Tag: writing

Prepositions?

Post author By Hope Toler Dougherty-Grammar and Grace
Post date September 28, 2017
No Comments on Prepositions?

We’re continuing with the parts of speech with a discussion about prepositions. These words never change their form. They link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence. You may remember a hint from elementary school: a preposition is anything a squirrel can do to a log, or a plane can do to a cloud. It can go over, under, around, toward…

Here are some common prepositions:

about behind during like under
above below except near up
across beneath excluding of upon
after beside following on via
along between from over with
among beyond in since within
as by including through without
at despite inside to
before down into toward

(I wrote most of those prepositions by heart because my sixth grade teacher made her students memorize them.)

Some prepositions combine more than one word:

according to except for instead of because of in place of
along with in addition to on account of by means of in regard to
apart from in case of up to by way of in spite of
as to in front of with regard to in place of with reference to

A preposition along with its object and any modifiers become a prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrases act as adjectives and adverbs.

We went swimming after the party. In the previous sentence, after the party is the prepositional phrase that tells when. In this sentence, phrase is acting like an adverb.

The baby with the pink bow is Mary Wade. In the previous sentence, with the pink bow is the prepositional phrase that tells which baby. It’s acting like an adjective.

This post simply introduces prepositions. Spend some time learning them. Next time, we’ll uncover more layers of the preposition.

Happy writing!

Tags Almost an Author, grammar and grace, Hope Toler Dougherty, parts of speech, Prepositions, writing

Guest post archive

Five Principles to Follow When Blogging for Teens-Josiah DeGraff

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date September 27, 2017
No Comments on Five Principles to Follow When Blogging for Teens-Josiah DeGraff

For the past five years, I’ve been blogging for teenage fiction writers. As the editor-in-chief of an online magazine for teenage writers, I’ve alternately approved and rejected many articles targeting teenagers and have gained a lot of experience on what works. While the prospect of writing for teenagers may seem intimidating, as someone who wasn’t a teenager all that long ago, writing effectively for teens is very doable if you follow a few simple steps:

Get to the Point. We live in an era where a lot of different opportunities are pulling on people’s attention. This is especially true for teenagers. I don’t believe that means we need to write short pieces for teens (most of mine tend to be between 1,500 and 2,500 words). But it does mean you need to get to the point immediately and not waste time rambling. If you avoid writing fluff and hit your points hard, you may be surprised at how many committed teens will keep reading your writing. [bctt tweet=”If you avoid writing fluff and hit your points hard, you may be surprised at how many committed teens will keep reading your writing.” username=””]
Don’t Try to Sound Sophisticated. In my experience, teens can handle complicated topics just like anyone else. But you need to know how to phrase it—and you can’t put it in sophisticated terms. Teens aren’t looking for someone who sounds smart and educated. They’re looking for someone who communicates effectively without putting on any airs. You’re not doing yourself any favors by using words that sound intelligent. Instead, learn how to speak their language, explain complicated concepts in simple terms, and reach them where they’re at.
Be Personal. Teens value authenticity and relatability. The more personal you can be in your writing, the more effective you’ll be in writing for teens. Perhaps more than any other group, teens want to read about someone who sounds like them and who can communicate to them in relevant ways. Don’t be afraid of revealing a bit more of yourself than you would otherwise, or sounding a bit less professional in your blogging style. The more personal you are, the more teens will trust you and care about what you’re saying. Remember: a little humor can go a long way!
Connect Complicated Concepts to Practical Examples. As a high school English teacher, I often have to explain complicated literary concepts to teenagers. Breaking concepts down into simple terms helps, but relating these concepts to practical examples—like a current event or a current trend—can make a world of difference in the classroom. The same principle applies to blogging. When I’m helping teens with complicated writing concepts, showing applications of those concepts in popular books and movies makes them a lot less complex. The more you can connect what you’re saying to what teens are familiar with, the better.
Writing for Teens Isn’t Much Different than Writing for Adults. Sometimes, writers get too concerned about changing their writing for teens. But at the end of the day, teens can handle a lot more than we think they can. Speaking as someone who wasn’t a teen that long ago, we don’t like it when people dumb stuff down for us. Many of the principles I’ve already described apply when writing for adults as well! The only difference is how you apply these principles. If you assume that teens can’t understand important concepts, you’ll reap what you sow. But if you treat them as intelligent adults while tweaking your style appropriately, you may be surprised by how much they can rise to the challenge.

If you write high-quality content that hits teens where they are, you’ve already won the main battle; everything else is in the details. When I was a teen, I was consistently frustrated by how shallow most books and blogs targeted at teens were, and ended up reading many books targeted to adults if I wanted to learn anything. There’s a huge untapped market for reaching teens effectively with writing that’s actually helpful—particularly in the fiction writing sphere. Treat teens like anyone else while keeping their idiosyncrasies in mind, and you’ll be well on the path to writing effectively for teens.

Bio: Josiah DeGraaf is a high school English teacher and the editor-in-chief of http://kingdompen.org/, a site that equips teens to write for Christ with proficiency and purpose. When he’s not working at either of those pursuits, he spends his free time reading fantasy novels and trying to break into the fantasy market. You can follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JosiahDeGraaf

Tags authentic, teens, writing

Writing with Humor

Bob Hostettler – The Making of a Humorous Writer (And How You Can Become One Too)

Post author By Jean Wilund - Writing with Humor
Post date September 25, 2017
1 Comment on Bob Hostettler – The Making of a Humorous Writer (And How You Can Become One Too)

Author, speaker, and overall funny man Bob Hostettler has cost me too much money. He keeps writing books. And I keep buying them. Not only because I enjoy them, but because I’m hoping to learn his secret to writing with both depth and humor.

Bob also speaks at a lot of writers conferences. Of course, I’m compelled to attend them when I see his name on the list. (He should write a book about speaking at writers conferences. I’d buy it.)

If you’d like to inspire people with a powerful message they’ll remember long after they’ve read your last line, glean from Bob’s wisdom and humor here. But first . . .

Who’s Bob?

Bob Hostetler is an award-winning author, agent, and speaker from southwestern Ohio. His 47 books, which include the award-winning Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door (co-authored with Josh McDowell) and The Bard and the Bible: A Shakespeare Devotional, have sold millions of copies. Bob is also the founding pastor of Cobblestone Community Church in Oxford, Ohio. He and his wife, the lovely Robin, have two grown children, Aubrey and Aaron, who have given them five beautiful grandchildren.

Now you know who Bob is. Here’s a glimpse into the making of this humorous writer, and how you can become one, too.

Here’s Bob!

Jean: Hey, Bob! When did you first discover you’re funny or was it a skill you had to develop?

Bob: Wait. I’m funny? I seriously (get it?) don’t think of myself as funny. I like to laugh and I know what makes me laugh, so I guess that translates to “funny.” But I grew up with two older brothers (much, much older), and each of them has a great sense of humor, so I probably learned from them. But I do think of humor as a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it gets. That has been my experience, at least.

Jean: How does using humor help you in your writing?

Bob: Oh, so many ways. Humor defuses tension and increases interest. It builds trust, affection, and loyalty. All of those things are critical for a writer. I think of Shakespeare, whose greatest tragedies featured his most memorable clowns and fools—the gravedigger in Hamlet and the porter in Macbeth, for example. His plays are examples of the wise and timely use of humor.

Jean: What are your favorite kinds of humor?

Bob: The funny kind. Oh, you want more than that? Okay, I admit to a fondness for puns, probably because I love words. I enjoy satire and parody. I love Steven Wright’s deadpan quips, and Jack Handey’s “Deep Thoughts.” I even find humor in the Bible, believe it or not, and hope to write about it soon.

Jean: What would you say to a writer who doesn’t think they’re funny but would like to use humor?

Bob: Three words: surprise, exaggeration, and unlikely combinations (see what I did there?). Also, consider what makes you laugh, and then try to understand why it makes you laugh. Then go and do likewise (Luke 10:37).

Jean: Who are some of your favorite humorous writers?

Bob: I guess I already started my answer by mentioning Steven Wright and Jack Handey. And Shakespeare. Feel free to tell those guys I mentioned them in the same breath as Shakespeare. Also, my friends Dennis Hensley, Liz Curtis Higgs, Rhonda Rhea, and Jim Watkins always make me laugh—sometimes even intentionally. I enjoy Steve Martin’s Twitter feed, and some others, like @LloydLegalist and @BackRowBaptist, often crack me up. More than I am already, that is.

Thanks, Bob, for a look into your life as a seriously (I got what you did there) humorous writer.

♦

Be sure to check out Bob’s website and order his books. Also, check his speaking schedule and register for a conference. In fact, you should do it right now:

Bob Hostetler, Author, Agent, & More

[bctt tweet=”Bob Hostetler: The Making of a Humorous Writer @bobhoss @A3writers #amwriting #author #interview” username=”jeanwilund”]

Tags Almost an Author, author interview, bob hostetler, gravedigger, hamlet, humor, Jean Wilund, macbeth, porter, writing

Guest post archive

Five Ways to Balance School and Writing-Caroline Hadley

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date August 28, 2017
2 Comments on Five Ways to Balance School and Writing-Caroline Hadley

Being a teenager is hard. Especially a teenager striving to be a published author. It’s stressful finding time to write. When I’m stressed, I talk myself through the anxiety – aloud. After these steps to balancing school and writing, I sound much less crazy. I hope they help you keep your sanity, too.

I use the following steps to balance school and writing, I sound less crazy. I hope they help you keep your sanity, too.

Pray. Every morning I pray. I ask God for time to write and if I should write for a career. I ask Him to infuse my words with His power and sneak ideas into the work. Matthew 7:7-8 says when we ask we will receive. God will give you time to write if you ask and if it’s in His will.
Prioritize. God comes first and school comes before your work-in-progress. However, decide what writing means to you. Is it something to do for fun? To make a career out of? Is it worth the time and effort you put in? I make writing a priority by reassessing what it means to me or by turning it into an extra credit opportunity with my teacher’s permission. [bctt tweet=”Turn writing into an extra credit opportunity” username=””]
Schedule Wisely. We don’t have all day to write, so we must manage our time carefully. Throughout the day, I create a list of tasks I must complete and use it to plan my free time during and after school. Next, I carve writing sessions from that schedule. I place sessions within study halls and lunches or at home if I use those times to do homework. Your sessions can be short, maybe ten to fifteen minutes, but they help. Word sprints are a great way to utilize time. Write as fast as you can without stopping. Brainstorm on the bus, between classes, in bed at night, or during class when you’re bored out of your mind. When life gets hard, think about your story instead.
Sacrifice. Students must choose between hanging with friends and writing. I feel like a recluse because I often choose to be with my work-in-progress rather than my friends at the movie theater. But when I’m too stressed or need family time, I enjoy being with the people I love. Decide when to cancel or cut plans short. If you feel social but need to write, find some book-loving buddies and go to a library or a cafe with them to write.
Give Yourself Grace. Being a student is hard. People expect perfection of us and we expect it of ourselves. Perfection is impossible. If you have too much homework or need downtime, don’t beat yourself up for missing a writing session. Writing is important, but not as important as your well-being. If it overwhelms you, take a break.

After praying, prioritizing, scheduling, deciding when to sacrifice, and giving myself grace, I make time to write during the school year. With the help of God and these steps, you can, too.

How do you balance school and writing? If you don’t know if God wants you to write for a career, send me a prayer request!

Caroline Hadley writes young adult Christian speculative fiction to help other teens feel God’s love in a meaningful way. She has won a Silver Key and a national Gold Key for her short stories in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Currently, she is adapting one of those stories into a novel. She is involved in a teen writing group at her local library and is working for her high school literary magazine. She enjoys maintaining a healthy lifestyle, reading, and being with her family. If you want to connect with her and chat, visit her blog, jarsofwords.blogspot.com.

Tags balance, God, pray, prioritize, priority, schedule, scheduling, School, time, writing

Grammar and Grace

Adverbs–How Do We Know?

Post author By Hope Toler Dougherty-Grammar and Grace
Post date August 19, 2017
No Comments on Adverbs–How Do We Know?

Adverbs are words commonly used to describe or modify a verb, and adjective, or another adverb. To test whether or not a word is an adverb, ask these questions: “How? How often? To what degree? Where?”.

The following sentence shows four adverbs in Italics.

Earlier, Elsie had waited there very impatiently.

When? Where? To what degree? How?

Earlier, there, and impatiently described the verb had waited. Very describes impatiently, another adverb.

Another common indicator of adverbs is the addition of -ly at the end of a word.

quietly, roughly, gingerly, softly, worldly

Many words that may function as adverbs do not end in –ly.

often, sometimes, then, when, anywhere, anyplace, somewhere, somehow, somewhat
yesterday, Sunday, before, behind, ahead, seldom, never, not

Also many adjectives do end in –ly.

womanly, manly, comely, costly

Confused yet?

Remember to ask questions about what the word is describing. If it describes a noun but ends in
-ly, it’s an adjective.

The comely cashier gave the crying toddler a lollypop. (Comely describes cashier, a noun.)

When writing fiction, relying on adverbs to show action is considered weak writing. Avoid using them. Replace with descriptive verbs instead.

The teenaged quarterback ran quickly up the front steps. Weak

The teenaged quarterback bounded up the front steps. Better

Happy writing!

Tags adverbs, Almost an Author, Christian writer, editing, Grammar, grammar and grace, Hope Toler Dougherty, writing

Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)

Writing With Disability -Featuring Writing of The Holy Bible – Part Three:

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date July 27, 2017
3 Comments on Writing With Disability -Featuring Writing of The Holy Bible – Part Three:

Overcoming a disability concept with a man writing the word Disability on a virtual interface and then crossing through the - Dis - with a red marker pen as a motivational call to overcome adversity.

King David, Isaiah, Jeremiah: Inclusion of Their Sick and Crippled

Picture a playground of children picking teams for a game. One by one team captains choose their teammates. Waiting to be called. in clear apprehension, is the child with red scaly patches on their knees and elbows.

There is a chubby kid who wears glasses looking off into the distance. The child with an obvious physical handicap, malformed knuckles, and webbed fingers expects to be last. A child with a vocal tic knows those who mock her will ignore her. The boy who stutters feels the same as does the one too shy to make eye contact. The unfortunate world of exclusion.

Inclusion means to allow to be a part of something. [1]Merriam Webster’s online dictionary defines it this way in selections one and four:

(1) the act of including: the state of being included
(4) the act of practice of including students with disabilities in regular school classes.

The story of David in the Bible is a favorite of mine because it is to me, the embodiment of inclusion. You may be familiar with the David, a shepherd boy, wearing no armor, who slays the giant Philistine, Goliath, using a sling shot and stones. There’s more to the story of David than the shepherd boy and his mighty slingshot.

The Prophet Samuel was sent to Bethlehem to choose a man from the house of Jesse who would one day be king. Jesse had many sons, but The LORD gave Samuel specific directions. Each man was presented and had worthy qualities, The LORD said no:

“But the Lord told Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks in the heart.” [1 Samuel 16:7 NIV]

Jesse did have another son, he was young, and out tending sheep. Samuel requested he see him and when he was brought up from the fields, The LORD spoke to Samuel saying this was the son he should anoint to be the future king. David had the heart the LORD wanted.

David played many roles. He was a shepherd, a musician that played to soothe evil spirits afflicting King Saul, a warrior that fought for Saul’s army, and later crowned King.

One of King Saul’s sons, Jonathan, was also David’s friend. David made a promise to Jonathan that he would provide and care for his family should anything happen to him, his father the king, or his brothers. King David then kept his promise to Jonathan when he inquired if anyone of the house of Saul survived to whom he could show kindness.

Through Saul’s former servant, Ziba, David discovered Jonathan indeed had a son living. His name was Mephibosheth. “Ziba answered the king, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan, he is crippled in both feet.’” [2 Samuel 9:3 NIV]

Mephibosheth’s nurse saved him at the age of five running away from people who wanted to kill all remaining relatives of Saul. She dropped him and his feet were crippled.

To wonder why it was important for Ziba to tell King David Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet isn’t hard to understand. The sick, crippled, and diseased were shunned, excluded, and made to live away from those without afflictions. We can read Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet twice within the twelve verses of this short chapter.

At the time King David made his request Mephibosheth was in his forties, married, and rearing a son. He lived in a place named Lo Debar, the name meaning land of nothing.

Mephibosheth viewed himself unworthy and devalued. These feelings are recognized along with probable low self-esteem and low self-confidence. Mephibosheth arrives and stands in front of King David to receive an offered inheritance and a place at King David’s table as part of the family forever.

Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant that you should notice a dead dog like me?” [2 Samuel 9:8]

Mephibosheth despite mental and physical problems and shame chose to rise above his situation and take his inheritance enabling a better life for himself and his family. David offered inclusion, and Mephibosheth accepted.

The LORD requires us to accept and include people in much the same way as King David included Mephibosheth. The passages found in Isaiah and Jeremiah, speak to the inclusion of all individuals.

Isaiah writes from the Lord,

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Which of them foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things? [Isaiah 43:5-9 NIV]

Jeremiah also writes from the Lord,

“Behold, I am bringing them from the north country, And I will gather them from the remote parts of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together; A great company, they will return here.” [Jer 31:8 KJV]

Writing stories with a disability requires our characters feel comfortable talking with the disabled. Another important aspect is portraying the disabled character as productive as their non-disabled counterparts. Why? To reduce a stigma where the characters with disabilities are unproductive as compared to the non-disabled characters.

A dialogue between disabled and non-disabled characters is a significant step toward encouraging inclusive behavior by the reader. Creating a sense of ease around those with disabilities isn’t as hard as one might imagine. Any place a person goes, people with disabilities go. Like anyone else, they go to school, shopping, movies, amusement parks, take the bus, ride the subway, drive cars, keep house, and go to work. If you see someone observe without staring, maybe start a conversation, you can see if they are willing to answer questions.

There are always people with disabilities who need care or assistance. If a person is in an accident and breaks a leg they need someone to care or assist them until they heal. If their break is severe or combined with other injuries, there may be no healing. This person is the same as they were before – on the inside. The heart stays the same. The inner person remains.

My parents were uncomfortable in the past when I’d ask questions of the disabled, “What happened to your leg? Where is your arm?” Was this a problem of their uncertainty of not knowing what to say, how to act, or being uncomfortable in the presence of a disabled person or was this the collective norm?

If inclusion had evolved since the days of King David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, perhaps this wouldn’t have been the case. In Jeremiah 31:8, I don’t read these words and think to myself some, a few, only the best and brightest, the most productive, or those without a flaw.

I believe we want to lift and include all people for the glory of the Lord. Everyone belongs. Everyone should be included. I’d like to think as writers we can follow the words in Proverbs 23:12:

“Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.”

Come back next month when I present Part Four: Matthew, Mark, and Luke Write Scores of Marvels. In the meantime, enjoy all the wonderful writing at Almost An Author.

Kathryn M. B. Johnson is a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and caretaker alongside writing and advocating for disability. Drawn to those with special needs, she spent much time in elementary school helping in the special education classroom.

As an adult, after years in the field of accounting software and information technology, she started work as an Orientation and Life Skills Instructor at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center. Here she worked with persons of all types of disabilities and disorders. She believes when God calls us to a role, he needles us to get the job done.

Now, retired and disabled, she has combined her love of writing with a desire to advocate for persons with disability. Kathryn does her best not to get stuck. You can find Kathryn on Facebook, Twitter, or visit her website.

[1] Definition of INCLUSION. (2017). merriam-webster.com. retrieved 10 July 2017, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inclusion

Tags crippled, David, disability, disabled, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Samuel, sick, writer, writing

5 For Writing

My 5 Rules for Writing

Post author By Doug Peterson - 5 for Writing: Rules to Write By
Post date July 26, 2017
3 Comments on My 5 Rules for Writing

My favorite canine writer, Snoopy of Peanuts fame, received a boatload of rejection slips in his pursuit of a publisher over the years, and some of them are gems.

“Dear contributor, thank you for submitting your story to our magazine,” one publisher wrote to Snoopy. “To save time, we are enclosing two rejection slips…one for this story and one for the next story you send us.”

In publishing, it’s a dog-eat-dog world.

That’s why there is no shortage of advice on writing and getting published. For instance, five commonly quoted rules on writing and finding a publisher came from Robert Heinlein, the famed science fiction writer. Heinlein’s five rules are:

You must write.
You must finish what you write.
You must refrain from rewriting, except to editorial order.
You must put the work on the market.
You must keep the work on the market until it is sold.

Four of these rules are excellent for both beginning and experienced writers, but I find Rule 3 on the strange side, as do many people; in fact, one online post about these rules comes with an Aspiring Author Warning—“Don’t try #3 at home.” From what I understand, Heinlein admitted that he did revise and rewrite, so I’m not sure where that rule even came from.

Regardless of the oddness of Rule 3, this time-tested list got me thinking about what rules I have subconsciously followed during my 38 years of writing since graduating from journalism school in 1977. So I came up with my “5 for Writing.

Get writing. Find the time to write. Then do it.

Learn by listening—and doing. Solicit feedback, discern what helps you.

Finish your story. Edit and rewrite, but don’t tinker forever. Reach the finish line.

Thrive on rejection. Get your story out there. Be fearless. Accept rejection.

Become a juggler. After one story is finished, be ready to start another. Consider writing two at once.

Note that my Rules 1 and 3 correspond to Heinlein’s 1 and 2. Every list of writing rules probably needs those two because starting and finishing are the two greatest obstacles. As the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said, “Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.”

As for Rule 2, it takes time to find a reliable circle of friends and colleagues who give you honest and helpful feedback. But it’s critical. Rule 5 may not be for everyone, but I work best when I’m juggling several projects. And if the idea of writing more than one story at a time makes your brain hurt, at least try to get multiple manuscripts on the market; it only increases your odds of finding a publisher.

Finally, my “thrive on rejection” rule was inspired by an old episode of the TV show M*A*S*H when Hawkeye Pierce said something to the effect of “I thrive on rejection.” Hawkeye was talking about not giving up when it came to finding a woman, but I have found that this philosophy also applies to finding publishers. (Both can be heart-breaking pursuits.)

In my forthcoming blogs, I intend that each installment will fall under one of these five rules—and if it doesn’t I’ll find a way to shoehorn it in. In the meantime, try to maintain the same indefatigable spirit of Snoopy—the only writer to ever have a mailbox run away from him when he tried to send off a new manuscript.

So what was Snoopy’s response to his many rejections? He once wrote back to a publisher by saying, “Gentleman, regarding the recent rejection slip you sent me. I think there might have been a misunderstanding. What I really wanted was for you to publish my story, and send me fifty thousand dollars.”

After a pause, Snoopy added…

“Didn’t you realize that?”

Now that’s a dog who thrives on rejection.

Tags Author, finish, juggle, listen, rejection, rules, snoopy, tips and tricks, write, write rules, writing, writing rules, Writing tips

Grammar and Grace

Adjectives are Cool!

Post author By Hope Toler Dougherty-Grammar and Grace
Post date July 18, 2017
No Comments on Adjectives are Cool!

This month at Grammar and Grace we’re studying adjectives. Adjectives are words that tell something about a noun or a pronoun.

An easy point to remember about adjectives is that they normally come right before or right after the noun or pronoun.

*The red wheelbarrow rests beside the path.

*The donkey–tired and stubborn–refused to finish plowing the field.

Adjectives that come after a verb (usually linking verbs) modify or describe the subject. These adjectives are called predicate adjectives.

*The pesto is yummy.

Adjectives can tell something about appearance–spectacular, nubby; color–black, gold; condition–bashful, intelligent; personality–victorious, ditzy; quantity–empty, packed; shape–snake-like, plump; time–early, retro; taste–sour, bland; touch–sizzling, velvety. (Yes, I agree. Some of these adjectives fit in more than one category.)

Do you notice anything about the adjectives? They don’t end with similar letters that shout, “Hey, I’m an adjective.” Just remember, if a word gives more information about a noun–how many fingers? Five–or if it makes a noun distinct from another noun–the red car, not the blue one–it’s an adjective.

Happy writing!

Tags adjectives, Almost an Author, editing, Grammar, grammar and grace, Hope Toler Dougherty, parts of speech, write, writing, Writing Instruction, Writing tips

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

The Ministry of Writing

Writers Must Keep Their Foot on the Gas

Post author By Jake McCandless - The Ministry of Writing
Post date July 10, 2017
5 Comments on Writers Must Keep Their Foot on the Gas

So, I guess it’s ok for a writer to be a NASCAR fan—especially a Southern writer, right? I’m a race fan, but last year one of my favorite drivers retired. At one point, in his career he was a perennial winner and champion, but he had struggled the past few years. As a fan, it perplexed me how someone who once dominated could lose pace. His equipment had gotten better, competition had fallen off, and he had gained lots of experience, therefore, why would he regularly finish in the back of the pack?

In one of his final races, a commentator shared how it was common for past champion drivers to lose speed the older they got. He went on and explained, “In a sport where each competitor is only separated by tenths of a second and the winners are often the ones who let off the gas the last in the turns. Past champions struggle as they get older and become more cautious. They tend to pull off the gas pedal sooner in those curves.” He went on to say how that when drivers begin their careers they are pushed by a singular vision and often they don’t have families. As they grow older, their interests vary beyond the track and they have children who are relying on them. This caution brings them to dial it back and not push as hard.

This was a clear explanation, but it also resonated with me because I have been describing one of my pastoral ministry failures as occurring because I took my foot off the gas. We had a long-term plan to grow our church through creating new Bible study classes with a DNA to multiply. Right out of the blocks we found success then we hit a difficult stretch. I was convinced of our strategy, but I became discouraged. And I let the voices of caution around me lead me to take my proverbial foot off the gas pedal. I aborted the plan and went back to the way things were before. I gave up. And the ministry suffered.

Now looking back, I wish I had stayed the course and continued. Now as I’m chiefly ministering through writing now, I’m tempted to do the same thing. Like the older race car driver who brakes earlier than they did in the past due to worries of life around them, I hear the concerns and stop. But we must not waver from our call.

[bctt tweet=”Christian writers you’ve been given a mission and you must keep your foot on the gas even in the scary turns” via=”@soldoutjake”]and the mundane straight-a-ways.

In however you have been called of God to write and complete a particular project, it was for a reason. Your task is important, and no matter how difficult or depressing it might be—God will come through. He will keep you on the track even if the mission turns your knuckles white.

We can’t give up. We can’t be hesitant. Our pedal needs to be to the metal.

This “gas pedal” you must not let up could be your calling to write, your vocation to be a writer, the leading to relay a message, or the call to create a certain resource. Whichever one or ones applies to you needs to be followed through.

If you have been called to write—write. Don’t start and stop. Don’t wait. Do it. For years, I felt called to do so. I put it off forever. Then when I finally started I would write for a little bit and then stop. I got nowhere. It was only when I plowed on through the writer’s block, rejection, and stress that things began to come together.

If you have been called to write as a vocation, do it. Learn the craft. Get the training. Quit your job, whatever it takes to be obedient. Don’t wait—press the hammer down. Even if you are broke and starving, stay the course.

If you have been called to share a message with the world and that involves writing about it—share it. Learn to write. But don’t put it off, share the message. Even if no one listens, keep sharing that message. If the message is the hill you are prompted to die on—die.

If you have been called to create a particular resource—create it. Get to work and don’t stop until its done. Shop it until it sells. Never put it in the trash or let it collect dust.

Christian writer there are some scary turns in this writing journey. Unlike NASCAR there are even right turns. There are also silent depressing seasons that make you want to shut it down. [bctt tweet=”But whatever you do put your foot on that Christian writing gas pedal,” username=”@soldoutjake”] push it through the bottom of the race car, and do not let it off.

Tags #SpiritualPrepper, Almost an Author, Author, Christian writer, Christian writing, Jake McCandless, Prophecy Simplified, Spiritual Prepper, WND, WND Books, writer, writing

The Binge Writer

Are you a Binge Writer?

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

I am a binge writer.

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

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

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

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

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

God wired me this way.

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

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

Maybe you are like me, maybe not.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Write Justified

The Times They Are A-Changin’

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

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

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

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

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

Who wants cheese on their burger?

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

They have seven PhDs among them.

Their degrees are in the sciences.

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

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

Grammar and Grace

What are Pronouns?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Do you have questions about pronouns?

Happy writing!

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

Tour

Blog Tour-Joshua J. Masters

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

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

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

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

Why do you write what you do?

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

What are you currently working on?

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

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

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

How does your writing process work?

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

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

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

Contact:

Email: josh@joshuajmasters.com

Website: www.joshuajmasters.com

Twitter: @joshuajmasters, @TheBatPastor, and @FranklinThePup

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

Magazine and Freelance

Jobs in your “Inbox” and more

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

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

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

Websites

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

YOU

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

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

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

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

Uncategorized

PENCON From the Eyes of a New Editor-Cristel Phelps

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date May 31, 2017
1 Comment on PENCON From the Eyes of a New Editor-Cristel Phelps

PENCON is hosted by The Christian Pen https://thechristianpen.com/

It has taken a year, but the new release by your favorite author is sitting on the store shelf. The cover is bright and shiny and calling your name. You take a moment to decide if you want the hardcover or the ebook. Hardcover, definitely! Its cost is hefty but well worth the price. Anticipation of a well written story is making you feel impatient. So after hurrying to the cash register, the next step is running home, brewing the coffee, and settling down in your favorite cushy chair. The aromas of the coffee and the brand new book are enough to put a smile on your face, and you start reading.

Things are going well until you run into your first typo. Really? In a hardcover book that cost almost half of a rent payment? Sigh. You decide to forgive your favorite author and realize that everyone is entitled to a mistake every once in a while, so you commence reading again. The story is everything you hoped it would be (once you forgot about the typo). The heroine is enjoying her life among the magnolias in South Carolina. Wait! Two pages earlier, she lived in Boston! What? Which is it?

Those are only two kinds of errors that a good editor looks for and corrects before a book goes to print. Whether a story, article, or marketing piece, the writer wants their publication to be presented with the highest impact on the reader. But even with the best intentions and excellent writing skills, ideas a writer tries to convey sometimes don’t come across as intended. That is when an editor comes alongside an author to enhance the finished product.

On May 4-6 in Atlanta, a community of Christian editors met for their yearly conference, PENCON, hosted by The Christian Editor Network LLC. These special wordsmiths spent days focusing on training and encouraging each other. The mandate of the organization is to empower and equip editing professionals in the Christian market. They certainly met their objectives.

Best Selling Author Cecil Murphy at PENCON

Opening with keynote speaker Cecil Murphy, lovingly called “Cec” by his friends. Mr. Murphy has been in the industry as editor and author for over 40 years with more than 140 published titles. His friendly and engaging style started the event off on a high note. In addition to Cecil, the line-up of quality speakers included Amy Williams, Don Catlett, Karin Beery, Katie Morford, Kristen Stieffel, Linda Harris, Rachel Newman, Ralene Burke, and Cindy Woodsmall. Experts in their field, they shared their knowledge and love of books with those who attended. Many of the editors who taught sessions are also accomplished authors in their own right and were able to share their experience from both sides of the pen.

PENCON is a unique experience. It is a small, intimate group of friends who enjoy sharing their love of editing, writing, and the Christian book industry as a whole. The sessions were not the only place where learning was taking place, though. During breaks and late into the evening hours, one could find small pockets of conversations going on, comparing notes and editing techniques. The size of this conference helps foster individualized learning while allowing friendships and networking opportunities to grow. One specific element of PENCON that sets itself above many other conferences in the industry is the opportunity for the attendees to experience a one-on-one session with conference speakers, gleaning individual instruction directly from the experts!

As a relatively new editor, this was my first time at such a conference. There was so much to learn and share with others that at times I felt like I was drinking from a firehose. The other attendees instantly made me feel welcome and part of their editing family. To find out that I was learning from authors and successful industry professionals made my time in Atlanta much more valuable. Then to top it off, meeting one-on-one with Cecil Murphy and sharing his heart for his work and care for others was the highlight of the entire weekend for this newbie editor.

Should you have a passion for the Christian publishing industry and work as a writer or editor, consider joining us in Grand Rapids, MI, for next year’s PENCON conference in May. It is an investment you will not want to miss. You could also consider becoming a member of The Christian Pen and begin enhancing your skills today. Online training by industry experts is scheduled throughout the year. Membership is reasonable and you can start right away helping us save the world from books with typos and storyline errors. Friends don’t let friends read bad books! (Smile) See you next year!

Cristel Phelps

Starting as the Publishing Editor for Decapolis Publishing in Lansing, Michigan, Cristel Phelps is currently a reviewer for CBA and an editor for Elk Lake Publishing. She loves encouraging new authors and saving the world from bad stories…one book at a time.

Tags Amy Williams, cecil Murphy, Cristel Phelps, Don Catlett, editing, Karin Berry, Katie Morford, Kristen Stieffel, Linda Harris, pencon, Rachel Newman, Ralene Burke, writing

Child's Craft

Get in Here!

Post author By Jill Roman Lord - A Child's Craft
Post date May 20, 2017
2 Comments on Get in Here!

My husband and I recently spent a few days in Napa Valley. We stayed in a quaint Bed and Breakfast on the edge of downtown Napa. I was excited to don my running attire and explore the town that morning and what a beautiful town it was!

The town was built along the river, so naturally restaurants, Inns and condos lined the River Brick walk. I loved the unique restaurants and shops beckoning one to enter. I loved the signs and the dance lessons on the sidewalk. That’s right. A permanent etching in stone demonstrated how to do the Cha-Cha. Loved that. It kind of made me want to do the Cha- Cha.

As I kept running, I noticed a sign pointing into an establishment that read, “Get in Here!” with an arrow pointing the way. By golly, I felt like I needed to get in there. I believe it was a coffee shop. What was it about those words that summoned me in over all the other inviting signs and establishments? After all, those are the words that an angry parent uses to a child that has done something wrong. That instance may evoke terror. I didn’t feel that at all.

Those words seemed to signify more that something exciting was happening inside that I wouldn’t want to miss. That there was an occasion, an event and I had received an invitation. It seemed to demonstrate that my presence was requested. Whatever I was looking for could be found inside.

Do your books do that? If you write for children, is there something about your book that beckons a child to enter or beckons a parent to want their child to enter into the world your book creates? Is there anything about your book that would cause it to be picked up over another one? If a parent is browsing a book store, would your book stand out to them?

What about your proposals? Is there anything within your proposal that would jump out at an editor or editorial board? They look at gazillions of proposals. What is it about yours that says, “Get in here! You don’t want to miss this!”

Beyond your hook, the ‘specifics’ section of your proposal is where you mention this. Point out what makes your book different. Is there a character that children may relate to? Is there rhyme that catches a child’s ear? A pull-out that children may post on their walls? A lesson hidden within the text that parents may love? Does it evoke an emotion? Cause children to think of others in new lights? Does it highlight a holiday in a new way? Spark an interest in scripture? Does it conjure up parent and child interactions? Perhaps it may cause children to ask more questions?

If you don’t have a hook to draw people in, work on it a little bit more. Look through books that lure you in. What made you pick certain books for your children? What books do they already enjoy and why do you think that is so?

Once your proposal has piqued an editor’s interest, will the story hold her attention? Is your story written well? And by well, I mean perfectly. Editors don’t have time for multiple fixes and rewrites. Send them the already fixed and rewritten manuscript.

Does this manuscript elicit emotions, laughter, spark pleasant memories? Is it creative? Different from other stories out there? How so? This goes in the ‘comparison’ section of your proposal. Note what is already published and why yours still needs to be out there. Do your homework and discover what is already published similar to yours. What does yours offer that the others don’t?

Your proposal and manuscript should both work together to appeal to first the editors and publishing houses and then to the buyers and readers. Both should be written as if to say, “Get in here! You don’t want to miss this!”

Tags beckoning, creativity, hook, invitation, proposals, welcoming, writing

History in the Making

Three Reasons I Cry When Reading Louisa May Alcott’s Classic Novel

Post author By Sandra Hart - History in the Making
Post date April 21, 2017
3 Comments on Three Reasons I Cry When Reading Louisa May Alcott’s Classic Novel

by Sandra Merville Hart

I was a teenager the first time I read Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. A childhood friend came in just as I sobbed over a tragic part of the story. I’ve read the novel at least a dozen times since that summer day.

Characters in the novel were inspired by Louisa’s own family and friends. Knowing her characters so well deepened the portrayal of them, evoking an emotional response in her readers.

*** Spoiler alert *** If you haven’t read the novel and intend to, you may want to read this post afterward as there are a few spoilers.

There are three reasons that I cry every time I read Little Women: believable family relationships; unexpected romances; and twists that mirror life.

Loving family relationships blanket the story. The reality of the Civil War touches the family. Jo’s father serves as a Union chaplain and is away at war. Jo and her sister, Meg, take jobs to support the family. When the story opens, another sister, Beth, helps the mother at home while the youngest, Amy, attends school.

But life gives them a terrible twist—Beth helps a family where three children suffer from scarlet fever and falls ill herself. She recovers from scarlet fever but her health is never the same. Eventually readers realize that she will die.[bctt tweet=”The twists and turns of Alcott’s classic novel mirror life. #writing” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

The second reason I cry when reading this classic novel is the unexpected romances. We watch Laurie, the family’s neighbor, fall in love with Jo and really want them to marry.

Though readers believe that Jo and Laurie are made for each other, a twist comes. Jo accepts a position as governess to a family in New York City. Professor Bhaer, who resides at the same boarding house, teaches German to Jo. He also critiques her writing. His disappointment in her stories cuts deeply. He encourages her to write stories with a moral.

What writer can’t relate to her pain?

Jo spends six months in New York before returning home to care for her gravely ill sister. Laurie finally proposes as anticipated, but Jo rejects him. Sad and angry, he travels to Europe. Neither of these events is what readers expect.

Another twist is coming. Jo’s youngest sister, Amy, is in Europe where she’s being courted by Laurie’s rich school friend, Fred. Readers are surprised to watch Amy fall in love with Laurie. Fred seems to be the better choice for Amy at first because Laurie is an angry, bitter man. He wakes up in time to realize Amy is the woman for him. They marry while in Europe.

What! Readers believed that Laurie was intended for Jo.

Meanwhile, Jo has all the sorrow she can handle. She tends to Beth as her little sister loses strength to even lift a needle to sew. Jo’s heart breaks—and ours with hers—when Beth dies.

As the family celebrates Amy’s marriage, Professor Bhaer arrives. In yet another twist to the story, he proposes and Jo happily accepts.

This leads to the third reason I always cry when reading Little Women: the twists and turns of the novel mirror life. The changes, the heartaches, and the bumps in the road feel realistic to readers—after we recover from shock and disappointment. Can’t we all relate to choosing a path leading one place and then ended up on completely different road?

Louisa’s publisher approached her in 1868 with a request to write a book about girls. She initially resisted. She finally gave in to urging from her publisher and her father. Then she set her novel in a house modeled after her home with characters inspired by family and friends.

The novel she didn’t want to write became a beloved classic and brought her financial independence.

Readers through the ages have reason to rejoice that Louisa listened to the urging of her publisher.

Sources

“Little Women,” Wikipedia, 2017/03/25 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Women.

“Louisa May Alcott,” Biography.com, 2017/03/25 http://www.biography.com/people/louisa-may-alcott-9179520.

Tags Author, classic novels, historical novel, historical novelists, Louisa May Alcott, novel writing, novelist, Sandra Merville Hart, writing

Child's Craft

One Author’s Story

Post author By Jill Roman Lord - A Child's Craft
Post date April 20, 2017
No Comments on One Author’s Story

I frequently get asked the question of how I got published. Okay. I’ll tell.

God placed the notion on me to write a book but I had no idea what to write. When an idea of a Children’s devotional came to me I was excited but had no time to write. I worked and had 2 small children. I told the Lord if He wanted me to write, He’d have to help me find the time. I wondered what the Good Lord had in store for me.

He woke me up every morning on my days off before He woke the sun. I made myself a cup of coffee, sat on my couch and hand wrote the whole thing. This was such a precious time with the Lord. Took me 6 months. This was before I had a computer and knew how to use one. Yes, I’m that old.

I took a computer class and learned how to use a Word program since my husband refused to type it up for me. I typed the whole thing and realized I had no idea of how to get it published. I bought a book on how to get published, followed it step by step. It seriously took me two weeks to write my first query letter and longer to perfect my first proposal.

I bought the Children’s Writers Market guide and begin sending out my proposal to publishers and waiting. Back in the day, publishers used to send out rejection letters. When I’d receive one, I’d send my proposal to another publisher. During this waiting period I wrote a bunch of stories that came to mind. I had a whole year’s worth of rejection letters on this one proposal before I received a positive nibble and subsequent contract. I tweaked my final manuscript in the hospital between contractions when I was in labor with my third child. My son’s first outing was to the post office to send off my completed manuscript.

A few things have changed since then. That third child is now in college. We didn’t have the internet back then with all the info at our finger tips like we do today. Publishers have come and gone. Less children’s editors attend conferences than they used to. Independent book stores have practically disappeared and publishers are pursuing less books than previously. EBooks have appeared further dwindling the number of hard copy books. Online bookstores have escalated, self-publishing has skyrocketed, and the media outlets have multiplied. This has all worked together to change the publishing business significantly. But, publishers still need great new manuscripts and the Lord still calls people to write!

It’s our job as writers to supply publishers with great new manuscripts and to do what God has called us to do.

The number of Writers conferences have increased dramatically through the years. I didn’t even find out about Writers Conferences until after my first book was published. I’ve pretty much attended a conference or taught every year since then. The industry changes and attending conferences is one way to stay in the ‘know’. It’s a way to meet with editors and agents and hear what they are looking for. It’s a place to take classes and hone your writing skills. It’s a place to network with authors and learn from them, to meet other writers, and share your writing woes and joys. It’s a great place to offer encouragement to each other and be surrounded by so many others who feel called by the Lord to write. There’s truly nothing like it.

Getting published can be a long sometimes painful process. It’s not for the meek nor thin-skinned souls. But writing is rewarding, rejuvenating, fulfilling. It’s a whole new world, filled with great people, new experiences. If God has placed it on your heart to write, then do your best to be obedient. Vow to give Him your best by learning the craft, and submitting great manuscripts then see what God has in store for you.

Tags Author, how to get published, new author, publish, publishing, writing

Uncategorized

Crafting The One Page Magazine Pitch

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date April 12, 2017
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As a former magazine editor and someone who has written for many publications, I’ve got good news. Every magazine editor is always looking for the right material for their magazine. Even if you are getting rejected, you should be encouraged with this information. Magazine editors (like book editors) have many more responsibilities than simply reading unsolicited manuscripts. Most of the higher paying magazines prefer to receive a single-page pitch letter called a query letter. Within a few minutes, the editor can determine if the idea is appropriate or not for their publication. Because of the volume of submissions, many editors will never respond if the answer is “no thank you.” Just knowing this practice is a reality check for writers.

As a writer, you are looking for an assignment or a “go ahead” or a “yes” response from the editor. One of the most important skills for writers to develop is to craft a query letter. To succeed at writing queries requires repeated practice. As you write these letters, you will refine and improve your technique. Sometimes at writer’s conferences, I will teach an hour on this topic and give detailed examples and a checklist in my handouts. I continue to recommend Lisa Collier Cool’s excellent book, How to Write Irresistible Query Letters (Writer’s Digest Books).

What’s a query letter? A query is a single-page letter which sells your story idea. It has a four paragraph formula.

The first paragraph is a creative beginning for your article. You don’t write the entire article–only the first paragraph which captures the reader’s interest. The purpose of this first paragraph is simply to capture the editor’s attention. I won’t walk you through the day of an editor, but since I’ve been one for years, I know they are involved in a multitude of tasks. For editors to read query letters, it is often done at the end of the day, late at night or in a car pool on the way home. You must begin with something interesting.

The second paragraph includes the main points of how you will approach the article.

The third paragraph gives your personal qualifications for this topic and your writing credits (if any). It answers the question, why should you of all the writers get this assignment? Highlight your area of expertise in this paragraph.

The final paragraph says how soon you could write the article (give yourself enough time for example, “three weeks from assignment”) and says you are enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope and looking forward to their reply or they respond via email. I often send my query letter to as many as ten different publications at the same time.

Within the magazine business, there is an on-going discussion about simultaneous submissions (where you send the same finished article to several publications). If you do this, you may end up on the black list of authors. Each publication has a list of people that they will not work with. You don’t want to be on that list. Also each publication has a list of authors they use regularly and call with ideas. Your goal is to get on this particular list of regular contributors.

A simultaneous query is not the same as a finished article. Go ahead and query several magazines at the same time on the same topic if you think you can write several different articles on the same subject. One magazine may ask for 500 words on the topic while another may approach it from an entirely different viewpoint and ask for 2,000 words. Your illustrations and information will be considerably different. If you send it to ten magazines, you may get ten rejections. On the other hand, perhaps you will get an acceptance or two, or at least a request to see the entire article on speculation. “On speculation” means that the editor is not under obligation to purchase your article if it doesn’t meet the periodical’s standards or expectations.

A word about rejection of your queries and manuscripts

An article or query may be rejected for many different reasons. Maybe the publication has already purchased an article on that topic. Maybe they’ve recently assigned it to another author. Maybe they have an article on that topic coming in an issue which is already in production but not printed. There are many different reasons for rejection which are out of your control as a writer.

Sometimes even out of rejection comes an assignment. Several years ago, I had queried a number of magazines about writing on listening to the Bible on tape. I targeted the January issues of publications for this short how-to article. Every magazine rejected it.

Several weeks later, I received a phone call from a new editor at Christian Life magazine. They too had rejected the idea earlier. “We’re sorting through some old queries,” she explained. “Would you be able to write 500 words on the topic in the next three weeks?” No problem. That little article turned into one of my most popular articles for reprint in other publications.

I prefer writing on assignment and you can snag magazine assignments as you learn how to write a riveting query letter. You want the editor to read your letter and be compelled to pick up the phone and call you for more information or an assignment. Or you want that editor to open an email and write you immediately asking when you can have the article ready for their magazine. I hope you can see the importance of this skill as a writer.

Because I’ve been published repeatedly in different magazines, many mistakenly believe I was born this way. Wrong. I garner my share of rejection in this process.

Years ago in college I took a magazine writing course. We were required to write several ten-page magazine articles. My key mistake was a lack of understanding of the market or the audience for the publications. When you write your query letter, you have to focus on both of these aspects. You want the idea to be perfect for that particular publication and you want to think about the publication’s audience when you write the query. If you don’t handle these two basics, then I can almost guarantee rejection. My writing and my research for the college articles was right on target—yet these articles were never published because they had no market or audience in mind. Don’t make that same mistake.

Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing, lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor, Whalin has written for more than 50 publications including Christianity Today and Writer’s Digest. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. His latest book is Billy Graham, A Biography of America’s Greatest Evangelist and the book website is at: http://BillyGrahamBio.com Watch the short book trailer for Billy Graham at: http://bit.ly/BillyGrahamBT His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com. Follow him on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/terrywhalin

Tags magazine, query, writing

The Ministry of Writing

Sometimes the Water Stops

Post author By Jake McCandless - The Ministry of Writing
Post date April 4, 2017
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If you are ministering through your writing, then I am certain that at some point in your ministry God has guided you to a certain task. More than likely you are like me — you wrestled with if you were hearing Him correctly. Next, you probably battled feeling worthy for the mission. Then you saw the reality of the difficulty of the task, and were ready to quit. The mountain seemed insurmountable. There was no way you could do it.

But still the Spirit continued to whisper on.

Still you felt called — instructed to move forward.

You had no idea how it would work out.

If you have followed this pattern of thought or better said — patter of freaking out! Then you are in good company. The company that the Book of Hebrews calls a “great cloud of witnesses.” Every follower of Christ before you and every Old Testament Saint faced the same dilemma.

My favorite account of this is found in the opening of the Book of Joshua. The Israelites stand on the banks of the Jordan River. The Promised Land is in view, and they are told to go take what was promised. God gives them specific instructions. The priests are to led the march. While carrying the Ark of the Covenant, they are to step into the swollen flood stage Jordan River. When they do, the water would stopped flowing, and like when the Red Sea was parted all of Israel would then be able to cross on dry land.

A strange plan.

Why not just stop the water first? Why not show the clear path to victory? For that matter why have Israel fight city to city to take the land, when God could have figuratively “nuked” Canaan and just handed it to His people?

Why God?

Why have us wade into the water before it parts?

Why have us feel as if we might drown with the heavy burden you have placed on us?

Pre-parted rivers would make following the Lord so much easier, right? Yet, He calls us into the swift waters with no apparent path to accomplishment. I’m sure you have been there or maybe you are on the edge of that step. Israel wandered for 40 years on the wrong side of the Jordan due to their fear to take the step of obedience.

Five years ago, I finally stepped into the water.

For years, I felt called to write, but I choose to wander in the wilderness of being uncommitted. Finally, I took the step. I took a week vacation to write a book. I finished the week with a chapter and a half with the realization writing a book was ridiculously difficult.

So, I’d quit and then restart. Quit and restart. Start a new project, quit, and restart the original book. I so wanted the water to part. After surrounding myself with accountability, I trudged on. No dry land though. I finally got enough done on the book to send to agents and publishers, again no path to victory — only rejection letters and silence. Then I went to a writer’s conference, and did the book pitch speed dating. Again silence.

Finally, the wind began to blow a bit. The breeze seemed as if it might turn back the tide. I signed with an agent. Then more silence. An empty email inbox is a lonely place, probably much like the desert surrounding Sinai.

Then came the book contract. Miracles do happen. Then came more work than I ever thought imaginable. Still the water surrounded me. I had stepped into the Jordan like those priests, but the water had not stopped.

But on April 4, 2017 the water stops and dry land appears.

Over twenty years of knowing I was called, but not taking a step. Then over five years in the water writing and learning.

But on April 4, 2017 Spiritual Prepper releases nationally.

I’m not sure if the Promised Land is on the other side. Maybe at least a royalty check or two, and more than that I hope for a few changed lives.

But I know this and want to share with you — that water you are called to step in, the water that appears scary, the water that seems only to rise — will one day stop.

If God has called you then He will come through. And in the words of rock n’ roller Chris Daughtry, “Be careful what you wish for, ‘Cause you just might get it all.”

Tags @WND_Books, #SpiritualPrepper, Christian writer, Christian writing, encouragement, Jake McCandless, Prophecy Simplified, Spiritual Prepper, writing, writing ministry

Write Justified

Before You Hire an Editor

Post author By Judy Hagey - Write Justified
Post date March 26, 2017
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You’ve written your masterpiece. Or at least a short story, novel, or essay you believe worthy of publication. But is it? Other than your mother, who thinks everything you write is perfect, has anyone else laid eyes on your work? Is it really submission-ready?

Writers need editors. As a freelance editor, I hope that doesn’t conjure up an image of a stern-faced, red pen-wielding person whose only purpose in life is to make yours miserable. Far from it. Would you be surprised to learn that editors face each project with as much trepidation as you do when submitting a piece for their review? Though I can’t speak for others, I know that to be true for me. [bctt tweet=”My goal is to help you make your writing say exactly what you mean in as clear and understandable language as possible.” username=””] Peter Fallon describes the relationship between writer and editor as more of a duet than a duel. It ought to be a collaborative, not adversarial relationship, intended to make your writing sing.

Assuming I’ve convinced you that you need an editor, here are three things to do before passing your work off to a professional.

Format: Standard publishing format calls for one-inch margins, 12 point font, typically Times New Roman, double-spaced with one space between sentences. Yes, if you learned to type on a typewriter, you learned to put two spaces between sentences. And habits die hard. But in the computer age with proportional fonts, just hit that space bar once after a period or other end punctuation.
Spell-check: Do run spell-check, even though it won’t catch all the errors. Spell-check won’t find homophone errors or actual words used incorrectly. But it can eliminate extra spaces, double periods, and other kinds of errors that creep in when you’re in the zone and the fingers are moving faster than the brain.
Critique: One of the best things a writer can do is seek out other writers who will honestly critique her work. Whether you join a group such as Word Weavers or search out an accountability partner who can also offer meaningful feedback, you need someone to look at your work with unbiased eyes. As a reader would. A good critique will point out the positive and negative aspects of your writing and suggest ways to clarify the language or engage the reader more effectively.

Aside from the value of the honest feedback of a critique, the camaraderie of other writers is essential for the often-lonely exercise of writing. It may be just the motivation you need to keep putting pen to paper.

These simple steps will save your editor time and frustration, save you money, and ensure the writer-editor relationship gets off to a good start. It may just be the beginning of a life-long friendship.

Tags Almost an Author, critique, editing, editor, format, hire an editor, writers, writing

History in the Making

Historical Writing Requires Attention to Details

Post author By Sandra Hart - History in the Making
Post date March 21, 2017
No Comments on Historical Writing Requires Attention to Details

By Sandra Merville Hart

When it comes to research, contemporary writers have it so easy, right? I am teasing, because these novelists definitely research their topics. However, it is true that everyday objects don’t have to be described in great detail in those genres.

For instance, when a character answers a phone in a contemporary novel, writers don’t have to mention that they hold the object to their ear to hear the conversation. The ringtone isn’t described unless it says something about the character’s personality or holds meaning in the story.

On the other hand, historical writers pay attention to those details as they paint a picture from days gone by. For example, novelists add descriptions of landaus, a four-wheeled carriage, for readers who want to see the vehicle in their imagination. These carriages contained two seats that faced each other to accommodate four adults comfortably. The driver sat on an elevated seat while guiding a team of four horses.

Landaus are no longer common so writers realize the need to describe these modes of transportation. Many objects fall into this category and enhance reader’s pleasure to learn a bit about the past.

However, there are other familiar objects that we, as writers, simply assume have been around for generations. I discovered this while writing a novel set in 1877.[bctt tweet=”Historical novelists can’t trust assumptions. Verify with research. #histfic #writer ” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

My character sat on a front porch swing enjoying a conversation with her niece and new stepdaughter. The scene almost wrote itself. It didn’t occur to me until editing to wonder when porch swings came into use. I swung on them during childhood visits to older relatives’ homes, making me assume that they had been gracing front porches for years.

Assumptions have to be verified, requiring additional research.

In another novel, I wanted to show a character’s brothers playing tricks on her for April Fool’s Day. When did such shenanigans begin? Research showed this tradition began in 1700, making it safe to include in my 1904 novel.

How about the celebration of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day? These are relatively new holidays honoring parents.

I wanted to include a scene where fourteen-year-old twins (not yet called teenagers in 1877) decorated a Christmas tree at their boarding house with ribbons. They strung popcorn to arrange across the evergreen branches. Including these activities in my story required researching when Americans began to chop down evergreen trees to bring into their homes for Christmas. Did they decorate with ribbons, hang presents on the tree, pop corn for the occasion? These nostalgic details, once verified, bring richness to stories.

A wonderful aspect of research is that it often reveals traditions that are no longer followed. Including long-forgotten details deepens both your story and your reader’s delight.

We are often fairly certain of our facts, such as the date an event took place, but it’s always worth checking if there is any doubt. An abundance of Internet sites often makes this a quick process.

Sources

“April Fools Tradition Popularized,” History.com, 2017/02/24 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/april-fools-tradition-popularized.

“Landau,” Encyclopeadia Brittanica, Inc., 2017/02/24 https://www.britannica.com/technology/landau-carriage.

Tags historical authors, historical novel writing, historical novelists, historical research, novelists, researching details, Sandra Merville Hart, writers, writing, writing life

Child's Craft

Create like the Creator

Post author By Jill Roman Lord - A Child's Craft
Post date March 20, 2017
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As I was running trails with my dog one day, I was overcome with awe at the beauty, the intricacies, the details, and variety of all of God’s creations. What an incredible creator He is! And isn’t it amazing that since He made us in His image, He made us creators as well? Don’t you think He loves it when we create? When we use the talents He has given us to create something out of nothing?

Have you ever heard a song that completely touched your heart? That brought you to worship right where you were? Or how about a painting, a sculpture, a child’s finger painting, a brilliant innovative invention that revealed God’s hand at work?

I remember when I was in India, two of my team mates brought construction paper, stickers and gems for the children to create crowns. My team mates explained to the children that they were children of God, children of the King of Kings which made them princes and princesses. These crowns they created served to remind them of who they were in Christ. I loved watching these poorest of the poor Indian children create their beautiful sparkly crowns and wear them with pride.

As writers, we have this amazing privilege to create stories, images, blogs, articles, or whatever it is to highlight God’s majesty, showcase His love and illustrate His grace and mercy. What an honor that is. As children’s writers our books may be the ones that help form a child’s image of God and who He is. Our writing may help form their foundations of right and wrong, draw them to Jesus, possibly clarify Bible stories, demonstrate how to help others, how to tell the truth, to be kind to others, or whatever else God puts on your heart to write. These are the books and stories that children need today!

Don’t hold back my friends. Don’t resist writing your inspiration because it’s been done before, you think you won’t be able to write it as well as others, you feel like it will never be published. If God has placed something on your heart, then do your part and write it. Let God do with it what He will, but get it written.

And write it well. Get the idea on paper as it comes to you. But don’t submit the rough draft. We are to give our best to God, so make it beautiful! Make it strong! Make it touch the heart, move someone to tears, elicit a giggle. Make it flow, come full circle, teach without preaching, and make it enjoyable to read. Rewrite it then rewrite it again. Have it critiqued then rewrite from the critiques. Make it sing!

God gave us His best in all of His creations. Let’s give Him our best with the gifts and talents He has given to us.

Tags children, creating, creation, creator, Give your best, writing, writing for children

Grammar and Grace

Let’s Talk About Verbs

Post author By Hope Toler Dougherty-Grammar and Grace
Post date March 17, 2017
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Last time, I introduced the eight parts of speech. This time, we’ll focus on verbs.

I’m beginning with the verb because to be a complete sentence and not just a phrase or a fragment, a group of words has to have a verb. A verb is the action part of the sentence or the part that talks about being.

I am. That’s a sentence.

Steelers won. That’s a sentence, too. Of course, a better, more descriptive sentence might be something like—The fantastic Pittsburgh Steelers shut out the stinkin’ New England Patriots and won the Super Bowl.

To understand verbs, we must understand more than just the definition that a verb is a word that describes a state of action or being.

Agreement—A verb must agree with its subject. We’ll discuss this idea more in later posts once I introduce nouns.

Tenses—A verb tense tells the time of the action. To keep things simple, we’ll discuss past, present, and future tenses.

Present—I enjoy avocado on toast.

Past—I enjoyed avocado on toast yesterday.

Future—I will eat avocado on toast tomorrow.

Notice that the spelling of the verb changes for the past tense. Usually, adding the suffix -ed to a verb makes it past tense. For the future tense, I added a helping verb will.

Linking verbs—These verbs join a subject to its complement. Common linking verbs are be, am, is, are, was, were, been, being—forms of the verb to be. Verbs of the senses are also linking verbs—feel, smell, sound, look, seem, and taste.

Her voice sounded shrill. (Sounded links voice to shrill.)

She is the Olympic swimmer. (Is links she to swimmer.)

Helping verbs—These verbs are also called auxiliary verbs. They help form proper tenses. Common helping verses include the linking verbs as well as have, has, had, shall, will, may might, can, would, should, could, must, and ought.

Beth has invited several people to the Parade of Tables, but only two have accepted.

Irregular verbs—These verbs do not take an addition of the suffix -ed to form the simple past tense. Some irregular verbs include the following: eat/ate/eaten, see/saw/seen, come/came/come, drink/drank/drunk, drive/drove/driven.

This post is an attempt to remind readers about the function of verbs. Understanding the function will help make your writing clear, correct, and concise.

Do you have questions about verbs?

Happy writing!

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