Skip to main content

MLK Day

Captain’s Log, Stardate 01.17.05

You know, I read other writers’ blogs and they’re just so darn spiritual. I usually have a lot of fluff and random thoughts. Does that say something about me? I am a typical post-modern Christian, I think. Rather shallow, fast-paced, ultra-stimulated. Maybe it will help me write what will relate to post-modern Christians. I think it helps me relate to the teen girls at my church youth group.

Kristin Billerbeck has agreed to be interviewed for the God’s Girls column in RubyZine. Becky asked me to do it since I know her, sort of. It’s so hard to come up with questions. I think I’d make a terrible journalist. I just went through the 5 W’s and an H and came up with a bunch of generic stuff.

I think I need to give more effort to my writing. I’ve been rather lax because I think I’m entitled to it after the stress of working all day. But I should give it my 100%, because it’s something important that God has called me to. I’ll try to work more on it tonight.

Writing: I critiqued a chapter on Writing.com. On my goals, I wanted to try to crit a chapter a week, sort of as a way to give back what I’ve received as a writer.

The chapter I critiqued didn’t start badly but wasn’t terribly original either. I did try to emphasize that the writer needed more conflict, because after the heroine escapes from a death sentence, the rest of her journey happens without incident--no problems, hindrances, struggles, etc.

The author replied with a very nice thank you, but she also sort of blew off my conflict suggestion because she said there was more action in chapter two. That’s nice, but my point was that chapter one dragged because nothing exciting happened for 3/4 of it. I won’t crit this author again. Maybe she just didn’t get my nudge, maybe I should have been more blunt and told her that the narrative dragged. I hate being forceful because really, it’s the writer’s story and not mine.

Diet: Did much better yesterday, had lots of vegetables and ate about 1700 calories. Did okay today, had lots of veggies for lunch, but I still have dinner and the evening to contend with. I have no self control. But I did go to PT today and got my butt kicked because I haven’t been exercising and I’m not strong enough. The PT said it was okay to walk more, so maybe I’ll go walking during lunch at work.

Comments

Camy, hun, you are a lot deeper than you give yourself credit for. there maybe a bit of fluff, but that is good. Your thoughts are never random. You are too meticulous as a person to actually just post random thoughts. Shallow, you are not. I think I know you pretty well and none of those things would be how I described you. You happen to be exactly the way God wants you, for now. You are a daughter of the King.
Cool on Kristin!
The woman is crazy! The best crit I have ever had was by you. You have spoiled me for other crits... you think that is why I no longer have a crit group? ;-) And be forceful. she, I, all of us need to hear it. You have great insight into what works and doesn't. so don't cover that up.
Girly! you should be exercising! Am I going to have to come there and make sure you walk everyday??? :-)

Popular Posts

Brainstorm - character occupation

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.23.2009 Hey guys, I could use some help. In my current manuscript, The Year of the Dog , which is a humorous contemporary romance, I have a minor character, Eddie. He’s my heroine’s ex-boyfriend, and they’re on good terms with each other. He’s a bit irresponsible, but not so much so that he’s a complete loser. He’s got a very easy going attitude, he forgets to pay his bills sometimes, he’s friendly and charming. He’s adventurous and fun to be around, but he’s a little forgetful sometimes, and he tends to spend a little outside his income. I need an occupation for him. What would a charming, easy going, slightly irresponsible guy do for a living? He’s not too irresponsible, because otherwise readers will wonder what in the world my heroine saw in him to date him in the first place. She was attracted to his charm, his easy going attitude (her family’s uptight, and he was a nice contrast), and his adventurousness. But his forgetfulness and irresponsibility ...

Lavender hand lotion

Captain's Log, Stardate 11.05.2009 I have to tell you, I LOVE Etsy.com ! Etsy is dedicated to providing a marketplace for people who like to make handmade products and people who appreciate them (and buy them). It has everything from handmade gifts (like my mom’s Bucilla Christmas stockings and ornaments and tree skirts and wall hangings and … well, just click here to see what she has! ) to soaps and lotions and jewelry and knitted items and hand-painted yarn and ... I could surf that website for DAYS. Anyway, lately I’ve been concerned about the lead content in my lotions, especially since I’m using them more now that it’s turned colder and drier here in California. I have to use lotion on my hands everytime after I wash them. So I went onto Etsy and searched for organic hand lotions, and bought this lavender lotion from Lue Cosmetics . What was really nice is that the owner, Jane, sent me a direct message via Etsy right after I made the purchase to ask if I’d received it yet and ...

Chinese Take-Out and Sushi for One

Captain’s Log, Supplemental My agent sent me an article from Publisher’s Weekly that discussed this incident: Chinese Take-Out Spawns Christian Controversy And here’s also a blog post that talks about it in more detail: The Fighting 44s This is Soong-Chan Rah’s blog: The PCS blog In sum: Apparently Zondervan (yes, my publisher), who has partnered with Youth Specialties, had put out a youth leaders skit that had stereotypical Asian dialogue, which offended many Christian Asian Americans. In response to the outcry, Zondervan/Youth Specialities put out a sincere apology and is not only freezing the remaining stock of the book, but also reprinting it and replacing the copies people have already bought. I am very proud of my publisher for how they have handled this situation. The skit writers have also issued a public apology . (I feel sorry for them, because they were only trying to write a funny skit, not stir up this maelstrom of internet controversy. I’ve been in youth work long enou...

Grace Livingston Hill romances free to read online

I wanted to update my old post on Grace Livingston Hill romances because now there are tons more options for you to be able to read her books for free online! I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses . And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel. I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love. And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fasci...

I got my cover!

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. Eyes of Elisha by Brandilyn Collins Tangerine by Marilynn Griffith I GOT MY COVER!!!! What do you guys think?