My Apologies...

Prompt: Most writers make the New Year's resolution of completing a manuscript during the year. As usual, we neglect it. Tonight, I must write an apology letter to my manuscript explaining what happened and how I plan to make it up to the manuscript by December 31. Leggo....


Dear Still Not Satisfied,


Let me start by saying I thank you for never leaving me. You stayed in my head until I finally got you out on paper. So thank you for being persistent. When 2011 started, you were a novel and I promised you I would adapt you into a screen play. Well, here we are, November 2011 and you are still just a novel. Please forgive my inconsistency and procrastination. You know I love you but I have let self-doubt and lack of discipline intrude. Hell, even laziness plays its part. I can't leave out fear--fear of no one liking it, fear of everyone liking it--and its role in this process.


Today, I stand up and I say no more. SNS, you are my first literary child and I will dedicate my time to completing your film version. I have been talking to others about you. Some very important people want to read you. Together, we have piqued their interest and now I must give the people what they want. 
:-)  


I can understand if you don't believe the words that are being typed on this page. Therefore, I will show you. I am a firm believer in actions trump words. From 8am-4:30pm, I belong to ETI (for now). From 6pm-until, I'm all yours. I hope you will accept my apologies for not completing you sooner and allow me the chance to square you away in the next two months. At least, your first draft...  I'm good but I am no water-walker.


Writing even in my sleep,


Step Brown

My Year Long Writing Challenge

Greetings from the lab,

In June 2010, I found another author's writing challenge. So I kept it although I knew I wasn't ready to follow it. After some recent events, I feel I need to get serious about this writing jones, lest the Lord give my gift to another. This will be the venue where I unleash my creativity from the challenge.

Here's the deal: Pick one day of the week. ( I pick Sunday) Carve out 30 minutes and dedicate that time to creating a story based on the writing prompts provided. There is one prompt for each week of the upcoming year (Nov 2011-Oct 2012).

So let the games begin. Writing as if the pen never leaves my hand...

Step Brown

Seasons Change...

Ecclesiastes 3:1--There is a season for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.

Just as there are seasons in nature, there are seasons in life. As you progress in your spiritual life, you will go through seasons of change and growth as well as dormancy and doubt.

Spring is a season of joy when new growth occurs. God seems very close in both big and small stuff during this season.

Summer is made for relaxing, vacationing, and renewing. This is when your life seems like it is on cruise control with little to no concerns.

Fall can lull you into complacency. You may even take God for granted. Fall is the season of disappointments and unfulfilled expectations.

Winter is the time when you need God more than ever, even though He seems far away. Call out to God and He will answer---not by removing your winter but by giving you the strength to get through it.

Take some time to ask yourself which season are you in. Ask God for the discernment of the seasons and once you get your Word, pray accordingly.

Until next time...

Soli Deo Gloria,

Step Brown

Secret Crushes

We all have one or two. You know, crushes on folks we don't even tell our BFFs about. They are sometimes people we see in passing. Other times, they are individuals we spend a great deal of time with. Nevertheless, we develop crushes and for whatever reason, we keep it a secret.

Well, I've had my fair share of secret crushes. In fact, I have one right now. I often think of Nat King Cole's version of "What I'll Do"  or wonder...

What I'll do when you are far away and I am blue? What I'll do? When I'm wondering who is kissing you, what I'll do? What I'll do with just a photograph to tell my troubles to? When I'm alone with only dreams of you that won't come true, what I'll do?

I have my secrets. Care to share yours?

Soli Deo Gloria,

Step Brown

Ode to my Folks...

Sorry for the hiatus! I'm just gonna jump right into this thing.


I love my parents. They weren't the best in the world but they weren't the worst out there either. No matter, they are the ones God saw fit to give me. For that, I will always be grateful.


So I am a BIG Ledisi fan. Sometimes, I think she delves off into my world without me even knowing--which is a true sign of a talented artist. She has a song called, "Someday". When I first heard it, I instantly thought of my mother. Months later, I included my father and step-father. (Be patient with me. God is still working.) So here's how I feel about my parents, Linda, Silas, John, and my heavenly father...


Mama, I love you. And Daddys, I love you too.


Mama, when I was a little girl and I saw the things you were going through, I promised myself that I would always be there to take good care of you and give you all the things that you never had. I know that someday things were going to change and someday get better.


Daddy, now that I have you in my life, I understand how hard it was for you to grow up and be a man. I'm so glad destiny followed through and put you right here in front of me. Now, you are here growing with me.


Someday, you'll see I'm going to make you proud of me. One day, you'll see you're never going to have to worry about what you are going to do. Someday, you'll see that I'm going to take good care of you. Someday...


Deo Volente,


Step Brown