Katie Ganshert Archives - Page 59 of 93

Purposeful Posts

Posted on January 25, 2010November 6, 2011 by Katie Ganshert

I’ve spent the last week thinking a lot about my blog. Thanks to Jody Hedlund’s post (here) I started questioning my blog’s purpose. What do I want my blog to accomplish? What do I want to accomplish with my blog?

Ahh…two very important questions.

My three-fold answer:

1. I want to connect with readers.

2. I want to share my journey as a Christian writer chasing publication.

3. I want to help and encourage other writers.

Hopefully these answers will bring some focus to my helter-skelter posts. Maybe narrow my hodge-podge of thoughts into something a bit more meaningful to both of us.

Here’s what I’m going to try out through the month of February (if it doesn’t work, or I don’t like it, I have the freedom to ditch the plan and reevaluate).

Mondays:

A post on the craft of writing. Some sort of tip or insight. Something that I’ve recently learned that has helped me grow as a writer. I’m always reading a craft book, so most likely the post will come from my latest read. Or maybe it’ll be something I thought up all on my own (insert laughing here).

Why?

I hope these posts will help writers grow (myself included).

Wednesdays:

Musings from an agented, full-time working, yet-to-be-published writer trying to live my life for Jesus. Two bonus points if I can relate my musings to Monday’s post.

Why?

It’s been said that a unique voice has the power to captivate readers. Well, in this life, my voice is that of a slightly frazzled, always questioning, hard-working, Midwest Christian gal playing house, teacher, and writer. Whether it’s unique or not is up for debate. Until the jury gets back to me on that one, I’d like to share my voice in an attempt to encourage, challenge, and maybe even humor you.

Why the bonus points?

I like when things have a theme. It makes my inner-teacher smile.

Fridays:

The 3 C’s, of course!

Why?

So I can connect with other readers and writers. So I can share the joys, triumphs, setbacks, and fears I face on this often frightening, slow-moving-yet-exhilarating journey. I hope you’ll continue to share your 3 C’s in the comment section. I truly enjoy reading them.

So now what?

I’m eager to get started. It feels good to have some sort of road map in place. I’m going to start next week (that sounds like something I say to my husband after I’ve devoured a pan of brownies and a carton of ice cream…only it’s usually in reference to healthy eating).

Until then, join me on Wednesday, when I answer T. Anne’s question: Do you run your future story ideas past your agent before writing them?

Question to Ponder: Why do you blog? Why do you read blogs?

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3 C’s – It’s Friday!

Posted on January 15, 2010November 6, 2011 by Katie Ganshert

Cares:
Check out Wendy’s blog at All in a Day’s Thought. She’s a soulful writer with a knack for spinning ordinary, every-day things into something fresh and insightful. Plus, she’s a super awesome, authentic woman who I happen to like a lot.

Revisions are still chugging away. I’m having it out with the ending right now. Hope to wrap up those big revisions/rewrites next week so I can work on line-editing (my favorite part of editing!) soon.

My agent’s query-hiatus ends today. I have a feeling she’s going to be absolutely slammed with emails. Pray for her sanity!

Concerns:
Haiti.

Celebrations:
My lil’ man Brogan won his first award! Go check it out at Patti Lacy’s blog.

I’m reading Bonnie Grove’s Talking to the Dead and soaking up every minute of it. I love finding talented authors.

A God who loves me despite my human-inclination to mess things up. A husband who goes the extra mile to make my life easier. A son who saturates the air with giggles. A church that challenges me to grow and learn. A home. Food in my belly. A secure job and great health insurance. A writing future filled with possibilities. To say I’m blessed might possibly be the biggest understatement of the year.

You!!

Question to Ponder: What are your cares, concerns, and celebrations today?

From Acquaintance to Lover

Posted on January 13, 2010November 7, 2011 by Katie Ganshert

A process occurs while revising, a level of intimacy develops, whereby a story turns from acquaintance to lover. I’m not quite sure how it happens. Perhaps its the long hours spent in its company. Or the depth to which an author explores its caveats, nuances, and quirks. Or the heart and soul a writer pours onto the pages. Whatever it is, when it happens, it’s really sort of beautiful.

A couple weeks ago, I wrote a post about how much revising terrified me. I read Wishing on Willows and felt distant, like I didn’t really know my story. Imagine my chagrin when I realized that all the time I spent writing the rough draft amounted to nothing more than the casual, “Hi, how are you?”

My novel sat, waiting for me to make a move, and the thought of diving in, getting intimate, intimidated me. I went through all those common first date doubts. “What if I’m not good enough for him?” “What if I say something stupid?” “What if we don’t click?” “What if he’s not who I think he is?” Then you go on the date and feel 75% uneasy the entire time, unsure what to say or how to act. The second date is a little better. The third one a lot better. Until all of a sudden you’re as familiar with your story as Solomon was with his beloved.

As I spend time pouring over my words, my plot and my characters, I discover the core essence of what I want to say. I realize what brought me to write this novel in the first place. I learn what to accentuate, what to delete, what to add, what to twist and turn. Somewhere from the rough draft through the plethora of revisions, I understand what my story really is. And the fear I felt in the beginning turns to excitement. Thoughts of my story consume me. I’m committed and in love and desperate to give my lover all the attention it deserves, so the beauty I witness in private can be shared with the world.

Questions to Ponder: Do you feel you know your story after the first draft? Or do you need several go-throughs before you can claim intimacy with your work?

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