Meet and Greet You Know the Drill

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!

Here are some random picks:

http://lonestarlattenlibre.blogspot.com/

http://thursdaypanda.blogspot.com/

http://mipasmonologue.blogspot.com/

http://www.crossandquill.com/journey/

http://victoriagaines.com/

http://www.tinaannforkner.blogspot.com/

http://www.mom2momconnection.com/

That should keep you busy on a Saturday! Join me in encouraging them this day by leaving some comments!

Contest Alert

I don't know how I missed posting about this contest. But Asian Chick Lit Writer, Camy Tang, and Writer...Interrupted member is giving away some great stuff.

I am giving away a huge basket of books AND an 8 GB iPod Nano!

This contest is exclusively for my newsletter YahooGroup subscribers. If you're not a subscriber, join today!

1st place winner will receive a copy of my book when it comes out (September 2007), a basket of books by other Christian authors, and one of the brand new 8 GB iPod Nanos. (The winner can also elect to receive a 4 GB colored Nano instead of the 8 GB Nano, which is only available in black.)

2nd place winner will receive a copy of my book when it comes out, books by other Christian authors, and one of the new, extra-small 1 GB iPod Shuffles

3rd place winner will receive a copy of my book when it comes out and one of the new, extra-small 1GB iPod Shuffles

20 Honorable Mentions will receive a copy of my book when it comes out.

You read that right! 23 winners in all!

Camy's definitely legit. I've won a couple of her books before so check out the official rules for more detail.

And if you sign up for her newsletter tell her portraitwriter@gmail.com sent you, and I get 3 extra entries. Have I ever mentioned I love a good contest?

And if you're a member of our webring and have a conest to share with readers, just email me and we'll fit it in. Of course, it should be writing or book related!

Listen

God makes me uncomfortable.

He does it in a variety of ways. Sometimes it's my son saying, "Mommy, are you on the computer, again?" Could be that my husband says, "Did you get any writing done?" and when I start to list off what I did instead of writing, I realize where those words are really coming from.

And y'wanna know the ironic thing? God made me uncomfortable when I didn't believe in him and I thought that was bad. Now I believe not only in Him, but I believe Him. I have never been more uncomfortable. Honestly.

In the years that I've been believing God, I've been pushed and stretched and shoved and ripped apart. Everything I knew ceased to exist and a new world was created. And just when I think I'm settling in for the evening, there's a knock at my door.

"Wake up. Follow me."

"For what?"

"Would you just hurry? When will you just come?"

"Alright. I'm coming."

It's dark, kinda cold and really spooky. But I go. And then I look around and it seems He's gone. Went to take care of something else, maybe. I'm left out by the light of the new moon--get it? There is no light of the new moon. Yes, laugh here. All alone to fend for myself. Again.

While I'm busy having a pity party for myself, things are going on around me that I really should be taking notes on. It'd make perfect fodder for the next story, but I'm too busy telling myself I don't need help. I don't need Him to hold my hand. I can make it out of the dark myself. That if he really loved me, I wouldn't be going through this because He'd make it all better.

"Oh really?"

"Yep."

"Who told you that?"

"Somebody."

"I'm not sure you heard the truth. Maybe you should work on your listening skills."

In the dark. Scared out of my wits. All sounds are amplified in the dark. I don't know where I am or where I'm supposed to go. I can't see a thing. All I know is that He told me to be in this place and I am.

He's a cunning one, that God is--putting me in the dark to heighten my sense of hearing.









~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

Guest Blogger Mary DeMuth on Writing Resolutions

Will this be the year of your dreams come true? Or just another ho-hum year
where you plug away (or not) and end up in the same place you were when you
started?

How do writers break in? Or better yet, break through? If you'd like to head
toward that slippery nirvana called publication, read on.

10 Resolutions that will help you go further than you've gone before (cue
Star Trek music here):

1. I will sell all my extra clutter around my house in order to attend a
writer's conference. I will do this because I am tired of dusting my
clutter, and I know that this business is very much about who you know. I
can't meet people I've never met if I don't meet them! So, I will sell my
wooden owl collection, my thirty-five yankee candles never burned, and my
exercise machine, just so I can meet industry professionals.

2. I will join an online or in-person critique group and smile nicely when
criticism is sent my way. I will learn to say, "Thank you for that very mean
critique," even without grinding my teeth, because I understand that I will
NEVER grow as a writer if I don't learn to accept both the good and the bad
from other writers.

3. I will seek seven new publications this year in order to publish at least
seven new articles. I understand that once I'm at a conference (goodbye owl
statues), I will be asked the dreaded question, "So what have you
published?" In order to have something to say, I will be sure to not despise
small beginnings and work hard at getting published in smaller magazines.
With this, I will perfect my query writing prowess.

4. I will place my hiney on my writerly chair and write for a set period of
time per day. I will set weekly word count goals and not get up until I meet
them. I will set artificial deadlines for myself and not only meet them, but
meet them early.

5. I will contact folks who love to pray and ask them to pray for me weekly.
I understand that anything of eternal significance in my writing career
comes through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit.

6. I will practice receiving rejection with joy. I understand that rejection
comes throughout any writer's career, not merely at the beginning of it.

7. I will remember and preach the sovereignty of God to myself.

8. I will write a thank you note to every single person I've met in the
industry, not to be a brown-noser, but because I genuinely love people.

9. I will take risks. If I'm scared out of my gourd about querying Chip
MacGregor of MacGregor Literary, I'll do it anyway. If an editor asks for a
piece, I will send it to him/her within the week.

10. I will finish and polish a full-length novel (if I'm a novelist) or
write the perfect proposal (if I write nonfiction).
So there you go! Ten resolutions to change the direction and success of your
writing career this year.

For more from this author visit
www.relevantblog.blogspot.com
www.pioneerparenting.blogspot.com

Spam, A Lot

No, not Spamalot, the musical rendition of Monty Python's Holy Grail movie (which I'll be seeing in July thanks to hubby's gift of season tickets), but a lot of Spam applications for my Webring. I'm talking over 260 spam applications that need to be deleted one by one, which means I have to open each one, delete it and then go and find the next one. Very time consuming, so I've decided to let it grow.

Hey, it's gotta look good to see 260 plus people waiting in the queue line to be a member of Writer...Interrupted. The only down side is that I have to weed through the spams to get to the REAL applications. So if you've applied and haven't heard from me, please send me an email with your blog title, and I'll try and fish you out of lake spamalot!

Mid-Week Motivation

Starting Your Day Out Right!

Scripture, Short Devotion

"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." ~ 1 Peter 2:2-3

As believers, our beginnings are often very much like our human beginnings. We are young, curious, immature and eager to learn. As we grow into adults, we not only get bigger, we typically become more and more intelligent about the world around us. When we grow in Christ, the same occurs but the pace, well, that is entirely up to us. Every believer begins in much the same way…simple, child-life faith. We digest spiritual milk because the “meat” is just more than we can understand at first.

This first baby-stepping stage is so important and if this is where you are as a new believer, halleluiah! By all means, drink up that spiritual milk! However, for those “not-so-new” believers, what does your spiritual diet look like? Are you still on milk or have you moved on to solids? Are you barely crawling or have you begun to run?

Is Your House in Order?
Cleaning, parenting, marriage, organization tips, etc.

Don’t let the New Year hype trick you into believing that you’ll have your house back in order from the holidays by February. If you’re like me, you may be one who bursts out of the gate on January first, only to find yourself losing steam before spring cleaning even arrives.

I thought we’d stick with the “baby-step” theme and consider starting small before building our way up. Order, like Spiritual maturity, doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process that often starts with something simple. For the FlyLady, it starts with shining your sink. That’s it, just shine your sink…and well, keep it that way. If you can master this one, simple task in the next week, consider your efforts a success!

Afternoon Pick Me Up
Writing inspiration

Want to continue baby-stepping with me this afternoon as we focus on our writing? Of course you do. Now, I know you have an idea floating around in your head for a book, a poem, a screenplay or an article. This is an idea that you have yet to write down. Think about it for a moment. Now, I want you to write a one sentence synopsis of it. Don’t include character names, just a broad summary…in one sentence.

If you take the time to do this, you will baby-step your way into your next writing project – Congratulations!

Source: The Snowflake Method

What's For Dinner?
Quick dinners, crock pots, etc.

I will be completely honest and tell you that I would rather fold laundry than prepare dinner. It’s not my gift and certainly not my passion. Of course, my family needs to eat and “meal preparation” is one of the duties listed in the description of my “day job”.

Fortunately for my family, I discovered freezer cooking last January. We’ve eaten dinner from the freezer most nights since. Now, when I first started freezer cooking…yes, you guessed it…baby-steps were so important! I began with two weeks worth of entrees and stuck to recipes that I knew I could follow (seriously, not a cook here). I used very basic tools and simple ingredients. When I finished that first freezer cooking session, I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to do it again. I was tired and felt completely inadequate in the kitchen. Of course, going several weeks without any major cooking, fewer dishes to wash and an answer to “what’s for dinner”, was enough to convince me to get better at it.

Every session I add to my kitchen tools to make things easier. I also try new things and obviously learn new things. Last January I froze 17 dinners and last October I froze 83. Had I not started with smaller steps, I would have quit before I saw any benefit. I actually enjoy cooking more today than I did a year ago. If you would like to give freezer cooking a try, check out 30DayGourmet.

A Restful Night's Sleep
Scripture for a restful sleep

“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” ~ Ps 116:7

The LORD has been good to us indeed. Before you fall to sleep tonight, let this verse permeate your soul. He has been good to you hasn’t He? As you’re drifting off, focus on thanking God. Maybe you had a particularly bad day or perhaps your heart is grieved in some way, those are the times we need to thank Him most. Curl up in the arms of your Heavenly Father and tell Him how great He is. You see, some “baby-steps” we will never outgrow.

---

J. Blair Lane, founder of the child-loss support site, A Treasure in Heaven, is passionate about faith, family and writing. A resident of Texas, she travels with her husband of eleven years, Erik, and homeschools their four living children. You can visit her blog at Scribblings by Blair.

Getting Organized

by Dena Dyer
www.denadyer.com

If you have a resolution to "get organized" with your writing, here are a few tips that have worked for me:

1. First, know your organizing personality. For example, don’t try to use notebooks if you’re not a notebook person. If you love doing everything paperless, go paperless. Don’t try and fit yourself into someone else’s mode.

2. Keeping number one in mind, set up a system which you’ll want to work with. If you love bright colors, use them in your file folders. Why spend so much time on something if you’re going to dread it? Play your favorite CD’s when you’re going through receipts—or watch a funny movie while you’re organizing your calendar and notebook.

3. “Backwards plan.” My hubby learned this tip in a Church Administration class at seminary, and he passed it on to me. It’s simple but VERY effective. You take a deadline (or set one for yourself) and put that on your calendar. Then you take all the tasks you’ll need to complete in order to meet the deadline—interviews, outlining, writing a rough draft, revising—and decide how much time you’ll likely need to complete them. Then you plan backwards, and set yourself mini-deadlines to meet. This tip has saved my sanity—and my family life—on several occasions. I used to wait until the last minute to write, but things came up, and I ended up missing several deadlines and having to get extensions. It wasn’t professional—and it stressed me out. I now swear by backwards planning!

4. Set aside a few minutes of each writing session to delete old material, backup files, tame paper piles, and throw out trash. You’ll be glad you did!

If you'd like more info on becoming organized this year, check out my “Organized Writer” online class at www.WritersHelper.org.

Happy 2007!!!

Flash Fiction Guest Blogger

The First Second
(c)by Mick Silva

Busy today. A bit crazed, in fact. I'd like to say I'm good on days like these, but I'm not. In truth, they make me retreat into fantasy. Anything to escape...

"Do you have the time," the clock asks, no doubt amused by the irony in his statement, I'm sure. Cheeky clocks are forever messing with me for no apparent reason.

"No, not really. But thank you for pointing that out." I won't be cowed by this. He knows I won't. He's so smart, after all.

"Then why are you still here?"

I wait, consider his reason for asking this of me, watching the little black line pass the 6, the 7, the 8, jerking the seconds away.

"Because I have work to do."

"Do you?"

"What do you mean 'do I?'" getting agitated now. "You know I do."

And then, he's silent. The merciful quiet startles me for a moment, and I look up. The tick-tick-taunting of the second hand has stopped.

"This is it. You'll never have this moment again. How you'll spend it is up to you. No one has to do anything they don't have time for. Each moment is a gift."

Wow. Well, I guess I know who's been reading Ecclesiastes while I'm gone. But he's right. Whether or not he sounds like a PBS motivational speaker. I know he's right.

I could swear his placid, circular face is glaring. "Stop trying to be so smart all the time. Stop convincing yourself of what you have to do. Just stop. All of it."

I stare at him, this ordinary desktop clock that's able to convict me with aphorisms and stop time. The moment endless. What will I do when time stops forever, as it certainly will eventually? What will be my excuse then?

"Okay," I say. "I don't have to work." I look down at my fingers. Empty, calloused hands. "But then what do I do?"

The ticking resumes.

"Just enjoy."

I blink, adjusting to this new reality. Time and time to enjoy it. How novel. I suppose it could be an answer. Of sorts.

I stand and turn from the desk, the clock, the keyboard, the screen, the scales falling off.

Maybe it's a new world. It could be.



Mick Silva is the youngest acquisitions editor at WaterBrook Press, specializing in narrative nonfiction and select fiction. He wears square-frame glasses to look older and likes to be seen holding meetings at Starbucks at least a couple times a week. You can visit him at http://www.yourwritersgroup.com/

Who Has He Helped Through You Today?

(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!

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.

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)

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 FUN of wribbling. (Read the book to find out what wribbling is, or use your imagination)

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...

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!

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

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...

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.

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!

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

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:

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)

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!