:: maryanndiorio.com ::

Working with God

In his book EXPERIENCING GOD, Henry Blackaby advises Christians to look for where God is working and then join Him there. As I've done my best to follow this advice, I have discerned that, in my role as an encourager of writers, God is moving mightily in my recently launched ezine for writers, THE TOPNOTCH WRITER. Since its launch a few short months ago, the subscriber base has exploded and continues to grow rapidly.

At the same time, the well seems to have run dry for my blog entries. Normally, the thoughts flow swiftly and profusely. But, lately, they seem hard in coming. So I am in the process of asking God about this.

As a result, I will be temporarily suspending MUSINGS THAT MATTER until our Lord makes clear to me what His will is. I would appreciate your prayers. As I look back on my life, I notice that God has kept me in a variety of ministries for a season. Some seasons lasted for many, many years; other seasons lasted only a few months before our Lord moved me in another direction. MUSINGS THAT MATTER celebrated its fourth birthday in March.

At this point, I don't sense a certainty to discontinue our blog altogether, only to suspend it. Perhaps this is due to the fact that my nephew will be updating my website to make blog publication much easier than it has been.

Whatever the case, I will keep you posted with periodic mailings. Meanwhile, please pray for me and please continue to spread the word about THE TOPNOTCH WRITER. I believe that God has ordained this ezine as one way to encourage His writers all over the world to stand fast and to keep writing as the days grow darker and our freedom to proclaim the truth declines.

With love and blessings,

MaryAnn

__________________________
Copyright 2008 by MaryAnn Diorio, Ph.D. All rights reserved. This blog entry may NOT be reproduced, reprinted, or published in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may, however, forward it to others, but please do so IN ITS ENTIRETY. Thank you for your cooperation.

Skype--or Hype???

A computer expert once told me that technology becomes obsolete every three months and that computer experts must update their knowledge base continually.

Well, I'm not a computer expert by any means, but this past week I updated my knowledge base by signing up for Skype. What is Skype? It is a tool whereby I can talk to relatives and clients in any part of the world via computer and free of charge.

I first got introduced to Skype through my cousin who lives in Italy. She has it on her computer and frequently calls me using a headset and a microphone. When both parties are on Skype, both use headsets and a microphone and both get free service. When only one party is on Skype, then that party pays a very low fee to dial a normal telephone.

I had frequently considered signing up for Skype, but I saw no real personal need for it - until this past week when I received an email from a potential coaching client in Thailand who wants to hire me as her life coach. Given that the cost of extended phone calls would be exorbitant, she suggested I sign up for Skype. So I did.

Once I did, I began to realize the enormous potential this tool holds for us writers. Skype enables you to interview people all over the world live via a headset and a microphone. You can talk with them in real time, as you would over the phone, but it would cost you nothing.

So let's say you propose an idea to an editor to write a profile of a well-known missionary or pastor on the other side of the globe. If you have Skype, you could arrange for a live interview with that person. Amazing, isn't it?

While I'm not saying everyone should use Skype, I would encourage you to explore its possibilities for enhancing your writing.

And that's my "musing that matters" for today. What's yours? :)

Blessings,

MaryAnn

P.S. If you have not yet subscribed to THE TOPNOTCH WRITER, I encourage you to do so. Our subscriber base is exploding as Christian writers from all over the world are committing to allowing Holy Spirit to empower them for service. To sign up for your free monthly issue, send a blank email to topnotchwriter@aweber.com.

Hearing God's Voice

Our Musers frequently comment, both publicly and privately, that the blog entry for the day was just what they needed. For this, I give God all the praise and glory. He knows our needs and meets them.

Some of you have also asked how I know what to write? The answer is that I've learned to listen for God's voice. This doesn't mean I always recognize it, but over the years, I have gotten much better at it.

Scripture tells us that God's sheep hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:27). I frequently confess this verse since, more than anything, I want to hear God's voice and obey it. The more I speak this verse aloud, the more I believe it (Romans 10:17), and the more I believe it, the more its truth manifests in my life.

Just as an infant learns to recognize his mother's voice, so do we learn to recognize our Heavenly Father's voice - by spending time with Him. When we hear the voice of our Father, we always know what to do and which direction to take.

I once asked the Lord how to recognize His voice. He said, "My voice is the voice of Love."

If you are having trouble discerning God's voice, read His Word throughout the day. Tune in to Him as you would to a radio station. His voice is on a certain frequency, and you need to be quiet and still to hear it.

Hearing God's voice is essential for us who write because of our responsibility to convey the truth. When we write, we also teach, and teachers will be held more accountable when we face our Lord (James 3:1).

For an excellent book on learning how to hear God's voice, I highly recommend Henry and Richard Blackaby's HEARING GOD'S VOICE. Click on the link to purchase your copy.

And that's my "musing that matters" for today. What's yours? :)

Blessings,

MaryAnn

A Tribute to Aunt Theresa

Yesterday my daughter Lia and I attended the 90th birthday celebration of my precious Aunt Theresa, the wife of my father's deceased brother, my Uncle Steve. Aunt Theresa didn't know we were coming and was delighted to see us.

As we reminisced over times past and over the many changes that had occurred in my hometown area of Pennsylvania, I couldn't help but be moved by the swift passage of time. In the room where we gathered, four generations were represented, from my Aunt Theresa down to her great-grandchildren.

What I love most about Aunt Theresa is her moral strength. As the mother of four children, one of whom was born with cerebral palsy and who died only a few years ago, Aunt Theresa inspired me during my childhood with her unswerving faith and her strength in the midst of the most difficult circumstances. She never complained and bravely faced serious trials with courage and equanimity.

Aunt Theresa is one of my unsung heroes. She reminds me that we never know who is watching us. She probably never realized I was watching her closely as I was growing up. She probably never realized how her attitude impacted me and still does.

Just as we don't always know who is watching us, we rarely know who is reading our writing. Is your writing such that it will impact generations?

Just as my Aunt Theresa has lived with her eye on the Lord, so may we write with our eye on the Lord. As we do, we cannot help but write words that will inspire and encourage.

And that's my "musing that matters" for today. What's yours? :)

Blessings,

MaryAnn

Discipleship

The word disciple comes from the same root as discipline.I used to think of discipline as a negative word, something that restricted my freedom and creativity. Over the years, I've learned that discipline properly understood, is a catalyst for freedom.

What exactly is disciipline? Here is my definition: Discipline is the courage to do the right thing when I don't feel like it. It is choosing the spirit over the flesh."

The best kind of discipline is internal, also called self-discipline. It is to this kind of discipline that parents aspire in training their children. Most of us have experienced external discipline. But as we grow and mature, we should no longer need external discipline. We should be led by internal discipline, or self-discipline.

W.K. Hope wrote: "Self-discipline is when your conscience tells you to do something and you don't talk back." I like that definition. How often have we talked back to our conscience when it comes to our writing? We've said things like, "I'll have to wait till I'm inspired in order to write"; "When my children are grown, I'll write": "I have nothing to say"; "I never went to college, so how can I be a writer". And the back-talking goes on and on.

If I were to ask you, "Are you a disciple of Christ?", you'd quickly reply, "Why, yes, of course." But are you really a disciple of Christ when, as one called to write, you talk back to Holy Spirit's promptings?

All of us need to examine our hearts. If we find shortcomings in the area of discipline, let's repent and get back on track. Let's be the disciples Jesus expects us to be.

And that's my "musing that matters" for today. What's yours? :)

Blessings,

MaryAnn

Boomer Lit

Baby boomers have come of age, and with them, so has their fiction. With the emergence of Boomer Lit, we are witnessing a new category of fiction that addresses the needs and problems of those over 50.

In the June issue of Writer's Digest, author Jordan E. Rosenfeld addresses the burgeoning Boomer Lit market that chronicles the journeys of children of the sixties who have passed the half century mark. (Find the article here: http://www.writersdigest.com/article/boomer-lit)

Unlike most fiction, the protagonists of these books have raised their children and face challenges like the empty nest, rejoining the workforce, rekindling a marriage, health problems, widowhood, grandparenting, and a host of other issues that accompany the maturing process.

If you are a Boomer, or the child of a Boomer, this market may be a good one for you. You don't have to write fiction to write for Boomers. In fact, more non-fiction markets exist than fiction markets. So grab your trusty Writer's Market Guide and Christian Writer's Market Guide and get to work. Just because your readers are older doesn't mean they don't need a reminder of what God can do for them in the midst of life's challenges.

I especially encourage you to write for this market if you yourself are a Boomer. There's nothing like "having been there" to create reader identification.

For more on the Boomer market for writers, check out the June issue of The TopNotch� Writer. If you do not yet subscribe to The TopNotch� Writer, send a blank email to TopNotchWriter@aweber.com.

And that's my "musing that matters" for today. What's yours? :)

Blessings,

MaryAnn

Detours

As the saying goes, the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. And so it happened that my best laid plans to go to Kentucky on retreat did not turn out as I had hoped.

My daughter Lia and I set out bright and early Sunday morning on our 11-hour trip to the Bluegrass State. Three hours into our journey, a warning light appeared on my dashboard: "Check transmission. Service engine soon."

Thinking that the problem was simply a computer glitch, we stopped, rebooted the car, and took off again. All seemed well for about 20 minutes when suddenly the warning light reappeared with the same message. There was little help available on a Sunday, so we returned home.

On the way back, the car jerked and kicked a bit. On Monday morning, I took it to my mechanic who told me that it was a good thing we had returned since the car would have probably died along the way.

I fought frustration because I had just had my car serviced the week before. Moreover, I had called my mechanic again two days before the trip to confirm that all had been taken care of and that my car was indeed in a condition to take a long trip. He assured me that all was well.

So why did this happen? Only God knows. And all I can do is trust that His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).

My car was in the shop for four days. During that time, I held my retreat at home, rejoicing that God always knows best. In this I rest.

Blessings,

MaryAnn

Averting the Summer Slump

As summer beckons, writers often find their discipline dwindling and their procrastination proliferating. If you're one of these writers, the time to prepare for the Summer Slump is now, not when sunny days and swimming pools try to drag you from your writing desk.

There's a saying that if you can't beat them, join them. Here are a few tips to meet the Summer Slump head-on and conquer its allure once and for all:

1) Take your laptop out to the swimming pool and write there. The change of environment will do you and your writing good, and you won't feel deprived of having fun.

2) Get up extra early to write. Then, when the sun is shining in all its brilliance, go outside and do some gardening or take a walk. You won't feel guilty because you've already done your day's writing.

3) Take a day off from your writing. Yes, you read me right. :) Sometimes all you need to feel recharged is a day off. That's one reason God created the Sabbath. :)

Speaking of taking a day off, my daughter and I will be taking a week off next week to attend a retreat with fellow muser Rose McCauley at an abbey in the beautiful mountains of Kentucky. So there will be no blog entries again until May 26. I would appreciate your prayers for us that God will grant us traveling mercies and that He will speak a special word to our hearts as we focus entirely on seeking His face.

Thanks and Blessings,

MaryAnn

Motives of the Writing Heart

Recently, I launched an online magazine for writers entitled The TopNotch Writer. The mission of this publication, which is growing in subscribers, is to encourage and empower Christian writers in the building of God's Kingdom.

As I listen to Holy Spirit's voice within me, I sense an urgency that the time is growing shorter and shorter during which we writers for Jesus will be able to proclaim the message of salvation with the freedom to which we have been accustomed. Indeed, already forces are at play to silence us.

While I've frequently mentioned this in previous blog entries, I discern the need to mention it again. But this time, from a new angle. That angle is to be brutally honest about the reason we write.

Do we write for our own aggrandizement? It's easy to fall into that trap, especially when we meet with a modicum of success. When we meet with a lot of success, it can be even easier to fall into the trap of pride.

We may say that we are writing for the Lord, but are we really? If so, why do we fret when we get a rejection? Or why do we wax ecstatic when we get an acceptance? Shouldn't we respond the same way to both, knowing that God has a plan and that we are simply instruments in His hands? So whatever happens, He is leading us.

I encourage you to take a few moments today to examine your heart and ask yourself why you write. If writing were taken away from you, would you still be able to rejoice and praise the Lord? If you're unsure, it's time to do a little soul-searching.

And that's my "musing that matters" for today. What's yours? :)

Blessings,

MaryAnn

P.S. If you're interested in subscribing to The TopNotch Writer, please send a blank email to topnotchwriter@aweber.com.

Making a Difference

All of us suffer from some form of psychological and emotional damage. Please watch this movie and know that who you are, not only as a person but also as a writer, makes a huge difference. After you watch the movie, please pass it on.

http://www.blueribbonmovie.com/

Blessings,

MaryAnn

Writing in the Now

Recently, our Lord has been teaching me more and more about living in the now. As I prepared to write today's blog entry, I heard the words "Writing in the Now".

An interesting topic, but what does it mean?

I asked God. He said that writing in the now is taking the writing opportunity at hand and running with it. While the opportunity may not be what we would have chosen, it is a stepping stone on the road to fulfilling His writing destiny for us.

Each opportunity is a link in the chain that leads to our ultimate destination in Christ. When we miss opportunities, we miss a link in the chain. The chain then either weakens or breaks.

But as we listen to and obey the Holy Spirit, we will not miss any links in the chain, whether in our lives or in our writing.

What writing opportunity is in front of you today? Ask God to help you see it for what it really is--a link in the chain of His purpose for your writing life.

And that's my "musing that matters" for today. What's yours? :)

Blessings,

MaryAnn

__________________________
Copyright 2008 by MaryAnn Diorio, Ph.D. All rights reserved. This blog entry may NOT be reproduced, reprinted, or published in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may, however, forward it to others, but please do so IN ITS ENTIRETY. Thank you for your cooperation.

Preparing for Victory

Yesterday my younger daughter Gina completed the Philadelphia 10-Mile Broad Street Run. About 20,000 people participated in the race that started on North Broad Street and ended at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

Gina had been preparing for this race for months. A seasoned runner, she's learned to pace her daily running to ensure optimum strength and speed. As a result, she finished the race with relative ease.

Writing is also a race. Not a race against other writers, but a race against one's previous writing success level. Just as Gina ran every day to develop the stamina that enabled her to finish the Philly 10-mile run, so can we, by writing every day, build the writing strength to finish the writing our Lord has called us to do.

The Apostle Paul describes life as a race. Let's run this writing race to win. Countless souls depend on our finishing strong.

And that's my "musing that matters" for today. What's yours? :)

Blessings,

MaryAnn

P.S. By the way, Gina is also a writer and applies the same winning principles to her writing. So can you! :)

Being Gentle with Yourself

Most of us have read of Type A and Type B personalities. There is a third personality type I like to call Type AB. This personality is a combination of the best qualities of both the Type A and the Type B temperaments.

Traditionally, Type A personalities are high-powered, goal-driven, focused people who often don't know how to relax or who feel guilty when they do.

Type B personalities, on the other hand, are usually laid back and often succumb to procrastination. These are the people who find it hard to start a project, let alone finish one.

Perhaps the most successful type is the AB. This type is goal-oriented but not a workaholic. The AB works hard but knows how to be gentle on herself.

Writers come in all kinds of personalities. What type are you? Once you determine your type, focus on its strengths and not on its weaknesses. Learn from those who are of a different writing temperament than you.

Balance is key in becoming a successful writer. Too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Even too much writing. :)

And that's my "musing that matters" for today. What's yours? :)

Blessings,

MaryAnn

The Art of Storytelling

A special friend of mine delights the young and the young-at-heart with her wonderful gift of storytelling. Her name is Katherine Ross.

Kathy and her husband Ed own Pageant Wagon Productions, a company that combines storytelling events with bookselling. The Rosses travel around southern New Jersey sharing their talents and love of books. They also operate an online bookstore.

Storytelling is an art that is gaining--or regaining--a new level of prestige throughout the United States. In fact, East Tennessee State University now offers the Master of Arts degree in Storytelling.

All of us are storytellers in our own way. Some of us spin yarns in the form of fiction; others of us use storytelling techniques to bring our non-fiction to life.

Jesus used stories called parables to illustrate eternal truths. As the Master Storyteller, He is our example as we use our writing to tell the greatest story ever told.

For more information on Kathy and Ed Ross, check out these websites:

www.pwpstorytellers.com

www.pageantwagonbooks.com

Blessings,

MaryAnn

Expelled!

This past weekend, my husband, daughter, and I went to see Ben Stein's movie/documentary entitled EXPELLED! In my opinion, this is a 'must see" movie, particularly for Christians.

The story is that of Ben Stein's interviews with the top scientists in the world on the issue of Intelligent Design vs. Evolution. Stein traces the roots of Nazism to Darwin's Theory of Evolution and proposes (and proves, I believe) that this same theory has insidiously infiltrated our country and is producing results similar to what occurred in pre-Hitlerian Germany.

Stein's documentary is a prime example of what one person/writer with a vision can do to impact the world for good. Perhaps some of you are called to screenwriting. Screenwriting doesn't refer only to the movies we see at the theatre. Screenwriting covers a whole host of writing, including documentaries, video scripts, and other kinds of film productions.

I don't want to sound like an alarmist, dear writers, but I think we have reached the eleventh hour. Let's take a stand with our pens before it is too late. Not only are our children and grandchildren counting on us, but our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is also doing so.

Blessings,

MaryAnn