A Step in the Write Direction--November 11, 2013--Leads

A Step in the Write Direction

November 11, 2013

 

Update: It’s almost Thanksgiving, and one of the things we should be most thankful for today is FREEDOM. As my songwriting nephew wrote, “Freedom isn’t free.” Do you know a veteran, or someone who is serving today? Send them a note and say “Thank you.”…Our daughter Patty had a seizure at work last week, and we’re thankful it didn’t happen while she was driving; also that her brother was nearby and caught her so she didn’t fall….I’m thankful also today for my friend, Peggy, who lost her husband two weeks ago. She wrote a suspense/romantic novel three years ago but never marketed it. A few days ago I sent it to Kathi Macias who is now fiction editor for Elk Lake Publishing, who almost immediately sent Peggy a contract! Our critique group is ecstatic for her! Do you have something in your closet that needs to be sent to someone? Get it out today, take it to a critique group, and look for a market. The next contract might be yours!

 

Thought for Today:

“ It just  hurts me to think of all the young people who do not know a hymn...[or] a single scripture verse, and who have never sat next to the strong shoulder of a believing man or woman. How will they ever make it? You see, what we do here on Sunday...is that we are making memories.” (Fred Craddock, The Cherry Log Sermons, 59)

 

Laugh for Today:

A Baptist pastor from Texas, during an extended drought, visited a pastor friend in Florida.  "How are you getting along without water in your state?" the friend asked.

 

"Well," the pastor replied, "it's so bad that the Baptists are sprinkling, the Methodists are using a damp cloth, and the Presbyterians are taking a rain check."

 

Song for Today:

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’ encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

 

Writer’s Tips (Samples of Good Leads):

 

We brought her home from the hospital. We had awaited the moment with excitement for almost nine months. We brought her into the newly remodeled room that had been a sewing room. It was freshly painted a pastel pink, and the flower print curtains just matched.

 

We gently laid her in her new bed and raised the sides to keep her from falling out. We looked at her pink and wrinkled face. She looked like a prune but she was ours and we loved her.

 

We changed her diapers. It was no fun, but we knew it would be necessary for a while. We fed her slowly, being careful not to spill food on her bib.

 

She was crying herself to sleep as we tiptoed out of the room. We looked at each other, put our arms around each other, and held each other close. It was a loving moment: Grandma was home from the hospital. (Paul Thornton, “Coming Full Circle,” Lutheran Standard, May 3, 1985, p. 15)

 

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Or how about these:

 

“Where’s Papa going with that ax?” said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast. (E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web)

 

“Nancy, you’re kidding, no statue can whisper!” (Carolyn Keene, Nancy Drew: The Whispering Statue)

 

The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. (Barbara Robinson, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever)

 

He had earned a high position in our local Hell’s Angels gang by being the toughest abuser of alcohol, drugs and the law. He was reckless, violent and pagan. He was my son, Barry. (“Dealing with a Wayward Child,” Guideposts magazine)

 

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SALE: Books by Donna Clark Goodrich

 

Will take IOUs or postdated checks for up to 30 days!!

Christmas Is Coming…These Will Make Great Gifts!!

(s&h: $3 for first book; $1 for each additional book)

 

 

            Title of Book_________________                Regular Price             Sale Price (plus s&h)

 

A Step in the Write Direction, the Complete

            How-to Book for Christian Writers                   $25.00                         $15.00

 

A Step—Student Edition w/assignments

            throughout book                                                $17.00                         $10.00

 

The Freedom of Letting Go                                           $15.00                         $10.00

 

Healing in God’s Time—story of Dave Clark,

songwriter of 25 #1 songs                                 $15.00                         $10.00

 

Preparing Your Heart for Christmas—

            31 Advent devotions                                         $10.00                         $  7.00

 

Ohio Cookbook                                                             $10.00                         $  5.00

Michigan Cookbook                                                      $10.00                         $  5.00

Writer’s Club Booklet  (self-published)                        $15.00                         $15.00 (Sorry!)

Motivational Moments                                                  $10.00                         $  5.00

Celebrate Christmas anthology—stories,

poems, and recipes                                             $24.95                         $15.00

 

Grandmother/Mother anthology—stories,

            poems, and recipes                                             $24.95                         $15.00

 

Divine Healing—365 devotions for dieters                                                       $10.00

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Coming in 2014: The Little Book of Big Laughs (joke book)—160 pages for only $5.95

     Rhyme-Time Bible Stories for Little Ones—12 Bible stories in poetry

 

Donna Goodrich, dgood648@aol.com; www.thewritersfriend.net; will send writers’ blog every Monday to your email, or go to: http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com

 

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 Have a good week spreading the

gospel through the printed page.

 

Donna Clark Goodrich

dgood648@aol.com

www.thewritersfriend.net

http://donna-goodrich.blogsp
"A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers"