A Step in the Write Direction

· 100-Plus Motivational Moments for Writers and Speakers – half-price $5, $2.69 s&h (This is free if you purchase 5 other books.)

· A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers—on sale for half-price--$12.50, $3.22 s&h (only 16 left)

· A Step in the Write Direction—Student Edition with assignments throughout—on sale for half-price $10, $2.69 s&h)

· The Freedom of Letting Go (new one coming out will have 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—$5; up to 4 for same s&h—$2.69

· 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)

Monday, June 22, 2015

A Step in the Write Direction--June 22, 2015--Tribute to Dad

A Step in the Write Direction

June 22, 2015

Update: I held this up until I had my doctor’s appointment today to let you know what’s going on. MRI showed multiple rotator cuff tears, a ruptured tendon, and a bicep out of place in my right shoulder (of course, it would be my right one!). They decided to try physical therapy for a month and see if that works. I’m still praying for a complete healing without surgery!...Hope your husbands and sons—if any—had a good Father’s Day yesterday. Our church shows pictures of fathers on the screen and it was a little hard on our two kids. They brought a pizza over here afterwards and we shared stories….Ended up canceling my trip to Tennessee to see my brother, and the conference in Kentucky. Turned out that my brother was admitted to the hospital so it wouldn’t have been a good time. Will go later.

Thought for the Day: “When someone dies…those left behind will grieve…like someone they love has left home. In reality, however, Christians aren’t leaving home; they’re going home. They will be there before us” (Barbara Baumgardner, “Journey of Hope,” in Treasures for Women Who Hope, Alice Gray, ed., p. 231).

Note on above: This quotation came Wes Tracy’s “Manna Morsel” that I receive every day. Wes is a friend in Sun City, Arizona, who was at one time the editor of our denominational magazine. He sent the above last week the day after his wife of 64.9 years passed away.

Song for Today: (pick one of the following in today’s Writer’s Tips.

Laugh for Today: During a recent password check by a company, it found that an employee was using the following password: “MinnieMinniePlutoHueyLouieDeweyDonaldGoofy Sacramento.” When asked why she had such a long password, she said, “Hello! It has to be at least 8 characters and include at least one capital.”

Writer’s Tips (More Writing for Newspapers next week. This is my tribune for Father’s Day:

Singing for Our Dad

In days gone by we'd gather 'round

The piano we once had,

We'd sing the songs we children liked,

Then up would speak our dad:

"Sing this one song," he used to say,

"I sang it as a lad."

He'd hum a bit of a favorite song,

And we'd sing it for our dad:

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,

That sav'd a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

The years passed by; we moved away,

Then a call came on the phone,

"Your dad is sick," and once again

We gathered at our home.

"Please sing for me," his voice was weak,

"The words I do not know,

But let me hear you sing again

As you did so long ago."

Precious mem'ries, how they linger,

How they ever flood my soul,

In the stillness of the midnight,

Precious, sacred scenes unfold.

A year went by, then one more call,

"Your dad won't last the night."

We caught the plane, but he was gone

'Ere we could end our flight.

But though he's gone, those words he said,

I still can dimly hear,

"Please sing for me, just one more time,"

This song I love so dear":

When I get to the end of the way,

I will rest at the close of the day,

And the toils of the road will seem nothing,

When I get to the end of the way.

Yes, now he's gone, but one glad day,

We'll meet him on that shore,

Our family all will gather 'round,

And we shall part no more.

We'll laugh and cry and reminisce

Of memories we once had,

And then, for all eternity,

We'll sit and sing with Dad.

Will the circle be unbroken

By and by, Lord, by and by,

In a better home awaiting

In the sky, Lord, in the sky.

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 5 other books.)

· A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers—on sale for half-price--$12.50, $3.22 s&h (Only 16 left!)

· A Step in the Write Direction—Student Edition with assignments throughout—on sale for half-price $10, $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—$5; up to 4 for same s&h—$2.69

· 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)

Monday, June 15, 2015

A Step in the Write Direction--June 15, 2015--Newspaper writing (continued)

A Step in the Write Direction

June 15, 2015

Update: Not much news to report. Daughter and family completed their move to Texas and yesterday was their first Sunday in their new church. Daughter said service was AWESOME!... Had annual physical last Friday; everything great, but my doctor did order an MRI on my shoulder (which the orthopedic office didn’t). That will be tomorrow morning, so hopefully they can find a reason for the pain….Shipping books out today for the Kentucky conference June 25-27. Will enjoy a visit with my brother and wife in Tennessee first.

Thought for the Day: "God has put a dream inside you. It's yours and no one else's. It declares your uniqueness. It holds your potential. Only you can birth it. Only you can live it. Not to discover it, take responsibility for it and act upon it, is to negatively affect yourself as well as all those who would benefit from your dream" (John C. Maxwell Put Your Dream To The Test).

Song for the Day:

My Jesus, as Thou wilt. Oh, may Thy will be mine!

Into thy hand of love I would my all resign.

Thro’ sorrow or thro joy, Conduct me as Thine own.

And help me still to say, “My Lord, Thy will be done.”

Benjamin Schmolck, “My Jesus, as Thou Wilt”

Laugh for the Day:

"What do you mean," roared the politician, "by publicly insulting me in your paper. I demand a public apology."

"Just a moment," answered the editor, "we printed the item exactly as you gave it to us, that you had resigned your office."

"I know," the politician replied, "but why put it in the column under 'Public Improvements'?"

Writer’s Tips: Writing for Newspapers (continued)

Stringer

Many newspapers cannot afford a full-time staff to cover all the local news so they hire a “stringer”—someone they can send out to cover a human interest story. These stories can be on any subject. For example, if you’re interested in writing church news, not just from your church but other churches in the area, let the editor know you’re available.

I received a call one day saying, “We have a fellow who does chalk drawings and illustrates the pastor’s sermons. Would you like to interview him?” The newspaper provided the photographer.

I recall one conference workshop I attended titled “Getting the Gospel Message to the Secular World.” A young man in the class brought a scrapbook of stories he had sold to a St. Petersburg, Florida, newspaper. These were human interest stories with a Christian slant. The one I remember most was about how a teen’s faith in God brought him through his father’s murder.

One year four couples in our church celebrated their wedding anniversaries the week of Valentine’s Day. The length of their marriages ranged from fifty-six to sixty-four years. I called the religion editor and asked if she was interested in a story on these couples. She said, “Great, and we’ll send out a photographer.” The story appeared as a full-page spread in the Sunday newspaper. I had asked each couple, “To what do you attribute your long marriage?” Each answer included something about their faith in God, church activities, praying, and reading the Bible together. I heard comments on that article from people I knew would not pick up a religious magazine.

In writing these stories, remember to use the pyramid structure you learned in your English or journalism class in which you give all the important facts first in case material is cut due to space limitations. In the above story, the editor deleted the last paragraph giving the names of the fourth couple’s children and the number of their grandchildren.

Many church activities never make it into the local paper because either the editor doesn’t have anyone to cover the story, or the church has no one qualified to write it. This includes such things as Christmas or Easter cantatas, concerts, a new pastor or staff member, vacation Bible school, missionary speakers, and so on.

You can also cover other community events. What about school activities such as concerts and programs, or stories about special students or teachers? Or, if you’re a sports fan, you can send in reports on school games and local adult softball, basketball, football, or soccer leagues. Organizations also like publicity, especially for fund-raisers.

As you can see, possibilities abound. Editors look for qualified people to write these stories. Why not you?

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 5 other books.)

· A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers—on sale for half-price--$12.50, $3.17 s&h

· A Step in the Write Direction—Student Edition with assignments throughout—on sale for half-price $10, $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—$5; up to 4 for same s&h—$2.69

· 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)

Sunday, June 7, 2015

A Step in the Write Direction--June 8, 2015--Writing for Newspapers

A Step in the Write Direction

June 8, 2015

Update: Three months ago today I said goodbye to my best friend. But like my grandma always said, “Not goodbye, just so long.” At times it seems like yesterday; other times it seems like a long time since I’ve seen and talked with him. I decided today just to dwell on all the things I have to be thankful for over 54 years—and there are a lot….Celebrated our youngest granddaughter’s 20^th birthday Sunday. The family will be moving Wednesday to take a church near Dallas (town of Forestburg). Hate to see them go, but glad they’re obeying God’s calling…. Doctor’s appointment last Monday showed rotator cuff inflammation, tendonitis, and bursitis. Got a cortisone shot the doctor said would kick in “in 4-5 days.” (So far it hasn’t!)…A couple notes from Sunday’s sermon (interim preacher until we get a new pastor):

“The Rock of Gibraltar will crumble before the church is gone.”…

“Lord, give me a new vision of what You want me to do with my life.”I (I think we need to pray this prayer whenever we reach a new phase of our life!)

Thought for the Day: “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Romans 15:7 niv).

Song for the Day:

Little is much when God is in it!

Labor not for wealth or fame.

There’s a crown—and you can win it,

If you go in Jesus’ name

“Little Is Much When God Is In It,” Kittie Suffield

Laugh for the Day:

A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball and bat. "I'm the greatest hitter in the world," he announced. He tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed. "Strike one!" he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said again, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" He tossed the ball into the air, swung again, and missed. "Strike two!" he cried out. The boy then paused a moment, straightened his cap, and said once more, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" Again he tossed the ball up in the air, swung at it, and missed. "Strike three!" "Wow!" he exclaimed. "I'm the greatest pitcher in the world!"

Writer’s Tips: Writing for Newspapers

The local newspaper is a great market for beginning and advanced writers. Consider the following opportunities.

Columns:

Columns can be written on almost any subject, including inspiration. While living in a small Michigan town, I wrote a column titled “Bits and Pieces” for the weekly newspaper”—a few thoughts of encouragement to brighten the readers’ day. When we moved to Arizona, I offered these same devotionals to the religion (note: “religion,” not “religious”) editor of the daily newspaper. She accepted them and printed them in the Saturday church section under the title “Faith at Home.” (These eventually ended up in a women’s devotional book for Standard

Publishing.)

You can write a column on a hobby or another topic you feel knowledgeable about—household or car repair hints, financial tips, couponing, or gardening. Or your occupation. A pediatric nurse wrote a question and answer column concerning children’s health problems.

Maybe your interest lies in history, especially of your city or state. A column on what happened ten, twenty, or even fifty years ago on this date will catch the eye of old-timers, as well as newcomers to your area.

How about profiles on celebrities or other interesting people in your area? At the same time my “Faith at Home” column ran, I wrote a second column titled “The Parsonage Queen,” in which I interviewed local pastors’ wives.

If you like to read, maybe a book review column? Or humor? Do you always see the weird side of things? You may be an Erma Bombeck in the making, but you’ll never know unless you try.

If you’re interested in writing a column for your local newspaper, call the appropriate editor and make an appointment to take them to lunch. Give them a bio sheet stating your experience, along with five or six sample columns. This serves several purposes. First, they show your writing ability, and second, if they accept the idea, you have extra columns on hand in case of a medical emergency or you go on vacation.

If the editor expresses interest but says the paper can’t pay, offer to write the column for free for a period of time. Then, during that time, ask friends to call or write the newspaper, saying how much they enjoy the column. After an agreed-upon period, talk to the editor again and say you’d like to continue writing at their regular rate.

For these columns you will use one-time rights. This gives this particular editor the right to use this column one time, and you are then free to sell it to other newspapers with a different reading audience. If the story has nationwide interest, you can conceivably send it to hundreds of newspapers across the United States at the same time, or to a denominational magazine. Or, as I did with my devotional columns, they could end up in a book.

(More on newspaper writing next week.)

Have a good week spreading the

gospel through the printed page.

Donna Clark Goodrich