Writing During the Tough Times

The past month or so has been a challenge. After my husband struggled with breathing issues for nearly two weeks and it suddenly had gotten worse, I had to rush him to the ER. He was admitted right away. After several days of tests and treatments, I was told he has late-stage heart failure. Wow! We knew his heart was in bad shape having undergone a triple bypass back in 2013 and a 7-day hospital stay in 2023 due to congestive heart failure. Sounds pretty grim, yet despite it all, my husband continued to work hard on our ten acres, help neighbors, and stay involved in the community. He has never been a chill-all-day kind of guy. He always needed to keep busy. 

But things are different now. He's older, the body less forgiving, and his poor heart not able to keep up.

As for me, I am relieved he's under the care of professionals. He's in a long-term care hospital now getting the best treatment. I don't know when he'll return home. The not knowing is hard, but I'm leaving it all up to God. 

This crazy turn of events has caused me to toss my writing goals to the back burner. Between daily visits to the hospital, getting my special needs daughter to her day program and medical appointments, and keeping up with chores at home, it's been impossible to stay on top of writing. Finally, I made the time. Or, should I say, a cold forced me to stay home and away from vulnerable patients in a hospital. I finally finished the query letter I plan to send out to agents. It took some doing to make myself sit down and get it done. The simple strategy is the same one an organizer will use to help frantic people keep their homes neat and chaos free. It's the fifteen-minute trick. Set the timer and work as fast as you can until it goes off. 

Well, I didn't use a timer, but I did force myself to sit down and go through the steps to fine-tune my query letter. You can say I had a timer inside my head. I wasn't going to stop until I completed the task.

This simple method can be utilized no matter where you're at in your writing journey. Maybe you're working on a rough draft. Set the timer for 15 minutes and go for it. Perhaps you're trying to nail down your characters. Dial to a set time and write down every quirk your character may have. I find it helpful to have an interview with my characters. You can do this easily within 15 minutes. The important thing is to make it fun. When tough times happen, you need something bright and fulfilling in your day. Accomplishing a writing task, even for a short fifteen minutes, can be very satisfying. And it's no secret writing is good therapy.

I would love to see your comments about the tough times you may have experienced and how it has compromised your writing or any other important task you're struggling to finish. As always, thanks for visiting my blog and taking the time to read this post.

It has taken me a long time to complete Liberty's Tears. As I said in my last post, I'm finally ready to get it into the hands of readers. I decided to pursue traditional publishing. At first, I felt a bit intimidated by the process. But after going through an awesome online course on submitting a manuscript to an agent, I am excited and ready for the challenge.

My author friends know how it feels. You're trusting "your baby" to a stranger. As you learn what it takes to get a book out there, you soon realize a good agent knows the market. They know what publishers want, and they know what sells.

I'm one of those writers who aren't in it to make gobs of money. I just want to share a story I have worked hard on. Regardless of my own endgame, I need to follow the steps and do it right. My other choice is self-publishing. I have done the research, and it is expensive if I do it the right way in order to get a good result.

For you readers out there. You know what you want. A great book that will take you away from it all and make you smile long after you have read the very last chapter. A great read compels you to recommend it to your friends and give stellar reviews on Amazon.

I'm curious how many of you are writers and know what I'm talking about? Or are you an avid reader? If so, what kind of books do you enjoy?  

My, my. It has been six years since I last posted. Well, things have been quite busy here on the farm. Besides working full time, I have helped my husband with numerous projects on our ten acres. 

When winter weather kicked in, keeping us indoors most of the time, I focused on other interests in addition to writing. 

Writing in and of itself is time consuming, as my author friends can attest. Over the years, I managed to complete two manuscripts. I spent time researching and editing, and received lots of help from my critique partners. 

I retired a year ago. Let me tell you, it is wonderful! I spent the past 12 months tying up loose ends, catching up on my scrapbooking and genealogy research, and improving our home as I mentioned earlier. Writing sort of took a back seat, but not in my heart. 

I have finally come to the point where I need to pursue publication. I believe my stories will move others as they have me, but I can't share them unless they are published. Now for the fun part: how to do it. It has taken some research and lots of prayer to arrive at a decision. In my next post six years from now...

Just kidding. Hopefully in a week I will have an update. Until then, enjoy this early winter weather, stay safe, and keep looking up for answers.

State of the Muddled Mind, Part One

Look at the title of this blog. The Country Author. One would think I have a multitude of published novels in my resume. I have released one…yep, just one…novel over the last thirteen years and have been dealing with pangs of guilt for not producing more. Am I living a lie? Does it matter? This blog doesn’t have a large audience, so who cares?

I care, and I want to be transparent and accountable.

I’m sixty-two years old. Age is just a number, but sometimes I feel it’s more than that. I catch myself dwelling on my own mortality, convinced I’m falling short of my potential and don’t have a lot of time left to fulfill it. Sure, I can believe that statement or I can do something about it.

Does God want me obsessing over this? He wants us to have an abundant life, a fulfilled life. If we spend our days worried about the future and don’t make the most of today, we are falling short of who God created us to be. He doesn't want our minds muddled with things we don't have control over.

I’m taking a step of faith right now by posting my whole self on this blog. My worries, my obsessions, my dreams, and my faith. I’m done with the guilt over what I haven’t accomplished, and I’m ready to rinse the chaos from the slate of my life and start over. I'm ready to unmuddle my mind.

Heavenly Father, guide me through this process and use it to bless others.

To all my family and loved ones: Bear with me. If you believe in the power of prayer, lift me up. If you’re going through something similar, stand with me and we’ll tackle this together. If you’ve got it all together and can lend a hand, I’ll take it. 

Leave a comment and let me know it’ll be okay, or tell me know how I can pray for you.

Stay tuned for State of the Muddled Mind Part Two

Behold the wonderful layers of a scene

I was inspired to create this infographic after reading an article posted in Writers Helping Writers. Since I never produced an infographic before, I did some research online which led me to Piktochart. Super fun and easy to do. It's like "Paint" on steroids, but without the brushes. 

You can do a lot with the free account. Check it out and let me know what you think. Feel free to Pin the image, print it out for future reference, or share on your website/social media pages. 

PTSD-Not All Wounds Are Visible

photo credit: https://www.mildenhall.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2001558999/

The hero in the book I’d just written served three tours in the Middle East. He’s a proud warrior and thankful for the privilege of serving his country. When an IED explosion ends his military career, this twenty-seven-year-old returns home to fight a new war: PTSD

I’ve always considered myself patriotic. My father served during the Korean War, my brother was career Army, and my father-in-law saw combat in Vietnam during his twenty plus years in the Air Force. Yours truly did a three-year hitch in the Army and, fortunately, didn’t have to go to war. I stand with pride during the National Anthem and get teary-eyed every time. When I see someone in uniform or wearing a ball cap bearing the name of a military branch or the war they fought in, I stop and thank them for their service. The glint in their eyes and heart-felt “my pleasure” makes my heart sing.

While doing research for my book, I discovered a new appreciation for the men and women who left their comfortable homes to protect our freedom in foreign lands. We’ll never fully know what they’ve gone through (unless you’ve been there too), but we can do our part to make their lives easier here at home.

Here are a few resources to check out:

• https://www.usveteransmagazine.com/2019/06/public-resources-ptsd-awareness-month/
• https://www.ptsd.va.gov/
• https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/veterans-charity-overview
• https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Remember, not everyone suffering from PTSD is a veteran of war. It can affect anyone who had experienced trauma.

Thanks for reading this article. The next time you see a soldier, first responder, law enforcement, firefighter, or anyone in uniform who sacrifices his or her time for the betterment of others; thank that person for their service. It will be worth your time. They’ve already given theirs.

It's Done and I'm Ready to Jump

For once I’m not here to apologize for not posting or to make lofty promises of turning this blog into the most exciting thing on the web. I'm here to dig in my heels and become more productive, such as taking my novel to the next step.

My manuscript went through the critique process with other writers going through each chapter, adding and deleting, and making suggestions. Along the way, I used editing software to further refine the piece. After I revised the final chapter, I ran the entire story back through this software and ended up cutting about 9000 words.

I tell you, the accomplishment of typing “the end” and then spending a few weeks fine-tuning a project is compelling me to want to do more. So what is the next step?

I typed up a query letter and emailed it to a literary agent—an agency I had my eye on for a long while. This is a huge step for me. Something I’ve never done before, and it’s a little scary. They say to expect rejection and consider it a learning experience. There are other agencies to submit to, so all is not lost. If I don’t get a reply in thirty days, I’ll go to Plan B and send a query to three more agencies I’ve researched. In the meantime, I'll rest in the knowledge God has the perfect place for my novel.

I’d love to hear about your experiences with taking a leap of faith and watching for a favorable outcome. It could be a job interview, purchasing a raffle ticket to win a coveted prize, or even waiting for test results from a doctor, hoping for good news. Was the wait agonizing or were you able to "let go and let God?"     

Never, ever apologize for not posting.

I read an article not long ago about maintaining a presence on the internet. I get that you should post regularly to get noticed. If this were a subject in school, I'd get an F because my last post was a long, LONG, time ago. I filed two tax returns since I published an article.
I also read where you should never, ever apologize for not posting.

A wide-open space where rambling people live

Okay, I admit it, I'm rambling. But isn't this a common practice when you live in the wide-open spaces? Really, this is what happens when you have nothing concrete, useful, informative, SEO worthy, or smart to say. However, you want to say something because you're talking with people on Facebook, chatting with fellow authors in your critique groups, and bumping into friends. You tell each other about your websites and blogs. You exchange URLs and agree to follow each other. Next thing you know, your Facebook page got a few more likes and your blog a half dozen more followers. Pride dictates you need to post something to make those likes and follows worth your friends' troubles. You are also compelled to post because when you visit a page or website to follow or like, you discover the author had made about a hundred posts in the past year. A hundred more than you made. 

Lassen Peak-The crown jewel of Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Peak bathed in sunlight just before sunrise

One of the perks of getting up early to get my daughter to the bus stop is I get to see Lassen Peak in all its splendor at sunrise. I have a soft spot in my heart for mountains. They're beautiful, fierce, rugged, and a testament to God's magnificent creation. Watching the effects of light on Lassen and its granite neighbors at different times of the year makes me appreciate this beautiful mountain.

Lassen Peak with a fresh coat of snow just before sunrise

 If you haven't visited Lassen Volcanic National Park, you're missing out. It's one of my favorite places to be, and I don't get there as often as I'd like. I read somewhere that it's one of the most under visited of our national parks. I'm not sure why. It has four types of volcanoes: plug dome, shield, composite, and cinder cone. It's also an active volcanic area and a hot spot for scientists. 

Lassen Peak shrouded in smoke from the Butte Fire burning in El Dorado County

From the road, you can get up close and personal (but stay at a safe distance) with boiling mud pits and steamy sulphur vents. But if you don't mind a little exercise, you can take a hike and visit some of the more menacing features such as Bumpass Hell or Boiling Springs Lake. There's also lots of things for kids to do, such as the interactive area in the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center and various ranger led programs. 

I live within 45 minutes of this amazing park, but have yet to take advantage of all it has to offer. You can be sure, hiking to the top of Lassen Peak is on my bucket list. Just gaze at the photo above and imagine yourself at the top of the mountain on a morning like this. Breath taking!

Well, I did it. 50,000 plus words in about 25 days. April was a busy month, busier than I expected, so I kicked myself a few times for signing up for Camp NaNoWriMo. What did I get myself into when I already had enough on my plate?

But once I commit to something, I have to see it through.

It sure feels good to accomplish such a feat. 50,000 words. Wow! It's daunting, but not impossible. Though it took the first two weeks to get it together and build up steam, by the third week the words came like a freight train and I got to my destination well ahead of schedule.

I love how the story turned out. I love the characters and I love the setting. It's hard not to love the fictional town of Rock Creek since I based it on the actual town I reside in. By the way, the name of the creek is very real.

Someday, I'll go through this "book" and begin the revision process, but not until I finish  my current WIP. Isn't it just like us creative types to start one project, get bored, start a new one, and get bored again? To be honest, Camp NaNoWriMo was the change in pace I needed. It gave me a renewed appreciation and a surge of excitement for the story I've been working on for years (which I will finish). In the meantime, I'll continue to bask in the glory of my successful stay at Camp NaNoWriMo.

Book Review

Lighten Up by Angela Ruth Strong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bethany Light is a personal trainer. She's lonely, trying to fix her family, and struggles to forgive her dad for cheating on her mom. In an attempt to make sense of things, she seeks council from the pastor of her church and ends up falling in love with him. Too bad he's engaged to one of her clients. With plenty of wit, a bit of sarcasm, and soul-searching, Bethany learns it's up to the Lord, and not her, to repair the hearts of others. Angela Ruth Strong did an amazing job showing the results of too much judgement and not enough forgiveness. I loved all the characters in the book from the motor-mouth "dumb blonde" to the adorable UPS guy to the strong-silent-type-green-eyed pastor. Angela should give a workshop on character development, not to mention, writing in first-person.
I recommend this book to anyone who desires a closer walk with the Lord and appreciates a no-nonsense Christian fiction that doesn't sugar-coat real life, all with a good dose of humor.

View all my reviews

CAMP NANOWRIMO ANYONE?

I've participated in National Novel Writing month a few times over the years. Writing 50,000 words in a month really isn't hard for me once I buckle down and get to it. But in November with Thanksgiving taking up some of that time? Not so easy, especially since we usually go out of town for the holiday. I'm forced to squish 50,000 words into three weeks. That's 2,381 words a day. Not an easy task when you have a job and a family. But I did it! Yea!

Then I heard about Camp NaNoWriMo which takes place in April. Oh, oh. Another month with a holiday, but it so happens we usually don't go away for Easter. I can do this. And I get to be in a virtual cabin with 12 cabin mates. I love camping, virtual and otherwise.

I sign up and get this crazy idea about writing a fictional story loosely based on the history of the small town I live in. We've been residing there almost ten years and during this decade, I've heard some incredible stories. So much fodder, so much history, and a lot of interesting people. 

National Novel Writing Month and Camp NaNoWriMo are both wonderful ways to focus on creating a first draft of a potentially great novel. I challenge other authors to check it out, if you haven't already. Cabin assignments will take place in six days, so it's not too late to sign up.

Let's keep this between you and I...

The Bible mentions gossip so many times, it goes without saying God is pretty serious about it. We all know it's not right to talk about others behind their backs. But how often do we ignore this? And we can't be pious and point fingers at the unchurched and say it's their problem. Gossip is not limited to mean and worldly people. Stop and think about this. How many times do we, as Christians, talk about others with good intentions? If we add a disclaimer such as, "Keep this between you and I"  and agree to pray for the poor person we're talking about, is it still gossip?
I've been thinking a lot about this because I live in a very small town where the act of gossiping is not so well hidden as it might be in a larger town. Gossip doesn't seem to travel as fast when there's more people involved and it's easier for the instigators to go unnoticed. In a small town, you might as well get a bull horn.
I have also been the brunt of gossip though I've done nothing to warrant it. It's a case of mistaken identity. Isn't this what usually happens? More often than not, gossip is spread without the facts to back it up. We take one person's word for it and pass it on. 
The Bible says, "A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends." Proverbs 16:28
Gossip is never a good thing, no matter how innocent it may seem. Left unchecked, gossip can rage like a wildfire. Inevitably, people get hurt.

Today's Words of Wisdom

from this morning's Manton Community Church bulletin...

Today's Words of Wisdom

from this morning's Manton Community Church bulletin~

 

 

A New Look

Yesterday I played around with blog designs and settled on one I really love. It goes with my title like real butter on cinnamon bread. 

The old header included a photo I took a few weeks ago of Lassen Peak against a gorgeous sunrise. I gave up the photo in favor of a new header design. 

I miss seeing this image every time I check my blog, so I decided to create something using one of my favorite Bible verses. I hope you like it.

Feel free to use this image for your blog or website. Please link back to me, http://www.lindastrawn.com, if you do. Thanks!

Kill Off Your Character With A Cow

Writers are always looking for ways to kill off a character in their books by accident or by foul play.

Pick up your favorite suspense or mystery novel, or tune in to the latest episode of CSI or Criminal Minds and you’ll find the most common life-ending causes are GSW’s (gunshot wounds), blunt force trauma, exsanguination (blood loss), or asphyxiation (loss of air). These conditions usually occur at the hands of a jealous lover, serial killer, or someone under the influence of mind-altering drugs. In most cases, the perps are human and occasionally your typical predatory animal.

A cow is not a predator, nor is the backyard Bambi.

But did you know these sweet-faced animals kill more people than the great white shark gone rogue?

I’ve seen documentaries showing the dangers of hippos, I know a jellyfish’s sting can be fatal, and I’ve seen videos about fatal attractions with deer. Still, I’m surprised cows and horses commit murder so often. Certainly, we humans have more contact with our favorite farm animals than we would have with, say, a shark. I’m sure there are more farmers than surfers in the world, so this would make sense. Still, it’s a hard pill to swallow.

Now, if golden retrievers and cats were included in this image, I would really have to get on my soap box.

Let’s give Jaws and jealous lovers a break and change things up a bit. Wouldn’t it be kinda cool to write a story where the character gets clobbered by a crazed cow as opposed to a creature from the Cretaceous period?

Or a flock of formidable ducks set Fargo on fire? 

Or better yet, a bunch of bunnies blow up a building full of brigadier generals? 

Horses take hostages in a high rise in Houston? 

Deer damage the infrastructure of Detroit and take over the auto industry?

The possibilities are endless!

I’d love to hear your ideas, so do what the chimp says.

 

 

 

1949 Advice from Singer and Writers of Old

I saw this image on Facebook and just had to laugh. People had such a different mindset, not to mention expectations, back then. Remember those 1950’s TV shows such as Leave it to Beaver and I Love Lucy? It seems no matter what the women were doing— vacuuming, dusting, or preparing dinner—they were wearing nylon stockings, high heels, and their hair was perfectly coiffed. Crazy.

I prefer vacuuming in my pajamas or sweats, thank you.

After reading those words from the 1949 Singer Sewing Manual, I got to thinking about authors from the old days. Things were way different back then. They typed entire manuscripts on typewriters using actual sheets of paper. Can you imagine what it would take to produce a full-length novel? Did they type out a first draft, go back and revise it, and then re-type the whole thing all over again? They must have gone through reams of paper and typewriter ribbons in those days. I’m sure they pulled their hair out before “The End” ever made it to paper. Maybe that’s why most of them wore hats.

And what did writers do before the advent of typewriters? Parchment and feathers dipped in ink?

If you think long and hard about how rough those authors of old had it before computers became main stream, with their delete keys and back space buttons, you’ll have a whole new appreciation for writers such as Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens.

We have so easy, don’t you think?