Almost An Author – Page 74 – Learn Craft + Launch Career

Choosing the Best Book Title

Post author By Diana Lee Flegal
Post date July 30, 2017
No Comments on Choosing the Best Book Title

Recently a client and I went back and forth several times until we settled on a title for her fiction book.

Our goal was to choose the best book title that connected the plot and storyline to the reader. We felt it important to make a strong connection.

Authors are often tempted to choose an esoteric or uber creative title, but better than a “woo woo” title is a plain and simple one. Choosing a line from the book is often a good choice.

Nonfiction titles can be easier, but not always. Ask yourself what the “take away’ is for your reader and create a title that is most likely to connect with that.

It has been said a reader takes two seconds to choose whether to buy a book or not.

[bctt tweet=”It takes a reader two seconds to choose whether to buy a book or not. #title #writer” via=”no”]

Avatar, Twilight, The Help, Jesus Calling, Eat, Pray, Love, and Situation Maid are all examples of one to three word titles that worked well.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. The Time Travelers Wife, The Memory Keepers Daughter. Great titles that solidly connect to the subject of the book and hint to the reader what the book is about.

The cover photo helps out as well as the back of the book blurb, but the title is the most memorable.

And always remember, read it out loud. Does it sound good?

The Map Across Time and The Unraveling of Wentwater, fairytales by C. S. Lakin, are two well named in her Gates of Heaven series.

We All Married Idiots – 3 Things You Will Never Change About Your Marriage & 10 Things You Can by Elaine Miller certainly catches the eye and hearts of those passing by.

Remember the childhood autographs that went something like this:

He Fell Off the Cliff by Eileen Dover

Rusty Bed Springs by I.P. Freeley

Help With Math by Cal Q’later

Enjoy this page: Books That Were Never Written from the Boy Scouts Trail blog. I like this one best, I think: ‘Sitting on the Beach’ by Sandy Cheeks

Tags agency, agent, Author, best book title, book agent, book blurb, book title, cover photo, diana flegal, literary agent, writer

Journeying through the Writer's Life

For Writers: 7 Tips to Silence the Negative Voices in Your Head

Post author By Edie Melson - Journeying through the Writer's Life
Post date July 29, 2017
3 Comments on For Writers: 7 Tips to Silence the Negative Voices in Your Head

Following the dream of becoming a writer involves so much more than just learning how to write. Sure that’s a biggie and without learning the craft of writing we’re sunk. But not knowing the basics is just one thing that can defeat us before we get started. We also have to silence the negative voices.

Yep, one of the biggest obstacles writers face is found inside our own heads.

[bctt tweet=”One of the biggest obstacles #writers face is found inside our own heads #writing”]

We spend a lot of time alone—just us, ideas in our heads, words, and voices. Yep, we all have those little voices that whisper in our minds. They say all sorts of things, some positive, but the majority negative.

I’ve heard them say things like:

You know you can’t write, why are you even bothering?
Others more talented than you have already written that, what could you possible add?
You’re wasting your time and your family’s money.
You’re a failure.

If we listen to these voices and give them the opportunity, they can keep us from writing. They can defeat us before we even begin. Instead, we need to learn how to overcome them and become resilient.

Today I have some tips to silence the negative voices in your head.

[bctt tweet=”7 Tips to silence the voices in your head #writing #writer”]

Remind yourself about the WHY. We all have a reason we want to write. That was what gave us the impetus to begin.

Replace the negative with the positive. Studies continue to show that negative self-talk has a huge impact. Instead of reinforcing those negative voices, replace them with positive.

Find yourself a writing tribe. We writers aren’t good at evaluating our own work. We need objective opinions from those we trust. Band together with other writers and reinforce your defense against those voices.

Get out. Not out of the writing biz, out of your office. Take your computer (or pen and paper) on a field trip. Go to a coffee shop, a park, where ever you feel comfortable. So often just the act of changing locations can give us the boost we need.

Let your tribe know you’re struggling. It’s not enough to be part of a writing tribe, you also have to reach out when you need help. Yes, they’re there to critique and read. But they’re also there to help one another succeed.

Face the fear. So often those negative voices play off the fear we feel. Maybe we’re afraid what we write will be junk and unpublishable. I’ll let you in on a secret, even best-selling authors write junk. So go ahead and write the junk. Get it out of the way and keep writing.

Write down what you’re hearing in your head. The voices whispering in our souls often seem big and powerful. When we write down what we hear, they are revealed as the ridiculous things they are.

If you’re trying to write, you’re hearing these voices. I know because I hear them, and so does every other writer on the planet. You aren’t alone and you can over come them. These are the things I do to silence the negative voices in my head. I’d love to hear how you cope. Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Tags 7 Tips to Silence the Negative Voices in Your Head, Almost an Author, Edie Melson, Journeying Through the Writer's Life, Writing Inspiration, Writing Instruction

Magazine and Freelance

Dos and Don’ts of Magazine Article Writing

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date July 28, 2017
No Comments on Dos and Don’ts of Magazine Article Writing

“Me, write for magazines? Never. I barely have the energy or expertise to write my book, let alone write for a publication. I am still re-learning paragraph structure, verb tenses and comma placement. I can’t even think about writing for a magazine.”

My entire attitude changed after attending the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. I learned that there are thousands of Trade publications, children’s magazines and online companies looking for writers like you and me. The good news; we don’t have to be English teachers or New York Times Best Sellers to get published. We just have to be persistent.

Here is a short list of Do’s and Don’ts to get you started:

Pray- God knows your writing style and will guide you to the perfect magazine that needs your talent. He will even help you pick the topics. He may want you to write for Cat Fancy or National Geographic. Whatever the magazine, God will equip you for it. You may or may not write for a Christian publication.

Brainstorm. Make a list of topics to write about. You know more than you think. List jobs, classes, and previous education. Have you taken a specialized class? You can write about that. In my next article I will give you resources and ideas to find writing jobs.

Research Magazines– What magazine do you want to write for? Study the magazine. Research which editor to contact. The more you know the voice of the magazine, the more likely you are to see your article in that magazine.

Learn to write a Query letter-A query letter is a formal, one-page letter, to propose writing ideas. It could also be called your pitch. There are many great free resources online to learn how to write a good query letter. To get you started, check out www.freelancewriting.com. A good Query letter will get you noticed, so do take the time to write it well.

Enjoy the process– The thought of writing for a magazine overwhelmed me. Am I good enough? Do I have anything to say? So far, the process has been amazing. I have met new people who have helped me and encouraged me.

Don’t

Get stuck in the learning process– Cecil Murphy and Jerry B. Jenkins are well-known award-winning writers. They are constantly striving to be better writers by reading books on writing and talking to other writers. Imagine if they’d waited until they thought they’d perfected the skill of writing?

Focus on weakness– We all have areas in our writing that are weak. Work on those areas; don’t be so consumed by them that you overlook your strengths.

Say no to an offer– You may be asked to write about a subject you know nothing about. With the World Wide Web at your fingertips you can research the topic. That is what I did for this article. It was fun and well worth the time. The only time to say “No” is if it goes against your belief or you truly cannot do the topic justice even after researching.

Give up- The writers who succeed are not necessarily the best writers, but they are persistent. You will receive many rejections. Don’t take them personally. It is a business decision, not a personal attack. Some of the best article writers have a drawer filled with rejection letters.

Having your work in a magazine is an obtainable goal. In the next few articles we will discuss “How to write a Query letter”,” Resources to find writing jobs” and “Social Media tips for the Writer”

[bctt tweet=”“Me, write for magazines? Never.” #magpub #freelance #writer” via=”no”]

Tags Article, don'ts, dos, freelance, magazine, query, writer

Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)

Writing With Disability -Featuring Writing of The Holy Bible – Part Three:

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date July 27, 2017
3 Comments on Writing With Disability -Featuring Writing of The Holy Bible – Part Three:

Overcoming a disability concept with a man writing the word Disability on a virtual interface and then crossing through the - Dis - with a red marker pen as a motivational call to overcome adversity.

King David, Isaiah, Jeremiah: Inclusion of Their Sick and Crippled

Picture a playground of children picking teams for a game. One by one team captains choose their teammates. Waiting to be called. in clear apprehension, is the child with red scaly patches on their knees and elbows.

There is a chubby kid who wears glasses looking off into the distance. The child with an obvious physical handicap, malformed knuckles, and webbed fingers expects to be last. A child with a vocal tic knows those who mock her will ignore her. The boy who stutters feels the same as does the one too shy to make eye contact. The unfortunate world of exclusion.

Inclusion means to allow to be a part of something. [1]Merriam Webster’s online dictionary defines it this way in selections one and four:

(1) the act of including: the state of being included
(4) the act of practice of including students with disabilities in regular school classes.

The story of David in the Bible is a favorite of mine because it is to me, the embodiment of inclusion. You may be familiar with the David, a shepherd boy, wearing no armor, who slays the giant Philistine, Goliath, using a sling shot and stones. There’s more to the story of David than the shepherd boy and his mighty slingshot.

The Prophet Samuel was sent to Bethlehem to choose a man from the house of Jesse who would one day be king. Jesse had many sons, but The LORD gave Samuel specific directions. Each man was presented and had worthy qualities, The LORD said no:

“But the Lord told Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks in the heart.” [1 Samuel 16:7 NIV]

Jesse did have another son, he was young, and out tending sheep. Samuel requested he see him and when he was brought up from the fields, The LORD spoke to Samuel saying this was the son he should anoint to be the future king. David had the heart the LORD wanted.

David played many roles. He was a shepherd, a musician that played to soothe evil spirits afflicting King Saul, a warrior that fought for Saul’s army, and later crowned King.

One of King Saul’s sons, Jonathan, was also David’s friend. David made a promise to Jonathan that he would provide and care for his family should anything happen to him, his father the king, or his brothers. King David then kept his promise to Jonathan when he inquired if anyone of the house of Saul survived to whom he could show kindness.

Through Saul’s former servant, Ziba, David discovered Jonathan indeed had a son living. His name was Mephibosheth. “Ziba answered the king, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan, he is crippled in both feet.’” [2 Samuel 9:3 NIV]

Mephibosheth’s nurse saved him at the age of five running away from people who wanted to kill all remaining relatives of Saul. She dropped him and his feet were crippled.

To wonder why it was important for Ziba to tell King David Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet isn’t hard to understand. The sick, crippled, and diseased were shunned, excluded, and made to live away from those without afflictions. We can read Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet twice within the twelve verses of this short chapter.

At the time King David made his request Mephibosheth was in his forties, married, and rearing a son. He lived in a place named Lo Debar, the name meaning land of nothing.

Mephibosheth viewed himself unworthy and devalued. These feelings are recognized along with probable low self-esteem and low self-confidence. Mephibosheth arrives and stands in front of King David to receive an offered inheritance and a place at King David’s table as part of the family forever.

Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant that you should notice a dead dog like me?” [2 Samuel 9:8]

Mephibosheth despite mental and physical problems and shame chose to rise above his situation and take his inheritance enabling a better life for himself and his family. David offered inclusion, and Mephibosheth accepted.

The LORD requires us to accept and include people in much the same way as King David included Mephibosheth. The passages found in Isaiah and Jeremiah, speak to the inclusion of all individuals.

Isaiah writes from the Lord,

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Which of them foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things? [Isaiah 43:5-9 NIV]

Jeremiah also writes from the Lord,

“Behold, I am bringing them from the north country, And I will gather them from the remote parts of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together; A great company, they will return here.” [Jer 31:8 KJV]

Writing stories with a disability requires our characters feel comfortable talking with the disabled. Another important aspect is portraying the disabled character as productive as their non-disabled counterparts. Why? To reduce a stigma where the characters with disabilities are unproductive as compared to the non-disabled characters.

A dialogue between disabled and non-disabled characters is a significant step toward encouraging inclusive behavior by the reader. Creating a sense of ease around those with disabilities isn’t as hard as one might imagine. Any place a person goes, people with disabilities go. Like anyone else, they go to school, shopping, movies, amusement parks, take the bus, ride the subway, drive cars, keep house, and go to work. If you see someone observe without staring, maybe start a conversation, you can see if they are willing to answer questions.

There are always people with disabilities who need care or assistance. If a person is in an accident and breaks a leg they need someone to care or assist them until they heal. If their break is severe or combined with other injuries, there may be no healing. This person is the same as they were before – on the inside. The heart stays the same. The inner person remains.

My parents were uncomfortable in the past when I’d ask questions of the disabled, “What happened to your leg? Where is your arm?” Was this a problem of their uncertainty of not knowing what to say, how to act, or being uncomfortable in the presence of a disabled person or was this the collective norm?

If inclusion had evolved since the days of King David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, perhaps this wouldn’t have been the case. In Jeremiah 31:8, I don’t read these words and think to myself some, a few, only the best and brightest, the most productive, or those without a flaw.

I believe we want to lift and include all people for the glory of the Lord. Everyone belongs. Everyone should be included. I’d like to think as writers we can follow the words in Proverbs 23:12:

“Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.”

Come back next month when I present Part Four: Matthew, Mark, and Luke Write Scores of Marvels. In the meantime, enjoy all the wonderful writing at Almost An Author.

Kathryn M. B. Johnson is a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and caretaker alongside writing and advocating for disability. Drawn to those with special needs, she spent much time in elementary school helping in the special education classroom.

As an adult, after years in the field of accounting software and information technology, she started work as an Orientation and Life Skills Instructor at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center. Here she worked with persons of all types of disabilities and disorders. She believes when God calls us to a role, he needles us to get the job done.

Now, retired and disabled, she has combined her love of writing with a desire to advocate for persons with disability. Kathryn does her best not to get stuck. You can find Kathryn on Facebook, Twitter, or visit her website.

[1] Definition of INCLUSION. (2017). merriam-webster.com. retrieved 10 July 2017, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inclusion

Tags crippled, David, disability, disabled, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Samuel, sick, writer, writing

5 For Writing

My 5 Rules for Writing

Post author By Doug Peterson - 5 for Writing: Rules to Write By
Post date July 26, 2017
3 Comments on My 5 Rules for Writing

My favorite canine writer, Snoopy of Peanuts fame, received a boatload of rejection slips in his pursuit of a publisher over the years, and some of them are gems.

“Dear contributor, thank you for submitting your story to our magazine,” one publisher wrote to Snoopy. “To save time, we are enclosing two rejection slips…one for this story and one for the next story you send us.”

In publishing, it’s a dog-eat-dog world.

That’s why there is no shortage of advice on writing and getting published. For instance, five commonly quoted rules on writing and finding a publisher came from Robert Heinlein, the famed science fiction writer. Heinlein’s five rules are:

You must write.
You must finish what you write.
You must refrain from rewriting, except to editorial order.
You must put the work on the market.
You must keep the work on the market until it is sold.

Four of these rules are excellent for both beginning and experienced writers, but I find Rule 3 on the strange side, as do many people; in fact, one online post about these rules comes with an Aspiring Author Warning—“Don’t try #3 at home.” From what I understand, Heinlein admitted that he did revise and rewrite, so I’m not sure where that rule even came from.

Regardless of the oddness of Rule 3, this time-tested list got me thinking about what rules I have subconsciously followed during my 38 years of writing since graduating from journalism school in 1977. So I came up with my “5 for Writing.

Get writing. Find the time to write. Then do it.

Learn by listening—and doing. Solicit feedback, discern what helps you.

Finish your story. Edit and rewrite, but don’t tinker forever. Reach the finish line.

Thrive on rejection. Get your story out there. Be fearless. Accept rejection.

Become a juggler. After one story is finished, be ready to start another. Consider writing two at once.

Note that my Rules 1 and 3 correspond to Heinlein’s 1 and 2. Every list of writing rules probably needs those two because starting and finishing are the two greatest obstacles. As the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said, “Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.”

As for Rule 2, it takes time to find a reliable circle of friends and colleagues who give you honest and helpful feedback. But it’s critical. Rule 5 may not be for everyone, but I work best when I’m juggling several projects. And if the idea of writing more than one story at a time makes your brain hurt, at least try to get multiple manuscripts on the market; it only increases your odds of finding a publisher.

Finally, my “thrive on rejection” rule was inspired by an old episode of the TV show M*A*S*H when Hawkeye Pierce said something to the effect of “I thrive on rejection.” Hawkeye was talking about not giving up when it came to finding a woman, but I have found that this philosophy also applies to finding publishers. (Both can be heart-breaking pursuits.)

In my forthcoming blogs, I intend that each installment will fall under one of these five rules—and if it doesn’t I’ll find a way to shoehorn it in. In the meantime, try to maintain the same indefatigable spirit of Snoopy—the only writer to ever have a mailbox run away from him when he tried to send off a new manuscript.

So what was Snoopy’s response to his many rejections? He once wrote back to a publisher by saying, “Gentleman, regarding the recent rejection slip you sent me. I think there might have been a misunderstanding. What I really wanted was for you to publish my story, and send me fifty thousand dollars.”

After a pause, Snoopy added…

“Didn’t you realize that?”

Now that’s a dog who thrives on rejection.

Tags Author, finish, juggle, listen, rejection, rules, snoopy, tips and tricks, write, write rules, writing, writing rules, Writing tips

Copywrite/Advertising

Making the Leap to Full-Time Freelance Writer

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date July 25, 2017
4 Comments on Making the Leap to Full-Time Freelance Writer

You will go out and leap like calves released from their stalls. – Malachi 4:2

Speaking of vulnerability, I’m about to open the kimono with you today.

Scary, right? I once had a boss who used that phrase—open the kimono. My colleague Joanne and I traveled to Uganda for a week. When Joanne came by the room to get me for a meal, I opened the door clad only in my hotel-issued bathrobe.

“Holland! Put some clothes on.”

“Don’t you want me to ‘open the kimono’ like the boss always says?”

“No!”

To this day, Joanne will ask me if some event happened on our trip to Tanzania or our trip to Uganda, and I will say, “Uganda. It was where I almost ‘opened the kimono’ for you, remember?”

Bonding with coworkers is always a blessing.

Anyway, I’m opening the kimono for you today. Last Friday, I officially became a full-time freelance copywriter. No more working for the man. No more putting in office hours. No more boring projects forced on me from on high. No more health insurance. No more regular paychecks. No more … you get the picture.

I’ve gone from saying I can’t believe this is finally happening for me to saying Sweet Home Alabama, I need a job with benefits.

Because of how everything transpired, I believe God opened this door. Most of the time, I feel like the calf released from his stall, leaping and gamboling about the field. The rest of the time, I’m wondering why no one is medicating that calf and then remembering the calf doesn’t have a prescription plan anymore.

On my third day as a full-timer, I’m offering you 5 things I’ve learned from making the leap to full-time freelance copywriting:

Long-term relational investments pay off. I went from an average of 10 hours of freelance work per week with three clients to an average of 35 hours of work per week with the same three clients. I have several warm leads, too, thanks to writer and designer friends I’ve gotten to know over the years. Invest in your current clients. They’re your best bet to a secure future.
It takes time to build a freelance client base. I started freelance writing for profit when my former colleague Joanne (see above) asked me to pick up the slack after her last copywriter took a full-time gig. From one small job to a full-time client base took three years. That was with God doing miracles along the way. We’re playing the long game, my friends.
Have your marketing materials in place. My website is in production, but I wish I’d pushed it harder, sooner. Still, an online portfolio, references on LinkedIn, business cards, and a sizeable Twitter following can get you a long way toward securing new clients. They demonstrate credibility, and as copywriters, credibility is what backs our currency.
Discover your niche. We start out writing anything anyone will give us to write. Since my first clients were non-profits and that was my background, I used to say “I’m a non-profit copywriter.” It was a non-profit strategy, let me tell you. Now I can say I specialize in writing about household products for urban-dwelling Millennials and in technology for non-techies. It’s still pretty broad (and believe me, I’ll write anything for a buck), but it’s a far more lucrative niche than non-profits. Having a niche helps establish my style and interests in prospective clients’ minds. Having agency experience helped, too, but it’s not vital.
Ask your copywriting column fans for leads. If you are fortunate enough to author a copywriting column for an awesome site, ask your legions of fans to send you leads. Some people who read your column are aspiring novelists or Bible study writers, but they run into organizations that need writers all the time. They can pass those leads along to you – please! As copywriters, we don’t need degrees or certificates. We just have to write good copy that converts readers into buyers or donors.

So there you have it, my friends—a story about kimonos and calves and how God opens new doors when He’s ready, not when we are.

What leaps are you making in your writing career? What precipices is God kicking you over? What fields are you gamboling in like a young calf released from its stall?

Is God calling you to make a writer’s leap? You can open the kimono in the comments—metaphorical openings only, please.

Tags calf, copywirte, Freelance Writing, kimono

Platform and Branding

4 Must-Have Features For Your Blog

Post author By Susan Stilwell - Platforming
Post date July 24, 2017
5 Comments on 4 Must-Have Features For Your Blog

One of the cornerstones of your platform is your personal website or blog. Whether professionally designed or a DIY site, your site needs to include these essential features that introduce you to your followers.

1. Your Name

Your name should be visible somewhere in the “top of the fold” of your site, whether in the header or in the sidebar. (“Top of the fold” refers to the upper half of a newspaper, where the most important information is. It’s also the first part of page that’s loaded on your site.) Visitors to your site will become frustrated if they have to go on a “site safari” to find out who you are.

2. Your Photo

A good quality professional headshot should also be in the “top of the fold,” in either your header or your sidebar. It’s helpful if you use the same profile picture across all your social media accounts. It gives you a more uniform, professional social media presence.

3. Your Social Media Links

WordPress and Blogger have a variety of plugins/gadgets that allow you to link to your social media accounts. There are also plugins/gadgets that share those feeds on your page, but be judicious about their use. You want your sidebar to be informative without being cluttered.

4. Follow by Email Option

Give your readers the option of subscribing to your blog. They’ll benefit in that they’ll get updates to your blog in a timely manner. The benefit for you is that you’ll have access to your followers when you want to contact them with information you may not want to post on your website.

Incorporating these simple elements into your site design will allow your readers to scan the page, find your essential information and begin recognizing your brand.

Shareables:

[bctt tweet=”Is your blog missing these? via @A3forme @susanrstilwell #amwriting #socialmedia” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=”Benefits of email subscription, @A3forme @susanrstilwell #amwriting #socialmedia” via=”no”]

Tags blogging, platform, social media, website design

Specs: Speculative Fiction

Committed Writer or Dabbler?

Post author By Kaz - Specs
Post date July 23, 2017
7 Comments on Committed Writer or Dabbler?

Hey guys, I wanted to kick this whole thing off by welcoming you to the ranks. (Though I’m sure some of you have been at this even longer than I, so some could probably welcome me to the ranks.)

Any-hoo, whether your writing is just an outlet, or you’re looking to be published, you are a writer. But there’s a difference—did you catch it?

Writers fall into two major categories: those who Commit and those who Dabble. Both would argue they’re writers, but the differences are key.

Dabblers weave tales for themselves. To them, writing is an expression, an outpouring the world may never see. Perhaps they want to keep it that way. Or maybe they want to share their words, find a voice through writing, but they’re nervous. What if people don’t like it? Basically, they fill journals and blog for a few friends and family, but their writing is a hobby.

Then there are the Committed—they write for others. Their voice matters, and they want people to hear their stories. They want to impact their audience, and they’ll go the distance. Every day, rain or shine, doesn’t matter how they feel. They don’t quit writing.

What kind of writer are YOU? I, personally, am a Committed Spec-Fic writer. Of course, I’m a teenager, and that makes it challenging as I learn the system. But I’m up to it.

[bctt tweet=”Are you a committed writer? Or a dabbler? #teenwriters #amwriting #YAspecfic”]

If you’re Committed, you’ll find a lot of great resources on this blog, and not just resources but community. If you’re looking to share with others, your stories, then most likely you’re already a committed writer.

Perhaps you wish you were.

Dabblers, to effectively commit, these tips are your best friends:

Set a time. Write every day. Many writers don’t understand how important this is. It may sound like overkill, and there will be days it’s a chore, but this tip can often keep you from drifting back into Dabbledom. The more you write, the better your writing will be. In King Julian’s words, “See how that works?” Even if you’re not working on a manuscript, devoting ten to thirty minutes a day to writing will be quite the asset. What you put in it is what you get out of it.

Know your audience. So many writers transitioning from Dabbler to Committed get caught by this guy. For their whole writing career, their audience has been themselves. But without knowing your audience, how can you choose what to write about and how best to communicate it? For this blog in particular, knowing my audience was vital.

Learn the industry. Look, I love shortcuts as much as the next guy, but there are none in the writing industry. It’s imperative that you know what you’re doing. Follow great blogs. Friend your favorite authors on social media. Get information by going to a writer’s conference. For fellow Spec-Fic writers, a highly recommended conference is Realm Makers. A conference is where you’ll make connections, gain opportunities, and most importantly, better your craft.

So who’s with me? Comment and let me know you’re in this for the long haul.

And then find me on Facebook or Google +. Thanks to Sarah Horrigan and BK for the (unaltered) images. And beautiful thanks to King Julien, because he’s my BFF.

Tags Author, novel, scifi, spec, speculative, speculative fiction, writer, Writing tips

Write Justified

Sticks and Stones and Words Can Hurt

Post author By Judy Hagey - Write Justified
Post date July 22, 2017
1 Comment on Sticks and Stones and Words Can Hurt

In anticipation of the upcoming presidential election cycle, prepare to hear some unsavory comments, even name-calling among candidates. Here’s a term you may not be familiar with and might hope you’re never called: lickspittle.

Lickspittle is a compound word, combining two Old English words—lick and spittle—neither particularly attractive activities. Spittle brings to mind the mixture of saliva and tobacco that cowboys are prone to hack up into (you guessed it) a spittoon. Both meanings are familiar: lick—to run the tongue over and spittle—a derivation of spit. But combine the two and you have one of many variations of a derogatory term for someone who flatters those in authority. In elementary school we knew them as a brownnosers or apple polishers. Some politicians might choose a less euphemistic term like: suckup, or sycophant, toady, lackey, or now that you know what it means—a lickspittle. The Free Dictionary calls a lickspittle a flattering or servile person. Servile—of or befitting a slave—captures the idea of someone bowing and scraping to the master. Subordinates who feel the need to flatter their superiors are in a form of bondage just as much as slaves are.

If, like me, you enjoy learning new words and how they become part of our vernacular, perhaps I’ve done you a service in introducing lickspittle to your vocabulary. On the other hand, [bctt tweet=”Christian maturity demands that we also know how and when (or whether) to use a word. #editing #writers”] As writers and editors concerned with communicating God’s truth with grace and love, lickspittle is probably not a word that should be rolling off our tongues. Words do have the power to hurt or heal, tear down or build up. Rather than identifying someone as a lickspittle, we ought to recognize the limits of their situation and lift them up instead of belittling them.

[bctt tweet=”Don’t be a “lickspittle”. #writer #amediting #editor” via=”no”]

Tags flattery, lickspittle, new words, superior, vocabulary, words can hurt

Publishing Perspectives

The Big Five Family Tree: Book Publishers

Post author By Donna L.H. Smith-Managing Editor
Post date July 21, 2017
6 Comments on The Big Five Family Tree: Book Publishers

Welcome to Publishing Perspectives!

I’ll be talking about all things publishing. Let’s start with an overview of the publishing world. It may seem like there are a zillion big publishing houses out there, but many are owned by the same mega corporations. Many authors desire to be signed with a ‘major publisher’… who are the really really really big guys?

The Big Five traditional publishers consist of Penguin Random House, Macmillan, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Simon &Schuster. Each of these companies own multiple brands. Let’s take a look at the family tree, or at least some of it. These guys are really big and changing all the time so it’s impossible for this list to be comprehensive and accurate for the lifetime of the internet. But here’s a bit of what it looks like today.

[bctt tweet=”There are a zillion big publishing houses out there. #bookpub #publishers” via=”no”]

Hachette Book Group is a division of Hachette Livre (based in France), which is a subsidiary of the French media company Lagardere. Hachette owns:

Little, Brown and Company
- Mulholland Books
- Back Bay Books
- Lee Boudreaux Books
Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers
- Poppy
- LB Kids
Grand Central Publishing
- Twelve
- Live & Style
- Forever
- Forever Yours
- Vision
Hachette Nashville
- Faith Words
- Center Street
- Jericho Books
Orbit
- Yen Press
- Redhook
Hachette Audio
Hachette Digital

HarperCollins Publishers is a subsidiary of News Corp. They own:

Amistad
Anthony Bourdain Books
Avon
- Avon Impulse
- Avon Inspire
- Avon Red
Balzer + Bray
Bible Gateway
Bourbon Street Books
Broadside Books
Dey Street
Ecco Books
FaithGateway
Greenwillow Books
Harlequin
- Carina Press
- Harlequin Books
- Harlequin TEEN
- HQN Books
- Kimani Press
- Love Inspired
- MIRA Books
- Worldwide Mystery
Harper Books
- Harper Business
- Harper Design
- HarperFestival
- Harper Luxe
- Harper Paperbacks
- Harper Perennial
- HarperTeen
- HarperTeen Impulse
- Harper Voyager
- HarperAudio
- HarperCollins 360
- HarperElixir
- HarperOne
- HarperWave
- HarperCollins Children’s Books
Katherine Tegen Books
Olive Tree
Walden Pond Press
William Morrow
- William Morrow Cookbooks
- William Morrow Paperbacks
Witness
Thomas Nelson
- Nelson Books
- Grupo Nelson
- Tommy Nelson
- W Publishing Group
- WestBow Press
Zondervan
- Blink
- Editorial Vida
- Zonderkidz
- Zondervan Academic

Macmillan Publishers is owned by the German company Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck. They own:

Bedford / St. Martin’s
Bloomsbury USA
The College Board
Drawn and Quarterly
Entangled Publishing
Farrar, Straus &Giroux
- North Point Press
- Hill and Wang
- Faber and Faber Inc.
Fiewel & Friends
First Second
Flatiron Books
Graywolf Press
Guinness World Records
Hayden-McNeil
Henry Holt and Company
- Metropolitan Books
- Times Books
- Holt Paperbacks
- Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Imprint
Kingfisher
Macmillan Higher Education
Page Street Publishing Co.
Palgrave Macmillan
Papercutz
Picador
Priddy Books
Roaring Brook Press
Rodale
Martin’s Press
- Griffin
- Minotaur
- Martin’s Press Paperbacks
- Let’s Go
- Thomas Dunne Books
- Truman Tally Books
- Palgrave Macmillan
Square Fish
Tor / Forge
- Starscape
- Tor Teen Books
- Tor Children’s
Macmillan Audio
Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
Walker & Company
H. Freeman
Worth Publishers

Penguin Random House is owned by German media conglomerate Bertelsmann and has nearly 250 imprints and publishing houses so I won’t list them all here! They own:

Random House Publishing Group
- Ballantine Books
- Bantam
- Delacorte
- Del Ray
- Del Ray / Lucas Books
- Dell
- The Dial Press
- The Modern Library
- One World
- Presido Press
- Random House Trade Group
- Random House Trade Paperbacks
- Spectra
- Spiegel & Grau
- Villard Books
Random House Value Publishing
- Children’s Classics
- Crescent Books
- Derrydale
- Gramercy Books
- Testament Books
- Wings BOoks
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
- Alfred A. Knopf
- Anchor Books
- Doubleday
- Everyman’s Library
- Nan A. Talese
- Pantheon Books
- Schocken Books
- Vintage
Crown Publishing Group
- Amphoto Books
- Back Stage Books
- Billboard Books
- Broadway
- Broadway Business
- Clarkson Potter
- Convergent
- Crown
- Crown Business
- Crown Forum
- Doubleday Religion
- Harmony Books
- Hogarth Press
- Potter Craft
- Potter Style
- Ten Speed Press
- Three Rivers Press
- Tricycle Press
- Shaye Areheart Books
- Waterbook Multnomah
- Watson – Guptill
Penguin Group US
Dorling Kindersley
Mass Market Paperbacks
Digital Publishing Group
- Alibib
- Flirt
- Fodor’s Travel
- Hydra
- Listening Library
- Living Language
- Loveswept
- Princeton Review
- Random House Audio
- Randon House Large Print
Random House Children’s Books
- Kids@Random
- Beginner Books
- David Fickling Books
- Nickeldeon Books
- Delacorte Press
- Golden Books
- Prima Games
- Step Into Reading
- Schwartz & Wade
- Stepping Stone Books
- Sylvan Learning
- Wendy Lamb Books
Penguin Young Readers Group, U.S.

Simon and Schuster is owned by the media company CBS Corporation. They own:

Aladdin
Altheneum Books for Young Readers
Atria
Beach Lane Books
Chicken Soup for the Soul
Folger Shakespeare Library
Free Press
Gallery Books
Hooked on Phonics
Howard Books
Kaplan Publishing
Little Simon
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Merck
Paula Wiseman Books
Pocket Books
Reader’s Digest
Ripley Publishing
Scribner
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Simon Pulse
Simon Spotlight
Threshold Editions
Touchstone

How many of these names are you familiar with? Were you surprised at who owns what?

Tags book publishers, books, harper collins, hatchette, macmillan, penguin, Publisher, random house, simon and schuster

Child's Craft

One Reason I Write for Children by Jean Matthew Hall

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date July 20, 2017
12 Comments on One Reason I Write for Children by Jean Matthew Hall

Why do you write for Children?

To be famous?
To teach children the truth?
To evangelize children?
To fulfill my Daddy’s dream of being a writer?
To be affirmed?
To do something I love to do?
To get rich?

I have to admit that some of those reasons motivate me some of the time. Well, except for being famous and getting rich, of course. So why DO I write for children?

Once upon a time on a gorgeous spring morning, I was enjoying our backyard swing with one of my young grandsons.

“Higher, MeMe!” Mikey shouted. “Touch the clouds!”

“Can you? Can you touch that cloud right over there?” I asked him. I pointed to the sky and pumped harder.

One of Mikey’s little hands stretched upward while the other one held on tight to my arm.

As you’ve already figured out we never did touch any clouds that morning. But it sure was fun trying. It was exhilarating. The harder I pumped the higher we went and the more we enjoyed the cool morning breeze on our faces. The higher we went the more beautiful those clouds seemed to be. We threw our heads back and let the joy bubble out all over each other.

That joy was worth the extra effort I put into pumping that swing.

Later I realized that I do the same thing with writing.

I stretch myself and strain to become a better writer, and to attain publication. I can’t be satisfied with merely writing my thoughts in my private journal.

“Higher, God,” my heart shouts. “I want to go higher—to touch the clouds with you, Lord!”

Then I wonder why I want to touch the clouds.

Is it that seed of creativity God planted in my heart before I was born? Is it some innate unrest I have? Is it pride? Do I have a burning message to spread? Or, is it God’s Holy Spirit urging me upward?

I suspect it is a mixture of all these things. But mostly, it’s because I want my life to have a much wider circle of influence than just my dear family and friends. I want to impact as many people as I can for Christ in my lifetime and beyond.

Writing for children is one way I can do that. It is one way I can reach for the clouds.

And even if I don’t touch them it is fun trying. It is exhilarating to stretch myself and use the gifts that God has placed within me. It adds beauty and joy to my life and, hopefully, to the children who enjoy my stories and to the loving adults who share the stories with them.

And that makes writing and rewriting worth the extra effort.

BIO for Jean Matthew Hall

Jean Hall lives in Louisville, Kentucky. Her stories and poems appear in magazines for children and adults, and in inspirational anthologies. Jean is a member of the SCBWI and Word Weavers International. Read more from Jean at http://www.jeanmatthewhall.com/blog and Jean Matthew Hall Author.

Talking Character

Developing Your Character’s Voice

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date July 19, 2017
1 Comment on Developing Your Character’s Voice

I was once in a bus full of high school students when I heard a boy behind me read a single sentence. I immediately recognized the author.

That’s voice.

[bctt tweet=”A strong voice is distinct, memorable, and intriguing. #writetips ” username=””]

It can grab a reader like little else. A few examples:

One day soon they hang me for a rogue. Fair enough. I have earned it a hundred times over, I reckon, and that’s leaving out a lot of acreage. Stephen Lawhead in Scarlet

I am the most tolerant of women, but to join my husband, my son, and my butler in a discussion of our evening in an opium den … was really a bit too much. Elizabeth Peters in The Deeds of the Disturber

When it came to shopping for something that required as much hope and longing as a beautiful dress, I was like a child raised by wolves—or some other, more nervous animal. Rabbits, maybe. Alyssa Harad in Coming to My Senses

So where does voice come from? The character? The writer?

Some of both, actually.

Three layers of discovering character voice

Layer one—the basics

Consider all you know about your character. His physical description, temperament, background, and demographics can all affect how he speaks. A well-educated or socially elite character will use different vocabulary and grammar than someone from the servant class. A character may be terse or chatty. He may favor colorful metaphors or concrete descriptions. He may use specific words or phrases that provide a hint of dialect, ethnicity, or historical setting.

Layer two—the deeper stuff

Next consider the character’s inner self. Bring together her two-word thumbnail, backstory, wounds, inner issues, and story goals. From this information, identify five or six key emotions that drive the character toward her story goal. Is she determined, bitter, and desperate or melancholy, yearning, and in love?

Layer three—the writer’s connection

Now that you’ve identified the style of a character’s speech and bored down their emotional essence, you need to find a way to connect with this particular character. Her story may be worlds away from anything you have experienced, but that’s OK. In this case, “write what you know” isn’t about having the same experiences, it’s about experiencing the same emotions. Come up with specific incidents in your own past where you experienced each of the emotions you identified in layer two. If you tap into those memories, you will be able to relate deeply to your character as you write.

Putting it together

You might think of layer one as informing the structure of a character’s voice, while layers two and three inform the content and attitude. Experiment with the voice by free-writing in first person, keeping in mind the style attributes of layer one and your emotional memories from of layer three. Push the character to ramble on about his inner fears or his wild dreams until you begin to sense his distinct voice. Don’t be timid. The more passion, the more risk, the stronger the voice. And don’t forget to have fun.

Voice is born from a lot of words and a lot of work — but not just any words or any work will do. You have to bleed a little. You have to shiver a little. You have to love a lot… Holly Lisle

[bctt tweet=”Where does voice come from? The character? The writer? or some of both? #writer” username=””]

[bctt tweet=”You have to bleed a little. You have to shiver a little. You have to love a lot. Holly Lisle #quote #voice” username=””]

Tags Characterization, emotions, Passion, unique, voice

Grammar and Grace

Adjectives are Cool!

Post author By Hope Toler Dougherty-Grammar and Grace
Post date July 18, 2017
No Comments on Adjectives are Cool!

This month at Grammar and Grace we’re studying adjectives. Adjectives are words that tell something about a noun or a pronoun.

An easy point to remember about adjectives is that they normally come right before or right after the noun or pronoun.

*The red wheelbarrow rests beside the path.

*The donkey–tired and stubborn–refused to finish plowing the field.

Adjectives that come after a verb (usually linking verbs) modify or describe the subject. These adjectives are called predicate adjectives.

*The pesto is yummy.

Adjectives can tell something about appearance–spectacular, nubby; color–black, gold; condition–bashful, intelligent; personality–victorious, ditzy; quantity–empty, packed; shape–snake-like, plump; time–early, retro; taste–sour, bland; touch–sizzling, velvety. (Yes, I agree. Some of these adjectives fit in more than one category.)

Do you notice anything about the adjectives? They don’t end with similar letters that shout, “Hey, I’m an adjective.” Just remember, if a word gives more information about a noun–how many fingers? Five–or if it makes a noun distinct from another noun–the red car, not the blue one–it’s an adjective.

Happy writing!

Tags adjectives, Almost an Author, editing, Grammar, grammar and grace, Hope Toler Dougherty, parts of speech, write, writing, Writing Instruction, Writing tips

The Binge Writer

Facebook First Impressions

Post author By Cyle Young - The Binge Writer
Post date July 17, 2017
2 Comments on Facebook First Impressions

Have you looked in your computer mirror lately?

You ask what is a computer mirror? This is your life on social media and it reflects who you are. In a sense, a computer mirror. Social media can either help or hurt you as an author. In the coming weeks, I will be blogging about first impressions on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pintrest.

In this first blog I will give you tips on Facebook to start your own Facebook page to promote your writing. Facebook is still the number one social media platform, and has a large reach. The demographics for Facebook and engagement has shifted from high school and college students to their parents and grandparents. User ages range from the late 20s on up with engagement. High school and college students still have their accounts and check pictures and posts, but they do not engage as much as they did five years ago.

First Impressions

Facebook Name

What is your Facebook name? Is it your name, your companies’ name, or your writing name?

You want to make sure that whatever name you have on Facebook you market and brand the same name on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. That way your fans can look you up in all the platforms.

Example: Cyle Young – Facebook: CyleYoung (if available); Twitter: @CyleYoung; Instagram: CyleYoung

You can also use a _ as I use @adam_ledyard on Twitter

Facebook Header

When shaping and branding your Facebook page you want to select pictures that represent who you are. You want to make sure the picture is a crisp and clear picture, and not blurry or chopped off.

Facebook suggests a 1200 x 630 pixel image for your header. So, if you like the cover of your book, open up a picture program to crop or resize your picture for Facebook.

Make sure you have a picture that lines up with your marketing and branding plan that will represent you. Again, first impressions are everything when you are trying to sell your book, sign with a company, or work with a book store on marketing your book.

Facebook Image Picture

This is the picture on the bottom left of the Facebook Header. It is another way to represent your brand and who you are. It is a tiny square that is 180×180. You may upload a larger pic, if the picture is sized in a multiple of 180, such as 360, 540, or 720. Facebook will resize your picture for you when you upload it. The larger size pixel picture is better as it is a better image compared to a smaller pixel image.

The square image can be a mug shot of you, or a picture representing your brand. For example, if you use a letter in the alphabet for representation, you may want to put this is the box. If you have a professional picture, you may want to use it in this image. It all boils down to your branding, marketing, and how you want to use that box.

Check your computer mirror today and see what you look like. It could make or break a deal for you.

Tags facebook, linked in, linkedin, pinterest, sacial savant, social media, twitter

The Writer's PenCase

What Fuels Your Ideas?

Post author By Donna L.H. Smith-Managing Editor
Post date July 16, 2017
4 Comments on What Fuels Your Ideas?

Where do you get your inspiration? For me, it can something as simple as a “what if” question to change a story that’s already been written. OR, my mind thinks about an update.

As a mental exercise, I’ve done two updates. I’ve not written these down, but who knows if I’ll ever do them or not?

I’ve often wondered what the modern version of 1990s TV’s “Early Edition” would be like today? That show ran from 1996-2000. The premise: divorced stock broker Gary Hobson gets tomorrow’s newspaper, in this case, The Chicago Sun Times, today. I loved that show, and often wondered how technology would change it. The last episode showed how Gary was chosen to receive the newspaper, and how he chose who would get the newspaper next.

Tags creativity, ideas, inspiration, inspirtaion, writing, writing ideas

Uncategorized

Blog Tour- Dana Pratola

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date July 15, 2017
No Comments on Blog Tour- Dana Pratola

Dana, Please tell us about your most Recent Book.

DESCENDED- ULRICK is the 4^th and last book in the DESCENDED series, in which we encounter four men with angelic DNA – but they’re no angels. They act as “boosters” on earth to fight evil, particularly as it applies to sexual slavery and abuse, and they have supernatural powers (ULRICK can walk and see through any object, among other talents). They use their gifts in some pretty unique ways, though none of their powers can stop them from falling in love. It’s Romance, folks ?

I’m also about to release IRELAND ADAMS, (under my pseudonym Elaine Dwyer) about an adrenaline junkie lawyer who falls in love with the boss’s daughter, Audra. It’s the second in a series, but these are stand-alones.

Why do you write what you do?

I can’t not write, it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. As for why I write romance, I have no idea other than the love story in any book or movie has always been the element that draws me in. The dynamic between a man and woman, the sexual tension, are like magnets to me. And a resolution in the form of a commitment…what’s better than happily every after?

What are you currently working on?

SCOTLAND ADAMS will be next in the stand-alone series, followed by his sister, AMERICA (imagine, the only girl with 3 older, protective brothers, lol). I’m also bouncing between several others in various stages of completion.

How does your work differ from other work in its genre?

Well, the DESCENDED series has been classified as Christian romance. And while it is Christian, I don’t like that label because in the past the genre has received – I believe, sorry CF authors – a deserved reputation for being sugary sweet and dry. Out of touch with the real struggles of people in this world. My fiction is nothing like that. My tagline even says “It’s not your mother’s Christian fiction.” My books have something to offer everyone and I want readers who aren’t Christians to read them as well.

My secular work, same thing. I try hard not to work with the romance fiction “pattern.” If I see one more story where the girl inherited a piece of property and the sexy carpenter/contractor/cowboy steps in to help her, I just may vomit, lol.

How does your writing process work?

Most often I have a scene in mind. Could be an ending, could be a love scene, or maybe just a line of dialogue I want to use, then I place other things around it until I think, “Hmm, is there a story here?’ I kind of work from the inside out, you could say. I’d love to say I was one of those authors who wake up with full novels, start to finish, in their head, but that’s not me.

BIO:

God has blessed me with a wonderful husband and three dynamic children, all of whom are destined to make wide, colorful splashes in this world. We share our New Jersey home with three dogs. I have no hobbies to speak of, unless you include writing. I don’t.

“It’s not your mother’s Christian Fiction.”

LINKS: https://www.amazon.com/Dana-Pratola/e/B005G40TAQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1454258802&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=elaine+dwyer

Guest post archive

Guest Post-HOW SOCIAL ISSUES CAN DRIVE STORY-Angela Andrews

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date July 14, 2017
2 Comments on Guest Post-HOW SOCIAL ISSUES CAN DRIVE STORY-Angela Andrews

Opinions. Opinions. More opinions float through a person’s mind in the course of a day than Aristotle has twelve-letter verbs, then Proust has flashbacks, than Joyce has commas, than Gabaldon has subplots. Multiply that number by 7.5 billion. It’s safe to say, opinions are something we humans have in common. What varies greatly is how vocal one can be with them. Freedom is the determinant of how strongly we may share our opinions. As fiction writers, we should never mitigate this liberty. Beware this danger zone. The simplest and most common way in fiction writing to miss all the caution signs is to base your story on a social issue. I know. I did it. Listen up, my chickadees, to a tale of caution:

About fifteen years ago, I wrote a novel.

Ugh.

At least I thought it was a novel. I sent query letters around to agents, eagerly describing my work as a novel about abortion. The lack of excitement—let alone interest—flummoxed me. I did enjoy receiving one piece of hate mail from a secular agent. The synopsis had engaged at least one person’s attention. At the time, I was raising four young children, so it was fairly easy to “bottom drawer” the manuscript. Someday, I thought to myself, there will be more interest—when I come across a sensible agent or audience. Truly, I had no clue who actually needed to become sensible.

Years later, I found myself in a graduate-level film school at a Christian university. Although screenwriting is just a cousin to novel writing, they share one absolutely essential element—story. I am glad to have had the training. There, layer by layer, I became (more) sensible. There were many delicious debates and papers about all things regarding story, genre, and narrative theory. As I studied the subject at a deeper level, I discovered what was wrong with my book.

What had escaped my attention years previously now made me blush at my naivete and ignorance. Guess those student loans were worth it. My novel was not character driven or plot driven; it was driven by … a social issue! Horror of horrors. Amid all the dos, don’ts, and great advice of those who have gone before us, there must be room for concern over yet another vital element. We must find the time for it because what drives our stories affects the finished product down to its very fiber. To better examine these motivations, let’s have a conversation regarding story as we take a familiar drive and reflect on what is under the hood.

[bctt tweet=” Two types of vehicles for story leap to mind” username=”@realpubzoo”]

Two types of vehicles for story leap to mind: one driven by character and one driven by plot. Energy or impetus for character-driven plots originates deep within the main characters. The force of a plot-driven story comes from the circumstances or environment in which characters find themselves. In a character-driven vehicle, the driver would be all about conversation, exploiting the time in the car to talk, dig deep, and learn about each other. Whether the journey takes place in the rain or at night, little importance is placed on what happens outside the car. It’s all about the journey.

In a plot-driven vehicle, the driver would be observant, taking the time to notice the all-important surroundings. She sees every mile sign and landmark and knows what type of cars and trucks surround her. For her, it is all about the destination.
When an author considers fiction as a means to explore a social issue, she must be circumspect because the issue is a mighty strong platform for conflict. Of course, conflict is oxygen to a story, as it propels the characters to choices and action. It is a path for our characters—the road on which they travel. A social issue can be a powerful vehicle but should be only that. If the issue takes over the story, disaster ensues.

[bctt tweet=”conflict is oxygen to a story” username=””]

A story, when viewed metaphorically as a painting, has a foreground, a middle ground, and a background. The social issue which threads through the story must be no closer than the deep middle ground, but preferably the background. When a social issue shines flashily in the foreground, it is certainly misplaced and becomes something very ugly: a message. A work of fiction is not a place for a message. When placed there, it wallops the reader over the head, shutting down the story by forcing an opinion on the reader rather than letting her arrive at her own conclusion. An essay or speech is the correct place for a message. Using an issue properly can provide a powerful tool, but the construction must be handled deftly. A boiling controversy is a marvelous source of conflict on many levels. Characters can really squirm under the light shed by great tension.

Now back to my first novel. It had plenty of conflict. What else could it have? It was about abortion. The slope was too slippery and the temptation was too great for me. I screamed the “right” opinion and heard in return the echo of a lonely, deep cave. Now it is the poster book for all that can go wrong when you grab a social issue by its tail. There was plenty of information-chunking, soapbox haranguing, and bold-face preaching with barely an ounce of divergent perspective. It was obnoxious, pure and simple.

A great example of social issues used properly is from the book, Q & A, by Vikas Swarup which was the basis for the film, Slumdog Millionaire (2008). Swarup wove scads of issues into a story that brought the poverty and degradation of India’s urban ghettoes to vivid life. Prostitution, thievery, class inequality, human trafficking, prejudice, greed—to name a few. Every inch of this story was conflict. Though the book was rife with these problems, the author nimbly used the issues as tools to keep the characters under severe, constant pressure. He kept the reader’s focus on the issue as well but didn’t weigh in much with opinions (until the last sentence). He allowed the reader plenty of latitude to interpret the situations and draw her own conclusions.

So, to sum up: a social issue can find a proper place in a work of fiction, but it must not be front and center. A good test is what you say when someone asks you about your book. If you say, “My book is about human trafficking,” then you need to drop the manuscript in the trash can and grab a blank piece of paper. If you say something like, “when Johnny discovers his fiancée is missing, he thinks it’s the worst thing to ever happen to him; but when he learns she’s really been trafficked, his world falls apart,” you are on the right track. A story is about the characters and what happens to them. When your audience is curious about them, you are on good ground. This story could have a social issue as an element, but one of many elements. Used in this way, it is a great thing. So, go boldly and wisely forward, wowing us all.

[bctt tweet=” a social issue can find a proper place in a work of fiction, but it must not be front and center. ” username=””]

ADDENDUM: A trick question.

Let us consider Dr. Seuss’ story, The Lorax. Unabashedly pro-eco and anti-consumerism, the story rides high on a wave of social issues, as do many of his stories. Do you believe Suess’ overwhelming creativity serves well as a counter-balance to his foreground placement of the issues? Or do you feel the issues have walloped you too hard?

When Angela has spare time, she loves to quilt, sew period clothes, and partake of filmmaking. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University. Her screenplay, Life’s Other Side (2006) premiered on an American cable network and won several awards, including the Sabaoth International Film Festival in Milan, Italy. She is building a nonprofit organization to plant libraries in under-resourced locations. Her first was opened in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 2017. Angela lives with her husband in Virginia in an ever-emptying nest. Hopefully, the dogs will not attend college.

Tags angela andrews, novel, opinions

Magazine and Freelance

Write to Inspire-Terry Whalin

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date July 13, 2017
2 Comments on Write to Inspire-Terry Whalin

When we consider various markets for our magazine writing, often we neglect the market right before our eyes—the inspirational, religious marketplace. Maybe we avoid it because it’s the most personal part of our life and experiences. In reality, this niche market is a wide-open opportunity to write about our personal experiences, lessons we’ve learned from life and the Bible or short stories or the range of articles from the broader marketplace—yet with a spiritual twist.

Years ago, I studied journalism at Indiana University. I thought I was a hotshot writer who could hit any market. As a new Christian, I naturally tried the religious marketplace. My writing efforts were last minute, lacked market research and 100% unsuccessful. Because I failed to take the time to understand the market needs, I ended up writing strange untargeted articles that never appeared in print.

In contrast, years later after college, I gave the energy to research this market and understand it. I’ve written articles for more than 50 of these publications. I’ve written devotionals, how-to articles, fiction stories, personality profiles, round-ups (a feature on a particular type of book like financial books or devotional books), book reviews and much more.

The motivation for writing about spiritual matters is more than the simple desire to be published. Often the deeper motivation is to capture some experience, spiritual thought or how-to which motivates the reader into a deeper relationship with God. The range of possible articles and age groups is a broad as your imagination. Almost 700 inspirational magazines provide infinite possibilities for your writing.

This market requires a certain commitment to studying the publication, carefully reading the guidelines, then writing your article with a particular market in mind. Often because the motivation for a particular article is beyond simply getting into print or being paid, the editors are more approachable and responsive to working with new authors. While my last statement is true, it’s not always the case. Often these publications are overwhelmed with poorly written, unfocused submissions.

If you study these religious publications, then appeal to their particular niche in the market with well-crafted storytelling, then I almost guarantee that your material will be carefully read, considered, then possibly published.

You can find these markets in your local Christian bookstore or publications, which you read weekly at your church. Also your church library is a good source of various publications. What type of religious material do you read on a regular basis? If you read a devotional guide like Quiet Hour or The Upper Room, then through your life experiences, you have been gaining the background to write similar types of material. Do you enjoy reading about the lives of other people, then you can write spiritually-based, personality profiles. I’ve written about people like Disney Animator, Glen Keane (who created Beast in Beauty and the Beast) or best-selling author Janette Oke.

The stories don’t have to be complicated or involve interviewing someone famous. The source material can come from your personal life. When I lost a son years ago, we taught his older brother about death. I wrote down the anecdotes from the experience and weaved it into an article called “Schooled In Death.” Or I captured the story of my own spiritual journey through another personal experience article called “Two Words That Changed My Life.”

Every article is different and the publications are distinct. You can learn the skills to put together an excellent magazine article and write to inspire others. It’s important to write for their guidelines, then send in your material for consideration. You can write these magazine articles but it will involve learning then putting it into practice.

Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing, lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor, Whalin has written for more than 50 publications including Christianity Today and Writer’s Digest. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. His latest book is Billy Graham, A Biography of America’s Greatest Evangelist and the book website is at: http://BillyGrahamBio.com Watch the short book trailer for Billy Graham at: http://bit.ly/BillyGrahamBT His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com. Follow him on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/terrywhalin

Tags brainstorming, inspire, the upper room

Truth Be Told

Tooth Be Told-Insights into Going to the Dentist

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date July 12, 2017
2 Comments on Tooth Be Told-Insights into Going to the Dentist

(This week my husband lost a crown while eating a piece of licorice—that in itself is probably worth a post of its own—so now he begins the whole process of getting it replaced. His dilemma reminded me of my own experience several years back. Here’s a piece on what I leanrned.

This morning I’m having the first step done in repairing my cracked tooth. To be very honest, I’m not excited about sitting in the dentist chair for an hour and a half. I’m really quite anxious. I lost some sleep over it last night. I’m just not a big fan of pain and even less of a fan of the unknown. In the parlance of the day: I’m a wuss.

As I wrote the preceding paragraph, I ran my tongue over the broken tooth. I cracked this tooth on April 1, nearly three months ago. Actually, I think the tooth had been cracked for six years and the piece just finally gave way. In spring of 2004 I had a cavity replaced and from that point until three months ago I had pain on that side of my mouth whenever I chewed. I think that dentist cracked the tooth when she replaced the filling and I believe that because once that piece gave way, I’ve had no pain on that side and I have no trouble biting or chewing there.

Another thing I became aware of as I ran my tongue over the tooth that is now half gone is that I’ve gotten used to this new shape of my tooth. So, if there’s no pain and I’m used to the odd shape and feel, why go through all the pain to “fix” it? Pondering that made me realize that I do that with a lot of things in my life. I accept less than perfect to avoid the pain of correction. I put up with the difficult rather than addressing the problem and avoiding the conflict. I’m so used to what’s missing it seems natural.

I know that the obvious answer is to take care of this tooth now and avoid larger issues later. Life is that way. Putting off or ignoring what needs to be done doesn’t make sense. In the Bible, James even says that to know what we should do and not do it is sin. So the sin of omission isn’t just about our dealings with others, it’s also how we deal with ourselves, our bodies. Maybe Fram (the auto parts distributors) had the right idea with their motto: Pay me now, or pay me later.

So I will sit in the dentist’s chair for an hour and a half today and again three weeks later. Hopefully, I will save the tooth and avert further problems in the future. I think I’m worth that. Perhaps that’s actually been the real missing piece. It is time to get that fixed.

Tina’s writes to inspire. She loves the challenge of a devotion’s brevity, a Bible study’s clarity, and an article’s ability to change lives. Communicating truth, whether written or spoken, defines Tina’s passion and purpose. Tina’s thoughts can also be found at PotOfManna. Tina is an active member of Word Weavers, serving as a chapter co-president, online president, and mentor

The Ministry of Writing

Writers Must Keep Their Foot on the Gas

Post author By Jake McCandless - The Ministry of Writing
Post date July 10, 2017
5 Comments on Writers Must Keep Their Foot on the Gas

So, I guess it’s ok for a writer to be a NASCAR fan—especially a Southern writer, right? I’m a race fan, but last year one of my favorite drivers retired. At one point, in his career he was a perennial winner and champion, but he had struggled the past few years. As a fan, it perplexed me how someone who once dominated could lose pace. His equipment had gotten better, competition had fallen off, and he had gained lots of experience, therefore, why would he regularly finish in the back of the pack?

In one of his final races, a commentator shared how it was common for past champion drivers to lose speed the older they got. He went on and explained, “In a sport where each competitor is only separated by tenths of a second and the winners are often the ones who let off the gas the last in the turns. Past champions struggle as they get older and become more cautious. They tend to pull off the gas pedal sooner in those curves.” He went on to say how that when drivers begin their careers they are pushed by a singular vision and often they don’t have families. As they grow older, their interests vary beyond the track and they have children who are relying on them. This caution brings them to dial it back and not push as hard.

This was a clear explanation, but it also resonated with me because I have been describing one of my pastoral ministry failures as occurring because I took my foot off the gas. We had a long-term plan to grow our church through creating new Bible study classes with a DNA to multiply. Right out of the blocks we found success then we hit a difficult stretch. I was convinced of our strategy, but I became discouraged. And I let the voices of caution around me lead me to take my proverbial foot off the gas pedal. I aborted the plan and went back to the way things were before. I gave up. And the ministry suffered.

Now looking back, I wish I had stayed the course and continued. Now as I’m chiefly ministering through writing now, I’m tempted to do the same thing. Like the older race car driver who brakes earlier than they did in the past due to worries of life around them, I hear the concerns and stop. But we must not waver from our call.

[bctt tweet=”Christian writers you’ve been given a mission and you must keep your foot on the gas even in the scary turns” via=”@soldoutjake”]and the mundane straight-a-ways.

In however you have been called of God to write and complete a particular project, it was for a reason. Your task is important, and no matter how difficult or depressing it might be—God will come through. He will keep you on the track even if the mission turns your knuckles white.

We can’t give up. We can’t be hesitant. Our pedal needs to be to the metal.

This “gas pedal” you must not let up could be your calling to write, your vocation to be a writer, the leading to relay a message, or the call to create a certain resource. Whichever one or ones applies to you needs to be followed through.

If you have been called to write—write. Don’t start and stop. Don’t wait. Do it. For years, I felt called to do so. I put it off forever. Then when I finally started I would write for a little bit and then stop. I got nowhere. It was only when I plowed on through the writer’s block, rejection, and stress that things began to come together.

If you have been called to write as a vocation, do it. Learn the craft. Get the training. Quit your job, whatever it takes to be obedient. Don’t wait—press the hammer down. Even if you are broke and starving, stay the course.

If you have been called to share a message with the world and that involves writing about it—share it. Learn to write. But don’t put it off, share the message. Even if no one listens, keep sharing that message. If the message is the hill you are prompted to die on—die.

If you have been called to create a particular resource—create it. Get to work and don’t stop until its done. Shop it until it sells. Never put it in the trash or let it collect dust.

Christian writer there are some scary turns in this writing journey. Unlike NASCAR there are even right turns. There are also silent depressing seasons that make you want to shut it down. [bctt tweet=”But whatever you do put your foot on that Christian writing gas pedal,” username=”@soldoutjake”] push it through the bottom of the race car, and do not let it off.

Tags #SpiritualPrepper, Almost an Author, Author, Christian writer, Christian writing, Jake McCandless, Prophecy Simplified, Spiritual Prepper, WND, WND Books, writer, writing

Fantasy-Sci-Fi Storyworld

A Drop of Evil in your Storyworld

Post author By A.D. Shrum - Storyworld Columnist
Post date July 9, 2017
3 Comments on A Drop of Evil in your Storyworld

If you’re writing a novel, you can’t do so without a healthy dose of tension. Whatever the protagonist’s goal is, your job as an author is to set up countless roadblocks between him and his prize. Maybe this means environmental disasters, conversational misunderstandings, simple mistakes, or physical limitations. But one of the most fun ways to torture your characters is with other characters. Specifically evil ones.

[bctt tweet=”But one of the most fun ways to torture your characters is with other characters.” via=”no”]

“Hold up,” you might say. As followers of Christ, our nature is (or at least should be!) to bring about peace, resolve conflict, and ultimately help people. Yes, but as a fiction writer, you need to delay this resolution as long as possible. And you can do this by creating compelling, evil characters. People who’d like to kill your heroes, take their stuff, steal the hearts of their loved ones, and burn everything else. And the nicer villains will do it in that order.

But how do you put these evil characters into your world convincingly? My suggestion would be to avoid any sort of “monolithic” evil. That essentially means evil for evil’s sake, something which no real human engages in. In fact, everyone pursues some form of good thing that God wants them to pursue. Happiness, sexual gratification, security, justice – these are all good things created by our loving creator for a specific purpose. But if an individual pursues them in a way that opposes God’s chosen method, that’s evil. And if the evil pursuit of these things happens to cross the path of your protagonist, well, all the better for your story.

Maybe the bad guy in your book has justice issues. The people that killed his wife were never brought before the law, and instead he feels the need to take matters into his own hands. He might attack policemen at random or devise some grander scheme to punish all of society. Or maybe his vengeance is very focused on an individual, but collateral damage affects the protagonist. Whatever the case, your antagonist should be fleshed out, and his evil motivations should be well-established. This is true regardless of your genre.

[bctt tweet=”Whatever the case, your antagonist should be fleshed out, and his evil motivations should be well-established.” via=”no”]

But in a speculative fiction novel, you may need to determine the motivations of an entire species. Why do the lizardmen in your book pillage and raid human villages? Is it to please their angry god? Or is it because they feel threatened by man’s expansion? Do the aliens invading earth intend to harvest humans for food? Or does human lymph tissue possess some life-saving cure for the alien homeworld? Their actions may be utterly depraved from our perspective, but an internally consistent reason for their behavior will do wonders to breathe sophistication into your novel.

Let’s take some examples. I just finished reading Kathy Tyers’ Truce at Bakura. It’s an older Star Wars novel, but it has enough unique storyworld elements that it really is set apart from the standard Star Wars fare. The antagonists in the book are the Ssi-ruuk, a reptilian race of creatures who desire to eradicate humans, and they are completely callous to the dying pleas of these men and women. This may seem heartless, but Tyers does a great job of crafting the aliens’ motivations. The Ssi-ruuk just want to bring peace to the universe by eliminating pests. And they don’t care about human suffering because they truly don’t believe humans have sentience. It is ironically similar to the way humans deal with unwanted insects in their home.

A real-world example of evil ideology would be communism. Yes, its cousin socialism is in vogue right now, but communism is possibly responsible for more deaths in the 20^th century than any other movement. Between Russia and China alone, 21 to 70 million civilians were killed by their own countrymen, and that doesn’t even count Cambodia, Vietnam, or North Korea. To my conservative friends, this may sound like unadulterated evil. But remember that the communists weren’t killing their neighbors just because they enjoy killing. They truly believed they were bringing about a proletariat utopia, and were willing to go to great lengths to secure it. Yes, they committed murder, but in their minds they did so for an ostensibly noble purpose. Many still cling to the ideology because of the perceived good a Marxist world could theoretically bring – fairness, equality, and an end to excessive capitalist greed. Pursuing those ends isn’t bad, but communism always requires violent upheaval to get there. And that? That is evil.

It might be frightening to start crafting evil characters and worldviews in your novel. In fact, C.S. Lewis found the process incredibly taxing when writing the Screwtape Letters. But if you hope to create a rich storyworld with believable challenges to your protagonist, you’ll need to get inside the heads of your bad guys. This means trying to see from their perspective, which may be good practice to build empathy toward those with whom you disagree. But as a Christian writer, the important thing is to show that evil, no matter how powerful, clever, or prevalent, ultimately loses to Good.

[bctt tweet=”As a Christian writer, the important thing is to show that evil ultimately loses to Good.” via=”no”]

Dr. Doom Image from: http://screenrant.com/marvel-becoming-doctor-doom-hex-mortis/

Ssi-Ruuk image from: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/493636809132666309/

Max McLean as Screwtape, image from: https://fpatheatre.com/production/the-screwtape-letters/

Storyworld

War of Worldcraft: Two approaches to World Creation

Post author By A.D. Shrum - Storyworld Columnist
Post date July 8, 2017
10 Comments on War of Worldcraft: Two approaches to World Creation

So you want to create a storyworld, eh? Well, it took God six days to complete the one you’re living in, so don’t expect to make yours in one day. Worlds are complicated things, and in order to make one believable, you’ll need to take into consideration a whole host of things from politics to geography. But first, let’s approach the philosophy of world creation. There are two extremes, but most authors approach the task with a little give and take from both.

[bctt tweet=”So you want to create a world, eh? #storyworld #scifi” via=”no”]

From the story, arises the world…

In this approach, you start with a story idea and create the world as the story progresses. You haven’t mapped out the flora or fauna and you may have no idea what the planet’s political structure looks like, but you’ll figure everything out as you write. The principle advantage to this method is speed. Specifically, you can start writing immediately and fill in details later as you figure them out.

But before you get started, you’ll need at least a general idea of the storyworld’s outlook. Even something simple like knowing your universe is similar to Star Wars, or that magic and technology are used like Final Fantasy VII, that can help a lot. You can’t copy the intellectual property, but a general idea can help.

A word of caution: when you use this process, you MUST go back and examine your manuscript for consistency. If you flippantly mention the protagonist grew up climbing trees, you can’t later say his hometown was a desert. Similarly, if you realize midway into your book that you’d like to populate the earth with elves or cyborgs (or cyborg elves, whatever), you’re going to have to go back and add details to that effect earlier in the novel unless you intend to completely catch the reader off guard.

From the world, arises the story…

With this style, you design maps, ideologies, technology, and fantastic creatures early. Your characters are crafted within the realm of this fictitious land, and as a result, they feel genuine. Why? Because their motivations are drawn from the rich history you’ve created. In fact, the main advantage to this method is that the world will feel alive, because you’ve already considered how its inhabitants fare in their daily routines.

One problem I’ve seen with this approach is when a proud author frontloads his manuscript with world-details instead of the actual story. It’s understandable, right? I mean he’s created an entire ecosystem in his head. But the result is a lengthy prologue that belongs in a reference manual for a roleplaying game. Boring! Instead, display the richness of your universe in the way your characters interact with it. Subtlety is the key.

The other drawback is “analysis paralysis.” If you worry too much about the way your world will hold together, you may never get around to actually writing your story. If you want to be an author, you know you eventually have to write a book, right?

[bctt tweet=”If you want to be an author, you know you eventually have to write a book, right? #author #writer” via=”no”]

Finding middle ground…

As I said, most authors approach world creation with a hybrid of the two methods. As they write a couple chapters, their heads are filled with ideas for international drama. As that grand-scale conflict solidifies, new incentives are born into their characters. And so it goes. Most importantly, understand the advantages and disadvantages of the two philosophies and pick a method that works for you.

Tags building worlds, novel settings, storyworld, storyworld creation, world building

Fantasy-Sci-Fi

Fantasy Flash Fiction 101- Laura Zimmerman

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date July 7, 2017
1 Comment on Fantasy Flash Fiction 101- Laura Zimmerman

Fantasy Flash Fiction 101

Could you write a story in 500 words? What about 100?

Flash fiction is a genre that has grown in popularity in recent years. Those committed to it enjoy the challenge of creating a complex story in less than 1000 words—some choosing to stick below 500 or even 100 words total. The key to flash fiction is that the story must be complete, encompassing a beginning, middle, and end, as well as a plot twist at the close. This genre can be both fun and challenging. The writer must create as tight a story as possible, while still evoking the same emotion one would experience from a full-length short story.

The positive point to writing this type of work is that the genre itself fits nicely within the fantasy or sci-fi world, particularly because of the twist ending. However, a writer within the fantasy/sci-fi niche will have a few habits they may need to refine if they want to be successful in this genre.

Setting: With a limited set of words and an entire story to tell, there is typically no room for a descriptive setting. This may be difficult for a fantasy writer. Many publishers will allow a higher word count for a novel in the fantasy/sci-fi genre to leave room for world-building. Unfortunately, flash fiction doesn’t give this extra word allowance. The writer needs to choose the perfect word to describe not only the mood of the scene but what might evoke a physical description of the surroundings to the reader. Instead of giving a detailed description of a broken down house that’s been empty for years, the writer might have to limit himself to simply using the word “dilapidated” knowing that the reader will see the shattered windows and chipped paint in their mind’s eye.

Physical Appearance: Once again, there just aren’t enough words to effectively describe your characters. Forget hair and eye color, or other mundane information that isn’t necessary to the story. Choose a single characteristic that will make the character stand out but will also tell a bit about that character’s personality. “Amelia shrank beneath his stare and pushed her glasses back in place.” In this example, the reader knows Amelia is low in self-confidence but what about those glasses? I would imagine they are part of what makes her self-conscious in the first place. She certainly doesn’t stand out as part of the popular crowd. I didn’t need to know if she was fat or thin, tall or short—she clearly sees herself as plain, which will lead the reader to see her in the same way.

Dialogue: Effective dialogue is another challenge you will face when creating your flash fiction in a fantasy or sci-fi setting. There may be unusual language or phrases you wish to insert, but there will be no extra words to give such an explanation. Once more, take your time to word your story so the reader can understand the intent without having to be told the precise meaning. Dialogue is also an opportunity for the writer to establish setting or physical appearance and still keep that word count tight.

The main thing to remember when writing fantasy/sci-fi flash fiction is to make every single word count. Find one word that can take the place of many. It may sound easy to write a story in 100 words, but I find that I take longer to write a single flash fiction story than I do an entire 2000 word chapter!

Flash fiction is a challenge every writer should undertake to help sharpen their writing skills. It will hone your talent to tell an effective story in a limited number of words and can be a great boost to your creative side!

Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter and at her website, www.lauralzimmerman.com

Tags appearance, dialouge, flash fiction, sci-fi, scifi, Setting, Zimmerman

A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Chocolate Ministry

Post author By Carlton Hughes - Lighter Look at Writer's Life
Post date July 6, 2017
12 Comments on Chocolate Ministry

I just returned from another writers conference, this one in my home state of Kentucky, and I was once again inspired in a special way.

Before I explain, I must say that the keynotes by the amazing Twila Belk were just what I needed, and the workshops from the various faculty members provided valuable instruction to help me along my writing journey. I have been going to this conference for years, and it is great to spend time with my “homies.”

That being said, I ended up getting a prophetic word from a chocolate wrapper.

Yes, you read that right. If you know me, you know I am a chocoholic. I love chocolate in all forms, any time of day, which you can probably tell by looking at me. I cannot pass it up.

This weekend, as I walked through the nearly-empty bookstore on my way to a class, I spied a lovely pile of Dove chocolates on Brandilyn Collins’ table. Brandilyn is an award-winning, bestselling author of Seatbelt Suspense books, of which I have only read one because it was free and I am a chicken and it is nice to be able to sleep at night without every light in the house on. It was a great, well-written book, but I spent the next two weeks looking over my shoulder. But I digress . . .

I grabbed a chocolate off the table, unwrapped it and popped it in my mouth. Then I read the wrapper, as Dove chocolates come with the added bonus of nifty little sayings, and almost did a spit-take.

The message: “What are you waiting for?” Cue the brick falling from heaven.

Nearly every keynote and workshop I had heard up until that point emphasized the same message. What am I waiting for? Now is the time to write, to spread God’s message of love and forgiveness to an increasingly dark world. Now is the time to do the work to pursue my writing dreams. Now is the time to eat good quality chocolate as an inspiration. I kept that crumpled wrapper and am going to look at it each time I feel like giving up.

My last post spotlighted Davis Bunn and this one featured Brandilyn Collins, so thanks for reading part two of my “Name-Drop Famous Authors” series. Stay tuned next month for part three: “Carlton Drinks a Dr. Pepper with Max Lucado.”

Create. Motivate. Inspire.

The Wonder of it All

The Light of the World. The Chronicles of Narnia.

The Chick-Fil-A Cow.

Believe it or not, the aforementioned have a common thread that should fill us with the wonder of it all. They are examples of great works of—wait for it—creativity.

The Light of the World (1851-1853) is a painting by William Holman Hunt depicting Jesus preparing to knock on a long-neglected door. The door with no outside handle was painted to illustrate the scripture of Revelation 3:20. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me”

C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia have thrilled children and adults for decades with magical descriptions of strange animals and beasts that talk. Children from the real world enter an enchanted land called Narnia, meet and pledge loyalty to a lion named Aslan, and together work to fight evil to restore the rightful heirs to the throne.

Then there’s the Chick-Fil-A Cow. In 1995, The Richards Group, an advertising agency based out of Dallas, Texas, put their heads together to come up with a slogan to help S. Truett Cathy sell a few chicken sandwiches. I don’t know exactly how it went down, but at some point, a mastermind said, “I know…let’s use a cow to sell chicken. And the cow can tell everyone to Eat Mor Chikin’.”

Brilliant.

I am fascinated by the creativity of others as they showcase the broad spectrum of vision and imagination in mankind. What makes someone look at a glob of paint and see Jesus raising a hand to knock on a door? Who gazes at a wardrobe and imagines children climbing in and discovering another world? And who, pray tell, ponders how to sell chicken and thinks of a cow?

It all comes down to the Person whose image we bear.

We have the desire to create because we are made in the image of the ultimate Creator—Jesus—the One who was with God in the beginning. The One who spoke all things into existence. The One who moves in us to act according to His will and gives us the desire to reflect His glory.

As writers, when we are driven to shape thoughts and ideas on paper, our hearts should thrill with what is happening. The Creator of all things is moving in us to accomplish His purposes. How affirming!

Over the next months, I pray that CREATE. MOTIVATE. INSPIRE. will be nourishment to your writer’s soul and that it will be a reminder of the Reason behind it all.

We are image-bearers.

May we bear it well.

[bctt tweet=”We are image-bearers. #inspiration #write” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=”It all comes down to the Person whose image we bear. #write #writer” via=”no”]

Tags create, encouragement, inspire, motivate, write, writer