The Race Is On!

Welcome back to another Monday Blog Day!  I hope your last week was a happy, productive week.  I personally pray most every morning, that the Lord Jesus would use me to honor Him in what I say and do.  That I would be productive and fulfill the purposes that He has planned for me.  Do you seek the Lord each day?  It's a great way to start your day.  I may not accomplish everything I have planned, but if I seek Him and honor Him while I am trying, I think that will be just fine.  I just know that without His help, I am a hopeless case.

A few weeks ago, I talked to y'all about the things I had upcoming on my "To Do" list.  The first main group of objectives was to get my second daughter married successfully, in a way that would be a beautiful memory for her and her now new husband.  I think that between me, my husband, my daughters, sons, bridesmaids and a few friends, we pulled it off.  Last week, I gave more details about that, so if you want to know more, check last week's blog post out.

Now, I am onto the next big group of objectives, before I head to the ACFW Conference 2018.  It will be my first Writer's Conference and I am SUPER excited about it and SUPER nervous at the same time.  I want to go make the very best impression that I can.  I will be surrounded by giants in the Christian Writing and Publishing world, and I can either go and make no connections and get nothing out of the experience or I can go be a memorable, sought after, up and coming Author ready and willing to learn from the best in the business.  The former is my goal.  Lofty...Yes!  Why do anything, if I am happy with mediocre?  I can do mediocre just fine by myself.  No, thank you!  I've lived enough years like that and frankly it makes me a little sick to acknowledge and admit that.

Here is the second portion of my list again, I want to talk about what I have accomplished and what still needs to be accomplished, before the September 20th start of the conference:

ACFW Conference: Things to do-

1.)  Finish editing Book 1: "Hope for Charity 

I am almost finished with Chapter 23.  My book has 24 Chapters and a short Epilogue.

2.) Continue to write Book 2: title TBD

I am on Chapter 6, so I am making progress.

3.) Decide on Title for Book 2 

I have one in mind, but not totally sure yet.

4.) Learn how to write a synopsis. 

I have studied this...some, but don't feel confident enough yet to start on it.

5.) Write a synopsis for "Hope for Charity" 

Nerve wracking!!  Hopefully soon...

6.) Print out several copies of manuscript. 

Not yet, but as soon as I get through my first draft edit, I plan to print out the manuscript and go through at least one more run through of Book 1. 

7.) Find Beta Readers

I have 3 in mind, only 1 of them knows it, though.  If they agree, I plan to send them a copy of my manuscript to read through and edit.

8.) Find a couple people for Peer Edits.

I haven't even thought about this one yet....ahhhh!

9.) Prepare pitch to the Literary Agent. 

I have no idea how to go about this....surely someone on YouTube will be able to tell me...

10.) Wardrobe update appropriate for the Conference. (working on a Wardrobe Capsule) 

I have several pieces that will work for the conference now, but not quite satisfied.  I plan to clear out my closet, hopefully today.  I have studied quite a bit, on the concept of Capsule Wardrobes and how to start one, so I think I am ready to begin.

11.) Have business cards made.  

I added this to my list, since last time, but I made the business cards and I am excited to see them when they come in. (@vistaprint)

Alright, that is where I am, and what I hope to accomplish, before the conference.  Now, if any of you reading this post are Publishers or Literary Agents or seasoned Authors, I would LOVE your comments.  Tell me, if I am forgetting something important or give me some pointers, please. 😊

To the rest of you very important people,  I would love some words of encouragement and prayers.  Following after a dream and doing what we feel the Lord is calling us to do, isn't easy.  I am WAY out of my comfort zone here, but being comfortable may feel good, but it doesn't really get you anywhere. So, get uncomfortable, and go where you are supposed to go.

May the LORD God bless you and your loved ones.

In Christ,

Sandy

I Survived

So, here I am.  I survived last week.  I am exhausted, but I did it.  Not by myself, by any means, but I worked until I thought I would drop.  Yesterday, I slept late, took a nap and still felt as if my head was in a fog.  Today, I feel better, but not 100%.  No rest for the weary, though.  Summer is officially over and I have a ton of stuff to do.  Some of you may be wondering what I am whining about.  Well, I am not really whining...well maybe a little, but I am telling y'all about my week last week, which included my youngest daughter's wedding on Saturday.

Here are some of the things that went on last week...

1.  My glasses broke.  I can't read without glasses.  I tried holding my old glasses up and looking through them, but doing computer work with one hand, is slow and cumbersome.  Thankfully, my new glasses came in by Thursday and my life improved tremendously (except for sore ears trying to get use to new glasses).

   Happy about my new glasses!

2.  My daughter started work 2 hours away on Monday, at her teaching job (she graduated college in May).  She is the daughter getting married.  She was 2 hours away, while much stuff was being done here at home to get ready for her wedding.  Thankfully, she was able to get Thursday and Friday off, so she came home Wednesday night.  Once she got home, me, her and my oldest daughter worked almost non-stop getting ready for the Wedding.

3.  I digress...Tues. my husband and I drove that 2 hours to help my daughter and her fiancé find a place to live after they got married.  Long story, but the clock was ticking.  Anyway, we were successful and after their Honeymoon they will have a home to go to.  While we were gone from home, our electricity was turned off, while the electric lines were being moved, for the concrete to be poured for my oldest daughter and her family's home that is being built on our property.

4.  Wednesday, the concrete was poured. Yay! All went well with that, I was not home for most of it, though, because I was running all over town running errands for the wedding.  

5. Thursday started with me running to get my glasses that had come in and errands.  Then, my husband and I loaded his truck and my car with all the decorations, food and supplies.  We took them to the church, where the wedding and reception were being held.  The rest of the day, into the night was spent decorating the church and reception areas, food prep, and clothes shopping for my husband and son. (I know, I know...we really procrastinated on that, but thankfully we found exactly what we wanted.)

6.  Friday, more errands, more decorating, more food prep, then a race to the nail salon where I met my daughter and the other bridesmaids to get manicures and pedicures.  I was the last one done, so I raced home, got ready for the rehearsal and flew back to the church for the rehearsal.  Traffic was backed up everywhere, because of a terrible accident, but we made it (unfortunately others coming from out of town did not).  Then after the rehearsal dinner at another location, we dropped of my daughter that was getting married at home to go to bed early.  Then, my husband and I met our oldest daughter and a few others at the church to finish getting ready for the big day.  We left sometime after midnight, went home and fell into bed exhausted, but feeling good about what we had accomplished. 

7.  Wedding Day, we had a last family breakfast with our still unmarried daughter.  Listened to "The Daily Motivator" a tradition in our family for years, when all the kids lived at home.  That particular day's post was perfect.  Then all the girls got ready and raced off for the Salon, where a long time friend of our oldest daughter, who had once been a neighbor, did make-up and hair for most of the bridal party and me.  My daughter getting married and I were first, so when we were done, I took her back to the church, so she could hide away before the groom arrived, I then started working on food, until the help we had hired for the day arrived to take over.  Then I worked with my husband who had arrived, to finish setting up flowers in the sanctuary, until people shooed me off to go get dressed.  First though, I helped my daughter into her wedding dress.  I got dressed in the nick of time, before time to meet with the others to be escorted into the church, but I wouldn't leave my girl, until I had a moment to talk to her.  

Well, I could go on and on, telling you all about the beautiful ceremony and reception.  The laughs, the tears, the stress, the joys and sadness...that filled every moment of last week, but I hadn't planned on this post being that long.  Right now, I am looking at a living room filled with wedding decorations that need to be put away...somewhere...and my kitchen is filled with them, too.  So, as much as I would like to keep "talking" to you about it all (there were some really great moments...), I'll just end with this...it turned out better than we'd hoped.  My daughter was a beautiful bride and I gained a wonderful new son.  We are blessed.  God is Good.  I am tired, but very very thankful.

                    Some of the mess in my house now.                                                            

    The Happy Couple!

Next, week I hope to have lots to share about all I have accomplished on my editing and writing and my preparations for the ACFW conference.   I hope you'll join me then.

In Christ,

Sandy

Things to Do

Another Monday already?  Wow, time is flying by!  I guess it seems like it is flying, because I have so much to do over the next several weeks.  Well, I'll talk about that in a minute.  I am going to try to keep the next several blog posts short and sweet...well, I don't know how sweet it will be, but hopefully at least short or should I say, shorter?  Why?  First, I have a daughter getting married in less than 2 weeks.  Less...than...2...weeks! Ahhhhh! 😱 Busy is an understatement, by far.  Second, added on to that is the ACFW Conference next month.  Next month!  😰  So, I thought I'd run through my list of things to do with you.  (This is actually going to help me get it all in focus, I think.)

Wedding: Things to do-

1. Food-
    a.) plan for amounts needed
    b.) find serving dishes (hot/cold)
    c.) purchase food and store at church
    d.) talk with lady about what/when/where/how food prep

2.  Decorations-
     a.) Practice table set ups/take pics
     b.) Purchase any decorations still needed
     c.) Check with brother about wood slices
     d.) Church decoration list
     e.) Flower arrangements

3.  Clothing-
     a.) my jewelry
     b.) check with daughter about father and brother clothing/shoes
     c.) purchase clothing/shoes still needed

4.) Prepare house and food for houseguests/drop in guests.

There may be more, but that's off the top of my head.  This next 2 weeks with just that should be should be very busy, BUT next month is my ACFW conference!  It will be my first one, and I am not quite sure what to expect.  I do know though, that I have appointments with a Literary Agent and an Editor.  I also hope to have the chance to hobnob with some Publishers and some of my favorite Authors.  There are so many things I need/want to do, before I go, so I can get the most from the experience.

ACFW Conference: Things to do-

1.)  Finish editing Book 1: "Hope for Charity"

*12 Common Mistakes Editors are Sick of Seeing

2.) Continue to write Book 2: title TBD 
3.) Decide on Title for Book 2
4.) Learn how to write a synopsis.

* Learn How to Write a Synopsis Like a Pro

5.) Write a synopsis for "Hope for Charity"
6.) Print out several copies of manuscript.
7.) Find Beta Readers
8.) Find a couple people for Peer Edits.
9.) Prepare pitch to the Literary Agent.

* How to Pitch a Literary Agent in 5 Easy Steps

10.) Wardrobe update appropriate for the Conference. (working on a Wardrobe Capsule)

* How to start a capsule wardrobe: a guide for beginners

So, there it is, what I hope to accomplish before September 20th.  And we can't forget my homemaking duties...cooking, cleaning, organization....school starts soon, too.

Ok, it would be really easy to get completely overwhelmed here.  Really, really easy, but instead I think I need to stop...breath...pray and remember that if this is God's Will for me, He will help me accomplish whatever He wants me to accomplish.  So, here are a couple Scripture passages I probably need to meditate on over the next several weeks:

If you think of me over the next several weeks, I would appreciate your prayers and even a little encouragement.  I hope that whatever you are working on, going through, battling...you are remembering that the Lord Jesus stands ready to help.  Call on Him, seek His Will for you.  Without Him, none of it matters anyway.  

In Christ,

Sandy