A Step in the Write
Direction
April 22,
2013
Update:
Don’t have much to update—just
did a couple of proofing jobs this week, one a book for women and one a great
book on the Holy Spirit by Lloyd Ogilvie. Also had a birthday party for our
daughter visiting from Oklahoma
Tomorrow morning we have to be at
the hospital at 7 a.m. for my husband to get his new defibrillator implanted.
Our specific prayer request is that they can use the same wires. If not (and
they couldn’t the last time), this will require another hospital stay and
another surgeon/surgery. We appreciate your prayers so much.
Next Friday a publisher is taking
a series of six of my devotional books to committee. Just praying for God’s will
if that is the right publisher!
Thought for the
Day:
“Don’t aspire to
make a living. Aspire to make a difference” (Denzel Washington in GQ).
Laugh for the
Day: (a little late for tax day, but
funny)Father O'Malley answers the phone... "Hello, is this Father O'Malley?" "It is." "This is the IRS. Can you help us?" "I can." "Do you know a Ted Houlihan?" "I do." "Is he a member of your congregation?" "He is." "Did he donate $10,000.00?" (pause) "He will."
Challenge for the
Day:
Following is a testimony from
reader Joana Melisia James: For a while I’ve been feeling like writing was
pointless. I lost my zeal and I felt like I wasn’t really helping anyone. A few
days ago, my best friend from high school—whom I haven’t seen in about a decade
as she now lives in the US
Is there something God has laid on your
heart to write that would help someone going through a rough time
today?
Writer’s
Hints:
Since one day last week was
Newspaper Columnist Day, I thought you might enjoy some hints on writing for
newspapers:
Years ago, I wrote a
devotional column called “Bits and Pieces” for a weekly Michigan Arizona
How about your hobby or
skill—household or car repair hints, financial tips, couponing, or gardening.
Your occupation? A pediatric nurse wrote a question-and-answer column concerning
children’s health problems. History? A column on what happened 50 years ago on
this date will catch the eye of old-timers, as well as area newcomers. Profiles
on interesting people in your area? I wrote another column entitled “The
Parsonage Queen,” in which I interviewed local pastors’ wives.
Do you like to read? How
about a book review column? Or humor? Do you always see the weird side of
things?
If you're interested in
writing a column, write or visit the appropriate editor with your bio sheet,
along with several sample columns. This not only shows your writing ability, but
if he or she accepts the idea, you have extra columns on hand in case of
emergency or vacation.
If the editor expresses
interest but says the paper can’t pay, offer to write the column for free for a
period of time. Then ask friends to write or call the newspaper, saying how much
they enjoy the column. After an agreed-upon period, talk to the editor again and
say you’d like to continue writing at their regular rate.
Have a good week spreading
the
gospel through the printed
page!
Donna Clark Goodrich
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