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In The Driver’s Seat
If you have driven in town lately, you can testify to the following AP article premise: Average IQs are plummeting worldwide. And here’s another worry—it’s not going to get better. Fourth grade reading proficiencies are at 33%, which means 7 out of 10 ten-year-olds have a hard time sounding out words, let alone understanding them. And the DMV still publishes their manuals in written form. Oh boy. There is hope, however, and it is you. You are the sacred keeper of the meaning of its and it’s. You know the Pantheon of their there they’re. Then there’s the deeper magic—you can show, not tell. Science tells us you’re about to…
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Resolved: New Stories In The New Year!
Let’s look at some writing resolutions outside the standard advice. How many can you check off the list this year? I pray you write all the right words for Him this year. Have fun writing, and Happy New Year! Not all views expressed are those of every member of ICW.
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The Words We Write
I had this dream a few months back… On a snowy night, I sat bundled on a bench near a firepit in my back yard. A kind friend sat on a bench across from me, and we enjoyed a relaxed but lively conversation while I tossed the completed pages from my current WIP into the flames. As we talked, I watched the pages curl around my words until they were nothing but ash. The fire crackled. The air smelled fresh, the way it does after a first snow. Beyond the fact that I don’t have a firepit in my back yard, and I have yet to print out the final…
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Visions of Sugarplums: Writing Christmas
When a writer touches pen to paper during Christmas, hollies and cranberries appear. Lights dance and visions of sugarplums fill the skies. We can’t help ourselves. Christmas is magical, whether we love the magical or not. I revel in the holidays and overload myself with reading and writing Christmastime. Here are a few tips to keep your Christmas readers filled with holiday cheer! Writing about Christmas can be rewarding and a positive way to engage readers. Enjoy a tall glass of eggnog and a plateful of sugarplums while you craft the words that change the world. Blessings!
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Sing Us A Song…
He is 73, and he takes the stage. He runs a hand through his shock of white hair, exposing strands of tendons attached to wiry but impressive biceps. His T-shirt stretches tight over a broad and lean chest. His jeans make his torso look more like an upside-down triangle than a rectangle. He slings the electric guitar to the front and, with aged hands, slams a chord that fills the arena. His friend is already on stage. The friend is 75, and he sits at a piano. He is a bit thicker than the guitar player but still spry enough to pull off a few moves on stage. His hands…
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Creating Together
This morning, as the last leaves rain from the trees, I’m viewing a fall combination of swirling, smoke-grey clouds across a deep blue sky, pierced by shafts of brilliant sunlight. The effect is a lovely collaboration of shifting, shimmering, dramatic low lights, highlights and shadows. Especially right now, in a world that can feel very divided, I like pondering the creative benefits of collaboration. As well, I’m finishing one novel and looking toward the next, which is half finished, and is a collaborative effort with another author. There are many good reasons to collaborate on a project. Beyond the exciting creative possibilities, as well as the possible doubling of our…
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In The Crucible
Do your favorite authors live the perfect life? The picture in my mind shows they’ve had a healthy breakfast and walked the dog. They take their coffee to their immaculate study and move into a creative state so potent birdsongs and sunshine burst forth after every word they type. They finish a novel just in time to jog, make a healthy lunch, and talk with friends throughout the afternoon. When their spouse arrives home, dinner somehow appears on the table, and they connect on the couch talking about what they did during the day. A movie or reading by firelight and a good night’s sleep prepare them for the next day’s…
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Ask The Question
When you purchase a gym membership, something magical happens. You’re allowed into a world of wonders. Machines, mirrors, lights, TVs, pools, therapists, towels, no toddlers, and a general sense of happy people. I don’t blame you for feeling like you’re in an amusement park, minus the toddlers. You purchase matching shoes, socks, shorts, and tops—your hair tie matches. You step onto one of the machines, and a motor hums underneath you. With a violent pull, the belt flings you toward the end of the machine and launches you through the air into a pile of dirty towels. As someone helps you up, they mumble some nonsense that you need to…
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A New Rhythm
I host a church small group in my home once a week, and this most recent gathering, I was in the spotlight, to give my testimony. Unfortunately, I’d gotten no sleep the night before *classic insomniac here* and was finding it difficult, in my groggy condition, to condense five decades of walking with Christ and my fellow believers on this pilgrim journey. That thought, Pilgrim Journey, gave me an idea. About a decade ago, and for six or seven years, I blogged regularly—several times a month—about my life, relationships, parenting, God—all with an emphasis on my worldview as a believing (although not very traditional) Christian. I pulled out a few…
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Writing is a Wonderful Master
Stick with your writing journey. The effort is worth your time and can be your most fulfilling relationship. You probably remember that fateful day you thought, “I want a dog.” A pet in your home isn’t a bad idea. They’re cute and cuddly and full of love. They wag their tails when you give them attention. When you come home late, they don’t scold you—they jump up and down with excitement. What made you want to get a dog? Perhaps you saw someone on a walk with their puppy. Or you visited a friend whose pet sat at your feet and set their muzzle on your lap, and you fell…
