that’s the saddest thing of all.

If interested, I tried to embed a video interview from Roma Downey and Mark Burnett sharing their hearts about this series. The site also has a lot of faith based resources I believe are worth looking at.

I’d love to read what you think. Am I too harsh on the viewers and their criticisms? Did you watch? What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear them.

image from bibleseriesresources.com

Disclaimer: These are my thoughts, and don’t represent the other bloggers represented here. They are allowed to disagree with me.

Reviews You Can Use by Julie Arduini

Aside from buying books,the best thing readers can do for an author is take the time to write a positive review after finishing. It’s an important part of the industry, but hard for authors to market as it sounds self-serving.

I’ll admit, I don’t know if it’s true for product reviews, but I sense it would be the same. Afterall, a great buzz generates more interest. I remember a couple decades or so ago I remember my mom coming home with a Thighmaster simply because she heard all the comments and was curious enough to purchase it. Word-of-mouth works, and in our cyber society, reviews are an important tool.

Did you know reviews could brighten your day as a reader? I didn’t. I was having trouble settling my mind one night and decided to stroll read  stalk through Facebook. One of my friends offered a link and encouraged everyone to read, saying the reviews were funny, hysterical, and a mood lifter.

What was it for?
The Hutzler 571 Banana Slicer.

I’m not kidding.

There are over 3,000 reviews for this banana slicer, giving smiles to readers.

As I type, there are over 3,000 reviews. Yep, for a banana slicer.

I’m not going to spoil the fun. You have to go there yourself.

Do you need a banana slicer? Maybe. Maybe not.

But on this winter’s day, I think we all could use a smile.

When finished, do something uplifting for an author and write a positive review for a book you enjoyed.

Let’s making smiling contagious!

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Instagram Inspiration by Julie Arduini

I’m one of those people that responds to visuals. When I lead a Bible study I often bring props or use a visually driven analogy. When my husband is trying to teach me something computer or financial related, I need to see it all in front of me. Hearing isn’t always enough for me.

It’s the same for my writing. Our living room is full of amateur nature photos I’ve captured through the years. My favorites are Adirondack Mountain scenes because that is where my contemporary romance is set. There’s something about the pine trees, water, and peaks that not only take my breath away, but inspire my writing.

This is why I enjoy Instagram. I briefly mentioned this aspect of social media last year and now that I joined, I can say I’m a fan. They recently took some heat for proposed changes that appeared to take away photo owner rights, but the executives listened and are open to work with their members. You take pictures on your smartphone, click to share on Instagram, crop, and have fun applying filters before sharing. Like Facebook, Instagram has followers, and like Twitter, Instagram is #hashtag driven.

Because of hashtags, there is opportunity for non followers to find your pictures. I enjoy sharing sunsets and have new followers or general likes because I used the tag, #sunset.  On the flip side, since I love sunsets, and finding them on Instagram is easy, and a great pick me up. Searching for mountains or Adirondacks gives me ample visuals to help me focus on my writing.

Yesterday Instagram made profiles available on desktop. Click on my profile page (or anyone’s) and you see a slideshow on top featuring my pictures. It’s easy to navigate and fun to look at pictures from people I’m following that are bigger on my computer screen. And inspiring? Although I haven’t figured out how to do a random search on desktop, I don’t really need to. The people I’m following have enough visuals in my feed to inspire me and my writing all day.

This picture of my mom’s porch at Christmas is one I couldn’t wait to put on Instagram.

Are you on Instagram? Do you follow a certain theme, like sunsets, or follow certain people, like celebrities? If you’re thinking about joining, one hashtag tip–#tbt is Throw Back Thursday. Post a picture from your past and give it the #tbt hashtag. Make sure you find me and my nature and family shots–you can find me as JulieArduini.

A Lesson from Nigerian Email by Julie Arduini

You’ve seen the email letters.

They go something like this:

I am (insert name here) and am now rich. I am one of those that took part in the  (insert legal term) in Nigeria many years ago and they refused to pay me, I had paid over $50,000 while in the U.S, trying to get my payment all to no avail.

 So I decided to travel to (insert big city) , And I was directed by the(insert a fancy sounding legal organization) to contact Mr. (insert name of agent from above organization), assigned to Nigeria, to take care of all compensation funds from the Government of Nigeria without bonafide beneficiary been scammed again. I contacted him and he asked if I could travel down to Nigeria to see things with my eyes or if I would prefer he handle the transfer himself from their. I decided to travel down to Nigeria to see the transfer process completed myself.

 

Right now I am the most happiest man on earth because I have received my inheritance funds of US (insert millions of dollars). Moreover, Mr. (name of agent) showed me the full information of those that are yet to receive their payments and I saw your name as one of the beneficiaries, and your email address, that is why I decided to email you to stop dealing with those people claiming to have your funds, they are not with your fund, they are only making money out of you. I will advise you to contact (name of agent) immediately.

 You are advised to contact him directly through the information below.

 

Name : (insert agent name)

Email : (insert agent name and add a .com)

 Phone: (add International phone number)

 

You really have to stop dealing with those people that are contacting you and telling you that your fund is with them, it is not in anyway with them, they are only taking advantage of you and they will dry you up until you have nothing.

 

The only money I paid after I met (agent) was just $(small fee compared to the millions) for their documentation fee, take note of that.

 I will advise you to contact (agent) immediately so that he can help you to Deliver/Transfer your fund instead of dealing with those liars that will be turning you around asking for different kind of money to complete your transaction.

 Thank You and Remain Blessed.

 (Insert name of happiest man in the world)

This is an actual message I received, sent directly to my spam folder, because that is where it belongs. It is most likely a scam, and because of Dateline, I’m going to err on the side of caution and not respond.

But I do have a confession for you.

God gave me a huge eye opener through this letter.

Did you catch it?

His sign off was Thank You and Remained Blessed.

Remained blessed.

That means I’m blessed to begin with.

Mind blown.

Last year was full of broken wrists, surgery, church split, and other stresses. This year began with my mother-in-law’s passing. Next month they would have celebrated their 54th anniversary. There has been a lot of travel, tears, smiles, memories, and that fog only grief can give. In that fog I’ve done a couple dumb things that I will remember because I have a cracked rearview mirror and gouge in my car.

But that letter was a neon sign for me. As hard as these months have been for us, for my husband’s family, as careless as I was driving, we’re blessed. We always were. We always will be. The rub is whether we choose to live that way.

Mind blown again.

May you remain blessed. I’m sorry I don’t have millions of dollars waiting for you.

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What’s Your One Word for 2013? By Julie Arduini

What’s your one word for 2013?

The last few years I’ve seen a new trend eclipse the new year’s resolution. I think people realize their resolutions often result in a pass/fail concept, and they walk away the second week in January feeling as if they failed. Instead, they are seeking God and asking Him to give them a word or theme for the year.

I’ve done this for quite some time, and He’s so faithful to answer. There have been years I had my answer in October, so I had months to study the word and prepare for what changes I wanted to make to ensure I was being a good steward with that word.

Here are a couple examples:

-Surrender

-Obedience

Last year was opportunity. I felt like 2012 was more about setbacks, but as I reflected on everything, I realized even when I broke my wrist and after it was supposed to be done healing I had to go in for a re-break and surgery, I had the opportunity to be bitter or better. The same choice was in front of my family when our church went through a split last fall. They weren’t fun opportunities, but that word helped me be aware and I believe walk in His wisdom as those circumstances played out.

This year my word is abundance. I’m excited to see how Jesus will use this word to draw me closer to Him in 2013. My main writing goal is to secure an agent. My overall ministry goal as I serve women and girls is to love as Christ does. I don’t dare define how abundance could play out. I’m on the lookout, and already got excited when I ran to the drive-thru as a treat for the family and all the orders were wrong. I returned and was kind about it, and they upgraded everything and let me keep the wrong food. Talk about abundance. My family ate like royalty!

Julie Arduini’s word for 2013.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary DeMuth blogged about the word theme last week with a meme of sorts called #Pic4Year. The Linky is still open, so I encourage you to read her post and share your own picture and word for the year. If nothing else, take a look at the photos and words already submitted. I was inspired by all the themes and visual take on them.

Whatever your word is, I pray 2013 is a year full of God’s joy, and yes, abundance!

I invite you to share your word here in the comments.

Twas the Day After Christmas Thoughts and Poem by Julie Arduini

Ah, the day after Christmas.
 
As for me, it was fun to watch my side of the family come together and share laughs
over board games. We're a pretty "plugged-in" family, so the non-electric games
were a special treat.

We're also part of the big northeast snowstorm, so it's been nice to stay inside and
enjoy family presence. For me, that's better than anything I could find under a tree.


The view outside my mom's garage tonight

But for Americans most of all, the poem below rings true.

I know a lot of families who dread opening their mailboxes in January
 because the reality of their credit card shopping for what they thought
 would be a great Christmas catches up to them.

My hope is that as you read this, it brings a smile,
because it's over-exaggerated, and not dread, because it is your situation.

May you continue to embrace the reason for the season--
Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house,
Every creature was hurting -- even the mouse.

The toys were all broken, their batteries dead;
Santa passed out, with some ice on his head.

Wrapping and ribbons just covered the floor, while
Upstairs the family continued to snore.

And I in my T-shirt, new Reeboks and jeans,
Went into the kitchen and started to clean.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains, and threw up the sash.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a little white truck, with an oversized mirror.

The driver was smiling, so lively and grand;
The patch on his jacket said "U.S. POSTMAN."

With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox
Then quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox.

Bill after bill, after bill, they still came.
Whistling and shouting he called them by name:

"Now Dillard's, now Broadway's, now Penny's and Sears
Here's Levitz's and Target's and Mervyn's--all here!!

To the tip or your limit, every store, every mall,
Now chargeaway-chargeaway-chargeaway all!"

He whooped and he whistled as he finished his work.
He filled up the box, and then turned with a jerk.

He sprang to his truck and he drove down the road,
Driving much faster with just half a load.

Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,
"ENJOY WHAT YOU GOT ... YOU'LL BE PAYING ALL YEAR!"

Author Unknown
Found at this site

It’s Not too Late for Advent Reading by Julie Arduini

If you’re like me, you lost a week somewhere between Thanksgiving and now. My kids explained how they can’t wait for vacation, and I learned their last day of school for 2012 is next week. The Christmas season is flying by.

It’s important to me not to lose the meaning of the season. That’s easy when there are Christmas concerts, shopping, traveling, wrapping, Christmas cards, and then the daily schedule to muddle through. Advent readings are how I connect the real reason I celebrate Christmas. Although the official Advent season is underway, I don’t think it’s too late to find some Advent readings and use even a few moments each day to reflect.

Here are books and other resources where you can celebrate the Advent season.

Lynne Modranski–I don’t remember how I stumbled onto her site, but she has a few Advent options for a very low price. Each of her readings has been exactly what I needed to read. Learn more here.

Goshen College– sends devotions via e mail during Advent and Lent.

Crosswalk.com–Today at Mothers of Preschoolers, MOPS, the coordinator read from Rick Renner’s Sparkling Gems from the Greek. This was the first I heard of this book, but Crosswalk is featuring devotionals from it this Christmas season.

Jesus Calling–I received a .pdf that gave the Advent portion of the book, and it is a fantastic resource for families.

Billy Graham–I found this while researching. Billy Graham.org has a free devotional available for download.

How about you? What resources do you use to celebrate Advent and the Christmas season in general?

Advent image by photobucket

The Real November Victory by Julie Arduini

If you write or follow authors, you’re most likely seeing badges and social media avatars pop up that declare one thing–victory. As in that person conquered the NaNoWriMo challenge by writing at least 50,000 words in this month. I’ve earned that badge once, and it truly is a win. Not only are words hard to come by, so is time.

And that’s where I’m at with my NaNo story. Time got to me. I knew November was going to be busy, but it was one of the busiest months I can remember. Medical appointments, travel, school meetings, ministry events, other writing deadlines, wife and mom moments, and a house to take care of. On top of that, we have an extended family member who has been in the hospital. I also didn’t count on being so overwhelmed that I would leave my laptop behind by accident when I visited my family 300 miles away. That laptop had everything–log in info, critiques, edits, and yep, my NaNo story.

So as I type this, I crossed the 17K threshold. Not close to 50, not by a long shot.

Yet, I’m declaring this month a win.

How can that be?

This Martha enjoyed God-orchestrated Mary moments.

I’m a classic introvert and being a writer doesn’t help that part of my personality. I used to grieve being that teen who was not invited to the party. These days I cringe at invitations. I’d rather stay home. I give so much of me in what I do that there is nothing left for social time. It’s easy for me to say no to everything that comes my way because it’s just not in me to go out and find a recharge in an event. To me, it’s a drain.

Yet God asked that for this season I participate in a ministry called Praise and Coffee. Since March, I’ve invited ladies to join me around Greater Youngstown for a night out where we develop friendships around coffee and light refreshments. It’s the last thing I’d feel comfortable doing, let alone attending. Yet this month we had a tremendous meeting that God continues to use to love on His daughters. Had I stayed home and contributed to my NaNo word count, I would have missed a blessing. Twenty blessings, in fact.

Our local Praise and Coffee group is just one chapter that meets throughout the country.

I also enjoyed dinners and impromptu conversations. Again, my temptation is to be so task oriented when I’ve been out and about that I get what I need and head home. This month God provided many opportunities to pour into others through encouragement. I had a night out with my husband and two other couples that no words to a novel could compare. That dinner was filling beyond the food. I never could have received anything sustaining from staying home and advancing my word count.

There will be a day, I believe, when I will have serious deadlines and I believe when that happens, it will be a season where I pull back and rely on others to take the social lead I seemed to have going right now. God knows, and that was my summary when someone asked me about the month.

He knew everything I needed to do, see, speak, and read. He also knew how much I was going to write.

For that, this month is a total win.

How about you? Are you plugging away on your NaNoWriMo novel? Finished? How are you feeling about where you are at the end of the month?

Taking the Windows 8 Plunge by Julie Arduini

My husband is a computer programmer and a natural teacher. When we married, he was patient and taught me not to be afraid of computers and the constant changes. As my confidence grew and his work schedule increased, I started playing with the latest trends and helped my friends get started with their brand new laptops and other gadgets.

When Windows 8 came out, two new things happened. For one, my husband wasn’t overly enthusiastic for me to try it. In fact, he made it clear there is no trying. Windows 8 is like a covenant. You enter in, and you don’t look back. You’re all in.

The second surprise was our son is old enough and technically gifted that he can offer an opinion of his own. “Don’t try it, mom. It’s different than anything you’ve ever had. I don’t think it is for you.”

I took what they said into consideration. Afterall, the loudest Vista critic had to be me. I couldn’t wait for Windows 7 to redeem the hot mess I found Vista to be. But Windows 8 was a different animal. A complete overhaul, my husband said.

What made Windows 8 so different? In one word, apps. Windows 8 was designed for the touch screen user who can slide from screen to screen. If that translates to a concert, the touch screen/tablet type users were the front row seats and my laptop with no touchscreen was the nosebleed section. Using Windows 8 put me at the event, but not up close.

Still, I had to try. I maintain my own website. I consider my greatest victory of 2012 mastering the Bluetooth function on my Ford Sync. I was on Facebook before it was a phenomenon because I felt it would be a great way to grow my platform. Windows 8 seemed to be the next level on my technology mountain, much like that yodeling game I watched as a kid on “The Price is Right.”

My husband tried to inject reason. “You should wait. With your wrist surgery recovery I think the learning curve is too much for someone who will be on Vicodin.”

Okay, I listened to that advice.

I installed Windows 8 on NaNoWriMo Eve.

Two weeks plus later, I have to say my family was right, and wrong.

Here’s what’s true.

Windows 8 is so different. As I wrote, if you had to sum it up, it’s all about apps. The learning curve is steep.

This is the start screen on Windows 8. You can customize it, and it scrolls/slides.

• Instead of the start menu/list of programs on the left side, everything is an app. When it installed, most everything I was already using automatically converted. But to access the start menu/app center, you have to hover to the left corner.
• The right corner hover reveals icons to search, settings, devices, share, start, and reveal the time, date, battery status and signal strength, I believe. For touchscreen, I imagine activating this is easy. For me, it takes time to find the exact place to maneuver.
• I didn’t even know how to turn my own laptop off. What a relief my husband confessed the same. Once you know, it makes sense. I hovered on the right, hit settings, and you can power off. But what a search to figure that out.
• You can customize how a lot of apps, your desktop, and start menu look. It’s a lot more personal, I think.
• I’ve never Googled “How to…Windows 8″ more in my life. I am Googling a lot. I needed something to transfer from my Google calendar to the calendar app. I lost serious writing time that took so long to figure out.
• It can be buggy. I know my husband had to download a driver to make something simple work. I think printing, but I can’t remember, because I was in that depression zone when you want to master something and realize it owns you.

But, you know what? I don’t regret installing it.

• Every day is easier for me to use it, and I think at the end of the day, I’m efficient because of it.
• It’s a crisp, clean look.  I love how my start screen looks. I love the layout, much of it a result of my playing with it.
• The apps are endless.  The categories keep scrolling and scrolling in the store. So many choices.

My advice? If you aren’t interested in joining the technology bandwagon, I wouldn’t go Windows 8. I try to picture someone like my mom trying it and I can envision her being frustrated and frazzled. She just wants to e-mail and manage pictures. Windows 8 would be overwhelming.

If you want in, but you’re busy, give it some time. It takes getting used to, and although this is a very busy month, part of my NaNo word count being down is because I lost it to figuring out Windows 8 aspects.

What do you think? Has anyone installed Windows 8?

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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.