A Step in the Write Direction
July 20,
2015
Update: I wish I had a more positive
update to share, but I have to admit the last week has been a rough one with the
rotator cuff physical therapy (seems like it’s making it worse; will see a
surgeon Wednesday) and the COPD. Have been very short of breath and wouldn’t be
surprised if, at my visit next with the pulmonary specialist, he may put me on
oxygen, though I’ve been trying to put it off. But seems like all I want to do
is sleep lately….On a more positive note, though, I found another insurance
policy that will pay on the “slip and fall” if I can get the doctor to change
the death certificate as “fall” wasn’t listed as a cause of death—when really it
was the MAIN cause. So appreciate your prayers on this behalf. Thanks to all of
you for your notes of encouragement (and some checks—which I’m not cashing until
I hear from this latest policy).
Thought for the Day: "Let the printed word which brings men light, and let the
printed word which makes men free, and let the printed word through which Thy
word is spread, go on and on forever" (prayer of Johann Gutenberg, found among
his papers).
Hymn for the
Day:
“I will pour water on him that is
thirsty;
I will pour floods upon the dry ground.
Open your heart for the gift I am bringing.
While ye are seeking Me, I will be found.”
Lucy J. Rider, “Ho! Every One That
Is Thirsty”
Laugh for the
Day:
A chap
was arraigned for assault and brought before the judge. "What is your name, occupation, and what are
you charged with?"
Prisoner:
"My name is Sparks; I am an electrician, and I'm charged with
battery."
Judge:
"Officer, put this guy in a dry cell."
Writer’s Tips: Short Stories – Selecting a Title (This can
work for nonfiction too)
I've
heard people say, “Don't worry about your title. The editor will change it
anyway.” Editors have more important things to do with their time, however, than
to think of new titles. If you select a good one, they'll keep
it.
I
usually try to tie the title into the theme of the story. A story I wrote about
a neighbor whose CB radio bled into our TV set and tape recorder I called
“Breaker, Breaker.” I titled a story about a military couple “The Lord’s Army,”
and I used a phrase from Scripture in a story titled “Such As I
Have.”
An
article about water beds ended up “Water, Water Everywhere—But Not a Drop to
Drink,” and a travel article on Yuma, Arizona I called “Yuma, the Swinging
Gate.” Another one on living with a disabled husband was titled “When the Golden
Years Aren’t Golden.”
I
always said editors never changed any of my titles, but I had to admit that
“Tank, the Terrible”—the new title for my story in a teen Sunday school
take-home paper—was much better than my bland title of “A Gift for
Danny.”
Attract readers with your titles,
but don’t promise them more than you can deliver. Your writing should live up to
the title. There’s nothing wrong with being clever as long it isn’t overdone.
For example, a splashing headline in a tabloid inviting the reader to a story
concerning the health problem a popular singer was ashamed to admit, turned out
to be only a weight problem.
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)
·
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 26 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)
No comments:
Post a Comment