Authors – Page 12 – Rebekah Lyn Books

Easy Does It~ Staying Healthy and Deep Thinking

Kind of looks like a charismatic meeting doesn’t it?

Brenda Ueland, in If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit (I read elsewhere that she meant the Spirit of Christ) tells about walking five miles a day and how that is the most productive time of her writing day both in staying healthy and in deep thinking.

Most days I walk two miles. Do you like to walk? I love it, but when summertime comes, it’s too hot to exercise out of doors. I get up early to do it anyhow, but it’s still too hot. In the summer, biting flies love to sting the backs of legs, so I stick to the neighborhood. On rainy days, cold, or too hot afternoons I walk the mall. Sometimes I exercise in place to videos.

Yesterday I missed my morning walk, so in the afternoon when Bill said he was going to the fitness center, I said lightly, “Maybe I should go too.” I didn’t like my alternatives.

Bill was a bit surprised as I had made the statement at one time that I would rather go to the bad place than to the fitness center. I thought of tough jocks and sexy young girls, of the noise of machines, and TVs. Last time I was there, about sixteen years ago, the “trainer” had shown me around and questioned me. I felt I could never measure up.

“You don’t have to do anything, just look around, and see if you think you want to be there.” Bill said. I answered, “Let’s go.”

Bill got me talking with one of the bright young things at the desk. I asked questions and they took their time with me. They were firm, but good humored-in other words I felt liked. They gave me a schedule of classes and I asked questions. Did I have to talk to a trainer? No? Good.

Then I went and found Bill. He was through, except for the treadmill. He showed me how to run that scary machine, but I felt awkward and scared. He was patient and I eventually got to the place where I thought I might be able to get used to it. When I asked if he’d show me how to do the skiing one, he took me over there. Stepping on and off is tricky. The man next to us got a good laugh out of my heebie jeebies, but I soon felt I could use the machine all right. I signed up. Now, I’m thinking about the Zumba class. Should I or shouldn’t I. It has great salsa music or so I hear. I can always take my earplugs to tone it down. Spinning might be fun too. I can ride a bike as well as anybody.

Habakkuk 2:2

“And the LORD answered me, and said, ‘Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that reads it.’”

Let’s all run, walk, or dance, writer and messenger alike, after all, writers are messengers, and a healthy messenger is a strong messenger. But take it easy and pray through to find the best way for yourself so that it doesn’t overwhelm you. Don’t forget to consider Zumba or Spinning.

High Hopes

Last week I started two new projects. One is a new novel, called, Roxy, and the other is my spring 2014 herb garden. I’ve really changed my approach to doing things. At one time, I read everything I could get on a subject and talked to people about how they did things. I tried to follow steps and instructions as closely as possible. I was anxious and uptight about how things were going to turn out and I often became stressed over them. I also felt as if someone else cared how I did it and was looking on judgmentally. That didn’t help at all.

It’s a good thing for us to have some idea what we’re doing, to read, do research, and take lessons, but at some point, we just have to launch out and see what works for us. What I’m doing now is an amalgamation of everything I ever read, thought, knew, and felt.

Last Monday I got out some notes I’d made by hand on Roxy and started putting the story on my computer. I used Victoria Lynn Schmidt’s Book in a Month, Raymond Obstfeld’s, Fiction First Aid, and Leigh Michaels’s, On Writing Romance, for prompts and inspirations, but I read only until I lost interest and then went on to something else. Also, I’m pacing myself, and it’s making my writing entertaining to me. I’m putting TLC into my characters and I can hardly wait to see what they do next. I’m taking care to see that each chapter is in decent shape before going on to the next one. The most important thing, the one that makes the difference is, I’m staying connected with my intuition. To me, that’s the same thing as being in touch with the Holy Spirit. The things He does when I attend Him are wonderful.

As for the herbs, Bill and I had strong new wood built into three raised beds for our plants. The beds have been ready for a month, they started calling to us last week and we went shopping for the plants. We bought six plants, all different. They are:

Basil
Tarragon
Thyme
Rosemary
Oregano
Marjoram

We read the directions and we planted them right, but with our own feelings for them, you might say loving each one and wishing it well. We plan to use them on the spot as well as to harvest and freeze-dry them at their peak. They make everything taste so much better, even when we follow our hearts in knowing what dishes to put them in.

On the way out of the store, a song played in my head…“High hopes, we have high hopes, high in the sky, apple pie hopes.” Yes. Hope is one of the most important things in the world, and we need to allow our Lord to set up things in our lives for us to hope for and to work toward. We need big things and small, spiritual and material to occupy our minds and give us the opportunity to be co-creators with our great and mighty God.

#hope #herbgardening #writing #mondayblogs

Chairs for Children, Chairs for Adults

When I look at chairs put out for the trash I always want to rescue them. I did rescue one at a junk sale once, but it betrayed me. It was a little rocker that had a broken back support. I didn’t notice that in the warehouse where I bought it. As far as I was concerned, its life was over. Maybe someone else wanted to rescue it when they saw it on our curb. Maybe they did. I imagine a carpenter could have revived it, but then I think carpenters can do almost anything. Anyhow I know One who can.

Continue reading “Chairs for Children, Chairs for Adults”

My Bad Book Review

Last week I was appalled when I read what I considered a bad review of one of my books. My first thought was, that’s it, I’m done, no more novels for me. But my love of writing immediately took over, and I decided to get whatever I could out of it.

First, I reviewed the review, and realized it wasn’t a review as much as it was an editorial report or critique. That probably came from the fact that the person who wrote it sells author services and was eager for me to pay her to help me.

The second thing was that this person liked to make broad generalizations that led me to believe that I had repeatedly made the same mistake, which wasn’t true. Conversely, in her view, I never did certain things she thought I should have done. That was one of the reasons I felt judged and condemned.

That’s not a good feeling, so instead of continuing to think in that vein, I looked for a compliment. I found one, too. I’d like to have found a few more, not that I believe in false flattery. I just happen to know that politeness oils the wheels of communication. Mother always used to say, “Think before you speak. Ask yourself if what you’re about to say is true, is it kind, do I have to say it?” In others words why be harsh when you can be gentle?

The one thing I liked about the critique was when the reviewer spotted and commented on the way I had rushed through the book. What that observation did was to allow me to give myself permission to work at my own pace and do a thorough job without hurrying for the several reasons I had hurried. When a critic agrees with something you knew about yourself, but didn’t want to face, it can be helpful.

Yes, at first I was angry. But that felt awful, and I wanted the Holy Spirit’s help to feel me better about myself, to be encouraged, to go on. He reminded me to thank God for the entire experience (I Thessalonians 5:18). Next, I prayed for the reviewer and forgave her. When I did that, I saw that the way she treated me may have been the way she had been treated, and that she needed loving kindness as much as I did. I sincerely asked our Lord to give them to her (Luke 6:28). I felt a lot better after that.

I’ve recently read two articles from the big book distributors, Amazon and Smashwords. Both say we writers must not respond to hurtful reviews. They also say that even a big writer can receive a one star review. I was surprised at that. I went back and looked at my stars and there were three of them. A three star review is not a bad review. Yea!

In the days since, I’ve been rebuilding my confidence. Using the Message and the Amplified Bible, I wrote out passages from I Peter 5 as if our Father God were speaking them to me personally. I took the liberty to add some thoughts that came to mind. It was so refreshing, and I was able to cast this particular care on Him as He said to do.

Here’s what that looked like: I’m teaching you to cast your cares on Me. You need not fear any kind of punishment. There is no punishment, only My loving, gentle correction of error so that you will not be hurt. I know you love Me. You love Me because I first loved you

From all that, I learned that receiving the review wasn’t a bad thing after all. I had learned more about my writing and myself than I could ever have learned any other way, and I am grateful.