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 20th 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
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