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

dgood648@aol.com

www.thewritersfriend.net

http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com

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·          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!

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·          Preparing Your Heart for Christmas (31 Advent Devotions) half-price—$5

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