BookingIt

I put a ton on my plate so I'll post next week. Hopefully will visit you all before then, though. What's on your plate? Have a wonderful week!

It happens all the time, across the world. Intellectually, I know there are people who starve to death. But I've never seen their hollowed cheeks, never heard their groans or smelled their fear. I've never held a starving person in my arms, her dry skin warm against mine, and prayed she'd live. Renee has. Nabakoza Betty I found the story of Nabakoza and Betty on the blog Kisses From Katie . They're the last two August 2010 posts. From there I've learned that Renee, who is a missionary with Serving His Children, is in need of transportation. If you're interested in learning how you can help, this is their website: http://www.servinghischildren.org/ Learning about Betty and Nabakoza ripped my heart a little. I want the tears to stay, to hurt and to remind me. How do you feel about ministries like this? Do you support any? Is your main character involved with a mission or charity?

There was a tree with a rope (and most of you probably know my weakness for trees)so I had to climb it and jump, along with other family members. Somehow I jammed my typing finger in a horrible way, so I'll try coming back to blogging next week, when I can actually make comments on your blogs. :-) What's the worst injury you've ever experienced? Was it your fault?

In eighth grade I stood alone in the schoolyard every morning, a book my best friend, as I waited for the morning bell. I was a new student and not bold enough, or maybe not interested enough, in making friends. Despite that, two students invited me to join their little circle of friends. I still stood on the outskirts of that circle, reading my book, rarely joining in conversation, yet their kindness touched some deep part of me. They became my best friends until I moved away. At the ACFW conference I wasn't a disinterested stranger. From the moment I arrived, I met people I knew. Talked incessantly and smiled always. The night of the awards banquet was different. I showed up late and entered a packed room. Saw no one I knew well enough to sit with. And for the first time, I felt alone. I made my way through tables, scanning for someone I knew, wishing I would've hurried and feeling a strange sense of deja vu. Then I heard my name. Katie Ganshert was calling my name. She and o...

It's not like I learned something new yesterday, but rather that it suddenly disturbed me. I have a bookshelf filled with unread books. Some I've won, some I've bought, most are authors I cyber-know. When I took the kids to the library yesterday, I told my husband I wouldn't get anything because I had too many books to read. I came home with five books for myself. Reading has always been a compulsion for me. But suddenly I'm feeling like that girl in Confessions of a Shopaholic . A little ashamed, even, that I had to check out books. That I'm so addicted to reading I want to be surrounded by as many books as possible. That I wish I could inhale them. What makes me need them? Is it emotional? Do they make me feel secure? I have NO clue, but I figured I'd share with all of you because I think at least some of you will know how I feel. What are you addicted to? What do you buy even when you know you already have it at home? Is there a cure? Do I even need a cu...

Storytelling has been around for centuries. The method, however, has been fluid. From poems like Iliad to stories told orally around a fire, literature always seems to be evolving and changing to best suit the needs (and sometimes attention spans) of its audience. Which leads me into the territory of the enhanced book. It's scary to think of books changing, although technically commercial fiction hasn't been around all that long. I want a career in writing just like the rest of you, but will the books I'm writing be the books that are selling? I don't want to fear that what I love will no longer exist years from now. However, while change is difficult, stories that touch the heart will always be around, no matter what format they're in. Below are links to two different agent posts on the future of books. What do you think? Will there be a place for fiction as we know it? Do the coming changes worry you or excite you? PubRants Janet Reid

I stumbled across this ARTICLE that proposes women shouldn't change their name when they get married. The article is intriguing, but what really caught my attention was this statement: "When Helga shared her partner’s last name, both male and female [survey] participants perceived her as more caring, more dependent, less intelligent, more emotional and less competent – that is, the researchers say, more aligned with female stereotypes." It almost seems as if there's a line of thinking that says a caring nature and deep emotions equals a lesser intellect. Seriously? Do people really think that? What do you think about taking your spouse's name? Other than professional reasons (such as a name being a brand) is there a reason you would want to keep your own last name in marriage? Also, do you think intellect can be measured by emotional values? Does anyone else wonder who was surveyed for this article?

I love watching Project Runway, a reality show about clothing designers. The designers are assigned a project and by the end of each show models walk the runway in the designers' outfits. The outfits are then judged by industry professionals, including Heidi Klum. It never fails to amaze me how the designers react to their finished products. Probably about ninety percent of the designers think their clothes are amazing. Perfect. They're always pleased. They don't usually see the flaws. In so many ways I'm reminded of writers with our novels. Have you ever written a scene that felt perfect, only to have someone rip it apart? Can you see the flaws in your work? Do you ever worry about your ego getting in the way of your craft?

First, a huge thanks to every single one of you who left comments on my previous post. I appreciate all the prayers and sweet words. Everything is good here now, smoothing out, but there are changes possibly coming. The biggest of which might be me getting a full-time job. I have an interview tomorrow, so whoever wants to pray, have at it! I don't like that someone else will be watching my kids all day. That's going to be very hard for me.I'll also have less blogging time. For those of you who work, I really don't know how you do it. Since this change a little difficult for me to swallow, I need a pick-me-up. Anyone have great news to share? Has something good happened to you recently?

Ever thought of your blog as you...selling yourself? Elana did an awesome POST about this and it reminded me of a blog I'd just read. I'd linked over because I saw this blogger's somewhat rude comment on an agent's blog. The blogger had a decent amount of comments so I checked them out. It was a little shocking to read mostly anonymous, troll-like comments. But it makes sense. What you sell attracts a certain type of buyer. This angry guy had tons of angry, mean comments. Ever known an angry, divisive person? Having an opinion is way different than being rude. As Elana asked, what are you hoping to accomplish with blogging? What kind of You are you selling?

Over the holidays I learned that my neighborhood is sick. Seriously. I kept hearing "This is sick" about everything. Having a fourteen year old brother is not only enlightening, but it's pretty cool. Cool, by the way, is still an "in" word. For those of you who write YA or MG, you might find these words interesting. Straight from Orange County, California, below is the list my wonderful brother gave me. Define these words: Boss Beast Gnarly (yeah, it's still in and I heard him and my dad use it fluently) Bro Bra Steezy Sic Thizz (yes, that's how it's spelled) Have you heard any of these words? I think some of you have posted your kids' slang before. How do you feel about slang in fiction? Is the slang you use still cool? Or are you hanging on to outdated slang because it's groovy?

For the past year and a half, I've been submitting a historical romance. While it garnered a few requests, it has also garnered its share of rejections. The last rejection was filled with good advice and an invitation to resubmit. I think I'm going in a new direction though. My other manuscripts are contemporary romances. If an agent sells my historical, there's a good chance I'll be expected to continue writing historicals. Right now my heart is with contemporaries. Thus, the historical is done making the agent rounds. One of my contemporaries is ready to be queried and I think that will be my new direction. Which direction are you headed in? What's your favorite genre to read? Do you realize that you may expected to continue writing whatever you first submit? Thanks to Diane for inspiring this post

Sometimes we hop into bed with an agent before thinking things through. Passion kicks in and oops, we're in "bed" with a stranger. Just because an agent is reputable and nice doesn't mean they'll be the right fit. If you don't ask the right questions you might jump in with someone who: Hogs the covers. Takes up all the room on the mattress. Huddles on the edge of mattress and you can barely reach him. Snores in the middle of pillowtalk. Have you thought about what to ask an agent before accepting an offer of representation? What things are you willing to overlook and what qualities are important to you?

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many Grace is a beautiful thing. We all need it. Bitterness is ugly. Most of us have it. When I think about bitterness, I think of a vine growing around our hearts and choking us. I'm not trying to preach to anyone today, but I did think it's worth noting how easy it is to become bitter in a business like publishing. This is a subjective business, one that doesn't necessarily conform to rules. We want rules. We come up with formulas and plotting strategies and one-sheets. We revise and edit, revise and edit, shooting for perfection. And then we face rejection. It's the subjectivity that's the toughest, because in this business, you can't measure success by publishing. Getting a contract means a lot of people like your book. Rejection doesn't mean people DON'T like your book. The business of publishing isn't a formula. There are things we can do ...

Here's a link to One Very Brave Heroic boy who I think is completely awesome! Here's a link to the new word on the block (and it cracks me up). Shug . If you were going to combine two words to make a new one, what would they be? Do you think you could do what that boy did? Why or why not?

Remember back in the day when you longed for a man, that one special man, who would fill your nights with warmth and smother you with spine-melting kisses? Remember how you'd see all the married couples and think "Where's my love?" And you'd look around and realize you were the only single person in the crowd. The loneliness got to you, drove you into the bookstore where, foggy-eyed and grief-stricken, you stumbled across a book titled (I'm guessing here) BEING HAPPY WHILE SINGLE. You bought it because it seemed like a good idea at the time. And then suddenly it seems all people want to talk about is how good it is to be single! The wives tell you to be relieved that you can stay up until three in the morning with the lights on. Be glad no one pees on your toilet rim. This is us, my dear writer friends. :-) We are the single folks. Yes, there are wonderful, beautiful thrills to being married (published). But there's also hard work, deadlines, interferences...