What I’ve Learned Lately

What I’ve Learned Lately … With Lisa Lickel

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Leigh DeLozier

I’ve taken a couple of weeks off from the blogging world, thanks to work things and enjoying spring break with our kids. It’s nice to be back today, and especially nice to introduce you to author Lisa Lickel. Lisa and I met through American Christian Fiction Writers and are both posters over at the Favorite PASTimes historical blog. She’s also a regular contributor to other blogs that have great posts about writing and life in general. So, yes, she’s a busy lady!

Here’s the official short bio … Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a hundred and fifty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction. Her novels include mystery and romance, all with a twist of grace. She has penned dozens of feature newspaper stories, short stories, magazine articles and radio theater. She is the editor in chief of Creative Wisconsin Magazine and loves to encourage new authors. Find her at LisaLickel.com.

And now here’s Lisa!

 

Learning Experiences in My Corner of Life

 

Thank you, Leigh, for having me.

 

A Matter of Perspective

 

I’m like a lot of you, I think — my mom calls fairly often. We live across the state from each other; in the winter, across the continent. I dread the question I know she’ll ask: “Anything new with your writing?”

Perspective, attitude, goals, discipline: these all change the same way we introduce ourselves to different people. When strangers ask me what I do, I sound glamorous; when my family asks, I can be more honest about the drearier side of being an author—the constant submission whether by me or my agent; the waiting and the hoping.

A recent message I wrote about attitude took a page from winning Super Bowl coach Mike McCarthy’s playbook: when do you get measured for your Super Bowl ring? The fact that the coach had his players measured the night before they played and won probably didn’t cause the players to win the game, but I’m sure it reminded them of the goal. Winning in this business means being read.

To reach that goal of establishing a readership, I employ discipline. And here’s where I tell you my other secret: I don’t put clean words on fresh paper every day. The act of writing takes a village of disciplines. The successful author knows that research in many forms, editing, reading and marketing actually take up the bulk of the process we call writing.

Being an author is always thrilling in one form or another: either we’re riding high or we’re on the down-swing of the bungee ride; the wind beneath our wings. The journey involves both trust and vulnerability. I write from my gut, spilling out my best words and phrases, sharing my dreams, my heart, in the hope of somebody (in the best Sally Field moment) will LIKE me! And tell all their friends.

What’s new with me? I’ve written two novellas and will start another batch soon. I’m so delighted by the direction my new group blogs are taking. Check out thebarndoor.net and reflectionsinhindsight.wordpress.com. I’ve sold some short stories to Harpstring Magazine (check out writtenworldcommunications.com). I became the editor-in-chief of a Wisconsin literary magazine, I’ll be leading two workshops in March and April; I’ll be teaching a course for ACFW online in May, and my sales are picking up.

Who else will bleed for you like an author? What’s new with your writing?

 

Great thoughts to leave us with, Lisa. Whether we’re writers, readers, or just trying to get through life, we need to work on perspective and discipline. Sounds like it’s definitely working for you, and it will be great to hear when some of your other projects find a publishing house. Thanks for stopping by today!

 

Categories: Christian fiction, Wednesday Writings, What I've Learned Lately, Writing life | Tags: , | 5 Comments

What I’ve Learned Lately … with Colleen Capes Jackson

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Leigh DeLozier

Today I’m glad for the chance to introduce Colleen Capes Jackson, director of my local writers group (East Metro Atlanta Christian Writers). Colleen is one of the most even-keel, trusting, generous people I’ve ever known. She’s always helping someone, whether it’s through prayer, teaching, handling more than she ever should, or slipping a couple of dollars to my daughter when she sometimes acts as our “security guard” during meetings. 🙂 Visit Colleen online to learn more about her writing, CDs, and photography.

 

What’s on your mind when you wake up in the morning? For most of us, it’s an agenda that has little room for the unexpected. Getting to work on time, getting kids where they are supposed to be, house and yard work, bills, errands, community, and church . . . all encompassing, right?

Believers struggle with finding time to pray and worship. We feel overpowered by the demands on our life and waddle in a pool of guilt. I struggled with this too until a friend shared something very special with me. Every morning, as soon as she opens her eyes, she says, “Good morning, Father, good morning, Jesus, good morning, Holy Spirit – I love you.”

I adopted her advice and found such a peace that I have continued it for the past twenty years. By acknowledging the blessed Trinity, it opens up a spirit of worship and conversation that last throughout the day.

I now expect the unexpected from God. I look for miracles in my life. I receive sweet acknowledgements that I am never alone. He often sends a refreshing breeze to sweep over me as I walk to my car at the end of the work day. Before, I would have missed that gift altogether because my mind was too busy. By putting our minds in tune with God at the beginning of the day, a sense of peace follows all day long.

My eyes are aware of people in the grocery store who need prayer or a word of encouragement. God opens conversations that tell me he has walked ahead of me and planted a seed that I have been sent to water. A man of humble means was behind me in the store with only a handful of groceries. I stepped aside and allowed him to go ahead of me. He thanked me and we began to talk. He had accepted Christ six months prior and is living a new life of sobriety. He was having a difficult time that day. I had the pleasure of reminding him God loves us and knows our struggles.

I remember to be thankful for running water that I don’t have to tote or boil; for air that I can breathe without need of a mask; for shelter that isn’t a makeshift bed in the woods or under a bridge.

I indulge in the most precious favor of God as I see his hand in my life in the smallest to the most important detail. A parking space opens up just where I need it; finances fall into place; a newly found wisdom helps me to handle a situation that would have otherwise devastated me. When I feel poured out, God refreshes me and I’m bursting with creativity and understanding that I know could not possibly have come from me.

So here’s the challenge. Give your first thoughts to God; get rid of guilt and replace it with God’s amazing love, forgiveness, friendship and guidance. “Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.” Psalm 143:8, NLT

 

Thanks, Colleen, for a wonderful testimony and challenge that can make all our lives better. I’ve started following that line of thinking myself and love how it makes me more aware of God everywhere around me. Anyone else up for giving it a try? If so, we’d love to know about it today and get an update from you down the road about what kind of difference it made in your life.  Thanks for joining us today!

Categories: God sightings, What I've Learned Lately | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments

What I’ve Learned Lately … With Kari Apted

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Leigh DeLozier

Today I’m thrilled to share my corner of the blogging world with Kari Apted, a friend from my local writer’s group (East Metro Atlanta Christian Writers). Here’s a bit about her to get us started …

Kari Apted is a writer and speaker residing in Georgia with her husband, three sons, two cats, two fish and one dog. She writes a humorous weekly parenting column for The Covington News and freelances for various publications. She placed second for Best Humerous Column in the Georgia Press Association’s 2008 Better Newspaper Contest.

Random House released her first nationally published work on September 12, 2006 — Operation Homecoming: Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Home Front, in the Words of U.S. Troops and Their Families. She also appeared in Muse of Fire, a documentary that accompanies the anthology as it is distributed to libraries and military bases around the world.

And now, here’s Kari!

 

As a busy homeschooling, freelance-writing, three-boys-raising Christian Mama, I can honestly say I learn something new every day. Some of this knowledge is helpful, such as learning that my toddler, Jonah, has mastered the art of screwing off bottle caps. Other bits are completely useless trivia that will only benefit me if I land on a game show someday.

For instance, did you know that an elephant, lacking access to water on a hot day can—and will—swallow his own trunk, suck up his stomach fluid and spray it all over himself to cool down?

Now that I’ve enriched your life by sharing that bit of trivia, I’d like to thank my friend Leigh for allowing me to share a few more of my recent gems—thankfully, none of which are as disgusting as the above.

First, I learned just yesterday that trying to force my 16-month-old cuddle bug to cry-it-out at bedtime is just pointless. My older two sons were such great sleepers. Zach is 13 and Eli is almost 9, and practically from birth, they slept happily in their own beds. The idea of co-sleeping in a family bed was so foreign to me. I couldn’t imagine it.

Then came Jonah. They say the third child comes to shake up everything you thought you knew about parenthood, and I can vouch for the truth in that.

My column that’s running in the Covington News today is about this very topic. What that piece doesn’t mention is that we did try letting Jonah cry in his crib a couple of nights this week and it left him so wakeful and cranky that it just wasn’t worth it. So, back into my bed he went. We’ll still try to sneak him into his crib whenever he’s asleep, so that he’ll get used to being there. But I just don’t have the heart to leave him to cry when all he wants is the safety of being tucked between his parents at night. Maybe this child just needs that more than the other two did?

Which brings me to an overall life lesson I’ve learned since having my third child: attachment parenting isn’t just for crunchy granola types. I’m about as non-crunchy as they come. Politically conservative, I don’t recycle, I’ve never owned a pair of Birkenstocks, hugged a tree or even considered adopting a vegan lifestyle. (A life without cheese? I wouldn’t want to live it!)

But my baby wears cloth diapers, is still breastfeeding, and I already mentioned that co-sleeping thing, all of which I once thought I’d never do. I guess one of the blessings of being over 40 is that you stop caring so much about what other people think and just do what works for you.

I just learned something new from the mouth of my 8-year-old, even as I type. He is reading about lobsters and informed me that they can live to be 100 years old and grow up to 4 feet in length. Additionally, a lobster that has lost both its claws is called a bullet or a dummy, but this doesn’t hurt his self-esteem because he has the superpower of growing them back. Thank you, Eli, for giving me another set of gems for my “Future ‘Jeopardy’ Appearance” file.

Probably the most valuable thing I’ve learned lately came from my pastor last Sunday. He’s been speaking about abiding in Christ, and this week focused on the role the word of God should play in our lives. Basically, he said that if we neglect to read our Bibles, we’re showing contempt for the gift that God has given us in his word. That really hit me hard.

Here in America, we make it easy to neglect our prayer and devotion times, filling our lives up with things we enjoy, but are spiritually void, working hard for material things that please us but have no eternal value. And then we wonder why things are so hard, or why we aren’t blessed.

Pastor Chad summed it up with this verse, Joshua 1:8: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

And there you have it, my friends: the most valuable thing I’ve learned lately is the secret to prosperity and success; something that many people pursue but never find. How amazing to learn that it’s so simple, and right under our noses.

I hope that one day I can write a blog post about things I’ve learned and testify that I’ve finally learned how to give God rightful ownership of my entire life, instead of always snatching bits back from him. I’m just so thankful he is a patient father, a more patient parent than I am to my kids.

Because a toddler who’s mastered screw-tops and nabbed the ointment can wreak more havoc than you can possibly imagine.

 

Thanks, Kari, for being my guest today and for sharing a slice from your life. Visitors, leave a comment or ask Kari a question, and be sure to visit her website for more glimpses into a writing mom’s life.

Categories: What I've Learned Lately, Writing life | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

What I’ve Learned Lately … with Dina Sleiman

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Leigh DeLozier

Today I’m happy to welcome fellow writer  Dina Sleiman as our guest blogger. Dina and I met at the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference in 2009; she’s a joy to be around and a very talented writer.

A little background and intro … Dina writes lyrical stories that dance with light. She is an aspiring novelist and a published poet, but she is also much more. Most of the time you will find this Virginia Beach resident reading, biking, dancing, or hanging out with her husband and three children, preferably at the oceanfront. She is passionate about anything related to creativity. Over the years she has enjoyed many opportunities to teach literature, writing, and the arts. Her primary goal is to serve God and live a spirit-led life. Join her as she discovers the unforced rhythms of grace. For more info visit her at http://dinasleiman.com/

 

The Importance of Being Still

God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction. ~ Psalm 23:1-3 (The Message)

 

Not quite revolutionary. I know. But as I considered what I’ve learned recently, the importance of being still kept moving to the forefront of my mind. I mean, if you’ve been a Christian for any length of time you should be aware of this concept. Be still and know that I am God and all of that, but how many of us actually take the advice to heart? Even if we take out a few moments each day for prayer and Bible study, how much of that time is spent actively doing something, and how much is spent being still and listening?

I think being still, in this context, is more a state of mind than an issue of what we’re doing. In our modern culture, we feel we must always be pressing forward, always accomplishing something. But what about taking time to dwell in God’s presence? To relax in a lush meadow and drink from a quiet pool? To imbibe upon the very essence of divinity?

In late November I felt God calling me to be still. Specifically, to be still in my writing career. I was not at all thrilled with this instruction. I needed to find a new agent. My latest novel had been requested by several editors, and I wanted to get moving on that. After all, my first book seemed to be going nowhere fast. And realizing that many novelists don’t get published until they write their third or fourth book, I figured I should get started on my next big project. Quick!

Be still…

Well, the Christmas season was coming. Extra shopping, Extra cooking. Extra visiting. Okay. I could be still. Until approximately 8:32 am on January 3rd when the kids started back to school. Then I would work up a storm. So I focused on family and friends. I spent extra time mentoring some local writers. I even choreographed and directed a Christmas dance for church. And when January 3rd came, I was poised and ready to go.

Be still…

Unfair, God! This is not amusing. I took a six week break already. This little sabbatical is getting out of hand. I took a mental break. I realized my writing had been a bit obsessive. I refocused on what was important. I need to…

Be still!

All right, already. When God makes his orders that clear, we really don’t have much choice. So I did it. I was still. I spent extra time in his presence. I rested. I read. I even watched some television.

And you know what. Those few weeks turned out to be incredibly productive. God actually had a point in all of this. Who knew?

During that time, I discovered that I actually only have about two or three free hours a day to write. No wonder I kept falling behind with life. In addition, I figured out some scheduling and organizational issues that freed up another hour or two per day. I got some minor health issues sorted out. And, I also realized that the new novel I was so anxious to send to publishers was not by any means finished.

Oh, but that’s not all. Not nearly. Mid January I discovered that my top choice for new agent would be speaking within driving distance of my house. I had total peace about taking a road trip with a friend who is an aspiring novelist. I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear that it turned out to be the perfect opportunity to talk to the agent, and I have since submitted to her in a much more targeted and personal way than I ever could have otherwise.

There’s more. Late January I received a note via email. “Loved your rewrite. You’ll be hearing from us soon. Wink. Wink.” This was concerning my first novel, which I had just about given up on.

Now, none of this is official yet. But here’s the thing. As I was busy being still, God was clearly working on my behalf behind the scenes and accomplishing more than I ever could have one my own.

February has arrived, and I am back to working diligently once again. Rewrites are underway for that novel I thought I had finished. Proposals have been emailed. I’ve been invited to work on several novella collections. But, this time I’ll remember to do it in his strength, not my own. And to take time out to be still and listen. Because after all, being still is not even the real point here. The real point is knowing God’s voice and allowing him to lead.

 

Leigh here … What a great lesson to learn, and one that I have so much trouble with! I have a terrible time slowing down enough to hear God’s voice sometimes, let alone listening well enough to actually follow it. I think nothing’s happening, but God’s always working in ways I have no idea about — until He’s ready to let me know.  Thanks for the reminder, Dina, and keep us posted on how things go from here!

Categories: Wednesday Writings, What I've Learned Lately, Writing life | Tags: , , | 16 Comments
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