-
Is it Worth the Time to Write?
My days are full.
I homeschool my younger two kiddos while trying to keep up with the school schedule for my high school kiddos. Afternoons are filled with sports, often four kids in four different activities. We live on a small farm with a horse, twelve sheep, a pig, two steers, two dogs, three cats and a guinea pig. This time of year the lawn always needs mowed and the lawn mower always needs fixed. The house…well, we don’t have a housekeeper and it shows. I could go on, but I believe you understand.
I’m swamped.
Is it even possible for a busy mom to find success in publishing?
Don’t count me out. Writing isn’t my hobby.
Most of us have a passion, something that’s part of who we are. Honestly, I believe that we all do, but my husband insists I’m mistaken. If you’re a runner (beyond my understanding), you run. If you’re a hunter, you hunt. If you’re an artist, you find time to create.
I AM a writer.
During seasons of our lives, such as when our kiddos are small, these passions may have to be modified. But modified doesn’t equal removed. Yes, sleep is important, but so is not losing who we are, that unique spark that God gave us.
Each day there are sacrifices I make to write. I work very hard to be sure the sacrifices are my own and not my children or my husband’s. That’s not always possible. When I leave town for a conference, they must take over. It’s a gift they give to me.
I’m not involved with a lot of church activities. A lunch with a friend is a very rare treat. When my kids are off having their own lives, I strap my fingers to the keyboard rather than take a nap or watch a film.
There are crumbs on my counter, no towels in the upstairs bathroom, the flowers in the vase are dead and no, that’s not a blanket over the television, that’s dust.
And I’m happy.
-
People Watching
My oldest daughter and I were able to join kids and moms from our homeschool group for a field trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The students studied Romeo and Juliet and were fully prepared to understand the play. After the curtains closed, we went to the lobby where one of the actors came out to answer questions. As the kids listened, I walked to a tall window and took in the view.
Ashland is a magical place, designed for people watching. As I watched an elderly couple walking together, I took note of how he tipped his head toward her and the way they navigated the brick walkway. They disappeared and my attention was drawn to a leaf-bare tree. I imagined how my protagonist would sketch the long reach of branches, and how she’d desire the supplies to add color to the background.
That’s when another couple walked by below the window. This young couple looked familiar and on my second glance I realized they were a prominent pair from the play we’d just seen. As the young woman came closer, I saw a cigarette in her hand. She took a long drag as she passed a white sign with bright red lettering, NO SMOKING.
Ten feet further and she tossed the butt toward a grate.
Only twenty minutes earlier she’d been someone else.
How often are we like that actress? Do we perform out in the world only to remove our masks at home for our families?
Well, that’s just something I was thinking about. Those of you who keep popping in here to read my random rambles are real troopers. Thanks!
-
Conference Season – Part 3 – INCWC
Angela Breidenbach joins us with insights into the Inland Northwest Christian Writers Conference. Thank you, Angela!
Christian career conferences for authors often focus on craft and pitching. Important and crucial elements in building a writing career. Many conferences are known for being tipped toward fiction or non-fiction. Some are small local, others regional, and a few are large national events.
The Inland Northwest Christian Writers Conference is a newer regional opportunity offering fiction, non-fiction, children’s, and freelance. It’s held in Spokane, Wa. allowing writers around the Pacific Northwest shorter and less expensive travel options. (A big deal since the airlines consider this region “remote” and charge higher flight rates.)
INCWC offers a smaller venue. Wonderful for building friendships in the industry. The classes are taught by seasoned professionals like Blythe Daniel, Jim Rubart, and Clint Kelly. (Do I get to tell you I’m on faculty too?) Classes include options for writing craft, marketing, career, and speaking. Is that all? No. But then again, how can one describe anything to its ultimate?
Pitching, sure there are opportunities, but some of the best pitching chances are at the meal tables where the faculty hosts a chat time while breaking bread together.
The conference director, Jan Cline, put together an excellent CD package of the classes and general sessions from INCWC. They’re very affordable and available on the website: http://www.
inlandnwchristianwriters.com/ conference The conference has a new facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Inland-Northwest- Christian-Writers/ 110714949018877
Upcoming 2013, the keynote speaker will be Doc Hensley.My favorite part of INCWC is the super well organized schedule. Jan, the director, is always on the look out for better, more effective ways to run the event. She’s gifted and shares that gift generously.
I also like the holistic view of writing that this regional gem displays. Writers write. In order to make a living as a writer, Solomon’s wisdom of seven income streams must come into play. Fiction, non-fiction, freelance, speaking, editing, teaching, and coaching are some options. But it’s possible to break down fiction into genres, non-fiction into genres, freelance into types…you get the picture. Designing book covers, websites, virtual assisting, can also be avenues to use writing talent as an income stream. The INCWC offers the opportunity to learn and grow in many of these areas to help a writer earn money and grow their career.
Come join us in March in Spokane. You’ll be blessed as I am by the Inland Northwest Christian Writers Conference.
(I’ll be on faculty again and would welcome feedback on what attendees would like to learn from me too.)
Angela Breidenbach’s family tradition is to make photo memory quilts for each child as they graduate high school. Each unique quilt displays memorable moments of family life spanning birth to graduation. Angela is Mrs. Montana International 2009, a multi-award winning inspirational speaker, and author. Her works include Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life, Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance, and on Kindle Creative Cooking for Colitis. Other works by Angela include compilation books and devotionals from Guidepost, Group, and articles in magazines, ezines, and newspapers. Angela also coaches courageous confidence, personal growth, and powerful living. She’s certified in mentor/peer counseling as a Stephen Minister and life coach. Angela serves as an assisting minister for her congregation in Missoula, MT. Not only did she walk the hard line of deciding to donate her mom’s brain for the study of schizophrenia, but she’s also on the brain donation list at the Brain Bank-Harvard McLean Hospital. Angela is married with a combined family of six grown children and now several grand children. Look for her next book, A Healing Heart, from Abingdon Press April 2013.
Angela Breidenbach, Speaker/Author
http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com websiteConference Season – Part 2 – ACFW
April 27 – Kimberly Buckner – My Book Therapy
May 4 – Christina Tarabochia – Oregon Christian Writers Summer Coaching Conference
May 11 – Karen Barnett – Mount Hermon
May 18 – Jodie Bailey – Blue Ridge
-
Sunshine!
The sun finally made a full appearance in Oregon. After months of gray, this is an event that should close businesses, stop the presses and halt all indoor activities. We should have a special name for those first sunny days. I’m thinking something like…We Survived Day. Okay, maybe not that, but I’m just beginning to get caught up on my vitamin D so you’ll have to forgive me. Here’s a few shots that show how the Nelsons enjoyed the sunshine.
Jason brought home a trailer load of hay. This is me “helping” with the unload.
Dug this beauty out of the garden. Yes, I do know they grow better if left in the ground, but isn’t it amazing?
Bella gets very excited about trailers loaded with hay. Eating is her very favorite use of time.
Under all that straw is Hazel, Joshua’s 4H project. I’m afraid I’ve already formed an attachment to her. She’s the sweetest pig we’ve ever had.
And she’s awake! Hazel loves people. This is the first year we’ve had only one pig. I worried that she’d be lonely, but she’s seems content to let us scratch her back, socialize with the horse, sleep and eat.
Here’s Hazel with her buddy, Bella.
A weird shot of me with my youngest daughter.
Two oak trees fell with the last round of flooding. My husband can’t wait to get started with the chainsaw, but first we’re going to use the tree as a backdrop for our family pictures. Marci, of MarciB Photography, will be snapping some shots of our crazy crew very soon.
The rain keeps returning, but each downpours seems a little shorter than the last. I believe spring is really here.
What’s your favorite time of year?
