God's Timing

    

     Sometimes God's watch does not run at the speed we want it to. Sometimes we think we know the best way and time for something to happen, but God knows otherwise. Sometimes His will is clear to us, but more often we cannot see the path our story is taking.

     This is where I am right now. I know God has a plan for me, but I do not have a clue what it is.

     For the past few weeks, I have not been actively pursuing an agent. (Maybe you have noticed that my last update was in the beginning of April?) The reason for that is I have been waiting and preparing for something.

     In the second post on this blog, way back in September, I said, "I am going to keep pursuing getting this book published unless God tells me to knock it off." Well, God has told me ( not suddenly, but quite decidedly) that I need to stop looking to be published at this point in time.

     No, I did not hear His audible voice; I know He wants me to pause in my journey simply by how my circumstances are.

     When I first began searching for an agent, I thought my book would have a contract by the end of 2010. At least, I strongly hoped it. The way things were going seemed like perfect timing back then. But my life story is taking a different turn, and I have to trust that God's timing is perfect. I am confident that what is happening in my life will accomplish His good purpose.

     Basically, there are some things I have to do before I can resume my search for an agent and/or publisher. It will take me at least a year and a half (and that would drive me insane if I didn't believe this is the way God wants it to be). I am not even sure that is a good time line, because I have discovered my book could use some major rewriting. So that will also have to happen before I can think about publishing again.

      I hope to be able to post here still, but it won't be as often as I have been. Please keep me in your prayers. Let us continue to walk the narrow road that leads to Christ.

     Post Tenebras Lux. After Darkness Light.
-ST

Facebook Page

     

     The Storyteller Support team has been published to Facebook! As you can see from the sidebar, Picture Four, the brown background, was the one most voted for. Thanks for your help, everyone!
     The Support Team has been up since yesterday morning and already 13 people have joined. Yipee!!!
     Here is the link, FBers: Storyteller Support Team.Feel free to join. (That's nice talk for "Please, please, please JOIN!!!")
     Now if only Mr. Smiley would stop bugging me to make a page for him....
   
     Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Writing Rants

     

     Why do writers begin to write?
     I think most writers, especially those who start young, begin writing simply because they want to. It's fun to create characters, places, and plots. We enjoy writing.
     But the complex web of publishing and marketing tries to conform us to its whims. Not everyone wants to read the type of material we write, so publishers and agents look for certain kinds of writers. I've been searching for an agent for over half a year now, and I've found that most Christian agents just will not accept the genres I write!
     That's sad.
     When art becomes business, it is more difficult to enjoy. That's what I think. Alas, alas, that the world provides only one way to tell the stories burning within us! You really can't avoid business of some type if you want to be well known.
     Think about it. The writer writes for enjoyment. The publisher publishes for money. Somehow, those two don't connect very well in my mind.
     I'm sorry to say I don't have a solution for this unavoidable problem. I think money and business are direct results of the Curse. I really do!
     Are you depressed yet? I don't like leaving people depressed. There is only one happy way to end this.
     I believe that everything good is from Jehovah, but we, being stupid humans, have completely messed everything up (money and business included). Because God is abounding in love and grace, Christians have hope that, through Jesus, everything will be good again, as it once was. What does that mean for you as a writer? If you are a believer in Christ, then you can expect that nothing will be futile in Heaven. Everything you will do will never have a bad side. I don't know if we'll write in Heaven, but I'm sure that whatever happens there will be much better than the best things that happen here. "And that is an encouraging thought," to quote a wise, old wizard.
     There is not much of a point to this post. More like a bunch of points rolled into one. Sorry about that.

     Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST

Vote Verdicts!

For the past several months, I have been putting up various polls asking about different types of characters and books. I think the results are interesting; maybe even helpful for writers to see which characters people like to read about (not to say the polls were perfect!). Here are some of the polls and their verdicts:

Best Villain 

The Joker - 29%

Count Olaf - 17%

Marsuvees Black - 17%

Darth Vader - 17%

Gollum - 17%

Favorite Damsel

Antoinette Reed - 50%

Lucy Pevensie - 25%

Arwen - 25%

Buttercup - 0%

Princess Leia - 0%

Best Kind of Hero

Swift and Cunning - 45%

The Underdog - 35%

Kingly, Noble, Mighty - 15%

Strong and Muscular - 5%

Favorite Antihero

Boromir - 54%

Dustfinger - 16%

Ruscuro the Rat - 12%

Captain Nemo - 8%

Boojum - 8%

Glew - 0%

Favorite Quotable Quote

 "I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood but a bit higher from the ground." - 34%

"Mawage. Mawage is what bwings us togethah today." - 31%

"For Narnia and for Alsan!" - 22%

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" - 8%

"May the Force be with you." - 2%

Favorite Fiction Genre

Fantasy - 93%

Science Fiction - 43%

Mystery - 40%

Historical - 25%

Horror - 12%

Romance - 6%

Best Series

The Door Within - 37%

The Lord of the Rings - 25%

The Chronicles of Narnia - 25%

Dragons in our Midst - 7%

Harry Potter - 3%

Twilight Saga - 0%

     And don't forget to vote on the most recent poll! See post "Your Vote Needed!" for details.

     Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST