To Blog or Not to Blog...That is the Question

 

Facing the question of whether or not I should keep blogging and other thoughts in todays post (yep, the first post of 2021...).

A New Year's Non-Commitment

Yes, I do realize that we're 17 days into the New Year and you haven't heard from me for much longer than that. I'm afraid that, if I apologize for my absence, I may start to sound like a broken record 😑 So, in place of that apology I'm going to try and not try.

An Admission & An Apology & An Update

The Admission

Sometimes life doesn't go like you've planned.

Sometimes life feels like you got caught in a rainstorm and forgot your umbrella, drenching you with all of its expectations and not letting you find shelter. (See real-life example of this to the left).

Sometimes life surprises you with awesome things--blessings in disguise--and you have to put other, equally good things aside in order to take hold of those blessings. (keep reading for an example)

Are you sensing a trend here?

What has Emilie been up to? 

Well, I'm glad you asked. Clearly it hasn't been blogging. *hangs head in shame*

Create Explore Read with Me in 2018

For those of you who have followed my blog for a while you'll probably have noticed a few things recently. I've been posting less (oops!) and over the last few years the content has mostly been filled with interviews and the occasional guest post. While I don't mind that, I also don't think it's the direction I want to continue in.

Spread the Christmas Joy - Always

For those of you who have followed my blog for some time you'll know that I always do "Spread the Christmas Joy" here on my blog. I love it - I really do - but I've found myself without any time to organize something like that again this year. At least not in the way I did it in the years past.

Instead, I've decided to do something a little different. I'm going to focus on trying to blog more this month. Like--me, actually blogging! What a concept! I'm not sure what things will come out - some will be writing-focused, some social media posts, and some just thoughts on Christmas this year.

Me out getting our family Christmas tree!

As you can tell...I've already missed the first of December! But I think Christmas really isn't about getting things perfect so much as understanding who you are, what you've been given, and how truly beautiful the season can be if you stop and really see that beauty.

I will still do some giveaways this month - I've got some awesome books (doubles of the ones I already have) which means YOU all will get the chance to enter to win them.

But, aside from that, I hope that you'll enjoy this December on my blog. There'll be book reviews as I have time to read, book recommendations from my reading this year, and probably all manner of random thoughts and hopes for the future (as the end of the year always leaves me feeling introspective).

Lastly, as the part of my blog that is MOST important to me--I want to connect with YOU dear readers. I would love to hear from you via email, through Facebook, Instagram, or a comment here. Tell me what you're thankful for this season, what you're looking forward to in this coming new year, or maybe something you're thinking through during this holiday season. I'd love to hear any and all of it. YOU are why I write and why I have this blog.

In the mean time, check out my thoughts about feeling something this season over on the Putting on the New Blog, and have a lovely rest of the week!

700 Posts Strong | Giveaway

Oh my, oh my, dear readers. Can you believe I've hit 700 posts on my blog (though, technically speaking, this will be post 701...). I am shocked and amazed that you've all stayed with me this long--not to mention all of the new friends I've made since starting this blog. *waves*

It began as an idea to share my random "thoughts" in this little corner of the web, hence the extremely vague title Thinking Thoughts, but it grew. Honestly, it's still growing. As I try and balance all of the things that I'm currently working on, this little guy (aka: the blog) sometimes gets neglected but I try my best to bring you news of new authors, great books, reviews, and funny (sometimes deep?) musings from my mind (when I have the time to write them). And you've been with me through it all! *sheds a few tears*

As a way to give back to you all, I thought a giveaway would be in order! I'll be running it from today until May 12 (my Dad's birthday *awe*) and I'll be including a few fun readerly things (like bookmarks from my new Etsy shop - more on this later this week), a Starbucks gift card, Amazon gift card, and maybe an additional surprise if I can think of one. 

Here are some of my favorite posts from the past:

That time I wrote about Jesus in real life

That time I wrote about Instagram for writers

That time I wrote about Rob Bell...

That time I wrote about supporting our troops

That time I wrote about true love in a 50 shades world

That time I wrote about heroes

Thank you all for being so awesome and going with my harebrained ideas, missed post times, likely typos, and general silliness. As I always say, YOU are the reason I write (on this blog as well as my books).

As part of this I want to host a Q&A for any questions you all may have (there may not be any and that's OK haha). Feel free to post and I'll answer below!

- Em
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Attention Required Please

Hi everyone - Emilie here really quickly to do an update via post.

So...due to some type of issue, either with Google or Blogger (I'm not really sure at this point) your comments are being eaten. >Insert boo, hiss, and frustrated tears on my end<

The good news: 

I can still see them when I log out of Google! Yes - you are being heard and I do still love you all!

The bad news: 

You probably think that your comment hasn't gone through or you forgot to post or that maybe I don't like you. NONE of these things are true!

So...

I just wanted to make mention of this because I truly cherish ALL of your thoughts here on the blog. Seriously - I love you guys and you are the reason Thinking Thoughts is around. *HUG* I'm spending my time going back and forth in browsers so that I can see all of your lovely thoughts!!! I promise I am reading them and replying out loud (yes, I probably look silly talking to myself but it's all for you, dear readers).

Secondly, I know that in past posts I've asked for comments to be made to enter giveaways etc. - it's part of why I did the Rafflecopter giveaway on Monday (p.s. have you entered that yet? Oh, and don't forget the chance to win Dani Pettrey's Cold Shot - one more day for that one people!!). Not to worry - I'm checking back and forth and I AM seeing what you've said - promise! So you can feel free to comment and I'll make sure to check those before doing anything else.

I really really really hope this gets cleared up soon...they have people working on it but I've been given no timeline or anything. I'm not the only one involved so I hope that means they are working extra hard on it ;-)

Lastly, if you have anything urgent you want to say to me, or you'd like a reply from me on something, you can always use the "Contact the Thinker" form on the right (sidebar) of the blog. That comes right to me and I promise to respond to you as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, have a cookie and I'll keep you informed on when (Lord, please make it soon) they fix this issue!

Much love,
Em

Honest Thoughts: Blogging - The struggle is real

Can I get an amen? 

Here at Thinking Thoughts I celebrate all the good things like books, reading, coffee (ok, tea too), awesome authors, and writing. As I've been thinking about the purpose behind...well, lots of things but especially things like this blog and my writing, I've come to some interesting conclusions. Um, maybe conclusions is too much of a word. I've started to think about things. Ironic, I know, due to the title of the blog.

One thing that got me thinking about this is the fact that, per a conversation I had with an industry professional back at the ACFW conference last year, the title Thinking Thoughts isn't a "good" title. My younger, start-up blogger self from 2009 cried a little at this thinking, "But...but...it's my blog! My baby!" Though the slightly-more-marketing-savvy-blogger-self half halfheartedly agreed with the sentiment.

I've come a long way since my first blog post not only in word count but in understanding of what a blog is and should be. I am by no means an expert, but I've come into a rhythm with myself on what it looks like to write Thinking Thoughts. I've devoted it to readers, writers, and Jesus followers (as I like to say) but is that enough?

Following my super fun and productive weekend in Florida with fellow writer friend Natalie (this is her modeling the "Dream. Write. Inspire." bag from my Society6 shop), I walked away with one major thought that she so graciously pointed out.

...PASSION...

Did you just think: Um, what? Well, that's understandable but let me explain. As we talked about marketing, the publishing industry, our books, other people's books, and sooo much more, we started to narrow down the focus for each of us. It's easy to say you want to make an impact on others, but it's another thing to figure out what that impact will bring.

We each started to think through this question: What do I bring to the table?

It's one thing to answer that question for yourself but another to see what other people say about that for you. I so value Natalie's opinions because she nailed down something that had been lightly hidden beneath the surface of all the things I like to do or participate in. It's passion. I'm likely going to butcher the way she explained it to me, but I needed to put it in my own words so that I could grasp it.

I thrive on the passion. I've blogged about it often (like here, and here) but the thing I keep coming back to is how much my own passions--as well as that of others--inspire me. It pushes me to create, to explore, to understand. If I meet you in person I will likely ask you what you do. Here in DC that is a common thing because a lot of people place importance on their day jobs. I don't ask because of that, but because I want to see how people describe what they do. There is a stark contrast between people who describe what they do in a monotone and those who launch into an all-inclusive depiction of their jobs because they love them. Those are the people I love to listen to.

In thinking about this blog (and the numerous attempts I've made to hone in on something specific) I see why I have trouble. I'm not a person who is only passionate about writing. I'm not just passionate about reading. I'm not only interested in photography. It's just...not possible for me. Not in my DNA. I'm not sure, but I do know that I am consumed by more than that. (This is likely why it's hard for me to pick one genre to write in...but that's a whole different blog post).

This passion shows itself in my writing, in my photos, in my social media posts, you name it. It's all inclusive. That passion is the thread that binds me together. That makes up who Emilie Hendryx is.

Ah, wonderful, I think. Now what?

Honestly? I'm not sure. I know (mentally) about the smart steps to branding yourself. I understand the concept of growing an audience and...blah blah blah (um, can I say that?). But I get frustrated with convention. Yes, Thinking Thoughts isn't the most descriptive name and it will likely change at one point, but there are a few things that I realize I'm committed to and passionate about:

• I'm passionate about sharing about great books and authors here on the blog and through my reviews.
• I'm passionate about books with great story lines--no matter the genre. 
• I'm passionate about sharing what I'm learning about writerly things like marketing, design, writing, and the like.
• I'm passionate about reading (oh soooo much reading).
• I'm passionate about Jesus and how He is at the center of my life. 
• I'm passionate about being REAL with everyone. 

There isn't a conclusion to this post. It's a lot of thoughts (again, likely a no-no) meandering throughout, but it's refreshing to admit that I enjoy a lot of creative things. I'll leave you with this: Hello, my name is Emilie and I struggle with being too passionate about creativity. ;-)

What about you? What are YOU passionate about? I would love to hear from you in the comments below!

A Look at Guest Posting for Writers

To guest or not to guest. That is the question for today's social media and marketing post. 

If you've been following along (take a look at Blogging for writers, Facebook for writers, Twitter for writers, and a lovely post by Ralene Burke on social media for writers) then you know my focus for this month is social media and marketing for writers. If you're not a writer I'm pretty sure you'll still find some helpful tips for marketing and social media, but realize I am speaking to the writers out there.

Back to the question at hand...guest posting. Is it worth it? Is it too time consuming? What do you say when you guest? Where do you guest? Why should you even bother guest posting? I'll answer these questions and more below.

Guest Posting For Writers: To Establish and Build a Platform

To guest

We'll be talking about platform next week, but to start this discussion I want to hit the positive sides to guest posting.

1) Spreading the word

The most obvious reason to guest post is to spread the word about you. (Are you sensing a theme this month?) When you guest post on blogs or websites you generally get the opportunity to do a little bit of promotion at the end. Don't have a book to promote? That's okay! Promote your social media links and/or blog.

Pinterest

2) Follower fans

Another HUGE bonus to guest posting is the fact that you can gain new follower fans! Guaranteed that, should someone like your post, they will want to find out more about you. If they like what they find, you've just gained a new follower and/or reader fan!

3)  Be an expert

Guest posts allow you to be the expert. Choose your topics wisely (more on this in a minute) but make sure you freely give away some expert advise. You new readers will thank you--and sometimes that means a follow or like.

4) Discipline

The less-thought-of reason to guest post is discipline. When you agree to be a guest, you are then "chained" to a date and forced to think through your post. This is great practice for making deadlines, writing creatively even when inspiration may not be striking, and a fantastic way to hone your online writing style and voice.

Not to guest

Though there are some great reasons to guest, there are some downsides to guest posting as well.

Pinterest

1) Time's a wastin'

The number one issue with guests posts are the fact that they can take up precious writing time! (Let's be honest though. What doesn't take up time?) If you find yourself spending more time working on numerous guest posts than on your next novel, you've hit the "not to guest" side. Take a step back and re-evaluate the need to guest.

2) Small numbers = small reach

It doesn't matter how fantastic your guest post is--you may have just solved the problem of world hunger--but if no one is reading the blog you're guest on...it was a wasted effort. Sort of like a tree falling in the forest is a guest post going live in a small, carved out space of the internet no one visits.

Make sure you are spending your precious time crafting your masterpiece guest post for a blog that gets decent traffic. I'm not saying ignore anyone with a small readership, but evaluate where you're spending most of your effort and time.

3) Repetition isn't helpful

If you're hoping to write one guest post and recycle it through a string of blogs across the vast expanse of Internet-space let me save you the trouble: DON'T. Why? Well, the overbearing ruler of the Internet these days is Google. Love Google or hate it (or a little bit of both) but don't anger it.

Google is great at detecting repetitive content in multiple locations. To Google that looks like plagiarism and therefore not-good content. That is a no-no in Googles eyes. So, if you aren't up to creating new content for every guest post, it's better say no.

Where to guest

There is no right or wrong answer to this. Since I'm a member of ACFW I've used connections I've made through the organization as well as at conferences to guest on other blogs. The best types of guest post positions allow you to get in front of an audience who will be receptive to what you are sharing.

Start by connecting with authors who write what you write (and who have an active blog). Check out their blog, read it, and see if they offer guest post options. If so, risk asking if you could guest. Before you do though, make sure you have an idea in mind and possibly a title. Being able to give them a snapshot of what you'll share can help them make a decision about letting you guest on their blog.

What to say when you guest

The last part is the actual writing. If you've decided to guest, take your time and make sure you're putting forth your best effort. Remember, you're acting as a type of "expert" in your field so make sure what you're saying is helpful, efficient, and accurate. Guest posts can also include things you are passionate about.

As example, I've guested about writing tips, photography, faith, and marketing. If you are using guest posts to grow your own audience and platform though, I'd recommend writing about things related to your writing or that capture the attention of people who would read what you write.

Don't forget a killer bio, links to your social media, and a headshot that accurately displays your personality (and isn't a selfie...please!).

End result: Guest posting can be a big aid in growing and expanding your platform but it can also eat away at your own writing time. The best approach is to schedule posts far enough apart and to write them as quickly as possible once assigned. Have fun, draw readers in, then give them the opportunity to connect with you on your own platform.

Check out some recent guest posts I've done: 
Reading and Writing: God's at work behind the pages on InkWell Inspirations
How to Create and Cultivate Community on the ACFW blog
A Page from My Journal on Trust on Putting on the New
Writing Like a Photographer: The Key to Descriptive Writing on Seekerville blog
Why Authors Need A Professional Headshot on PR by the Book

Your challenge:

• Do you guest post? Reply yes or no!
• Share the link to a guest post you've written
• Share what topics you'd like to post about
• Share what topics you'd like to read about

(Don't forget to use the hashtag #ttmediachallenge when you share your thoughts and tweet)

___________________________

 Last weeks //WINNER//

I had the lovely Alice J. Wisler on the blog last week and she offered to giveaway a copy of her latest novel, Under the Silk Hibiscus. The lucky winner is...

Daniel Bryl

Congrats Daniel! Contact me and we'll get you your book!

A Look At Blogging For Writers

Oolala. One of my favorite things. Blogging! Some of you just raised a rallying cry, the others of you just rolled your eyes. I know, it's not everyone's favorite past time, but I do think it's important and I'll discuss why here today.

Who should blog? 
Everyone! Well, maybe not, but the option is definitely open. Anyone can start a blog, but the question is: should YOU start a blog (or write on the one you have)?

If you are a writer interested in creating or building a platform, then I think a blog can greatly improve your visibility. It can also put a "face" to your name. I go into more detail below on this, but your personality is what will draw people. It's your writing voice. A blog is a great way to find that voice, hone it, and show it off to the world in an environment that is less stressful than say...a hard cover copy of your novel ;) (Though hopefully that will come too.)

Why should you blog? 
There are some obvious reasons, like getting your name or thoughts out there, but there are also some awesome "side effects" or additional reasons for blogging:

• Personal introduction
• Relationship building
• Create and cultivate community
• Encouragement
• Promotion
• Taking a stand
• Honing writing discipline and creativity

Emilie's tips for blogging...

Me :)

Speak For Yourself

Personality is huge! As I said above, your voice is what makes you uniquely YOU. That's a big deal. Don't spend time trying to make your voice sound like someone else. Spend time figuring out what you sound like. Honesty is huge in blogging and being able to share honest thoughts with your readers will create a connection like none other. Why? Because people who are brave enough to share what they really think and feel are rare and readers want to see that. They long for that type of real connection. To know that someone else feels or thinks like they do.

Ask: Was I honest? Do I believe what I wrote? Did I explain why or how?

Find Your Corner

I like listening to you, but why are you talking? I often find myself thinking that about...well, me. Ha! So no, I don't like listening to myself, but I do frequently ask "Why am I talking?" or, in this case, writing. Blogging is about finding your corner and accessorizing it. Making it look like you, feel like you, and sound like you. Your blog should reflect your personality, what you like and are passionate about, and ultimately I think it should give back (what I mean by this probably requires it's own post, but for the sake of efficiency I'd say that looks like sharing what you've learned or are learning).

Ask: What am I passionate about? What do I know? What can I share? Who am I writing to and what can I share with them?

Flickr by Gene Han

Say Something Worthwhile

Hold to your convictions. That's not to say: be angry and rant. There may be times where you feel like it and maybe give in to a rant or two, but I've found it's better to share gracious, well thought out, direct posts that tackle the tough questions without attacking. People want to read your thoughts on things if they are coming to you blog. Give them a reason to keep reading.

Ask: What am I saying? Is it worthwhile or am I just angry? Have I thought out my points? Are they accurate? Did I re-read?

Consistency is Key

My Blog Schedule

For me, one of the hardest parts of blogging is being consistent. I'm a planner so it continues to surprise me, but I make a great plan and then fail to stick to it. So frustrating. But the first piece of advice here is just that: organize! Make a schedule and get to color-coding (if that's you're thing - it's definitely mine). Then, set aside a day at the end of each month to look ahead (it may help to do this 2 months ahead but that will depend on your schedule and time). Decide what you'll post about for the next month, tentative titles/topics, and everything else that goes on your blog. Finally, get to work. That's the tough part, but it always helps to have a "road map".

Ask: How do I want to organize my posts? How many times a week can I sustain posting?

Keep It Relevant

It's important to keep your blogs and posts relevant. When you engage the blogging community with timely topics, people are more likely to share and comment on them. It's fresh in their minds and they want to know what you think. This gets tricky when planning, but you can always leave a "hole" in your schedule for relevant topics either weekly or monthly.

Ask: What is happening this week/month that my readers would be interested in? What am I passionate about that's current?

Blogging Friend - Kara

Invite Your Friends

My last piece of advice is, I think, the most powerful. The blogging community is just that - a community! That means there's a give and take. Inviting your friends to your blog means they bring their friends with them. Just like when you visit their blogs. It's a beautiful thing. So go make some blogging friends!

Ask: Who do I know that I could invite to my blog? Who's blog could I guest post on? 


Your turn: Do you blog? How often? Do you like it? Share a blogging tip with the rest of us!

Your challenge: Write a blog post that either: a)explains your heart for blogging to your readers, b)stretches you with being honest or c)is relevant to something trending. Then share with us!

#ttmediachallenge
(Don't forget to tag your posts with this hashtag^)

Honest New Thoughts | New Novel News + WINNER

I'm cheating today and talking about...me! Hope that's ok ;)

New year. New city. New thoughts. New book. New focus.

There is a lot of "new" going on in my life. I can't say that I love all of the harder "new" things, but I can say that I like the "new" me. No, I haven't gone and really changed that much, but I have seen how God has been working in me. It's like I just want to throw wide my arms and say, "Okay. Here we go!"

[Mentally, I just did that. ]

Yeah, that's me up there ^ My friend Steffani took this photo of me on our "photoventure" during my time in Northern California for Christmas.

That (um, me...) is how this blog started. I thought...hey, what if I started a blog about my thoughts? At the time, I probably didn't take into consideration how I would get people to read these thoughts. Or why they'd want to. I just thought, if I think it...they will come.

And they did, and they have, but I know that's not because of me.

To be totally honest, I sometimes wonder why anyone would want to read what I think about things. And yet, I'm humbled to remember that having this burden to write--this overpowering, burning desire in my heart that demands to come out through my fingertips and onto a blank page--isn't something I just "decided" to do. Yes, I made a decision to pursue writing, but it started much earlier than when this blog began. But that's another story for another day.

This post is about newness.

I want to rededicate (in a sense) this blog. I want to commit to you readers, as I mentioned in this post about New Years, a sense of comfort and of feeling at home here on the blog. I want to do this better than I have in years past because I want to be purposeful about it. We read these verses in church this morning:

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
2 Peter 1:5-7 (emphasis mine)

There's a lot going on in these three verses but two things immediately stuck out: "applying all diligence" and "perseverance". I want my life to be characterized by these things (and may others of course).

But these two things hit me in my writers heart. How do you become a good writer? First and foremost you write. But then you also learn, spend time with other writers, and go through the hard process of critique. It's all formulated to make you grow. Like your walk with the Lord, you'll have hard times but they are meant to refine you.

You readers out there may say that doesn't apply to you, but it does in the sense that you are the audience. You get the chance to see the fruit of a writers labor and, without you, there wouldn't be a reason to write. (Well, in the sense that we writers wouldn't have anyone to write for aside from ourselves - which, in some cases is enough).

To get to my long-winded point...I want to let you know I care for you all, reader and writer alike.



You'll continue to see these things from me:

• Ways to connect with new (and familiar) authors through interviews and guest posts
• Lots of giveaways (digital and paper back books as well as other fun stuff)
• Guest posts about writing, life with God, and the readers perspective
• Posts from me about writing - hey, if I'm learning, I'm sharing! 
• Honest (and sometimes corny) posts from me about my own struggles as a writer, reader, and Jesus follower

What do you think? Are you on board? I'm excited! I see God renewing my energy weekly--if not daily--to provide you with interesting posts. And yes, I will try and keep them shorter than this ;)

I love you all and invite you to connect with me: facebook page, instagram (@eahendryx) , twitter (@eacreativephoto), pinterest, goodreads

Do you blog? If so, why did you start? Do you focus on a certain topic or just write what comes to you?

__________________________________

                   WINNER!!!

I bet you're all wondering...sitting restlessly on the edge of your seats, possibly biting your nails crying out "Who won???" Wait no longer:

Rebecca Maney

Congratulations Rebecca! If you're reading this wondering what I'm talking about, check out New Novel News with Christy Barritt from last week. If you entered and didn't win...so sorry about that! But keep stopping by - there will be many more books given away in the future :D

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers

Thank you so much for the nomination Gail Pallotta!

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the one who nominated you.
2. Put up the award.
3. Answer the questions you have been sent.
4. Make up ten new questions for nominees to answer.

Here are my questions and answers:

1. What was something that brought you lots of joy this year?
I would have to say my photography business, E.A. Creative Photography, has brought me a lot of joy. I have met some incredible people, gone to amazing locations, and been a part of so many memories this year...it's been a huge blessing and a BIG source of joy!

2. What is your hope for 2015?
There are a lot of things I hope for in the New Year, but one would be to grow in my writing. I look forward to the craft books I'll read, the advice from authors I'll receive, and the conference(s) I'll be able to attend! Can't wait :D

3. What is your favorite leisure time activity?
Reading. Ah...what else would you expect? No matter how many books I read, I still want to read more and, given free time, I'll usually pick up a book!

4. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Have you ever written a blog about that place or set a book there?
My dream vacation would be to visit Scotland and Ireland! As of right now I haven't blogged or written about that yet, but hopefully (should I get to take this trip) I'll have plenty to incorporate into a book.

5. Who has had the biggest influence on you?
I'll break this into three areas...  
Writing: Ronie Kendig. This woman is amazing! Her writing inspires me to write better and her encouragement is so helpful.  
Photography: Not a person, but a community - Pursuit 31. Being a part of this Christian group of women photographers has helped my photography, my business, and my walk with the Lord. 
Spiritually: My mentor Pam Snider. Unfortunately, she now lives in Arkansas and I'm in D.C. but over the last three years she has encouraged me, given me advice, and has always pointed me toward the Lord.

6. Have your learned something new this year about life, people, or writing?
In regards to life, one thing I've learned is that it's always changing. That's an obvious thing, of course, but I've realized it even more since moving to D.C. Life is full of surprises and excitement as well as confusion and uncertainty. The best way to face it is to cling to the Lord and walk with Him in trust. Easier said than done, right? ;)

7. Do you have a favorite genre to read? Do you write in that genre?

Yes - romantic suspense! I read it and write it. I also like Dystpian YA too and am thinking about writing in that genre as well...

8. Please share a Bible verse or insightful quote with us.
My "life verse" (if I were to pick one) is 1 Corinthians 10:31, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

9. What helps you shut out the busyness of the world when you write?
If not silence, then lovely classical music! I prefer Haydn or Vivaldi.

10. Tell us about one of your blogs or books and what you just love about it.
Recently on my blog I did my annual "Spread the Christmas Joy" blog-a-thon where authors and writers share a Christmas story or memory with my readers. I was particularly touched by author Kristy Cambron's memory and wanted to share the paragraph that really affected me:

Who would have ever thought that less actually is more? That less control means more growth. That my pride needed a knocking down before my heart could understand a building up? That the uneven paths of life that stretch our faith muscles would have such value against the things we always thought defined Christmas in our hearts. That less of ourselves, over and over again, equals so much more of Him.
- Kristy Cambron, The Best Christmas on Thinking Thoughts

I loved what she wrote and find that I need to remember this in my life as well!






My nominees are: 
Kara Peck, Kirsty Cambron, Casey Herringshaw, Alexis Goring, Jennifer Jackson

Here are the 10 questions for the nominees:
1.  Share a favorite memory from 2014.
2.  Are you doing a reading challenge for 2015? If so, what's the first book you're reading this year?
3.  What are three things you are looking forward to in 2015?
4.  If you could take a dream vacation where cost is not a problem, where would you go and why?
5.  What is one piece of advice (or realization) you received in 2014 that you'll carry with you?
6.  Share two of your favorite books from 2014 and a little bit about why you loved them.
7. Do you have a goal or resolution for 2015 you'd be willing to share?
8.  Share a verse or word that you will be carrying with you into this new year.
9.  What is one activity or place you hope to experience in 2015?
10. Share with us something you are passionate about and how God has used that in your life thus far.

Thank you to you all and Happy New Year!

Ashley Bowman {Writer Wednesday}

I'm excited to introduce you to a friend of mine from college, Ashely Bowman. She's a writer, a product reviewer, and most importantly, a sweet sister in Christ!

A little bit about Ashley...
(taken from her blog)

The name is Ashley Bowman.  I’m a runner, lifter, cook, wife, and secretary.  I’ve been happily married for about 3 years to my best friend, my confidant, my partner-in-crime, and the love of my life, Adam. :) We are expecting our first child in October 2013, and we look forward to adding a new member to our family.

How to connect with Ashley...
Follow her blog:  Making my Boast
Follow her on Twitter: @agbaeb

Writer Interview | Ashely Bowman

You & Writing

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 
...My name is Ashley Bowman. I live in upstate NY with my husband of almost 3 years and our two kitties Watson and Cassidy.

How did you start writing?
...I started writing around 10 years old as an escape. I talked, of course, but I didn’t know how to communicate well with that way. As I journaled, I grew to love the art of writing. At a young age, I wrote songs and finished my first “book” at 12 years old (No, it’s not published----it never will be.)

What has kept you writing?
...As I grew older and learned and grew as a Christian, I began to realize that the same overflow of the heart I had experienced and held secretly as a child in my own little journals was given to me for the purpose of bringing God’s glory through my continued writing. Despite my ability to communicate verbally, God has given me the ability to spread Love and the Truth through another medium.

Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so, why?
...I wish I could list off a few books of mine that I love that I’ve written, but I think my greatest passions are the blog posts and short stories I have posted. 

Your Writing


Tell us a little bit about your what you’re working on currently? Why are you/did you write it?
...I am in the process of a few different projects. I’m about 80 pages into a work (based on the life of Horatio G. Spafford) which I’ve been stewing over for a few years, but we’ll see what actually becomes of it. I love historical fiction because there’s so much learning that can happen from historical events and so much left to the individual imagination. I am also working on a long piece on fitness and Christianity.


Writing

Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...I have definitely written stories with characters inspired by real-life people (“The Razor’s Edge”) and those that have simply grown and developed through my never-ceasing imagination. Sometimes, I develop characters, themes, or even story lines from my dreams.

When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories? 

Ashley & her husband

...I don’t always write fiction, but when I do, there is often a message I want to convey or an idea that I want to challenge. For my non-fiction works, I am often inspired by my own running/fitness journey and what God is teaching me through those disciplines. There is so much that God allows us to enjoy or gives us to encounter throughout our lives that reveals our true heart condition, demonstrates the character of the Lord, or challenges us to walk in the ways of the Bible. Married life is also a great way for the Lord to work on my heart, so I try to share those lessons with others through my blog/writing.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing?
...Just keep writing. It’s not about writing one certain genre. I went to school thinking I wanted to write fiction, but the Lord has opened more doors for me through writing non-fiction than I ever planned. Now, I actually enjoy non-fiction writing just as much as allowing myself to be lost in my own imagination. Write in every circumstance: happiness, sadness, pain, anger, love. Some of those will need to be written and then stored for your eyes only, some may need to be deleted right away, but some of them will communicate Truth from a new perspective and help to change someones life.

You

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what do you listen to?
...You know, in college, I would listen to music when I wrote, and I called it my “zone” music. I often listened to one CD over and over for a semester. Nowadays, I do a lot of thinking/planning while I work around the house, and then I might have Owl City or the like on (something slow, somewhat repetitious, and nothing too rocky.) However, when I sit down to actually write, the music goes off, and it’s just me and the keyboard. Yeah, I don’t really write with a pen/pencil or paper. My handwriting is atrocious, and my mind works faster than my pen, so I’m often focused on my computer screen while my fingers fly on the keyboard.

What is your favorite season and why?
...I am a tank top, shorts, and barefoot kind of girl. I love running and being outside, so I would have to say summer. I really detest winter (and yes, I realize I’m in the wrong state to detest the cold.)

What is your favorite genre to read? Why do you enjoy it?
...While I am a huge historical fiction fan, I can’t say that there’s really a type of book (besides romance) that I wouldn’t at least try to read. I am also a fan of deep, theological, and spiritually challenging books.

____________________

Thank you so much Ashley for this great interview! It was so wonderful to reconnect with you after college, especially on something near and dear to us both - writing! I love how you recommend writing in all stages of feeling - the good and the bad. It's so true! Our feelings and emotions come out in ways we never would have expected but that's what makes our writing so real. 

I am excited for you and your husband with the expectation of your baby in October and hope to hear more from you about writing in the future!

Thinking Thoughts readers, make sure you check out Ashley's awesome blog! I'm sure you'll enjoy her theological posts, fitness focused posts, and her extensive lists of fun recipes!

Powerful Words

I am always amazed at the power words have.
Wrap your head around that.
Written (or typed) words can change lives.
 

 

They inform.

They instruct.

They caution.

They invite. 
They encourage. 
They inspire.

They hope.

They hurt.

They heal.

They are powerful, and yet we use them without much thought most of the time. I'm reminded of the verses in James that talk about the power of the tongue and compare it to the bit in a horses mouth or the rudder of a ship with the power to set forests ablaze.  

Being a writer who also loves to read, I'm faced with using words and reading them all the time. I cringe when I think of how easily I can shoot off a text, make a sarcastic comment to a friend, or even create a Facebook status without much thought. It's usually only after time that we see the results of our words, whether negative or positive. 

I pray that, in all that I write or say, I would honor the Lord in all of it.  Whether it's a Facebook or blog post, an article, or even a text message, I want to be able to say it was written with thought.  I don't want to live aimlessly and I don't want to speak flippantly either.

Do you think about what you casually say? What you write? What you post? If so, how do you sensor what you post on Facebook or text to someone?

___________________

Check out this article for a beautifully written, extremely powerful follow-up post about the Steubenville trail by the talented Ann Voskamp. She is a woman who uses her words powerfully with God's purpose in mind. I immensely respect her and her writing!

Where did grammar go?

A little writing fun :)

I was having fun coming up with potential titles for this post and thought I'd share a few:

Mistakes that make BANK!

u kno u want to read thissss

Grammar & Syntax - they DO exist! 
(yes, this is a take on the M&M's commercial)

I was inspired to write this post a few days ago while reading a pretty popular blog. I won't mention what blog, it's not important, but let's just say that the writer isn't a professional though they are pretty well known for their topic and their writing (lots of followers/page views/etc.).  I know - slightly cryptic - but it got me thinking...

You see, I read a sentence that, in my humble writer's opinion, could have been formed more clearly.  In fact, there were several errors and I found myself stopping to wonder, "What happened to grammar and syntax?"

There are lots of great writers out there, but I feel like most of the time a blog is littered with grammar and syntax errors, not to mention the slang and cultural phrases that are used (I fully include myself in this, just so you know).  A well-composed post is a rarity. 

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that new generations are all about being heard and not so much about the means, but either way - poor writing skills are accepted. I'd even go so far as to say they are encouraged.

Texting conversation example

I believe social media is to blame. 

Blame may sound harsh. I hear you all out there shouting, "But I love my Facebook!" or "Where would I be without Twitter?" and I'd unashamedly have to join in with that, but I have to admit it's affected a lot more than just my free time on the computer.

With the age of emailing, text-ing, and Facebook-ing, a whole new type of communication has emerged.  It's now fine to forget capitalizing "I", to replace "you" with "u", to type "haha" and have it mean something is funny, and to incorporate all sorts of acronyms like "lol", "brb", "btw", or "rotfl" (to name a few). Introduce blogs to this scene and it makes sense why we would be content reading something that isn't as polished as we've been used to in the past.

Don't get me wrong, I think the freedom you have in a blog format is a great thing (obviously, because you are currently reading my thoughts on my blog).  I guess, more than anything, being a writer and a blogger, I struggled with how much I can "break" writing rules and still feel justified in publishing what I've written for all to see.

I'm always surprised to find highly successful blogs that aren't as polished as I think they should be. That's not true for all successful blogs, but there are many that write in all lower case or write from a conversational standpoint that is less "professional" sounding.  I'd even go as far as to say that these type of blogs, the ones that draw you in due to the real-ness of the author, are some of the most successful (but that's just my opinion).

What does that mean for writers?

This question depends on what you are writing about and who your writing for.

The one thing I am concerned about is if this acceptance of error will drastically affect readers - I'm talking book readers, not blog readers necessarily. Will authors have to change up their writing in the future to cater to a lack of interest in proper English and a taste for slang? There have been many studies done about the decrease in recreational reading already. I wonder if that will continue, or just change to online articles, blogs, and eBooks only?

What do you think? 

>>Do you have a blog where you just like to write out thoughts without having to agonize over proper grammar and syntax? Who is your audience?

>>If you're a reader, do you enjoy reading polished articles, thrown together posts, or does it matter to you?

>>If you're an author, do you think blogs and online outlets will negatively affect "solid" literature? [I say "solid" not to put any one type of book above another, just to delineate between casual, blog-type writing versus published/novel length literature]

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic in the comments below!

Day 29 | The home stretch

I closed last night at 46,718 words at Chapter 18.  Yes, that means only 3,282 words left (in 2 days).  I think I can handle that seeing as how I've done 4,000 in one day at one point to catch up (hehe).  So far my journey through NaNoWriMo hasn't been quite as eventful as past years.  I haven't fallen too far behind at any one point - though there was a time where it was getting dangerously close to almost 5,000 words behind and I needed to 'kick it into gear' to get that down.

From this side of the next two days (including today) I feel confident.  As long as nothing major happens - that is, I keep all my fingers - I think I should cross the finish line sometime early Friday morning or even late Thursday night.  The fact that it has been raining recently also greatly increases my writing desires!  At the point in time when I cross that invisible finish line, I fully expect you all to cheer with me, even if that's just you in front of your computer doing a little dance.  Hey, I'll take what I can get.

I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate all of you who have supported me either through "like's" on Facebook  or texts/emails to encourage me.  A big shout-out to my roommie for putting up with never  seeing me (though, in our case that's not an uncommon thing seeing as how we are both pretty busy).

I'm also excited to announce that I'll be guest blogging on my NaNo experience on my friend Anne's fun blog A Pew Perspective on December 7th.  Something for you all to look forward to.  I'll be putting up my own celebration and reflective post on Friday (that is, if all goes well - those fingers and all) but I'll go more into depth on her blog about some valuable things that I've learned.

Anywhoo, thanks (as always) for stopping by!  It was so great to have Cheri Swalwell on the blog yesterday for {Writer Wednesday} (check out her post HERE if you missed it) and I look forward to the great lineup for the rest of this year an on into next. You'll want to make stopping by for {Writer Wednesday} a habit - trust me!