In Luke 4:18, Jesus tells the people of His synagogue what His mission is. Jesus’ mission is our mission, too. As writers, we have been called to:
 
                         Preach the Gospel to the poor
 
                         Heal the brokenhearted
 
                         Preach deliverance to the captives
 
                         And the recovering of sight to the blind
 
                         Set at liberty them that are bruised.
  
Is this what our writing is doing? How will that change in the coming month? Let’s accept the mission.

 Happy (almost) Read Across America Day!
 
<Yes. It is actually a thing. I didn’t believe it either until I saw it in a magazine.>
 
Okay, so it’s actually tomorrow. But I will be at work tomorrow.
 
And I knew you all would need to know about it.
 
In honor of the day, here are some word thoughts I found in an article by Sarah Clarkson:
 
    “. . . The real reason I want people to read is because I want them to realize they are called to live their own great story. The right kind of stories form identity; they help us recognize our capacity to do something good in the world. Read to remember that you are a hero(ine). We are all characters in the great tale that God Himself spoke into existence. (Our story starts with “In the beginning.”) That means we can act in courage or compassion to create, to love, to discover. When I read . . . I know what courage looks like, and I can begin to imagine it for myself. Reading great stories can also help you to imagine what is possible in your own life.”
 
So three Proseworthy challenges!

1. Make sure to spend time in the best Book of all on Read Across America day—and every day!
2. Take some time to settle in with a good book tomorrow and imagine. Remember you’re a hero!
3. Write your own courageous adventure!
 
Happy reading!

Good morning, all writers and word-lovers! We are slowly digging out from the cold that blasted our area.

Oh, right. I’m supposed to say something encouraging. (Although I think the puppy picture at the bottom of this page is pretty encouraging.)
 
    “Stories never end. They just get bigger. You just have to turn the page.”
                                ----Kimberly McNeil
                                From her book Meg Mitchell and the Secret of the Journal
 
I saw this on the back of one of my sister’s fantasy books once. I love that. Stories never end!

Your story doesn’t end when you’re rejected for the fourth time. Your story doesn’t end when you hit a lethal dose of writer’s block. Your story doesn’t end with a discouraging review.

On the other hand, your story doesn’t end when the encouraging reviews pour in. It doesn’t end when you land your first article. And it doesn’t end when your name is finally on the front cover.
 
Your story doesn’t end when it’s published in a book. Years later, it may worm its way to a garage sale where it goes on to change another family and another generation. It may change a person’s life around so that they become someone that changes someone else’s life. And it may be quoted by insane writers in their crazy newsletter (as Kimberly McNeil will one day find out. Sorry, Miss McNeil).
 
They just get bigger.
 
You just have to turn the page.