Katie Ganshert, Author at Katie Ganshert

Friday Favorite: The Sixth Man

Posted on May 24, 2013May 23, 2013 by Katie Ganshert

Howdy friends!

This week’s Friday favorite is about my friend and fellow adoptive mama, Jenny Hoffman.

She and her family have been, like me, traveling the adoption journey for a looooong time.

They are adopting a little boy from Korea named Noah.

Recently, adoptions from Korea changed (like international adoptions are so apt to do) and a 2nd trip to the country is now required.

The Hoffman’s went from being fully funded to not so much. International airfare for two is no cheap thing.

They need to raise $5000 more in order to afford the required 2nd trip.

So they are doing a puzzle fundraiser of their own!

$10 to sponsor a piece.

Your name, or any name you’d like, will be written on the back.

The Hoffman’s have 500 pieces to go!

I know how Jenny must be feeling.

Like there’s just no way that puzzle’s ever going to get completed.

But then, so many of you overwhelmed us Gansherts with a flood of support that blew our ever-lovin’ socks off!

Let’s do the same for Jenny!

You can check out a picture of her adorable little boy and see a picture of the puzzle by visiting her blog.

Let’s Talk: What’s one of your favorites from your week?

Handling the Wait

Posted on May 22, 2013May 22, 2013 by Katie Ganshert

I often think that God brought me on the publishing journey to prepare me for the adoption one.

Both roads involve loads of uncertain waiting, which is the worst kind.

In my pursuit for publication, as I waited and waited and waited for that coveted phone call from my agent, I honestly reached a point where I was praising God in the midst of the silence.

Don’t get me wrong.

The waiting was no joke. The silence was torture.

But I felt so close to Him in the midst of it.

I came to this point where Jesus truly was the prize.

Maybe not at first (as ashamed as I may be to admit that), but He became it.

This time around?

I’m not doing so hot.

I know this is different.

Apples and oranges, really.

Because as much as we authors might call our manuscripts our babies, they do not actually have beating hearts.

This child we are waiting for and praying for and longing for does.

And this mama sure does too.

Waiting is a hard, hard thing.

After doing everything under the sun to ensure our adoption is ethical, there reaches a point where my to-do list is all checked and now I just sit. And wait. And wait some more.

The silence.

The not-knowing.

The utter lack of control.

All very maddening things.

Trying to become a family of four via adoption? We’ve been at it since November, 2011.

For a time there, we saw a definite glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Then a couple months ago, Congo adoptions went flip, upside down, and the light disappeared.

And as I sit here today, vacillating between wanting to crawl out of my skin and wanting to burst into tears, I realize…

It’s time to get back to that place.

Of trust, yes. Because God’s got this. No matter what happens. Regardless of the outcome. He has it.

But mostly, I need to get back to the place where He is my prize.

Not another child.

Not being a family of four.

But Him.

Just Him.

God is faithful, my friend.

He will meet us in our longing. He will become our sustenance as we wait.

When that becomes our heart’s cry–more of Jesus–we will never be left dried-up or disappointed.

It’s a prayer He’s in the business of answering.

I’m sure of it.

Let’s Talk: Is there something in your life that you’re longing for more than Jesus?

Do Not Exhaust the Reader

Posted on May 20, 2013May 20, 2013 by Katie Ganshert

I’m an overly dramatic first-drafter. I blame it on Donald Maass and his insistence upon high stakes. To be fair, I think I take his advice out of context.

Something I’ve learned from working with a brilliant editor?

More often than not, less is more.

Just like too much sugar upsets the stomach, too much drama can exhaust our readers. We run the risk of diluting the impact and poignancy of the drama that should matter. It’s sort of like those characters who are constantly crying. Somehow, the never-ending waterworks make for a less emotional reading experience.

Not to mention, too much drama can flush that all-important suspension of disbelief down the toilet, which is the very last thing we want to do as writers. There reaches a point where eyes stop watering and start rolling.

This is what I found myself doing as I revisited one of my old manuscripts.

I had given my two leads back stories that were more tragic than they needed to be.

Which led to my new rule of thumb.

When critiquing my work, I ask myself a very simple question:

Is this necessary?

Is this particular piece of drama or back story or what-have-you vital to the story?

If I removed it, would the character’s motivations no longer make sense?

If yes, I leave it.

If no, I take it out. Lest my drama becomes melodrama.

Because of that question, I was able to alleviate some unnecessary tragedy from my hero and heroine’s past. And by doing so, have hopefully made this story one that is more emotionally engaging.

Let’s Talk: What makes you roll your eyes when you read?