Today I’m going to talk about something that has bothered me for awhile…every since I seriously started thinking about publishing my books. Maybe I should rephrase that…every since I started thinking about TRYING to get published because that is another story in and of itself.

When I first started writing I generally just thought that certain people enjoyed writing and were talented at it and others were not. Some people were gifted at weaving a story and pulling people into it and others were not. How wrong I was!

Over the past couple of years I’ve learned a lot about the WORK of writing. Everything that goes into it. Sure, I knew you would have grammar to contend with, proper sentence structure. That didn’t bother me since I had done fairly well with that in school. I had learned how to write a ‘proper’ paragraph, ‘proper’ short story.

But all that I have learned in the past couple of years has been a whole different ball game. I really don’t like the way it is played at times either! Just to be pretty blunt. I think in some ways it throws out the writer’s gifts of weaving a story and pulling the reader in. Frankly, some of the great, classic authors would have never been published today because they did not follow all the rules. I find that very sad!

Yes, I know a publishing house, especially a big one has to be sure a book will sell and that they will make money on it. Unfortunately that last part is the biggest deal. It goes back to the age-old story…money and success is THE most important thing, not what is behind it, not the values or lack thereof.

So, for all those out there that are pulling out their hair, doing rewrites, polishing, starting over and generally jumping through hoops to meet all the ‘rules’…don’t forget why you started to write in the first place. If God has given you this talent, don’t just write to get published or for the big publishing houses. If you have a story to tell, someone at some point will want to hear it. Just as you may keep a classic suit or dress because the fads will change, I think it’s the same with writing. That was a huge surprise to me. Some of the books I love the most don’t follow all the ‘rules’. And yes, some of those have even been best-sellers!

Dedicated to those that are still ‘plugging away’!

It is one of those days when I just kind of feel like I’m in a muddle. Kind of dragging through the things I need to do. Trying to get out to the gym, which I know will help my attitude…but the hard part is walking out to the van! This too shall pass!

Anyway…after reading some comments, I was again reminded of dear friends. God has a way of sending them in when they are greatly needed. You are having a ‘down’ day and you receive a phone call that leads to a discussion about the Bible or God. Friends stop by and the same thing takes place. What an uplift of the soul!

But the best ‘friend’ we could ever have is always right there in the pages of our Bible. Waiting to encourage, instruct and show His love toward us.  I go there a lot and God always directs me to the passages of scripture I need for that moment. It is the same kind of dialogue you have with a friend on the phone or out visiting…but you can always be assured it will be edifying to your soul.

So today, I’m just really thankful for God-centered friends in my life. For their encouragement, their prayers. If we have that and God in our lives…who could be against us?

The sunlight coming in my window is almost glaring with it’s brightness. It’s reflecting off all that snow. We’ve sure had our share this winter!

We have two cats…one showed up on our doorstep a year and a half ago, the other we handpicked at someone’s home a couple of months later. Both were tiny kittens, barely weaned. The one we chose escapes each time she can. Believe me, the trips outside have been much quicker when the temperatures have been below twenty! The one that chose US never gets near the door and is very happy to have a nice, warm home.

Isn’t that the way it goes…even in us humans? I think about this because the cat that is always trying to escape spends the rest of her time sitting in my window…looking out…WISHING she could escape. She is now blocking my view of the gorgeous sunlight streaming in.

There’s a very simple message in all of this for all of us. Enjoy what we have today and don’t wish it away. I’m going to enjoy the sunlight and be thankful for it today…not wish it away on being warmer or spring again. Enjoy the cold, winter days spent in the house when I can spend more time with my children and have a more relaxed schedule.

If only we could learn these little tidbits when we are younger…when we are spending our lives planning for the future and trying to set and reach the next goal. Better yet to understand that as long as we are here…we have an opportunity to live each day to its fullest, because tomorrow will have more opportunities. That way we won’t spend our lives trying to escape, only to run back in when we find that it’s not what we expected!

Have a sunny and cheerful winter day!