News. Reviews. Previews.

I had so much fun planning this week. I've got some new blog ideas and am actually considering moving my blog over to Wordpress instead of keeping it here at Blogger. Have any of you done that? I'd love to hear your advice on the matter!

So I've got these new things that I'm so pumped about sharing. But I want to
wait to make it all just right before I do a grand opening! So excited!

Speaking of excited, did you notice the change in the header. I promise the picture that was there before was only a half-dozen years old, but it made me look much younger. So this one is only a few months old. My dinky twinky did a great job on it! (BTW, Dinky Twinkies is code for my twin girls. thus Dinky Twinky would be a single.) Precious Redhead said it made me look mysterious. I would be flattered except that yesterday she said my grin made me look constipated. I think I'll go looking for compliments elsewhere - just sayin'. :)

This weekender will offer:

• Some great blog articles from authors including Staci Stallings, Jody Hedlund, David Walker, and Julie Cantrell.
• Last week's blog review
• ROW80 Update
• Next Week's Blog Expectations

News

I'm getting better at visiting blogs, this week. Of course with my Grace Readers' Weekly, I don't have to rely only on my own blog touring. Some Twitter buddies offer their favorites as well.

Review

Last Monday, I got to share the Best Almost Kiss winner at the Clash of the Titles. I'm enjoying being part of their blog Alliance every other week. On Tuesday, I shared about my boy's rugby team at the University of Texas at Dallas in G is for Grrrrr! Highs and lows and how to live through them was my topic on Wednesday with another ROW80 update. Then I shared all I've learned about writing a Synopsis on Thursday. An interview with author and missionary Zeke Lam rounded out the week with a discussion of his book, Submission. Please visit the links here if you missed one of the articles!

ROW80 Update

Like I said, I'm inspired. I've written about 5k in a new story and am in the process of laying it out. I've taken two of my other stories, along with a serial I wrote using one of the characters, and am in the process of weaving the serial into my second story to connect them in a series. This third one that I'm writing now will complete the set and I'm really excited how things are going with it. 

I got better at blog visiting, started on Pinterest (I'm totally addicted!), began tweeting more regularly, and set up some new surprises for later. Oh and I also played volleyball for an hour and a half! So sore after sitting around for 2 weeks! Now if I could just get off of potatoes again!

Preveiw

I think my plans may change, but for right now, I'm planning to Review a brand new book by debut author Bonnie S. Calhoun on Monday. On Tuesday, I'll be highlighting the letter H. Hmmmmmm. I'll have another ROW80 update on Wednesday, along with an inspirational article about life and writing. On Thursday, I'll be chatting about learning styles and how they affect adults as much as kids. Then Friday will hold an interview with Author Fay Lamb. 

Hope you've had a productive week and will have a delightful weekend. I'm going to watch my Dear Boy beat up on the UT of San Antonio for the Texas State Rugby Championship! (That's the way I've pictured it in my head anyway.)

Have you blogged with both Blogger and Wordpress? Which do you prefer? Do you think I should switch to Wordpress?

News. Previews. Reviews. And God is GOOD!

What an awesome week! I feel like a new woman. Seriously! After coughing my head off for a solid week, I get by with only about one to two coughs per hour and I'm finally able to sleep all night without interruption. Yippee! (Little things tickle the tar out of me!)

But there is more to cheer about. God is so good! His faithfulness never quits! I'm in awe. Several connections, family members and family of friends have had intensive situations, surgeries or illnesses. In every case, God not only gave His blessings but showered exceeding abundant on the families. I love it when I can see His intentions and watch Him work in the lives of people I love.

What a great week!

This weekender has:

• Awesome articles of faith and writing all hand-picked.
• A review of my blogs from the week.
• A preview of next week's articles.
• My ROW80 update.

NEWS

I love being able to put together this newspaper. I collect and search through hundreds of posts to find the ones I like the best for my headlines. Check them out!

REVIEWS

Inspired by other blogs and my F post I started my week with a post explaining what Faith-Driven Fiction means to me. I followed it up on Tuesday with a post about my family - they're what I'm mostly about. On Wednesday, I continued my Monday post with an article on Purpose along with my ROW80 mid-week review. Thursday I skewed from my normal writing tip and posted about Holiness. The song by Sonic Flood has been churning through my head for days! Then I rounded out the week with an interview with a debut novelist from Saint Lucia who writes Christian Thrillers.

ROW80 UPDATE

I'm so excited! I got a brand new idea last night and have been tapping away at the keyboard all day. Do writers really have to sleep? This new story pumps me up and drives me to my keyboard at every opportunity. Needless to say, I'm blasting my ROW80 writing goals off the charts. 

Surprisingly, I'm also keeping my balance well. In fact, I'm able to spend more and more time with my sweet hubby and kids. (Can't wait to go watch my boy in a Rugby match this weekend. Pictures to come!) The only thing I'm still working on is visiting other blogs. I'm visiting weekly, but not often seeking out new blogs to read. Oh, and now that my cough is subsiding, I need to get back to my exercise.

I'm adding a new goal. I have several books that I wanted to read before their debut. I WILL find a way to get those read. (Four in all) I want to have at least one of those read before March 1st. 

PREVIEWS

Monday's post will hold the latest winners for Almost Kiss at Clash of the Titles. What a fiery excerpt! On Tuesday, is my post for Patty Wysong's A2Z blog hop. This week the letter is G, and my post is ... well ... unique to say the least. My ROW80 update will detail where I am on my writing goals on Wednesday. Synopsis writing earns the highlight on Thursday. I'm told that is the hardest writing I'll do. On Friday, I'll be hosting author and founder of Submission Ministries, Zeke Lam. This guy is amazing! By all means come back next week!

So what did you do this week and what are you looking forward to?

News. Previews. Reviews.

I read some great articles this week - well what else could I do? Stuck in bed, I couldn't focus enough to write very much, so I read through blogs. Thomas Umstattd never ceases to amaze me! I know that I my little corner of the internet isn't very crowded, but his suggestions always hit home with me. Logical, reliable, and reasonably within my grasp of understanding. Well, mostly. His information

News. Previews. Reviews

This week, there were some really weird things that went on. Did you see any meteors? I read an article last year (helping with my precious redhead's science presentation) about solar flares and how this year's activity is supposed to be strongest in the last 150 years. Some scientists suggest that strong flares could destroy satellites, even melt away communication towers and electricity wires.

Yikes, really?

News, Reviews, Previews

What a great week full of HOPE and joy!
My weekender has stories about:

• Articles of inspiration and writing
• A review of last week's blog articles at Faith-Driven Fiction
• My Sunday ROW80 Update
• A preview of articles and specials coming next week

News, Reviews, Previews

In my Weekender, find:

• Some awesome articles
• A blog review of the week
• My ROW80 update
• Next week's article run-down

News, Reviews, and Previews

This week swept by on a dust devil called "Class in Session"! I'm sure I've been grading essays for hundreds of years at this point, yet still more arrive in my email box. I must admit, through my weariness, that many are quite good and I'm thankful that they actually grasped the techniques I taught them last fall.

And yet, the task has left me precious little revising time, though my critique group did approve of my next chapter. Woohoo! And as I write this, I'm in anticipation of something. The chances are just

News, Reviews, Previews!

Found some great articles by Tamela Murray, Staci Stallings, Camy Tang, and Melissa K. Norris!

This past week, I had some more milestones with my new goals for ROW 80 and an introductory Vlog.

Monday - Goals for the next 80 days both in writing and life.
Tuesday - An introductory Vlog for the A2Z-Take Two Meme. It's not too late to start!
Wednesday - My first ROW80 Check-in: Journaling my Writing Journey
Thursday - Writing Tip on Ellipses
Friday - Interview with Author Dana Pratola

Next week will have a couple of milestones of it's own - I hope!

Monday - Review of Cowboy by Staci Stallings
Tuesday - A is for ... (You'll just have to visit to find out!)
Wednesday - Journaling my Writing Journey, will I have an announcement?
Thursday - Writer's Tip: Research
Friday - Randomness: Let's see what topic pops out of the hat!

This week has been a struggle to get back in the swing of things. Have you found that rough patch after the holidays? My biggest challenge is getting to bed at a decent hour so I can get up early. After the lazies of last week, that's been QUITE a challenge! What's been your biggest challenge of getting back into the groove?

News and Previews

Wow! Two weeks away from writing and I hardly know what to do with myself! I'm looking forward to digging into my revisions again, and I have another story that's beginning to tickle the back edges of my mind. I'm looking forward to telling it.

First, I have some blogging to do! My A2Z leader, Patty Wysong, has challenged the new group to

News and Row 80

Almost to the last check-in for Row 80. A new round will start in the new year. It doesn't matter if your goals even include writing, you are welcome to join us. And let me tell you, having everyone and their grandmama know when I fail to achieve a goal is a little daunting. Just saying that these check-ins really motivate!

In the last two weeks, I reached a huge milestone, got a new job

News. REviews. PREviews.

Last week's posts had some new things!

• Monday - Review of Camy Tang's newest book: Protection for Hire
• Tuesday - MY FIRST VLOG! 
• Wednesday - Writing Tip: Revision Guide
• Thursday - The Big Picture (Visual Puzzle)
• Friday - Interview with Author, Karen Baney about her new release, Nickels

Next week has a most special day!

• Monday - Christmas Parties
• Tuesday - Celebrate with me! It's been twenty-five years! WOW!
• Wednesday - Journaling my Writing Journey
• Thursday - Writer Tip: Those Pesky Details
• Friday - Interview with Author, Staci Stallings

What's Happened?

It has been a special week at our place. Our furniture is shifting, the garage received its usual November cleaning, and the tree comes out tomorrow. What an amazing time of year to reflect on what's happening in our lives. What has changed and is still changing. And how God is working through it all. It's like looking at a

News and ROW 80 Update!

For my Row 80, I did NOT keep up with my goals over this week. I really thought I had it all under control, but my goal of revising a chapter per day isn't working out. I find I work through a section then go back through it again at least once. My first pass is on paper with a blue pen. After I shift all of the notes to my computer, I go through the pages again. Taking the pages to a critique group provides another level of rips and shreds. But the first chapter that they tore into, they actually liked! Yea!

I've only completed two chapters this way and I'm not convinced that I'm actually done with the second one. Hopefully I'll get faster as I get more practice in tightening.

As for my exercise goal, I've failed miserably, first pulling something in my calf and then having my back go out on Thanksgiving. I've spent two full days on a vibrating heat pad and am beginning to feel the difference. Hope to get back to that workout on Monday.

My schedule IS working though! I'm able to spend more time with my kids: decorating, planning, baking, and shopping! Woohoo!

Hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving! What's working for you?

Weekender - Faith Readers' Daily

 

I'm so pumped about catching up with my ROW80 goals by the end of the week! What a blessing! Dealing with my rabbit trails (that's what they called ADD when I was going to school) I get easily distracted by all sorts of things - music, dogs, people passing by, but most of all the little numbers that bounce up at the top of my 6-8 internet tabs.

Come back Thursday and I'll let you in on the secret of how I worked through my problem! And I'll let you know how my ideas are working! 

For today's update, I've topped 40,000 words. (I know I could just write 40k, but all those zeros look so cool!) I've stepped up my goal a little. I'd like to be done with this novel by the end of this month. I did 40k in 32 days. I only have 25 days left so I'll have to do some hightailed writing, but I think I can make it, or darn close. My current goal is 1,500 per day, so I'm going to boost that to 2,000 and hope I can make it. 

Weekender - Faith Readers' Weekly

Faith Reader's Weekly

UPDATE!!! I'm so pleased that I'm able to keep up with me word count goals for round 4 of a Round of Words in 80 days (ROW80). My goal is 1500 words ON MY NOVEL each weekday. I've actually been able to do closer to 1700 each day so far and I'm really pleased with what I've written. My new romantic suspense is a little more than 35% complete.

Because I'm not including any other writing in my word count, I haven't been really satisfied with the postings I've done on my blog this week. I don't like putting them off until the last minute. So in an effort to correct that situation, I've worked up some of the meat of my postings ahead of time. I'm even working on some of the ones for the following week. I prefer to stay proactive anytime I can be!

What are your goals for this week beyond those for ROW80?

Faith Readers' Weekly