Puppy Clumsy

We have a seven-month-old miniature dachshund named Slinky. He’s absolutely adorable! He loves to romp and wrestle and chew. Our other two dogs have gotten a lot more exercise since he arrived, and when the three of them play together, it’s quite amusing to watch.

Slinky is puppy clumsy. He bats his big ole paws and nudges his velvety nose at his playmates, then tromps right over top of them until they nip back. He rolls over them, scoots under them, jabs at their ears. Doesn’t matter if there’s an obstacle (or a person) in the way; he charges right across. Long drop from the sofa? No problem, he slinks right down like his namesake toy.

Slinky is all play with no inhibition.

Don’t you long to be that way when you write? I sure do! No holding back. I just want to let thoughts flow freely from the creative recesses of my mind. I want stories to nudge me and tromp through my thoughts until I nab them. I want the words to roll over my mind, scoot under the internal editor, and jab my listening ear. I want those ideas to charge right out and slink onto the blank page. I want to be puppy clumsy!

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This Sums It Up

I saw this on Facebook last week and literally laughed out loud! Yes, yes, yes! These rules are so simple, yet so frequently broken that it’s really not a laughing matter. I’m very active in the world of blogging, and honestly, when I see poorly written material, I can’t get off that site fast enough. How unprofessional! If you’re going to write for publication—any type of publication—you should present not only your most thought-out material, but also your most correctly written work. A lack of grammatical correctness shows a lack of respect for the reader.

The peeves mentioned certainly are not the comprehensive guidelines of writing in the English (US) language, but I beg of you, please take note of those 10 rules. Learn them. Memorize them. Above all, put them into practice! To do otherwise renders communication ineffectual.

…Aim for perfection… 2 Corinthians 13:11

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Patience Really IS a Virtue

In publishing, patience is definitely a virtue. Ironically, though, it takes time to develop patience. I have a friend who is new to the blogging world. She reminds me of myself a few years ago. She wants the exposure now. She wants the big fan base now. She wants the success now. And who doesn’t, right?

My friend is anxious for her site to take off, and though the waiting is hard, she’s doing a lot of things right.

• She’s pitching herself to owners of similar sites, and she’s careful not to spam them. Her introductory letter simply lets the recipient know about what she offers, and she doesn’t ask for anything in return except that they keep her in mind and if her site interests them, that they consider becoming a fan or a follower. Why is this good? She may have the best material available on her topic, but if no one knows it’s there, her efforts are going to waste.
• She’s asking lots of questions. She’s researching the market. She’s getting advice from those more experienced. Why is this good? She’s learning what not to do at the same time she’s learning what to do.
• She’s putting that advice to practice. She’s a good student. She’s taking notes and applying that information. Why is this good? The people advising her have experience and success in this field. If she can learn from their mistakes, she can avoid making the same ones herself. It puts her ahead of the game.
• She’s building her platform. (I know, the dreaded “P” word!). She’s acquiring columnist positions on established online publications as well as writing for her own site, and she’s developing her own publications. Why is this good? She is getting her name out there and establishing herself as a trusted and talented resource in her field. It’s the beginning of that fan base she’s so
  desperate to gain.
• She’s writing, writing, writing! You know the old cliché: Practice makes perfect. It is very true! Why is this good? The more she writes, the better she will get. The better she gets, the more  writing opportunities will be offered her. The more opportunities available, the more exposure she will get. The more exposure she gets, the more fans and followers she will gain. You get the picture here, right? 

Success is rarely an overnight occurrence. It takes persistence, perseverance and most of all, patience.  So I suggest you "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD" (Psalm 27:14 ).

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Sharing Recipes

In light of the holiday season, I'm sharing a couple of my favorite recipes with you! Hope you enjoy them! And do feel free to share with friends and family.

"Your Best Writing Ever!"

Ingredients:

• YOU
• A dash of creativity
• Sprinkle of inspiration
• 1 Comfy chair
• 1 Computer word processor (may substitute pen and paper)
• Peace and quiet to taste
• Optional ingredients: dictionary, thesaurus

Prepare YOU ahead of time by spending time alone in prayer and the study of God's Word. Here you will receive the creativity and inspiration to spice things up. Once YOU are prepared, situate YOUrself in your favorite workspace, complete with comfy chair and preferred writing utensil. The necessary simmer time varies per project and may require anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours. I have found the optional ingredients tend to improve flavor.

Serve fresh to anyone who requests!

OK, here's one you can eat!

"Pumpkin Soup"

Ingredients:
1/4 C onion, finely chopped
1/4 C celery, finely chopped
1 small clove fresh garlic, minced
1/4 C olive oil
1 C chicken broth (reserve remainder of can)
1 15-oz can Libby's pumpkin (I've tried other brands & it turns out yucky! Use Libby's!)
Half & Half
salt
pepper
Ritz or Club crackers

Saute onion, celery, and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until vegetables are transparent. Lightly salt and pepper them and stir. Add 1 C of chicken broth (reserving remainder) and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in 1/2 can pumpkin. Add 1 C Half & Half and stir out lumps. Add remainder of pumpkin and another C Half & Half and stir til smooth. (Add additional cream or reserved chicken broth if needed for desired consistency.) Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm with Ritz or Club crackers. (Serves 4.)

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Are You Passionate?

Three teen girls giggled late into the eve of Youth Camp. They talked of hairstyles and makeup, fashion trends and boys. Ah, yes, boys! Carly already had a boyfriend and Cyndi was too shy, so the question hanging in the air alighted upon Me.

“So who do you like?”

Without hesitation, “Richard Whisenhunt,” escaped my lips. We didn’t know each other well. In fact, he was more a friend of my brother’s than of mine, but an overwhelming peace sifted through my entire being that assured me he was It. I knew in that moment Richard would be my life mate, and the spark of passion ignited.

Twenty-five years have passed since that night, and as you can guess from my last name, I married Richard Whisenhunt. When my husband is passionate about something, he becomes almost obsessive. Take for instance, cycling.

 

Photo courtesy Kevin McDade Photography

Inspired by Lance Armstrong’s seventh Tour de France victory, Richard began road bicycling. Let me tell you that’s a world of its own, and Richard dove right in. Through trial and error, he learned proper riding techniques, assembled top performance components, and learned necessary maintenance workings. He rode with experienced riders, studied online and print tips, and asked lots of questions. Oh, yeah, and he rode (and still rides) an average of two hours a day, trekking thirty to forty miles or more each ride. Occasionally, he participates in pay or charity rides, and recently he took up racing. Riding is Richard’s passion. Through dedication to the sport, he has become confident and masterful.

My husband’s devotion to his passion has taught me quite a bit about my devotion to my own passion. To develop confidence and mastery of writing, I too must prove dedication. I have to dive right in, try and err, learn techniques, assemble components, know how to fix problems, and implement improvements. I need to study seasoned professionals, research online and print tips, and ask lots of questions. Oh, yeah, and I need to write a set amount of time or a determined number of words each day. I need to get my work out to the readers, and I need to kick it up a notch from time to time.

For nearly seventeen years, without hesitation, I’ve been honored to say, “I’m Richard Whisenhunt’s wife.” An overwhelming peace still permeates my soul in knowing he is It. I’m awed by my husband’s commitment and I’m inspired by his passion.