I Have Sworn Off Writing

A few weeks ago I came to the conclusion that I should stop beating myself up for not constantly pursuing a writing life.  So I gave myself permission to stop trying… at least for a while.

Being a Jackie-of-all-trades can be conflicting (Yes, that was two to-be verbs in a span of five words. Shoot me). (Oh, and while you’re at it, denigrate me for using parentheses. I can take it.) Sometimes I feel like three or four people in one, and most of us are either arguing with one another or being passive aggressive. In short… I am a committee. And you know how productive committees can be!

I asked myself which of my endeavors I was enjoying most, and I answered “my music.” I also asked myself which of my endeavors I was likely to enjoy success in. I answered “my music.”

I am not giving up writing completely. I still enjoy it, but I do not enjoy spending a lot of time looking for a publication to write for and then trying to figure out exactly what they want and then deciding that I don’t want to write what they want.  Besides, writing is hard. Especially when you’re trying.

I will probably stay involved with my writing groups, but I’m not trying to get published. For now. And I’m okay with that.

In the Netherworld

This is an update from yours truly, Jackie-of-all-Trades. I apparently have too many blogs, all of which are being neglected. I have no excuse. I will try to do better. Or you could visit me on Facebook or follow my Twitters.

Yes, I know it sounds like I’m spending all my time on FB and Twitter. But… But…

Okay fine.

It’s April 30, and …

…and I didn’t write much of anything on my script because I’ve got too much other stuff going on. I’m sorrrrrrrryyyyy!

BUT… I would like to invite you to go to this blog http://www.christineandethanrose.com/?p=1489 and try to win a Kindle2. I’m sure you’ll love me forever if you end up winning it, won’t you? On the other hand, I will be very, very…. jealous.

It’s April 1st, and I’m fool enough…

… fool enough to participate in the annual ScriptFrenzy craziness. I spent my first day attempting to use a free online scriptwriting software and failing. But I have managed to write about 4 pages of a stage play based on the “novel” I wrote two years ago for National Novel Writing Month.

My 10-word description: Writer attempts to write novel but characters take it over.

Thanks for Visiting

You have reached the website for Jackie Doss, jackie-of-all-trades. I’m sorry I can’t take your call right now, but your visit is important to me, so please leave a …. oh wait… wrong script.

I am a singer, songwriter, writer, speaker, wife, mother, dog-owner, procrastinator, sinner saved by Grace, lover of God.

And I’m growing and changing all the time, even at my ripe old age. 

Please browse around the site and make yourself at home. Also visit me on Facebook. I have two pages there, one for personal ’stuff’ and one for Music ’stuff.’  (Yes, I’m a writer. Can’t you tell by my deep, thought-provoking vocabulary?!)

What is Christian Healing?

As you may know, I was the music minister at a healing conference this month. I was quick to point out to people that there was nothing “weird” about it. But perhaps you have some questions about what Christian Healing is. If you’d like to read more, go to http://www.durrance.com/FrAl/what_is_christian_healing.htm to get detailed yet succinct explanation. And if you are intrigued by that, you can read more in a complete web manuscript called Commissioned to Heal – free for downloading – at http://www.durrance.com/Com2Heal/outline.htm .

My way of summing it up is that the Christian life is one of constant transformation, which requires continual healing. After all, we live in a fallen world, one that is under constant attack by the Enemy. If we take a bath and then jump into a muddy pond, we’ll need another bath, won’t we?

In ancient Hebrew, the word for “save” was the same as the word for “heal.” So the God Who Saves IS the God who heals. Jehovah-Rapha. Healing and Saving… it’s what God does.

NaNo Cometh

I joined in on the crazy National Novel Writing Month activity last November, and managed to complete 50,000 words in 30 days with minimal cheating. Last year’s novel was an attempt at what I thought would be quite simple — a cozy mystery. It proved to be difficult when two characters started arguing with me about who should be the villain. My biggest problem, I think, was that my characters disliked conflict. Well, duh. Without conflict there is no novel.

What I ended up with was some pretty funny dialogue that my writing group friends suggested I turn into a stage play. I tried, but didn’t get very far. Structure. Structure. Structure. I seem to have a problem with it.

I still have plans to turn my first NaNo experiment into a play, but in the meantime, it’s almost November again. I have decided to take my sacred, cherished characters from a writing project I’ve been working on for over 20 years — and throw them under the bus. They’ve been stagnant on the page for too long.

The fact is, I have been comfortable with these characters’ flatness because it was all a part of the message of the story. It’s about post-modern disconnectedness. The people are — obviously — disconnected in varying degrees. No wonder I can’t seem to bring them to life.

That’s why I decided to throw them in a centrufuge and see what happens. What damage could I possibly do? If I end up with something I don’t like, I don’t have to use it. And if a character is redeemed and graduates to the next level of characterdom, wow… what a breakthrough!

When’s my next gig?

… after I get back from my vacation to Gatlinburg, I’ll book another coffee house gig. PROMISE! My speaker stands JUST ARRIVED, so I have no excuse. Still looking for additional venues. Actually, I’m not looking, I’m just hoping one will pop up out of nowhere. “Hello, Jackie Doss? We heard you’re a good singer and you have a dedicated following. Will you come sing at our restaurant/coffee shop/church?” Sigh. What’s wrong with that picture?

Healing Conference Tonight!

Tonight is an event I have been anxiously awaiting for several months — Desert Call Ministries’ Healing Conference “Experiencing the Father’s Love.” I’ll be leading music, and I know the Holy Spirit will be pouring out his love and attention to all present. For more information, go to http://www.desertcall.org. or http://christianhealingmin.org/ or http://www.centerforchristianhealing.org/. The event is part of the ministry of the Order of St. Luke the Physician. http://www.orderofstluke.org/

Music, music, and more music

I can’t express how much I enjoy performing and leading music. The best way to express it is to just do it, right? Tonight I’ll be singing with the octet at Medallion Senior Living in Dallas. Tomorrow and Saturday I’ll be singing with the “sistahs” at the Grace Bible Church women’s retreat (Get your motor runnin’… head out on the highway…) I just finished creating the songsheets for the healing mission on the 3rd/4th of October. I’m SO pumped! Can’t wait!

Please note I added a Reverbnation banner to the right side of the main page here. You can click on the banner to get to a music player and listen to the few songs I’ve recorded (at home) and uploaded. Three are originals, and one is a traditional song that I just love singing. (Did I mention that I love singing?)