Category: Guest post archive

Of the mechanical misdeeds common to writing, the comma splice may be the most insidious. This sneaky little fugitive hides out in the writing of students and professionals alike, smashing up sentences and taking liberties with punctuation.

The grammatical equivalent of a hit-and-run, this nefarious collision of clauses happens when one sentence crashes right into another one, leaves its mark (a comma) at the scene of the crime, and never once stops to properly address the damage.

And how exactly can writers salvage a sentence from such wreckage and bring this runaway to justice?

First, we must identify just what this mechanical miscreant looks like. Simply described, a comma splice is a kind of run-on sentence that uses a comma to try to separate two (or more) complete sentences.

A run-on sentence—that is, two or more independent clauses connected with no punctuation at all—is more easily identified by many writers. Take the following example of a run-on sentence:

• Bob overslept Bob was late for work.

Here, the first independent clause (“Bob overslept”) runs right into the second independent clause (“Bob was late for work”) with no dividing punctuation whatsoever. Thus, a run-on sentence. Easy to spot, easy to fix.

Or is it?

Many times writers who spot a run-on sentence will attempt to correct the run-on sentence by just adding a comma, like so…

• Bob overslept, Bob was late for work.

The problem is that a comma is not strong enough on its own to separate complete sentences.

In this way, by addressing one error (the run-on sentence), the hard-working writer has inadvertently created another (a comma splice)!

So what’s a writer to do?

Happily, a writer need not despair. The sentence can easily be rescued by employing one of the five corrective methods outlined below.

1. Insert a period to separate 2 independent clauses.

• Bob overslept. Bob was late for work.

The most simplistic way to correct for a run-on sentence, this method takes little time, little thought, and no restructuring of sentences or paragraphs.

2. Insert a semi-colon to separate 2 independent clauses.

• Bob overslept; Bob was late for work.

Much like the first method, this corrective measure simply adds one punctuation mark. However, using a semi-colon between two sentences typically suggests a strong relationship between the sentences, a distinction not necessarily present when just inserting a period.

3. Insert a comma plus a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, so, yet, for, nor).

• Bob overslept, so he was late for work.

Beware: Inserting only a comma creates a comma splice (which is essentially a run-on sentence with extra baggage).

Unlike a period or semi-colon, a comma is not strong enough to separate two sentences on its own, but it can be used with a little help from its fanboys (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

Where the use of a semi-colon suggests a relationship between the two sentences being joined, a comma with a coordinating conjunction firmly establishes one.

For example, the use of so in the corrected example indicates a cause-and-effect relationship between the sentences—that is, from the way the sentences have been combined, it is clear that Bob’s oversleeping caused his tardiness.

Where applicable, using sentence construction to outline a clear relationship between sentences is a good idea. It enhances the clarity of the message and adds variety to the structure of the sentences within a paragraph, thereby increasing the readability of the writing as a whole.

4. Insert a conjunctive adverb with a semi-colon (or period) before and a comma afterwards.

• Bob overslept; therefore, he was late for work.
• Bob overslept. Therefore, he was late for work.

While conjunctive adverbs may sound intimidating as a term, we actually use them all of the time, and the most familiar is probably the equivocalhowever.

Other conjunctive adverbs include therefore, thus, nevertheless, consequently, furthermore, meanwhile, likewise, namely, and the phrase on the other hand.

The words themselves may be familiar to us, but many times when we encounter conjunctive adverbs in our writing, we feel a little insecure about how exactly to punctuate them.

Luckily, the steps are quite simple and straightforward.

1. Insert a period or semi-colon before the conjunctive adverb.
2. Insert a comma after the conjunctive adverb.

The caveat with this method is to read the sentence carefully and punctuate accordingly: Some of the words that serve as conjunctive adverbs (like instead or while) can also pull down double duty as another part of speech (maybe as a plain old adverb or even a noun).

5. Rewrite the sentence.

• Because he overslept, Bob was late for work.
• Because he overslept, Bob was late for work.

The failsafe method for combatting a comma splice, rewriting a sentence is sometimes the best way a writer can correct the sentence, clarify the meaning of the message, and get out of the mental rut often creating by focusing too much on one single aspect of a written piece.

It would be hard to cover all of the ways to rewrite a sentence to correct for a comma splice, but the two following methods are the most common:

1. Change one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause to create a complex sentence.
2. Create a simple sentence with a compound predicate.

Armed with these five strategies for combatting comma splices, a writer should feel confident about confronting this mechanical hit-and-run and bringing it swiftly to justice.

Hilary Brooke Hall lives with her family in North Carolina. Until the day she gets it all together, she is leaning on the Lord (and Dr. Pepper).

She has a B.A. in graphic design from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.A. in English/Creative Writing from North Carolina State University.

She does NOT profess to be a Bible scholar or an expert. In anything. At all.

Hilary Brooke Hall also authors rogueletterie.com, a blog that features original graphic design and writings about about the American South, music, and other sociocultural topics.

Several days have passed, and I was sure that the excitement I felt when my wife and I attended the 45^th Presidential Inauguration would have worn off. Boy, was I wrong.

In fact, the more positive things I see President Trump doing, the more excited I am to be an American.

Angie and I had the wonderful privilege to be in Washington D.C. when Trump took the oath of office. We were motivated by many things he said from the podium in front of millions of supporters.

“We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement. And most importantly, we will be protected by God,” Trump proclaimed.

Wow – those words were refreshing to hear. To me, the United States has sadly put God on the backburner over the past eight years. The military and police have been portrayed as villains and held to an obvious double standard.

We were thrilled to be in the crowd and to hear unifying words such as — “Whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots,” Trump echoed to a thunderous applause.

We were also thrilled to meet wonderful people from all over the nation who shared the same unifying spirit Trump boldly spoke about.

We met two young men, both college students from Cooperstown, N.Y., while standing in line the day before the Inauguration at the Longworth House Building to pick up our tickets to the ceremony. Bobby was a young Republican dressed in the typical blue suit and donning a red “Make America Great Again” cap, while MacGuire was a young Democrat dressed in more casual clothing. MacGuuire told me he was disappointed in the outcome of the election, but he wanted to see the peaceful transfer of power. Both young men were excited to be in Washington D.C.

They had the spirit of unity.

While riding the Metro into the city, we made friends with a couple from Michigan who were so proud their son was going to march in the Inaugural Parade. They were going to get up the morning of the Inauguration to be on the train at 4 a.m. to get a good spot on the parade route to see their son, who attends Virginia Military Academy.

They had the spirit of unity.

Also on the train, we talked to a couple of ladies who drove from Colorado for one reason – to pray for President Trump.

They had the spirit of unity.

On Inauguration Day, we met Zan and Emily.  Both ladies were from North Carolina and involved in local politics. We stood with them in our place on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol for about five hours the morning of the ceremony. We got to know each other well during that time. Zan was excited because Melania was going to wear a “Carolina” blue dress.

They had the spirit of unity.

After the ceremony, we walked to Chinatown for a bite to eat and became friends with Mike and Marco – two men from Houston, as well as a young married couple, Jordy and Claire, who were expecting their first child.  They were also from Texas.

Marco got on board the “Trump Train” after his candidate dropped out of the primary, while Claire was on board from day one. She is hopeful President Trump will appoint judges to the U.S. Supreme Court who are pro-life and share her values. “I just cannot imagine aborting a child,” she said.

They had the spirit of unity.

Finally, as we made our way to the Metro to head back to the hotel and relax, we spoke to military and national guardsmen and police who were there simply to protect us. They were all professional and polite, and we thanked them for their service.

They had the spirit of unity.

That spirit was everywhere. We did not give credit to those protesting and mocking the system as the winner. They were not going to put a damper on a thrilling experience. They exercised their right, but they were in the minority.

It’s a shame they did not have the spirit of unity.

The spirit most of us had was so evident throughout the weekend. Reflecting back, I can’t help but become more excited.

Trump’s words were long overdue. He praised our military and created a sense of togetherness by declaring America will be first. He placed a high importance on his need for God. That’s what we found so refreshing.

Trump said toward the end of his rally cry, “the Bible tells us how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity. We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity. When America is united, America is unstoppable.”

America has reclaimed the spirit of unity.

Del Duduit is an award-winning writer. His work has been published in Sports Spectrum and Portsmouth Metro Magazine. As a sportswriter, he won AP and statewide awards. He has several years of news writing and broadcast experience. Del blogs on his website, freelances and also guest blogs for Almost an Author. He lives in Lucasville, Ohio with his wife Angie, and they have two adult sons. They attend Rubyville Community Church

“Your platform isn’t large enough.” The pretty blonde editor closed my proposal and handed it back.

I attempted a smile, thanked her for her time, stood up, held back the tears, and walked out of the room as gracefully as possible—holding my breath. When I reached the fresh air outside, I wanted to scream.

Ugh! I despised that word, platform—the elusive golden ticket. I refuted this modern publishing precept for big platform with the thoughts . . . but what if a book is amazing? What if an author is really talented? God is a big God! He can do anything.

But now that I’m on the other side of publication with two books recently released, I’ve learned a few things, and I have a better understanding of the importance of platform.

Talent and a unique idea can land you a contract with a small publisher. Many of us don’t care the size of the publisher; we just want to see our baby in print. (Am I right?) There are small to medium size publishers who will take a chance on a new writer with a small platform. And we are thankful for them. I’ve been blessed with such publishers.

But after the release of two new books in less than two months, I can tell you that I’m thankful for the platform, though not large, that I began to grow with the launch of my blog seven years ago.

Day in and day out I’ve consistently written for my followers.

I’m so glad I stayed the course and kept on writing even on days when the views were low and no comments or shares surfaced. Honestly, I’ve felt compelled to blog, and I know that God alone has been behind that grace to do so. In the consistency, perhaps the monotony, I’ve gained loyal followers. I have my tribe—a small tribe, but they are mine.

I am proof that everything the industry professionals tell you is true. Platform, a place to get the word out about your book, is paramount.

[bctt tweet=”Blogging, speaking, and social media are three venues to build your platform” username=””]

Social media is a gift. We must embrace it as authors in the twenty-first century. But I do give this rule:

• Use it socially, not just as a tool to promote your book and blog.
• We must share others’ joys and concerns, cheer people on, allow people into our lives, and share our books and articles for the edification of others.
• Share other author’s books and blogs too—more than your own.

I’ve been amazed by how fast a post about your book’s release can spread through social media simply because your friends and followers love you.

But they don’t just love me; they’ve become familiar with my writing. They know what to expect. I am so thankful I started working on platform years ago. It takes time. If an author doesn’t start blogging or social media(ing) until after her book comes out, it’s too late. There’s not been enough time to grow it.

You’ve got to start NOW. Start building your platform before the contract, not just because the publishers demand it, but because you will greatly depend on that platform when the time comes for your book to release.

I do offer this warning. At one point early on in my career, I “wore” this pressure to grow my platform “on my sleeve.” In other words, I came across as desperate for people to subscribe to my blog. I was begging. I’m all about authenticity, so my publishing journey, rejections, and disappointments often became the topic for my blog posts. One day a close friend called me and told me that my dream to have my book published was idolatrous.

She didn’t understand. She had no idea how many hours I had spent with the Lord checking my heart about this. Nor did she know my agent was telling me she would not pitch my book to publishers until I grew my platform. Our friends who are not involved in this industry don’t know what’s needed in the market today, nor do they understand the ache—the calling inside of us to see our books in print. So, be wise in your words. Not everything we learn from God needs to be shared at that moment to that audience.

My friend’s judgment/warning did cause me to check my heart again—for the hundredth time and to sit back for a little bit afraid she was correct. But God made it clear to me that He alone could tell me to stop writing. My writing and platform building comes out of obedience to Him.

 I do what I can, and the rest if up to God. But I will do my part. I’ll blog, share on social media, speak, and teach, join writing groups and attend conferences. I’ll make my business/author cards and attend networking events in my community, and I’ll be open to whatever the Lord would have me do that day.

I am free to do this because I’m not selling me. I’m sharing the story God gave me to share. It’s my ministry. He’s given us wonderful tools in this modern era to generously love others across the country and the world with our words. He has called us to employ the written word to bring life to a dying, hurting world.

Build your platform, if not for the industry, for God.

Andy Lee is an award-winning writer, blogger, Bible teacher, and author of two books, A Mary Like Me: Flawed Yet Called (Leafwood 2016), and The Book of Ruth Key Word Bible Study: A 31-Day Journey to Hope and Promise (AMG 2015). She encourages digging deep to live fully at www.wordsbyandylee.com.

Please tell us about your most Recent Book
I recently completed my Cherry Hill Series, a Young Adult urban fantasy series. It didn’t start out that way. Book one, Now I Knew You, was supposed to be a stand-alone novel about a teen boy who has a near-death experience and talks to his aborted daughter (unknown to him) in heaven. I enjoyed the fictional town of Cherry Hill and my characters so much that I decided to continue on with additional books. Book 2, Angel ‘n Me, is by far my favorite. My readers seem to agree. Books 3 and 4 wrap up the series. Cassandra’s Crossing and Lydia’s Way take a bigger step into the paranormal, with some time travel and shape-shifting tossed into the mix. I even spun off a character into a serial novel called Cat’s Out. That, I suppose, would be my most recent, the latest installment of Cat’s Out, where the shape-shifting continues with Darla Velasquez, a 15-year-old girl battling demonic forces in Detroit. Darla has an attitude (what else would you expect from a cat?) and my readers, both on Wattpad and Amazon, love the character. At least one boy has expressed a crush, despite Darla’s always present baseball bat and ability to grow claws (I am fighting hard to restrain my sexist comments here).

Why do you write what you do?
I’ve tried many a genre, as most writers do. But I was drawn to Young Adult and then Middle Grade because of the freedom it gives me. A young protagonist can say and do anything and still be believable. Really, they say and do the things we’d really like to say and do as adults, but society frowns on a 50-year-old man starting food fights in the cafeteria or calling his co-worker a cotton-headed ninnymuggins (okay, I have). I also want to connect with the kids who are like most of us. We all felt like outcasts at some point in our childhood. We believed there was something wrong with us, that no one could possibly be like us. But, of course, all kids go through these times of doubt, feeling very much alone. I want to show them that they aren’t alone, but that they are also unique, and they should embrace that which makes them different. They are God’s design, and He never makes mistakes.

What are you currently working on?
I am in the process of the final edit of Scorpion Summer, my first middle-grade historical. It is set in 1968 Norfolk, Virginia. My protagonist is an eleven-year-old navy brat who loses his father aboard the USS Scorpion, the last Navy sub lost at sea. Scorpion Summer is the first of my Navy Brat series. I’ve also begun the second book, Pearl Mornings, set in 1972 Pearl City, Hawaii. I’ll continue moving through the 70s and 80s, from port to port, basically revisiting all the places I lived as a navy brat.

How does your work differ from other work in its genre?
There’s no hovercraft or amazing archery skills. Okay, seriously, I like to tackle issues like teenage pregnancy and abortion (Now I Knew You) without preaching. By the time my reader gets through the book, she’ll see that her choices have consequences and her actions affect many more people than she realizes. I never come out and say what is right and wrong, and never invoke my Christian faith, but my readers will know that the simple answers the world provides are never quite that simple. For my middle-grade historicals, I’m one of the few who visit places like Hawaii without it being a paradise. Military kids see a duty station as just another duty station, whether it has palm trees or two feet of snow. I like to pull up little-known facts in history, like the loss of the Scorpion, to educate my reader as well as provide an intriguing story about a kid who overcomes the obstacles thrown into his previously worry-free existence.
How does your writing process work?
It’s evolving. I was once a panster. Then I became a plotter. Now I’m joining a larger crowd that’s somewhere in the middle. I like to start with my protagonist and build her backstory, as well as her parent’s (a middle-grade character’s background is heavily influenced by her parent’s background). I’ll write several scenes that will never make it into the novel. All backstory, but necessary to understand my character. Most importantly is the “dark moment,” where my character’s beliefs changed and altered her course forever. After that, give me an interesting incident and place, and my character can run with it. That’s not entirely true (I have my doubts about characters who just walk into a scene and take over), I do have a good idea where the story is going and still write down my major plot points and beats, including the ending. Things may change along the way, but I believe in having at least a general road map. Naturally, with historicals, research is important. I’ll research what is necessary to move the story forward, then check the details after the first draft. My wife just told me that normal folk weren’t using Pampers disposable diapers in 1968, so I may have to change that detail in Scorpion Summer, but things like that don’t change the overall story. You gotta check ‘em, though. The armchair historians will crush you on Amazon.

Ron Estrada writes Young Adult and Middle-Grade fiction. He is a regular contributor to Novel Rocket and My Book Therapy, as well as Women2Women Michigan, a local print magazine, where he writes a regular humor column. He lives in Oxford, Michigan, with his beautiful wife, Kelly. His two children are in college and (mostly) out of the house. You can find out what he’s up to by visiting RonEstradaBooks.com.

Being a sports writer has always been the most rewarding job I ever had. Often, I think back and wish I could have stayed in that career path. But working for a small-town newspaper was not financially rewarding enough to raise a family.

But I have some wonderful memories.

I started out by being a stringer reporter for my local daily newspaper’s sports section. Back then, that was a big deal. EVERYONE read about their favorite high school teams, and our editor was dedicated to local sports. At that time, it was the bread and butter of our small-town daily paper. Having a strong local school presence can make a local paper very important.

So, one night, one of the full-time sportswriters was ill, and my editor threw me into the fire. He had me cover a local game and write it up. After a few corrections and suggestions, it went to print. I was so excited and proud. After all, I was about 20 years old at the time. I even had a byline – that was bigtime to me.

Soon I was given a full-time position. It was a blast. I was actually getting paid to go to ballgames and write about them. It was a dream come true at the time, and I felt like a local celebrity. As time went on, I found out that I could get media passes and cover some professional and college games for free as well. I wasted no time signing up.

I quickly sent off to get passes to cover the Cincinnati Bengals and the Reds and any nearby NBA team hosting the Boston Celtics. Back then, I loved the NBA. I was an avid Larry Bird fan and was able to interview him a couple times. In fact, one column that I wrote about an interview with Bird won an Associated Press Sports Writers Award in Ohio. I was so happy about that. Not only did I get to go watch the Celtics play Cleveland, I got to interview Bird and was honored by the AP. Wow! I had it made.

One funny memory I have happened when I took my dad to a Bengals game.  We had gone down to stand on the sidelines to watch the fourth quarter when Gary Reasons, a linebacker for the New York Giants, made a tackle and wiped out several of us who were on the side watching. We were fine, but a little sore.

Within a year, I won another AP award and also won an award from the Ohio Prep Sports Writer’s Association for a series of columns I wrote on whether or not a shot clock would serve in the best interest of high school basketball.  I got opinions from coaches, players, parents, fans and officials and spread the series out over a few weeks.

So as time went on, I was able to interview some of my other sports heroes like Orel Herschiser of the Los Angeles Dodgers, PGA great Greg Norman, and former Dallas Cowboys Coach Tom Landry as well as Pete Rose and Muhammed Ali. Rose liked my interview with him so much he called me a few weeks later to thank me. I had previously written a column on Pete after he was banned from having any association with the MLB for betting on the game. I had pointed out that many who were already enshrined in the MLB Hall of Fame had done things in their personal lives that were far worse, in my opinion, than what Rose had done. He liked what I wrote and he let me know.

One night after a Reds game, I was interviewing Herschiser in the locker room, and again my dad tagged along. After a while, it was just the three of us talking when the Dodgers’ trainer yelled for Herschiser to get on the bus. We were having such a good time that he didn’t want to leave.

I loved covering high school sports, especially football and volleyball. In volleyball, there are so many exciting adjectives to use like: spike, kill, jam, slam, pound, volley, smack, etc. It was a sports writer’s field day.

But mostly I loved writing columns and telling my opinion to everyone. You see, I just assumed everyone agreed with me, or after reading my column, they would come around to my way of thinking. Wrong. I heard from people when they disagreed, but that was okay. It was part of the fun. It made for good discussion when people would see me out at a restaurant or at the grocery store.

My favorite column I ever wrote dealt with game-winning moments in high school. That particular week of high school basketball featured three buzzer-beater shots. So, I called each player who made each shot, as well as their coaches, to get their reactions.  I started out the article with my personal memories of my two sons who also experienced such moments in time that will last forever.  I loved capturing memories for athletes and their parents. When I played ball in high school, I always anticipated getting the paper after I had a good game and reading what was said about me.  So, when I wrote about high school games, I wrote every story as if my own child was playing in that game and how I as a parent would want to see my kid’s name in the paper. I never lost sight of that.

Then some doors opened up for me to do some freelance writing for Sports Spectrum Magazine. I was given some assignments which were really fun. I went to Tampa, Florida and interviewed Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees during spring training, and later I spent some time with Bengals signal caller Andy Dalton.  I also interviewed former MLB great Al Oliver, who happens to live in my hometown.

Getting to interview well-known athletes is a perk – sometimes. There were times when people I admired turned out to be jerks in real life. I learned quickly to put things into perspective. You see, a professional is earning a living for a family.  Just like any job, there are good days and bad ones.

But high school athletes, and most college ones, play for the love of the game. And that’s what a good sports writer does – he or she covers that sport for the same reason – because it’s fun and he loves writing about sports. There is no agenda but to promote high school athletes.

That’s what sports writing should be about.

Del Duduit is a freelance writer, and some of his work has been published in Sports Spectrum Magazine and Portsmouth Metro Magazine. When he was a sports writer-reporter, he won two Associated Press writing awards as well as one Ohio Prep Sports Writers Association award. He has several years of experience as a general assignment reporter and broadcast news reporter.
He lives in Ohio with his wife Angie, and they have two adult sons.

www.delduduit.com

Facebook.com/delduduit

The following is an excerpt from A Life of Generosity: 21 Days to Living a Full Life With a Generous Heart by CJ Hitz

When I was a kid growing up in the small logging town of Myrtle Creek, Oregon, I had the opportunity to watch several instances of generosity that have stuck with me ever since. They involved my dad and a homeless man named “Claude.”

Claude would roam the highways and byways on his worn out bicycle and a huge pack with all of his earthly belongings. I am still amazed at how the man was able to pedal his bike with that load on his back!

On many occasions, while accompanying my dad as he drove into town, we would see Claude riding on the side of the road. Typically, dad would pull ahead and stop alongside the road to wait for Claude. It was about this time that I would shrink into my seat for fear of being noticed by any of my friends.

To be honest, I was embarrassed to be seen with this “hobo” of a guy who had the odor of someone who had not taken a shower in years. My friends and I had nicknames for many of the “colorful characters” wandering our area. Claude was simply known as “Dirt Claude” – as in a clump of dirt.

But my dad saw through the dirt. He saw a man who still deserved to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of the circumstances that led to his homelessness. As Claude would ride up next to our truck, dad would actually step out and greet him. I can still see Claude’s big toothless smile as he would say, “Hey Kenny, good to see you.”

They would chat for 15-20 minutes before dad would almost always put a $20 bill in Claude’s hand and give him a hug upon saying goodbye. Neither of them ever seemed in a rush. Claude would soak up the attention that every human being craves and my dad was more than willing to offer. It was generosity that went beyond just money.

One day my dad came home with some sad news. “Claude died yesterday.” My heart sank as I thought about how often people made fun of Claude, myself included. “Apparently, they found Claude frozen to death under an overpass…said his body was as hard as an ice cube.”

As hard as an ice cube.

Those words still ring in my ears to this day. What a lonely, agonizing way to spend your last hours on this earth. Claude could not have been older than 30. It very well could be that my dad was the last kind face Claude ever saw before his passing.

After all these years, my dad’s actions remain a powerful and vivid example of rich generosity not easily found in our world. It is the kind of generosity that Jesus demonstrated daily during the 33 years he walked on this earth.

It is an example worth following.

Over the years, the Lord has given me many opportunities to show generosity. Unfortunately, I have not responded to all of those opportunities. In fact, only heaven knows the full impact of what I have missed out on and what others were deprived of as a result.

Over the course of these next 21 days, it is my hope to grow deeper as I’m challenged to be more generous with my money, time, talents and, finally, my love for God and others. It is a chance to allow the Lord to sharpen my “generosity senses” and be more tuned into His frequency.

Regarding Jesus, I recently heard a child say, “He’s the man that gave God a good reputation.” Ha! So true! Let’s look at these next 21 days as a jumpstart that leads to a lifestyle of generosity that gives God a good reputation!

Will You Join Me?

It’s our prayer that you’ll grow a little closer to the Author of generosity.

In the 21 days that follow, you’re going to see unique snapshots of God’s generosity as He uses people. Each one of us has the potential to be a powerful tool in the hands of God. May this little book give you inspiration as you enjoy seeing generosity through the eyes of each author.

Will you consider joining me in these 21 Days of Generosity Challenge? It may look different for you and that’s okay. Simply ask God what He wants you to do and then do it.

Are you ready to get started? Let’s start with a prayer…

Lord I thank You for each person who reads this book and lifts up these prayers to You. I pray that You would do a mighty work in their hearts as they spend these next 21 days in prayer with You. Change them from the inside out through Your Word and prayer. Give them a hunger and thirst for You that will continue past the last page of this book. We love You and thank You for this opportunity to come to You with our prayers of generosity. Amen.

CJ Hitz is an author, speaker and entrepreneur. He attended Anderson University (Indiana) where he received his BA in Sociology with a minor in Christian Ministries.  He also met his wife Shelley at this fine institution while doing some time in prison…prison ministry that is. In his downtime, CJ enjoys spending time outdoors running, hiking and exploring God’s beautiful creation.  He also does a pretty mean impression of Scooby Doo and Shaggy.

CJ and his wife Shelley founded their independent publishing company, Body And Soul Publishing, in 2012 and have written and published over 50 books since then. They currently reside in Colorado Springs, CO.

Many of their books can be found at www.BodyAndSoulPublishing.com

It was a quieter time, a calmer day

When people didn’t have so much to say

When thoughtfulness reigned

And answers restrained

Until we’d had time to reflect.

Books made of paper and ink

Weren’t rare, but they caused you to think.

You might “sit a spell,”

Stare out the window and dwell

On a sentence that rolled ‘cross your tongue.

Sentences stretched in two spaces.

Commas lined up like shoelaces.

The author’s rhythm and tone

Made your breath match his own

And his ‘and’ was never confusing.

Some say Oxford comma’s superfluous,

Double spaces are nothing but vacuous

But in them we rest

And our thoughts find a nest

Oh, let characters line up with no counting!

I am not a poet (as you can tell). I wrote this tongue-in-cheek elegy after waxing philosophical on typographical changes in writing, not because I’m old and nostalgic. Okay, maybe I’m a little old.

What does it mean that we remove the Oxford comma and the spaces in ellipses, along with that second space between sentences and after colons? At a practical level, we save paper and reduce our character-count, but I wonder if it changes all readers’ experiences like it changes mine. John Piper recently observed, “Shaped by smartphones and soundbites, we are impatient with communication that forces us to slow down.”

In that milli-second of space, whether blank or occupied by punctuation, the reader breathes. In the seven—yes seven—spaces formerly necessary for an ellipsis, we could consider that which was omitted. Now that we don’t have built-in spacing, it’s up to the writer to create “breathing room” within the paragraphs.

How do we do that? Consider these three ways, then add your own suggestions in the comments at the bottom.

3 Ways to Create Breathing Room in Your Writing

1. Dialogue Breaks

At least we still change paragraphs when we change speakers. Beyond that, we can insert speaker beats. (Check this post for how to do it well.) I have this one friend who never pauses when she talks, but most people naturally breath, blink, and/or wait for feedback from others. Those moments in the story give our readers time to catch up.

2. Descriptive Moments

We all know, “Show, don’t tell.” Adjectives work naturally into that premise and—bonus!—contribute to the sensory experience. “Spending” the words necessary to say beige carpet or gray sky permits your reader to create a stronger image before moving forward. A few authors do this so well we want to stay in the description. Remember Steinbeck’s whole chapter on a turtle crossing the road in The Grapes of Wrath (ch. 3)? For the rest of us, a couple of descriptive words will suffice.

3. Downbeats

Because we, the omniscient authors, know everything that’s happening, we can easily skip that second in which the character processes what he/she has learned, but when our characters take a moment to absorb something, our readers do the same. Let your character freeze mid-step, pause, raise an eyebrow, or exhale slowly. As a reader, I usually end up mimicking the character and understanding the story better because of it.

Use these 3 Ds to help your readers keep pace with your plot through your paragraphs and pages.

Now it’s your turn! What other ways can we manage the “spaces” in our writing? Your ideas don’t have to start with D.

Carole Sparks is a reader-turned-writer because she just couldn’t keep her hands off those delicious sentences! When she’s not writing, she’s running, reading, or raising her children. You can catch up with her on her blog, on Facebook, or on Twitter. (See what I did there? See that last comma?)