The Writing Groove and Christmas Fun

Can I be honest? I'm struggling to find a writing groove with my blog. I have a lot of great intentions, but I think it's now a matter of just writing. I've asked several of my blogging friends for tips and writing resources, and the one piece of advice they all gave me was to write and write and then write some more. Of course, we can all improve in the craft and skill of writing, but to get into the mindset of writer, you have to write!

So, this month www.exemplifyonline.com has given me the perfect opportunity to get back into a regular blogging habit.

Throughout the month of December Exemplify is hosting:and I will be participating!

Ok, so here is the schedule of events for "Exemplify's Christmas Spectacular!" that I will doing:

[For a full listing of scheduled events or to get involved please www.exemplifyonline.com]

Tuesday, December 1

















Thursday, December 3













Friday, December 4








Friday, December 11















Thursday, December 17

















Tuesday, December 22








I hope you enjoy the holiday fun around The Process of Exchange over the next few weeks!

Don't forget to sign-up for your FREE subscription to www.exemplifyonline.com online magazine! My first article is being published on December 3, 2009...HINT, HINT!

-Alison

Procastinitus - it's a technical term

I've recently begun writing for another project that is not blog related (more details to come in the future). It is the first time I've had a writing deadline since college, and last week I was not coping well with the pressure. I felt like I hit a wall. Not just any wall either. It felt like the Great Wall of China. I had writer's block, procastinitus (read: procrastination issues), and a major case of "oh crap, what did I get myself into?". Have you ever been in that place before?

Each time I sat down to write it felt like steel doors closed off the part of my brain that supplies creativity. Every time I would get an idea, it remained just that, an idea. I was beyond frustrated and my deadline was looming in the near future. My thoughts were a mess and I was definitely buying into the lies I was hearing and saying to myself. You know the usual suspects, so they don't warrant repeating. I have a theory that the devil has only a few tricks that he spins 1,000 different ways. Let's face it, either we're stupid or he's an amazing liar. Maybe it's a bit of both? ha!

So there I sat having a nice little pity party. Fortunately, I have great friends. Michele talked me down from the "I can't/don't want to do it!" whining ledge, Shelby gave me some awesome writing tips to help me think from a different perspective, Jen was my resident proof-reader/encourager, and my Bible study girls were interceding for me the 2 weeks leading up to the deadline.

The true turning point came when I was reading through my twitter feed. Michele re-tweeted Rev Run and it so hit home for me:

RT @RevRunWisdom if youre under attack, its because your blessing is CLOSE! Thieves only come to loaded vaults!

At that moment my prayer changed from "God I can't" to "God, I know you having something to say through me. Please give me the words to say." I found that place of believing the truth about what God was telling me of him being able no matter if I feel like I can or not. How quickly I forget that he is God and that my battle is that the devil doesn't want God's truth to be made public.

What are you giving up because it seems too difficult? Are you willing to take that first step into your destiny even though it feels like you're walking naked onto a stage?

One last question for the writers out there. What is your writing process? All help for this novice writer is great appreciated!!

Hi, again...

So, it seems like I am incapable of blogging on the regular, but I think I'm OK with that. 1) I don't need to and shouldn't post every little thing that happens and 2) I like this no pressure blogging thing I have going on right now.

I don't really have much to say tonight other than God is so faithful. I have a lot of dreams for my life that I've tucked away because the timing has not been right yet. Friends, one of those dreams is in motion. I'm in the first steps on a path I've wanted to walk for a long time. I don't want to go into too much detail right now, but as soon as I can, I will be posting about it all!

Oh yeah! Just something fun is that I will be getting my very first business card today and in a couple of weeks I'll be going on my first business trip. By myself. I love traveling on someone else's dollar! ;)