Why Go On a Writers’ Retreat?

Writer’s Retreats Fifteen years ago, I decided that writing was my thing and, ever since then, I’ve taken myself away. Away to a library; a café, Oxford University, Tuscany, Massachusetts, London, and Colorado. Away from the responsibilities of home and family, away from other work, to invest in my writing. In 2017, I spent the …

Containment Lines – Confidence to step into your calling

When a bushfire starts the job of a fireman is to contain and control the blaze with containment lines. Eventually the fire will run out of fuel or finally be snuffed out by a change in weather conditions. That’s when containment lines are good. But what if you feel restricted and confined by the containment …

A Lesser Cause

I’ve always been involved in fundraising and charity work. My parents taught me that if you come across someone embarking upon a righteous cause, you should help them. Their influence and example means I have always looked for righteous charity projects I can contribute to. From huge fundraising events for cancer research to heading school …

Lame Excuses. You won’t get far carrying that bed.

If you want to see your calling fulfilled, you have to stop with the lame excuses. Trust me, you won’t get far carrying that bed. The mattress is cumbersome and awkward, full of all the lame excuses you’ve justified to yourself and to God over the years. I know all about lame excuses because that …

#ThrowbackThursday – Mindfully ~ One at a Time

As moments turn into days, days to weeks, and weeks to months, I ask myself the same questions, ‘Who am I really? Am I just a fraud? Do I truly have a talent for writing, or should I just return to reading the wonderful writings of others?’. And then there are those critical questions I …

Stop The Joy Thief Of Writing

Today we feature a guest post from Anna Kosmanovski on comparison: how writers (even Christian writers) can get pulled into the comparison trap (and what we should do instead). Welcome, Anna! Comparison has become something of a sport in the modern world, thanks to social media – and writers are not immune from this affliction. …

Sheilas and Blokes and the Forgotten Romantic Hero

I posted this article two years ago, but I was only thinking about the concept a couple of days ago while watching television. It struck me that often in commercials, the female character is depicted as calm, capable and usually in control. In contrast, the male character is often depicted as incompetent, stupid or at …

Wilderness Moments

Have you ever felt like you’ve been left out, looked over, undervalued or just plain ignored? Me too. But, it’s in those moments when you feel like you’re lost in the back end of the wilderness, that God sees you. The struggle comes when you don’t know if your talents and gifts are enough. Or, …

The big lesson in being a debut novelist

My debut novel launched yesterday. Among the tears, excitement, nerves and sense of satisfaction was a lesson that I’ve learned over the nine months it’s taken The Baggage Handler to go from Word document stored on my computer to an actual book I can hold in my hands. This is the lesson: how to balance …

#Throwback Thursday | 12 Steps to a Great Blog Post

Blogging. It’s often considered one of the basics of a good author platform. But a lot of authors find writing a great blog post an unpleasant chore. Today I’m resharing my 12 Steps to a Great Blog Post to help you write and publish great posts. And if even the thought of establishing a blog …