I used to love going to the barn dances at the end of the harvest season. Everyone had worked hard to harvest the crops. The cattle had been driven to market and the year was coming to an end. The nip in the air signaled the end of one very long, back-breaking season. It was time to let our hair down and enjoy the fruits of our labor. A country music band (sorry, I’m from Texas) played Cotton Eyed Joe while we did the Texas Two Step. We laughed and retold stories of comedy and calamity the year had brought. We rekindled relationships that had flickered during the season, separated by miles of cattle country. All too soon for any of us, the night came to an end. We’d literally […]
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A Love Affair with Your Writing, Part Two: Dinner and Roses
Remember the first time you gave or received flowers, or the first time you went on a dinner date? Sweaty palms, flushed cheeks, awkward conversation… wishing the night would never end while hoping it will be over quickly so you could stop holding your breath. I bet you wouldn’t trade those moments for anything. And what about today? Perhaps on Valentine’s Day, your lover will give you roses and plan the most romantic dinner. They will sweep you off your feet. . . again. You’ll feel the warmth of the flame of their undying love for you. You’ll feel safe. Secure. Loved. Ahh… life doesn’t get much better than that. So, what if the love of your life put your romantic dinner and flowers or chocolates on their to-do list? […]
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A Love Affair with Your Dream, Part One: Once is Not Enough
I once heard a story of a woman who felt her husband of thirty years no longer loved her. For weeks she worked up the courage to confront her mate. Finally she broached the subject. When she accused him of failing love, her husband’s eyes flew open wide and his jaw dropped. “I told you I loved you when we got married,” he defended. “If I ever change my mind, I’ll let you know.” That might work in some remote corner of the universe, but definitely not in our galaxy, and especially not in the Valentine’s Day month. In order for the flame of love to stay alive, you must nurture it. Fan the flame. Tell your lover and show them in tangible ways every day that they are in […]
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Commitment: Your Key to Success Part Four: Believe in Yourself
What’s belief got to do with commitment? In a word, EVERYTHING! God designed our heart and mind to only commit to that which we believe in. If we believe in our ability as a writer, we’ll commit to it. If not, we’ll run from it. Simple as that. Here’s the truth. If you were not a writer, you would not be reading this article. It doesn’t contain jaw dropping, heart stopping, gotta-turn-the-page material. It’s not a New York Times best seller. Its literary magnificence can’t be the reason you’ve made it these hundred words. No, you’re hoping to gain insight to help you reach your goals as a writer. I believe in you. I believe in your dream. But I’m not the one who’s under the gun in your dream. […]
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