Blog – Marie Chan

Finding Faith When Tragedy Strikes

August 1, 2022Marie Grief and LossLeave a comment

“Marie, this just happened this afternoon. I’m wondering if our parents know anyone there.” This unexpected text from a close friend jolted me from my peaceful, picture-perfect SoCal Sunday. Suddenly, the news of a shooting at a Taiwanese church in Laguna Woods became very personal. More texts trickled in about elderly friends — those I grew up calling auntie and uncle — who were there for the worship service but left early, and then one who was present when the shooting occurred during their luncheon. Amahs and agongs, like those whom our family had shared many meals with and gathered…

When Summer Speaks to the Broken Heart

August 1, 2022Marie Grief and LossLeave a comment

I am grateful for the opportunity to write for the Joy to the Soul Summer series. I hope my article, “When Summer Speaks to the Broken Heart” will encourage you, especially if you’re experiencing grief and loss. You can read it here. Joy A. Williams leads the blogger’s group I joined through Entrusted Women University. I have learned so much from Joy’s leadership and she has encouraged me on my writing journey.

How Sharing Our Stories Can Bind Broken Hearts

October 20, 2021Marie Writing JourneyLeave a comment

“It’s time,” my husband whispered in my ear. He clutched Samuel’s picture frame close to his chest as we slowly squeezed our way to the end of the line. All the young couples in front of us were happily holding their babies. One mom glanced at me and said, “I have the same dress.” I feigned a grin and stared at my blue lace maternity dress, barely able to see my feet over my postpartum belly. My mind instantly filled with flashbacks of flat-liners, my baby’s crib replaced with a casket, and my shattered innocence about healthy, blissful pregnancies. Would our…

Building Connections After a Conference

June 4, 2021Marie Writing JourneyLeave a comment

1. Debrief with another writer after the conference. Sometimes you may feel like you’re drinking from a fire hose attending one workshop after another during an intensive conference. One way to address this problem is to debrief with another writer after the conference. I am thankful for a good friend, who suggested that we meet after my first writers’ conference. Although we didn’t have time during the live conference to meet, calling each other afterwards was very valuable. My friend was a longstanding member, and when she shared her past conference experiences with me, that helped me immensely as a…

Five Reasons I Go to Writers’ Conferences

June 4, 2021Marie Writing JourneyLeave a comment

Before, I used to think that all I needed as a writer was a well-crafted manuscript. I was shocked to find out that writer = entrepreneur + small business owner + marketer. With all these new expectations that accompany traditional publishing and writing, it is vital to join a writing community and attend writers’ conferences to stay updated on the latest trends and changes in the publishing industry. However, conferences do have a cost, so are they worth the expense? Here are five reasons why I encourage you to go to a writers’ conference. 1. Writers’ conferences help you hone…

A Tip for Finishing Your Manuscript

June 4, 2021Marie Writing JourneyLeave a comment

Sometimes I get an idea for a story, but it does not get fully developed. Perfectionism often can lead to procrastination and unfinished manuscripts. Focusing on a perfect first draft is futile. Instead, I find the right words come after revising my initial draft many times. What can I do to persevere in revisions or take the first step to get my whole story written down? My tip is to enter a writing contest. Many contests are free to enter and cover multiple genres. When I know these deadlines are fixed with no exception, that by the stroke of midnight…