Tag: Almost an Author

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Bestsellers

Best Selling Author- Jerry B. Jenkins

Jerryb

 Welcome, Jerry. We are honored to have you partner with us. Can you share a little about your recent book?

The Valley of the Dry Bones (Worthy Publishing)

A 17-year drought, earthquakes, and wildfires leave California uninhabitable and irreparable, forcing its citizens to relocate. Fewer than 1% of its population remain—by choice or necessity. But a contingency of 16 feels called of God to stay at their own risk to minister to the stragglers. Calling themselves The Holdouts, they must live underground, finding water and food where they can, and producing their own fuel and other necessities. They face a clash of cultures, ethnicities, religions, and politics that pits friend against friend, with the future of the country at stake.

In the midst of the chaos, while facing their most menacing opponent, the unlikely but heroic leader of The Holdouts becomes convinced he’s heard directly from God Himself. The result is a finish you’ll never forget.

Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?

I was already a sportswriter when, as a teenager, I felt a call to full-time Christian service. I initially thought that signaled the end of my writing career, but a wise mentor told me that often God equips a person before He calls him. He told me to consider my writing as a vehicle to answer that call. Thus, to me, success has nothing to do with typical publishing earmarks like awards, bestseller lists, or royalty checks.

Regardless what happens with my books, I succeed every day merely by obeying the call.

My theme, message, or goal for any writing project is to share my faith and point readers to Christ. Due to my worldview, not every book ends with everything tied in a neat bow, but they do all carry themes of repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope.

How long have you been writing?

I began writing for pay as a 14-year-old sportswriter for a local newspaper.

And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract?

My first book was published in 1974, accepted by the second publisher to which I submitted it.

My first New York Times bestseller was my 75th book.

My first multimillion-copy bestseller was my 125th.

The Valley of the Dry Bones was my 189th.

I consider myself mono-gifted. I don’t sing or dance or preach; writing (and teaching writing at JerryJenkins.com) is all I do.

How long does it take you to write a book?

A lifetime, Seriously, it varies with length and genre. At my peak of productivity, I was publishing several books per year, though some of those were shorter works for younger readers. I now average around two books every three years. Actually, I recently published a guide for how I write books, which you can find here.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

I write only on deadline, and then I keep a fairly rigid regimen: I’m at the keyboard shortly after breakfast, and the work I do before noon will be the best I do all day. I begin with a heavy edit and rewrite of the pages I wrote the day before. Then I turn off my internal editor and write my pages for the present day.

I consider that draft just a hunk of meat to be carved the next day.

Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?

Though it may not seem so from the volume of my production, I am a procrastinator. Before starting any book, I become a neatnik and must have everything else done, including sharpening more than a dozen pencils—despite that I haven’t written with a pencil since sixth grade.

What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?

The highlight of my career was assisting Billy Graham with his memoir, Just As I Am.

It has also been an unspeakable joy to hear personally from thousands of people who tell me they came to faith as a result of reading the Left Behind Series®.

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

Fortunately, my darkest moments have not been career-related.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Riven (Tyndale House), a novel. I had the idea and the characters in mind for nearly 2 decades before I wrote it all in one long rush. It’s also my longest book, so readers who don’t like it can use it as a doorstop.

Who is your favorite author to read?

I believe our greatest living American writer is Rick Bragg. His memoir, All Over but the Shoutin’, is a poetic masterpiece I read at least once a year. Some writers make you want to emulate them; Bragg makes me want to simply surrender to his superiority and enjoy the read.

What advice can you give aspiring writers?

Writers are readers; good writers are good readers; great writers are great readers.

What encouragement would you give an aspiring writer?

  • Don’t start your writing career with a book. That would be like starting your educational career in grad school instead of kindergarten. Get a quarter million clichés out of your system, polish your prose, hone your skills. Be edited. A book is not where you start; it’s where you arrive.
  • Allow yourself to be bad before you expect to be good. Babies don’t walk from birth. First, they roll over. Then they crawl. Then their first steps are halting, and they usually wind up on their rear ends.
  • The same is true with reading, riding a bicycle, dancing, public speaking, or becoming proficient at any skill. Cut yourself some slack and give yourself time to learn.
  • Develop a thick skin.
  • Learn to take criticism.
  • Join a critique group.
  • Engage a mentor.
  • Read everything there is to read, especially in your genre.
  • Carve out the time to write; you won’t find it in your schedule—you have to create it.
  • Read The Elements of Style
  • Take your writing career seriously and insist that others do as well. Before you become a professional, you need to act like one—investing in the right tools of the trade and creating as ideal workspace as possible.
  • Do not sacrifice your family on the altar of your writing career. Maintain your priorities so that when you do sit down to write, you’ll work without guilt and find yourself more productive than ever.

Do you have a favorite character or scene in one of your books?

My favorite villain was Nicolae Carpathia, the antichrist in the Left Behind Series®.

My favorite scene is from Nicolae, when Chaim Rosensweig is discovered by a man he assumes is a guard assigned to kill him, and it turns out the man is an angel assigned to protect him.

Where do you get your ideas?

I make them up.  Usually, they are a combination of seemingly disparate impressions that rattle around in my brain until a story begins to take shape. If it sticks with me and won’t leave me alone and I keep embellishing it, I assume it will have legs and readers will stay interested. If I lose enthusiasm for it, I let it die before I start writing.

What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make?

The Five Most Common Mistakes I See in Beginners’ Manuscripts http://bit.ly/29saRw7

Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?

  • Local paper
  • Blog
  • Guest blog
  • Local and regional market magazines
  • E-zines
  • On the Inspirational side, Sunday School Papers

the-valley-of-the-dry-bones

Jerry B. Jenkins is a novelist and biographer with 21 New York Times bestsellers, 7 of which debuted at No. 1. His books have sold more than 70 million copies worldwide. He is the former Vice President for Publishing at the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago and now serves on Moody’s board of trustees.

He is the writer of the Left Behind Series® and has written biographies of such luminaries as Hank Aaron, Walter Payton, Orel Hershiser, Meadowlark Lemon, Nolan Ryan, and many others. He assisted Bill Graham with his memoir, Just As I Am.

Jerry owns the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, a subscription site for budding writers.

He has been married to Dianna since 1971, and they have three grown sons and eight grandchildren. Jerry lives in Colorado. www.JerryJenkins.com

 

Categories
Uncategorized

When an Asset Becomes a Liability

The setting sold us. A property with mature trees and a creek running behind it. Even in March, with the trees still bare, we saw what could be: morning coffee on a shaded deck serenaded by a chorus of birds. We were confident that deer and other wildlife would be frequent guests.

The ink was barely dry on the mortgage papers when we learned about the special assessment. Built on private property to avoid city code restrictions, our home and several other structures in the development were built too close to the waterway. Erosion threatens to undermine their stability. What we considered our new home’s finest asset has become a $100,000+ liability

The thing we love has become the thing that costs—dearly. Or as my father likes to say, “Anticipation exceeded reality.” I hated hearing that as a child. It seemed to be setting us up for disappointment. I suspect he was trying to instill a life truth. For those of us who choose to spend all or a good portion of our life writing, it’s probably a good aphorism to keep in mind.

I doubt few writers expect to make the New York Times best seller list with their debut novel. Success stories like this are the exception rather than the rule. I believe most of us write, even if it’s only journaling, because it’s something we can’t not do. Whether we take pen in hand or type on a computer keyboard, putting ideas and thoughts on paper fulfills a longing. It satisfies something deep inside. Ed Cyzewski says in Write, Pray, Grow, “… writing provides a way to process and think deeply about difficult topics.” [bctt tweet=”Even if we only write to sort out our thoughts or ideas, there’s great value in it.” username=””]

Even so, the call to write for publication comes with certain assets and liabilities.

Those who see only the “glamour” of writing: the ability to set your own hours, work from anywhere, and the thrill of seeing your name in print, ought to be aware of the realities of the writing life:

  • Writers block is real. Many is the time I’ve sat down to write and came up empty. The perfectly worded phrase or concept I “wrote” as I drifted off to sleep the previous night is gone. My internal editor criticizes every word before it hits the paper—and I continue to stare at a blank screen wondering why I thought I could do this. Every writer experiences periods where the words and ideas vanish. Acknowledge it, call it by name, and walk away for a time. In fact, many writers suggest a walk or another type of diversion to get your mind working in other ways. The change of scenery and thought processes often triggers creativity.
  • Expect rejection. Unless or until you secure a book contract with a major publisher, you’ll be submitting book proposals or magazine articles with no assurance they will be accepted for publication. But you’re in good company. Kathryn Stockett submitted The Help 60 times before it was published; Stephen King’s Carrie was rejected 30 times; Beatrix Potter self-published The Tale of Peter Rabbit—before self-publishing was as easy as it is today. Persevere through rejection and learn not to take it personally.
  • Writing is a discipline. Some consider it a spiritual discipline like prayer. A discipline requires that you do something even when you don’t feel like it. Once it becomes a habit missing a day puts you off kilter. Certainly independent writers have more flexibility in setting a schedule than 9–5 employees, but they do need to discipline themselves to put in the time necessary to produce. For those still working the day job it likely means making time in an already fully-scheduled day to write. For some that’s early mornings. Others find they are more productive after everyone else in the household has gone to bed. Stay-at-home parents, like Cyzewski, have learned to make the most of down times in their children’s schedules and write in short blocks of time throughout the day. Learning what works for you and then cultivating the discipline to stick to it is critical to a writer’s success.

We’re still absorbing the blow of an unexpected expense. The good news is that because we are part of a homeowners association, the cost of the stabilization project will be shared equally by all members. Such is the value of community. Writers, too, need the encouragement and support of a writing community. A mentor, a critique group—in person or online—not only helps hone writing skills, but can serve as a counterpoint to the discouragement and self-doubt that often plague a writer. A writing community like A3 or Word Weavers just may be the greatest asset a writer has.

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The Ministry of Writing

Why You Need Biblical Training: Seminary in 3 or 5 – Orientation Part 1

Image of stained glass taken by Andreas F. Borchert and labeled for reuse.

Save money. Learn theology. Become a better writer. Minister more effective. That’s my hope for you. In this second year of my column, The Ministry of Writing, I want to take you to seminary — writing seminary. If you have had the chance to go to seminary then let this be a refresher. If you haven’t please soak up this tuition free theological education given each month in 3-5 points. God has called you to write. You want to glorify Him and reach the world the problem is that we can easily be false teachers and not know it. This is why growing and learning in biblical and theological knowledge is vital to your writing ministry.

 

My Seminary Testimony…

God gifts us all for the work He calls us to do. I wish God had gifted me to excel on the gridiron, baseball diamond, or with a guitar, but He saw fit to bless me with mad skills in the classroom. I was given a photographic memory and good reading comprehension. In High School, my God-give classroom gift drove the girls wild as you can imagine L.

During High School to add to my absolute coolnesity I was called to preach. At 16, I began preaching and working in ministry. I wanted to glorify God and set this world on fire with the Gospel. I gave up professional bass fishing dreams and went to a Bible College to study Bible and pastoring. But I told God and my family that I would go until a ministry opportunity came up then I was quitting school. Fortunately, God did not open that door until He opened my eyes to the importance of a minister being educated. I became convinced that if a doctor who deals with physical life has to go through so much training than one who deals with eternal life should do far more. It was crazy how I never put it together that I needed to use my nerd skills in ministry.

Now a formal education in seminary is not necessary, but learning the information that is taught in seminary is necessary for your ministry. It is also important that you are receiving the correct teaching.

So I hope the Holy Spirit will convict you as He did me. In this orientation I want to share five reasons why you need a theological education.

 

Orientation in 5 Points…

  1. You Should Seek Biblical Training Because The “Ministers” in the Bible Received Training.

I challenge you to think of a leader in Scripture who was called by God to teach and share the Gospel who was not trained. Again they may have not sat in a classroom, but they were taught. Not only is there an absolute precedent of His servants being trained, but learning is valued throughout Scripture. Beginning in the given of the Law, Moses continually instructed the people to teach others and especially their children the precepts of God. In Deuteronomy 6:4-9, we read that parents were taught to teach their children the law everywhere they went. This importance of learning is expressed in the nature of the Books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

This value of training was made evident in its practice. Here is a short list of those who were trained for God’s work.

  • Moses was “educated” in the wilderness
  • Moses trained Joshua
  • Elijah trained Elisha
  • Eli trained Samuel
  • Jesus was “educated” in the wilderness
  • Jesus trained the disciples
  • Paul also had a wilderness time in Arabia
  • Paul trained leaders in his church plants.
  • Paul trained Timothy

 

 

  1. You Should Seek Biblical Training Because of The Warnings of False Teachings and False Teachers.

The warnings given of false teachers in the New Testament is almost overwhelming. We find several in Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels. In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches false teachers can be spotted by their fruit. Jesus later teaches that it would be better for a false teacher to have a millstone hung around their neck and be thrown in the sea than to lead little ones astray. The battle Jesus had with the Pharisees and Sadducees centered on their false teaching.

The Epistles in the New Testament are devoted to warning of false teachers. Here are some chapters where such warnings are given: Romans 16, 1 Cor. 2, 2 Cor. 13, all of Galatians, Ephesians 6, all of Colossians, 1 Thess. 5, all of 2 Thessalonians, all of 1 Timothy, all of 2 Timothy, Hebrews 13. Then all of 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, Jude, and most of Revelation.

False teaching is also warned against in the Old Testament. This is seen in the Balaam scenario and in the problem of idolatry.

We need to know the truth so that we are not false teachers. We also need to have the truth to combat false teaching.

 

  1. You Should Seek Biblical Training Because The Call of a Minister Includes the Call to an Education.

Timothy’s call which is not much different than the call of ours, is found in 2 Timothy 2:15:

            Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need  to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV84)

Did you catch that Timothy was not only to share the Gospel and help others, but he was called to correctly divide the truth. One has to be trained to do this. The best course I took in helping me correctly divide Scripture was hermeneutics. This will be our monthly course in September.

 

  1. You Should Seek Biblical Training Because The Nature of How God Works Through Us Necessitates It.

2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:20-21 detail how God works in us.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  – 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV84)

              Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the  prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. – 2 Peter 1:20–21 (NIV84)

Yes, the Holy Spirit inspires us and carries us through our writing, but God uses what we have in us. In all the writings in Scripture the personalities and education of the Bible writers show through. You will be a better tool in God’s hand if as He “carries” you along in the Spirit, you have a strong theological training for Him to utilize.

 

  1. You Should Seek Biblical Training Because We are Held to a High Standard.

James 3:1 says it all,

 

            Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we  who teach will be judged more strictly. – James 3:1 (NIV84)

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Irregardless, Not a Word?

A few weeks ago I enjoyed a lovely dinner with friends at a cool restaurant in Raleigh. The first time I ate there—decades ago—I was a young English major and ordering quiche and raspberry iced tea made me feel cool, too. Quiche was an exotic dish back then. The name of the place added to my delight because I understood the clever use of a non-word, Irregardless Café.

Yes, that’s right. Irregardless is not a word. It could be a blend of irrespective and regardless, but it’s wrong to use. Use regardless instead.

Regardless of the outcome of the soccer game, I’ll treat myself to frozen yogurt.

Another word used incorrectly is impact. Impact is a noun, not a verb.

How did the new law impact bathroom usage? Wrong. Instead write, how did the new law affect bathroom usage?

Finally, let’s consider a whole sentence that is used incorrectly. I could care less means exactly the opposite of what the speaker intends. I could care less means…I could care less. Think about it! If you could care less, care less. If you couldn’t, use I couldn’t care less instead.

Despite how often you may hear these words in daily speech or on TV, they are not correct. They may make for a cool name of a restaurant, but using them incorrectly doesn’t endear you to old English teachers, editors, or grammar police.

Categories
Bestsellers

Best Selling Author Angela Ackerman

Angela Ackerman

Angela Ackerman

Your writing thesauruses are such a help to writers, how do you feel knowing that thousands of writers use these resources in their own writing?

It is pretty surreal, and something I may never quite get used to. But it feels wonderful to know that we are helping writers in a very concrete way, and that more are achieving their dreams as a result.

 Do you have any more thesaurus books in the works?

Becca and I are working on two volumes for The Setting Thesaurus. Like our Positive and Negative Trait books, the topic of setting is just too huge to fit in one book. We’re very excited about this collection and have researched the sights, smells, sounds, tastes and textures for nearly 250 different locations. It will be a great resource, I hope. We’re looking to release those in late spring of 2016.

How is it working with your co-writer?

When I think about working with Becca, I really need to use my Emotion Thesaurus because so many good feelings burst out of me. She is a terrific partner, both as a co-author and as a business owner (we own two companies together). We have strengths that really complement one another, which means we are an effective team with a unified vision. I think we make great writerly music together!

How long have you been writing? And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract?

I have been writing since 2007 in the middle grade and young adult area, and then in 2012, Becca and I self-published The Emotion Thesaurus. We followed that up with our Positive and Negative Trait Thesaurus books in 2014. Since choosing self-publishing we have turned down several traditional deals, finding there to be more advantages by remaining in control of our books. That said, we have sold foreign rights for The Emotion Thesaurus to publishers in Korea, Romania and are currently inking a deal with one in Japan.

How long does it take you to write a book?

I would say all told about a year, tip to toe, but it really depends on the content of the book. The Positive and Negative Trait Thesaurus books are deeply rooted in psychology, and so we had to spend a lot of time understanding human behavior and motivation in order to teach it as a character building principle. Likewise, the Setting Thesaurus books require a lot of travel, as Becca and I have tried to visit the locations featured whenever possible to ensure the details are authentic.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

Busy, so busy! I go full out from the morning to later in the evening, juggling book writing, teaching, marketing and getting new projects off the ground. Our most recent one was to take all of our thesaurus collections (the ones in book form and those found at our Writers Helping Writers blog) and create a website to house all the content. One Stop For Writers released October 7th, 2015, a joint collaboration between Becca, myself, and Lee Powell, the creator of Scrivener for Windows. We are so thrilled to see all our descriptive content enhanced and so well organized at our One Stop site, and know this will become a game-changing resource for many writers.

Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?

I write slow. It is such a pain because I have a lot to share, so many books I would love to write. Oh well, slow and steady wins the race, right?

What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?

I absolutely love hearing from writers who have used our books or our site and being told the difference our resources have made in their writing. That will always be the biggest joy for me. But I would say being the international guest speaker this past August in Australia was pretty amazing as well. It was also really neat when foreign rights agents started contacting us. I’ve been lucky and have enjoyed many great moments, too many to name. But I am looking forward to the day when my time opens up a bit and I can get back to my fiction, because this is still my dream.

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

Probably the frustration of being so close to a traditional deal (with my fiction), and still not managing to get one. It is hard when you do everything right, you have an agent, your book is going to acquisitions, and you still don’t leave with a contract. However, that was the old Angela. The new one has realized that the need for that type of validation is really harmful, and I know that no matter what happens with my fiction moving forward, I’ll never end up in that same dark place again.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Such an unfair question, ha-ha. This is like asking a mother which child is her favorite. I think The Emotion Thesaurus will always be special because it was my first, but I know The Negative Trait Thesaurus holds the most value for elevating one’s writing craft. There is a lot of meaty content in that one. So I’m going to say it’s a tie between those two.

Who is your favorite author to read?

Again, I have many, but I really enjoy Martina Boone (Compulsion), Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone), and Rick Riordan (his Percy Jackson Series).

What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have listened too?

Please don’t be in a rush to publish. There are so many books out there to compete with, so to succeed you need to really hone your writing first. Take the time to read, write, and study the craft so your first book shines on the shelf.

What is the single greatest tool you believe a writer should have in his or her toolbox?

One Stop For Writers, definitely. We’ve only just started adding to this online library, but already it is a powerhouse of writing information geared to help people elevate their storytelling. With so many resources in one place, writers will become stronger quicker, and spend less time trying to find the right details for a story and more time actually writing it.

Where do you get your ideas?

For fiction, it often starts with a sound, or a smell or something sensory. A plastic bag caught on a branch, flapping in the wind. The scrape of dead leaves being pushed across the sidewalk. The smell of cinnamon. For me these things will trigger a flash, an image of a scene to come, and there’s this feeling that there’s a great story there if I dig at it.

For our thesaurus books, I simply think about what writers need most, and what I need most! And then I seek to build it.

 

Bio:

Angela Ackerman is a writing coach, international speaker and co-author of several bestselling writing books, including The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression. She loves building communities, and her newest project, One Stop For Writers, is a powerhouse online library like no other, filled with description and brainstorming tools to help writers elevate their storytelling. You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook and at her website, Writers Helping Writers.

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http://writershelpingwriters.net/author/angela/

 

Categories
The Ministry of Writing

Ministering Through Writing Doesn’t Always Mean You Write

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I am writing this article and you are reading it because we enjoy or at least are comfortable writing. Writing is a safe place for us. It may not have always been a safe place, but after time we become at home at our keyboard.

I also believe you are doing what you are called to do, but ministering through writing doesn’t always mean you write.

[bctt tweet=”To be a faithful writer we have to often do things that are not writing.” username=””] More than likely these things will take us out of our comfort zones and that is okay.

We often need to shut our lap tops and leave the coffee shop to perform tasks that are far different than writing.

Tasks like:

  • Go to a conference
  • Give a speech
  • Have a one-on-one conversation
  • Make a phone call
  • Ask difficult questions
  • Promote
  • Learn social media
  • Make a pitch
  • Go to school
  • Ask for favors
  • Create a website
  • Create business cards
  • Keep up relationship networks

 

And the list could go on. Now, we writers come in all shapes and sizes we are both introverts and extroverts, but I believe mostly introverts. If that is you, you may be fearless — but not me. I have phone-phobia, not much on promoting my own stuff, and find life easier if I can avoid having any contact with other humans. So living in a distant cabin with a Keurig and Pandora writing works for me, but as a Christian writer I am not called to just write — the calling is much, much bigger — it is to be an ambassador of the One True King. Therefore, the message I have been sent to write is important, and I must commit to do whatever it takes to further that message.

So please don’t just write — follow God.

In that He will lead you out of your study and into other tasks, but tackle them with the same fire in which you write. They are one in the same, all ebbing to the same goal. In the same way in which God empowers and sustains you to write He will do the same on the podium or on the phone.

Fulfill your calling — write — but also fulfill your calling by following wherever He leads.

 

 

 

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Aid for Comma Splices

A writing acquaintance of mine recently posted about her disdain of the comma splice, more importantly, the proliferation of this punctuation error in today’s printed materials.

Here’s an easy definition of a comma splice: the misuse of a comma to join two independent clauses (two sentences).

I bought new yarn yesterday, I already have fifteen skeins waiting for me to crochet.

In the above sentence, the comma comes between the two sentences. Wrong!

Here are easy fixes.

I bought new yarn yesterday. I already have fifteen skeins waiting for me to crochet. (Break the two independent clauses into two sentences.)

I bought new yarn yesterday, but I already have fifteen skeins waiting for me to crochet. (The comma plus a coordinating conjunction—and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so—can correctly join two sentences with the comma placed before the conjunction.)

I bought new yarn yesterday; I already have fifteen skeins waiting for me to crochet. (The *semi-colon is a stronger than the comma and can separate two sentences by itself.)

I bought new yarn yesterday; however, I already have fifteen skeins waiting for me to crochet. (The semi-colon precedes a conjunctive adverb and then a comma.)

*Some fiction writers avoid using the semi-colon.

 

 

Categories
Uncategorized Write Justified

Confused No More

As an editor, I frequently encounter homonym errors. Someone writes whether when they intend weather. Or peek when the context calls for peak. Some are humorous. Others convey the opposite meaning of what the author intends.

I could write a post on the confused word uses I’ve corrected. But it might be more endearing if I come clean and ‘fess up to some pairs that confuse me.

Affect-Effect

This pair usually sends me to the dictionary to verify I’m using them correctly. It helps to remember that affect is a verb that means to make an impact on or cause a change.

The change in weather affected Fred’s arthritis.

Summer construction affects traffic patterns and travel times.

Effect can be used as both a noun and a verb. As a noun it means to bring about, or the result of an action. In this usage, it is usually followed by the preposition on.

The effect of divorce on children can be life-changing.

Scientists warn that the effects of climate change may be rising sea levels and greater temperature variations.

In the plural, effects, refers to belongings, possessions.

All the family’s personal effects were lost in the flood.

Used as a verb effect means to bring about, cause, or accomplish.

The new administrator wasted no time in effecting his own policies and procedures.

Lower interest rates effected stronger home sales.

If you remember that affect is a verb and effect a noun, you’ll be correct in most common usages.

Elicit – Illicit

I don’t recall the precise sentence, but its purpose was to encourage a response. What I actually wrote invited the reader to do something illegal. I had written illicit when I should have used elicit.

Elicit is a transitive verb meaning to draw out or bring forth. It requires a direct object.

Melanie’s antics elicited a reluctant smile from her grandmother.

Smile is the direct object of the verb elicited. Melanie’s actions drew a smile out of grandma.

Elicit also carries the meaning of bringing something hidden to light.

Brandon’s counseling sessions elicited his fear of failure.

Talking confidentially to someone can be a healthy way to discover and overcome such fears.

Illicit, on the other hand, is an adjective meaning illegal or unlawful. You will often see it used to describe the illegal use of drugs or sex. Dictionary.com also includes a second meaning: “disapproved or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons.” That may explain the frequent pairing with drugs and sex.

Compliment – complement

Only one vowel separates the spelling of these two, but that simple letter changes the meaning considerably.

I pay someone a compliment when I tell them their hair (or shoes, or dress) look good on them.

Although the Oxford English Dictionary suggests a compliment usually includes some hypocrisy, Merriam Webster defines a compliment as a formal expression of esteem, respect, affection, or admiration.

A compliment can also be an expression of good wishes or regards.

Give my compliments to your parents.

The adjective, complimentary, means a gift or gratuity.

The new president gave a complimentary paperweight to each guest at the inauguration.

A complement, however, is something (or someone) that completes or makes whole.

Allison’s pink scarf complements her green dress and red hair.

With the vice president’s arrival, the full complement of PTA officers was in attendance.

These three sets of homonyms hardly comprise the full complement of commonly confused homonyms, but I hope the effect of this post elicits greater understanding.

 

Categories
Craft Writing with Humor

Three Tips for Collecting a Wealth of Humorous Material

Click to read 3 Tips for Collecting a Wealth of Humorous Material (@JeanWilund)

Comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Michael Jr. may never suffer from comedic block, but those of us less endowed with a sharp wit and the skills to use them know the pain too well.

It’s hard enough to elicit a laugh, much less on a deadline.

Ensure you never get caught without the perfect line. Follow these three tips for collecting a wealth of material from which to draw:

1. Make A Note ASAP

Everyday life creates hilarious moments, but if we can’t remember them, they’re as useful as an award-winning BBQ recipe in a vegan cookbook.

How do we keep the treasure trove of humorous material from disappearing into the abyss of forgetfulness? Write it down. ASAP.

Using an old-fashioned, time-tested method, strategically scatter notepads and pens around your house, perhaps next to all your reading glasses.  

A more modern and convenient method takes advantage of the technology we carry with us everywhere — even into the restroom. Our smart phone.

On iPhone, tell Siri to “Make a note.” It’s quick and easy. Plus, whatever Siri thinks we said may wind up creating even funnier material.

Don’t feel like talking to Siri? Use a tape recorder app. Or, avoid receiving the look in public by shooting off a text or email to yourself. The text or email, sitting unopened in your phone or laptop, will also act as a reminder to transfer the story or thought into your Humor notebook.

Locking the anecdotes and one-liners into my cell phone protects memorable moments from getting booted out of my short term memory by my immediate need to remember where I parked my car.

2. Create a Humor File and Notebook

Take an old-fashioned file folder and notebook, label them, and fill them with anything that strikes you as humorous.

At least once a week print out your text messages, emails and Siri notes and drop them into the file folder or copy them into your notebook.    

As much as I love old fashioned pen and paper, I’m hooked on modern technology. The “search” function alone won me over. It makes finding a specific gem of wit easier than flipping through a thick notebook or drawer stuffed with scraps of paper.

My current favorite tool for collecting and organizing note-worthy material is Evernote. It’s available as an app and on-line, and it syncs across your devices. The free version offers all we need to keep saved information at our fingertips.

3. Write Down One Thought or Memory A Day

Form the daily habit of writing down at least one anecdote, thought, or simile into your notebook. It doesn’t have to be funny. You can work with it later and make it funny.

I keep my notebook by my bed. Each night I write at least one thing into it. Daily intentionality can become an involuntary, and helpful, habit later.

With a stash of memories, quotes, and stories within reach, half of our work is done.

Over time we’ll have gathered a wealth of  material from which to draw when a humorous line is needed, because struggling to think of a clever simile on demand is as hard as . . . as . . . oh, never mind.

[bctt tweet=”Three Tips for Collecting a Wealth of Humorous Material #AmWriting #Humor #AlmostAnAuthor” username=””]

Collecting Humorous Material Pinterest

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Tracking Your Writing Research & Quotes

Tracking your research, reference articles, and quotes

Ever wonder what to do with all the research you’ve accumulated from your many writing projects? Do you ever get frustrated not being able to find that perfect quote or the specific data you know you have hidden somewhere in your pile of notes? Today we’re going to look at a simple system for tracking your research. We’ll see how to easily organize articles and quotes, then quickly find the information we’ve saved on a specific topic.

Highlighting and Note Taking for Articles

Start by reading your article with a pen or pencil handy. As you find critical information, highlight the section and write any keywords next to it. Keywords are words you might use to search for this information later.

Also, highlight sentences that would make great stand-alone quotes. For these I place a large Q in the margins.

Prepping the Article for Tracking

Once you’ve finished the article, it’s time to prep it for tracking. On the front page of the article, write, “Keywords–,” then list all the keywords you’ve noted throughout the article.

Next, you’ll want to add a code for the article. I use a three-part system:

The author’s last name + the article number + the year

A code for an article written by Jason Seib published on 10/26/2012 looks like:

Seib-001-12

Last name + the article number (in this case it was the first article I had collected from Jason) +12 (for 2012).

Put your code at the top of the article and your tracking prep is complete.

Users Tip* – Including the publication year in your code is quite helpful. If you’re searching for tips on how to use Facebook for marketing your book, you probably want an article written recently as opposed to one from several years ago. Having the publication year in your article’s code makes this easy to see.

Tracking Your Research

Now we’ll enter the article into a Research Tracking Spreadsheet. Below is an Excel file you can download to track your material. It includes two tabs, one for article notes and one for quotes.

Download the Research Tracking Spreadhseet (Excel File)

How to track research, quotes, and reference articles.
Screenshot: Reference Articles Tracking

 

How to track research, quotes, and references articles.
Screenshot: Quotes Tracking

 

Enter the information from your article. Then, when you need to find something, use the search feature in Excel to find all the items that match your keyword.

Saving Your Files

Now that you’ve collected enough data from your article to easily find it again, it’s time to file that article. Place your document in a three-ring binder arranged alphabetically by the article code. When you want to retrieve it, your spreadsheet will tell you exactly what code you need to look up in your notebook.

Similarly, if you keep electronic files as back up, name your electronic document by the same article code. Then put all your documents in a “Research Articles” folder.

Bonus Use: Researching with Books

You can also use this spreadsheet for tracking information you gather from books. Michael Hyatt shares his system for gathering data from books here: How to Retrieve What You’ve Read–Almost Instantly

The Research Tracking Spreadsheet covers what Michael calls “the master index.”

What tips do you have for keeping up with your writing research?

Sharables—Because sharing is fun!

[bctt tweet=”Easily organize your research articles & quotes with this simple method. #WorkSmarter” username=”@EfficiencyAdict”]

Categories
Write Justified

Mind Those Apostrophes

When editors are asked to name their pet peeves, misuse of apostrophes ranks at or near the top of their list. The apostrophe, more than any other punctuation mark, is likely to be overused.

The Chicago of Manual of Style names only three primary uses for an apostrophe:

  • to show possession

Most singular (regular) nouns show possession by adding an apostrophe + s: horse’s mouth; company’s policy; Jamie’s daughter. An apostrophe is a less cumbersome way to show possession than the prepositional phrase the mouth belonging to the horse.

The possessive of most plural nouns is formed by adding an apostrophe after the s: girls’ toys, books’ pages, clocks’ batteries. However, in the case of nouns that do not add an s to form their plural, e.g. man – men, woman – women, child – children – the possessive is formed the same way as singular nouns: apostrophe + s.

In the case of nouns that end in s, the 16th (latest) edition of CMOS comes down on the side of apostrophe + s, thus Des Moines’s mayor attended the conference; Descartes’s thesis was included in the syllabus are the proper renderings.

  • to indicate missing letters

Use an apostrophe to indicate missing letters. Common contractions are the combination of a pronoun and verb apostropheplaquesuch as we are – we’re; he/she is – he’s/she’s; they have – they’ve and be-verbs and most of the auxiliary verbs when followed by not: are not – aren’t; was not – wasn’t; have not – haven’t.

(It takes all my restraint, not to insert an apostrophe in this plaque hanging in my son and daughter-in-law’s home. In this case, family harmony trumps punctuation.)

  • and, to form the plurals of lower case letters.

Here, Chicago opts for a visual rather than a grammatical choice. In phrases like, “Mind your p’s and q’s,” apostrophes are used simply for ease in reading. But note that “dos and don’ts” rates only the apostrophe for the contraction don’t.

Don’t use an apostrophe in these situations:

  • to form the plural of a family name. We went along with the Smiths to the beach.
  • in possessive pronouns: hers, his, theirs, its, yours, etc.
  • when capital letters are used as words. Capital Bank’s IRAs are earning a higher interest rate than First Federal’s.
  • numerals are used as nouns. The hits from the 1990s continue to attract listeners. (No apostrophe in 1990s.)
  • abbreviations are plural. Fred and Edna cashed in their CDs to fund their retirement expenses.
Categories
Grammar and Grace Uncategorized

Dangling Modifiers

Last month, I overheard a conversation about dangling modifiers. Lots of laughter. Lots of confusion. Lots of questions.

“What’s a dangling modifier?” “Wait. What’s a modifier?”

Let me explain.

A modifier adds description to a sentence. A modifier can be a word, a phrase, or a clause. In English, the modifier usually appears right before the noun it’s describing, but sometimes we find the modifier right after the word it describes.

Terrified, Penny prayed during the bumpy flight, which passed through a thunderstorm.

In the above sentence, terrified comes before Penny and describes her state of mind. Bumpy precedes flight. Which passed through a thunderstorm comes after flight.

In a dangling modifier situation, the modifier is placed near the wrong word. The construction makes the sentence confusing. Because the modifier doesn’t have a word to hang onto, it dangles, not attached to anything in the sentence.

Crushed by the Dear John text, the chocolate cake beckoned to Nancy from the countertop.

Crushed by the Dear John text comes before chocolate cake. Cake is the noun it’s supposed to modify, but cakes can’t be crushed by a Dear John text.

Here’s a correct way of writing the sentence: Crushed by the Dear John text, Nancy ate the chocolate cake that beckoned to her from the countertop.

Nancy is a person who can by crushed by a text, so the modifier is describing the correct word.

Try another one.

Thrilled by the letter of acceptance, the party plans commenced right away.

Plans can’t be thrilled. Thrilled by the letter of acceptance is dangling.

Write instead:

Thrilled by the letter of acceptance, Jordan commenced planning his party.

How about a one-word dangling modifier?

Sleepy, the bed looked inviting.

Do you see the problem? Bed can’t be sleepy.

A correct version would be—Sleepy, I crawled into the comfy bed.

When you start looking for dangling modifiers, you can find them easily, and a lot of times, they make for some funny sentences.

Have you found a dangling modifier lately that you can share in the comments? Please do!

Categories
The Writerly Cafe

Welcome to the Writerly Cafe

a3DDmay16I’m excited to welcome each of you to the Writerly Cafe at Almost An Author. Here, you’ll find a place where writers gather to ask questions, exchange ideas, discuss hot writing topics and simply embrace the joy of writing. Being with others who share the same passion starts creative juices flowing. I hope the topics on our menu board each month will spark new writers to put pen-to-paper and experienced writers to deepen their love of this craft.

From time-to-time I will ask for your questions on issues of interest to writer’s. Please don’t feel any question is unimportant or too elementary to bring to the table. I will research the answers to your questions and do my best to be of help. I am blessed with many friends who are well versed in all areas of writing and have offered to share their wisdom concerning your questions.

“Passion and purpose go hand in hand. When you discover your purpose you will normally find it is something you are tremendously passionate about.”
Steve Pavlina

Using the word passion above prompted me to toss out our first question. (Hosting the column does have its perks!)

I’m assuming you’re interested in writing if you’re reading this, but would you say that writing is your passion? If no one ever read your work, would you continue writing, or would you consider walking away? Please share your answers to these, or any other questions you might have, in the comment section below.

But first, I need to let you in on a secret. You never know when a special guest might join us at the café to offer encouragement, give glimpses into their writing journey, or share their best writing tips. Be sure tocoffee-1111666_640 keep your eye on the door!

Again, welcome to this new place in town. As in any café, we can always pull another chair to our table. The more writers, the better. Pour a cup of coffee, find a seat, and let’s tackle these questions and topics with gusto.

Please return each month to check the menu board. In the meantime, I welcome and appreciate your comments. Follow-up questions are encouraged.

Categories
Uncategorized Write Justified

When 2 + 2 Still Don’t = 4

Now that you’ve mastered the basics of plurals (see 2 + 2 Doesn’t Always = 4), let’s look at some more exceptions to the rules of pluralization.

For some reason, proper nouns or names often trip folks up. There’s no need, really. The plurals of proper names, including family names that end in s follow the same rules as regular nouns: add s or es.

  • A month of Sundays
  • The two Germanys reunited in the 1990s.
  • All the Johnnys and Marys raised their hands.

The same pluralization rules apply to family names as to regular nouns – add s, or in the case of proper nouns/names that end in s, x, z, ch, or sh, add es:

  • The Kennedys aspired to public service.
  • The Browns vacationed in Hawaii.
  • The Joneses live on Pleasant Avenue.
  • The Martinezes have four children.

BUT nicknamed geographical terms:

  • Rocky Mountains becomes the Rockies
  • Smokey Mountains becomes the Smokies

You will often see proper names pluralized with an apostrophe s, but don’t you try it. Adding an apostrophe makes nouns possessive, not plural.

We should also talk about letters, numerals, and abbreviations as well as common phrases used as nouns. If you follow the KISS rule (Keep It Simple, Sweetie), you will be right 99 percent of the time:

  • Add an s to abbreviations such as CDs, JPEGs, IRAs, and FAQs

BUT when lower case letters are forming plurals, use an apostrophe (only to aid comprehension).

  • Mind your p’s and q’s
  • Dot your i’s and cross your t’s
  • Add an s to numerals, including years or decades such as: 7s, 1990s, 1000s

Some hyphenated words or phrases are not nouns, but can be used as nouns; these form a plural by adding s.

  • Ifs, ands, or buts
  • Thank-yous
  • Twos and threes
  • Dos and don’ts

And finally, those lovely words we’ve adopted from the classical Latin and Greek. Although these plurals may not come naturally to most English speakers, they do follow a pattern.

Greek

Singular ending

Plural ending

on (criterion, phenomenon)

a (criteria, phenomena)

ma (stigma)

mata (stigmata)

 

Latin

Singular endings

Plural endings

a (alumna, larva)

ae (alumni, larvae)

us (fungus, radius)

ii (fungii, radii)

um (datum, memorandum)

a (data, memoranda)

is (basis, thesis)

es (bases, theses)

x (matrix)

ce (matrice)

And when all else fails, do what I do. Refer to the dictionary. You do keep one handy, don’t you?

 

Categories
Craft Writing with Humor

One Word Can Make All the Difference Between Funny or Ho Hum

One Word Can Make the Difference Between Funny or Ho Hum. Click to read Three Tips to Help.

One word can make all the difference between funny or ho-hum. 

For instance, let me introduce you to four kids:

Faith, Hope, Joy, and Jack.

The name Jack is so unexpected, I can’t help but chuckle. It’s the difference between funny and a just list of names. 

Check out these three tips for choosing the right word:

1. Choose An Unexpected Word

We’ve already seen the effectiveness of this technique.

As we hear the names Faith, Hope, and Joy, our minds jump to thoughts of virtuous children with commendable attributes.

Then we hear the name Jack.

It’s a fine name, but it’s not expected, so it makes us laugh. 

Consider Beatrix Potter’s garden-loving rabbits: Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-Tail, and Peter. Right away we know Peter is going to be different. He doesn’t disappoint. 

2. Choose A Word with a “K” Sound

“Fifty-seven years in this business, you learn a few things. You know what words are funny and which words are not funny. Alka-Seltzer is funny. You say ‘Alka-Seltzer’, you get a laugh… Words with ‘k’ in them are funny. Casey Stengel, that’s a funny name. Robert Taylor is not funny. Cupcake is funny. Tomato is not funny. Cookie is funny. Cucumber is funny…Cleveland… Cleveland is funny. Maryland is not funny.”  (Willy Clark, The Sunshine Boys)

The name Jack makes the “k” sound. According to Willy Clark, that makes it funny. I think he’s right. If their names were Faith, Hope, Joy, and Jeff, that would be funny, but Jack is funnier.

3. Put the Funniest Word at the End

The punchline always belongs at the end. Ba-dum bump. Humor 101.

Faith, Jack, Hope, and Joy is just a list of children. Ho-hum. (No offense to Faith, Jack, Hope, and Joy.)

Faith, Hope, Joy, and Jack. That’s funny.

Pay close attention to word choice, and it will pay off in laughs. Just one word can make all the difference.

[bctt tweet=”One Word Can Make All the Difference Between Funny or Ho Hum. Learn 3 tips how.”]

Categories
The Ministry of Writing

God Uses Your Writing in Your Writing Ministry

The title of this post sounds ridiculous I know. I’m sure this article will  get flagged by the A3 editors, but I did intend to make that seemingly redundant statement— God uses your writing in your writing ministry.

You may be finally convinced God has called you to minister through writing. You may be at the point that you are pursuing that call to write, but I am afraid  you may still feel you need to be someone else when you write.

You know God has called you. You are being obedient, but you want to have the style of someone else or the talent of your writing hero. You may even feel God wants you to be that other person, but that is not true.

[bctt tweet=”God called you to have a writing ministry and He wants to use your very own writing.”]

There are many things that can be gained from reading the Bible in its original languages. One of the most valuable insights I have gained is the humanity of the authors. Now don’t for a minute let that diminish the divinity bond in the Bible’s pages, but God didn’t call His authors to be robots. In the midst of God-breathed text one can still find the personalities, the styles, the gifts, the talents, the skills, and vocabulary of those human authors.

All though there are many points in which this phenomena appears there are two passages that are my favorite.

The first passage which displays the humanity of the Bible’s authors is 2 Peter 3:15-16,

     … as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of       these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other            Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Peter writes that the Apostle Paul’s writings are hard to understand. This is supported when Paul’s books are read in the Greek. Paul is very wordy and has long, long sentences. In a New Testament Greek class it will be a couple semesters in before Paul’s letters are studied. The beginner begins with John, Mark, Peter, or James — not Paul or Luke.

Interestingly, Paul and Luke would be the academics of the bunch.

My next favorite point of Scripture where the humanity of its authorship appears is John 20:4,

...Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

 In this passage, John seems to make this footnote that tells that he ran faster than Peter. You would think an editor would have cut that passage out, but the Holy Spirit gave that very human note a green light.

Throughout the Old and New Testament each book bears the mark of the man who penned it. God used their writing for ministry. Peter didn’t have to write like Paul. Moses didn’t have to write like Samuel. James could be straightforward. Luke could be technical. Ezekiel could be unique. Zechariah could be out there. John could be simple. An older John could be grandfatherly. David could be poetic. Solomon could be wise and introspective. And you could be you.

God uses your writing for your writing ministry.

 

 

 

 

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Five Words or Phrases to Avoid

Lots of time we hear verbal patterns that may be acceptable (to some people) in speech, but they are considered ungrammatical in the written word. Below are five examples of words or phrases to avoid in your written communications.

  1. Being as/Being that–Don’t use in place of because or since.

Being as the cake was frosted, we had to eat it.  Wrong

Because the cake was frosted, we had to eat it.   Correct

  1. Can’t hardly—This phrase is a double negative and not acceptable in standard English.

I can’t hardly wait for the first day of summer.  Wrong

I can hardly wait for the first day of summer.     Correct

I can’t wait for the first day of summer.              Correct

 Could of/Should of/Would of—These expressions are ungrammatical uses of could have, should have, and would have. They probably originate from the contractions in speech, could’ve, should’ve, and would’ve. Use the proper form in written English.

  1. Different from/Different Than—The correct usage is different from, not different than.

North Carolina eastern style barbeque is different from western style.

  1. Due to—This expression is a wordy construction. Use because

Due to the fact that Duke lost the game, the team didn’t advance. Wordy

Because Duke lost the game, the team didn’t advance.                   Much better

 Clean up your manuscripts by avoiding these ungrammatical expressions. Clean up your speech patterns by avoiding them, too.

Happy writing!

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

On Writing: Practice Excellence

The value of reading authors that inspire you to writing excellence.

Practice makes perfect. I believed this mantra for years until a music teacher changed my mind. “Perfect practice makes perfect,” he said, then explained that if you practice with poor technique or study only mediocre performances, you’ll never achieve true excellence at your craft. It was not enough to practice. The key was to focus on practicing exceptional technique.

Recently, I considered this wisdom with regard to writing. I’ve been reading. A lot. As writers we read for pleasure and knowledge, studying other authors to learn their techniques. The authors I found were good, but then I read one who was exceptional, and she challenged me. Here are the writing elements that drew my attention in her books:

  • the breadth of research
  • the depth of characterization
  • her fully fleshed-out fantasy elements
  • a storyline built on action (not chance or coincidence)

I had allowed my writing to become weak in some areas. This author made me look at my writing with fresh eyes—and higher standards.

Are you reading books that inspire you to write better? If not, seek them out. It’s true—artists improve by studying a wide breadth of creative people. However, there’s a reason artisans used to be apprenticed to masters and practice their techniques. Find those old and new masters who elevate their stories with exceptional writing craft.

Care to Comment?

Who are the master writers you study? What have you learned? I’d love to see your picks in the Comments section below.

And, in case you’re wondering, here’s the author who challenged me:

Mary Robinette Kowal writes historical fantasy. Her Glamourist Histories, set in the early 19th century, pay homage to Jane Austen’s writing style while creating a new alternate reality all their own. Kowal’s notes at the back of her books will be of particular interest to writers. Here she discusses how she overcame storyline challenges, conducted research, and worked with other authors and period experts. Writers can find additional tips in Kowal’s “Debut Author Lessons” blog post series found at www.MaryRobinetteKowal.com.

Sharables – Because sharing is fun!

[bctt tweet=”If you study only mediocre performances, you’ll never achieve true excellence at your craft. #AuthorLife #WritersRoad”]

[bctt tweet=”Studying Master Writers: Why it’s important. #WritersLife”]

Categories
Have Words, Will Travel....Travel Writing 101 Uncategorized

Top 5 Posts for Every Travel Writer

Have Words Will Travel
Upon returning from a writer's conference earlier this year, Cathy found a 1963 Shasta Airflyte Camper sitting in her driveway. Since then, she has taken quite the fancy to travel writing. She hopes you'll join her on this adventurous journey!
Top 5 Travel Writing Posts to Bookmark
Photo Courtesy of Pixabay

“My last point about getting started as a writer: do something first, good or bad, successful or not, and write it up before approaching an editor. The best introduction to an editor is your own written work, published or not. I traveled across Siberia on my own money before ever approaching an editor; I wrote my first book, Siberian Dawn, without knowing a single editor, with no idea of how to get it published. I had to risk my life on the Congo before selling my first magazine story. If the rebel spirit dwells within you, you won’t wait for an invitation, you’ll invade and take no hostages.” ― Jeffrey Taylor

If your own rebel spirit is restless, below are top five sites offering boundless opportunities for every travel writer.

 

Do you have a favorite travel writing site? If so, please share in the comment section.

Categories
The Ministry of Writing

You Already Have a Writing Team

Like me you are probably trying to build a support team for your writing — a reading group, a critique group, editors, an agent, an IT person who will come to the rescue in the middle of the night for free, publishers, publicists, etc. But you already have a writing team. A team that is easily forgotten.

The other day I contacted a guy to hire to help me do communications for a ministry I am involved in. I emailed him that I was looking for a Felicity from the CW’s Arrow and a Cisco from CW’s Flash. Like you, possibly, he didn’t have a clue what I was talking about, but lucky his wife watched the two television shows. Arrow is a television show based off the DC Comics character Green Arrow. Green Arrow is a crime fighting vigilante who wears a green hood and uses a bow. Flash is a television show based off the DC Comics character Flash who after being hit by lightning gains supernatural speed which he uses to do good in his city.

The two shows have caught my attention. For one, I was a comic book nerd back in the day, but secondly, it has given an interesting take about other people in the lives of these superheroes. Both characters have a team that helps them. Green Arrow has Diggle who helps with intelligence and crime fighting, and he has Felicity who is a computer guru. The Flash has Joe who is a detective, Caitlyn who is a scientific genius, and Cisco who is a technology guru. In every episode it is evident that the superheroes can’t accomplish their missions alone.

The shows go beyond the immediate “official” team and shows how the hero’s mission affects so many others lives. There are those who know the hero’s true identity and struggle to carry that burden. Then there are the family members and love ones who do not know the identity, but still feel the effects of the hero’s double life.

Now maybe it is self-serving to attempt to connect my writing to a superhero, but I need all the encouragement I can get. No seriously, our writing ministries are important. Like the Arrow and the Flash we are trying to change the world, and we aren’t doing it alone. [bctt tweet=”You can’t accomplish your writing mission alone — it takes a team.”]

If you have written for any period of time then you have a good team that works hard to let you “save the world.” I imagine you have a team like me. I have my wife who has for years given up her husband’s one day off and her only day to have a break from being mom to allow me to write. She has agreed to invest money into editing, critiques, contests, and writers conferences all the while knowing my promise that we would eventually make it back was a lie. Then there are my daughters who sacrifice their Daddy time and play without him even though he is just a closed door and headphones away. Then there is my congregation that has not received their pastor’s full attention so that he could write. There are my parents who know they are in trouble when they get older because their writer son is going to be busy spending 2,000 hours on a manuscript that will never see daylight and not be able to help them, and he sure is not going to have any money. They are a team player willing to offer my family a place to live if turns to that. Then my poor in-laws who know I can’t provide what their daughter deserves because I spend too much time watching stupid YouTube videos and reading “Where are the WWE Stars Now?” — uh, I mean writing. Then there are my fishing and hunting buddies who have to go alone because I’m hanging out in my office drawing ligers.

Again if you have written for any period of time you too have a team like me. Remember them. You can’t do it alone, but you already have a writing team.

 

 

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Using Pinterest for Ministry

Pinterest for Writers: Part 2 - Using Pinterest for Ministry

Pinterest for Writers: Part 2

When I teach computer classes for Christian writers and speakers, many attendees are surprised that I suggest using Pinterest for ministry. I think they envision one of two extremes—1) having a separate ministry account that is filled with only scripture verses, Bible studies, and worship albums or 2) having to remove all the special interest boards they have on their personal accounts so everything becomes ministry focused. Neither extreme is necessary. In fact, it is our unique personal interests, as shown through our Pinterest boards and pins, that can help us reach people who might never connect with anything “churchy”.

Think about how Pinterest works. Our feeds are filled with pins based on our likes and the boards we follow. When a user finds a pin of interest, he or she will pin it, take a look at its board, and visit the pinner’s home page to see if there are other intriguing items. This is a great opportunity for ministry.

Consider this real-life example:
A woman I know loves all things related to tea and tea parties. She has boards dedicated to tea recipes, table decorations, being a good host, teapots, and tea sayings. Many of her 500+ followers found her because they, too, like tea. However, this woman also has boards for scripture verses, encouragement, and women’s ministry. Those who choose to follow her because they like her tea information will receive the pins from her other boards. Those who only follow her tea boards will still be exposed to scripture because some of her tea pictures include Bible verses. This woman draws people to her page through the things she likes. She gets to share Jesus with pinners because she doesn’t separate Him from the other things that make her who she is.

So, if you have a Pinterest account, consider how you can minister to others. Don’t worry about creating something formal. Simply, collect pins and create boards based on who you are. If you like Corgi dogs, have a board for that. If you’re into camping, gather up those tent-pitching pins. If you’re studying kindness in the Bible, compile verses and articles that remind you of God’s graciousness. People can connect over the strangest things. Show others what and Whom you love on Pinterest, and let God direct the rest.

The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. ~Mark 4:14 (NLT)

If you’d like to see Pinterest ministry in action, check out these Pinterest home pages created by fellow writers and speakers:

Carolyn Knefely, The TeaCup Living Lady – https://www.pinterest.com/CarolynKKnefely/

Maureen Hager – Christian speaker, lover of Corgis & Harley Davidson motorcycles https://www.pinterest.com/MoHager

Beth Bergren – Passionate about God, food, family & fun https://www.pinterest.com/BethBergren/

Sharables – Because sharing is fun!

[bctt tweet=”Our Pinterest hobby boards can help us reach people who might never connect with anything “churchy”. #Ministry”]

[bctt tweet=”Using Pinterest for Ministry – How writers can connect and minister to readers with Pinterest. #WriteToInspire”]

Categories
Grammar and Grace Uncategorized

Five More Confusing Word Pairs to Consider

We’re continuing to examine words that are used incorrectly.

  1. Enthused/Enthusiastic—Although enthused has become acceptable in standard usage, old school people still prefer enthusiastic.

My daughter was not very enthusiastic about salmon for dinner.

  1. Farther/Further—Farther is used for geographic distances. Further means “in addition to” without involving geography.

A great bed and breakfast is located about a mile farther down the road.

Further accidents can be avoided with common sense.

  1. Fewer/Less—Use fewer for groups or collections with parts that can be counted individually. Use less for things in bulk.

The fifth grade class earned fewer cupcakes than the fourth grade.

We added less butter in our brownies for a low fat option.

  1. Impact/Affect— Some people shudder when impact is used as a verb although it’s become acceptable in standard English.

The impact of the wind knocked me down.  (Yes.)

The song impacted me more than you’ll ever know. (No. This usage may bring to mind images of impacted teeth…or bowels. You don’t want that, do you?)

Instead, use affect.

The nostalgic play affected me to the point of tears.

  1. Irregardless/Regardless—Old English teachers might have rapped knuckles and said, “Irregardless isn’t a word. It isn’t in the dictionary.” My dictionary has it listed along with the definition of non standard English. Irregardless is, however, a fun café in Raleigh, NC. Please use regardless instead.

Do you agree or disagree about the usage of enthuse or impact?

Happy writing!

Categories
Dear Young Scribes

10 Tips for Reading Through the Eyes of a Writer

Book and glasses

For most writers, our passion to write was birthed from a passion to read. We grew up immersed in books. Books that touched us, entertained us, made us laugh and cry. And somewhere along the way, we discovered that we, too, wanted to create the same effect for readers through our own stories.

As writers, it’s only natural that we should want to learn from the masters. We should not only read for enjoyment, but for education as well.

Sure, there are plenty books on the writing craft that can give us instruction. I’m not against this at all. But personally, the best way I learned how to write was from reading books through the eyes of a writer.

How is this done?

Here are 10 tips for reading through the eyes of a writer:

        1. Study the plot as it unravels. When would you assume Act 1 ends and Act 2 begins? Can you identify the character’s external and internal goals at the beginning of the book? What is the conflict and unanswered questions that the author has set up? How is the backstory woven in without interrupting the story?

        2. Study the scene structure and pacing. Does it begin in a way that “grabs” you? Does it end in a way that lures you to read the next scene?

        3. Study the author’s wordsmithing. Are there words you are not familiar with? If so, highlight them and research their definition. How does the author’s word choice create tension? Strengthen mood and emotion? How does it develop characterization and paint the scene in your imagination?

        4. Study the rhythm. Read the book out loud. How do the words and dialogue flow? How are the sentences structured in a way that intensifies the mood of the scene?

        5. Study characterization. Does each character have their own unique personality, dialect, style, traits, etc.? How is this revealed in a way that shows rather than tells? How do the secondary characters contribute to the plot, and are they three-dimensional or cardboard characters?

        6. If you lose focus in the book, identify at which point your attention began to lack. Was it caused from a decrease in conflict/tension? Did it become too easy for the character to reach his/her goal? Or is it because the scenes were passive, written about the character’s day-to-day, dull life?

        7. If you love the book, identify why you can’t seem to put it down. Is it the writing style or the plot? Is it because the writing is concise and tight, or because suspense is woven into each scene?

        8. Study the emotion and humor. If the story makes you cry, take note of how the author tapped into your emotions. How was this emotion portrayed without “telling” or coming across as overly dramatic? If the story makes you laugh, take note of the kind of humor the author used and how they portrayed this without coming across as cheesy.

        9. Study the setting. Do you think it was well-developed and/or well-researched? Does it contribute to the mood of each scene? How did the author use sensory details to highlight unique features of the setting without interrupting the flow of the story?

        10. Study the theme. Do you have an idea as to what the theme is by the end of the book? If so, how did the author get this across without “preaching” to the reader? Or if it did come across as preachy, how could the author have subtly woven in the theme instead?

It might take longer to read a book if you study it through the eyes of a writer rather than a reader. But if you do this — if you dissect books as you read them and highlight passages when necessary — then this should result in a major improvement in your own writing.

“To succeed as a novelist, reading novels must be a priority. Don’t be afraid. You won’t lose your voice; you will only enhance it. And soon, students will be using your novels as their textbooks.”

~Linda Hall

[bctt tweet=”10 Tips for Reading Through the Eyes of a Writer @tessaemilyhall #amwriting #writingtips”]

[bctt tweet=”Can our writing improve by studying the books we read? @tessaemilyhall #writingtips #amwriting”]

Do you read books through the eyes of a writer? If so, how has it made a difference in your writing?

Categories
Craft Writing with Humor

Adding Humor to Your Writing Is As Easy as 1 – 2 – 3: The Rule of Three, to be exact.

Adding Humor to Your Writing is as Easy as 1-2-3. The Rule of Three to be Exact. by Jean Wilund via www.AlmostAnAuthor.com

Adding humor to any type of writing is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3.

Not 1 – 2 – 3 – 4.

Or 1 – 2.

1 – 2 – 3.

Research shows we like lists of three. Four sounds overdone. Two feels incomplete. Three is just right.

I guess Goldilocks and the three bears were right.

The literary device known as The Rule of Three says lists are funnier, more satisfying, and more effective in threes. 

I agree.

Here are three easy tips for adding humor using The Rule of Three:

1. Add an Unexpected Humorous Ending to a List of Three.

Whether you’re writing a serious or comedic piece, throwing in a humorous ending to a list of three grabs your reader’s attention.

Getting fit and trim is easy. Eat more fruits and vegetables, eat less processed foods, and borrow your skinny neighbor’s five kids and three dogs to chase around.

In the above example, the third point could easily lead into a serious discussion about adopting a more active lifestyle for an article on health and fitness.

It could also lead into a humorous anecdote in a novel about two friends who are opposites.

In my last article, I talked about using opposites in humor, which is otherwise known as juxtaposition for you scholarly types. Check it out here.

2. Add an Unexpected Serious Ending to a List of Three

A list that starts out humorous but ends in a more normal tone is another method for catching the reader by surprise and introducing the topic in a memorable way.

The following example could be used to introduce the topic of why every writer should join a critique group.

The most successful road to publishing awakens delusions of grandeur, unearths deep-seated insecurities, and leads through a writer’s critique group that will help keep the author grounded somewhere in between.

3. Change-up a Well-Known List of Three

Can you fill in the last word in each of these lists?

Live, Love, _____.

Friends, Romans, _____.

The good, the bad, and the _____.

Surely every American knows these famous phrases. (If not, check the bottom of the post for the answers.) 

When we take a familiar list of three and change it up with something unfamiliar, we throw our reader off and make them laugh.

I came, I saw, I bought the t-shirt.

Click to learn how easy it is to add humor to your writing using The Rule of Three.

When well-done, The Rule of Three brings a smile to our readers’ faces, encourages them to keep reading, and results in smiling authors.

It’s a win-win. 

Not everything has to be grouped in three’s.

The answers to the blanks in #3 are:

Live, Love, Laugh. 

Friends, Romans, countrymen. 

The good, the bad, and the ugly.

I came, I saw, I bought the t-shirt came from the famous quote by Julius Caesar: I came, I saw, I conquered. 

What are some favorite change-ups you’ve heard? Share them in the comments below. 

[bctt tweet=”Adding #Humor to Your Writing is as Easy as 1-2-3. The Rule of Three to be exact. #amwriting #author”]

Categories
Uncategorized Write Justified

How’s Your Posture?

listening1One of the occupational hazards of the writing-editing life is back and/or neck pain as a result of poor posture. We’re often sitting, hunched over a computer for long periods of time. Without our chair, desk, and computer properly aligned we’re prone to periodic discomfort or chronic pain. Not to mention eye strain if we forget to follow the 20-20-20- practice: [bctt tweet=”every 20 minutes take 20 seconds to look at something at least 20 feet away.”]

Impaired mental posture also takes its toll. Writer’s block, fear, and procrastination all conspire to keep us from proper mental alignment and inhibit our productivity. Some of these misalignments can be corrected by developing our technical skills–brushing up on grammar, sentence structure, etc., But even successful writers battle mental misalignment from time to time.

And then there’s our spiritual posture. What’s our stance before our heavenly Father, the source of our creative desires and energy? I confess that mine ranges from a careless slouch—casually acknowledging God from afar as a friendly grandfather who will show up when I signal him, to a self-righteous erectness attempting to balance all the demands of life atop my own head and shoulders and expecting a “well done” for my independence and self-sufficiency.

[bctt tweet=”God desires an intimate relationship with us and that requires a certain posture”]. He may get my attention in dramatic fashion, but he’s just as likely to speak to me in a still small voice. The ability to hear that voice requires a certain posture. It’s a wise teacher who lowers her voice get the classes’ attention. It’s a far more effective way to get students to listen than trying to speak above their noise. Students may even need to lean in and turn an ear in the direction of the teacher’s voice to be sure they hear. They need to set aside distractions and focus on the teacher.

As I open God’s Word and quiet myself in my prayer room, I need to lean in in anticipation and expectation. I need to keep my eyes wide open to the ways he is already at work in the world and in my life. And I need to adopt a heart posture of humble submission, leaning in expectantly to hear from the Teacher. It’s a divine posture adjustment and it’s essential to a well aligned life.  How’s your posture?