February 21, 2007 @ 1:49 pm | Filed under: Uniquely Me
***Update:
Congratulations to Amy Wallace, the winner of the drawing mentioned in this post! Amy is a dear friend of mine, as well as a long-time (SIX years now!) writing critique partner. Amy’s debut novel, Ransomed Dreams, hits bookstore shelves this spring. Amy, a secondary character in Finding Faith will be named after you.
A huge shout-out to all of you who took the time to participate. I appreciate you all!
Being in school full-time while writing a novel is kind of like raising two or more children. You love them equally and try to give both an equal share of your time and devotion. But it rarely works out that way, right? Undoubtedly, one will require much more attention and focus than the other during any given week, only to switch places the very next.
That’s the way it is with my school work and my writing now. I try to give both the attention and focus that is required for success in each area. But – without fail – one always seems to draw more of my energy and time while the other languishes on the side, waiting for my return.
But more importantly even than these two things are my relationships. With God. With my husband and children. With my family and friends. It is only within these relationships that I find the purpose and the strength to fulfill these other roles in my life.
Crazy exams, paper deadlines, and required readings seem to have absorbed most of my time these past couple of weeks. Regrettably, my word count had to take a back seat while I studied, read, and prepared for classes. When a major dental ordeal, senior graduation stuff, and generalized craziness was thrown into the mix, there were days when the manuscript for Finding Faith was never even opened.
In an effort to catch up on my writing schedule, I am taking the next several days off from blogging. I’d love to have you help me with something during this time though! My publisher and editors like to see that I have traffic coming through here. It shows that I am establishing relationships with my readers and that those said readers check in every now and then to see what’s going on in my world.
I know how much traffic filters through from my site statistics, but I don’t always know how accurate that is. I have friends who I know "hit" me two or three times a day, while still others visit but don’t leave a comment or name attached. I’d like to do a five day period where my visitors leave a note saying they’ve been here. You don’t have to have a Typepad account to leave a comment. You can merely click on ‘Anonymous’ and then leave your comment in the appropriate field. If you’d like me to know your name, you can leave it in that field or you can just cruise through without signing your name. The main goal is to get a more accurate count of actual visitors in any given time period.
I have to admit, a part of me (the part afraid of rejection) is cringing right now! I’m facing the possibility that there may not be as many readers as I think and, if so, I’m still so very happy with all of you!!! But, for the sake of my editors and all the future stories I’d sure like to sell them, PLEASE leave a comment and let us know that you visit Glimpses.
To make it a little more fun, for everyone who leaves a comment on this post between now and Sunday at midnight, I’ll enter your name into a contest. The winner will have a secondary character in Finding Faith named after him/her!
Thank you so much, and I’ll *see* you again in a few days!
Now I’ll return you back to your regularly scheduled life while I get back to Faith and Marshall…
You know I’m here girl! (and no luck on The Bag at my mall – sorry!!)
Posted on February 21st, 2007 at 7:40 pmI read every time you post a new entry. =) I have subscribed to your blog on my bloglines so it will notify me. *grin* Only thing is, I’m probably disqualified from your contest b/c it would be strange to have a secondary character AND a main character with the same name. Confusing. LOL. Anyways. Back to lurking now. =)
Posted on February 21st, 2007 at 8:28 pmOkay, you know I am one of those who nag you when you don’t blog! You must tire of seeing my name! And I can’t wait to read Finding Faith so hurry up and write!
Posted on February 22nd, 2007 at 7:51 amI read your blog every day, Staci! Don’t usually post, but I enjoy checking in with your busy life and visiting a minute.
Amy
Posted on February 22nd, 2007 at 12:26 pmHi Staci! You know you will always find me popping in once or twice a day, I enjoy reading what you have been up too. And you can always count on me to ask about your word count.
Posted on February 22nd, 2007 at 2:40 pmGood luck with the book and school, I know it can be very challenging, but you will get through it.
That would be so cool to have a secondary character in your book.
Enjoy your time off.You’ll be missed.
Just dropping in to say Hi, I hope you are having a wonderful day.
Posted on February 23rd, 2007 at 9:27 amOh… ebay fun!!!! Watch out, it can be a bit addicting! (well, it can be for me.) How is your word count?
Posted on February 23rd, 2007 at 9:30 amI’m one of those friends that hits multiple times a day! Faithful reader here!!!
Posted on February 23rd, 2007 at 10:31 amAnonymous says:
Staci – I’ve entered your blog through a friend’s and I am absolutely blessed to read your words, thoughts and ideas. This site is one that I most definitely look forward to everyday!!
Posted on February 23rd, 2007 at 11:25 amI check your blog during the week to see how your studies are going and how you are juggling with the book.
Posted on February 23rd, 2007 at 7:17 pmOkay. I am one of those who ‘hit’ you sometimes a couple of times a day, but prefer to remain silent and anonomous. You are on my regular list of ‘have they blogged yet today?’ You certainly do have a way with words, my friend. I too am anxiously awaiting the next book.
Posted on February 23rd, 2007 at 9:11 pmJust checking in with you today. How is the word count coming along? I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
Posted on February 24th, 2007 at 7:28 amHey! You know I check your blog just about daily. And I don’t think that my name in your book aould be a good idea… “How do you say that… T…si..on…ah??? Huh?!”
Posted on February 24th, 2007 at 10:13 amI just saw your update on the bag. Did you win? Oh I hope you got the bag! Ive been thinking about that bag for you all weekend..i haven’t been able to find it for you, so i really hope you won it! Let us know.
Posted on February 25th, 2007 at 6:22 amThanks for stopping by yesterday. My daughter did have a happy birthday, I can’t believe she is 12.
Have a happy Sunday.
Im so happy to hear that you found your bag. I can’t wait to hear all about it when you receive it.
Posted on February 25th, 2007 at 6:48 pmCongrats to Amy!
Posted on February 26th, 2007 at 6:44 am