The Hardest Personal Goal

by Valerie Denay Staton

The hardest personal goal I have set for myself is to eradicate fear and confront opportunities with boldness and confidence. To stop procrastinating. When writing it often takes a great deal of time before my work reaches publication because I second guess myself. “Is it good enough?” I ask myself. Then I get lost in an endless maze of editing. When I can’t go any further the project is done.

I began writing a novel thirty plus years ago. It has received rave reviews from trusted family and associates. They constantly ask if it has been completed. I’ve been told it would be a best-seller and had movie potential yet I have yet to reach THE END. So self-confidence is very high on my list. The book that was to be #1 will now probably be book #10.

Whenever I Think of God

by Valerie Denay Staton

Whenever I think of You Father, I think of enduring love. A love that parts wayward seas, and calms boisterous winds. That accompanies sojourners traveling in a foreign land. A love without cost. A love that has no end. Everything You do is masterful! Indeed, all Your creations are priceless works of art! From the minute mite to the humungous behemoth. You paint the world in stunning colors. Wavelengths of energy you allow our eyes to see. Thank You dear Father for this beautiful paradise You created for humanity. This great land, full of beautiful plants, flowers, and trees. And creatures on land, in the heavens, in rivers, oceans, and in immaculate seas. You, Almighty God, created many astonishing things for our enjoyment and company. Thankful and blessed I am, I must say, for the precious gifts You’ve given me each day. I am grateful for the sun that lights the way and for the moon that takes over when light goes away. For the stars that shoot across the sky and the ones that twinkle and blink at night. They bring comfort and joy, those luminous balls of light. Whenever I think of You Father, I am filled with admiration and sheer delight. I cannot thank You enough for this amazing life. Thank You God for creating me. For surrounding me with beautiful things. I love You tremendously, my doting Father, my Triumphant King!

***Published in Odes of Praise: A Collection of Christian Poetry – 2022

Jeweled Wonders to Behold

by Valerie Denay Staton

Atop a walnut table with ebonised legs sat a Victorian brooch, white and red. She wore diamonds and rubies brilliant and bright,
that sparkled within all sources of light. Bejeweled little butterfly trimmed in gold, a wonder you are for the eye to behold.
"Am I not beautiful?" inquired the dragonfly,
from its perch on an occasional table nearby.
Dressed in diamonds, rubies, and mounted on gold, with enameled wing and tail, and a dazzling bouton pearl, it too was a wonder for the eye to behold.
"What about me!" shouted a diamond pendant watch. 
"And me!" shouted a brooch with a white paste heart.
"What about me?" inquired a flower, art nouveau...
"Enough!" shouted a disgruntled Cameo, dressed in pearls, diamonds, rubies, and gold.
"We all are wonders to behold!"

***Published 2023

Transform Me

by Valerie Denay Staton

Transform me today, dear Lord. Touch both heart and soul. Fill me with peace and love dear Lord, for heaven is my goal.

Transform me today, dear Lord. Create a new creature today. Instill a sense of purpose Lord. Fill me with compassion and grace.

Guide my thoughts and actions Lord. Help me shed worries and fears. Almighty God, with ultimate power. My desire is to do Your will.

Transform me today dear Lord. Wash away stains of sin. Touch my heart and soul dear Lord and make me whole again.

Published 9/29/25

The Whippoorwill

By Valerie Denay Staton

In the dark of night, the whippoorwill cries as it flitters beneath the night’s blue sky. Master of camouflage, heard, seldom seen, is searching for woodland insects to glean.

Whippoorwill! Whippoorwill! The nightjar trills, as it glowers and swoops, down for the kill.

Insects traversing the forest take heed. For the mottled bird has tremendous speed. It nests on the ground, it perches in trees. It’s gray-brown plumage the color of leaves.

Up at dawn, at dusk, and on moonlit nights, the brindled bird rests with the coming of light. A tiny bird with a magnanimous shrill. Whippoorwill! Whippoorwill! The nightjar trills.

*** The Whippoorwill was published in the book P.S. It’s Still Poetry Volume II, An Anthology of Eclectic Contemporary Poems Written by Poets from Around the Globe on January 6, 2022.

JOY

by Valerie Denay Staton

Joy…

A sunset, a sunrise, a loved one’s image before my eyes. The sound of nature in the morn. Dancing with my love from dusk to dawn.

Sounds of nature – the chirps and tweets. A smile and “hello” from people I meet. The recognition of momentous events. Receipt of correspondence a loved one sent.

Pursuit of desires and of one’s dreams. A walk with nature beside burbling streams. Saying “I love you” and getting the same reply. Being with the one I love until the day I die.

Holding onto a loved one’s hand. Receiving compliments instead of reprimands. Witnessing good things happening to others. Spending time with parents, sisters, and brothers.

Daily conversations with the one who created me. Thanking Him for love, life, and liberty. Just a few things I am joyful for…I will stop right here, for there are so many more!

***Published in my book “Odes of Praise: A Collection of Christian Poetry” in December 2022.

“SHE AROSE”

by Valerie D. Staton

She Arose…A phoenix out of a pile of ashes. Out of abandonment, out of hardships and constraints, out of depression and sadness.

She Arose…Out of cutbacks and set backs. Taking to the sky, looking down on ghosts of mental, physical, and economical abuse.

She Arose…Strong, majestic, empowered, and divine! Out of trials and tribulations she climbed. Casting off unsightly remnants of loss and despair, leaving pain and sadness behind.

She Arose…A new creature. Beautiful and refined! Out of a pile of ashes the phoenix climbed. With a surge of energy, she took to the sky and never looked back where her burdens lie.

She Arose!!

*** “She Arose” was published in the book “P.S. It’s Poetry: An Anthology of Eclectic Contemporary Poems Written by Poets from Around the Globe” – December 2020.

WRITER RESOURCES

Whether a seasoned author or a newbie, the following list of resources should prove to be useful.

Story Structure and Planning Tools

  1. Plottr – visual story planning software
  2. Scrivener – writing and organizational tool for long form content
  3. Campfire – tool for worldbuilding and story planning (great for fantasy and science fiction).

Grammar and Style Tools

  1. Grammarly – grammar, tone, and clarity checking
  2. Hemingway Editor – highlights readability, passive voice, and sentence complexity
  3. ProWritingAid – deep style editing and writing analysis

Productivity and Focus Tools

  1. Pomofocus.io – a web-based Pomodoro timer to break work into intervals
  2. Cold Turkey/Freedom – block distractions on your computer or phone
  3. 4theWords – gamifies writing with word count goals and challenges
  4. Story Shack’s writing prompt generator
  5. Writers Helping Writers – thesauruses for emotion, setting, etc.
  6. Brandon Sanderson’s free college level writing lectures on writing fiction
  7. Reedsy Learning – Free 10-day email courses on writing and publishing

I hope the resources help you in your writing journey. Wishing you success.