Life's Plot Twists and Changes

Hello (Again) Everyone,

If I read a novel with as many plot twists as I've found in my life, I'd probably be just as confused as those of you who wonder exactly what is going on with this project and blog. But the one twist that has not yet happened is that I have not quit. :-)

To see what I am doing now, please visit http://crystalwrites.wordpress.com where I am training myself to write more regularly by doing a daily blog on readings from the first five books of the Bible (Torah Portions), and have kept that up successfully for 9 months now.

As for what happened with this blog and project...

• I went back to work too early, and then fell at work, so I required another surgery that was much harder on me.
• The second surgery has not been nearly as successful.
• Between the injury and fibromyalgia, I've been in a lot of pain and have an abundance of fatigue, but through God's mercy and grace, I still walk in the joy of His presence, and I'm still able to type and communicate.
• I've had some family issues that have included sickness and death, and I put all my stuff on the back burner. I'm still playing catchup in the midst of ever-changing issues.
• In June of 2013, we moved from Kentucky to Indiana. I'm still unpacking. LOL
• In March of 2014, a nephew overdosed and has miraculously come out of his coma and is now in my care (as of May 2014) where I'm working to convince him that God loves him and that He gives second chances for a reason. It's more time and effort away from writing, but for his salvation, that's an easy exchange.
• And, finally, I'm spending way too many hours trying to fix things that are wrong with the new Blogger interface--not only for my blog but for other writers I work with, so I'm going to work on getting the project and blog moved over to Wordpress.

Stick with me, especially in prayer, and we will see God bring "Good Morning, Christian Writer" to fruition in its time. Thank you for all who continue to trust God with me for the benefit of this project and getting His word out to others.

Many blessings to all of you in everything you do--and write--for Christ.

Sincerely,

~Crystal

Has It Really Been Almost A Year?

So, here I am trying to prepare for the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference again, and I realize it has been almost a year since I have posted anything. What? Does working outside of being a freelance writer really take away that much of a writer's time? Apparently so.

Of course, I'm one who doesn't do so well when running up against obstacles, so when I ran into difficulties with blogger and with my health, it sort of put everything on hold. I tried to create a second blog for the book, hoping that starting with a little more knowledge would yield a better site, but that didn't seem to help either. Understand, I'm not complaining now, just learning and sharing with all of you what I have learned.

Anyway, I took this week off work, so I could be better prepared for the conference where I'll be teaching people how to present themselves in cyberspace. The saying is, "We teach best what we most need to learn." So, in all this preparation, I have learned that if your direction is out of focus, you'll make a whole lot more work for yourself, and you won't exactly look like you know what you're talking about--no matter how smart you are. Ah the blessings of learning the hard way ;-).

I'll close with this note: Yes, I am still working on the Good Morning Christian Writer project. Yes, I am still seeking submissions. Yes, I have a new enthusiasm for it and will be working diligently to get out of working outside the home, so I can get back to it full time. No, my healing is not what I want it to be, and I am looking at the possibility of another surgery, but, no, I won't let that stop me. Oh, and no I am not switching blog locations because transferring stuff and starting over just turned out to be too much work. I will, instead, work to revamp this blog and to stay in touch with all those interested in my project.

Blessings and Shalom to all who visit,

~Crystal

New Deadline - Welcome to Greater Philly Writers

Good Morning Christian Writers,

First of all, I want to let you all know that I am working on moving this blog over to one where I can sign in with the same address where I have everyone write and submit. I didn't know I wouldn't be able to change it later when I used my regular writing address, and I can't be signed in to both at one time, so I need to move. If after the move I can change the name back to this one, it won't matter, but in case I cannot, the one I'm moving to will be at ... http://morningwriterbook.blogspot.com if you want it for your records.

Next, as advertised in the headline, I have moved the deadline once more. The new deadline is September 30th, 2007. This move is to welcome writers who will hear about the project at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference. That conference begins tomorrow, August 7th and runs through Thursday the 9th. For more information, see the website at ... http://www.writehisanswer.com.

If you are an attendee of the Greater Philly conference and have received the flier or other information for the project, I would like to personally welcome you on board. I truly appreciate Marlene for volunteering to spread the word for me, and I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you when you request your own copies of the guidelines and samples. Remember to remove the spaces when you write to me at morningwriter @ gmail.com and don't forget to mention where you heard about the project.

Finally, I welcome all writers who are interested in participating with me in this unique venture into creativity and motivation for fellow writers. The blessings have already been more than I could have asked or thought to ask for. The project has become a joint effort as I have worked with writers to help develop their submissions into pieces they were sincerely satisfied with, and pieces that also met my vision for the finished product. One writer called it "our project" and that is a perfect description. As Christians, we cannot afford to be alone in this world, and this applies to our writing lives as well. What a precious gift to be a part of joining Christian writers together to encourage even more Christian writers all over the world.

May you all be abundantly anointed in every moment you live - and write - for Him!

With Shalom and Blessings in Christ,

~Crystal

Welcome to Attendees of KCWC 2007

Hello,

If you are visiting here because you heard about the project at the 2007 Kentucky Christian Writers Conference in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, I want to offer you a special welcome and thanks for acting on my recent call for submissions. I look forward to hearing from you in an e-mail request for guidelines and again with at least one submission to the project.

Because of the pace of the conference, we couldn't really tell you everything about the project, but you will learn a whole lot about it and about me through the guidelines and samples. You can also learn something from previous posts at this blog. I will give you a little bit more information here in this post, however, so you won't have to search back for old posts if you are time crunched.

First, I have been a member of Louisville Christian Writers for almost ten years now. In that time, I have learned the value of a good critique. At LCW meetings, we try to dedicate at least one hour of each meeting to critiques so we can help other writers with encouragement and instruction. Learning how to give and receive critiques has helped all of our members gain strength as writers and as self-editors. Recently, our members have pledged to take what we've learned at LCW and pass it on as a mission to strengthen other writers. I believe this project was born out of that desire.

Most writers enjoy writing. Most also enjoy writing prompts to get some focus and direction for their writing days. And, between the Internet and the Writer's Digest Book Club, it's pretty easy to find prompts and exercises to enjoy. But Christian writers (Christians who write) have a couple unique needs that are not often met by the current books available for writers. We need encouragement to remember that our writing is a calling, and we need prompts to remind us that we can write about non-church subjects and still be a Christian writer because we write from a Christian perspective. The Good Morning Christian Writer book will strive to meet both of these unique needs.

To meet these needs, I am requesting submissions for encouraging devotional articles that give examples of those things in your lives that have encouraged you as a writer. Your encouragement could have come in the form of a word from a friend, a message at a conference or workshop, a Scripture, a time of prayer, or just about any word or event that helped you to get to or stay on your "writer's feet." Along with the articles, I am looking for prompts or exercises that relate to the articles and can help other writers apply the inspirations effectively. If a writer cannot supply an exercise or prompt, I encourage him or her to submit anyway because there may be a writer out there who has only a prompt or exercise and can't seem to find a topic for a devotion to go with it.

If you are a writer and would like to see samples of these devotion/exercise combinations, please click here to drop me an e-mail and request the guidelines and samples. The Word 2000 document I will send out will include a letter to writers, the call for submissions, and two sample submissions. It will instruct you on formatting, rights, compensation, and other information you might want to know before submitting.

I hope to hear from you soon and I look forward to working with you in both the submission and editing process. I will try to give you a kind and thorough critique and I will do my best to help your writing pass the qualifications to be published in the GMCW compilation. I believe that if my goal is to encourage other writers, it must begin now with the writers in this project.

Thank you with sincere blessings that you all may be blessed and find shalom in all you do--and write--for Christ,

~Crystal A. Murray
Project Creator & Author

Successful Surgery

Hello Everyone,

Well, I am now right at three weeks post-op (the title links to a site that describes the surgery for any who are interested) and so far I have found both success and victory. I did not get a chance to update the blog during the week between my scheduled surgery date and the actual surgery, but in case you were wondering where I went to school, yes I know that May 23rd to June 20th would be four weeks rather than three. What happened?

I did everything I was supposed to do to have surgery on the 23rd. After total preparation, including needles in my legs and arms to monitor my spinal cord, electrodes and glue on my scalp to monitor my vocal cords, a pre-op shot and a dose of Versed, I was taken to the operating room and asked to move from the bed to the operating table. When they started hooking up all the needles and electrodes to the machines, they realized that neither their old machine, nor the newer-but-still-old borrowed machine, was going to work for them ever again. My surgeon would not operate without being able to monitor these important nerve functions, so I had to wake up as much as possible so I could go home and sleep off all the medicine.

When two machines fail, a person has to know that it just isn't God's will for things to happen the way they were planned. My surgery was rescheduled for the 30th and the cord monitor techs were very happy because they got a brand new machine. My surgery the next week went well, and according the doctor, went perfectly. My nephew was able to come out, since his school let out on the 29th, and help my husband take care of me. Not only was it good for us to visit, but we were able to talk about him making a decision to serve God and I was blessed to pray with him. In addition, though I was supposed to be in a private room after the surgery, I ended up in a room with a lady who needed prayer and allowed me to minister to her before I went home the day after surgery.

I have no doubt that all things which came to pass, including the postponed surgery, were to act on whatever God had planned. I believe even the fact that I ended up needing surgery (though I believe in miraculous healing and have experienced it in the past) was a plan in God's perfect will for my life. I trust God in all things and it makes life much more enjoyable.

And yes, this even applies to the GMCW book. Though it has become back burner as I have struggled to keep up with my commitment to the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference with the deficit in my strength and the loss of time given to doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapy, it will get done on the schedule that God intends. And, though I will be adding a job to my already crunched time schedule, I believe I will be able to get more done in less time now that my arms and hands are not going numb and in excruciating pain.

So, while I can't give you a specific date for anything at this time, I can tell you that the project is still near to my heart and that I will move the deadline at least one more time. Since tomorrow is the official start date of KCWC (the social and book signing are open to the public if you happen to be in the Elizabethtown, KY, area on Thursday evening), I will move the date to July 31st and dedicate the month of July to the book project. Though I am still getting a bit tired and having some pain when I type long, as I have today, I expect that by July, I should be able to push myself hard enough to get through the editing and get something written to all my contributors.

In the meantime, I offer thanks and blessings to all who have prayed and are continuing to pray for my health and for the book project. I have felt many of the prayers and know that God has been more than gracious to me in these and all areas of my life. I pray you all will continue to be blessed in every moment you live - and write - for Him.

With sincere wishes for your shalom and blessings,

~Crystal