(c) Staci Stallings, 2004
As I write this, it is December 5th. I mention that because with Christmas coming up, it is the season of giving. Along with the normal gifts, this is also the season when our thoughts turn to those less fortunate.
The paper angel trees go up in the malls. The kettles and bells come out. The requests from organizations that help the needy - from food banks to Toys-for-Tots - rise exponentially.
This is also the time our thoughts take in all the things we are grateful for and all the things that we wish for in the coming year. In short, this is a very special time of the year.
As January approaches, my thoughts have been on the New Years Resolution I made last year. The resolution itself was simple - to be an angel to as many people as possible. At the time I couldn't have foreseen many of the opportunities that came my way. In fact, maybe I thought of it more as a wish than a real resolution.
However, God used that desire to show me things about life I had never seen before, like how little it takes to make a difference, how a simple heartfelt note can change someone forever, how easy it is to love when you put fear out of the equation.
As the year progressed, I learned what it means to let Him help others through me. I learned that I don't have to do it. All I have to do is let Him guide my heart and my hands. All I have to do is let Him do it through me.
God has helped countless people through me this year - the homeless lady who desperately needed work and who now cleans my house (praise God for her!), the homeless people three states away who are wearing something I no longer needed, the young mother struggling through a heartbreaking betrayal who received a book and a CD filled with Christ's love for her and her family and knew someone cared.
The opportunities were boundless-as they always are. The biggest problem is we find so many ways to talk ourselves out of helping. We're too busy. It takes too long. It costs too much. We have our own problems.
The real problem is that the focus of all of those excuses is in the wrong direction - on "I" instead of on "Him".
St. Theresa once said that we are the only hands that Jesus has on this earth, the only feet Jesus has on this earth now. He wants to use our lives, to work through us in the world. Not because He has to, but because He wants us to share in what He is doing.
As the words of a song that's just come into my life says: "Days go by. . . it's all we've been given, so we better start living right now, 'cause days go by."
I don't think I'm going to set any goals this coming year as I have in the past. I think this year my resolution will be simply to let Him work through me every single day. And my question at the end of each day will be simply, "Who has He helped through me today?"
If you are thinking of trying my "angel resolution" out in your life - even if it is April or August or October when you read this - I know for a fact that you are one more person I can say "This is someone He helped through me today," and who knows the ripple effect that will spread from you to the world?
Peace and joy in your new life as it starts today, because if you take this challenge, today really is the first day of a brand new life.
*~*~*
Want more inspiration? Check out Staci's blog, "Homeward Bound" at: http://stacistallings.blogspot.com You'll feel better for the experience!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 30, 2006
A Writer Going Home
Celebrating my savior's birth notwithstanding, at this point I feel loaded down with the holiday season's commercialism and busyness.
Don't misunderstand. Christmas was great, but how do I come down from it, so I can get back to writing?
Sugar plum fairies still dance in my head uninvited.
Really, you too? So then, what do we do now? How do we focus on writing?
Personally, I need some distance.
I'm not going to stop writing, although that might be a part of it for a few days. What I mean by gaining distance is that I'll be looking for inspiration in a different direction.
It just so happens that I head to Oklahoma to visit some family this week, so I have a perfect opportunity to pick up the pieces of my brain, put them in a suitcase, and spend time in a different environment.
I'm looking forward to this not only to escape the after holiday shock, but to refresh myself for a new year of writing. At home, I'm going to let a different setting pour over me. New place, new people, a change in conversation; sounds an awful lot like new setting, new characters, and new dialog don't you think?
What are some other ways we writers can gain distance and clear our minds at this time of year? Maybe a brisk, cool walk at the community gardens? A two hour coffee chat with a literary pal? A list of writing goals for the new year?
There are so many different ways we can reconnect our writing thoughts, clear our minds, and get back to work. We can Go Home in different ways.
Personally, while I'm home I'm going to walk in the woods with my dad, breathe in the clean country air, and visit some old friends and family.
When I come back, my writer's head may or may not be clear, but I'm certain the sugar plum fairies will have flown away. Except for one.
I'll let her stay, just to chase away the writing scrooge.
Tina Ann Forkner writes contemporary women’s fiction and has recently contracted with Waterbrook Press, a division of Random House, to publish two novels. The title of her first book is Ruby Among Us (Jan. 2008, Waterbrook Press, a Div. of Random House). Visit her at http://www.tinaannforkner.blogspot.com/, a blog based on a First Time Novelist's Journey.
Friday, December 29, 2006
A few last tips for cutting a synopsis
Tip#8 to cut a synopsis—cut modifiers
Adjectives and adverbs are usually the easiest to cull from a synopsis. Sometimes you don't even need to change the noun or verb. Other times, a stronger noun or verb is needed.
She determines to win without interference from her meddling friends.
vs.
She determines to win without interference from her friends.
He is physically attracted to her.
vs.
He is attracted to her.
or
He lusts after her.
Tip#9 to cut a synopsis—change nouns and verbs
This is similar to tip #8. Sometimes you can substitute a different noun or verb that's a little shorter than what you have. Because the format is typically left justified, even one less letter in the sentence can be enough to eliminate a line (see tip #7 about getting rid of short lines).
He sneaks up to the house.
vs.
He creeps to the house.
He needs to stay out of her way.
vs.
He needs to avoid her.
She leaves her job.
vs.
She quits.
Tip#10 to cut a synopsis—eliminate extraneous nouns and verbs
There are some places where certain types of nouns and verbs can be eliminated entirely. Things like "He realizes", "She understands that," "He hears her say," "She sees him."
He follows her. He sees her enter the hotel.
vs.
He follows her. She enters the hotel.
He reads the family Bible. He discovers that Sally is his cousin.
vs.
He reads the family Bible. Sally is his cousin.
His reaction opens her eyes. She realizes she's always been in love with him.
vs.
His reaction opens her eyes. She's always been in love with him.
However, be aware that sometimes, these verbs can't be eliminated, so don't beat yourself up if you can't do it:
They fight. She realizes she's always been in love with him.
vs.
They fight. She's always been in love with him. (doesn't make sense)
Camy Tang lives in San Jose, California. She previously worked in biology research, and she is a staff worker for her church youth group. She runs the Story Sensei critique service, and her Asian chick-lit novel will be released in September 2007.
Everyone who leaves a comment receives a 10% off coupon for Camy's Story Sensei critique service (coupons cannot be combined)! Please leave an e-mail address so she can send you your coupon (use this format: you [at] yourmail.com)
Adjectives and adverbs are usually the easiest to cull from a synopsis. Sometimes you don't even need to change the noun or verb. Other times, a stronger noun or verb is needed.
She determines to win without interference from her meddling friends.
vs.
She determines to win without interference from her friends.
He is physically attracted to her.
vs.
He is attracted to her.
or
He lusts after her.
Tip#9 to cut a synopsis—change nouns and verbs
This is similar to tip #8. Sometimes you can substitute a different noun or verb that's a little shorter than what you have. Because the format is typically left justified, even one less letter in the sentence can be enough to eliminate a line (see tip #7 about getting rid of short lines).
He sneaks up to the house.
vs.
He creeps to the house.
He needs to stay out of her way.
vs.
He needs to avoid her.
She leaves her job.
vs.
She quits.
Tip#10 to cut a synopsis—eliminate extraneous nouns and verbs
There are some places where certain types of nouns and verbs can be eliminated entirely. Things like "He realizes", "She understands that," "He hears her say," "She sees him."
He follows her. He sees her enter the hotel.
vs.
He follows her. She enters the hotel.
He reads the family Bible. He discovers that Sally is his cousin.
vs.
He reads the family Bible. Sally is his cousin.
His reaction opens her eyes. She realizes she's always been in love with him.
vs.
His reaction opens her eyes. She's always been in love with him.
However, be aware that sometimes, these verbs can't be eliminated, so don't beat yourself up if you can't do it:
They fight. She realizes she's always been in love with him.
vs.
They fight. She's always been in love with him. (doesn't make sense)
Camy Tang lives in San Jose, California. She previously worked in biology research, and she is a staff worker for her church youth group. She runs the Story Sensei critique service, and her Asian chick-lit novel will be released in September 2007.Everyone who leaves a comment receives a 10% off coupon for Camy's Story Sensei critique service (coupons cannot be combined)! Please leave an e-mail address so she can send you your coupon (use this format: you [at] yourmail.com)
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Writing and Kids
I have here before me a squarish red book titled, Games for Writing by Peggy Kaye. I’m so excited about the games in this book that I had to plug it. Here’s a novel idea. Writing is about writing, not spelling. (I’ll admit, I blinked when I read that. I had my schoolmarm hat on.)
If you read my blog, you know I homeschool. You'd also know my mantra: Learning needs to be fun whenever possible! Handwriting for the K-3rd graders isn’t exactly a love affair. Why else would there be options out there such as Handwriting Without Tears?
This book is full of fun/easy ways to make the hesitant bold, to fan the flame of imagination gone shy, to reinstate the
The book is divided into five parts. Below I’ll share one idea from each part to whet your curiosity. Keep in mind that some of her game ideas sound even better than the ones I’m sharing…they’d just take too much explanation on my part! The writing games are all aimed at grades K-3.
Part one is titled: Just For Starters:
- Play obstacle course: Take a blank piece of typing paper and at the top write HOME. At the bottom write ZOO. In between the two fill the paper with short 1.5 inch lines slanted every which way. Your beginning writer gets to practice controlling their pencil as they weave in between lines to get from home to zoo. (Easiest of all home drawn mazes!)
Part two is called: Stress Busters:
- 15 minutes of silent written conversation. Teacher and child may not talk, but instead write questions and answers back and forth. If anyone talks during the 15 minutes, they get points against them for each spoken word. Words do not need to be neat or spelled correctly. (We’re trying to instill a love of creative writing here, no corrections!)
Part three in the book deals with Spelling, Handwriting and Grammar:
- Speed contest–give them a page with a challenging spelling word written at the top. Have them study it a couple minutes, then write it as many times as they can in 45 seconds. If they are able to write it (correctly and legibly) enough times, they’ve won the contest.
Part four–Writing With Style:
- “She is so silly”…have your child write a story about the silliest woman on earth…three or four sentences. She is so silly she wears slippers for mittens. Or “He is so hungry” etc.
Part five ends the book–Made With Pride:
- Make your own board game. Disclaimer: the author makes a game board based on witchcraft (I know…) my girls and I made a board game based on the Spanish facts we were learning last year. We had as much fun making it as we had playing it.
This book is 225 pages chock full of ideas. It's been a must have for this homeschool mom. My once inhibited third grader is writing and enjoying it. Her writing speed increased dramatically after playing "speed contest" with each week's spelling list.
We that write know what a boon it is. Tis the best game of all, right? So go play it with your kids!
Mary is an old-fashioned thirty-something wife, homeschooler, and aspiring writer. Her blog, Home-steeped Hope, feeds her love/pursuit of the written non-fiction word while her women's fiction "dreams" are being revised...
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Introducing: Lisa Biggs Crum
Lisa Biggs Crum is gifted in leadership and encouragement. She shares that gift through writing, speaking, and ministry consulting. (Well, actually that’s more like a dream at this point.) Her greatest pleasure in life is laughing with her two elementary age children and her husband of nearly 16 years. Read her blog at http://SproutofaMustardSeed.blogspot.com.I joined Writer…Interrupted to connect with Christian writers and to introduce my blog to others. I’ve been blogging since January 2005 and I’m excited to be very close to 100 posts. Primarily, I blog about God in my life and the mystery of his presence in this world. I’ve contributed devotionals and leadership articles to newsletters. My first (and only so far) paid writing assignment was for Group Publishing this summer. My most recent project was writing an Advent devotional book for our church.
It is fun to participate in what God is doing. Second Peter 1:3-4 inspires me to always seek those opportunities regardless of how small or how intimidating they are.
Webring Spammed!
I've had to temporarily close the webring to new members due to the fact that I must have gotten AT LEAST 50 spam applications this weekend, and I have to go and delete them all one by one.
If you would like to join the ring, please email me, and I'll be happy to add you!
UPDATED!
I've reopended the ring because I'm still getting spammed. If anyone works with ringsurf and knows how to get rid of the spam please let me know. It's filling up my inbox and taking too much time to delete!
If you would like to join the ring, please email me, and I'll be happy to add you!
UPDATED!
I've reopended the ring because I'm still getting spammed. If anyone works with ringsurf and knows how to get rid of the spam please let me know. It's filling up my inbox and taking too much time to delete!
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
My 2007 "Writerly" Resolutions
We writers need rejuvenation every now and then . . . especially when the rejection slips start to pile up, the endless “waiting game” becomes maddening and the mailman looks on us with pity as he hands us (yet another) fat envelope.
Since the start of a new year is a perfect time to begin again, and it's just around the corner, I thought I'd blog today about my writerly resolutions. Maybe they will spur you to make a few goals for yourself.
First, I will write regularly (even--no ESPECIALLY--if I don't have a deadline). There are a million other things that pull me away from the computer. I can justify them all, but those actions at times keep me from doing what I get paid to do--and what I love to do.
Second, I will take a break. I know this resolution sounds contradictory to the previous one. Often, however, I‘ve done my best writing after doing something else, such as reading or taking a walk. One good way to take a break without guilt is to set up a reward system. (one page completed=a soda, two=call to a friend, three=watching a favorite television show, etc.)
Third, I resolve to not let rejection slips and the word “no” crush me. Did you know that Richard Bach had his book, Johnathon Livingston Seagull, rejected 16 times before a publisher picked it up? It’s now a classic. Ironically, the company that finally accepted the book had turned the manuscript down one year earlier.
To increase my acceptances, I resolve to attend to a writer’s conference. As a creative person, I often find myself eager to shut the world out and “do my own thing.” And that’s fine at times. However, there are instances when a freelance writer MUST network and expand his or her contact base. What if the magazines and businesses an author regularly submits to began to close up shop? We must continually broaden our horizons and look for new magazines, editors and clients to work for. And that’s what a writer’s conference is all about.
Next, I resolve to branch out into new territory. I have never written a novel or screenplay. Those are just some of the arenas I want to learn more about—and play with-in 2007.
And finally, I will realize that I have a great job. Writing is full of frustrations, and it’s easy to get stuck in the mire of hopelessness and self-doubt by concentrating on the negatives: editors who won’t return phone calls, magazines who send back form rejection letters, computer problems, low pay, etc. But what about the perks? Setting our own schedule, meeting (and writing about) fascinating people, seeing our names in print and receiving a paycheck for doing what we love are all wonderful reasons to keep our fingers on the keyboard.
If we don’t feel that way as writers, even the most lucrative writing contract won’t bring us happiness. So I resolve to be grateful to the Lord for the gift of writing, use that gift faithfully, and smile back at the mailman. After all, he’s become one of my dearest friends!
www.denadyer.com
www.denadyer.typepad.com
Since the start of a new year is a perfect time to begin again, and it's just around the corner, I thought I'd blog today about my writerly resolutions. Maybe they will spur you to make a few goals for yourself.
First, I will write regularly (even--no ESPECIALLY--if I don't have a deadline). There are a million other things that pull me away from the computer. I can justify them all, but those actions at times keep me from doing what I get paid to do--and what I love to do.
Second, I will take a break. I know this resolution sounds contradictory to the previous one. Often, however, I‘ve done my best writing after doing something else, such as reading or taking a walk. One good way to take a break without guilt is to set up a reward system. (one page completed=a soda, two=call to a friend, three=watching a favorite television show, etc.)
Third, I resolve to not let rejection slips and the word “no” crush me. Did you know that Richard Bach had his book, Johnathon Livingston Seagull, rejected 16 times before a publisher picked it up? It’s now a classic. Ironically, the company that finally accepted the book had turned the manuscript down one year earlier.
To increase my acceptances, I resolve to attend to a writer’s conference. As a creative person, I often find myself eager to shut the world out and “do my own thing.” And that’s fine at times. However, there are instances when a freelance writer MUST network and expand his or her contact base. What if the magazines and businesses an author regularly submits to began to close up shop? We must continually broaden our horizons and look for new magazines, editors and clients to work for. And that’s what a writer’s conference is all about.
Next, I resolve to branch out into new territory. I have never written a novel or screenplay. Those are just some of the arenas I want to learn more about—and play with-in 2007.
And finally, I will realize that I have a great job. Writing is full of frustrations, and it’s easy to get stuck in the mire of hopelessness and self-doubt by concentrating on the negatives: editors who won’t return phone calls, magazines who send back form rejection letters, computer problems, low pay, etc. But what about the perks? Setting our own schedule, meeting (and writing about) fascinating people, seeing our names in print and receiving a paycheck for doing what we love are all wonderful reasons to keep our fingers on the keyboard.
If we don’t feel that way as writers, even the most lucrative writing contract won’t bring us happiness. So I resolve to be grateful to the Lord for the gift of writing, use that gift faithfully, and smile back at the mailman. After all, he’s become one of my dearest friends!
www.denadyer.com
www.denadyer.typepad.com
Monday, December 25, 2006
Carnival Of Christian Writers #3 December 2006
Merry Christmas!!
We're pleased to offer you a variety of posts from Editors, Authors, and readers for your intellectual and recreational reading pleasure. We're also including something new that we hope to continue: One flash fiction piece featured for your reading pleasure. This month's very fitting piece is written by Chris Mikesell. The flash fiction piece will not replace our normal entries and we'll be posting submission instructions soon. Please do not submit flash fiction to the carnival right now, they will be ignored.
As you journey the writing grounds, be sure to leave comments and tell them the Carnival of Christian Writer's sent you. Please keep your hands and feet inside at all times and buckle up for your safety. Enjoy the ride...
We're pleased to offer you a variety of posts from Editors, Authors, and readers for your intellectual and recreational reading pleasure. We're also including something new that we hope to continue: One flash fiction piece featured for your reading pleasure. This month's very fitting piece is written by Chris Mikesell. The flash fiction piece will not replace our normal entries and we'll be posting submission instructions soon. Please do not submit flash fiction to the carnival right now, they will be ignored.
As you journey the writing grounds, be sure to leave comments and tell them the Carnival of Christian Writer's sent you. Please keep your hands and feet inside at all times and buckle up for your safety. Enjoy the ride...
Our first featured flash fiction was written by Chris Mikesell "By Any Other Name" This story went straight to my heart, it is about Joseph making the first Nativity for Jesus to play with. Thank you Chris! As an added Christmas present, check out the prequel: A Need For Magi (Chris sent the first story via email and he's out of town, so I posted the story at my blog until he gets back and can post it on his ~michelle)J.Blair Lane presents My First "Rejection Letter" posted at Scribblings by Blair.Aquisitions editor for Waterbrook, Mick Silva discusses symbolism in "What's A Meta-For?" at Your Writer's Group.Literary Agent Chip MacGregor answers the burning question "What's My Voice?" Author and editor, Terry Whalin speaks to the stubborn ones in his post, "If It Were Easy..."Author Cara Putman gives excellent Research Tips (especially handy for those of us who aren't research fanatics!)Michelle Pendergrass tells how God called her to Write. Gina Conroy finally realizes she's a writer who blogs, not a blogger who writes.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
A Gift from Above
(c) Gina Conroy
October 25, 1990
While asking the Lord what I should write for this Sunday, He reminded me of a Chritmas song I wrote over 15 years ago. Though you won't be able to hear the tune over the internet, may the words reach down deep into your soul!
A Gift From Above
Little eyes full of compassion
Little hands that would grow strong
Little heart full of love and tenderness
that would right all of man's wrong.
Who would have guessed such a little baby
could be a great gift from above.
How generous was the giver?
How great was His love?
What was it like to leave your mighty throne?
To come down to a desolate land and walk alone?
What were you thinking, how great was your love?
To leave your Heavenly home above?
Eyes full of forgiveness.
Hands stretched upon the cross.
A heart carrying all our sin
and paying the final cost.
Who would have guessed that the Lord
would give his life for me.
And what greater gift was there to give
then his blood upon that tree.
What was it like to leave your mighty throne?
To come down to a desolate land and walk alone?
What were you thinking, how great was your love?
I'm glad you left your home above!
May the true spirit of Christmas reign in your heart today and always!
Gina, at Portrait of a Writer...Interrupted, is founder of Writer...Interrupted and homeschooling mom to four high-spirited children. She writes about her experiences trying to balance it all. Her co-authored book , Anytime Prayers for Everyday Moms was just leased and is available now for Christmas!
October 25, 1990
While asking the Lord what I should write for this Sunday, He reminded me of a Chritmas song I wrote over 15 years ago. Though you won't be able to hear the tune over the internet, may the words reach down deep into your soul!
A Gift From Above
Little eyes full of compassion
Little hands that would grow strong
Little heart full of love and tenderness
that would right all of man's wrong.
Who would have guessed such a little baby
could be a great gift from above.
How generous was the giver?
How great was His love?
What was it like to leave your mighty throne?
To come down to a desolate land and walk alone?
What were you thinking, how great was your love?
To leave your Heavenly home above?
Eyes full of forgiveness.
Hands stretched upon the cross.
A heart carrying all our sin
and paying the final cost.
Who would have guessed that the Lord
would give his life for me.
And what greater gift was there to give
then his blood upon that tree.
What was it like to leave your mighty throne?
To come down to a desolate land and walk alone?
What were you thinking, how great was your love?
I'm glad you left your home above!
Gina, at Portrait of a Writer...Interrupted, is founder of Writer...Interrupted and homeschooling mom to four high-spirited children. She writes about her experiences trying to balance it all. Her co-authored book , Anytime Prayers for Everyday Moms was just leased and is available now for Christmas!
Saturday, December 23, 2006
How Powerful Is Fiction?
So.
Just how powerful is fiction?
Is it powerful enough to change generations?
Have you heard of Washington Irving? Of course you have, he gave us The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. He also gave us The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, maybe you haven't heard of this series written about the celebration of Christmas.
Here's a couple of free e-books for you:
The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon
Old Christmas by Washington Irving
Then of course, we have Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol (free e-book)
This one really gets to me. We all know the story, right? Sure. What genre would this fit in today? It is a ghost story. A story about ghosts that ends with the infamous line of Tiny Tim, "God bless Us, Every One!" Oh could it be--a Christian ghost story? This "Christian horror" that so many balk at? You know I'm giggling as I type this, right? This story is so ingrained in our culture that I'm not even sure people realize how hypocritical they are of the genre that is who I am.
Both of these novelists wrote about Christmas when Christmas wasn't even celebrated. Now, almost two hundred years later we cling to these traditions as if they were always real.
Yet, they were invented by novelists.
Powerful?
I'd say.
Merry Christmas and "God bless us, every one."
~michelle
My thoughts grew hot within me and began to burn, igniting a fire of words
Psalm 39:3
Michelle Pendergrass is a coffee-lover who lives in Knox, Indiana where she homeschools her son, Zane. She blogs at Just A Minute. When you visit, please note that her son is most definitely weaned and has been for some time now. Some names just stick.
©2006 Michelle L. Pendergrass - All Rights Reserved
Friday, December 22, 2006
Fiction Friday: More tips for cutting a synopsis
Tip#4 to cut a synopsis—relevance
Cut absolutely anything that does not have direct impact on the main storyline. Be ruthless.
Don’t leave things in because they pertain to a subplot.
Don’t go off for too long (more than a few sentences) on a red herring.
Don’t include character backstory that doesn’t absolutely need to be there in order to explain the main plot.
Don’t describe characters’ physical features unless it’s a vital element to the story (such as the hero mistakes a red-head for the heroine).
Tip#5 to cut a synopsis—action
Don’t describe the characters’ every action unless that action directly influences the main plot:
She kicks the villain’s kneecap and runs outside. She tries to start the car, but it won’t turn over. The villain comes closer. Finally the car starts and she guns out of the driveway.
Versus
She escapes.
Tip#6 to cut a synopsis—character names
Don’t mention a character by name unless they appear more than twice in the synopsis AND each appearance is vital to the plot. Mentioning too many names can be not only confusing, it can lengthen your story. Refer to the minor character as “her neighbor” or “his old flame.”
Tip#7 to cut a synopsis—get rid of a short line
When you're down to only a few lines to go until your target page number, look for any paragraphs that end with a partial line, such as the example below:
Cut words here and there in the paragraph until that last line disappears.
Camy Tang lives in San Jose, California. She previously worked in biology research, and she is a staff worker for her church youth group. She runs the Story Sensei critique service, and her Asian chick-lit novel will be released in September 2007.
Everyone who leaves a comment receives a 10% off coupon for Camy's Story Sensei critique service (coupons cannot be combined)! Please leave an e-mail address so she can send you your coupon (use this format: you [at] yourmail.com)
Cut absolutely anything that does not have direct impact on the main storyline. Be ruthless.
Don’t leave things in because they pertain to a subplot.
Don’t go off for too long (more than a few sentences) on a red herring.
Don’t include character backstory that doesn’t absolutely need to be there in order to explain the main plot.
Don’t describe characters’ physical features unless it’s a vital element to the story (such as the hero mistakes a red-head for the heroine).
Tip#5 to cut a synopsis—action
Don’t describe the characters’ every action unless that action directly influences the main plot:
She kicks the villain’s kneecap and runs outside. She tries to start the car, but it won’t turn over. The villain comes closer. Finally the car starts and she guns out of the driveway.
Versus
She escapes.
Tip#6 to cut a synopsis—character names
Don’t mention a character by name unless they appear more than twice in the synopsis AND each appearance is vital to the plot. Mentioning too many names can be not only confusing, it can lengthen your story. Refer to the minor character as “her neighbor” or “his old flame.”
Tip#7 to cut a synopsis—get rid of a short line
When you're down to only a few lines to go until your target page number, look for any paragraphs that end with a partial line, such as the example below:
Sports-crazy Lex Sakai isn’t too worried about
shouldering the unofficial family title “Oldest Single
Female Cousin” when her cousin Mariko marries in
a few months. Her control-freak grandma nags her
about her lack of man, but it’s easy to ignore—until
Grandma bellows at her in the middle of a
restaurant that Lex can’t get a guy because she
needs breast implants. Bristling at the challenge,
Lex insists there’s nothing wrong with
her—Grandma says to prove it. If Lex can’t find a
boyfriend by Mariko’s wedding in June, her ruthless
Grandma will cut off funding to the girls’ volleyball
team that Lex coaches. And pay for breast
implants. (14 lines)
Cut words here and there in the paragraph until that last line disappears.
Sports-crazy Lex Sakai isn’t worried about
shouldering the unofficial family title “Oldest Single
Female Cousin” when her cousin Mariko marries in
four months. Her control-freak grandma nags her
about her lack of man, but it’s easy to ignore—until
Grandma bellows in the middle of a restaurant that
Lex can’t get a guy because she needs breast
implants. Bristling at the challenge, Lex insists
there’s nothing wrong with her—Grandma says to
prove it. If Lex can’t find a boyfriend by Mariko’s
wedding, her ruthless Grandma will cut off funding
to the girls’ volleyball team that Lex coaches. And
pay for breast implants. (13 lines)
Camy Tang lives in San Jose, California. She previously worked in biology research, and she is a staff worker for her church youth group. She runs the Story Sensei critique service, and her Asian chick-lit novel will be released in September 2007.Everyone who leaves a comment receives a 10% off coupon for Camy's Story Sensei critique service (coupons cannot be combined)! Please leave an e-mail address so she can send you your coupon (use this format: you [at] yourmail.com)
Thursday, December 21, 2006
We're Getting a Make Over and We Need Your Help!
I started Writer...Interrupted out of my own need to connect with other writing moms interrupted by raising kids and taking care of homes. Little did I know that my desire for community would turn into an opportunity to give other interrupted writers a chance to use their gifts.
With over 50 members on our webring and over a dozen contributors I think it's time we celebrate! So for our 6th month anniversary, I thought it'd be a great idea to give Writer...Interrupted a make-over.
But honestly, I have not solid idea of what the new site should look like! That's where you come in. In the comment section, leave your ideas on color scheme, layout design, photo or logos, one column or two columns, and anything you'd like to see in the sidebar that currently isn't there.
I'm hoping to make this work by the new year and with your help, I just might do it!
With over 50 members on our webring and over a dozen contributors I think it's time we celebrate! So for our 6th month anniversary, I thought it'd be a great idea to give Writer...Interrupted a make-over.
But honestly, I have not solid idea of what the new site should look like! That's where you come in. In the comment section, leave your ideas on color scheme, layout design, photo or logos, one column or two columns, and anything you'd like to see in the sidebar that currently isn't there.
I'm hoping to make this work by the new year and with your help, I just might do it!
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Nuts and bolts on writing
I wanted to discuss some of the “nuts and bolts” of this writing business. Some of my observations and lessons I’ve learned over the twenty-six years I have been writing.
1. Talent is important but equally or more important is perseverance with some luck thrown in.
2. Rejection is part of writing and sending your work out. We have to learn to move on and not let it stop us from writing. I have seen some very talented writers give up because of rejection (refer back to number one). Have a support group to help you through the rejections. We all need it from time to time. You should see my file of rejections!
3. Set a schedule to write. If not, it is easy to get sidetracked. Life happens.
4. The second sale is often harder than the first. It doesn’t get any easier after you sell the first book. The good part of this is that it keeps you on your toes and hopefully makes you a better writer. Don’t stop trying to improve your craft.
5. Deadlines are important to make. I can’t stress that enough. We are professionals and want to be treated as professionals.
6. Networking is important and can open doors for you whether it is through a conference, chapter meeting or online groups.
7. Critique groups can be good but remember the book is yours ultimately and you have to decide what advice to take or not take.
8. No agent is better than a bad agent.
9. Learn when to give up on a project and move on to a new one. I have heard of some writers working on the same book for years--polishing and polishing it. Learn to let go.
10. This business is subjective. One editor may not like your writing while another may. So don’t give up on a project because of one rejection (refer back to number one).
11. This business is cyclical. What is popular today, may not be tomorrow.
12. Take time for yourself and be aware of the signs of burnout. Stress will take its toll on you and your family.
13. Think twice before quitting your day job. This business is so unpredictable. I realize a day job can get in the way of writing sometimes (I have one) but there is value in having a job outside the home. I have gained a lot from working that I use in my writing. I interact with students and people which have enriched my writing and observations.
14. When something is bothering you about your book, listen to that inner voice. I have found it is usually right whether it is a plot element, the structure of a sentence, or a piece of dialogue.
15. Have fun with your writing. It will show in your work.
16. Research. It shows if you don't. But don't feel you have to put everything in the book that you discover when you research. That shows, too.
Margaret Daley
HEART OF THE AMAZON, Love Inspired Suspense, January 2007
Margaret's website
Margaret's blog
1. Talent is important but equally or more important is perseverance with some luck thrown in.
2. Rejection is part of writing and sending your work out. We have to learn to move on and not let it stop us from writing. I have seen some very talented writers give up because of rejection (refer back to number one). Have a support group to help you through the rejections. We all need it from time to time. You should see my file of rejections!
3. Set a schedule to write. If not, it is easy to get sidetracked. Life happens.
4. The second sale is often harder than the first. It doesn’t get any easier after you sell the first book. The good part of this is that it keeps you on your toes and hopefully makes you a better writer. Don’t stop trying to improve your craft.
5. Deadlines are important to make. I can’t stress that enough. We are professionals and want to be treated as professionals.
6. Networking is important and can open doors for you whether it is through a conference, chapter meeting or online groups.
7. Critique groups can be good but remember the book is yours ultimately and you have to decide what advice to take or not take.
8. No agent is better than a bad agent.
9. Learn when to give up on a project and move on to a new one. I have heard of some writers working on the same book for years--polishing and polishing it. Learn to let go.
10. This business is subjective. One editor may not like your writing while another may. So don’t give up on a project because of one rejection (refer back to number one).
11. This business is cyclical. What is popular today, may not be tomorrow.
12. Take time for yourself and be aware of the signs of burnout. Stress will take its toll on you and your family.
13. Think twice before quitting your day job. This business is so unpredictable. I realize a day job can get in the way of writing sometimes (I have one) but there is value in having a job outside the home. I have gained a lot from working that I use in my writing. I interact with students and people which have enriched my writing and observations.
14. When something is bothering you about your book, listen to that inner voice. I have found it is usually right whether it is a plot element, the structure of a sentence, or a piece of dialogue.
15. Have fun with your writing. It will show in your work.
16. Research. It shows if you don't. But don't feel you have to put everything in the book that you discover when you research. That shows, too.
Margaret Daley
HEART OF THE AMAZON, Love Inspired Suspense, January 2007
Margaret's website
Margaret's blog
Monday, December 18, 2006
To All a Good Night--
Blame it on the holiday rush and stress, or perhaps it's sensory overload. With all the gorgeous things to see in our neighborhoods and towns, all the wonderful smells coming from our kitchens, all the sounds of carols and bell-ringers and jingle bells, it's no wonder when it comes to writing, the spirit is oh-so-willing, but the flesh is doubly weak.
I find myself thinking, oh, I'm going to write about that. I should do it right now. And then what happens? My Google calendar is beckoning me back to plans and parties and purchases yet to make. Somewhere between the Live Nativity and Food for the Hungry drive, I feel the emotion welling up in me that signals it's time to write. I want to write about family and home and peace and joy. I want to write about festive landscapes and the hanging of green--the pungent odor of cedar on a mantle and midnight-blue glass ornaments exactly like the ones my mother had her first year of marriage and how much I miss her still whenever I read the Christmas story to my son.
I want to write about how you can't go home again and how new traditions are born with each new generation--how precious time becomes as you realize that you only pass this way but once. The words are bumping around in my brain, trying to find an outlet, an escape. But finding none, they race and blink in flourescent spasms that allow me only to stop for a moment to reflect upon them briefly before reaching for the plug to let them go for the night.
And in the darkness I lie and wonder what the New Year will hold and what new inspiration I will find in the days to come to fill my pages and mold my dreams and render me useless for anything but the splendor that I find in the written word. Oh there's no denying it, no pushing it to the back of my mind, no ignoring the impulse. I switch the lamp beside my bed back on and reach for my laptop--my modern quill. Shall I stay and ruminate a while? After all, the children are nestled all snug in their beds--and you know what that means for me--the best kind of night for a writer to have--a blissfully silent night.
Merry Christmas to all my friends. May you find joy in the Season as you worship the Reason.
I find myself thinking, oh, I'm going to write about that. I should do it right now. And then what happens? My Google calendar is beckoning me back to plans and parties and purchases yet to make. Somewhere between the Live Nativity and Food for the Hungry drive, I feel the emotion welling up in me that signals it's time to write. I want to write about family and home and peace and joy. I want to write about festive landscapes and the hanging of green--the pungent odor of cedar on a mantle and midnight-blue glass ornaments exactly like the ones my mother had her first year of marriage and how much I miss her still whenever I read the Christmas story to my son.
I want to write about how you can't go home again and how new traditions are born with each new generation--how precious time becomes as you realize that you only pass this way but once. The words are bumping around in my brain, trying to find an outlet, an escape. But finding none, they race and blink in flourescent spasms that allow me only to stop for a moment to reflect upon them briefly before reaching for the plug to let them go for the night.
And in the darkness I lie and wonder what the New Year will hold and what new inspiration I will find in the days to come to fill my pages and mold my dreams and render me useless for anything but the splendor that I find in the written word. Oh there's no denying it, no pushing it to the back of my mind, no ignoring the impulse. I switch the lamp beside my bed back on and reach for my laptop--my modern quill. Shall I stay and ruminate a while? After all, the children are nestled all snug in their beds--and you know what that means for me--the best kind of night for a writer to have--a blissfully silent night.
Merry Christmas to all my friends. May you find joy in the Season as you worship the Reason.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Ever Faithful
(c) Staci Stallings, 2006
For many years of my life, I wanted to be successful. I put a lot of effort into that endeavor. I worked and worked and worked. If I joined an organization, I had to be president because I wanted the organization to be successful and I wanted to be seen as a success in the organization. Success was always my goal.
After I started writing, I turned my success-orientation toward God. I wanted to be a success for Him. Somehow I thought that would prove to Him I was worthy of His love and gain me a place in His kingdom. I wanted Him to love me, and I thought the only way He would love me was if I was a success. Sad how some of us get so mixed up like that.
It took seven years of writing, three years of publishing, and a gentle re-direct from God for me to see how wrong I had been the whole time. As always, I had been working and working and working, trying to get the publishing and marketing to work out. I put an enormous amount of time and effort into that endeavor. Still, things were not pointing toward me being a success. Even when I had successes, they were too small for me to acknowledge, and so I called them failures and resolved to do better.
When I finally woke up to see that what I was doing was not what God required of me-that He didn't require me to be a success for Him to love me-that was truly a revelation. In a very real way He saved me from me!
Since then, lesson-by-lesson, I have learned to let go of doing it myself and to let Him take over the controls of my life. Not always easy for a control-freak, but by far the easier way to live once you get the hang of it.
The other night in a sermon, God spoke to me in a way that made me smile. The priest said, "God doesn't require you to be a success. He only requires that you be faithful." Well, that's about as direct a message as you could get.
However, would I have heard those words ten years ago? Probably not, but they sure resonated with me the other night.
The amazing thing is that a friend of mine and I have been talking about this very thing-being faithful. She said, "What I am learning is that God doesn't even require us to be faithful because our faithfulness is imperfect. God simply wants to show us His faithfulness."
Wow! Not only do I not have to be a success to gain God's approval, I don't even have to be perfectly faithful to gain God's approval! The more I thought about this, the clearer it became. Over and over and over again, God has shown me, "Staci, even when you fall, even when you're discouraged, even when you feel like a failure, even when you're scared, I am here-loving you, cheering you on, giving you Me."
With that understanding, how then, I ask you, could I ever feel like a failure? How could I ever think I was anything less than a success? And it has nothing at all to do with me. It has nothing to do with my performance, my plans, my control, my abilities, my knowledge, my understanding. It's all about Him.
His performance, His plans, His control, His abilities. His knowledge, His understanding, His wisdom, His love, His mercy. His faithfulness.
In a very real way, all He asks of me is that I take a step back from me, look to Him, and marvel at His faithfulness. He is ever faithful to me. Not sometimes faithful. Not faithful when it's easy or convenient. He is EVER faithful!
Just as He is ever loving. He is. And if I let my worth be based not on me but on Him, then I'm already a success.
Isn't He the coolest?
*~*~*
For much more inspiration, check out Staci's blog "Homeward Bound" at: http://stacistallings.blogspot.com You'll feel better for the experience!
For many years of my life, I wanted to be successful. I put a lot of effort into that endeavor. I worked and worked and worked. If I joined an organization, I had to be president because I wanted the organization to be successful and I wanted to be seen as a success in the organization. Success was always my goal.
After I started writing, I turned my success-orientation toward God. I wanted to be a success for Him. Somehow I thought that would prove to Him I was worthy of His love and gain me a place in His kingdom. I wanted Him to love me, and I thought the only way He would love me was if I was a success. Sad how some of us get so mixed up like that.
It took seven years of writing, three years of publishing, and a gentle re-direct from God for me to see how wrong I had been the whole time. As always, I had been working and working and working, trying to get the publishing and marketing to work out. I put an enormous amount of time and effort into that endeavor. Still, things were not pointing toward me being a success. Even when I had successes, they were too small for me to acknowledge, and so I called them failures and resolved to do better.
When I finally woke up to see that what I was doing was not what God required of me-that He didn't require me to be a success for Him to love me-that was truly a revelation. In a very real way He saved me from me!
Since then, lesson-by-lesson, I have learned to let go of doing it myself and to let Him take over the controls of my life. Not always easy for a control-freak, but by far the easier way to live once you get the hang of it.
The other night in a sermon, God spoke to me in a way that made me smile. The priest said, "God doesn't require you to be a success. He only requires that you be faithful." Well, that's about as direct a message as you could get.
However, would I have heard those words ten years ago? Probably not, but they sure resonated with me the other night.
The amazing thing is that a friend of mine and I have been talking about this very thing-being faithful. She said, "What I am learning is that God doesn't even require us to be faithful because our faithfulness is imperfect. God simply wants to show us His faithfulness."
Wow! Not only do I not have to be a success to gain God's approval, I don't even have to be perfectly faithful to gain God's approval! The more I thought about this, the clearer it became. Over and over and over again, God has shown me, "Staci, even when you fall, even when you're discouraged, even when you feel like a failure, even when you're scared, I am here-loving you, cheering you on, giving you Me."
With that understanding, how then, I ask you, could I ever feel like a failure? How could I ever think I was anything less than a success? And it has nothing at all to do with me. It has nothing to do with my performance, my plans, my control, my abilities, my knowledge, my understanding. It's all about Him.
His performance, His plans, His control, His abilities. His knowledge, His understanding, His wisdom, His love, His mercy. His faithfulness.
In a very real way, all He asks of me is that I take a step back from me, look to Him, and marvel at His faithfulness. He is ever faithful to me. Not sometimes faithful. Not faithful when it's easy or convenient. He is EVER faithful!
Just as He is ever loving. He is. And if I let my worth be based not on me but on Him, then I'm already a success.
Isn't He the coolest?
*~*~*
For much more inspiration, check out Staci's blog "Homeward Bound" at: http://stacistallings.blogspot.com You'll feel better for the experience!
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Michelle Sutton's review of @ Home for the Holidays by Meredith Efken
From the Publisher:Sitting by the fireside, humming carols and knitting mittens...not! For these stay-at-home moms, the weeks before Christmas are anything but mellow. How can you balance housework, home crises and the husband without losing your mind? Plug in your laptop! Meet Dulcie, Zelia, Jocelyn, Rosalyn, Veronica and the rest of the women of SAHM I Am. An e-mail loop of stay-at-home moms, they've seen each other through months of domestic drama: babies who won't come, bills that won't leave, kids who won't listen and spouses who won't talk. Now, as the yuletide approaches, the SAHMs are on hand once again, bearing gifts of sisterhood, sanity and the real Christmas spirit.
My review:
This is my all-time favorite Christmas novel EVER. I usually think holiday stories are sappy and never watch them on television, let alone read them. I'm not sure why. I used to like The Grinch That Stole Christmas. Hmmm... Anyway, I'm thoroughly impressed with how Meredith has taken an e-mail loop and made the characters so vivid and real that I want to join the loop myself. Though the story ends with Christmas, it covers over half the year so you can read it at any time and still enjoy it. Honestly!
I SO love the classic Christian snobbery exhibited by Rosalyn, the loop moderator and topic of the week coordinator. We all know someone like Ros, don't we? And the struggles with parenting and job-related issues were so realistic and well-portrayed that I was sucked right in. I've had many infertile friends and the pain is so real. These gals on the SAHM I Am loop are the real deal. Even their e-mail names made me snicker. That Veronica, she just tells it like it is. Sometimes we need that. And her metaphor about the cake...I almost wet my pants over that one. You have to read it to know what I mean!
I just can't say enough about how hilarious, yet deeply spiritual this book was. Some of the scenes with the kiddos just made me want to cackle like a nut case. And how many of us take on so many projects and causes that we neglect our first love? Enough said. I think even my son would love this story. The lessons within its pages shoot straight to the heart. Fabulous book. Now go out and get one before they are all gone!
@ Home for the Holidays was published by Steeple Hill and released on November 1, 2006
Friday, December 15, 2006
Tips for cutting a synopsis
Tip#1 to cut a synopsis—formatting
Check your formatting. Make sure all your margins are 1 inch. Make your header ½ inch from the top.
Make your header only one line with the manuscript title, the word “synopsis,” and your last name (e-mail address optional) on the left side, and then the page number (optional) on the right side. It’ll look something like this:
BRILLIANT NOVEL/Synopsis/Tang 1
You don’t have to put the word “Synopsis” at the top of the actual text. Just start the synopsis text.
Tip#2 to cut a synopsis—repetition
Eliminate any repetition. If you mention something once—say the hero left the heroine five years ago—don’t mention it again. For example:
After a five year absence, Ronald McDonald returns to Birdy’s life . . .
A paragraph later:
A different man than he was five years ago, Ronald is still in love with Birdy . . .
Don’t mention the five years again. Cut it: Now more spiritually mature, Ronald is still in love with Birdy . . .
(Thanks to Dineen Miller for the idea of this example)
Tip#3 to cut a synopsis—eliminate subplots
Cut out any mention of the subplot. Be ruthless. Even if the subplot gives a bit of depth to the hero because it tells the reader about his life as a drug runner in Brazil, if it doesn’t directly impact the main plotline of saving the heroine’s ranch, don’t include it.
This is especially true if you’re trying to cut your synopsis down to a page (as per some agent/editor’s submission guidelines). You don’t have to include all those subplots. The editor/agent will realize you needed to eliminate some things in order to fit it into one page.
Some subplots do influence the main plot near the end of the book. Here you have a couple choices:
1) Pare down the mention of the subplot to the absolute minimum needed for the ending to make sense. Maybe a sentence in the beginning of the synopsis, and then a sentence at the end when it impacts the main plot.
2) Eliminate mention of the subplot completely and insert something near the end to make the ending make sense.
Don’t do more than that for subplots if you can absolutely help it.
Camy Tang lives in San Jose, California. She previously worked in biology research, and she is a staff worker for her church youth group. She runs the Story Sensei critique service, and her Asian chick-lit novel will be released in September 2007.
Everyone who leaves a comment receives a 10% off coupon for Camy's Story Sensei critique service (coupons cannot be combined)! Please leave an e-mail address so she can send you your coupon (use this format: you [at] yourmail.com)
Check your formatting. Make sure all your margins are 1 inch. Make your header ½ inch from the top.
Make your header only one line with the manuscript title, the word “synopsis,” and your last name (e-mail address optional) on the left side, and then the page number (optional) on the right side. It’ll look something like this:
BRILLIANT NOVEL/Synopsis/Tang 1
You don’t have to put the word “Synopsis” at the top of the actual text. Just start the synopsis text.
Tip#2 to cut a synopsis—repetition
Eliminate any repetition. If you mention something once—say the hero left the heroine five years ago—don’t mention it again. For example:
After a five year absence, Ronald McDonald returns to Birdy’s life . . .
A paragraph later:
A different man than he was five years ago, Ronald is still in love with Birdy . . .
Don’t mention the five years again. Cut it: Now more spiritually mature, Ronald is still in love with Birdy . . .
(Thanks to Dineen Miller for the idea of this example)
Tip#3 to cut a synopsis—eliminate subplots
Cut out any mention of the subplot. Be ruthless. Even if the subplot gives a bit of depth to the hero because it tells the reader about his life as a drug runner in Brazil, if it doesn’t directly impact the main plotline of saving the heroine’s ranch, don’t include it.
This is especially true if you’re trying to cut your synopsis down to a page (as per some agent/editor’s submission guidelines). You don’t have to include all those subplots. The editor/agent will realize you needed to eliminate some things in order to fit it into one page.
Some subplots do influence the main plot near the end of the book. Here you have a couple choices:
1) Pare down the mention of the subplot to the absolute minimum needed for the ending to make sense. Maybe a sentence in the beginning of the synopsis, and then a sentence at the end when it impacts the main plot.
2) Eliminate mention of the subplot completely and insert something near the end to make the ending make sense.
Don’t do more than that for subplots if you can absolutely help it.
Camy Tang lives in San Jose, California. She previously worked in biology research, and she is a staff worker for her church youth group. She runs the Story Sensei critique service, and her Asian chick-lit novel will be released in September 2007.Everyone who leaves a comment receives a 10% off coupon for Camy's Story Sensei critique service (coupons cannot be combined)! Please leave an e-mail address so she can send you your coupon (use this format: you [at] yourmail.com)
Thursday, December 14, 2006
SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING?
(c)Tricia Goyer, 9/2006
I have three kids ages 12, 14, and 17. If you have teenagers, then you know they know everything. This is especially true for homeschooled teenagers. Every time I try to teach them something I get this look that says, "Yah, I already knew that."
So, if you're like me. Then next time you get "that look" here is something that could help SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING?
"Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right. (Bet you tried this out mentally, didn't you?)
Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".
Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet. (Now, you KNOW you're going to try this out for accuracy, right?)
The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).
There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.
There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious."
TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard. (All you typists are going to test this out.)
All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.
A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds. (Some days that's about what my memory span is.)
A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
A snail can sleep for three years. (I know some people that could do this too.)
Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
Babies are born without kneecaps they don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.
February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.
If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.
Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.
On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.
Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!
Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated. The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.
The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.
The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket. (Good thing he did that.)
The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.
There are more chickens than people in the world.
Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
So for all you smart kids out there .................. Now you know everything!
Tricia Goyer has written hundreds of articles, Bible Study notes, and both fiction and non-fiction books.
I have three kids ages 12, 14, and 17. If you have teenagers, then you know they know everything. This is especially true for homeschooled teenagers. Every time I try to teach them something I get this look that says, "Yah, I already knew that."
So, if you're like me. Then next time you get "that look" here is something that could help SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING?
"Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right. (Bet you tried this out mentally, didn't you?)
Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".
Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet. (Now, you KNOW you're going to try this out for accuracy, right?)
The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).
There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.
There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious."
TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard. (All you typists are going to test this out.)
All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.
A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds. (Some days that's about what my memory span is.)
A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
A snail can sleep for three years. (I know some people that could do this too.)
Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
Babies are born without kneecaps they don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.
February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.
If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.
Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.
On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.
Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!
Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated. The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.
The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.
The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket. (Good thing he did that.)
The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.
There are more chickens than people in the world.
Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
So for all you smart kids out there .................. Now you know everything!
Tricia Goyer has written hundreds of articles, Bible Study notes, and both fiction and non-fiction books.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
The Gift of Time
Over the last few months I've given myself a special treat. (No, I did not wait for Christmas!) I signed up to have once a month sessions with a life coach for writers. Yes, it's pricey, but the few hours I've spent on the phone with her have been life-changing.In one of our exercises, I was given a gift. Okay, it wasn't something I could touch, but I could see it when I closed my eyes. In my mind there was no fancy wrapping paper or exquisite bow, but with my life coaches' permission, I mental opened something my heart longed for. Was it a new house? A vacation in Maui? A trip to the New York Times Bestseller list? No, what I gave myself (once I was given permission) was a blank calendar. BLANK.
Currently, my calendar is anything but blank. I have written down the days I'm blogging where (I like to get around on the web). My kids' sport practices and times. My church classes and radio interviews. Christmas parties and book deadlines. (The last one is the most time-consuming and overwhelming.) Whew.
The idea of a blank calendar was so . . . well, so . . . so exactly what I needed.
Then, the life coach gave me an assignment--to buy a new calendar for the new year. She also gave me permission . . . to fill it up as I pleased (and as it pleased God), giving myself permission to schedule in quiet time, coffee time with friends, and even reading time as I need them. (Isn't that how it always is, these needs get pushed to the side for the "greater good" of family life?!)
So right now, my new calendar sits on my desk. Yes, it's under a pile of to-do items, but it's a good start.
How about you? Does a blank calendar sound like a wonderful gift?
I hope so, because I'm passing on the request to you: buy one. Now, fill it as you desire and God leads. It's in your hands.
Really, I give you permission.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Fill Your Creative Tank
Running on empty? Out of steam? Well run dry? Experiencing creative blocks? Gina shared with us her experience of feeling like she's running on empty through the busy holiday season. We've all been there...drawing a blank, nothing left to give. The best way to prevent these types of situations is to make sure we're nurturing our creative selves with a little daily rest and rejuvenation. But for the average woman, taking time for you doesn't always happen.
For those times when you need a little extra fuel, there are practical solutions for filling the tank. Here is today’s creativity-inspiring, tank-filling, unblocking suggestion: manage distractions.
Oftentimes we're too distracted to create. Those distractions, or the tyranny of the mundane, prevent creative thoughts and habits from finding their home in our lives. The best way to eliminate this problem is to go to the source.
Find out what's distracting you: a messy house, long to-do list, lack of sleep, poor eating habits, etc. Take thirty minutes to manage that distraction to the point that it no longer consumes your thoughts, i.e. clean the room or get someone to do it for you, make an appointment in your schedule for when you'll tackle that to-do list, take a nap, eat a healthy snack. You may not completely eliminate or remove the distraction, but you can manage it long enough to allow creativity to take hold.
Once you've got that distraction controlled, try your hand at creating again. You should notice a clearing, or space, for creative thought and energy that wasn’t there before and it only took you thirty minutes or less.
Written by guest bloggerSunday, December 10, 2006
Running on Empty
I feel like the last couple of weeks I've been coasting down hill, running on empty. Like many people, my life has become insanely busy and the more important things have been pushed to the curb or all together forgotten.Often times I've thought of pulling off the interstate to refuel, but obstacles in the road of life keep me missing the nearest exit. So I chug along, hoping to make it through the chaos of the holiday season, my final destination.
Even today is filled with the business of church, my son's matinee performance and a party afterwards.
Lord prepare my heart to hear from you today, to refuel during the next week when I'm running low, and to slow down, especially around the curves.
Gina Conroy , is founder of Writer...Interrupted and a homeschooling mom to four. She writes about her experiences trying to balance it all. Her co-authored book , Anytime Prayers for Everyday Moms was just released and is available now for Christmas!
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Introducing Amy Quinn
Amy O'Quinn is a pastor's wife and former schoolteacher-turned-homeschool mom of six wonderful blessings! She and her family live in rural south Georgia in her late grandparent's 1930's remodeled farmhouse...complete with window boxes, arbor, and picket fence! She also tries to fit in a little bit of freelance writing around the fringes of family life--something that takes quite a bit of juggling at times! Her other interests include reading, baking, learning about whole foods nutrition, classical/easy listening music, gardening, and cottage style decorating.She has publishing credits in several publications, including Jack and Jill, International Gymnast, Guideposts for Kids, US Kids, Learning Through History Magazine, Homeschooling Today, GEORGIA Magazine, and Rocking Chair Reader: Family Gatherings (anthology). She has several web writing credits as well, and she recently sold a rebus story to Highlights for Children. She also does curriculum reviews for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and is the president/newsletter editor for her local homeschool group. Come visit her at her blog at ~Ponderings At Picket Fence Cottage~ .
Rules
My son Zane does not follow certain rules well. I know all too well he comes by it naturally. His mama doesn't like a lot of rules either.At the dining room table yesterday (our school room), he was working on some grammar worksheets. He would not read the instructions. He'd glance over the worksheet and read the questions and go at it. Ok. No big deal, he got them all right. Then he started on some reading comprehension and deduction worksheets. He glanced over the story and started answering questions and got them wrong.
I asked him if he read the instructions. He was honest, said he didn't. The teacher in me explained that the directions are important, those are how we know what to do. If the directions tell us to circle something and we cross it out, it might not be a big deal on a worksheet like this, but what would happen if we were cooking and the recipe told us to add sugar and we added salt?
He seemed to understand that, so I added: "I understand you don't want to follow all the rules, there are times you can be creative like when you're drawing or painting or writing a story, but there are even rules to creativity."
"When mommy writes a story, she can make up any story she wants, but when she writes it down she must spell the words right, make correct sentences, use the correct punctuation, all sorts of things. It cannot be sloppy, but the story, it is whatever story God puts in mommy's brain."
He said, "OH! So you mean that if you spell bad and are sloppy you won't get a book like this?"
The book he held up was my copy of Self-Editing For Fiction Writer's.
That's right son.
Then it hit me. I can write down whatever story God puts in my little brain. I can follow His directions or I can follow man's. It is my choice. I can do research and write a story for a particular publisher, following all of their rules, or I can write a story following God's rules.
That's where my natural rebellion lies. Typically dormant, sometimes I don't even know it's still there. But tell me to do something like write for a publisher that expects (add in your list) and I'm like a caged animal, pacing and growling. I'm ok with God's rules, though, most of the time. I guess the difference is that I know God has my best interest in mind and I'm safe and comfortable with Him being in charge. I am not comfortable with another human being in charge of my writing.
While there's no big epiphany here, no big lesson, I understand my rebellion a bit more as I watch my son's grow and become more like me.
I have no desire to write what the market demands or to write for the readers. My only desire is to write for Christ. So for me that means continuing on with my ghost story about three generations of bastard sons even though some influential people have told me it's a bad idea. I imagine some of those Hebrews marching around Jericho thought God had a bad idea there, eh?
~michelle
My thoughts grew hot within me and began to burn, igniting a fire of words
Psalm 39:3
Michelle Pendergrass is a coffee-lover who lives in Knox, Indiana where she homeschools her son, Zane. She blogs at Just A Minute. When you visit, please note that her son is most definitely weaned and has been for some time now. Some names just stick.
©2006 Michelle L. Pendergrass - All Rights Reserved
Friday, December 08, 2006
Fiction Friday: The role of the synopsis when submitting
Why do I need to cut a synopsis?
While I haven’t talked to every editor and agent on the planet, the majority of the ones I’ve spoken to prefer a 2-3 page synopsis.
However, every editor is different. One editor will want a one-page synopsis, another will want an extensive chapter-by-chapter synopsis.
In my experience, it’s usually better to opt for the shorter synopsis when submitting a proposal. If they want a longer one, they usually specifically mention that they do.
Another reason to have a short synopsis handy: Writing contests often have you submit a short, 1-2 page synopsis with your entry.
Here’s a little tip: when querying a novel, it doesn’t hurt to slip a one-page synopsis in with your one-page query letter. And it doesn’t cost any more in postage.
Also, when submitting a partial manuscript or a proposal (only at the editor’s request, of course), most standard proposals consist of a 2-3 page synopsis, not a chapter-by-chapter. Sometimes you can include BOTH a 2-page synopsis and a chapter-by-chapter synopsis in with the proposal, to give the editor his/her pick of whichever length they prefer.
Are editors/agents even reading my synopsis?
Some editors and agents have admitted they don't read the synopsis when your proposal or manuscript hits their desk. So if that's the case, why even bother to invest so much time into it?
The truth is that some editors and agents do read your synopsis. And if it gets taken to editorial committee, it's likely that the VP of Sales or the VP of Marketing will read your synopsis, not your manuscript. They're looking at the marketability of the book.
The synopsis is important to let them know several things:
1) The characters are likable, with faults and flaws
2) The characters learn something on a spiritual level by the end of the book, with a solid spiritual takeaway for the reader.
3) There is definite rising tension and various obstacles in the middle of the book
4) There is an exciting climax where the reader roots for the character
5) There is a satisfying ending.
6) There is an issue or theme that would appeal to readers and which can be marketed, but which isn't preachy.
7) There is something unique and different about this book that would make it stand out from the other books in its genre on the shelves.
They also don't want a hugely long synopsis--they just don't have the time to read it. 1-2 pages, single-spaced, is a good range to aim for.
Camy Tang lives in San Jose, California. She previously worked in biology research, and she is a staff worker for her church youth group. She runs the Story Sensei critique service, and her Asian chick-lit novel will be released in September 2007.
Everyone who leaves a comment receives a 10% off coupon for Camy's Story Sensei critique service (coupons cannot be combined)! Please leave an e-mail address so she can send you your coupon (use this format: you [at] yourmail.com)
While I haven’t talked to every editor and agent on the planet, the majority of the ones I’ve spoken to prefer a 2-3 page synopsis.
However, every editor is different. One editor will want a one-page synopsis, another will want an extensive chapter-by-chapter synopsis.
In my experience, it’s usually better to opt for the shorter synopsis when submitting a proposal. If they want a longer one, they usually specifically mention that they do.
Another reason to have a short synopsis handy: Writing contests often have you submit a short, 1-2 page synopsis with your entry.
Here’s a little tip: when querying a novel, it doesn’t hurt to slip a one-page synopsis in with your one-page query letter. And it doesn’t cost any more in postage.
Also, when submitting a partial manuscript or a proposal (only at the editor’s request, of course), most standard proposals consist of a 2-3 page synopsis, not a chapter-by-chapter. Sometimes you can include BOTH a 2-page synopsis and a chapter-by-chapter synopsis in with the proposal, to give the editor his/her pick of whichever length they prefer.
Are editors/agents even reading my synopsis?
Some editors and agents have admitted they don't read the synopsis when your proposal or manuscript hits their desk. So if that's the case, why even bother to invest so much time into it?
The truth is that some editors and agents do read your synopsis. And if it gets taken to editorial committee, it's likely that the VP of Sales or the VP of Marketing will read your synopsis, not your manuscript. They're looking at the marketability of the book.
The synopsis is important to let them know several things:
1) The characters are likable, with faults and flaws
2) The characters learn something on a spiritual level by the end of the book, with a solid spiritual takeaway for the reader.
3) There is definite rising tension and various obstacles in the middle of the book
4) There is an exciting climax where the reader roots for the character
5) There is a satisfying ending.
6) There is an issue or theme that would appeal to readers and which can be marketed, but which isn't preachy.
7) There is something unique and different about this book that would make it stand out from the other books in its genre on the shelves.
They also don't want a hugely long synopsis--they just don't have the time to read it. 1-2 pages, single-spaced, is a good range to aim for.
Camy Tang lives in San Jose, California. She previously worked in biology research, and she is a staff worker for her church youth group. She runs the Story Sensei critique service, and her Asian chick-lit novel will be released in September 2007.Everyone who leaves a comment receives a 10% off coupon for Camy's Story Sensei critique service (coupons cannot be combined)! Please leave an e-mail address so she can send you your coupon (use this format: you [at] yourmail.com)
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Scripture Memory--Kid Style
Scripture Memory--Kid Style
(c)Tricia Goyer, 9/2006
This morning, I read a great blog on Home-steeped Hope about teaching Scripture memory to kids. You can read it here.
Anyway, it got me thinking about our family's efforts of memorizing Scripture verses through the years.
I will be starting my 13th year of homeschooling this year, and I can saw without a doubt one of my FAVORITE memories is learning Scripture verses as a famiy. We've tried many systems, and to me it doesn't matter how we get the words to stick, just as long as they do.
Even now, I still study Scripture with my 12-year-old. In fact, he created his own "list" of things that help him.
1. Write it. Nathan writes the verse out.
2. Say it. He says it to himself ten times. (He usually has it memorized by this time.)
3. Share it. He comes to me and shares it. (Then we go over his previous verses too.)
4. Discuss it. I have to come up with three questions to ask him about the meaning of the verse and how it works in life.
5. Hunt for it. I time Nathan as he finds it in the Bible. (Usually under 20 seconds.)
Nathan learned all these study tools through church and home, and now uses them.
Also, my older two kids have devised their own systems. Like me, my daughter (14) has a journal of her favorite Scripture verses. She took it upon herself to read the Bible through and then she comes to John or I to discuss what she's reading or it pops up as we go through daily life. (We've had some VERY interesting discussions as she went through Leviticus and Judges.)
My oldest son, 17, writes his favorite verses and sticks them around his computer monitor on Post-It notes. (Touch the cards and die!) Then Cory works on them throughout the day. He's memorized long passages this way.
Also, he works as a checker at Target part of the day. An older Christian who also works there taught Cory how to keep Scripture memory cards in his pocket and work at memorizing them when it's slow in the store. Cory's been doing this too. As he stands at the end of the checkstand, waiting for customers, I've seen him slip the card out, read it, then slip it inside, the whole time smiling at the old lady taking ten minutes to make it to the checkstand.
In fact, my kids are encouraging me to "get with the system." In addition to my journal, I've taken 3x5 cards (spiral bound) and wrote some of my favorite verses. Then, I read them and study them as I blow dry my hair and get ready in the morning.
Hiding God's word in our hearts, yeah baby!
www.triciagoyer.com
www.triciagoyer.blogspot.com
(c)Tricia Goyer, 9/2006
This morning, I read a great blog on Home-steeped Hope about teaching Scripture memory to kids. You can read it here.
Anyway, it got me thinking about our family's efforts of memorizing Scripture verses through the years.
I will be starting my 13th year of homeschooling this year, and I can saw without a doubt one of my FAVORITE memories is learning Scripture verses as a famiy. We've tried many systems, and to me it doesn't matter how we get the words to stick, just as long as they do.
Even now, I still study Scripture with my 12-year-old. In fact, he created his own "list" of things that help him.
1. Write it. Nathan writes the verse out.
2. Say it. He says it to himself ten times. (He usually has it memorized by this time.)
3. Share it. He comes to me and shares it. (Then we go over his previous verses too.)
4. Discuss it. I have to come up with three questions to ask him about the meaning of the verse and how it works in life.
5. Hunt for it. I time Nathan as he finds it in the Bible. (Usually under 20 seconds.)
Nathan learned all these study tools through church and home, and now uses them.
Also, my older two kids have devised their own systems. Like me, my daughter (14) has a journal of her favorite Scripture verses. She took it upon herself to read the Bible through and then she comes to John or I to discuss what she's reading or it pops up as we go through daily life. (We've had some VERY interesting discussions as she went through Leviticus and Judges.)
My oldest son, 17, writes his favorite verses and sticks them around his computer monitor on Post-It notes. (Touch the cards and die!) Then Cory works on them throughout the day. He's memorized long passages this way.
Also, he works as a checker at Target part of the day. An older Christian who also works there taught Cory how to keep Scripture memory cards in his pocket and work at memorizing them when it's slow in the store. Cory's been doing this too. As he stands at the end of the checkstand, waiting for customers, I've seen him slip the card out, read it, then slip it inside, the whole time smiling at the old lady taking ten minutes to make it to the checkstand.
In fact, my kids are encouraging me to "get with the system." In addition to my journal, I've taken 3x5 cards (spiral bound) and wrote some of my favorite verses. Then, I read them and study them as I blow dry my hair and get ready in the morning.
Hiding God's word in our hearts, yeah baby!
www.triciagoyer.com
www.triciagoyer.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Introducing Cheryl L. Stansberry
I'm a stay-at-home-mom of three small children and have only recently come out of the procrastination cave to begin writing again. I have a lot of interest in Christian apologetics and theology, history, literature, and politics and I hope to incorporate some of them into my writing. I also enjoy writing inspirational pieces and poetry. I joined Writer Interrupted to meet other writers and exchange ideas (and to keep myself from retreating back into the cave!) http://www.crossandquill.com/journey
Mid-Week Motivations STILL Needed
Is anyone missing the mid-week pick me up? I am! And going into the holiday season I could sure use some motivation right now!
I know we have a bunch of talented, Jesus loving writers on our webring, and I bet amongst the 50 plus members, there's got to be a few of you that God's been tugging on your heart, nudging you to step out in faith and participate in this Wednesday ministry.
You don't have to have a degree in theology, or have even attended a Christian college. The only requirements to writing this column is that you have a heart for the Lord, are willing to share what He's been speaking to you, and that you're a member of the webring. (If you're not a member, but you're a reader, then why not consider joining!)
If you'd like a better idea of what we're wanting in the menu, check out the Wednesdays in November and then leave a comment or email. We're looking for Mid-Week Motivators starting NOW!
Maybe your strength is in the devotional area and not the cooking segment. That's okay! We could pair you up with someone to compliment your strengths! So think about, pray about it! Then do something about it! Take a step of faith in the right direction to advancing your writing career! Plus, it'll look great on your writing resume!
Mid-Week Motivation Menu
Starting Your Day Out Right!
Scripture, Short Devotion
Is Your House in Order?
Cleaning, parenting, marriage, organization tips, etc.
Afternoon Pick Me Up
Writing inspiration
What's For Dinner?
Quick dinners, crock pots, etc.
A Restful Night's Sleep
Scripture for a restful sleep
I know we have a bunch of talented, Jesus loving writers on our webring, and I bet amongst the 50 plus members, there's got to be a few of you that God's been tugging on your heart, nudging you to step out in faith and participate in this Wednesday ministry.
You don't have to have a degree in theology, or have even attended a Christian college. The only requirements to writing this column is that you have a heart for the Lord, are willing to share what He's been speaking to you, and that you're a member of the webring. (If you're not a member, but you're a reader, then why not consider joining!)
If you'd like a better idea of what we're wanting in the menu, check out the Wednesdays in November and then leave a comment or email. We're looking for Mid-Week Motivators starting NOW!
Maybe your strength is in the devotional area and not the cooking segment. That's okay! We could pair you up with someone to compliment your strengths! So think about, pray about it! Then do something about it! Take a step of faith in the right direction to advancing your writing career! Plus, it'll look great on your writing resume!
Mid-Week Motivation Menu
Starting Your Day Out Right!
Scripture, Short Devotion
Is Your House in Order?
Cleaning, parenting, marriage, organization tips, etc.
Afternoon Pick Me Up
Writing inspiration
What's For Dinner?
Quick dinners, crock pots, etc.
A Restful Night's Sleep
Scripture for a restful sleep
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Querying With an Unfinished Manuscript
AS A FIRST TIME AUTHOR, should you finish your manuscript before you query an editor? I have been asked this question by all kinds of hopeful writers, and the answer is, sorry Kids, but yes. I know, I know. I’m not exactly the most experienced “published” novelist on the block. After all, my book isn’t out on the shelf yet (patience in publishing is a future post), but I am walking the road with both my editor and agent holding each hand. So far I have heard from both of them that it made a huge difference knowing I could deliver the manuscript before querying.
My manuscript landed in the hands of my agent at the right time, but if I hadn’t written all but a few chapters of the book, he wouldn’t have given me the time of day. When I heard he had the manuscript and wanted the rest, you wouldn’t believe how quickly I finished that book. By the time I spoke to him about actually representing him, I’d written the ending.
The way I found my agent was no less than extraordinary, but I believe that in any other situation, I wouldn’t have been considered if I hadn’t been able to say, “The manuscript is finished.” My agent tells me that for a first-time novelist, having a completed manuscript is paramount.
Personally, I think that a whole lot of the time that first-time authors put into marketing and pitching before they have even completed their book could so easily be put into finishing their WIP (Work In Progress) instead. Focus on finishing your story, so you can show an agent or publisher you are capable of finishing a book.
So, that is my two cents. There are writers out there who have had a different experience. And that’s great, but for the vast majority of us, agents and editors just don’t have time to take a chance on a new writer they can’t be sure will produce the product. And let’s face it. It’s our masterpiece. If we are fortunate, our agents and editors are passionate about the work, but this is business for them too. They need to know the product will be available before they buy it from a first time novelist. So let's write! Show them you can do it!
Tina Ann Forkner writes contemporary women’s fiction and has recently contracted with Waterbrook Press, a division of Random House, to publish two novels. The title of her first book will be Ruby Among Us. Visit her at www.tinaannforkner.blogspot.com
Monday, December 04, 2006
Top Ten List for Writers
- Patience. In abundance. Pressed down and overflowing. Everything takes time. And lots more time than you could imagine. So if you write, you'll shake the doors of heaven begging for patience.
- What ifs. A writer takes a "what if" and crafts a story around it. Without a "what if" question, there would be no books, no inspiration.
- Creativity. Must have the ability to take the germ of an idea and flesh it out into a 300 page book. Or a 1000 word article. Or a short blog post. But without creativity, most "what ifs" would die a quick death.
- Support. If you're surrounded by people who don't accept or support your dream, it can be death to the dream. So find people who will encourage your writing dream -- even if they don't understand how certifiably crazy you must be to pursue it.
- Fellowship. Find other writers. Only writers can fully understand the zaniness incumbent with writers. We just see everything a bit ... differently. So run to the American Christian Fiction Writers, and join. Then get invovled with the local group of writers.
- Love for Written Words. You have to love to read well-written words and hunger to develop those skills yourself.
- Disipline. To cut the things from your life to make room for writing.
- BOC. A corollary is to ensure you have Bottom on Chair time. Yep. Sitting in your chair in front of your computer, fingers poised over the keyboard and hopefully clicking rhythmically. That's the only way anything is written. One word at a time. One second at a time.
- Research Skills. You have to love tracking down the right answers. Research is equally important in contemporary books as it is in historicals. Nothing will pull a reader out of the story faster than knowing you missed a key fact or detail. So develop a love of new knowledge.
- Ability to Let Go. Finally, you have to be able to release your baby to a cold, cruel world. Otherwise, it will languish in your desk drawer or computer drive. The answer may be no, but you will never get to a yes until you send the manuscript into the world.
Cara's first book Canteen Dreams releases from Heartsong Presents in October 2007. Her other babies are in various stages of completion and release to the world at large. She is the President of the Indiana chapter of ACFW, the ACFW national publicity officer, an attorney, mother, wife, ministry leader, and very tired! You cna check out her blog: The Law, Life & Books.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Volunteer Positions at Writer...Interrupted
Have you been blessed by this ministry? Are you a member of the webring and want to get involved but can't commit to writing a regular column? Why not consider the following volunteer positions. I'm realizing as Writer...Interrupted is growing, I can no longer do it all by myself and so many of you have been a huge help already. Prayerfully consider ways in which you can help Writer...Interrupted grow and reach other writers like ourselves.
Mid-Week Motivation Coordinator: Will organize participates and make sure the Mid-week Motivations are posted every Wednesday.
Carnival of Christian Writer's Coordinators: Michelle Pendergrass has been doing an EXCELLENT job of organizing and recruiting for the carnival, but I anticipate that soon we will be going weekly and would like to lighten her load. Job description includes organizing submissions, making sure the submissions are appropriate for the carnival, and posting on the given day.
New Member Coordinator: This person would email new members of the webring, and then post their bios, links and photos.
Calendar Coordinator: This person will check the schedule, and make sure there are posts in drafts for each day. If a draft is missing, the coordinator will email the person scheduled a reminder to post.
Mid-Week Motivation Coordinator: Will organize participates and make sure the Mid-week Motivations are posted every Wednesday.
Carnival of Christian Writer's Coordinators: Michelle Pendergrass has been doing an EXCELLENT job of organizing and recruiting for the carnival, but I anticipate that soon we will be going weekly and would like to lighten her load. Job description includes organizing submissions, making sure the submissions are appropriate for the carnival, and posting on the given day.
New Member Coordinator: This person would email new members of the webring, and then post their bios, links and photos.
Calendar Coordinator: This person will check the schedule, and make sure there are posts in drafts for each day. If a draft is missing, the coordinator will email the person scheduled a reminder to post.
Introducing Kevin Lucia
My name is Kevin Lucia, I hail from Castle Creek, NY. I'm a 32-year old husband, father of one, soon to be father of two! I teach middle school English at St. John the Evangelist School in Binghamton, NY. I'm a graduate student at Binghamton University, seeking an MAT in teaching and MA in English, and I write book reviews for The Baptist Voice, The Country Courier,www.infuzemag.com and www.titletrakk.com. My book reviews are posted at: www.kevinlucia.net/bookreviews. I'm a member of the ACFW, and I do - likeevery other holder of an English BA - have a work in progress. The site chronicling the progress of that work is at: www.kevinlucia.net.
One thing I would like to do - as time permits - is start networking with other writers, ESPECIALLY those who understand the juggling that comes with trying to raise a family, work a job that pays the bills, be involved with your children, keep your marriage healthy - and STILL try to write something worth reading (I'm typing this email, as my daughter is tugging on my leg to read her a book!). I think we encounter obstacles that are unique to our place in life, especially when I think of my care-free college days, or pre-child days, when I could blow off a whole day reading and writing!
Creation or Competition?
(c) Staci Stallings, 2005
This is a concept I've known intuitively for a long, long time. I grew up in a very competitive family that lived in a very competitive town that resided in a very competitive state, which was a part of a very competitive country, which was a small part of a very competitive world. In one way I was not a competitive child because I was not good at sports-any sports in any way. However, I see now how competitive I was in other areas like academics and band. Mostly I didn't compete with others; mostly I competed with myself, and often I lost.
One such competition I remember in the depths of who I am. I was in the fifth grade, and up until that year I had literally made A's in everything. Every subject. Every six weeks since I'd been in the first grade. And then I got that report card with a-gasp-B! I was crushed, devastated, destroyed.
We found out that the B represented the underlying score of 89. 89. One point from an A, and in all likelihood only 10ths of a point away, and yet those 10ths represented a chasm between who I thought I had to be in order to be worth something and who I felt like I now was.
It sounds so silly. How many people get devastated over a B? In fact, I'm sure if you didn't get straight A's all through school, you are probably saying, "Ah, poor baby. You got a B. It's tragic." But understand, to me, it was tragic. It was as if who I thought I was had died. Tears couldn't bring her back. Sorrow and guilt over what I could have or should have done to gain those coveted 10ths of a point couldn't bring the opportunity back. Nothing could.
As this period of my life progressed, my family over and over explained that it was all right. They still loved me. I came to accept that I wasn't perfect and that my worth wasn't my grades, but it was immensely difficult, and in truth it took until I was in college to really believe them.
So I know what havoc living with a competition-mind set can wreak in a life.
Competition has several underpinnings that are present when it is. The first is a belief in separateness. I am separate from those I am competing with, and thus, one of us can be better, smarter, more worthy of praise than the other. Another underpinning belief is that the good things in this life are inherently limited; therefore, if you want some of the good stuff, you must necessarily beat out someone else to get it.
These two lead to the dominant underpinning which is fear. For if I am separate, I am alone, and if I must necessarily fight for the limited resources, my ability must be greater than that of everyone else who is competing, or I will suffer. These equal one thing: Fear.
If I am in competition with you, and you get something I wanted, it follows that I will separate myself further from you, fall into greater fear, and believe more deeply that I must get better to get more. We see the attempt to subvert the naturalness of this progression played out at the end of a game (whatever the game). It's called "sportsmanship." Win or lose, you should shake the opposing squads hands as a sign of respect. But the truth is win or lose, you don't want to shake their hand. Why? Because if you've won, this show of respect necessarily brings the loser back up if not up to your level than closer. If you've lost, shaking the winner's hand affirms they are better than you and something you valued has been lost.
The world's dominant teaching is competition. We are taught from early on:
You must "learn to play the game."
You must maximize your ability to win (or get run over if you don't).
You have to do your best.
Study hard.
Work hard.
Play fair.
Make success your goal.
Accomplish. Triumph. Win.
All of these are the aims of a competitive world.
God is not competitive.
Let me repeat that: God is not competitive. God does not have to compete because in the simplest terms, who would He compete against? He who made the universe by saying, "Let there be..." could beat everyone at everything without so much as trying. God's power does not come from being competitive. No. God's power comes from being creative.
God creates. That's what He does. If He wants a mountain, He creates a mountain. He doesn't go out and try to talk someone else out of their mountain, nor does He work to gain a piece of a mountain. He doesn't have to. He can simply create a mountain, and so in a sense can we.
I have a young friend who wanted a laptop computer. She pined for one, begged for one, was desperate to get one. At the time she was learning to play the piano, and was early enough in her piano experience that competition hadn't entered the scene yet. One evening I told her mother to tell her that instead of "competing" for the laptop, she should concentrate on creating with her music. The more you create, the more "things" will flow to you. As of this writing, she has not gotten her laptop, but I have no doubt if she keeps creating, it is on its way.
My daughter loves rocks. She has from a very early age. Yesterday we took our first trip to a rock shop, and it was love beyond all telling. The man at the shop showed us how he cuts stone and can cut crosses and other shapes out of the stone. My daughter was fascinated. As we left, we talked about her getting a stone cutting saw so she can make her own creations out of stone.
She has recently gotten into creating things out of wood, and I know the two fit together. Learning one will advance her capacity to learn the other. In her eyes, I see the God of creation. Maybe that's why I like to write. I love the feeling of creating meaning by the patterned arrangement of 26 letters and 10 numbers. The greatest works of the world like the Bible were created using just these 36 characters. Think about that for a moment. It's astonishing, is it not?
What makes them masterpieces is the sheer ability to create, and someone else can create something equally amazing with the same 36 characters. You don't have to compete to use them. They are yours, and they are limitless.
The more I concentrate on creating, the happier I become. There was a time in my writing career when I would read of the achievements of others and become annoyed. Why did they get the book contract and I didn't? I see now how entrenched in the worldly philosophy of competition I was. In this philosophy when someone else wins, I lose because if the contracts are limited, them getting a contract means there are fewer for me.
And the tragedy of this mentality goes way beyond this example.
I was talking with a friend of mine the other day about our girls' night out getting together night coming up. She said, "Okay, but this time I am paying because I need to pay you guys back." (She's new to our little group, so I understood where she was coming from.) I told her that among Holy Spirit friends paying is relative. We aren't keeping score-at all. I couldn't tell you who's ahead, who's not, who owes whom what, and it literally doesn't matter.
When I first started this little group, I intuitively "knew" it would be different than the way I had always done things. It started with another friend of mine. I began giving her gifts-books and other uplifting things. After about the fifth thing that I'd brought over for no reason other than I wanted to (it wasn't her birthday or even a special day on the calendar), she protested, "Staci!" To which, I said, "No. It's not about you having to pay me back. It's only about... I want to share with you what I have. I want to share the blessings in my life."
As I told our new Holy Spirit friend, I have so many blessings flowing through my life, it is natural to me to share what I have with others. She said something that sounds very good, "Yea, but I just want to pay my fair share." Ah. That's the way the world thinks. "I must pay. I must pull my own weight. I must give my fair share, or you will not want to be around me."
In worldly terms this makes sense. If I pay for your meal and my resources are limited, then you'd better pay me back or I now have less because of you. In other words, you owe me to bring me back to even. But that's not how it works in a creation-based paradigm. From a creation-based perspective, I have what I need because if the resource is not here, it can be created or obtained through my creation of something else in order to trade for the resource. Think of the resources now using a different term-blessings. The unlimited blessings in my life flow through me onto you when I pay for your meal. That doesn't mean I now have less because I gave you some. In fact, and you know this in relation to love, the more love I give away the more I have.
That's how it is with God. The more you give away, the more you have. In a creation-based reality, the resources are not limited-they are limitless. If you need more, you simply ask for more or better yet create more. More and more and more is available if you focus on God's resources and learn to create just as God does. As you do this, you will let go of fear-filled, limited, competition thinking and being, and more will be added to you.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God (create and creation), and all these things shall be added unto you." Learn to create. Let go of having to compete. It will change everything.
*~*~*
Looking for awesome inspiration? Head over to Staci's website where you can gleen insights galore! http://www.stacistallings.com You'll feel better for the experience!
This is a concept I've known intuitively for a long, long time. I grew up in a very competitive family that lived in a very competitive town that resided in a very competitive state, which was a part of a very competitive country, which was a small part of a very competitive world. In one way I was not a competitive child because I was not good at sports-any sports in any way. However, I see now how competitive I was in other areas like academics and band. Mostly I didn't compete with others; mostly I competed with myself, and often I lost.
One such competition I remember in the depths of who I am. I was in the fifth grade, and up until that year I had literally made A's in everything. Every subject. Every six weeks since I'd been in the first grade. And then I got that report card with a-gasp-B! I was crushed, devastated, destroyed.
We found out that the B represented the underlying score of 89. 89. One point from an A, and in all likelihood only 10ths of a point away, and yet those 10ths represented a chasm between who I thought I had to be in order to be worth something and who I felt like I now was.
It sounds so silly. How many people get devastated over a B? In fact, I'm sure if you didn't get straight A's all through school, you are probably saying, "Ah, poor baby. You got a B. It's tragic." But understand, to me, it was tragic. It was as if who I thought I was had died. Tears couldn't bring her back. Sorrow and guilt over what I could have or should have done to gain those coveted 10ths of a point couldn't bring the opportunity back. Nothing could.
As this period of my life progressed, my family over and over explained that it was all right. They still loved me. I came to accept that I wasn't perfect and that my worth wasn't my grades, but it was immensely difficult, and in truth it took until I was in college to really believe them.
So I know what havoc living with a competition-mind set can wreak in a life.
Competition has several underpinnings that are present when it is. The first is a belief in separateness. I am separate from those I am competing with, and thus, one of us can be better, smarter, more worthy of praise than the other. Another underpinning belief is that the good things in this life are inherently limited; therefore, if you want some of the good stuff, you must necessarily beat out someone else to get it.
These two lead to the dominant underpinning which is fear. For if I am separate, I am alone, and if I must necessarily fight for the limited resources, my ability must be greater than that of everyone else who is competing, or I will suffer. These equal one thing: Fear.
If I am in competition with you, and you get something I wanted, it follows that I will separate myself further from you, fall into greater fear, and believe more deeply that I must get better to get more. We see the attempt to subvert the naturalness of this progression played out at the end of a game (whatever the game). It's called "sportsmanship." Win or lose, you should shake the opposing squads hands as a sign of respect. But the truth is win or lose, you don't want to shake their hand. Why? Because if you've won, this show of respect necessarily brings the loser back up if not up to your level than closer. If you've lost, shaking the winner's hand affirms they are better than you and something you valued has been lost.
The world's dominant teaching is competition. We are taught from early on:
You must "learn to play the game."
You must maximize your ability to win (or get run over if you don't).
You have to do your best.
Study hard.
Work hard.
Play fair.
Make success your goal.
Accomplish. Triumph. Win.
All of these are the aims of a competitive world.
God is not competitive.
Let me repeat that: God is not competitive. God does not have to compete because in the simplest terms, who would He compete against? He who made the universe by saying, "Let there be..." could beat everyone at everything without so much as trying. God's power does not come from being competitive. No. God's power comes from being creative.
God creates. That's what He does. If He wants a mountain, He creates a mountain. He doesn't go out and try to talk someone else out of their mountain, nor does He work to gain a piece of a mountain. He doesn't have to. He can simply create a mountain, and so in a sense can we.
I have a young friend who wanted a laptop computer. She pined for one, begged for one, was desperate to get one. At the time she was learning to play the piano, and was early enough in her piano experience that competition hadn't entered the scene yet. One evening I told her mother to tell her that instead of "competing" for the laptop, she should concentrate on creating with her music. The more you create, the more "things" will flow to you. As of this writing, she has not gotten her laptop, but I have no doubt if she keeps creating, it is on its way.
My daughter loves rocks. She has from a very early age. Yesterday we took our first trip to a rock shop, and it was love beyond all telling. The man at the shop showed us how he cuts stone and can cut crosses and other shapes out of the stone. My daughter was fascinated. As we left, we talked about her getting a stone cutting saw so she can make her own creations out of stone.
She has recently gotten into creating things out of wood, and I know the two fit together. Learning one will advance her capacity to learn the other. In her eyes, I see the God of creation. Maybe that's why I like to write. I love the feeling of creating meaning by the patterned arrangement of 26 letters and 10 numbers. The greatest works of the world like the Bible were created using just these 36 characters. Think about that for a moment. It's astonishing, is it not?
What makes them masterpieces is the sheer ability to create, and someone else can create something equally amazing with the same 36 characters. You don't have to compete to use them. They are yours, and they are limitless.
The more I concentrate on creating, the happier I become. There was a time in my writing career when I would read of the achievements of others and become annoyed. Why did they get the book contract and I didn't? I see now how entrenched in the worldly philosophy of competition I was. In this philosophy when someone else wins, I lose because if the contracts are limited, them getting a contract means there are fewer for me.
And the tragedy of this mentality goes way beyond this example.
I was talking with a friend of mine the other day about our girls' night out getting together night coming up. She said, "Okay, but this time I am paying because I need to pay you guys back." (She's new to our little group, so I understood where she was coming from.) I told her that among Holy Spirit friends paying is relative. We aren't keeping score-at all. I couldn't tell you who's ahead, who's not, who owes whom what, and it literally doesn't matter.
When I first started this little group, I intuitively "knew" it would be different than the way I had always done things. It started with another friend of mine. I began giving her gifts-books and other uplifting things. After about the fifth thing that I'd brought over for no reason other than I wanted to (it wasn't her birthday or even a special day on the calendar), she protested, "Staci!" To which, I said, "No. It's not about you having to pay me back. It's only about... I want to share with you what I have. I want to share the blessings in my life."
As I told our new Holy Spirit friend, I have so many blessings flowing through my life, it is natural to me to share what I have with others. She said something that sounds very good, "Yea, but I just want to pay my fair share." Ah. That's the way the world thinks. "I must pay. I must pull my own weight. I must give my fair share, or you will not want to be around me."
In worldly terms this makes sense. If I pay for your meal and my resources are limited, then you'd better pay me back or I now have less because of you. In other words, you owe me to bring me back to even. But that's not how it works in a creation-based paradigm. From a creation-based perspective, I have what I need because if the resource is not here, it can be created or obtained through my creation of something else in order to trade for the resource. Think of the resources now using a different term-blessings. The unlimited blessings in my life flow through me onto you when I pay for your meal. That doesn't mean I now have less because I gave you some. In fact, and you know this in relation to love, the more love I give away the more I have.
That's how it is with God. The more you give away, the more you have. In a creation-based reality, the resources are not limited-they are limitless. If you need more, you simply ask for more or better yet create more. More and more and more is available if you focus on God's resources and learn to create just as God does. As you do this, you will let go of fear-filled, limited, competition thinking and being, and more will be added to you.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God (create and creation), and all these things shall be added unto you." Learn to create. Let go of having to compete. It will change everything.
*~*~*
Looking for awesome inspiration? Head over to Staci's website where you can gleen insights galore! http://www.stacistallings.com You'll feel better for the experience!
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Meet and Greet: 50 and Counting
Today is "Meet and Greet" day, so be sure to check out the new members of the webring and visit some of the old members. And as always, don't forget to leave a comment!
And you can also use the time to catch up on the great posts on this site! We've got an awesome group of bloggers who write their hearts out! Join me in encouraging them this day by leaving some comments!
Introducing Rachelle Arlin Credo
I'm Rachelle Arlin Credo from the Philippines. I work as an entrepreneur and a part-time writer. I have had my work published in Arabesques Review, The Front Porch, Static Movement, Women's Journal, Events Quarterly, Lily Literary Review, Poetic Hours, Health and Home and Zygote in My Coffee among others. My website can be found at http://www.rachelle.co.nr and I also keep a blog at http://zyphe.blogspot.comI wanna join your group to gain more exposure and to meet writers I may able to share my literary works with. I also hope to meet new friends I can discuss things with and exchange conversations with a good laugh :) I would love to share ways to keep in touch over the miles.
Introducing Michelle Gregory
I am an Arizona native, living in the city but wishing I lived in the country. I have been a Christian since I was 7. I attended a Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK with a major in Elementary Education but only taught for 3 years. I have been married to my true love for 20 years. We have lived in Tucson, Phoenix, Las Vegas and are now happily living in Mesa, AZ (a suburb of Phoenix). I homeschool my three children. I rediscovered my passion for writing last year when I participated in NanoWrimo. I reached 53,000 words and discovered that I could write, that I enjoyed it and that I hadn't written the story that I wanted to tell. So I started over and am in the middle of the revision process. I don't remember how I found Writer...Interrupted, but I felt an instant connection. It seems that as I try to juggle writing and life I am often interrupted by one thing or another. I enjoy all of the posts and hope to receive the encouragement we all need as writers and moms. I also hope to contribute encouraging words when I can.
My blog is www.michellegregory.blogspot.com
The picture is of me and my husband Joe, taken at the north rim of the Grand Canyon Sept. 2006
Friday, December 01, 2006
Introducing Marcus Goodyear
Howdy, from the Texas hill country and my blog, HillCountryWriter. That's where God sent my family two years ago. And let me tell you, we love it.My wife and I are the volunteer drama ministers for our church. That means she acts and I write. Though more and more she and the music minister are suckering me into the acting part, too.
I love to write. I can't stop really. Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and drama. Poetry and fiction are my great loves. I'm in the process of posting an entire novel on my blog, but don't tell my agent. I also post lots of poetry about Jesus and love and barbies and anglo-saxon monsters.
I'm an avid reader (currently reading Susanna Clarke's The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Martin Espada's The Republic of Poetry). I also read to my kids obsessively. We're currently keeping the Christmas Peef vigil, and I never get tired of Peef. And my wife and I read aloud to each other. We've read a slew of books from Narnia and The Lord of the Rings to the Bible. (We're in Romans).
Professionally, I'm a research and content editor for the H. E. Butt Foundation. That means I lead workshops at our retreat center Laity Lodge from time to time and get to work with some of the best writers in the country. (For example, Eugene Peterson wrote the majority of the message while in residence there. I've actually met him!) I also get to edit work by many of these writers for TheHighCalling.org and Christianity Today's FaithInTheWorkplace.com.
I joined Writer . . . Interrupted for business and personal reasons.
In business language, Gina seems to have a good instinct for marketing and mobilizing writers. She started this blog in 2006 and already has over 200 links!
In personal language, she knows how to build community. She knows how to share community. And she knows how to encourage people in the community to support each other.
Why wouldn't I want to be a part of that?
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