Sharing the load: tips to combat discouragement

I recently attended a webinar presented by another author entitled “Encouragement for Writers.” Not only did I walk away equipped with tools to combat discouragement in my creative practice, but I also received validation through the collective stories shared by other writers that I’m not alone. But I also believe the takeaways expressed by the…

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Conviction 101: examining the condition of our hearts

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. ~ Proverbs 4:23 Have you ever spoken with someone and then were later haunted by your own words? Not just once, but on instant replay? That happened to me recently after I stopped to visit with a couple in our neighborhood…

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Another trip around the sun: gifting grace

Wasn’t it just yesterday I blogged about my birthday—living with intention, dreaming new dreams, stepping outside of my comfort zone? Life looks vastly different today than it did last year (you can read all about it in “After the Leap”). However, today I’m not focusing on the change of scenery. Instead, I want to share…

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Thanks‘giving’ back: appreciation in action

First, thank you for stopping by my website. I appreciate you! Secondly, if you haven’t already guessed, this month my focus is all about “giving thanks by giving back.” In fact, I will be donating $1 to a local food bank for each new email subscriber in November. If you’d like to sign up, and/or…

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More than thick skin: processing rejection and criticism

Who doesn’t love to receive good news? Or how about the saying: No news is good news? What about when the dreaded rejection arrives for that dream job, much-anticipated date, financial loan or story proposal? For me, the latter hits home big time. From five-sentence summary pitches to 800+-word short story submissions, the no’s outweigh…

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