Tag Archives: Writing

My Hopes: the Realistic Version

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I’m not saying that I’ve given up my dreams of being a wife and mother (after all, I’m only 26), but I know that it’s not something to make an actual goal.  I have no interest in trying to hook a man, and have full confidence in God to provide me a husband if that’s the path He wants me to go on (that said, I am still trying to come out of my shell more with men…).  Regardless of what the future looks like, I’m going to work on becoming the best woman that I can be.

With that in mind, here’s the Plan B of my future plans:

1 year from now: I would like to be working where I am now, continuing to improve my skills at my various responsibilities and gaining more.  I also would like to have most/all of an emergency fund stashed away, something that’s only in the infancy stages right now.  I’d like to have grown closer to my church family and continued writing curriculum and teaching Sunday school.  (most of these things are really a part of Plan A, too)

5 years from now: I think I’d like to own a home.  Or at least live in one, because I would like a garden.  Maybe I will have pursued becoming a teacher, as I love children/tweens/teens and teaching.  I hope to be continuing to grow personally and spiritually.  Growing as a writer is also high on my dream list, as I love to write, but I don’t know that I necessarily want to aim at being published.

10 years from now:  More of the same, I suppose.  I would also like to either serve the Lord overseas for an extended time or regularly encourage those who are (I’m currently leaning towards the later).

What do you hope your future looks like?

Reaching for the Goal(s)

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I about forgot to do my quarterly update on this year’s goals, but then I read Debra‘s post to the same affect.  So how have I done?

Goal #1: Read 60 books.

A quarter of this goal would be 15, and as of midnight of March 31st I had finished 22.  As of 12:15 AM on April 1st, I had finished 23, as I stayed up late to finish reading Life of Pi.  I did really great at this goal in January and February, but I slowed down in March primarily because of basketball.  (Check out the Books Read in 2009 page for updates.)

2.  Complete my novel.

I did great in January, writing 3 chapters, but then taxes hit big time and I found I couldn’t devote the mental energy to it in the evenings like I had previously.  Now that things are lightening up, I hope to rectify this.  I might not get done this year (just depends on how ambitious I get), but I really want to.  (Check out the Historian’s Writing page for updates on this.)

3.  Exercise 3 times a week.

I’ve been so-so on this goal.   It seems like it’s more like 2 times a week, and then the last couple of weeks 1 time a week.  I’m really going to push myself to go to the pool 2 or 3 times a week, and probably start taking walks in the evenings many other days.

4.  Write a letter once a week.

There’s probably a week or two where I didn’t, but this goal definitely has been kept.

5.  Memorize 4 chapters of the Bible.

I’ve struggled with how/when to implement this.  Really, I just need to get down to it and start.  I’ve decided that I want to memorize Romans (but obviously not all this year).

So, I’ve definitely had progress, but there’s more work to be done.

Snow ‘n’ Letters

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Ugh.  I totally had pictures to go along with this post, but they’re not uploading.

It snowed again last night.  What is up with this place?  It’s not supposed to snow this much!  I think a move to Miami might be in order.

Seriously though, I’ll enjoy it while I can…from inside.  I’ll have to venture out to go to work this afternoon, but until then I’ll enjoy a mini-snow day.

I was reading an article in Newsweek last night called “The Curse of Cursive.”  The author was arguing that there is no need for kids to learn cursive and that it’s good that penmanship is essentially dead.

Now, I love email and other electronic communication.  It has made my cross-country move reasonable.  There’s nothing like an email from someone you love…except a handwritten letter.

I don’t have a problem with the argument against cursive.  Writing changes through the years, and that’s fine.   However, I don’t think the written letter should die with it.  I love to receive letters, and try to write a letter or note at least once a week. 

There’s just something special about it, probably because you know the person took extra time to think of you.

Welcome 2009, I’m Ready for Ya

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Happy New Year!  I’m traveling back to North Carolina today, but I’ve done some thinking about my resolutions for this year.  I don’t usually do such a thing, but I want the accountability they’ll (hopefully) provide me.  I’ll review them at the end of each quarter and allow myself a chance to get back on track.

This year’s goals (I prefer that term as “resolutions” has a bad rap):

1.  Read 60 books.  This is 5 a month, and in keeping with my current reading plan.  I read 67 in 2007, so it doesn’t seem like a stretch, but that includes text books.  No text books this year!

2.  Complete my novel.  This isn’t an impossible task by any means, but I know at some point I’ll get tired of writing, or at least hit rough patches.  I want to persevere, but at a reasonable pace for a first-time, non-professional novelist.

3.  Exercise 3 times a week.  I hate to put this on my list, because I just don’t want to do it.  I am overweight, but honestly, I don’t really care.  But I’ll keep on gaining weight if I don’t exercise, and besides, it’s good for your health.  That’s the real reason why I’m doing this.  Hopefully I’ll get back in the habit of going to the pool, because I do really enjoy that type of exercise.

4.  Write a letter once a week.  I’d love to do it more than once a week, but this is a more reachable goal.

5.  Memorize 4 chapters of the Bible.  I wish this goal was higher, but I want to keep it doable at 1 chapter/quarter.  I haven’t decided yet where I’m going to be memorizing from, but I’ll get to that soon.

Are you making any resolutions or goals?

I’m a Novel Writer

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Thanks for the help yesterday. I have finally decided what to do and gone for it. Be looking for a post after Christmas with my new blog address!

One thing that I have wanted to do for some time is write a novel. I don’t want to write to be famous or rich, though I suppose those wouldn’t be bad if they came. I don’t want to write because I think that I’m an amazing writer or would be able to make a career out of it, because I believe my writing and creativity are nothing spectacular. I want to write because I love to write.

In the last year, I have fallen in love with writing for this blog. I truly enjoy it, and not just because of the friends I’ve made here. I enjoy writing in this style. I enjoy writing humorous posts to get you chuckling; I enjoy writing serious posts about topics near to my heart. I also feel that I have grown in my writing, like these daily posts are daily exercises of my writing muscles.

After I received my laptop last week, one of the first things I did was download novel-writing software (yWriter). I haven’t done much with it, but it’s there and I’ve started a novel to play around with it, the idea that was the freshest in my mind.

I’ve said it before, but the main thing that holds me back from being a novel writer is that I don’t think that my writing will live up to my own standards. I’m not being modest; I’m being truthful. Very few modern authors are truly worth reading, in my opinion, and I’m not egotistical enough to think that I could ever count myself among them.

Instead of seeking to be the best, I’m merely seeking to do my best, even if no one else were to read it. I think that’s a worthy cause in itself.

So, with my first 173 words, I now can call myself a novel-writer.

Favorite Things: Give Me a “W”

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Alright, so Vicki had posted 20 of her favorite things (she got picked tWice) that start with the letter M and invited us to play along. She randomed (neW verb) me a “W.” Now I get to tell you 10 of my favorite things that start With the letter “W.” No problem. I mean, hey, they made a Whole movie recently about the letter right? Wait, the movie Wasn’t about a letter? Moving on…

1. Wichita. Hey, it’s my hometoWn and I’m rather fond of it. It’s nothing exciting for outsiders, but I still call it home. In a couple of Weeks I’ll be back there!

2. The World Wide Web. Sure, blogging is great, but so is catching up With friends and family.

3. Writing. I’ll be honest, blogging is my favorite form of Writing. When I get out of school, I hope to start groWing in other forms of Writing. Practice, practice, practice!

4. Winning. Let’s face it, I’m pretty competitive. This might not come across the blog. Then again, maybe it does. My favorite Wins are those by my Sooners. No W for us this Week as it Was a buy Week, but next Week…bring it on, Texas Tech!

5. Why? Not like a 3yo Would say, but like I Would say. I like to understand the reasoning behind Why others think and believe the Way they do. I also like to understand Why I think the Way I do. AlWays room to groW!

6. Welcoming friends into my home. I’m not much of a big group person, but I don’t mind it if I’m the hostest. I love to have friends over, but I don’t do it enough because I let my busy schedule and my task-orientation to get in the Way.

7. Watermelon and green apple Jolly Ranchers. WoW, I haven’t thought about that in a long time. I haven’t had a Jolly Rancher in ages, but those are my tWo favorite flavors!

8. The Way, the Truth, and the Life. In other Words, Jesus Christ. Clearly, this isn’t in any order, because my Savior deserves Way higher billing than 8th place!

9. Words. I love learning neW Words and using neW Words. I don’t really sit doWn and learn them, I just pick them up from my reading. Since I like to read classics, I get good exposure to some high-falutin’ Words. Okay, I just cracked myself up. I enjoy plays on Words, too.

10. Water. Hey, it’s necessary for life. Plus, our bodies contain like 74% Water or Whatever. When I hear that statistic I think of cuting myself open like a cactus to get out the juice. I haven’t tried it, but I don’t think it Works that Way.

You tired of all the Ws yet? Did I forget to capitalize any?

If you’d like to play along, just let me knoW and I’ll random you a letter, too. I’ve you’re “lucky” maybe random.org Will pick you an X! (If it does, I promise to give you an option of a more common letter.)

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Would it be cheating if I just said that I Was thankful for everything on this list? I am, really. But specifically, I’d say that I’m thankful for my friends. They put up With so much!

The Affect of Blogging

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Last weekend, Carrie at Reading to Know tagged me for a meme about blogging.

Here are the rules:
1. Write about 5 specific ways blogging has affected you, either positively or negatively.
2. link back to the person who tagged you
3. link back to this parent post
4. tag a few friends or five, or none at all
5. post these rules— or just have fun breaking them

I’ll definitely be breaking them. It says I can in the rules, as long as I have fun doing it! I decided not to tag anyone. If you decide to put your two cents in (and I encourage you to do so), I’d love to read it. Either put it in the comment or share the link with me.

Alrighty. Blogging has affected me…

1. Positively. The daily practice of writing (and reading) has improved my writing skills. I’m a better writer today than when I started this blog.

2. Negatively. Blogging has decreased the time I spend journaling. But this has been a temporary affect, as I now write as much in my journal as I used to pre-blogging.

3. Positively. Blogging has helped me to think through why I believe what I believe and why I take the positions that I do. If I can’t articulate my position, then it is time to reevaluate. Either I come out realizing that I was right and now know why, or I realize that I wasn’t right and change my viewpoint. Is there a logical inconsistancy in my viewpoint? One of the readers is bound to point it out. There’s no place for sloppy thinking.

4. Negatively. Blogging can easily turn into simply trying to please my audience. As much as I love you guys, I don’t want to be a sellout.

5. Positively. Blogging has connected me with people like you. It’s not a one-sided thing. I love getting feedback on what I write, and I like commenting on what you write.

So, how about you?

Conclusion: Is Blogging Worthwhile?

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Point: Blogging is a worthwhile activity.
Counterpoint: Blogging is not a worthwhile activity.

Conclusion: Blogging is a worthwhile activity, within reason.

I agree with pretty much everything I said in the point. That is why I blog. Now, I need to answer the criticisms of blogging.

First of all, as a blogger I have to be careful that blogging doesn’t replace real-life social interactions. For me, I haven’t really found this to be a problem, as I don’t spend a whole lot of time with people in real-life regardless. I’m sorta a hermitess. I do have to force myself to go to gatherings and parties every once in a while (sometimes I need friends’ prompting on this), but I struggled with this before I got into blogging. Regardless, it is something the blogger has to be on the look out for. Besides, if you’re never in the real world, what are you going to blog about?

I do have to be careful that I spend time with my closer friends and interact with them about what I’m thinking. I don’t want the blog to be the only place that I’m sorting through my inner thoughts. Besides, there are things that I need to think through that aren’t blogable, and who better to do that with a friend face-to-face? This is necessary not only for my own health, but for theirs as well. I need them, but I also need to be there for them.

Sure, blogging can seem like you’re just adding to the noise, but the hits on your website are real people reading (or at least glancing at) what you’ve written. If you have something important to say, maybe the just-right person will see it. That’s what gives me hope about blogging. I blog for me, but I also blog for those that may read it.

The biggest struggle I have with blogging is becoming self-focused and prideful. This is something that I have to constantly take to the Lord, seeking forgiveness and help. As a Christian, I feel it is important to remember that it is not about me, but about Him. Even blogging I do for Him, but I can’t do that if I just use my blog to rant about what frusterates me or get driven to have more readers thus glorifying myself.

For me, blogging is a beloved hobby. Sure I have other hobbies: reading, photography (to a certain extent, I’m not really good, I just enjoy taking pictures), and swimming, but blogging is one that I really enjoy. Could I go without it? Of course. But I choose not to. When I weigh out the pros and cons, I still feel like it is worth the time it takes each day as I become a better writer, gain more insight into what others believe, and get to spread the message that I find so important. Besides, I happen to like you, my bloggy friends. It’s like the old song: “Make new friends, but keep the old…” I like making bloggy friends, but I’m going to keep my real-life friends too.

So, what about you? Why do you blog? What struggles do you have with blogging?

Thirteen Things to Do Before I Die

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Thirteen Things to Do Before I Die

1. Visit every inhabited continent (still need Africa, South America, and Australia).

2. Read every book written by Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Leo Tolstoy (I’m only close on Jane Austen).

3. Grow my own garden (I’d want cucumbers, bell peppers, and radishes, just like we had growing up).

4. Memorize at least 4 books of the Bible.

5. Write a book.

6. Be a positive influence on the next generation.

7. Celebrate Dana and I turning 40 with a huge party (you’re all invited…summer 2022).

8. Meet the president (whoever is in office at the time, whether I like them or not).

9. Go on a cruise.

10. See my favorite Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde plays performed in person (Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello; The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband…I’m sure I’ll add others later).

11. Root for OU in person at a bowl game (and have them win!).

12. Publish something…an article, a book, etc.

13. Visit the Holy Land.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

I’m Finished But Just Getting Started

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Today was the last day of my class on Gender Roles in the Bible. I was kinda sad, because I’ve really enjoyed it. It was a great group to be in class with, and our professor did a great job of teaching and leading us, balancing the seriousness of the subject with times of fun.

I think what impacted me the most about this class is the fact that I am a woman influences everything I am and do. I’m not a person that happens to be female. I AM a female. I am distinctly, thought not completely, different than a man. When God created man, He created a man and then a woman. There never was an androgynous human being.
Though class is done, I still have two papers to complete before next Friday. They shouldn’t be too difficult, but I want to make sure not to put them off until the last minute since I’ll be started the new semester on Thursday. I think that I’ll be able to be genuinely excited for the new semester since the two assignments I have left aren’t dangling very far into the semester.
This semester I’m taking Old Testament II, New Testament II, Baptist History, and Philosophy. It’ll be a lot of reading (and possibly writing), but I’m looking forward to it!