October 9, 2012 · 6:00 am

How to Hoist Myself Out of A Rut

If other writers knew how long it’s been since I’ve actually written anything besides a blog post here and there, well, I’m pretty sure they’d throw me out of the writing club.

I’m not going to admit how long it’s been since I’ve written.

Mostly because I don’t want to admit it to myself.

I’ve been in a rut.

I don’t have writer’s block– I’ve got great ideas tucked away. I don’t have brain freeze nor am I choking on my words or working off of a lack of experience.

What I do have is as follows:

1) lack of time

2) lack of inspiration

I have been so so so so so uninspired to write lately. So uninspired that the story ideas that once felt so good now feel sad and a little cold. So uninspired that I look back over things I’ve written–good things– and consider them drivel. So uninspired that when I think about writing, I feel passionless.

As for the lack of time, I don’t know any mothers who don’t live with a perpetual lack of time, so I’ve got to stop using that as my excuse.

The lack of inspiration is coming from that same ole place– discouragement. Don’t we all suffer from this from time to time, no matter  our circumstances?

Even though I don’t want to admit it, that’s where I am. I’ve been suffering from a case of “I’m Not Good Enough” syndrome. But I know better, so I just need to banish that one, too. After all, I know the One who made me, and I know He has plans for me.

So here’s what I’m going to do:

  • 1) Read. Reading a good book usually inspires me to write a good book.
  • 2) Critique. When I read someone else’s work and help them develop it through a good critique partnership, I’m almost always inspired to write. Something about editing gets my juices flowing.
  • 3) Finish reading the 4,682 craft books I’ve started. Okay, I’ll set a more realistic goal– finish reading ONE of the many craft books I’ve started recently.
  • 4) Just shut up and do it. I’m going to sit down to a blank screen with a story idea and type. No more excuses.

Share with me: When you are in a creative rut, how do you get yourself out of it?

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October 5, 2012 · 6:00 am

A New Grand Prize Winner in the Blog Bash!!

A very special announcement! We have a new winner for the Bright Side Blog Bash GRAND PRIZE!

Congratulations to Karen Lange!!

Karen, please contact me asap! Can’t wait for you to get these amazing prizes, and thanks so much for your participation in the Blog Bash!!

Ladies and gents, I’m so sorry that my posting has been a little sporadic lately. As you all know, I recently announced that I’m expecting, and unfortunately, I’ve been suffering from some pretty dabilitating morning sickness. To cap it off, my doctors are monitoring a minor pregnancy issue (no worries– the baby is fine) that requires me to “take it easy”. Ha! I’m still not sure how to do that with 2 boys and a hubby to take care of.

Anyway, most days I just haven’t felt like doing much, so I haven’t. Forgive me.  I’m really hoping that my energy will return soon, that I’ll be able to eat like a normal human, and that this little baby will give me a break from the sickness.

Thanks for your prayers and well wishes. I appreciate all of you so much!

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September 28, 2012 · 6:00 am

To Find Out or Not to Find Out– That Is the Question

It’s a mere three weeks or so until we get to find out our coming baby’s gender.

I’m super excited, especially because we’ve never found out ahead of time before.

That’s right– both of our boys were surprises.

Most people thought we were crazy– I remember when we told the ultrasound techs and the doctor that we didn’t want to know, they said, “Nobody does that anymore!”

But we did. And it was awesome.

When I was pregnant with my first I waffled a bit between finding out the gender or not, and a woman in the church choir gave me an excellent piece of advice. She said that both of her daughter’s-in-law were expecting at the same time and one found out the gender and one didn’t. The one that found out the gender was showered with clothes. The one that didn’t find out was showered with the practical baby needs she had registered for.

I knew we’d get clothes once the baby was born, but it was the baby “stuff” we desperately needed. So, that helped us in the decision not to find out. And we got a lot of great “stuff” that was a huge help to us.

Of course, everything I bought in preparation for both kids was yellow and green. But that was okay with me. I decorated the nursery in teddy bears, and I have to say, I thought it was precious.

I’m a planner, too, so it’s kind of weird that I was able to be so relaxed about not knowing the gender while I was pregnant.

But there’s something magical about that surprise. It’s one of the few genuine surprises left in life, so I wanted to take advantage of it up until the moment that little one entered the world and the doctor said, “It’s a ….!” Boy, in both cases.

There was nothing more exciting than introducing our little ones to our surprised and excited families.

But this time hubby and I are chomping at the bit to find out if Baby Hale #3 is a boy or a girl as soon as we can.

Is it because there’s a chance we’ll get a daughter? Sure. I think so.

But let me be clear– if God gives us another son, We. are. going. to. be. thrilled!

Boy, girl–it doesn’t matter to us a bit.

This time the planning matters. We have re-arranging of bedrooms to do. We have painting to do. We have some serious planning to do be it boy or girl.

So why do I feel like I’m cheating?

As the day of the ultrasound grows closer, I almost feel like I should just chill out and take advantage of this surprise while I can.

After all, it’s a really, really great surprise!

Share with me: Did you find out the gender of your unborn child(ren) or did you wait? Which do you think is more fun?

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