Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Are You at a Writing Crossroads?

Edie here. Today I'm super excited to share a guest post from an author I've admired for many years - Dr. MaryAnn Diorio! Be sure to check out her latest books and give her a warm TWC Welcome!


Are You at a Writing Crossroads?
by MaryAnn Diorio @DrMaryAnnDiorio

One of my favorite poems is Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken. You may remember its closing lines:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Often in our writing career, we come to a fork in the road, as described by Frost in his magnificent poem. One fork I call the High Road and the other fork I call the Low Road. The High Road is the road of integrity and virtue, the road marked by obedience to God’s way of conducting our writing career. The Low Road is the road of compromise and rebellion, the road marked by disobedience to God’s way of conducting our writing career.

For example, there are times in our writing career where we may be tempted to water down the Gospel for the purpose of landing a contract. Or we may be tempted to stretch the limits of decency in the language or content of the fiction we write. Whatever the temptation, we have a choice to take the High Road or the Low Road.

Are you at a writing crossroads in your career now? Are you trying to decide which road to take as you move forward in your journey? Are you being tempted to compromise God’s Word for the sake of a sale? If so, I urge you to take the High Road, the road marked by integrity and virtue. The road that will not allow compromise for the purpose of success.

The road that glorifies God.

And that makes all the difference.

TWEETABLE

by MaryAnn Diorio

Seven Christmases have passed since Sonia Pettit last heard from her daughter Jody. Since Jody's departure, Sonia's world has been turned upside down. Her husband has died of a broken heart, and her son, bitter over his sister's destructive actions, has become rebellious. Her greatest desire is to have her family together at Christmas, but after what Jody has put them all through, can Sonia truly forgive her daughter?

Jody Pettit O'Dair ran away to experience a life of adventure and excitement, but since her departure, her world has been turned upside down. She's been abandoned by the man she met and married, lost her job, and is unable to care for her two children. With nowhere else to turn, this prodigal daughter begins the long journey home and prays she will be welcomed after walking away so long ago. Will Jody find forgiveness in the arms of her family as easily as she received it from God?

Purchase Link for A Christmas Homecoming

Dr. MaryAnn Diorio is a widely published, award-winning author of compelling fiction that deals with the deepest issues of human life. Her fiction has won several awards, including the 2020 Christian Indie Book Award for Historical Fiction, the Silver Medal for E-Book Fiction in the 2015 Illumination Book Awards Contest, and First Place for Inspirational Fiction in the 2011 Colorado RWA Launching a Star Contest.

MaryAnn holds the PhD in French with a concentration in Comparative Literature from the University of Kansas. She also holds the MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. A former university Professor of Romance Languages and Fiction-Writing, MaryAnn is the founder and director of The MaryAnn Diorio School of Writing. She resides with her husband in New Jersey. They are the blessed parents of two amazing daughters, a very smart son-in-law, and six rambunctious grandchildren. In her spare time, MaryAnn loves to paint in oils and acrylics, play the piano and mandolin, and make up silly songs with her grandchildren. You can reach MaryAnn at maryanndiorio.com.

16 comments:

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    1. Thank you, Jay! I appreciate your warm welcome. Blessings to you!

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  2. Thank you so very much, Edie, for the opportunity to share with your readers. I trust that they will be blessed.

    Happy Thanksgiving Day with warmest regards,


    MaryAnn

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  3. Thank you, MaryAnn. Your article is a blessing.

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    1. You are most welcome, Ane. Thank YOU for sharing. Many blessings to you! :)

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  5. I enjoyed your article. Hope to see more of them on The Write Conversation. Thank you for sharing and welcome to the group.

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    1. Thank you, Diane, for your kind words. Blessings to you! ~ MaryAnn

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  6. Amen! In whatever we do, glorify God. My fork in the road is should I start writing again or is this idle season letting me know this is the end of the road for my writing.

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    1. Thank you for your comment, dear Marsha. Let's pray:

      Father God, Marsha and I come to You in the mighty and matchless Name of Jesus. We thank You that You promise Marsha in Psalm 32: 8 that You will instruct her and teach her the way to go. So, we thank You for that promise and we cling to it. Thank You for clear direction for Marsha. Thank You that You order her steps according to Your perfect will. We thank You for Your faithfulness to Your Word. In the Name of Jesus we ask, believe, and receive. Amen and Amen!

      Blessings to you, Marsha!

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  7. Welcome, MaryAnn! Looking forward to reading more of your writing.

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  8. Thank you so much, MaryAnn. Always a blessing to hear from you and to read your work. Happy Thanksgiving.

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  9. Hey, MaryAnn! Amen! Yes, the High Road is always the perfect choice, whether it is for our writing life or our personal life. Thank you! :D

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    1. You are most welcome, Lynn! Thank you for your encouraging word. Blessings to you!

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