Monday, October 26, 2015

A Step in the Write Direction--October 26, 2015--Leads

A Step in the Write Direction

October 26, 2015

Update: Another interesting week. Adopted a doggie from the humane society last Wednesday, but am going to have to take him back. He’s bitten me or another family member several times this last week and the vet today said he had “behavioral problems.” They couldn’t even give him an examination without him nabbing and growling. Now I have about $75 of doggie supplies to find a home for!...Good sermon Sunday by another interim pastor on Psalm 139:1-6. God sees, God hears, and God’s with us. One statement stuck with me: “God knows where we are and He knows where we’re going!” Also, “If you’re going through a storm of doubt and unbelief, Christ will not leave you in that storm alone. He’ll walk beside you.”

Thought for the Day: “You chart the path ahead of me and tell me when to stop and rest” (Psalm 139:3 tlb).

Song for the Day:
He placed me upon the strong rock by His side.
My steps were established, and here I’ll abide.
No danger of falling while here I remain,
But stand by His grace until the crown I gain.
            “He Brought Me Out,” Henry J. Zelley

Laugh for the Day:
Differences of Opinions

Dr. Eugene Brice tells a disturbing story about a minister who returned to visit a church he had once served. He ran into Bill, who had been an elder and leader in the church, but who wasn't around anymore. The pastor asked, "Bill, what happened? You used to be there every time the doors opened."

"Well, Pastor," said Bill, "a difference of opinion arose in the church. Some of us couldn't accept the final decision and we established a church of our own. But we found that there, too, the people were not faithful and a small group of us began meeting in a rented hall at night."

"Has that proven satisfactory?" asked the minister.

"No, I can't say that it has," Bill responded. "Satan was active even in that fellowship, so my wife and I withdrew and began to worship on Sunday at home by ourselves. However, my wife began to develop ideas I was not comfortable with, so now she worships in the northeast corner of the living room, and I am in the southwest" (King Duncan, quoting Eugene Brice, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com).

Writer’s Tips:                                    Leads

Capture the editor's attention in your very first paragraph. It takes only five seconds for a reader to turn the page and go to another article. If an editor doesn't like your first page, it won’t take him long to return your manuscript in your SASE, or send you an e-mail rejection, and go on to the next manuscript in his pile. I like the saying, “The lead brings your reader from the front porch into the living room and invites him to sit down and have a chat with you.”

Following is one of the best leads I’ve ever read:

We brought her home from the hospital. We had awaited the moment with excitement for almost nine months. We brought her into the newly remodeled room that had been a sewing room. It was freshly painted a pastel pink, and the flower print curtains just matched.

We gently laid her in her new bed and raised the sides to keep her from falling out. We looked at her pink and wrinkled face. She looked like a prune, but she was ours and we loved her.

We changed her diapers. It was no fun, but we knew it would be necessary for a while. We fed her slowly, being careful not to spill food on her bib.

She was crying herself to sleep as we tiptoed out of the room. We looked at each other, put our arms around each other, and held each other close. It was a loving moment: Grandma was home from the hospital.[i]

Or how about some of these leads?

“Where’s Papa going with that ax?” said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast. (E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web)

 “Nancy, you’re kidding, no statue can whisper!” (Carolyn Keene, Nancy Drew: The Whispering Statue)

“The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world.” (Barbara Robinson, The Best Christmas Pageant E


[i] Paul Thornton, “Coming Full Circle,” Lutheran Standard, May 3, 1985, p. 15.

 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.) (I’ve now purchased the remaining inventory from the publisher. The book has been out-of print for a number of years, so this is it! If you buy FIVE copies, I’ll throw one in free. This will make a great, inexpensive gift for members of your writers’ group.)
·          A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers—NEW edition with assignments throughout! $19.95, $3.22 s&h
·           A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers (the original)on sale--$10.00, $3.22 s&h (only 29 left)
·          A Step in the Write Direction—Student Edition with assignments throughout—on sale—$8, $2.72 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. Great gift for writers, pastors, and teens.
·          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, October 19, 2015

A Step in the Write Direction--October 19, 2015--Outlining Hints

A Step in the Write Direction
October 19, 2015

Update: This has been an interesting week. One night our son and daughter who own a townhouse heard helicopters overhead. The next morning their gate was open and the door to their storage shed open. They’re guessing someone had hidden inside, so they’re getting a lock for the door….Wednesday while my sister and I were in Walmart someone broke the front driver’s window of my car. Safelite fixed it ($201), then the next day I found out I have full glass coverage so insurance will reimburse me….Our church voted on our new minister yesterday; vote was positive, he accepted, and will begin November 22. After having our previous pastor for 19 years, it will be quite an adjustment, but looking forward to good days ahead….Critique group meeting here again tomorrow so need to get house cleaned. Two of our group are heading out-of-country: one going to Italy this week and another going to Hong Kong and Australia. (Would love to climb in their suitcases—either one!)

Thought for the Day: God only illumines the next step. not long distances ahead. We would prefer for God to illumine the way a long distance ahead, but the flickering light of the Word shows only the next step....It is humbling for the pilgrim not to know what is over the hill. But this is a part of our spiritual growth: to take small steps without knowing what is ahead but trusting God to bring good out of evil (Professor Rene Castellano, Matanzas Seminary, Cuba. Imprisoned by Castro, eventually released. Cited by Tom Oden, A Change of Heart, 237-238).

Song for the Day:
In this world of fear and doubt On my knees I ask the question
Why a lonely heavy cross I must bear
Then He tells me in my prayer It’s because I am trustworthy
He gives me strength far more than my share.
Known only to Him are the great hidden secrets
I’ll fear not the darkness when my flame shall dim
I know not what the future holds, But I know Who holds the future
It’s a secret known only to Him.
            “Known Only to Him,” Stuart Hamblen

Laugh for the Day: A woman had a habit of associating a person's name with something familiar in order to remember it. At one gathering she was introduced to a woman named “Hazel.” Sometime later, they met again. The woman recognized the other but forgot her name. She did, however, recall associating the name, and impulsively greeted her new acquaintance with, "I'm so sorry, I can't recall your name. But I remember you as some kind of nut!"

Writer’s Tips:                         Outlining Your Article/Book

When I first began writing I wrote mostly short stories and devotionals so didn’t feel I needed an outline. Then I was hired at a local magazine as a home and garden editor. For two articles each month, I interviewed three business owners, sending them a list of questions ahead of time and recording the interviews for more accurate quotations. When I transcribed the tape, I found the article almost wrote itself. In preparing these questions before the interview, in essence I was outlining my article. I knew where I was going, which made the article easier to write.

In my typing service book, I outlined the book as far as the chapter headings, but I got bogged down in writing the chapters. Then I realized I could outline the chapters just as I outline an article. Later, when I wrote the tax book, I outlined it so thoroughly ahead of time with headings and subheadings, that when I sat down to write it, it took only thirty days to complete the entire book. I knew where I was going.

The following shows an example of how to outline. One important thing to remember is that there must be at least two points under each subdivision. For example, if you have an I, you must have an II; if you have an A, you must have a B. (Of course, you don’t need to have this many.)
            I. Main Topic
                        A. Subtopic
                        B. Subtopic
            II. Main Topic
                        A. Subtopic
                        B. Subtopic
                                    1. sub point
                                                a. sub point
                                                b. sub point
                                                            1) sub point
                                                            2) sub point
                                                                        a) sub point
                                                                        b) sub point

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.) (I’ve now purchased the remaining inventory from the publisher. The book has been out-of print for a number of years, so this is it! If you buy FIVE copies, I’ll throw one in free. This will make a great, inexpensive gift for members of your writers’ group.)
·          A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers—NEW edition with assignments throughout! $19.95, $3.22 s&h
·           A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers (the original)on sale--$10.00, $3.22 s&h (only 29 left)
·          A Step in the Write Direction—Student Edition with assignments throughout—on sale—$8, $2.72 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. Great gift for writers, pastors, and teens.
·          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)



Tuesday, October 13, 2015

A Step in the Write Direction--October 12, 2015--Choosing a Theme

A Step in the Write Direction

October 12, 2015

Update: Good news! My daughter’s cat scans all came out negative except for one small cyst. They still don’t know the reason for the high white count and high liver count, but will keep an eye on it….Our church board voted to extend a call to a minister who preached at our church a week ago. The whole church will vote on him next Sunday. I have to be so careful not to compare him to the one we had for 19 years!...Our interim pastor is preaching a two-part series on “Healing Your Damaged Emotions.” He said ministers and evangelists have misled new Christians into thinking that just because their sins are forgiven, that takes care of any personality conflicts and childhood memories. A few days later when one of these memories jumps up to haunt them, Satan will tell them, “See, you’re not a Christian. If you were, these things wouldn’t bother you.” Part One was really good!

Interesting bit of information: “Only the Bible has withstood 2000 years of intense scrutiny by critics and not only survived the attacks but prospered and had its credibility strengthened by such criticism. (Voltaire predicted the Bible would be extinct within 100 years; within 50 years Voltaire was extinct and his house was a warehouse for the Bibles of the Geneva Bible Society.) (John Ankerburg, Fast Facts…Defend Your Faith).

Thought for Today: "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life" (Galatians 6:4-5 msg)

Song for Today:
There are things in every journey that can break us
There are burdens that can bring us to our knees
But it’s in those moments when our faith feels weakest
That we simply stand our ground and just believe

Oh the silence doesn’t mean that He’s not listening
And the darkness doesn’t mean that He is gone
Cause He promised He would never ever leave us
And you’ve never spent one moment on your own

Pray now
Pray now
Right here in the storm He’s still the same
Pray now 
Pray now
There is strength and power in Jesus name
So pray now

(“Pray Now,” Karen Peck-Gooch, Dave Clark, Michael Farren @2015 Christian Taylor Music/BMI/Winding Way Music/ASCAP, a Div. of Daywind Music.) Nominated for a Dove Award. (Ceremonies are tomorrow night so won’t know the winner until then.)

Laugh for Today: Two boys were arguing in class when the teacher came in and asked what they were arguing about. One boy answered, “We found a ten dollar bill and decided to give it to whoever tells the biggest lie.” “You should be ashamed of yourselves,” said the teacher. “When I was your age, I didn’t even know what a lie was.” “You win!” the boys said, handing her the ten dollar bill.

Writer’s Tips:                         Choosing a Theme

As in all writing, nonfiction articles need a theme. What is your takeaway? While writing my first nonfiction book for John Wiley & Sons, How to Set Up & Run a Typing Service, the publisher sent me a fifteen-page questionnaire to complete for advertising purposes.

One section of the questionnaire asked for a description of the book in three paragraphs, one paragraph, then one sentence. It was difficult to do. Not so with the second how-to book for the same company, How to Set Up & Run An Income Tax Service. I wrote the descriptions first. Posting the theme sentence near my desk helped me keep on track as I outlined and wrote the book.

Each Sunday our pastor includes a sermon outline in the bulletin so we can fill in the blanks as he preaches. This not only helps us follow along, but it also helps him stick to his theme. It's the same way with our writing. If we don't know where we're going, the editor won't know either, and the reader will never get a chance to know.

If you’re working on an article, write a one-sentence theme for it.

 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.) (I’ve now purchased the remaining inventory from the publisher. The book has been out-of print for a number of years, so this is it! If you buy FIVE copies, I’ll throw one in free. This will make a great, inexpensive gift for members of your writers’ group.)
·          A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers—NEW edition with assignments throughout! $19.95, $3.22 s&h
·           A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers (the original)on sale--$10.00, $3.22 s&h (only 27 left)
·          A Step in the Write Direction—Student Edition with assignments throughout—on sale—$8, $2.72 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. Will send list of discussion questions!
·          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. Great gift for writers, pastors, and teens.
·          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, October 5, 2015

A Step in the Write Direction--October 5, 2015--Ideas for Nonfiction Articles

A Step in the Write Direction
October 5, 2015
Update: I’ve been a little under the weather the last couple of days. The wind and rain hasn’t helped the COPD, but I think part of it is just the last few months catching up with me. It has been busy!...I want to share a story our interim pastor told last week, and that I found on the Internet. Food for thought! “During the reign of Oliver Cromwell, there was a shortage of currency in the British Empire. Representatives carefully searched the nation in hopes of finding silver to meet the emergency. After one month, the committee returned with its report. “We have searched the Empire in vain seeking to find silver. To our dismay, we found none anywhere except in the cathedrals where the statues of the saints are made of choice silver.” To this, Oliver Cromwell eloquently answered, “Let’s melt down the saints and put them into circulation.” (https://bible.org/illustration/melt-down-saints)
Thought for Today: You have permission to rest. You are not responsible for fixing everything that is broken. You do not have to try and make everyone happy. For now take time for you. It’s time to replenish. (Author unknown.)
Song for Today:
I stand on the mountain of blessing at last,
No cloud in the heavens a shadow to cast,
His smile is upon me, the valley is past,
For He is so precious to me.
            Charles H. Gabriel, “He Is So Precious to Me”

Laugh for Today: Bob forgot his wedding anniversary and his wife was mad. She told him, “Tomorrow morning I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in 6 seconds AND IT BETTER BE THERE!” The next morning when his wife woke up, she looked out the  window to find a gift wrapped box in the middle of the driveway. She opened it and found—a brand-new bathroom scale. Bob hasn’t been seen since Friday!

Grammar note (something I just learned):
            “Ever so often” means “a great many times”
            “Every so often” means “now and then, once in a while”

Writer’s Tips:                         Ideas for Nonfiction Articles

One way to get ideas for nonfiction articles is to think of something you’re now going through or have gone through in the past. Following are other hints.
·        Use the five senses.
·        Be a people watcher.
·        Tell stories your readers can relate to.
·        Think back to the “good ol’ days.”
·        Go through your photo album.
·        Share an experience that makes your readers laugh or cry.
·        Look for anniversaries of local businesses and churches. Go through old newspapers and see what happened twenty-five or fifty years ago.
·        Walk through cemeteries.
·        Look up old city or state laws.
·        Visit landmarks
·        How-to articles. These are very popular. If someone has asked you how to do something, you have the making of an article. Do you like to work on cars, fix computers, do needlework, crafts? By sharing what you’ve learned through trial and error, you can help others reach their dream.
·        Social issues. What upsets you? What can you do about it? Would you like to help others see the problem from a different point of view through your writing?

 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.) (I’ve now purchased the remaining inventory from the publisher. The book has been out-of print for a number of years, so this is it! If you buy FIVE copies, I’ll throw one in free. This will make a great, inexpensive gift for members of your writers’ group.)
·          A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers—NEW edition with assignments throughout! $19.95, $3.22 s&h
·           A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers (the original)on sale--$10.00, $3.22 s&h (only 29 left)
·          A Step in the Write Direction—Student Edition with assignments throughout—on sale—$8, $2.72 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. Great gift for writers, pastors, and teens.
·          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)