Today is my day to make you click around to find me. In addition to my piece at A Deeper Family, my piece about almost being an influential blogger is being featured over at BlogHer. With all of the recent hoopla about the presence of female bloggers, I appreciate again the work that goes on over at BlogHer, featuring a variety of women writers. And of course, I am honored to be featured there today. Thanks for your support of my writing here - you guys are all kinds of awesome. … [Read more...]
It Is Good
September 27, 2012 by 15 Comments
I had a truly amazing time at Story. I loved the people who I met and most of the messages that I heard. But (there's always a but, isn't there?), I left feeling a little bit conflicted. The thing I loved the most about the conference was seeing one presenter after another get up and share the excitement that they got from their craft. Watching Isaac Rentz bounce around the stage, sharing his videos, and telling us, "I love this. It's really good," awakened something in me that I didn't even know was asleep. Being proud of my work. When I went through The Bad Time, the phrase that stuck with me the most was that I had "a spirit of performance." This was because I wanted to music to sound good. I wanted the worship team to practice, to give our best efforts, to come prepared. I … [Read more...]
The day I was almost an influential church blogger
September 25, 2012 by 35 Comments
If Kent Shaffer's list of influential church bloggers went to 225, I would be golden. But alas, it only goes to 200. So instead I'm just one of the faceless, unwashed masses. I hate lists. It can be so easy to get caught up in who is in and who is out and the successes and failures of those who are "above" and "below" us. We tally up the numbers and figure out our ranking. She's better than me. I'm better than him. This person shouldn't be on the list. That person got completely screwed over by the list. Influence is such an odd thing. The most influential female writer on Kent's list was Rachel Held Evans. I found her blog by way of my best friend Tina about four years ago, before her first book was out. Rachel wrote about things that resonated deeply with me in a way that I … [Read more...]
I’m so happy for you…really!
September 18, 2012 by 30 Comments
A whole stack of my writing friends just released new books. Another group just signed publishing contracts, some for multiple books. Friends signed with agents. Friends with speaking engagements. Friends with writing jobs that pay the bills. I read their status updates and their tweets and I'm genuinely happy for them. It is exciting to see a dream realized and they are my friends, after all. I read their writing, it's good, and I want more people to have the opportunity to soak in their words. Any time you seek to make a living doing something creative, it's a risk and it's a joy to know that risk is working out for people who I like. Sometimes I worry that my congratulatory comments don't sound as sincere as I intend for them to be. Because let's be honest, while I'm happy … [Read more...]
Story Teller
September 1, 2012 by 3 Comments
You've probably noticed that in my weekly "Stuff I've Been Reading," I regularly link to pieces at A Deeper Story. I kind of heavily crush on every writer over there, even the ones with whom I have some disagreements. I love the honesty that happens there - the bare-bones, sometimes cringe-worthy honesty. It hurts and it heals. God, how it heals. I admit, I've longed to be a part of that writing community pretty much since it opened almost 2 years ago. So when Megan Tietz asked me prayerfully consider joining her at the new Deeper Story channel, A Deeper Family, I did no such thing. Instead, I did a little dance around my living room and then sent her an email saying that yes, I would very much like to be a part of A Deeper Family. Because really, I've been hoping and praying for … [Read more...]
My Love/Hate Relationship with Blogging
August 15, 2012 by 29 Comments
I'm tired. Apparently there's nothing like having the hugest week ever on your blog to make you want to quit blogging forever. I know all of the rules about blogging. How I'm supposed to be focused on one or two topics. How when something big happens in the news in said topics, I should write about it. How I need to be honest because that allows my readers to know that I am a real person, but not too honest because then I might not get a book deal later. How I need to care about my platform, making sure that I have enough Twitter followers and Facebook likes and an impressive Klout score. How I must make sure that I interact with all of the right people who have all of the right connections. All of these things that I'm supposed to do. Of course, everyone else knows the rules … [Read more...]
Saved
July 26, 2012 by 11 Comments
Today I am saved: ~by friends who make me laugh so hard that my loud laugh turns silent because I can't even catch my breath. ~by the first embrace after another week apart, knowing that I fit perfectly with that man. ~by random Arrested Development quotes that always seem to come at the right time. ~by tears poured out in an email from a stranger, reminding me why I write some of the things I don't want to write. ~by reassurances from my daughter that she and her siblings and peers have got this gay thing, so don't stress about the injustice. ~by the increasing freedom to shut out all of the negative voices and just play on a Sunday morning. ~by seeing honest dialogue in the midst of disagreement and kindness in the midst of violence. I am saved when I remember that I'm not … [Read more...]
Just Blurb About It
July 24, 2012 by 4 Comments
As I indicated a few weeks ago, part of why I'm not writing a lot this summer is because I'm spending a fair chunk of time with my band. We've had a fairly busy schedule (especially for people who do not do this as a full-time job) and between rehearsals and performances, we've managed to log quite a few hours together. They all know that I write, though they have varying levels of understanding about what that means. To wit, our singer Dewayne once suggested that I should "blurb" about a conversation that we were having. This has become a great source of amusement to my friend Eric, who won't even acknowledge a reference to my blog, but only to my blurb. One day, when I sent an email making some snarky comment about a reaction to a set list, Eric's response was, "Why don't you just … [Read more...]
My Birthday Gift to You (and me)
June 28, 2012 by 1 Comment
First, I want to ask you to please consider making a donation to Nuru International today. Huge thanks to those who have already made donations! You are changing lives RIGHT NOW. Feel very good about that. But now to you! My friend Shawn Smucker (who I only a little bit hate for being so incredibly talented) has graciously offered to give away a copy of his ebook Building a Life Out of Words for my birthday. The catch is that in order to get this book, you need to sign up for my newsletter. I know, I know. More stuff in your over-crowded inbox. I get it. But I promise. It's not that bad. I only remember to send out newsletters maybe once or twice a month. I'd like to be more organized and send them out more regularly, but I'm me. So you're not inundated. Also, I always write … [Read more...]
You Think You Know Me?
June 7, 2012 by 12 Comments
I've seen a trend lately among a number of my blogging friends (like Shawn, Sharideth, & Jared) where they allowing their readers to ask them questions. And then, get this, they answer them. I play in a band and I like wagons pretty well, so I figured this is as good a time as any to you know...get jumping. So for a few days, I'm going to open this up for your questions. What do you want to know about me? I'm pretty much an open book already, but I know that you're creative people, so here's your chance to find out something that I haven't considered sharing before. I'll post up the answers on June 18th. I'm on vacation that week, so I won't be around to clarify answers for you, so you'd better be pretty specific in your questions. Or not - that can be fun too. Have at it! … [Read more...]
