Tag: writing

The E’s of Writing for Children

Post author By Jill Roman Lord - A Child's Craft
Post date October 20, 2016
No Comments on The E’s of Writing for Children

The E’s of writing for children does not equate with ease of writing for children, but includes elements to help your writing stand out.

I’ve researched children’s books and have found that most published children’s books fall into at least one of four categories, if not overlapping into several. So, it seems that as writers, we should write manuscripts that fall into at least one these same categories. I’ve made it simple so that all you have to remember is the letter E. All of these categories begin with that letter. So, children’s books should:

Entertain – These books should take children to other worlds, help them escape from their reality if only for a few moments, should enlighten their lives. These books bring enjoyment at some level, wonder, excitement, amusement. It doesn’t have to be a fantasy book to take children away. It just needs to quickly put them into a different setting, or make them laugh, help them to think differently, or at some level amuse them. There might not be any educational matter in these books but their highlight is that they simply entertain.

Educate – Books do not need to be scholarly books to educate. The best books educate children without the children realizing they are being educated. Can your books show the love of Jesus, the wonder of God, the downfall of boasting, ways to get healthy, to serve or to love through entertaining stories? Think of Dr. Seuss’ Yertle the Turtle, which focuses on the downfall of greed and Gertrude McFuzz which is a fabulous story for children about vanity. The Tooth Book which is a fun lesson in the importance of caring for your teeth. Can you find a way to extract a lesson from your story without the kids realizing their being taught?

Esteem – Who doesn’t like reading books to children that remind them that they are loved, they matter, there is a purpose for them, and that they are cherished? God Made You Just Right by Jill Roman Lord, focuses on how special and unique each child is. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney reminds a child how much they are loved by a parent. You Are Special by Max Lucado enforces that God cherishes each child. All of our children need to be reminded that they are special, loved and unique.

Encouragement – I love the book It’s Hard to be five, by Jamie Lee Curtis. This meets the kids where they are, helps them learn self-control and shows that it’s not easy with what they are going through but that they can make it through. Does your book help a child keep his chin up, hold on another day, promote helping others in need, to love more, to try again? There is certainly a need for more of these books.

Children’s books should also elicit an Emotion of some kind. Maybe an ‘aha’ moment. In another post, I mentioned this as the ‘gut’ factor. Is there a moment in your book that might take the reader’s breath away, bring back a memory, cause them to break out into laughter, gasp, say, “awww”, perhaps elicit a tear? This adds a tenderness, an unexpected surprise. This is an element that I would suggest should be evident in all children’s books.

There you have it. The E’s of writing children’s books. Good luck! And let me know below, any other categories I may have missed.

Tags children, children's books, educating, emotion, encouragement, entertaining, esteem, writing

Grammar and Grace

Compliment or Complement?

Post author By Hope Toler Dougherty-Grammar and Grace
Post date October 18, 2016
2 Comments on Compliment or Complement?

Earlier this week I wrote a post for my own blog and was reminded about two things: the difference between compliment and complement and the definition of a subjective complement.

Compliment and complement sound exactly alike. They’re homophones. They are spelled differently and have different meanings, however.

A compliment is a flattering statement. Your dinner guest might say, “This pesto is delicious. I’d love your recipe.” He’s complimented your cooking.

A complement is a thing that completes something else or brings it to perfection. A nice complement to angel hair pasta with pesto is a ripe tomato.

The tricky thing is remembering how to spell the correct form. Try this mnemonic device. I like compliments ( because don’t we love compliments?). The I in the previous statement can remind you to use the word with the i in it.

A subjective complement is one of those phrases you learned about in grade school. It’s a word or phrase that follows a linking verb (be, am, is, are, was, were,…) and renames or describes the subject.

My high school English teacher was a monster. (Not true, by the way.) Monster is the subjective complement because it renames teacher.

I have another example of a subjective complement, but I’m not sure it’s appropriate for this blog. I used it in the post I mentioned in the first paragraph. If you want to read it, go here. Read all the way to the end.

Now, go give someone a compliment!

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

Storyworld

Board Games that Inspire Writing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Craft Writing with Humor

5 Easy Steps To Make Readers Laugh Using The Absurd

Post author By Jean Wilund - Writing with Humor
Post date September 24, 2016
No Comments on 5 Easy Steps To Make Readers Laugh Using The Absurd

Ever laughed in an absurd situation or at an absurd time?

Sure you have. We’ve all done it.

Our friend trips over his feet, falls flat on his face, and instead of helping him up, we fall over laughing, lamenting we didn’t get it on video.

America’s Funniest Home Videos makes a living on our laughing when we “shouldn’t.”

They knew we’d laugh — and we do.

Why do we laugh at the absurd?

The absurd is unexpected, and the unexpected is funny. It’s that simple.

You can find more scientific answers to explain it, but that’s the bottom line.

We’ll laugh at the absurd as long as it doesn’t offend our sensibilities, such as laughing about 911. Not funny. Period.

But even in the midst of turmoil, we like to laugh. We need to laugh.

Comic relief eases pain and sadness.

The absurd makes for great humor material when done right.

Imagine laughing at a funeral. Who would do that?

The writers of the 1970’s TV series The Mary Tyler Moore Show thought it was a great idea. And it was because they did it right.

Using five easy steps, they reaped reruns of laughter even from a funeral.

5 Easy Steps to Make Your Reader Laugh Using the Absurd:

Let’s look at how the writers of The Mary Tyler Moore Show incorporated the five steps into their heralded episode Chuckles Bites the Dust.

1. Know Your Audience.

What’s funny to some may be offensive to others.

The writers of The Mary Tyler Moore Show knew their audience tuned in to watch comedy and expected absurd situations, but they never crossed the line into callousness.

Had their audience been a group of grieving parents, it would’ve fallen flat, even with a clown for a character.

2. Think of an Absurd Situation.

Absurd situations make us laugh. The more common to humanity the situation is, the wider the audience you’ll reach and the more they’ll relate, leading to bigger laughs.

A humorous situation about parenting may be funny to all, but they strike a parent’s funny bone harder.

Find a situation that’s common to the vast majority.

Death.

Then find a way to make it absurd.

The death of a clown named Chuckles, who was dressed as a peanut when an elephant tried to shell it.

You now know the premise of the Chuckles Bites the Dust episode. And you see how a common situation can suddenly become uncommon and absurd.

3. Add ridiculous timing.

Ridiculous timing can raise the absurdity to a higher level.

This step is similar to the idea in writing of building tension by thinking of the worst thing that can happen to your main character and then making it worse.

Without conflict there’s no story. Ridiculous timing increases conflict and laughter.

The writers of The Mary Tyler Moore Show raised the stakes and the laughter by placing the climax of the episode in the middle of Chuckles the clown’s funeral.

4. Place your characters smack in the middle of it.

Place your main characters into the middle of the absurdity and let them react.

If they react opposite of how the audience would expect, even better. That’s called juxtaposition, and it’s a great humor technique.

The main characters of this episode sit together at Chuckles the Clown’s funeral. Once the pastor begins the eulogy, Mary–the only character to have shown respect throughout the episode–suddenly finds the situation unbearably humorous. Despite her best efforts, she can’t contain her laughter.

5. Have fun, but don’t cross the line.

Even if some audience will laugh at anything, writers should behave with decency.

Some subjects should remain off limits as objects of humor. (Child pornography for instance.)

Other subjects need only be handled with care. (Sickness and death.)

Throughout the episode, various characters respond with appropriate sadness by the news of Chuckles the Clown’s death.

Mary consistently responds in the most appropriate manner. Thus when she loses self-control at the funeral, the audiences’ sensitivities aren’t offended.

If she’d been known to be a callous jerk, the audience wouldn’t have been surprised by her laughter and again wouldn’t have been unduly offended.

Chuckles Bites the Dust

The entire Chuckles Bites the Dust episode is a fun lesson for writers on how to use absurd situations and timing without crossing the line. The fabulous twist at the end (the juxtaposition I mentioned earlier) pulls it all together.

Watch the full episode by clicking the link above, or watch the short clip below: Laugh for Chuckles

Notice how the writers incorporated these five easy steps and made their audience laugh using absurd timing and situations:

Tags Almost an Author, humor, Jean Wilund, writing, Writing Instruction, Writing tips

Guest post archive

LAST DAY TO REGISTER-A Writers Retreat at your Fingertips-Jerry’s Guild

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date September 23, 2016
No Comments on LAST DAY TO REGISTER-A Writers Retreat at your Fingertips-Jerry’s Guild

Don’t have the money or time to attend a conference?

Need training or a tune up on your schedule?

Want to learn from established writers?

Almost an Author is honored to partner with Jerry B. Jenkins to educate, equip, and encourage writers. Jerry is personable and cares for writers of every genre, age, and ability. This is evident when you join the writing community at Jerry’s Guild .

Jerry’s Guild is an on-line writers forum that gives daily contact with fellow members—writers just like you—for wisdom, encouragement, and motivation. Jerry responds to questions and gives some writers an opportunity to be critiqued by him.

“If you want to gain serious confidence as a writer, finish your book, and get your message into more hands—I want to be your writing coach.” Jerry B. Jenkins

I believed him and now I’ve learned Ferocious self-editing, Nailing your first 5 pages, Show Don’t Tell, and more. I am amazed at all the phenomenal teaching.

Jerry interviews Best Selling authors so Guild members receive the best training. These Master Classes include James Scott Bell, DiAnn Mills, Steven Laube, Brandilyn Collins, Randy Ingermanson, Doc Hensley and more. The interviews are personal and informative. Many of these writers struggle with the same things we do.

The best part of being a member of Jerry’s Guild, I can go back and watch the videos again and again, Wherever I want, whenever I want.

The demand for membership is high. Jerry opens the Guild for membership just a few times per year so he can give attention to each member.

The Guild closed TODAY

http://firstimage.trknw.com/?a=8&c=19&s1=

There is a money back guarantee. The monthly cost is minimal.

The Guild is like having a writers conference at your fingertips, but at a fraction of the cost.

Membership would make a great gift for you or your writing friends.

Click on the link above and join a group of like-minded individuals while receiving the best, up to date training.

I am off to listen to Master Class #1 again with Chris Fabry, award-winning host of the Chris Fabry Live! syndicated radio show (Moody Radio Network) and now an award-winning author as well.

Guess who trained him?

Tags finish, free webinar, Jerry B. Jenkins, teaching, writing

Child's Craft

Keeping it Fresh

Post author By Jill Roman Lord - A Child's Craft
Post date September 21, 2016
1 Comment on Keeping it Fresh

I recently read these words written by an editor:

“Also, do not be contended with the cut and dried problems which writers have tried to solve since time began. Break fresh ground. Strike new chords. You need not create a problem new to life, that in fact, would be impossible, but treat a situation which has not formed the foundation for many stories. Remember, the story must not center entirely about the characters and their words and emotions. There must also be action, complication and some unusual happening. Make the editor take notice because you have given him something he did not expect, something fresh, stimulating, unusual…” Q.S Kimball, The Editor, Oct 10, 1914.

Did you catch the date that notation was written? 1914! This was written to my great grandmother in response to a manuscript she had submitted in a 12-lesson writing course. I discovered it recently while digging through a box I saved from my mother’s basement. That paragraph blew me away. Can you believe that editors were looking for fresh ideas back in 1914! I thought all stories were fresh back then!

Aren’t editors still saying the same thing today? How can we possibly submit fresh stories that haven’t been written yet? How many books have been published since 1914? How can they all be fresh, new, different, never done before?

I wonder if God says the same thing when He creates a new human being? “How can I possibly create someone new with all the gazillions of people I’ve already created?” But, yet, He does. He gives each of us a new way of looking at life, different points of view, varying passions and longings, a variety of talents and skill sets. He created us with diversified interests and things that make us laugh, that captivate us or bore us. And aren’t you glad for that? We could probably all view the same sunset but yet, see it differently.

I remember in art class in middle school, we learned to paint a still life picture. The teacher positioned an array of objects together and left them in the same position for that entire lesson. We each painted the exact same still life collection but every picture turned out completely different. We all saw it from a different point of view and position in the room. Some were drawn more to certain items than others and emphasized those, whereas others cast the same items in a totally different light.

Your view of the world is going to be different from another person’s. Your gift in writing is going to be different from another person’s. It is our job as writers to present our view, show a different glimpse into a situation, point out the humor, the nuances, the cleverness in circumstances. Isn’t that why we read and why children read– to be drawn into another’s world?

Why are you writing what you are writing? How is it different from what’s already out there? How can you make it stronger, more enchanting, quirkier? Learn what is already published by spending time in bookstores. Does there need to be another book out there like one that’s already there? Why? What enlightenment can yours bring to readers?

This is part of the fun of writing, making it your own. It is still our job, as writers, to create new slants to old situations, pepper stories with fresh ideas, and delight readers with the unexpected! After all, editors have been looking for fresh ideas since time began, or at least, since 1914! Let’s give the world something fresh, stimulating, unusual.

Tags creative writing, fresh, fresh ideas, new ideas, slants, unusual, writing

History in the Making

What I Learned from the Author of Charlotte’s Web – Part 2

Post author By Sandra Hart - History in the Making
Post date September 20, 2016

by Sandra Merville Hart

Last month we talked about the author of Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White, and the influence of his writing professor, William Strunk Jr.

Strunk devised and White revised twenty-two Elementary Rules of Usage. The whole list deserves an author’s attention but this article focuses on three rules that most altered my writing.

A writer must first select a design for the piece and adhere to it. I had written several books (unpublished) and many articles before reading this advice. According to White, effective writing follows the author’s thoughts but perhaps not in the same order. Deliberate planning precedes writing.

For instance, certain forms of poetry follow a predetermined frame, but most writings are flexible. Considering the shape of the finished work allows greater chances for success. The intended audience and the message affect this decision.

Make positive statements. This second rule underscored one of my weaknesses that I’ve worked to correct. Avoid indefinite language. Commit to your descriptions.

[bctt tweet=”E.B. White advises #authors to make positive statements and avoid indefinite language when #writing an article or novel. ” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

Writing not very often hesitant to speak is wordy and better stated as usually spoke his mind.

Another part of this second rule is to express negatives positively. Did not go becomes stayed. Not happy is sad. Is your character a little mad or is he frustrated?

A third rule from White deals with loose sentences. These are two clauses joined by a conjunction, common in unskilled writers. His advice is to avoid a string of this type of sentence.

Connectors such as and, but, or which occasionally are fine. A paragraph filled with loose sentences grows monotonous.

Rework these paragraphs. White suggests rewriting enough sentences to relieve the repetitive feel. Replace them with simple sentences. Rewrite entire sentences. Join two clauses with a semicolon. Choose the best way to remain true to the thought.

When I originally read this book about five years ago, I began to apply as many of White’s rules as feasible to a recently completed draft. I discovered the best way to utilize the rules was to take them one at a time.

I hate to mention how many loose sentences were in my manuscript. For someone so unfamiliar with the term I certainly excelled at writing them. Realizing that using too many connectives was considered easy, unskilled writing, I rewrote many sentences to improve the work.

Then I went on to another rule that exposed my weaknesses and began the process all over again.

Though the continuous editing required more time and effort than anticipated, working through each rule solidified the learning impact. Whether or not my manuscript was good at the end of this process, hard work improved it.

This introduction of three of the rules simply scratched the surface of the gems found in The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White. Next month we will talk about other helpful writing tips from this book. Stay tuned!

Tags Author, authors, Charlotte's Web, E.B. White, Sandra Merville Hart, The Elements of Style, William Strunk Jr, writing

Grammar and Grace

Confusing Words…Again!

Post author By Hope Toler Dougherty-Grammar and Grace
Post date September 17, 2016
No Comments on Confusing Words…Again!

Yes, we’re continuing to visit confusing words because the English language abounds with them. Here are a few more examples to look for when you’re proofing your writing. Some are homophones while others are confusing because of their close spellings.

1. Sensuous/Sensual

Sensuous means relating to the five senses, strong sensory appeal. If used correctly, the word does not have a sexual connotation.

The chocolate and hint of chili pepper combined to make a sensuous experience.

Sensual means relating to gratification of senses or the indulgence of the appetite, physically pleasing, and it comes with a hint of sex.

Many advertisements today rely on sensual images instead of clever copy.

2. Pallet/Palate/Palette

A pallet is a temporary bed or a portable platform.

My grandmother used to make a pallet of quilts for me on her floor.

A palate is the roof of the mouth.

The hot soup scorched my palate.

A palette is an artist’s board of paint.

All the colors mingled on the artist’s palette.

3. Carat/Karat

A carat is the unit of measure for precious stones.

Her engagement ring is a 2-carat diamond.

A karat is used to measure gold.

Her wedding band is comprised of 24 karat gold.

4. Homey/Homely

Homey relates to the home.

The abundance of candid photos and plump throw pillows added to the room’s homey ambiance.

Homely is used to describe things that are thought to be unattractive or simple.

The homely hound licked his spotted paw.

Take time to check on suspect words—the spelling as well as the definition.

Happy writing!

Tags Almost an Author, Christian writing, confusing word pairs, editing, grammar and grace, writing, Writing tips

The Ministry of Writing

Remember Your Christian Foundation: Seminary in 5 – Spiritual Formation

Post author By Jake McCandless - The Ministry of Writing
Post date September 12, 2016
No Comments on Remember Your Christian Foundation: Seminary in 5 – Spiritual Formation

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

If you are a Christian writer this post may seem unnecessary, but I want to help you remember your Christian foundation. Believe me, Spiritual Formation class in seminary seemed unnecessary to me. I’d been a Christian for over ten years and in ministry for half that, and there I was in a class that taught the basics. The basics I knew. The basics I had experienced, but it was the basics I needed to remember. And I imagine it wouldn’t hurt you to remember them.

As Christian writers we can get so wrapped up in our projects and the message we are trying to get across that we can easily forget that original joy of our salvation. We can forget the basics that each one of our readers need to know.

So let’s go back to the basics, to the foundations of our faith.

We Need a Savior

I trusted Christ as Savior and became a Christian at age 12. Some of you it may have been much younger, while for some of you it was when you were older. After a long time of conviction, I placed my faith in His sacrifice on the cross for our sins, but it wasn’t until I was studying theology that I realized my dire need for that salvation.

No matter how long you have been a Christian it is vital that you see the absolute need we have for a Savior. Matthew 5:48 states that we must be perfect to enter Heaven. This is impossible because as we know too well, and Romans 3:23 tells us — we all have sinned. In Ephesians 2:1, we read that we are dead spiritually because of our sins. Therefore, we can not be saved by any merit of our on.

When I was in early elementary grade I almost drown at a cousin’s birthday party. I couldn’t swim well and I ventured into the deep end. Fortunately, someone saw me and jumped in.

I couldn’t rescue myself — I had to be rescued. We, too, need to be rescued in light of our sins and in regards to eternity.

So no matter how much we grow in Christ, we can’t forget we are still completely reliant on His grace and mercy for salvation.

We Can Be Born Again

As I stated it is vital we realize that the core of our Christian walk and then our expression of that in writing is that we were spiritual dead. Romans 6:23 states that this spiritual deadness results in a spiritual death for eternity. Although a strong punishment is foretold, it is followed by a “but”. Paul records in Romans that although our sin leads to death, a gift of eternal life is available. We also read in Romans 5:8, that although we are sinners Jesus came and died for those sins. The price has been paid. An acquittal is available. Jesus has done all the work. The rope of eternal rescue has been let down, then by faith we can take that rope. When we place our trust in Jesus, repent of our sins, and commit to follow Him we are born again.

In that new birth, we receive the promised new heart. A large part of us being made new is that we are given the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. The power of Christ becomes a guide, counselor, comforter, and convictor in our lives.

We Can have a Relationship with God

When we celebrate our salvation in Christ, we think of the forgiveness of sin, but what I believe is the most amazing part is that we’re able to have a personal relationship with God. We’re no longer separated from Him by sin. We can walk with Him.

The Christian walk is not following a list of rules, but living in a relationship with Christ. It is not following the prescribed steps A and B, but rather staying in step with the Holy Spirit. In Galatians 5, the Apostle Paul instructs the believers in Galatia to walk in the Spirit.

We Need to Use Spiritual Disciplines

In our western mindset we actually would prefer that set of rules to follow as Christians. We prefer the methodology of science over the ebbs and flow of art, but walking in the Spirit is an art. It is a practice in which we grow into. It is in this frame work we must understand the spiritual disciplines. It’s said that if one was to ask a puritan preacher for counsel, he would reply, “Put yourself in the way of the Lord.” The preacher would mean for that parishioner to read their Bible, pray, meditate, fast, attend church, etc. Then in seeking God the parishioner would then encounter God. This is taking God at His word when He promised in James 4:8, “If we draw near to Him He will draw near to us.”

The believer actually already has God near since they possess the Holy Spirit. So spiritual disciplines are tools to help us stay in step with Spirit, so that the He can show us how to live.

We Need to have a Regular Quiet Time

Each morning I begin with what I call a quiet time which includes prayer, a devotional reading, and Scripture reading. I know others call that time by different names. Whatever you call it, you need to have it. Basically, it is a regular time in which you seek the Lord. It’s through a regular time that we are able to have our steps directed by the Holy Spirit. It is through hearing the direction from Him, that we are able to live out our lives as a follower of Christ.

Tags Almost an Author, Christian foundation, Christian writer, Christian writing, following Jesus, following the Holy Spirit, foundation of faith, Jake McCandless, seminary for writers, seminary in 5, spiritual formation, writer, writing, Writing Inspiration, Writing Instruction, writing seminary, Writing tips

Storyworld

Fantastic Geographical Influences on Cultures

Post author By A.D. Shrum - Storyworld Columnist
Post date September 11, 2016

As Tatooine’s twin suns slowly inch to the sand dunes in the horizon, a lone figure strains his eyes as he scans the endless wastes to the west. Some of us are so familiar with Star Wars that we can’t remember the first time we saw young Skywalker against the backdrop of the two setting suns, but this scene is anchored in my mind as a brilliantly subtle method of showing a vastly different world.

Not every sci-fi or fantasy story has fantastic geographical elements, but some of the most memorable do. If you’ve considered writing a speculative fiction book, you’ve probably already considered a number of its aspects, but you’ll need to consider how the world’s geography shapes the culture of your storyworld.

The titular world described in the novel Dune by Frank Herbert served as a great inspiration to George Lucas’s Tatooine. Windswept sands and arid climates make for eye candy, whether reading about them or watching them, but the real gem in Dune is seeing how the local people survive in their environment. Water is such a scarce resource that it becomes a trade commodity and advanced suits are used to recycle their liquid wastes. But dehydration isn’t the only concern, since deadly storms whip up frequently and massive worms seek to devour anything that makes vibrations on the sands. The setting is incredibly perilous and consequently the indigenous people live a Spartan, nomadic lifestyle. I think because of the climate and the culture, Herbert models the people like a romanticized version of 19^th Century Arabs, though with a sort of mysticism uniquely their own.

Closer to home but no less exotic, Homer Hickham’s novel Crater takes place on our own moon. If the author’s name sounds familiar to you in a non-literary sense, that’s because Hickham was the real life main character in the movie October Sky. After a successful career at NASA, he’s taken up writing Christian Science-Fiction situated on a lunar landscape. Crater, the first novel in his series, deals with the difficulties of lunar survival on a well-established colony. The book is geographically interesting, from the ubiquitous low-gravity to the commerce routes used by space age delivery trucks. Starting in his home in a rugged Helium-3 mining town, the main character must trek across craters, canyons, and rocky plains to obtain a mysterious package at the moon’s main port of call. Because of the harsh setting and the rugged independence of these colonists, Hickham portrays the men and women of the moon similar to Appalachian miners.

While my first two examples take place in environments naturally devoid of water, the complete opposite is seen in Howard Andrew Jones’ Pathfinder Tales: Beyond the Pool of Stars. In it, Miriam Raas is pulled back into her family business of deep sea salvaging and must fight off monsters, pirates, and evil sorceresses along the way. But she isn’t without her tools of the trade: a magical version of scuba gear, complete with underwater breathing and enhanced mobility. The society that has grown up around her home in Desperation Bay is one of commerce and shipping, complete with nobles and merchants vying for importance through petty political squabbles you could expect in such an environment. The culture is probably most similar to that of Britain during the peak of its naval might, but the magical influence sets the tone as something distinctly different.

When you think of your storyworld, consider its unique geographical features and how civilizations might develop around them. As in these examples, you don’t have to invent environment-culture interactions from scratch. Readers expect people (and all sentient beings) to naturally develop functional cultures around their environment, and they expect these interactions to have elements similar to what we’ve historically seen on earth. So the more you borrow and tweak elements from our own diverse world for your own purposes, the more your settings will feel realistic.

Tags Almost an Author, fantasy, novel, sci-fi, science fiction, storyworld, teen writers, writer, writing, Writing Inspiration, Writing tips

Writer Encouragement

Will I Ever Write Again?

Post author By Elaine Cooper - Writer Encouragement
Post date September 8, 2016
4 Comments on Will I Ever Write Again?

Elaine Marie Cooper

I don’t think there is a writer among us who does not ask this question at least once: Will I ever write again?

The circumstances that might prompt such a self-reflection are numerous: A long illness, caregiving for a loved one, divorce, death in the family, losing one’s main source of income. The list could go one. Regardless of the details, it involves such an upset in our lives that the last thing we want to think about is pouring our energies into the written word. We are exhausted and stressed. It’s all we can do to survive emotionally and physically.

I’ve seen writers who underwent chemotherapy put aside their writing for months and even years. Yet once the “chemo fog” lifts, I’ve seen their muse come to life, bigger and better than ever. Just today I saw a Facebook post from someone re-discovering her gift after a long absence due to illness. I recently experienced a complete lack of enthusiasm to write when I underwent weeks of surgeries, pain and illness. Now that I’m on the other side, the joy of writing has returned. For a writer, it is a blessing beyond any other.

Perhaps you are in the middle of a major crisis that has not just dampened but has destroyed your desire to write. Take heart. God is not finished with inspiring your muse. Perhaps He is plowing the field of your mind with fertile soil. The pain you’ve endured may sprout into words you might never have written without undergoing the very circumstances that withered your desire in the first place.

Keep reading during your time of drought. Read whatever ministers to you in both fiction and non-fiction. Read for pleasure. Write reviews online of the books you read to help other authors. Read God’s Word. And when you emerge out of the darkness, look for the light of God’s inspiration and draw strength from Him. He Who created your gift will not leave it void.

Image of sad woman on sofa courtesy of marin, via freedigitalphotos.net

Image of hands typing via suphakit73, via freedigitalphotos.net

Tags crisis, Discouragement, Elaine Marie Cooper, illness, Reading, writing

Guest post archive

When Life Imitates Art-Robert Whitlow

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date August 27, 2016
3 Comments on When Life Imitates Art-Robert Whitlow

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Art imitates Life.” This makes sense because every creative person, whether writer, painter, composer, is deeply influenced by what they’ve experienced, felt, and believe. The creative process flows from within, and each person is a reservoir of everything the river of life has deposited inside. This dynamic has produced another axiom specifically addressed to authors – “Write what you know.” When we write what we know, either from life experience or study, it increases the likelihood that the characters created and the world in which they live will have texture, levels of meaning and nuanced interactions that avoid one dimensional and stiff stories. As a southerner, I’ve never wandered from my roots. All my novels have been set in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, the states where I’ve lived. I know about those places and the types of people who live there. If I suddenly pulled up roots and started writing about Minnesota, I’d be rudderless soon after typing the first “You betcha.” A second axiom for writers is “Write what you’re passionate about.” I agree with this statement, too, but I’m not going to address it here. Instead, I want to tell you about a time in my life in which life imitated art. Here’s what happened.

In 2005, I wrote a novel entitled Jimmy. This story was different than anything else I’d written because the main character wasn’t a lawyer, he was the mentally limited teenage son of a lawyer. In the book, Jimmy lives in a small Georgia town. His mother abandoned the family when he was a toddler, and a few years later his father remarried. Jimmy’s stepmother wasn’t the evil stepmother stereotype of Cinderella. Rather, she was a maternal archetype, a woman who loved Jimmy with her whole heart. In fact, she couldn’t have loved him more if he were her own flesh and blood. However, there’s a dark side to limitless maternal love. Mama loved Jimmy, but she also smothered him. She was over protective, which meant Jimmy wasn’t allowed to take the risks necessary to mature and reach his highest potential. Enter Jimmy’s paternal grandfather, Grandpa, a retired utility lineman who worked for the Georgia Power Company (my father was an engineer with GPC and I worked there in the summers during college – art imitates life). Grandpa secretly taught Jimmy to climb an abandoned power pole in the grandfather’s back yard. In the process, Jimmy overcame fears and learned to do something unique. Grandpa was a mentor archetype, and climbing the pole was a metaphor for Jimmy succeeding in life. Their special bond is at the heart of the story. If you want to find out what happens in the novel you’ll have to read it.

Two years after I wrote Jimmy one of my daughters went into the hospital to deliver her first child, a boy. When I got the word from my wife that the baby was about to arrive, I drove five miles to the hospital. As I approached the facility I felt the Lord say to me, “He has Down Syndrome.” I immediately dismissed the possibility. A few minutes later, my wife delivered the news that we had a grandson with Down Syndrome. Both us then had the same thought – I was going to have an opportunity to be like Grandpa to this precious new life. The passion that I instilled in Grandpa the fictional character would have a new, real life object – Hunter Whitlow. That was over eight years ago. Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time and poured a lot of love into Hunter, and I want to do my part in helping him achieve his highest and best potential. Life imitated art.

Oh, and my wife made me promise not to put an abandoned power pole in our back yard.

Robert Whitlow is the best-selling author of legal novels set in the South and winner of the prestigious Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction. A Furman University graduate, Whitlow received his J.D. with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served on the staff of the Georgia Law Review. A practicing attorney, Whitlow and his wife, Kathy, have four children. They make their home in North Carolina.

A3 had the privledge of interviewing Robert. Look for his interview November 17th, 2016

Tags christy award, Jimmy, Robert Whitlow, writing

Guest post archive

Hooking your Audience Part 1

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date August 25, 2016
No Comments on Hooking your Audience Part 1

By Sarah Zuehlke

Magazines. They come in a never ending stream of styles and forms. In spite of the push to move everything into the digital realm, you can still find a magazine on just about anything: fishing, hiking, sports, science, and even rare pets. So now comes the fun part, have you ever wanted to write a magazine article? Most likely the process seems daunting, but with a little help from the good sport of fishing, your magazine article will be just what you were hoping for. Today we are going to look at hooking your audience.

The first thing in our proverbial tackle box is a net. Nets are important because they can cover a specific target area. You need to know who you are writing for, so research your audience. For example, if your magazine article is for kids, pick age appropriate sentences and vocabulary. Don’t throw in complex hard to understand sentences. If your article is aimed for scientists or engineers do some research on technical terms they might use. Once you know the audience you intend to write for, begin crafting your article. If you were fishing you would find out what kind of fish you were looking for before you started, and pick a net accordingly, otherwise you wouldn’t know how to catch them and you just might lose your fish.

A good example of an article written for a specific audience is in the 2016 July/August issue of Tropical Fish Hobbyist where there is an article about Freshwater Filtration. This article, written by Kate Barrington, describes the numerous types of filters in the aquarium hobby as well as the importance of the right kind of filter. This article is written for a specific audience, tropical fish hobbyists. If the reader were completely new to the hobby they might become a little lost, but someone interested in the subject will enjoy the details. However, the author correctly researched for the appropriate target audience. I am a tropical fish hobbyist, and I found myself being hooked by the author’s research, which was informative and well written.

Going back to our tackle box, the second thing we need is bait. You want the people that read your article to go for the bait and take it. If the article begins on a boring note or has no interest to them they will pass over it. A fish will often completely ignore the wrong bait. Think of an exciting way to start your article. You want that first sentence to draw in your audience. If you are writing about puppy training start off with a cute story, then slowly weave in training advice. Or maybe you are writing about an experience that happened to you. If that is the case, start off with the most exciting part, then back track to the beginning and lay out how it all happened.

In the June 2009 issue of National Geographic there is an article about river dolphins. The author, Mark Jenkins, hooks the audience by colorfully describing the way the dolphins swim in the rivers of the Amazon, then precedes to get to the main points of the article. From the first sentences I found myself captured by the descriptions and interesting facts. If you have the right bait you will be able to catch the right fish. The same goes for writing, if you get the reader interested they will be sure to read your article and enjoy it.

Lastly, near our tackle box is our dependable fishing rod. The rod not only holds the bait; it can bring the bait to life from the movement of the rod. A great way to hook your audience is to write about something totally new, or even an old story in a new way. Maybe your topic has been trampled by uncountable authors but you have a different and new perspective. A novel perspective on an old topic can bring new life to a subject. Perception is important because every author brings a new perspective. It is the same for the fish. The same old bait comes to life when the fishing rod is moved about. There are endless possibilities of new and exciting news, information, and stories. So why not get your audience hooked by that novel story idea for an article?

Writing a magazine article might seem impossible, but we can see from our fishing gear that it is not so difficult in the end. Next time we will return to our tackle box.

Bio: Sarah Zuehlke

Sarah Zuehlke, a budding fantasy novel and short story writer, greatly enjoys hiking and exploring the outdoors. When not tackling her insect collection, she co-writes with her brother on their fantasy book series. Additionally, she pursues her graduate degree in Entomology with University of Nebraska.

Tags bait, fishing, hook, tackle box, writing

Guest post archive

Freedom from Plot

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date August 6, 2016

by Laura L. Zimmerman

I went for a swim at 6:30 this morning.

Okay, not really, but in my story my I did. The characters in my book made the snap decision to hop in a pond and cool off. I hadn’t planned on this. In fact this swim doesn’t even have anything to do with the plot. But I wrote it, anyway. Ultimately, it was something they would do. So they did. It opened a door for conversation between two characters to grow closer and build trust.

This is a big deal for me. This never would’ve happened in the not-too-distant past. Until recently, I’ve functioned primarily as a ‘plotter’. I would plan and plot and outline my story, until I had it structured and polished. Then I would write.

But just over a year ago, I accidentally became a ‘pantser’. It wasn’t intentional. I had a scene for a new story that I wanted to get out of my head before it disappeared, but didn’t want to take the time to plot, since I was in the middle of writing another story. So, I sat and wrote the scene. Out of that scene came another, then another and another, until I had a third of the book written – something I hadn’t imagined possible without prior planning. The experience changed my perspective on a few things.

Here are four lessons I’ve learned about writing as a ‘pantser’:

Personalities stay consistent.We’ve all been there – after a beta reader or critique group finishes a section of your manuscript, the dreaded comment slaps you in the face: The action of a specific character isn��t consistent with what we know of him/her up until that point. Ouch. As a plotter, I would take painful care to review each scene and evaluate a character’s reaction. However, this didn’t stop those pesky personalities from wandering off their beaten path, because I was so focused on sticking to that plot. But whenthe character directs the flow of the book, it’s easier to think about what would come naturally for him/her. What would the next decision be for the character, not for the plot? The plot will eventually come to pass, but allowing each character to react in a natural way, will connect the reader to those characters.
There’s more conversation.I’ve spoken with plenty of writers who love the chance to tell their tale, but dread that dialogue! They agonize and worry over the words that come out of a character’s mouth. As a ‘pantser’, there’s no need to push to the next scene, as much asallowing the characters to take the reader to the next scene through conversation. I’ve found the characters share more meaningful words, once I allow them the privilege to speak freely.
Fewer worries about the plot.But what about that plot, you ask? Of course, don’t abandon it all together – we’ve all experienced frustration as we’ve read a book with plot holes and inconsistencies. But when the characters ‘drive’ the story, those characters and the decisions they make become more important. Plot holes and inconsistencies can always be corrected during revision and editing. But the general flow of the book will be more credible if you allow for deep, connected characters.
Beat that Writer’s Block. We’ve all cringed at that blank sheet of paper at some point. However, I’ve found this happens more often as a ‘plotter’, than it does now. When my brain felt forced to write something without inspiration, I couldn’t find the words. As a ‘pantser’, the words come easier when I ask myself, “What would this character do next?”

What about you? Are you a plotter or pantser? Which do you prefer? Feel free to comment below and share your experience!

Bio: Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter and at her website, www.lauralzimmerman.com

Tags introducing characters, Plot, writing

Child's Craft

Wandering Aimlessly in Writing

Post author By Jill Roman Lord - A Child's Craft
Post date July 5, 2016
No Comments on Wandering Aimlessly in Writing

Have you ever wandered aimlessly in your writing? A friend asked me the other day what I was working on. I usually am always working on something, usually several things in different stages. But, all I could say was, “Ummm, nothing in particular at the moment.” For some reason, that reality stung. I believe there are different seasons in writing, some abundant, some sparse, but to not have any project in the works made me feel like I was wandering aimlessly in my writing career.

And then God, in all His majesty, wisdom, and with humor and love put me in a situation in which I was literally wandering aimlessly.

I love the US National Whitewater Center which is just a few miles down the road. I took my house guest, Stan, with me to the center one morning. I wanted to go for a quick 30 min run on the trails with my dog, Poppie, and Stan planned to walk around the white water circle. We’d meet back in 45 min. I encouraged him to try some trails saying, “You can’t get lost on these trails. The signage is great.” With that I blew off to the trails with Poppie. I’d been on these familiar paths numerous times. I knew where to cut off and head back.

However, I missed the cutoff. Poppie and I wound back and forth but couldn’t find a way off of the main trail. I remembered the center was expanding the parking lot and when I heard construction sounds, I figured that was the parking lot direction. I stayed close to that sound. Finally, after 45 minutes of weaving around, I bee-lined to the construction sounds to bail out. I discovered that noise came from a manufacturing plant not the parking lot. What in the world? I had no idea where I was.

I headed to the power lines in the field. I knew those crossed through the parking lot. We ran up the trails on the field in the blazing sun, my faithful dog sticking close every step of the way. The power lines ran over rolling hills. In both directions. For miles. No parking lot in view.

I had to guess where I was, then popped back into the woods for shade for Poppie, which led to the Lake Loop. Perfect! I’d been here before! I circled the lake. Again. And again. And again. Seriously, I could not get off this stinkin’ Lake Loop. I didn’t even know which way was the way back to the center. Did I mention this whole time, I’d only seen 2 people on the trail and that was early on?

I could have pulled up my GPS to get my bearings, if I hadn’t inadvertently left my phone at home. We’d been running for an hour. We could be miles away. I cried out, “Lord. We’re lost and needing a little help now. You have GOT to get us out of here. Please send help!” Within a matter of minutes, I heard music and two bicycle dudes approached. Thank You, Jesus! Those angels led us back.

Lessons learned in trail running and writing…

Don’t be overconfident.

Don’t assume you can’t get lost. Don’t assume you’re always gonna have projects to work on. There will be seasons of abundant inspiration, and seasons of quiet. Draw close to God in both.

Don’t put your trust in the wrong voice.

That construction sound may not be what you think it is. Don’t listen to the voice saying you can’t do it, you’ll never get published, you’re going nowhere or that you’ll never have another inspiration. Those are lies from the deceiver. Focus on the Voice of Truth, the One who gave you the gift of writing, the One who believes in you, who says, “You can do it! You’ll write again.” Listen to the One who loves you and desires the best for you.

Explore God’s World

God’s world is simply amazing. His world is full of inspiration! Take in the beauty, the fresh air, the sounds of nature. Many of my inspirations for stories have occurred on runs. Listen to others around you. What sparks an interest?

Cry out to God

Why did I try to find my way out on my own? Why did I wait until I was exhausted and had exhausted all possibilities before pleading for help? Can’t find your way in writing? Plead to God for direction, cry out for inspiration, for a way out of your slump then trust He will answer.

Let others help you

I would still be circling that lake if I hadn’t followed those dudes’ direction. I needed them. Connect with other writers. We need each other. Learn from them, let them critique you, inspire you. Don’t think your writing doesn’t need help. All of ours does. Join a critique group, exchange your work with other writers, join an online critique group. Don’t try to go it alone. You might be the Godsend somebody else needs, as well.

Be thankful for other writers

I was thankful to have had Poppie with me. She was a sense of support, a reminder that I wasn’t alone. Writers are a unique breed. Others may not understand us, nor understand what we’re going through. But other writers will. They know the struggles, the heartbreak, the loneliness, the fears we face because they’ve most likely experienced them as well. Depend on each other for accountability. Embrace each other with shoulders to cry on and hugs to share the joys.

Enjoy the ride

I got much more of a work out than I’d planned. I experienced more of God’s nature than I’d anticipated. I became a stronger runner. God gave me an experience to write about. See what God has in store for you. Learn from your trials, depend deeper on God, stand amazed at His answers. Enjoy the swervy path and know that you can always use your experiences as fodder for your next project!

God bless you all on your trail runs and your writing! May you never get lost… and if you do, you know the One who knows the way out. Happy trails (and trials)!

Tags encouragement in writing, lessons learned, trail running, wandering, writing, writing direction, writing help

Bestsellers

Best Selling Author Angela Ackerman

Post author By Cherrilynn Bisbano - Managing Editor A3
Post date July 1, 2016
1 Comment on Best Selling Author Angela Ackerman

Angela Ackerman

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

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

Do you have any more thesaurus books in the works?

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

How is it working with your co-writer?

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

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

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

How long does it take you to write a book?

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

What’s your writing work schedule like?

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

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

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

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

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

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

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

Which of your books is your favorite?

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

Who is your favorite author to read?

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

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

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

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

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

Where do you get your ideas?

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

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

Bio:

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

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

Tags Almost an Author, Angela Ackerman, One stop for writers, tools, write, writing

History in the Making

What I Learned from the Author of Charlotte’s Web – Part 1

Post author By Sandra Hart - History in the Making
Post date June 26, 2016
No Comments on What I Learned from the Author of Charlotte’s Web – Part 1

by Sandra Merville Hart

I wanted to instill a love of reading in my daughter from a young age so we read at bedtime. One novel we both enjoyed during her elementary school years was Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.

When beginning my writing journey, I found a wonderful book originally self-published by one of White’s professors. An editor asked him to expand and revise it. Studying the end product, The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, inspired me.

The learning began in the introduction where White recalled his teacher omitting needless words eagerly from students’ papers as a demonstration to the class. Every writer cringes in sympathy to imagine being the one used as an example.

[bctt tweet=”#Write concisely but don’t avoid details. Instead make every word count. #Author” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

Strunk taught his students to write vigorously. Such concise writing contains no unnecessary words. This doesn’t mean authors avoid details. Instead, make every word count.

The professor worried that readers flounder in murky waters. Authors must write in a way to “drain the swamp” and enable the reader to reach dry land. His main concern was the confusion the reader felt upon encountering unclear sentences and paragraphs.

This compassion for the reader struck me. Surely our most important job is to communicate a clear message. We fail when our audience puckers their brow and reads a sentence a second or third time.

I am a work-in-progress. If you write, you probably feel the same way. Rejections abound in our profession as in other creative careers. Silently listening while an editor or critique partner scratch out phrases or suggest a better way to portray an action challenges us. Like Strunk, some are very positive they’re right.

We owe it to future success to listen and mull over the suggestions after the sting of rejection wears off. Applying their suggestion may affect a later scene. You know your story. Evaluate their comments and learn from them.

There are more gems to share from this writing book. This article is the first of a three-part series. Join me next month for part 2.

As much as White squirmed under his professor’s editing, he benefited from the wisdom.

May we do the same.

Tags Author, Charlotte's Web, concise writing, E.B. White, historical, Sandra Merville Hart, The Elements of Style, William Strunk Jr, writing

Grammar and Grace

Aid for Comma Splices

Post author By Hope Toler Dougherty-Grammar and Grace
Post date June 23, 2016
No Comments on Aid for Comma Splices

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

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

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

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

Here are easy fixes.

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

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

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

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

*Some fiction writers avoid using the semi-colon.

Tags Almost an Author, Christian writer, Comma Splices, editing, Hope Toler Dougherty, writing, Writing tips

Uncategorized Write Justified

Confused No More

Post author By Judy Hagey - Write Justified
Post date June 11, 2016
3 Comments on Confused No More

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

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

Affect-Effect

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

The change in weather affected Fred’s arthritis.

Summer construction affects traffic patterns and travel times.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lower interest rates effected stronger home sales.

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

Elicit – Illicit

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

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

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

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

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

Brandon’s counseling sessions elicited his fear of failure.

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

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

Compliment – complement

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

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

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

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

Give my compliments to your parents.

The adjective, complimentary, means a gift or gratuity.

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

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

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

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

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

Tags affect, Almost an Author, complement, compliment, confused, editing, effect, elicit, homonyms, illicit, noun, verb, writer, writing, Writing tips

The Writer's PenCase

Plot Twists – Part IV

Post author By Donna L.H. Smith-Managing Editor
Post date June 10, 2016
1 Comment on Plot Twists – Part IV

We’ve been looking at crafting plot twists. #amwriting #plottwists [bctt tweet=”Create a jaw-dropping plot twist by convincing your reader your story world is exactly how it should be” username=”@donnalhsmith @a3forme”].

Tags plot twists, plotting, writing

Polishing Your Message Uncategorized

Winds and Waves of Inspiration

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

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

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

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

The Writer's PenCase

Plot Twists –– Part III

Post author By Donna L.H. Smith-Managing Editor
Post date May 19, 2016
No Comments on Plot Twists –– Part III

Continuing our look at crafting a spectacular plot twist, this time we’ll look in detail at a couple of the “tips” mentioned last time. #amwriting #plottwists [bctt tweet=”What questions will you ask yourself to maximize reader satisfaction?” username=”@donnalhsmith @a3forme”] What questions will you ask yourself to maximize reader satisfaction?

Tags plot twists, the Writer's Pencase, writing

Grammar and Grace Uncategorized

Dangling Modifiers

Post author By Hope Toler Dougherty-Grammar and Grace
Post date May 9, 2016
10 Comments on Dangling Modifiers

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

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

Let me explain.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Try another one.

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

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

Write instead:

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

How about a one-word dangling modifier?

Sleepy, the bed looked inviting.

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

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

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

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

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

Child's Craft Uncategorized

Let Jesus Do His Thing

Post author By Jill Roman Lord - A Child's Craft
Post date May 6, 2016
7 Comments on Let Jesus Do His Thing

I traveled to India with Samaritan’s Feet earlier this year, which I’ve already shared a few experiences in this blog. Please, let me share one more. It was our commission to wash children’s feet, place new shoes on their feet and pray with them. The shoes were merely vehicles in which we could pour Jesus’ love, hope and joy on those children. However, when we were going to a government school in a Hindu village, we were instructed not to pray with the children nor hug or even touch them much as touch was not a part of their culture. Okay then. How in the world were we supposed to pour the love, hope, and joy of Jesus on these children without touching them nor praying with them? And so we were on our way.

Those of us in the feet washing stations gently washed the children’s feet, asked them questions through our school-aged interpreters and placed new shoes on their feet. For many children, this was the first pair of shoes they had ever worn besides flip-flops. So we jumped with the children or taught them to run in place to try out their shoes. Then we sent them out to the courtyard to Jeffrey and Laura. Laura showered them with toy bracelets, rings and airplanes we’d brought and she loved on them. Jeffery led the children around like the pied piper. He had them repeating every move he made and soon they were laughing and giggling like only children can. Then we heard Jeffery shout, “I AM LOVED!” and the children quickly echoed, “I AM LOVED!” He marched and danced around with the children following. “I AM BEAUTIFUL!” And the precious voices echoed his words. As we washed the children’s feet, they anxiously awaited the opportunity to join in the parade. We quickened the process so they could participate with Jeffery and Laura. Soon the whole school was marching around giggling and shouting, “I HAVE JOY! I HAVE HOPE!” These children spoke Telegu. They had no idea what they were saying, but they seemed to be having the time of their lives.

The next day, Caleb Sir, our Indian host, sat us all down before our next excursion and showed us a newspaper from the village that day that featured a picture and article of us! He translated it for us and it basically stated that a group of foreigners from far away America came to wash our children’s feet and give them new shoes. In the process, they brought the children so much joy, hope and love that we are forever thankful for them. Wow. The word “Jesus” was never spoken in that village that day, but Jesus did His thing. He loved on those children and poured His joy and hope on those children through the feeble, unworthy travelers with Samaritans Feet. We just needed to let Jesus do His thing.

And we need to let Jesus do His thing in our writing. We may not have to preach and shout Jesus in bold letters to get our points across. We may not have to end all our stories with scripture or a prayer. Perhaps the word “Jesus” won’t even be mentioned in our work. But Jesus can still shine through. If we cover our writing in prayer, write what He leads us to write, or step out into new territories, if that’s where He’s leading us, then Jesus may still be seen. While we can’t physically touch our readers or hug them nor pray with them, Jesus can still touch lives through our writing. It may be that our work brings love, hope, joy, laughter, distraction, encouragement, wisdom, or knowledge to a reader. We may never know, but let’s write with our hearts focused on Jesus so He can do His thing.

I must sadly add that last week Jeffrey was killed in an accident. He was on another mission trip. While our hearts are broken over the loss of this incredible God-loving young man, so many lives were touched through His life. Jeffrey brought love, hope, and joy to children in a way they had never experienced because he let Jesus do His thing through him – even more of a reminder for us to let Jesus do His thing through our writing and through us. Don’t put it off any longer. Others may need to read your message today.

I miss you Jeffrey. You brought love, hope and joy to us, too. Thanks for touching my life.

Tags hope, jesus, joy, love, obedience, writing

The Creative Tool Kit Uncategorized

3 Simple Ways to Boost Creativity

Post author By Cathy Baker - Have Words, Will Travel....Travel Writing 101
Post date May 3, 2016
2 Comments on 3 Simple Ways to Boost Creativity

Welcome to The Creativity Kit!

Each month tips and tools to help boost your creativity skills will be found in The Creativity Kit. Sensory workouts, exercises, and dare I say, fun ideas await!

So, let’s get started by learning three easy ways to increase creativity in your writing endeavors.

One: De-Stress.

Art therapy studies show that patients suffering from cancer and other chronic illnesses find respite from their suffering by engaging in creative work. This could explain why sales from adult coloring books skyrocketed in 2015.

As expected, relaxed people tend to have an easier time being creative but interestingly enough, the opposite is also true. Creative activity is an effective way to combat stress.

Adult coloring books are fun but they also offer the mind an experience known as the “flow” which is a mental state in which a person is so immersed in an experience that nothing disrupts the moment.

One of my favorite Pinterest pages is Adult Coloring Books. Would you like to try adult coloring books at no charge? There are a lot of free online pages ready for printing, like this one.

Two: Take a Shower.

Okay, hopefully this is already on your list of to-do’s but for an entirely different reason. Still, it’s one of those menial tasks that forces our conscious mind to to take a break. After all, it’s the conscious mind that’s on duty throughout the day. Decisions are made constantly and without the conscious mind, we’d be lost. Literally. So when we perform tasks like taking showers, exercising, or petting the dog the conscious mind takes an audible sigh and relinquishes control to the subconscious. And when the subconscious takes over, so does the creative part of our brain. Seriously, how often has an idea or solution to an ongoing problem come to you while rinsing out the shampoo? You may even want to try Aqua Notes, a waterproof writing pad. I picked up at our local Mast General Store but it can also be purchased online.

Three: Do the Opposite for One Day.

Pretend your George Constanza. Do the opposite of what you would normally do for one day. Do you normally take the highway to work or school? Take the back way, as we refer to it here in the South. Eat breakfast food for dinner and drink tea instead of coffee. Change up as many things possible for one day. Who knows, you may begin declaring one day a month George Constanza day!

I hope these three ideas will get the creative juices flowing. But there’s one more thing I can’t help but ask…

If you were to try a George Constanza day, what would your favorite “opposite” thing be?

If you’re interested, there is a random drawing for an adult coloring book, In The Beginning, being given away on my site this month. Simply comment on my blog to add your name to the drawing!

Tags Adult Coloring Books, Aqua Notes, Boost Creativity, Cathy Baker, creativity, Do the Opposite Day, George Constanza, In the Beginning, Mast General Store, pinterest, Seinfeld, Sensory, The Creativity Kit, writing