A Step in the Write Direction, April 28, 2014--The Stone of Procrastination

A Step in the Write Direction

April 28, 2014

Update: Good news and disappointing news this week! The good news is that I finished combining the two “Step in the Write Direction” books—the original one and the Student Edition and sent it to the new publisher last night. I’m really excited about this book as it contains all the original material, PLUS assignments all the way through so it can be used by a school or a writers’ group almost as a text. I think it will be fun for a class or a group to hear all the responses the others come up with….The disappointing news is that the publisher has decided to cancel the contract on The Freedom of Letting Go, BUT I’m praying to find a new publisher as I believe in that book and don’t think it should go out of print….Making plans now to teach at a one-day workshop in Wagoner, Oklahoma, near Tulsa on May 31^st. It will be a fun day, especially since my daughter who lives here and I will then be spending the next week with our other daughter and family in Cushing, Oklahoma. (Praying for no tornadoes!)

Thought for the Day: A lot of church members who are singing 'Standing on the Promises' are just sitting on the premises. 

Song for the Day:

I recommend Jesus; He’ll carry you through.

I recommend Jesus; He died for you.

So if your skies are gray and you cannot find your way,

I recommend Jesus.

                        --Donna Clark Goodrich, © 1970

Laugh for the Day:                            Christian One-Liners

Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case. 
Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews. 
Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors. 
It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one. 
The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close

Writer’s Tips:

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth (Proverbs 27:1).

The Stone of Procrastination

            A little story made the rounds years ago that went like this: A man dreamed that he attended a meeting of the board of directors in hell. Satan had expressed concern that business was not increasing as fast as hoped. He asked for suggestions.

            One demon volunteered to go back to earth and tell people that there is no heaven. “We’ve tried that,” Satan said. “It doesn’t work.”

            Another offered to convince men that there is no hell. “That won’t work either,” the devil said.

            Then a clever demon in the back of the room rose. “If you let me go,” he said, “I can fill this place. I won’t tell people there is no heaven or hell. I’ll just tell them they can get right with God—tomorrow!”

            Sound familiar?

            “I’m going to be a writer—someday.”

            “I’m going to start on my book—someday.”

            “I’m going to attend a writer’s conference—someday.”

            You may be writing now, but you’re not submitting your work to editors because you’re afraid of being rejected. Or you may already be writing, but only what you want to instead of what God has called you to write. One writer friend wanted to write about her missionary experiences, while God was leading her to write about the religious cult she had left. She finally obeyed, and her book has become a best-seller.

            If you’re one who has been procrastinating, it’s time to stop talking and begin acting. These hints may help:

            1. Write your goals in detail.

            2. Write a target date.

            3. Make a “to do” list.

            4. Divide your goals into bite-sized pieces.

One pastor said that he has buried a lot of people with the music still in them. Don’t let the following be said of you:

            The greatest of workers, this man would have been

                                    Tomorrow.

            The world would have known, had he ever seen

                                    Tomorrow.

            But the fact is, he died, and he faded from view;

            And all that he left here, when his lifetime was through,

            Was a mountain of things he’d intended to do

                                    Tomorrow.

                                                —Author unknown

Write down your responses to steps #1 through #4 above.

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

 "A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers"

"The Freedom of Letting Go"

"Healing in God's Time" (story of Dave Clark, songwriter)

A Step in the Write Direction--April 21, 2014--The Stone of Discouragement

Rolling Away the Stone

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone,

which was very large, had been rolled away

(Mark 16:4).

            Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices to anoint the body of Jesus. But as they neared the tomb, they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

            Good question! How could they have known that the stone had already been rolled away?!

            Have you ever felt that a huge stone blocks your dream to be a writer? Departing from my usual blog, the next few weeks we'll discuss some of the stones that need to be rolled away in your life. (But for those who look for it, I'll include the Thought, Song, and Laugh for the Day at the end!)

            The Stone of Discouragement. Luke 3:5-6 tells the story of Peter, a professional fisherman. When Jesus told him to let down the nets, he said, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.”

            Does this sound familiar? “Lord, I went to a conference. The editors told me to send them my book manuscripts. I did, but I’ve heard nothing.” “Lord, I’ve submitted my book fifteen times, and every time it comes back with a form rejection. They don’t even tell me why.” “Lord, I sent out twelve articles a month ago and haven’t sold anything.” “Lord, I’m quitting. My nets are empty.”

            The note on this passage in the Nelson Study Bible (nkjv) says, “This is Peter’s statement of faith. The fisherman noted that he and his companions had just failed to make a catch at the best time for fishing, the evening. The circumstances were not good for a catch at the time of Jesus’ command.”

But what was Peter’s response? “Because you say so, I will let down the nets [again]” (emphasis added). And what happened? He “caught such a large number of fish that [his] net began to break.” So many fish that he had to call his partners in other boats to come and help him, and they “filled both boats so full that they began to sink” (v. 7).

            Let down your net again. Only the Lord knows what you will pull up this time!

                        Chance is always powerful.

                        Let your hook be always cast.

                        In the pool where you least expect it

                        will be a fish.

                                                —Ovid

 If the stone of discouragement is blocking you today, find a scripture to hang onto and write it below.

Thought for Today: “Through prayer we can reach into the future and with loving hands touch those beyond our reach” (Brother Andrew).

Song for Today:

   When I am burdened, or weary and sad,

   Jesus is all I need.

   Never He fails to uplift and make glad.

   Jesus is all I need.

            ("Jesus Is All I Need," James Rowe)

Laugh for Today: A lion comes across two men, one reading and the other writing. The beast pounces on and devours the reader but ignores the writer. Why? Because, as everyone knows, a writer cramps while a reader digests. (Reader’s Digest, 04/14/ p. 104).

 

Donna Clark Goodrich

dgood648@aol.com

www.thewritersfriend.net

http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com

"A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers"

A Step in the Write Direction--April 14, 2014--Beginning and ending sentences

A Step in the Write Direction

April 14, 2014

Update: Are your taxes done? (Remember, I have a list of tax deductions for writers. Just email me at: dgood648@aol.com.) I used to have a tax business with over 200 clients. Now just have 15 or 20, so have 3 to finish today….Last week was an especially good week: Found a large sum of money I lost…A publisher found 5 of my Rhyme-Time Bible Stories for Little Ones that had been lost (I couldn’t believe I didn’t have them on my computer OR a hard copy)…The editor said they’re also interested in a puzzle book I sent…Found a folder for a client I had mislaid (the folder, not the client!)…Have a new proofreading client (a TV evangelist who has sent me 4 jobs so far)…And sold an exercise bike I had for sale….BUT the best news is that I had the best week I’ve had in almost a year healthwise. Had the church pray for my COPD a week ago Sunday. Up until that time I was having 2 or 3 coughing spells a day—sometimes as long as 1-1½ hours. Have only had a few since then, and one was at a baseball game in windy weather. Thank You, Lord!

Thought for Today: “There’s a tendency to...make God a cosmic Santa Claus, always jolly, perennially upbeat, never displeased, never angry, But (sometimes) I  am not in the mood for a laughing Santa Claus. I need a God bigger than that, someone who can understand my pain....”

—Rick Hamlin, 10 Prayers You Can’t Live Without, 128.

Song for Today:

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

            Annie Johnson Flint, “He Giveth More Grace”

Laugh for Today: The wealthy man's will was being read and the relatives all listened expectantly, especially his playboy nephew.  Finally the lawyer said, "And to my nephew, Charlie, whom I promised to remember in my will, 'Hi there, Charlie.'"

Writer’s Tips:

Avoid Beginning Sentences or Paragraphs in a Row with Same Word

You can find examples of this every morning in the obituary section. Try your hand at rewriting the following paragraph (see sample at end of blog):

She was born in Jackson, Michigan. She moved to Arizona in 1969. She was a proofreader for the Arizona State House of Representatives. She was a former associate editor for a trade magazine. She was on the advisory board of American Christian Writers.

Try Not to End Sentences in a Row with the Same Word

When I worked for a newspaper, the editor had a rule that we couldn't begin or end more than two sentences in a row with the same word. This is a good rule to follow.

(Rewritten paragraph): A native of Jackson, Michigan, she moved to Arizona in 1969 where she was a proofreader for the Arizona State House of Representatives. She was also a former associate editor for a trade magazine, and served on the advisory board of American Christian Writers.

Note: All the writer’s tips I include every week can be found in my book A Step in the Write Direction which is now on sale for $15 plus $3 s&h (normally $24.95) as I have a new publisher and am combining it with the Student Edition. See more on my web site.

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

"A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers"

"The Freedom of Letting Go"

Michigan and Ohio cookbooks

"Healing in God's Time"--story of Dave Clark, songwriter

A Step in the Write Direction--April 7, 2014--Using Pronouns

A Step in the Write Direction

April 7, 2014

Update: There’s an old saying, “We get too soon old and too late smart.” In other words, we’re never too old to learn—or relearn—a lesson. This was brought home to me last week when a dear friend was tearfully sharing a problem she was facing. I immediately came back with a similar problem I had faced in the past. Later I emailed her and apologized, and she replied, “We all have stories to share since we've all been through so much but sometimes we don't want to hear; we just want to unburden our hearts.” I’m praying that God will help me to truly listen and concentrate on what a person is saying instead of just thinking about what my response will be!

Thought for the Day: One day a lady criticized D. L. Moody for his methods of evangelism in attempting to win people to the Lord. Moody's reply was "I agree with you. I don't like the way I do it either. Tell me, how do you do it?" The lady replied, "I don't do it." Moody retorted, "Then I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it." (James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited [Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.] p. 178.)

Song for the Day:

Come ye weary, heavy laden, lost and ruined by the fall;

If you tarry till you’re better, you will never come at all.

Let not conscience make you linger, nor of fitness fondly dream;

All the fitness He requireth is to feel your need of Him.

— Joseph Hart, 1759, “Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy”

Laugh for the Day:

How’s Business?

“My business is looking better,” said the optometrist.

“My business is down in the dumps,” said the garbage man.

“Mine is rolling in dough,” said the baker.

“My business has sunk to a new low,” said the deep-sea diver.

“My business is going up and down,” said the elevator operator.

“My business is sick,” said the doctor.

—Jokes—Hours and Hours of Great Laughs, Michael J. Pellowski, compiler (New York: Waldman Publishing Corp., 1980), 105.

Writer’s Tips—Using Pronouns

Weak:   “She and her brother were always been close. Before her brother married, they did

everything together, went places together. Then her brother moved out of state and she went to college, and everything changed.”

Better:  “She and her brother were always been close. Before he married, they did everything

together, went places together. Then he moved out of state and she went to college, and everything changed.”

Whenever you use a pronoun such as “they,” “he,” “it,” etc., make sure the reader knows who or what the pronoun is referring to.

• “Linda says that her mother always gives her children too many presents.” Whose children is the mother spoiling?

“It’s” only needs an apostrophe if used as a contraction, not in possessive:

The dog lost its bone.

I’ll be glad when it’s (it is) payday.

 I or me?

John, Eunice, and I were all sick.

Father sent for John, Eunice, and me. (To determine which one should be used, delete “John, Eunice, and” and see how it reads as “Father sent for I.”)

We or us?

We girls will be waiting for you. (Delete “girls” and it reads okay.)

He waited for us girls. (Delete “girls” and it reads okay.)

 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

 

www.thewritersfriend.net
"A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers"

"The Freedom of Letting Go"

"Healing in God's Time"--story of Dave Clark,songwriter 

"Preparing Your Heart Christmas"--31 Advent devotions

A Step in the Write Direction--March 31, 2014--Avoid Wordiness

A Step in the Write Direction

March 31, 2014

Update: Our missionary speaker at church yesterday used a term that described how I’ve been feeling lately: “holy unrest.” Do you ever get hungry for something more—a closer walk with God, a burden for unsaved loved ones, to see a real revival break out in our church and in our country? He said a mail carrier, discovering he was a pastor, asked him, “How are things in your little church?” He replied that it wasn’t a little church; it was one of the largest in town. Then the carrier said, “No, I mean your ‘little’ church, your home? How is it with your family?” The speaker then said yesterday, “We won’t have change in our ‘big’ church until we experience a change in our ‘little’ church.” Good thought! Perhaps something we write today can help make a change in someone’s life!

Thought for Today: “God is at his best when our life is at its worst” (Max Lucado).

Laugh for Today:

Writer’s Tips: Avoid Wordiness

Weak: Bob went to his car, opened the door, and sat down behind the wheel. Closing the door, he fastened his seat belt, then he adjusted his rearview mirror, and looked in his glove compartment for his sunglasses. Finally finding them, he took a tissue from the cup holder and cleaned the glasses. Then he put the car in gear and backed out of the driveway. Reaching the end of the driveway, he looked to the right and to the left, before heading east down the street. Reaching the corner, he stopped at the stop sign. Seeing no one coming, he continued on his way. After stopping at several traffic lights, he finally arrived at the restaurant where he was to meet his client for lunch.

Better: John pulled out of the driveway, and ten minutes later he arrived at the restaurant where he found his client waiting.

I’ve chosen some samples of wordiness from manuscripts I edited. They are used with the permission of the authors.

Wordy: He did not take the time to file a flight plan, which he usually did just before take-off.”

Better: He did not take the time to file his usual flight plan.

Wordy: “She invited ______ to be seated, then she set the table and placed two mugs of water into her microwave oven, preparatory to brewing tea. When the water was sufficiently hot, she inserted a tea bag in each mug and closed the door while the tea steeped.”

Better: “She invited _______ to be seated, then she prepared two cups of tea.” How much does your reader need to know?

Wordy: “She raised her hand and stiffened her finger that was shaking and pointing to a crude sign nailed to the top of a cross.”

Better: “She pointed a shaky finger to a crude sign nailed to the top of a cross.”

One of the best ways to improve on wordiness is to enter contests in which the entry has to be 50 words or less. You discover how many words are absolutely unnecessary.

Sometimes when I typed term papers for students (before computers!), I’d end up with one word to go onto the next page. In most cases, it was simple to omit a word without changing the mean­ing. However, while typing a book for a friend, this was not the case. She had written so tightly that not one word could be removed without changing the context. Strong writing, indeed.

 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

"A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers"

A Step in the Write Direction--March 24, 2014--Eliminate "he said" and "she said"

A Step in the Write Direction

March 24, 2014

Update: This past week I was upset with a situation and to “vent,” I wrote an email to a friend. At the end I wrote, “I probably should delete this email and not send it, but I’m going to anyway.” After reading it over, I deleted the name of the person I was going to send it to, and addressed it to “God.” I figured He could do more about it, and I wouldn’t worry the other person….That same day as I got in my car to run several errands, I was still mulling the situation over in my mind (no, I was WORRYING about it), and turning on the ignition I said wearily, “Lord, I need help.” Just then these words came from the CD: “…Bring Him every burden; bring Him every care. Come unto Me. I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Hear Me and be blessed. I am meek and lowly. Come and trust My might. Come, My yoke is easy. Come, My burden’s light.” (“Come Unto Me,” Charles P. Jones.) What perfect timing!!

Thought for Today:

  “Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire

to work, to speak, and think for Thee;

still let me guard the holy fire

and stir up Thy gift in me.”

—Charles Wesley

Laugh for Today: A teen-age boy told his parents he was going to run away. "Listen," he
said, "I'm leaving home. There is nothing you can do to stop me. I want excitement,
adventure, beautiful women, money, and fun. I'll never find it here, so I'm leaving.
Just don't try to stop me!" As he headed for the door, his father leaped up and
ran toward him. "Dad," the boy said firmly, "you heard what I said. Don't try to
stop me. I'm going!" "Who's trying to stop you?" answered the father, "I'm going
with you!" (Barbara Brokhoff, Bitter-sweet Recollections, CSS Publishing Company).

Song for Today:

You will meet with trials as you journey home;

Grace sufficient He will give to overcome.

Tho’ unseen by mortal eye, He is with you ever nigh.

And He’ll keep the joy-bells ringing in your heart.

                        —J. Edward Ruark, “You May Have the Joy-bells”

Writer’s Tips: Eliminate "he said," "she said."

Don’t always have to say “he said” or “she said.” Three ways to avoid it:

1) Change paragraph with each speaker;

2) Follow dialogue with action line that mentions the character.

            OK: "Like my mother before me, I inherited my magic," Gwen said. She picked up the tattered parchment.

            Better: "Like my mother before me, I inherited my magic." Gwen picked up the tattered parchment.

3) Call the other person by name.  "Just be patient, Gwen."

The following is taken from a Writer’s Digest article:

“Most beginning authors have trouble with the use of the word ‘said.’ There is no reason to shy away from ‘said’ in dialogue. After all, words are spoken, not flung, ejaculated, whipped out, proclaimed, exhaled, blatted, hissed or cried. People ‘say’ things to other.

“To show you how bizarre this can become, Dick Perry in his book One Way to Write Your Novel (Writers Digest Books) shows how riotous and ridiculous dialogue becomes when the author strains at something other than ‘said’.”

“Hilda,” he murmured, “I love you.”

“Do you, Herbert?” she breathed.

“Yes!” he thundered.

“Are you certain you love me?” she whined.

“Why?” he gasped. “Don’t you love me?”

“I love you,” she yelled.

“You do?” he hissed.

“I’ll always love you,” he alleged.

“I’m so happy,” she whimpered.

“Me, too,” he panted.”

 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

A Step in the Write Direction--March 17--Linda Carlblom, guest blogger

A Step in the Write Direction

March 17, 2014

Update: Yes! I received a contract this last week for A Step in the Write Direction, so it won’t be going out of print. As I mentioned before, I’ll be combining the original book with the Student Edition, so I am selling all my inventory of this latter book for just $10 each, plus $3 s&h. This is a great book for home schoolers, Christian schools, beginning writers, or anyone who enjoys assignments throughout a book….I also have 5 copies left of the 2014 Christian Writers’ Market Guide for only $15, $3 s&h, and 100-Plus Motivational Moments for Writers and Speakers for half price—$5, and $3 s&h….My husband had his left hand x-rayed Monday after his fall and we’re thankful it wasn’t broken—just swollen and purple, but it’s getting a lot better….Happy St. Patty’s Day everyone. Hope the winter weather has begun to clear up in your area.

Thought for Today: The greatest tragedy in life is the prayers that go unanswered because they go unasked (Mark Batterson, Draw the Circle).

Laugh for Today: The lady was trying to impress those at the party.  "My family's ancestry is very old," she bragged.  "It dates back to the days of King John of England."  Then, turning to a lady sitting quietly in a corner, she asked condescendingly, "And how old is your family, my dear?"  The lady was trying to impress those at the party.  "My family's ancestry is very old," she bragged.  "It dates back to the days of King John of England."  Then, turning to a lady sitting quietly in a corner, she asked condescendingly, "And how old is your family, my dear?" "Well," replied the woman with a smile, "I really can't say. All our family records were lost in the flood."

Song for Today:

Troubled soul, the Saviour can see

Ev’ry heartache and tear.

Burdens are lifted at Calvary;

Jesus is very near.

            —John H. Moore, “Burdens Are lifted at Calvary”

Writer’s Tips:

This week we’re honored to have Linda McQuinn Carlblom, a member of our weekly critique group, Tuesday’s Children, as our guest blogger. I’m sure you’ll enjoy what she has to say.

My Life as a Writer–Or Not Linda McQuinn Carlblom Honestly, I feel a little guilty about that title. Because lately, I don’t feel much like a writer. But several of the authors on this blog agreed to share their writing routine just so people would know what it’s like to be a writer. And I was one of them. For me, writing has had to take a backseat in this season of my life. I’ve had several books published in the past and have several works in progress. But real life has overtaken my writing time for the most part and it’s all I can do right now to get a post written for this blog twice a month. I’ve had to tell myself that this is OK. That I will have more time for writing when I’m not caring for elderly parents while still parenting my last child, getting rental houses ready to re-rent, and keeping up with the revolving door of hospitality that my husband and I love to keep open. To me that’s what writing is: Living life in the moment. Caring for those you love. Sharing God’s rich blessings with others who step into the comfort of our home. Being a blessing by loving others deeply. How is that writing? you ask. Because to write in a way that’s believable and affects your readers you must live abundantly. Everything that happens in a writer’s life, all the emotions felt (both good and bad), all the sensory details and conversations spoken are fodder for the writer’s mind. They come back as you sit at your keyboard and write—for instance, that scene where a parent must say good-bye to their loved one. You remember the sounds that were around you and the way the room smelled and the sharp crack of your heart breaking. That ache in your throat as you swallowed tears and inhaled roughly trying to keep tears at bay when you were in the store the next day. It all comes from living deep and loving much, sharing what you have, and then releasing it into God’s generous hands. So even though I don’t have a set time to plop myself down and write every day, or even every week, I’m writing in my mind. I’m remembering, taking notes, storing memories, and taking pictures. I know God will redeem the time I’m spending doing His will in this season of life. And when I do start a regular schedule of writing again, life will come pouring forth on the page, full and vibrant. And I know I’ll have no regrets for the days I couldn’t write.

Linda McQuinn Carlblom is a wife, mom of three children, and Grammy to six grandkids. She loves writing for children and young adults. After God, her top three loves are: family, reading, and cheesecake. Visit her at http://www.wix.com/llcarlblom/KidsBelieve or at her Parenting with a Smile blog, http://www.lindamcquinncarlblom.blogspot.com/

 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