Sunday, June 23, 2013

A Step in the Write Direction--June 24, 2013

A Step in the Write Direction
June 24, 2013
Update: Not much to write about this last week—just finishing up the father/grandfather anthology! All it needs is one final reading, and sending in the pictures for the cover that contributors have sent me, and let the publisher make the final selection….What’s next? Publisher suggested a “dog anthology,” and another reader suggested a “marriage” one. I think that would be fun. Stories about dating, the wedding ceremony itself, and the marriage—humorous, touching, serious, etc. Will see what the publisher says….Still waiting to hear about the 2 gift books on friendship and motherhood. If they’re accepted, they’ll have to be doubled….I’m going to take some snippets of my caregiver book to my critique group this week….Prayers going up for my friend Judy Robertson who is saying good-bye to her husband of 53 years Jim in hospice anytime. She’s a member of our critique group….And will be saying hello to our daughter Wednesday who is returning from a 3-week vacation in Oklahoma…. Writer’s Tip is short this week, but I feel it’s important!
Thought for the Day:
“Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees takes off his shoes—
The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.”
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Laugh for the Day: The professor marked the test so strictly that he took off points for having
periods upside down.
To Make You Think
1) How long did the Hundred Years’ War last?
2) Which country makes Panama hats?
3) From which animal do we get cat gut?
4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
5) What is a camel’s hairbrush made of? (Answers next week, along with more questions)
Question from reader: Is it okay to ask God for success in your writing?
Answer:
I think to answer that, you have to define "success". If you’re talking about monetary success, why not? If He's given you the talent and you want to make a living using that talent, then why not ask Him for success? I hear so many Christian writers especially say, “I don’t care if I get paid. I just want to spread the gospel.” True, that should be our main motive, but the Bible says "a workman is worthy of his hire." On the other hand, sometimes success is defined as how your writing changes people's lives. When I had an article in Decision magazine on how I finally let of my mother 11 years after she died, one man—who had lost his wife 9 years before and who had been bitter at God—wrote thanking me for the article and closing his letter with, "And now I can go on with my life." To me that was worth more than the check I received. Also, a reader of my “Freedom of Letting Go” book wrote, “I hate your book and I love your book,” then she shared how it helped her let go of some things that were hindering her walk with the Lord.
I think the biggest thing is to pray before you write, pray while you're writing, pray about the market(s) you send your manuscript to, then, if it sells, pray for your readers.
Have a good week spreading the
gospel through the printed page.
Donna Clark Goodrich
"A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers"

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