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Megan DiMaria

Author/Speaker

A Prisoner of Hope

Offering hope and encouragement for life, writing, and living a thoughtful life.

A Prisoner of Hope

Offering hope and encouragement for life, writing, and living a thoughtful life.

I post every Tuesday.

Slow down this Christmas season, and here's how to do it.

Megan DiMaria

Dec 10, 2019
1 min

Slow down this Christmas season, and here's how to do it.

If you don't purpose to slow down and savor the beauty of the season, it won't happen. Here's some advice to slow down and savor Christmas: Make your favorite hot beverage, turn on the Christmas tree lights, sit down, and chill out. Give yourself a few minutes to just b-r-e-a-t-h-e. Listen to some Christmas carols. Sing along, if you'd like. Soak in the meaning of Christmas. Pray to Emmanuel (God with us!), and be quiet to listen to His leading. If you'd like a more structure

Writers: Six tips to refresh your creativity

Megan DiMaria

May 28, 2019
2 min

Writers: Six tips to refresh your creativity

Writers can get overwhelmed trying to find a new way to communicate the ordinary and everyday moments that make up life. Writers can get overwhelmed trying to find a new way to communicate the ordinary and everyday moments that make up life. As Solomon said in the book of Ecclesiastes, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (verse 1:9) What’s a writer to do? First, don’t panic. True there is nothing new under

Want to be a writer? Here's some advice:

Megan DiMaria

Feb 19, 2019
1 min

Want to be a writer? Here's some advice:

Want to be a writer? Are you thinking about it? And thinking? START NOW. If you don't know how to start, get a how-to book out of the library OR go to a writers group OR go to a seminar/writers conference OR look online for advice OR simply sit down and open a word document. DO IT. Don't wait for the day it will be easier or simpler. Life is always complicated. Start now. In a year, you'll be glad you did. Practice persistence. Write daily—even if it's only a couple hundred w

What's your 2019 scripture verse?

Megan DiMaria

Feb 12, 2019
2 min

What's your 2019 scripture verse?

Huh? A scripture verse for the year? Yup. That's what I've decided to do this year—forgo the yearly "word of the year" for a scripture verse: Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14. I rarely select a word for the year, and I truly had no intention of seeking out a scripture for 2019, but this one leapt off the page one morning while I was reading my Bible. My heart beat a little faster. I read it agai

Strategies to overcome writer's burnout, part 2

Megan DiMaria

Nov 6, 2018
1 min

Strategies to overcome writer's burnout, part 2

Last Tuesday I discussing writer's block and strategies to get your productivity back on track. Writer's block doesn’t have to paralyze your writing progress. I gave you the first few suggestions, last week. Here are five more methods to get your fingers flying over the keyboard: 1. Work on another project for a while If you can, switch gears to another project you have in the works or make notes on a subsequent project you’ve been thinking about. You may return to your “bloc

Strategies to overcome writer's burnout, part 1

Megan DiMaria

Oct 30, 2018
1 min

Strategies to overcome writer's burnout, part 1

Dear writer, are you feeling burned out? Is your word count and productivity down? Do you want to beat your head against a wall to battle writer's block? Shake those blues, and concentrate on something other than your work in progress. Need some suggestions? (I thought you’d ask.) Take some photographs. Grab your camera and take a field trip to a local park, busy shopping area, town square. Let yourself focus on whatever catches your fancy. You may look back at your images an

13 Pieces of Advice from Famous Authors

Megan DiMaria

Oct 16, 2018
2 min

13 Pieces of Advice from Famous Authors

Are you a weary writer in need of some advice? Writers and would-be writers are always looking for wisdom from those who’ve gone before us. I’ve assembled some thoughtful comments for you to mull over. Enjoy! Question: When is the best time to begin a writing career? Answer: "Today is your day, your mountain is waiting, so get on your way." ~Dr. Seuss Question: From where does our writing ability come? Is it inborn? Learned? Answer: As Mother Teresa said, "We are all pencils

Finding Refreshing Story Ideas When The Well’s Gone Dry

Megan DiMaria

Sep 25, 2018
3 min

Finding Refreshing Story Ideas When The Well’s Gone Dry

Writers tend to grind away, pursuing their passion, but occasionally the well of our creativity becomes parched. We may come to a point of creative fatigue. Don’t fear—it’s not permanent. Sometimes we just need to recognize the need to disengage from the grind and embrace the necessity to refresh our creative souls. When you feel discouraged and wrung out, there are methods you can use to refresh your creative spirit. According to Dictionary.com, creativity is the ability to

Guard your thoughts, they have the power to determine your reality

Megan DiMaria

Sep 4, 2018
2 min

Guard your thoughts, they have the power to determine your reality

Friends, don't you know that kind words benefit both the hearer and the one who speaks? My previous post discussed the power of words to wound or to heal. Before words are spoken, they're thoughts. A favorite Bible verse tell us to "take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)." Our thoughts create our reality. Depending on the situation, we can be joyless curmudgeons, or we can squeeze past difficulties and find the good—even in dark circumstances. I know that's easier sa

Eight reasons why you should guard your words

Megan DiMaria

Aug 28, 2018
2 min

Eight reasons why you should guard your words

Words have power. They can either wound or heal. Too often we forget about the power of words when we're deep in conversation or making an off-handed comment. Words can be a tremendous blessing, but they can also be a curse. Or at least they can cause pain, create misunderstanding, break a heart, or ruin a relationship. I've regretted careless words that have hurt others, and I also remember careless words tossed my way. You see, once hurtful words land in your heart, they're

How to react when you doubt your faith

Megan DiMaria

Aug 14, 2018
2 min

How to react when you doubt your faith

Yesterday, while I was eating breakfast and reading my Bible, I had an upsetting thought: Maybe I don't trust God. The idea pretty much snapped my head back, but moments later another realization came. Yes, I DO trust God, but I don't have enough patience while I wait. My guess is that many of us are waiting for answers to prayer. Waiting isn't fun. Because it soothes me, and because I believe it's what God wants me to do, I searched scripture for encouragement. I'm happy to

Three truths to consider when expectations and reality don't match up

Megan DiMaria

Jul 31, 2018
2 min

Three truths to consider when expectations and reality don't match up

Sometimes expectations and reality don’t match up. I attended a writer’s retreat a few years ago, longing for some spiritual refreshment and encouragement on my writing journey. I expected to have a relaxing retreat, feeding from nuggets of wisdom that were easy-to-digest, low-hanging fruit. Instead I got a generous portion of truth and encouragement that was sometimes difficult to swallow. It was a weekend seasoned with both tears and laughter. Despite the disconnect between

Guideposts for a writer's journey, part 3

Megan DiMaria

Jul 10, 2018
2 min

Guideposts for a writer's journey, part 3

Two weeks ago, we started discussing the writer's journey. I likened it to climbing up the side of a Colorado mountain. In my case, I had started on a path that began easily then got more difficult the longer I climbed. I believe that the uphill climb is similar to writing. I have a theory when it comes to pursuing publication: I believe that every writer can have a satisfying writing journey by following five guideposts along their way. The first guidepost we discussed was t

Guideposts for a writer's journey, part 2

Megan DiMaria

Jul 3, 2018
2 min

Guideposts for a writer's journey, part 2

Last week we started discussing the writer's journey. I likened it to climbing up the side of a Colorado mountain. In my case, I had started on a path that began easily then got more difficult the longer I climbed. I believe that the uphill climb is similar to writing. I have a theory when it comes to pursuing publication: I believe that every writer can have a satisfying writing journey by following five guideposts along their way. The first guidepost we discussed was the ST

Guideposts for a writer's journey, part 1

Megan DiMaria

Jun 26, 2018
2 min

Guideposts for a writer's journey, part 1

A few years ago I had the pleasure of climbing up the side of a beautiful Colorado mountain. I was as prepared as possible—the right shoes, comfortable clothes, a bottle of water, and signs to point me in the right direction. Like many hiking trails, the one I was on started out smooth and was clearly marked. I was fully confident that it would be a piece of cake. Then the path began to get steeper, and there were rocks, boulders, and tree roots in the way. I was getting hot

Writers, get your stubborn on!

Megan DiMaria

Mar 6, 2018
1 min

Writers, get your stubborn on!

See that tree? I came upon it on a hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire last fall. To me, that tree is the definition of tenacity—which is defined as the quality of holding fast; persistence. And what he greatly thought, he nobly dared. ~Homer That photo captures my attitude toward publishing. I’m the tree; the challenges that come my way are the boulder. Like that tree, I’m not giving up. Sometimes I’ve felt that unseen forces were trying to push me off my path. Have

What does sun-dried hair have to do with writing novels?

Megan DiMaria

Feb 20, 2018
2 min

What does sun-dried hair have to do with writing novels?

We enjoyed a warm winter day yesterday (65 degrees in beautiful Colorado!), and I dried my hair in the sun. Not exactly front-page news, but it was a moment that gave me fodder for writing novels. I’m of the no-moment-wasted camp of writers who tuck memories and ideas into my head like a robin picks up string and scraps for her nest. Drying my hair in the sun was a gift—time to sit and be still and enjoy a truly simple pleasure. The day captivated me with birdsong and sunshin

A Writer's Prayer for You

Megan DiMaria

Jan 9, 2018
1 min

A Writer's Prayer for You

We're into the new year. So many folks are clinging to resolutions and goals. Myself? I like to start the year with a prayer—one I'm happy to share with you. It's important to stay focused, press on, and have a sense of hope. For me, the best way to do that is through prayer. Keep moving forward, keep writing, keep praying! And as you continue your writer's journey, remember: Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading. ~Oswald Chamb

Have a little fun, and check out these unusual word facts.

Megan DiMaria

Oct 24, 2017
1 min

Have a little fun, and check out these unusual word facts.

This post serves no purpose other than to allow people a moment to say, "Hmm." And sometimes that's a good thing. Enjoy! 'Stewardesses' is the longest word typed with only the left hand. And 'lollipop' is the longest word typed with your right hand. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple. 'Dreamt' is the only English word that ends in the letters 'mt'. The sentence: 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog' uses every letter of the

Want to know what your problem is?

Megan DiMaria

Oct 17, 2017
2 min

Want to know what your problem is?

I'm one of those folks who seem to be able to strike up unusual conversations with strangers. Today I was thinking about this encounter from a few years ago. Could this snippet end up in a novel? Perhaps. “Want to know what your problem is?” The voice came from my right. I turned to find a pleasant-looking woman smiling at me, waiting for my response to her question. Her voice held both confidence and compassion. Having never been approached by a stranger with such an interes

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