KEVIN SCOTT COLLIER BLOGSPOT

God wants you to know when to close doors, as well

2010-06-30T11:44:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier
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My father, God rest his soul for 21 years now, worked in the automotive engine pattern trade for most of his life. When the economy took a dive in the 1980s, he bounced from shop to shop just to keep provisions for my family.

One shop he worked at was owned by a Christian man. It paid less and demanded more. And Christian music played over the loud speakers in the shop during work hours. The man who owned the business, and I'll call him Ned, was so "into God" that business didn't seem to matter and practicality went out the window.

My dad was a faithful man, for the most part, but grew angry at the "background music" of the position he was in. In fact, he resented it. Ned often put things in "God's hands" when others could clearly see his Creator wanted him to run the business. Ned had sunken into an world where every was decision came from an emotion perspective.

God gave us both a heart and a brain. Reasoning comes from your head.

Anytime anyone begins a sentence with, "Well, his heart was in the right place," I question if it indeed was. The heart is a place that should never disregard others for our own feelings. It's about sacrifice. The devil offers emotional gratification on the spot, whereas God demands patience for a genuine life changing blessing.

My father eventually quit that shop. The boss shorted him on his paychecks, and did not compensate him for overtime. Ned essentially expected everything and contributed nothing. The Christian music played on, until the day when everyone walked away. His business went under. But, he never operated it like one anyway.

Ned figured it was because of the devil. You know, the enemy didn't like all that "Jesus music" playing all day long. Ned never once entertained the idea that perhaps everyone had left because God told them to get out of there.

We often are betrayed by those who wear a Christian facade. The best way to spot them is to look into their eyes and ask, "What have you sacrificed for all of this?" Have they gone out of their way for you, or have you gotten in their way. When it's all about them, it's not about your relationship with God.

The heart of an opportunist never harbors sacrifice. Think about it. Is it the devil coming against you, or is God telling you that you need to get out?

We often think of God opening doors for us. And indeed, He does. But God also wants us to close doors. When you don't belong there, God wants you to leave. Have the courage to do so.

God wants us to be thinking Christians. He will take care of your heart if you make the right decisions. And He will deal with those who have betrayed you. That's not your mission. Your mission is to recognize a door when it has opened just for you, and when to close it if a path has led you astray.

God will help you when you are buried up to your neck

2009-07-27T06:45:00.001-07:00

Caleb Bohn and Jarod Collier

by Kevin Scott Collier
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My son recently asked me that if he were buried up to his neck in sand, could he get out? I explained to him it depended on how deep the hole was that he was buried in.

The deeper the hole, the more of a challenge it would be to escape. But, I assured him, with head above the sand, he could get out.

Life is often like this scenario. At times, we are buried up to our necks. But, even if we are in a pit as deep as our height, our hands are only half way down. If you wiggle you arms, you can free your hands, bringing them to the surface.

You cannot walk out of a hole. You have to pull yourself up and out of it. It's all about direction, and the direction is up.

God doesn't enjoy seeing good people buried up to their necks. Buried in despair, financial troubles, worn out and feeling hopeless. That's why God put our hands at the half way point. He's already given us an advantage, and now wants to see our effort. The more trust in God, the easier it will be to rise above.

God not only can heal a past, but He can rewrite it, too

2009-04-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

Jarod and Dad

by Kevin Scott Collier
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Last Friday my son Jarod was on the computer responding to emails from his classmates. He suddenly stopped, turned in his chair to face me, and said something touching.

"I want to thank you, Dad, for always being there for me."

I picked up, in particular, on the word "always." In fact, Jarod never had a father for the first 9 years of his life, living with his single mom. It wasn't until I married Kristen and adopted Jarod that I was, in fact, "there" for him.

"Well, I haven't always been there for you," I replied.

"Oh, yes you have dad," he said. "You were always there when I needed you."

I was humbled, and gave him a big, thankful hug. Then, came many days of thinking about what Jarod had said.

Defined, the word "always" doesn't allow interpretation. It means at all times. It means on every occasion. It means constantly, without variation or change. It means in every case.

"Always" is a pretty big word. And, the way Jarod said it, he didn't mean since 2007. He meant since 1997, the year he was born. Jarod was talking about a lifetime. His lifetime.

It serves as testimony that God almighty can reach back to heal a past, and even rewrite it in a little boy's heart.

God not only has paved a promising future for Jarod, He has rewritten his past, as well. As mere mortals, we cannot change the past, but God's supernatural power can.

God May Not Show Up Early, But He's Never Too Late

2009-03-06T16:15:00.001-08:00

by Kevin Scott Collier
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Two summers ago, my family and I visited an evangelical church on occasion. Resurrection Life, an enthusiastic non-denominational church located just south of town, boasts a large band of singers and musicians that makes it a popular draw. Curious, we snuck on over. I heard more than a few sermons there, but I only remember one line from any of them.

“God never arrives early, but He never shows up too late," the Pastor said, passionately.

I will never forget that.

In these hard economic times, with a national unemployment rate at 8.1%, and my state of Michigan crawling toward 12%, we are challenged as a people. Michigan ranks #1 as the worst state economically of all 50. Surrounded by the magnificent Great Lakes, and internally holding a recreational paradise, appearances are deciving. We are in dire straits here.

Too often I have experienced what the Pastor said. The Lord doesn’t show up at the beginning of a disaster, He tends to appear when it seems all hope is lost.

Remember that Jesus wasn't rescued before he was nailed to the cross. No one pulled Jesus down from the cross and nursed him back to health. Jesus was only saved through sacrifice. Only when it seemed that all was lost, in the natural, did God raise his Son and bless us who trust in Him with eternal salvation.

There have been times in my life when I have felt as if I hanging off the edge of a cliff. Then, a hand broke free, and I was holding on by just one. Then, my fingers slowly lost grip. Soon, I was hanging off the edge of the cliff by just one finger. But, I held on, and held on. The pain was excruciating. Even when I thought, It would be easier to just to let go, I put all of my earthly strength into that one finger and held on.

Do you know what happened?

Just before the last drop of strength drained from my body, the Lord took hold of my hand and pulled me up. My faith in Him, and trust, sparked God’s awesome deliverance power. The difference between me falling and being saved was knowing that God would show up. He wasn't going to let me fall. He never will, as long as I hold on.

God didn’t show up when I had both hands on the ledge. He wasn't going to show up when I physically still had a chance to save myself. He showed up when it seemed all was lost.

God is not an opportunistic "bailout" program. God is an investment with insured returns. When you invest in God, you will prosper, personally and provisionally. I lost over $10,000 in my 401k retirement account since last fall. But, my retirement home is a place called Heaven. You cannot buy your way into there. You can only gain entry through the blood of our precious savior, Jesus Christ. Life is smattered with liabilities, but God is our only true asset. I may not be wealthy man, but I am rich man in the Name Of Jesus.

It's not the fall from the cliff that will result in your demise. It will be from a profound fall from grace. When you let go in life, you are letting go of God. Trust in Him. He may not show up early, but when you put your faith in Him completely, he will never show up too late.

The chances of finding that one long lost person

2008-12-28T18:33:00.000-08:00

by Kevin Scott Collier
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I received an email from Reunion.com on Sunday, December 28, 2008. They somehow concluded there was someone I had been searching for. The website boasts a database of 700 million names. With that many identities, surely they could find anyone a person was looking for. The message they sent me was "good news."

Reunion.com teases you. When they send you a familiar name from your past and you click on a link, you discover that to learn more about the person, or his or her whereabouts, you must subscribe. You can purchase an entry-level membership for $5 a month ($60 per year) or a premium membership for $12 per month (a yearly cost of $144.)

About a year ago, I registered with Reunion.com, which allows non-subscribers like me to post a free profile. Subscribers can read my full profile, but I cannot read theirs unless I subscribe.

I recieved an "alert" taunting me that they had found someone I was looking for. It featured a bold-faced headline that read: "Good news, Kevin. We may have found your one lost connection." I recognized the name right away. It was someone I never go a day without thinking of. The message went on to say, "Now with unrivaled access to 700 million profiles, your chances of finding anyone you're looking for are better than ever!"

Can you imagine that? "We may have found your one lost connection." The "one" that eluded you. The one never "found." A "lost" part of your life. A "connection" that was never really made.

How often in life are we looking for someone we have lost? Are we not lost, too, without them?

The name of the person they found was Kristen Halter, age 39. I didn't need "700 million profiles" to find her or subscribe to Reunion.com. Halter was her maiden name, it became Collier on February 26, 2007 when I married her.

You see, God's data base is larger. He doesn't think that He "may have found" that one person you have been seeking. He will find the one person you are lost without. When you trust in the Lord, there are no "chances" to finding the one you are looking for. He will send that person to you.

Takes your eyes off the big picture and discover moments at hand

2008-07-17T05:43:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier
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My son, Jarod, asked to go see the new film version of "Journey to the Center of the Earth." So, my wife, son and I went. It was in 3-D, and a load of fun.

On the way to the theater, I asked Jarod why he hadn't seen his best friend Connor in a few days. He wasn't sure. They had had a whirlwind stretch of togetherness, then days without as much as a single phone call. Jarod pondered this, and said, "I'll get in touch with him soon."

We entered the dark theater when the commercials were engaged. Our trio felt our way upward to seats higher up and planted ourselves anticipating action and adventure. We were not disappointed. With 3-D glasses on, we ducked as as sorts of objects and creatures flew over our heads. But the biggest surprise was when the movie was over. The lights went up, and the people in directly in front of us stood up.

It was Connor, his older brother and their parents.

We all gasped and broke out into laughter.

None of us had known the other party was directly seated in front or behind. Connor, in fact, was the head seated right in front of Jarod during the entire film. My son never knew his best friend was mere inches away. Jarod could have grabbed him during any point of the film and sent him reeling.

Before I went to sleep that night, I began thinking about how often someone or something is directly in front of us but we can't see it. Be it God, an opportunity, or even love. It's right in front of us, and we miss it.

I know why.

We expect to see only one thing, thus, we do. Our focus on "the big picture" can be a distraction to life. Sometimes, "the big picture" gets in the way of what we can put our hands on now. When you spend most of your time only looking ahead, you will miss what you can touch today.

So relax about the future. Take your eyes off the road ahead and discover a wonderful moment at hand.

God Gives Us Wings To Rise Above Adversity

2008-06-12T08:35:00.001-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier
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I saw something today that appeared to be one thing, but turned out to be another.

A large dog caught sight of a male duck walking on a sidewalk. The dog took off after the fowl. Barks and quacks filled the air.

People heard the clamor, and gathered to take notice. I'm sure horror filled their hearts, and I could barely look. No doubt, we all assumed the worst. No duck could outrun, much less, stand up against an enormous, snarling dog.

But wait.

I had, like the others who had gathered, forgotten ducks have wings. Wings enable you to fly. Wings allow you to rise above adversity.

The dog soon became the hunted, as the duck began to chase the dog, taking flight once and again when the bully turned to confront him. What had seemed to be an event with a disastrous result had turned around in seconds. David was now chasing Goliath.

When we know God is true and he works in our lives, we have wings to rise above those who seek to harm us. We need not cower and allow approaching evil to take us. In His name, we can take flight. We even have the power and authority to beat back the enemy sending him in retreat.

This duck would have died had it just stood there, trembling with fear. He could have surrendering to an enemy who was larger and stronger. But the duck knew he had wings. He had an inherent advantage.

God gives us an advantage. Take flight and know you are higher than any danger that comes your way. For, it is only God who can touch us... when we fly.

Winning point often determined at the beginning of a game

2008-02-19T07:06:00.000-08:00

Kevin Collier, second from left in dark blue shorts, and son Jarod, at his side, directly under the basketball hoop, wearing light blue shirt and dark blue jersey and shorts. Click on photo to enlarge.

by Kevin Scott Collier
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My son and I were discussing our father and son basketball game after it concluded at St. John' Lutheran School last evening. The 4th-6th grade team had won the game against their fathers 41 to 40.

Jarod, who scored a basket in mid-game said, "If it wasn't for my point, we would have lost the game." I smirked, and said, "Well, yeah, in a way." In fact, another boy had scored the winning point in the last 3 nail-biting seconds.

But, I began to think about what Jarod had said, and, I must agree with him. Every boy that made a basket got two points, and without their shot, no matter what quarter it was, they would have lost the game. Minus one basket, any basket, and the dads would have walked away with a 40-39 victory.

I look at events in my personal life and see what Jarod means. While I may have married Jarod's mom on Feb. 26, 2007, the winning point was determined long ago when I met her in a writer's group. Kristen was a single mom, and Jarod never knew a father. With our first contact, we had already secured the winning point, but there was no way we could have known it back then. 3 years later, I am her son's father, and the fact we are playing a father and son basketball game, speaks volumes of victory. Jarod and I were both winners in last night's game.

Sometimes we need to look back over our shoulder and recognize the small events in our past that leads to our victory. When you encounter a win today, trace it backward in time. You will see your victory today was determined by a point made long ago. It wasn't the point everyone noticed, or even cheered about, but, it made all the difference in the world in your life.

The winning point is not the last shot, but a point made much earlier that puts us on the right path. More often than not in life, our victory is secured at the beginning of the game, not the end.

The final lesson my father taught me

2008-01-31T07:44:00.001-08:00

by Kevin Scott Collier
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On a late July weekend, I was at my parent's house on Silver Lake, near Hart, Michigan, on the dock loading up our fishing boat to venture out. My father made his way down to boat, no pole in hand, and asked to join me.

"Want me to get you a fishing pole?" I inquired.

"No, I just thought you'd like some company," he responded.

So, off we went. Father and son.

My father inspired me to draw at a young age, and encouraged me to follow my dreams. Retired, and ready to enjoy life, he wanted to spend more quality time with his grown children. I can't recall if I caught any fish that day, but I do recall catching what was said.

Dad was worried about his retirement, and making ends meet. His mind was focused on what could go wrong in his future, not what could go right. I stopped him, and said, "Dad, don't worry about all those things, you could be dead next week."

And, he was. He suffered a stroke and was gone 6 days later.

Everything he was anxious, nervous and concerned about was "up the road." The one thing that never crossed his mind, was that his journey might soon end. Everything he worried about on that beautiful Saturday afternoon would never occur. On that final day I spoke with my father, he was worried about life, instead of enjoying it.

From the moment of his stroke, he was in a coma, so we never were able to exchange another word. He died with his family surrounding him in a hospital room. I said goodbye while holding his hand.

He departed this world to a place where worry does not exist. He left me behind to miss him each and every day and to recall the final lesson he inadvertently taught me.

Don't always worry about the future. It steals the life out of today.

Friendship Creates A Little Bit Of Heaven On Earth

2007-12-07T09:47:00.000-08:00

by Kevin Scott Collier
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When my Grandfather died in a nursing home almost 30 years ago, he left a roommate named George. I cannot recall his last name, but I will never forget the impact he had on me. It was not so much of who he was, but rather, the environment that became the end of George's life.

The morning I arrived at the nursing home to collect up my Grandfather's belongings, George sat upon his bed with a solemn demeanor. He muttered, "This is the sixth roommate I have lost since I came here."

Somehow, a moment of personal grief began to change for me. I looked at George and began to wonder why I had never witnessed any visitors for him. My entire family visited my Grandfather on a regular basis, but I had never seen a single visitor for George.

I said goodbye to George and exited the room for what I thought would be the last time. But, during my walk down the hallway to the entrance of the nursing home, my curiosity peaked. I stopped at the courtesy desk and asked the receptionist, "Does George ever get any visitors?" The answer was "No."

She explained a couple of George's adult children occasionally stop at the courtesy desk to drop things off for him, but never venture down the hall to pay him a visit. I asked, "Why?" She replied, "I don't know."

I departed the facility, but thoughts of George lingered. What had he done to his family to deserve this? Or, did he have to do anything at all to deserve this abandonment? The situation really bothered me.

Two days later I returned to the nursing home and entered George's room. He was surprised, and a bit confused. "Did you forget something when you left the other day?" he asked. I replied, "Well, I didn't forget you." A friendship blossomed on that day.

My Grandfather died a man with many friends. He went to heaven in peace. I began to see over the next year and a half while visiting George that Grandpa's presence in that nursing home was his exit to a better life, but George's stay there could have been a hell on earth. There should be a little bit of heaven on earth for all God's children. Even George.

I still recall showing up at the funeral home for visitation when George passed away. All of the people there stared at me. They were strangers. They exchanged whispers..."Who is HE?"

Who WAS I?

I was George's last friend on earth, that's all.

Outcomes and affect: faith reverses the two

2007-11-23T06:45:00.001-08:00

by Kevin Scott Collier
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Outcome and affect. It seems to make sense. Something happens, and you respond. But in the spiritual application, the two are reversed

People think that an outcome is a conclusion, resolve, a result, or perhaps an achievement reached, sometimes even an accomplishment.

Affect is an emotional response of how that outcome makes us feel.

If you receive a greeting card in the mail filled with words of encouragement and inspiration, happiness is how it changed us, or affect. But for most of us, the card rarely comes, thus we become discouraged.

We, as people, often wait for an outcome to direct how we should feel. Something good has to happen in our favor before we are happy. The secret is that strong faith reverses the two. It is Affect, then outcome. This is how God works in us.

People need to stop simply responding to outcomes, and seed a change now...the affect, that expects better outcomes.

Many of us say, "I'll be happy when this problem is solved," or "when I get all my bills caught up, I will feel better." We thrive on an existence where we impatiently wait for an outcome. Our response depends on how much of the outcome has leaned in our favor. If you really want more of God's favor, His affect on you comes first. That is how better outcomes are born. Affect and outcome.

If you desire a better life, then faithfully expect one. Get into a "God affected me" frame of heart and mind and smile when there is no greeting card. If you are just sitting around, waiting for things to happen, you need to remember that God is an agent of promise. Through Him you can expect things to happen in your favor. Spiritually dig yourself out of that "response only" world.

Outcomes are really the result of how Jesus has affected you. Remember, it's the smile that brings the card, not the card that brings the smile.

Never draw a book without love

2007-06-13T05:02:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier
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Sometimes being a children's book illustrator can be a challenge. Especially with a son watching on. Recently I accepted an illustration assignment from writer James Tague (author of Freddy the Football and The Trochilus Bird) to draw his book, "Rufus Tweed, The Father of Greed." I am pictured above doing the preliminary sketches of the characters that will appear in this book to be published this summer by Xlibris/Random House Publishing. My son, Jarod, sidles up to watch.

Above is the drawing I am working on in the photographs

Within moments, Jarod's climbed onto my back and is hugging me with affection. James Tague should know the most challenging part of drawing his book will be the loving company that is attached to it. It's not easy to draw with a nine-year-old boy on your back, but happy illustrators never draw alone.

Moving ahead in life, I can, canoe?

2007-06-07T06:04:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier
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My son Jarod went on a canoe trip recently with his classmates. It was the first time he had ever been in a canoe. He found out quickly how unstable they can be. As seen in the photo above, he's sopping wet. He rolled his canoe over in the lake trying to retrieve a ball from the water.

Life is like a canoe. It's a gentle balance with a confining, narrow width. The only way to keep it steady is to point straight ahead and keep moving. That is where stability in life emerges. You cannot roll over when you are moving onward.

Jarod's canoe of life before he came to Michigan, as a boy without a father, was at a standstill. He was looking out the sides of his canoe. Only a view where he was...going nowhere. He even told his mother, Kristen, before she and I were married recently, that he was "going nowhere." He wished he was dead and added, "I don't have a purpose in life."

Jarod may have rolled his canoe on his field trip in Muskegon Lake, but his canoe of life is straight forward and steady. It slices through everything and leaves a gentle wake behind. A wake of peace without despair. The ripples from this young man's canoe will give purpose to others in life, now.

One block from home, yet so far away

2007-05-22T05:58:00.001-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier
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I totaled out my Chrysler Sebring last week while driving home. In fact, the accident occurred when I was one block from home. The passenger side impact into my vehicle by another as I proceeded through an intersection demolished my car and caused minor back and leg injuries to me.

I never saw the other guy coming. In a split second, I was covered with glass and unable to move. The pain was excruciating. One block from home, yet so far away.

I crawled out of my car in agony and tried to stand. For a moment, I wondered what injuries I had sustained. I thought of my son, Jarod first. I have to be OK, he needs me. I limped around as a crowd gathered, and soon began to walk about. The pain is slowly fading almost a week later, but the memory remains.

I was so close to home, yet, in one second, everything appeared to be in ruin. As I reflect on this, it reminds me of how close we often get to home and how at times something blocks our way. The value of home is then drawn into sharp focus.

Heaven is our final home, and life is full of wreckage on the road to it. Disaster often comes out of nowhere, and compels us to redefining our values once again. One second before the accident I was thinking about all the things I had to do before I went to bed that night. One second after, I just wanted to kiss and hold my son and wife. What is really important in this life was defined once again. Thank you, Jesus.

Just when you think you have an open highway to heaven, accidents will occur. That is when our faith needs to be strongest, and we need to sharpen our focus on that blessed road. Nothing can keep us from going home, when we truly believe.

Row, row, row your boat

2007-04-30T05:42:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier

I am a sucker for symbolism. It doesn't matter where I am or what I am doing, I am always searching for meaning behind the simplest of things.

I took my adopted 9-year-old son fishing in a rowboat on a Sunday and discovered he had never been inside such a boat. In fact, he did not know how to use the oars to make it move.

As Jarod swung the oars back and forth trying to figure it out, I sat on a seat facing him and grabbed hold of the oars, too. Now there were two of us working together. I began to think about how it takes two to make anything meaningful work. Alone, Jarod was struggling to move us both. With four hands on the oars, we were moving each other. We were going forward together ... physically and emotionally.

Life is about moving forward and leaving troubled waters behind.

Simply existing is like rowing with only one oar. You'll only go in circles.

One can row alone with two oars in the water, but you will arrive alone wherever the destination. True journeys invite company. Not just anyone, but someone special. Togetherness is the true power of navigating through life, and the destination is love.

Jarod and I rowed around for a short while. He commented, "This can be boring." I responded, "Only if you are alone." He smiled brightly.

The catch of a lifetime

2007-04-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier

My 9-year-old son Jarod and I went fishing one warm Sunday afternoon. We stood on an old, weathered wooden bridge and cast our lines into a narrow channel. The waterway was shallow, but it was difficult to see anything was below the surface.

Most of the time we were silent. But love and silence creates an unspoken dialog. It is loud and heard only in one's heart.

Our bright red and yellow bobbers occasionally were tugged under the surface several times in two hours, but neither of us caught a fish. What I did catch was an understanding of how important the father and son bond is.

The moments we shared staring at our bobbers upon the water of the channel reminded me of how I caught my son. Even God's most devoted children are always fishing for something big that seemingly remains elusive. In life, the bobber is tugged frequently, but it seems the "big one" always gets away.

Not this time. And I know why.

I knew an enormous catch was lurking by my hook. I knew this time, God wouldn't allow the catch to get away. I would land a son. And do you know how I knew? Because on the other end, Jarod was fishing for me. We were both fishing for the other. And on that day neither of us went home empty handed.

So, it doesn't matter to me if Jarod and I have to watch our bobbers being tugged at and end up going home without a fish. Because we're going home together. For, the day we tugged at each other's hearts, we both took home the catch of a lifetime.

Author or Artist: which reveals more?

2007-04-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier

I visit many schools throughout the year and some students are surprised that I am both a writer and illustrator. One young lady commented, “I didn’t think you could do both.” Apparently she imagined you were either one or the other, but never one in the same.

One question I am asked often is, “Which do you like best, writing or drawing?” I think, in general, more people can write than draw. So, artists might seem to garner more attention. That makes being an artist more fun than being a writer, as I can create images beyond written words.

If I asked any classroom I have visited, “Which would you like me to do for then next hour, read my stories or draw for you?” The response would be unanimous. Kids would want the artist, not the writer.

When youths ask me what I “like best,” question should be “which do I prefer?” My answer this question is I prefer being the writer.

“Drawing looks like it would be more fun,” one boy said. “It’s much cooler.”

Both are fun, and can be cool. But an illustration doesn’t reveal anything about the person who created it.

Walk into any art gallery and examine the work of an unknown artist. Write down the artist’s name then what you have learned about the person through their works. It would be only a guess.

Read several books written by an unknown author. Examine the works, tone and messages. Scribble out what you have learned about the person through their stories. It would still be a guess, but much better one. In fact, you might be right on the money.

Writers reveal themselves; whether intended or not. Woven into their crafted words and creativity are images of themselves. How they feel… how they reason… a glimpse into their emotions. They write about what they have experienced and how they view circumstances. Writers rarely hide their faces, while artists are chameleons.

I’m a writer and an artist. Both are fun, and rewarding. But only one reveals the person I am.

Write about dreams, watch them come true

2007-02-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

by Kevin Scott Collier

I teach a Fantasy Fiction Writing Class and last week we discussed writing about our dreams. Not just what meanders through our minds during sleep, but what we consonantly hope for in our lives.

Writers routinely use fiction stories they write to navigate into deep dark waters of discouragement. Fiction ripples of reality, secrets are revealed, and it is all masked in what is marketed as unreal.

Reality is where we are. Dreams are where we want to be. The reach is only as far as we imagine it. Discouragement creates the measure of distance. The more hopeless we feel, the father away our hopes and dreams become. Only when you believe it is close can you grab your dream.

Many dream of love, security, confidence and grandeur. We imagine if these things allude us, they must be out of reach. We imagine good things only happen for others. Wrong. Good things are meant to happen for everyone. The measure of good in your life is really about you planting the seeds of hope in your heart.

The amount of flowers that spring from your garden depends on how many seeds you plant. The greater the number, the more beautiful and expansive the sight. Seeds come in many varieties. One seed is forgiveness. Another, hope. Others include respect, generosity, unselfishness, and patience. For any dream to become a reality, you have to grow it. You have to create the garden to reinforce the dream, and then see it bloom.

And when it does bloom ... share the flowers. For in each dream that comes true is the promise of a garden for another.

Let the story speak for itself

2007-01-25T11:52:00.000-08:00

by Kevin Scott Collier

I receive piles of manuscripts from writers to review, Many want my opinion, the others are seeking my illustration services. So, I read a lot of young adult and children's stories. What I grow weary of reading are the occasional self-serving, long letters of praise that accompany the manuscript attachments.

"I have had so many friends and family tell me this is the greatest story they have ever read." Or - "My coworkers say this book will be a best seller."

I never want to step on self-confidence, and always encourage a good outlook. I have said many times in columns, "If you don't believe in your work, no one else will, either." But, when you are submitting a story, let the story speak for itself.

Agencies approach publishers with such material. But if you have an agent, there's some credibility behind your work, or investors in your writing. That's acceptable. However, I cannot begin to tell you how many stories I have received accompanied by very, very long letters telling me how much I am going to enjoy the submission.

"You'll agree that it's the greatest thing you have ever read!"

How do you know that I will agree? How do you really know what your hardly objective, supportive friends and family think? Have they all actually read it?

I would approach others a bit more humbly when submitting a story for review. Have confidence, but remember you are seeking the opinion of another for either a contract or job prospect. It really doesn't matter what you say about your story, the person who will read the story will judge it by its merits, not your hype.

When I am submitting something to a publisher or editor I never ramble on about how good it is. If they accept it, it is because it is of interest or good. It isn't accepted because I said my Aunt Gertrude declared, "It is the greatest story ever written."

One writer I know wrote me a while back asking why she hasn't seen much success with her writing. I didn't have the heart to tell her it was because she wasn't very good. Perhaps some writers should focus more attention on writing a good story than a letter telling an editor what he or she should think.

Celebrating a donkey named "Esther"

2006-10-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier

One of the magical things about being an author is the people who email you. Sometimes a "fan" letter touches you just as much as your book has touched them. Case in point is an email I received from a woman (who resides in New York) that purchased my book "Esther's Channel".

Unlike the fictional character I named Esther, this creature named Esther is real, and hardly a turtle...

Kevin,

On Sept. 28 our long awaited (12 months) baby miniature donkey was born, the second baby born on our farm. We were so happy to have another healthy little girl donkey and so touched by it all that it didn’t take long to name her....”Esther”. (after the turtle in your book) So many of our friends in church have been awaiting the arrival of this little one. As we have shared our experience and her name we have been sharing your book and how it touched our lives. I have several people waiting to read it after my pastor’s wife is finished with it with her 2nd grade class. As soon as I can take the time I plan to order another copy along with a few more of your books.

Blessings,
Dawn Widrick
Buffalo, New York

It is the occasional letter like this that inspires me to go forward with hope in my heart, and an extra big grin on my face. Thank you, Dawn.

Gossip sparks curiosity, provides humble lessons

2006-10-03T03:40:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier

Gossip has an attractive quality among the petty and curious. I have witnessed in social settings the girl dishing the most dirt entertaining a captive audience. Gossips do so because they are have nothing interesting about themselves to talk about but to speak assumptions of others gives them attention and power.

Gossips are entertaining buffoons. Gossip in children and teen fiction stories can be a powerful thing, too, but as a lesson, not as affirmation of credibility.

I love to write stories that spin perceptions. Where credibility is lost on assumptions and the most credible are those who say things who usually know what they are talking about. Just imagine a confidant in your life disclosing something to you that later proves to be in error. Even honest individuals acquire misguided information and pass it on by mistake.

I believe any great story for kids has to be ripe with innuendo, gossip, assumption and rumor. As said earlier, this petty dialog attracts the curious. The “curious” in this regard is your reader. As an author, do you want to play them? Do you want to string them along based on misinformation? Do you want to teach them a good lesson in communication? Sure … why not?

In my sequel to the 2005 Baker Trittin Press book, “Esther’s Channel”, I am going to play with my audience. I am going to be that dishing-dirt girl at the social event. I’m going to open some eyes with some amazing claims. And you, the reader, will not know what is true and what is not. Not until the end, anyway.

Such is life. Information is only as good as the messenger. Opinion has replaced fact. Commentary has replaced truth. Assumptions have replaced reality. Preacher Joel Osteen recently relayed on his TV program that if you don’t speak up to define yourself, someone else will. Often we are quick to believe a messenger than the source. Whatever happened to being suspicious of messengers? Don’t they lie or exaggerate, too?

Gossip creates great drama. A rumor is always more outrageous than the truth. Truth is often mundane and uneventful. But a twisted perception can spark enormous curiosity. Life becomes more exciting, and there is simply more to talk about. Who cares if it is nonsense, as long as you have a captive audience? We’ll resort to damage control later when the truth emerges and everyone retreats once the drama subsides. Who cares what was the truth then? It was pretty exciting imagining this great charade, was it not?

I would encourage authors to incorporate innuendo, gossip, assumption and rumor into their stories for youth. The key to good fiction is to keep a reader guessing. Not knowing what is true or untrue until the end compels a reader to judge the credibility of characters along the way. This formula fosters more intelligent readers, for only a fool would believe everything they hear.

Written words of love harness power

2006-09-29T03:46:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier

In the youth fiction writing class I teach for Writing Avenue of Grand Haven (MI) on Thursdays the topic of love came up during the September 28 session. How we speak of love and how we write it is dramatically different. The two are dichotomous.

With spoken words of love we ramble out raw emotions and score a memorable line occasionally. With written words of love every sentence must be count.

Imagine an assignment where you convey to someone how much you love him or her. You are given 10 minutes to speak to the other party but also must write a letter to that individual when read aloud will take 10 minutes.

The spoken words of love will be 10 minutes no matter what you say. You may struggle, as spontaneity and conveyance of feelings do not always produce Hallmark moments. There may be a memorable line or two. But whatever you speak will be gone and over in that timeframe.

Now write the words of love that will take ten minutes to read aloud. I guarantee you that it will take more than ten minutes to write. It may take an hour, or two, or more. You will read it to yourself several times before you speak it to the recipient. You will scribble things out and rewrite pieces. You will mull over it and read it again. You will even practice how you will speak it aloud. Why has it now become so incredible important?

Suddenly love has a script. Imagine that.

You will discover that the document of written words holds nearly everything you wished you had spoken in first assignment. You may even nitpick a bit dwelling on some lines wishing you had written more appropriate words. You finally read to that special individual your written words of love aloud.

Aside from a tender touch of intimacy, there is no more powerful way to convey love than with the written word. Harness that power and allow your written words of love to touch others in an intimate fashion.

When you write fiction stories that include tender moments of love via dialog or description, weave sentences that are alive with emotion. Craft wording that is precise, yet timidly interpretive. Unlike the spoken word, the written word is a document that encourages revisiting. It is a record of feeling which reconstitutes sincere emotion. It is not a lost moment. It is tangible.

Desire is the seed to a writer's success

2006-09-27T05:45:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier

Entry-level writers email me often with an impatient if not desperate demeanor. They are not angry: they seem afraid. Their struggle is awash in what other writers have told them. They glean from those missives messages of a long, hard and ever escalating road of impossible proportions. Despair taints them. Soon, this new writer is trapped in a struggle with himself.

I have always been a defiant sort. I do not like to be told “no” when it comes to opportunity. It’s not arrogance that drives me: it is desire. When you desire something strongly enough you make every step count on the pathway. The bridge between a dream and success is yours to build. Its strength will derive from you.

When I was boy I had a learning disorder that propelled me into years of therapy classes after school. Classes I was ashamed of and did not wish to ever have disclosed to friends. The fear then was of being branded “stupid.”

I was told I would never grasp continuity to become a writer and my coordination skills were compromised to a point where doctors told me my dream of being an artist would likely never come to pass. An art teacher even admonished me in class telling me I would "never amount to anything in life." But, I refused to fear. Desire gripped me and I began to crawl a figurative mountain where I knew opportunity was waiting at the crest.

It didn’t matter if the person beside me climbed faster and reached the top first. The opportunity that awaited me was not for another’s taking. It was called my niche. I would find it there waiting for me.

When I reached the top of that mountain in my teens I held my niche in hand and made a fist around it. I would never relinquish it. I would guard it always. Opportunity knocked for me. Soon, the knocking came more frequently. And I know why.

I believed in myself when no one else did. When one begins to believe in failure I believe that failure will begin in you. In literature the word “failure” seems to have greater impact than “desire.” Failure is defeat, whereas desire does not guarantee success. Success begins as a seed planted from desire. Without desire, you will never experience success.

Granted, if you don’t possess the skills that make a good writer, creativity and imagination, perhaps your niche isn’t literature. But if you know you are good, worthy and have desire, cast out fear and keep climbing that mountain. Something awaits you at the top not for another’s taking. I guarantee it.

Write dialog that you dream of hearing

2006-09-25T04:20:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier

A student in my youth fiction writing class recently brought up how authors write about their experiences in real life. True, as most of what we write is not imagined but based on situations we have been in or ordeals we have observed. Authors reveal a glimpse into their heart in even the most outrageous fiction tales.

The greatest conduit of emotion in any book is its dialog. This is the interaction between characters, which can actually represent composites of lost lovers, friends and combatants the author has known. Authors are sponges that absorb emotional experiences and squeeze them back into pages of “fiction.”

Authors also write about dreams: things that did not come to pass for us. This dialog, crafted between characters, represents a slice of your personal life. How this dialog plays out reveals the most about an author. Does the author write only what they expect to hear, or what they have always dreamed of hearing?

My class tossed around this thought for some time. I moderated ideas, but came to a conclusion. “If a character is a composite of yourself, don’t write what you think you would hear, but write the words you never thought were meant for you.”

Faces twisted among the students, and things became silent for a moment. I continued. “Too often we deny the characters that represent us in our stories the happiness that eluded us in real life.” One student chimed. “My father and I were never close, and in my story the girl and her father never seem to bond.”

Her story involved a divorce where a daughter imagines weekend visitations will allow an opportunity to have one-on-one time with her father. But her dad has a lady friend in the mix which likely will be an obstruction to that bond. A fictional story had been crafted around a real life drama for this writer. It seemed this tale was not going to meander too far off the beaten path for this author. It was to be a retelling of a lost opportunity.

Instead of mirroring a personal experience of missed opportunity, create a new ending in your heart. Perhaps it is the lady friend who brings daughter and father together once and for all. And perhaps some of the most fragile dialog exchanges can speak words the author longed to hear but never did. Writing fiction gives us a chance to rewrite moments from personal experience and find resolve.

If a character in your story actually represents you, don’t deny yourself a few miracles. Don’t revive all of your missed opportunities and simply retell them. Instead write what you have always dreamt of hearing from another but eluded you. Dream a little.

Our life is just as much of what we imagine it will be as what we have in fact endured. The story you complete will not only meet the expectations of your readers but will strike a touch of peace in your heart, too.

Respond personably to reader e-mail

2006-09-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier

One of the joys of being an author is getting letters from readers. Very few people who read any book will write the stranger who is the author. If I had to guess, perhaps only one in a hundred readers will ever bother to write an author, and that’s only if the book moved them emotionally.

I receive a great number of emails every day from writers I illustrate for, editors and publishers of magazines, publicity opportunities and general chit chat with associates. But when a so-called “fan letter” arrives it is given special attention. It represents that one out of a hundred who took the effort to find you online to inform you they have read one of your books. Drop everything and put this at the top of your list.

Entry-level authors need to respond to every letter from readers in a personable and informative fashion. Impressions are everything, and anyone who enjoyed your work well enough to write will likely buy and read other titles available in your catalog. This is a chance to build a loyal readership of your works one reader at a time.

I have many titles available and it’s important to focus on just the one the reader is writing about. The book meant enough to them to write, don’t wander off in your reply talking up another title to get them to buy that. Pay attention to the characters and story segments they mention. I always give the reader some trivia behind those topics, such as how a particular character was created, or what influenced those particular story segments. I try to be brief and to-the-point. I also inject humor into the response by relaying a funny situation that came u during the writing of the book.

Readers appreciate learning some behind the scenes information that went into the creation of the book they enjoyed. It also strikes up a more personal dialog with that reader revealing tidbits that don’t even end up in interviews with the author.

Fan letters let reveal what readers liked in your work so you can compare that to what you intended readers to like. If there’s a match, you know your writing has attraction.

Always thank the reader for their letter. You’ll likely get another letter from them, too. Many readers imagine authors are unapproachable and are surprised to even hear from them. Unless we (as authors) are on the New York Times best-seller list, we are just as surprised to get a “fan letter.”

I end each letter with some tidbit information on what I am currently writing or drawing for publication. I also inform the reader what other book titles I have written might interest them. I would rather recommend another title I have written that I know they would like than just push everything to make a sale. If you recommend a sure thing, that reader will appreciate it and recommend your books to others as well.

I still remember before my first book was published two years ago imagining someone, somewhere, buying a copy in a book store and out of the blue writing me an email about it. I even dreamed of it. So never take it for granted, and put reader mail above all other letters you find in your inbox.

Write as example, not as personal therapy

2006-06-07T04:24:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier

Much of what we write about is derived from things we have witnessed or experienced personally in life. We all do this, because writing is an expression, and expression often deals with impressions. And, impressions come from how we feel.

Even the most juvenile books I have written, there is an observation in there harvested from or discarded upon the trail sides of the journey. The trail we traverse and the thoughts along the way trickle into even the most innocent of stories we write.

The issues that impact us most as writers come from the cruel times. These are often situations that close in on us personally. Some of these developments we have created, others we stumble into. They are often irrational episodes seemingly without beneficial merit. Years later, clear of crisis, we ponder these events and glean them for messages or reason.

There have been more than a few houses made of cards that have collapsed upon me over the past decade. But, I crawled out from it, dusted myself off, and remained inspired. The pathway ahead continues. Look back for good material, but don’t miss what awaits you up the road.

Writing about good messages emerging from bad situations makes for strong and moving fiction stories. I have often written fictional accounts that bare some likeness to those situations I went through, but focus more on how the lemon became refreshing lemonade. Today’s book drama parallel is yesterday’s reality. It’s now a tool to write from.

The danger is when writers still carry around that baggage from those cruel and unusual moments in life and use it to dwell instead of educate. A reader will know if your story is personal “issue” therapy. Use your emotions to squeeze a piece of coal into a glistening diamond, not just to treat old battle wounds.

I once wrote a whimsical children’s book titled “Ragmutt ” about a dog that ended up at the bottom of a dry well. He couldn’t get out because he was actually a rag doll, thus had no bones or muscles to crawl out. So, he just lay there and imagined he was in a gold mine, and all the gold was his. He never even attempted to climb out. Someone eventually rescued him, but Ragmutt still fondly dreamed of being in that well.

When you don’t even try to rescue yourself you begin to accept your surroundings as “just the way it is.” It’s never about what was, or is, but what can be.

Use those cruel and defeating experiences from life to rise up out of the well of despair. Use those experiences to extend a hand down the well to engage the next rescue. Real life experiences create compelling stories when twisted into fictional scenarios. Just don’t let the fiction become therapy. Wear it like a surviving shining suit of armor.

Writers Can Be Very Nervous People

2006-05-31T07:54:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Scott Collier

I wish I had a dollar for every frazzled beginner writer who e-mails me. I enjoy helping anyone who approaches me with advice, but I seem to hear from more people who are anxious or nervous than excited and optimistic.

Personally I never had time to be nervous about landing my first book contract. It happened so fast I didn't give it much thought. In fact, everything since that first contract has happened fast. I guess when you're spinning in a hamster ball you have to focus on what work needs to be done and not worry about what is up the road.

I became a published author by chance or maybe by a miracle. I bumped into two publishers from Indiana who happened to be in the same Michigan post office doing business I was when I was mailing a little story I had written for a niece. I overheard one of the gentlemen (Paul Trittin, of Baker Trittin Press) mention something about "publishing books." For amusement only, I approached the two and told them I was a writer. Associate Dr. Marvin G. Baker wanted to hear what my little story was about I had just mailed. So I told them.

Two days later they drove back to Michigan for a luncheon they had arranged with me. Right there, over a salad, they offered me a contract for my first book. Not only that, Dr. Baker said, "We are looking forward to a long relationship with you." I pinched myself a bit, then went to work on my writing.

I wasn't looking to be an author. I had created characters and written little stories for my own amusement all of my life but had never sent out a manuscript. Every writer who approaches me via e-mail tells about the same story, how they have dreamed of being an author most of their lives. They speak of all of the manuscripts they have mailed out and the rejection letters. And some write that after many years of trying they just landed a contract with a publisher.

In my case it happened so fast I didn't have much time to dwell on it. I didn't get nervous about it even though Baker Trittin Press wanted me to rewrite that little story into a book quickly. That first published book, "barthpenn@heaven.org" was written in 22 evenings. I had no time to be frazzled. I had to be focused on inspiration for the story and making a close deadline.

After the first manuscript was turned in, things started to move even faster. Word got out I was also an illustrator and I soon I was turning out artwork for children's books. One publisher after another, all small houses, approached. Within the first year I already had deals with half a dozen small companies.

I was excited, but I didn't have time to be nervous.

The writers who are just entering the children's literature field are anxious and seem lost. Many ask for advice on submissions, but I can only report what others have told me. I fell into this market in a very unconventional way. I have even signed a few book contracts based on a title only for books I had not written a word for. That's outrageous. I thought you turned in a complete story and hoped to get a contract, not sign a contract then decide what to write. I do know one thing for sure. Every minute a writer spends worrying about the business are fewer moments to create material for it.

It's been a fast-paced journey for me. So, if you do approach me via email to ask questions, remember I may not have the answers. I can only say what has worked for me. Like every other entry-level writer, I have no idea what the path up ahead will reveal. But, the best advice I can give is to be patient and never be discouraged. No one will believe in you unless you believe in yourself first.

I will continue this writing journey, and no matter where it takes me, I shall not be nervous.