A lone starling appeared on our deck on Monday. He first perched on the flat board railing, his purple head gleaming in the sun. Then he flew to the snow-covered floor boards and stared at us with striking yellow-ringed eyes. We see lots of cardinals, juncos, finches, and other winter birds at our feeders. But … Continue reading A murmuration of starlings
Through Matthew’s muddling
Five years ago, a fifth-grader named Matthew entered my life. I ignored him for too many years, but he's been taking center stage lately. This morning I finished him off. Strictly speaking, I didn't finish him off completely. I only finished the second draft of the first manuscript in his series, Matthew Muddles Through. It seems … Continue reading Through Matthew’s muddling
Resurrecting Matthew
Remember Matthew? Those of you who've been reading my novel for years may recall him. He's the protagonist of a juvenile fiction series I originally began more than five years ago. And it's been more than a year since I mentioned him. Poor Matthew's gone through some serious surgeries and lengthy hospital stays. But he's … Continue reading Resurrecting Matthew
Creativity and Productivity
At the beginning of a new year, many people implement innovative strategies to increase productivity and meet specific goals. I usually consider ways to make better use of my time, work smarter, and get more accomplished. Like others who work creatively, I struggle with bringing projects to completion. Is it possible to be productive and … Continue reading Creativity and Productivity
Writing & Living – a book review
Letters & Life: on being a writer, on being a Christian by Bret Lott Crossway; hard cover; 192 pages; © 2013 Book review by Glenda Mathes You have to admire a writer who admits to having received over 600 rejections. And who repeatedly confesses that he knows nothing about writing. Bret Lott's work always strikes … Continue reading Writing & Living – a book review
Forward on fiction
Sometimes God prevents you from writing a project so concretely it seems as if he holds his hand at your chest (an expression Larry Woiwode used in Words for Readers and Writers and I quoted here). I've felt that hand most of this year, especially on my novels. But I haven't sat around, staring at my monitor screen … Continue reading Forward on fiction
NaNo end nears
For thousands of writers around the world, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is winding down. Or perhaps, speeding up. In these last days of November, NaNoWriMo participants have less than 48 hours to hit the 50,000 word count goal. Those writers in the winner's circle are resting on their laurels, while those who can see the … Continue reading NaNo end nears
So it begins!
Time to write! For those of you who don't know, today's the first day of NaNoWriMo. That's shorthand for National Novel Writing Month, a crazy adrenaline-fueled rush of attempting to write 50,000 words in a new novel in one month. This is my seventh NaNo. I've won all but the last one. I explained why … Continue reading So it begins!
No NaNo
For the last seven Novembers, I've participated in NaNoWriMo. National Novel Writing Month is a frenetic November of trying to write at least 50,000 words in a novel--from scratch. On every November 1 during the previous seven years, I sat down at my computer, placed my fingers on the keyboard, and began a new novel. For … Continue reading No NaNo
Begin to write by writing
The post-it note centered above my computer monitor daily reminds me, "Begin to write by writing." It's a phrase that struck me during a writing course years ago. Anyone can think about writing, but you have to put your fingers on the keyboard and actually write if you want to be a writer. Readers of … Continue reading Begin to write by writing
Glenda Faye Mathes 