Hi everyone!
How are you doing?
Can you believe we had 100 people link up with us for last week’s Five Minute Friday prompt? I think that’s amazing! Keep up the great work, spreading the word and the encouraging comments to one another!
If you’re new to Five Minute Friday, welcome! You can learn all about us by clicking here.
This week’s FMF prompt is:
[Tweet “Join us as we write on the word, REFINE, in five minutes flat! #amwriting”]
Starting my timer, and … GO!
After six months with my editor, my memoir manuscript is back in my court — for more edits. And while the revision process can be viewed as a drag and a tedious, tiresome task, I can honestly say that I’ve come to appreciate the pain, sweat, and tears that go into such a process.
Why?
Because the end result is always better.
Laboring hard over a table of contents, a chapter, a paragraph, a sentence — all of these efforts and brain cells rubbing together make for a more polished and effective product in the end.
More than once, I’ve thought about how much the editing process can be compared to my ongoing sanctification as a Christian.
God is chipping away at me daily, leading me through fire and trials as appropriate, sanding down the rough edges until one day they’ll become polished and smooth in His presence.
[Tweet “He refines me — not only for my own good, but for His glory.”]
No, the refining process is never pleasant, whether we’re writing a book or walking through life.
But let’s keep our eyes on that end result, and learn to appreciate the fire.
STOP.
***
Earlier this week I announced that I started a business last year, called Refine Services, LLC.
It’s been my privilege to serve a number of clients already, helping them refine their message and reach their target audience through various writing, editing, and virtual assistance projects.
Visit my website at www.refineservices.com to learn more about the services I offer, including social media management, consulting for self-published authors, book launch support, graphic design, and much more!
[Tweet “Check out this website, www.refineservices.com, for all your #marketing and #socialmedia needs!”]
If you or someone you know might need help with these fields of work, I’d love to chat!
***
And now it’s time to write!
Set a timer for five minutes, tap away like crazy on your keyboard, publish your blog post, and share it in the link-up below! Then visit your link-up neighbor and say something nice. 🙂
Thanks for being part of Five Minute Friday!

Congratulations on your new (well, as of last year) ‘baby’, Kate!
I sure understand about refining. It’s been quite a road, and I’m sure pretty different from where I started.
Kate, first of all, I hope you’ll be feeling better soon.
Secondly, congratulations on the start of your new business! I have no doubt God will bless you in this endeavor.
Third. I love your take on Refine. When we can keep a perspective like the one you share here—seeing the value in the work—that’s such a great way to walk through a refining season. As God does some refining in me, I’m going to keep the mindset that though this may hurt, God is bringing good through it.
Have a good, restful weekend!
congrats on your new endeavor! you are so correct, God sure does edit and refine us into an end result that reflects his glory! peace and hope to all of us!
Refiner’s Fire – first thing that came to mind. CONGRATS on REfine Services. So pleased for you. Yay Kate!
I’m so excited for your new business! And I believe I will be contacting you. Thanks for reaching out on twitter. This is my first time participating here in a long time and it is good to be back!
So good to have you back with us, Leah! And yes, I’d love to help in any way I can! 🙂
Editing is such a pain–but it’s one that all good writers need to embrace ;). May God be with you on your refinement journey! Congratulations on your new business!
Kate,
so very excited for your book to be released! And, so sorry you were feeling so awful to have had to leave and rest Thursday night. It seems that the week was a rough one for many of us and the health has been hard to maintain this season.
You had such an inspired word this week, thank you! Your post last week and word was great. “Here I am, send me.”
You have fulfilled that one, for the glory of God, no matter how difficult that path, you press on its narrow precipice, gasping at the drop-offs to either side of you, but there is no room for a partner on the path. We all must walk it for ourselves. Blessings to you for bravely carrying that torch in a stronger, bolder, brighter way and being willing to pour all of your experiences into a memoir so that others can begin to believe that God CAN work through the darkest of places!!
Love,
Tammy
(#80 this week)
Your encouragement is always so timely and exactly what I need to hear, Tammy! Thank you for being such a blessing!
🙂 Now I REALLY hope we’ll get to meet this summer. That will be His perfect timing, indeed! And it made my day to hear that I was used to bless you when you needed it.
Love,
Tammy