Tag: Christian writing

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
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
Write Justified

2 + 2 Doesn’t Always Equal 4

Students of English learn quickly that to every rule, there is an exception; sometimes the exception is the rule. That appears to be the case when forming plurals.

Most nouns form their plural by adding s or es:

  • toys
  • books
  • blocks
  • cups
  • cars

Words that end in s, x, z, ch, or sh add es (as well as another syllable) to form their plurals.

  • boxes
  • houses
  • hunches
  • wishes
  • whizzes (note the double z)

Things get a little more complicated with words that end in f or o. Words that end in f usually form the plural by turning the f to v and adding es:

  • wife  – wives
  • knife – knives
  • half – halves
  • shelf – shelves

BUT here are a couple of exceptions:

  • roof – roofs
  • safe – safes (so as not to be confused with the present tense of the verb save).

Words ending in o also present challenges. (Just ask Dan Quayle). Some add es, others only s

  • hero – heroes
  • potato – potatoes (This is the one that tripped up Vice President Quayle)
  • echo – echoes

BUT

  • ego – egos
  • portfolio – portfolios

The best thing to do with these regularly irregular plural forms is to consult the dictionary. And even then, be aware that some words have two acceptable plural forms with corresponding and distinct meanings.

The plural of staff—staffs—means a group of people. But the plural of the musical notation staff is staves.

Mediums are people with paranormal powers; media are artistic materials.

And what about hyphenated compound nouns like daughter-in-law and babe-in-arms? The answer is pretty simple. Add s to the noun portion of the compound: daughters-in-law, babes-in-arms.

Solid compounds are considered regular nouns and take an s: cupfuls, spoonfuls, handfuls, teaspoonfuls

Open compounds like attorney general also add s to the key noun: attorneys general.

The general rule—regardless of whether the compound noun is hyphenated, two words or closed—is to make the principle word plural. Another way to think of it is to pluralize the element that is subject to change in number.

Next month I’ll tackle some of the other exceptional ways to make plurals: including proper nouns, abbreviations and initialisms, and everybody’s favorite—English words adopted from the classical languages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Blogging Basics

Three Problems With Comparison for New Bloggers

Particularly for new writers beginning the blogging journey, comparison can kill confidence and create problems.

New bloggers often struggle with comparison, much like my youngest child who said, “I’m a slow runner. I don’t want to play soccer.” When I asked her why she thought she was a slow runner, she mentioned how much faster her older brother and sister ran. She struggled with confidence, not realizing she was unfairly comparing herself to her older siblings. She couldn’t see this was not a realistic comparison. Bloggers often struggle with comparison creating problems with confidence and negative thinking.

Comparison Creates Competition

Resist the scarcity lie that the success of others crowds out your own opportunity.

Comparison can cause significant set-backs when it comes to writing. All too easily, it can create competition when we allow the success of another to diminish our writing or sabotage our confidence. Choose to celebrate the achievements of others. Learn from their skill and experience.

New bloggers, blogging, writing, comparison, problems of comparison

Comparison Breeds Negative Thinking

Comparison opens the door to the problem of negative thinking. Comparative thinking leads to other forms of negativity—pride, envy, jealousy, resentment, discouragement, and criticism.  What can begin as comparison and negative feelings can quickly ignite destructive thoughts and actions.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. James 3:16

Comparison Demotivates Passion

Comparison can stifle passion to fulfill the writing desires God places in our hearts.

Have you ever compared yourself with a more experienced writer and thought, “Why bother…I’ll never be as good as ________.” The power to demotivate passion is one of the greatest problems of comparison.

Resist the temptation to measure the gap between where you are and where someone else is. We often see this gap as a diminishing, devaluing thing rather than embracing the growth process of our own writing.

Problems of comparison, blogging, writing, new bloggers

I have hung over the edge of motivation, wanting to quit because the journey to “success” is steep and difficult. Maybe you have too. Comparison saps passion and energy when we forget that God is with us in the process.

[bctt tweet=”Distracting us from God’s call and purpose, comparison makes the process about personal success rather than obedience to God’s call to write.”]

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. Galatians 6:4-5 MSG

Choose to celebrate and learn from successful and experience writers, rather than give into comparison. Give yourself permission to grow through the process and develop skill at the pace that is right for you. 

Don’t let comparison rob you of confidence and joy in writing. [bctt tweet=”Comparison is a choice you don’t have to make. “]

At the end of it all, comparison asks the wrong question.

The right question is this: what does God want to do through my writing?

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 Ministry of Writing

Fiction Writers are Teachers Too

Labeled for reuse. Image can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cybrarian77/6284181389

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
The Ministry of Writing

God Will Bring the Pieces of Your Writing Calling Together

Allowed for reuse. The original can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/theilr/345056969.

So God has called you to write. You have a “writing calling”.

He has burdened your heart to share a particular message, to tell your story, to tell someone else’s story, or to create a powerful creative piece.

The Holy Spirit has guided you to use your gift, talent, or love of writing to glorify the Father.

You know typing away on your laptop merging creativity and craft places you in the center of God’s perfect Will.

Therefore you have pushed through. You have been obedient to write. You are obedient in continuing to write. You know you are doing what the Lord wants you to do.

But…

The project is overwhelming and you feel like it will never end.

The critique was brutal — you have so much to learn.

After receiving your work back from the editor there is so much left to be done.

You are on your eight rejection letter.

It has been three months since the agent’s last email, but he seemed so interested.

You have been writing for six years and nothing has been published.

So did you hear God right? Is writing really what He wants you to do? I believe so. And I know that if you are doing what God has called you to do and are following the Spirit’s guidance that God will come through. I completely trust that God provides and equips us to fulfill whatever he has called us to do.

I believe it because that is what Scripture teaches:

From Hebrews 13:20–21:

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Don’t give up. God will come through. That impossible project will get done. You will grow and develop into the writer He needs you to be. He is going to open that door. [bctt tweet=”God will answer your prayers. He is going to accomplish through you what He purposes.”]

One day it will come together.

Being an 80’s kid I have had my share of Rubik’s Cubes. None of them have ever been completed. I also never followed through with my idea to bypass the work and repaint the squares.

I’m sure you are familiar with one of these devices of torture. It is a cube so there are six sides. Within this cube there are nine squares on each side. Those squares can be one of six colors. The goal is to maneuver them in such a way that one whole side of the cube becomes a solid color.

A Rubik’s Cube being conquered is a pipe dream for me. Its completion is in the realm of capturing a unicorn or finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow to me, but it has been done.

Interestingly in his book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, author and pastor Mark Batterson wrote that God working in our lives can be like a Rubik’s Cube. Like someone beginning to be victorious with the cube it can appear the task God has placed on our hearts will never come to pass. But eventually those random pieces begin to line up and finally a complete picture comes into view.

Again I have never accomplished this task, but I have seen it done. It’s amazing to see. For a while it looks as if the one working the cube has no clue what they are doing. Everything is a mess — nothing lines up. Then eventually — boom — the colors begin to line up. The cube begins to take shape. It appears that the task may actually be accomplished. Then it happens — the cube is done.

Once it’s done one wonders why it was so hard to do in the first place.

This is how God will work in your writing.

Right now, in your current situation you may feel your writing is going nowhere. You may feel like all the little pieces will never line up, but don’t give up. Over the horizon the puzzle of your calling will come together, and you will wonder why it ever seemed so hard.

It is then you will know with certainty that God Will Bring the Pieces of Your Writing Calling Together.

Categories
Craft Writing with Humor

Five Tips For How to Use Humor Effectively When Writing About Sensitive Topics

Five Tips for How to Use Humor Effectively When Writing About Sensitive Topics by Jean Wilund via www.AlmostAnAuthor.com

In my last post, How Humor Helps When Writing About Sensitive Topics, I explained how working humor into the background of your article or story allows your message of hope to take center stage.

Today, we’ll look at just how to use humor effectively.

Follow these five simple tips to help lift the spirits of your readers.

1. Open with Light Humor.

Hint at hope from the start by opening with a little humor.

Revealing your acquaintance with pain, but also your ability to smile through it helps your reader trust your message.

This isn’t the time or place to tell a joke, though.

Instead, use a humorous anecdote or observation that strikes a familiar chord with your audience.

The level of humor you use will depend on your topic. The heavier your topic, the lighter your touch of humor should be.

2. Use Sarcasm Sparingly, if at all.

When dealing with sensitive topics, sarcasm can be risky.

In fact, at all times, sarcasm is risky.

I’m a great fan of this type of humor, but I’ve left an unfortunate wave of wounded by my misuse of it.

Consider leaving it to the professionals, or at least reserving it for light-hearted articles about kittens.

If not done well, it’s too likely to come out snarky or bitter.

3. Poke Fun at Yourself, Not Others

Laugh about your own pain, not other’s.

When your reader sees that you can laugh about your pain now — even just a little bit — it gives them hope that they’ll laugh again one day.

If you laugh at other’s pain, you’ll appear cruel and lose their trust.

Please note, I said to laugh at yourself, not tear yourself down.

Don’t make your audience uncomfortable by forcing them to watch you wallow in self-pity.

They won’t watch. They’ll walk away.

4. Know Your Audience

Your audience will determine how much humor is appropriate. What may offend one audience might make another laugh hysterically.

If your reader’s suffering makes your loss look like you simply misplaced your 30% off coupon at Kohl’s, your attempt at humor may appear to display a lack of compassion and poor judgment. Your message will fizzle or fall flat.

If your suffering equals or exceeds theirs, you get a free pass to make them laugh as much as you want — within reason, of course. Every audience, except the most coarse, appreciates tact.

5. Ask Someone To Read Your Article Out Loud

What seems humorous to us as we write it can sound the opposite when read by someone else.

Ask your friend, spouse, or critique partner to give their honest opinion of whether your humor is coming across as compassionate or crass.

If it sounds differently than you intended, you may only need to reword it. But you also might need to toss it.

Humor can help foster healing. Inappropriate humor impedes it.

Even Momentary Relief From Pain Can Be Welcome.

A friend of mine emailed me asking for prayer. Her father is suffering with the onset of dementia and recovering from a broken hip.

My father went through both at the same time as well. I understand the excruciating pain she’s experiencing watching him struggle.

I shared with her some of Dad’s and my more humorous moments from that time. She said, “Thanks for the stories. They made me laugh.”

Humor can punch a hole through your reader’s pain and give them momentary relief. Even the smallest relief from pain is welcome.

[bctt tweet=”Humor can punch a hole through your reader’s pain and give them momentary relief. #Writers #Authors #Humor”]

[bctt tweet=”5 Tips For Using Humor Effectively When Writing About Sensitive Topics. #Writers #Authors #Humor”]

Categories
The Ministry of Writing

Daddy are There Potties in Heaven? — Where Do You Get Your Truth?

“Daddy are there potties in Heaven?” My two-year old daughter asked when the subject of Heaven came up. She has been potty-training so potties are on her mind. As a pastor I am asked a lot of theological questions, but I have never been asked that question.

Interesting question, right?

As her theologian-dad I could not let her question go unanswered. I had to provide her with the truth she so desperately needed.

But after Google failed to provide an answer I was stuck. So where do I go from there? How do I find the truth? And while we are on the subject — where do you get your truth?

So as I was replying, “uhhhhhhh” and my daughter was moving on to something else I had a few thoughts:

 

As a Christian Writer, You are a Dispenser and Framer of Truth

Although Tyndale’s dream has long been succeeded in that even every plow boy has a Bible they can read we still live in one of the most biblical illiterate times in history. Our Christian writings provide truth. If it is nonfiction then it serves as truth while in fictional works entire worldviews and understandings of life are framed.

Your readers are forming their understanding of God and a life with Him from your writings. Therefore it is important that you realize that you play a part in the formation of truth in this post-Christian environment. The Bible warns extensively about the dangers of false teachers, and we write against them. [bctt tweet=”If we are not careful we can be that false teacher.”] So where do you get your truth? Where would you draw your answer about heavenly potties if you were asked?

 

Truth is What is Needed

My two-year old could have lived with a cliché answer, and my wife thinks I should answer in a way that motivates her to continue using the potty. So yeah this question was not that a big deal, but our writing is important and influential. It may sound odd to talk about “truth” in terms to such a cute but goofy question. I could simply reply with an opinion or a belief. In the more important issues your readers need truth. They do not need an idea or opinion pulled out of thin air. They don’t even need to hear what you believe. Your belief does not make something truth. Rather we and our readers need to believe the truth, but how will they know the truth unless it is told. So when you want to provide the truth where do you get it?

 

Where Do You Go for the Truth?

The answer is simple, right? The Bible.

If it is so easy then why is it not the place we go first? Why don’t we work hard to make sure that we know what is in the Bible? If you are a Christian writer, but you have not read and studied the entirety of the Bible then your readers are in danger. They need to know the truth and you are a dispenser of that truth. Read it.

But in my case there is no Scripture reference of potties in Heaven. So what do I do? It is important to use the whole of Scripture and work Scriptural to come to the most biblical answer.

In Bible Study turn to trusted commentaries. Follow hermeneutical rules in your biblical interpretation. The Bible is not a free for all. Take the time to not only go to the right spot for truth, but search it correctly and biblical.

So go to the truth and provide the truth.

That’s what I did and I told my daughter, “I don’t know.”

[bctt tweet=”Daddy are there potties in Heaven?”]

For my complete analysis on potties in Heaven check out www.graytotebox.com.

 

 

 

Categories
Storyworld

Storyworld Governance: A Necessary Evil

Governance
Good Governance

The people in your world need governance. I’m sorry. I wish I could make it untrue, but a believable ruling system exists in virtually every fantastic world. The elven child in your young adult novel will eventually run into an elder or deputy. The four-man crew of an isolated space station will require a leadership structure. And even the lone hero occasionally needs to visit civilization to stock up on supplies.

So how do you craft a government? First of all, don’t get too overwhelmed, since you can craft it as you go as I wrote a few months ago. But the first principle to remember is this: Governments exist to ensure the interests of the governing bodies, not the governed. This has been true throughout all of human history.

[bctt tweet=” Governments exist to ensure the interests of the governing bodies, not the governed. #sadbuttrue #amwriting” via=”no”]

Good Governance – A rarity of the modern era

If you’re allowed to read this website and have the freedom to even consider writing a book, you may think my statement is overreaching. After all, you’ve been taught that governments exist to secure the rights of the governed, right?

Wrong.

In most western countries, we are privileged with brilliantly crafted documents called constitutions. In essence, they limit the power of politicians and hold them accountable to the people on a regular basis. Rulers continue to act in self-interest, but those interests (namely, power) rely on popularity and benevolence. In other words, good governments constrain the self-interest of the ruler to the well-being of the public.

[bctt tweet=”Good governments constrain the self-interest of the ruler to the well-being of the public #wisdom #takeitforgranted” via=”no”]

So if you want to create a realistic and stable society, or if you want a world in which the government plays little role in the daily lives of your characters, your fictitious country will need something to limit the power of those in charge. This doesn’t mean you need to go into details about the nation’s founding documents. In fact, if it isn’t relevant to the story, please don’t! But keep it in mind as you craft your world, because eventually your characters will interact with the laws of the land.

Note: A small group of people (e.g. a settlement, a space station) can sometimes get around this formalized power-limitation because the man in charge has a much more visceral threat before him. Specifically, if he doesn’t allow others to do their job well, his own living conditions worsen. Plus if he overextends his power, the populace may just kill him off, so good governance remains in his best interest.

Declining Governance – A violent transition

On a long enough timeline, even the best republic will eventually be found in the hands of a power-hungry zealot with enough popularity to bypass normal rules. You see this in Rome’s transition from republic to empire, Germany’s Third Reich, and of course, the end of the Republic in Star Wars.

The other option is complete economic collapse due to decadence and ignorance. Asimov’s famous Foundation trilogy shows this in sad detail, but it was seen earlier when the Roman Empire imploded from financial and military strains.

If your storyworld persists long enough, remember this other principle: no government lasts forever.

[bctt tweet=”No government lasts forever #whatarelief #scary” via=”no”]

Generally Speaking

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry too much. Regardless of the setting, most western readers assume a western culture, 20th century rule of governance unless you say otherwise. Taxes are mandatory, theft and murder are prohibited, and the average citizen can expect a degree of protection from powers foreign and domestic. If this is not the case in your world, chances are likely you’ve already given governance a great deal of thought because it plays a larger role in your story. We’ll look at that more in detail next time.

 

Categories
Writing Conference

Christian Writing Conferences (USA) July 2015 – Feb 2016 (UPDATED)

Want a great investment idea for your writing career? Go to a Christian writers Conference. You will meet the best writers, get the best advice and meet other writers who will become your friends. Going to a conference is like a mental boot camp. Your brain will hurt, you will be exhausted but the result are worth it. Here is a short list of Christian conferences for the next few months. Remember, most of these conferences have scholarships.   I attended my first three from scholarship monies. You pay for travel, food and board.   It is well worth it. If you know of a Christian writing conference that is not on the list, please put it in the comments below.

UPDATED: ACFW Virginia Writer’s Conference: July 25th, Woodbridge, VA

Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference: July 29-August 1, Langhorne PA

Christian Indie Authors and Readers Conference: July 30- August 2, Davenport IA

UPDATED: Realm Makers: August 7-8, St. Louis, MO

Oregon Christian Writers Conference: August 10 – August 13, Portland, O

Atlanta’s Christian Writing Conference: August 20-22, 2015, Marietta, GA

Christian Communicators Conference: August 26-30, 2015, Asheville, NC.

American Christian Fiction Writers Conference: September 17-20, 2015, Grapevine, TX

Writer to Writer Conference: Sept 18-20 2015 Murfreesboro, TN

Breathe Christian Writers Conference: October 9-10, 2015, Grand Rapids, MI

Blue Ridge Christian Novelist Retreat: October 18-22, 2015, Ridgecrest, NC

Indiana Faith and Writing Conference: October 30-31, Anderson, IN

Next Step Writers Contreat: November 12-14, 2015, Albuquerque, NM

Writer to Writer Conference, February 5-7, 2016 Hershey PA

Writers Advance Boot Camp: February 19-21, 2016, Asheville, NC

 

Here are a few websites that display all conferences and retreats, both Christian and non-Christian.

awpwriter.org/wcc/directory_conferences_centers

writing.shawguides.com/Events

newpages.com/writers-resources/writing-conferences-events

Don’t forget to check Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Market Writers Guide for more listings.

You can purchase the guide here   www.jerryjenkins.com/guide

Categories
The Ministry of Writing

Writing is Residual Ministry: It Lives On

photo by John Scalzi and made available for reuse.

I went to a meeting just to be nice to my friend, but I heard a phrase I have not forgotten.

In college, a friend started in Amway and thought that his fellow ministry students might actually have the money to join him. So as a broke, newly married college student, I listened to his spiel until he said, “RESIDUAL INCOME.” I have not experienced it, but the idea sounds amazing — to continue earning income long after the work has been done.

He told us we could pay the fee, set-up the website, and have a few conversations then — BOOM sit back and rake in the dough. Yeah, I know it’s not that simple, but you get the picture. You could expend effort once and continue getting paid, even when you’re off the clock or sleeping.

I don’t remember what he said after “residual income”, but I loved the idea.

I believe it’s not only a great business idea, but also a great concept for ministry. What if we could work hard once and then for days, months, years, decades, and even centuries there would be residual ministry? Even while we are sleeping our work could continue ministering to someone, and [bctt tweet=”even when our body is in the grave we could keep sharing the Gospel.”]

If there is such a ministry shouldn’t we invest our lives into it?

There is a residual ministry.

And you are doing it — it is writing.

You might struggle as I do. I know I am called to write, but I have a hard time hiding myself away in my Starbucks writing cave because there is “real” ministry that needs to take place. How can I hide away from the world when there are folks in this very coffee house that need to hear the Gospel?

How can I type away when there are hurting individuals that I could visit?

Ministry is about people therefore I need to be with people, but out of all I might do no ministry will keep ministering longer than my writing.

Moses had a successful ministry. He lead a couple million people out of slavery, established a nation, judged over daily affairs, taught the Law, and even organized the religious practices of Israel. But out of all he did, it’s his writings that have ministered the most.

The same could be said of Paul. He lead many people to the Lord, planted many churches, established doctrine, taught, but it is his writing that has continued to minister.

For Moses and for Paul their writing was residual ministry. The same is true for us.

Your writing ministry will live on. It will keep ministering even after you’re gone.

[bctt tweet=”If there is such a ministry shouldn’t we invest our lives into it? #writing #write” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=”Your writing ministry will live on. #author #amwriting”]