Rachelle J. Christensen

Romance, Suspense, Mystery Author

Running For It

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For Writers

When one of my babies was 8 months old, I went running again and I enjoyed it. At that point, I had been trying to get back into my running groove for a few months. Unfortunately, my groove has said things like,

“You slacker, you took off a year! Just because you were pregnant and your feet were swollen, this groove doesn’t stay open for slackers.”

So, I’ve had a hard time finding my groove, but I was all about pushing myself and so I laced up and went that morning. And it didn’t hurt quite as bad and I found my groove for a few minutes! I ran around my neighborhood for 20 minutes and then as I approached my house and looked at my stopwatch, I thought, “Wow, I don’t feel like throwing up today, maybe I can do this!” and just because I could, I pushed myself and ran right past my house and around a few more blocks for another half-mile ending at 24 minutes run time.

It felt awesome, even though my body kept telling me things like, “You’ve had 3 kids, maybe you’ll just have to walk.”

But I did it. So if you don’t like running, you may be thinking I was weird because why would I want to torture myself? And some days, I might agree with you. But I think I conquered an obstacle in my way and it felt great. Things like that experience help me keep going in the crazy pattern of my life. Running reminds me that I can do the tough stuff and find joy despite challenges.

I thought about how running is like writing. Writing is very enjoyable, but the quest to be a published author is extremely hard and full of all kinds of obstacles and *rejections*. But I’m never going to quit trying because if I take a break from the onslaught of writer-ly punishments that come my way in the form of rejection, revision, rewriting, and did I mention rejection?–then I will lose my groove.

Over the past few years, I have traveled leaps and bounds from the novice writer I was to who I am now and I know that my path is far from complete. I learn new things all the time and I enjoy the challenge. I’ve found a groove I’m comfortable in and I’m working hard to make my words stronger than the obstacles they face.

Anything worth doing requires effort, dedication, and determination. I want to be a successful author of many published works and all I can say is, I’m running for it.

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How Chasing After Your Dreams Builds Your Child’s Self Esteem

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Writing Tips by Rachelle

A few years ago, I did a book bomb for Caller ID. My book started out the day ranked around 33,000 out of all books on Amazon and ended the day at 1,092!

I set lofty goals for this book bomb. I wanted to be in the top 100 books (An Amazon Bestseller) and I didn’t quite make that, but when you figure in how many copies every other book in the top one or two-thousand was selling, I was pleased.

The day before the bomb, I shared my goals with my kids at the breakfast table. I explained to them about how there were nearly 8 million books on Amazon and what I wanted to achieve with other’s help. My eight year old asked me, 

“Mom, if you don’t make it will you cry?”

I smiled and said, “No. It’s going to be great and tonight we’ll have a party.”

Later, when I was busy updating my blog, FB, Twitter, and following up with reward emails, I thought more about what she had asked. My daughter got that this was something important to me. She’d seen me working on preparations all week, and she grasped that the goal was a dream of mine. And my answer, and later, my reaction to the day’s results gave her permission to chase after her dreams.

Becoming a published author is not easy. Writing your first or your tenth book is not easy. My family has been there every step of the way and I’ve shared with them my disappointments as well as my triumphs.

When that same daughter was four, I remember asking her for a hug when I faced a big disappointment and a year later cheering with her as I discovered a pathway to achieving my dream.

I realized that every time I’ve put blood, sweat, and tears into my dream–I’ve given my children permission to do likewise. And that makes it all worth it because I want my kids to know that anything is possible if they put their minds to it.

So, I’m going to keep working at my goals, keep reaching for my dreams, and getting big hugs from my kids along the way.

How about you? Have you given a child courage to chase their dreams because of your own reactions to failures and successes?

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How Do You Ring in the New Year?

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Writing Tips by Rachelle

Seven years ago, I found myself realizing that it was the second day of January and I hadn’t filled out my customary pages of goals, *gasp*!  I love setting goals, but that year I was enjoying the holidays with my family AND I had just finished going through edits on the final proof of CALLER ID. Setting specific writing goals can be very beneficial and what better time to do that than now!

How do you ring in the new year? Goals? Resolutions?

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Conquer the World

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Writing Tips by Rachelle

I always want to conquer the world, instead I have to be satisfied with just living in it and finding joy in each day.

–Rachelle J. Christensen

Yep, I just posted a quote by moi because I *needs* to see it and remind myself of this again as I get ready to jump into a new year.

Several years ago, my jump into 2013 was interrupted by a lot of sickness and tiredness which forced me to look at myself and my family and ask–What is the most important thing?

I also read a great book while I was sick called, For What It’s Worth by Karey White. While reading that book, I started doing the same exercise that her character, Abby asked. Is it worth it? What is this worth? And because of that question, I got out the shears and started trimming! I started cutting back on things that don’t matter, cutting out things that don’t make me happy, and creating more time for my family and my biggest passion–WRITING.

This is a good topic to revisit again for 2019. I encourage you to also ask yourself that question today and the next time you have an opportunity to add ONE more thing to your life. How much is this worth to me?

For my quest to find joy in each day and to savor my children and all of their glorious -isms (silly things your kids say), I will be asking that a lot. Here’s hoping that I can find the right answer.

How about you?

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I Feel Like Writing

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Writing Tips by Rachelle

I walked a long road paved with rejections, self-doubt, and hard work before my first novel was published in 2010.  I was excited and in wonder when that novel won a special award. Did they just call my name?

Yes!

I was able to attend the League of Utah Writers Awards banquet and I won this beautiful award for my book WRONG NUMBER.

It is the Olive Woolley Burt Award for Outstanding Book of the Year. WRONG NUMBER was also awarded a first prize Golden Quill award in adult fiction.

Successes like that help me feel like writing today and I’m going to sweep away the worry and self-doubt and type as fast as I can on my new novel. And when the next rejection comes in or I’m not sure how my character will overcome her latest problem, I’m going to stare at that award and then keep writing!

I want you to do the same–get rid of those negative worries that are keeping you from reaching for your dream and go for it!

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Creative Inspiration

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Writing Tips by Rachelle

My friend Kristie sent me the link to this video and can I just say how much I loved it?! Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love,  is talking on nurturing creativity and how we can give ourselves permission to be creative without the pressure.

If you can take the time to watch it, I am sure you will be thankful for her inspiration.

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