Coming Soon - Book Review Thursday

August 29 will be here before you know it. That is our next fifth Thursday and Sunrise Christian Writers will have a salad bar and book review. Now is the time to think about what book you would like to present to our group. Don't have one in mind? Read the book on top of your "To Read" stack and be prepared to tell our group about it. Maybe you are like me and you don't know which book to present. Bring two if you like and if we have time we will hear both book reviews.

Bring a salad ingredient and your book reviews to Sunrise Community Church, 8321 Greenback Lane, Fair Oaks, CA 95628, room B107. We will begin at 10:00 and break for lunch at 11:30. We look forward to seeing you.

Learn to Write with Description

Sunrise Christian Writers will study Word Painting by Rebecca McClanahan to learn how to write with description. Our training workshops are the first and third Thursdays each month, beginning at 9:30 at Sunrise Community Church, 8321 Greenback Lane, Fair Oaks, CA in Room B107.

Our first class will be Thursday, August 1, 2013 with a discussion of Chapter 1, What is Description? On Thursday, August 15 we will review Chapter 2, The Eye of the Beholder. If you do not have a book, there is plenty of time to purchase it and read the lessons. We look forward to seeing you.

Release of The Prisoner of Carrot Castle

Today is the release of The Prisoner of Carrot Castle by Chris Pedersen, available in book format and iPad App. It was the top downloaded App on iTunes during a promotion last month. How appropriate that the official release today is the "National Eat Your Vegetables Day." Congratulations Chris!

A few years ago doctors told Chris she would not survive her colon cancer, but God had another plan. Today Chris is cancer free and has a passion for eating healthy and teaching others how to eat healthy. Find her story and delicious recipes at Healthy Journey Cafe.

I met Chris today for lunch and picked up a signed copy of The Prisoner of Carrot Castle for my great-granddaughter, Brooklyn. I can't wait to send it to her. I wish I could be there when she receives it, but her nana will have to do.

Would you join me in celebrating Chris' success by sending her a note of congratulations in a comment? I can't wait to celebrate your success too.

Kick Writer's Block

Do you feel like your creativity went on vacation? Have your characters betrayed you? Are you void of conflicts or emotions? Are you between projects? Writers face the blank screen for a number of different reasons, but help is on the way. Here are things I've found that help me kick writer's block:

1. Pray. The first thing I do when the ugly blank screen stares at me, is pray. Since I'm a Christian and a writer, God is my boss and He has helped me overcome many blank screens.
2. Read. I read a lot--fiction and nonfiction. Ideas for projects and proposals blossom from reading a novel or a non-fiction book. I'm currently reading Who Is That Man? on my Kindle by John Ortberg and falling more in love with Jesus. Although I read novels for entertainment, I read with a note pad near to write down any ideas that pop into my mind.
3. Exercise. Yep, the E word, a word not many writers enjoy, but when I am stumped on how to bring a scene together or how to make my point, I go for a walk. Many times the sunshine and fresh air stimulate the creative juices and give me answers. I find that truly amazing.
4. Chocolate. This is the miracle food that generates ways to fill blank screens with paragraphs and pictures. I keep a package of chocolate covered raisins on my desk in case of emergency. 
5. Switch projects. I like to have several stories in process, so when one stumps me, I switch to another one for a while. Upon returning to previous projects, I'm amazed how re-reading what I have gives me ideas for next steps.
6. Take a break. Stretch. Call someone to say, "I love you." I've come to find out that it's not all about me. God doesn't just use my writing--He uses my other gifts of encouraging and helping others. It makes me feel wonderful when God uses me and it gives me things to write about.
7. Clean. The C word--another word writers try to run away from. Sometimes when the blank screen plagues me, I stop and clean up my desk and office. It always amazes me how I can think better with a neat desk.

I'd love to have a few more resources at my disposal. What do you do do kick writer's block?

Way To Go Shannon and Jenny!

Congratulations to Shannon Dittemore and Jenny Lundquist! They signed books for my granddaughter, Morgan Marton, among others, at Face in a Book in El Dorado Hills. What a beautiful store! These two women have accomplished more than many writers do in a lifetime. I am so happy for both of you!!

Shannon's Angel Eyes and Broken Wings have been published by Thomas Nelson. The third in a series, Dark Halo, will be released August 20. Way to go, Shannon!

Jenny's Seeing Cinderella and Plastic Polly have been published by Aladdin Mix. Her third, The Princess in the Opal Mask, will be released in the near future. You go girl!

Join me in congratulating these great authors by leaving a comment.