Tag: Almost an Author

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Five More Confusing Word Pairs

For the past couple of posts, we’ve been focusing on confusing word pairs. Today will continue with a few more. The following words may not be spelled similarly or sound alike, but they are sometimes used incorrectly.

  1. Accept and Except

Accept—is a verb that means “to receive.”

Please accept this million dollars for your excellent manuscript.

 

Except—is a preposition that means “but.”

The toddler ate everything except his kale.

 

  1. Advice and Advise

Advice—is a noun and rhymes with “rice.”

Take my advice. You need to proofread your paper.

 

Advise—is a verb and rhymes with “prize.”

The teacher will advise you on which class to take.

 

  1. Allusion and Illusion

Allusion—is a reference to something else.

Please find five allusions in Poe’s, “The Raven.”

 

Illusion—is a dream, a fantasy.

He believed the illusion that he could lose weight without changing his eating habits.

 

  1. Among and Between

Between—is usually used to show a relationship with two nouns.

Between you and me, I’m pulling for the Panthers to win.

 

Among—is usually used to show a relationship with more than two nouns.

Sadness was common among Pittsburghers when the Steelers lost the last game.

 

  1. Anxious and Eager

Anxious—can show fear.

I’m anxious about the skin test results.

 

Eager—shows strong interest.

I’m eager to be finished with doctors’ appointments.

 

These words are distinct and are easy to use properly if you remember the definitions. Good luck with your writing!

Categories
Journeying through the Writer's Life

Time to Write—The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself

We writers are an odd lot.

We’re driven to write, spending time composing poetry, writing books, researching articles. We doodle titles, character names, and plot ideas on scraps of paper. All the while feeling guilty about the time we spend pursuing our dream. I call it writer’s guilt.

So how have I solved this dilemma?

Years ago I made a conscious decision to give myself permission to make writing a priority. I gave myself the gift of time to write. Not only has giving myself this gift gotten me closer to achieving my goals and dreams, it’s given me a self-confidence I didn’t expect. The more I make writing a priority, the better I get at it. Then the more success I have, which leads to the courage to push myself and reach for the stars.

[bctt tweet=”Time to Write – The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself this Season – @EdieMelson #writing ” via=”no”]

Here are the steps I took to set aside time for writing:

  1. Come up with a schedule and keep regular, consistent hours. Notice I said regular hours—not normal ones. For years I wrote with young children. That meant writing in the afternoons and after they were in bed. Just because you’re working odd hours doesn’t mean you can’t have a schedule.
  1. Respect your dream. If your best friend, or child had a dream you’d encourage them to pursue it. Give yourself the same support that you’d give someone else. Trust me, you’re worth it!
  1. Be consistent. If you’re not accepting calls from your mother-in-law because you’re working, don’t spend the afternoon on the phone with your best friend. Stay focused on your writing. This is even more critical if your time is at a premium.
  1. Recruit a support team. Instead of adversaries, enlist your friends and family to help you reach your writing goals. Communicate those goals, clearly and frequently. Ask for their help to reach them. After all, what mother doesn’t want to help her baby succeed!
  1. Share your victories. Let those that help you share in the joy of goals accomplished and milestones reached.

What do you do to make your writing time a priority? What interruptions do you struggle with the most? Share your thoughts and we’ll all support each other.

[bctt tweet=”5 Tips to Help You Find Time to Write – @EdieMelson #writing ” via=”no”]

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Understanding Lie and Lay

 

We’ll take a break from adding more confusing words to our list this time and  focus only on the two verbs lie and lay. They are often confused because they’re both irregular verbs, and the past tense of lie is lay.

(present tense)     Lie                                         Lay
(past tense)           Lay                                        Laid
(past participle)   Have lain                             Laid

*To lie means “to recline.”

I hope to lie down to sleep at 9:30.

Last night, I lay down at 10:30.

I had lain in bed for two hours before I gave up and turned on the light.

*To lay means “to put down.”

Colleen, lay the baby in the crib for a nap, please.

Colleen laid the baby in the crib twenty minutes ago.

Colleen had laid the baby in the crib before the phone rang.

Next time, we’ll continue with more confusing words.

Categories
The Ministry of Writing

Character Over Completion

Labeled for reuse https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Maniac9.jpg

I work like a mad scientist. When I am working on a writing project I am all in — laser-beam focus. I won’t shave. I can’t think about anything else. I don’t call my mom (sorry Mom). I lose track of the college football polls. My desk becomes littered with coffee cups, water bottles, and empty diet coke cans. My trashcan overflows with pierced K-cups. My desk lamp never gets turned off. There are stacks of research books everywhere I go. The project consumes me.

My metamorphosis into Dr. Frankenstein is due to the fact that I believe called of God to complete the project. I believe that the book or whatever it might be will change the world. Life begins to revolve around that important project.

Amazingly in those times I am able to do well with my quiet times and my relationship with God. I guess I incorporate prayer and Bible reading into the project. But my prayers center on the project. My Bible roulette is all about finding inspiration to push on.

Life becomes about one thing — the completion of that project.

When I struggle to even give my wife and children adequate attention. When I fail to contact family and friends I love dearly. When I don’t even do the hobbies I love then my personal character development is nowhere on the radar.

Writing. Word Count. Editing. Weed words. The perfect Pandora station. Research. Those things are on my radar.

Life becomes solely about completing the project which means that my attitude may go to pot.

It is downright scary how that I can be so driven to please God and serve Him through the completion of a project, but I totally ignore pleasing Him by becoming the person He wants me to be. I listen to lectures and read blogs of writing tips, but ignore the Holy Spirit prompting me not to be a jerk.

In pastoring I have been given the best advice on making my family a priority. I am regularly reminded that if I succeed as a pastor, but fail my family then ultimately I have failed. I think that same principle should be applied to our writing and our own character. If we succeed in creating masterpieces for the Lord, but fail to let Him work in our lives then we have failed.

To put our sanctification in perspective we need to keep in mind Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…” [bctt tweet=”Although we may be called to write, we are first His workmanship.”] We need to let Him work.

Therefore as writers driven to glorify God and reach others we must remember the words from the Psalm 46, “Be still and know that He is God.”

We need to get up from our desks. Step away from the lap top. Turn off the music. Let the coffee cool down. And let Him complete our character over us completing a project. As followers of Christ, we must remember character over completion.

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Using Pinterest for Writing Research

How Pinterest can help writers find expert and original source materials.

Pinterest for Writers – Part 1

If you’ve heard about Pinterest and think it’s only for women or crafters, think again. Pinterest encourages people from all over the world to gather around common interests and share their knowledge. This results in a rich database of information for writing research.

  • Have a character who’s into sailing, and you need the name of common boating knots? (Pinterest Search “Sailboat Knots”)
  • Want to know the color schemes of a 1950s kitchen? (Pinterest Search “1950s Kitchen Décor”)
  • Need to find a quaint Irish town for your next suspense novel? (Pinterest Search “Irish Towns”)

What’s the best part of using Pinterest for writing research? It’s easy, because other Pinterest users (a.k.a. Pinners) have already done a lot of the work for you.

[bctt tweet=”How to use Pinterest for Writing Research. #AuthorLife #HowTo”]

Research Tools You’ll Find on Pinterest

  1. Collections – Pinterest users collect articles and pictures that interest them onto boards. The Pinner names the board based on it’s topic and gives it a description. These names and descriptions are searchable by other Pinterest users. If you type the phrase “London Theater “ into the Pinterest search box, individual articles and pictures about this topic will appear as well as entire boards (collections of articles and pictures) on this subject. Bonus – Pinned items come from all over the Internet, including websites, Instagram pictures, Etsy listings, Ebay listings, and more.Writing Research-London Theater
  2. Expert Bloggers – When you click on a pin that interests you, you’ll find additional information. If the pin originated with a website, you can click on the website to read the full article or see other pictures. This is a great way to find blogs written by subject-matter gurus. Bloggers with strong material are pinned and shared. Note- If you’re a blogger, be sure to have a Pin This button on your blog posts so your great material can be shared, too.
  3. Original Documents – It’s critical for writers to get it right. Experts are wonderful. Primary source documents are even better. It’s not uncommon to have scans of primary source material pinned on Pinterest. When I searched Pinterest for “Edwardian Fashion,” I found a link to a 1910 print entitle “Children’s House Clothes for the Little Girl from 6 to 12.” It’s part of the The New York Public Library’s digital archives, a free resource with many additional original documents. Other source documents frequently found on Pinterest include archived magazine articles, how to books dating back to the 1800s, design schematics, and antique photographs. How to Use Pinterest for Writing Research.
  4. Related Pins – When you click on a Pin, Related Pins appear below it. These are pins similar to the one you selected. So, each search and selection you make leads you to a host of other selections that are already pre-sorted for you.

To learn more about how to use Pinterest, connect with me at The EfficiencyAddict on Pinterest or visit my blog at TheEfficiencyAddict.com. This month’s #WorkSmarter Series is all about using Pinterest for writers, speakers, and small business owners.

Categories
Craft Writing with Humor

Five Ways to Add Humor Using Juxtaposition

Five Ways to Add Humor Using Juxtaposition via www.AlmostAnAuthor.com (@JeanWilund)

One of these things is not like the other. One of these things just doesn’t belong . . .

Perhaps that should be the theme song for the useful literary device called juxtaposition.

Juxtaposition — positioning two or more characters, ideas, objects, or places beside each other in order to draw comparisons and contrasts — and for our purposes, a laugh.

Regardless of what genre you’re writing, juxtaposition is a powerful tool, especially when you want to add a touch of humor.

Below are five ways juxtaposition can add humor to your writing:

1. Juxtaposition Provides an Unexpected Laugh

A non-fiction author may write about a serious subject, but depending on the topic, he may still wish to add humor. (See How Humor Helps When Writing About Sensitive Topics.)

Juxtaposition is a great way to inject humor and make any statement more memorable.

I read a poem recently by an unknown author. One line remains stuck in my head like the Nationwide theme hum by Peyton Manning, except I like this line: 

I thoroughly hate loving you.

What a perfect juxtaposition. Love and hate.

2. Juxtaposition Creates Interesting Conflict

Without conflict, there’s no story.

Novels, movies, and plays often feature lead characters with opposite attributes or personalities in order to create interesting conflict.

Consider the 1970’s TV series The Odd Couple.

The juxtaposition of the fussy, neat freak Felix Unger with his apathetic, sloppy roommate Oscar Madison created five seasons of TV fun and plenty of awards.

Watch the following opening theme song for The Odd Couple’s humorous juxtapositions:

Continue reading “Five Ways to Add Humor Using Juxtaposition”

Categories
The Ministry of Writing

Fiction Writers are Teachers Too

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Christian nonfiction writers receive all the credit for being the biblical and spiritual teachers. If we want to learn the truth then we are told to pick up one of those boring nonfiction books written by a preacher, but that is not fair because fiction writers are teachers, too. Actually learning is accelerated far more through narrative than simple prose therefore we learn more from fiction writers than we even realize.

Education experts and our own experience tell us that we learn best through watching examples than hearing a lecture. As famous author Henry David Thoreau once said, “If you would convince a man that he does wrong, do right. But do not care to convince him. Men will believe what they see. Let them see.”

Your stories in your fictional writings teach. They teach far more than a sermon or “how-to” book does. Therefore, you must understand you aren’t just a story teller — you are a teacher.

Your writings teach a lot of practices, doctrines, and values — but most of all you teach worldview.

You don’t just teach worldview you create worldviews. You create whole worlds and then you teach how that world should be viewed and understood.

So how do I know this? Because I am trying to instill a Christian biblical worldview in my children, but that worldview is constantly being challenged through the fiction books, movies, televisions, and clichés that fill their lives.

We guard the shows and books that my children see and hear. We find stories that convey solid values and don’t introduce “bad” things. But even in those good stories a different world view is presented. Even in the good stuff my kiddos see people who are good people, but do not walk with the Lord. The self-sufficiency of man is championed. In many of those stories, the world just appeared and was not created by an almighty God. The characters live their life and do not worship God. In the stories the characters chase their own dreams and don’t let the Holy Spirit guide them. Nature may be worshiped. The list could go on. Here are some of the worldview challenges that has come up:

 

[bctt tweet=”“Daddy, Calliou doesn’t pray before he goes to bed.””]

“Daddy, do you think Daniel the Tiger knows Jesus? He doesn’t go to church.”

“Daddy, do you know that at that princess castle with the tea cups you can ride that all of our dreams will come true. Can we go?”

“Daddy, do you know that the ponies (My Little Pony) can make rainbows, too?” (Meaning in addition to God).

“Daddy is Jesus like Superman?”

“Daddy on Dinosaur Train I heard that dinosaurs were here millions of years ago.” (Did I mention I am young earth proponent?)

 

I could go all day. None of these are terrible. There are all good shows, but they portray a worldview of life without God or a reality where something is a god.

Not only do they portray things, they shape worldviews.

So what kind of worldviews are you creating?

Please be creative and tell amazing stories, but how about still portraying the biblical worldview and values you hold dear.

Refer to the one, transcendent Creator. Refer to an afterlife. Have your hero still reliant on the Creator. Have your character carry out spiritual disciplines. Again know that you are shaping your reader’s worldview.

Author Brian Godawa wrote, “Every story is informed by a worldview.” I would add that every story shapes our worldview.

[bctt tweet=”Since fiction writers are teachers too, teach a biblical compatible worldview.”]

Categories
Craft Writing with Humor

More Is Caught Than Taught: A Fun Way to Develop Comedic Voice

Click to view: More Is Caught Than Taught: A Fun Way To Develop Your Comedic Voice by Jean Wilund via www.AlmostAnAuthor.com

More is caught than taught.

This truism haunted me as I raised three impressionable children. Now it inspires me as I seek to improve my humor skills.

It also gives me a great excuse to go out or stay in. Going out to the latest comedy now qualifies as needed research. Hunkering down at home with an amusing book is necessary study time.

This is not to say that all is caught and none is taught. Even if we were born with a comedic gift, writers need to examine the various forms and styles of humor such as epigrammatic, ironic, and farcical humor.

But not today.

Today we’ll focus on a less technical and more fun way to develop comedic voice. I suggest we watch and learn from the pros.

Grab your favorite witty book, blog, or magazine and a pen. Mark the lines that grab you. Then after you’re done laughing, study them.

Or watch a comedy and note the moments that stand out. Study those moments.

As I’ve done this, I’ve noticed a pattern emerge of the type of humor I prefer. This in turn reveals a course of study for improving my own comedic voice as I emulate my favorites and study their specific styles.

One of the blogs I study often is Jon Acuff‘s. He offers helpful and inspirational articles about career development in an entertaining manner. His sense of humor draws me in every time.

In his article 3 Reasons to Give Someone A Book For Christmas (12/15/15), Jon opens with the following:

Do you know when I realized I was an adult?

When I got luggage for Christmas and was excited.

I got a new suitcase and was thrilled/depressed. I was thrilled because it had a tri-fold department that would keep my shirts from getting wrinkled when I flew. I was depressed because I cared whether shirts got wrinkled.

As part of my studies, I watch a lot of comedies and comedians. Michael Jr. is my current favorite. He tells everyday life stories from a unique perspective with excellent timing. He’s helping me learn to stop and see the humor in life from a different angle. His take on being Jesus’ little brother is great study material.

My all-time favorite author to read and study is C.S. Lewis. I’ve never heard anyone call him a comedian, but I find much of his work not only insightful but quite humorous. The opening line in his book The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is one of the best first lines ever written.

“There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.”

What about you? If it’s true that more is caught than taught, which authors and comedians will you begin to study? Share your suggestions in the comments.

[bctt tweet=”More Is Caught Than Taught: A Fun Way to Develop Your Comedic Voice #AmWriting #Authors #Humor”]

Categories
Magazine and Freelance

HOW TO DRIVE EDITORS CRAZY- part 2

How to Drive an Editor Crazy, Part 2

By Lori Hatcher

I’m a magazine editor. Every day I receive submissions from writers. Some are stellar and others, not so much. While there are many factors that determine whether I accept a submission, writers who follow a few simple guidelines are much more likely to see their writing in print. In Part 1 of this series, (How to Drive an Editor Crazy, Part 1) I shared two things that drive editors crazy. This time, in case you’re considering career suicide, I’ll share a few more. If you’re a smart writer and avoid these pitfalls, you’ll be well on your way to making your editor smile AND seeing your work in a magazine.

How to Drive an Editor Crazy, Part 2

  1. Quote facts without attribution.

If you say, “Haiti is spiritually and economically depressed because its citizens signed a pact with the devil,” you’d better have a credible source to back this up. Publications will differ on how they want you to document your sources. Some prefer insource notation, others want footnotes or end notes, but they all agree—undocumented facts are a sign of sloppy journalism. And please don’t begin a sentence with “According to . . .” Recast the sentence if necessary, but figure out a less formulaic way of quoting your source.

  1. Use the word that

 

That in some sentences is a relative pronoun that introduces an adjective clause. Other times, that is superfluous. A good test to determine whether the word is necessary is to delete it and see if the sentence still makes sense.

Example: The first sight that I saw was a dog running toward me.

Example: I went to the store that had the birthday cake in the window.

In the first example, I can remove the word that without changing the meaning of the sentence. In the second, I cannot.

 

  1. Use the plural pronoun they with a singular subject.

 

Example: When a student doesn’t want to go to gym class it’s usually because they hate dressing out in front of others.

 

Writers do this because they don’t want to use the dreaded and awkward he/she. As noble as their motive is, however, it’s never OK. One way to avoid this is to pick a gender and use it throughout, knowing your readers will understand that your thoughts apply to both genders.

 

Example: When a student doesn’t want to go to gym class, it’s usually because he hates dressing out in front of others.

 

Another way to avoid this is to use the plural in both cases.

Example: When students don’t want to go to gym class, it’s usually because they hate dressing out in front of others.

Professional writers take note of incorrect grammar and usage and provide proper attribution whenever they quote sources. Watching for these errors and correcting them before we submit our work will ensure we never, ever, ever drive our editors crazy.

 

 

Lori Hatcher is the editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine and the author of the devotional book Hungry for God…Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women. A blogger, writing instructor, and women’s ministry speaker, her goal is to help women connect with God in the craziness of life. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Hungry for God…Starving for Time. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

Lori HatcherHeadshot

Categories
Journeying through the Writer's Life

Move Forward with Your Writing By Looking Back

I’ve found the writing path to be the journey of a lifetime. At times it’s fraught with discovery and at others, discouragement. I’ve learned how to avoid some of its pitfalls by spending some time each year gazing back at the way I’ve come.

[bctt tweet=”Move forward with your #writing by taking time to look back – @EdieMelson” via=”no”]

This time of year, with New Year’s just behind us, my thoughts turn backward as I evaluate the past year and prepare for the next one. I’ve given up New Year’s Resolutions completely and find the freedom from those expectations a major relief.

But I have implemented something else instead. My husband and I spend some time looking at our spiritual markers in the past year. We look at them individually, as a couple, and as a family. I also look at them in regard to my past year as a writer.

This is particularly helpful because the writer’s path is unique for each of us. In the past I’ve had trouble evaluating my progress because I was comparing my journey to someone else’s. To begin the process, I start with some basic questions.

  • What were some of my writing highlights of the year? (Not necessarily the most lucrative, but the most rewarding.)
  • What were some of my writing setbacks for the year?
  • How are some ways I’ve grown during the past year?
  • Who has impacted my writing career and in what way?

As I map out these spiritual markers, the path God’s had me on becomes quite clear. And, by knowing where I’ve been, it becomes clearer where to go next.

[bctt tweet=”Knowing where I’ve been on the #writing journey gives me direction on where to go next – @EdieMelson” via=”no”]

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Practical Writing Habits

Practical Writing Habits to keep you writing all year long.

Welcome to 2016! I hope you’ve already begun your writing journey by creating a scene, outlining the bones of a new story, or just getting some words on the page. If you haven’t started this process or need some encouragement, here are three practical writing habits to get your 2016 year off to a smart start.

  1. Set Realistic Word Count Goals – We like to think we can write 5000 words in a session, but is this realistic for a daily word count goal? A professional, i.e. making-a-living writer I know, has a goal of 500 words a day. That sounds low considering she is contracted for at least two books per year. However, this author has learned that when she sits down to write 500 words, she frequently exceeds this count. By having a small goal, she sets herself up for success. On the rare days she barely passes this count, she has still met her goal, and she knows she’ll write more tomorrow. That’s what matters. So, choose an achievable word count goal (500, 750, 1000 words) and see what happens. Consistent writing, even with small word count goals, leads to completed manuscripts.

[bctt tweet=”Set yourself up for success with small writing goals. #AuthorLife #HowTo”]

  1. Know Your Writing Days – It’s easy to say, “I’m going to write seven days a week.” Then life happens. Maybe your weekends are booked with family errands. Perhaps Tuesday and Thursday mornings are your workout times and you just can’t get up any earlier to write. Whatever is happening in your life, don’t worry. Make your writing schedule something that works for you. Choose days that fit your needs and commit to that writing time. Then enjoy your off days knowing your next writing session is coming soon.
  1. Set a Standard Time – Have you picked up on the theme of this post? There is value in routine. Consciously doing things over and over creates a habit. Getting in the habit of writing at a specific time sets us up for success. Do you have to think about brushing your teeth in the morning? No. It’s a habit. You probably do it at the same time every morning. There’s no debate over whether you’ll do it. You simply pick up your toothbrush and start. You can create the same habit for your writing. Pick a time when you’re going to write and stick with it. Consider it as critical as brushing your teeth. Keep this practice going and soon it will be automatic. That time of day will arrive and your mind will go into “writing mode”—a very good place to be.

For more information on developing effective routines, visit my November post series Developing a Positive Routine at TheEfficiencyAddict.com.

Happy New Year and Happy Writing! ~ The Efficiency Addict

[bctt tweet=”Practical habits for developing a positive writing routine. #AmWriting #HowTo”]

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Five Confusing Word Pairs

The English language has many confusing words because of all of those homonyms and synonyms (don’t even get me started on homographs, homophones, and heteronyms), but in this post we’ll consider only five.

  1. Clenched and Clinched

Clench—to hold tightly

Susan’s clenched teeth signaled an aversion to large, metal objects.

Clinch—to confirm or settle

Anna’s goal in the first two minutes of the soccer game clinched the championship.

  1. Verses and Versus

Verses—the plural form of verse.

The choir sang all four verses of It is Well With My Soul.

Versus—against.

Today’s game will be the Steelers versus the Ravens. Go Steelers!

  1. Complement and Compliment

Complement—something added for completion.

Kevin insists bacon is a great complement to peanut butter.

Compliment—an approval

Because of his kindness toward the refugees, the press gave the governor many compliments.

  1. Affect and Effect

Affect—to impress or to change (usually used as a verb)

Heavy holiday traffic affects our drive from the airport.

Effect—the result (usually used as a noun)

Peace is one of the many effects of prayer.

  1. Lie and Lay

Lie—to recline

I’ll lie down for a nap about 2:00 this afternoon.

Lay—to place

Lay the baby in the crib for his nap.

We’ll tackle more confusing word pairs next time.

Categories
Platform and Branding

Brand Basics – 2 Considerations For Writers

We’re familiar with a brand as it relates to corporations. When we think of Coke, McDonalds, and Nike these logos appear in our minds:

Coke – red background with white letters.
McDonalds – golden arches.
Nike – swoosh.

These corporations have spent millions (billions?) of dollars over the years with marketing groups and design teams to develop brand recognition. Few writers have the resources to invest in that kind of brand development but a personal brand is an important part of a solid platform.

Two important considerations for branding that every writer must consider are Content and Look.

CONTENT

Do you have a clear writing focus?

Content - writer brand

Perhaps you’re a novelist. Do you write mysteries for young adults? Romance geared toward women?

Maybe you’re an inspirational writer. Do you write devotions? Parenting articles? Bible studies?

Editors, technical writers, agents, etc. each have a special niche in the writing industry. Determine your focus, create content, and share on social media’s Big 3—Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Remember to be generous and share quotes and links from a variety of sources. Edie Melson recommends sharing only 20% of your own material. Find other writers and industry professionals who have a similar focus and share their content as well.

Don’t hesitate to share occasional random posts, but be sure to keep it kind and clean. Tweeting at your favorite sports team or sharing a funny meme on Facebook makes you a more interesting person to follow.

LOOK

Do your social media accounts have the same (or similar) backgrounds and headshots?

Develop a background and format it for each social media account. Profile dimensions change on a regular basis, so check a reliable source like Mashable for the most recent image sizes. Select a headshot that is both current and suitable for your writing.

A writer with brilliant branding is Steven James. He wears several hats: writing & speaking instructor, keynote speaker, poet, master storyteller, and suspense writer. His social media profiles and his website represent him well, reflecting his friendly yet somewhat mysterious personality.

Platforming - Steven James profile, writer brand

Your website’s About Page should include the same content focus, headshots, and background images (if possible). A consistent online image will help establish your personal brand and help lay a solid foundation for your platform.

Shareables:

branding considerations

[bctt tweet=”Start building your #writer brand by answering 2 questions, via @A3forme @susanrstilwell” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=”Top 2 considerations for developing your brand as a #writer, @a3forme @susanrstilwell” via=”no”]

Sites to check out:

Steven James
Mashable: Your social media cheat sheet for perfectly sized images

Categories
The Writer's PenCase

Writing Unforgettable Fiction—Part III

The Writer's PenCase

This time, we’ll look at Character Struggles, and how they help make unforgettable fiction. Here’s a great way to start it out: “To initiate your story, your protagonist will either 1) lose something vital and try to regain it, 2) see something desirable and try to obtain it, or 3) experience something traumatic and try to overcome it.”

[bctt tweet=”Three types of character struggles: internal, interpersonal, and external.”]. #amwriting #unforgettablefiction @stevenjames

Continue reading “Writing Unforgettable Fiction—Part III”
Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Writing a Novel: The Gift of Bad Writing

Writing a novel can be sidetracked by early editing. Learn why bad writing is actually a gift.

I’m a firm believer in being efficient. Why waste time when a little planning can make such a positive impact? I’ve repeatedly seen how having an organized computer, workspace, or schedule frees people to be more productive and creative. There is, however, one area where I’m learning it pays to be inefficient—writing a novel.

For years, I thought of story ideas but never managed to complete a manuscript. I’d sit down to write and get frustrated. The words on the page didn’t match the beautiful story in my head. I’d write a few pages or paragraphs, then spend the rest of my time editing. In the end, I had some nice scenes but no completed novels. Sound familiar?

Some of you may have just finished NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Did you notice how freeing it was? The only way to write 50,000 words in one month without tearing your hair out is to let go of your internal editor. You have to write fast in a just-get-the-story-on-the-page kind of way. If you stop yourself by thinking that sentence isn’t right, you’ll never meet the goal.

When people finish NaNoWriMo, their stories generally aren’t ready to send to a publisher, but that’s not the point. They’re complete stories, and there’s a lot you can do with those.

When asked, many authors will tell you they make 3 to 4 editing passes once their manuscripts are drafted. For newer writers, it may take that many passes just get it readable. Our drafts may overflow with dialogue and need more description, or they may include too much telling and need dialogue to improve the pace. Then there are editing passes for grammar, point of view checks, and a host of other ways to improve our stories.

The point is this: Efficiency would tell us we need to create a system to handle these editing issues up front. Surely, if we just write better in the beginning, we’ll get more done. Right? Experience tells us differently. When we get bogged down in making our writing stellar from the beginning, we might never get past those first pages.

If you’re struggling to write a manuscript, give yourself a gift this season— write badly (at least on the first pass). Get the story down. It’s okay if it’s rough or fragmented. The point is, it’s written. Editing will make it pretty, but we can’t edit what we don’t have.

[bctt tweet=”Bad writing can be the start of a great manuscript. #AmWriting #WritersWrite”]

NaNoWriMo may have been in November, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start your own writing month right now. Don’t go into the new year with big dreams and the same unfruitful habits. Try something new. If you need to start a writing routine, check out my November #WorkSmarter Series Developing a Positive Routine at TheEfficiencyAddict.com. And if you’re looking for a way to write quickly and complete a full manuscript, see last month’s Almost An Author article—Writing A Novel in Three Steps.

Merry Christmas, and may the joy of the season inspire you with stories to bring hope to the world. —The Efficiency Addict.

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Writing a Novel in Three Steps

Writing a Novel in Three Steps - A simple method for drafting an entire novel in three passes.

A fellow wordsmith recently shared his method for writing a novel. I was so intrigued by his straightforward process, I’m sharing it with you today. If you’ve never completed a novel or if you’re frustrated with your pace, perhaps this method will give you new energy.

I call this system The Three-Pass Method. This involves writing the entire novel but does not include editing. That’s a topic best left for another post. Today we simply want to tell our tale.

The First Pass: Write the entire story in 5000 words.
My friend has done this several times. He thinks of a story idea. Then, he writes all of the main elements. This includes the main characters, a brief backstory, 3-4 pivotal scenes, and the beginning/middle/end scenarios. In one quick 5000-word sprint, he has the whole tale. He doesn’t waste his energy making the words pretty or polished. The point of this exercise is to the see the story from start to finish. When he’s done, he has the bones of a novel and can decide if he wants to pursue it further.

The Second Pass: Expand to 15,000 words by roughing in key scenes and details.
This isn’t a big leap. Moving from 5,000 to 15,0000 words is only a 10,000-word increase. You can easily reach that level by drafting 10-12 additional scenes. You already have your pivotal scenes from the first pass. So, what do your characters need to do or experience that lead them to those critical moments? Write those elements as new scenes and you’ll quickly reach the 15,000 word mark.

The Third Pass: Expand to 85,000 words by filling out the story.
This is the fun part. Up to this point, you’ve been drafting—writing the elements and marking the critical details. Now, you get to play. If you’ve been writing in dialogue, add the descriptive elements. Engage the reader’s senses. Give us a feel for the locale. If you’ve been telling the story, give us dialogue. Add that witty repartee. Let us know who these characters are through how they speak, what they feel, and the way they react physically. Based on passes one and two, you’ll know exactly where this story is going. Use all your writing skills to give us an emotional, fun-filled, scary, suspenseful, or cryptic journey to that fabulous ending.

That’s the whole system. Notice this method focuses solely on the story. Time isn’t wasted on massive editing or polishing, although some editing will occur naturally as you make each pass. The benefit of this method is two-fold: we complete a manuscript (Yay!) and we don’t edit unnecessarily. We know that with each pass scenes and details will be built upon, so there’s no need to make them “perfect” in those first and second versions. By the time we make the third pass, we know the story so well we’re automatically making better decisions with the details we include.

If you try this method, I’d love to hear your results. Now get back to writing—you have a 5,000 word draft to craft!

[bctt tweet=”Have an idea for a novel? Here’s how to draft it in 3 simple steps. #WritersRoad #HowTo”]

Categories
Craft Writing with Humor

How Humor Helps When Writing About Sensitive Topics

How Humor Helps When Writing About Sensitive Topics by Jean Wilund

At first glance, making people laugh when addressing a sensitive topic seems absurd, maybe even callous. But then again, a little humor used the right way can make a tough topic easier for your audience to handle.

Laughter Sets the Spirit Free

“Laughter sets the spirit free through even the most tragic circumstances.

It helps us shake our heads clear, get our feet back under us and restore our sense of balance.

Humor is integral to our peace of mind and our ability to go beyond survival.”

(POW Survivor Captain Gerald Coffee.)

Capt. Coffee spent seven years as a POW in North Vietnam at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.” Speaking to a group one evening, Coffee told a story that showed how humor helped keep him sane. It started with a bite of bread.

“One day I took a bite out of my bread, and I looked at it, and I was inspired to compose my very first poem.

I said, ‘Little weevil in my bread, I think I just bit off … Coffee, you’ve got to be going off your rocker. How can you be sitting here in these abysmal circumstances laughing at your stupid little poem?’

But I was.

It just reminded me of that beautiful, traditional, axiomatic sense of humor that serves every single one of us each day.

I couldn’t do what I’ve done — you couldn’t do what you do — without that sense of humor.” [1]

[bctt tweet=”Laughter sets the spirit free through even the most tragic circumstances. – Capt. Gerald Coffee #Writers”]

Humor Hints at Hope

Just because we’re tackling a tough topics doesn’t mean we have to be grave in our delivery. We don’t want to depress the cheerful and drag the saddened down deeper. Instead, we can give hope to the hurting by inviting them to laugh with us through our tears.

We should never pretend a situation isn’t as serious as it is, but leaving our audience depressed will likely leave us without an audience, and they’ll miss our message.

Not long after subscribing to a certain blog, I had to give it up. The author continually wrote about sensitive subjects, professing hope, but consistently left me feeling only sadness.

I never sensed she was experiencing the joy she promised her readers. Her tone didn’t deliver what her words had promised.

To Laugh, or Not to Laugh

Not every topic we write about can be approached with humor, even light humor. Some experiences demand utmost seriousness. Wise judgment comes in handy at these times.

If it seems appropriate to the topic, your audience will thank you if you invite them to laugh.

Working humor into the background of sensitive topics can ease the blow and allow your message to take center stage.

In my next post, I’ll give five tips for how to use humor effectively when writing about a sensitive topic.

[bctt tweet=”How Humor Helps When Writing About Sensitive Topics. #Writers #Authors”]

 1. RECORD OF SOCIETY OF ACTUARIES 1989 VOL. 15 NO, 3B

 

Categories
Journeying through the Writer's Life

Tips for Catching & Storing Writing Ideas

As a writer, I’ve come to realize the value—and the elusiveness—of writing ideas. They come and go like beautiful blossoms in spring. And just like flowers, if we don’t pick them and save them, we lose them. So today I’d like to share some tips for catching and storing writing ideas.

[bctt tweet=”Every writer should have a system of keep track of #writing ideas – @EdieMelson” via=”no”]

Every single writer should have a system of keeping track of ideas. I have several. I also save the same ideas in multiple places to make them easier to find. Here is a peek at my storage system:

Computer Files: I have multiple files on my computer for ideas. Here are just a few:

Blog posts

Devotions

Quotes

Book Ideas (divided into fiction and non-fiction)

Article Ideas

Links

As I said, I may store the same idea in multiple places. For instance, an idea for a blog post, might also work well for an article. Or I might expand it into a book idea. The reverse is also true. I may take a book idea and pull it apart and put multiple things from it into blog posts and articles.

I keep several different quotes files, including writing quotes, inspirational quotes, and Bible verses. These will often grow into ideas for articles, blog posts and devotions.

I also keep a list of links. If I come across a cool idea on the web, I paste the URL and a quick description of what I think I could write about.

I have a place on my iPad and iPhone where I can write ideas.

I’m also a big believer in making audio recordings. Especially when I’m driving or if I have a long idea, I can just record it on my iPhone’s voice memo and transcribe it later.

I’ve also begun to do some sketching. Trust me, it’s nothing I want to share yet, but it seems to jump start my creativity. So I keep some colored pens and pencils—with a small sketch pad—in my computer bag.

I’ve discovered that taking pictures is also a good way to record inspiring ideas. I take pictures of interesting people, places, even geometric shapes in buildings and clouds.

[bctt tweet=”Capture #writing ideas visually with your camera – via @EdieMelson” via=”no”]

Finally, in case electronics fail me. I always carry a small notebook in my purse. The trick here is to remember to transfer those ideas to my other files so I don’t lose them!

These are my tips. What ways have you found to keep track of your writing ideas?

Categories
Journeying through the Writer's Life

9 Things for Your Writing Vault

We all know the value of saving for the future. The truth is that’s not just good financial advice—it’s also good advice for writers. There are times when creativity won’t come and times when failure seems to be all that’s happening. For those times, we need to have a place we go to renew and refresh. I like to call that my writing vault.

[bctt tweet=”Here are 9 things all authors need in their #writing vault – @EdieMelson” via=”no”]

Here are 9 things for your writing vault:

  1. Books—I’m a writer, so of course I have a library. But my library isn’t just for recreational reading. I have scores of writing craft books (ebooks and physical). I also have a lot of books that I study because the author is either really good or really bad at some aspect of the writing craft. For example, I learned some amazing tricks of dialogue by reading and studying Janet Evanovich. I bought several of her books at the used book stores and marked them up, studying how she made her dialogue so natural and interesting. I also have books full of writing prompts, and even some blank books for those days when I need to step away from the computer.
  1. Websites—these range from author sites I follow to writing instruction, to research. I bookmark my favorites and return to them again and again.
  1. Writing Friends & Critique Partners—these are the people who get me. They know the struggles I face. They also help me grow by holding me accountable, exchanging critiques and providing someone to brainstorm with.
  1. A History of Workshops & Classes—well, truthfully I have the notes and often audio recordings from these. But over the years I’ve amassed a lot of knowledge. I keep it filed away and easy to find so I can return to it when the need arises.
  1. Favorite movies and TV shows—I’m more of a movie person, but with Netflix and Amazon Prime, I’m watching more television shows. All of these help me with story, character, pacing, even ideas.
  1. Quality Equipment—I’m not just talking computers here. I have an iPad, stylus, standing desk, and a copier/printer. I also have a stash of my favorite pens, notepads, and general office supplies. Having what I need on hand helps take away the excuses.
  1. Inspirational Music—this isn’t necessarily religious music, it’s anything that inspires you. Put together a playlist on Spotify and keep it on in the background while you’re writing.
  1. Alligator-tough Skin—writing isn’t for the faint-of-heart. We must endure rejection, revision and those horrible voices that live in every writer’s mind.
  1. Faith—This may be listed last, but I believe it’s the most important thing of all. For me, it goes beyond faith in myself, although that is important. My faith in the God who created me for the purpose of stringing words together is my foundation every single time I sit down to write.

[bctt tweet=”What do you keep in your #writing vault? @EdieMelson” via=”no”]

These are the things that I keep in my writer’s vault. I’d love to know what’s in yours.

Categories
The Ministry of Writing

Improve Your Writing With Your Spiritual Gift

Allowed for reuse and modification - https://static.pexels.com/photos/174/coffee-apple-iphone-laptop.jpg

If you are a born again follower of Christ then you have been given a spiritual gift or gifts. Scripture tells us that our gift is for building up the body of Christ. There is no doubt that ministering with our gifts gives God glory and enhances our witness.

The benefits of our gift — building up the body, glorifying God, and reaching the lost —probably steal lines from your personal writing mission statement. Those things are the reasons we write. They are our purpose. Therefore understanding our spiritual gift is essential to our ministry of writing.

There is a hiccup though.

Writing is not listed as a spiritual gift in the Bible.

So does that mean our writing is not important or a tool for ministry? NO WAY! We know better. I will only provide one example — the Bible was written, right? Definitely God has blessed you with a gift of writing, but I believe spiritual gifts should be understood that they are more about the message rather than the method.

Spiritual gift lists are found in Romans 12:1-8, 1 Corinthian 12:1-31, Ephesians 4:1-16, and 1 Peter 4:10-11. Read a complete list [here]. There are methods of ministry listed like preaching, service, encouragement, and others. But even with those the emphasis is on the thought process and the message. There are gifted writers throughout the spectrum of spiritual gifts. We are tempted to stop short of expressing our spiritual gift because we do not look past out writing, but it is our spiritual gift that shapes our writing. Writing is a tool to exercise that gift so it is important to know your area of gifting because out of that gift comes what you like to write, as well as the writing you despise.

We can find writers gifted with encouragement, preaching/prophecy, shepherding, encouragement, evangelism, mercy, teaching, and faith. And to find them we wouldn’t even need to receive the results of their spiritual gift inventory or receive special revelation from God to know their gift for their writing reveals it.

The writer gifted with encouragement (exhortation) writes positive, encouraging, and uplifting pieces.

The writer gifted with evangelism seeks to win souls with everything they write.

The writer gifted with shepherding will write with people at the center of their work, while the writer gifted with prophecy focuses on doctrinal truths and tends to be harsh towards their reader.

The writer gifted with teaching is always going to have a lesson in their books.

I’m sure you get the idea by now. [bctt tweet=”Our spiritual gift is more about the message rather than method.”]

Within the biblical teaching of spiritual gifts we are told that we are all parts of one body and  have different roles within that body. Therefore, we need to fulfill our role and support others in their roles.

Knowing your spiritual gift(s) can help you focus your strengths, but the greatest value is that it shows how we fit into the body. Through understanding our gift we can see our writing in the context of other authors. Along with providing us with strengths our divine gifts also have a negative side. I feel my gift is teaching. So my focus tends to be on discipleship and spiritual growth. So when I run across a writer who is always putting out peppy uplifting devotions — I get frustrated. I condemn them for presenting everything in rose-covered glasses, but I am sure when they read my work they complain that I am discouraging and negative. The reality is that we are on the same team. That writer has the gift of encouragement which the body of Christ needs and I am writing from a teaching prospective that the body of Christ also needs. There is a place for both of our writings. I have many times been blessed by a writer spiritually gifted with the gift of encouragement when I googled “encouragement for writers” or “encouragement for pastors”.

I have had writers who are gifted with evangelism criticize me because I don’t present salvation enough in my writings. On the other hand I feel they need to focus more on making disciples not just “soul-winning”. Again we are both on the same team just gifted differently, but both providing what the body needs.

Christian writer it is important to seek out your spiritual gift and to recognize gifts in others. We are all on the same team. Some are feet, some hands, some a nose, some an eye, and I guess someone has to be a butt.

Regardless of your role in the body [bctt tweet=”improve your writing with your spiritual gift.”]

 

For more information on recognizing your spiritual gift or taking a spiritual gift inventory check out my blog…www.graytotebox.com

 

Categories
Editing The Critical Reader

Why Did My Favorite Character Have to Die?

Death of a Favorite Character

by Alycia W. Morales

When I started reading the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, friends were conflicted over the ending of the final book in the series, Allegiant. Some said to read Divergent and Insurgent and stop there, as their disappointment with the third book was great.

How dare she kill that character?[bctt tweet=”Why would an author kill a reader’s favorite character? #amreading #amwriting”]

A character everyone – obviously – loved.

Here are three reasons I could see why Ms. Roth killed off her character:

1. Someone had to die an unselfish death in order to preserve the lives of those around them. To give those left behind a better future – a hopeful one.

2. The ending for the other main character would not have been the same had the other character lived.

3. There was no riding-off-into-the-sunset-happily-ever-after alternative ending for this series. At least not that I could see.

If you’ve been a writer for more than … oh … a few months, you’ve heard that every now and then someone must die. It’s what gets you out of a writing rut. It’s what moves the story forward. It’s what gets the action going again.[bctt tweet=”#Writers, sometimes you need to kill your favorite characters. “]

And if you’ve read enough books, you already know that not every story has a happy ending. Life doesn’t. Why should every book? Yes, happy endings are nice. Yes, we want to see the bad guy die and the good guy survive, but sometimes the good guy has to die in order for the bad guy to get the appropriate judgment.

At least in the case of Allegiant, the death leaves us with a satisfying ending. It would absolutely have driven me crazy if the ending had been stilted or left hanging. I applaud Ms. Roth for leaving me in tears but with the knowledge that it was worth every word.

So, Writer, is there a character in your novel that needs to die? Could you twist your ending in such a way that your readers mourn the loss of their favorite character yet recognize the deep need for someone so brave and selfless to die?

 

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

Why This Travel Writing Site Rocks!

work-791437_640“Great travel writing consists of equal parts curiosity, vulnerability and vocabulary. It is not a terrain for know-it-alls or the indecisive. The best of the genre can simply be an elegant natural history essay, a nicely writ sports piece, or a well-turned profile of a bar band and its music. A well-grounded sense of place is the challenge for the writer. We observe, we calculate, we inquire, we look for a link between what we already know and what we’re about to learn. The finest travel writing describes what’s going on when nobody’s looking.” -Tom Miller

Regardless if you’re a weekend warrior with a camera and waterproof notepad in hand, or a full-press travel writer utilizing all the apps shared in last month’s post, you’re sure to savor every moment spent perusing Wanderful World…For the Curious, the Creative, and the Inspired. (Pour a mega cup of cold brew coffee because you’re gonna want it!)

While Wanderful World offers a plethora of relevant information I’d like to share one post you’re sure to appreciate:  The Different Types of Travel Writing Jobs Out There. Lizzie doesn’t disappoint!

So, hop over to her site, choose your type of writing job(s) and then, would you consider sharing it here?  I chose Product Description. Okay, so it’s not a featured article for The National Geographic but writing hotel descriptions and text for tour guides? That’s right up my proverbial alley!

I look forward to reading your choice.

Categories
Grammar and Grace

How to Choose the Correct Pronoun

What’s wrong with this sentence? Me and Cam finished the Army Ten-Miler. Me should be I, right? Easy. Most people agree pretty quickly on that sentence structure.

How about this one? Mrs. Powell invited Sara and I to lunch.  Anything wrong? Yes. I should be me in this sentence. Although me is the correct pronoun, more and more professional people today (including print reporters as well as newscasters) use the wrong pronoun.

Does it sound tricky? Sometimes I is correct. Sometimes me is correct. How do you choose the correct pronoun?

Here’s a simple way to check:

Mrs. Powell invited Sara and ______ to lunch.

How would you say it if the invitation included only the speaker?

Mrs. Powell invited I to lunch. No.
Mrs. Powell invited me to lunch. Yes.
So—Mrs. Powell invited Sara and me to lunch. Yes.

I in the above sentence is a direct object.

*Pronouns that work as direct objects, indirect objects, or objects of prepositions must be objective pronouns.

Here’s a list of objective pronouns:

me                      us                     whom
you                     you                  whomever
him, her, it      them

A direct object tells who or what receives the action done by the subject.

Irene Hannon has written many books.|
The Steelers will beat the Patriots this year.
The children’s librarian read them a story.

An indirect object tells for whom or for what an action is done.

The blogger wrote his authors an email.
Bailey and I sent the seniors an invitation.
Zac Brown could sing me a song any time.

Here’s a list of prepositions:

About             along               before             between          during             in
above              amid                behind            beyond            except             including
across             among             below              by                    excluding        inside
after                as                     beneath           despite           following        into
against           at                      beside              down               from                like

 

near                through          until                within                as to                    with regard to
of                     to                       up                    without             except for           because of
on                    toward            upon               according to    in addition to    by means of
over                under               via                   along with        in case of            in regard to
since               underneath   with                apart from       instead of            in spite of

 

Use the simple test above, and you shouldn’t have any problem choosing the correct pronoun.

Happy writing!

Hope Toler Dougherty holds a Master’s degree in English and taught at East Carolina University and York Technical College. Her publications include three novels Irish Encounter and Mars…With Venus Rising, and Rescued Hearts as well as nonfiction articles. A member of ACFW, RWA, and SinC, she writes for SeriousWriter.com. She and her husband live in North Carolina and enjoy visits with their two daughters and twin sons.

Author of Rescued Hearts
               Irish Encounter
              Mars…With Venus Rising
Visit Hope at www.hopetolerdougherty.com

 

 

 

 

 

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Categories
Magazine and Freelance

Query Letter Basics

When I first heard the phrase, “Query letter” I was confused and embarrassed.  I did not know what a query was or even how to pronounce it.  The correct pronunciation is (kweer-ee).   I referred to my friend “Google” for information.

The definition of query from Dictionary.com

 An inquiry from a writer to an editor of a magazine, newspaper, etc., regarding the acceptability of or  interest in an idea for an article, news story, or the like: usually presented in the form of a letter that outlines or describes the projected piece.

The query is your calling card; it is also called a pitch.   It is your sales letter that includes the subject of the article, who you are, and why you are qualified to write the article.

There are necessary steps to take before you write your query letter.

  • Read 3-5 issues of the magazine to get familiar with the voice and audience of that magazine. Many magazines can be read online or at your local library.
  • Go to website or call the magazine to get the name of the correct editor before you send the query letter. Make sure the name of editor, magazine and address are spelled correctly.
  • Gather all the research and education that makes you the expert on this topic.
  • Always check the website or call the magazine for guidelines.

General guidelines for formatting your letter.

  • Times New Roman and 10- or 12-point type.
  • One-inch margins.
  • Single-spaced page.
  • Block paragraph format (no indentations).
  • Include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address and web site, if possible.

The body of the query should:

  • Hook the reader -Grab the editor’s attention with the first line. It is a great idea to begin the query exactly how you will begin the article.
  • Be specific. – The topic should be precise. Note where the information will come from.
  • State your qualifications – This is your biography. Why you know what you know; why you are the one to write about this topic.  Be yourself.  Don’t compare your writing to others.
  • Thank the editor for considering your query.
  • Exclude the discussion of rates in the query letter.

Include self-addressed, stamped envelope when sending query by mail.

There are many informative web sites with examples of a good query.  To avoid reinventing the wheel, my friend Vonda Skelton has allowed me to share her blogs on query letters.   Please check out her bio while you are at the page.  She is one amazing woman.

taking the question out of query letters part 1

When it comes to your query letter, don’t over think it. Sell it.

I would love to hear your stories.  Please connect with me here or email me at

godsfruit@juno.com.

Categories
The Ministry of Writing

Accomplish This One Daily Writing Task

As a Christian writer I imagine you are like me and are driven with an overwhelming conviction and fire to accomplish the task the Lord has placed on your heart. With each moment I find to write I attack it like a mad scientist. I zone in and try to shut out everything else as I give myself to that project. I will be absolutely heaven-bent to complete the mission I have been given.

Obedience to the Spirit is a good thing, right?  We should bust our butts for the glory of God by attacking that project, but beyond whatever that project may be there is one thing we must accomplish first.

As a pastor I feel like there is not enough time in the day or a enough of myself to go around. Something is always going to get left undone, at least that is my experience. I have tried everything I can think of to get in all the study, preparation, administration, discipleship, evangelism, pastoral care, visits, counseling, funerals, weddings, vision casting, leader training, community involvement, denomination involvement, writing etc. No matter how well I follow the tips of John Maxwell or Stephen Covey I end up letting myself and others down.

This January I decided there was one thing I was going to make sure I accomplished daily. No matter what the fall-out would be or what piled up undone — each day I was going to spend adequate time with the Lord. I was going to read in His Word and pray over everything. I was going to let the Holy Spirit guide my to-do list.

I wish I can tell you that by making that decision I have gone on to accomplish more than I ever imagined each day.  I have at times, but not every day. There are things that still fall through the cracks, but I at least I know that what I do is not in my own strength rather it is in God’s strength.

As a Christian writer our tasks may seem just as impossible. There is so much that we feel called to write — so many ideas, opportunities, and revisions. It always takes longer than we plan. And everything else in life seeks to steal our writing time.

We stay in a constant squeeze.

But with all you have on your plate, with all that God has called you to write, with all the doors He is opening for you there is one thing you must accomplish first every day. Even if you’re writing goes undone. Even if you don’t accomplish all that you want to accomplish. Accomplish this one daily writing task — spend time with the Lord. Pray. Walk in the Spirit.

[bctt tweet=”Write in the Spirit.”]

Mark Batterson wrote in his Draw the Circle devotional book, “If you establish a prayer routine, your life will be anything but routine. You will go to places, do things, and meet people you have no business going to, doing, or meeting. You don’t need to seek opportunity. All you have to do is seek God. And if you seek God, opportunity will seek you.”

In an all-time bestselling book, another writer the disciple Matthew wrote and quoted Jesus saying, “seek first the kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”