I'M A SEMI-FINALIST!!

I went out for about an hour and missed the call, but maybe this way is even better. Because now I can play the message over and over! I'm a semi-finalist in the Genesis!!!

How exciting is that? Now to wait another month for the finalists to be announced. A month to celebrate this victory.

Can't wait to hear who else got the good news today!

Genesis Countdown

Do you hear the clock ticking? Really loud?? It's countdown to the Genesis finals!!

This is the first time I've ever entered the Genesis, the premier contest for unpublished writers hosted by the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). I must say as the date approaches, my nerves are getting the best of me. I've been revising my entry and, horror of horror, found typos! How could I have missed them? I'm praying the quality of the writing will let the judges overlook little mistakes like that.

I'm also bracing myself for disappointment. But even if I don't final, I will still get incredibly useful advice from the judges. So really, it's a win-win situation.

I am planning on going to their annual Writers' Conference in the fall and wouldn't it be lovely to go as a Finalist?!

Good luck to all who entered!!

Angels

My other new interest/hobby is learning about Angels. It is a fascinating subject. I've had an angel reading done (something like a fortune teller but done with Angel Cards). That was so much fun.

I've also gone on an Angel Workshop to learn about the different types of angels and how they are with us all to provide help to anyone who asks. That is the most amazing thing - you have to ask for help. The angels can't interfere in your life (unless it's life and death) without us asking. Free will and all that jazz.

Everyone has at least two guardian angels that are with them from the moment of their birth until death. These are always with you, guiding you, whether we're aware or not. The archangels are the ones most people are familiar with from the Bible, etc. But I was amazed to learn that angels are not really religion based. Yet all religions in the world believe in angels.

Right now I'm concentrating on the Angel Gabrielle (who is seen as male or female) because she (I like the female version) is the angel of communications, including writers. So she is the one who can help me with my writing talents.

This fascination all started because of certain numbers that I keep seeing - and certain songs that keep playing on the car radio. I found out that this is how angels communicate with humans and try to get our attention. At least now I don't think I'm going crazy when I keep seeing 333 or 33 all the time! And when certain songs come on the radio, I just say thank you! The angels are surrounding us with love and guidance.

May your angels be with you today!!

Writing Life

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted. So now I'll end up posting twice in one day! That's the way my life goes these days.

First to catch up on my writing life ... I am so amazed to say that I am very close to writing 'The End' on my latest manuscript. Just need to create the Epilogue, then begin the daunting task of editing. This is the first time I've ever been able to just bang out the first draft. We'll see how long the edits take though.

And the other news in my writing life is that I've joined the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and entered their big contest, THE GENESIS. I'll find out sometime around the middle of April whether I made the first cut or not. Even if I don't, I'm looking forward to the judges' comments and learning how to strengthen my stories.

Very exciting stuff!

Merry Christmas!

Just taking a few moments to wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas and a Happy, prosperous New Year! May your lives be filled with joy and love, now and in the coming year!

Blessings,

Sue

Wonderful Read!

It's been a while. Things have been hectic as usual. But I've just finished reading a book that I can't stop thinking about: Courting Morrow Little, by Laura Frantz. The characters, the drama, the beauty of the setting, all resonated deeply within me. I can't stop thinking about the characters.

A romance so beautiful it makes you sigh. A hero, half-Shawnee Indian, half-white that makes you melt. His thoughtfulness, dignity, pride and attention to the heroine, all combine to create the perfect romantic hero.

Laura Frantz starts her story slowly, building each layer of the relationship step by step, until the beauty of the couple's love overtakes you. I could see the scenes playing out in my mind like a movie.

If you have a chance to pick up "Courting Morrow Little", you won't be disappointed.

THICK SKIN

You may or may not know that I'm a aspiring romance writer, unpublished at present, but hoping to one day find my words in print. As part of the learning process, I submit my work to different contests, mostly to receive professional feedback on my work.

Today I received two judges' comments on my latest contest entry, and the extreme dichotomy of their remarks makes me wonder how we writers do what we do. The only way is to develop a very Thick Skin.

Here's why: The first judge loved my entry. Almost every comment she wrote was glowing praise, happy faces, loved this! etc. At the end, she wished me well, and felt this was at a publishable level and she looked forward to reading the rest of my story one day soon. Bubbles of elation, inner happy dances - what every writer wants to hear!

Then I opened the second one. I had a suspicion this one wouldn't be so good, otherwise, I would have been a finalist for sure. Nothing however prepared me for the complete demoralization contained within. Not one good comment. Everything was over-the-top negative. She might as well have told me never to write again. And believe me, if I had been brand new (which she thought I was), and hadn't some contest wins and high placements under my belt, I probably would've quit writing then and there!

How dare someone be so cruel? I have also been on the opposite side of the fence and have judged several contests myself. And, yes, I have had to read some entries that I hated. But I have tried my best to always give some positive feedback first and then give gentle suggestions on improvement. It is not up to me to end the dream of some new writer. No one can ever please all the people. For example, millions of people LOVE Stephen King. I, do not. As a judge, I realize that if I don't care for an entry, someone else will probably love it. So who am I to say this is not a viable story?

A judge's duty is to point out the good and the bad in a professional manner. There is no room for rudeness or cruelty. Most writers I have met on line and in person have a very sensitive side. Most creative people do. To bulldoze someone's dreams is not acceptable.

The only thing left to do is vent (which I'm doing here) and get on with the business of writing. Oh, and maybe stick my tongue out, just to feel better!

To all my fellow aspiring writers, may we lift each other up in encouragement and help heal the wounds of rejection when they come. BOY, DO THEY COME!