share four somethings

Share Four Somethings: May 2022

May has been a busy month full of ups and downs. My car battery died in carline one day and I had to get a jump from another parent. It died again when I was supposed to hang out with a friend, so I got it replaced and it has worked perfectly since. I got the house cleaned as a Mother’s Day present and then hosted five family members (and occasionally my in-laws) for a week and a half while we celebrated a variety of events including my daughter’s final musical theater performance in her after-school program. I showed off Asheville, taking family to the Biltmore, Mt. Mitchell, Craggy Gardens, downtown, Triple Falls, Hooker Falls, Looking Glass Falls, the Green River Cove Trail, Rainbow Falls, Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center, and River Arts District. The kids took their EOG tests, and we said goodbye to our cat of fifteen years, Maui. After all of that, I’m very much looking forward to the end of school and our family going on vacation next month. We all need it!

Now it’s time to get to the monthly prompts. Keep reading to see what else we packed into the month. You can read other’s Somethings or add your own over at HeatherGerwing.com.

Something Loved

There was so much to love about this month. I received two books signed by favorite authors (birthday gifts to myself). I turned 40 (!) with family in town and celebrated with sushi and a delicious strawberry cheesecake from 3 Eggs Cakery. I selected a picture from my favorite local artist Jeff Pittman as a birthday present and saw my daughter get baptized and join the church. A lot of great things happened this month.

What’s something you’ve loved about this month?

Something Gleaned

I’m trying to read books whose title starts with each letter of the alphabet. It’s one of my 2022 reading challenges. I had a few options for Z because there are several books about Zen. Ray Bradbury’s Zen in the Art of Writing was my choice. I knew nothing about him other than he wrote Fahrenheit 451. It turns out he’s written tons of essays and this book was a collection of them about creativity. It was educational and encouraging. Below, I will share a few quotes.

What is the greatest reward a writer can have? Isn’t it that day when someone rushes up to you, his face bursting with honesty, his eyes afire with admiration and cries, “That new story of yours was fine, really wonderful!” Then and only then is writing worthwhile.
Quantity gives experience. From experience alone can quality come.
How does one get lost? Through incorrect aims, as I have said. Through wanting literary fame too quickly. From wanting money too soon. If only we could remember, fame and money are gifts given us only after we have gifted the world with our best, our lonely, our individual truths.

Something Saved

This is a fun new category about something I’ve saved on my phone via screenshot. I use this feature all the time. This month I’m working on getting my novella out into the world and have been studying how other people have done it for best practices. I’ve taken photos of BookFunnel promotions (my chosen book distribution method), and e-book front and back matter formatting. Having the photos on my phone makes for easy reference. Hopefully, next month I can put “published novella” into Something Achieved.

Something Achieved

I struggled for a bit with this category. This month was unusual in that my routine was interrupted while we had visitors. Pleasantly interrupted, of course. However, I wanted to post on Instagram every day this month and have succeeded in that, thanks to a lot of planning and prep. I created content on Canva and then drafted and scheduled posts using Buffer so that I didn’t have to think about it while my family was in town. I did post some about our adventures, but that was bonus content.

What’s something you achieved this month?

Share Four Somethings: April 2022

I can’t believe we’re nearly a third of the way through the year! Summer is coming up fast. Not too fast, I hope. I’d like some time to enjoy moderately warm temperatures before it gets so hot you are inside unless you’re in a body of water. Not that we have too much of that here in the mountains, but I like warm, sunny days much more than hot, sunny days. Here in Asheville, some trees still don’t have leaves. My peony plants look hardy, though I had to cover them a few nights ago so the buds wouldn’t die with the freezing night temperature. I think they survived. Last year I didn’t have such luck. I cannot wait for the blooms in May! But, before we rush forward into a month, let’s take a few minutes to think over the past month and share some highlights. You can do the same by linking up over at HeatherGerwing.com.

Something Loved

My family has annual passes for Biltmore Estate. I drove over to the gardens earlier this month to see the tulips while they were blooming. The gardens at the Biltmore are especially stunning in spring and summer. It was a lovely, sunny day when I went and I was not disappointed. I will go back in May when the peonies and roses begin to bloom. Hopefully, they’ll be on full display when my family arrives for their visit.

Something Gleaned

The small group I’m leading has begun reading Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear by Max Lucado. We’re only a few chapters in, but I’ve already written down some quotes from the book that have been getting me thinking. I will share them below. I’ve enjoyed the discussion about fear we’ve had thus far and look forward to working through the rest of the book with them.

Fear corrodes our confidence in God’s goodness.
The fear-filled cannot dream wildly.
Nothing fosters courage like a clear grasp of grace. And nothing fosters fear like an ignorance of mercy.
Max Lucado, “Fearless”

Have you read Fearless? Does it sound like something you might enjoy reading?

Something Braved

I’ve sent out copies of my middle-grade book to Beta readers. It’s always a little nerve-wracking sending my work to others, because I have no control over how it’s received. It’s a necessary step in polishing the manuscript and getting it ready for querying, but it isn’t easy. Hopefully, they will provide me with useful feedback and I can take the next step.

It also took courage asking for Beta readers. It’s a request for people to volunteer their time to read something and answer specific questions. Being new to the writing and publishing world, I don’t have a lot of connections. It’s mostly trying to build an audience from scratch.

Did you do something a little scary this month?

Something Achieved

In a similar vein of the previous topic, I finished a round of edits on my middle-grade novel. That was my goal so that I could send it to Beta readers.

I also visited a couple of new-to-me exercise classes at my gym. I tried one called Centergy, which was kind of like yoga on steroids. It was challenging, but I enjoyed it. I also went to Group Power, which is essentially a weight-lifting class. I’ve neglected strength training lately, opting for more HIIT workouts, and it was good to challenge my body.

What’s something you achieved this month?

Share Four Somethings: March 2022

We’ve completed most of another month. This one featured warm, sunny days that beckoned us out and led to the year’s first sunburn as well as cold, windy, rainy days that kept us inside. My daughter turned twelve, I worked on a prequel novella for my series, and worked to up my exercise intensity. I also caught a cold that set me back a bit on exercise, but managed to get back on track once I was feeling better. Our family finished Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. My 9yo son used to think Thanos was cool (he’s a fan of bad guys) until Infinity War when he decided Thanos is a too evil bad guy. Keep reading to find out more about my month. Link up with us to share your own Four Somethings at HeatherGerwing.com.

Something Loved

My daughter had a sleepover for her birthday one Friday night. She wanted to do a Hollywood theme since they all love musical theater, so we got some decor for the basement and planned the menu. The girls seemed to have a blast and it felt so normal having a bunch of kids over. Hearing laughter and singing from the basement until waaaay past our bedtime. I hope for many more of these experiences and memories for our kids.

Something Gleaned

I checked out some books from the library and found this nugget in Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver.

Creative work needs solitude. It needs concentration, without interruptions. It needs the whole sky to fly in, and no eye watching until it comes to that certainty which it aspires to, but does not necessarily have at once. Privacy, then. A place apart – to pace, to chew pencils, to scribble and erase and scribble again.
But just as often, if not more often, the interruption comes not from another but from the self itself, or some other self within the self, that whistles and pounds upon the door panels and tosses itself, splashing, into the pond of meditation. And what does it have to say? That you must phone the dentist, that you are out of mustard, that your uncle Stanley’s birthday is two weeks hence. You react, of course. Then you return to your work, only to find that the imps of idea have fled back into the mist.
… that the self can interrupt the self – and does – is a darker and more curious matter.”
Mary Oliver, “Of Power and Time”

It really resonated with me as a writer. Most often, it’s random thoughts that interrupt my progress rather than the call of another person.

Something Braved

This month I submitted one of my novel manuscripts to Hallmark because it was accepting unagented projects. It was quickly rejected, but surprisingly didn’t sting at all. Either my skin is getting thicker, or I’m being drawn more and more toward the self-publishing road.

I also submitted it to Revise & Resub (#RevPit), a contest where you can send a revised manuscript to editors of your genre and, if they pick you, they’ll do a professional edit to improve the book. I won’t find out about that until April, so we’ll see.

Something Achieved

I wanted to write the prequel novella for my book that I’m shopping around (see Something Braved). I want to use it as a reader magnet for people to subscribe to my e-newsletter. It’s the love story of two people who are dating in book one (this would be considered book zero), but also includes one of the main characters from book one. It’s kind of a neat way to learn more about everyone and introduce potential readers to my writing. I guessed the word count to be around 30,000 words, so I set that as my goal. My actual first draft total was 31,624 words! I’ll give it a few weeks of rest before diving into editing. It feels good to have it written.

What’s something you braved or achieved in March?

Share Four Somethings: February 2022

We’re almost at the end of February. We watched the Olympics and the “Big Game,” soldiered through more cold weather, celebrated love, and made steady progress toward our goals (I hope). Now it’s time to focus in on four topics and share some specifics from the month. Share your own responses by linking up at HeatherGerwing.com.

Something Loved

Every February for the last seven or eight years, I’ve put hearts on the kids’ doors for the first two weeks. Each heart lists something I love about them or love doing with them. Often, like this year, I forget about it until I see a Facebook reminder from previous years. One year, my daughter asked about the February Fairy who put the hearts on her door, which I found adorable. It was the first year I’d forgotten about the ritual. My daughter is a “Words of Affirmation” person like me, so she loves it and is always the first of the two kids to comment on the hearts’ appearance. I plan to continue to do this for their remaining years at home with us, because I believe that words matter and what we tell our kids about themselves, they take to heart.

Did you do anything special to celebrate the month of love?

Something Gleaned

I read The Circle Maker this month and began sending quotes to a friend after we’d gotten together to talk about our goals and the struggle to take concrete steps. While the book’s focus is on prayer, there is a lot that is applicable for goal setting and achievement. I wrote my favorite snippets in a notebook and will share a few below with you.

“Having vision beyond your resources is synonymous with dreaming big. And it may feel like you’re setting yourself up for failure, but you’re actually setting God up for a miracle.”

“There are no shortcuts. There are no substitutes. Success is a derivative of persistence.”

“For better or for worse, your destiny is the result of your daily decisions.”

“If you keep trying, you are not failing. The only way you fail is if you quit trying.”

“You’ll never achieve the goals you don’t set.”

“Goal setting…creates a category in your [brain], and you start noticing anything and everything that will help you accomplish this goal.”

“Don’t let what you cannot do keep you from doing what you can.”

Something Braved

For me, this category feels like times when I’ve allowed myself to be vulnerable, to expose myself to the potential for failure or the opinions of others. This month I’ve done a fair amount of that.

One of my monthly goals was to submit queries to three literary agents. I’m making one last push to find representation for my first novel, before I completely commit to the self-publishing path. I received a request for a partial manuscript in December, so I have a mid-March deadline for feedback from that agent. I will also wait to hear from the four agents I queried this month before making a final decision.

While querying, I’m also trying to get my manuscript into tiptop shape. This month I sent the book to people for Beta reading. I tasked them with reading and giving me feedback about any glaring issues so that I will be ready to publish it later this year if that’s the route I end up going. Giving my work to strangers (and friends) makes me feel extremely vulnerable, but I know it’s part of the process. It also reminded me that I love talking about my book with other people. It’s fun letting other people into the world I’ve created.

What brave thing have you done this month?

Something Achieved

This month I began leading a small group at my church. We’re new members and I hope to meet women in a similar life stage for connection. I was nervous about not having anyone participate since I’m new, but it’s been an encouraging endeavor. Two women were interested but had conflicting work schedules. I met one of them for coffee because I think we’ll get along even if she can’t come to the group. As for my small group, it’s just four of us, but seems to be working well.

I also tried my hand at making Reels on Instagram. As a perfectionist, I struggle with new things because I know I won’t be great at it right away. It’s something I choose to work on because I hope to one day feel more comfortable with the discomfort of being a newbie. My Reels turned out okay, and I learned a good bit, so hopefully they will get better over time.

Tell me something you achieved recently.

Share Four Somethings: January 2022

It’s a new year and there are some new Share Four Somethings topics. I’m excited about the change up and look forward to sharing some new things with you this year. If you’d like to join this monthly blog link up, find out the details over at HeatherGerwing.com.

Something Loved

This topic is the same, probably because it’s a fan favorite. Well, it’s one of my favorites at least. Last year I focused on my “something loved” being a tangible item readers could find themselves because there was also “something treasured” which focused on experiences. Treasured is gone, so this section is now open to whatever suits me best each month.

My something loved are a couple of Christmas gifts. If you follow me on Instagram, then you are well aware of my affinity for books, cats, and fun socks. My mom sent me a very appropriate t-shirt and my mother-in-law gifted me the cutest socks. I love them both and will wear them often.

Did you get any cool gifts for Christmas?

Something Gleaned

This replaces “something read (or said)” from last year. It will most likely be something that made me think, or that I found encouraging or inspiring.

“The biggest obstacle to great writing is the same for great living. It is to substitute a safer, lesser goal for the tough and exciting work you really ought to be doing.”

I found this quote in the devotional Good Enough: 40ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie (available Feb. 15). Each devotion, which is honest and relevant to the rhythms and challenges of life, ends with a blessing and a potential action step. The authors are very relatable and the acknowledgement that sometimes life is hard feels like a breath of fresh air.

I love following Morgan Harper Nichols on Instagram. She posts such encouraging and inspiring messages, usually written over her own watercolor creations. The quote above felt poignant to me because, as a perfectionist, my brain thinks in extremes – either I do everything right or I’m worthless. I need truths like the one above to give me proper perspective.

Is there a particular message that you need to remind yourself of frequently?

Something Braved

This topic is an opportunity for vulnerability. We’re supposed to share something that was challenging or resulted in failure. I both love and hate this topic. Hate because it forces me to reckon with my perfectionism and love because I want to face more things that are difficult but worthwhile. In fact, my 2022 word is Dare to encourage me to be bold and put myself and my work out there more.

With all of that in mind, Berkley Publishing had an open submission window that ended earlier this month. It was an invitation for unagented writers to submit a completed manuscript directly to them. I submitted a query for my first contemporary romance book. I have little hope that anything will come from it, but I have better odds than if I hadn’t submitted, right?

I’ve put out into the world that I have a goal of publishing my book this year. This means learning the world of self-publishing in case I don’t find an agent. Unfortunately, I hit a minor bump. I came up with a title that I loved and would allow the series I have planned (of at least three books) to have related titles. Recently, I learned that there’s a book coming out next month with the EXACT. SAME. TITLE. It momentarily devastated me. After moping for a day or two, I set my mind to coming up with a new title. Technically, I could keep it because book titles can’t be copyrighted, but mine would probably get lost in the book world being the second one out (and for all I know the other one will be a hit). So, I’m brainstorming and choosing to trust that everything will work out in the end. The good news is I haven’t yet paid for an official cover.

Have you had any recent setbacks or done something that made your heart beat faster out of fear?

Something Achieved

This topic is sharing where progress is being made, possibly toward a larger goal, but any type of growth is an achievement.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about the program Scrivener. I’m taking advantage of their 30-day free trial to determine whether it’s a program that will benefit me as a writer. It’s initially quite overwhelming because it has so many features. I went through the tutorial but it still felt like a lot. I talked to my Mastermind group about it, and turns out, they all use it. One member sent a link to a video to show you the basics in about twenty minutes, which helped me greatly. I finally took the plunge and jumped into using the program. And I love it. It’s amazingly helpful to work on two to four scenes simultaneously without switching between screens. I can insert research and links into the notes section of each scene or chapter with ease. I don’t yet have experience with how it works with a finished manuscript that’s ready to be uploaded into a book format because I’m still editing, but I’m confident it’ll be fairly user friendly.

I’m also trialing ProWritingAid. It’s editing software that offers suggestions for grammar, spelling, and sentence structure to strengthen your writing. It does more than that, but it’s challenging to explain. I’m overwhelmed at times, but I’ve found it extremely helpful as well.

It may seem silly to you that using a couple of programs would be an achievement, but it’s one more step on my way to becoming a published author. It’s an investment in myself, one more thing to prove my seriousness in being a writer.

What’s something that you are proud of from this past month?

Those are the new topics for 2022. Which one is your favorite?

Share Four Somethings: December 2021

It’s the last S4S of 2021! I know the format is going to change a little for 2022 which means new topics and I’ll have to create a new graphic. Will I put myself in that one? We’ll see. If you’ve enjoyed reading my monthly highlights, I hope you’ll consider joining with your own Share Four Somethings in 2022. As always, the link up will be found over at HeatherGerwing.com. It’s a lot of fun! Check out my December highlights below. No surprise, they’re all Christmas-related!

Something Loved

I’m a lot like Buddy the Elf in that I am mesmerized by gorgeous Christmas trees. Each year I slake that thirst by visiting Biltmore Estate during their Christmas season and tour the house to get my fill of trees. One year I was told there were more than fifty decorated trees in the house and I believe it. This year I took the tour solo and thoroughly enjoyed all of the beautifully-decorated trees in the house. I consulted last year’s photos and saw that some decor had changed. This year’s gingerbread house of the Biltmore was phenomenal. If you ever get a chance to go see the Biltmore at Christmas, do it!

Something Read

I’ve gotten into the habit of reading Christmas-themed books in December. So much fun! This year’s pick I’d been dying to read ever since I discovered Christina Lauren in February and saw they have a Christmas book. Yes, I really waited ten months to read it. And I thoroughly enjoyed In a Holidaze. It starts out kind of like Groundhog’s Day (the movie) in that, after Mae makes the regrettable action of kissing the brother of the guy she’s secretly had a crush on for decades, she finds herself starting the vacation over with all previous memories intact while everyone else is oblivious. It’s a fun story about gaining the courage to reach for the life you want instead of staying where it’s safe.

Something Treasured

The kids and I decorated gingerbread houses one weekend. We use whatever Halloween candy we still have around along with whatever comes in the kit. I love seeing the kids’ creativity and it’s a fun time of talking about what we like in one another’s creations. I love doing all of the Christmas things with the kids. I hope when they’re adults, they’ll have fond memories of family traditions.

Something Ahead

I’ve been excited for months about our kids’ Christmas present and we’re almost there. We decided that this is the time to take the kids to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Florida. We’ve all read the books and watched the movies and the kids are at the age (and height) where they can ride just about everything. They have no idea but I know they’ll be thrilled when they open up their letters on Christmas day. My daughter has mentioned wanting to go at least twice this year. The kids are vaccinated and we’re boosted, so we’ve done what we can to stay healthy. We have express passes and park-to-park tickets so we can ride the Hogwart’s Express, but I haven’t been to Universal since 2008 and there was no Harry Potter world then. They were in the process of building a Simpsons ride at the time. Anyone who’s been, have any tips or tricks to share?

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