A
Step in the Write Direction
March
2, 2015
Update:
Last week was one of those “Oh God, not again” week. My husband fell on his back
in our driveway Wednesday and had emergency surgery on Thursday. The doctor
asked him if he really wanted it, and pointed out all the risks: Coumadin, heart
problems, diabetes, etc. Could be paralyzed during the procedure, have a heart
attack or stroke, etc. The option: a back brace and wheelchair for the rest of
his life, perhaps ending up paralyzed and losing use of bodily functions. He
said that with Gary’s soft bones (osteoporosis) it would be like putting screws
into a Styrofoam cup, and that it would be a 7-hour surgery. Turned out to be 5
hours, and he told Gary the next day that he was lucky to be alive and for his
legs and feet to be moving. A surgical nurse told our son, “Your dad must be a
fighter as that was one of the toughest surgeries I’ve ever assisted
on.”
Today’s
update: He still is having trouble swallowing, so they’re putting in a temporary
feeding tube through the nose and will take a swallowing test tomorrow. Also,
because of something on the EKG, they took a heart ultrasound today to check on
the blood clot he has. They’ll get him up tomorrow, using a back brace (which
he’ll wear for the next 3-6 months).When he’s ready, he’ll go to a care center
for rehab. Doctor said it’ll take 9 months to a year for the bones to
fuse.
Thought for
the Day: “Whatever
you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human
masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a
reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians
3:23-24).
Song for the
Day:
Now I’ve
giv’n to Jesus ev’rything;
Now I gladly
own Him as my king;
Now my
raptured soul can only sing
Of
Calvary.
William R. Newell, “At Calvary”
Joke for the
Day: A teacher,
in discussing different religions, asked her students to bring in something
representing their faith. A Jewish student brought in a menorah, a Catholic girl
brought in a rosary, and a Baptist boy brought in a casserole
dish.
Writer’s
Tips: More “Show, Don’t
Tell”
Don't Overuse Adverbs
Replace two adverbs with one strong
verb.
* He walked wearily and
laboriously.
He trudged.
* "I think you'd better
go now," he said angrily. Let your words show anger: "Get out of here and never come
back!" he said.
Verbs
Okay: "She closed the kitchen
window."
Better: "She slammed the kitchen
window."
Okay: "Fran looked at her husband across the table."
Better: "She stared or glared or gazed at her
husband."
Okay: "Judy came into the room where her friend
sat..."
Better: "Judy burst into the
room..."
“Judy
stomped into the
room.
“Judy
tiptoed into the
room.”
Okay: "Jesus was
sad."
Better: "Jesus wept."
Okay: “Judy said to her husband.”
Better: “Judy yelled at her
husband.”
Okay: He walked through the water.
Better: He sloshed through the water. (picture of a puddle)
He
waded through the
water. (picture of deep water)
Okay: He walked down the hall.
Better: He darted through the crowded
corridor.
Okay: She picked up the package.
Better: She grabbed the package.
Have
a good week spreading the
gospel
through the printed page.
Donna
Clark Goodrich
·
100-Plus
Motivational Moments for Writers and Speakers
– half-price $5, $2.69 s&h (This is free if you purchase 4 other
books.)
·
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)
·
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)
No comments:
Post a Comment