Like everyone else, I was heartbroken to hear about the death of Robin Williams. I remember first falling in love with him when he played Mork on Mork and Mindy. I remember playing with the other kids in 5th grade saying, “Na-Nu Na-Nu.” Hearing of his death was hard enough, but to find out he died by suicide made my heart ache. For many years I didn't understand the pain of depression, and … [Read more...]
How to Navigate Around Real Life to Find Time to Write
In a recent comment, Barbara H. posed a great question about finding time to write. She said: I’d love to hear about writers’ schedules, how they make time for writing. Once when I heard Elisabeth Elliot speak and had a book signed by her afterward, the only question I could think to ask was, “How do you find time to write all these books?” She replied, “I don’t find time, I make time.” I know … [Read more...]
Novelist Retreat: 11 Heads Are Better Than 1
Last week I got back from a very special retreat. Every year, for a dozen years, a group of writers have gotten together to Plot, Pray, and Play. Here is our group photo: … [Read more...]
A Weekend to Remember
I often talk about how writing is a hard career for an extrovert. So often my writing is done in front of a computer and I wait for electronic feedback from my agent, editors, friends, readers. It can feel solitary because the face to face contact usually comes once a year at ACFW. This past weekend, my daughter and I changed that dynamic. We put over 600 miles on the car as we drove around … [Read more...]
A writer’s aches and pains
Like anyone in a profession that requires one to sit for long periods of time, I occasionally get a stiff neck or back. And I once suffered from wrist tendonitis for six months during a time when I was on deadline (excruciating!) But other than that, in more than twenty years of being a professional writer, I've rarely had any of the usual physical aches and pains that often plague writers. I'm … [Read more...]