Tag: A Lighter Look at the Writer’s Life

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

What’s YOUR Story?

lighter look at a writer's life

A couple of months ago, I attended a storytelling festival in my old college town, and it was an engaging, creatively invigorating experience. Usually, this festival is held under a big tent on the shores of a picturesque lake, but remnants of a strong weather system cancelled those plans. Instead, the event was moved to an inside venue, but the power of storytelling was still on display.

A series of talented storytellers told every type of story imaginable. Some stories were funny, while others were serious. Some tellers waxed poetic about events from their past, and others entertained with fairytales and folklore. A couple of the performers combined music with stories.

It was truly a smorgasbord of creativity, and I was fascinated by the talent on display. Beyond that, I was inspired to work on my own stories, both written and oral. I even participated in the “open mic” portion and shared one of my pieces.

Good storytelling is universal and covers both areas. Writers are storytellers, whether they produce fiction or nonfiction. Engaging stories capture our imagination and keep us listening or reading.

I am a writer, but I have done my share of storytelling performances as well. Before my most recent performance, I prayed my audience would be entertained AND inspired. That may seem a strange thing to pray, but isn’t that our goal?

If you are a Christian/inspirational writer, you have a message to get across, but I think it helps if that message is entertaining. Many of the stories I heard at the festival were highly entertaining but had a strong message behind the smiles and laughs. That’s what I want in my stories, whether I’m telling them to a live audience or committing them to paper (or a computer screen) and then releasing them to unknown readers.

What’s your story? Whatever it is—tell it! Your audience is waiting.

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

What Day is It?

lighter look at a writer's life

What day is it? Although I sometimes find myself wondering what day of the week it is, that is not what I am asking today when I ask that question. Today, I’m wondering if it is national pickle day or national take your cat to work day or one of the million other things that someone deemed should have its own special day. These focus days are good fodder for writers.

There are serious subject matters for some days, and they are important. Days such as National Organ Donor Day and National Grief Awareness Day could generate helpful and weighty articles for magazines. Just remember that magazines accept articles months in advance of the date they will be published so if you are going to write for a special day or occasion, plan accordingly.

Since this is a lighter look at writing, let’s think about some of the fun, lighthearted designated days. January 2nd is National Cream Puff Day. What a yummy idea starter to write about. The second Monday in January is clean off your desk day. I really need to observe that one before I can write about it. April 4th is Hug a Newsperson Day. Now that might get us on the news. National Wear Your Pajamas Day is April 16th. That’s strange, I thought every day was pajama day for writers.

Time to focus and come up with some writing ideas. Peanuts are a good subject. There is National Peanut Day, Peanut Butter Day, PB&J Day and so on and so on. Okay, we have a subject now, what can we write?  How about an article on peanut allergies for a parenting magazine. Maybe another article on the benefits of peanuts for a health pamphlet. Let’s not forget peanut people like George Washington Carver and our peanut farming president Jimmy Carter. One last note about peanuts. Did you know they aren’t really nuts. Interesting enough for an article, right?

If you don’t like peanuts then pick a nut, any nut. I’m sure there is a day for it. Don’t like nuts at all? No problem. Maybe you prefer chocolate, hard candy or fish. They all have a day. No matter what your taste you still have plenty of subjects to choose from and plenty of serious and ridiculous idea generating themes. So, find one and go nuts or not.

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

What’s Your Season?

lighter look at a writer's life

Life consists of seasons, and, weather-wise, as I type this post, we are beginning my favorite season: fall.

I live in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, where fall colors are beautiful and abundant this time of year. I would put our fall foliage up against any in the entire world. A couple days a week, I cross a mountain to work at another campus, and the scenery is breathtaking once the calendar turns to October. My wife and I got married in mid-October at the season’s peak, and our wedding pictures are even more special with the brilliant colors in the background.

Next comes winter. I am not really a fan of that one. The brilliant colors eventually go away, and we’re left with barren trees and gray landscapes. Add in snow and freezing temperatures, and I am not crazy about it. The winters here have been fairly mild the last few years, so spring weather comes sooner with its promise of warmer temps and green returning to the foliage.

We won’t even talk about summer. Extreme heat is not my friend. Let’s just say I’m in a relationship with air conditioning, and it is serious.

What about real, everyday life? Do we go through seasons? Absolutely.

If I had to name the season my family and I have been going through lately, I would call it “rough.” I will spare you the details, but it has been comparable to a long winter. I am not complaining, because I know three basic truths: (1) I am still blessed beyond measure; (2) God is still in control; (3) seasons like this one don’t last forever.

Writing falls into this idea of seasons as well. Some writing seasons are full  and creative, when the ideas and the contracts are flying like the leaves flying off the trees. Other seasons are a bit barren, when creativity is hard and the words and contracts aren’t coming. The advice I have for this type of season, just like a rough patch in life, is to hold on.

Just as it can’t be fall all year long, writing can’t be on “high” level all the time. Valleys happen, and we have to learn how to live with them and deal with them. Maybe your current writing feels like it isn’t going well, but you don’t have to be stagnant. This could be the time to brush up on your skills, experiment with a different genre, or write something just for you with no plan for publication. Exercising your writing muscles even without an official assignment is valuable.

It may seem cliché, but seasons do change. Enjoy (or endure) the current season and look forward to the next. Now, let’s go play in some leaves!

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

An Expiration Date . . . For Writing?

lighter look at a writer's life

Do you pay attention to expiration dates? They seem to be on everything these days, from perishable foods to soft drinks to hygiene products.

A few days ago, my wife stopped by my office with a small bag of peanuts she had just purchased at the grocery store. She knows how much I love them, so I opened the pacakage immediately and started munching. I soon noticed the flavor was a bit “off.” I looked at the packaging, and the expiration date had passed several months before.

Well, great! I was so looking forward to devouring all of those crunchy goodies, in between sips of my Dr. Pepper, but that dream ended with that pesky month/day/year listing.

I have been thinking: does our writing have an expiration date?

I am in one of those periods where I am in-between projects. I have several proposals out there but no “bites” yet. I recently celebrated a BIG birthday, so I’ve been quite reflective lately.

Are there STILL other projects for me? Will another contract EVER come my way? Will I be able to RETIRE with the next advance? (Considering my last “advance” arrived TWO YEARS AFTER the book was published, I’m not holding my breath on that last one.)

If you’re a worrier like I can be at times, you worry whether that last project was REALLY the last project. Do I have anything else to say? If I do, will anyone want to read it?

Once I finished my little pity party, I realized I don’t have control over such things—God does. If He has called me to write, He will see it through and guide me to the next open door.

Even with that assurance, God can still alter your direction if He chooses to do so. Over the last several months, God has been leading me into more speaking, opening doors in that area I never thought would open, even if I tried prying them a smidge or knocking them down. Writing and speaking often go together, so have Your way, Lord.

If you are down today because the contracts aren’t overflowing your inbox, take heart. Our timing is not God’s timing, and He holds the key to those doors and will open them in the right time.

In the meantime, keep writing, be encouraged, and check those expiration dates before you start munching down.

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

Happy Days Are Here Again

lighter look at a writer's life

A few years ago, I got to the point where I could not watch the evening news. It was just TOO MUCH, causing me to be depressed. One evening, around news time, I surfed the channels and found an oasis—one of the oldies channels showing an hour of Happy Days during my normal news time. Finally, a solution to the doom and gloom!

If you’ve been under a rock for half a century or are too young to remember, Happy Days follows the exploits of Richie Cunningham (played by Ron Howard, Opie grown up a bit) and Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler) and the rest of their gang, navigating life in the late ‘50s/early ‘60s. The show debuted in 1974 during a wave of ‘50s nostalgia and lasted until 1984—my formative years.

One night during my “anti-news Happy Days mini-marathon,” I witnessed a big juxtaposition I had forgotten. The first episode of the evening was the second season finale, focusing on Richie and his pals Potsie and Ralph Malph on an overnight school field trip to Chicago. Typical of the first two seasons, the episode was on film, enhanced with a laugh track, and played out like a mini-movie.

The next episode that night was the season three premiere, and the changes were startling. Facing sagging ratings, the producers revamped the series that season, shooting on videotape in front of a live audience and placing the Fonz, previously a minor character, at the center of the action, with more broad comedy and catchphrases like “Sit on it!” The changes worked ratings-wise, as Happy Days soon became the number-one show on television and remained near the top for several seasons, even after Ron Howard left to become a famous film director.

I was in middle school when this change to “Fonzie and More Fonzie” took place. He was the coolest character on the planet, and my classmates and I wanted to be like him. I even had a “I’m with the Fonz” t-shirt with a depiction of his “thumbs-up” pose.

Seeing the stark differences in tone from one episode to the next made me think of such changes in writing direction. When I began writing and pursuing publication, I was firmly in the fiction camp, planning to be the next Great American Novelist. I attended writers conferences and studied dialogue, POV, and all things fiction.

Just as Richie and Fonz and crew changed tone, God changed my direction a few years into my journey, guiding me toward writing devotions and other inspirational essays. Back in the day, I remember the new Happy Days took some getting used to, and my new “Carlton devotions” felt the same. I did learn that some of the things I studied in fiction writing—the aforementioned dialogue and POV, among other techniques—have made me a better writer of inspirational essays. Setting a scene for your readers is just as important in nonfiction as it is in fiction.

What to do if God changes your writing direction? Be like the Fonz: give a thumbs up and say “AAAAYYYYY!!!!” Then Sit on It and start writing.

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

Keep Rolling

lighter look at a writer's life

I love quotes, motivational thoughts, words of wisdom or whatever you like to call them. The writer in me often says, “Why didn’t I think of that?” One of the nuggets that has become popular lately is, “Progress over perfection.”

This bit of wisdom can relate to our writing. While we always want to strive for perfection, we often find ourselves avoiding our work in progress because we can’t get it to the state of perfection that we desire.

This goes back to a rule of writing that we all learned early on: don’t edit as you go. Progression is an ongoing, moving process. It slows greatly if we must start and stop to edit. It is comparable to the difference in driving on the interstate and driving in a traffic jam.

 We all like to keep rolling when we are driving. It is a sense of accomplishment when we are moving on down the road. We are making progress toward our goal of arriving at our destination. We see landmarks swishing by, and nothing can stop us now.

A traffic jam causes us anxiety. We worry about the time we are wasting inching our way along.  We are mumbling about the unknowns up ahead, and we convince ourselves that we really need to go to the bathroom and are going to burst if we don’t move soon. We are still on the same road going the same direction but not gaining much ground on getting to where we are going.

The better way: if you are on a roll, keep rolling. Write words that are big and bold. Write words that are bright and colorful. Write words that you are not sure you are using correctly but sound good at the moment. Just write. There will be time later to go back and check for correct usage and over usage. There will be time to correct grammar and punctuation. There will be time to work on perfection, but, for now, progression is the goal.

By the way, it’s ok to take a bathroom break as needed.

Sue Davis Potts is a freelance writer from Huntingdon, Tennessee. She is mother to her beautiful adult 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.  She is the author of a book of short motivations 101 Life Lessons From Uno (The One-Legged Duck) and coauthored. The Priceless Life (The Diane Price Story). Both books are available on Amazon. Sue can be found on her website, www.suedavispotts.com.

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

Writers Up!

lighter look at a writer's life

I always have the first Saturday in May marked on my calendar. Even though I have never been in person, this Tennessee girl loves to watch the Kentucky Derby. They make a day of what has become known as the fastest two minutes of sports.

I enjoy the back stories of the owners, trainers and horses. I love seeing all the high fashion of rich and famous and those who pretend to be for a day. Of course, the most fashionable of all are hats and fascinators. For us country folk, a fascinator is a small hat or a piece of hat that is worn to one side of the head.

The Derby is steeped in tradition such as singing, “My Old Kentucky Home” and the Bugler playing the “Call to Post.” It has many others too numerous to mention. While all of these fashions and traditions are wonderful fun, they really don’t affect the outcome of the race. However, there is one tradition that does and that is the command of “Riders Up.” The call tells the jockey to mount his horse for the race. The jockey is the driving and guiding force of the race.

Writing is a lot like a horse race. Grab the reins and hold on, I’m going somewhere with this. While we don’t want to think about racing against other writers the truth is if your article is not in that magazine somebody else’s will be. If your book is not on the shelf, the customer will buy someone else’s book.

The writer’s race is much more. We race against deadlines and sometimes we win by a fraction of the nose like this year’s Derby winner did. We race against other things such as housework, jobs, family and social schedules. Many times, we leave our writing to wander around the paddock with no guiding force.

Jockeys are trained and they have honed their craft so to speak. They spend time learning how to use the tools of their trade, strategizing the logistics of the race and being in the right mindset to race. However, none of the hard work of the jockeys would matter if they never got on the horse.

Do you know how you can tell if you have honed your writing craft? Go back and look at some of your early writings, if you cringe at how bad they are that probably means you have been honing. Go to conferences, network, follow other writers on social media. All of this is important, but it matters little if you never get on the horse.

The experienced jockeys win races, but every jockey had to have their first win. The old saying still rings true, “Writers write.”  So, it’s time to get on the horse and get your writing to the gate. To that I say, “Writers up!”

Sue Davis Potts is a freelance writer from Huntingdon, Tennessee. She is mother to her beautiful adult 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.  She is the author of a book of short motivations 101 Life Lessons From Uno (The One-Legged Duck) and coauthored. The Priceless Life (The Diane Price Story). Both books are available on Amazon. Sue can be found on her website, www.suedavispotts.com.

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

Flow or Struggle?

lighter look at a writer's life

Imagine with me for a moment: it’s a Monday night, the last night before your Almost An Author deadline the next day. Panic sets in as you open a blank document on your laptop.

The blank page mocks you and dares you to fill it with something meaningful for your tens of readers. What to write? How to fill this menacing blankness?

In the back of my mind, I get a germ of an idea, something that had happened to me weeks earlier with one of my students (It’s a bonus when you’re both a WRITER and a TEACHER, as students provide a plethora of ideas).

Yeah, I’ll write about that funny encounter. But what would be the point, the takeaway? I decided to start writing and let that emerge.

What happened next was a miracle: the words  . . . and puns (important if you write humor) . . . flowed. I entertained myself as I weaved the experience with funny asides and an eventual solid takeaway. The idea changed a bit as I wrote the piece, but the basic gist of it remained.

Wow, this one was easy, I said to myself. I wish they all flowed this way.

The truth is, it rarely is this easy. That whole “words flowing like water down a hill” doesn’t happen very often. Writing is truly hard work, and often I find myself pulling out what little hair I have (trust me, there’s not much) trying to come up with a topic and then trying to flesh out said topic.

When the writing flows easily? Be thankful for the moment.

When you are stuck in every way and worrying about your deadline? Be thankful then, too. Writing is a gift, and  gifts are hard to deal with sometimes. We struggle, we write, we rewrite. Hopefully, at the end of the process, there’s a gem of a piece waiting for the world to consume.

You have just read the latest one. Not sure it’s much of a gem, but I did pull it out of my mind, filled a blank page with it, and submitted it on deadline. Score!

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

Taming the Inner Copyeditor

lighter look at a writer's life

“Your the best!”

“Let’s go over their.”

“The Smith’s”

Are you cringing? I am.

Welcome to my world. Am I the only one who notices every misspelling and/or grammar mistake?

I can be driving in the car and notice such errors on signs and billboards. I can be passing through a neighborhood and find issues with various displays. Don’t even get me started about social media posts.

Being an observant copyeditor is both a blessing and a curse.

When I am writing my own pieces or editing someone else’s work, my ability to spot errors comes in handy. When I am reading someone’s social media post or fancy sign and see mistakes, I have to fight the urge to correct everything. It’s a constant struggle.

I attribute (blame?) my copyediting skills to one of my school teachers. He taught me everything from eighth grade English to Journalism to senior Honors English to college freshman composition. His teaching style? Pound grammar and punctuation rules into the students, showing no mercy. It wasn’t always pretty, but I came out of it with a keen knowledge of where commas go and don’t go, how to use a semicolon, and which verb tense to use in any situation.

Moving on to college, I majored in print and broadcast journalism, continuing my adventures in grammar. Professors marveled at my grasp of these principles. I could barely do math, but, if you handed me a piece of writing to critique, I was in my element.

I pursued a career as a college professor, using my copyediting skills every day, much to the dismay of many of my students.

For several years I served as the student newspaper adviser, and, by the time an issue was printed, I was sick of it because I had read it over and over and over in an effort to catch each and every error, with one or two always slipping by.

DISCLAIMER: I do not judge friends and family for grammar miscues. They do happen, especially with AutoCorrect and other tools in this electronic age. I am just saying I am sensitive to them, much like some people are sensitive to smells while others respond to certain sounds.

The next time you see something listed as “For Sell,” think of me and the other copyeditors who can’t help but notice such things. Copyeditors, UNTIE! Um, I mean . . . UNITE!

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

Confessions of a Writers Conference Junkie

lighter look at a writer's life

We are coming upon the time of the year I call “conference season,” when most writers conferences are held. I have been attending these events for nearly 20 years now, and I have a confession to make.

My name is Carlton Hughes, and I am a conference junkie.

That was hard to admit, but confession is the first step to healing. Here are some “symptoms” to see if you, too, are addicted to writers conferences:

–You save money for months prior to the event—not for tuition or books but for treats and drinks at the coffee shop.

–With each new clothing purchase, you think, “could this be worn to the conference?”

–You separate your conference clothes in the closet, so you don’t wear them too much or stain them prior to the conference.

–You keep checking (and checking and checking) the conference website day after to day to see if faculty and classes have been posted.

–Once faculty and classes are posted, you religiously study the lists to make your choices, keeping in mind that coffee shop/hang out time trumps everything.

–You keep in touch with your writer friends during the regular part of the year, talk about the conference, and make sure they’re going to attend.

–You make plans with these friends to spend as much time together in the coffee shop (or the lobby of the hotel) during the event.

–You pack your Ziploc bags early so you can stash your extra macaroons to bring home (Specifically for the Blue Ridge Conference).

I’ll let you figure out which of these things are “tongue-in-cheek” and which ones are serious. I have said it many times before and will say it again: RELATIONSHIPS=the most important thing at a writers conference. Contracts and assignments are fine, but people will stick by you through thick and thin.

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

Diving Deeper in a New Year

lighter look at a writer's life

It’s the dawn of a new year, so it’s time to reevaluate our lives and make resolutions we are sure to keep.

Oh . . . . . . who are we kidding? Resolutions are made to be broken. I don’t know about you, but I make resolutions on January 1 and then break them by about January 15.

I resolve to lose weight, but, you know, the chocolate calls my name whenever I visit the grocery store, not to mention the chips. I resolve to exercise, and walking outside is my favorite type of activity. It tends to get colder and colder outside in January where I live, so it’s easier to stay inside and watch game shows and old sitcoms. I have even resolved to spend more time writing, but these games of Spider Solitaire aren’t going to play themselves.

I have been thinking about making different types of goals, involving deeper stuff. It’s a stretch for me, as I am not the deepest person in the world (I know you are completely shocked, so snap yourself out of it and read on).

Here goes, some deeper goals:

Take more steps: most people want to get more physical steps each day to record on a fitness tracker. That’s a worthwhile goal, one I certainly need to do, but I want to take more steps in the direction God points, to reach for the prize He has for me.

Drink more Water: I’m sure we could all hydrate more, but I need to drink more Living Water by spending more time with Jesus—in prayer, in the Word, in listening to Him. Maybe some of the aforementioned resolutions will fall into place if I reach more for this goal.

Be more active (in my faith) overall: a sedentary lifestyle is bad for your physical body, but being sedentary in your faith is even worse. God tells us faith without works is dead, so I need to be more active in spreading the Good News and taking more leaps of faith.

Create a training journal: keeping track of advances in fitness can be helpful, but recording prayers and God’s answers (and His faithfulness) is important. This type of journaling will also help my writing life, sharpening the “instrument” and preparing for service in this area.

Achieve balance in activity: doing the same thing over and over makes exercise a struggle, and I don’t want other areas of my life to get stagnant either. A few years ago, on a whim, I took a painting class. I got hooked and have taken numerous classes since. Painting has become another creative outlet, and calligraphy has been a fun exercise as well. I have also experimented with different types of writing. Since I serve a creative God, I’ll hopefully continue to explore new avenues of expression.

There you go—some newfangled goals (let’s not call them resolutions). Why don’t you join me in reaching for the prize? We can grab some doughnuts along the way!

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

Go Tell Your Story

lighter look at a writer's life

Storytelling has the power to touch people deep in their souls. I should know, as I have experienced the benefits of storytelling throughout my life.

When I was a little boy, I loved Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. I hung on Fred Rogers’ every word like he was talking directly to me. When the Trolley made its way to the Land of Make Believe, I was transported to uncharted areas of my imagination. I can still hear King Friday trying to rule in his pomposity, Henrietta Cat meowing her sweet messages, and Lady Elaine wreaking havoc.

As I got older, reading became my escape, and my favorite series was the Bobbsey Twins. As an only child, I reveled in the lives of the two sets of twins and their adventures as they solved mystery after mystery.

Throughout my life, storytelling in movies and music has blessed me immeasurably. I think of my favorite movie Up, which blesses me with its humorous yet touching story every time (I don’t watch it often, because it makes my eyes water, wink wink). Matthew West is my favorite singer/songwriter, and, as I listen to his stories put to music, I get the feeling he has been following me around and peeking in my windows. Good storytelling is relatable, and West is a master at that.

Every year, I have two annual events I love to attend: a storytelling festival in my old college town, and my own college’s fall arts/crafts festival, in which I coordinate . . . wait for it . . . the storytelling program! This year I helped write a grant to bring in two professional storytellers to our event, and I was blown away by their talent and their use of story to touch people.

Josh Goforth, one of our guest storytellers, tells stories of growing up in rural North Carolina, accentuating them with music. The guy can sing and play too many instruments to count, and he merges music and story effortlessly to make his audiences laugh and cry.

Tim Lowry, our other guest, is a native of my area and “returned home” to wow us with a variety of forms of storytelling, from personal narratives to renditions of classic stories. He, too, took us on an emotional ride, entertaining and educating us along the way.

Of course, Jesus Himself used earthly stories called parables to illustrate Heavenly ideas. The Prodigal Son, the Lost Sheep, the Good Samaritan—I believe Jesus knew we needed these illustrations to help us wrap our minds around His truths.

Storytelling takes many forms, and we can utilize the form (or forms) we specialize in to pass along powerful truths. What’s your story? And how are you going to tell it? Think about it, and then go tell it.

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

Of Miners and Light

lighter look at a writer's life

Several years ago, I portrayed a coal miner in a community play, and it opened my eyes to some things. I live in the coalfields of Eastern Kentucky and have known many coal miners throughout my life, but I gained a new appreciation for their work, as well as some new insights about my role as a writer, through this production.

On a basic level, the equipment coal miners wear was a real eye-opener. A buddy of mine loaned me his uniform, and the mining boots were so heavy I ditched them after one painful dress rehearsal. The producers had procured mining helmets, complete with lights on the front. I got tangled in the cord leading from the battery pack to the helmet numerous times before I finally adjusted.

Our play included a re-creation of a mining disaster, giving me a new perspective of the dangers lurking in this profession. I developed even more respect for the brave men and women who go underground every day to provide for their families.

Another epiphany came as we performed a key scene. Some other “miners” and I made an entrance with our “head-lights” providing the only illumination in the darkened theater. It was a neat effect, and it made me think about my purpose as a Christian and as a writer.

Jesus has called me (and you) to shine His light in this world.

Just like that miner’s light illuminated the way in the theater, my writing (and yours) can shine God’s light in the dark places, helping others navigate the hard circumstances in this life. My name may never appear on a bestseller list, but, with God’s light, my work can penetrate cold, lonely hearts in need of encouragement.

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

It’s Only A season

lighter look at a writer's life

Currently, here in my “neck of the woods” as we call it in Eastern Kentucky, we are in the middle of the transition of seasons. Summer is quickly fading, and fall is upon us. I couldn’t be happier.

The last few mornings, I have gotten up to get ready for work, and, as I go outside to walk the dog, the temperature has been in the mid-fifties. Ahhhh, sweet fall, where have you been? It’s good to have you back.

As I am getting older, summer has become a problematic season for me. It is like someone has turned my inner combustion engine to “Super-High,” and, if I spend more than five minutes outside, I look like I have taken a shower in my clothes. To coin a cliché, I can’t take the heat anymore, so I need to stay out of the miserably hot “kitchen” of the outdoors. Air conditioning, how I love you, my dear friend.

Now, I can stay outside for longer periods of time without the profusion of sweat. The other day, I wore a REGULAR COTTON T-SHIRT ALL DAY LONG WITHOUT SWEATING THROUGH IT. Progress, people.

I can hear your thoughts now: “What does this have to do with writing? Get to your point, Carlton!”

A friend recently asked me how my writing is going, and I responded with “heavy sigh.” I’m in that “in-between projects” mode, where I am waiting on something to happen, waiting on editors/publishers to throw me an offer (If you are one of those people and you are reading this now, please respond promptly), waiting on doors to open.

A few weeks ago, I was praying about this situation, and I felt God speak to my heart a short but powerful message: It’s only a season, and seasons change.

Wow. While I was agonizing over my lack of current projects, I forgot that God ordains seasons in our lives just as He ordains the seasons of weather. My current personal season is full of personal responsibilities that would make it hard for me to give loads of attention to a big project. In His mercy, God is keeping the “extra things” small at the moment to give me time to breathe. Isn’t He good in that way? I need to remember this and not sweat the small stuff (while I am also getting a break from extreme sweat from the heat outside).

What season are you in today? Maybe it’s a season of busyness, a season of excitement, or even a season of quiet. Whatever it is, embrace it and trust God with the timing. Just as He is guiding us in the transition from summer to fall, He will transition you in His timing.

Now, I am going to go walk the dog in the glorious 57-degree weather. I may even wear a light jacket. Oh, sweet fall, how I have missed you! It is so good you are here! Bring on a new season!

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

Where’s the Light?

lighter look at a writer's life

There’s a story of a family whose electricity went out one night. The various children tried to maneuver in the dark, searching for any type of light source—candles, flashlights, matches, etc.—to dispel the darkness. 

One of the younger kids perked up and said, “I know what we can do! Let’s open the refrigerator! Then we’ll have light!” 

The family members had a good laugh at the young child’s expense, as even a refrigerator is not much at providing light in such a situation. 

It’s a funny little story, and it reminds me of the importance of light in dark spaces. 

We live in a dark world, and, I don’t know what you think, but, in my opinion, it is getting darker and darker every day. However, even in the midst of all the darkness, the light can still shine through.  

That’s where we, those who are called to write, come into play. When I get discouraged and feel like giving up on this writing thing, I am reminded it is my duty to shine light in the dark places. 

My wife and I live next door to her mother, and we often visit at night and must walk back to our house in the dark. There’s a small stretch of the walkway that has no light, and I always use my phone’s flashlight to illuminate the way. It’s amazing what impact a small amount of light has on the darkness. In turn, it is amazing what impact a small amount of inspiration has on an ever-darkening world. 

Will an article here, a blog post there, and an occasional devotion really shine enough light to matter? Absolutely. Like my phone’s flashlight on that pathway, sometimes a small dose of encouragement goes a long way. How many times has such a piece of writing come your way when you needed it most? It’s countless times for me. 

I challenge you today: instead of looking for light by opening the refrigerator, sit down in the chair and produce some light—some inspiration, some encouragement—to illuminate your corner of the world. 

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

Sunnyside Up

lighter look at a writer's life

“Walking on Sunshine”

“You are my Sunshine”

“Keep on the Sunny Side”

Okay, which one are you singing right now? We like sunshine and apparently songs about sunshine. There are a bunch of them. We like activities in the sun. We like feeling the warmth and seeing the light. To quote John Denver, “Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.”

How much sunshine is in your writing? I mostly write nonfiction, but I know that Snoopy wasn’t the only fiction writer that had to write about a dark and stormy night. Nonfiction writers also write about true situations that are not always pleasant. However, there are ways to add sunshine to every genre of writing.

Add Humor.

A funny character or tongue in cheek example can go a long way in making a serious topic a little less dark. A favorite laugh inducer is when the joke is on the writer. We all have those days when we need to laugh at ourselves so we might as well make our readers laugh too.

Add Literal Sunshine.

Let your characters feel the sunshine on their shoulders or see the ray of light shining through the window. Let every terrible situation have a bright spot such as a pleasant memory or a hand holding friend. If you are writing nonfiction don’t make things up just to lighten the mood this is not the time to call things that are not as though they were. Just dig a little deeper to find the light.

Add Hope.

There are a lot of dark evil things being written and published as good right now. As Christian writers we have the responsibility to be the light. The piece we are writing may not have anything to do with Christianity at all. It might be a “how to” piece on how to put together a bookshelf but we can be positive and enthusiastic as the reader stares at the thingamajigs and whatchacallits. Of course, any time we can we need to share the ultimate hope that we have in Jesus. He is the Light!

Are you ready to take a lighter look at your writing? Are you ready to let your little light shine? I believe you can do it. Go ahead and as you are writing and singing, “Let the sunshine in.”

Sue Davis Potts is a freelance writer from Huntingdon, Tennessee. She is mother to her beautiful adult 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.  She is the author of a book of short motivations 101 Life Lessons From Uno (The One-Legged Duck) and coauthored. The Priceless Life (The Diane Price Story). Both books are available on Amazon. Sue can be found on her website, suedavispotts.com

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Trust the Process?

lighter look at a writer's life

Recently I was going through some old documents and found a piece about the writing process. It was similar to other things I have read in books and heard at conferences, listing everything in proper order: 1. Prewriting; 2. Drafting; 3. Rewriting; 4. Editing; 5. Sharing.

These steps are the way writing SHOULD be, but, as I talk about in my classes at school and at conferences, it doesn’t always go that way. Life happens, other responsibilities happen, and, let’s face it, procrastination happens.

Here’s how my process often goes:

  1. Prewriting: I get an idea at the most inopportune time. Sometimes I am able to grab my phone and do a note; other times, I reach for anything—a sticky note, a napkin, a random sheet of paper in the middle of the night—to write it down before I forget it. At times I am driving, and, by the time I reach my destination, I forget the wonderful, awesome, earth-shaking idea.
  2. Drafting: Assuming I remember my great idea, I plan a time to write. I open my laptop and a blank document. I type a title. I remember the towels need to be moved from the washer to the dryer. I go to the dryer and find clothes that need to be folded. I take out those clothes, fold them, add the towels to the dryer. By that time, I am hungry. I fix something to eat. Now, the dog needs to be fed. I return to my computer, see the title I typed, and try to remember what it meant.
  3. Rewriting: Once I remember my idea and write a few lines, I don’t like what I have written, so I start over. I repeat this process over and over and over . . .
  4. Editing: I know I am not supposed to, but I tend to edit as I go, noticing commas out of place, clunky wording, left out words, etc. This part of the process depends on if I finally land on an idea in the previous two steps.
  5. Sharing: I try to find a place to share or publish my work. It’s like interstate construction traffic in the summer . . . I wait and wait and wait.

I am thankful for the gift of writing, knowing is something not everyone receives. It’s not for the faint of heart, but, when the process works, we writers get the satisfaction of others being blessed by our words. Just as no two people are the same, no two people have the same writing process, and that’s okay.

What’s your process?

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

Camp Write-A-Lot

lighter look at a writer's life

I never attended summer camp as a kid. Don’t feel sorry for me, as, back then, it was something I didn’t really want to do, for different reasons.

I have always been more of an inside person instead of an outside person, especially during the summer. It may be TMI, but I have been an extreme sweater (not of the cashmere variety). My mother says I used to sweat in my crib in the wintertime, and, even now, any amount of time outdoors in summer makes me look like I have taken a shower in my clothes. Spending copious amounts of time in the heat of summer doing sports and games has never been attractive to me.

You would never tell it by looking at me now, but I was a very picky eater as a child. Unless the camp kitchen offered peanut butter, french fries, or flavored rice at every meal, I would have starved (although I could have lived off fat stores for a day or two). Only the tater tots could have saved me, unless there was a food fight.

When my sons were growing up, I experienced summer camp by serving as a counselor when they went to church camp. It was both fun and maddening at the same time, as most things are when you are herding 10 to 12 boys to different activities on a big campground. Did I mention it happened in the HEAT OF SUMMER?

Several years ago, I discovered writers conferences, most of which happen in the summer months, and I realized these events give me the summer camp experience I missed at writers conferences, without all the sweat and bugs.

At writers conferences, you are in a confined space with a group of people for a set amount of time. Thankfully, nearly all the activities are inside with good air conditioning, so that’s a plus.

When you are with like-minded people, you tend to form bonds rather quickly. I have developed many close friendships in very little time at these events, and I know these pals and I have each other’s back no matter how many miles separate us. My sons formed such relationships during their camp experiences, so I have continued the family tradition.

Similar to summer camp, meals are cafeteria-style communal experiences at writers conferences. There’s something special about loading that tray with goodies and finding friends to talk and laugh with over lemonade and cookies. Tater tots are even occasionally served, but I have yet to see anyone throw them at a writers event.

Did you miss out on summer camp like me as a kid? Sign up for a writers conference! You will hear wonderful speakers, get valuable instruction, and make lifelong friends. Oh, and there are tater tots, too!

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

Hangin’ Tough in the Hallway

lighter look at a writer's life

“Until God opens the next door, praise Him in the hallway.”

This phrase has become quite popular over the last few years. You’ll find it on plaques, pillows, bumper stickers, and maybe even a blanket or throw. We Christians love to slap a good saying on everything, don’t we?

I have been thinking about this pearl of wisdom lately in relation to my writing. If waiting means being in the hallway, I have been living there longer than a misbehaving elementary school child being punished. I am currently in that “in-between” phase, waiting for the next project to come to fruition. Like that unruly child, I tend to get restless in the hallway. I want things to happen NOW! Even the microwave moves too slowly for me sometimes.

I have realized there are different types of hallways. Some are long and dark, like a with little visible light. I think of hospital hallways that are long but bright, with an abundance of florescent light. Other hallways are rather short, not more than a hop, skip, and a jump from one end to the other.

My office at work is located in a unique hallway. It is carpeted and forms an endless square, winding around and around. I, along with some of my co-workers, use this space as an indoor walking track, getting in our steps when the weather is extreme. A visitor to our campus stopped me in this hallway a few months ago and asked, “How do I get out of this place? I’ve been circling for an hour!” Join the club, buddy, figuratively and literally.

There have been times in my life I have been in that long, dark hallway. I waited a loooonnnnng time to be a published writer—I epitomized the term “ALMOST AN AUTHOR” for what seemed like ages. Other times, I have been in that short hallway, with only a minimal wait between projects and publications.

Now, I seem to be in that circle/square that winds around and around. Anyone else experience that? You put yourself and your work out there, and you wait and wait and wait and wait and . . .

It’s not an easy place to be, but there is one thing to do—like me and my colleagues, keep walking. When I am having a bad day at work, I take a little walk around that hallway and clear my head. When I have worked hard, writing or whatever, and need a break, I walk. When I get discouraged about the next step, I walk and, as the old song says, “have a little talk with Jesus.”

If you are currently in the hallway, anticipating the next project that seems like it is never going to come, stay close to Him. Pray and vent, but don’t forget to praise. We are all waiting on something—wanna hang out with me in the hallway? It’s not so bad . . . for now.

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

Gallant or Goofus Writer?

lighter look at a writer's life

I was an early reader and gobbled up anything I could get my hands on to read, from library books to the backs of cereal boxes. One of my favorites was Highlights magazine.

Here was a magazine aimed at my (then) age group, with informative stories, pictures, cartoons, etc., and I loved it. If I remember correctly, I discovered it at a doctor’s office, and my parents eventually blessed me with a subscription. When each issue arrived, I retreated to my room, reading and re-reading every page.

One of my favorite features was “Goofus and Gallant.” For those of you who are not familiar with these fellows, Gallant was a model child, depicted as doing the right thing in every situation. If Gallant wanted a glass of milk, he would politely ask his mother, wait patiently, and express thankfulness when she obliged.

Goofus was the polar opposite. He would grab the milk without asking, spilling the liquid all over the floor and leaving it for someone else to clean up. And so on and on, doing the bad thing month after month, year after year.

I would love to say I have always been Gallant, courteous and obedient. I would be lying, as, sometimes, Gallant’s brash ways show up.

That got me thinking: what if Goofus and Gallant were writers? How would they respond in similar situations? Let’s explore this idea.

Gallant would write every day, at a set time, probably early in the morning right after his Bible study. Goofus would only write every now and then, when he felt like it, and never early in the morning. If the muse did not show up, neither would Goofus.

Gallant would see writing rejections as learning experiences and not let them bother him, moving on to the next submission with gladness. Goofus would be crushed by rejection, sulking for days (months, years) and eating copious amounts of ice cream to lessen the sting.

Gallant would find joy in editing his work, taking the editor’s advice to heart and making the suggested changes with no issues. Goofus would wonder why the editor was picking on him, calling the editor a not-so-nice name and refusing to make any changes.

Gallant would build his platform “plank by plank,” seeking opportunities to get his name and work in the public eye. He would post on social media every day without fail. Goofus would snub his nose at platform building, hardly ever posting on social media while thinking he could make it without such nonsense.

Gallant would accept the highs and lows of writing, accepting them as God’s will and being open to whatever comes his way. Goofus would get frustrated during the dry times, throwing in the towel and threatening to quit writing (and maybe even overturning a table or throwing a chair in the process).

I strive to be a Gallant in my writing, even though there are times it is tempting to act like a Goofus. It is easy to get discouraged (goofed up, maybe?) from rejection and the silent times, but, as long as we remember Who is in control, we can be a Gallant writer.

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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What Should I Be Writing?

lighter look at a writer's life

The other day I was driving and thinking. That can be a scary combination, but I allowed my mind to wander. I guess you could say I was wandering through Eastern Kentucky in my car while my mind wandered to different places in my imagination.

I pondered my writing career, such as it is these days, and tried to determine what I should be working on, what I should do next. I came up with a list of “10 Books I Should Be Writing.” Here they are, in no particular order:

  1. Procrastination Made Simple . . . Tomorrow
  2. How to Clean Your House While You Should Be Writing
  3. A Never-Ending Story: Silently Correcting Grammar on Social Media
  4. Pack on Pounds: How to Gain Weight in Your Fifties
  5. How to Reorganize Your House While You Should be Writing
  6. I Really Needed Those Brain Cells: Over 30 Years in Education
  7. So Many Books, So Little Time: The Incredible Expanding To-Be-Read Pile
  8. Point-of-View, Schmoint-of-View: Will I Ever Complete This Novel?
  9. How to Alphabetize Your Spices While You Should Be Writing
  10. Writing Deadlines and How to Stretch Them

I’m sure there are more I could be writing, but, hey, I’m only one guy. Maybe someday I’ll start working on these pieces, right after I rearrange my bookshelf (Wow, another idea . . .). For now, tell me: what books should YOU be writing?

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

WRTR, UR SPECIAL

lighter look at a writer's life

Ahhh, Valentine’s Day . . . the holiday of love.

Does it make you have warm feelings? Or queasy, sickening feelings?

The other day, I saw a Valentine candy display. I think it was actually before Christmas, because retail stores now jump the gun on every holiday. I’m expecting Fourth of July merchandise to appear any day now.

I spied what used to be one of my favorite treats as a child: conversation hearts. You know, the little heart-shaped mounds of sugar with sweet sayings like “Luv U,” “Be Mine,” and, more recently, “Text Me.”

That got me thinking, which is a dangerous thing: what if we had conversation hearts specifically geared toward writers? Considering the rejections, long hours of toiling alone over pieces, and tortuous rounds of editing, we writers could use a little love. Sweet candy bites with sayings pertaining to our craft might be the encouragement we need to keep going.

I decided to take the idea and run with it and came up with some possible sayings for these Writerly Hearts (see if you can figure out the abbreviations):

  1. UR A GOOD WRTR
  2. LUV UR BK IDEA
  3. U GET A CNTRCT
  4. LUV MY ADVNCE
  5. NO MOR EDITS
  6. U SOLD A BK
  7. CNTRCT W/O PRPSL
  8. UR OUT OF SLSH PILE
  9. MNUSCRPT ACCPTD
  10. HAPPY 2000 WRD DAY

I think these would sell out at coffee houses and bookstores. Who’s ready to invest with me? In the meantime, encourage the writer in your life, even if it is U!

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

You Saw My Book Where?

lighter look at a writer's life

For years, I dreamed of being an author and seeing my name on a book in a real-live bookstore. Isn’t that every aspiring author’s dream?

A few weeks ago, I got a message from a friend in another state. He had been out shopping and saw my book.

In a discount store. With a price tag about one-fourth of the list price.

Yet another new author experience.

At first, I was a bit disappointed, but I thought about it. Here are the insights I gained:

  1. The book has been out for nearly three years, and, deep in my heart, I knew it could not stay front and center in regular stores forever.
  2. At the lower price, in a well-known discount store with many locations, the book has the potential to reach a bigger audience. We want as many people as possible to read our stuff, don’t we?
  3. I love to shop at this particular store, with an outlet about an hour from where I live, and, in the past, I have noticed other books from my publisher. Now, mine has joined the selection! I’m part of the author club!
  4. To quote the words of a friend of mine who passed in 2022:

It is what it is.

I feel my adventure with this publication has come full circle. I have seen my name on a book at full price in major stores and at a reduced price in a discount store alongside the sales of nearly out-of-date chocolate, oddly-scented air freshener, and rebuilt appliances. What more could I ask?

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

Capturing That Little Idea

lighter look at a writer's life

The turkey is gone and here come the reindeer. December is a busy month and not even writers are exempt. It is a conflicting time when we must fit writing in with all the busyness the month brings or vice versa.

“A writer never has a vacation. For a writer life consists of either writing or thinking about writing.”

Eugene Ionesco

While that is true, the holiday season doesn’t leave much room for the actual act of writing. Sometimes we let wonderful ideas slip away from us. I penned a little tongue-in-cheek poem about that very thing.

So, how do we keep these ideas from getting lost in the tinsel or being put on the back of the tree where no one sees? First, we need to write them down ASAP. We can do that by keeping a notepad nearby or taking a note on our phone. Some ideas only waft in once, and then they are gone.

Next, we can be intentional about capturing ideas to write about as we are doing our Christmas tasks. Is there a favorite ornament on the tree or a sentimental one that would make an interesting story? What is the best gift you ever gave or received? Listen to conversations. Do you have ideas to lessen the stress of people like your overworked sister-in-law? Can you think of ways to include elderly family members who may feel left out of all the festivities? These can all be article ideas.

Lastly and most importantly, don’t forget the real meaning of Christmas. Read the Christmas story several times and see if something new jumps out you. Spend time thanking God for the greatest gift of his son and for giving you the gift of writing. Journal your memories of the season to be turned into devotions later.

By the time we turn out the Christmas lights and undeck the halls, it will be time to get those articles and stories written to submit for next year’s publications.

Merry Christmas and Happy Writing to All!

Sue Davis Potts is a freelance writer from Huntingdon, Tennessee. She is mother to her beautiful adult 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.  She is the author of a book of short motivations 101 Life Lessons From Uno (The One-Legged Duck) and coauthored. The Priceless Life (The Diane Price Story). Both books are available on Amazon. Sue can be found on her website, www.suedavispotts.com.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

At the Finish Line

lighter look at a writer's life

As I write this post, I am nearing the finish line.

I am not a runner—not by any means. If you see me running, you’d better run as well, because it probably means something big and mean is chasing me.

As far as I know, I’m fairly healthy and not nearing THAT finish line (Good Lord willing).

I am nearing the “Journal Finish Line.” A year or so ago in this space, I mentioned I was journaling. I found a “Three Year, Three Questions a Day Journal” in September 2019, purchased it on a whim, and started recording my thoughts every day.

Throughout my life, I have STARTED journaling projects but have NEVER EVER finished them. My shelves are lined with journals with a week or two of entries and then nothing else. I can look back at those and see TINY glimpses of life, but I never had the follow through to finish anything beyond a brief period of time.

 Now, I am nearly finished with a three-year record of my life. THREE YEARS?! I can’t believe it myself. And, oh, what a three-year period it was!

A couple of months after I started the journal, I had a major injury and was bedfast for months. Three weeks after I was mobile again and able to go back to work, the pandemic hit, with the lockdowns and fear. I finally had a book published . . . smack-dab In the middle of the pandemic.

With this nearly-completed journal, I have a record of my life during an interesting (sometmes agonizing?) period of history, something I can pass down to future generations. I can also say, “I finally DID IT!” That’s a great feeling for someone who tends to procrastinate and gets distracted easily.

What’s next? I have already purchased another journal, and I hope I can continue this practice. It is good to exercise my writing muscles and to release my thoughts and ideas on a daily basis.

Check back in three to five years to see if I am successful once again. For now, I am going to enjoy the view from the finish line.

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.