Earlier this month, a family member asked my opinion on dreams. Namely, if it was better to pursue your big dreams, or focus on your daily needs and just having a good job that would meet those needs, etc. My opinion fell somewhere in the middle. I pursued some of my dreams, and the effort paid off. My novels were published, and I became a mom; my two big dreams as a youth. But I know very well that doesn’t happen for everyone, and even I have let some of my dreams fall by the wayside. Sometimes choices need to be made.
While having this discussion, it suddenly struck me, “I wrote that book!” And it just released this month. A story about a woman who sought to realize her dream of being an applauded singer, but the pursuit was taking her away from God. After “coming to herself” similar to the Prodigal Son in the Bible story, Lenora leaves that life and her “dream”. It is not an easy journey, but she begins to see her life differently, and her dreams begin to change—to align with what God wants for her.
Therein lies peace, confidence, and joy—when we seek God’s direction in our lives and seek after the “dreams” that He puts into our hearts. And sometimes He will ask us to pass us through hard things, trials that break our hearts. Because God’s fondest dream is for us to be—in Christ—a little more holy, a little more pure, and eventually return to His embrace.
When Lenora Perry’s dream of becoming an acclaimed singer dies a painful death, she attempts to escape her mistakes by fleeing north–directly into the path of an all-too-dashing Mountie. Though the man in scarlet appears eager to be rid of her, his home provides security, and his sister offers friendship–two things Lenora is desperate for after discovering her pregnancy. With the past dogging her footsteps and her future uncertain, dare she consider new dreams? Upholding the law makes up the fabric of Constable Edmond Bryce’s existence. As his five years of service draw to an end, he must decide whether or not to continue in his father’s footsteps–an increasingly difficult decision now that Miss Perry has infiltrated his life. Though she’s the daughter of a parson and a close friend to his sister, Edmond can’t push aside the feeling that Lenora hides more than she tells. But duty calls, leaving little time for matters of the heart.
To keep from freezing in the Great White North, Angela K Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and being a finalist in the International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in there, as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and warm) by chasing after five munchkins.
You can find Angela online where she enjoys “Making history and fiction fall in love.” Website Facebook Twitter Amazon
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.”
Psalm 51:14-15
Context:
The psalmist asks the Lord for mercy and forgiveness of sin and declares he will tell others of God’s righteousness.
Devotional
When I began writing fiction, I created a purpose statement that conveyed my desire to create God-honoring, life-changing messages through the form of entertaining stories. I keep this statement and a key verse, “I’ve decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” 1 Cor 2:2 before my heart and mind.
Psalm 51 reminds me that knowing nothing except Jesus and Him crucified is an impossible task apart from God. We need God’s mercy to cleanse and purify us. God creates clean hearts. God causes ears to hear and bones to rejoice. God restores joy. God delivers from bloodguiltiness. God opens lips and mouths to declare His praise. Apart from God, our sin is ever before us. God not only calls us to a purpose but then requires us to depend on Him to live it out.
Psalm 51
Ponder:
The singing and declaring that burst from the lips of the psalmist are a result of God opening his lips. What impact might it have on our writing if we began every writing session by confessing our guilt and inviting the God of our salvation to open the lips of our pens and the tongues of our keyboards that our words might declare His praise?
Pray:
Lord, too often, I run ahead of You, eager to get the words on the page, anxious about meeting a deadline or goal. Today, instead, I begin by confessing my desire to control the outcome of my efforts. I confess that sometimes, I need less productivity and more time with You. I need to listen better. I need to welcome You and set aside my words. I invite You to open my lips, and I pray the words that flow would teach others Your ways.
Lord, I desire to obey You in all things. David models the kind of humble repentance that pleases You. He freely admits that his sin is first and foremost against You. The same is true in my life. Against You and only You have I sinned. Therefore, you are justified in Your wrath. You desire truth in the innermost of my being, so Lord, I ask that You will make me know wisdom. Lord, show me how to weave Your truth through my writing. I do not want a separation between my faith and my job. I desire to have my faith in You impact every word that flows from my mind. Create in me a clean heart. Renew a steadfast spirit. Keep me in Your presence. Fill me with Your Spirit. Restore to me the joy of salvation and sustain with a willing spirit.
Writing coach Brian Henry once said that it takes three things to publish a book traditionally.
A well-written manuscript.
Perseverance.
Dumb luck.
And you only need two out of three to succeed.
The only two items on that list that an author can control are numbers one and two. So how do you craft that stellar manuscript?
Many people look for the solution in worksheets, how-to books, and writers’ manuals. These are great things. I use many and have benefitted from the instruction of more experienced and successful authors. But, as I procrastinate starting my fourth novel, I can’t help but wonder if it is possible to over plan and if all those charts and worksheets can morph into a hindrance instead of help?
A Writer has Options
I am a firm believer in the fact that there is more than one way to write a book. There are probably as many ways to write a novel as there are writers, and the way that is right is the way that works for you.
I happen to blend a few methods, and I am a planner. The more books I write, the more detailed I plan. For me, plotting results in a cleaner first draft that requires fewer edits later.
But I had to question my motive when I downloaded a guide over 100 pages long on developing characters when I already had copious notes on said characters. It turns out that I had begun using charts and planning to avoid the hard work of writing that first draft.
You may think it gets easier with every published book, but for me, the reality is that the first draft is agony NO MATTER WHAT. It requires hours and hours of butt-in-chair writing that cannot be avoided by filling in the blanks on a chart.
NaNoWriMo
The right method to write is the method that works for you. But whatever you do, don’t use planning as a way to avoid writing. You eventually have to get the words on the page, and there is no better time than NaNoWriMo!
National Novel Writing Month begins November 1st. It might be the motivation you need to jump over the hurdle of planning and get that story on paper. Hop on over the website and check it out. If you sign up, let me know! Maybe we can cheer on one another.
After publishing Write Every Day in the for writerscategory, I had to go back and edit out a mistake. Thirteen mistakes. I used the word everyday wrong every time. Thirteen times. All incorrect.
Quick tip:
Everyday – ordinary. Not special.
Every day – doing something daily.
Boy, is my face red.
Why am I telling you this?
Eventually, someone will tell you that you’ve made a mistake. You’ll learn a new grammar rule or an old grammar rule and recognize the dozens of ways you’ve mishandled the English language. You can be embarrassed. You can get angry (at yourself). You can run and hide and vow never to publish again. Or, you can be teachable. You can hear, apply, learn, and grow.
Being teachable might be more important than being perfect
I am not a perfect writer. If you’ve read this blog for any length of time you already know that. But, I continually learn and apply new knowledge so I can improve. I lean less on editors today than I did yesterday, but I still require LOADS of instruction.
I’ve discovered that most other writers will share their knowledge with a student eager to learn. Many editors will graciously explain tricky grammar rules when the student responds to their correction and advice with a teachable spirit. It’s not always about being perfect. It’s about being teachable.
Being teachable involves learning
When I learn something new, I write it down on the white board near my desk so I can refer to it easily. My editor or writer friends do not want to continually correct the same mistakes over and over again. They want me to improve. So when someone is teaching, LISTEN. Then, APPLY their advice to all drafts before sending them back for another critique.
It takes multiple passes and multiple eyes
I don’t catch every POV slip in one edit. I don’t correct every telling scene on a first pass. However, there should be a marked improvement with each pass and it is helpful to organize your edits.
I do multiple edits, each one focusing on something different. The first edit focuses on the big picture/main plot line/ does it make sense/and do I answer all the questions. The next is an edit in the heroine’s POV. I focus on her emotional/spiritual growth and her story arc. The next edit is in the hero’s POV and I focus on his emotional/spiritual growth and his story arc. I devote an entire edit to the romance, making sure the pacing is right. I take my time, addressing things one at a time. Finally, the last edit is grammar and punctuation. My weakest area.
I do my best to ensure I send my editor the cleanest draft possible. I have friends, further along in this writing world, who graciously look over my work at various points to help me see the story with fresh eyes. They always see things that I have missed. Always.
Slow down and enjoy the journey
After completing a first draft, I take a long break and celebrate the victory of having the bones of a book on paper. Then, after a rest, I start the long stretch of edits. If you give yourself some distance from the story, you may find yourself enjoying the edits rather than hating them.
You’ll send your best work to the publisher. You’ll send it after rounds and rounds of edits. You’ll send it after it has been critiqued by others in the writing community. You’ll send it when it is the best you can make it.
Then, be teachable when it sells and the publisher begins the editing process afresh.
