Fifteen Things by Susan Barclay

From DraCat on Pixabay

This month’s prompt asks us to identify ten things we will be doing in the last four months of 2026. Whether short-term goals, intentional practices, writing tasks, or other, the idea is to put into words our hopes, dreams, or current reality.


As a full-time caregiver to my elderly mom who lives with us, at first I was daunted by the request to come up with ten things. When I thought about it, however, it was actually pretty easy.

1. I will continue to give care for as long as necessary/feasible. Admittedly, because caregiving is difficult and my mom doesn’t seem to be getting any better (or progress is extremely slow), I pray that God will be merciful to her and to us in this season.

2. I’ll continue to participate in two in-person book clubs and read a minimum of two books per month.

3. I’ll continue to participate in the life of my church through our small group and the 55+ ministry.

4. I’ll continue to exercise daily, a practice I began on July 6 this year, after neglecting self-care far too long. I strength train my arms every other day and do some form of cardio as well as focus on core and posture every day.

5. My husband and I have been wanting to take ballroom dance classes for some time now. This fall is the year! I will complete an 8 week session (two classes are already behind us). Before this we were kitchen dancers only! We will see what we become. So far, so-so.

6. I’ll continue to help my daughter and her fiancé plan for their wedding.

7. My husband and I will get away for our 33rd wedding anniversary. Only for 24 hours or so, but any getaway is a blessing.

8. My high school is celebrating its 90th anniversary this fall. Having missed the 75th anniversary and most class reunions, I already have my ticket for the 6-hour event. Looking forward to seeing some “old” and friendly faces from just a “few” years ago.

9. I’ll complete my Christmas shopping on time and on budget.

10. I’ll try to stick to a house cleaning regimen.

11. I’ll try to limit scrolling to 15 minutes a day by setting a timer.

12. I’ll try to drink 16 oz of water a day. I know this is much less than the recommended amount, but it’s a realistic amount for me since I tend not to drink more than 4 oz. Unless you count coffee, tea, and juice!

13. My husband I usually read the Bible and a devotional before bed when we are exhausted and yawning. My plan is to shift this to the morning when we are more alert. Reading the Word early sets the tone for the rest of the day.

14. I’ll continue to pray continuously. And finally,

15. I’ll keep writing monthly posts for Inscribe Writers Online. It’s the one writing activity I can currently manage.

And there you have it – a list of 15 things when I was daunted by the thought of ten. You might say I got carried away. Only time will prove how successful I am, but in writing it all down I feel a certain measure of accountability and resolve. I also feel that there’s room for grace in the things I will try to do. I am just one person. I am only human. I’ll take it one day at a time.

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For more about Susan Barclay and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com

Goals Within My Soul by Alan Anderson

 

Writing Prompt

When I think of setting goals, whether long-term or short-term, I clothe them in a blanket of hope. As I pondered the prompt for this month, it moved me deep inside. I cannot fully explain why, but perhaps my response here will give at least some idea of what is going on inside my soul.

My Inner Landscape

A personal goal for this writer is to nurture my inner landscape to concentrate on peace, hope, beauty, and whatever things are lovely. This might sound lofty, but please allow me to explain in the rest of this post.

One of my favourite writers, the late John O’Donohue said,

“When we awaken to the call of beauty, we become aware of new ways of being in the world. We were created to be creators. At its deepest heart, creativity is meant to serve and evoke beauty. When this desire and capacity come alive, new wells spring up in parched ground; difficulty becomes invitation and rather than striving against the grain of our nature, we fall into rhythm with its deepest urgency and passion. The time is now ripe for beauty to surprise and liberate us…” ¹

I appreciate John O’Donohue’s statement, so included it as part of one of my goals. I pray, dear readers, you will accept my reasoning for highlighting O’Donohue’s words.

I am disheartened at the direction our culture in the West has taken. Especially in the last ten years or so, there has been such a division among people. For instance, people have invented the term “hate speech” to use when they disagree with each other. I just don’t understand such flawed reasoning. People act “offended” if something opposes their sensitive feelings. Lord have mercy on us.

Beauty, loveliness, and peace appear overshadowed by misguided views on life. A society where everyone does that which is right in their own eyes curtails even hope.

I pray to God I will no longer follow the foolishness of the world, but in my small way, will be an agent for change. May groups like InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship allow beauty to surprise and liberate us, to the glory of God.

With the previous statements in mind, I come to another goal of like mind.

Social Media

I plan to reduce my involvement with so-called “social” media platforms. To me, scrolling on Facebook and the like has no value or edification. I can stay in contact with people I care about through email, or even better, personal contact. I hope that I can stay in contact, for instance, with InScribe members through email. I don’t know of InScribe members close to where I live, but perhaps in time more will be up and coming.

My Website and Substack

For the sake and purpose of much of my writing, I will develop more of a presence on my website and Substack. Lord willing, Substack will remain useful to serious writers.

Self-advocacy

Self-advocate for myself regarding chronic health conditions I now live with. I need to maintain good health to move my writing forward. A reason for this self-advocacy is that I conclude through experience not everything health professionals tell me is helpful.

Grandparent grief

I also intend to devote more of my writing projects to being a voice for grandparent grief. For instance, I hope to publish my book, Forgotten Voices: Poetic Utterances of Grandparent Grief and Hope, in 2027.

A Need for personal interaction

A goal for the year 2027 is to make regular connections with InScribe writers and other writers locally. I will also ask my local church community if anyone would like to be part of a church-based writing group.

Orthodox Christian Church

Write an essay on the conversion of my wife and I to the Orthodox Christian Church and post it on Substack. After forty years as Baptists, being embraced by the Orthodox Church has come with no regrets. The depth of this ancient Church is a balm to our souls, and we rejoice now even more in the faithfulness and grace of God. Glory to God in all things!

InScribe

I thank God for being part of InScribe for the past eleven years. I look forward to continuing with you all as we write and offer ministry to each other and our readers.



Citations
¹O’Donohue, John (Beauty: The Invisible Embrace, NY: Harper Collins Publishers, 2004), 7.

 

In Deroche, a small farming village area of British Columbia, Alan shares his home with his wife, Terry, and their poodle, Charlie. Alan and Terry are grandparents of six grandchildren plus five grandbabies in heaven. Alan enjoys walking on the dike near his home, with trees all around and where he finds inspiration to write. In summer, however, he loves to hide in the shade from the warm summer sun. Alan is more of a friend of fall. He has occasionally written articles for FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship blog. Alan’s website and blog are https://scarredjoy.ca. He also writes on Substack.

Finishing Strong by Steph Beth Nickel

Crossfit Sports Fitness - Free photo on Pixabay

Although it has been several decades since September meant back-to-school to me, I still see the ninth month of the year as a new beginning of sorts.

And an ending.

September marks the end of summer. The end of Q3, the third quarter of the year. And for me personally, the end my daughter's move west. (We took the remainder of her belongings to her on the long weekend.)

When I return home from Saskatchewan, Q4 will be just around the corner.

My plans to finish the year strong include goals that may be an encouragement to you as well.

Writing and Revising

One of my top priorities is to complete revisions to the book I'm coauthoring with Paralympian Deb Willows.

I also intend to choose 30 of the 40+ devotionals on the Gospel of John that I've written and prep them for indie publication.

Additionally, I want to get back to writing and posting a chapter of my YA novel to Substack each week. I have posted more than half the manuscript to the platform so far. I would like to get this draft complete by the end of the year.

Are you currently working on any writing projects? Remember to carve out time to work on them. Unless we do so, there are countless things that can distract us from our writing and writing-related endeavours. Crucial things like laundry, dishes, and vacuuming. <sigh>

Editing

I have openings in my editing schedule and will prioritize any projects I take on this quarter.

Do you have obligations to complete for others? Setting aside specific time in your schedule and making note of externally or internally imposed deadlines will likely help you stay on track. 

Researching

I have an abundance of courses and books that have been long-neglected. My goal is to work on skills development from three to five times per week. I especially need to focus on the steps of indie publishing.

Do you regularly work on skills development, or do you find the abundance of material overwhelming and confusing? Why not choose a skill that will help you right here, right now, and set aside time to read a book on the subject, take a relevant course (which you may already have in your digital library), or listen to a related podcast?

Non-Writing Goals

Like all writers, I have several seemingly unrelated tasks to accomplish. (However, we all know that pretty much anything we do can have a bearing on our writing and spark ideas for current or future projects.)

Here are three things I hope to accomplish before the end of 2026:

Assist my hubby as he finishes renoing the house in preparation for putting it on the market in the spring of 2027.

Continue developing healthy habits in preparation for my blood work in October. (My numbers aren't dangerously high, but they do need attention.)

Devote more time to Bible study and prayer and (far) less to scrolling on my phone. 

Do you have non-writing goals that are achievable by December 31? Why not choose a couple and break each one down into bite-sized chunks so you, too, can finish 2026 strong.

Steph Beth Nickel is the former Editor of FellowScript and the outgoing InScribe Contest Coordinator. Steph is an editor and author and plans to relocate to Saskatchewan from Ontario to be close to family in 2027, Lord willing. (Headshot Photo Credit: Jaime Mellor Photography)

Reflections on Planning by Sandi Somers

 

As I moved into the fall season this year, I began to pray in detail over each area that needs to be completed by Christmas. In my recent reading of our pastor’s sermon on Nehemiah, I rediscovered some principles for planning and preparation. 

First priority: we don't do anything until we take it to the Lord in prayer.

God often waits to answer until we ask Him in prayer (James 4:2).

Trust God. God can do what we cannot.

Always give God recognition first—gratitude for what He'll do.

Ask: “In what small way do You want me to accomplish something in Your kingdom?”

Launch yourself in God's direction and do what God calls you to do. 

The important key in light of this blog post is to keep my eyes focused on the Lord and His purpose and plans in what Matt Bell called “art life and lived life.”[i]  

Art Life:

My overall writing goal is to continue building a larger body of work.

Finish draft of my second book.    Continue engagement with InScribe—local writers’ group, write for monthly IWO, quarterly FS. Marketing/advertising for my first book—other authors have been great examples, and I’m receiving prompts from the Lord.

Lived Life:

·       House and garden. Complete fall garden work—planting any spring flowers/bulbs, cleanup by end of October when the ground freezes. Winter—focus on house tasks of sorting, organizing clutter, recycling extras, (continuous throughout winter)—I’ve asked the Lord to confirm the upgrading needs in my house. Work towards order. 

·       Relationships. Spend more time contacting others. Continue relationship with the Lord through continued Bible study, prayer. (The Lord brings so many ideas for writing through my time with Him.) 

·       Ministry areas. Continue volunteering at church. Lead monthly local writers’ group. Participate in our InScribe local group’s November 20 event, “Invitation to Wonder”. 

·       Contingency plans. Allow for unexpected events, emergencies, or health issues that may upend any plans. 

·       Relaxation. Attend monthly Christian Women’s Breakfasts (weather permitting). Enjoy my yard and garden. Walk. Read. Slot in weekly artist’s dates (to engage the senses—drive into the country, take photos, visit a friend, etc). Discover and journal a daily highlight. 

·       Celebrations with gratitude. Honour accomplishments, both small and major. Honour the Lord in all I do.

Some items in this list can look daunting. The Lord knows what plans are feasible and will guide me. This reading from In Touch Ministries challenged me:

“Following God often takes us through unfamiliar territory, but He is faithful to lead us into His good plans…When God challenges us beyond our self-determined limits, He isn’t testing us—He’s inviting us into a higher level of trust…Each new step of surrender is an opportunity to experience His faithfulness in ways we haven’t yet imagined.”[ii]

I conclude with a quote from Ezra which challenges all of us: “I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me” (Ezra 7:28 ESV).

 

Image by Pixabay

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[i] Matt Bell, (Refuse to be Done, NY: Soho Press, 2022), 27-31. 

[ii] https://www.intouchcanada.org/read/daily-devotions#:~:text=Growing%20in%20Trust,September%207%2C%202026 

Sandi Somers’ writing passion is to help readers grow their faith in Jesus, including their vision of what God wants them to be and do. She writes of her love of nature, gardening, travel, and family in several genres—devotionals, personal essays, and Biblical fiction. Sandi lives in Calgary, Alberta, the delightful city between the Rocky Mountains and the Prairies.