The Power of Prayer

So, I know this should have been second nature, but sometimes the things that should be the most obvious are the hardest to spot. On that note, since I have been struggling with inspiration last week, being overwhelmed with life instead, I decided I would sit down and set myself some goals for this coming year. It really helped. With those goals, I made five writing goals. One of my goals was to pray before and after I wrote. It is incredible how my writing has improved, and things my mind would normally never be able to come up with, have flowed freely into my thoughts. It has been wonderful! So, even though it is something you've been told time and time again, just pray if you need some help, and help will come...even if we have to learn it the hard way! :)

Inspiration...Please Come Soon

This week has been absolutely crazy for me. I know my life is a lot more simple than most, but it is all I can handle. My husband, Ted, and I are trying to get ready for the coming winter months, so we have been getting our wood-burning stove ready, fixing our leaky roof, finishing our bathroom, finish harvesting the garden, building a dog shelter (literally a shelter) for our pups, and working on getting our new tuff shed insulated and ready for the cats to move into. Now, all of that is on top of running the cell phone store, helping out on the farm, doing homework and school, and serving in our church callings. Yes, I am pulling out my hair, if you were curious. Since I have been so busy, my time has been limited on sitting down and writing. I feel like my well is running dry, so inspiration is not flowing through my mind. It is more like a clogged drain...I know the inspiration is there somewhere, it is just stuck up above the drain, when I need it to come flowing down through the drain. So, I was just wondering how to get my inspiration to come. If anyone has any special tricks they do, or just a little word of advice...I would be more than happy to accept! Hope everyone is having a fantastic week!

Carey, Idaho

Today Ted and I took a little trip to Carey, Idaho. We needed to do some research for my book, and it was great! I am basing the book in Carey and Phoenix, Arizona. It was so nice getting to see the actual town in person! It makes the biggest difference, because you can imagine the place in your head all you want, but until you go and see it in person, it is different. Of course, the book is fiction, so I can change things, but I wanted to get a hold on what kind of a community it is and what the people are like. A snow storm blew in while we were out there, so the trip was cut short, but we still got some great pictures and ideas. I can't wait to use them in my book. Plus, we got to talk to a local, who was very helpful and nice! So, just another step down the road on my book writing process. So far, I think it is going well...I've got four chapters started, but am going back and adding in more internal detail that was needed. So, wish me luck, and let me know if you have any cool facts about Carey or Phoenix I should add in! Thanks!

Debate...

Okay, so I am deliberating between a few things with my new story I am writing. For the time period, I am debating doing it between modern day and back in the day when kings and queens ruled. Let me know which one you would rather read about. Also, if I do it modern day, which I am leaning towards, should I put my characters in high school or college? I wonder if high school is overdone...let me know what you think! Thanks!

Home Again

This is the car we got to drive around all weekend. It was tiny! I felt like I was in a prison cell on wheels, but of course, Ted loved it. I thought for sure we were going to get pulled over or something, because a bright yellow sports car and Ted is a mixture for disaster. And, those of you who don't know, Ted likes speed...need I say more?

Ted, sporting his dashing look!

Thanks to my dear friends at Margene's, I looked and felt amazing at the Awards Banquet on Saturday Night.

All I can say is WOW! The ACFW Conference was incredible! Ted liked it too, and we are considering writing a YA novel together. I seriously learned so much, and by the end of each night, I was exhausted. I met so many wonderful and inspiring people who helped me to realize it's okay to love writing, books, and all the creative things in life. Denver was beautiful, as usual. And, we even found a cute little church to attend on Sunday before we flew home. Unpacking was a lot of fun, and we brought back lots of books. There was a bookstore at the conference and we spent around $150 just on books. Then, they gave us free books, so one suitcase was full of books...it was great! Now, I am back to writing, taking the techniques and lessons learned at the conference and applying them. And, I have also started writing a whole new book. I feel that my first manuscript was too dull, so I am starting a new one with many more adventures and excitement, along with passion and suspense. Wish me luck! :)

Lovin' It

We made it to Denver in one piece, with all our luggage, and we even made it here early! Yea! Well, the conference is amazing! I am loving the classes that are teaching us all about writing, publishing, editors, agents, and so much more. Since it is a Christian Writer's Conference, it is wonderful to have prayer, worship, and scriptures incorporated into the teachings. I never knew that there were so many other writers out there that were completely devoted to serving and lifting up God in their writings. It is incredible how the Lord guides and directs people in their lives, sometimes without them even knowing it, but once they acknowledge Him, their lives are enhanced. I have met some very talented and sweet people here, and hope to keep in contact with them. It seems like everyone I talk to gives me one more piece of information I needed, or one more piece of advice. The ACFW truly cares about the members, and tries to do whatever they can to help the writers. I feel like the Lord has directed me to this place and am so excited to embark on this new journey of writing. Hope everyone is having a great weekend too!
P.S. We rented a car while we are here, and it is a bright yellow Mitsubishi Eclipse and Ted is LOVING IT!!! We also went out tonight and ate at P.F. Chang's. It was delicious, like always! The waiter we had was sooo cool! We made sure we gave him an extra large tip because he was great!

Here We Go...

The time has finally come...and we are off to Denver tomorrow! I am so excited to go to my very first writer's conference. It is a conference put on by the American Christian Fiction Writer's Association. Thankfully, Ted is going with me for moral support and of course, the vacation. I can't wait to be there and see Denver again. I like the city, and hope that the conference and travels will go smoothly. Wish us luck as we wake up at 4 in the morning to set off on our travels! Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!