So, three weeks after my very first writer’s conference, I sat in on my second. This was the Breathe Christian Writer’s Conference, held in Grand Rapids. Once again, I found myself sitting in a 1-on-1 across from an agent. My session with Cy three weeks prior had me wondering if I should be shelfing myContinue reading “Just Breathe! The Second Writer’s Conference”
Author Archives: theladyg5
Sidebar: The Unforgiving Servant (or The Laurel Mission Trip)
Every other month, my husband guest preaches at a small church about an hour away. He usually asks me to tell a short story before his sermon and back in August, he expected me to come up with a tale. The suggested topic was the story of the unforgiving servant. Its found in Matthew 18:Continue reading “Sidebar: The Unforgiving Servant (or The Laurel Mission Trip)”
“We Can Finally Recycle The Untouched Moment” (or “What Happened at the Writer’s Conference”)
“We can finally recycle the untouched moment,” the keynote speaker told us the first night of the writer’s conference. He went on to explain he had no idea what that meant. It was a snip-it from an in-progress conversation he heard in passing. But it had impressed him enough to remember it and share it.Continue reading ““We Can Finally Recycle The Untouched Moment” (or “What Happened at the Writer’s Conference”)”
The Countdown Begins (Preparing for a Writer’s Conference)
It’s Sunday night, and on Thursday I will be attending my first writer’s conference. It’s kind of overwhelming. My hope is to meet with some agents and publishers, present a few of my stories and, hopefully, launch into a career as a writer. But you can’t go in unprepared. The venue provided a lists ofContinue reading “The Countdown Begins (Preparing for a Writer’s Conference)”
Getting a Kick in the Pants, Part 3 (or, Giving It All Back)
“I wrote a book,” I confessed to my friend, Pam. We had met at Bible Study Fellowship the previous year and spent time together after our group let out, waiting for the high school class to dismiss. It was the last class before summer break and I had decided to gather up my courage andContinue reading “Getting a Kick in the Pants, Part 3 (or, Giving It All Back)”
Getting a Kick in the Pants, Part 2 (or I Got a Manuscript; What Do I Do Now?)
So, while going through Pray the Circle, I started praying about my writing. “God, I have a manuscript, but I have no idea what to do to get it published.” It’s the main lament of the novice writer. Yeah, there the publisher’s bible that comes out every year.It’s thicker than War and Peace, changes everyContinue reading “Getting a Kick in the Pants, Part 2 (or I Got a Manuscript; What Do I Do Now?)”
Getting a Kick in the Pants, Part 1
So, I’ve been plugging along at playing the writer since before high school. It was my big dream: write The Great American Novel, get thousands of adoring fans, go on talk shows, make lots of money, become a house hold name…yeah, the whole enchilada. This summer, my youngest graduated from high school. I wasted aContinue reading “Getting a Kick in the Pants, Part 1”
So, What’s in a Title?
A few months ago, my writing mentor advised me to start a blog. “Give it a catchy name.” She suggested. It didn’t take too long to decide on “The Reluctant Firefly.” “Reluctant” because at the time I had no desire to start a blog at all, and “Firefly” because that’s the nickname I gave toContinue reading “So, What’s in a Title?”
Seeing things Literature-ly
My oldest son had taken an advanced placement class in high school in literature. His textbook was a paperback tome titled How to read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster. Once the class was over, he handed the book off to me and suggested I read it. That was back in the timeContinue reading “Seeing things Literature-ly”
A Writer Writes…But Why?
One of my favorite movies is “Throw Momma from the Train”. It’s a story of a down on his luck writer named Larry (played by Billy Crystal) who suffers from a persistent case of writer’s block during the whole movie. He’s working on a new novel and is stuck on the first line: The nightContinue reading “A Writer Writes…But Why?”
The Reluctant Firefly 