Travel Writing is a Vacation

I’ve been on vacation for the past week, and being a travel writer, it was a working vacation since I was researching travel stories for the newspaper I write for, the Fort Wayne New-Sentinel (www.news-sentinel.com).

My husband, son, and I went to Hocking County of Ohio, southeast of Columbus. The area is called Hocking Hills because – guess what? -- it is hilly!

It was a great week for weather, fun, and finding unusual places and people. There are 8 state parks in Hocking County so we saw a lot of greenery which is always something we look for on any vacation. It is soothing to be around trees and no crowds. We recommend this area as a travel spot for a soothing vacation. Keep an eye out at www.News-sentinel.com for my story about Hocking Hills.

For more about my interest in travel writing, essays and profiles, go to my website at www.KayleenR.com. I’ll be updating the site with pics from our trip in the next few weeks.

** Note for Writers: An article I wrote about how to get started in travel writing is posted at http://www.freelancewriting.com/content/detail-writing_world_newsletter_(may_2006)-2008-157.html.

Moira Allen is the editor of Writing-world.com, an ezine for writers. This is an excellent site for writers. It’s a part of my regular perusing of the Web.

I love travel writing and have written articles about places in Alaska, Florida, Montana, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. My dream is to someday pursue travel writing full-time, including overseas -- hopefully before retirement!

As a travel writer, I’m always interested in hearing about great spots to visit and write about. If you’ve gone to a great place that you’d recommend, write and tell me about it. It just might be profiled in an upcoming News-Sentinel Travel story, especially if it is in the Midwest.

Happy travels!

Kayleen Reusser
Kjreusser@adamswells.com
www.KayleenR.com

Cowboy Camp

This weekend my friend, Bonnie Long, is helping to host a “Cowboy Camp”
at the ranch where she works and lives, The Bell Ranch, in northeastern NM.

I met Bonnie at the 2004 Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference in CA.
She has a passion for ministering to people, particularly a children’s home in
Kenya. Bonnie has been to the home several times and taken people from her
church to help add on to the home and establish a well.

She and her husband, Keith, plan to go back to Kenya this fall to help
the home establish a garden area where the large family of mostly AIDS orphans,
who have been brought together by a widow and her son to take care of, can grow
their own food.

But this weekend, Bonnie is working with other ranchers from her church
to host a revival at their ranch. They call it a “Cowboy Camp.” There will be
preachers and lots of singing and much of the food is cooked and served by Bonnie
and her friends. They also foot the bill for the food. People can camp on the
ranch and the services will take place under a big tent.

I wish I was there. It sounds like so much fun to have people excited
about being together to learn more about God. I admire Bonnie and her friends,
who are attempting to bring people together and present the Word of God to them
in this simple, but effective, manner. The group may number 50, but I’m not sure
about that.

My husband, son, and I visited Bonnie & Keith last year and met several
people from her church. They were friendly and very interested in studying the
Bible and talking about God. My prayers are with them this weekend as they
throw open their arms and welcome cowboys and their families to the 2006 Cowboy
Camp at The Bell Ranch.

Keep 'Em Laughing

I wondered if my brain had ceased to function.

My two daughters and I were playing the game “ASAP” in which cards from two groups, alphabetical and subject, are turned up simultaneously. The first person to come up with a common denominator between the groups shouts it out and wins the point.

Mandy had 10 points; Lindsay, six. I had yet to score a point.

Not wanting my girls to think I was totally inept, I gritted my teeth and resolved to win the next point.

Mandy turned up “T”. Lindsay flipped up the letter “TV show”.

“'Tell It to Your Mom!'” I shouted.

"What’s that?” Mandy asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

Shuffling the cards, I said, “It was a TV show that aired when I was your age. A boy or girl sat on one side of a screen and three women sat on the other. Neither side could see around the screen. The child asked the women questions about how they would handle certain parenting situations. The woman with the best answers, according to the child, was picked as the winner and the child went home to live with her. She also got a new washer and dryer.”

Mandy and Lindsay burst into laughter. I did, too -- loudly. I was glad the coffeehouse was nearly empty!

Nowadays, with all of the reality shows, I wonder if my girls would believe me if I told the same story.

In his book Home, Where Life Makes Up Its Mind Chuck Swindoll wrote, “Laughter is the most beautiful and beneficial therapy God ever granted humanity.”

The Bible says “A merry heart doeth good like medicine.” (Proverbs 17:22)

Mental health professionals know that people who laugh at their mistakes recover faster from illness than perfectionists. In the scenario above, I cared more about being with my daughters and having fun than winning.

For the next few weeks I’ve got all my chicks under one roof. My son came home from his school across the country and we’ve already laughed a lot, glad to be together.
We plan to do a lot more.

Take time to laugh today. You’ll feel better for it.

Take care

www.KayleenR.com

Pie Crust Promises

I love the movie “Mary Poppins.” In it, two lonely children become enthralled with their new nursemaid, Mary Poppins, who we could say without a doubt, is a little different.

She brings excitement to the children who are ignored by their parents. One night, after a particularly exciting day, they implore Mary Poppins, “Promise you’ll never leave us!”

For all of her zany actions, Mary Poppins replies wisely, “That’s a pie crust promise -- easily made, easily broken.” She knew she couldn't always be there for the children and wouldn't promise them otherwise.

People crave stability. We want to be assured that someone will make everything all right in our world. Unfortunately, most of us have to deal with vows that falter : a business partner absconds with company funds; a spouse decides he/she is happier living with someone else. Even the government seems to renege on its laws.

Christians can rest assured that God’s promises won’t “fall apart.” His Word tells us He will never desert us (Hebrews 13:5). His lovingkindness is everlasting (Psalm 107:1).

Memorize Psalm 117. Then, when you’re given a "pie crust" promise, you can say with the psalmist: “Praise the Lord, all nations: Laud Him, all peoples! For his lovingkindness is great toward us. And the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!”

Take care.

Kayleen
www.KayleenR.com

Waking Up with Hope

Do you feel full of gratitude upon awaking in the morning or do you wonder how you will get through the day?

My friend, Shirley, didn’t like hearing the birds sing in the morning. She knew if birds were singing, she had gotten drunk during the night. Shirley was an alcoholic. When a jail chaplain introduced Shirley to Jesus Christ, she accepted Him as her Savior.

Shirley attended Bible studies and drug and alcohol classes, eventually kicking her substance-abuse habits. After her release, Shirley found a job where she has been promoted twice. In May 2001, Shirley received an award from her church for excelling in active participation.

Now, instead of hating to hear the birds sing, Shirley feels like singing with them. “I wake up to a new life in Jesus,” she says.

In Ps.57:8 the Psalmist awakens his soul and instruments, that they in turn may awaken the morning and the world may be filled with testimony.

“Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre, I will awaken the dawn!” NIV

Ask God to make each day a fresh experience in trusting Him.

Take care.

Ramparts of Faith

In biblical times the best cities were built on hills with thick walls around them. The walls were called ramparts. To enter the city, a marauder needed to ascend the steep hillside, then fight his way through the rampart, a formidable task.

In Ps. 48:13 the Psalmist encourages worshippers to leave the protection of the city, perhaps after a battle and walk around, meditating on God’s protection and spreading the word of His faithfulness.

“Consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation.” New International Version

My husband and I have experienced many “ramparts” of God’s love and protection during our marriage. When we didn’t have jobs at Christmas, our church gave us food, toys and a Christmas tree.

Another time friends helped us milk cows because my husband had the flu.

When my mother-in-law lay dying, people brought food, shoveled walks, sent cards, and prayed.

I have preserved these “ramparts” to our family’s faith by writing them down and telling them to our family. Hopefully, they will remind our children and future grandchildren of God’s goodness through difficult times.

What are the ramparts in your life? Does anyone know about them?

Take care.

www.KayleenR.com

Recycling makes cents

Tonight at my public speaking class, I gave a talk on the importance of humor in raising a family. A few years ago, I sold a story on a similar topic to a local lifestyle magazine. A part of this story was also published in a college alumni publication.

This is called “recycling” story ideas. You have an idea about a subject, do some research on it, then find ways to use it over and over again. This is not illegal or wrong. No one says you can only use a piece you’ve written one time. A lot of writers have learned it is smarter not to sell “All Rights”. Instead, they sell only One-Time rights and continue to have control of the material for possible future sales.

One Christmas story I wrote has been published 22 times. This is perfectly legal since I have never given away All Rights to this story. I can publish it as long as I want in its original form.

So the next time you research a writing or speaking topic, think about how you might be able to recycle your material, thus saving you time and effort. Recycling makes cents!

Take care

Three Allies

While recently reading the book Make Your Contacts Count by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon (Amacom 2002 – ISBN: 0814470939), I came across a section that hit home. The authors discuss the types of contacts readers should strive to make to extend their careers and how the contacts hopefully evolve into deeper relationships. The highest relationship they refer to as “Allies.” These are, according to the authors, “people who are experts on you, your business, your career, your needs, your aspirations, and your vision. They can talk about you in detail. They know where you’ve been and where you’re headed and they want to help you get there. They are your senior advisers and you are theirs.”

There’s more about Allies in the book, but as I read this, I realized I had three “Allies” in my writing life. They are Crystal Miller (www.Crystal-Miller.com), Cathy Shouse (www.CathyShouse.com) and Jim Langham, a prolific writer for three newspapers in OH and IN. These three have been friends of mine for several years, but this spring they have been particularly helpful as I dealt with some personal issues, not all related to writing. They listened while I poured out my story. Their subsequent advice was always supportive, yet they helped me to see the other perspective.

I appreciate the time they spend on me and hope that I’ll be able to give them just as valuable counsel when they need it.

I recommend you go to their websites to see their quality of work and get to know them as talented individuals who have achieved a balance of family and ambition. I’m proud to call them my Allies.

Thanks, friends. You’re all godsends.

I hope everyone has a good day.

http://www.KayleenR.com

A Future with Hope

Personal thought for today:

Recently, I walked past the former home of my friend Lisa. I say former home because Lisa died a few years ago from Hodgkin's Disease. She struggled with health problems for 20 years. In 1999 Lisa went into respiratory failure and had a tracheotomy put in. On February 13, 2002, Lisa’s body fought its last battle.

It made me sad to see her house and think of the fun times we had there chatting.
Her life might have been tragic, if Lisa hadn’t believed in a better day with the Lord she loved.

I asked Lisa once how she felt about having cancer. She replied: “Getting cancer made me think about my life. It resulted in me giving my life to Christ. This walk I am on with Him gets pretty lonely at times, but I'll never give up and He has promised us all that He will never leave or forsake us. AMEN!”

God revealed through the prophet Zechariah that great and marvelous things were ahead for His children.

v.19: “…The fasts … will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals…”
Zechariah 8:18-24 NIV

So we should be doubly determined to live for Him now. Life is not fair or easy, but we can trust God to carry us through to the other side.

Take care.

www.KayleenR.com

It Can Be A Challenge for Writers to Foster Friendships with other Writers

Someone who read my blog asked me to mention how helpful the checks were that I mentioned a few days ago, which I found when I cleaned my office. Good news! The checks were not too old to cash and while not wanting to give the exact amount they added up to, let’s just say they allowed me to fill up my gas tank several times over!

Filing has never been a strong point of mine, but I do it because I know it is worth it. For instance, last week while chatting with another writer, I realized I had information in my files that might help him with a story idea. I went home and immediately pulled the information out that he needed, which I then emailed to him. I don’t know yet if he’ll be able to use it, but I figure I did my part in networking and establishing camaraderie between us that I hope continues.

This brings up another point I’ve found is true -- It isn’t easy to keep up with friendships as a writer. Every time I start to write an email to a friend, I think, ‘You should get back to that story that’s due tomorrow.’ So, for the most part, I limit my emails and the number of people I include in my circle of friends.

But last week I did write to another writer whose articles in Christian Communicator have intrigued me. They are well-written and observant. She wrote back and said she had been hoping to establish a friendship with another writer in her area (we live 90 miles apart). She thought I might be a possibility. We have shared information on a couple of occasions. I’m hoping, if possible, maybe we can meet yet this summer.

Is there someone you can include in your circle of friends and/or contacts? I read recently that people feel more isolated from other people than ever before. Let’s do our part to make people we meet feel glad they did so.

Take care.

Learning to let go of worry

It’s a beautiful morning and I’m outside with my laptop on our patio. The sun is shining and I’ve already taken a walk around our neighborhood. I couldn't ask for a better way to start the weekend.

I woke up feeling a little down, however. Few paying writing projects are in the hopper right now.

Some big bills have come in lately and without some freelance money to look forward to, I’m wondering what will happen. At times like this, I always remember the story of Charles Dickens and how he came to write “A Christmas Carol.” Dickens had little money coming in and big bills to pay. He may have also had a sick family member to care for – I can’t remember.

It was nearing the Christmas holiday and Dickens knew he had to have money to heat his home for his family. So he supposedly sat down and penned “A Christmas Carol,” not out of a great need to spread the message of hope and love at this sacred time of year, but because of financial need.

He must have had some desire to encourage people to hope at that time of year, else he could have written something more along the lines of Frankenstein. But at least he was a practical man and did think about money too.

I also remember the words of the Apostle Paul in the Bible: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:12 (New International Version)

So I’m practicing contentment today. I’m also going to start writing the screenplay I’ve been researching for months. And when I’m tempted to worry, I’ll just say to myself, ‘I’m not going to think about that financial situation anymore.’

Instead I’m going to do what Paul suggests: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7.

I know this will be a challenge because I’ll want to take on that worry, but I’ll just ask God to help me with it and I know He will.

If you’ve got something pressing on you today, I encourage you to memorize these verses and use them in your own life. And ask God to help you. He will.

Take care.

If you've been wondering what I found when I did clean my office after being motivated by Jack Canfield's teleconference call a week ago to get rid of clutter to free up my mind for creativity, it was checks! Four checks, to be exact!

That was a painful lesson to learn about not keeping house in a better manner. No more of that for me! I'll put 5 min. into housekeeping my office each day to keep track of essentials.

I also recommend going to Jackcanfield.com and signing up for his email newsletter. It is helpful and doesn't come too often. I've checked out Canfield's books from the library, too, since I believe he is full of good advice.

What are you doing to stretch yourself this summer? Summer can be a time to "let go" of good habits, but don't let it happen. If you've always read a devotion to get your day started, keep it up. Better yet, start a new good habit. I've resolved to read two self-improvement books/month during the summer. I can't keep it up once school starts, but now I've got an excuse to sit on the lounger and relax at night after work.

Let me know what good habit you have that helps you improve your life/career/family.
Take care.