Writer's Block -- Get Your Head in the Game!

What do you do when you've got writer's block?

That very question has wandered through my mind on many occasions as I've stared at my computer screen, racking my brain for any way to move my story forward. Overcoming writer's block is one of the greatest challenges for a writer, and there is no set way to clear the obstacles blocking your creativity. So, what are we supposed to do to get out of a writing slump?

After trying some distraction tactics -- playing a few games of Solitaire, walking around the block and getting a snack -- I came back to my work-in-progress (WIP) feeling energized and full of ideas. My fingers flew across the keys and the pages filled up. Chapters fell into place and I was well on my way to bringing another happily-ever-after to completion.

Until my brain froze up again.

During one of those blocked moments, I decided to watch a Dallas Mavericks basketball game I recorded the night before. Right in the middle of the game, it hit me.

Overcoming writer's block is exactly like basketball.

When Dirk Nowitzki is in a shooting slump, what does he do? Does he pass the ball to his teammates and let them control the game? Does he give up because he doesn't stand a chance of winning since his shot has disappeared? Does he stop fighting and ask to be benched until he gets his head back in the game?

No!

Nowitzki keeps shooting the basketball.

He's learned something vital about shooting slumps. If he keeps shooting, the ball's bound to go in the hoop eventually. It may take 10 shots, or 20. It may take a thousand shots. He will spend lots of extra hours in the gym before and after every game and practice, and he may even get some advice from his coaches or teammates. But, if he keeps shooting -- keeps trying to push through the slump -- he knows the ball must sink through the hoop eventually.

Just as Dirk must keep shooting the basketball to get out of his slump, we writers must keep writing words to get out of our writer's block. Wherever you're stuck in your story, just write. Move the story forward. The scenes may not be perfect -- in fact, they may be downright awful -- but the important thing is to get the words on the page. It may take a while, and you may need advice from friends, family or professionals in the business. But in the end, the ideas will flow and you will be inspired once again. Then, even though you'll have scenes that need major editing, you'll have the bones of a great story . . . and a few ideas that bounce off the charts.

So, what are you waiting for?

It's game time! Get out there and write!

This article, written by Andrea Renee Cox, was previously published on My Book Therapy's Weekly Spark and is archived at: http://mybooktherapy.ning.com/forum/topics/weekly-spark-1-28-2013-writer-s-block-get-your-head-in-the-game-b

Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert

Several of my friends have been attacked by grief this past year. Buckets of tears have been shed for mothers, fathers, husbands, brothers, grandparents, and even a beloved pet or two. All are loved. All will be missed. None will be forgotten.

Due to the quantity of sorrow within my circle of friends, my heart felt a massive connection to Wishing on Willows, Katie Ganshert's poignant sequel to Wildflowers from Winter. This follow-up book gave voice to the ache in my heart I felt for my grieving friends, yet failed to find the proper words to express. I believe this novel to be an impactful tool to piece together broken hearts and shattered dreams in such a way as to renew your hope and refresh your outlook on life.

In Wishing on Willows, widowed Robin Price juggles a struggling cafe, a grief support group, and being a single mother to an energetic almost-four-year-old. As if her plate wasn't full enough already, attractive developer Ian McKay struts into town with plans to knock down her beloved Willow Tree Cafe -- which would demolish the dream she shared with her late husband -- and build condominiums in its place. As Robin fights to save her cafe and the integrity of her town, she finds herself battling a deeper, even more personal battle: grief. When everything piles up and towers over her, will Robin be victorious in sending the developer packing? Or will she discover that sometimes all we need is "a tangible reminder that God can bring sweetness in the midst of pain?" (Quote from page 75.)

If you find yourself in the throes of grief, Wishing on Willows might be just the story you need to boost your confidence in God's unfailing love. When we struggle with emotions we aren't equipped to understand, the Lord is there to wrap us up in a spiritual hug and whisper assurances that we do not have to face our rock-bottom moments alone. He is our Rock. We may lean on His strength when we have none of our own.

Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert will be available on March 19, 2013. To learn more about Katie Ganshert, please visit her website: www.katieganshert.com. You may read the first chapter of Wishing on Willows at http://www.scribd.com/doc/115630214/Wishing-on-Willows-by-Katie-Ganshert-Sneak-Peek

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

The Tutor's Daughter

When I picked up The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen, I expected to read about interesting, memorable characters living in the Regency Era. What I didn't expect to find was a brilliant mixture of mystery and innocent romance that kept me turning the book's pages . . . unable to stop reading until I had unearthed each secret right along with Miss Emma Smallwood. A nice surprise, The Tutor's Daughter was, and a book I would highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of Jane Austen (books or films). You won't be disappointed.

Accompanying her father to Ebbington Manor to tutor the youngest two Weston sons sparks hope and wariness within Miss Emma Smallwood -- hope, to see Phillip again, the Weston she was quite fond of as a young girl; wariness, at being trapped under the same roof as Henry, the oldest Weston who pulled plenty of pranks on her as a child. As Emma settles into her new routine at Ebbington, mysterious things begin happening around her. Who plays the pianoforte so beautifully in the dark of night? Will Emma discover who leaves love letters under her door? Secrets abound as every person living in Ebbington Manor seems to hold fast to at least one hidden truth, including Emma herself. Will a tempest rise when all the secrets come to light? Find out in Julie Klassen's latest novel, The Tutor's Daughter.

Aunt Jane tells Emma (on page 23), "But that does not mean I don't sometimes wonder what I might have missed. What my life might have been like, had I said yes to a little adventure of my own." This message of encouragement to Emma is quite easily applied to many a person's life. How many of us have wondered what life would have been like, had we chosen a different course in life? Said yes instead of no to a risky venture? I don't know about you, but my mind has wandered into 'What-If-Land' a few times. Guess what I've discovered: I wouldn't change anything. The choices I've made throughout my 25 years have been used by God to form me into the God-fearing woman I am today. Without those decisions and a few misadventures along the way, I wouldn't be as creative, strong, intelligent, caring, loving, trustworthy, etc. my family and friends tell me I am. No, I would not change one choice I've made. Would you?

Another line from The Tutor's Daughter I found that may be implemented in my life is on page 343. While facing imminent death, Henry Weston says, "You think all you like. I am going to pray." When I cannot think my way out of a difficult situation . . . when I can't think of the right words for a scene in my novels . . . when I can't think of how to best help a friend . . . I pray. God hears and answers my prayers, each and every one. Even though, sometimes, the answers aren't what I expected or wanted to hear, they're always what I NEEDED to hear. God is always faithful to listen and answer, according to His will. My only hope is this: that I don't wait to pray until I CAN'T THINK. I want to be proactive in my life, and I want talking and listening to God to be the best part of my day.

Tell me this:

How has God touched your life this week? Was it a gentle reminder? Or perhaps an abrupt wake-up call? Did He use you to touch someone else's life?

Is there anything you wish you could do over? A decision you would make differently, if given the chance? What would you do differently next time?

Please join the conversation! I look forward to hearing from you.

If you want to learn more about Julie Klassen, see photos from her trip to England, or order a copy of The Tutor's Daughter, please visit www.julieklassen.com.

THE COCONUT: Fruit or Nut?

At the mall this past weekend, I bought a neat windchime . . . made from a coconut! When the disk in the center of the hollowed-out chimes bangs around in the wind, it puts out this deep, reedy sound that makes me think of white sand and a Caribbean beach. (And I've never before set foot outside the U.S.) While admiring my unique find, the cogs in my mind began turning the wheels of my brain, and I wondered:

Is the coconut a fruit or a nut?

And that's where my research began. Soon, my kitchen table was covered with encyclopedias, thesauruses, dictionaries, pens, and a notebook. (Yes, I still use my handy-dandy encyclopedias, even though the internet makes searching faster. There's just something about looking for information in a physical book, with pages to be turned . . . But that is another topic altogether.)

According to two different encyclopedias and tipsofallsorts.com, the coconut is a fruit. Ehow.com claims it is a nut. Other sources say it's neither and is, in fact, a seed. I suppose the debate shall continue . . .

Whether it's a fruit, nut, or seed, the coconut grows on one of the most useful of the palm trees, called the coconut palm. Vinegar, coconut water, and coconut oil are made from these trees. Their wood is used for building, and the leaves for thatching huts. Baskets, hats, brooms, and ropes are created from the leaves, as well. The list of things made from the coconut palm tree is quite lengthy, which came as a surprise to me. You never know what you're going to learn when you open a book!

Here are a few interesting facts about the coconut you may not have known:

Did you know . . .

. . . if a coconut falls into the sea, it will float?

. . . a good coconut palm may produce 50 coconuts a year?

. . . a well-tended coconut palm can produce twice that?

. . . coconut water is identical to human blood plasma and has been used as a universal donor?

. . . coconut palms may grow to be 30 meters high? That's over 98 feet tall!

. . . if you burn the husk of a coconut, you are using a mosquito repellent?

. . . more than 20 billion coconuts are harvested each year?

. . . coconuts do not contain cholesterol, as cholesterol is only found in animals?

How do YOU use coconuts? Please CHIME in!

Compliments to the Chef

You know those cooking shows where the chefs make perfect little soups, perfect little casseroles, and perfect little cupcakes? They add a pinch of this and a squirt of that, and at the end of the half-hour show they taste their dishes and declare, "Mmmm . . . That's so delicious!"

When I was a little kid, I loved watching those shows. (Who am I trying to fool? I STILL love watching those shows!) It drove my sister crazy, and my parents were sure I would grow up to be a chef one day. Alas, I did not. However, I do enjoy a good meal and trying new recipes.

A couple weeks ago I bought a new cookbook to add to my collection. (This one brings my total to seven, I think.) As I was flipping through the pages, making my mouth water with the tantalizing pictures, I discovered a neat and not-too-complicated recipe for homemade jam. Trying this recipe could be a lot of fun and also save me some money (or help me make some if it turned out scrumptiously delicious.) So, I gathered the ingredients for grape jam and gave it a go this weekend.

The recipe, surprisingly, was not deceiving. The jam was super easy to make and, I must admit, quite enjoyable to tinker with. The neatest part was seeing the sugar bubble and foam up as it dissolved in the crushed fruit.

Before my family and I tasted my first attempt at homemade jam, I decided to also make a batch of cream biscuits, also found in the newest addition to my cookbook shelf. I figured the biscuits would go perfectly with the jam. Of course, now we'd have two new creations to taste-test, but my parents and sister uttered no complaints.

Once I snapped a few photos of the finished products, I almost didn't want to taste them. I was nervous! Thoughts flew through my mind. What if it doesn't taste right? Did my family get their hopes up only to be crushed when the jam and biscuits hit their taste buds?

Throwing caution to the wind, I bit into a jam-filled biscuit. Wow . . . That was my first thought as the concoction melted in my mouth. The biscuit was soft and moist. The grape jam complimented it perfectly as it was not too sweet and absolutely delicious. My parents and sister all agreed: These two recipes are definitely keepers!

Now that I've heard from my food critics, the only thing left to wonder is . . . What flavor of jam should I attempt to make next?

What is YOUR favorite flavor of jam?

Hide and Seek

Have you ever been so invested in the plotline of a novel that you found yourself holding your breath in anticipation for the next twist of the tale? That's exactly what happened to me while I was reading Hide and Seek. This military intelligence adventure, written by authors Major (Retired) Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky, plunks you right in the middle of the action and keeps you tight in its grip until the final word on the last page.

Master Sergeant J.J. "Boss Bartley, soon-to-be father of twins, welcomes two new guys to his Special Operations team not long before heading out on a search and rescue mission in riot-riddled Kyrgyzstan to recover an Army-trained Foreign Affairs Officer and the lawyer daughter of Kyrgyzstan's president. As the team fight their way through the streets of Bishkek, the stakes are constantly raised, which adds to the drama and keeps you on the edge of your seat--and turning pages! Each new person you meet along the way adds a new layer of depth to the strong complexity of this search and rescue tale.

On page 188, Sergeant Alan Kinkaid says, "Faith helps me soldier on." I find this to be true in my own life as well. Whenever I am struggling with something and think that there is no way I can make my through the difficult circumstances, God is there to help me through it. Leaning on faith is quite hard sometimes because, as humans, we want to have things well in control. Hide and Seek serves as a reminder that things don't always go the way you think they will. Life comes with speed bumps of all sorts. These trials are put in place to strengthen us, direct us back to the right path (or simply a different one), and correct us when we fall short. When things go awry, our faith in God will surely help us "soldier on."

Hide and Seek is a fantastic story that I couldn't put down. In fact, I read it in only three days. Major (Retired) Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky work well together, telling an intricate story of teamwork, military pride and brotherhood, and the importance of family. I look forward to reading more books by Major (Retired) Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky. You can find Hide and Seek and other books and information about the authors on each of their websites: http://jeffstruecker.com and http://altongansky.com. May God bless you in amazing ways this week.



Wish You Were Here

Last spring, I bought Beth K. Vogt's debut novel, Wish You Were Here, and discovered a spunky, fun, creative story with a fresh voice. The unusual plotline apparently gave Beth buckets of inspiration for her first dip into the world of fiction. I say this because, within the pages of this book, I found a great release for laughter and tears as I enjoyed the unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters with real-life issues, and important life messages for the reader to glean. This book was a pleasant surprise with a bit of adventure thrown into the mix.

In Wish You Were Here, Allison Denman accidentally kisses her soon-to-be brother-in-law a mere five days before her wedding to the guy's brother. This mistake causes her to doubt her decisions and plans for the future and become a runaway bride. She struggles to confront the trauma of her past and the whirlwind of her present, all the while resisting God's plans for her future. Will she figure out all the pieces of the puzzle of her life and give God a chance to guide her into the safety of His arms?

As you'll see, Alli is a lady trying to do the right thing but finds herself making mistake after mistake that alter the course of her life. As the chapters go by, it seems like her mistakes pile higher and higher until they threaten to topple and bury her alive. Sorting through the mess her life has become is quite difficult, especially when faced with the choice between Seth Rayner--her fiance who has things planned out and in control--and Daniel Rayner--Seth's adventuresome older brother who has sent Alli 'Wish You Were Here' postcards for years. It's a tough decision that gets even harder with every turn of the page. I stayed awake long into the night to cheer Alli Denman on in this unusual love triangle, and I'm guessing you will too!

I recently reread Wish You Were Here in eager anticipation of Beth K. Vogt's second novel, entitled Catch a Falling Star. No doubt, Beth will not disappoint with the talent God has bestowed upon her. In her debut novel, she easily laced complex backstories and multiple heart-gripping themes into the plotline of her sweet tale of finding the right kind of love. I'm looking forward to seeing what literary tricks she uses in her next book, and May 2013 (when the book releases) cannot get here soon enough! For more information about Beth K. Vogt and Wish You Were Here, Catch a Falling Star, and Beth's non-fiction titles, please visit her website at http://www.bethvogt.com.