“Help me to continue writing through those black moments of discouragement when I feel that nothing I write is good or worthwhile or will ever be read by anyone.” (an excerpt from A Writer’s Prayer by H. Joseph Chadwick)
From the time I got hold of my first notebook and pen, I wanted to be a writer. All those lines across the white pages stared up at me, begging to be filled up with words. My words. I wanted to tell stories-not out loud. I was way too shy for that, but on paper my shyness disappeared and the words flowed. Back then, I didn’t worry about anybody reading my stories. It was enough that I wrote them. Readers were a someday promise on down the writing road when I dreamed of being a “famous” writer with people clamoring to read my books. I imagined writing those books with ease. A kid can dream, you know.
But then I grew up and the idea of writing something others might read was no longer a someday thought. The future was now and I was ready to send my words out into the world to see if I could find readers. By that time, I was married, had a toddler and a baby, and high hopes of somebody paying me money for my stories. Wonder of wonder, I did sell a piece now and again to church magazines. Very little money, but fabulous encouragement. However small the payment per word, it was still payment. When I told my dad I got paid so much per word for those articles, he said I should throw in a few more buts and ands. I had to smile and remember a successful author saying he never wrote a multi-syllable word when a three letter word made him the same amount of money. Made sense and easier reading too.
College was out of the question for me, but I knew I needed to know more about writing. So I signed up for a correspondence writing course. This was way before the magic of internet brought so much information and learning possibilities to writers at the touch of a few keys. The course not only helped me improve my writing, it opened doors to ways to find out more about how to submit my writing. The last assignment was to write an outline for a book. I hate doing outlines and so I wrote the book instead. While that book still languishes on my unsold shelf, writing it changed my writing life forever. I loved coming up with characters and staying with them for months while I told their stories.
My first historical romance novel was published by Warner Books in 1978. It was set in frontier Kentucky and had some great historical events. I wrote another historical romance for Warner Books and then the next one I wrote “didn’t quite suit their needs.” I wrote a few more books that didn’t suit any editor’s needs. One told me my writing was “too clean” for the market needs at that time. So I switched over to writing for young adults in hopes clean would be good for those stories. I really enjoyed the coming of age stories I wrote for kids and published eleven books for young readers before once again the market needs changed and I was once more on the outside looking in. I wrote several more books for kids that didn’t find a publisher. I even wrote a book from the viewpoint of a dog. Years later I shared that story by pretending to let Jocie, my young character from my Hollyhill stories, write it. If you’re interested, you can still find Bailey’s Bug on the Heart of Hollyhill blog.
The young readers books weren’t the only ones that I wrote that didn’t find readers. For several years I wrote and wrote some more without managing to find the right market for my words. Finally I decided that I’d forget worrying about markets and editors and simply write a book that I loved writing. I fell back on that age-old advice to write what you know. What I knew was country life, small towns and country churches. So I came up with Jocie, a young girl whose father was a preacher and a newspaper editor and whose mother had deserted them. I set the story in a fictional little Kentucky town during the 1960s, modeled on my own little hometown. Then I had fun coming up with characters to make Hollyhill unique and at the same time like every other small town with its share of colorful characters. Scent of Lilacs found that loving editor in Lonnie Hull DuPont with Revell Books. And once again, I managed to re-invent myself as a writer. I wrote two more Hollyhill books, Orchard of Hope and Summer of Joy.
Then my writing life took another unexpected turn when Lonnie happened to mention her interest in the history of Shakers and I told her I had written a book about the Shakers once. Eventually that led to The Outsider being published, followed by more Shaker books. But I haven’t written only Shaker books. I’ve followed a number of story trails and written those books I wanted to write and that I hoped readers would want to read.
I’ve been blessed to have readers follow me through Hollyhill, then to my Shaker village of Harmony Hill, and back to the 1930’s and 40’s to Rosey Corner, farther back to Louisville in the 1850’s and to Springfield, Kentucky during the 1833 cholera epidemic and lately to the Appalachian Mountains during the 1930’s and 1940’s for some mountain stories. I even wrote some cozy mysteries set in my little town of Hidden Springs. I enjoy writing different kinds of stories. I like dropping my characters down into interesting historical times and seeing what happens next. It’s great being able to weave my characters’ faith journeys into the stories. And I love hearing from readers who say my stories have entertained and encouraged them.
Twice as a writer I have had barren years when my writing wasn’t finding a market. Those were discouraging times, but sometimes it’s the hard years when we think our prayers aren’t being answered that push us through doors of opportunity we hadn’t even noticed were there. I feel so blessed to have found the inspirational market where I have been able to share so many stories with readers like you.
Those years ago when I was reaching back to my roots to write Scent of Lilacs, I didn’t have the Christian market in mind. I didn’t have any market in mind. I was simply writing the story I wanted to write, but I’m glad the story found a home on the Christian Fiction bookshelf. Now, these years later, I am even happier that I’ve been able to add many more stories to that bookshelf, including my recent release, Along a Storied Trail.
As this Thanksgiving week kicks off, I am thankful for you, my readers and my friends. I hope to send out a newsletter with a Christmas giveaway next week, but first, I’m ready to have a book giveaway here for you. Share something you’re thankful for in the comments and I’ll throw your name in my giveaway hat for a chance to win your choice of an autographed copy of one of my stories. We’ll have a quick turn-around on this, with the deadline for entries, next Saturday, November 27 at midnight EST. I’ll pick a winner next Sunday. You do have to be at least eighteen to enter but other than that the only requirement is to leave a comment on this blog post or the one I share next Wednesday. I know some of you already have most of my books, but remember books make great Christmas gifts. I love it when you share my stories with your family and friends.
I count each of you who read my words a blessing. What is a blessing you can count this week?
Comments 34
I’m thankful for you,Ann! As an aspiring writer,I am greatly encouraged by hearing your own writing journey,my friend! Happy Thanksgiving,Ann! 💜Psalm 100💜
Author
I’m pleased you found my post encouraging to you as a writer, Emily. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving. Psalm 100 is a great Thanksgiving psalm. Thank you for sharing that. Verse 4 says, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”
I am thankful for my husband, our families and friends, our pets, interesting things to learn, beautiful things to see and beautiful music to hear, good food to eat, great books to read, and the love, life and hope I have received from Jesus my Saviour!
Author
All beautiful reasons for thanksgiving, Lauren. Thank you for sharing those blessings you counted. I can count many of the same. Little things and big things and life altering things – all reason for thanksgiving.
I’m thankful for life itself and all that God has seen fit to bless me with. When I dwell on the good things in life ; the not so good or tougher to endure parts seem to diminish. God is good, all the time. Those tough times always seem to have a blessing in disguise. I am ever grateful for His faithfulness in provision and protection while He’s polishing our character.
Author
What beautiful thoughts, Cindy Sue. Most all of us do have tough times now and again and we can get through them easier if we remember that the Lord is with us through those times too. Life is full of blessings and joy and as you say, character polishing.
I’m so thankful for my family. My little sister didn’t come along until I was 11, but I had cousins who lived nearby and we did a lot together. Yesterday I got to go to the wedding of the daughter of one of those cousins!
Author
I too am thankful for my family, Margaret. I have two sisters and we enjoy getting together to talk and play cards. We all still live close to one another. I also had cousins that visited often when we were kids although I don’t see them often any more. I’m glad you are still close to your cousins and get to enjoy family joys together. Weddings are so full of love and promise.
I am so thankful for a wonderful Christian husband, a church of Christian believers, a grown daughter who is settling down, a good part-time job (I’m retired.), and our health. My main hobby is reading, and I’m thankful that my husband has become a reader as well. What a blessing to have so many inspirational Christian fiction books to read and wonderful authors who love the Lord and write clean, God-honoring books!
Author
It is good to share something you love doing with your husband, Suzanne. I hope that the two of you sometimes read the same books so that you can talk about the stories. You have some wonderful reasons for thanksgiving. I can echo many of them in my own life. I’m also thankful for readers like you and I so appreciate you reading my stories.
Today is my 17th anniversary of my cardiac arrest. I’m thankful to be alive!
Author
What a wonderful reason for thanksgiving and a timely one as you are remembering that scary time when you weren’t sure you would have more years to live. I’m glad you are still enjoying that life, Una.
Thankful for food to feed my daughter and family when they come Wednesday through Sunday.
Author
I hope you and your daughter and family have a wonderful visit this week, Lucy. Good food always makes the visit more fun, and I’m guessing you will make some favorites for them while they are there. Enjoy.
My husband got in an accident this morning on the way to work. It was a hit and run. Thankfully, he is mostly alright. What I am even more thankful for is that not one, but two witnesses helped my hubby. The second witness actually got a photo of the license plate and the cops were able to find the hit and run driver. I am thankful for good people who stopped to help my husband, and thankful that even though we are down a car I still have my man.
Author
I’m so glad your husband wasn’t badly hurt and is mostly all right although he may feel some bruises by now, Kristina. It was good that there were those ready to help him. Sometimes we get a jolt that makes us realize the truly important things in our lives and the health of our loved ones can be right there at the top.
I’m so thankful for writers like you that can write a good story. I love reading them!
Author
Thank you, Connie Lee. And I can speak for myself and other writers and say we are very thankful for readers like you who love to read our stories.
Thankful for the rain! We’ve been in drought for so long…
Author
Rain. Ah yes, Natalya. We sometimes complain about the rain when we have plenty, but when the rain doesn’t come, we realize how very important it is for water to fall from the sky. I hope you will have more rain to help the drought to end.
I am thankful to have remained healthy this past year.
Author
Good health is always a reason for thanksgiving, Nadine. Prayers that you will have more healthy years to come.
I am thankful for my family and as I sat last Friday morning watching the eclipse of the moon I took a special time to thank God for his creation.
Author
I watched the eclipse too, Janice. I love witnessing those special events of nature. It was double fun since my daughter was here visiting and we all got up at 3:30 a.m. and stood outside in the cold to wait for the eclipse to be nearly total. Just a tiny sliver of the moon was not shadowed. Frankie and Marley were in the backyard and they couldn’t figure out what in the world we were doing out in the front yard in the wee hours of the morning. 🙂
I’m so thankful I survived cancer this year, and I’m still here to be with my family on Thanksgiving.
Author
That is reason for thanksgiving, Sharon. I’m thankful for that too and pray that you continue to have good health and many more times to share with your family.
Thankful for family sitting here in my backroom, visiting for the holiday. Thankful for the effort they made to travel here and for their cheerful presence and energy, lighting up the day.
Author
What fun to have your family home for Thanksgiving, Toni. And it sounds as if they are very glad to be there visiting with you. Our pastor preached from Philippians 2:12-16 about how we are to be thankful for our blessings and be “shining stars” that reflect the Lord’s love. That’s a great way to light up the day.
There are so many things in life to be thankful for like birds singing, children’s laughter, silly things our pets do, hugs, smiles, a good book to read….so many things that are blessings in this life that the Lord has given us. I am especially thankful for the the blessing of a loving family, church family and friends. I often think that if we would count our blessings one by one that we would never be done! I hope you have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving with your family!
Author
Love your list, Hope. As I read through it, I heard those birds singing and the children giggling and laughing. Hugs and smiles. Pets and books. All those are on my thanksgiving list too. A loving family, church family and friends are wonderful blessings to count. You are so right that I would have to keep on counting for a while to name all my blessings. By the time we would think we were at the end of the list, we’d have new blessings to add. I used the verses in Lamentations 3:22-23 in my first Hidden Springs mystery, Murder at the Courthouse. Morning by morning new blessings we see.
I’m very thankful for my 97 year old father who is a blessing to me daily! I treasure all the times we spend together.
Author
What a precious blessing to count, Susan. It makes me smile to think about how you and your father are loving the time you spend together. I hope you enjoy many shared memories and like hearing him share his early memories too. I do wish I’d taken more time to listen to my father and hear him talk about his life.
I am thankful for God,my family,my church family and I am thankful for friends that I have made along the way.
Author
And I know your family is thankful for you, Lisa. I’m thankful I’ve been able to meet you and a few of your family members. I love the people I get to meet and get to know through my books and writing. Thank you for liking my stories.