MY MEDIA RANT

Okay,

So I escaped the delete button, fearlessly fought the comma police, jumped over my keyboard with a single bound just to come back from the braindead state I was in and rant.

I'll make this writing related. Somehow.

Do you peel your curtains aside, look out your window and think that's all there is of the world?

Of course you don't. You know there's more to it than what you can see through that four by four piece of square glass. Or whatever size windows grace your home.

Do you see a tree from your window? A child playing across the street? A car driving by? Birds lining the power line in the top right corner? Acorns in the yard? (yum!)

What objects do you see?

Do you believe what you see is the complete, unbiased, undiluted, undistorted, whole and complete truth?

Okay, so that's a loaded question.

I'm tired and probably not coming across very coherent since it is the buttcrack of dawn here. My point? Just because you only see one tree and three acorns doesn't mean those are the only trees or acorns in the world. There are a million yards sorta like yours with houses with different views from their windows.

Think of the TV as a window. Think of the news as the small piece of the world that you can see.

I do not for the life of me understand why intelligent people believe everything they hear on the radio, or what they see on the TV news, or read online or in newspapers.

Here's the deal. I don't think there's such a thing as unbiased reporting. Even in polls. Most of those are biased. If you ask eight Democrats can't stand Fox news, and I'm venturing to guess most Republicans don't care for CNN. For the most part.

Just because something's in print doesn't mean it's completely true. Take for example reports of Bush's declining popularity. Okay, do the poll putter onners think the American people are just dense or what? Unless every single person in the United States took part in that poll, IT IS NOT ACCURATE. Did you participate in it? I didn't. No one asked me. How many people did they ask? Study polls to find out. Educate yourself as to how this poll reporting thing works. Someone could easily skew poll results then report it as the dog's honest tooth. For example: if you ask 100 Democrats their opinion of Bush, the results are probably not going to be in Bush's favor like it would tend to be if you asked 100 Republicans their opinion of Bush. See what I mean? I have no political agenda with this post other than getting a pent up rant out of my system regarding liberal media who continue to slam their leader, which borders on treason by the way.

We're in a war. We should support our troops instead of usurping our leader's authority in the eyes of the troops who are over there fighting so we can write, and speak, and report what we want. Freedom has a price. Please don't vomit words on those families of soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for you and for me. President Bush is not the enemy. Terrorism, and the evil who controls it is.

Okay, so it was a little political and a little biased. I'm done now. Hopefully it's out of my system until next Veteran's Day.

Pray, really Pray for our troops, not just read the bumper stickers and smile when you drive by.

Since I promised to make this writing-related, I urge you to write a one page article of news gibberish. Go ahead. Make something up and send it to your friends by email. Don't make it so outrageous that they won't believe you. Just say something that could possibly happen but really hasn't. It doesn't have to be something bad. Tell them you won a CD player off the radio or something and I'll bet they'll ask you, "What station?" or "What kinda CD player?"

Okay, stirring up your creativity, and a little bit of political dust while I'm at it. Since the focus of this site is mostly on my writing life, you probably won't have to hear this from me again, unless of course I starte a seperate blog for my political rants and you happen to trip over it. LOL! I don't hate the media as in the people. I just hate selfish ambition that defames the sacrifice and the valor and the courage and the faith that built this country. That's all. In fact, I'm a journalism student as we speak. How do you like them apples?

Squirrel---tired and feathered. Going to sleep since I WAS actually up ALL night editing manuscripts. Can you imagine what my word count would have been had I typed this much on my novel? LOL! Oy! My dear husband is taking care of the house stuff for me today. Sigh. Good man. Good night world. Watch your windows.

GOLDEN HEART CONTEST

I. Am. Drowing. In. Edits.

Blub.

Blub.

Blubblub.

Blub.

See the bubbles?

Urg.

Bile blee blight black blunst bly blain blurks ablin.
(Ya hafta say it aloud to get the full effect people. Take two. :-)

Bly,

Squablirrel.

blub.

VOTED THE WORST MOVIE OF 2005

Jarhead.

By my standards anyway. My husband and I cut rated R movies out of our diet years ago, but we made an exception since I write military romance.

After the flick was over, we (and most of the audience) sat there going, "What. Was. The. Point?"

Obviously this was an anti-war movie. It had absolutely nothing to do with honor or victory or the incredible sacrifice and stellar performance of our military during Desert Storm and Desert Shield. It had everything to do with a producer's personal agenda in my opinion.

This disgusts me since I personally know soldiers who served. One was a male nurse named Mark. I saw what it took for him to leave his civilian career, and his family. I saw the health problems he dealt with upon returning.

And you know what? I think he'd do it again in a heartbeat for freedom.

If you want to waste eight bucks on a really sucky movie....don't bother. It's not worth spending 8 cents on. I can sum up the plot right here and save you some money and aggravation:

Two soldiers come home pouting because they didn't:
1. Get to know anyone during the war. (*Know* in the Biblical sense)
2. Didn't get to kill anyone.

Okay to be fair and unbiased in my reporting, there was one itty bitty five second part in the movie that was touching and I hate to tell you but it was when they held a fellow soldier down and actually branded him and he cried. I did like that part and felt it was poignant that the other guys accepted him despite the fact that they found out he was getting kicked out upon returning back because he'd been in trouble with the law before. It reminded me of the whole, "Love covers a multitude of sin," thing.

On a different note,

Here are some sites I recommend which I feel honor the men and women who serve:

http://www.agreaterfreedom.com

http://www.freedomalliance.org/


Squirrel

TO ALL VETERANS

THANK YOU for serving.

This is one of my favorite holidays.

My favorite soldier?

My dad who served in Vietnam.

I wish there was a way for the US to coordinate another reception for these men who undoubtedly felt another wave of the battle upon returning to what was meant to be home.

I wish we could go back and receive them with the honor and respect they deserved.


Squirrel

SPEAKING OF GOOD AUTHORS

AAAAAHHHH!!!!

I feel like a celebrity has signed my humble little blog!

Donna Fleisher http://www.donnafleisher.com/ writes military fiction---my favorite!

YEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

I'm pleased to announce I won one of her books from Camy's contest.

Speaking of Camy, she did a wonderful series on time management for writers.

Check it out......

http://marilynngriffith.typepad.com/word_praize/camy_tang/

Then get back to work! LOL!

Squirrel

STORY STRUCTURE

I have a good friend (waving to Camy) who probably has the keenest set of eyes for structural editing of anyone I know. She's got me interested in figuring out exactly what constitutes good story structure so that I can be sure my stories have it.

Until Camy and I began discussing some of this in detail, I honestly didn't have a clue what the definition of structure was. (Not a good thing since I'm heading into my 10th category or Novella length mss) So I've been reading up on a lot of James Scott Bell's articles. He has a book called Plot and Structure (ISBN: 158297294X) that I've been reading.

I noticed a strange thing. Without knowing what structure was, according to articles and this book, explaining what structure is, at least 7 of my mss have it. It's not perfect by any means, but it's there. The beginning, the middle, the end, and all the elements that should basically happen in each.

Now this freaked me out. How did this happen? The only explanation is that maybe it came from being an avid reader of authors who knew their craft.

If you'd like to know more about story structure, here are some helpful links.

www.jamesscottbell.com

www.jamesscottbell.com/tips.html

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/158297294X?v=glance

www.camytang.com


Happy structuring!

Squirrel

WRITING UPDATE: IN THE WAITING

No, Steeple Hill did not call me yet to tell me they love my book and want to buy it. At the very least I'd be getting a revision request anyway. But some time this month or next, I should be getting word on the story my agent sent out. I'll let you know how it goes either way.

I'll bet you wonder if I'm going crazy in the mean time. Actually, I'm too busy to even worry about the possible rejections I'm facing. After I got my first rejection out of the way, I learned not to sit around staring at the phone. I also learned how paranoid the postmen get when you stalk them every day. Okay, so I'm exaggerating. We don't have a postman. Just a postmistress.

Besides, I don't stalk them every day. The Post Office is closed on Sunday. :-)

SO what does one do when they've sent a story off to an editor or agent?

I don't know what most people do, but here's what I do, which is also what I recommend you do:

PRAY alot.
Forget about the stuff you have out there and get to work on another WIP (Work In Progress)

Doing this serves several purposes in my opinion. It helps the wait not seem so long and agonizing. It gives you a back up in case your first (or whatever) story gets rejected. It helps you not bank your whole heart on the story you have on the editor's desk. Once you start the new story, you'll hopefully begin to fall in love with your new characters, focus your mind on your new plot to take your mind off the old one.

ANOTHER UPDATE:

I'm writing for two and maybe three ezines.

ACFW's newsletter. I'm now a regular columnist. I do writing excercises monthly. I'm so ecited to have this opportunity to serve a wonderful group such as American Christian Fiction Writers.

A Greater Freedom -is a faith-based military media based website. I hope to be actively involved in this one because I believe 100% in what Sara Horn is doing with that. It's a great way to encourage our men and women who have served as well as who are serving in the military.

A Cup of Hope(Invigorating Inspiration) ezine

These are in addition to being a regular contributor to the Penned From the Heart Devotional book and Rubyzine for teen girls.

Here are the links.

http://www.invigoratinginspiration.com
http://www.agreaterfreedom.com
www.our.homewithgod.com/rubyzine
www.americanchristianfictionwriters.com

I'm also still in a wonderful writing program called Christian Writer's Guild. Check this link out, too.

www.ChristianWritersGuild.com


Check them out.

Oh, while your at it, check out my website, too. I'm getting rid of the music soon. I keep my computer muted so I didn't even realize my webmistress had even put tunes on there. LOL. I don't care for elevator music though and websites with music annoy me so the music is going bye-bye with my next update.

www.CherylWyatt.com


Have a great day!

Squirrel

NOVEMBER PROMPT CONTEST

Sorry I'm a little late with November's prompts, I had a ton of deadlines for Nov. 1. Plus my DSL server isn't recognizing my password. Sigh. I've been having to walke uphill both ways in the snow to get to a library to check and send my email. *snicker*

October's winners were:

Becky and Ann!!!

PROMPT CONTEST RULES:

Write a scene of approximately 500 words following my prompt rules. Email your entry to

anavim4him @ gmail . com (no spaces) by November 20th. Winners will be announced by November 25th at which time I will give a list of prizes. (There are usually 4-10 books to choose from, either non-fiction classic writing-related books, Bestselling Christian devotional type books, or the newest releases of Christian Fiction.) All prize books are brand new.

Author of story retains all rights to story. I do not reproduce, print, or publish any portion of the entry anywhere. The purpose for this contest is to promote Christian Fiction and Non-fiction and to help aspiring writers learn the craft of writing, as well as to provide prompts to generate your creativity.

Happy writing!

Here's November's Prompt:

Write a 500 word scene using at least 5 of the following words.

Tamper
Snow
Car
Headlights
Sled
Yard Ornament
Tree
Squirrel
Slip
Fall
Crack
Widow
Detective
Red Paint

This story can be funny, romantic, a mystery, action/adventure, chick lit....whatever you want it to be.

Squirrel

Pastor Electrocuted

This story broke my heart as he had three little children and a wife. I read one blog where someone commented that he was the exact age Jesus was when He died. So young. A friend of mine in one of my writing groups said something about filing this incident mentally in that file labeled, "The things we don't understand about God," (I'm paraphrasing). She went on to say that file is so full, she can't even get the drawer closed anymore. I dont pretend to understand why He allowed this to happen. I'm not going to defame the family by spouting my ignoramus human opinion when I don't have a clue about the mind of God and His wisdom. I believe His compassion is with that family, and I believe He will take care of that grief-stricken mother and those little children. I'm so thankful He draws not just near, but very near to the brokenhearted, to those crushed in spirit. My prayers go out to this family. May they have a strong sense of God's embrace as He carries them through this.


Squirl

OBEDIENCE

Yep. You heard me right.

First of all, sorry for the long delay between posts. My server was down for awhile, and I've actually been in a writing challenge. We were supposed to finish a book in two weeks. Okay so I got to 180 pages. I was 100 pages short because I couldn't seem to turn off my internal editor with this story. Sigh. But hey, I got over two thirds of the book written!

What does that have to do with obedience? I'm getting to that.

I hadn't been very disciplined with my writing the past couple of months and I was beginning to feel that little nudge on my shoulder from God. He called me into a writing cave a couple of years ago. Told me to quit (gasp) volunteering at the crisis pregnancy center, quit committing to certain programs at the church, quit IM'ing my friends so much, quit playing Spider Solitaire instead of writing. He wanted me to get these books written. Okay, so when I drift from my mission, He has to steer me back. I get easily distracted so I'm glad He keeps me on a short leash. I need that. I need to stay the course. I sometimes gripe at God because I haven't heard Him speak anything profound to me lately. Oh I always know he loves me and all that. I'm talking about directional words.

He gave me direction all right. He said, "Why would I tell you the next thing to do when you haven't obeyed the last thing I told you to do? Go back in your cave and finish the books I told you to finish by year's end."

OOOOkay. So I hope He's explaining all this to my church friends who may think I've backslidden or worse, dropped off the face of the planet. The pulling away from serving is very hard for me because I have a problem caring what others think of me. Plus I love to serve. Nevermind that this is also the season in my husband and I's year where we're gone A LOT. But I just have to trust that one day they'll understand. My main gift and calling in the church is intercessory prayer. I can do that no matter where I'm at, and I do. I know there will be a season coming up when God will call me to volunteer more, serve more in the church. Be more involved in teh extarcurricular activities. Do something besides just show up. This is a hard issue for me because I love to serve. If I see a need, I want to meet it. If I see something that needs to be done, I do it now and ask questions later. So these past couple of years has been hard for me in that regard.

Obedience is never, ever easy.

But it's always, always worth it.

Squirrel

Orphans

This morning at a women's prayer group God did some really awesome stuff. Two gals prayed for me (waving to Val and Becky!), and I left that meeting more peaceful than I have been in a long time. I also went there knowing that Marcie had some words of encouragement for me. And boy did she. I'll share them in another blog entry. I also went instinctually knowing*** that if Obsitu came, she'd have wisdom from God for me. I waited. At the end, she encouraged me without me prompting her about a decision I'm facing regarding a trip to India to visit children that were orphaned by the tsunami. The strange thing is, when I was invited to go, none of the people knew that was a strong theme in my book. So I really think this is a God thing. I'm a mom. They're orphans. I'm going to love them. I think my books will be better for it, but at the same time, my life will be irrevokably changed by those children. Even though I write fiction, my books have a voice. One speaks for the children. One speaks for the soldiers. One speaks for the families who have to let them go serve to keep the rest of us safe. I beleive this trip will help validate my research, and strengthen the voice calling out to the hearts of people to reach out to these little ones.

Last night at church, Jamie's message was so awesome. One thing he said was, "Sometimes God stretches us."

And all I could think was, "Yeah. Sometimes alllllllll the way to India."

Thank you, Jesus for the opportunity to go love your precious children. I'm overwhelmed to the core of my being. It's going to take a miracle to get the paperwork pushed through in time. If you want me to go, you'll expedite it. I know you will. You know my deepest fears with this. Right now, in the face of the world, I lay them down at your feet. Now stomp all over the enemy's head. Destroy this fear in my midst. Do not let it triumph over me any longer. I love what you do, Lord. Breathe life into this love for these little ones in me and others. Breathe life into my characters, and into the voice in my story. The one that speaks your words to that reader in only a way you can, in such a special, tender, intimate way that reader knows you are real, and that you really care. That you know what's going on in their life. You see what no one else does. You hear what no one else does. You feel how deep that pain runs. You know how deep the longing goes. You know. Thank you for being that kind of God.
I love you.

Squirrel

*** That might sound up there like I hear God clearly and perfectly, and honestly, I struggle through it just like everyone else does at times. Just so you know, I'm still not perfect. LOL!***

WRITING HELPS: MEMORABLE CHARACTERS

Most of my work is character-driven. The more I learn about the craft of fiction the more I learn....that I really don't know much of anything. LOL!

BUT, what I *think* character-driven means is that I know my characters more than my plot when I write the story, and that shows in the finished product. The characters drive the story rather than the plot because they're more developed. That's not to say that people with Plot-driven works have weak characterization, and vice-versa.

You can be perfect at grammar and craft, and have no readership. Why?

Two reasons I think.

1. Because you haven't made us care about your characters, and
2. Because your plot didn't have that, "Wow!" factor.

What's a "Wow!" factor? I have no idea. It's that thing that a book or movie has that, after the final page closes, or the screen credits roll by, makes you sit there for several minutes going, "Wow."

Okay, so you may not be doing that externally because you don't want to look like a goober in front of your date. Even if it is your spouse. But internally, you're going, "Wow." You know what I'm talking about. I did it last night, after watching the movie, "SERENITY."

It had that "Wow" factor in my opinion. The characters were memorable. Meaning I thought about them long after the movie was over. I'm going to analyze each character from that movie, as to why I couldn't stop thinking about them through last night and today. I'm going to ask myself, "What was it about that character that drew me to him, or her?" "At what point in that movie did I feel compassion, or empathy toward them?" For River, the thing that pops in my mind is when the one crew member wants to toss her off the ship because (they think) she's mentally unstable. They're talking about her like she isn't there only she is. That gave me sympathy toward her. I felt for her and at taht point really began rooting for her more. Actually in one of the first scenes (I won't spoil it for you if you haven't seen the movie) River endeared herself to me because as a little girl among classmates she was the only one gutsy enough to stand up for something she beleived in, the only one who had teh courage and insight to question her authority.

Can you think of some of your favorite movie or book characters? What makes them so special to you? I'd like to know the answers. So reply here or email me with your thoughts.

Can you think of some movies or books you've read the last month where the characters still vividly stick out in your mind?

What about last year?

Ten years ago?

Why do you think that is?

How can you make your characters that vivid and long-term memorable?

Food for thought. Make those characters stand out...or sit down, or jump off a building to save a heroine, or face her worst fear for her hero, or whatever it is they do to stand out in the reader's mind.


Squirrel

PROMPT CONTEST RULES REMINDER

Sorry I didn't post these rules with the last few prompts...brain fizzz.

Here are the rules for Squirrel's Story Starter:

Write a 500 word scene following the Prompt instructions and email it to me at anavim4him@gmail dot com (Replace "dot" with an actual "." and close the spaces.

I don't get all bent out of shape if the word count goes over since the idea of the Story Starter is to, well, start a story. LOL.

Contest ends the 20th of each month and winner is notified by the 25th of each month. Prizes are sent out that week and new prompt posted by the 1st of each new month.

Entrants retain all rights to their entries so I do not epublish or post entries anywhere.

Reply or email me with any questions,

Squirrel

OMINOUS CODE FINALS IN JASMINE CONTEST

A good friend (thanks, Michelle!!!) just IM'd me with the wonderful news. This story is one of my favorite stories. I've stopped entering contests for this year, but here's a run down of my finals and wins:

(all these were in the Inspirational Category)

CODE YELLOW
First Place Where the Magic Begins 2004
Second place Heart of the Rockies 2005

OMINOUS CODE
Finalist Jasmine contest 2005

COVENANT SEAL
First place Contemporary Romance Category Noble Theme 2005
Second place TARA 2005

AMBIENT BETRAYAL
Finalist Touched by Love 2005


CONGRATS TO ALL THE OTHER FINALISTS AND WINNERS!
THANKS JUDGES FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK!!!

Squirrel

OCTOBER PROMPT CONTEST-Squirrel's Story Starter for October

October prompt contest:
This month's prizes will be choice of two of any of the following from Steeple Hill's Love Inspired and Suspense September lineup

Dana Corbit's On The Doorstep
Shirlee McCoy's Die Before Nightfall
Debra Clopton's The Trouble With Lacy Brown
Tracey V. Bateman's Suspicion of Guilt


Here's the prompt for October:

Write a scene beginning with this sentence:

"You'll never guess what I just found in my mailbox."

Weave these words (appropriately) into the scene:

pale
pail
sent
cent
scent
Their
There
They're
This month's contest ends October 20th. Winner will be notified by October 25th. November's prompt will be posted before November 1st. Prize books will be sent out as soon as winner is notified and decides which book they want.

Happy writing!!!

You can go for suspense, humor, romance, any of the lit's or whatever you want.

BLUSH AND CRINGE SEPT 29

At the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference in Nashville recently I accidentally handed one of the editors my room key instead of my business card. EEEEK! I kept both of them tucked in my name badge. If you were that editor, and you are reading this, it was an honest mistake. Honest!

Squirrel

NOBLE THEME FIRST PLACE WINNER

In the Contemporary Romance Category was....


ME!


Can you believe it?

Here are the rest of the winners:

Noble Theme 2005 Final Results:

Contemporary Romance
1 - Covenant Seal by Cheryl Wyatt
2 - Honor Bound by Tamara Cooper
3 - The Shepherd by Ruth Logan Herne

General Fiction
1 - The First Gift by Ruth Logan Herne
2 - When The Heart Cries by Cindy Woodsmall
3 - The Little Church that Wouldn't Die by Paula Moldenhauer

General Historical
1 - Windows in the Dark by Sara Probasco
2 - Distant Thunder by Christina Miller
3 - Solemn Vows by Jill Johnson

Historical Romance
1 - Love on a Dime by Carolyn Slaughter
2 - Precious Possessions by Audra L. Harders
3 - A Chasing After Wind by Julie Lessman

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
1 - Furious Dragon by Camy Tang
2 - Home Runs by Rebecca L. Deel
3 - Assault of Evil by Robin Miller

Romantic Suspense
1 - Undo the Dark by Margaret Moseley
2 - Voice of Bells by Suzan Robertson
3 - Broken by Katie CushmanScience

Fiction/Fantasy/Allegory
1 - Star's Daughter by Lynette Sowell
2 - Riders of the Dream by Kristine E. Pratt
3 - Liberty's Son by Ronie Kendig

The Janet Grant award for Outstanding New Writer 2005 - Margaret Moseley,Undo The Dark


The most awesome thing about the conference was the victory of my obedience though. Last year at ACFW I went with my own agenda. This year I went praying like breathing and with a heart to serve others. I know God asked me to go focused on others and not myself. I poured myself into that and I can honestly tell you the fact that God enabled me to have a soft heart that said yes when He asked me to give up my own agenda for the sake of others is the true victory for me. I'll tell you though, winning the Noble Theme was pretty awesome, too!

Thanks judges!

Squirl

BLUSH AND CRINGE

Yeah, yeah. I know. I've fallen off the Blogwagon again.

I didn't feel right posting this on the Steeple Hill message boards so I said I would post it here. One of the gals over there had a typo (something I can relate to) and put "Hell" instead of "Hello." This is the Christian arm of Harlequin so to speak which makes it even funnier to me.

Made me think of something I did once. I was responding in jest to one of my writing instructors (an editor no less) in response to an email from him saying he had been late sending my assignments back since he was under a deadline crunch with the column he does. My reply email suggested he get all his ducks in a row.

After I hit send I realized I had hit the I instead of the U in ducks....

Sigh. Leave it to me.

WRITING UPDATES

SIgned my agent contract today! Cried with joy and profound thankfulness. Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Tamela! Thank you, Joyce at Hartline Literary Agency for taking me on.

I'm attending a writer's conference in a few days. I'm going with a heart to serve, and praying like breathing.

Squirrel

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HELP KATRINA VICTIMS

Habitat for Humanity is also collecting for hurricane relief. If previous disasters are any indication, they'll be working hard to rebuild the area long after the media forgets about Katrina. They can be found online at habitat.org.

Thanks to Julie for reminding me of this one.



Squirrel

HELP KATRINA VICTIMS TODAY

Didn't get to blog yesterday...was in bed with the flu. Still not feeling well today but wanted to give you some links in case you're wondering how to help Katrina victims throught legit means.


Salvation Army (it took a loooong time to get through to this link, but I'm ondial-up)https://secure1.salvationarmy.org/donations.nsf/donate?openform&projectid=USN-hurricane205> To donate by phone, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY..> To donate by mail, send checks, earmarked 'disaster relief,' to PO BOX 4857JACKSON, MS 39296-4857.> Visit your local Wal-Mart or Sam's Club to donate to The Salvation Army'sHurricane Katrina relief effort.American Red Cross:http://www.RedCross.org

In some areas, Lowe's Home Improvements was collectingalso and will match contributions.

Also, the phone number for the American Red Cross is 1-800-HELP-NOW for making donations.

Give Now - NAMB.net http://www.namb.net/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.246846/k.DF35/Give_Now.htmChoose "Disaster Relief" from the giving options. You can pay with credit card and there is a PAYPAL option.

Your denomination may have a disaster organization. Rather than list them allhere, I'll just say they exist (CRWRC, UMCOR, etc.). Church World Service is anumbrella organization that helps, too. Here's a link:http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm


Squirrel

BLOGGING FOR KATRINA RELIEF

Tommow my blog will be dedicated to encouraging people to help with disaster relief. Ten dollars might not seem like a lot, but if 100, 1000, or even 10,000 people gavce 10 dollars, think what that could do. So please, I urge you to give. I'm going to give through World Vision.

www.worldvision.org

Even if you can't help monetarily, prayer is invaluable. Please pray for people who've lost loved ones, houses, possessions, etc.

Pray for the authorities to be able to stop the looters.

Here are some links if you want to be involved with promoting "Blog for Relief"


http://instapundit.com/archives/025235.php

http://technorati.com/tag/flood%20aid

http://technorati.com/tag/hurricane+katrina

Squirrel

HURRICANE KATRINA

Everyone in her path, prayers are flooding Heaven for you.

If you're in the path of this monster storm and think you can ride it out, don't be prideful...get your patootie to a safe place, especially if you have charge over small children unable to get themselves to safety. No business, or boat, or house, or car is worth more than your life. You are precious to God. Listen to authorities. Please do not try to leave the shelters until it's all clear. May you get the help and support you need.

Father, protect these people. Bring your divine intervention to any trapped or missing. Please get help to those in need. Speak to this storm, "Be still." You can. Please do. In Jesus' name.

I found a wonderful website. I'd like to share it with you all. http://www.sarahorn.com/blog/
Squirl

SEPTEMBER PROMPT CONTEST AND AUGUST WINNER

Big congrats going out to J.T.M. for winning August prompt contest. Also big congrats to the runner's up (tied) for Honorable Mention: G.R. and A.D.

Ann has won before and Gretchen is a first time entrant. Fabulous, huh!

Here's the prompt for September:

1. Begin a (approx 500 word) scene with one of the following sentences:

"Did you hear who's back in town?"
"I hate to tell you this, but someone just crashed into your________with a ______." (Fill in the blanks and go from there.)

2. Incorporate each of these words into your scene: (Note: Each can be nouns or verbs, and past tense can be used.)

String
Hit
Pop
Scream
Laugh
Play
Can
Wreck


3. Setting must begin in an office setting. I'm looking for strong description with this prompt. Use all five senses. Let me hear, see, smell, feel, taste what your character does.

Happy Writing! Contest will end September 20, 2005 and winner will be announced by September 25, 2005.

Winner will receive their choice of one writing craft book and one work of fiction. Choices will be listed some time this week.

Honorable mention will receive their choice of one book, either on the craft of writing or a work of fiction.

Ready.........Set............WRITE!


Squirrel

READY....SET....SLACK... + INTERESTING INTERVIEW

Okay. Okay. So I fell off the proverbial blog wagon. I've been enjoying my company. But now it's back to blogging faithfully.

Did an interview today for a Canadian reporter about Steeple Hill Suspense. It wasn't painful or life threatening and was actually kind of fun. I didn't get hives or even chicken pox from it.

He asked me how I was. Asked me my age. Asked if I was a housewife. I resisted the urge to say, "No sir, I'm a human wife." **Snicker** I told him and he said, "Yeah. You're just the age of those who typically read romantic suspense." Okay. So the interview was uneventful up to that point.

He asked me which books I've read in the romantic suspense line. I told him. He then commented he was reading one of the ones I'd read. He asked me what I particularly liked about them. I said the ones I'd read so far had grabbed my attention from page one and held my attention all the way through. I said I thought they were character-driven which I liked. I like the category length because I could get through the books faster. Small enough to take them in my purse to appointments, etc. I said the characters so far seemed real to me, and that I found myself thinking about them long after the story was over. He didn't veer into theological questions really. He did ask whether I enjoyed the fact that the characters were Christians. I said I enjoyed that since I am a Christian but that I also enjoy books where the characters aren't Christian. I told him I read a wide variety of suspense and find the quality of the Steeple Hill books the same as secular ones.

Tangeant: I have family members and friends who, for some reason, are under the impression that Christian fiction isn't the same calibur as secular fiction. So I ask them, "When's the last time you actually read Christian fiction?" Most say over ten years. Sheesh. Well no wonder. So I say, "You need to read some. I think it would change your mind." Anyway, back to the interview, I told him I found the quality of the writing to be the same calibur as secular suspense and I read the books because they are suspense and not because they are Christian. Although I do like the fact that I can recommend SH books to my teen and preteen nieces who enjoy romance without having to be concerned with the content or covers. I told him I read for escape and entertainment and SHS does that for me.

I said I like the plots of the books I've read so far because they had interesting twists and were unpredictable. I don't like predictable suspense(personal pet peeve) and I haven't personally found that in the SHS. It kept me guessing and reading. He asked me what I thought about the endings. I said, they were satisfying. I tend to like action/adventure suspense more than murder/mystery/mayhem type suspense, but the mystery elements in the SHS so far have impressed me and I'd highly recommend books.

I said the books haven't disappointed me so far and I was really glad they decided to launch a suspense line because I'd really enjoyed Love Inspired's Faith on the Line series. I think that was about it. I'll blog more if I remember any more. It was relatively painless. He said he's a wire reporter and that several publications would probably pick up the article. I'm assuming that means newspapers and maybe even magazines. Cool, eh?

Oh and the coolest part...I think one of the editors recommended me to the publicist. I go by Squirl (mispelling intentional) on the SH message boards. I think it's awesome that the editors are aware of the frequent posters. Okay, well I stalk people around the boards, but hey...it's fun.

I love the eharlequin community. So if you're ever down and need a great laugh, or a lump of sincere encouragement, visit www.Steeplehill.com Go to the bottom of the main page and click "Talk" Then find the Steeple Hill thread and you'll find me and my friends skittering around there. I've met some of my closest friends through those boards, including my very special author mentor. (Hi Margaret!)

A lot of authors hang out there regularly and I've grown so much in craft because of them. It's a great place to hang out, learn, laugh, make friends, and great connections if you're an aspiring writer. Even if you're a reader or published author, you'll fit right in. Even the editors pop in and post once in awhile. You can also purchase books online from the link I gave you up there. There are also writing helps and articles, and submission guidelines for every Harlequin/sillhouette/etc/ line. It's a well spring of opportunity, information, with potential to make life-long friends and do valuable networking.

Do check it out. Drop by, say "Hey" at least.

Later,

Squirl

ANNOUNCEMENTS: WAITING

To hear my agent's (that feels awesome rolling off my tongue!!!) thoughts on the proposal I sent her. When she's satisfied with it, she'll mail it on the the acquisitions editor who requested it.

Contests:
Didn't final in the Maggie and desperately wanted to for personal reasons. Didn't final in Lone Star and wanted to because that was one of the contests I came in last when I began entering. It will interest me to see if I moved up in the que though. One thing's for sure...I have no possibility of moving down since I came in dead last! ROFL!

However, I am one of three Noble Theme finalists in teh Contemporary Romance category (did I tell you this already?) for ACFW's contest. Winner will be announced at the conference in September. I'm very sad for my friends who didn't make the cut. It convinces me all the more that contests are SO subjective. But one thing not finaling is good for is preparing writers for editor and agent rejection. Persistance is key in this industry. I can't think of a single author I know who didn't go through a season of rejection either before selling or afterwards. It's just something we all have to go through. I don't know why I was so naieve as to think I would be an exception to that. I know it wasn't because of pride because I didn't know any better. So ignorance of the system was probably why I assumed that. Plus the fact that a lot of writers don't talk about or share their rejections until you get to know them.

I'm praying about who to meet with at that conference as far as editors. I can't really pitch to a SH editor since I already have a story with them. So I'm thinking about getting an appt with an editor who only takes proposals/submissions from agented or previously published person, or from folks who've attended conferences. Don't need an agent appt. unless mine plans on attending and wants to meet with me. She's awesome, and did I mention I love her books? You can obtain them at Walmart, K-mart, and Target in the inspirational section under the Heartson Presents. Or get them from Amazon. To see her new or upcoming releases, go to www.Tamelahancockmurray.com and you'll see the titles and covers of her books there.

Nothing else new in the way of announcements except I am now agented. YEEEE!

Also, I clicked the blogger button that said, "Next blog" and read one girl. She was from St. Louis County, and her blog was chemical something. Now I can't find that blog. She posted that she might close the blog bc she thinks no one's reading it. I wanted to tell her I'm reading it. Hopefully I can find it again in this huge blogosphere.



Squirrel

That Man & Dream 

Squirrel and Mr. Squirrel 

Deb Giusti TBL winner and Mae Nunn 

Cathy Marie Hake & Squirrel 

Squirrel and Cathy Mann 

Suzanne Brockmann and Squirrel 

Just ONE load of books I got from the booksigning!!!  

Jaen and Kacie 

Marta 

Margaret and Squirrel 

Squirrel and Rita Winner Shelley Bates 

Bottom left to top right: Dana, Cynthia, Dream, Squirrel 

LIFE WITH GOD--writing related.

Yesterday at church we were talking about what it means to be a true disciple and having the right foundation. The thing that stuck out in my mind the most about Sondor's message was John 16 when Jesus said, "In this life we will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world."

Here's the deal: I don't like to hear things like this. I automaticly go into fret-mode. (The worst scenarios possible come to my mind.) Then I start picking and choosing in my mind the bad things that I'd like it to be instead of the worst bad things that it could be. Children abducted, husband gets brain injury and loses the capability of his mind, that sort of terrible aweful thing. So I think, well, a house fire would be aweful but not as aweful as the above. Like Natalie's mom not knowing where she is. Stuff like that. A parent's worst nightmare. So then I go into secondary bad thing thoughts. House fire, loss of income, death of child or other family member, lawsuit, etc, etc.

I'm trying to surrender this to God, so just hold on to your horses. I admit to God that I'm scared to death of what will come. And trouble will come. Bleck. I almost mistyped that verse up there as, "In this trouble, life will come..." I'm thinking that also has an element of truth in it.

Why do I torture myself when the underlying issue is trust? Don't I trust Him enough to know that even if something worse that the worst possible thing my mind can think up (I'm a writer, guys, my mind can think up some pretty aweful stuff) that He would not abandon me in the midst of it? Don't I remember the other things I've gone through in my life? The things He got me through that I never thought I'd get through? So why would I fear what's to come? It could be stuff as simple as difficulty with relationships. Why do I always imagine the worst anyway? Ugh. I hate that about me. I really do and pray God would heal my mind and heart of all this fear.

So if you struggle with stuff like this...just know....no matter what comes...He will never leave you. He hasn't promised that trouble won't come. He's warned that it will. It rains on the Just. It rains on the Unjust. And sometimes....it just rains. He'll be there with you. I learned last night that my best days with God are not behind me but ahead of me. Lord Jesus, help me to saturate myself with you, so that when trouble does come, I'm not tossed overboard...into the depths without hope or help. I will ride the storm out because you love me and refuse to leave your post beside me in this rocky boat called life. You are faithful. I'm sorry for forgetting that. Perfect Love casts out all fear. Deal with it, Lord. Get rid of the junk in my heart. The things in my mind that reflect a lack of love for you and for others.

Another thing: why do I feel like I'm the only person in my life who knows how to apologize first and really mean it? I've apparently deeply hurt some people very close to me. (Surprise! Thought I was perfect, didn't you?) Well guess what? I'm not. The difference between me and some other people (no one I know) is that I know this about me. I freely admit that I have faults. I'm severely flawed. I think awful things in my mind and I say awful things and do awful things. But God knows my heart. I'm not saying that in a vindicative way. I'm saying it in this way: Yes. God knows my heart. He knows the evil that I'm capable of. The evil that I think and do. And He loves me anyway.

He also knows that I know it and that I'm sorry for it. He knows that I know that I can't change myself. He also knows how I beg Him in secret to change me because I don't want to be this way. I don't want to hurt those around me. But you know what? As long as there's life in me...I probably will. Not because I want to, or intend to, but because I am not perfect yet. He loves me the way I am but loves me too much to leave me that way. I don't want an obstinant heart.

Guess what? You're not perfect either. You do awful things and say awful things and think awful things. But guess what else? He still loves you anyway. This unconditional love is not exclusive to me no matter how spiritual you think I am. Like my stories, I am a Work In Progress. The thing I want you to get from this is His sustaining love doesn't just apply to those of us who know Him and love Him. In fact, He loved every one of us first. When we had no thoughts of Him. When we outright ignored Him. When we were in willful disobedience...He died for us. Not after He knew we'd choose to love and serve Him. He went to that cross without any guarantee that it would make a difference. But it did. So I hope this love arrests and captures you. I hope He becomes real to you. The person of Jesus. Not religion. Not what the church said or did that hurt you. Pure Jesus.

So if He's drawing, don't harden yourself to Him over and over. Please. That is a very, very dangerous place to be. Disobedience will petrify your heart, people. In case you haven't figured this out yet: people will always disappoint you. Especially me. So don't put your hope in people. Put your hope in God. He will never disappoint you. Never. And He'll help you deal with difficult people in your life who intentionally or unintentionally hurt you. One of those people would be me. But God and I...well, we're working on it. So instead of fearing what will come in this life, maybe I should be more concerned with the response of my heart to the trouble that will come. To the trouble that's here. I don't want my heart to be hardened. I want to see my faults. All thousand ugly of them. I don't want an adultrous heart against God. I want to stay soft, moldable, teachable.

To make this writing related: Like my story wips, God is still editing me. Editing is hard. You have to take things out, and put new things in. You have to let go of things you love. You have to hear hard things about your writing (and yourself). But in the end it will all be worth it because it will make the story (and your heart) better for it. Something beautiful. Like gold. But gold only shines after it's gone through fire. Submit. Obey. Root and center yourself in Him so that when He edits you through trouble or discipline, the foundation of your faith will not be shaken.

May my heart stary tender to His discipline and my faith stay strong and authentic in the storms. I pray that for every person reading this right now, too. Let us know yo better through it so the suffering becomes a treasure on the other side of the pain. Sometimes the other side of the pain doesn't come until Heaven. But we are safe in suffering if we remain in You. So help us God to remain in you. Help us to learn everything we're supposed to learn through the hard things we go through. Because it's occurred to me through something someone said once that you can't really fail the tests of God. He's one of those teachers who lets you take the test over and over and over until you pass it. Death is the only thing that will halt your chances. So I pray for you and for me, that we can learn the first time. So we don't have to take that test again.

Squirrel

THAT MAN

Okay, so I admit I pirated that term from my dear friend Danica. When her husband does something not to her liking, his name is not "dear" or "Randy" or "Hubby," it's "That Man."

Since I find great humor in that, I'm glad my snickering husband got to hear me refer to him that way. Just now. Three seconds ago.

As I was posting that last blog entry, he walks past the puter, stops, reads the caption to my blog, "Squirrel's Treehouse," and proceedes to snicker and say, "Shouldn't that be called Squirrel's Nuthouse?"

"THAT MAN!" Thanx Dream, I feel better.

OH....Oh!!! And do you know my man has a mistress? Dream has a mistress. It's her computer. When her husband tries to touch it, she says, "are you fondling my mistress again?"

Since my husband was present when that was said, the next time I pick up the phone, I can probably expect to hear, "Are you feeling my mistress up again?" Yes. My husband's mistress is the phone. Oh..and something else....he has more than one. Yes, at the same time. I'm serious. He'll be talking on the home phone (mistress #1) then when his cell phone rings, he talks to that person with his other mistress...cell phone (AKA Mistress # 2)

I might be a nut, but at least I'm screwed onto the right bolt. Plus, I rest my case that living with him would send anyone teetering over the edge of sanity.

Squirl---who really does love her man.

BLUSH AND CRINGE and My BIGGEST PRAYER

The fact that I thought today was Sunday instead of Saturday down there. So oh well, it's my post and I can cry if I want to, cry if I want to, cry if I want to.........

So tomorrow, the REAL Sunday, I'll do LIFE WITH GOD....which, according to my obsessive compulsive schedule....was supposed to happen today.

I'll do a verse tomorrow, too. In fact, I'm chewing on one right now that I heard in church tonight.

Got to see some dear, dear friends who left to go on a church plant elsewhere in the US. I can really understand in the Bible when Paul and the others said things such as, "my heart longs to be with you again, but I must go where God tells me, and you must go where God sends you...." type scriptures. Man, the heartache. I miss them so badly. That's all part of the alluring hope of Heaven though. There will be no more separation or painful losses there. No such thing as missing because (hopefully...if you've asked Jesus to be your God and meant it for life) there will be no more goodbyes and we'll all be together forever. I think the worst part of Hell is going to be the eternal separation from God. No way back once that bridge is burned. It rips my heart and guts out to think of my friends and family not being there with me. Or my children. Biggest prayer of my life, biggest desire of my heart...if I could ask you to do anything, it would be to BE THERE. Please be there. Jesus is the only way. He loves us and have himself up to give us the chance. And like we want to be with our loved ones, we are his loved ones, you, me, the person next to you, and he longs for us to be with Him.

Thank you, Jesus.

Whatever comes, don't let us run....away. Hold us forever. I love you.

Cheryl "Squirrel" Wyatt

WORLD TRADE CENTER TAPES--REMEMBER.

Most of you know I write Inspirational Military Romance. If you didn't, you do now. So I have a special place in my heart for those willing to sacrifice for freedom.

I listened to a few of the newly released World Trade Center tapes yesterday. I also read some of the first hand paramedic, EMT, and firefighter accounts of that day. I can tell you it really helped me get over my niggling frustration with our troops still being in Iraq.

I'm not ashamed to say I love our President and think he's a great man of God. Still I had questions in the back of my mind like, "will this war really make a difference in the face of history? Or when we pull our troops out of there, will things just go back the way they were?"

This is my blog, and I'll always be honest. You may agree with me, you may not. But one thing I think we've lost sight of in all of the anti-war media: evil men chose to infiltrate our country for the sole purpose of planning and exacting those attacks. They came on our turf and started this fight. They killed thousands upon thousands in a matter of minutes then rejoiced over it. Children lost fathers and mothers. Wives and husbands, girlfriends & boyfriends lost the loves of their lives. Fathers and mothers lost children. Not to mention cousins, aunts, uncles, coworkers, friends.

It affected every single person in our country emotionally. So as you sit in your easy chair annoyed because one more American soldier died today, I ask you to do three things. Pray for our troops and allied forces. Pray against the evil that delights in terror.

And remember.

Remember.

Remember.

Remember the lives lost when those planes blew through those towers. Remember the horror of that black, gaping hole right before the buildings collapsed, taking all life with them. Remember the people who had to choose whether to burn to death or jump. Remember people running for their lives from the wall of toxic ash. Remember the broken Pentagon. Remember the passengers who died while thwarting the plane that didn't make it's mark.

Remember why our soldiers are over there. For freedom. For those who died. For those who have to live life missing their loved ones.

Remember.



Since today is Sunday, here's my prayer. Borrow as you wish.


BORROWED PRAYERS

Lord, help us to stay the course of our purpose on this earth. First and foremost that is to love you with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. Show us what this means exactly. Give us unquenchable desire for you. Be with our soldiers and the allied soldiers. Please help them catch the terrorist leaders like Osama Bin Laden and the others still at large. Take down in other realms the instigators of terror, Lord. Show them who's God. Protect our troops. Give grace to the loved ones. Bless their sacrifice. Bless the little children. Draw those people to yourself. You are Truth, and bless the warriors who've left their homeland to chase this terror because they know freedom is worth fighting for. When they get discouraged or homesick, be with them. Draw near to them. Grant strength emotionally, physically, spiritually. Help them remember why they're there. Help them remember. In Jesus' name. Let it be.

BLOGANIZATION

Okay. Any one of my close friends can tell you I'm an organizational freak. Sooooooo I'm organizing my blog. Here's the deal.


Mondays: ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tuesdays: PRACTICAL HELP FOR WRITERS
Wednesdays: ENCOURAGEMENT FOR WRITERS
Thursdays: BLUSH & CRINGE
Fridays: RANTS & RANDOM THOUGHTS
Saturdays: LIFE WITH GOD
Sundays: BORROWED PRAYERS & VERSE

Under announcements I'll put things like Market updates, contest notices, finals or wins, and once I get published, upcoming releases for books.

Practical help for writers will include craft tips, editing tips, organizational strategies, etc.

Encouragement for writers will be something I pray about from week to week, as I ask God to tell me what to say here. I'm trusting Him to reach through this blog to minister to your needs. This won't only apply to writers but anyone chasing after a dream or waiting for God's promises.
I'll also add words of advice from pros here.

Blush and Cringe: If you're not familiar with this, I admit something embarrassing about myself. This is one of the most popular things that brings folks to my blog. So if you're in need of a chuckle, stay-tuned.

Rants and Random thoughts: Well, just what it says.

Life with God: Stuff God's dealing with me on, or answered prayers. I call it life with God, but actually God is my life so of course I can't leave Him out. He simply is.

Borrowed Prayers and Verse: Where I pray something and encourage you to use the prayer in your time of need. Verse, a random verse


Now, after a month or so I may rearrange things if I find I'm missing things or need another slot for something else I think up to do. My prompt contests will fall under announcements.

Later,

Squirrel

HELP FOR WRITERS: PERSISTANCE PAYS OFF

I'm going to post some things I heard editors say at the recent conference I went to. I find it strange that I heard this same thing from five different editors, nearly word for word. It deals with persistance through rejection and scathing contest scores.

They said, "It's not the most talented that end up making it (becoming published) but the most persistant."

BORROWED PRAYERS and Pouring my vial of words over Him

Father God: thank you that you are a giver of dreams. Help us to commit our gifts and talents to you, to be used by You for whatever purpose. Whether that's to entertain, to provide a temporary reprieve from the reality of life, or as a means for you to reach through the works of our hands to take the hand of someone hurting and draw them unto yourself. Just as you lavish us with good gifts, help us lavish you back. You are worthy, Lord God of praise and honor and thanksgiving. You are worthy of worship. You are worthy of everything that is in us. You are worthy of first place in our hearts. Come now, take up your rightful place in our lives and in our hearts. In our gifts, talents, abilities. As the three kinds brought you gifts, baby Jesus, so let us bring our talents and callings to you as an offering of love.

I speak before the world that I believe you've called me to write. It's not a career, but a calling. I beleive you cause these characters to speak to me. Even when I don't want to hear because of a hard critique or scathing contest remark. Even still, the voices whisper. Because someone out there needs to hear, needs to know that your heart is to them as it was to that character in my book.

I release the guilt of sitting me butt in this chair when I'd rather be playing with my children. For you spoke directly to my heart this weekend. (Thank you, Debbie Macomber. You have no idea how God used you. Your heart for God is evident and beautiful and inspiring. I'm sorry I missed your knitting session, but actually, your words stringed my heart back together where harsh words and doubt had ripped holes in the fabric of my spirit. God used you to heal that in me.) I now know that I am not neglecting my children. I'm teaching them that it is okay to chase a dream.

And mostly, the Giver of those dreams. Praise you, Daddy God. Praise you. Please lift those up who've been wounded in battle on this bloody road to publication. A road that I'm finding is paved with disapointment, rejection, but also, friends who will stick it out until the end, pick you back up and tug you along. Sometimes it feels like I'm crawling over broken glass on my hands and knees for miles. And why? Because God asked me to write as worship to Him. Don't write to get published. Don't write to minister. Don't write to win contests or to gain an editor's attention. Write for me. Published authors who in the only industry I've found where the mothers and fathers don't eat their young. The spirit of mentorship is awe-inspiring. I long to get to the point where I can help the little ones along the road. But I have much to learn and suspect I always will. The learning never stops, or your writing grows stale.

So for this reason, I say to the world, I pour my vial of words over you, Lord Jesus. As Mary broke the vial, and that gift meant so much to you. May my writing minister to your heart. May I always be faithful with this gift that you've entrusted me with. May I never compromise.

Receive, Lord. For you are worthy. Worthy. Worthy.

Squirrel

ADVANCED IN NOBLE THEME

Well I made it to the second round of Noble Theme Contest. I think I'm all contested out for the year though. One thing contests have taught me is that judging is highly subjective. You might final three times in a row, then bomb in the very next contest. It takes a while to figure this out though and can be very confusing and disheartening. My advice? Don't pay attention to scores, or even placement. Pay attention to consistancy. What I mean by this is look for comments that are repeated about paricular parts of your story. If three judges say they have a problem believing your hero would say a certain thing...then you may want to consider reworking that part. If one judge says they love your heroine's name but the other four say they can't stand it..by all means, you should probably consider changing it. Now if you get two comments that totally contradict one another, then don't mess with it unless you have another person (either a contest judge or critique partner) point it out as an area of concern. Above all, it's your story, not theirs and if you don't have peace about what they're saying, it's probably best to leave it alone. But stay teachable. I think that's the main thing. Hope this helps. Oh, and by the way? The first five contests I entered? I came in DEAD LAST. Now I'm finaling consistantly just one year later.

Why? Because I looked for the diamonds in the rough with contests and critiques. My diamonds were things that got consistantly pointed out by two or more judges. I paid attention to those things and pretty much ignored the rest. . .until another score sheet arrived or another critique bobbed in my inbox citing the same concern. Those are the diamonds in the rough. The things you can use. I've been a contest judge...for published authors no less and let me tell you guys, it's HARD! Not something I take lightly. The thing I try to remember is for the most part, judges are out to help you and not discourage you. If it seems they're being tough, it's probably because they see something promising in your work. Don't let it make you want to curl up in a ball and quit. Put the entry away for a few weeks. Pray a lot. Cry over it. Stomp around the house. But don't quit. Don't ever quit.

The only reason the Isrealites didn't get to see the promise land was bc they stopped believing too soon. Don't give up. Good news might be just around the corner.

I also have a feeling someone's reading this who has had a secret desire to write but you doubt yourself. Many of the desires God gives us are for things we're destined to be or do. So come out of your cave and chase that Dream if you feel a nudge in your heart by God to do so. Don't worry about what others think. The only person's opinion who matters is God's. And we have a God who is also a giver of dreams. He delights in these things, guys. So whoever you are, stop hiding. No reason to be ashamed of who He's made you. This may not only apply to the calling of writing.

Squirrel

EDITOR REQUEST!

One more thing....

My pitch resulted in a request for OC--the first story in my PJ series. YAAA! ME from Steeple Hill was SOOO nice. I forgot I was talking to an editor. I had the privelage of meeting DD, too who has a lovely shade of hair and a great sense of humor. Also got to see KS again...who burst out laughing as I tripped over a piece of cheese in front of her at the FHL banquet. Sigh. Leave it to me. (Yes. A piece of cheese. Don't ask. I don't know how it happened either.) I didn't realize it was a piece of cheese until I tried to pick it up because it looked like a dinner napkin. (Gross!) Same size, shape, color.

Squirrel

AGENTED!!!!!

I came back from Reno with some great news. The agent I've been under consideration with for has agreed to represent me! YEEEEEEEE!

Squirrel

RENO RWA 2005

I'm back from Nationals. WOW. I'll post other highlights but I'll tell you, the best piece of advice I received was from Diane Love Snell in the registration line, and from my roommate, Danica. They said, "Only pick one thing you want to learn then focus on that." (Diane) chose tow or three workshops a day that I wanted to go to and blew off the rest and bought the CD of the entire conference. One of my regrets was that I didn't attend the PRO retreat but I was torn between that and another workshop that I didn't think was being taped. Sicne many of you who read this may be attending your very first conference, I'll post some tips and highlights at a later time. I'll also post some pictures.

Squirrel.

OFF TO SEE THE.....

Wizard, the wonderful wizard of...

Wait. No. Going to RWA in Reno. So if I don't post for a week, I didn't get electrocuted on a power line...dratted squirrels.

C U all in a week. I'll tell you allllll about it when I get back.

In the meantime, you can send me thousands of emails to check when I get back.

Ugh. I'll dread checkign those. My inbox scares me. I have to get prayer for the trauma maybe...

LOL!

I'm sure I'll do a lot of goofy things to contribute to my blush and cringe. Hopefully not at my editor appt though. Yikes. An entire ten minutes to make a complete fool of myself.

Later,

Squirrel

SQUIRREL'S STORY STARTER FOR AUGUST

Integrate each of these words and phrases into a scene. I'm looking for high action here and maybe a dash of humor thrown in.

Bite (bitten, bit okay too)
Squad car
Gucci
"Drop the bag!"
Handcuffs
Storefront
Trailer
Dark
"I can't find my poodle!"
Sidewalk
Jerk
Shriek
Chase
Flailed
Pantyhose
Wig
Off duty officer
Spoiled Heiress
Fancy Restaraunt (Name it)
Kiss
Blush
------
To enter: Write a 500 word scene following the prompt directions then paste your story in the body of an email (no attachments please) and send it to me at Cheryl @ CherylWyatt dot com (no spaces, replace "dot" with ".")
Please be sure to put "August Prompt Contest" in the subject line.

Thanks to all who entered July's prompt. Every entry was outstanding and I had a very difficult time choosing the winner.

HAPPY WRITING!!!

Contest will end August 25th, winner notified by August 30th.

Congrats to July's winner SAM!!!

SQUIRREL

CONFERENCE PREPERATION WOES

BLUSH AND CRINGE

I got lighty up shoes on clearance (Wal-mart or K-mart maybe?) for 4 dollars. They look like a little glass slipper (plastic) and the heels light up when you step. I thought they'd be perfect for the awards ceremonies.

Then I went to the store to look for a pair of those undies that squish your belly in. All I could find was a pair the color of murky mudpuddle water. We're not talking black lace or white satin here. So of course I flung them at the beginning of my line of items so the cashier would ring them in first in case anybody came behind me and saw the hideous (and gigantic) things. The evil woman let everything else pass by first and wouldn't you know it...two good-looking guys and three people I know came to that line behind me. So then she holds them WAAAY up, turns them around for the world to see, says, "Can't find a tag." Calls for a manager to do a price check so now there are like fifteen people in line behind me because it's late and we're the only lane open and Evil Cashier is STILL holding those murky tan-brown girdle panties up. Manager's busy so of course it took forever for me to be able to flee the wretched scene. M-barrassing!

SO then I get home, wash them and try them on......

Ugh. Have you ever tried to stuff an elephant into a rubber band that is oh, say TEN sizes too small? So then after sweating to death, jumping up and down six hundred times and using a pair of vice grips to tug them on...realized I'd never be able to get them off to go to the bathroom. Not only that, but they were cutting off the circulation in both of my legs and you can clearly see the line even with my skirt on where they're attempting to severe your legs at the top of your thigh. So much for the girdle-grannypanties. Six bucks and I had to go through the embarrassment of calling dh to come cut them off with his razor knife, all the while he's snickering and asking me, "WHAT were those. . .those. . .THINGS?" and looking at them as if they'd been dipped in Anthrax.

Oh well. I guess it's back to the old sit ups. Or in my case. . .sit up.

I keep telling my size 1 neices, "Don't be anorexic, but don't let yourselves get to be a blimp either because this is the sort of trauma you have to deal with." LOL! Squirrel

Better hurry up and get well soon...looks like they're bringing your suppository!!! 

CONDOLENCES, LONDON

My prayers go out to London, and specifically those affected by this tragedy. Father, I ask that you bring those responsible to their knees voluntarily or otherwise. Break the power of evil and terror in our world today so that our children may live in peace and not fear. We look to You. Set your hand against your enemy and thwart the plans of terrorists before tragedy strikes. You can do this, Father we have no doubt. We cry out for the children who've lost parents, for parents who've lost little ones. Please give them a strong sense of your presence and comfort. Help them look to you for healing for their hearts and land.

Please go forth, Father as a man of war and settle this once and for all for your glory and for goodness to break forth in the world. Give our leader wisdom, as well as other leaders who love you and follow you. For those who go against you, Father I pray you bring confusion and chaos on their mind to the point they cannot function. Disable the enemy, Lord. Be glorified and magnified in the hearts of your creation. We love you and trust you. You are our help in time of need. You are our strong tower. Let those hurting in London run to the refuge of love under the protection of your merciful wings.
==========================
The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him. Psalms 37:40 NIV Bible
==========================
Your enemies will be clothed in shame and the tents of the wicked will be no more. Job 8:22 NIV
==========================
The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. Deuteronomy 28:7 NIV
==========================
For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. Deuteronomy 20:4
==========================
With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies. Psalm 60:12
==========================
...To rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve Him without fear. Lk1:74
==========================
The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in truimph on my enemies. Psalm 118:7 NIV
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

BORROWED PRAYERS
Go up and pray those scriptures. God's word is His will and He always answers prayers that are according to His will.


Blessings,

Squirrel

SERIOUS WITHDRAWALS...

From eharlequin boards yesterday. Their new site's up today! Check it out at www.eharlequin.com click discussions, then Steeple Hill boards to see the main place I "hang out" online.

Squirrel

WRITING TIP FROM LENA NELSON DOOLEY

I'm blessed to be in a wonderful critique group filled with outstanding writers, one of whom is multi-published author Lena Nelson Dooley www.LenaNelsonDooley.com
who writes for Barbour and Heartsong Presents. This tip of hers has helped me tons. She says to use your character's proper name every third or fourth pronoun because it personalizes them to the reader more. I think it truly does. Example:

She'd promised herself she'd never come here. Yet here she stood on the edge of the water, trying to make sense of it all. Was this the spot where he met death in the water? Or was it closer to the bridge where the current was swifter? She stepped off sandy banks until her enemy kissed her feet in rhythmic motion. She scanned the deceptive calm, the aqua blue and stepped further out. She let the waves wash over her feet, gently lapping as hot tears flowed down the planes of her face. He's not out there. Peace engulfed her. Sobs wretched forth as she dropped to her hands and knees, liquid grief mingled with the salty sea water. . .the water which pulled her husband from her arms one year ago today. 365 days of torment washed away in His powerful presence. Anger for never having found a body rolled off her heart like the waves off sand. Cleansing joy flooded her.

"He's not in the water." She turned her eyes to Heaven, finally resolved with his fate. . .and her tattered faith. "He's in the clouds, with You."

======
Stella had promised herself she'd never come here. Yet here she stood on the edge of the water, trying to make sense of it all. Was this the spot where he met death in the water? Or was it closer to the bridge where the current was swifter? Stella stepped off sandy banks until her enemy kissed her feet in rhythmic motion. She scanned the deceptive calm, the aqua blue and stepped further out. She let the waves wash over her feet, gently lapping as hot tears flowed down the planes of her face. Stan's not out there. Peace engulfed her. Sobs wretched forth as Stella dropped to her hands and knees, liquid grief mingled with the salty sea water. . .the water which pulled Stella's husband from her arms one year ago today. 365 days of torment washed away in His powerful presence. Anger for never having found Stan's body rolled off her heart like the waves off sand. Cleansing joy flooded her.

"He's not in the water." Stella turned her eyes to Heaven, finally resolved with his fate. . .and her tattered faith. "He's in the clouds, with You."
==========
Okay that was a bit rough, because I typed it really fast and no doubt it has POV violations but you get the jist.
============
Blessings,

Squirrel

I FINALED IN NOBLE THEME!!!

Congrats to all finalists!!!! For those of you who did not final...big hugs and prayers, and I know EXACTLY how you feel right now.

Blessings,

Cheryl

CONGRATULATIONS TRAFFIC JAM WINNERS!!

Heather Tipton
Michelle Rodgers
Laura Hilton

Have made it through the traffic jam!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are still two prizes left.

Pamela James is in the runnng with 35 points at post # 385
Jeanie Smith Cash is in the running with 20 posts at # 385

Keep going girls!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have until Oct. 1, 2005

Squirl

WRITING TIP

When you're going through line edits, do a word search for these words because *most* of the time they can be deleted without changing the meaning of the sentence. This tightens your writing and cuts down on wordiness.

Just
That
Kind of
Always
Seemed

===========================================
BLUSH AND CRINGE
Once at a family reunion, my sister-in-law came up behind her husband's father, thinking he was her husband. She wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled into his back, bringing her mouth close to his ear and saying, "Hey, Honey. Whutcha doin?" in one of those deep, throaty voices. . .then jerked away, morbidly embarrassed when the man turned around and was NOT her husband but her father-in-law.

Shew! It's nice be able to tell on somebody else's goofs for a change!
=============================================
VERSE:
Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24 NIV Bible
=============================================
BORROWED PRAYERS:
God, thank you that you hear us. Help us to know if we have done something (or neglected to do something) that could hinder You from hearing our prayers.
=============================================
Blessings, Squirrel

PRESIDENT AND LAURA BUSH

I just want to say how thankful I am that the leader of our country has a close relationship with God. His faith is evident and I wish he could be president for the next ten terms. God bless the USA and I pray the USA blesses You.

I'm saying this one day early: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AMERICA AND TO FREEDOM.

I pray for the service men and women and for their families. God, protect them, help them win this war and come home soon to their families.

WRITING UPDATE:
I'm preparing for two writing conferences. You have to sum up your story in one to four sentences so that's what I've been working on. Preparing my things for that. Got my business cards (that I designed myself) last week. Can I just say THEY ROCK!!!!!!!

I love them. There's a soldier on the front with weapon aimed at camera. The caption says, "Aiming for Excellence."

I'm getting to know my characters more. The comments for the TARA were extremely helpful.

Have a safe 4th of July.

Blessings,

Squirrel

CONDOLENCES FOR KELLI GOOCH...

....a gal I went to nursing school with who lost two of her four precious children this weekend in a car accident. Kelli, if you're listening....I cannot imagine the crushing grief of this tragedy. Please let God hold you and carry you through this. He loves you, and I pray the hope of Heaven that comes through the son of God who loved you and gave Himself for you will take root in your heart, in Jesus' name. I'm so sorry for your losses, Kelli. You, your remaining children, and your entire family are in my prayers.

Squirrel (Cheryl Wyatt)

JULY PROMPT CONTEST

SQUIRREL'S STORY STARTER FOR JULY:

Write a story scene from a man's point of view, beginning with this sentence:
He never guessed in a million years he'd see her show up at the funeral.

Now, write a follow-up scene from a woman's point of view, using this sentence somewhere:
She knew he'd probably never speak to her again, but she needed closure.

PS: you can use proper names in the place of "he" , "she" , "her", and "him" up there if you want, although sometimes not putting a name down hooks the reader because they want to know who "she" is.

Happy writing! Contest ends 7/20/05 and winner will also be announced by 7/23/05.

TARA FINALIST!!!!

Another story finaled in the TARA (formerly First Impressions) contest!!!

So here's the tally:

AMBIENT BETRAYAL: First Place Where the Magic Begins 2004
AMBIENT BETRAYAL: Touched by Love finalist 2005
CODE YELLOW: Finalist winning Second Place Heart of the Rockies 2005
COVENANT SEAL: Finalist in the TARA (formerly First Impressions) 2005

SEVEN STRANDS: Short story won Flash Competition-Steeple Hill Message Board 2004

It sure feels a heckuva lot better than coming in DEAD LAST, I'll tell you that much. By the way, if you've never entered a writing contest, you are only a number and not a name so don't worry if you come in last. No one will know it except for you, and possibly an extremely gentle and confidential contest coordinator (who would never, ever tell on you in a million, gazillion years.)

Squirrel

WHOOOPS!!!!

Can you guess what I forgot? To post June's Prompt winner yesterday. BIG congrats going out to A. D. for her entry.

I'll post July's prompt shortly so stay tuned and thanks for your patience.

Squirrel

TO DELETE OR NOT TO DELETE.....

...THAT is the question. Bleck. My favorite scene in a book...and I might have to let it go due to point of view issues. So I'm in mourning over it, but I'm praying for strength to do what needs to be done with it in order to make the story better.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(That was NOT your town's tornado siren...it was me, wailing in agony.)

BUT...(you knew there was going to be a but, didn't you?) every time I've had to endure the pain of letting something go, something much better has returned in it's place. This doesn't only apply in my writing, but in life. Wrong relationships, careers, motivations, goals, even dreams. Some things you give up for God, the rewards of that may not show up until you get to Heaven, but you can rest assured it's there, waiting for you.

BORROWED PRAYERS:
Father, help us to open our hands and release things to You that hinder us. Especially since it's going to hurt a lot worse if You have to pry it from our hands. So what ever it is, help us to relinquish control to You, trusting You know what is best.

VERSE:
He will be used for special purposes, because he is dedicated and useful to his Master, ready to be used for every good deed. 2 Timothy 2:21 TEV

BLUSH AND CRINGE:
Once at work I was chewing a blue pen and about the time I tasted the (permanent) ink, several coworkers gasped, pointing to my face in horror. My entire mouth-- tongue, teeth, gums, lips, EVERYTHING, were stained bright blue for days.

JUNE PROMPT CONTEST OVER

Winner will be announced by June 25th. Thanks to all who entered! July's prompt will be posted this week.

Squirrel

BEWARE OF THE....

BLOG.

Specifically my blog if you're a stickler for typos. I promise, I really DO proofread these things before I hit "send" but I'm one of these people who doesn't proofread well by computer monitor. My advice if you're like me? Print your ms out. Most people tend to pick up more errors by paper than monitor. I recently viewed an author's blog (sorry, can't recall whose it was...it may have even been an editor's blog) that stated, "Edit-free zone." I really like that.

BLUSH AND CRINGE
I am in a writing course where you email your instructor assignments and they send them back critiqued. I was trying to multitask (another thing I don't do well by computer) and I had two different e-mail accounts open. One I was responding to a family member and the other was my instructor. Well, I also had three people IM'ing me, so those three windows were open as well, plus I had a word document open, critiquing for someone.

You can imagine how confused I got.

I was trying to wrap up the email to my family member-who was coming for a visit after just having back surgery and wondered if we had extra sleeping space. I typed in, "you can come stay at my house anytime, you can even sleep in my bed." Then MEANT to type, "Love, Cheryl" but hit send before I looked at the screen. When I looked back up at my monitor, I saw the unfinished email to my family member still staring at me from the screen and realized with a gasp of horror that I had tacked the last sentences (meant for my family member) onto my intructor's (who is a well-known editor in the writing industry) email. Frantic and hyperventillating, I pulled the "sent" message up, and nearly fainted with dread and embarrassment when I realized that not only did I write the wrong message in the wrong email, I must have hit the "r" as I hit the "e", ending my message (to the editor/instructor) "Here's assignment number 26. You can come stay at my house anytime, you can even sleep in my bed. Lover, Cheryl."

Yes. I immediately sent an explanatory email, apoligizing all over myself. He not only got a good chuckle out of it, he sent the message back proofread and edited. LOL!

I know. What a dork I am.
=====================
VERSE

God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. Romans 5:8 NIV
=====================
BORROWED PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for sending us your spirit to teach, help and comfort us. Help us to know Him, know you. Help us to bless you as much as You bless us.
=====================
That's all for now.

Lover, Squirrel
**snicker**

I

ROMANCING THE.....

Phone.

Pardon me if you're a telemarketer. I'm sure you have issues of rejection having heard, "put me on your no call-back list" hundreds of times. BUT.....I don't call YOU at home and I WISH you'd stop calling me at home.

It never fails. Every ten minutes, the phone rings. I hate it most when I have a family member who is ill, or I know any day some coordinator from some contest is calling finalists and I entered. When I see "Unavailable" or "Unknown" or "Private" on caller ID and he's home, I let my husband answer the phone.

Then I spend the next sixty seconds giggling as he torments the caller.

One time a long distance phone company called (for the THIRD time that day) asking us if we wanted to switch our long distance to them. My husband replies, "No thanks. We don't have a phone." The telemarketer says, "Oh, Okay. I'm sorry to bother you.....wait...if you don't have a phone, how are you talking to me?" Hubby answers, "Give me your name and home number and I'll call you back this evening and tell you." Telemarketer says, "I'm sorry, Sir. I cannot give out my name and number." Husband says, "Well you got mine, didn't you?" Telemarketer: "Click. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ."

That leads me into the BLUSH AND CRINGE
Groggy from napping, phone rings, I answer it without looking at caller ID. I hear a voice asking to speak with me. I automaticially assume the woman is a telemarketer. Now, my brain wakes up thirty minutes after my body, so at this point I sit up, but am not completely coherent. Wanting to go back to sleep and get the rest of my nap in before my kids get home, I interrupt her mid-sentence, saying, "I'm not interested. Please put me on your no-call back list." One second of silence and three muffled giggles later, she informs me she's a contest coordinator, calling to tell me one of my stories finalled in a contest.
=======================
VERSE
"All of my prayers for you are full of praise to God." Phillipians 1:3 TLB
=======================
Speaking of the Living Bible, the man who translated it died this past week.
=======================
BORROWED PRAYERS
Lord, help us to trust you with everything. When things seem out of our control, help us remember you are always in control.
=======================
WRITING TIP:
Begin and end chapters with a hook. (A sentence that will immediatelly draw the reader in, "hooking" them---making them want to read on...and on....and on....)
=======================
That's all for now!

Blessings!
Squirrel

ATTACK OF THE KILLER...

COMMAS.

I've figured out commas are one of the biggest grammatical speedbumps I trip over. I tend to leave too many in the sentence. And speaking of sentences...another weakness I have (I'm sure you've noticed if you know me) is that I write EXACTLY like I talk...so I have tons of way-too-long-complex sentences. I'm working on it. The other thing I'm studying as far as the craft of writing at the moment is about goal, motivation and conflict. If you are a beginning writer (more beginning than me I mean) your fictional characters need to have something driving them (motivation) toward something they want (goal) while creating obsticals (conflict) throughout the story to keep them from attaining that goal.

Even though I always write romantic tales with happy endings, when I write a story I set out to do everything in my power to make the reader think there's no way everything could possibly work out for the good for the hero and heroine, and create such havok that it seems impossible that they'd actually end up together.

See what I mean about my loooooooooooooooooooong sentences?
=========================
BLUSH AND CRINGE
That long sentence up there.
=========================
VERSE
With God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
(Even Cheryl learning to write short sentences.)
=========================
BORROWED PRAYERS
Lord, help us to commit our works to you. Help us to use the gifts you've given us. Help us to teach others freely.


That's all for now.

Blessings,

Squirrel

May Winner and Squirrel's Story Starter for June:

The winner for May's prompt contest is Tracie P! Congratulations, Tracie!
==================
June's Prompt by Cheryl Wyatt


Pick a character ( or two or three :-)) and for each character, pick one attribute and one quirk for that character. Use any combination, or you can do what I do: put them in three separate jars and pull one out of each jar. . .matching that character with a quirk and attribute.


Characters:
A waitress
A teacher
A toddler
A business owner
A body builder
A single father
A daycare owner
A Captain
A dental assistant
A priest
A neighbor (fictional-ha-ha)
An elderly person
A judge
An Eagle Scout
A flight attendant

Attributes:
Compassionate
Faithful
Prankster
Peacemaker
Organizer
Leader
Courageous
Dishonest
Overbearing
Hearing impaired
Lonely
Driven
Charismatic
Controlling
Strong-willed

Quirks
Snaps gum
Always wears plaid
Can't stand to touch peaches
Sings when nervous
Never uses elevators
Faints when embarrassed
Always opens doors with a napkin
Eats out every Tuesday
Flips hair
Smokes imported cigars
Always drives in passing lane
Compulsive shopping of checkout line items
Sticks old gum on top of cups for recycling
Gives flowers to strangers
Can't stand Christmas carolers
======================
Featured Blog:
Flogging The Quill
======================

That's all for today---I'm beat!

Blessings,

Squirrel

SQUIRREL'S STORY STARTER

...for May is officially over. Winner will be announced by 5/25/05. June's prompt will also be posted at that time. Thanks for taking time to enter! I'd dearly love for one of the scenes fashioned from one of these prompts to be turned into a full length piece.
==========
BLUSH AND CRINGE
I used to love to shop. That was B.C. (Before children.) Here's a scene from our last shopping excursion.

In the grocery store, I have the baby in the front of the cart and the two toddlers in the back. . .now let's see. . .am I forgetting anybody. . .no, we're good. Anyway, I'm pushing the kart full speed ahead, maneuvering expertly around stragglers, memorizing my shopping list perfectly proud of my expert multitasking, thinking THIS TIME the shopping trip won't cause me to need counseling like the last few have.

At the exact moment my 4 yo opened a LARGE bag of pinto beans, my 3yo preoceeds to hold a glass jar of olives over the side of the kart. . .and. . .

Yes.

Drops it.

So now I'm trying to skid to a stop, but the forward momentum doesn't let me stop in time to prevent running over the large, green defenseless olives. So now, we have several large olive hit & run's in progress, hundreds of hard, brown beans klinking through the little square holes in the bottom of the kart and coming to rest in a pool of green olive juice. I'm not sure if it was the sound of a thousand beans bouncing off the floor tiles, the nerve-jolting shatter of broken glass, or the horrible smell of escaped olive juice, but every customer in the store ventured over to...

Stare.

I snatched my kids out of the kart and headed for the doors with the "clean up in aisle number. . ." hitting me in the back.
========================

VERSE
Your love, Lord, means more than life to me. Psalms 63:3

========================

BORROWED PRAYERS
Father, when our day is hectic and things fall apart, help us look to You for strength and comfort. Most of all, help us to be able to laugh at ourselves. Thank You for the gift of humor, and incongruient-with-the-circumstances-joy that only comes from You.

========================
Blessings,

Squirrel

FINALIST IN TOUCHED BY LOVE

I'm awed and humbled beyond belief!!!!! I got a call today that one of my wips (works in progress) finaled in touched by love!!!!
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATS TO ALL THE OTHER FINALISTS!!!!!!!

For those of you who didn't final....I know EXACTLY what you're feeling right now, too. Been there, done that more times than I care to count and I'm sure I'll be there again faster than a speeding comma. So I'm sending great big cyber hugs and lots of cyber chocolate your way. I feel your pain and disappointment.

In fact, here's today's BLUSH AND CRINGE: the first few contests I entered in. . .I came in DEAD LAST! Thank goodness they don't list your name, you're only a number. Shew!!!!!!

BUT, because of the judges' comments, I began to learn (learning never stops, even when you're pubbed) what some of my weaknesses are as a fiction writer. In addition, I learned how to specifically improve particular entries. So I encourage you to keep at it and I promise it will more than likely happen to you one day. Hang in there. Remain teachable. Look for consistant comments...and don't be afraind of the DELETE or EDIT keys. Persistance pays off and God has a plan for your life. If you commit your works to Him, whether that be writing, or something else He's called you to, he will lead you and guide you, and best of all, encourage you and strengthen you in times of struggle and discouragement.

PS: Both entries that are now finalists in two different contests? Those were the ones that came in dead last when I began entering contests just last year. I know judging is subjective in nature, but you can glean from consistant comments despite scores that are all over the place.
===========================
VERSE:
"I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you," Isaiah 46:3-4 NIV

============================
Father, when disappointment comes our way, help us run your way. No matter what comes, don't let us lose faith. Use these situations to make us more like your precious Son.
============================
Blessings,
Squirrel