Be

"By the very function not of our doing
but of our being,
I see we are the beloved of God."
~ Ann Voskamp

This is too stunning.
Too awesomely terrible for me to think on.
Just be?
Not do?
I don't have to do?
But
it's what I am.
A doer.
A servant.
I don't know how to be.
I am afraid to be
because who could love that?
Who could love me for just being me
instead of what I do for them?
No one. No man.
Only Jesus.
And I weep.

All About Them Books

Hey book lovers, get your groove on with these girls . . .

A Literary Dream Home

Even if you're not currently on the market for a new house, you might want to be . . . if you happen to have $3.9 million laying around, that is. The house that inspired The Great Gatsby, the very home that F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda lived in, located in Great Neck, New York, is for sale. Curious to see some pix? Click HERE.

I probably won't be making an offer, but it did get me to thinking what would the ultimate literary dream home look like? What kind of extras would it have?

Library

With a mandatory roly-poly ladder and wingback chairs.

Coffee Station

A cute, little French press and espresso counter in the kitchen.

Jacuzzi

For all the kinks incurred by sitting in front of a keyboard all day.

Mullioned Windows

Preferably overlooking a garden with plenty of pathways.

Window Seats

Perfect for day dreaming.

Brick Walls covered with Ivy

On the outside, of course. 

Fireplace

For those cold and dreary days, there's no better place to cozy up and ponder.

Wrap Around Porch

With plenty of rocking chairs and swings. And don't forget ferns.

Secret Passages

Just because.

That's my list. What's on your literary dream home list? Leave your ideas in the comment section.

True Confessions: I'm a Polygamist

I always knew there were different types of writers. Plotters. Pansters. Plantsers. Those who write at lightning speed and those who plod along and enjoy the scenery along the way. But I never knew there were different types of readers, and I certainly never guessed I'd have to one day confess to being a polygamist, but, uh, yep, that's the kind of reader I am. What are you?

The 6 Types of Readers

MONOGAMIST
This kind of person reads one book at a time. Period. Cover to cover, never veering off course to even peek at the first page of another novel.

POLYGAMIST
A reader of this persuasion has their nose stuck in several books at once. I know. What hussies, right? Well there's too many books and so little time, I tell ya.

EXTROVERT
You know those people who read anything in front of their face? Like milk cartons, the back of a dental floss container, or even the washing instructions on the tag of their tee-shirt? They have a name. They are called extrovert readers.

INTROVERT
This person not only sticks to one book but to one genre as well. We're talking vanilla city here, folks. An introvert ponders, analyzes and frequently obsesses over one book at a time.

ALTRUISTIC
These are the cheerleaders of the readerly bunch. They sing the praises of the books they've read, recommending titles to anyone and everyone.

NEUROTIC
We're talking ADD, folks. This reader can't finish a book because they're too distracted and switch books mid-stream.

Did you find yourself somewhere in this list? What kind of reader are you? Fess up in the comment section.

How Long Does it Take to Write a Novel?

Some questions are hard to answer, like what's the square root of a bajillion or what nutmeats do rock badgers prefer? Ask me something like that and I'll give you the stupid-faced-open-mouthed-roly-poly-eyeballs kind of look because honestly, I don't know.

But ask me how long it takes for me to write a book, and I'll still hesitate to answer. Not because I don't know the answer. I know exactly how many minutes I've banged my head against the wall for every plot point and word I've typed. When I'm asked this question, I pause because I'm usually studying the asker's face, trying hard to discern what it is the person really wants to know and wishing I could do a Vulcan mind meld to find out.

Because really, when someone asks me how long it takes for me to write a book, they really want to know how long it's going to take them to write a book, and as awesome as I am, I cannot answer that for anyone but myself.

Here's the deal . . . every writer is different. Some people pound out a story in six weeks. Other's take five years. You can't measure yourself against either of those because on one hand, you'll feel like horse hockey if you can't whip out a novel in little over a month, or else your pride will swell to sinful-burn-in-hell proportions if you can finish one in under half a decade.

What I'm saying is there is no answer to this question. I can share how long it takes me (ten months to a year) but that is completely meaningless when it comes to how fast another writer takes. The bottom line is forget about the time frame and just write. The novel will be finished when it's finished, then -- and only then -- can you answer that question for yourself.

weBOOK

Whether you're a reader or a writer, have I found a site for you to check out.

weBOOK  brings the best of both worlds together. Readers get to read. Writers get to write. Win, win, eh? Here's how it works . . .

FOR WRITERS

There are three levels that an author's work can progress through. First you submit a page of your work then watch the ratings roll in.

After five weeks, if you receive high ratings, you'll be asked to submit fifty pages for -- you guessed it -- another round of ratings.

After three rounds of this, if you continue to score high, you're promoted to a pool of literary agents who just might sign you and land a great book deal.

You can also simply pitch a plot idea or get feedback for a bugaboo in your plot.

FOR READERS

Choose a genre and read the first page of a wannabe published author, then rate it.
You can compare your rating to those of other peers and professionals.
Follow your favorite authors to see if they make it through all three levels and eventually on to publication.

So, how much does all this cost? Nothing, for readers. For writers, it's usually a $3.95 submission fee, but woo-hoo and Hallelujah! They're running a special freebie submission offer right now, so get yourself over there while the getting is good.

Hope

when the world and its ways
weigh heavy on your shoulders
and sag your soul
down to the dirt
know
know
the game isn't over yet
there's still a chance
there's still hope


THE LORD'S HAND IS NOT SHORTENED
THAT IT CANNOT SAVE
NOR HIS EAR HEAVY
THAT IT CANNOT HEAR

isaiah 59:1