Spiritual Growth Category
Moving to One Regular Post a Week
Posted on March 29, 2016 Leave a Comment
I’ve always been taught that when something becomes a drag, that either the grace has lifted or your attitude needs changing. In the fall of 2014, when others were doing NaNoWriMo, I took a sort of challenge to do two blog posts a week on a regular basis, one of an encouraging nature, one of […]
Encourage Yourself––Part II
Posted on March 22, 2016 1 Comment
The western culture, like the ancient Greeks, worships body and soul. By that I mean that we of the western world, have elevated the sleek, svelte body and the “positive thinking” mindset above all else. There’s nothing inherently wrong with positive thinking, which is basically letting go of negative mindsets, but if you don’t worship […]
Encourage Yourself––When No One’s Around
Posted on March 15, 2016 Leave a Comment
It’s 2:00 a.m. and you’re feeling as if the world is crashing around you. You feel it is, but it’s not. What do you do? Call and get a friend out of bed? If you’re a considerate friend, you won’t. More than positive thinking, encouraging yourself when no one is around can sometimes be a […]
Finding Worth in the Work
Posted on March 1, 2016 5 Comments
The last few weeks I’ve been discussing how to handle criticism in relation to the novella I was working on as part of a collection recently submitted to a publisher. It’s been a difficult time, and yet, I’m learning something. I’m beginning to get the perspective that it’s the accomplishment, and not the results, that […]
How to Handle Criticism—Part II
Posted on February 23, 2016 2 Comments
What a difference a week makes. I’m more at peace now than I was just six and seven days ago. And I also noticed I’ve put up other posts from time to time about handling criticism. Last week was very difficult for me. I felt humiliated in some ways, and I had to humble myself […]
How to Handle Criticism
Posted on February 16, 2016 Leave a Comment
I hope to bring a fresh perspective to a sensitive subject. As writers, we’re regularly critiqued, edited, and otherwise told to change our text. It can get downright discouraging if we don’t have the proper attitude toward it. If we have rejection issues (like I do), it can feel personal, when it’s really not. #amwriting […]
Please Enjoy the Archives
Posted on January 28, 2016 Leave a Comment
Hi there. I am very sorry I haven’t posted new material this week. I have a code id by dose and a really bad cough. Each day has been a challenge to do the minimal amount necessary. So, please enjoy the archives. It’s also possible, because of a writing project I’m involved in, that I […]
How to Handle Disappointment – Part I
Posted on January 19, 2016 Leave a Comment
Webster defines disappoint as “to fail to satisfy the hopes or expectations of, to leave unsatisfied.” Another meaning is “undo, frustrate, thwart.” They’re going to us from time to time. It’s how we handle them that matters. Click to Tweet #handledisappointment #forgivereleaseadvance It says in the bible that hope doesn’t disappoint, but it’s our hope […]
Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript—Part IV
Posted on January 13, 2016 Leave a Comment
This week, I’m shifting the focus from synopsis to the manuscript itself. When a request for your manuscript does come, you’ll need to know precisely what to send and how to organize it, and what to send. This week, we’ll talk about Submission Tips for your manuscript. What should your manuscript look like? How should […]
Turn Negatives Into Positives
Posted on January 12, 2016 Leave a Comment
I won’t get too preachy here, but watching the 1995 movie “Joseph” last night stirred my soul again to turn a negative into a positive. The story of the biblical Joseph, the son of Jacob is an inspiring one. You could almost wonder “what does it matter?” It matters much. Let’s look at it. Click […]
Donna L.H. Smith 