Why I Refuse to Relent in Pursuit of My Dreams {+ Amazing Giveaway!}

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Write fiction books. Write non-fiction books. Act in Christian films. Work behind the camera of a Christian film. Screenwrite. Become a literary agent. Become an acquisitions editor. Launch a Christian magazine/ministry for teens. Own or work at a coffee shop.
I recently found a couple of old journal entries and blog posts of mine in which I gave the above list in response to the question, "What are your greatest dreams?" Although there is no definite destination along the path to pursuing dreams, it's crazy to look at this list and strikethrough the dreams that have already become a reality. Especially since I imagined the process of pursuing would take much longer than it has. (Side note: I am not yet a literary agent, but I work at a literary agency as a Jr. Agent.) Being an author was my absolute #1 dream; the others were simply ideas. Possibilities. Yet I've refused to settle for less. I've refused to relent in pursuit of my dreams for the sake of having a predictable and safe lifestyle. 

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Friends and family members often tell me that how amazed they are that I've been able to "achieve my dreams". But why is this so crazy? It's as though dreams were simply meant to remain just that: a dream. A wish. An idea. It's never made much sense to me to pursue a life that's anything less than a life I love. To pursue occupations that don't suit my gifts, talents, and strengths.
This is why it's a desire of mine to instill within the hearts of teens a determination to pursue the calling God has placed on their lives. Because when they become who God has created them to be, when they develop their gifts and talents -- all the while seeking Him first -- then the direction of their future may become more clear. 
This is my heart behind creating PURSUE Magazine. When a teen reads this magazine, I hope she will have a longing to draw closer to God. I hope she will be challenged to view herself the way He sees her. To embrace her uniqueness. To pursue her God-given purpose. To rise to new levels with her gifts and learn how she can use them to minister to others.

So why do I refuse to relent in pursuit of my dreams? Simply put: Life is too short to not live a life I love. It's too short to not fully cultivate and tap into the potential God has given me and live out His perfect plan for my life. Because it's in the center of that perfect plan that I will have the opportunity to speak into the lives of others as well.
If you, too, want to become awakened to the dreams that have been birthed inside your heart -- if you want to learn how you can understand God's unique calling on your life and BECOME the young woman He has destined for you to be -- then I encourage you to consider picking up a Kindle copy of our first issue of PURSUE Magazine. 
The first issue of PURSUE releases on Amazon Kindle tomorrow, April 15th! However, it is now available for pre-order. {Click here to read the back cover or purchase on Amazon.} 
Giveaway!

In effort to spread buzz of this release, four lucky winners will receive one of the following prizes...

• free digital copy of PURSUE Magazine
• $15 Starbucks gift card
• $15 Amazon gift card
• your choice of an Erin Condren notebook

Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Do you want to help us spread the word?

Do you support our vision and mission statement? If so, please consider helping us spread the word. You can start by entering the giveaway above. Then, open this "Marketing Plan" PDF and you'll have another opportunity to win a $10 Starbucks gift card! (The winner of this giveaway will be selected on May 1st. This is a separate giveaway from the one above.)


Blog Swap



Would you be interested in participating in a blog swap with me? (Blog swap = Guest post in return for a guest post.) If so, please email me at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com for more details!

Are you a believer in pursuing dreams as well? Why do you think some people choose to neglect their dreams and settle for a safe and predictable life? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

My 1st Live TV Interview + PURSUE Magazine is Now Available via Pre-order!

Last week I had my very first live TV interview! For those of you who watched it live online and/or sent your prayers and well wishes, thank you! If you've followed my blog for a while now then you might know that I've had to face my fear of public speaking because I felt God calling me to minister to teens through the spoken word rather than just the written word. This interview was a leap of faith -- especially since it was live and an hour-long. But I'm so glad I did it, and I'm even more thankful to have had the opportunity to share what's on my heart.
If you missed the interview, you can view it below. 

In other news, PURSUE Magazine is now available for pre-order! Our first digital issue releases on April 15th. I can't wait to share this with you! In this issue, you will learn how to embrace your uniqueness, discover who you are in Christ, and BECOME. 

A huge thanks to all of the writers, editors, and our graphic designer for making this possible!

You can view PURSUE on Amazon & pre-order for only $1.99 at {this link}. 

For updates, be sure to follow us on social media (@PursueMagazine across all accounts) and sign up for our newsletter by clicking here!

More writing updates . . . 

• I'm continuing to work on my teen devotional that's contracted with Bethany House
• I recently served on faculty for the first time at a writer's conference! {Pictures below.}

• I'm preparing for 4 more conferences over the next three months! {For a complete list, click here.}
• I'm working on the sequel to Purple Moon. (Yes, I still am. Occasionally. When I have a free moment. I'm determined to get this thing finished. Slowly but surely!)  
• I'm preparing for another speaking gig in May and am trying to fill my calendar with school visits for fall 2017. Check out my booking page if you'd like to have me speak at your youth group, school, library, or book club! 

How has your spring been so far? Have you had a chance to work on your writing projects? Let me know in the comments! =)

Announcing the digital launch of PURSUE Magazine, Issue No. 1! {+Giveaway!}

This time last year, the magazine I'd dreamt of since I was a pre-teen was preparing for the release of its blog/website. Now, I'm excited to announce that our first digital issue will be available to order on April 15th, 2017!

What is PURSUE?

PURSUE is an online magazine that encourages and inspires girls to make the most of their youth by pursuing God, tapping into who He has created them to be, embracing their uniqueness, and learning to how to sustain health. It is a general interest and Christian-based magazine that covers topics in life, encouragement & motivation, inspiration, arts & creativity, and beauty & fashion.

We strive to provide clean, inspiring, and positive media for young girls that will encourage them to pursue God and live the life He's called them to live. Our vision is to create an online community for teen girls where they can go to find support and encouragement in their walk with Christ. 

How can you help? {+ enter a giveaway!}

The only way PURSUE will accomplish our vision is if our readers share it with their friends and engage in the community! 

Here's what you can do:

• Join our street team. {Click here to join!} On this street team, you'll receive a free copy of the digital issues in exchange for a free review posted on Amazon (if you're interested). You'll also receive behind-the-scene peeks, exclusives, first looks, members-only giveaways, and more!
• Follow us on social media. You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Ideas: Invite your friends to follow our Facebook page; retweet our Tweets; re-gram our Instagram posts, or tag your friends in the comments of our pictures; re-pin our Pinterest posts; pin images from our blog to your Pinterest boards. 
• Comment on our blog posts! Is there a post on our blog that resonated with you? Let us know in the post's comments!
• Share the posts on your social media. You can do this by providing a link on your Facebook, Twitter, or taking a picture of it and sharing it on Instagram.

By supporting PURSUE, you're supporting our vision to provide clean and inspiring media for teens. 

To thank you for your efforts, one person will win a $25 gift card to ErinCondren.com. To enter, all you have to do is comment below and let me know what you did to help spread the word!


Thanks, everyone! I look forward to sharing this issue with you! =D


** {PS ... Are you a photographer? Would you -- or someone you know -- be interested in submitting photography for our magazine on a volunteer basis? Send us an email at pursuemagazine(at)gmail(dot)com!} **

PURSUE Spotlight: Introducing Teen Writer & Creative, Rachel Alison!

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I'm at PursueMagazine.net today interviewing teen writer and creative, Rachel Alison. Check out the interview by clicking here!

$25 Amazon GIVEAWAY + PURSUE Magazine Launch!

First of all, I want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has supported PURSUE and helped with its launch. I'm thrilled to officially announce that as of yesterday, PURSUE Magazine's website, www.pursuemagazine.net, has officially launched! {If you'd like to read more about my vision and passion behind this magazine, click here.}
To celebrate, I'm offering a giveaway! One winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card and an autograph copy of my YA novel, PURPLE MOON.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway
*US only

Our goal as a magazine is to expand our reach in an effort to support our mission statement. We hope to spread light in today’s teen culture, encouraging teens to make the most of their youth by discovering their unique calling and pursuing a relationship with Christ.

We also hope to launch the first digital issue of the magazine this fall. {If you would like to contribute to the funds, click here.} Once we gain enough profit from the digital magazine, we would like to eventually offer print issues as well. {You can also support our magazine through our online store.} Feel free to announce this in an email to friends and family members as well.

You can help spread the word by tweeting the following: 

• Check out PURSUE Magazine a new & positive mag for#TeenGirls! @PursueMagazine #inspirational
• Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card + #YAnovel! #giveaway 

Thanks again for joining us on this journey!

{PS: There are still slots available on our staff. If you would like to join the team as a guest writer, columnist, or Teen Advisory Board member, contact us.}

Do you believe everyone has a specific calling on their life, one that was created to glorify Christ? How can you begin to discover your own?

Announcing new magazine for teen girls, PURSUE Magazine! { + Erin Condren LifePlanner Giveaway!}

When I was eleven, my friend and I launched an online website and Christian e-newsletter for pre-teen girls. It was called The Girls of Grace Group. We sent a newsletter every Sunday and reached almost 200 subscribers. It was then that I fell in love with the creative process of writing articles, overseeing an e-zine, and encouraging girls through the written word.


I decided that, along with my dream of becoming an author, I would eventually launch a Christian magazine for teens.


Fast forward a few years. I was fourteen, enrolled in an online school so I could pursue writing--yet I was discouraged, wondering if I was truly doing what God wanted me to do. One day, as I was having my quiet time, I came across the scripture Ecclesiastes 11:9 (MSG translation):

You who are young, make the most of your youth. Relish your youthful vigor. Follow the impulses of your heart. If something looks good to you, pursue it. But know also that not just anything goes; You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.

I could hear God speak to me as I read this verse. Telling me that I was where He wanted me to be. Reassuring me that I was making the most of my youth by pursuing the dreams He had placed on my heart since I was 3--the dream to become an author. 


It was soon after this moment that I knew what I wanted my future teen magazine to be titled: PURSUE. Over the years, the desire to launch this magazine has yet to leave. I've tried to prepare myself for this by gaining experience in other publications: 


I was a teen columnist for Whole Magazine, editor over the faith department for Temperance Magazine, a Teen Advisory Board member for Devozine, and contributing writer for Imagine Mag and MoreToBe.com. My articles have been published in Guide Magazine, Devozine, Refresh Magazine, Broken But Priceless Magazine, Ibegat.com, etc.


A few months ago, God impressed this magazine on my heart again. As I continued to seek His direction, He began to bring into my path others--close friends of mine--who were willing to contribute their own expertise and help me breathe life into this dream. 


So now, the desire that was birthed in my heart as a pre-teen is coming true. PURSUE Magazine is now in the works. 

And you can be apart of it.

March 1st, 2016 will mark the official launch of PURSUE Magazine's website, and we're currently searching for writers -- as well as teens -- to join the team.


Is this a Christian magazine?


While PURSUE is founded on Christian beliefs and will contain a faith department, the articles are directed to teens of all backgrounds and religious beliefs.   

PURSUE is an online magazine that encourages and inspires girls to pursue their youth by discovering their calling, embracing their uniqueness, and learning how to sustain health in body, mind, and spirit. It is a general interest magazine that covers topics in Life, Entertainment, Encouragement & Motivation, Inspiration, Arts & Creativity, and Beauty & Fashion.

Mission Statement:

PURSUE Magazine encourages and inspires girls to pursue their youth by discovering their calling, embracing their uniqueness, and learning how to sustain health in body, mind, and spirit. 

Is PURSUE a print magazine?


While print issues is our long-term goal, as of now we are preparing to build the online magazine through the website. We will then publish our the first online issue in September 2016.  We will, however, publish articles via the website beginning March 1st, 2016.


Here's where you come in the picture.


I don't want PURSUE to be just a magazine.


I want this to be a community. A community where girls can meet and encourage one another along their paths through youth. 

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How to join the team:


{You must be 16+ to apply as a writer.}


Contributing writers will write one post per month in their category of choice. They will also have access to the PURSUE Staff Team's private Facebook group and will be invited to enter future giveaways and contests.    

Guest writers writers will write one article in their category of choice. (This is for those who cannot commit to submitting one post per month.)


Teen Advisory Board members help to influence future themes and articles published in PURSUE. They will also contribute to the magazine's social media, offer ideas and suggestions on designs, offer their input on upcoming issues of PURSUE, and will be featured within the magazine. They will also have access to the PURSUE Teen Advisory Board private Facebook group and will be invited to enter future giveaways and contests. {You must be 13 - 19 to apply.}


Launch team members will help to spread the word of the magazine by telling their friends, posting about the magazine on their blog and social media, interacting within the comments on the website, etc. They will also have access to the PURSUE Launch Team private Facebook group and will be invited to enter future giveaways and contests.   


Want to apply? Email submissions (at) pursuemagazine (dot) net. In your subject line, please mention the position(s) (listed above) that you are interested in applying for. (Feel free to submit for more than one position!)


As soon as we receive your submission, we will send the writer's guidelines, as well as the giveaway entry form to win a $50 Erin Condren LifePlanner. 


We hope to hear from you! =)

Do you have a specific dream that has been on your heart for years? What steps can you take in 2016 to reach (or prepare) for this goal?