The Weekly Word:
RJ
Morgan Smith
Welcome! Fáilte!
Grata!
Bienvenue!
Coming Soon!
3 June 2025
Just returned from the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina! Wonderful to meet and re-greet people from all over. So many classes to choose from to help me grow as a writer, wonderful speakers, and soul-lifting worship. And, to leave the Texas heat for even a short time...!
My fellow gypsy, Erin, did most of the driving, but I contributed as Navigator Extraordinaire by monitoring the weather (helping avoid tornadoes), locating interesting restaurants, cheap gas and clean toilets. and helping to keep good music playing. And, I came up with the brilliant plan to use a writing pen to hold a broken bumper on. In return, Erin took me to "See Rock City" for my birthday!
Thank you, My Friend... Where next?
25 June 2021
Well, there's been a lot going on since I last posted on this page, but I'll just mention the latest and greatest:
Awesome ROAD TRIP to the Blue Ridge Christian Writers' Conference,
just outside of Asheville, North Carolina!​
Two days driving there, navigating a bunch of back roads purely by accident.
Five days at The Blue Ridge Conference Center, meeting a slew of magnificent people-- publishers, editors, agents and other wacky, wonderful writers like myself! A reminder that it's okay to be me. Enjoying the beauty of the mountains of North Carolina. Fellowship with friends-- old and new. And learning more about the craft and industry of which I'm a part.
Followed by three days of wandering with my fellow gypsy, Erin, exploring off the beaten path-- on purpose this time. Squirrels, chipmunks, pigs, elk, bears. And, let's not forget the vultures. Oh, no, we simply cannot forget the vultures! (A story for another time. Watch the blogs.) Moonshine, whiskey and wine. (A nice little rhyme!) Barbecue, burgers and cajun. Baby goats on the roof, chocolate monkeys, Christmas hotels and King Kong hanging around.
I need to find a tee-shirt that reads something like: Animals fear me,
Vultures follow me.
Let's call it a gift for a friend.
Now, time to get to work!
9 October 2019
I just returned from attending the American Christian Fiction Writers convention in San Antonio! I thought I was finally finished editing 701 Miracal Place, and then I took a seminar on "dialogues" and another called "Small Edits, Big Changes". Both classes left me feeling that I still needed to find ways to improve the story, to polish the tale until it shines. So, I steeled myself, ready for another go and then heard the following: "Once you get published, enjoy looking at your book on the shelves. Admire its cover. Appreciate the hard work you put in. But never, ever, open it and read it, again. You'll always think you could do better." (Actually, he said "you'll think it's crap!")
So, I will look through it, again-- only for a few tidbits of editorial improvements. Then, it's off to the agent and the publisher who asked to see the whole thing. Wish me luck! No. Scratch that. Wish me success!
