Tag: inspiration

Pop! Goes the Cultural Landmarks!

Post author By Carlton Hughes - Lighter Look at Writer's Life
Post date May 6, 2018
1 Comment on Pop! Goes the Cultural Landmarks!

I recently heard a discussion about pop culture “landmarks”– movies or television shows that have made a lasting impression on your life and writing career, and it made me think about my landmarks.

As a young boy, I was obsessed with the 1960s Batman series, which I watched in reruns every day after school. The WHAM! BAM! POW! graphics, colorful sets, and overall cheesy manner were right up my alley. I guess you can trace my odd outlook on life to this show.

Other favorites that left their mark are I Love Lucy, The Brady Bunch, and The Carol Burnett Show—it’s no wonder I write humor. The more I pondered about my landmarks, digging deeper to think of a television show that made me want to be a writer, one program stood out: Lou Grant.

Oh, Lou Grant! The spinoff of the Mary Tyler Moore Show took place in the busy newsroom of a Los Angeles newspaper, and it enthralled me. The show debuted right about the time that I was asked to be the junior high correspondent for the high school paper and, ironically, ended as I graduated high school and finished my illustrious journalism career there.

Week to week for five seasons, Grant guided his bevy of reporters in breaking the latest stories in rousing fashion. He served as a mentor for newcomer Billie Newman and often butted heads with overly-enthusiastic Joe Rossi. Who can forget Grant’s visits to regal publisher Mrs. Pynchon, with her pearls, her tough-yet-understanding demeanor, and her little dog constantly in her lap?

Each Monday night, I would pop my Jiffy Pop (which still fascinates me), grab a glass bottle of Pepsi, and park myself in front of the huge color television set in our small living room, ready for some exciting journalism action. I couldn’t get enough of the show as it captured the highs and lows of chasing a story and dealt with the benefits and consequences of investigative reporting. Combined with my work on articles about school assemblies and club meetings, I was hooked.

My love affair with journalism didn’t end with the cancellation of Lou Grant, as I went on to major in journalism in college and still teach it, in addition to my freelance writing.

A few years ago, one of our obscure cable channels showed Lou Grant reruns for a short while. The strong sense of journalism remained, but many of the references and issues were dated. The newsroom was full of fancy electronic TYPEWRITERS, and there was even a scene with a newfangled invention—a CAR PHONE. Even so, it remains a pop culture landmark and an important influence in my writing journey.

Now . . . what’s your landmark?

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and the soon-to-be-released Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two college-age sons, Noah and Ethan. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child.

Tags inspiration, personal landmarks, pop culture, Television

Write for His Glory

Once Upon a Time

Post author By Mary G. Scro - Write for His Glory
Post date March 19, 2018
No Comments on Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, God created the heavens and earth. And God saw that it was good.

Then He created animals and plants for the earth, and saw that they were good.

THEN He created a Man from the dust of the ground and breathed Life into him, and the man became a living being. God created the Man in His own image. Then because no suitable helper was found for the Man, God created a Woman from a rib of the Man – also in His own image.

And God saw that they were VERY good.

Since the beginning of time, God has been creating life. His creative powers know no boundaries. Out of nothing, God makes beauty, purpose, and goodness.

Do you ever drive down the road and marvel at the seemingly infinite variety of trees, grasses, and flowers?

Do you ever marvel at how, with basically the same anatomy (four legs, body, head, tail), so many distinct animals exist that you can name…let alone the ones you can’t name?

And people, wow! We all have the same features – eyes, nose, mouth, ears, body, arms, legs – yet we are uniquely recognizable among thousands of people.

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;

you formed me in my mother’s womb.

I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!

Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

I worship in adoration—what a creation!

You know me inside and out,

you know every bone in my body;

You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,

how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;

all the stages of my life were spread out before you,

The days of my life all prepared

before I’d even lived one day.

(Psalm 139:13-16, The Message)

Once upon a time, God created people – people who would be His people, and He would be their God. He loves His creation, all of it, especially the human beings He created in His own image, to reflect His glory. Oh, and the best part: when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside us.

Do you know what that means?

We have direct access to the creative power of the Creator of the Universe! Through us, God can create life-giving words, crafted into stories and songs and all kinds of media that will be read, listened to, and watched by whoever He determines needs those words exactly the way we write them. Our purpose is to create as the Holy Spirit leads, out of the passion God puts in our hearts.

Once upon a time, God created you. Don’t ever doubt that He created you exactly as “you”, intentionally and on purpose. Accept and love yourself, thankful for who He made you, and receive all He pours into you. Then pour out in your own way as only you can do, for His glory.

BIO

Mary Graziano Scro, a graduate of Christian Communicators Conference, is an inspirational author, speaker, and blogger who intuitively weaves analogies and personal testimony with practical biblical teaching. Whether “live” or at the keyboard, Mary loves sharing what God has done in her life to encourage others about the awesome life God has planned for us, IF we are willing to choose wisely in our everyday lives (John 8:31-32). And it’s not about us – the more we invest in our own unique relationship with Jesus, the more visible He is to a world that desperately needs Him. You can reach Mary on:

Facebook: Mary Graziano Scro https://www.facebook.com/don.mary.scro

Twitter: @marygscro

LinkedIn: Mary Graziano Scro https://www.linkedin.com/pub/mary-scro/11/600/a4b

Blogs: Life Is Not A Formula at www.marygscro.com

Tags Confidence, create, encouragement, inspiration, once upon a time, Purpose, write for His glory

Fantasy-Sci-Fi Storyworld

Entertainment in your Storyworld

Post author By A.D. Shrum - Storyworld Columnist
Post date August 10, 2017
2 Comments on Entertainment in your Storyworld

We’ve spoken before about how little details can help color your storyworld. Societal habits, mating customs, dinner choices, and environmental aspects are all key to fleshing out a believable living space. Another aspect to consider is the way in which your characters entertain themselves.

Sometimes entertainment plays a central role in a book. The entire concept in Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games is a deathsport reality show, partly to show the Capitol’s control over the Districts, but also partly to entertain the masses. Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One shows a world in which reality is miserable and everyone escapes into a massively multiplayer online game. This “game” supports commerce, education, and other activities, but entertainment is a major aspect, especially considering the bleak reality outside of the virtual reality “OASIS.” And Aaron Gansky’s Hand of Adonai series presents a World of Warcraft type game in which the protagonists get trapped, Tron-style, and must figure out how to escape.

In those three examples, the entertainment medium is actually the centerpiece of the novel, but it’s also the major point of tension. Specifically, each of the forms of entertainment is broken or twisted in some way, and the characters must overcome the challenges that arise.

Should entertainment play a major role in any other type of novel though? What if you have a story in the Wild West? Or a post-apocalyptic survivalist tale? A Space opera? I would argue that entertainment should be valued by your characters if you want them to feel like real people. That’s because all humans desire to have comfort and enjoyment at least part of the time (hopefully their lives aren’t always threatened by events like the ones in your novel!).

For example, John Scalzi’s The Ghost Brigades is a book about super soldiers defending humanity from a ghastly assortment of different alien species. And yet, Scalzi helps to make the storyworld feel alive with little windows of enjoyment. In one scene, a pilot is playing poker with some friends, in another, a father pirates a broadcast signal so his daughter can watch TV, and most importantly, an alien race is revealed to have no need for arts and entertainment. And this alien race realizes its lack of culture and strives to create it.

Or take Little House in the Big Woods. The novel chronicles the survival of a young girl and her family in the wilderness. Despite the struggles, there are times where she and her sister enjoy the musical talents of their father, or the two inflate and seal a pig bladder and kick it around like a ball. Personally that’s disgusting to me, but it really does help me picture the world in which little Laura Ingalls lived.

If your story is a non-stop adventure, you might feel like you don’t have time or space in your book to show scenes of enjoyment. That may be true. While not a book, the first season of the TV show 24 really pushed its story along with scant little room to explore its characters’ hobbies. Nevertheless, the first scene with the protagonist shows Jack, his wife, and his daughter finishing a late-night game. This one scene helps establish Jack’s normal life before the world started falling apart. It thus gives us an idea of what he’s fighting to get back through the whole first season.

Even if your story is very dark and the adventure extremely perilous, I would really encourage you to figure out some hobby or interest your character has to make him more personable. This is especially true if the world is very different from our own, because the character’s chosen entertainment could be used to show how foreign or similar that world is to ours. For example, a sorcerer in a fantasy adventure might enjoy magical sculpting – which might be a sort of enchanted pottery making. Or maybe he enjoys reading books of far-off adventure. In the first case, the hero has a hobby similar to one found in our world, but he clearly lives in a different reality. In the latter scenario, the sorcerer has an interest akin to that of your readers, making him relatable despite his extraordinary talents. Both are useful, depending on what you’re trying to accomplish.

That’s all for now, and possibly for a while. My wife and I are expecting our fourth child in a few weeks. Being a stay-at-home dad with four children ages 6 and under (and homeschooling the oldest two) will mean I won’t have much time to make regular updates at A3. So after two years of storyworld contributions, I’ll be taking a sabbatical for a little while. In the meantime, if there are any particular topics you’d like to see covered in the future, please leave a comment below and I can cover that subject when I return! Thanks guya and gals!

Ghost Brigades Image from: http://www.alisoneldred.com/imageJohnHarris-Illustration-2-58.html

Pig Bladder Kicking Picture from: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/270638258827560791/

24 Family Picture from: http://www.buddytv.com/articles/24/hottest-tv-dads-jack-bauer-24-17503.aspx

Tags AD Shrum, Almost an Author, Christian writer, Christian writing, Create Motivate Inspire, creative writing, creativity, fiction, inspiration, sci-fi, science fiction

The Writer's PenCase

What Fuels Your Ideas?

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

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

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

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

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

Storyworld

The End of Civilization

Post author By A.D. Shrum - Storyworld Columnist
Post date May 11, 2017
No Comments on The End of Civilization

Recently, a friend of mine asked me if western civilization was at the end of its life cycle. It’s a loaded question, and its answer will largely be dependent on how you define western culture. I’ll answer the question in a minute (or because I hate click-bait as much you do, you can skip to the last few paragraphs – I won’t tell on you), but this got me thinking of good storyworld ideas. Specifically civilizations in decline and how to preserve culture.

Cultural Preservation in Fiction

First of all, what I am not talking about is the French Resistance or Napier’s band of anti-Neo sappers in ExoSquad. Those are fine stories of fighting an oppressive government, but preserving culture usually means peacefully (if possible) living in one society, while preserving the spirit of another.

In Asimov’s Foundation, Harry Seldon foresaw the collapse of the Galactic Empire long before it happened. He knew that once that downfall began in earnest, it would take millennia to reestablish the same level of culture and technology. His solution? Create a colony with a massive library of all information necessary to recreate society. The colony of mostly scientists would feverishly work to teach successive generations all of known literature, science, and culture. It worked. The bloated galactic empire fell to the point where nuclear power was no longer known, space travel was rare, and control of different regions was usurped by local warlords. Meanwhile, Seldon’s world of Terminus carried on and even made advances.

The premise was borrowed by the storyworld of Battletech, where a semi-religious cult on earth maintained what was called “losttech.” They were decades more advanced than the other thousands of planets, but not because of scientific breakthroughs, but scientific preservation. The five main houses controlling known space had lost even the ability to create new battlemechs, their principle method of warfare.

In various fantasy settings, sometimes the arts of magic are preserved in a similar way. While the rest of the people beat each other senseless, mages will isolate themselves to preserve their craft. And they always seem to do so in dangerously tall and remotely situated towers. I can’t think of any specific novels, but I know I’ve rolled dice in at least one role-playing game with a similar backstory.

Cultural Preservation in History

These fictional tales are believable because they are based on actual events that happened in history. Over a thousand years ago, a man named Benedict created enclaves of culture, science, and literature to preserve the best of Roman, Greek, and Judeo-Christian culture. These little enclaves became known as monasteries, and monasticism was born. And we can all thank God for it, since monasticism effectively maintained a light in the dark ages and allowed culture to rebound once a degree of political and legal stability resumed in Europe.

My wife is currently reading a book called The Benedict Option, which looks at what Benedict did and evaluates if a similar method ought to be employed in present times. I’m not a huge non-fiction reader, (I believe truth is sometimes best conveyed in fiction) but the topic sounds interesting enough that I’ll probably pick it up when she’s done.

Cultural Preservation in Present

In a larger context, Christians know this idea resonates, and not just because of recent law-changes or disruption on college campuses. As Christians, we preserve a way of life – a relationship with God – that was lost soon after creation. Despite my tendency to avoid nonfiction, I’ve been reading Jake McCandless’ book Spiritual Prepper (I mean check out the cover, how could I not?). It is a good reminder that although the world is increasingly antagonistic toward us, we are called to preserve our faith. Each of us are little monasteries that preserve a Christian value system foreign to those around us. One might even call us temples. And in large groups, like at a church or a community gathering, we represent a subculture.

So is Western Culture really dying?

That depends how you define it. Some see western civilization’s foundation as secularism and liberalism. And before my conservative friends balk at that, remember that classical liberalism (the idea of disagreeing politely, discussing rather than shutting down ideas, encouraging freedom as long as it doesn’t impede the freedom of others, etc.) has nothing to do with the Democrat party. Just watch the news to see how the so-called Resistance treats people who disagree with their “open-minded” views. Also see Dave Ruben’s video here.

In modern times, the term “Liberal” has been perverted, but secularism has been reigning for quite some time. If western culture was built on a secular ideal, then I’d say it is reaching its natural conclusion. That’s because secularism holds to no higher authority. One cannot claim that murder is wrong (since there is no higher authority to cite), only that one feels murder is wrong. Or that the largest group opinion is that murder is wrong. Or the most vocal group opinion is such.

As for me, I think Western Civilization is best described as an intersection of Greek, Roman, and Jewish cultures. The Greeks brought the idea of logic and reason over emotion, the Romans provided an evenly enforced set of universal laws, and the Jews had a unique value system which valued life, property (even slaves had rights in Jewish culture), and a respect for a higher power to which all people, even kings, were subject. And Christianity was birthed at this same intersection point. For this reason, Christianity and Western Culture are intertwined, each shaping the other.

Do I think that Western Civilization, as I define it, is falling? Yes. Emotion is far more important to most than logic and reason; FBI director James Comey has proved that we no longer have a set of laws universally enforced between ruling class and commoner; and the only religious part of the constitution that progressives cling to is the line about “separation of church and state.” Never mind that that particular phrase isn’t even in the document.

However, there is hope. As I’ve already said, within each Christian is a preserved culture, different from the world. As long as we continue to meet together, encourage one another, and help each other in the faith, then the best development of Western Culture, one that now transcends all local cultures – the restored relationship between God and man – will be preserved.

Battletech Galactic Map from: http://operationbulldog.blogspot.com/2010_08_29_archive.html

Benedict Picture from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_of_Nursia

Wizard Tower image copyright Shaun Williams: https://www.3dartistonline.com/image/10248/wizards_tower

Tags Almost an Author, Christian writer, Christian writing, fantasy, fiction, inspiration, Jake McCandless, sci-fi, scifi

Storyworld

Anatomy of Grays: Sex

Post author By A.D. Shrum - Storyworld Columnist
Post date February 13, 2017
2 Comments on Anatomy of Grays: Sex

Jim held a gray spheroid up to the light. “So Doc, you’re saying the sex of this alien was actually female?”

“That is perhaps an overstatement. This is clearly an egg we retrieved from the deceased Sharalla pilot. While this may indicate a female of the species, their biology is unlike anything we’ve encountered. For all we know, the males carry the fertilized eggs, as in some of Earth’s aquatic wildlife.”

Jim lowered the egg, which had the size, heft, and texture of a softball. “You’re not saying this thing is fertilized are you?”

The doctor shook his head. “Our scientific team has concluded it most certainly is not. We wouldn’t let you handle it otherwise.”

The little rock wiggled itself in Jim’s hand, producing a breathless stare from Doctor Stein.

“Ahh,” Jim sighed in mock contentment, “ the certainty of science.”

What better way to spend the day before Valentine’s than talking about alien sex and reproduction? Seriously though, the method of reproduction in an alien species dictates much of its culture, so it bears at least some consideration in your storyworld.

Assuming your creatures have some form of sex to reproduce (and don’t just materialize or breed asexually), you’ll need to figure out how they do it. Generally, it will involve some form of fertilization, the method in which sex cells, containing half the genetic composition of each parent, unite to form a new, unique member of the species. This is broadly separated into two categories: external fertilization and internal fertilization.

External Fertilization

External fertilization is a form of sex that is mostly reserved to earth’s fish. While from our view, this seems impersonal, it doesn’t have to be. Granted, there doesn’t seem to be much intimacy between two fish, but there is sometimes a loyalty to the young. The male Siamese Fighting Fish will tirelessly guard over its eggs, ensuring they remain in a nest of bubbles until they hatch. Male seahorses will care for their fertilized eggs in a special pouch. Cichlids are fish that keep their eggs in their mouths, and continued to do so until they’ve not only hatched, but are old enough to fend for themselves.

If you introduce a sentient (and somewhat relatable) alien species with external fertilization, it would probably be best to model it after one of these more maternal or paternal species on earth. That is, unless you’re trying to create a heartless society of extraterrestrials. In that case, spawning massive numbers of progeny at random might fit better.

Internal Fertilization

This is the section that might get me fired from my position at A3. I’m kidding, I’m kidding – you can’t fire someone who works for free … I think. Anyway, internal fertilization is when male sex cells enter the female’s body and find the female sex cell(s). They combine and form a new life, starting as a zygote and eventually either hatching into the world, or emerging via the birth canal.

Which brings up the next distinction, whether or not the animal lays an egg or cares for the embryo in an internal placenta. Some examples of egg-laying creatures on earth are reptiles and birds. If your alien species lays an egg, you’ll have to decide the level of involvement you want the parents to have in guarding that egg. Some birds like the hornbill are very protective of their eggs. So much so that the female blocks herself off in a tree hole and entirely depends on her mate to bring her food. Others, like sea turtles, bury their eggs in the sand and then leave, hoping for the best (there may be a reason they’re so endangered). Rattlesnakes are odd egg layers though, since they don’t really lay eggs, but keep the eggs internally until they hatch. While that may sound like a live birth, the eggs are still self-sustaining, meaning no nutrients pass from mother to child.

And that’s actually one of the distinguishing features of sex and reproduction in a mammal – the placenta. When a mammal baby develops in the womb, it receives nutrients from its mother until ready for birth. Even then, female mammals provide milk for their young with their mammary glands (breasts in humans, udders in cows and pigs, etc.).

Sex Between Species

While forbidden in Leviticus 19, sex between two different species occasionally produces a hybrid creature. Probably most well known is the mule, a cross between a donkey and a horse. Additionally, ligers are crosses between tigers and lions, and according to liger scholar and artist Napoleon Dynamite, they’re bred for their skills in magic. There are a lot of different hybrids out there, including zonkeys , dzos, and other strange creatures. Usually the two parents need a similar number of chromosomes, and even then the result is typically a sterile creature. Sometimes though, intentionally breeding two species results in a very, very bad hybrid, such as the killer bee. Yes, thank science for producing a species of insect capable of killing thousands of humans and livestock … and then accidentally releasing them from quarantine -whoops.

Sometimes in sci-fi and fantasy literature you’ll see a hybrid race. The most obvious that comes to my mind is the Half-Elf. Born of human and elven parentage, these half-races display characteristics of each. But in a sci-fi or fantasy world, you can’t assume that every alien species can intermingle with every other. In Michael A. Stackpole’s X-Wing series, one of his protagonists humorously recounts a bad memory of having sex with an alien. The two hadn’t considered the delicate pH balance in that… region. And as a result, both partners developed severe rashes and some other, ahem, unpleasant side effects.

Sex and Culture

As I said in my intro, sex (and marriage) is a huge factor that dictates how a culture operates. How do two individuals in a species find a mate? How do they produce offspring? How do they care for their offspring? Is there sexual deviancy and abuse? While these are all major questions that deserve an entire column this column has mostly addressed biology. Fear not though, I will address them in the future. So if this article interests you, be on the watch for my sex and worldbuilding article in the next few months.

There, I made it through an entire column dedicated to sex without once mentioning the words vagina or penis. Oh! Darn. Well, almost.

Next month we’ll continue our anatomy series and tackle the neuroendocrine system! Yeah, that’s basically just a fancy word for evaluating how an alien thinks and feels.

Photo Credits:

Birds and Bees Photo: http://www.evilenglish.net/the-birds-and-the-bees/

Siamese Fighting Fish Photo (Also great resource regarding these cool fish): http://dkphoto.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Siamese-Fighting-Fish-Life-Cycle/G0000_kRdp2qXrtk/I0000qlzVaRnV4Qw/C0000NHUtq8T1jVw

Napoleon Dynamite Inspired Liger Drawing: https://www.flickr.com/photos/51035597721@N01/5266903

Tags Almost an Author, Christian writer, Create Motivate Inspire, creativity, fiction, ideas, inspiration, novelist, sex, storyworld, write, writer, writers, writing, Writing Craft, writing ideas, Writing Inspiration, Writing tips

The Ministry of Writing

Know Your Manual — Seminary in 5: Old Testament Survey

Post author By Jake McCandless - The Ministry of Writing
Post date January 10, 2017
1 Comment on Know Your Manual — Seminary in 5: Old Testament Survey

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

One of the beauties of being a Christian writer is that we have a manual for all the instruction we provide and all the stories we tell. This manual is, of course, the Bible. Yet, this beautiful resource should also reign us in. For our, writings should be based on an accurate use of that manual. The manual is authoritative and therefore we are not to manipulate it for our own ideas. Therefore, it vitally important that you know your manual. Even the first half of this manual — the Old Testament.

Knowing this manual begins with reading it — reading it all, but we must also go deeper into an intensive study of the Bible. Even when this deeper study occurs sometimes we tend to jump to the details of particular books, passages, narratives, principles, or persons; and, by doing so we miss the big picture. I urge everyone to take a “survey” class or pick up an Old Testament and New Testament survey book. A survey study gives a bird’s eye-view of the text. It helps see the greater picture of what God is up-to and how each individual book fits together. There are also Bible Studies out there that accomplish this task such as The Story and The Gospel Project. The Story focuses on the greater history narrative in how all of the Bible fits together. The Gospel Project aims to trace salvation history throughout Scripture. I highly recommend Paul House and Eric Mitchell’s survey of the Old Testament book. There may be books that give more details, but this book perfectly pieces the books in the Old Testament together.

Here are five key points that you would learn in a survey of the Old Testament.

The Bible (therefore, the Old Testament) is about God.

After reading this point, it’s likely you replied, “duh.” But before you skip to the next point, take a minute to think about how you utilize and approach the Bible. You may know the fact that the Bible is about God, but very few people actually approach this supernatural text in such a way. We read the Bible for inspiration, historic truth, or life principles. All of those things are there, but they are secondary.

First and foremost, the Bible is a revelation of the eternal God to his creation. The common cliché, that “It’s not history, but HIS STORY” is so true. The person and nature of God, along with His interaction with mankind is the purpose of His Word. We shouldn’t read “us” so much into the text, but rather look for God to reveal himself to us.

Throughout, the Bible and especially the Old Testament we learn characteristics of God. In the Old Testament, we learn He is the Creator and is sovereign over that Creation. We learn that He is just and punishes sin, but more than anything He desires to show grace, mercy, and love. The list could go on and on. By following, God’s relationship with Israel presented in this testament we receive a large sampling of how God works. The prophet Malachi instructs that God does not change. Our God is the same today as He was in the past.

The Bible (therefore, the Old Testament) is Supernaturally Composed .

This is a reiteration of my posts on bibliology and interpretation of the Bible, the Bible was inspired by God. Throughout, the Old Testament this is revealed in notes on each book’s composition. Often the prophets speak on behalf of the Lord when they say, “Thus says the Lord.” We get insight in how God’s people like Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Daniel, and others communicated with God.

This first testament in God’s Word was penned over 1,000 years by over 30 different authors from different backgrounds and locations. This is a task that is impossible by man alone.

I point out the supernatural nature because biblical scholarship has difficulty accepting the prophecy which has been fulfilled, the miracles, and the scientific knowledge displayed. Various explanations are made to undercut these supernatural aspects, but doing so goes against over a millennium of accepted understanding. Many books on the Old Testament that you might pick up would present ideas and conclusions that does discount its transcendent claims.

The Old Testament tells of the Special Calling of Israel.

If you read the Old Testament literally and straight-forwardly, it becomes unarguable that God has a special relationship with the nation of Israel. Drastic changes to how one interprets the Bible has to be made for anyone to believe anything on the contrary. For in the first 11 chapters of Genesis, the foundation of the world and all the nations are presented, but following chapter 12 the rest of the Old Testament zeros in on the descendants of Abraham — Israel.

In Zechariah 2:8 and in other similar passages, God declares directly this special relationship. Zechariah 2:8, “For this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye’.” This is also seen in the calling of Abraham found in Genesis 12. Then in following passages, this special relationship unfolds. The law is given to them, their history is shared, and prophets come to call them back to God and His law.

This special calling does not cease in the Old Testament, but that section of Scripture makes that calling crystal-clear.

The Old Testaments Show the Centrality of the Covenants.

There are many details and different narratives throughout the Old Testament, but this portion of the BIble cannot be understood apart from the covenants God makes with Israel. Three of these stand out. The Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants provide the background for the direction of history and the words of the prophets. The Mosaic Covenant is a thread that stitches each and every facet of the Old Testament together.

The Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants are unconditional promises God makes to both Abraham and David along with their descendants. We find the Abrahamic covenant in Genesis 12:1-3. Paul House and Eric Mitchell write in their survey textbook that God promises three things to Abraham. God promises an heir, land, a relationship. It is promised that Abraham’s name would be made great and he would have many descendants. This would require an heir. Next, God swore to give the land in which he would lead Abraham to find. Lastly, this covenant stated that the people of Abraham would be blessed and those who blessed them would also receive that blessing.

The Davidic Covenant is recorded in 2 Samuel 7. This covenant guarantees the lineage of David to be the rightful kings of the nation of Israel. God promises to establish David’s throne forever. Through this covenant the promises to Abraham are reiterated and connected to David.

These covenants are like a computer app that continually runs in the background while the display on the screen frequently changes. The law taught the Israelites how to live in the land, the history books showed the unfolding of these promises, and the prophets constantly referred to these covenants as a source of hope.

The Mosaic Covenant is the law. This covenant is summarized and formalized in Deuteronomy 26 – 30. This covenant was conditional. If the law was obeyed blessings would follow, but if God’s law was broken there would be curses. In the pages of the Old Testament that follow this Mosaic Covenant is front and center. The history books showed this fleshed out. The wisdom books called the people to follow the law. The prophets preached judgment because the covenant had been broken.

The Old Testament Consists of Multiple Genres.

One of the key principles in interpreting the Bible is to realize the different genres that are used. Each genre has its own set of interpretative rules. The Old Testament is full of multiple genres. There are basically four divisions in this first half of Scripture.

Genesis – Deuteronomy presents the Law.

Understanding that these five books make up the Law helps in interpretation. This was the foundation on which Israel’s history was judged, and the basis for which the prophets preached.
These books are prose, but feature declarative statements of the actual law mixed with narratives of history.

Joshua – Esther are the history books.

These are narrative history of Israel.
All those these books are prose, they do contain elements of poetry at times.

Job – Song of Songs are the wisdom or poetry books.

These books are forms of poetry and lists of short proverbs.
It is important to understand their prominent poetry structure, as well as, the nature of wisdom proverbs.

Isaiah – Malachi are the prophets.

These are divided into two sections the major prophets and the minor prophets. The only distinction in this classification is their sizes. The 13 minor prophet books were one book in the Hebrew canon.
These books contain prose and poetry. Most of them are divided into “oracles” which were spoken messages by the prophets.

Understanding these different genres is vital for the correct interpretation.

Conclusion

These points fall flat in capturing all that needs to be known about the Old Testament, but one of the strongest concepts that needs to be taken to heart is that the Old Testament should not be neglected. The Apostle Paul stressed that he preached the “whole counsel” of God. [bctt tweet=”We need to include the “whole counsel” in our writing.” username=””]

So, first of all used the manual God has given us. Then don’t skip the first half, but know this part of your manual.

Tags Almost an Author, Author, Christian writing, Christian writing training, free Old Testament survey, inspiration, Jake McCandless, manual, Old Testament, Prophecy Simplified, seminary in 5, seminary in 5 points, Writing Instruction, writing manual, writing ministry, writing seminary, Writing tips

The Ministry of Writing

You are a Bible Interpreter — Seminary in 5: Interpretation of the Bible

Post author By Jake McCandless - The Ministry of Writing
Post date December 10, 2016
No Comments on You are a Bible Interpreter — Seminary in 5: Interpretation of the Bible

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

I skipped a month of posting in “The Ministry of Writing” (I hope you noticed and missed it!) because I struggled how to share this subject. I struggled writing on this subject because I believe the most important skill all Christians and especially Christian writers need to develop is interpreting the Bible. I am so thankful that my college and seminary schedules were often out of my control because in my first semester things out of my control forced me to take a class called “Hermeneutics” which was on interpreting the Bible. I like so many though the idea of such a course was ridiculous. After all we just needed to just simply read and obey Scripture. Making that task so complicated just causes problems, right? Wrong, it’s just the opposite. As the first point of this post states, every reader of the Bible is an interpreter, and since we are thousands of years removed from the original writing of this special Book it takes a skill to interpret it correctly and well.

The Apostle Paul expressed this being a skill in 2 Timothy 2:15 where Timothy is instructed to “rightly divide” the Word. Rightly dividing just does not happen by chance, but is a skill developed and mastered. In Dr. Robert McQuilkin’s textbook, he asks a question: “Do a good attitude and a commitment to hard work alone enable a person to build a beautiful piece of furniture? No, for there is a right way and a wrong way to build. Furthermore, certain skill must be developed before a person, though using the right method, can build properly. So, it is with understanding the Bible.”

There is a right way, a right method, and a skill. This is not out of the reach of any Christian, but does call for intentionality rather than a haphazard approach to the text.

Every Reader is an Interpreter.

I realize that the idea that one needs to approach the Bible through rules and methods causes infuriation or at least disagreement, but every time you read something you interpret those words. And though not consciously you decipher meaning based on a certain approach. My wife and I passed a beautiful landscape painting the other day. Immediately, it took me back to my fourth-grade teacher reading Bridge to Terabithia. My wife had also read the book, both as a student and then as a teacher. We began to talk about it and realized we understood the book quite differently. We had interpreted the book quite differently. This was over a contemporary book, and with us possessing similar experiences and values. I’m sure our “interpretations” would differ with others. So, every reader interprets. Therefore, every reader interprets the Bible. If this can happen with contemporary books how much more differently would we interpret an ancient text like Scripture.

So, for anyone who feels the subject of hermeneutics is not necessary they must wrestle with the face that we interpret the Bible every time we pick it up. Beyond that our translations are actual interpretations. We further promote our interpretations then to our writings. Therefore, as a writer it is dangerous for us to have a wrong interpretation. Different interpretations are much of the cause of the different denominations and traditions within Christianity today.

Every Interpreter has a Presupposition.

Along with realizing we are interpreters whether we want to be or not, we also bring a presupposition into that interpretation whether we want to do so or not. Everyone comes to the Bible with a presupposition which is a belief or view that one holds before approaching something. This includes our past experiences, values, worldview, personal theology, etc. It is impossible for one not to have a presupposition, but it is important that we identify what we bring to our reading.

Certain presuppositions are important in reading the Holy text. It is important that we understand it is God’s Word. That it is authoritative, etc.

It is important to realize this filer in which we study the Bible because our presupposition greatly impacts our interpretation.

Bible Interpreters Must Study the “Then and There”

As was covered in the previous post that you can read here, the Bible has a dual nature. It is a combination of divine nature being the Word of God, and human authorship. In a masterpiece on the subject, Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, write that the dual nature in terms of hermeneutics as “the Word of God given in human words in history.” They go on to state that this concept expresses a tension between “eternal relevance and its historical particularity.”

Since the Bible is God’s special revelation of Himself and His Will to mankind the meaning of the text applies to the ancient world, the first century, the middle ages, today, and the future; but, each part of the Bible was written in a particular-historical setting. It is in this original setting where the original meaning was given to the original audience.

The first task of the interpreter is to identify this original intent. This work is called exegesis — which is the careful, systematic study of the Scripture to discover the original intended meaning. Bible interpreters are not to go straight from the words of the sacred Scriptures to a contemporary meaning, but first they need to do exegetical work. This work requires looking at historical context of that time and culture of the authors and readers. In doing so it requires knowing the geographical, topographical, political, and cultural aspects of that original writing. This also calls for considering the occasion and purpose for the biblical book, the specific genre, and the passage.

The literary context must also be examined which goes back to the original language and syntax in which the Autographa copies were written in. This is a timely task often, but it is not out of our reach. It requires going to experts in the field of history and language. There are great resources available, but one must be careful to find the best sources and experts.

Bible Interpreters Must Follow Rules for Specific Genres

I had a very hard time limiting this post to five points, but I must stay true to my parameters. The reason is that I want to make clear the principles and rules of biblical interpretation. There are general rules such as was mentioned under the third point, but there are specific rules with each different genre.

Since the Bible was written by human hands and for human understanding — all forms of written communication were used. There is prose, poetry, prophetic oracles, letters, sermons, parables, proverbs, and others. Each of these literary forms call for specific principles of interpretation. As you know you don’t work through poetry the same you do a list of rules. It is vital to grasp the genre you are reading to begin to accurately interpret the text.

Bible Interpreters Must Use the Original Meaning for the Contemporary Meaning.

The goal of biblical interpretation is to find what this divine work speaks to us today. As a writer, we are writing to transform lives in this present world. So, interpretation is not completed by simply coming to terms with the original intent of the human author.

The exegetical work of recreating the historical setting and the literary context is the first step, but the results from that then serves as the launching pad to bridge to today’s world. Fee and Douglas write, “the reason we must not begin with the here and now is that the only proper control for [contemporary relevance] is to be found in the original intent of the biblical text.” They go on to write, “a text cannot mean what it never meant.” Going further they write, “the true meaning of the biblical text for us is what God originally intended it to mean when it was first spoken.”

Our exegesis of the historical purpose of a passage creates the guardrails in which guide us in teaching those Bible verses in our writings. If this work was taken in all times of biblical interpretation there would not be the disunity in modern Christianity.

Conclusion

Five points on interpretation of the Bible just scratches the surface of this subject. I hope your heart was prodded to study this deeper, and then apply it to your own Bible study. For we need to “rightly divide” the Bible as Paul instructed Timothy. I encourage you to first check out, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart. Next I recommend, Grasping God’s Word by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays. There are many other great resources out there as well.

Tags Almost an Author, Author, Christian writer, Christian writing, inspiration, Jake McCandless, Prophecy Simplified, seminary, seminary for writers, seminary in 5, writing seminary, Writing tips

Create. Motivate. Inspire.

On Writing: 5 Insights from C. S. Lewis

Post author By Leigh Ann Thomas
Post date November 23, 2016
No Comments on On Writing: 5 Insights from C. S. Lewis

Need a bit of insight as you ready the pen or laptop today? Consider the following from one of the greatest writers of all time:

“Take great pains to be clear. Remember that though you start by knowing what you mean, the reader doesn’t, and a single ill-chosen word may lead him to a total misunderstanding. In a story it is terribly easy just to forget that you have not told the reader something that he needs to know—the whole picture is so clear in your own mind that you forget that it isn’t the same in his.”
“When you give up a bit of work don’t (unless it is hopelessly bad) throw it away. Put it in a drawer. It may come in useful later. Much of my best work, or what I think my best, is the re-writing of things begun and abandoned years earlier.”
“Always prefer the plain direct word to the long, vague one. Don’t implement promises, but keep them.”
“Don’t use adjectives which merely tell us how you want us to feel about the things you are describing. I mean, instead of telling us the thing is ‘terrible’ describe it so that we’ll be terrified. Don’t say it was ‘delightful’; make us say ‘delightful’ when we’ve read the description. You see, all those words (horrifying, wonderful, hideous, exquisite) are only like saying to your readers ‘Please, will you do my job for me.’”
“We must not of course write anything that will flatter lust, pride or ambition. But we needn’t all write patently moral or theological work. Indeed, work whose Christianity is latent may do quite as much good and may reach some whom the more obvious religious work would scare away. The first business of a story is to be a good story. When Our Lord made a wheel in the carpenter shop, depend upon it: It was first and foremost a good wheel. Don’t try to ‘bring in’ specifically Christian bits: if God wants you to serve him in that way (He may not: there are different vocations) you will find it coming in of its own accord. If not, well—a good story which will give innocent pleasure is a good thing, just like cooking a good nourishing meal. . . . Any honest workmanship (whether making stories, shoes, or rabbit hutches) can be done to the glory of God.”

Who is your go-to author for inspiration?

Get inspired and keep writing!

[bctt tweet=”5 Writing Tips from C. S. Lewis @A3forMe #amwriting #writer” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=”Any honest workmanship (whether making stories, shoes, or rabbit hutches) can be done to the glory of God.” C.S. Lewis @A3forMe @lthomaswrites” via=”no”]

(1, 2) C. S. Lewis letter to a girl named Thomasine (December 14, 1959).

(3, 4) C. S. Lewis letter to Joan Lancaster (June 26, 1956).

(5) C. S. Lewis letter to Cynthia Donnelly (August 14, 1954).

More insight from Lewis: https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/justintaylor/2016/03/26/15-pieces-of-writing-advice-from-c-s-lewis/

Tags Almost an Author, Christian writer, Christian writing, Create Motivate Inspire, encouragement, inspiration, Leigh Ann Thomas, Writing Instruction, Writing tips

History in the Making

Seeing His Words in Print Baffles Mark Twain

Post author By Sandra Hart - History in the Making
Post date November 21, 2016
1 Comment on Seeing His Words in Print Baffles Mark Twain

by Sandra Merville Hart

Mark Twain’s life was at a pivotal moment in the 1860s.

He was out of the States and in Nevada Territory where fortunes were made and lost while mining for silver. He ought to know; his part-ownership in a silver mine had made him a millionaire. Through the worst of misfortunes, Twain lost his interest in the mine after ten days.

What was next for him? He had held a variety of positions: grocery clerk, blacksmithing, bookseller’s clerk, drug store clerk, St. Louis and New Orleans pilot, a printer, private secretary, and silver mill miner. He felt that he had mastered none of these professions. What does one do after losing a million dollars?

[bctt tweet=”Mark Twain was at a pivotal moment. What does one do after losing a million dollars? #writing #inspiration” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

He gave in to misery. He had written letters to Virginia’s Daily Territorial Enterprise, the territory’s main newspaper in earlier days; it always surprised him when the letters were published. It made him question the editors’ judgment. His high opinion of them declined because they couldn’t find something better than his literature to print.

A letter came from that same newspaper offering Twain a job as city editor even as he wondered what his future held. Though he had so recently been a millionaire, the job offer with a twenty-five-dollar salary seemed like a fortune. The offer thrilled him.

Then doubts set in. What did he know of editing? He felt unfit for the position. Yet refusing the job meant that he’d soon have to rely on the kindness of others for a meal, and that he had never done.

So necessity forced Twain into taking an editor’s job though he felt ill-equipped. He arrived in Virginia, Nevada Territory, dressed more as a miner than an editor in a blue woolen shirt, pantaloons stuffed into the top of his boots, slouch hat, and a “universal navy revolver slung to his belt.”

The chief editor, Mr. Goodman, took Twain under his wing and trained him to be a reporter. The young man had finally found something he excelled in.

As writers, many of us can relate to Twain’s doubts. A myriad of talented authors have come before us. What do we have to offer?

It is comforting to realize that a young man destined to become one of America’s best-loved authors began with humility. A seasoned and kindly editor taught him the trade; Twain’s talent took him the rest of the way.

What would have happened if Mark Twain hadn’t lost a million dollars? His words may have been lost to us. Such classics as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Prince and the Pauper might never have been written.

When we ponder our failures, our rejected works, and lost opportunities, we should remember that situations change. We won’t always feel as we do today. God has the ability to put us in the right place at the right time with the right attitude.

Just like He did with Samuel Clemens, America’s beloved Mark Twain.

Sources

Twain, Mark. Roughing It, Penguin Books, 1981.

Tags authors, encouragement, historical, Historical writing, history, inspiration, inspirational, Mark Twain, Nevada Territory, newspaper editor, Sandra Merville Hart, writers, writing life

Fantasy-Sci-Fi Storyworld

World-building From the Eyes of a Character

Post author By A.D. Shrum - Storyworld Columnist
Post date November 9, 2016
No Comments on World-building From the Eyes of a Character

The carbine was still jammed and Jim couldn’t do anything to fix it. He finally tossed it aside and cursed the shoddy Adronni weapon manufacturers – maybe their world would be next on the alien invasion tour. A shrill whine filled the air, and Jim pressed himself tighter against the debris-covered groundcar. A scant thirty feet away the earth erupted in blue smoke. As the remains of a prefab shelter rained harmlessly over his powersuit, Jim took inventory. A Gilgamesh repeater pistol, a single frag, and a suit of armor with a busted rebreather. As long as the reptilians didn’t gas him first, he’d probably live long enough for one of their walker units to plasma-blast him in the chest. He sighed. No, there was one last thing he possessed – the souls of his charred comrades pushing him on to avenge them. Jim unholstered the pistol and peered around the corner. Time to move – vengeance would be his!

On the surface, the above paragraph looks like an action scene. It’s dripping with tension, and Jim’s fate looks pretty bleak. But even an action-packed paragraph can be used to build your world. In fact, study it a minute and try to identify some of the foreign storyworld elements.

We’re not sure what kind of weaponry Jim has (laser? projectile?), but his attackers clearly have plasma weapons that explode in puffs of blue gas. And we can guess based on the grisly state of his allies that either the plasma weapons burned them alive or that the aliens have some other kind of burning weapon.

Let’s look at some of the subtler elements though. Take the use of the word “groundcar.” What is the implication there? Obviously a “groundcar” is a type of vehicle distinguished from some other type. An aircar? A hover car? We don’t know specifics, but use of that word reveals that methods other than ground-based vehicles are used for transportation in this world.

We also get a glimpse into the intergalactic relations. First of all, these reptilians are not only invading Jim’s planet but have apparently been on “tour,” invading many planets. We don’t know if “Adronni” is a company or a race of aliens, but we do know that either Jim or his military outfit purchased firearms from otherworldly suppliers. This establishes that the storyworld has interplanetary trade.

All of this could be done from a detached, third-person omniscient perspective, but the story is told from a deep, although third-person, POV. This not only conveys the gobs of storyworld information above, but it also does two other things: 1) it gives the action emotional impact. Sure, the battle scene is only a paragraph long, but you’re emotionally involved in the character. It inspires you to read onward and learn Jim’s fate, even as your imagination processes the alien elements. And 2) the world is shown with Jim’s particular biases. A comment like “shoddy Adronni weapon manufacturers” shows us Jim has preferences in firearms and the Adronni-supplied weapons are apparently not among them. This doesn’t mean his preferences are necessarily right, and a different character’s POV may reveal a different perspective on the carbine and its manufacturer. Your storyworld’s inhabitants, like those in the real world, won’t always agree on things.

This isn’t to say that every paragraph in your 90,000-word manuscript must be packed with exotic storyworld elements, but the first few chapters should do so as much as possible. And if you’re trying to get your audience attached to your characters in that same timeframe, doing so from a close, ground-level perspective can really help.

Last year, my favorite novel was Monster Hunter International written by Larry Correia. A contemporary fantasy novel like this doesn’t need as much storyworld explanation as a distant-future sci-fi novel, but the author does equally amazing jobs at world-building and deep character exploration. I’ve also just started Marc Turner’s When the Heavens Fall, an epic novel with some well-developed fantasy elements and several great POVs. A final verdict will have to wait since I haven’t finished it yet, but thus far it’s a great read and exemplifies some of what we’ve discussed here.

That’s all for now. Next month we’ll kick off a series on alien and fantastic biology. Until then, let me know if there are any other storyworld elements you’d like me to explore in this space. Thanks for reading!

Storyworld

Board Games that Inspire Writing

Post author By A.D. Shrum - Storyworld Columnist
Post date October 11, 2016
2 Comments on Board Games that Inspire Writing

The murmur of countless alien tongues subsided as the chairman of the interstellar council called for order. The delegates to Mecatol Rex were unusually nervous tonight, and with good reason. By the end of the week, congress might put forth a motion to ban bio-technology, a move that would devastate the inhabitants of New Moscow. The young ambassador from the Federation of Sol held his breath as the insectoid chancellor of Sardakk N’orr took to the stage, violently shaking a proposal in his foreclaw. The political games had begun.

When you think of storyworld ideas, your typical sources are probably other books, movies, and TV shows. But have you considered board games? No, I’m not talking about Monopoly, Risk, or Sorry. Modern games provide a wealth of imaginative fodder for the aspiring novelist.

The example in my opening paragraph comes from a truly epic game called Twilight Imperium. In it, various alien races compete for galactic supremacy through military force, shrewd diplomacy, and delicate trade arrangements. While there are similarities to any conquest-type game, from a writing perspective the real gem is the character development of the individual races and the manner in which they interact in the galaxy. In addition to battles and alliances, the actual rules of the game get voted on regularly at the council event. It’s an intriguing concept for a game, and any sc-fi writer is sure to enjoy the political debates between each of the six players. Trade deals and a variety of starships round the game out and should provide an abundance of ideas for anyone hoping to write a space opera.

Smaller in scope but not in story, the game Love Letter is a simple game where each player has only a single-card hand. Easy to learn, but sophisticated enough to keep gamers coming back, Love Letter serves as a wonderful gateway for those unfamiliar with modern games. But even the included back story is captivating. Basically, the queen of the kingdom has died and various suitors are trying to win the hand of the princess. The king won’t just let anyone speak with his daughter, so he carefully guards the young woman. Her only hope – that some handsome prince might find a way to deliver a message through the castle staff. Filled with intrigue and amusing characters, you might be surprised at the writing inspiration you can draw from this simple game.

I recently had the opportunity to play the game Imperial Assault, a cooperative strategy game of heroes set in the Star Wars universe. While you might think you already know that Galaxy Far, Far Away pretty well, you should think again as you play this. Set in the period of the rebellion, each character possesses a deep history and exciting side quests. My character, a force-sensitive operative dressed somewhat like Mortal Kombat’s Sub Zero, is on the hunt for his former employer who might be selling secrets to the Empire. The set-up is similar to a Jason Bourne movie, but with enough interesting twists to keep me engaged. But the story isn’t just about my character, as each of the main characters has his own story that further fleshes out the universe. The elements of the world (blasters, walkers, etc.) may feel familiar, but the scenarios are unique enough that they may inspire you in ways that George Lucas’ films haven’t.

Set in the Wild West, Shadows of Brimstone puts you in the role of a sheriff, preacher, rancher, or any number of assorted other professions of the period, and pits you against a wide array of Cthulu-inspired critters. The blending of monsters with a gold-rush era landscape is a great and fresh setting. The individual missions are all twists on old west concepts, whether exploring an abandoned (and now demonically reoccupied) mine, rescuing a child who fell down a well (and is now surrounded by evil critters), or finding the source of a town’s disturbances (which happen to be in another dimension). The amount of storyworld built here is stunning. Many of the ideas could inspire a hopeful steampunk or fantasy writer.

This is just a small sampling of various games I’ve played, but the wealth of ideas that have gone cardboard is legion, and many host quirky and fun stories to boot. If you get a chance, stop by your local boardgame store and scope out the market. From the 16^th century piracy of Merchants and Marauders to the superhero battles of Sentinels of the Multiverse, you’re sure to find something that captures your imagination. Granted, you can’t lift their storyworlds directly without a copyright lawsuit, but if you’re searching for inspiration, this might be the ticket. Ooh, did I mention Ticket-to-Ride?

Twilight Imperium image from http://www.swordsandspace.com/2013/08/twilight-imperium-after-action-report_31.html

Love Letter image from https://lordoftheboard.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/love-letters/

Imperial Assault image from https://deathwatchstudios.com/2016/07/11/imperial-assault-heroes-of-the-bespin-gambit/

Shadows of Brimstone image from https://wediealotblog.wordpress.com/

Tags Almost an Author, Board Games, character motivation, Christian writer, Christian writing, Create Motivate Inspire, creative writing, creativity, fiction, Games, ideas, inspiration, novel, novelist, write, writing, writing ideas, Writing Inspiration

Child's Craft Uncategorized

10 suggestions to overcoming writing obstacles

Post author By Jill Roman Lord - A Child's Craft
Post date August 17, 2016
No Comments on 10 suggestions to overcoming writing obstacles

We discussed the first three suggestion to overcoming writing obstacles in an earlier blog.

Run, walk, exercise – stir up the endorphins
Get outside. Breathe in God’s fresh air
Write in a different place – change up the scenery

Get involved with your target age group

If you write for children, lead Sunday school, girl scouts, brownies, boy scouts, little league. Volunteer at an elementary school, special Olympics, a buddy walk. Hang out with your neighbor’s little kids. Go to a park and observe children’s interactions with each other. Listen to their words, their expressions, their tone of voice. What makes them laugh? Notice children at Fast food restaurants, how they respond to their parents, how they eat, what they eat. Consider how they dress. Does it look like they picked out their own clothes? Imagine why they may have chosen to dress that way. Linger in a bookstore near the children’s books and observe the books kids choose, what they are drawn to.

5. Journal

This is my favorite. All writers can journal. Write a prayer to God, write what’s on your heart, what is bothering you, what makes you sad. Start a Thankful journal and document everything you are thankful for each day. You aren’t writing for publication in your journal but you are writing, doing what you feel called to do. Enjoy that time with God. Reflect, meditate, praise.

Color

Color in a beautiful creative adult coloring book. Borrow a page of your child’s coloring book. Blend the colors. Use colors you don’t normally use together. Use pens, colored pencils, crayons, markers, anything you have on hand or that you feel like using. Color in the lines, outside of the lines. Color abstractly. It’s a mindless, beautiful, expression of you and of your mood. Finish it or don’t. You decide. Any form of art is creating and God delights in creating. It may take the focus off your writing block and free you to create.

7. Sew or paint.

Pull out your sewing machine if you have one and make a table runner, a bright colorful table runner. Sew a new window valance. Cross stitch, needle point, fix a hem, hand stitch a square and use it as a napkin. Anything you feel like sewing together, stitch and create. Again, another form of creativity.

Paint a picture. Fully engage the artistic side of your brain. Let loose and have fun! Be a child again and quit judging your results. Just enjoy the process of creating. Or repaint a room. Choose a new color. Focus. Enjoy the big strokes of the brush and what ensues.

8. Go to a Writers’ Conference.

You’ve probably heard this a hundred times, but it is so important. I won’t linger on this point but find a conference and try to get there. You’ll be glad you did! At Christian Conferences we’re all there for the same reason and that is to further God’s kingdom through the gifts He has given to each of us. Conferences help shape writers. To be surrounded with so many other writers with this same desire of serving the Lord, of becoming better writers for His glory, of seeking to grow to become the best we can be is mind blowing and spiritually renewing.

9. Don’t forget about others.

Always take time to encourage others in their writing. If the lady in my earlier post, hadn’t slowed down her running long enough to talk to me and encourage me, I may still be struggling with every hill I face if I hadn’t already quit running all together. Sometimes helping others gives you the clarity to move beyond your own obstacle. Who might you encourage today?

10.Don’t quit!

Know that you will get around this obstacle. Sometimes obstacles cause us to notice more of God’s world, to smell the roses along the way, appreciate His gifts, depend on Him more. Know there are different seasons. Some seasons may be plentiful with writing. Inspirations and ideas may flow like a waterfall over you as you struggle to write fast enough to keep afloat. Other times may be seasons of reflection, of drawing near to God, of focusing on other areas. Don’t beat yourself up in these times and don’t make writing a chore. There may be deadlines to meet whether from a publisher, editor, writer’s group, or yourself. But have grace. Allow yourself to linger in God’s presence without demanding that you be productive every moment. Enjoy the writing and the obstacles. Allow God to grow you in the quiet times as well as in your writing times.

What obstacles have you faced in your writing? And how did you overcome them? We’d love to hear from you!

Tags calling, creativity, inspiration, jill lord, writing ideas, writing obstacles

Polishing Your Message Uncategorized

Winds and Waves of Inspiration

Post author By Bobbi Bush - Polishing Your Message
Post date May 31, 2016
10 Comments on Winds and Waves of Inspiration

Are you a writer who hasn’t written a word?

How many waves of inspiration flow thru your mind before you finally pen (or type) your first words as a self-proclaimed writer?
I remember clearly the first few times I felt the stirring within to write. Emotions with no words bubbled inside like boiling water turning to vapor in effort to escape the heat of the moment. Each time I kept the lid on and eventually dismissed the thought.

Tags Am I a writer, flag, inspiration, military wives, Old Glory, Soldiers, waves, waves of inspiration, wind, writing

The Ministry of Writing

God Uses Your Writing in Your Writing Ministry

Post author By Jake McCandless - The Ministry of Writing
Post date April 21, 2016
3 Comments on 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.

Tags Almost an Author, biblical writers, Christian writer, Christian writing, Create Motivate Inspire, inspiration

WARFARE!

Hike Your Own Hike

Post author By Mary G. Scro - Write for His Glory
Post date March 21, 2016
1 Comment on Hike Your Own Hike

My husband Don is starting his Appalachian Trail (AT) hike on March 13^th. He’s had this passion on his heart for a few years now, and it’s finally time to go. For the past year or so he’s been preparing and learning – he talked to people who hiked it, read books, and watched documentaries.

From all that information he pulled what he liked, put together his equipment, and made his plans. He tested out a few things, made changes, and adjusted as he learned something new.

One of the things he heard repeatedly was, “Hike your own hike.” People you meet will be faster, have better equipment, seem to be experts at hiking the AT. The pressure to conform, to fit in, and to keep up may be heavy at times. Be prepared for that and make up your mind to do whatever feels right to you.

So what does hiking have to do with writing…more specifically, blogging? Every now and then I get into a funk about my blogging and begin comparing my blog to others. I compare numbers: comments, followers, shares. I compare writing styles, lengths, format, and pictures. I lamented these frustrations to Don, along with all the things I could/should/but am not doing.

“Mary, you need to hike your own hike.”

Silence.

“Wow, thanks honey, you are absolutely right!”

I need to learn: talk to others, read tips and advice, and check out other blogs. Learn how to get my blog into the readers’ hands – what social media has worked for others and how do they find their audience.

I need to apply what I learn: pull what I like from all the information on blogging and apply it to my blog and my social media interaction.

I need to be willing to make adjustments: when one social media platform doesn’t yield results, be willing to try a new platform.

Then as I blog, I need to hike my own hike: passionately write in my own style. Write about topics God stirs in my heart. Write on the schedule He gives to me.

Blog as me, not as a poor imitation of someone else out of envy for what they have that I don’t.

Don will meet a variety of people on his hike, some like him and some not so much. I can’t imagine him trying to be like everyone he meets; that doesn’t even make sense. It would wear him out, AND people would miss out on all Don has to offer as Don.

I realized I do the same thing with blogging when I don’t write as me, and when I worry too much about what others are doing. And yes, it totally wears me out!

God has uniquely gifted each of us who blog. Study, learn, and seek God for what will work for you. Be thankful for who He created you to be.

Then go out and hike your own hike.

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. (Proverbs 14:30, NIV)

Tags blogging, hike your own hike, inspiration, Mary Scro, writing

Storyworld

Acquiring Things of Value

Post author By A.D. Shrum - Storyworld Columnist
Post date February 7, 2016
2 Comments on Acquiring Things of Value

When writing a speculative fiction novel, determine what the things of value are in your world. Water, food, shelter-building resources, fuel: these are essential to survival and can create primal conflicts in a story. Sometimes wars are fought over precious metals and rare elements with powerful properties either for magic or technology. Maybe your characters aren’t directly involved in your storyworld’s economy, but they’ll definitely feel its effects somehow.

If precious commodities have anything in common, it’s that they are rare. Additionally, there are only five ways to acquire them: force, theft, trade, harvesting, or begging. The things of valuable in your novel, as well as the manner in which your characters (and their authorities) acquire them, will shape your fictitious world. Here are a handful of examples from various works of fiction.

Frank Herbert’s Dune portrays the relative need of two different substances, one native to the desert planet of Arrakis, the other quite rare. The rare commodity, water, was used as a form of currency, despite also being a necessary consumable. On the flip side, Arrakis’s primary export was its spice, an addictive drug used for its life-extending and prescience-granting purposes. Interstellar trades (and wars) were made to ensure the exchange of these two commodities, and such is the socio-economic and political stage for the epic saga in Dune.

The TV show Firefly also showed an interesting perspective on things of value. In the opening scene of the first episode, a crew of space pirates scavenge what looks to be a crate of precious metals from a derelict vessel. The entire episode leads you to believe that what Mal and his crew have stolen is something of incredible value. But by the show’s end, you discover the blocks of gold are essentially just foil-wrapped Powerbars. This causes some confusion until you realize just how desperate the border worlds are for food. Nevertheless, we get a glimpse of how the border folk survive – namely by trade and theft.

Similarly, Robert Heinlein’s book, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, briefly alludes to the commodity of air and the complicated manner in which colonists pay for that utility on a lunar base. Certainly not something we think of here on earth, where the air is free.

In these three examples, water, food, and air are all valuable commodities, despite each being common on earth. On the other hand, the fictional resource in the preceding examples, Dune’s “spice,” is unique and fundamental to Herbert’s amazing world – it literally wouldn’t function without it. If you’re writing a speculative fiction novel, what sort of unique resource needs exist in your storyworld? If you’ve read something with some interesting things of value or ways of obtaining them, consider leaving a comment below so you can pique the imaginations of fellow authors.

Tags Create Motivate Inspire, creativity, fiction, ideas, inspiration, inspire, novel, novel settings, storyworld

A Pinch of Poetry

Poetry From Odd Places

Post author By Heather Hook - A Pinch of Poetry
Post date November 7, 2015
11 Comments on Poetry From Odd Places

I don’t know about you, but once in awhile my poetry springs from the oddest of inspirations.

Not too long ago I was driving home from judging a high school poetry competition, and I was in a very poetic mood.

As I came around a curve in our neighborhood, I noticed someone had placed an old toilet by the road. For some reason I thought it sad and humorous at the same time to see the commode on the curb.

Don’t ask me why. I’m not making this up.

[bctt tweet=”Sometimes poetry springs from the oddest of places. #poets #poetry”]

And then I realized so many words rhymed with commode and road that it kept going from there.

By the time I pulled into my driveway, I had “Ode to a Throne” rambling through my brain.

I highly doubt it will ever get published anywhere else, but for your entertainment, I’ve decided to share it below.

Ode to a Throne

Against the green, green grass you sit,

abandoned and alone—

a symbol of our progress

thrown beside the road.

Maybe you malfunctioned

and coughed up a filthy load,

or maybe you refused to swallow

the refuse that you bemoaned.

Throne of Plain White Porcelain,

how you long for a loving home,

But never shall you have one—

Oh woeful commode, dethroned!

I’d never claim that this is my next award-winning poem, but it was fun to write—a break from reality. And that’s all that matters.

A note on rhyming

Rhyming is not a technique I use often because to make it work effectively, you have to have patience, an extensive vocabulary and a good sense of syntax (word order). The exception would be children’s poetry which lends itself to rhyming much more easily.

A challenge of rhyming is that many beginning poets make the mistake of forcing rhyme which makes it sound contrived rather than natural. You’ll see when you try to use rhyme. It’s really not that easy. And it will give you a new respect for William Shakespeare, Emily Dickenson, and Robert Frost.

Also note that I use approximate rhyme to make it work. No, that’s not cheating. Poets have done it throughout history, including the ones listed above.

Assonance is another technique I used for the purposes of rhythm and rhyme. So many words have the long “o” sound. And conveniently, a number of those words related to my subject.

Despite the Oddity

This poem was meant to be written despite its ridiculous subject.

Therefore, the point is that you don’t have to look far for inspiration. Poetry can morph out of everyday life experiences and from places you’d least expect.

So the challenge is to find out where your next poem is hiding. The trick is to pay attention to what inspires you even if it seems bizarre at the time.

[bctt tweet=”Poetry can morph out of everyday experiences and from places you’d least expect. #poetry #poets”]

Have you ever been inspired to write a poem or story by an absurd object or event? Tell me below.

Tags approximate rhyme, experiences, inspiration, odd subjects, poetry, poets, rhyme, subject, Syntax, toilet

WARFARE!

Out of the Heart the Mouth Speaks, Part 2

Post author By Mary G. Scro - Write for His Glory
Post date November 5, 2015
No Comments on Out of the Heart the Mouth Speaks, Part 2

Have you ever hit “send” for an email, or “publish” for a blog post, only to realize within a split second that you shouldn’t have?

Me too, more times than I can count.

I think we all know…I mean, know…when what we’re about to write is tainted with wrong attitude or judgment. We feel emotions rise up, and the thoughts we’re having aren’t quite “bless you, my friends.”

I believe that as Christian writers, we have a responsibility to set an example with everything we write; to lead the way with truth written in love. Since we know that out of the heart the mouth speaks – our true feelings will show through in our writing – we need to check our hearts before we push the button to release our words. (Read Part 1 here)

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself before hitting “send” or “publish”.

Is my heart more passionate about my belief than compassionate for my readers?

Have I put myself in the other person’s shoes and read from their perspective? Would I feel respected or judged…valued or put down?

Do my words reflect a right or a righteous attitude in my heart?

Am I trying to impart truth in love, or trying to prove I’m right? Am I writing to point others to Jesus, or to boost support for my opinion?

Should someone else read this before I send it – is this topic too emotional for me?

For me, the final step before I hit send on a difficult topic is to have someone else read what I wrote – someone I trust to be brutally honest with me. Maybe more than one someone if it’s controversial.

Do I think I am an expert on the topic – do I have pride in my heart?

Is my writing humble and open to being imperfect…or even wrong? Did I remember that we all understand and see only in part?

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:9-10, 12; NIV)

And finally…

Have I prayed for God’s words on this topic – does He want this written?

Am I writing His message, or just what *I* feel is important? Will what I have written stir up strife?

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. (Titus 3:9, NIV)

As Christian writers, God has a mission and message for each one of us. Let’s all resolve to continually check our hearts as we share our words. [bctt tweet=”Remember that out of the heart the mouth speaks, and we want our hearts to speak love.”]

Tags emotions, heart attitude, inspiration, Out of the heart the mouth speaks, spiritual warfare, words

WARFARE!

Out of the Heart the Mouth Speaks, Part 1

Post author By Mary G. Scro - Write for His Glory
Post date October 17, 2015
No Comments on Out of the Heart the Mouth Speaks, Part 1

I recently read a headline that jumped off the page to me: “Can a GOP So Divided by Anger Actually Govern in Washington?” What a sobering question! Many elected officials come to Washington full of ideas on how to fight for their causes. But too often, when “fighting for” a cause becomes “fighting against” anyone who doesn’t believe like they do, the noble purpose of the cause is lost in a mountain of anger, judgment, and strife. Nobody wins.

The same thing is true for the Church, Jesus’s Bride. Whether sharing about biblical principles, gifts of the Spirit, or the Bible as it relates to cultural events, our words “for” Jesus and truth can quickly become a judgment “against” those who don’t agree with us. Our life-giving message can be lost because of an emotional, angry or finger-pointing delivery at those who we feel are wrong.

In both cases, out of the heart the mouth speaks.

The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the [intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart. (Luke 6:45, AMP)

We can become prideful, self-righteous, or offended when our opinion is not accepted. Every impure, fleshy heart attitude shows up in the tone of our words. Sometimes our need to be right trumps the original goal of encouraging others toward what we believe…and as Christians, toward truth. We forget that we are all equal at the end of the day – we all can be equally wrong or equally right at any given moment depending on what we’ve learned and experienced to date. And, that our own opinions are just that, and subject to change as we learn more.

To clarify, it’s OK to expose lies, wrong doctrine, and sinful behavior; but it’s never OK to write an angry message against someone who believes differently; or to judge their motives. Out of the heart the mouth speaks, so we must first check our own motives.

When exposing lies or sin, our role is to respectfully and lovingly write truth as we understand it so the Holy Spirit can use our words to convict the reader. If, instead, we judge the wrong-doer or criticize them, the enemy can quickly turn our words into condemnation.

How can we self-check our writing to see if it is ready for public consumption? Stay tuned for Part 2…

[bctt tweet=”Out of the heart the mouth speaks, so we must first check our own motives.”]

Tags heart attitude, inspiration, Out of the heart the mouth speaks, spiritual warfare, words

The Ministry of Writing

Accomplish This One Daily Writing Task

Post author By Jake McCandless - The Ministry of Writing
Post date September 12, 2015
4 Comments on 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.”

Tags Almost an Author, Author, Christian writer, efficency, encouragement, how to accomplish more, inspiration, time management, write in the spirit

A Pinch of Poetry

5 Tips to Jump-Start a Poem

Post author By Heather Hook - A Pinch of Poetry
Post date August 15, 2015
No Comments on 5 Tips to Jump-Start a Poem

Have you ever struggled with blank page disorder? I have. Most writers face this issue at one time or another.

Sometimes we just need a little inspiration. Here are five tips you can use to jump-start a poem today.

Find a spot where you can sit and observe. Observation is an effective tool for any writer. You might want to visit a coffee shop and listen to the conversations stirring around you. Or you may need to find a quiet place outside to experience nature. Regardless of where you choose to observe, be sure to find a place that will take you away from your normal routine. Take notes on everything you observe in that location, using all five senses.

Skim the recent news headlines for anything that catches your attention. Scientific discoveries, world news, and even weather reports can inspire a poet. Look for extreme events, rare occurrences, strange happenings, or moving stories that capture some unique aspect of life. Skim the article(s) for key words about the subject and then add a few of your own thoughts.

[bctt tweet=”Find inspiration for poetry everywhere–the news, Facebook, or your local coffee shop. #poetry #writing “]

Check your social networks for interesting conversations. Find a news topic or conversation that strikes your interest. Write down key words, phrases, descriptions, images, and personality traits that you observe through the interactions. Next, start writing a poem in response to that topic or conversation. For example, you could begin with “So, you went to Hawaii for a vacation…” Continue writing in a voice that is commenting on or responding to whatever people are discussing on the social network.

Try to find an unlikely comparison, also known as metaphor. If you already have an idea in mind, write down everything you can about the subject of the poem. Then think of a concrete object (one that appeals to your five senses) that is dissimilar to your subject. Write down attributes of the differing object. Once you have all of the ideas out on the page, look for connections. Is there a way to describe your subject as if it were the other object? I recently wrote a poem where I compared automobiles to snail shells—two very unlike items until you are caught in horrendous 5:00 traffic on your way home.

Get in touch with your emotions. Over the past week, have you experienced any joy? Or maybe you encountered someone who angered you. Capture the details of your experience on paper and either write about it or focus on how the emotion affected you most. For example, if you had a fearful moment, describe what fear did to you. Was it like a monster ripping you to shreds, or was it more like a cockroach scuttling about your feet? When you use personification or metaphor to characterize emotions, they become very powerful characters in poetry.

Now it’s time to get writing. After you take notes, simply start writing on that white page. I know it’s difficult, but once you start writing the poem out, it will begin to take form.

[bctt tweet=”Combat blank page disorder with 5 Tips to Jump-Start A Poem. #poetry #writertips”]

Do you have any other creative tips to jump-start poetry that you can share? I’d love to hear them below.

Tags comparison, emotions, inspiration, news, observation, poem, poetry, social, start, tips, writer's block, writing poetry

Blogging Basics

38 Ways to Write Meaningful Blog Posts

Post author By Donna L.H. Smith-Managing Editor
Post date June 25, 2015
No Comments on 38 Ways to Write Meaningful Blog Posts

We’ve all heard the cliche, “Content is King.” The power of blogging depends on meaningful content. With the increasing numbers of blogs on the Internet, quality content is a must. Good blogging includes quality writing, compelling content, interesting graphics, and an effective format.

Make Your Words Matter

What do you have to say? There is only one you, and you have something to unique to share. That said, there are plenty of “slice of my life,” “ramble through my day,” and “vent on my pet peeves” types of blogs on the web. You’re welcome to add one more to the pile of “blah-blah-blah” posts that ramble without focus. No one’s going to stop you, but without meaningful content, few people will read your posts.

However, if you’re blogging to communicate with a specific purpose, take the time to use a variety of successful formats to enhance your message.

Building a list of effective content is key for every blogger.

Create a list of types of blog posts that fit with your subject matter and blog niche. A content list enables you to write with variety and still stay focused in your brand. Use your list to break through writer’s block on those frustrating days when you don’t know what to write about. Challenge yourself to practice a variety of types of formats, noting how your audience responds.

[bctt tweet=”A clear purpose gives clarity and focus to your writing.”]

Utilize the following list to write meaningful blog posts.

38 Ways to Write Meaningful Blog Posts

Blogging is an effective way to share ideas that matter. Use this list of benefits and purposes to inspire your writing.

Meaningful content…

Guides us to handle challenges or new situations.
Grabs our attention.
Instructs how to do something.
Comforts our sorrows.
Empathizes with our problems.
Shares a meaningful message.
Challenges our perspective.
Teaches us something new.
Inspires faith.
Tells a story.
Reminds us of the important things.
Surprises us with an unexpected angle, twist, or outcome.
Encourages us in our struggles and disappointments.
Provokes a response.
Gives a fresh perspective.
Makes us think.
Gives practical tips
Entertains us.
Explains why something is important.
Strengthens a weakness.
Shares a unique point of view.
Cheers us on when we want to quit.
Makes us smile.
Affirms that we matter.
Eases our pain.
Compels us to action.
Teaches a lesson.
Helps us make decisions.
Appeals to our emotions.
Upholds truth.
Creates community.
Captivates our imagination.
Exposes a problem.
Instills wonder.
Convinces us to change.
Provides a benefit.
Lists resources.
Reflects on a meaningful message.

Format and purpose are two important ways to engage your reader with a powerful message. Enjoy blogging and experiment with form and purpose to increase the impact of your posts.

What can you add to the list?

[bctt tweet=”Blogging is an effective way to share ideas that matter. #blogging #writer” via=”no”]

Tags Ginger Harrington, ideas, inspiration, meaningful content, writing ideas