Almost An Author – Page 75 – Learn Craft + Launch Career

From Script to Stage-Jim Tippins

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date July 4, 2017
No Comments on From Script to Stage-Jim Tippins

From Script to Stage/Screen

INTERIOR. ICE CREAM PARLOR – DAYTIME

Myrtle Beach in the Summer

The directions in the script are simple: A man and woman in their early 20’s sitting across from each other sipping on two milkshakes. The dialogue begins after those directions. Wow, there is not much detail in this example. The director is often given a great amount of latitude in creating what is reflected on stage or screen.

For every director, church dramatist, worship leader, community theater and Broadway director, there are four questions and four basic responsibilities for any director to address. Before an author’s words are formed into something that is visual, powerful and relevant you must answer these four basic questions:

Who?
Why?
Where?
When?

These first four questions are generally answered in the first few pages of the script. Who? A couple? Brother, sister? Friends? The script then starts filling out these characters and the story they inhabit. Why are they there? Needed an out of the way place? A busy place? Ultimately, the script will reveal that as well. Where? Well it’s in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in the summer. That nails it down. When? Is it the past, present, or future? We look to the script as well.

Costumes, props, set pieces, staging, lighting, everything is in need of a firm grasp of these four questions. The script is inspired by the author, but interpreted by the director and the who’s, why’s, when’s, and when’s are just the basic answers to these questions.

To go to the next level in preparation for putting script to stage or screen, the director is faced with four major responsibilities. From the simple reader’s theater to the largest play or musical, a director must prepare for rehearsals through Research, Script, Reality, and Moments. This first column will explore how research can impact everything put on stage or screen.

Research

Research goes beyond the written script. A script is not meant to be an encyclopedia or almanac of everything. It is up to the director to do a little research. The scene above is set in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in the summer. What is the average temperature there during the summer? If it’s near the beach, are there people in bathing suits coming in? Is the lighting going to very bright or muted? For this one scene we have to answer a hundred questions. Sometimes actors cannot get an understanding of their character unless they get some sort of motivation from the director. And the director cannot get all of the answers of these questions from the script. That is where research is vital to any production. Since research takes place at the very beginning of any production here are some tips to help in your research.

The Internet is an incredible source of information. If you use the internet as your main source of research make sure you confirm and reconfirm all the information. There are as many opinions as there are noses….everyone has one. There is a reason most schools do not take Wikipedia as an official source. Wikipedia was created and van be edited by anyone with access to the internet. Try to find those that are authorities in the areas in which you need help. And don’t just take their word for it. Check with other authorities as well. A good researcher always checks their facts.
Don’t take for granted information commonly overlooked. A good biblical example is where Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas comes up with a gang of Roman soldiers to arrest Jesus. The scripture says that there is a captain and officers involved but were they Romans or were they from the temple? Research shows that the temple had soldiers officially and a sort of hired mercenary as approved by the Romans. The Romans may have been involved, but what a feeling of empowerment if you were to make that decision based on true knowledge and not just tradition.
Have your research needs on your mind outside the production time. One of our creative arts teams was using stuffed characters for the Mark Lowry song, Cartoons. When we went into Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, we walked into the Warner Brother’s store and we were all very happy when we found about half of the stuffed characters that we needed in one place. Always be on the lookout for things that will help your production.
Find and utilize people who are experts. In another biblical production we wanted to create a realistic High Priest costume. The breastplate contained 12 gems representing the tribes of Israel. On top of those gems is written in gold, the names of each of the tribes. We were walking around the local mall and saw a goldsmith who would make and personalize your jewelry. After a few minutes we found out he was of the Jewish faith. It just happened that I had a copy of the Hebrew names in my pocket. He took one look at it and said he would be honored to attempt such a task. Two weeks later, we had twelve gold names as required for the High Priest.

Research keeps you safe from scrutiny and complaints. People are smart and glaring inconsistencies will distract people from receiving the message that God might have for them. Whether it is a biblical or secular production, we must strive to be as authentic as possible. Do your research.

Dr. Jim Tippins is currently President of On the Edge Productions, Inc., a resource for Christian scripts and minister aids. An award winning author, Dr. Tippins is proud to share the stories that God has laid on his heart. He has produced, written, and directed scripts, musicals, reviews, and plays all over the country. He has performed with the Kentucky Opera, Overture Opera Company, Theater of the Republic, Swamp Fox Players, Community Choral Society, Florence Symphony and Long Bay Symphony. To see resources and more information, please visit,

www.ontheedgeproductions.org. Or join his blog at drjimtippins.com

Tags Jim Tippins, movie, On the Edge Productions, screenplay, SCRIPT

The Binge Writer

Are you a Binge Writer?

Post author By Cyle Young - The Binge Writer
Post date July 3, 2017
2 Comments on Are you a Binge Writer?

I am a binge writer.

I always have been, and I probably always will be. What is a binge writer you ask?

A binge writer is an author who indulges in writing for a brief period of time. Often followed by extended periods of an absence of writing.

For me, I can write 10,000-15,000 words a day typing at 25 words per minute. I know what you are thinking, and yes, I am a terrible typist. I am actively working to get my words per minute count higher. Mainly because I want to have more output during my writing binges.

This year I wrote a 70,000 word novel in about 70 hours. It was a fun experience for me, but once I finished I had to get back to reality. I didn’t write again for an entire month. I also entered 13 writing contests after taking a weeks vacation to write. I wrote a ton that week. After I entered the final contest, I didn’t write again for a month.

I would like to say that I do this on purpose, but I don’t. It’s my personality.

God wired me this way.

I have tried to write a 1,000 words a day and I last about three days. I am not wired to be that consistent. But I can sit down and write a ton of words in a short amount of time.

[bctt tweet=”A binge writer is an author who indulges in writing for a brief period of time. “]

Maybe you are like me, maybe not.

In my periods of non-writing, I study, I read, and I enjoy life. All of these things help make me a better writer. I use what I learn to improve my writing and to help increase my productivity when I do finally sit down and write.

So… This blog is dedicated to Binge Writers or to those of you who want to use some of my Binge Writing techniques to increase your own writing output.

I will discuss writing software, apps, websites, writing techniques, procrastination, writer’s block, and many more. Hopefully these posts will help you meet deadlines, increase word count, and become the best writer you can be.

Any ideas on post topics? Post them in the comments below.

[bctt tweet=”What is a binge writer you ask? #writer #binge #writing”]

Tags 100 words a day, Author, how to write fast, novel, novelist, write fast, write faster, writer, writing, writing ideas, Writing tips

Bestsellers

Best Selling Author-Steven James

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date July 1, 2017
1 Comment on Best Selling Author-Steven James

Welcome, Steven, can you share a little about your recent book – In Every Deadly Kiss, FBI Agent Patrick Bowers grapples with a series of baffling murders in Detroit and discovers a terror plot with roots that stretch back centuries. This is the tenth Patrick Bowers book and one of the most complex storylines I’ve ever tackled.

Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books? I write to entertain my readers. I don’t start with a theme or message I’m trying to get across. While the stories do address issues of morality, I don’t set out to convince anyone of anything, but rather try to ask big questions through the context of an intriguing story.

How long have you been writing? And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract? In a sense, I’ve been making up stories my whole life. When I was a kid, I never considered that I could become a writer; I just knew that my imagination was the place I felt most at home in. I started writing for magazines in 1996 and published my first novel in 2007. Over the years, I’ve done a number of nonfiction books, but these days I’m most interested in telling big stories through novels.

How long does it take you to write a book? It typically takes me about a year to write a novel. I’ve done a few young adult novels which are somewhat shorter than my Patrick Bowers thrillers, but still, I’m a rather meticulous author and with all the drafts and rewrites, even those took at least six months.

What’s your writing work schedule like? I would say it’s most like a roller coaster. I tend to write and edit in the mornings and work on new scenes and brainstorm at night. It seems like in the afternoon my brain shuts off, but at times, I will sneak away for a week or two and just write as much as possible every day. Throw in lots of coffee, a few Cheetos, a bit of aggravation, and plenty of discarded drafts and you have a pretty good look at my life.

Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it? I’m not sure how interesting this is, but I do write standing up. I typically edit on a music stand, often listen to electronic or trance music when I write—anything with a driving beat but no words to distract me. I guess my quirk comes when I send a book in and then traditionally do three things: buy a new candle to light while I write, go see a matinee, and buy a frou-frou drink at a coffee shop.

What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career? It’s always fun to win awards or hit certain bestseller lists, but I don’t know that those things bring me joy. I would say it’s hearing from readers, especially when someone writes to me and says, “I hate reading but I loved your book.” Anytime I can instill in someone a love for reading again, it makes it all worthwhile.

What has been your darkest moment(s)? When I was writing Opening Moves, the story gave me nightmares. It was troubling and dark and difficult. I still think it’s one of my best-written novels, but emotionally it was probably the most difficult one to get through. I don’t think it’s possible for me to completely divorce the emotions my characters are feeling from the ones I personally experience.

Which of your books is your favorite? I think that Every Deadly Kiss and The Rook are my two favorites. I came up with the idea for The Rook while reading to my eight-year-old daughter about sharks. I still remember sitting on the couch with her and figuring out plot point after plot point based on what I was reading. So even though it’s been a decade, that story is still one of my favorites. Every Deadly Kiss ended in ways that I had never expected, with twists that I had never anticipated, so I think readers will really connect with this latest book.

Who is your favorite author to read? Man, that’s a hard question. I would say that there is an author named Calvin Miller whose work really inspired me as I was getting started as an author. His Singer Trilogy is unlike anything I’d ever read before. He weaves imagination, faith, and myth together in an unforgettable way.

What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have listened too? I like how you phrased this question! People are quick to give advice, and most of us are rather slow to listen to it. I would say, as far as advice, never fall in love with your first draft and rage against mediocrity. Despite how much we might want to find a shortcut toward excellence, I don’t think one exists. I’ve tried everything I can think of to save time, but in the end, it just simply takes months of hard work to create a work of excellence.

How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you? I’ve been rejected dozens of times. No one likes it; it isn’t fun, but it’s taught me persistence and also the importance of believing in the work that you do.

Do you have a favorite character or scene in one of your books? I mentioned The Rook earlier, so maybe that’s the story that’s on my mind, but there is a scene where Lien-hua Jiang who is a female FBI agent ends up fighting one of the villains toward the climax. One of her legs is chained down and she kicks him in the head, and when he backs away, she says, “Come here, Creighton, and I’ll make you wish you could fight like a girl.” That’s always been one of my favorite lines.

Where do you get your ideas? There’s nowhere that I can think of that I don’t get ideas from.

What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make? First, publishing too early. Rather than working on a story draft after draft to make it the best they can be, they opt to self-publish their books long before their story is ready to be shared with the world. Second is not keeping everything believable all the time.

Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market? Attend a writer’s conference where you can learn from industry professionals, meet agents and editors, and use the opportunity to ask them questions one-on-one.

Amazon author page: http://amzn.to/2sRJbKs

Steven James is the best-selling, critically acclaimed author of thirteen novels. He has a master’s degree in storytelling and is a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest.

Best known for his psychological thrillers, he has received more than a dozen honors and awards for his books, including three Christy Awards for best suspense. His novel The Queen was a finalist for an International Thriller Award.

Steven’s groundbreaking book on the craft of fiction, Story Trumps Structure: How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules, won a 2015 Storytelling World Award, recognizing it as one of the year’s best resources for storytellers. He is the host of the podcast “The Story Blender,” in which he interviews great storytellers from the world of cinema, oral performance, and writing about the craft of great storytelling.

Steven leads regular Novel Writing Intensive retreats around the country that provide in-depth instruction for serious novelists. For information on these seminars, visit www.novelwritingintensive.com.

For information on his fiction, visit www.stevenjames.net.

To book him to speak, e-mail info@stevenjames.net.

Tags Every Deadly Kiss, Steven James

Copywrite/Advertising

Put the Horse in the Theater and the Cow on the Roof -How to write sales copy that gets results

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date June 27, 2017
5 Comments on Put the Horse in the Theater and the Cow on the Roof -How to write sales copy that gets results

Did I ever tell you about the time my grandfather rode a horse down the center aisle of a movie theater in the middle of a show?

Pop (my grandfather) grew up in a small town in south central Kentucky. When this story happened, he was in his late teens—the age immortalized in the song lyric “old enough to know better, still too young to care.”

Pop saw a horse tethered on the town square, and an idea imprinted itself on his mind. He untied the horse, jumped on board, and trotted it to the end of town in a 1930s version of joyriding. At the town’s limits, though, there was only the Cumberland River, which at that time had no bridge. With nowhere to go, Pop turned the horse around and headed back to town.

For a teenage boy, joyriding a horse from town to the river wasn’t enough of a thrill. It was time to up the ante.

Pop saw the perfect opportunity. The town’s movie theater had just opened its doors. For a small fee, viewers could watch jerky, black-and-white Westerns. A show was in progress. People were inside. Another idea imprinted itself on his mind.

Somehow, Pop got that horse through the doors of the theater and rode it down the center aisle. The darkness, the unfamiliar sounds, and the (screaming) people inside terrified the horse. It went berserk in the middle of the theater. Somehow, Pop and the theater’s owner got the horse out of the theater and onto the square where it took Pop for a less-than-joyful ride back to the end of town. Before they reached the river, Pop fell off, and the horse found its own way home.

It was the one and only story Pop ever voluntarily told about his youth—except the one about the time he and his friends put a cow on the roof of the school.

What this has to do with copywriting (why you should keep reading)

Imagine being in the audience at a movie. It’s dark. It’s cool. There’s a story about horses and cowboys flashing in front of you. Maybe you’ve got an arm around a girl, or a guy has his arm around you. No wild man on a horse rides down the aisle. The movie ends.

You get home that night. Someone asks, “How was the movie?”

You say, “We had a good time. It was a Western. We ate popcorn.”

That day would eventually be lost in the haze of many such days.

But what about the people who were in the theater the day Pop rode a stolen horse down the center aisle? I bet those people had an electrifying story to tell when they got home! And I’ll bet they didn’t forget that day for a long time.

They were probably having a good time watching a story on the screen, but it was becoming actors in a far more dramatic and immediate story that made the day memorable for them.

I really do get to copywriting. Keep reading.

Today, an audience of people is consuming stories on blogs, on social media, and on printed letters stuffed in their mailboxes. The world is snowed under by written content, and storytelling is king. Your story must arrest the attention of a world already focused on a competing story.

How will your story be heard amidst all the noise? You’ve got to ride a horse into the middle of their movie.

To stand out, your story needs three elements:

Urgency

Call people to act now.

Remember the Law of Inertia? A body at rest will remain at rest; a body in motion will remain in motion. Your readers are at rest, and delay is comfortable. Don’t let them stay passive.

Urgency is especially important when writing fundraising letters. If you’re writing an appeal about a child who needs eye surgery or he’ll lose his sight, that’s not a good time to let your prospective donor delay. If what you wrote is true, your readers need to act now.

Make your prospect feel like they’re in a crowded theater with a wild horse. Act now, or get trampled.

Involvement

Ultramodern companies are using gamification as advertising. Why? Because people want to feel involved in what they buy or give to.

If you can make your copy fun and engaging, do it. A sense of play will lower people’s natural defenses. That’s why sales pieces often include chachki in the envelope. Your game or chachki should be logically connected to your copy’s message, though.

In some cases, you’ll have no control over the pieces in your package except the copy. In that event, make sure the copy engages readers. Make them feel like they’re right there, players in the story themselves.

The people in the movie theater that day went from watching people wrangle a horse on the screen to actually wrangling one themselves. Which made a more powerful impact?

Surprise

If your readers can guess every turn, every bridge, every swamp, and every stop on the way to the predictable end, your story is boring. Surprise them! Let them watch a jerky black-and-white Western for a few minutes before you ride a real horse into the middle of the theater.

As I said in an earlier piece, fiction and copywriting have a lot in common. Both require a plot full of twists and turns that leads to a satisfying but not predictable ending. Don’t bore your reader.

Want your copy to stand out in a sea of stories. Include urgency, involvement, and surprise. A stolen horse probably doesn’t hurt either.

What are some of your tips for writing copy people will remember?

Holland Webb: I love telling the stories that people put down so they go take action. I’m an advertising copywriter by day, an aspiring novelist by night, a parent, a dog-lover, a prison volunteer and a follower of Jesus.

Tags copy edit, copywirte, horse, movie theatre

Write Justified

The Times They Are A-Changin’

Post author By Judy Hagey - Write Justified
Post date June 27, 2017
No Comments on The Times They Are A-Changin’

As languages go, English is fairly young. It’s been about 1400 years since the Anglo-Saxons imported English into Great Britain. And the struggle to adapt continues because language is dynamic. The English language continues to adjust to changes in word usage and new words that make their way into the vernacular. Just this year, Merriam-Webster added 1000 new words to its dictionary.

It’s our job as writers and editors to keep abreast of such changes and accepted usages. While we may not adapt every new coinage, we need to know what is acceptable usage in the publishing world—thanks to authorities like Merriam-Webster and the Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS). With the 17th edition of CMoS due out in September, here’s a heads up on three changes that are likely to have the greatest impact on your writing/editing.

E-mail will become email—no hyphen. This is a progression that many additions to the language make—moving from a hyphenated to closed compound. While some style guides have been rendering email as closed for some time already, when CMoS does so, it’s official.
Internet becomes internet—lower cased.
Singular they is acceptable in some cases. Although the pronoun they usually refers to a plural antecedent, CMoS acknowledges it can also refer to a singular antecedent. In cases where the gender of the antecedent is not known, the singular they is acceptable, rather than the generic he or the cumbersome he/she. Truth is, this is the way most of us speak. So, in informal writing the following is permitted:

Whoever ratted out the thieves should get an award for their honesty.

Who wants cheese on their burger?

Keep in mind that singular they, like singular you is treated as a grammatical plural and takes a plural verb:

They have seven PhDs among them.

Their degrees are in the sciences.

Never let anyone tell you English is a staid language. Sometimes, it’s all an editor can do to keep up with the changes.

Tags Almost an Author, editing, Grammar, language is dynamic, vernacular, writing, Writing Craft, Writing tips

Pleasant Rosebud - Romantic Suspense

MYOPIA – LILY 4 (Final Part)

Post author By Sinmisola Ogúnyinka
Post date June 26, 2017
No Comments on MYOPIA – LILY 4 (Final Part)

Running from the beast had never been my plan. I had thought he would be my final stop, but was afraid of what he could do to me. After escaping his clutches, and with no money and a place to go, I was disgruntled. My only companion was my hand-crafted pouch, which housed my silver mirror, potions book, a gray blanket, a matchbox, and some herbs and fruits.

For weeks, I wandered aimlessly, and only relied on nature to keep me alive. I felt and looked filthy. In those weeks of wandering, a proper meal and bath became a luxury. I would have settled for a while in the village close to the beast’s fortress but fear of him coming to recapture his slave prevented me. At this point, my stupid search for a happy fairy tale ending, fizzled. I only wanted to return home.

On numerous occasions, I tried to retrace my steps but just couldn’t remember where I came from, what the name of my village was, or who my people were. In fact, it was hard for me to remember the past events in my life. My memories became foggy, faces and names disappeared from my thoughts. Oft times, some things would become familiar but that was it. After a while, I gave up on my quest to return to my village. I doubted I’d recognize my home even if I found it.

My amnesia could have occurred due to several reasons, but most likely the unstable instant hair-growth potion. I had not used all the right condiments for it and had substituted some unavailable ones. The potion had worn off quickly and left me with uneven waist-length hair. My memory loss could have also been caused by the numerous strange fruits and plants I lived on during my wandering weeks. Aside from the amnesia, I suffered other weird side effects. There were moments I looked almost three times my age. My skin would become wrinkly and pale, and my hair would be gray. Other times I’d look like a fresh teenager with cheerful cheeks and lively skin. Due to this ‘disease’ I became withdrawn and insecure.

Finally, I found a small settlement to call home. I sold potions to make ends meet and withdrew from the society. I became a highly skilled and sought-after potion-maker, and later created an elixir, which helped control my disease. It kept me young and beautiful, though its ingredients were rare and pricy.

My name soon became famous and attract wealthier, more desperate clients. Human leaders and creatures alike sought after my expertise. However, one visit from a king ended my career and changed my life forever.

He was the most handsome creature I had seen on two legs. He had wavy brown hair and bright blue eyes. His jaw handsomely jutted out and elevated his full heart-shaped lips. His face, carved by a healthy beard, thick eyebrows and an aristocratic nose balanced out his features. He was muscular, a head taller than me, and held an aura of warm sophistication. I was smitten.

When he visited me, his eyes were watery and sad. His Queen had just passed. She died during childbearing and his newborn daughter had survived but barely. He needed a potion to save his baby’s life and he was willing to pay any amount.

It took me a minute to realize. He was available!

I had only one request in exchange for the potion: his hand in marriage. He agreed without blinking. After our agreement, the procedures and wedding happened in the twinkle of an eye.

It was amazing. I had given up on my dream of marrying royalty and living happily ever after but now I was a queen. Of course, the King knew nothing about my past or my disease and I intended to keep it that way. He overcame his grief by pouring love on his daughter and parading me everywhere he went. I became his beautiful and talented trophy wife. At this point, I was dedicated to maintaining my ageless beauty and I needed the elixir to do so. Its ingredients were peculiar to its purpose so I had to attain them in secret. And so, I charmed a palace guard called Felix to do my bidding.

I mostly ignored the king’s daughter. She was quite pretty. She had jet black hair and her skin was so fair, almost white. She was a nice and naïve girl. Her whitish complexion irritated me and the fact that her name described her appearance annoyed me more. I secretly nicknamed her Pasty to mock her fair skin. I wasn’t interested in her well-being or how she lived her life.

The King, however, wanted me to be close to her. I found it unnecessary. I didn’t marry the king so I could be a mother-figure to the girl! On numerous occasions, he would send his daughter to me. I dreaded those awkward moments and tried to avoid them at all costs.

On one of my off days, as in the days where my body would deteriorate to an old woman’s, my guard was running late. He hadn’t returned with the ingredients for my elixir and I was aging too quickly. I was quite worried and afraid someone would find me, so I remained in my inner chambers throughout the day. The guard finally brought my goods and I quickly mixed the potion. I had to wait six more hours for the potion to be ready.

Now, I looked and felt 60 years older than my real age. My elixir was finally ready. On the first sip, my door opened to reveal my stepdaughter. She gasped as she noticed how old I looked. My hand shook and spilled some of my elixir on my vanity. I quickly downed it, and ordered her out.

I summoned her back after I regained my ageless appearance. “What did you see?!” I barked.

She pointed an accusatory finger at me. “You…you’re an old woman! An old witch who bewitched my father!”

I slapped her. “Wrong answer.” She gasped. “You saw nothing and you will say nothing, Child.”

She clutched her cheek, “You expect me to help you deceive my father, your husband.” She sobbed. “I can’t and I won’t.” She chanted.

I quickly became weary of her and commanded my guard to ‘dispose’ of her. He was shocked at my request but quietly obeyed, nonetheless.

I proceeded to clean up my spilled elixir. I couldn’t afford to allow the palace maids become suspicious as to why I had it lying around. As I wiped away, I noticed my silver mirror had a few drops on it. What caught my attention particularly was the manner the mirror absorbed the elixir. Soon after, nothing was left of it. I was astonished and continued to gaze curiously at the mirror. The mirror began to shake, a bright light shot out of it and then it sighed in relief.

“Free at last!” it exclaimed. I was not afraid, only inquisitive. My mirror could talk!

“Who are you?”

“Oh, thank you for releasing me from my silent prison. I am Miroir, the enchanted one who sees all. I was cursed by my former master and turned into a mare mirror. For liberating me, I surrender my services to you,” it said.

I nodded. This was a most welcome development.

Days passed and my guard failed to return from my bidding. At first, I wasn’t worried. The days turned to weeks and I became paranoid. I was aging again and feared I won’t be able to create another elixir before I was discovered.

“Miroir, show me Felix.” Miroir’s screen rippled for a moment and soon an image of Felix appeared. He was in the forest not too far from the castle. He was dead, and his body had begun to decay! That little minx had charmed him to killing himself! I was furious.

I growled. “Show me that ghastly stepdaughter of mine!”

An image of a moldy forest cottage appeared before me. Pasty stood outside the cottage, washing clothes. How pathetic. I didn’t know how and when I developed such a dark nature because all I could think about was ending her life. I was immensely upset she was still alive, and looked younger, and more beautiful than I could ever be.

As if possessed, I gathered every toxic, poisonous or foul substance in the castle and expertly mixed them together. At this point, I looked like a crocked old woman but I was on a mission to end Pasty. Knowing how naïve she was, I dipped juicy red apples into my concoction. The apples absorbed the poisonous substance without changing its outward appearance. I grabbed Miroir and headed to the forest.

By the time I arrived, Pasty was not alone. Seven dwarfs were having an early dinner with her. They seemed familiar to me. Two of them tinkled my memory the most; one with a big button and the other with round glasses wedged on his nose. I decided the stay the night and wait till they left.

The following morning, I was startled awake by a faint tune I’d heard before, but I couldn’t pinpoint where it came from.

“Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!”

The singing signified the dwarfs’ departure. I finally had Pasty to myself. I carried my basket of poisoned apples and approached the front door and knocked weakly. Pasty answered almost instantly. I had been afraid she’d recognize me but I had forgotten how naïve she was.

I chuckled. “All alone my dear?”

She nodded. “Why, yes I am but…”

I looked around. “The little men are not here?”

“No, they are not,” she said.

Good. “Would you like to purchase some juicy apples from a struggling poor old lady?” I lifted the basket to her face.

She sighed. “I would but I’m penniless.”

I smiled. “Well, for being honest, I’ll give you one free of charge.”

Her face brightened up, she cheerily thanked me and chose an apple. My eyes widened with expectation as she slowly brought the apple to her rosy lips. The world slowed down dramatically. The feeling of anticipation and eagerness felt so familiar, I couldn’t shake it off. For a second the past few years flashed before my eyes.

I remembered it all. My days with Lady Méchant, my night at the ball, the ghost town, the frog kissing, the dwarfs, the beast, everything! I remembered my ambition and wishes. I remembered who I was. I most definitely wasn’t a twisted witch trying to kill a 14-year-old girl for no tangible reason. The fairy tales I studied and the advice of my horoscope poured into my memory in that frozen second. I suddenly realized what was happening and who I was. This wasn’t the fairy tale I hoped to feature in and this wasn’t the role I wanted to play.

I cried but it was too late. “Snow White, no!”

Shame overwhelmed me. I had previously refused to call her name because of my bitterness, and anger. This was not me. The potions. Oh no.

The agonizingly slow second suddenly flew by and Snow White bit into the apple. She instantly dropped to the ground. Prying the poisoned piece from her mouth was pointless. The apple was so poisoned tasting its skin was as effective as eating it whole. I was already the villain in a fairytale. I had poisoned her and no matter what I said from now on, everyone would see me as Snow White’s stepmother, the ugly, old, wretched wicked witch.

I did the only thing which seemed sensible. I fled.

MYOPIA is used by permission of the original author, Ifeoluwa Ogúnyinka

Author bio:

Sinmisola Ogúnyinka is a pastor’s wife, mother, writer and movie producer. She has a university degree in Economics, and is a Craftsman of Christian Writers’ Guild. She lives with her family in Pretoria, South Africa.

Blog: www.sinmisolao.wordpress.com

Twitter: @sinmisolaog

Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/en/woods-autumn-woman-girl-meeting-1524606/

Tags Fairytale, Myopia, Snow White, Wicked Witch

Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)

Disability Bible Series Part 2-Moses Writes of Skin Ailments and Speech Troubles

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date June 25, 2017
No Comments on Disability Bible Series Part 2-Moses Writes of Skin Ailments and Speech Troubles

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.

The Holy Bible, shows the stigma of disability and the encouragement and inclusion for the disabled, despite today’s protests and advocacy, and how far have we come.

I believe through writing characters with a disability we can encourage a change in the current dynamic.

This month let’s explore the possibilities of disability and writing with another well-known writer, Moses. The first five books of Old Testament of The Holy Bible, and others, like the wonderful story of Job, are believed to be written by Moses. In his grand adventure story in the book of Exodus, Moses writes of his disability in Exodus 4:6-16[NIV[1]]

Then the LORD said, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So, Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous[2] —it had become as white as snow.

“Now put it back into your cloak,” he said. So, Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh.” (Ex 4:6-7 NIV)

Don’t you imagine Moses horrified? Leprosy! Today, we have come up with an additional name for Leprosy, Hansen’s Disease (HD). Leprosy, or HD, is an infectious disease caused by specific bacteria found in drastically poor and dirty conditions. Today, HD can be cured if treated. People may think of groups of sick, rotting-skinned people cast far away when they hear the word Leprosy. There are; however, significantly fewer leper colonies today. India, Africa, and China are places; however, where places segregating people with HD still exist.

I have psoriasis[3]. In the culture and time period of Moses, I would have been examined by a priest, deemed unclean and sent out for seven days. My psoriasis is visible and incurable, but the symptoms are treatable. I would have remained unclean and sent to live outside my community, unable to live, worship, or associate with my peers or family. Thankfully, we now have medical doctors and the knowledge psoriasis is not contagious.

My daughter likewise has psoriasis. After explaining her condition to the school office after her first outbreak (at age eight), her unknowing teacher removed her from the playground. It was a warm spring day and she wore shorts to school. Since the school office failed to inform the teacher and seeing red, inflamed, scaly patches on my daughter’s knees, shins, and elbows, this teacher sent her to the office to sit away from the playing children. The teacher was afraid my daughter had some hideous contagious disease. The office called me to pick up my daughter at school. You can imagine how upset I was when I arrived to find out why.

The shame and heartbreak for my child! The awful confusion and embarrassment she must have felt in realizing for the first time she was different. I want to think times have changed but unfortunately, I see things like this all the time.

Giving a character a trait like psoriasis, for instance, you can show situations and feelings not only for the character but for those unfamiliar with it and their reactions as well.

Further in Moses’ writings in verses ten through twelve, we find out Moses has a speech impediment.

Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” (Ex 4:10 NIV)

Even though Moses had been raised with the best of education as royalty in Egypt, somehow, he was aware of his difference from others. It is thought he may have stuttered or had some other form of speech impediment. I imagine he was mocked, made fun of, or ridiculed at points in his life creating lowered self-esteem and self-confidence.

The LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (Ex 4:11-12 NIV)

I have a great fondness for verse 12 and I’ve grown closer to the LORD because I know he has plans for me and everyone who has, or may acquire a disability. Here is Moses living with a speech impediment and God is giving him a leading role! Certainly, we as writers can do the same and give a significant role to a character with a disability trait.

But Moses said, “O LORD, please send someone else to do it.” (Ex 4:13 NIV)

Here again is Moses with his lowered self-esteem and self-confidence affirming itself again as he tries to get out of this task the LORD is asking him to do. Moreover, how many of us wait for someone else to write a character in their book with a disability? Perhaps then we won’t have to find out if we can write disability. Personally, I believe anyone can write disability in any genre.

Then the LORD’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you.

You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.

He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.” (Ex 4:14-16 NIV)

The point here is so simple. No person gets through life without help from others. We had parents and teachers in school teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic. We had people to confide in whether it be the LORD, family, friends, or someone else. Help is always available. There are resources everywhere, and yes, people with disabilities are everywhere and many are extremely approachable to answer your questions.

It is written God made man and woman in his own image, and he created each for a reason and a purpose. God did not see Moses as a speech impediment, God saw Moses as His leading character with a speech impediment trait that didn’t matter squat to what needed to be done. God did not see the disability stopping Moses from attaining the goal.

Even if you haven’t read the half-dozen or so books of The Holy Bible thought to be authored by Moses, you probably have heard these stories. As writers, we’ve got an advantage when it comes to sharing similar messages just as God did with Moses. All we need do is make the required changes in our writing.

Main characters need to shine and settle in the minds of readers long after they turn the final page. The actions characters take to achieve story goals must send them toward getting what they want. If not, hopefully, their actions get them to a better understanding of themselves and the world they occupy. This applies to characters in every book. If they don’t then we have a book no one wants to read.

You can create memorable, standout characters with disability traits by seeing your character as a human being first – not an affliction. Do this well and your readers will see them as you do. Already in your mind, you are creating a character with varying traits, so why not add a disability trait to an obvious featured character? Research traits, write what speaks to you as the truth. Observe the world around you. Isn’t this what we as authors do?

Next month I’m taking you on a tour with Part Three of this series: King David, Isaiah, Jeremiah Write of the Sick and Crippled. In the meantime, check out all the fantastic content on writing and the writer’s life 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 quite 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 as needed 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] Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All right reserved.

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leprosy

[3] https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis

Tags disability, moses

Uncategorized

“Tooth” Be Told

Post author By Tina Hunt - Truth Be Told
Post date June 24, 2017
No 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.

Tags dentist, fear, ignoring, Pain, self-care

Writing with Humor

Turn a Tired Cliché into a Humorous Phrase

Post author By Jean Wilund - Writing with Humor
Post date June 24, 2017
No Comments on Turn a Tired Cliché into a Humorous Phrase

Turn a tired cliche into a humorous phrase by Jean Wilund via AlmostAnAuthor.com

Where’s There’s a Cliché, There’s a Critic

If you write with clichés, you write things like, “Where there’s a will there’s a way.”

If that’s you, expect to be called lazy.

Even Google is critical of clichés, defining them as “a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.”

Ouch.

Lists of clichés to avoid abound on the Internet. One site listed 681 of them. It can be harder to avoid a cliché than a rerun of Law & Order.

Don’t throw the cliché out with the scorn. Throw in a twist instead.

A redeemed cliché can draw a laugh from your readers.

Where there’s a will there’s a family fighting over it.

He who laughs last thinks slowest.

What doesn’t kill you makes you stranger.

Hopefully, you’re now inspired to transform a tired cliché into a fresh, humorous phrase.

[bctt tweet=”Turn a Tired Cliché into a Humorous Phrase #amwriting #writing” username=”@A3forme “]

Create. Motivate. Inspire.

3 Simple Ways to Grow as a Writer

Post author By Leigh Ann Thomas
Post date June 23, 2017
2 Comments on 3 Simple Ways to Grow as a Writer

Most days, writing brings us joy. Our brains stay on overdrive as we scribble ideas on scraps of paper, napkins, and the edges of our church bulletins. A song on the radio sparks an idea and we scramble to record our thoughts. Middle-of-the-night inspiration brings a groan from our spouse as lamplight is needed to locate a pen fast.

But then, creativity stalls. The blank screen seems to mock us and make us wonder if the words will ever come. Or we are restless—writing the same old words, the same old way.

How do we avoid stagnation? Here are 3 simple ways to grow and to rediscover joy in our work:

Read. And not what we always read. Read short stories and full-length novels. Read poetry and screen plays, magazines and newspapers. Read biographies and draw inspiration from stories of men and women who made a difference in our country and the world. Read about the amazing—about dragons and brave warriors. Be a kid again and devour tales of animals that talk and heroes who fly. Read words that make you think and ponder. And when you find a great book, slow down and ask, why is this good? Why did this book make me laugh, or forget the time? And how can I use these techniques in my work?

Listen. There are stories all around us. When our parents or other family talk about the good old days? Listen closely—there are incredible story ideas tucked inside. When we hear bits of conversation waiting in line at the grocery store or sitting in a restaurant, let it spark our imaginations. Most importantly, listen for the heart-cries of our world. Are there needs God wants us to meet through an encouraging article or devotional? How can our words minister to someone today? Listen for God’s direction in each sentence composed.

Daydream. Writers must be dreamers. Go a little crazy and lose the cellphone, turn off the television and computer, and simply be still. Something magical happens when we allow ourselves time to think and dream. Our imaginations take wing as we step away from everyday chaos and lift our hearts to the Author of creativity.

To be good stewards of our gifts, we must be intentional about growing in our craft.

Are we ready? Fire the laptop.

Prime the pen.

Keep writing!

How do you avoid stagnation in your writing? How do you keep the joy?

[bctt tweet=”We must be intentional about growing in our craft. @A3forMe @LThomasWrites #write #amwriting” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=”Our imaginations take wing as we lift our hearts to the Author of creativity. @A3forMe @LThomasWrites #write #create” via=”no”]

Tags 3 Simple Ways to Grow as a Writer, Create Motivate Inspire, Daydream, Grow in the writing craft, Growing as a Writer, Leigh Ann Thomas, listen, Read

The Writer's PenCase

Creating Extraordinary Characters –– Part III

Post author By Donna L.H. Smith-Managing Editor
Post date June 22, 2017
No Comments on Creating Extraordinary Characters –– Part III

Characters with personality make your readers identify and care about them. There are several ways to determine what your character will be like. Are they introvert or extrovert? Dominant or stable? Sanguine or Phlegmatic? [bctt tweet=”Myers-Briggs, DISC, and Personality Plus are tools writers can use to create characters.” username=”@A3forme @donnalhsmith”] #amwriting #characters

Tags character development, character traits, Characterization, Creating Extraordinary Characters

Child's Craft

Tips for Getting Published

Post author By Jill Roman Lord - A Child's Craft
Post date June 20, 2017
1 Comment on Tips for Getting Published

I’ve been asked multiple times by others hoping to get published what tips I had for getting published. Here they are:

Get it written. Got an idea for a story? Write it! I know a guy who has told me multiple times that he’s got a great story to write but he was still researching how to write it. He bought several books on writing that he wanted to read first. That’s great, but he doesn’t have a story if he doesn’t write it. Write it first, then let the other half of the brain edit it, rewrite it and improve it. Read books but get your idea on paper.
Have it critiqued. Ask others to read it and offer their opinion. And these others should be people besides your mother and your spouse. You may ask English majors or pastors to offer their opinions but I suggest getting involved in a critique group. Look for Word Weaver groups in your area. You can check if there is one on http://www.word-weavers.com/. This site will also lead you in finding an online critique group if you prefer. Or if you know other writers, begin a critique group in your area. Vow to be honest but encouraging in your critiquing as you want to help make each other’s work more publishable without slamming the manuscripts and dashing hopes.
Attend a writers’ conference. There are many Christian Writers Conferences around the country. I found this list online offered by Westbowpress: http://www.westbowpress.com/authorhub/resources/events/default.aspx. If you write nonfiction, fiction, children’s books, devotions, Bible studies, etc., there are conferences and classes available. At these events, editors from publishing houses, agents looking for new clients, and authors who have lots of experience are there teaching classes on how to get published, how to hone your writing skills, how to write better, how to write proposals that sell, how to format your manuscript. Anything you need to know can be learned at these conferences. Not only do you gain a wealth of knowledge you meet these editors and agents who may be interested in your work. You meet other writers going through the same heartaches, jubilation, and confusion as you. It’s networking at its best. Attending a conference is a must for anyone hoping to get published.
Get your work in the proper format. Children’s proposals are different from nonfiction proposals which are different from fiction proposals. Apply what you’ve learned at the conference to get your manuscript and proposal with the correct font, margins, and layout. You want it to look like you know what you’re doing (even if you don’t). Try to make it look professional. Read other posts in this Almostanauthor website to learn the best ways to format your projects.
Get your hands on a Writers Market Guide appropriate for your genre. A Christian Market Guide (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3VEC7Q/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1) includes all Christian publishers. There are Children’s Market Guides as well as others. Find one. Pick out publishers or agents that accept your genre and send them what is accepted according to the guide.
Cover it in prayer and submit! This is where people get shy. Manuscripts don’t get published if they never leave your hands. You’ve worked hard, you’ve perfected your baby as best as you can, you’ve re-written it to perfection! Now send it out.
Be patient. Responses don’t generally come quickly from publishing houses. Keep in mind they may be receiving hundreds of proposals each day from others, just like you, hoping to get contracts. Give it time. Don’t pester the publishing houses for responses. If they like your manuscript it will take longer to receive a response. Be patient. All good things are worth waiting for.
Celebrate and give God the glory when you get your contract! Best wishes my friend and share your successes with us below! We can’t wait to hear!

Tags contracts, how to get published, publishing, writing for children, writing for publication

Talking Character

Dos and Don’ts for Describing Characters

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date June 19, 2017
4 Comments on Dos and Don’ts for Describing Characters

A writer must find the perfect balance when describing characters, especially when introducing them to a reader for the first time. The reader needs enough information to grasp who the character is, but too much information and the reader will likely skip to the next paragraph.

Or worse.

We writers know a lot about our characters. We’ve spent days crafting their descriptions, personalities and back stories. But when it comes to the descriptions we include in our stories, we must remember that we know much more than the reader needs (or wants) to know.

Here are a few tips to help you create awesome character descriptions

DON’T simply give a detailed description of the character’s physical appearance. This police sketch approach lacks emotion and does little to explain who the character is.

DO paint a picture that evokes emotion. Show who the character is rather than tell what they look like. Use dialogue or action to give the reader insight into their personalities.

DON’T introduce the character for the first time in a bland, forgettable way.

DO introduce a character by mentioning the most significant traits, and do so in as memorable a manner as possible.

DON’T include a catalog of irrelevant details. The reader will assume every detail you supply is important. If you mention the character is left-handed, the reader is going to expect left-handedness to be significant somewhere down the road. If it’s not going to be mentioned again, skip that detail.

DO choose only the most telling details, the ones that give is important insight into the character’s personality and attitudes, or that will become significant to the plot. If

DON’T create several characters who are so similar the reader gets them confused. (Unless that is a key ploy for your particular story, in which case the POV character should probably have problems keeping them straight, too.)

DO give characters a unique, easily described characteristic that helps the reader keep track of who’s who.

DON’T tell the reader details about a person that the POV character doesn’t know. Such author intrusions may have been common once upon a time, but they now feel forced or preachy.

DO describe a person through the lens of the POV character. The main character may have a very biased and inaccurate view of other characters, but that is OK. By flavoring each description with the main character’s thoughts and attitudes, you not only introduce other characters but also show us something new about the POV character.

DON’T allow all characters to describe a person in exactly the same way. Each POV character is likely to notice—and ignore—different aspects of a person’s appearance, behavior and personality.

DO show different sides of a character’s personality by allowing each POV character to display a unique attitude. One student’s favorite teacher is another student’s least favorite. By showing the teacher from both sides, the reader gets a more complex and authentic picture.

Most of all, DO have fun creating and describing your characters!

And DON’T give up. The world needs to hear the story only you can tell.

Tags character traits, Characterization, characters, descriptive writing, desctiption, POV

Copywrite/Advertising

Why I’m Jealous of Carlton Hughes And 5 Things Copywriters Can Learn from Him

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date June 18, 2017
12 Comments on Why I’m Jealous of Carlton Hughes And 5 Things Copywriters Can Learn from Him

The Internet is swooning over Carlton Hughes.

As of this writing, Carlton’s last comedy writing article here on Almost An Author has three times (3x!) the number of views my May article on copywriting has. And the comments? I had a single polite note from the associate editor. Carlton, on the other hand, got a ton of women writers chiming in on his comment thread.

If I were twelve years old and there were no parents around, I’d moon him for that. And then I’d run. Fast. Nah, I wouldn’t do that. Carlton would slither home and tell his mom. Then, we’d all be in trouble—me for doing it and you for “letting it happen.”

Sad fact, guys: comedy is going to outperform information every time. Do you want to make them buy? Make them laugh.

Here are 5 lessons copywriters can learn from comedy writers:

Start with the “I/You.”

What’s the first word of Carlton’s opening line? It’s “I.” And the last word? It’s “someone” (implying you). Writing for content marketing is a two-way conversation between the business and the reader. Use the actual words “I” and “you” over and over again in your drafts until you master the art of conversational writing with a purpose.

By the way, make sure the “I” isn’t you. Does the business owner sound hip and smart? Your prose needs to sound hip and smart. Does the CEO sound down-home and folksy? Your copy needs to reflect that. Write in the voice of your client, not your own voice.

Be vulnerable.
We live in the age of vulnerability. We trade in information, and we have few secrets. By sentence four, Carlton has hinted that a glimpse of his personal woundedness is coming. Great comedians use their own woundedness as the currency that buys laughter. Businesses can trade with that currency, too.

When one of my clients had a banner weekend, they wanted me to create an article that didn’t gloat about their success. Instead, I wrote about the company’s concern that rapid sales growth might not be good news for their clients. In the article, we asked tough questions and answered them through an outside interview. We didn’t say we were the best, biggest, and baddest software company in the history of the world. Rather, we let our customers know we’re on their team no matter what.

Look at the layout.

How long are Carlton’s paragraphs? One or two sentences, right? It makes the article easy to scan, doesn’t it? You’re tired of hearing me ask rhetorical questions, aren’t you? Comedy writers do short and catchy well. Copywriters can, too.

Also, see how Carlton bolds and italicizes his words. While this trick can be overdone, pulling out the best lines with bold fonts, italics, or designs can be a great idea. (Badly done, it can also be a ghastly idea so have a professional designer take a peek at it for you.)

Be funny.

For some reason, we think of advertising, sales, or information about business as dry and boring. But nearly anything can be funny if you make it so. I used to teach middle school so let me insert this warning: Some things are not funny! Avoid those things.

I have a client who retails business-related software and hardware to mid-size companies. Let’s just say writing for this client is not an exercise in jocularity. For an article entitled The Benefits of Vendor Consolidation, though, their notes listed one benefit as “one number to dial, one leadership team to negotiate with, and one neck to wring.” I left the “one neck to wring” phrase in, and they published it. It helped humanize them a little.

Use contrasts to your advantage.
Carlton wrote, “Bunn completed his speech, and I assume he returned to his room to write another bestseller. On the other hand, I trudged across campus through a monsoon to my lovingly-appointed Ridgecrest room and got real with God.”

See what he did there?

Returned versus trudged through a monsoon

His room versus my lovingly-appointed Ridgecrest room

Write another bestseller versus got real with God

That’s genius.

Harness the power of the contrast. Are you writing for a non-profit that helps homeless people? Contrast the life of a homeless person today with that same person’s life after your reader makes a gift. Are you writing about pricey cat litter boxes? Contrast the life of your reader’s cat today with the life it will have once the reader has purchased the box.

All great comedy, like all great copywriting, is emotionally impactful storytelling designed to provoke a response.

Carlton, your comedy writing article got a response. Readers loved it. Women sighed over it in the comment thread. Copywriters took notes on it.

You want my response? Head outside and look up. See that big, white moon in the sky? Imagine I hung that there just for you. That’s my response.

Readers, if you’d like to share your thoughts on how great comedy writing and great copywriting are alike – or if you’d just like to rag on Carlton a little more – the comment thread is open.

I have to go inside now, and I probably won’t be back out for a while. Carlton called his mom and told on us.

About Holland:

I love telling the stories that people put down so they go take action. I’m an advertising copywriter by day, an aspiring novelist by night, a parent, a dog-lover, a prison volunteer and a follower of Jesus.

Grammar and Grace

What are Pronouns?

Post author By Hope Toler Dougherty-Grammar and Grace
Post date June 17, 2017
No Comments on What are Pronouns?

A pronoun is a word that can take the place of a noun in a sentence which means pronouns can work as subjects, objects, and complements. Pronouns come in different forms and are used for different purposes.

Pronouns can be personal, indefinite, reflexive and intensive, demonstrative, relative, possessive, and interrogative. For this post, we’ll focus on personal pronouns.

Compared to nouns that can be descriptive on their own and especially with an added adjective, pronouns might seem bland. Without them, however, sentences would be boring, awkward, and maybe a tad silly. Take a look at the following sentences.

With pronouns: Anna designed the pattern, cut it out, fitted it to her mom, and sewed it.

Without pronouns: Anna designed the pattern, cut out the pattern, fitted the pattern to Anna’s mom, and sewed the pattern.

Personal pronouns refer to one or more people and are classified according to case: subjective, objective, or possessive.

Subjective Case                     Objective Case                       Possessive Case
I                       We Me                   Us My, Mine                    Ours
You                 You You                 You Your, Yours                Your, Yours
He, She, It They Him, Her, It Them His, Her, Hers, Its Their, Theirs

*Remember that subjective case pronouns are used as subjects or subject complements. Objective case pronouns are used as indirect objects, direct objects, and objects of prepositions. (They can also be subjects or objects of infinitives, but that’s a subject for a future post.)

*Remember to make certain that pronouns refer clearly to their antecedents, the word they’re replacing. Keep them as close as possible to the antecedent.

*Remember to make pronouns agree in number with the antecedents.

Check out this earlier post for more information about pronoun usage and agreement http://www.almostanauthor.com/choose-correct-pronoun/.

Do you have questions about pronouns?

Happy writing!

Tags Almost an Author, Grammar, grammar and grace, Hope Toler Dougherty, Pronouns, writing, Writing tips

Guest post archive

The Importance of Outlining: Andrew Zabriskie

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date June 16, 2017
1 Comment on The Importance of Outlining: Andrew Zabriskie

I wrote my first fiction novel in four months during 2009 because I believed I could write a novel. Perhaps a bit arrogant and presumptuous, but I believed God had blessed me the talent of writing, and I felt convicted to utilize that talent for telling stories.

The first draft wasn’t horrible, but it was obvious right away that it was far from complete. I added, I took away, I put back, I removed again, I started over. Four times. With the help of some very patient peer editors, I continued to flesh out the plot, characters, and settings. Outline? Nah; who’s got the time? I’m tryin’ to write here! Besides, I’ve already got the meat of it. Just gotta tweak it a bit, y’know?

Yeah, well that went on for five excruciatingly long years, each laden with a plethora of doubt, discouragement, frustration, and fear. I pushed through and self-published anyway. Shortly after that, I submitted a revision (for $100) upon realizing that I wanted to do something in my sequel that the first book wouldn’t allow logistically. Finally, I was – oh, wait; I need to make another revision critical to plot continuity for the entire series. To say this was getting tedious would be a vast understatement. My incredibly supportive wife wasn’t thrilled about the ongoing financial hemorrhaging either.

So I humbled out and made the decision to outline my second novel before writing one word. Believe me, this was difficult, because I was excited and eager to race out of the gate once again. After all, I’d learned so much from the first experience; surely I’d do better this time around! But I reigned in my creative horses and began to outline.

What a difference.

Writing is like building a house (yay metaphors!). The premise of your story is your foundation, but the outline is your framework. Without it you can’t clearly define the size, shape, and position of each room (scenes). It provides structure and support for the weight of the rest of the house (plot). It creates the necessary spaces for all the plumbing, electrical and air (action). And of course, it holds the roof up (climax).

Again, this is just the framework. At this stage you don’t worry about things like the drywall, light fixtures, appliances, or even furniture (personalities, motivations, backstory). The outline can be vague, but it needs to have a sense of sturdiness. Not completely rigid, mind you. You may find yourself altering it, but that’s ok – while the outline exists to support story development, the actual development of the story provides service back to the outline, either to validate it or expose its weaknesses. But even if it’s the latter, it’s now a minor correction instead of a complete overhaul. It’s much easier to knock out a few two-by-fours than to remove a load-bearing wall.

With a clear outline and some much-needed confidence, I wrote my sequel in a little over a year. After peer editing, I made a few scene revisions and polished some dialogue, but it was finished, and complete as-is. Looking back, I was surprised to realize how natural outlining felt. If you think about it, we do it when we take trips, go grocery shopping, get our kids ready for an upcoming school year, or cook dinner. Plan and organize. It’s truly not that difficult.

But how long should outlining take? What should my outline look like?

The answer to both questions is this: there is no exact formula. It’s not a matter or right or wrong, it’s about what works for you. Remember, we’re artists! We’re creative and subjective!

“Thanks Andrew, that helps a lot,” you may say sarcastically. Ok, fine. Allow me to offer a bit more.

Regarding the duration of the outlining process, you need to devote significant time to this in the beginning, but don’t camp out here.

“Still not helping.”

What I mean is this: have sober judgement of yourself. Don’t be impatient and rush through this stage for the sake of checking a box and saying, “Yup, I got me an outline!” I get it. You’re drooling to bring your characters to life. You can’t wait for them to [input your amazing premise here], but without a road map, their Ferrari will never make it to the destination. They’ll run out of gas and/or get lost, and they’ll blame YOU, because you wrote them into the middle of that mess.

On the other hand, don’t allow the outlining process to be an excuse that keeps you from moving forward. In other words, don’t let indecision and insecurity about your writing turn your outline into a hiding place. You don’t polish an outline. Face your fears and write! Again, it’s art, so it’s not wrong or bad. Let it guide you.

Regarding the content of your outline, make it something easy to understand and refer back to constantly.

Maybe you’re a sticky-notes-everywhere kinda person. Fine; organize them visually so you can see the structure and timeline of your story. Storyboards? Go for it. Traditional document-style outlining with bullet points? Hey, if that’s your thing, run with it. I swear by Microsoft excel (for pretty much everything, but I’m really ocd), and I’ll be sharing about that later. While you can get input on every aspect of your writing, your outline really only needs to make sense to you. But if you’ve never done one before, experiment with several methods until you find one that’s comfortable.

Don’t worry about what someone else’s outline looks like. This isn’t a contest. As long as you have a basic idea of the beginning, middle, and end of your story, I’d say you have an outline. You can build from there. Just about anything can work. Remember Mad-Libs? Take a closer look; it’s an outline.

Outlining saved me time, money, and all of the negative feelings expressed above in the third paragraph. I’m convinced it’s essential to the success of any literary project, regardless the genre. I hope you find my thoughts to be helpful and encouraging. No matter what, don’t give up.

Andrew Zabriskie is a lifelong avid fan of high fantasy and science fiction. He lives in Charleston, SC with his phenomenal wife, two cuddly cats, and a very old and quite cantankerous horned frog with a penchant for world domination. He has a passion for weaving the truths of the gospel into his storytelling. Andrew is the author of The Brotherhood of the Blade series, available as eBooks on Amazon. Follow Andrew on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/andrew.zabriskie.author

Tags outline, write

Tour

Blog Tour-Joshua J. Masters

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date June 15, 2017
2 Comments on Blog Tour-Joshua J. Masters

Joshua J. Masters is a pastor, author (American Psalms), Christian speaker and artist. He currently serves as an Associate Care Pastor in South Carolina. As a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Josh is also comfortable working both in front of and behind the camera. Joshua lives with his wife, Gina and their dog, Franklin.

Welcome Joshua, please tell us about your most Recent Book:

My most recent book is American Psalms: Prayer for the Christian Patriot. I was really moved by the scriptures reminding us to pray for our leaders and that God has a purpose in every leader he places in authority—even when we don’t agree with them. The result was a book of worship-based prayers for our nation with teaching components to help the reader learn how to pray for the country without political bias. There are 52 weekly prayers, additional psalms for special days of prayer like holidays, and worksheets to help the reader focus their prayers. Through writing American Psalms, God changed the way I look at prayer, our country and our leaders.

Why do you write what you do?

Writing is one of the ways I connect with God. Eric Liddell, the Olympian depicted in Chariots of Fire, once said, “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” I’ve never been much of an athlete—actually, I wince if someone throws something toward me, but I’ve always identified with that quote because it’s how I feel when I write. God changes me, and often explains things to me as I write. So when asked, “Why do you write what you write?” It’s usually because God is trying to tell me something. That’s why I primarily write Christian non-fiction, but even my occasional adventures into fiction are about something God is trying to teach me.

What are you currently working on?

I’m actually working on a book focused on the life of our dog, Franklin. He was rescued from a puppy mill and faced a great deal of adversity before coming to us. The trauma he faced as a puppy left him with a lot of struggles to overcome. In the book, the events of Franklin’s life serve as lessons about our own faith. Each chapter ends with a Bible reading and questions for spiritual growth that you can gnaw on with the rest of your pack. Franklin recently started his own Twitter account and gives frequent updates on the book: @FranklinThePup. I also have an ongoing blog at www.joshuajmasters.com

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

My prayer is for my writing to be relatable and challenging at the same time. The simple story of a rescue pup need not be limited to simple themes. I want my writing to be enjoyable, even fun but still lead the reader into a deeper relationship with Christ. My goal is to share what some consider difficult Biblical truths in a way that is encouraging. I want to build a relationship with the reader that makes it safe to explore the parts of their faith where God wants them to grow.

How does your writing process work?

I have a tendency to write things that can be broken down into sections—works within the greater work. In American Psalms, each prayer can stand alone, but they’re woven together to intentionally create a larger theme. The same is true with Franklin’s book. Each chapter is a unique lesson of faith, but the story is continuous and connected.

Because of that, I tend to work on each section as an individual work. I’m always thinking of the larger story, but I focus on what each individual piece is teaching. As for the process itself, it starts in my head. I will go round and round with a section in my head long before I put anything on paper. I usually get 2-3 key sentences that I jot down (often the last sentence) and build the piece around that.

Once I’ve written a section, I will leave it alone for a few days and go back to it with fresh eyes. That’s usually where I more specifically tailor the piece to work with the other sections of the book. To be honest, I’m always a little surprised how God orchestrates it all to fit together.

Contact:

Email: josh@joshuajmasters.com

Website: www.joshuajmasters.com

Twitter: @joshuajmasters, @TheBatPastor, and @FranklinThePup

Tags American Psalms, Joshua masters, movie, prayer, writing

Magazine and Freelance

Jobs in your “Inbox” and more

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date June 12, 2017
4 Comments on Jobs in your “Inbox” and more

Magazine writing jobs sent straight to your inbox? Yes, it is true. I get them every morning. So how can you get them?

We know that surfing the internet can wipe us out. With millions of articles, and people contributing to this sea of information, how do we fish out what we need? As I began my search, I was overwhelmed by all the sites on freelance writing; I felt like I was drowning. I made the pond smaller by narrowing my search to, “list of freelance writing jobs.” To save you time, I hooked a few valuable sites, along with other resources, that could land you writing jobs.

Websites

There are many websites that you can subscribe to that will send writing opportunities directly to your email. Some sites charge a small fee to apply for the job or use the site. Most are free. Here is a very short list to get you started.

Freelancewriting.com– I subscribe to their Morning Coffee enewsletter. It is a great resource for writing jobs. Brian Scott has done all the work for us. His morning newsletter has sections for contests, writing gigs, and a Call for Submission section. From time to time he sends out an email with time- sensitive requests. He lists magazines needing a last- minute article. This e mail comes to you every morning.

Freelancewritinggigs.com– A great place to find writing jobs. Check out the “Resources for Writers” tab while you are there.

Outsoure.com- This website allows you to bid on freelance jobs. The variety of jobs is amazing. Everything from blogs, magazine articles and medical magazines.

Freelancer.com- This is a free monthly trial website. Ultimately you will pay to submit for jobs.

Remember, this is a very short list. For more information you can brave the waters and do your own internet search for writing jobs. Don’t forget to subscribe to each sites job list. Writing jobs can also be found in your local newspaper, online Job sites (i.e. Indeed, Monster, etc.) and also craigslist will post freelancing jobs.

Books- Although these books do not send information directly to your inbox, you can find a list of magazines along with the submission requirements.

2015 Writer’s Market: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published- This book is a wealth of information for every writer. There is a section just for magazines.

The Christian Writers Market Guide– Similar to the Writers Market Guide, this book is specific for the Christian writing community. You can only order on line at www.jerryjenkins.com/guide

YOU

Let others know that you write. You are your best resource. You have an intimate knowledge of the subject. I attended a local social media class, stated I was a writer and was approached by two people to write for their publication.

No matter where you are in your writing career there will always be more to learn. The number of websites and people looking for writers like you increases daily. Keep learning and growing. Please share your successes and bumps in the road. We are all here to learn from each other.

My next article will describe the Query letter and its importance. Your Query letter sells you and your article idea. Please pass the word to your friends. A3 is the place to be.

Tags blogging, creativity, ideas, write jobs, writing, Writing Inspiration, Writing Instruction

Magazine and Freelance

DON’T PANIC. INTERVIEW By: Terry Whalin

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date June 12, 2017
1 Comment on DON’T PANIC. INTERVIEW By: Terry Whalin

For most magazine articles, I need information beyond what I have myself. To gather this information, I will often interview someone. For more than thirty years, I’ve been interviewing different people. Some of them are well-known celebrities and bestselling authors. Some of them are unknown people. No matter who I’m interviewing, I get a touch of panic right before the interview happens. Maybe it’s the same sort of adrenaline rush that I’ve read about in figure skating. I’m hesitant to admit it but it still happens. Whether well-known or unknown, each of these people have graciously answered my questions and provided the story material that I’ve needed for my magazine articles.

Whether you interview on the telephone or in person, it’s an excellent skill for every writer to add to their skill set and highly recommended. For beginning writers, I recommend you begin with someone familiar—such as a family member or a friend. Prepare a list of questions, establish a time to interview them and turn on your tape recorder. I recommend taping the interview so you can capture the quotations and don’t always have to be tied to writing notes. I’ve never been able to write fast enough (even learning shorthand in high school—and haven’t used it since) to capture someone talking at a regular pace. It slows down the interview process to continually pause and for the person to wait as you complete your notes. I record mostly to make sure I get my quotations right.

If you are recording on the telephone, I recommend you use the Radio Shack “Smart” Phone Recorder Control. For legal reasons, you need to tell the other person that you are recording and secure their permission on the tape (the rules are different in every state but to make sure it’s the best procedure). This device makes recording easy because it’s directly connected from your telephone line into any tape recorder. Telephone interviews are some of the most difficult—because you can’t see the other person for the visuals to add to the article. Also it’s a situation much more out of your control. For example, the other person can have an interruption, such as another phone call, and suddenly end your conversation—and sometimes you are stuck not getting your required information.

Whether on the phone or in person, make sure you prepare with a list of questions and a plan. It’s not a firm plan because other questions will develop during the interview. Like many of the skills that I’m highlighting in this series, interviewing is something to practice repeatedly and you will improve your techniques.

Over the years, I’ve been amazed at the people who forget about my tape recorder and will say to me, “I’ve never told this to anyone but…” Often this story material becomes some of the best in my articles.

During the interview, I always make sure to find out how to return to the person for possible follow-up questions or to give them a copy of the article. If you don’t, you will be shocked how you think of one important question as you write the article or you hang up the phone—and can’t get back to the person. In general, the high profile the person, it’s more typical for them to call you—and not reveal their phone number—often for control purposes. Asking how to return to them is a critical question that everyone needs to include in their interview.

During my interviews, I’ve learned way more information that I include in my actual magazine articles and I recommend interviewing as a skill which every writer needs to develop and include in their skill set.

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 celebrities, interview, magazine

Truth Be Told

Lesson Learned: Time Value

Post author By Tina Hunt - Truth Be Told
Post date June 12, 2017
No Comments on Lesson Learned: Time Value

(I wrote this reflection several years ago. I smiled when I rediscovered it. I feel like the Apostle Paul when he wrote to the Philippian church about contentment: he saw it as a lesson he was still learning–and I’m still learning this one.)

I ran into the grocery to grab two items: Chinese noodles and upholstery cleaner. I didn’t find the cleaner I wanted so I grabbed the noodles I needed and headed to the check out. There was, of course, only one lane open, but I wasn’t worried, especially since there was only one person ahead of me already in the process of checking out. As I took my place in line the woman checking out apologized to me since she had more items and I, with only one, had to wait.
I looked up at her and smiled. Then I said something to the effect that it was okay to wait. Truth be told: I look forward to the moments which force me to slow down and breathe. Quiet-slow-me-down moments are a blessing not a problem.

Now, to be very honest, I have no idea where that came from. Not long ago I wouldn’t have been able to say anything like that. Life is different now. I contemplated this during lunch recently as I sat on the porch amid flowers, humming bees, and singing birds. I was overcome with a sense of the rhythm of the way life is supposed to be. I looked across the table and was thankful for the 87 year old woman I had the privilege of sharing lunch with. Lunches used to be practically swallowed whole while driving down the road to my next appointment. I neither enjoyed the food nor appreciated the beauty that flew by my window.

I understand now time is far too precious to waste fretting about where I’m to be next. It’s too fragile to stuff to the point of breaking. It’s too fleeting to miss the wonder of being present for the discovery of a child, whether they be a grandchild or the child in you.

My mind had moved on to dinner and a meeting I need to schedule. I had moved on from what I mindlessly said to the shopper ahead of me in line. She turn to me as she moved her cart away from the checkout, and thanked me for my wise advice. She told me she was headed to a meeting with other young moms and that she would be sharing what she heard in our brief encounter. I finished my errands and came home.

Driving home, I decided I needed to put these thoughts on paper. Before I did, I checked a friend’s online diary and found her quote du jour:

“There is no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day.”
— Alexander Woollcott

And, there are no unimportant moments, either.

Tags grocery line, patience, truth be told

Tour

Blog Tour-Dana Romanin

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date June 11, 2017
2 Comments on Blog Tour-Dana Romanin

Please tell us about your most Recent Book

Abby’s Letters is about a seventeen-year-old girl who fakes her mom’s life in order to protect her little sister from foster care.

Here’s the back cover copy of my book, Abby’s Letters:

For years, Jane’s mom told her horror stories about her time spent in foster care. Now she’s determined to keep her little sister from suffering the same fate.

Seventeen-year-old Jane Sanders has had to take care of her alcoholic mother and little sister, Abby, since her dad died seven years ago. And now Mom had to go and die too. Authorities determine it was a homeless transient who died in the fire of the old manufacturing plant, but Jane knows the truth.

There is no way she’s going to let Abby go into foster care which leaves her with one option—fake her mom’s life. As far as Abby knows, their mom is in rehab. And Jane wants to keep it that way. She’d be eighteen in a few months then she could become legal guardian to her sister. With the help of her best friend, Clark, it should be easy, right?

Juggling nosy neighbors, a concerned school counselor, and an oblivious new boyfriend turns out to be harder than Jane thought. But the real problem begins when Abby starts writing letters to Mom. Through Abby’s letters, Jane sees a different side to their mom—a side she could have loved. And loving Mom is something she didn’t plan on. Because loving somebody makes it harder to ignore their death.

Why do you write what you do?

I write to shine a light into the muck of the world. I gear my books toward young and new adults because I’ve worked with teens for over fifteen years as a youth group leader and/ or Sunday school teacher. And I see a real need for books that uplift, encourage, and inspire. I also write to entertain—to elicit giggles and tears.

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on the sequel to Abby’s Letters. It follows the lives of different characters that you meet in Abby’s Letters and gives a little update on Jane and Abby’s life.

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

I’m still a kid at heart. I love reading young adult books, but nowadays it’s hard to find one without explicit language or scenes. Seriously. It’s a gamble to just randomly check out a YA book in the library nowadays. Trust me. So I strive to write books that entertain without being well…demoralizing.

How does your writing process work?

I usually start out knowing only the beginning and end of a book. The middle is a little fuzzy. I focus my planning on character development. I take each character, big and small, and interview them. I ask them questions and drill deeper and deeper until something significant about their character is revealed. This process may look strange to an outsider. I sit down in a comfortable chair with a notebook and pen, then I ask a question, the character responds in my head (not audibly, I’m not that crazy), and I write down their responses. After I’m done, I read over my messy notes and highlight the significant responses. Not only do these interviews give my character’s depth, but I discover things about them that affect the plot of the book. Sometimes I even discover a character so demanding that she requires a book of her own. Hence the sequel to Abby’s Letters.

Dana Romanin has dreamed of being a writer since she was a little girl pretending to be Anne Shirley (from Anne of Green Gables). She used to write under a forsythia bush, but now she writes in a messy office that she shares with her sewing obsessed daughter.

Dana’s short story, The Silence of Sand, was chosen for adaptation into a short film performed by the Blue Man Group. Dana has also published short fiction for teens in Encounter—The Magazine and had a short story published in a Family Fiction anthology, The Story 2014. Her first novel, Abby’s Letters, releases in June 2017.

She lives in a small town near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia with her wonderful husband, three beautiful kids, and a lot of persnickety pets.

You can find her blog and awkward videos on her website www.DanaRomanin.com. She can also be found on Twitter (@DanaRomanin) and her Facebook fan page (DanaRomaninAuthor).

Guest post archive

Three Hard Lessons I Learned Writing Nonfiction-David Brannock

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date June 10, 2017
1 Comment on Three Hard Lessons I Learned Writing Nonfiction-David Brannock

Which is easier: fiction or nonfiction? It depends … on who you ask and when you ask them.

Today I’m learning about characters, dialogue, and plot to create my first screenplay. But five years ago, fiction appealed to me as much as a creepy clown beckoning me into the woods. The “what if?” possibilities stretched before me like the toothpaste aisle at Walmart. #Overwhelmed

In 2012 I left the pastoral ministry to write a nonfiction book. Sermons, reports, and newsletters trained me to communicate about real things, factual events. Last spring on CreateSpace, I released Choose: Fulfill Your Created Purpose for high school graduates.

Over the past five years, I’ve learned three hard lessons writing nonfiction.

Some nonfiction should be shared NOW.

“Now” means after the work has been appropriately revised, critiqued, and/or edited.

What if I get rejected? Welcome to the club. But the only way our words can change lives is to risk sending them into the world. If you need a nudge to submit your work, have you heard encouragement like this?

“You can’t hit a home run from the dugout.”
“You can’t grow a garden with unplanted seeds.”
“You can’t walk on water if you don’t get out of the boat.”

They don’t pay if my work is accepted. Income is nice, but to learn the craft and establish myself as a serious writer, I had to accept a number of free opportunities for publication. This journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Three popular options:

Blogs (your own site and guest posts for other blogs)
Compilations (such as Bible studies or Christmas stories)
Devotions (such as Christian Devotions Ministries)

Some nonfiction should be shared NOT YET.

“Not yet” implies a season of discernment before a decision later.

If we birth our manuscript prematurely, we can count on low sales and bad reviews. Editors are our friends. They’ll help us develop our “baby” until it’s ready for delivery.

Which could take a while. At my first writers’ conference in 2013, the first several pages of my 65,000 word draft on clergy burnout was critiqued. The raw candor began:

At 12:01 p.m. on June 20, 2012, I walked out on the bride of Christ. I still loved Jesus with everything I had. But I was through taking care of his demanding bride. I was tired of her turning me and others off with her unattractive behavior. I was done. No more trying to meet the endless needs of his self-centered church.

The feedback? “It felt like the opening of Saving Private Ryan. Keep writing through the pain. But don’t publish until you move beyond the pain, so you can temper your hurt with hope for the reader.”

Continue healing until you can discuss awful experiences with objectivity. Readers don’t want to wallow in our trauma. They seek solutions and redemption for their pain. When we can offer a way forward, readers will embrace the help.

Today, much of my rant on clergy burnout remains where it belongs: in a file. I may or may not stare it in the face again someday. Yet I did use parts of that draft in Choose. Those areas were ready to help my target audience.

Some nonfiction should be shared NEVER.

“Never” involves topics best treated as free therapy – thus kept confidential – since words can’t be erased once they’re online or in print.

Are the people who hurt us still alive? The long-term cost may not justify the short-term satisfaction of paying back a harmful character. Unlike a novelist, we can’t disguise the real-life model for our villain by changing their name, gender, and occupation.

If strong emotions bubble up while we write, use the keyboard to release the molten lava. Don’t hold back. Let it rip! Rain fire and brimstone on that stinky dog who treated us like a fire hydrant. Justice feels wonderful! Then, take a deep breath … exhale slowly … and press DELETE.

Three of the hardest lessons I learned about writing nonfiction reflect the importance of timing: (1) Now. (2) Not yet. (3) Never. May we choose wisely.

David Brannock is a clear writer and speaker who loves using analogies and teaching new perspectives. He previously worked as a CPA, instructor, and pastor. David’s current projects involve writing drama for stage and screen. Visit him at DavidBrannock.com.

Tags blog, clown, compilation, devotions, fiction

Fantasy-Sci-Fi Specs: Speculative Fiction Storyworld

Love and Marriage and Storyworlds

Post author By A.D. Shrum - Storyworld Columnist
Post date June 9, 2017
No Comments on Love and Marriage and Storyworlds

So, I’m going to be talking about sex today. Again. My last article on the subject had more to do with the biological aspects, but today we’re going to examine the societal impacts. Specifically, how do the fantastic characters in your book find mates? Produce children? Care for their young? Is there sexual deviancy or abuse? As humans living on earth we might think aliens live just like us, but that may not be the case. And as I’ll point out, even two different cultures on earth may view marriage completely differently.

Finding Somebody to Love

The typical, idealistic romance is as follows: boy and girl meet. One falls in love with the other and has to pursue him/her until the two live happily (sappily?) ever after. Throw in some tension, unexpected drama, maybe a trendy setting, and voila – romance, Western culture style.

But that isn’t how every culture operates. A year out of college I had a roommate from India. And while he’d adapted to many Western norms, his marriage plan was still rooted in tradition. Yes, an arranged marriage, but with a modern twist. Instead of his future matrimony being determined at a young age (Yenta style, for you Fiddler on the Roof fans), an online list was employed. The parents of both singles sorted through the matches and determined eligibility for their respective children. Young men were chosen according to their health, as well as the stability of their careers and maybe a handful of shared interests. Women were picked for their good looks, intelligence, and (of course) culinary ability. Some of you feminists may scoff at that, but I dare you to scoff at good home-cooked Indian food.

In both Western and Indian romance, the interested parties must make a case for their eligibility. They both want marriage and sex, but must prove themselves acceptable in some way. This is because sex is a powerful motivating force, and the most successful cultures know how to harness it to create productive societies. Contrast it with a theoretical civilization where sex is readily available on pocket devices. What might you have? A bunch of unmotivated men living in isolation, and a bunch of lonely women trying to get their attention while continually lowering their standards. Sigh. I think we all wish that was theoretical.

Anyway, if you’re crafting a fantastic story world, you’ll have to consider the manner in which your characters find mates. Is it up to the individual or is there a third party? And the third party doesn’t have to be parental oversight. It could be a dystopian government trying to breed a better society, or a traditional monarchy marrying children off to forge alliances.

First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage …

Once the inhabitants of your world have found their mates, they may have children. And even if they don’t, your characters came from somewhere, so you’ll need to figure out how they were born. Or hatched. Or manufactured. Or whatever. A lot of the fertilization and birthing methods I’ve already covered in my previous article, but the manner in which these influence your world must be considered from a child-rearing perspective.

For example, if you have a species that generally produces a very small number of children, the parents are going to be more involved in raising those little ones. Contrast that with a species that produces dozens of children every few years. There simply can’t be the same level of nurturing. In this latter case, the young of the species will also need to have a lot more autonomy and capability as soon as they’re born.

The value a culture places on one life will also depend on the number of children typically produced. If your one son gets eaten by a local predator, it’s awful. If you have thirty sons though, it’s still awful, but not as devastating.

I can think of no better example of reproduction being an intrinsic part of culture and world-building than in Bioware’s original Mass Effect game. From the tragically (and arguably deserved) sterility of the Krogan, to the egg-laying broods of the Salarians, to the bizarre and oft-misunderstood all-female race of Asari, you’ll find no shortage of fascinating cultures to fuel your imagination. Even if you’re not into playing videogames, you should check out a Mass Effect wiki or some playthrough videos. The second and third entries in the series are mostly forgettable though, so don’t bother with them.

Laboratory Orphans

Asexual breeding is sometimes explored in science fiction. In Battletech, the advanced clans are selectively bred in tubes to produce the most efficient warriors. Individuals fight for their right to have their genetic strains added to the pool of genetic superiors. In Scalzi’s Old Man’s War, super soldiers are made from mostly human genetic material, with a few enhancements. In both of these cases, the people have been designed to defend their culture, and they dutifully do so within their specified role.

On the other hand, ExoSquad had its NeoSapiens, a manufactured breed of blue-skinned superhumans, and Space: Above and Beyond had its “In Vetroes,” or test tube soldiers. In these two cases, the created pseudo-humans had a hard time fitting in. Their place in life isn’t abundantly clear because their creators hadn’t been the most honorable. As a result, tension exists between the true humans and their creations.

Sex, Marriage, and Christianity

Lastly, for a sentient and moral species like humanity, sex and marriage is more than just reproduction. They pave a pathway to a profound intimacy designed by God and reflect God’s relational and complimentary nature. Numerous Christian books have been written in regards to this aspect of sex and marriage, including but not limited to: The Act of Marriage, Eden Derailed, Sex and the Soul of a Woman, Sex and the Supremacy of Christ, Every Man’s Battle, etc.. If your aliens or fantasy creatures are anything like humans, sex and marriage are likely parts of their purpose in creation. Also worth considering – sex is broken in our culture. Alien societies, if they have fallen from grace like us, might also have skewed views on sexuality including abuse, infidelity, and perversion.

Whatever you decide for your fantastic world, remember this: Sex is a powerful. For both men and women it is a motivating force created by God. It is therefore good, but like all good things the Lord has given us (e.g. nature, chocolate, etc.) it must be used responsibly. It’s just like Spiderman says.

Space: Above and Beyond Picture from

http://boltax.blogspot.com/2011/03/bishs-review-space-above-and-beyond_25.html

Krogan Image from:

http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/File:Wrex2.png

Fiddler on the Roof copyright MGM, 1971

Dear Young Scribes

How New Writers Can Build an Impressive Writing Resume with Zero Experience

Post author By Tessa Emily Hall - Becoming an Author
Post date June 8, 2017
1 Comment on How New Writers Can Build an Impressive Writing Resume with Zero Experience

Aspiring authors are frequently advised to build a writing resume in effort catch the attention of an agent or editor. The reason? Agents and editors search for writers who are not amateurs. They want to work with writers who have proven themselves to be skilled in their craft and experienced with words and deadlines. When they see a list of publishing credits beneath your name, they will gain respect for you as a writer. It gives them a reassurance about your ability to produce quality, publishable-worthy content.

At least, this is what goes through my mind as I review submissions for Hartline Literary and Illuminate YA.

But I’m sure this advice might cause some inexperienced writers to cringe. How is it possible to build this kind of shining writing resume when your writing has only been published on your blog—if that?

Here are ways you can start now at building a writing resume that will cause your submission to stand out in a slush pile:

Submit guest posts to blogs and online magazines.

Online publications are often searching for new content to build their database. Not only is this a great way to build your credibility as a writer, but it will also give you more exposure and help to establish your online visibility and platform.

Where to find this:

Use an online search engine to find blogs and online magazines that publish articles to the audience you hope to reach. (For example, if you hope to target a Christian teen audience, consider submitting an article for the blog to my magazine, PursueMagazine.net.)

Write for your school and/or church newsletter.

Where to find this:

If your school publishes a newsletter, ask if you could contribute an article to build your writing resume. Same goes for your church newsletter. Find out if your church releases weekly newsletters; if so, ask how you can submit an article that meets their approval and guidelines. Many new writers have found this to be the best way to get their feet wet in the writing world.

Enter writing contests.

Placing in a contest is one of the best ways to establish credibility as a writer. There are several writing contests you can find online that offer a variation of categories to enter—such as short stories, flash fiction, devotions, articles, novels, etc. Here’s a plus: Some of these writing contests are judged by literary agents and publishers.

Where to find this:

WritersDigest.com holds multiple contests each year. TeenInk.com offers writing contests specifically for teen writers. Many writing organizations and writing conferences offer annual contests for unpublished writers as well.

(Side note: Recently, a teen writer sent a proposal to me at Hartline and stated that her work had been critiqued in a contest by an editor at Penguin/Random House. This editor told her that, out of all the manuscripts she’d critiqued in that contest, this writer’s work was the most promising. You better believe this gave me a new level of respect for this writer’s work!)

Publish your work in magazines.

After you’ve worked to establish yourself as a writer by publishing articles for free and/or writing for your blog, consider submitting your work to print publications. Again, find magazines that are targeted to your specific audience and publications that will build your expertise in a certain field. If you’re a fiction writer, search for magazines that accept short stories or flash fiction pieces.

Where to find this:

The latest Writer’s Market Guide (or Christian Writer’s Market Guide) is the best way to find a list of current magazines that are searching for submissions. Be sure to follow the specific writing guidelines listed in the writer’s market guide, and adhere to the specific theme if there is one.

If you begin to feel as though building a writing resume is annoying work that cuts into your book-writing time, remember this: Any time spent working with words is an investment into your writing career. Writing for blogs/publications will increase your visibility, validate your expertise, and help you practice writing quality content on a deadline.

Then, when an agent or editor receives your submission, they’ll know you’re not the type of writer who rushes toward achieving publication. Instead, you’re in this for the long haul. You’re dedicated and a hard-worker. You know what it takes to be a career-novelist, and you’ve already worked hard to invest in your career by first taking the time to build an impressive writing resume.

Do you have tips to add to this list? What’s the biggest struggle you’ve faced as you’ve worked to build your writing resume with zero experience?

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Tags credits, experience, publication, writing experience, writing resume

Writer Encouragement

Discouraging Moments: How to Refocus

Post author By Elaine Cooper - Writer Encouragement
Post date June 7, 2017
4 Comments on Discouraging Moments: How to Refocus

By Elaine Marie Cooper

I had a very discouraging book signing last night in Saratoga Springs, NY for my novel, “Saratoga Letters.” Don’t get me wrong. Everyone at the bookstore was so friendly and great to work with. Visitors were interested and gracious. What discouraged me was the lack of local interest in a significant historical site just 15 miles away.

The discussion with the visitors and staff mainly focused on the history of the town itself: What buildings had burned. When the town was in its downturn. When the gentry from New York improved the scenery—and raised the rents.

When I brought up their town’s involvement in the huge bicentennial commemoration of the 1777 battle that was the turning point of the American Revolution —it’s listed in the top 15 most significant battles in history—blank expressions stared at me. This battle paved the way for the creation of a completely new country based on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The success of the American Patriots at Saratoga drew in both financial and military support from Europe. Without it, America’s chances of winning against the most powerful army in the world would have been nearly impossible.

Without the Battle of Saratoga, we might not be Americans.

Here, practically in their backyard, was a memorial of the most significant battle in the formation of our country. My research for the bicentennial in 1977 showed their town was involved in a big way in the event. None of the visitors to my book signing were aware that folks had come from around the world to attend. Or that Today Show personality Tom Brokaw was the guest speaker. Or that a huge ball was held in the town’s Casino ballroom to honor those who fought for freedom just a few miles away, 200 years prior.

I was disheartened.

Yet I had to reflect on my own heart and the things that should be right in front of my eyes that I often miss.

In my world, I can be myopic when it comes to what is important around me. Do I stress about deadlines or other obligations while forgetting the bigger picture? Do I get so involved putting out the fires of a busy schedule burning on my planner that I don’t read God’s Word and forget WHY I’m writing for Him?

Just as the nearby battlefield of Saratoga should be a reminder to the Saratoga Springs residents about the freedoms they enjoy, my focus should be on writing to honor the Lord and do His work, rejoicing in the freedom this country offers me to write without fear of persecution. To write for His glory.

May I never forget the spiritual battles in my own backyard. May I always keep my focus on the Savior who fought the ultimate battle against sin so that we can be spiritually free. May I use the liberty won at Saratoga so long ago, to write for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who gave His all for my freedom from sin.

Tags Battle of Saratoga, Discouragement, Elaine Marie Cooper, Saratoga Letters, Saratoga Springs, writing for the Lord