A Step in the Write Direction
February 2, 2015
Update: Our 19-year-old
granddaughter decided recently that she was going to "get serious" about her
writing. She sent me the beginning of a story she had written and, to put it
mildly, I was amazed! Because she had lived out-of-state for the past three
years,
she had matured personally, spiritually, and
in her writing. To get some help, she's going to visit our critique group next
week and listen in….Seems it's either feast or famine here. My work slows down
over the holidays, but now I have two editing jobs, three proofreading jobs, and
five income taxes to prepare. "I
was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken" (Psalm
37:25 niv).
Thought(s) for the
Day:
British
critic and social theorist John Ruskin (1819-1900) once sat with a friend in the
dusk of an evening and watched a lamplighter, torch in hand, lighting the street
lights on a distant hill. Very soon the man’s form was no longer distinguishable
in the distance, but everywhere he went he left a light burning brightly.
“There,” said Ruskin, “that is what I mean by a real Christian. You can trace
his course by the light that he leaves burning”
(http://www.heartbeatinternational.org/ lamplighter)
“He was a lamplighter. He has taken his bright candle and has gone
into another room we cannot find, but anyone can tell where he has been by all
the little lights he left behind” (source unknown). (As writers, we're
lamplighters too!)
Song for the
Day:
Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
Philip B. Bliss, “Let the Lower Lights Be
Burning”
Laugh for the
Day: (for football fans)
"What is
your brother in college?"
"A half
back."
"No, I
mean in his studies."
"Oh, in
his studies he's way back."(used)
Writer’s
Tips: 15 Hints on Writing for Anthologies
After recently editing three anthologies, I’ve compiled the
following hints I feel will help writers in their quest for
publication:
* DON’T use borders or put submission in box.
* DON’T clean out your files and send everything you
have.
* DON’T ask for an extension on the deadline, saying how busy you
are.
* DON’T send in manuscript longer than stated requirements, telling
editor they can cut it down if they want to use it.
* DON’T tell the editor “feel free to edit.” If it needs it,
they’ll do it. That’s their job.
* DON’T write or call a few days after the deadline, asking if
they’ve made a decision.
* DON’T send your submission on Facebook.
***
* DO use correct format—double spacing, no extra space between
paragraphs, no justifying right margin, 12 pt. New Times Roman or Courier, one
space after period. Omit weird fonts.
* DO include name and complete mailing address, telephone, and
e-mail address on submission. Make it easy for the editor to contact
you.
* DO stick to the theme.
* DO include a suggested title, without all capital letters,
underline, or bold type.
* DO keep bio sketch within requested length. Write it in third
person, and leave out adjectives such as “loving husband” or “beautiful
grandchildren.”
* DO omit underlines and bold; italicize sparingly any words you
want to emphasize.
* DO let the editor know if you change e-mail address or other
contact information.
* DO write thank-you note to editor if your submission is
accepted—
and if you follow these suggestions, there’s a good
chance it will be!
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 (with assignments throughout);
original copies now on sale for half-price--$12.50, $3.17
s&h)
·
The
Freedom of Letting Go (with
discussion questions; can be used in S.S. class or small group); original copies
without questions now on sale for half-price--$7.50, $2.69
s&h)
·
Healing
in God’s Time (story
of Dave Clark, composer of 25 songs that have gone to #1 on the charts); was
$15; now $10, $2.69 s&h)
·
The
Little Book of Big Laughs (105
purse/pocket-size book of clean jokes); up to 4 for same
s&h—$2.32
·
Preparing
Your Heart for Christmas (31 Advent Devotions)
half-price - $5
·
Michigan and Ohio
Cookbooks; half-price $5 each,
plus s&h (depending on number ordered)
·
100-Plus
Motivational Moments for Writers and Speakers
– half-price $5, $2.69 s&h (This is free if you purchase 4 other
books.)
·
Grandmother,
Mother, and Me Anthology
(stories, poetry, and recipes);
·
Grandfather,
Father, and Me Anthology
(stories, poetry, and recipes)
·
Celebrating
Christmas with…Memories, Poetry, and Good Food
(above
three anthologies now half price--$12.50, $3.17
s&h)
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