A Step in the Write Direction--September 29, 2014--ABCs of Christian Writing

A Step in the Write Direction

September 29, 2014

Update: We lost my 61-year-old nephew last Wednesday after a massive stroke. Pray for his wife and two children, brothers and sisters, and especially my 83-year-old widowed sister who’ll be traveling from Arizona to Michigan for the funeral Thursday….Two writer friends and I meet about once a month to chat and critique manuscripts. This past week it seemed each of us was dealing with a different problem. Rather than dwell on them, I suggested that we find a Scripture verse to fit each situation and hang on to that in the days to come. Because I had had trouble sleeping, we came up with “I will give my beloved sleep” (paraphrase: Psalm 127:2). For my friend whose grandson was struggling with asthma, we selected, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages…healing every disease and sickness” (Matthew 9:35). And for the third woman, whose son was facing financial problems, we chose, “My God shall supply your every need according to his riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19). Note that in the King James Version, “need” is singular. As the Lord reminded me one morning when I saw this, “You have only one need and that is to draw close to Me. Then all your other needs will be supplied.”

Thought for the Day: When the books of a certain Scottish doctor were examined after his death, it was found that a number of accounts were crossed through with a note: "Forgiven--too poor to pay." But the physician's wife later decided that these accounts must be paid in full and she proceeded to sue for money. When the case came to court the judge asked but one question. Is this your husband's handwriting? When she replied that it was he responded: "There is no court in the land that can obtain a debt once the word forgiven has been written."

Song for the Day:

Jesus paid it all;

All to Him I owe.

Sin had left a crimson stain;

He washed it white as snow.

            “Jesus Paid It All,” Elvina M. Hall

Laugh for the Day:

"They tell me your son in college is quite an author. Does he write for money?"

"Yes, in every letter."

Writer’s Tips (from unpublished Writer’s Devotional)

ABC’s of Christian Writing

If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability

which God giveth: that God in all things may be

glorified through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:11).

A – Accept your call to write. “I’d write if I had the time,” I’ve often heard would-be writers say. However, I’ve never heard a minister say, “I’d prepare my sermon if I had the time.” Your minister does not find time to prepare his sermon; he makes the time. He does so in response to his call to preach.

Treat your writing as a calling and make the time. You may have to cut something else out of your schedule, but as someone once asked, “What are you now doing that someone else can do, so you can do what God has called you to do?”

B – Believe that God will help you succeed. There are five steps to becoming a successful Christian writer:

1. Be a Christian first, a writer second. Sally Stuart, editor of the Christian Writers’ Market Guide, says you can’t write from an empty cup. Keep your relationship with Christ uppermost.

2. Improve your skills. Read writers’ books and magazines. Send for sample copies and guidelines and study them. Attend writers’ seminars. Meet with editors. Join a writers’ club. Take a writing course.

3. Write something every day, even if it’s just a letter to a friend.

4. Submit your manuscripts, and if they are returned, resubmit them immediately.

5. Don’t give up.

C – Christ. He is the theme of our writing. It’s true that we write because we are called. And we write for the monetary reimbursement which is necessary to cover our expenses. But our main reason for writing should be to spread the good news that Jesus saves!

When our granddaughter was young, she enjoyed watching a particular video at our house with “Jesus Loves Me” and other songs on it. One day she wanted to watch it, but we were watching a baseball game.

“Pease,” she begged.

“We’re watching TV now,” I told her.

With pleading eyes she said again, “Pease, Grandma, I want to see Jesus.”

That’s what the world is asking of us as Christian writers. We shouldn’t worry about being clever, we shouldn’t get caught up in comparing ourselves with other writers,  how many manuscripts we’ve sold and the checks we’ve received. Before we go to our computers, we should go to our knees. The world is begging us, “Please, we want to see Jesus.”

 Have a good week spreading the

gospel through the printed page.

Donna Clark Goodrich

dgood648@aol.com

www.thewritersfriend.net

http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com

·        A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers

·        The Freedom of Letting Go

·        Healing in God’s Time

·        The Little Book of Big Laughs

·        Preparing Your Heart for Christmas (31 Advent Devotions)

·        Michigan and Ohio Cookbooks

A Step in the Write Direction--September 22, 2014--Writing Through Your Trials

A Step in the Write Direction

September 22, 2014

Update: Praise Report: Some of you remember my prayer request several years ago for little Penny who needed a new heart. She received the heart, and is doing fine—just celebrated her seventh birthday. Shortly after Penny received the heart, her mom Gena had a little boy and when he was about four months old, an old heart condition resurfaced and Gena passed away. Fast forward three years, and on November 8 Penny’s dad will be married to a beautiful Christian woman. We’re all so very happy for the whole family!...They took my nephew off life supports last week, but he’s still hanging on—in a coma, but still hanging on….

Our music minister shared a few weeks ago about visiting a man who had cancer of the tongue and they had to remove part of it. He said, “I’ll never be able to sing again.” Our minister asked himself, “If he could only sing one more song, what would it be?” and he chose one that we sang this morning. Last Wednesday after church, the children’s minister told him he had a phone call. It was this patient. They had taken part of an arm muscle and made a new tongue and he talked to our music minister on the phone! Who says God doesn’t heal today?! But, as he shared about his one song, it made me wonder, “If I could write only one more story, one more article, one more poem or book, what would it be? What does this hurting world need?” Perhaps we should each ask ourselves this question—and when we come up with the answer, start working on that manuscript today!

Comment from last week’s blog:

Dear Donna, Bingo!  You nailed exactly what I needed to hear ~ about using my voice in writing the material.  I am struggling to write "Only By Grace," and was having a hard time saying it in a conversational way, not a scholarly way.  I will give it another try.  Thanks.  Love, Anne Grace

Thought for the Day: “Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:2).

Song for the Day:

‘Tis the blessed hour of prayer, when our hearts lowly end,

And we gather to Jesus, our Saviour and Friend.

If we come to Him in faith, His protection to share,

What a balm for the weary! Oh, how sweet to be there!

            —Fanny Crosby, “Blessed Hour of Prayer”

Laugh for the Day: A musician who joined an orchestra on a cruise ship was having a terrible time keeping time with the rest of the band. Finally, the band leader said, "Look, either you learn to keep time or I'll throw you overboard. It's up to you — sync or swim." (“The Gospel Greats Newsletter, 9/16/14).

Writer’s Tips: (from unpublished writer’s devotional book):

The Locust-Eaten Years

I will repay you for the years the locusts

have eaten (Joel 2:25).

A minister had experienced a very rough year, including a church split and a decrease in membership and finances. He belonged to a denomination in which pastors gave an annual report at the district assembly at the end of the year. He didn’t know what to say and finally he said, “This has been a challenging year.” He shared a little of what had happened, then said, sort of offhandedly, “Well, I suppose the Lord will restore to me the years that the locusts have eaten.”

Then something came to his mind that he shared with the group of ministers. He remembered when he was a young boy on a farm in Kansas, the locusts came and demolished their crop. His father was really discouraged; their whole livelihood was gone. As it came closer and closer to planting another crop the next year, the father didn’t know what to do—give up, sell the farm and move into town, or try again.

Finally he decided, “I’ll try one more year and see what happens.” Planting a new crop, he later discovered that all the locust carcasses had created a fertilizer and he had the best crop that year he had ever had.

What have you done with your locust-eaten years? All the things that have happened to you in the past? Have they eaten away inside and ruined your “writing crop”? Have they made you bitter? Or have you written them as personal experience articles or books to show others how the Lord brought you through, and how He can do the same for them?

When I shared this story at a writing workshop, a lady raised her hand and tearfully asked, “But what if the locust carcasses don’t make a fertilizer? What do you do then?”

The Lord brought to my mind another story about a violinist giving a concert and, partway through, one of the strings broke. He transposed to another key and continued.

None of us understand why we go through the things we do—and it sometimes seems that Christian writers endure more tragedies than any other group of people. Perhaps that’s because God knows that when the trials are over, He can trust us to use them to help other people. Sometimes we just have to change keys and go on with our lives.

How can you share the trial you are experiencing today with readers? Personal experience? Short story? How-to article? Book? Poem? Ask the Lord to lead you.

 Have a good week spreading the

gospel through the printed page.

Donna Clark Goodrich

dgood648@aol.com

www.thewritersfriend.net

http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com

 
"A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers"

"The Freedom of Letting Go"

"Healing in God's Time"

NEW: The Little Book of Big Laughs (a 105-page purse-pocket-sized joke book

A Step in the Write Direction--September 15, 2014--Writing in Your Own Voice

A Step in the Write Direction

September 15, 2014

Update: As usual, it’s been a mixed emotion week. On the good side,  I received my shipment of The Little Book of Big Laughs¸ 105 pages of clean jokes. This pocket-purse-sized book will make a great gift for your fun-loving friends, or even for your pastor for sermon illustrations ($5, plus s&h)….I also received word that my book Rhyme-Time Bible Stories for Little Ones will be released in January 2016. Sounds like a long way away. (Hope I’m still kicking by then J.)…On the not-so-good side, my 61-year-old nephew in Michigan had a massive stroke last week and has been on life supports. The family will meet today to decide whether to disconnect him. Pray for my sister, his wife and children, and the 7 brothers and sisters. Thanks!

Thought for the Day: “Writing a book is like washing an elephant. There’s no good place to begin or end, and it’s hard to keep track of what you’ve already covered” (Merit Variety Puzzle and Games, October  2014, p. 58).

Song for the Day:

His word shall not fail you—He promised;

Believe Him, and all will be well.

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!

            “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” Helen Howarth Lemmel

Laugh for the Day: A group of people was shipwrecked on a desert island.  After many months, a passing ship saw their plight and sent a smaller boat ashore.  One of the sailors threw a bundle of newspapers on the beach and shouted, "After you've read the news, the captain wants to know if you still want to be rescued."

Comment on last week’s blog:

Your words on getting caught up in the structure reminded me of a time I got away from  relaxed storytelling and writing in a more lofty way. I had been reading a lot of C. S. Lewis at the time and being the mimic I unintentionally am, I changed my way of writing without realizing it for a while. I am, at heart, a story teller and when I get away from the easy flow, I don't think it does my writing any favors. Because any other style isn't me. It isn't authentic.

                                                — Pat Rowland

This goes along with this week’s writer’s devotion:

Writer’s Tips: (from unpublished writer’s devotion book)

Use Your Own Armor

Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of  armor on him and a bronze

helmet on his head. David fastened  on his sword over the tunic and tried walking

around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off  (1 Samuel 17:29-40).

A friend who had been healed of a disease he had suffered from for many years asked a ghostwriter to write his story. The finished product showed excellent writing skills but because the author did not know the subject personally, much of my friend’s personality didn’t shine through. Those who had heard him share his testimony would naturally look for the same passion in the pages of a book.

My friend then asked another writer to rework the book. The new author tried to keep as much of the original author’s material as she could. But neither she nor my friend was happy with the result. She then completely rewrote it, using the style of writing she was most comfortable with. “That’s exactly what you wanted, isn’t it?” my  friend’s wife asked him after they both had read the manuscript.” “It sure is!” he responded enthusiastically.

Many times I have read someone’s writing that I admired, and tried to copy their style. My finished product always seemed to come out stilted, however, and it didn’t sound like me—or the message God gave me to write. It took a while, but I finally learned to “write like me.”

I read an article one time that sounded like it was written by a good friend, but the byline was another name. Later that year I received a Christmas card from this person with a copy of the same article. She had used her pen name! She had a “voice” I recognized, even though the name was different.

God has given you a talent, a style of writing that fits you! No one else can write His message in quite the same way. Nor can you copy someone’s else style and make it sound like you.

Just as David felt uncomfortable in King Saul’s armor and took it off, then went out to slay the giant with a slingshot, today use your own writing voice to give the world the message they so desperately need to hear.

 Have a good week spreading the

gospel through the printed page.

Donna Clark Goodrich

dgood648@aol.com

www.thewritersfriend.net

http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com

HALF-PRICE BOOK SALE STILL ON!

A Step in the Write Direction, September 8, 2014--The Message of the Cross

A Step in the Write Direction

September 9, 2014

Update: Two pieces of good news this week. First, I received my copy of The Little Book of Big Laughs, a 105-page joke book, with several jokes on each page. This will make a great gift for anyone you know with a sense of humor. Just $5 ($1 s&h for first book, 50 cents for each additional one. Think birthday or Christmas gifts!). … Also we found out that our daughter and family will be moving back to Arizona from Oklahoma. Happy for us, but sad for the people of their church our son-in-law is pastoring as they really love him. Don’t know yet where they’ll be serving here…. I sent a book proposal to a publisher for the caregiver book. Once I get a publisher, then I’ll send out a call for submissions for prayers, devotions, and practical hints—so if you’re now—or have been—a caregiver, be thinking about something you can send.

Thought for the Day: First you have the writer who can write but can’t spell, then you have the editor who can spell but can’t write. Finally you have the publisher who can neither spell nor write, and he makes all the money (Family Variety Puzzles & Games, October 2014, p. 94).

Song for the Day:

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ, my God.

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

                        “When I Survey,” Isaac Watts

Laugh for the Day: Some think it would help juvenile delinquents by getting them interested in bowling.  But all that would do is get them off the streets and into the alleys.

Writer’s Tips: (from unpublished Writers’ Devotional Book)

The Message of the Cross

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the

gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the

cross of Christ be emptied of its power (1 Corinthians 1:17).

My nephew was holding a songwriting seminar in a Michigan church. On an earlier visit to this church he had noticed a beautiful cross carved into the ceiling where two peaks came together. This time when he came, he noticed they had installed a new air conditioner. The only way you could see the cross now was to step over to the side. It could no longer be seen by the congregation while they worshiped.

During the workshop, while talking about structure, someone asked my nephew how he kept his focus while writing songs. He told them to look up at the ceiling and tell him what they saw. Most of them saw the air conditioner. Then he told them to walk to the side of the church and tell him what they saw. Now they saw the cross.

He said, “If you don’t remember anything else I tell you today, remember this: Never let the structure get in the way of the cross.”

As Christian writers, we have many opportunities today to improve our skills: college and night-school classes, writers’ conferences, hundreds of books on various aspects of writing, writers’ magazines—all telling us how to craft our manuscripts. We’re shown how to write effective and reader-grabbing leads, how to develop plots, how to leave the reader with a “takeaway.” Articles in writers’ magazines point out the latest “hot markets.” Instructors at conferences tell us what editors will be looking for in the months to come.

This is good information! But sometimes we can become so caught up in the mechanics—or the structure—of our writing, we forget the message the reader needs to hear. Yes, our writing should be of the highest quality. And yes, we should use correct grammar and spelling. But let’s be just as concerned about the message of our article, story, or novel.

Remember, we don’t always have to offer readers solutions to their problems. But we can point them to the One who does have the answer. We can point them to the cross.

Are you working on a project today that can help point someone to Christ?

Have a good week spreading the

gospel through the printed page.

Donna Clark Goodrich

dgood648@aol.com

www.thewritersfriend.net

http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com

A Step in the Write Direction

September 9, 2014

Update: Two pieces of good news this week. First, I received my copy of The Little Book of Big Laughs, a 105-page joke book, with several jokes on each page. This will make a great gift for anyone you know with a sense of humor. Just $5 ($1 s&h for first book, 50 cents for each additional one. Think birthday or Christmas gifts!). … Also we found out that our daughter and family will be moving back to Arizona from Oklahoma. Happy for us, but sad for the people of their church our son-in-law is pastoring as they really love him. Don’t know yet where they’ll be serving here…. I sent a book proposal to a publisher for the caregiver book. Once I get a publisher, then I’ll send out a call for submissions for prayers, devotions, and practical hints—so if you’re now—or have been—a caregiver, be thinking about something you can send.

Thought for the Day: First you have the writer who can write but can’t spell, then you have the editor who can spell but can’t write. Finally you have the publisher who can neither spell nor write, and he makes all the money (Family Variety Puzzles & Games, October 2014, p. 94).

Song for the Day:

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ, my God.

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

                        “When I Survey,” Isaac Watts

Laugh for the Day: Some think it would help juvenile delinquents by getting them interested in bowling.  But all that would do is get them off the streets and into the alleys.

Writer’s Tips: (from unpublished Writers’ Devotional Book)

The Message of the Cross

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the

gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the

cross of Christ be emptied of its power (1 Corinthians 1:17).

My nephew was holding a songwriting seminar in a Michigan church. On an earlier visit to this church he had noticed a beautiful cross carved into the ceiling where two peaks came together. This time when he came, he noticed they had installed a new air conditioner. The only way you could see the cross now was to step over to the side. It could no longer be seen by the congregation while they worshiped.

During the workshop, while talking about structure, someone asked my nephew how he kept his focus while writing songs. He told them to look up at the ceiling and tell him what they saw. Most of them saw the air conditioner. Then he told them to walk to the side of the church and tell him what they saw. Now they saw the cross.

He said, “If you don’t remember anything else I tell you today, remember this: Never let the structure get in the way of the cross.”

As Christian writers, we have many opportunities today to improve our skills: college and night-school classes, writers’ conferences, hundreds of books on various aspects of writing, writers’ magazines—all telling us how to craft our manuscripts. We’re shown how to write effective and reader-grabbing leads, how to develop plots, how to leave the reader with a “takeaway.” Articles in writers’ magazines point out the latest “hot markets.” Instructors at conferences tell us what editors will be looking for in the months to come.

This is good information! But sometimes we can become so caught up in the mechanics—or the structure—of our writing, we forget the message the reader needs to hear. Yes, our writing should be of the highest quality. And yes, we should use correct grammar and spelling. But let’s be just as concerned about the message of our article, story, or novel.

Remember, we don’t always have to offer readers solutions to their problems. But we can point them to the One who does have the answer. We can point them to the cross.

Are you working on a project today that can help point someone to Christ?

Have a good week spreading the

gospel through the printed page.

Donna Clark Goodrich

dgood648@aol.com

www.thewritersfriend.net

http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com

A Step in the Write Direction

September 9, 2014

Update: Two pieces of good news this week. First, I received my copy of The Little Book of Big Laughs, a 105-page joke book, with several jokes on each page. This will make a great gift for anyone you know with a sense of humor. Just $5 ($1 s&h for first book, 50 cents for each additional one. Think birthday or Christmas gifts!). … Also we found out that our daughter and family will be moving back to Arizona from Oklahoma. Happy for us, but sad for the people of their church our son-in-law is pastoring as they really love him. Don’t know yet where they’ll be serving here…. I sent a book proposal to a publisher for the caregiver book. Once I get a publisher, then I’ll send out a call for submissions for prayers, devotions, and practical hints—so if you’re now—or have been—a caregiver, be thinking about something you can send.

Thought for the Day: First you have the writer who can write but can’t spell, then you have the editor who can spell but can’t write. Finally you have the publisher who can neither spell nor write, and he makes all the money (Family Variety Puzzles & Games, October 2014, p. 94).

Song for the Day:

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ, my God.

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

                        “When I Survey,” Isaac Watts

Laugh for the Day: Some think it would help juvenile delinquents by getting them interested in bowling.  But all that would do is get them off the streets and into the alleys.

Writer’s Tips: (from unpublished Writers’ Devotional Book)

The Message of the Cross

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the

gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the

cross of Christ be emptied of its power (1 Corinthians 1:17).

My nephew was holding a songwriting seminar in a Michigan church. On an earlier visit to this church he had noticed a beautiful cross carved into the ceiling where two peaks came together. This time when he came, he noticed they had installed a new air conditioner. The only way you could see the cross now was to step over to the side. It could no longer be seen by the congregation while they worshiped.

During the workshop, while talking about structure, someone asked my nephew how he kept his focus while writing songs. He told them to look up at the ceiling and tell him what they saw. Most of them saw the air conditioner. Then he told them to walk to the side of the church and tell him what they saw. Now they saw the cross.

He said, “If you don’t remember anything else I tell you today, remember this: Never let the structure get in the way of the cross.”

As Christian writers, we have many opportunities today to improve our skills: college and night-school classes, writers’ conferences, hundreds of books on various aspects of writing, writers’ magazines—all telling us how to craft our manuscripts. We’re shown how to write effective and reader-grabbing leads, how to develop plots, how to leave the reader with a “takeaway.” Articles in writers’ magazines point out the latest “hot markets.” Instructors at conferences tell us what editors will be looking for in the months to come.

This is good information! But sometimes we can become so caught up in the mechanics—or the structure—of our writing, we forget the message the reader needs to hear. Yes, our writing should be of the highest quality. And yes, we should use correct grammar and spelling. But let’s be just as concerned about the message of our article, story, or novel.

Remember, we don’t always have to offer readers solutions to their problems. But we can point them to the One who does have the answer. We can point them to the cross.

Are you working on a project today that can help point someone to Christ?

Have a good week spreading the

gospel through the printed page.

Donna Clark Goodrich

dgood648@aol.com

www.thewritersfriend.net

http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com

A Step in the Write Direction, September 1, 2014--Writing with no Rejections

A Step in the Write Direction

September 1, 2014

Update: My mother always said things come in threes. That happened last week as two family members made a trip to the E.R. (one admitted overnight for observation; both okay now), and our daughter had a bone marrow biopsy. Will know the results of that sometime this week. I think of the words of the old song, “I don’t know about tomorrow, but I know who holds my hand.”…This has been a catch-up week. A couple of proofreading jobs, then my end-of-the-month stuff. Every month I write down highlights of that month—family; friends; local, national, and world news, etc., then type them up at the end of the year and give copies to our kids for their notebooks. These highlights are also stored on my computer so we can look up things at a moment’s notice….I also add up my income and expenses for the month and the year-to-date so this is all done on December 31….Hope you’re all enjoying your holiday today, those of you who have the day off.

Thought for the Day:

Give me the love that leads the way, 

The faith that nothing can dismay, 

The hope no disappointments tire, 

The passion that will burn like fire, 

Let me not sink to be a clod: 

Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.

—Amy Carmichael

Song for the Day:

I have one deep supreme desire, That I may be like Jesus.

To this I fervently aspire, That I may be like Jesus.

I want my heart His throne to be,

So that a watching world may see

His likeness shining forth in me. I want to be like Jesus.

            —“I Want to Be Like Jesus,” Thomas O. Chisholm

Laugh for the Day: An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids are nothing to look at either.

Writer’s Tips: (from unpublished Writer’s Devotional book)

No SASEs Needed Here (and no rejections either)

And he saith unto me, Write (Revelation 19:9 kjv).

Often we write with a particular market in mind or, to be more honest, for the market that pays the most. But there are other ways to use the writing ability God has given us. For example:

Letters to the Editor. How often have you visited with other Christians and the conversation led to various world or local problems? You complain, but what do you do about it? Let your voice be heard! The best place to do this is on the Op-Ed page of your local newspaper. Back up your opinion with facts and include one or two appropriate scriptures. Make sure you stay within the required word length, however. If the editor does the cutting, he may omit an important point.

Personal letters. After we moved away from one town, I continued writing to an elderly lady for some time, updating her on family news and events. After writing a lengthy letter about a recent vacation, I thought, “This is my last letter to her. We’ll probably never see her again. She doesn’t care about these trips.” To my surprise she wrote back saying, “I never got to travel much. I do my traveling through your letters.” Then she added, “I pass your letters on to others in our mobile home park, and they often comment, ‘It feels like I’ve been there too.’” Somehow e-mails aren’t the same as walking out to the mailbox and seeing an envelope with your handwritten name on it.

Greeting cards. In the eighteen months of my mother’s cancer treatment, one lady in our home church sent her a card every week with the church bulletin and a personal note enclosed. Stock up on birthday cards, anniversary cards, and holiday cards, and don’t forget “thinking of you” cards to send when a friend is going through a rough time or perhaps on the anniversary of a family member’s death. Blank notes are also nice to write your own personal message.

Family histories. Begin now writing down memories of your childhood—what your house looked like, what you did for fun, your favorite schoolteacher, how you and your husband met. Your children (and grandchildren) will thank you for it in years to come (and, as a plus, you’ll get a lot of ideas for stories and articles).

Jot down a few names of friends who are lonely or going through a trial in their lives. Send them a card or letter today.

 Have a good week spreading the

gospel through the printed page.

Donna Clark Goodrich

dgood648@aol.com

www.thewritersfriend.net

http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com

***

With 3 new books coming out this fall, I’m trying to reduce the inventory I have on hand (translation: trying to find a way to get through the door of our spare bedroom!), so am offering this huge, HALF-OFF sale. In most cases this is more of a discount than I get from the publisher,  so it really is a sale!

Points to consider:

·         You can get these for yourself, for gifts (Christmas really isn’t that far away!), or to resell at whatever price you want—to make a profit for yourself or for your writers’ group.

·         Shipping is just $3 for the first book, with each additional book just $1.

·         You can pay by PayPal or by check. (Note: Check can be postdated for up to 30 days—as long as you let me know!)

·         If you order 3 or  more books, I’ll include a free copy of 100-Plus Motivational Moments for Writers and Speakers, a devotional book written by over 100 past and present writers.

·         I’m now scheduling workshops in the Phoenix area for 2015. If you would like to host one in your home or at your church, let me know. I can teach a daylong one, or separate classes: 9:00-10:30; 11:00-12:30; and 2:00-3:30. Go to www.thewritersfriend.net to see description of classes.

                        Book                                                   Regular Price               Sale Price

A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete              $24.95                         $12.50

How-to Book for Christian Writers                            

A Step in the Write Direction—Student Edition,        $17.95                         $ 9.00

includes assignments throughout. (Nearby

Christian school bought 25 of these to use

this school year as textbook.)                                                             

(NOTE: The above two books will be combined

into one book with assignments included in

September 2014.)       

The Freedom of Letting Go                                         $15.00                         $ 7.50

(NOTE: This will also be coming out in a new

edition—date unknown—with discussion

questions at the end of each chapter so it

can be used in a small group study.)

Healing in God’s Time (story of Dave Clark,             $15.00                         $ 7.50

Songwriter, who has 25 #1 songs, including

“Crucified with Christ,” “Mercy Came Running,”

“Mercy Said No.” He was sick for 19 years with

what 29 doctors at Mayo Clinic could find no

cure for—until God stepped in.                                 

Motivational Moments—100-Plus Devotionals             $ 9.95                        $ 5.00

for Writers and Speakers (book out-of-print;

bought remaining inventory)

Michigan Cookbook                                                      $ 9.95                          $ 5.00

Ohio Cookbook                                                             $9.95                           $ 5.00

Celebrating Christmas with…Memories, Poetry         $24.95                         $12.50

and Good Food

Grandfather, Father and Me…Memories, Poetry       $23.95                          $12.00

and Good Food

Grandmother, Mother and Me…Memories, Poetry    $23.95                          $12.00

and Good Food

Preparing Your Heart For Christmas—31                 $10.00                           $ 5.00

devotions for the Advent season