Author: Carlton Hughes - Lighter Look at Writer's Life

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two sons, Noah and Ethan, both of whom recently flew out of the nest, and a daughter-in-law, Kersyn. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas Child. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency. His book Adventures in Fatherhood, a 60-day devotional co-authored with Holland Webb, will release in April 2020 from Worthy/Ellie Claire.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Bam! Pow! Zap! Batman and Clever Writing

lighter look at a writer's life

During my senior year of college, I took a class called “Psychology of Advertising,” taught by a first-time adjunct instructor. For whatever reason, we didn’t get along. Personality clash? My impatience? His arrogant attitude? Probably all of the above.

During one class discussion, he asked everyone, “What is something that makes YOU, YOU? Something or someone who has really influenced you?”

He started at the opposite side of the room from where I sat, and I listened to the stock answers. “My parents.” “My grandparents.” “My fourth-grade teacher.” And on and on. It was all very sweet, unlike me that evening.

Now, those people in my life—parents, grandparents, teachers—have influenced me more than they will ever know. That particular day, I wasn’t feeling warm and fuzzy. Plus, I was a quite snarky 21-year-old (shocking, I know).

It came my turn. I thought deeply about something that had influenced my personality and my outlook on life.

“The TV show Batman.”

I imagined a thought bubble: BAM! I got a good, steady laugh from the rest of the students, while the teacher peered at me for what seemed like an eternity. Okay, here goes—in the doghouse again.

“I’m glad you said that!” It was the most excited he had been all semester. “Pop culture things really do influence us! We’ll definitely talk more about that soon!”

That moment eased the tension between the two of us, and we got along for the rest of the semester and had some good conversations.

That’s a really long buildup for me to revisit the appreciation I have for the WRITING on the old Batman ‘66 show. Yes, the WRITING.

I recently found the series on the Roku Channel and have been watching the third season episodes, mostly because I loved Batgirl (and wanted to marry her when I was nine). Most pundits would say that season was the point where the show went downhill creatively, but I beg to differ.

Sure, the sets were sparse, adding to the surrealism, but the plots and jokes gave an interesting nod to ‘60s culture, offering plenty of satire and general absurdity.

Take, for instance, the episode in which we meet the new Catwoman, played with gusto by Eartha Kitt. The opening scene is a fashion show, in which Batgirl is awarded the first annual “Batty” for being the “best-dressed crime-fightress.” You can’t make this stuff up (well, actually, someone did). The rest of the episode pokes fun at ‘60s fashion, with Catwoman’s brilliant line in response to the miniskirt trend: “Mini-Ha-Ha!”

The three-part “Londinium” story skewers the groovy London culture; Batman dons a recycled monster costume for “How to Hatch a Dinosaur”. There are references to fondue, “wall-of-sound” girl groups, and other fads of the era.

The ultimate episode of this type was “Surf’s Up! Joker’s Under,” which hilariously satirized the surfing/beach movie culture, complete with a surfing contest between Batman and the Joker. Both hero and villain don surf jams over their costumes, and Batman fends off a shark with his Bat-Shark-Repellant-Spray to win the duel and save Gotham City, which suddenly has a beach. The humor was spot-on, with puns and clever asides galore, as campy as can be.

My lesson: good, clever writing will survive and bring joy even years later. As an adult, I am noticing things in Batman that went way over the head of my nine-year-old self who rushed home from school  to flip on the television in the hopes of seeing the Batcopter or, even better, the Batgirl-Cycle.

Know your audience and your style. Include clever asides when appropriate. And learn how to get yourself out of a deadly Human Knot by wiggling your ears—a skill that may come in handy someday.

Carlton Hughes, represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary, wears many hats. By day, he is a professor of communication. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he serves as a children’s pastor. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer. Carlton is an empty-nesting dad and devoted husband who likes long walks on the beach, old sitcoms, and chocolate–all the chocolate. His work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dating Game, The Wonders of Nature, Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. His latest book is Adventures in Fatherhood, co-authored with Holland Webb.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Oh, Happy Day(s)

lighter look at a writer's life

Thank God for retro television channels.

I never pictured myself as a “golden oldie.” I used to cringe whenever my parents or other relatives would switch the radio to a “classics” channel. Now, I have found myself in a time of life where my favorites are now the oldies.

Come on over that hill with me!

I don’t know about you, but the news has been driving me a wee bit crazy lately. Correct that—it has been driving me ABSOLUTELY BONKERS. Mind you, I know I don’t need to stick my head in the sand and ignore everything; I need to be informed. But the bombardment of negativity can get to me.

Enter retro TV. One of these channels recently began airing one of my favorites at evening news time—Happy Days.

Thank you, Mr. or Ms. Program Director.

Instead of watching Norah, Lester, or David, I’ve been watching Richie, Potsie, and Ralph Malph . . . and, of course, the Fonz.

My relationship with these characters began when I was in middle school (Have I mentioned I’m an oldie?), when all of us guys wanted to be cool like the Fonz. I’m now watching the show with many miles and much writing experience behind me, and I have noticed some important changes.

Episodes in the first two years of Happy Days were like mini-coming-of-age movies, with Richie, Potsie, and Ralph at the center and Fonzie on the periphery, definitely an ancillary character. In the third season premiere and beyond, the show changed dramatically. Not only did producers change from film to tape—they changed the central character. Move over, Richie.

The savvy writers and producers realized Fonz, expertly played by Henry Winkler, was the breakout character, so, beginning in the third season, he appeared front and center in nearly every episode and storyline. He was soon doling advice to Richie and the gang, jumping his motorcycle over barrels, and smashing cars in a demolition derby, not to mention infamously jumping the shark.

As writers, we must be on the lookout for breakout characters, those creations who seem to jump off the page (not over the shark). By listening to our characters and responding to the ones who seem to be the most charismatic, we will grip our readers and keep them coming back for more. We have to be willing to change direction, if necessary, to liven up things. If it worked for the Fonz, it will work for us.

AAAAYYY! Don’t be a nerd—sit on it! Your writing chair, that is.

Carlton Hughes, represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary, wears many hats. By day, he is a professor of communication. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he serves as a children’s pastor. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer. Carlton is an empty-nesting dad and devoted husband who likes long walks on the beach, old sitcoms, and chocolate–all the chocolate. His work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dating Game, The Wonders of Nature, Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. His latest book is Adventures in Fatherhood, co-authored with Holland Webb.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

We put on a Show And Saved the Day!

lighter look at a writer's life

I remember watching a Carol Burnett Show sketch that spoofed the old Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland musicals. You know the ones.

Hey, let’s put on a show!

The routine: a bunch of kids decide to do a show in an abandoned barn, and, miraculously, elaborate costumes and props appear. The show is a success, the day is saved, happily ever after for everyone.

I am a member of the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, and, like most conferences, we found ourselves at a loss as to how to hold our event this year in the midst of a pandemic. In April, members came to a unanimous decision.

Hey, let’s put on an online conference!

Now, I’m not Mickey Rooney, and Judy Garland was nowhere to be found. However, a group of determined writer servants set their minds to making such an event work.

Our coordinator Hallee Bridgeman and her tech-expert husband Gregg arranged the video conferencing details, and the rest of the committee followed. Much time and energy were devoted to scheduling, promotion, faculty confirmations, and more.

Everything fell into place, but, as the event neared, I got nervous, which is unlike me. I have attended numerous writers conferences and have taught at KCWC for years, but I had never done anything like this online.

I was scheduled to teach three classes (one a repeat), and, the night before, I was a wreck. What if my style wouldn’t translate to online teaching? What if my highly-interactive new attendee class went over like a lead balloon? What if my home internet went out?

It turns out, I had nothing to worry about. The classes went off with very few glitches. The technology, for the most part, worked. As for interaction? God did a supernatural thing, y’all.

Through the “chat” feature and other means, 400 attendees from nearly 40 states and 6 countries (France! Australia!) connected, networked, and generally enjoyed each other’s company. Though different, my classes were fun and interactive; getting out of my comfortable zone was a good thing. I was also able to attend some great classes myself and to listen to inspiring keynote addresses without having to jump up and run somewhere to take care of conference details. I even baked a batch of brownies while attending a class!

An overwhelming majority of the attendees have raved about the setup of the conference and the encouraging instruction, as well as celebrated the fact that they had some human interaction after months in isolation.

And guess what? MY HOME INTERNET DID GO OUT! With less than a minute left in one of my classes, I was answering a question when my service “hiccupped.” Only me, right?  I did what any tech person would do: I unplugged the “internet thingie” and then plugged it back in. Voila! It came back!

So we put on a “show,” and, by all indications, it was a success. God knew what we needed when we needed it and showed up in a big way.

Let’s put on another show! Who’s with me?

Carlton Hughes, represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary, wears many hats. By day, he is a professor of communication. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he serves as a children’s pastor. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer. Carlton is an empty-nesting dad and devoted husband who likes long walks on the beach, old sitcoms, and chocolate–all the chocolate. His work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dating Game, The Wonders of Nature, Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. His latest book is Adventures in Fatherhood, co-authored with Holland Webb.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Top Self-Quarantine Bestsellers?

lighter look at a writer's life

So, how’s life going, y’all?

As I write this post, our country has been in pandemic lockdown for over two months. States and communities are slowly reopening, but life certainly feels different.

Know what else is different? Writing and creativity in a pandemic.

You would think days and days on end at home would lead to lots and lots of writing. You would think that would be true, but it hasn’t necessarily been for me.

I have been working from home (for which I am extremely thankful), and that has kept me very busy. I have been doing a lot of baking and, therefore, a lot of eating. Eating time can really eat into your writing time (see what I did there). And all of these television shows aren’t going to watch themselves.

On the other hand, thinking about what kind of books might be written during this time of self-quarantine, I have come up with some ideas. Here, in no particular order, are my top ten isolation book concepts:

1. –Zoomin’ for You: A Video-Conferencing Love Story

2. Sleep Pants of the World: A Comfortable Pictorial History

3. What Day is It: A Cozy At-Home Mystery

4. Lounging Around: Lifestyle Devotions for Not-So-Busy People

5. Who’s That Masked Grocery Shopper: Where’s Waldo for Adults

6. Honey, I Don’t Want to Do Anything on the List: Procrastination on Steroids

7. The New Hygiene: Getting by on a Shower a Week

8. Wiped Away: The Search for Toilet Paper

9. School’s Not Out: Homeschooling for the Perpetually Frustrated

10. Corn-Teen: 500 Easy Recipes for Isolation Weight Gain

Of course, I must mention a bonus title, proposed in last month’s post: How to Pull Your Hair Out: Releasing a Book During a Pandemic (I know this one all too well, as previously documented).

On a serious note, I am looking forward to the works developed during this time at home, from dedicated, disciplined writers who have taken the time to create. I salute you for your determination and for your good use of time. To be honest, I have worked on some legitimate ideas for actual projects. I have lots of thoughts on sticky notes, ready to be transformed into actual stories, as soon as I can find them all and put them together.

I’ll get to those—right after my tenth snack of the day.

Carlton Hughes, represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary, wears many hats. By day, he is a professor of communication. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he serves as a children’s pastor. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer. Carlton is an empty-nesting dad and devoted husband who likes long walks on the beach, old sitcoms, and chocolate–all the chocolate. His work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Wonders of Nature, Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. His latest book is Adventures in Fatherhood, co-authored with Holland Webb.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

You Released a Book WHEN?

lighter look at a writer's life

I released a book during a pandemic. What’s new with you?

I waited years upon years to see a book with my name on the cover. That dream came true on April 7, 2020 with the release of Adventures in Fatherhood, a 60-Day Devotional co-authored with good friend (and fellow A3 columnist) Holland Webb.

When you get a book contract, you have hopes, plans, and dreams about the book release. At a writers conference last year, I even attended a workshop on “How to do a Book Launch.”

A month before the release, I received a case of books from the publisher. I scheduled a book launch party in the town where I live. I contacted venues about having one in my hometown, about an hour away. I made plans to do something special with my friends at Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, the event where I met my co-author and where the idea for the book was hatched. I had even planned a fatherhood-themed costume for Genre Night.

And then, just like that, everything closed, all events were postponed or even cancelled (For the record, BRMCWC was rescheduled for mid-November—watch out, pals), and my day job was shifted to home.

So long, hopes, plans, and dreams. It was nice knowing you.

Seriously, people were suffering around the world with a terrible medical condition. My concern over releasing book during this time paled in comparison. My heart hurt for people dealing with the medical and financial ramifications.

The main thing I learned is that God is not surprised at the current state of our world. He is sovereign and still has a plan; He knew the book would be released in such a time as this. Rather than drop back and punt, I decided to pivot. God gave me a different, renewed vision of what a book release could look like in quarantine.

During that workshop last year, there was extensive talk about online book launches through various social media outlets. At the time, I thought, “Ehhh, maybe.” In April, when the book released, I thought, “Sign me up!”

Our publisher supplied us with spiffy social media memes and videos, along with a plan on how and when to share them. My co-author and I planned, filmed, and posted our own book release chat. I filmed and shared videos highlighting various stories from the book.

Holland and I realized that two more friends, Michelle Medlock-Adams and Jake McCandless (both of whom we met at BRMCWC), had books releasing the same day. I came up with the idea of hosting a “Book Release Pajama Party” through Facebook. Hey, we’re all living in our pajamas these days, so why not? It turned out to be a great time full of laughter, snacks (we all provided our own), and lively book discussion and readings. It was great fun, and something we likely would have never even thought about in normal times. I think we started a trend.

Releasing a book during a pandemic taught me the value of my “tribe.” My fellow writers, my friends, and my family have been extremely gracious and supportive—sharing information, hosting me and my co-author on blogs and podcasts, and sending messages of goodwill. God has shown Himself through the kindness of His people.

I leave you with two thoughts:

  1. Adventures in Fatherhood is available and would make a great Father’s Day gift, Mother’s Day gift, or Quarantine Boredom Buster. http://bit.ly/AdventuresInFatherhoodBook
  2. Look for my next book, Quarantine Conundrum: Releasing a Book During a Pandemic, coming soon.

That last one is just a joke. Sort of.

Carlton Hughes, represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary, wears many hats. By day, he is a professor of communication. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he serves as a children’s pastor. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer. Carlton is an empty-nesting dad and devoted husband who likes long walks on the beach, old sitcoms, and chocolate–all the chocolate. His work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dating Game, The Wonders of Nature, Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. His latest book is Adventures in Fatherhood, co-authored with Holland Webb.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

From Almost to Real

lighter look at a writer's life

What if you write for a website called “Almost An Author” and then you actually get a book contract? And that book is ready to be published? Are you no longer Almost An Author? Do look for a new website to write for—“Real Author Now” or something like that?

That’s the predicament I find myself in as the dream has become reality. I co-authored a book with fellow A3 writer Holland Webb, and Adventures in Fatherhood, a 60-day devotional, releases April 7 (If you’re reading this post on the day it publishes, that’s TOMORROW).

EEEK!!!!

That’s a squeal of excitement and fear. Birthing a book and getting it out there is a wild ride, and, to paraphrase, “I don’t know nothing ‘bout birthin’ no books.” But I am learning.

Having a dream is a wonderful thing, especially if it’s a God-given dream. This book represents that for me, and my co-author and I have frequently said to each other, “I can’t believe this is really happening!” I pinch myself on a regular basis.

In honor of my transition from “Almost” to “Real,” I want to share some thoughts:

  1. To make the transition, you must do the work and pay your dues. There’s no shortcut, no substitute, no magic formula.
  2. Writing the book usually comes easy, or at least it did for me when I got a deadline. We are inspired writers, aren’t we? We panic at deadlines, don’t we? I learned I am much more motivated to the butt-in-chair time when a due date is looming.
  3. Marketing is scary—but not as scary as you think. I have been taught that writers have to market, market, market themselves and build platform, platform, platform. While true, I have found that publishers are more than willing to do their part and to help with your part. My co-author and I have received nothing but support and encouragement for this piece of the process.
  4. Platform is important but ever-changing. If you have noticed, I don’t have a blog with a kajillion followers. The Pioneer Woman has no need to worry. What I do have is a loyal number of supporters on this blog and other group blogs I contribute to, as well as tons of friends on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and (shocking, I know) in person. I’m still building the platform and it’s not as rickety as before, and my publisher understands that.
  5. God is good.
  6. If you don’t give up, the dream will come true—probably not in the way you envisioned. I did not set out to be a devotional writer, but “Surprise!” God is like that.
  7. I really want you to buy a copy of the book. Or twelve.

Just kidding on that last one. Sort of.

Here’s to all of you who are still on the “Almost” path. May your journey to “Real” be focused and blessed.

Now, quit reading here and get that butt in the chair. You have writing to do!

Carlton Hughes, represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary, wears many hats. By day, he is a professor of communication. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he serves as a children’s pastor. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer. Carlton is an empty-nesting dad and devoted husband who likes long walks on the beach, old sitcoms, and chocolate–all the chocolate. His work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dating Game, The Wonders of Nature, Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. His latest book is Adventures in Fatherhood, co-authored with Holland Webb.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Let’s go to Camp

lighter look at a writer's life

I never went to camp as a child. For a variety of reasons, it wasn’t my thing.

Even though I was fat, I was a very picky eater. I didn’t think the camp kitchen would serve french fries, Rice-A-Roni, and peanut butter (my most popular choices) at every meal. Also, when you’re a hefty kid and tend to be the last one chosen on any team, it’s hard to keep up with the physical activities and games. To this day, I don’t know how to swim, which posed another problem for camp.

Fast forward to later in life, and I served as a camp counselor at church camp for a few years when my sons were younger. I served in this capacity until the year I turned 41. That year, I was charged with supervising 12 very active boys with no assistant—24 hours a day for four days. I had an epiphany: I “aged out” of this type of work. I went back one more time to work in the camp store, but I suffered a terrible gout attack, presumably from the delicious institutional food, thus ending my camp experience.

Or so I thought. How does this discussion relate to writing? Hold on.

I have been attending two writers conferences—Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference (BRMCWC—they love consonants) and Kentucky Christian Writers Conference (KCWC—consonant lite)—for several years. While at BRMCWC last year, it hit me—writers conferences have served as my summer camp experience.

At summer camp, fast friendships develop over a short period of time. Need I say more? I have gained so many like-minded friends at writers conferences—too many to count, in fact. I love watching the relationships come together, with the “packs” of writers hanging out together in the dining room, in the coffee shop, and in the “dorm” lobby after hours. Close, lifelong bonds have been formed in those precious sites.

Summer camps generally feature enrichment activities for the campers, and, boy, do writers conferences fill that bill. In between the socializing, we do go to class every now and then to learn from the best. After all, that IS why we are there.

I will say that writers conferences top summer camp when it comes to the quality of the food, but meals are still communal activities. Meal times prove to be special times to bond, to network, and, if you’re at my table, to laugh over the silliest of things. I haven’t experienced a food fight at a writers event, but I have learned to never say never.

Considering all the similarities, I am ready for some camp time. I hope to see you at BRMCWC in May or KCWC in June, and, if there are physical activities or games, do my ego a favor and pick me first. Please?

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and the soon-to-be-released Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two college-age sons, Noah and Ethan. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Be Still?

lighter look at a writer's life

Be still and know that I am God . . .

That line from Psalm 46:10 is one of my favorite phrases in the Bible and has long inspired me and other creatives. Many years ago, Steven Curtis Chapman turned it into a song, one of his best, and, in another lifetime, I even sang it in church. One of my new favorite groups, Citizen Way, has once again used this verse as inspiration for a terrific tune on their latest album.

It’s one of my favorite scriptures, but it’s a hard one for me to obey. I have never been one to sit still. Instead of a human being, I’ve been more of a human doing. I’m always on the go, flitting from one task to another. Even in my job as a community college professor, I teach at three different campus sites, so I’m never stationary at one place for too long.

Proof that God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, He has called me, Mr. Fidgety-Can’t-Sit-Still-for-Too-Long to be a writer.

Huh? Doesn’t writing require extensive B-I-C (Butt-In-Chair) time?

Yes, it does, and I have managed to calm myself long enough to achieve several publications, all with God’s help and direction. But nothing could have prepared me for this winter.

Right around Christmas 2019, I developed a foot problem. And then a knee problem on the same side. After numerous doctor’s visits and tests, I was diagnosed with some issues that could be taken care of  . . . with extensive bedrest.

Say what? Bedrest? Me, lying still for hours and hours? What’s up, God?

I don’t have all the answers, but I have found God is using this time to teach me to be still, to hear from Him. And, let me tell you, it’s hard.

In the midst of the trial, I realized, in the hustle and bustle of life, I had forgotten how to be still. With no other choice, I am re-learning how to be quiet before Him. If you know me and how loud I am, you are laughing right now.

I don’t know what fruit will become of this down time, but I am confident God has a plan and He knows what He’s doing. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even write something.

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two sons, Noah and Ethan, both of whom recently flew out of the nest, and a daughter-in-law, Kersyn. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas Child. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency. His book Adventures in Fatherhood, a 60-day devotional co-authored with Holland Webb, will release in April 2020 from Worthy/Ellie Claire.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Goals . . . We Have Goals

lighter look at a writer's life

It is the dawn of a new year, even a new decade, and people are talking about goals. I guess “resolutions” are not mentioned any more, because they last until about January 15th and then are forgotten. “Goal” seems to be a better word, something to strive for over a longer period of time.

Of course, one of my yearly goals is to eat better and to lose weight. I have had varying levels of success with that one over the years, and this year is no different, considering all of the leftover holiday goodies in my kitchen cabinet. I’m doing okay right now, but the chocolate is calling my name.

Many of my friends are switching the focus to writing goals for the year. If I have seen one post on social media about writing goals, I have seen 20. Everyone is setting their goals, making their lists and checking them twice. (Yes, the Christmas stuff is still on my mind.)

What’s my writing goal for the year? I have put some thought into it, and here it is, an exclusive debut right here on A3. My writing goal for 2020 is . . . to write.

There, I said it.

It may seem overly simple, but, for me, just to put the rear in the chair and to write is what I need to do. Sure, it’s good to have goals of words per day or week, but I need to remind myself to write everyday, to establish the routine of regularly putting words on the page. It seems simple, but I work better with simple.

So avoid the chocolate and get that bottom in the chair. Let’s write!

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and the soon-to-be-released Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two college-age sons, Noah and Ethan. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

What Do I Want To Be?

lighter look at a writer's life

As I am writing this, it is the week of Thanksgiving. I am moving. My wife and I coordinate the Operation Christmas Child Dropoff Center at our church, which means we are working the last two hours of dropoff and then delivering the last 100 shoeboxes to the regional center. Yesterday was church, shoebox collection, and a church business meeting. Poppa is tired. But blessed.

It dawned on me when I woke up this morning: A3 posts are due today!

EEEK!

What to write about, Lord? The answer was felt deep in my soul: be a blessing. I guess God knows I need simple truths spelled out for me.

When I hear the term be a blessing, I think of my dear writer friends Dee Dee and Cathy, whom I met at Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference (You know, the big event with the even bigger title) years ago. My first time there, I was waiting in the cafeteria line, and the lady, Cathy, in front of me struck up a conversation. We laughed and cut up through the salad bar, the entrée choices, and the dessert bar.

I later found out, as we went our separate ways, Dee Dee asked Cathy, “How long have you known Carlton?”

She replied, “Just met him there in the cafeteria line.”

Such is our history. Since then, we have laughed our way through many a conference.

Dee Dee and Cathy began making funny videos at BRMCWC (WXYZ) years ago, calling themselves “Two Peas in a Strange Pod.” Their motto is “We just want to be a blessing.” It hit me this morning—shouldn’t that be our goal as Christian/inspirational writers?

I certainly want to people to read my pieces (come on, y’all), but I want my readers to be blessed in some way. Maybe a chuckle at my misadventures, maybe a smile from a memory I have shared, maybe a scratch on the head from thinking, “Carlton actually did that?”

I realized a long time ago that God hasn’t called me to write profound, literary masterpieces. He has called me to be a blessing by sharing the blessings He has blessed me with (Yes, I was trying to see how many times I could use the word “bless” in the same sentence).

So, continue reading here for more crazy stuff from me. And join us at BR549—I mean, BRMCWC—for the misadventures of Dee Dee, Cathy, and that wacky third pea, Carlton.

After all, we just want to be a blessing.

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and the soon-to-be-released Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two college-age sons, Noah and Ethan. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Journal This

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I bought a guided journal a month ago, and I have written in it every day thereafter.

I deserve a standing ovation.

Go ahead, I’ll wait.

. . .

Thanks.

I feel this way because journaling has always been a goal of mine, but I never quite “get there.” Over the years I have had fits and starts. Recently, while cleaning, I found the remnants of a journal I began five years ago. That time, I managed to chronicle about 10 days of my life over a two-month period.

Stunningly brilliant, I know.

The benefits of journaling are obvious. It helps you to establish a writing routine, it hones the writing “instrument,” it records thought and feelings and events for posterity. It certainly would have helped in remembering things when I recently co-authored a story-based devotional book, but, alas, all I had were journaling crumbs.

In the past, life has hit hard and caused me to put aside my diary aspirations. I have juggled a myriad of responsibilities, trying to keep all the balls in the air, and keeping a journal seemed to be the ball that fell every time.

My new journal is different. It asks a simple question every day, and then I write three brief (Hallelujah!) answers. So far, the questions have been thought-provoking, and it is a neat, short exercise I do every morning or in the evening when I am recovering—I mean, winding down—from work. This act has truly refreshed my soul and has gotten the “wheels turning” in my mind for future projects.

A month down, and it’s feeling good. How long will it last? Who knows? Right now, I’m enjoying the ride . . . and appreciating the applause.

Go ahead, I’ll wait.

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two sons, Noah and Ethan, both of whom recently flew out of the nest, and a daughter-in-law, Kersyn. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas Child. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency. His book Adventures in Fatherhood, a 60-day devotional co-authored with Holland Webb, will release in April 2020 from Worthy/Ellie Claire.

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A Comma Here, A Comma There

lighter look at a writer's life

I spent the better part of yesterday evening, into the night, grading analysis essays. As I marked up the papers, I pondered a few things:

  1. Since I am the teacher, why did I assign such a big assignment, at such a busy time, that I would have to spend hours grading?
  2. Is there something shorter I could have students do in the future?
  3. What in the world has happened to commas?

I will deal with the first couple of items on my own, but let’s talk about that last one. Commas are an important piece of punctuation, maybe the most important one, and my teachers through the years drilled their proper usage into me. One instructor, in particular, could catch a comma splice from 10 miles away.

Now, commas seem to be in flux. Do we use the Oxford comma or not? What about a serial comma? Are the two one and the same? If I am giving a list of cereals, do I use a serial comma or a cereal comma? These questions make my head spin, and my inner copy editor is extremely stressed these days.

In the papers I graded, commas were often left out in compound sentences connected with a conjunction. I wanted to yell, “No!!” I didn’t think my wife would appreciate that, so I refrained from screaming. I stuck to marking in missing commas with my grading pen.

It may be time to return to Conjunction Junction and remember the function. Two complete thoughts? With a conjunction? Use a comma!

The main problem that gets me is use of commas toward the end of a list of items. Missing commas at that point can give a whole new (and often unintended) meaning to the message. For example, I once read this phrase in a newspaper:

“Pray for the children harmed by hardship and our ministry.”

Now, we should pray for these children, but have they really been harmed by the ministry? It’s like saying “Let’s eat grandma!” instead of “Let’s eat, grandma!”

Proof that commas, if used correctly, can make a difference in this world. Don’t make me get out my grading pen!

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two sons, Noah and Ethan, both of whom recently flew out of the nest, and a daughter-in-law, Kersyn. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas Child. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency. His book Adventures in Fatherhood, a 60-day devotional co-authored with Holland Webb, will release in April 2020 from Worthy/Ellie Claire.

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You Are . . .

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Your not going to like what I say. You might feel like pulling you’re hair out.

I am assuming you know what is wrong with those first two sentences. As a teacher, a writer, AND a regular person on social media, I see these words abused all the time.

I have a new phone (Yes, I am finally out of the dark ages. What’s next? An iPad? Flavored Cheerios?), and, any time I am typing a message like Your package came, it tries to autocorrect to You’re. The opposite is true as well. If I type You’re a nut, it autocorrects to Your.

What is this world coming to when Mr. Autocorrect is not so correct anymore? I may have to send him to his room and make him type You’re not alone with your problems one-hundred times.

I have mentioned before, I had a great English teacher in high school and college who was something of a Grammar Tyrant. He pounded proper usage into us until we wanted to cry for help. Those lessons stick with me to this day.

“Remember, you’re is a contraction for you are, while your is a possessive. When in doubt, say you are to yourself and see if it fits the sentence.”

So, if you see me mumbling to myself while I am typing, it is not senility. It is me saying you are to myself. I do the same thing with they’re, but that is a lesson for another day.

The moral of the story? Be careful with your word usage. If you already know these rules, you’re on the right track.

A final note to my readers: I appreciate you. You are great!

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two sons, Noah and Ethan, both of whom recently flew out of the nest. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency. His book Adventures in Fatherhood, a 60-day devotional co-authored with Holland Webb, will release in April 2020 from Worthy/Ellie Claire.

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Don’t Quit Your Daydream

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I was ministered to by a bathroom cup a while back.

One day I was getting ready for work and grabbed a cup for my mouthwash. The little saying on the cup caught my eye.

“Don’t quit your daydream.”

There it was, my life story on a mini-cup.

Fourteen years ago, God gave me a dream to write for Him. I didn’t quite know what to do with that dream, but over the years I have tried to fulfill it. I have attended writers conferences, made lots of writer friends, paid for critiques, and pitched enough projects to fill a library.

Were there times I wanted to quit? ABSOLUTELY IN ALL CAPS. But God wouldn’t let me.

I had one of those “I need to quit writing” pity parties right before a writers conference earlier this year. I just wasn’t feeling it, but I prayed and prayed. God has His own sense of timing . . . and humor.

On the way home from that conference, I got a message from my agent. A legit publishing company was ready to offer me and my co-author a contract. A real contract. For an actual book. With my name on the cover.

A couple of weeks later, we signed and began writing our book . . . with a deadline of less than two months (Remember that thing about timing and humor).

It has been fourteen years, and that dream, God’s dream planted deep in my heart, is coming true. I want to pinch myself sometimes. Then I remember that deadline, so I start typing again.

It’s been a long journey, but, if there’s one thing I have learned, God is faithful. If the dream came from Him, He’ll see it through. The path will not be clear at times and you will want to quit, but just trust Him.

Don’t quit your daydream. Bathroom cups are pretty deep.


Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two sons, Noah and Ethan, both of whom recently flew out of the nest. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency. His book Adventures in Fatherhood, a 60-day devotional co-authored with Holland Webb, will release in April 2020 from Worthy/Ellie Claire.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

A Whale, A Worm, and A Writer

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What do a whale, a worm, and a writer have in common? Remember the story of Jonah in the Bible? When Jonah took off running for the hills after God called him, the Bible says God provided a whale to swallow him. Actually, it says “a great fish,” but that messes up my alliteration, so we are going with a whale for the time being.

Coming off conference season, it often feels like we writers have been swallowed by a whale of information. Yes, we know God provided it, but we still have trouble wading through it.

We plod along, trying to bring to the forefront what applies most to us and set our writing priorities based on our new wealth of knowledge. After, we pray our distress prayer from the belly of information. We come out, maybe with a few sprigs of seaweed in our hair, but we are out and ready to continue our writing journey.

The worm is from the story of Jonah, too. When Jonah got out of the whale of a situation, he was “all in” and did what God told him to do in the first place; he still had attitude problems. Imagine that—someone who doesn’t learn the lesson the first time.

God allowed the tree to grow for shade and then sent the worm to destroy it after Jonah pitched his temper fit because God was being God.

As writers, we may feel like an insignificant worm, but if we are appointed by God, we have a big job to do, a God-designed job.

Remember, the whale’s job was to swallow Jonah, and the worm’s job was to gnaw away little by little at the tree. So, the next time you feel like a worm instead of a whale in the world of writing, just start gnawing away at your appointed place. That tree will fall before you know it, and you will be doing what God designed you to do.

Sue Davis Potts is a freelance writer from Huntingdon, Tennessee. She is mother to her beautiful college-age daughter, Jessa.

Sue enjoys writing for both children and adults. She worked for years as a preschool teacher but feels most at home these days with other writers who speak her language. She has been published in local magazines, anthologies, Ideals, Southern Writer’s Magazine and Focus on the Family’s children’s magazines Clubhouse and Clubhouse, Jr.

She authored a children’s library book and her book of short motivations 101 Life Lessons From Uno (The One-Legged Duck) is available on Amazon. Her blog, Potts Pages, can be found on her website, www.suedavispotts.com.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Prior Planning and Preparation?

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Has an event ever “snuck up on you” and you did not feel prepared for it?

I have attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference for years. I normally spend weeks getting ready, but this year life happened in an extreme way.

On Friday, with two days left until departure, I realized I needed to get my clothes packed. It is a five-day event requiring semi-dressy duds for day-to-day, a crazy outfit for Genre Night, a fancy outfit (that I always pack but never wear) for the awards night, and more. It’s a pretty big deal.

Then there are snacks. The Ridgecrest staff feeds us well each year, but what if I need something to nibble in my room at night?

On Saturday I had a family event, and, when I got back, it hit me I had not printed my one-sheets and writing samples. When you have the potential to meet editors and publishers, you’d better have those copies.

I didn’t even have a big ol’ hardback binder to keep notes and handouts. Come to think of it, I have never taken a big ol’ hardback binder to keep notes and handouts, so I was good on that one.

For those of you out there who have never been to a writers conference but are considering it, THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO PREPARE.

I somehow managed to get everything together and made it to Ridgecrest on Sunday. As I rolled my luggage into the lodge, the wheels on my new suitcase went the wrong way forcing my snack cooler, which I had balanced on top, to fall, causing my water bottles and snacks to roll all over the hallway.

This is going to be some conference, I thought.

Wait, I learned some publishing houses don’t like that format. CORRECTION: This is going be some conference, I thought. (I would have added several exclamation points, but I hear publishers don’t like those either!)

I asked, “Lord, why am I here? What’s my purpose?”

I soon ran into a writer friend. And then another one. And another. I made some new friends. We talked, laughed, commiserated, and enjoyed each other’s company. I was back with my tribe, my people, my squad—it felt good. We encouraged each other through our disappointments, rejoiced over our triumphs, and made many silly jokes.

I asked the Lord for guidance on the right continuing class, and He led me to the perfect one for me at this point in my writing, gulp, career. The same thing happened with the workshops. I made a couple of editor/publisher appointments even though I didn’t have much to pitch. With that pressure off, I enjoyed easy conversations full of good advice.

Initially, I thought I wasn’t ready for BRMCWC ’19, but God had already gone before me, preparing the way for a bounty of blessings. Like He always does.

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two sons, Noah and Ethan, both of whom recently flew out of the nest. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency.

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People Plan . . .

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People plan, God laughs.

One of my favorite quotes in all the world is “People plan, God laughs.”

Now, I don’t know that God actually laughs in these situations, although sometimes, after I have done something especially wacky (which happens more often than you think), I’ll look to the sky and say, “Boy, God, I’ll bet you found that one funny!”

My experience with Easter this year made me think of this quote. I am the children’s pastor at my church, and Easter is a BIG THING! Colossal egg hunt, fancy clothes, children’s song in the big service, perfectly-planned object lessons, backup games and songs in case service runs long—we’re talking BIG with a capital “B.”

I am not a planner by nature (God gave me my wife for that), but I do kick it in gear at Easter, because it is so BIG (Where have I heard that before?). I pray, I search for lessons and crafts and activities (Oh, my), I sort plastic eggs until my fingers are sore. This Easter was no different at that point.

The day before the holiday, something happened that necessitated me and my wife to be three hours away from home—away from my church and my plan, on Easter. Volunteers stepped up to fill the void, and I am grateful. Though my Easter didn’t look like the original plan. It held blessings that only God knew were in store for me.

Recently, I had a conversation with a friend about our writing careers (Is mine really a career? Not sure about that.), and we discussed how God sometimes changes our course. When I started writing and aiming to be published, I thought I knew how it would go. My genre choice was secure, and I had a piece I was POSITIVE would be my first publication.

That piece remains unpublished. Is God laughing? No. Instead, His hand is guiding my writing and my path in ways that could only be orchestrated by Him. I have been published numerous times, mostly in a genre I would have never chosen for myself.

I am not against planning—it is a good thing. But trusting God in the unknown trumps planning sometimes.

The lesson here? It’s okay to plan, but be open to having those plans changed. Sometimes you have to follow the laughter . . .

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two college-age sons, Noah and Ethan. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency.

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Be a Neighbor

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“Love is at the root of everything . . . love or the lack of it.”

This quote is one of my favorites from Mister Rogers (Yes, I know his name is Fred, but I have to call him Mister) from the acclaimed documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor, which I just watched for, I think, the fifth time. It’s so good and I have seen it so many times, I have lost track. The film “hits me in the feels” every time.

I am like Lisa Loopner, Gilda Radner’s nerdy character from the classic heyday of Saturday Night Live. She described her favorite movie, The Way We Were, and said she had seen it five times but cried six times, because she the knew the story so well that she cried on the way to the movie one of the last times. I tear up just thinking about Won’t You Be My Neighbor.

Mister Rogers was my friend who “visited” my house every afternoon as I was growing up. He always had a smile, a kind word, and a make-believe adventure for me. I was an only child and, for a brief time, a latchkey kid. It was also the time of riding in a car without seat belts, cruising without a helmet on a bicycle, and talking on a phone that was attached to the wall, but I digress . . .

Mister Rogers was a great babysitter/companion.

During my last viewing of the film, I was struck by Mister Rogers’ passion for his mission in life. He was ordained for the purpose of ministering through the media. He never once preached a televised sermon, his puppets never told the story of the five loaves and two fishes, and he never sang Amazing Grace on camera. Yet he ministered through his gentle spirit, his kindness, and, yes, his occasional goofiness. You could feel the love through the camera.

THESE THINGS are what I want to accomplish with my writing. I want to be kind and gentle and goofy in a world of chaos. When I think of throwing in the towel—or throwing my laptop across the room when I can’t get a sentence to come out right—I think of this mission. Mister Rogers was called to be a bright light in a dark world, to love unconditionally, and so are we as writers.

When I sit at my keyboard, I want to be as whimsical as King Friday, as mischievous as Lady Elaine, and as sensitive as Daniel Tiger. Is that hard to do in today’s world? Yes. Is that type of thing needed in today’s world? Absolutely. Will people feel the love through the things I write? I hope so.

In the words of Henrietta Pussycat, “Meow meow, go write something kind, meow.”

Carlton Hughes wears many hats—some serious, some goofy.

During weekdays, he sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher (wah-wah wah-wah-wah) as a community college professor of communication and journalism. On Sundays and Wednesdays, you’ll find him playing games and performing songs with motions in his role as a children’s pastor.

In his “spare” time, Carlton attempts to type kind words as a freelance writer and has been published in numerous books, including several releases from Worthy Publishing: The Wonders of Nature, So God Made a Dog, Just Breathe, Let the Earth Rejoice, and Everyday Grace for Men. He has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul and other publications and is represented by Cyle Young of the Hartline Agency. He specializes in humorous observations of everyday life, connecting those experiences with spiritual application.

Carlton loves watching classic sitcoms like I Love Lucy, eating way too much chocolate, and rooting for his favorite college and high school basketball teams. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas Child. He and his wife have two college-age sons.

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Building It Up

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If I have learned anything from writers conferences and other instruction, it’s that writers like me need a platform—a presence on social media, discoverability online, and a horn to toot, so to speak.

That’s all well and good. People have to know who I am, right? Don’t I need to make a name for myself?

The only problem? I am no carpenter. There are times when my platform looks splintered, downright rickety. I wouldn’t trust it to hold a person up for any length of time.

Have I mentioned I am really good at beating a metaphor into the ground?

I admire people who are good at the platform thing–those writers who blog, who post frequently on social media, and who have a knack for getting noticed. One of my goals for this year is to improve in this area, to do more to make myself more discoverable.

The other day I was having a pity party about not having a bigger platform, and I decided to listen to the new Casting Crowns album (Do we even call them albums anymore? Would it be a new release? I am so old), which I acquired a few months ago and have listened to repeatedly.

The first song that came on was “Only Jesus,” about how our only legacy that matters is Jesus and how we make Him known. The next tune was “Nobody,” my favorite, which asserts that we are all “nobodies” trying to tell people about “Somebody” Who can save their souls.

Well, knock me out with a brick, Lord! It’s not about ME–it’s about JESUS. How am I making Him known? How am I highlighting what he has done for me? Getting my name out there really means getting HIS name out there and telling HIS story in a unique way that only I can do.

So I’m getting out my hammer, nails, boards, and the like. I have some platform-building to do. My Best Friend is a carpenter, after all.

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and the soon-to-be-released Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two college-age sons, Noah and Ethan. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child.

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If You Give a Writer a Deadline

If you give a writer a deadline, he is going to open a document to start typing.

Once he opens the document, he will remember he needs to check social media to make sure he hasn’t missed something important.

While on social media, the writer will find a British comedy clip. He will watch the video, laugh, and then wonder who that actor was in the background. He will do a search and go through several websites to find out the actor starred in a movie the writer had seen as a teenager.

Thinking about his teen years, he will wonder about one of his former classmates. The writer will go back to social media to look up his old friend.

The writer will see an ad for food and realize he is hungry. He will leave the keyboard to go to the kitchen for a snack. While preparing his snack, he will see his lunch bag and remember he needs to pack his lunch for his day job the next day. He will look around the kitchen for something to include.

While he is looking for something for lunch, the writer will notice he is running out of different foods. He will grab paper and pen and make a store list. He will forget about packing lunch and grab his snack.

Since he doesn’t want to get food on his keyboard, the writer will turn on the television to watch a quick episode of a classic sitcom. When the show goes off, the writer will wonder how many years the show lasted and will get on the internet. While typing in the search engine, he will remember his deadline.

The writer will go back to his document and begin typing again. He will write a few paragraphs and decide he hates what he has written. He will wonder what the weather is going to be like the next day, so he will check his weather app and then plan his clothes for the next day.

Back at the keyboard, the writer will open another document and start over after saving the horrible piece, because he never knows when he will want to go back to it to improve it.

He will get inspired with the new document and write words, words, and more words. He will take a break to check his email. He will open an email from his editor, reminding him of his deadline. The writer will go back to his document and write more words, words, and words.

If you give a writer a deadline, he will finish. Eventually.

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two college-age sons, Noah and Ethan, whom he loved reading to when they were younger. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child. Carlton is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency.

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Resolutions??

lighter look at a writer's life

Since it is the dawn of a new year, let’s discuss those dreaded resolutions. I have been resolving to lose weight for about 44 years, so we’ll move past that one.
Here are some common resolutions for writers, along with my rebuke—I mean, commentary.

  • Drink more coffee. According to the plethora of Hallmark movies about writers, we drink a lot of coffee. WAIT A MINUTE! I gave up caffeine eight months ago, so I’ll be drinking more hot chocolate.
  • Find a groovy coffee shop or diner as a place to write. Writers all over the Internet talk about how they do their best work at Starbucks, Panera, or a charming mom-and-pop place. WAIT A MINUTE! I have trouble writing in a crowd, plus I live in a small town. I know EVERYONE, so I wouldn’t get much writing done with all the conversations (Have I mentioned I love to talk?). I’ll stick to sitting on the couch with my laptop.
  • Get up really early to write. At one of my first writers conferences, I went to a workshop called “Finding Time to Write” taught by a popular author, and he shared his routine with us. He suggested we get up at 4:30 IN THE MORNING to get in a few hours of writing before the workday begins. WAIT A MINUTE! No one would want to read what I would write at 4:30 IN THE MORNING, and I am generally not functional until 9 or 10. I’ll stick to writing in the evenings, when I’m actually AWAKE and semi-coherent.

I, like most writers, have figured out what works for me. Some people may be able to bang out a bestseller at the local coffee shop early in the morning with loads of caffeine, and that’s fine. Hey, if it works, go for it! The rest of us will find the right time and place (and beverage) to do our best work.

Who knows? Maybe I’ll find something for that weight loss resolution, after I finish all of these holiday treats.

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two college-age sons, Noah and Ethan. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Hey, you! Can you hear me?

lighter look at a writer's life

The other day in my Interpersonal Communication class, we talked about “acoustic space,” which is the distance your voice carries in a given situation. It was a lively discussion, and I came to a realization.

My acoustic space is the length of the Atlantic Seaboard. My voice is loud and proud, and people tell me my laugh is distinctive (What are they talking about, anyway? LOLOLOL). All the time, friends say, “I knew you were in the store because I heard you!” What can I say? My voice is loud! No getting around it.

I have learned to live with my booming voice and laugh, but I hope my writing voice is just as unique. In my experience, I try to write like I sound. That may be oversimplification, but it works for me.

I approach my writing voice as if I were sitting down with you over a cup of coffee (or lemonade, since I gave up caffeine awhile back). Most of the time I write humor, and, as already mentioned, I love to laugh. So, as in conversation, I am going to break out every witticism, every cliché, every funny thing I can think of to make you laugh as I try to inspire you. I’m wacky that way.

That’s my style, and I’ll stick to it as long as the Lord allows. My type of writing would not work for everyone or in every situation. Imagine if I tried to write a suspense novel. It’s funny to think about, but I believe it would be DISASTROUS if I actually attempted such a work. Not my style, not my voice. I’ll leave the suspense to authors like Ted Dekker and Brandilyn Collins, who have honed and developed their unique voices in that genre (And who probably make a lot more money from writing than I do—on second thought, maybe I should try . . .).

All in all, writing voice is about letting your personality shine on the page or on the screen. It’s quite unusual that I am such an extrovert who is also called to write, but blame God for that—He often uses the foolish to confound the wise. In person, I’m ALL CAPS AND EXCLAMATION POINTS!! I try to pull that back in my writing, but I still want to make you smile.

So grab a cup of coffee or lemonade or even water and get ready to smile for a while. Be warned: you may need earplugs if we’re together in person.

During weekdays, Carlton Hughes sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher (wah-wah wah-wah-wah) as a community college professor of communication and journalism. On Sundays and Wednesdays, you’ll find him playing games, performing songs with motions, and doing object lessons in his role as a children’s pastor. He and his wife Kathy also attempt to keep up with their two college-age boys, Noah and Ethan.

In his “spare” time, Carlton is a freelance writer who has been published in numerous books, including several recent releases from Worthy Publishing: The Wonders of Nature, So God Made a Dog, Just Breathe, Let the Earth Rejoice, and Everyday Grace for Men. He has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul and other publications and is represented by Cyle Young of the Hartline Agency. He contributes regularly to two writing blogs, almostanauthor.com and inspiredprompt.com. He specializes in humorous observations of everyday life, connecting those experiences with spiritual application.

Carlton loves watching classic sitcoms like I Love Lucy, eating way too much chocolate, and rooting for his favorite college and high school basketball teams. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas Child.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Whatever!

lighter look at a writer's life

“What do you write?”

Sit down with a group at a writers conference or anywhere else writers gather, and that will be the first question asked. The answers usually vary widely.

“Speculative.”

“Amish.”

“Romantic suspense.”

“Women’s Bible studies.”

“Amish speculative with a touch of romantic suspense, and a secret baby included for good measure.”

(Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating about that last one . . . but it could happen.)

My answer is a bit different: “Whatever God gives me to write.”

That may seem like a super-spiritual reply, but it is truly the way things have happened since God called me to write. Time after time, God has opened unlikely opportunities for me, and all I had to do was to say, “Yes, whatever.”

So, in the last ten years, I have written:

–devotionals

–children’s Christmas plays

–test questions and chapter summaries for a textbook

–standardized test questions for an educational company

–sports stories for an online track and field/cross country website

–blog posts

–news articles

–general nonfiction

–fiction

I’m sure there’s more, but you get the idea.  I don’t share this list to brag on myself, but to brag on God. He’s the One Who has opened (and closed) the doors, and it was up to me to be obedient and to walk through (or to accept the slammed-shut ones). Each assignment has sharpened my skills, taught me about deadlines, and generally stretched me as a writer.

My advice then is not to pigeonhole yourself into one genre or specific type of writing. Sure, it’s okay to specialize and to hone your skills in one area (maybe God has called you to that), but it’s also important to be obedient to God’s leading when He makes a way for you to stretch your wings.

Now, back to Levi and Martha, who are waiting to get out of the time warp . . .  

Carlton Hughes wears many hats—some serious, some goofy.

During weekdays, he sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher (wah-wah wah-wah-wah) as a community college professor of communication and journalism. On Sundays and Wednesdays, you’ll find him playing games, performing songs with motions, and doing object lessons in his role as a children’s pastor. He and his wife also attempt to keep up with their two college-age boys.

In his “spare” time, Carlton is a freelance writer who has been published in numerous books, including several recent releases from Worthy Publishing: The Wonders of Nature, So God Made a Dog, Just Breathe, Let the Earth Rejoice, and Everyday Grace for Men. He has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul and other publications and is represented by Cyle Young of the Hartline Agency. He contributes regularly to two writing blogs, almostanauthor.com and inspiredprompt.com. He specializes in humorous observations of everyday life, connecting those experiences with spiritual application.

Carlton loves watching classic sitcoms like I Love Lucy, eating way too much chocolate, and rooting for his favorite college and high school basketball teams. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas Child.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Just Another Post

lighter look at a writer's life

Clutter: (verb) to crowd something untidily.

I have a confession to make: I am a clutter person. I once read an essay in which a lady told a friend she had her “pilots’ license.” She further explained it was actually “pile-lots,” because she liked to pile her magazines, newspapers, and other things around her home and her office.

Well, hello.

One day at the end of summer break, I decided to do some cleaning in the bedroom. I threw away many things and felt good about it, but I know I need to do more. My wife is currently working on our kitchen cabinets in the same way.

All this cleaning made me think about my writing and how it, too, can become cluttered. We all have our “pet words,” and one of my favorites is “just.”

I just feel a need to tell you about this. I just got back to work from summer break, and I just need a nap. I just need a cool drink, and maybe I’ll just run to the vending machine for a snack.

Refer back to the definition at the beginning of this piece: to crowd something untidily. Not only does that reflect my personal spaces at times, it also reflects my writing. I use other pet words as well, and it is always a revelation when I use the “search” feature and find that I have used a particular word NUMEROUS times in a piece.

I have learned the art of decluttering my prose through writing assignments with specific word counts. Several years ago I was tasked with writing a magazine profile piece with a 750-word limit. I worked on the first draft, and I hit 1,000 words before the subject, who had accomplished great things in adulthood, had even left school. I did two things: (1) requested an additional 250 from the editor (which he obliged) and (2) began cutting the clutter.

I have since worked on several devotional projects, some with a word count as low as 250 words counting a Bible verse and a prayer. With these assignments, words like “just” and “that” were on my decluttering radar.

In the end, decluttering your writing is a way to give your readers a smoother experience. They can only work their way through so many unnecessary words before they choose to turn away. We want them to keep reading and coming back, don’t we?

I just want to make my readers happy.

Carlton Hughes wears many hats—some serious, some goofy.

During weekdays, he sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher (wah-wah wah-wah-wah) as a community college professor of communication and journalism. On Sundays and Wednesdays, you’ll find him playing games, performing songs with motions, and doing object lessons in his role as a children’s pastor. He and his wife also attempt to keep up with their two college-age boys.

In his “spare” time, Carlton is a freelance writer who has been published in numerous books, including several recent releases from Worthy Publishing: The Wonders of Nature, So God Made a Dog, Just Breathe, Let the Earth Rejoice, and the forthcoming Everyday Grace for Men. He has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul and other publications and is represented by Cyle Young of the Hartline Agency. He contributes regularly to two writing blogs, almostanauthor.com and inspiredprompt.com. He specializes in humorous observations of everyday life, connecting those experiences with spiritual application.

Carlton loves watching classic sitcoms like I Love Lucy, eating way too much chocolate, and rooting for his favorite college and high school basketball teams. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas Child.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Through the Years

lighter look at a writer's life

Has your writing training “ruined” you in some ways? Do you notice plot holes, awkward point-of-view changes, and overly-predictable twists? I experienced this phenomenon recently.

My pastor asked me to produce and direct our church’s Christmas play, which is nothing new. I have been doing productions in some form or another for years, and I was thankful for the early heads up, as opposed to waiting until November to try to throw something together. He asked me to look over a play from a drama service he had found, so I paid the fee and downloaded the sample.

I am not one to knock someone else’s work, but my writing training radar kicked in as I read–and not in a good way.

The play in question hit me over the head with the biblical message, with several “sermonettes” tacked randomly into the dialogue. How many workshops have I attended about avoiding preachiness and subtly weaving in the spiritual message? Too many to count.

Another important lesson I have learned over the years is the “Show, Don’t Tell” rule. In the scenes I write, my characters should be actively DOING things, not just talking about them. Having my character “shiver to the bone under his light jacket in the unexpected snowstorm” is better than having the character exclaim, “It’s so cold!”

This play had a lot of telling, with characters standing around talking about what they would do or what they had done. Long monologues about random characters were featured. Much talk with little action had me squirming in my recliner as a I struggled through the piece.

Once finished, I flipped back to the front and noticed the copyright date: 1977! That would explain the awkwardness, as well as the references to records and outdated phones.

We’ve come a long way, baby.

There were certainly some great pieces written during that time and before, but today’s writers—and readers—are different. Many expectations have changed, and we must meet them before audiences turn us off or put away our pieces before finishing them.

So what to do about the Christmas play? I found the very first play I ever wrote, circa early-2000s, and dusted it off. A few changes and updates here and there (Cell phones have changed everything, haven’t they?), and I think ’ll have a solid production. The story holds up surprisingly well, and I miraculously managed to do a lot of showing instead of telling, even though I was a greenhorn at the writing thing back then.

Here’s hoping my other pieces will hold up over the years!

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two college-age sons, Noah and Ethan. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child.