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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.

Why being kind is good for you and others—especially now!

Megan DiMaria

May 19, 2020
2 min

Why being kind is good for you and others—especially now!

A moment please, and a word about biding your tongue and minding your manners. I think we've all lost patience with the world since COVID-19 appeared. I know I have. Not surprisingly, social media has gotten ugly. If you don't agree with someone's opinion, then you're given all kinds of nasty labels. I tend to stay away from controversy and conflict, so you'll rarely see angry rants on my wall. it's time to simply step away, avert your eyes. You won't change their opinion, an

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

Why authors (and everyone else) need to be on their best behavior

Megan DiMaria

May 14, 2019
2 min

Why authors (and everyone else) need to be on their best behavior

In today’s world, a careless word or Tweet can circle the globe faster than a shooting star can light up the heavens. We move in a hyper-aware society, and it’s best to err on the side of kindness. As in, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Just recently, an author awaiting release of her debut novel found out that words put out into the ether can have unforeseen consequences. This author had posted a picture and a comment on Twitter to shame a

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

Do you long for peace, too?

Megan DiMaria

Jan 22, 2019
2 min

Do you long for peace, too?

I don't know about you, but I think the world has become a harsher, less kind place in the past few years. It truly wears on my heart. Lately, I've been thinking about a slip of paper I discovered about a decade ago. It was folded inside the pages of my mother's prayer book. I believe that the prayer was written in the early 1940s, during World War II. I think about it because that prayer is still pertinent today. It was titled A Prayer for Peace: Lord Jesus Christ, our Sover

Megan DiMaria

Jan 15, 2019
4 min

Keys to creating a happy marriage

What were you doing 40 years ago last Saturday? I was starting the rest of my life. At the time, I thought I was all grown up. But looking back, I was so young, only 23 years old. I probably wasn’t unusual in not realizing exactly what I was agreeing to when I said, “I do.” Who knows what the future holds? I was in love. Still am. I was seeking a grand adventure. Got that! I was looking for a happily ever after. Got that too. However, since then I’ve realized happily ever aft

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

Why boundaries are necessary for writers

Megan DiMaria

Oct 23, 2018
4 min

Why boundaries are necessary for writers

Did you know that boundaries are good for writers? If you want to be a writer, there’s no getting away from the fact that you have to write. And to write, you need time and space to create and complete your project. People often don’t understand when a writer in their life chooses to sit by themselves and tap out a story on their computer instead of ____________. You fill in the blank: watch a movie, meet for coffee, go for a walk, go out to dinner, play a board game, etc. Re

A pep talk for when it feels like you're not succeeding.

Megan DiMaria

Oct 9, 2018
1 min

A pep talk for when it feels like you're not succeeding.

Do you ever feel like all your efforts to make your dream come true are for naught? Do you sometimes feel like you've done enough, tried your hardest, and you want to give up? Don't! Life is hard. Schedules get tangled. The pressures and tasks you face each day can just about do you in. It feels like there are more tasks to do than there are hours in the day to accomplish them. Sometimes it feels like you've stumbled and you're not getting any traction moving toward to your g

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

An open letter to a discouraged writer

Megan DiMaria

Aug 21, 2018
1 min

An open letter to a discouraged writer

I'm fortunate to be able to attend writers' events and to strike up friendships with lots of other authors. I've noticed though, that in every group there's at least one writer who is questioning their their efforts—writers who are wondering if they should continue. I'm pleased to offer some encouragement to ponder: Dear friend, Don’t give up your dream of writing. Because we are all different, your unique perspective is important. The way you expound on a theme is important.

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 5

Megan DiMaria

Jul 24, 2018
3 min

Guideposts for a writer's journey, part 5

Welcome! We have been 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 S

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

What writers can learn from Food Network TV chefs

Megan DiMaria

May 22, 2018
2 min

What writers can learn from Food Network TV chefs

Do you watch any food competition shows? You know, the ones were chefs compete against each other to make the best dish? There are a few I occasionally watch: Guy’s Grocery Games, Beat Bobby Flay, and Iron Chef. All of the chefs on the shows have been around for a while, they have already learned their craft and have perfected their style. Many of them work at highly rated restaurants and have all kinds of awards and honors to attest to their culinary skills. They cook their

How to move from dreaming of writing TO BEING a writer.

Megan DiMaria

May 8, 2018
2 min

How to move from dreaming of writing TO BEING a writer.

So you want to be a writer? Then write! Too many people want to write, talk about writing, and dream of writing. I was in writers' groups with "writers" who never seemed to produce. They frustrated me, and probably themselves, too. I guess wanting and dreaming is a starting point, but at some time you've got to move from wanting to write, talking about writing, and dreaming of writing to the actual work of writing. I dreamed of writing long before I sat down to a keyboard and

Nine simple morning strategies to help you win the day!

Megan DiMaria

Apr 24, 2018
3 min

Nine simple morning strategies to help you win the day!

I'm always on the lookout for fresh ideas and clever tactics to help make my life easier. However, one thing that I know I do well is mornings. That wasn't always the case. But as I've matured, I realized that to have a successful day, you need to build off of a successful morning. Strategy #1: Get enough sleep and have your clothes ready and waiting Make sure you're getting enough sleep every night. Believe me, I know that sometime's it's difficult to put that book down or

What it's like to switch from editing to writing mode again

Megan DiMaria

Apr 10, 2018
1 min

What it's like to switch from editing to writing mode again

After revising my completed manuscript (which was a big job), I’m excited to switch gears and head back into writing mode. I’m one quarter the way through my current wip (work in progress), so my story's fairly fleshed out, and I'm raring to go. Honestly, it’s a bit disorienting to leave my story set (mostly) in 1969, as well as the 16th, 17th, 19th, early 20th, and 21st Centuries behind and slip into another time, another setting, and pick up with different characters. I’m e

How challenges can be a gift from God

Megan DiMaria

Mar 20, 2018
2 min

How challenges can be a gift from God

The past few days have been lovely—warm and sunny. People have been breaking out their sandals and wearing T-shirts without jackets around here. Sunday night we had a beautiful snow storm with h-u-g-e flakes. Monday morning we woke to a winter wonderland! I've been delighted to see my tulips pushing through winter's barrier. I noticed them springing from the rock-clad earth in their emerald majesty, asserting their desire to grow and bloom. But now they've hit a snag, or so i

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