Brought to You by Your Blog Moderators: The Gift of a Comment

Reading blog articles and leaving comments in

response can become a conversation between friends.

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As bloggers, we publish our latest blog post, and then we hope someone will read it and leave a comment in response. It's part of what makes blogging attractive - writers can receive almost immediate feedback on pieces to which they've poured their hearts into.

When it's our turn to compose short, meaningful comments for other writers, there are times when it's harder than it ought to be. Sometimes it's easier to click away and not bother. No doubt, we've probably all received remarks so insipid as to be disappointing—maybe from people who didn't know what to say—phrases like: 'Great read', 'Nice photo', or 'Interesting topic'. Although they appear positive, they leave an empty feeling or no feeling at all. In using such generic phrases, there is no indication the piece was even read. There is no sense of any connection, the reader having left nothing of him or herself in those too-general words.

Of course, we understand time constraints and those moments when our creativity is taking a nap. In our busy world, it's certainly not about leaving comments on every single piece we read. That's impossible. But when a piece has touched us, that's when we should use our few valuable minutes to say so.

I often remind myself to be generous with both my time and my feedback, especially if I see the writer could use a bit of encouragement. I've been learning to cultivate the art of composing tiny gifts of short but meaningful comments. Here are three tips I've found helpful for those times I felt lost for words:

1. Rather than making a general comment about the post, focus on one or two details that catch your attention. It may be a particular sentence, a turn of phrase, a verse alluded to, a line of prose so artfully written its beauty gives you goosebumps.

2. Look for common ground: similar experiences, books you read, or favourite songs. Perhaps you realize you share similar ‘soapbox’ topics…or completely different ones. Mention what it is that you connect to, if it uplifts, challenges, or comforts, etc.

3. There are the times somebody else has already said what you wanted to say. Don't think your similar comment doesn't matter. Of course it does - great minds think alike and all that. Do a synonym search of some of the words already used. Google is good at coughing up other great descriptors that can help you form your own lovely new comment.

Comments on blog posts are gifts – ones you offer in return for the piece you just read. Go ahead, leave your 'footprint' in the comment box, and make a heart connection today. Your comment could very well be the reason someone returns to his or her desk encouraged to write something soul satisfying for you to read next time.

–written by Brenda Leyland

Sprouts of Possibilities by Carol Harrison

 

As I reflect on the year to date for my writing, I find I’ve accomplished very little. At times I think nothing has been written and yet I did submit three pieces to anthologies and one was accepted for publication. The other two I am waiting to hear about. That shows me some progress has been made. I know I wrote each month for Inscribe Writers Online and that shows me some progress as well. Yet there were times of nothing being written, no projects on the go, and no desire to start a new one. I question which direction I am supposed to go in this season of less writing activity. Should I begin a new larger project? Should I write shorter pieces and search for places to submit them? Maybe I should just journal for my own benefit. Many questions that have found no answer at this point.

This month’s prompt asked if I was still encouraged to continue writing and I must admit that on many days, I am not. I wonder if I should forget about trying to write and yet the journal calls my name on many days. It is a place to pour out the thoughts, activities, and yes the frustrations of the day.

Before he passed my husband, Brian, challenged me to write several different things. I started on both of them and now they sit. Unfinished. One is very challenging and an emotional journey I am not quite ready to continue on. The other is more for fun and yet I haven’t looked at it in two years. Maybe now I could return to it with fresh eyes and see where it leads.

One thing I will continue to work on this fall is stories from my life that will be printed, bound, and given to my grandchildren for Christmas. Many days I find it difficult to work on these without Brian here to bounce ideas off of and share memories with and yet that shouldn’t stop me from continuing on what has now become a tradition for the grandchildren. They expect to find another booklet of stories as their Christmas gift. I don’t want to disappoint them and so that encourages me to continue writing at least that and the Inscribe blog post. I better get busy working on writing those stories as there are not many months left until Christmas. Maybe there are still a few sprouts of possibilities in the rest of the year.

 

Carol Harrison lives in Saskatoon, SK and is attempting to figure out where to go next in this writing journey.

Begin Again by Sharon Heagy

Some of the hills on my walk with Norman the dog.

"There once was a man named Michael Finnegan

He grew whiskers on his chin-egan

The wind came up and blew them in again.

Poor old Michael Finnegan. Begin again.

(public domain)

This is the tune that popped into my head when I read the prompt and began to think about writing this piece. That lead to making sure the song was under public domain, which somehow led me to listen to some new worship songs, which led me to thinking about the song my friend wanted to have played at her funeral, which led me to text her and ask her for the name of said song because I was drawing a blank, which led her to ask me if I knew something she didn't. I said no. Then I took the dog for a walk.

Then I came home and avoided sitting down to write this post, doing menial tasks and cleaning up loose ends I'd left undone for a while. Then I sat down and began again, out of excuses, and here we are.

The last eight and half months to a year have been a lot like that. Off and on, stop and go, up and down. Yet sitting in my favourite writing spot with pen and paper or keyboard and screen, remains one of the happiest places on earth to me. I am examining why I tend to avoid it.

Often writing seems like a decadent indulgence due to the immense joy I find while scribbling down the ideas, phrases and words that swirl around in that wrinkled walnut looking part of my brain. Even the more challenging parts of the writing process bring me joy. The joy, true joy, has a single Source yet it is twofold. The One who created me gave me the gift, and, He writes with me. No decadence there, only sacredness. And it's all grace.

The scrutiny of my avoidance will continue and perhaps provide fodder for a future post.

One thing I have accomplished this year was to write down some concrete goals. For a while I had more goals than a famous NHL hockey player. They needed to be narrowed down and attainable. I'm not going to write the great American novel. I'm not even American! Maybe a great Canadian novel, someday, but that's not one of the current objectives.

Some goals on the list have been accomplished. One was to continue monthly submissions to this blog as it fuels my fire. The realization that this December will be my 60th blog post kind of blew me away. I still feel like such a rookie!

Two writer's groups, both InScribe inspired, have kindly accepted me into their folds. Both help me to keep trying and to never give up. They give me accountability as well as encouragement.

The guardians of FellowScript have graciously published several columns I have submitted. I would encourage all members to submit their work. It is a wonderful venue for publishing experience and the folks that read it are writers just like you. It's been very good for me and I highly recommend it. My thanks to all who work to make each issue a reality and special thanks to Tracy Krauss for her steadfast encouragement.

Then I did a thing. A scary thing. It's not pretty but it's out there. I started a blog of my own. For others to read if they happen to stumble across it, but more for experience and discipline. Both are lacking in my writing life lately. The process has left me a little lost as I am befuddled on how to navigate the site. Next goal is to find a tutorial. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

There seems to be some forward motion in my writing life that I didn't even realize was there until I started reflecting on this month's prompt. Thanks, Lorrie and Brenda. This is a good thing. A God thing. Praying He will continue to lead me and to lead you as we forge ahead together.

Sharon Heagy writes from the small but vibrant town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan which is nestled in the valley near the Burning Hills. She writes to inspire and give hope with a chuckle or two along the way.

So Many Beginnings by Steph Beth Nickel

Photo Credit: Steph Beth Nickel

When considering today's topic, the verses that immediately came to mind were Lamentations 3:22-23, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (ESV).


Aren't you glad these verses are true? But how do they apply to new beginnings?

We all need His mercy each and every day. It enables us to begin projects . . . and begin them again as needed.

Perhaps you're like me and want to begin one or more of the following endeavours (or begin them again):

Prepare Manuscripts to Self-Publish

I have countless ideas for books I would like to indie publish: from picture books to devotionals, from YA spec fiction to women's fiction.

This month I intend to make significant headway with my devotional on the Gospel of John and my YA spec fiction manuscripts, working on each 2-3 times per week.

Move It, Move It

I have been walking more with my hubby, but I want to add resistance training to my schedule.

I really do enjoy exercising once I get started, but it's the starting that I find a challenge.

Eat More Healthfully

I enjoy eating healthy foods. I simply have to keep more fruits and veggies in the house and look up new recipes so I don't fall into the same old-same old "rut" when it comes to meal planning.

Decluttering / Prepare for Our Move

Again, it's a matter of doing a little almost every day. By doing so, it will also make space for the home renos we want to do before putting the house on the market.

This month, we plan to hold a yard sale and get rid of several items. And those that don't sell will be carted off to a local thrift store.

Prepare for My Homegoing

For some of us, this may sound morbid, something we want to avoid. But considering all the email and social media accounts and all the recurring online subscriptions I have, it's important that I make sure those I leave behind have ready access.

Thankfully, the decluttering will address the issue of my "stuff."

***

These are only five of the things I want to begin again this season. In order to succeed, I must do more than add them to my daily To-Do list. I must break them down into small, achievable tasks and keep moving forward.

And when I fail to achieve all I want to?

I must, once again, depend on God's daily mercies and begin yet again.

I'd love to know what you're beginning or beginning again this month. Feel free to leave a comment below or email me at stephbethnickel@gmail.com

Steph Beth Nickel is the former Editor of FellowScript and the current InScribe Contest Coordinator. Steph is an editor and author and plans to relocate to Saskatchewan from Ontario to be close to family in 2026. (Headshot Photo Credit: Jaime Mellor Photography)

Writing Stories, Living Life, Writing Blogs by Sandra Rafuse

 

Photo by Sandra Rafuse

September's Prompt

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

It is a wonderful promise of God that each day is a new beginning to experience his faithfulness. As autumn activities start afresh in churches and schools, September can be a time to reflect on how the previous months have gone and to set new intentions for the months ahead. How has your writing life progressed thus far in 2025? Are you encouraged to move ahead?


The first week of September is over. Our church will be wrapping up its summer season at the park in one more week. Then the water will be shut off to all the park facilities (the water in the pool will be just drained enough so the water is below the intake lines; the rest is left over in the winter months), and our church services will be held back at the town hall for the rest of the fall and winter months up to the May long weekend in 2026.

The new school term began two weeks ago for the teachers and one week ago for the students. My husband, Bob, and I, have been taking care of the flowers in the flower containers in the schoolyard since the end of July and we will continue to do so as long as the weather stays warm. Then the outside water tap will be shut off and our deadheading and watering of the flowers will end. And the crab apple tree, which was planted in the school yard several years ago in memory of a former student of ours, remains bent over with hundreds of now overripe crab apples that will drop to the ground when they are ready.

Writing Stories

I'm remembering writing one of my final English exams, sitting at a desk in the high school gym one June many years ago. English was one of my favourite subjects and I was good at it. I recall that I was answering a question that required me to write a short story and I was trying to make it humorous. I figured I was being successful because I was starting to get the giggles as I wrote. I thought to myself, "Oh, this is going to be so good!" Soon my shoulders were starting to shake and I had to cover my mouth with one of my hands to stifle the sounds of laughter that were building up inside of me. Of course I was attracting some attention from the other students around me and soon one of the supervising teachers came over to see what was up. He was my Social Studies teacher. He looked over my writing; then he indicated, with a finger to his lips, that I had better be quiet as I wrote. I got a good mark on that final exam and I believe it was because of that humorous, fun-to-write story.

Making up and completing writing assignments in classes usually came easily to me. In high school or at university, they weren't a problem. In fact, the only problem I had with them was forever procrastinating over the assignments before getting them started. And then, when the pressure was on, I wrote down some of the best writing I'd ever done!

Living Life

When I finished university and received my Bachelor of Education degree, I immediately entered the world of teaching. Writing, either for pleasure, or to try to make a living at, or for any other reason, never had a place in my mind. The skills I had developed and used faded out of my life. I was busy, busy, busy; living my life doing so many other things. But all the things that unfolded before me, all the people who entered my life and stayed and all those who entered my life and left, were important. I didn't write but I remembered and all those memories are my stories now.

How has my writing progressed in 2025?

When I joined Inscribe Writers Online I was excited to have the opportunity to write for the first time in many years. I wanted to try this. I needed to do this. And I feel the writing has gone well My first blog was published in March and I have been able to meet my deadlines every month since then. There were a few times when I looked at the month's prompt and I wondered what on earth was I ever going to write about that? But I knew I could ask God for help and he would give me the ideas I needed. The thoughts would come into my mind and get me started and I was mostly able to carry on from there to get the blog written. Admittedly, much rewriting, and changing of words and sentences, and endless editing went on the whole time. Not to mention looking up the grammar rules I used to know and even checking out spelling rules that were once easy to remember. And last, but certainly not least, the comments were so helpful and encouraging to me. I enjoy reading the comments for all the bloggers. The sharing of them is just wonderful.

Am I encouraged to move ahead?

I am. I have started to make a list of topics that I would like to write about in the near future. It's a short list but I expect it will grow longer. And the other day, three titles came to my mind so I started a new list for them. They are book titles. Children's book titles perhaps. I'm not sure yet. I know I want to work on my daily writing. I had planned to try recording the 3-4 sentences daily that were suggested by Steph Beth Nickel but I haven't been able to make that happen. However, I refuse to be discouraged. I have no doubt in my mind that as soon as I buy the fountain pen in the picture at the top of Steph's blog the creative juices will start to flow and I will quickly jump from the amateur writer that I am to a slightly more professional one.

Sandra Rafuse lives in the small town of Rockglen, SK with her husband Bob, a Gordon Setter named Sadie, an elderly and much loved cat named Kitty, and a Peregrine falcon named Peet. She is a retired teacher and an amateur writer and is enjoying having the opportunity to share what God has been teaching her through her life experiences.

" This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him" 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)

 

My Writing Life Looks a Lot Like My Lawn by Bob Jones

The other day, I came inside with dirt on my hands and grass seed stuck to my shoes after one more attempt to fix the dead spots in our lawn before winter.

Jocelyn and I had been away most of the summer, and when we returned, our yard told the story of our absence: a patchwork of healthy green mixed with deathly grey. And of course, my perfection seeking eyes went straight to the grey.

On the bright side, the lawn is weed-free—thanks to the lawn company I hired. But the grass itself? Not so lucky. Earlier in the season, I’d patched and seeded with new growth, but weeks of drought while we were gone undid all that progress.

Jocelyn insists it doesn’t look as bad as I think. Maybe she’s right. But when I see the grey patches, all I can think about is fixing them.

The Secret

So, one more time, I dig, remove some old earth, spread fresh topsoil, scatter seed, sprinkle fertilizer, cover it gently with more topsoil, water, pray, and water again. The secret to new grass isn’t complicated: keep the soil moist.

And somewhere between watering the ground and brushing the dirt from my hands, it hit me: my writing life in 2025 looks a lot like my lawn.

There are spots of vibrant growth—moments I’m proud of. And there are patches that look deathly and barren. And just like grass needs water, my writing needs reading.

A Watered Soul

Reading other writers waters my soul. I soak up your subjects, your styles, and your sticky phrases.

· Brenda, your phrase about memoir writing as "a lifetime in a timeline" gave me writers envy.

· Susan, your poetic confession, "I am being reduced" carried surprising strength in its surrender.

· Sharon, your description of a favourite author’s ability to "wake up my gray cells." made me grin.

Encouraged

The prompt asked whether I feel encouraged to keep writing. Without a doubt. I'll keep working on my lawn and my writing because I want to be proud of what is produced.

And I reflect on God’s promise in the prompt:

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions

never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

—Lamentations 3:22-23

God loves us—even when we’re our own worst critics. Maybe the best gift we can give ourselves is a little compassion. Compassion is like morning dew: quiet, renewing, faithful.

A daily grace that waters a writer's soul.

 

Bob and Jocelyn are both REVs and write at www.REVwords.com about hope and lately about the people they encountered in Ukraine.

One Unfinished Project: Starting Again by Brenda Leyland

"To do it, you have to do it."

Susan Branch

 

There's nothing quite so daunting as picking up an old unfinished project. The word 'unfinished' gives our inner gut an unsettled feeling. And staring at a listless dog-eared pile (paper or digital) certainly doesn't encourage any kind of inspiration. If you've ever left a craft project undone, like counted cross-stitch, you'll know what I mean. You reach in the bag to find a jumble of supplies of thread and yarn (you're certain you never left it in such a state). First you peer with squinty eyes at the pattern to figure out where you left off, then you try to locate the exact spot on your half-stitched canvas where to ply the needle. It's doable. Just starting is half the battle.

We all know it's no easier for writers to pull out an old project with its various drafts and piles of tattered notes. Even if we might still have a desire to finish it, we've probably lost that first flush of excitement. In our mind's eye, it's old hat. As my dear friend's daughter Karla said, "[We] have to be reinspired to see the old content in a new and fresh way".

I need to be reinspired for a certain project that comes to mind.

In my last post HERE I mentioned a memoir that had percolated in my heart for numerous years before I started it the autumn of 2013. I had read Lisa Dale Norton's memoir writing book Shimmering Images, contacted her in California and signed up to take her memoir writing course. I learned a lot. Looking back, what I should have done at that point was to take advantage of her editorial services and further instruction. But I unwisely thought I could do it myself (resources being at a premium at the time). I spent 30 days gathering the memories and writing them down, also doing research from old journals. I had around 40,000 words. In May 2014, I went on a writers' retreat to work on it and received encouraging support from other writers. On my own, indecision, still unclear of what all I would include, and never settling on how to proceed got me tangled up (like those yarns and threads I mentioned earlier). I worked away on it here and there but having never undertaken such a large writing project—I was a blogger at heart—it all felt too big.

Until 2018, at which point Joy Bailey and I joined forces and became writing buddies. We were going to help each other get our writing projects done. We used as our how-to manual the book by Cary Tennis and Danelle Morton Finishing School: The Happy Ending to That Writing Project You Can't Seem to Get Done. Work plans were made; due dates were scheduled. We agreed to check in with each other once a week. Reviewing each other's work wasn't part of the plan, it was just to have some accountability to one another. Oh, and we'd send text 'pings!' when we started each day's work. We were on a roll. We met our writing goals. We were making progress. In this new restart, by this time I had mulled enough on my memoir that I had a clear idea of where I was going with it. I had chapter outlines, and several chapters had good drafts now done. It should have been clear sailing, right?

Then other things crowded in, those life events that happen to many of us; plans got railroaded. Joy and I still made weekly goals, but they grew smaller as we tried to fit our writing around all the other needful things going on. Things like health issues for ourselves and for family members, moving and building a new home for one of us, living through a global pandemic, family emergencies. Sometimes all the energy we had on check in day was to say, we got little done, but we're still here, hoping for better writing days ahead.

By this time it's 2022 and the project was on a slow burn to fizzling out. The desire to keep working faded. Maybe it had disappeared into the pandemic ether. Although the lockdowns and different life patterns during this time inspired many people to create new work, I was not one of them. Inspiration was near zero, as was the sense of urgency to get written what had lived bright in my heart for nearly a decade. Whose idea was this, I never really wanted to write a book, did I? I finally admitted to Joy this last spring that maybe the season to write this memoir had passed, and I didn't know if I wanted to start again.

But God... (as Connie Inglis has been known to say).

Fast forward to August 2025. Our blog's writing prompt happened to be about the seasons of life and writing. I hadn't planned to write a guest post for it, but I felt drawn to consider doing so (it's the one I mentioned earlier HERE). Publishing the post and receiving kindly feedback from readers, I have been feeling a rising interest...with gentle tugs at my heart to revisit this stalled project. This will make it the third or fourth restart since my first attempt. As autumn surges in on the refreshing breezes, it comes with a sense of hopefulness that maybe I can start again... again. I chatted with Joy to see if she'd be up for reconvening Finishing School. Yes, she was feeling a similar resurgence of zeal. Perhaps the pair of us joining forces once again, facing the 'elements' together, we'll achieve our goal of projects finished. We pulled out the Finishing School book to refresh our minds on how to proceed.

Now, I'm asking the good Lord to reinspire us, as Karla had suggested was needed. And to give us a fresh vision on how to go forward in this current season of our lives. You see, Karla after reading my last post said she knows people who would be encouraged by my story... should I feel His urging to start again. 

This time next year, perhaps someone here will ask, "Did you finish that memoir you were working on last September?" I would like to respond, "Yes, I did!" And, maybe, even hand them my book. Fingers crossed.

(Top) Photo credit: Image by Mark from Pixabay

Brenda has been a longtime member of InScribe and is glad for this company of writers with whom she can share the writing journey. At the present time, she guest blogs here and writes regularly on her own blog It's A Beautiful Life. She can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky.

 

His Eye is On the Sparrow by Susan Barclay

 

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

This verse begins the September writing prompt for Inscribers as we are asked to reflect on our writing journey so far this year and on our plans for the remaining months.

To be honest, the last few years have been challenging in almost every area, including writing. I am content, and consider it a win, to meet the monthly deadline for these blog posts!

It seems the remainder of this year is likely to be devoted to decluttering and packing up my mom’s house. She’s finally mentally and emotionally ready to tackle it; alas, not so much physically. She’s tired all the time now, so the bulk of the work is left to me. Her house has over 60 years’ worth of accumulation. Think about that and remember that she grew up during the Depression and war years! She doesn’t want to part with much, and even though I’m the one doing the physical labour, I’m trying to honour her wishes while praying the Lord loosens her grip on things, or that they lose their grip on her.

Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us of the faithfulness of our God and that His “compassions” (in other translations His “mercies”) are new every morning. How thankful I am for these truths as I fluctuate between gratitude that I can help and support my mom (with my husband's assistance and blessing) and wishing that this “cup” would pass from me. I don’t even feel inspired to journal these days, sensing an interruption could come at any moment. Prayer is my greater focus, the spoken word I cannot do without.

One day, if Jesus tarries, I will have time to write with greater intensity and frequency, in greater quantity. For now, I yield myself to this season, letting my heart sing the words of an old hymn: “All I have needed thy hand hast provided; Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.” His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

___________________________

c. Susan Barclay, 2025. For more about Susan and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com