Sports Star

Nathaniel's photo was in the paper again this week -- this time the Varsity section of the Orlando Sentinel. The photo is an action shot taken at last Saturday's state meet at Showalter Field in Winter Park. Nathaniel placed fifth -- only a mere three inches behind fourth place and a foot behind third!

We're so proud of his accomplishments: a 10-0 season; Orange Belt Conference champ for the third year in a row; 2nd in districts and regionals; 5th at state.

Three cheers for Nate!!!

Movies on a rainy day

My friend Carol Anne and I met just before 11:55 on Sunday afternoon at the doors to the AMC Theaters at Pleasure Island. Quickly we bought our kids meals of popcorn, drinks, and these strange gummy treats and settled in our stadium seats to watch Under the Same Moon/La Misma Luna, an engaging and tender movie about a nine-year-old boy's search for his mother. We were deeply touched and wiped away a tear or two. After the movie, we sat on a bench in the hallway. Through the exit doors, we watched people stroll by wearing plastic ponchos and carrying umbrellas. I glanced at my cute, but wimpy shoes. Carol Anne was wearing flip-flops. And she was hungry.

What else was there to do but buy tickets to another movie? And hot dogs and Coke? We settled into our stadium seats and laughed at the antics of a dad and his daughter in the movie College Road Trip. So much fun, but also sad because it reminded me of leaving my baby girls at college campuses and driving off without them. I was wiping away more than "a tear or two."

After the movie, Carol Anne and I ran to our cars even though it was still raining. I came home, kicked off my wet and wimpy shoes, and called my daughters.

I love this season of weddings and grandbabies, but sometimes a mom just has to cry a bit for days gone by.

SEO

That means "search engine optimization," a term I only learned in the past couple of weeks. On March 3, I prayed for a specific financial goal for my writing and, though it was a modest amount, I wondered how I would ever reach it. Less than two weeks later, I applied for and got a position as an independent contractor writing SEO-type articles for a Christian website. By fulfilling my monthly contractual obligation, I will earn exactly the amount for which I prayed. God is so good. With this prayer answered, I feel free to devote most of my writing time to my novel.

Not that I've given up on the freelance publishing trail. Not at all! In fact, my story "Shared Eyes," about a puppy I raised to be a guide dog, is in the final round for consideration in an anthology. And an editor asked to see an article I proposed "on spec." My goal is to have ten to fifteen queries/submissions out at all times. Right now, I have four. But hey -- a gal has to start somewhere!

I love my little room and I love writing.

Check out http://www.wordchicks.blogspot.com/ for other successes of my online writers group.

The Blind Man Sees

Tonight the ladies of the Hearts Above Bible Study meet to discuss John 9. For the fourth time. Now the ninth chapter of John is not an especially long chapter, nor an especially difficult chapter. But for some reason, we find other things to talk about. This is not typical for this wonderful group of ladies. Of course, we chat, but we know why we've come together and we get into God's Word. Except when it comes to the ninth chapter of John.

Last week, I was the culprit. Still flying high from my writers' conferences experiences, I enthusiastically told all and my dear friends were an affirming audience. The week before that our group was small and we found ourselves talking about personal issues so that we cried and we laughed and we shared.

Those times are important for Bible Study members and I appreciate them. And yet, tonight, we've got to get that blind man healed. I'm sure he's weary of the darkness.

FCWA Conference

The past four exhausting, overwhelming, stimulating, hope-filled, glorious days are over and I'm home again eager to embrace all that I learned. God is gracious and the WordChicks (my online critique group that met at last year's conference) have a great deal to "cluck" about. One of us, Jeanie Wise, our only not-in-Florida member, won the Writer of the Year Award sponsored by Winepress Publishing. You can imagine how ecstatic we all were when her name was announced.

As for me: I was disappointed that an editor wasn't as thrilled with my novel as I am, but I had other positives:

• In the Writing Fiction continuing course, I received multiple compliments on my homework assignment to write the same scene from the first person, third person, and omniscient points of view;
• I met with editors from four magazines who invited me to send queries/submissions directly to them;
• an editor wants to see a specific piece I've written about three of Jesus' maternal ancestors (as long as it's no more than 550 words);
• I'm to send my story, "Shared Eyes," to a specific person at Chicken Soup with a recommendation from the gracious, and obviously discerning, woman who read it (and wrote "Bravo!" on it);
• this same wise woman read two other short pieces I've written and suggested a market idea for one,
• and for the other, that I write twenty-nine similar pieces for a book compilation -- she even gave me a great title for it; and now, drumroll, please . . .
• I'm to email a book proposal for my novel (yes, the same one as above) to an agent.

Of course, nothing is for certain. But friendships were strengthened, relationships were made, opportunities were presented. And God spoke to me every morning through His Word.
As the WordChicks' Mama Hen, the lovely and gracious Clella Camp, said in her Night Owl session: Today is my Someday!

Rewriting

The writers conference begins Thursday and I'm still working on the submissions I'll take with me for an editor to review. This afternoon I picked up the article I revised two days ago for one last going-over. A going-over that turned into still another revision as I re-wrote the opening, combined two paragraphs into one, and changed phrases here and there. Sometimes it seems like a never-ending process. But it is a process I love!

Now it's back to the fiction book proposal to see what improvements I can make to it. At least, the opening pages of the novel itself are set. Unless I look at them again. Which, of course, I will.

One of the best writing tips I ever read: You can't revise a sentence that hasn't been written. Ayn Rand said that.

Here's something I read in a Kristen Heitzmann novel today. In the book's context, it's a cooking tip, but I'm appropriating it for writing:

"As Conchessa had taught, the quality of the outcome lay in timing and seasoning and prayer. 'You don't have to be fancy to be striking. Do it simply. Do it well. Do it with love and adoration. That makes it an offering.'" [from the novel Secrets]

The Baby Is . . .

. . . a precious little boy! Yes, we're expecting our second grandson in July. My daughter Bethany and her husband Justin invited me to go along to the ultrasound on Monday. We counted tiny fingers and marveled that we could have this glimpse into such a dark and private world.

Jeremy is going to be a big brother. Though he announces it with great pride, we're pretty sure he has no idea that a little intruder is headed his way. Being with this young family at this point in their life makes me wistful for those days when I was the young pregnant mom.

For about three minutes.

I cherish the memory of those days, but I don't want to go back. I love the now and the rhythm and patterns of these days.

This is the day that the Lord hath made! I will rejoice and be glad in it!