Heart Choices: The Power of Social Media -->

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The Power of Social Media


I'm amazed by the power of social media.  The writing life can get pretty lonely at times.  This is the view I see in the very early hours of each morning.  Working full time and trying to live my life doesn't provide many extra hours to simply sit, write and be inspired.  So I get up very early in the morning and ...write.

I was getting pretty down on myself the other day.  Have you ever had one of those days?  I didn't feel like doing anything or going anywhere.  Notice how I wrote feel.  I've been one who often says 'just do it and the feeling will follow'.  I think I learned that from one of the motivational tapes I used to listen to years ago. (Thanks Zig Ziglar and Tony Robbins.) But on this day I couldn't even manage to do what I needed to do so I could allow that feeling to follow.  It just wasn't happening.

My husband noticed that I didn't seem like my normal self.  Greg knows me so well and he's good at asking me probing questions to get to the bottom of it.  I answered with all those little things that were bothering me.  But he knew that wasn't the real crux of the matter.

I was having a hard time finishing my book.  

I began writing my book last summer.  I'd just finished reading Sarah Mae's How to Market and Sell Your eBook on my plane trip back to Phoenix from Florida.  Sarah Mae sold over 25,000 copies of her eBook 31 Days to Clean: Having a Martha House the Mary Way in two months!  Can you believe it?  And I'd just finished reading how she did it.  I knew I could do it.

I've been editing and rewriting a lot lately.  I realized I'd been feeling a bit insecure.  After all, who am I?  I've never written a book.  Sure I journaled for years and years but that's different.  I read tons of blogs.  And I read many books.  The popular authors seem to write totally different from my style.  Without realizing it, I'd changed some of my writing style to be more in sync with what people seemed to like.  I gave my husband one of the chapters to read and Greg knew right away.  He told me I had stopped writing from my heart.  We talked for some time about this and I felt so much better.  I am not an Ann Voscamp or a Margaret Feinberg.  I am Debbie and I just need to share what God has placed on my heart.  I'll trust Him with the results.

The next morning I awakened very early and began writing.  It just seemed to flow so easily.  And what I was writing came from my heart; Debbie's heart.

I was so excited so I wrote the following on my Facebook profile page:

How thankful I am to my husband Greg Petras. I was frustrated with the progress of my book. He read parts of it and told me I had stopped writing from my heart. I realized I was trying to be more like popular writers instead of being myself. I may not sell tons of books but I must be true to myself and share the stories with others with the gift God gave me. This morning I've already written almost 2,000 words.


Suddenly and right before my eyes likes and words of encouragement began to appear.  I was amazed!  Friends from work, family, childhood friends, relatives from Norway wrote comments to encourage me.  My heart was overflowing with gratefulness.  And they kept on coming...


I learned so much from all of this.  If you've started something but feel discouraged, don't quit!  I found this quote on Pinterest that fit the situation so well.



I started to write because I believed God gave me a message to share with others.  And I will not quit!

Now I'll have to leave you as I need to continue writing my book.

Blessings and love,

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Debbie Petras
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10 comments:

  1. Oh Debbie -- I too saw your comment and meant to comment back, but didn't. I also want to encourage you - and in the process, you've encouraged me as well.
    And social media? well, without it and blogging, we never would have met. I too get so much encouragement from my friends - it's immediate most of the time. Sometimes I feel that the only place I really get affirmation is in cyber world but that's another story. <3

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  2. How did I miss that? Anyway I agree and so understand. What He starts in your heart will be brought to fruition! Very inspiring...and I have a book inside me too! I look forward to seeing you walk in His will and that will be inspiration for me (and others) to also do the same! Love, blessings and hugs, Deb!

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  3. Anything from hearts...it's like a punctuation mark and I'm glad bro. Greg had seen what was missing...I pray for His wisdom to continue to guide you and encourage you for we know, that if you know deep in your heart that this is what He wants you to do, He will always be there for you. May you always be strong in His mighty power!

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  4. Hey Debbie,
    Yes, writing from the heart is the answer--and sometimes other voices seem to try to take over--

    This was a very inspiring post--I needed it.

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  5. Greg was so right! When we write from the heart, the words flow...and the words will be Debbie's words! What a blessing to have him to encourage you as well as getting the great response from your friends. Blessings, Joan

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  6. You are beautiful, from the inside out. So glad you wrote from your heart:) That's when people are always the most eloquent - and, no you're not Ann - but God didn't create you to be Ann - He needed You to bring forth Your story Your way because somebody needs it just that way!

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  7. Good for Greg! His comments were just what you needed. Sometimes our focus needs a realignment, and now you're back on track. I know your writing is going to be special Debbie. Just think of all the possibilities that never even existed when we were kids. You keep after it, it's coming! :) and I for one, can't wait to read it.

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  8. Nothing you write in some one else's style could compare to the words coming from your heart; Greg was certainly right on...I believe God puts just the people we need in any given situation right in our path to give us the encouragement or direction we need.

    He doesn't give us a dream and then not give us what to need to fulfill that dream. So I know you will write this book and I can't wait to read it.....

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  9. Dear Debbie,
    There's many lessons to learn from this blog post. The love of your husband, who was sensitive to your troubles and had the skill and courage to point out the problem when he spotted it.
    And you, for letting him "in" so that he could help.
    I'm looking forwards to the birth of your book.
    I hope it can be downloaded to iPads too. I don't have a Kindle. I went over to Sara Mae's site, but I couldn't get that book, even though it looked interesting.
    Well, where there's a will, there's a way and I am so looking forwards to reading your book, as I know your style when your writing from the heart and I like it!!

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  10. I'm writing an e-book now, also. Actually, one is written and is being edited, another lack only one chapter.

    What is your book about?

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I love to read your comments! I know you have something to share so join in the conversation. And thank you for taking the time.

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