tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post6391483586639663108..comments2024-01-01T18:42:01.363-08:00Comments on International Christian Fiction Writers: Journaling is Good for the Author's Heart, Soul, and Writing by Wendy L. MacdonaldLisa Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358581487206184033noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-74540822529291852332015-06-07T09:24:42.092-07:002015-06-07T09:24:42.092-07:00Gene, thank you for visiting here and for letting ...Gene, thank you for visiting here and for letting me in on the secret of how you can have me on the verge of tears one minute with your 'story telling' and then laughing moments later. Your writing is poignant---and that's one of the reasons why I followed your blog and read your memoir. Wendy L. Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702077484754964660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-33883676918419299322015-06-06T19:47:33.499-07:002015-06-06T19:47:33.499-07:00Congratulations on being a guest blogger, your'...Congratulations on being a guest blogger, your's is one of my favorites. Excellent and insightful article Wendy. I accidentally began journaling twenty years ago. I was afraid to express my deepest thoughts to friends and family, so I started recording them in a file I named Thoughts. That journal became my therapist. Today it is the source I often turn to when looking to express emotion in my writing. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-37063264502404725692015-06-04T08:22:49.122-07:002015-06-04T08:22:49.122-07:00Jo-Anne, your memoir title, 'Soul Friend' ...Jo-Anne, your memoir title, 'Soul Friend' sounds intriguing, and your comment has inspired me not to lose the dream of writing one. I'm presently reading a 'how-to' book. Part of me doesn't want to write it, because I know how humbling it will be to write my recovery story. But I've received enough nudges to know I'm supposed to give it a whirl. So I pray, "Thy will be done." Thank you for your encouraging words. Wendy L. Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702077484754964660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-756592814489131422015-06-01T15:34:43.601-07:002015-06-01T15:34:43.601-07:00I can just imagine all those treasures in your jou...I can just imagine all those treasures in your journals, Wendy, waiting to morph themselves into novels. What a treasure trove! I love journaling too and it was from these that my memoir 'Soul Friend' was birthed. I had never envisaged I would write a memoir, but when I felt that was what God wanted me to do, I found so much helpful material just waiting there in my journals.Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-68316654903531387762015-05-30T15:41:46.546-07:002015-05-30T15:41:46.546-07:00Thank you for your affirming comment, Danielle. I ...Thank you for your affirming comment, Danielle. I had no idea I would be writing fiction when I first started a journal---but I knew I wanted to and had to work with words. You've piqued my interest, so I'll be checking the link you mentioned. Blessings. Wendy L. Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702077484754964660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-73292911264665901572015-05-29T11:26:40.221-07:002015-05-29T11:26:40.221-07:00A friend pointed me toward this blog post. Fascina...A friend pointed me toward this blog post. Fascinating! I heartily agree that journaling and fiction writing can go hand-in-hand. I've been keeping a journal since age five, and have seen more than just my spelling and penmanship improve! Everything from POV to plot structure to writing effective descriptions. I now credit my journal as one of the primary tools that advanced my skills. In fact, I published a book about it. http://www.daniellehanna.com/for-writers/ I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's discovered the virtues of journaling for writers! Thanks for sharing, Wendy. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02050183388877412133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-46134127778486479172015-05-27T08:41:45.767-07:002015-05-27T08:41:45.767-07:00Thank you, Narelle. Keeping a journal is helpful i...Thank you, Narelle. Keeping a journal is helpful in so many ways. It was instrumental during my season of healing---but that's a whole different post for another place and time. Wendy L. Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702077484754964660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-45169138066250458982015-05-26T18:28:08.466-07:002015-05-26T18:28:08.466-07:00Wendy, lovely post :) I did a lot of journaling wh...Wendy, lovely post :) I did a lot of journaling when I was younger and found it very helpful. Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-27110955525641090312015-05-26T08:08:40.021-07:002015-05-26T08:08:40.021-07:00Thank you, Ian. Congratulations on your recent awa...Thank you, Ian. Congratulations on your recent award. It looks like you've definitely found the writing craft road that works for best you. Wendy L. Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702077484754964660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-25484044421224937222015-05-26T00:21:33.553-07:002015-05-26T00:21:33.553-07:00Insightful post, Wendy. Interesting how many publi...Insightful post, Wendy. Interesting how many published authors discourage newbies from starting off with a novel, rather learn the craft via writing shorter pieces. Looks like journalling is one great way of doing that.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing with us, Wendy.Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-23507211690097438272015-05-25T13:15:08.077-07:002015-05-25T13:15:08.077-07:00Jeb, you've made me giggle about you and your ...Jeb, you've made me giggle about you and your brother's stories---it brought back memories. And I'm glad I won't see the horrified looks on anyone's face who reads my journals after I'm gone. They're full of spelling and grammar errors. Wendy L. Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702077484754964660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-55688196800647760262015-05-25T12:22:54.971-07:002015-05-25T12:22:54.971-07:00Thanks for a peek into your journaling life, Wendy...Thanks for a peek into your journaling life, Wendy. It's good to have an outlet where you can pour out your heart without trying to edit or rewrite, and where your emotions are free to express themselves in all their complexity. The example of keeping the baked goods from your family made me chuckle. My brother and I used to make up stories about strangers when we were young, and I'm sure some people would've been horrified by the actions we attributed to them! Imagination is a great gift 😊Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00455806643846195922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-47431273015494488792015-05-25T09:49:28.545-07:002015-05-25T09:49:28.545-07:00Shelli, I'm always blessed by your blog posts....Shelli, I'm always blessed by your blog posts. They beautifully show a woman who treasures and ponders meaningful moments in life. By the way, thank you for helping me edit my first guest post. Wendy L. Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702077484754964660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-58041675551669665592015-05-25T09:41:10.179-07:002015-05-25T09:41:10.179-07:00Thank you, Richard, for your encouragement. I'...Thank you, Richard, for your encouragement. I'm a fan of both your photography and your poetry--I'm honored by your words. Wendy L. Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702077484754964660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-7016077342286102982015-05-25T09:23:23.840-07:002015-05-25T09:23:23.840-07:00Journaling has always helped give me writing infor...Journaling has always helped give me writing information ... things my kids said when they were little, thoughts I felt. And has given me so many laughs, especially over the funny things my kids said when they were small. Wonderful, Wendy! Thank you for sharing your heart.Shelli Littletonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00136640834514348086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-89558293779749024612015-05-25T09:20:35.614-07:002015-05-25T09:20:35.614-07:00Wendy: I am glad to see you are mining the rich or...Wendy: I am glad to see you are mining the rich ore residing in years of your Journals. Also, congratulations on being a guest blogger here; an excellent choice by this group. ~ RichardWalk With Father Naturehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11278417564714876894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-5351743362975968232015-05-25T07:44:32.952-07:002015-05-25T07:44:32.952-07:00Thank you, Sara, for allowing me to share today. I...Thank you, Sara, for allowing me to share today. I agree we're wise to enjoy times of writing for the sure joy of it. It's also a great way for new authors to develop their writing voice. Blessings.Wendy L. Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702077484754964660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-64472950691613706252015-05-25T07:29:17.279-07:002015-05-25T07:29:17.279-07:00This is such an important post on writing. A remin...This is such an important post on writing. A reminder that we can write without the pressure of expectations and word counts. Just write. Just be. See what happens! Thanks, Wendy!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03658059471365091357noreply@blogger.com