Monday, August 31, 2015

A Step in the Write Direction--August 31, 2015--Short Story Settings

A Step in the Write Direction
August 31, 2015

Update: This has been a pretty quiet week for a change. Our daughter is having physical therapy for the rotator cuff surgery. It’ll be two or three weeks before she can go back to work, and then only light duty for several months….I’m enjoying the new flooring in our mobile home; seems to make the place look bigger. Will have the two bedrooms done later….The publisher has designed three new covers for A Step in the Write Direction. If you'd like to see them and tell me which one you like, email me at: dgood648@aol.com.….I went through the boxes of all my books and wrote down the number I have left. I just have 29 left of Step and 21 of the Student edition. If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for a writer friend, or if you’d like to buy some at the reduced price and resell them for a club moneymaker, Step will be $10 and Student will be $8, plus s&h. Need to get ready for the new combined book coming out soon.

Thought for the Day:  “When a man or woman has the conviction that he or she is doing the work God called him to do there is a zeal in his soul that all the forces of the world cannot destroy" (Charles Stanley).

Song for the Day:
Breathe on me, Breath of God;
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.
            “Breathe on me, Breath of God,” Edwin Hatch

Laugh for the Day:
Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn’t much, but the reception was excellent.

A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, “I’ll serve you, but don’t start anything.”

Good descriptive writing (from Cecil Murphey’s newsletter Writer to Writer):
“You don’t write about the horrors of war. No. You write about a kid’s burnt socks lying in the road” (Richard Price).

Writer’s Tips:             Short Stories (continued)

Setting:
Where does this story take place and are you acquainted with the setting you are using? If an actual location, have you been there or researched the area?

Bea Carlton, novelist and conference instructor says, “Make the readers taste, feel, see, hear, and smell what you are describing. Use colors, scents, sounds. Even if the setting is not exotic,” Carlton says, “it should be made real to the readers. Let them feel the heat, taste the sweat and dust, see the heat waves shimmering over the cracked ground! Let them experience the agony of thirst!” Where does will your story take place? In a short story, your location may simply be a house, a schoolroom, or a church, rather than a city or state.)
 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--$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
·          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)
·          Grandmother, Mother, and Me—1 left, $10, $3.22 s&h
·           






Monday, August 24, 2015

A Step in the Write Direction, August 24, 2015--Short story leads (and notes on self-esteem)

A Step in the Write Direction

August 24, 2015

Update: These last few weeks have been a little on the crazy side. August 13 would have been our 55th anniversary, so my daughter, son, and I took flowers to the gravesite at Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery. So thankful to know he’s not actually there….On Monday, the 17th, our daughter Patty had rotator cuff surgery. That turned out okay (although surgeon said there was quite a bad tear) and she came over our house afterward. That evening and the next morning she had chest pains so took her to the E.R. and they admitted her with pneumonia. She came home Thursday morning. Today she began her physical therapy. She’ll be out of work at least three weeks, then can go back on light duty….My lung doctor said that carpet was bad for my COPD (especially with just having mold removed), so last week the carpet was torn up in all the rooms (except two bedrooms, which will come later) and new laminate tile installed. It is so pretty and, to me, it makes the mobile home look bigger….Just finished final proofing for new version of A Step in the Write Direction. Good news is that the publisher lowered the price from $24.95 to $19.95. As stated previously, this one will have assignments throughout so it can be used in a classroom, home school, or writers’ group.

Thought for the Day: Our interim pastor (Dr. Bill Burch) preached a really good sermon yesterday on low self-esteem. He said it: 1) paralyzes our potential, 2) destroys our dreams, and 3) sabotages our Christian experience. The point I liked especially was: What right do I have to despise or belittle someone that God
·        Loves deeply
·        Esteems highly
·        Provides for fully
·        Planned for so completely, and
·        Delights in certainly

Song for the Day:
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.
All that I need He will always be.
All that I need till His face I see.
All that I need thro’ eternity
Jesus is all I need.
            James Rowe, “Jesus Is All I Need”

Laugh for the Day: During a patient’s two week follow-up appointment with his cardiologist, he informed the doctor that he was having trouble with one of his medications. “Which one?” the doctor asked. “The patch,” the patient replied. “Your nurse told me to put on a new one every six hours and now I’m running out of places to put them.”

Writer’s Tips:                                               Leads

The following are samples of different types of leads you can use for your short story:

Flashback:
“I’d spent eight months in preparation for a wedding I now knew would never take place” (Sheila Boggess, “Forgiving,” Standard, 5/29/88).

Teaser:
“The buzz of the new electric hedge trimmers cut into Martha’s reverie. She slammed down the kitchen window against the irritating whine, and for the tenth time that hour implored, ‘Lord, have I made a mistake?’” (Sara L. Smith, “Newlywed,” Standard, 5/29/88).

“Just one week! Oh, why didn’t I tell him sooner?” (Donna Goodrich, “The Unspoken Question,” Youth’s Comrade, 2/19/61).

Scripture or Quotation:

“A friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Donna Clark, “No Need to be Lonely,” Youth’s Comrade, 3/8/59).

 Dialog:
“Marcia!” Judy Martin burst into the room where her friend sat sewing. “Did you see that?” (Donna Goodrich, “The Peach Pie,” Standard, 4/19/64).

“You’ve got to be kidding!” June Wheatley looked at her husband in disbelief. “Invite the Camerons over to this house?” (Donna Goodrich, “Such As I Have,” Standard, 5/15/77).

 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 25 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)

Monday, August 3, 2015

A Step in the Write Direction--August 3, 2015--Developing Your Characters

A Step in the Write Direction

August 3, 2015

Update: Enjoying the coolness inside our mobile home with the new air conditioner installed Monday. He said it should help with the utility bills too as the other one was 17 years old. This Thursday men will come and remove the mold from our house. I have to be out of here for 3 days so thought it would be a good time to visit my brother and wife near Nashville. Haven’t seen them in several years….Good news on the new Step in the Write Direction Book. The publisher has lowered the price from $24.95 to $19.95. With the assignments throughout, this will be good for home schoolers, Christian schools, and writers’ groups….Note from this morning’s sermon: The preacher was asked where his church was. “I can give you the address where it is on Sunday,” he told his friend, “but I don’t know where the church is the rest of the week.” This reminds me of one of my nephew’s songs, when someone asked the minister when the service began, he replied, “When you go out the door and turn out the lights, that’s when the service begins.” I hope we all do our part in serving the Lord this week!

Thought for Today: “I am who I am” God said in Exodus 3. Some Jewish scholars translate this phrase as “I shall be as I shall be.” This gives us hope for the present and the future. What God was yesterday He is today. What God is today He will be tomorrow. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So be encouraged. God was, God is, and God shall be (Ed Dobson, Prayers and Promises,111,112). (Wesley Tracy’s “Manna Morsels,” 7/26/15).

Song for Today:
Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same.
All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His name!
Glory to His name! Glory to His name!
All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His name!
            “Yesterday, Today, Forever,” Albert B. Simpson, 1943–1919

Laugh for Today: A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor’s office. “Is it true,” she asked, “that the medication you prescribed me has to be taken for the rest of my life.” “Yes, I’m afraid so,” the doctor said. There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied, “I’m wondering then just how serious my condition is as this prescription is marked NO REFILLS.”

Good Description: I want to share this descriptive line from a book I just read: “The woman had a perpetually puckered mouth, looking like she’d sucked on a lemon for too long” (Debby Mayne, Deck the Halls [from the series Love Finds You on Christmas Morning, Minneapolis, MN: Summerside Press, 2011, p. 45]).

Writer’s Tips:             Developing Characters (continued)

Make a list of all the characters in your book. Draw a family tree. Give the ages of the characters when you begin writing and keep track so they won’t age three years in a two-year span.

Develop character sketches. What color is their hair? Their eyes? What is their height and weight? What are some of their personality traits? Their faults? Their strengths and weaknesses? Their likes and dislikes?           

Get to know your characters well enough that you would recognize them if you met them walking down the street.

The following assignment was given in a fiction workshop taught by Mabeth Clem of the Nazarene Publishing House.

 1. What does my character most sincerely believe in? (example: honesty)
 2. Noticeable mannerism? (faltering step)
 3. Music? (old gospel hymns)
 4. Attitude toward person closest to him? (17-year-old grandson, protective)
 5. Comment made habitually or favorite saying? (“Honesty is the best policy.”)
 6. Favorite entertainment? (fishing)
 7. Fear? (to be left alone)
 8. Pet peeve? (loud music)
 9. Attitude toward opposite sex? (old-fashioned)
10. Favorite foods? (meat and potatoes)
11. Greatest psychological need? (to be loved and needed)
12. How does this affect his actions? (He does what others think he should, rather than what he really wants to do.)
13. Present 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.)
·          BIGGER SALE: A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers—on sale NOW--$10.00, $3.22 s&h (only 16 left)
·          BIGGER SALE: A Step in the Write Direction—Student Edition with assignments throughout—on sale NOW $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, $2.72 s&h
·          BIGGER SALE: Healing in God’s Time (story of Dave Clark, composer of 25 songs that have gone to #1 on the charts); was $15; NOW $8, $2.72 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
 


Sunday, July 26, 2015

A Step in the Write Direction--July 27, 2015--Short Stories--Selecting Names

A Step in the Write Direction

July 27, 2015

Update: A week of taking the good with the bad (well, not necessarily bad but unexpected). The good: Met with surgeon Thursday and was told: no shoulder surgery and no more physical therapy. That only made it worse! (Could have saved 12 appointments at $30 each if I could have seen him first instead of all the assistants.) He gave me a Novocain injection and it started feeling better the next day….Saw the lung specialist Friday and he’s trying a new medicine—Symbicort—which is helping already!...Received the life insurance from the company I’ve been fighting since March 27, but only a little over half I expected as there is a reduced rate at the age of 70 (we didn’t know this), but I’m thankful for what we received….Found another “slip and fall” policy we can collect on IF the doctor will add addendum to the death certificate stating death was due to a fall (this wasn’t on the original)….The unexpected: Right now our mobile home is 99 degrees! New air conditioner coming tomorrow, hopefully. Bless some dear friends who brought over a twin mattress Saturday night for my office which has a stand-alone air conditioner….Finishing the FINAL proofreading of A Step in the Write Direction and will send it to the publisher tomorrow. This is the new version which will have assignments throughout so will be great for home schoolers, classes in Christian schools, and writers’ groups.

Thought for Today: You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream (C.S. Lewis).

Song for Today:
            When all around my soul gives way,
            He then is all my Hope and Stay.
            On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand;
            All other ground is sinking sand.
            All other ground is sinking sand.
                        Edward Mote, “The Solid Rock”

Laugh for Today:                  The Divorce (long but humorous)

A judge was interviewing a woman regarding her pending divorce. He asked, "What are the grounds for your divorce?" She replied, "About four acres and a nice little home in the middle of the property with a stream running by." "No," he said, "I mean what is the foundation of this case?" "It is made of concrete, brick, and mortar," she responded. "I mean," he continued, "what are your relations like?" "I have an aunt and uncle living here in town, and so do my husband's parents." He said, "Do you have a real grudge?" "No," she replied, "we have a two-car carport and have never really needed one." "Please," he tried again, "is there any infidelity in your marriage?" "Yes, both my son and daughter have stereo sets. We don't necessarily like the music, but the answer to your question is yes." "Ma'am, does your husband ever beat you up?" "Yes," she responded, "about twice a week he gets up earlier than I do." Finally, in utter frustration, the judge asked, "Lady, why do you want a divorce?" "Oh, I don't want a divorce," she replied. "I've never wanted a divorce. My husband does. He said he can't communicate with me."

Writer’s Tips: (Short Stories, continued)      Selecting Names

Be careful choosing the names of your characters. Try to have them fit the time period in which you're writing. For example, popular names today are Ashley, Brynne, and Nicole, but you wouldn’t want to use these names in a story that takes place in the 1800s. I’ve met several women named Debbie who were born the same year as our son. It was a popular name in the sixties.

The Writer’s Digest book Character Naming Sourcebook (Sherrilyn Kenyon, Hal Blythe, and Charlie Sweet, 1994) includes more than 25,000 first and last names and their meanings from more than forty-five countries. It also lists the top ten most popular names in the United States every year from 1880. The Internet has sites for nationality-specific names, and you can get ideas for names from newspaper stories, movies, television programs—even telephone books.
Names tend to fit characters. A high society girl may be called Penelope (no offense to any readers named Penelope!). An old-fashioned girl may be named Bertha or Freda.

In the original draft of Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell called the heroine Pansy. That doesn’t sound nearly as intriguing as her final choice of Scarlett.

Watch also for various spellings of the same name, depending on the country in which the story takes place. For example, John may become Sean or Juan or Ian. Mary may be Marie or Maria. Also, don’t have all the characters’ names begin with the same letter. Show some variety.

 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.)
·          BIGGER SALE: A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers—on sale NOW--$10.00, $3.22 s&h (only 16 left)
·          BIGGER SALE: A Step in the Write Direction—Student Edition with assignments throughout—on sale NOW $8, $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
·          BIGGER SALE: Healing in God’s Time (story of Dave Clark, composer of 25 songs that have gone to #1 on the charts); was $15; NOW $8, $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)