Reading Material

I was rereading our Christmas letter and always chuckle over the line where I talk about JP enjoying working on sewer pipe. I don't know why that tickles me so, but it does. He didn't like bagging groceries, but he doesn't mind working outside in 20 degree temperatures in the dirt. I would not like to do this. I really wouldn't, but as I think about it, that's okay.

If everyone were like me, we would have plenty of reading material, but no bathrooms to read it in. Think about that for a moment, will ya? NOT good. So while I don't understand engineers, plumbers, electricians, general contractors, cabinet makers, tile layers, etc, I appreciate all they do.

So to everyone who works with their hands this holiday season: Happy New Year!

Lori

Blogapalooza

Blogapalooza (http://middlezonemusings.com/blogapalooza-wilf-2008/): Try It! I just read about this on my friend Jennifer Dukes Lee's blog, http://www.gettingdownwithjesus.blogspot.com/ and sent in my blogs, one a month for both of my blogs. We will see how this goes.
Has everyone heard about Twitter but me? Anyone know about this, clue me in.
Have a great day and Blog On!
Lori

The Writing Rollercoaster

"And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt." ~Sylvia Plath

Writing is not for the faint of heart. The life of a freelance writer is fraught with obstacles not the least of which is self-doubt. Is my writing any good? Why would anyone care what I have to say? What good am I doing? Will anyone ever buy my writing? When will I have an original publishable thought?

A writer can be her own worst enemy. Keeping focused is my biggest challenge. When I lose focus of my writing goals, I become discouraged and the self-doubt drives me further from them. Last week, I received a notice that a story I had submitted back in August was not accepted. The e-mail was incredibly gracious and encouraging, but since I'd had doubts about the story when I sent it in, the rejection seemed to confirm my suspicions, I couldn't write.

I knew in my head real writers have stacks of rejection letters...e-mails...but it didn't change how I felt. I gave myself a writing time out until after Christmas. After a few days, I'd settled back into my writing groove and started blogging again, started looking through article guidelines, and plotting my next project.

Then, last night, out of the blue, I received an e-mail saying this same story was accepted. I had been on the alternate list, and they now needed my story. I was elated. I raised my arms in the air and did my silent celebration (forgetting my daughter's friends could see me from the TV room!:() My confidence restored, my self-doubt slunk back to the recesses of my mind waiting for another opportunity to strike.

The rollercoaster of writing carried me down and then back up this week. It doesn't always work out so well so quickly, and I will enjoy the moment. Learning to enjoy the ride is the challenge and the secret.

Have a great day! WRITE ON!
Lori

Thoughts From the Tub

Just in case you were wondering, the address for my blog comes from the fact that I love to write while taking a nice sudsy hot bath. I set a small children's chair beside the tub, lay a towel on the edge of the tub and balance my laptop on the two. So far I have not electrocuted myself nor damaged my computer in any noticeable way.

The atmospere of being in a bubble brings out my creative muse. Or maybe it is just the peace and quiet brought about by a locked door between myself and my family. I'm not sure, but I get a lot of writing done here and love it.

Have a great day!

Lit and Lattes!

I am so excited. The second book that I've contributed to is now available. Lit and Lattes adds faith and fun to your book club with a short description, discussion questions, and fun recipes, decorations, or activities which correspond with the story.

Lit and Lattes has been my favorite project to date. I read five books which I loved, and then I had the priviledge of writing a brief description and a few discussion questions and coming up with a creative idea or recipe that tied into the story. I had a great time on this project.

While this is the most recently published work I've contributed to, Devotions Galore! was my first contributing project. Devotions Galore! came out in June of 2008. If you are looking for a way to spice up your Bible study, Devotions Galore is the book for you. Warm ups, Wrap ups and Prayers on topics such as faith, trust, loneliness, hope, and more had a new flavor to your time of fellowship.

Contributing to books has been a great way to get my foot in the publishing door. If you are just starting out in the writing world, I highly recommend you work diligently at your craft and contribute to every opportunity that comes your way in the beginning. I can only speak to beginners as I am one myself, but there is no greater encouragement in this uphill battle than to see your name in print.

You might ask yourself how does one find such opportunities? I got my start in book contributing by going to the Colorado Christian Writer's Conference in Estes Park, Colorado in 2007. I wrote about this experience in the Christian Communicator and have posted the story, Divine Appointments, on my website www.loripoppinga.com.

At the conference, I met editors, agents, and published authors. Each was encouraging in his/her own way. I think this is the major advantage of Christian writers conferences. The love of Christ shown through in the attitude and countenance of each one and encouraged me tremendously in the writing process. Whether you write secular or Christian work, go to a writers conference and meet the professionals in the field, learn from them, and eventually, you may even work with them.

I learned a ton at that first conference and went back in 2008 and learned a lot more. While I had great plans to write and sell the great American novel at my first writer's conference, God had other plans and so began the long journey to publication I have been writing on for the past two years.

Have a great day!
Lori

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, a woman named Lori wanted to be a writer. She was already quite busy running a household, caring for her eight children, attending to her duties at the church, and administrating her in home daycare. But no matter how busy she was, she still wanted to write.

She thought and thought about writing. She jotted down crazy ideas involving gyms and men and women and murder. She plotted stories while rocking babies and rehearsed dialogue while cycling on the airdyne.

One day, a friend, Angie, asked if she would like to take a writing course with her. Lori pondered the idea. Then, she googled the idea. Lastly, she liked the idea and agreed to take the course.

So for eighteen months, Lori and her friend Angie met once a month and talked about their writing. They talked about articles and novels, short stories and screenplays, grammar and word count. No topic was off limits.

Since then, Lori completed the writing course, published several articles and contributed to a few books. She continues to ruminate upon the dozen or so novel ideas rumbling through her brain, but has yet to complete her first book.

Time will tell if she ever accomplishes this her ultimate goal. Join Lori on her writing adventure and see where her words take her next.

To Be Continued...