A Step in the Write Direction--November 26, 2012

A Step in the Write Direction

November 26

Update:

I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving Day and that none of you were alone! Our two children, who work at a hospital, brought ham, turkey, and stuffing over here, and we supplied the potatoes and gravy, sweet corn, pumpkin pie, and Jell-O made with pineapple, sherbet, and marshmallows. Then we had a nice talk with our daughter and family in Oklahoma.

I’m beginning to receive submissions for the grandfather/father anthology. I’d love to see some children write something about their dad or grandpa. Pass this on to your family!

Thought for the Day:

“It’s a constant challenge for any church not to become a house of condemnatory judgment in which our wounded are spiritually executed by a firing squad of merciless fellow members” (Lloyd Ogilvie).

Laugh for the Day:

Top Five Excuses if Caught Sleeping at Your Desk (Source Unknown)

No. 5: They told me at the blood bank this might happen.

No. 4: This is just a fifteen-minute power nap they raved about at the management course you sent me to.

No. 3: Whew! Guess I left the top off the Witeout®. You probably got here just in time.

No. 2: Did you ever notice sounds coming out of these keyboards when you put your ear down real close?

And, the No. 1 best thing to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk: Raise your head slowly and say, “. . . In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Book Recommendation

(From C.J. Darlington): I'm writing to let you know about my just released nonfiction ebook. It's called 112 Christian Authors and Publishing Professionals Share Their Best Advice for Novelists. Includes advice from authors like Karen Kingsbury, Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, Jerry B. Jenkins, Josh McDowell, Liz Curtis Higgs, Francine Rivers, James Scott Bell, Terri Blackstock, Randy Alcorn, Melody Carlson, and many more! All for just $2.99. The links to learn more are: On Amazon for your KINDLE: http://ow.ly/flxhF; On B&N for your NOOK: http://www.ow.ly/flyAC

Sharing Time

While teaching the poetry workshop at the ACW conference this year in Tempe, Arizona, I had only one student, so we had a good one-to-one chat with plenty of time for questions. This took me back to another ACW conference many years ago in Nashville:

At that conference I was also slated to teach the poetry workshop, and again, only one lady showed up. I told her, “If you want to attend another class, I’ll just give you my booklet on ‘Writing and Selling Your Poetry.’” (Secretly I was hoping she’d say OK as I wanted to attend another class.) But instead, she said, “Can we just talk?”

I agreed, and she began to share her story of a broken relationship with her son. Even though he and his family lived just down the block, she wasn’t allowed to visit them or see her grandchildren. Mother’s Day was coming up in a few weeks, and she was heartbroken that there would be no gift or card from them. At the end of the hour, we prayed and I offered a few suggestions.

A few days later she called me. She had gone to their house, knocked on the door, and asked to come in. She then shared some of the suggestions I had given her (with God’s leading). Her voice rang with happiness as she told me of the reconciliation.

The next month I was at another ACW conference in Atlanta, and told this story to Reg Forder, giving the lady’s name. “Oh, didn’t you hear?” he said. “She died a week after the Nashville conference of a heart attack.”

When I think of how close I came to missing out on that answer to prayer…

* * *

In John, chapter 3, Jesus gave the gospel in a nutshell to just ONE person. Is there someone you know today who is waiting to hear from you?

God bless you all this week!

Donna

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

A Step in the Write Direction--November 19, 2012

A Step in the Write Direction

November 19, 2012

Update:

Not much new to report. Excited about the Grandmother, Mother, and Me anthology coming out this week. It was a lot of work, but the book contains such neat stories, poems, and recipes, it was all worth it! Now I’m beginning to receive submissions for the Grandfather, Father, and Me book. If you’d like guidelines, email me at: dgood648@aol.com

I have two proofreading jobs here—321 and 303 pages, and two editing jobs—125 and 150 pages, so looks like this will be a busy week. The hospital where our two children work serve a free Thanksgiving for employees, families, and hospital visitors. My husband can’t walk to the cafeteria, so when our children get off work at 4:30, I’ll meet them and we’ll bring our plates home to celebrate. Praying you all have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Thought for the Day:

Mary Hollingsworth tells a story about the noted director of biblical epics, Cecil
B. DeMille. When they began working on the movie Ben Hur, DeMille talked to Charlton Heston—the star of the movie—about the all-important chariot race at the end.
He decided Heston should actually learn to drive the chariot himself, rather than
just using a stunt double. Heston agreed to take chariot-driving lessons to make
the movie as authentic as possible. Learning to drive a chariot with horses four abreast, however, was no small matter.

After extensive work and days of practice, Heston returned to the movie set and
reported to DeMille. "I think I can drive the chariot all right, Cecil," said Heston, "but I'm not at all sure I can actually win the race."

Smiling slightly, DeMille said, "Heston, you just stay in the race, and I'll make
sure you win."

Those are the words of God to everyone through a time of tumultuous change: "John,
Mary, Heather, you just stay in the race, and I'll make sure you win." Look for
God's hand. If you cannot see it in the event itself, look for it in the aftermath
when you are putting your life back together. I promise you, God's hand will be
there. (King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com)

Laugh for the Day:

"What happened to you?" asked the bystander of the man lying on the sidewalk outside of the beauty parlor. The man shook his head groggily and rubbed his bruised chin. "Well, the last thing I remember was my wife coming out of the beauty salon. I took one look at her and said, 'Well, honey ... at least you tried.'"

Reader’s Question:

Question: “I’ve been reading your devotional book 100 Motivational Moments for Writers and Speakers and I see where Betty Steele Everett sold over 4000 manuscripts. Does she have a secret to share?”

Reply: I met Betty once years ago. She sold around 2000 manuscripts the first time, and then sold them again and again as reprints. Truthfully, that’s how most Christian writers make money by selling reprints. I’ll cover that in a later blog.

Interviewing Hints (continued)

10. Writing Spin-Off Articles

Ask the subject if he or she belongs to any religious or educational organizations and, if so, do they have a publication you could submit related stories to?

11. After the Interview

Write your article as soon as possible after the interview while details are still fresh in your mind. I often send a rough draft to the interviewee if the editor allows it. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but it is a courteous gesture if you have the time, and especially if you’ve included quotations and statistics you want to verify. Send the subject a thank-you note and a copy of the published article.

12. Conclusion

The most important thing to remember in interviewing is that you’re a Christian first, a writer second. The best rule to follow is the Golden Rule. One author in a book on interviewing says that you get your best interview when you’ve turned off your recorder.

This is the same person who says you get your best quotes when the person says “This is off the record.” I don’t agree. When the subject tells me it’s off the record, it’s off the record; we shouldn’t even have to be told that. We should have an inner sense that tells us when the person is sharing something not for publication.

Treat your subject as you’d like to be treated, and you’ll be welcomed back for a second interview.

Remember, “We are called to write and we will be responsible at the Judgment for the people we could have helped but didn’t because we didn’t write what God laid on our hearts to write” (Harold Ivan Smith).

Donna

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

A Step in the Write Direction--November 12, 2012

A Step in the Write Direction

November 12, 2012

Update:

Not much to report from this last week—a usual busy week: 200-page typing (reprint of a Lloyd Ogilvie book on the Holy Spirit, great material; proofing of a 113-page book for church secretaries, and a 336-page proofing job coming today on “Difficult Bible Verses.” So it looks like I’ll be keeping out of mischief! Our pastor preached a good sermon yesterday on “Prayer and Fasting.” I wonder how many Christians still do this. One interesting point he made is that we don’t do it to seek something for ourselves, but to seek the face of God.

Thought for Today:

"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself" (Chinese Proverb).

Laugh for Today:

A grandmother was so tickled to learn that her grandchildren were coming for a week that she put a $10 bill in the offering plate.  When they went home at the end of the week, her joy must have been double because that Sunday she put a $20 bill in the plate.

Call for Submissions

I’ll be compiling another anthology of stories, poems, and recipes dealing with fathers and grandfathers. Deadline is March 31, and I’ll be looking forward for your stories. If you have a story about your husband, perhaps one of your children would like to write the story. For guidelines, email me at: dgood648@aol.com

 

Writing Hints

12 Hints on Conducting an Effective Interview (#7-9; #10-12 coming next week)

7. Take Time to Get Acquainted

This pre-interview conversation can include comments about their house, the furniture, a painting, and so on. Asking to see photos also helps to break the ice.

8. Using a Tape Recorder

I prefer face-to-face interviews as you can more accurately describe the subject—dress, gestures, and so on—and their surroundings. Also people tend to feel more at ease in their own home or office where they have access to photos and other information. Others may feel more comfortable in a neutral environment such as a coffee shop. But whether the interview is in person or over the phone, I record it to avoid any later questions regarding quotations.

If you are taping an interview over the telephone (an adapter can be purchased for this), by federal law you have to inform the subject that this is being done and get their approval on tape before asking your questions.

Test the recorder ahead of time. If you’re not using a digital recorder, take along an extra tape as the interview may turn out to be longer than expected. It’s a good idea to also take written notes during the interview in case your recorder fails.

If it’s a face-to-face interview, it’s important that you conduct it in a quiet environment. I once interviewed a Miss America contestant. Our interview took place in a crowded restaurant and we were seated near the kitchen. The banging of pots and pans and the noisy chatter of the workers filled the tape and made it hard to transcribe.

Ask the subject to spell names of people, places of employment, exact job titles, and any unusual words that will appear in the final story. Also, make sure you quote statistics accurately.

9. Stick to the Subject

It’s tempting to want to respond to the person’s comments with some of your own, but be careful that you’re not talking more than the interviewee. A newspaper religion editor, speaking to our writers’ group, said, “A good interviewer is a good listener. People want to talk; they’re excited. Ask a leading question, and then shut up.” You can let them know you understand, she suggests, by nodding your head or saying an occasional “Yes” or “I understand.”

Dennis Hensley agrees. “Observe common courtesy. Don’t talk along with them. Don’t cut them off. Don’t finish their sentences.”

Have a great week spreading the gospel through the printed page!

A Step in the Write Direction--November 6, 2012

A Step in the Write Direction

November 6, 2012

Update:

We had an unexpected trip to Urgent Care Thursday night. I saw a red streak on my husband’s arm and called our nurse. She said to get to Urgent Care as soon as possible, that it might be blood poisoning. Luckily it was only a broken blood vessel, which we learned is common for people on blood thinner medicine.

Friday and Saturday was the American Christian Writers conference in nearby Tempe, Arizona. (I founded this conference in 1982 and led it for 7 years before turning it over to Reg Forder who eventually took it nationwide.) Taught two classes on writing devotionals and poetry, and also held 15-minute appointments with writers. Saw some really well-written manuscripts that I think have a good chance of publication. Terry Whalin of Morgan James Publishing (terry@morganjamespublishing.com) was an instructor, along with Dave Lambert, formerly with Zondervan, and now with Somersault Publishing Services. Check out their Web site for a great selection of writing tips: www.Somersaultgroup.com

For the second year, I was honored to receive the “Writer of the Year” award. Thanks go to my weekly critique group “Tuesday’s Children” who help me tweak my writing and make it publishable.

Thought for Today:

So on I go not knowing;

I would not if I might;

I'd rather walk in the dark with God

Than go alone in the light;

I'd rather walk by faith with Him

Than go alone by sight.

(www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/nt/711#ixzz28Z18aer0)

Laugh for Today:

During a visit to a mental asylum, I asked the doctor, “How do you determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalized?” “Well,” said the director, “we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup, and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub.”

“Oh, I understand,” I said. “A normal person would use the bucket because it’s bigger than the spoon or the teacup.” “No,” said the director. “A normal person would pull the plug….Do you want a bed near the window?”

* * *

The Christian writers’ world lost a legend last week—Ethel Herr, a prolific writer who taught at many conferences. She also authored the book Introduction to Christian Writing. When someone asked her what she did when she received a rejection, she replied, “First I cry a bit. Then I ask God where to send it next. And I try to get it out in the mail again ASAP—preferably before I go to bed that night. I learned a little saying, ‘Never let the sun go down on a rejected manuscript.’ Once it’s back in the mail, it’s no longer rejected, just getting started one more time.”

* * *

In Shelly Hitz’ guest post, Laura Pepper Wu discusses 13 ways to generate publicity and find new customer...To see 13 ways to find new readers for your books, go to: http://bookmarketingmaven.typepad.com/book_marketing_maven/2012/10/13-ways-to-find-new-readers-for-your-books.html

Writers’ Tips:

12 Hints on Conducting an Effective Interview

Profile articles are very popular, and many magazines buy profiles of sports figures, celebrities, or just ordinary people who have an extraordinary story. If this is the type of writing you would like to do, the following hints may help.

1. Call for an Appointment

Tell the person approximately how long the interview will take and try to stick to it. This is especially important when interviewing businesspeople or others who are on a tight schedule. You may find, however, that they will be so interested in talking about themselves, they won’t want the interview to end. Older people will welcome your visit simply for the company.

2. Give Reason for the Interview

Let them know why you’re calling. Do you have an assignment and, if so, for who?

What topics will you cover?

3. Confirm Appointment

Call or e-mail the day before to confirm the appointment. I once knocked on the door of a pastor’s wife for a newspaper interview and caught her in her housecoat. She thought the appointment was an hour later. When you call, also repeat the directions to their home or office. You may even want to make a test run to the location.

4. Prepare Ahead

Find out as much as you can about this person, especially if you are going to be interviewing a celebrity. You can find information on the Internet; you can also send for a press kit for singers, authors, or other celebrities that includes biographical information such as: place and date of birth; recordings or books by the individual; photos; schedule of appearances. Don’t waste time asking questions you can obtain the answers to ahead of time.

5. And prepare yourself.

Dennis Hensley says, “When preparing for the interview, always work with Murphy’s Law (“If it can go wrong, it will go wrong”) and be prepared in advance in case your pen goes dry or your mic cord develops a short.”

6. Send List of Questions Ahead of Time

You will get a better interview if the interviewee is also prepared. Sending them a list of questions in advance is especially helpful with what I call “thought” questions: Tell me about the person who had the greatest influence on your life. Tell me about your spiritual mentor. How do you want to be remembered when you’re gone? However, don’t be limited by your list. If the person makes a comment that brings another question to mind, jot that down and come back to it later. If your article is for a magazine, the editor may suggest topics that would interest their specific readership.

(I’ll cover hints 7-12 in next week’s blog.)

Have a good week. Remember, a professional is simply one who didn’t give up!

Donna Clark Goodrich

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

A Step in the Write Direction--October 29

A Step in the Write Direction

October 29, 2012

Update:

Seven years ago when my husband was in the hospital for five weeks, a damaging storm hit our mobile home court. I was having trouble getting to sleep, and then these words came to me: “I will lay me down in peace and sleep.” I repeated them over and over, in time to my breathing, until I fell asleep. Later I found them in Psalm 4:8. I still say these words on nights when I can’t sleep.

I was disappointed in the World Series outcome, but after talking with a friend at church yesterday who lost her husband a month ago, and getting an email from a writer friend Saturday night whose husband had just died, how can I complain about baseball?

Busy week ahead. Typing a 192-page book for a publisher, have a manuscript to edit, then will be teaching two classes—How to Write and Sell Your Poetry and Writing Devotionals—at the two-day Arizona Christian Writers Conference this Friday and Saturday. Hope to see some of you there.

Thought for the Day:

Promise me you will not spend so much time treading water and trying to keep your head above the waves that you forget, truly forget, how much you have always loved to swim (Tyler Knott Gregson)

 

Laugh for the Day:

A minister had a ready Scripture for every occasion. While he was preaching, he swallowed a fly and quickly said, "He was a stranger and I took him in."

Book Recommendation:

If you’re looking for a gift for your children this Christmas, I highly recommend The First Christmas, retold by Janice D. Green. This book not only tells the story in easy-to-understand language of Joseph and Mary, but also of Elizabeth and Zechariah, the shepherds, and the wise men. Best of all, besides the delightful illustrations by Violet Vandor, the book includes questions at the end of the thirteen scenes that will lead to interesting family discussions. You can order it from Honeycomb Adventures Press, LLC.

Writing Hints:

In editing manuscripts I find that many authors do not know how to properly quote a citation. Following is a sample:

Author, name of book in italics, then in parentheses—city, state of publication, followed by colon, then name of publisher and copyright date), comma, then page number. If one page, then p. 1; if more than one page, then pp. 1-2. Actually, many publishers omit the p. and just put the page number. Example:

Goodrich, Donna. A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Book for Christian Writers (Enumclaw, WA: UpWrite Publishers, 2011), 15.

If that author and book has been cited previously in the same chapter, then you only need the last name, short title, and page number, i.e., Goodrich, A Step in the Write Direction, 15.

If author and book has been cited immediately preceding, then it's Ibid, 15.

Prayer:

I know you’re all praying for the upcoming election. But as someone wrote on Facebook, “No matter who’s president, Jesus is still King!”

Donna Goodrich

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

A Step in the Write Direction--October 22, 2012

A Step in the Write Direction

October 22, 2012

Update:

While singing an old hymn at church recently, one line jumped out at me from the song “Constantly Abiding”—“All the world seemed to sing of a Savior and King when peace sweetly came to my heart. Troubles all fled away…” Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, when we became a Christian, our troubles all fled away? Unfortunately, as we know, this isn’t always the case, and we shouldn’t assure people of this when we’re witnessing to them. But, thank God, the line preceding it is true: “Peace sweetly came to my heart.” In the midst of illness, grief, financial worries, worries about our children, we can still have peace “in the midst of the storm.” (P.S. to this: I heard a great song this week by Jason Crabb titled “Sometimes I Cry” that really shows the humanness of being a Christian.”)

This has been a good week. My husband’s Coumadin level went up to 2.2 which is now normal, and we’re thankful for all the prayers. On Tuesday morning I spoke to a group of about 130 seniors on the topic “The Freedom of Letting Go.” One man told me it helped him let go of a state he didn’t want to leave, and another woman shared how it helped her let go of a child who was living a different lifestyle.

Thought for the Day:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. (Mark Twain)

Laugh for the Day:

Five year old Betty was taken to church for the first time. After the service, the preacher stopped her and asked her how she liked it. "I liked the music okay," said Betty," but the commercial was too long."

Writing Hints:

A writer working on her first book asked some interesting questions in a recent e-mail. Thinking some of you may have these same questions, I’ve included them in this blog.

How do you decide on a Table of Contents?

It helps to outline your book ahead of time, decide how many chapters you will have, and what the titles will be. If you've looked at my Web site, you’ve seen the chapter titles of my "Freedom of Letting Go" book. (If not, they are below.)

I had been collecting material for this book for years and pretty much had the topics in mind for the chapters (based on my own experience and the experiences of friends who shared with me). So the Table of Contents was pretty easy.

How do you choose a title?

For some reason the title usually comes to me first. Perhaps your book is related to a particular Scripture verse and you can use that, or a quotation that you put on a half title page, or the words of a song. Mainly, ask yourself, if you saw this title on a store bookshelf or in a catalog, would you want to pick it up?

The Freedom of Letting Go was easy, and I took the title of my writing book A Step in the Write Direction from the name of my daylong workshops I teach. Following are some titles from articles I sold:

“Water, Water Everywhere, but Not a Drop to Drink”—an article on water beds

“The Great Cover-Up”—an article on upholstering your furniture

“Breaker, Breaker”—a story about a neighbor with an irritating CB radio that bled into

our TV and my tape recorder.

“Breakdown in Buckeye”—a personal experience story about our car’s breakdown in

Buckeye, Arizona, on the way to California, and how the Lord answered prayer.

How do you write an Introduction and long should it be?

In my Freedom book I first gave the reason for writing the book (it took me 11 years to let go of my mother after she died), then summarized the contents of the chapters. In the final book, the Introduction was 4 pages.

A note here: It also helps if you can get a well-known person to write a Foreword. For “Freedom” I was lucky enough to get Dennis Hensley, the author of about 70 books. For A Step in the Write Direction," Sally Stuart wrote a beautiful foreword.

How do you write a bio?

First, the length depends on the publisher’s requirements. I have about 10 of various lengths, depending if it’s for writing or speaking. If any of you would like to see these samples, email me at: dgood648@aol.com

Have a great week, and may God’s peace be with you,

no matter what you’re going through. Remember,

sometimes God stills the storm; other times

He chooses to walk through the storm with you.

The Freedom of Letting Go

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

1 Letting Go of Grief

Do you have trouble saying good-bye to a loved one — a spouse, a child, a parent, a friend? You can let go and move on.

2. Letting Go of Failures — Your Own and Other People’s

Sometimes it’s easier to let go of other people’s failures than it is your own. You can do both.

3. Letting Go of Your Successes

Do you keep reminding yourself and others of your successes? Are these successes in man’s eyes or God’s? Your talents are only on loan from God.

4. Letting Go of Possessions

Do you have an addiction to credit cards? Learn how to simplify your life and break the habit of craving material things to bring you happiness.

5. Letting Go of the Hurts in Your Life

Do hurtful words and actions keep spinning in your head? Do you relive the pain over and over? Put these hurts in the “forgiven” file.

6. Letting Go of Your Children

Are you experiencing the empty nest syndrome? Have your children strayed from your teachings? Let go, and leave them in God’s hands.

7. Letting Go of Health Issues

Is your main topic of conversation an “organ recital”? Do you worry about your family’s health? Let Scripture be your guide instead of WebMD.com.

8. Letting Go of Your Youth

Do clerks offer you the senior discount ten years early? Does getting old depress you? Learn how to look in the mirror and laugh!

9. Letting Go of Guilt

Even though you know God has forgiven you, do past sins come back to haunt you? You can leave them all at the cross.

10. Letting Go of Control

Do you always have to be in charge? Does it bother you when someone else is? Accept the fact that God is in control — and He does a much better job.

11. Letting Go of Worry

If worry was an Olympic event, would you take home the gold medal? Turn them over to God and relax.

12. Letting Go of Doubt

Have your family and friends nicknamed you “Thomas”? Accept God’s promises and know that His foundation stands sure (2 Timothy 2:19 kjv).

13. Letting Go of Fear

Are you fearful of tomorrow? There are 365 “fear nots” in God’s Word — one for each day of the year. Select one and make it your own.

The Land Beyond Letting Go

Now that you’ve let go of the things holding you back, discover what can take their place so you can “press on toward the goal” (Philippians 3:14 niv).

 

Donna Clark Goodrich

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

A Step in the Write Direction--October 15

A Step in the Write Direction

October 15, 2012

Update:

I need some prayer today. Believe it or not, I bumped my head again last week on the corner of a metal file cabinet drawer and have a headache. Also, I had to go to the eye doctor twice who removed some eyelashes from my eye that had scratched the cornea. It’s still sore—and tomorrow I’ll be speaking on “The Freedom of Letting Go” to about 150 seniors. I’m praying I’ll be 100% better by then!

Today my husband’s has another Coumadin test to see if his level has gone up. They told him a month ago he had a blood clot in the heart and put him on the blood thinner. His level is supposed to be between 2 and 3. So far it’s only been 1 and 1.3, even though they keep increasing the dosage. He’s up to 3 a day now of 4 mg. So at 2:30 we’ll find out if that’s enough….Also my sister is having a new pacemaker put in today.

I proofread the final copies last week of the grandmother/mother anthology, and also the Advent book “Preparing Your Heart for Christmas” and sent back corrections. So as you can see, it’s been a crazy week here as usual. Our pastor preached a good sermon yesterday on prayer. Aren’t you thankful you don’t have to make an appointment to ask God for help? Or press 1 for English, 2 for another language, or leave a Voice Mail.

I don’t very often forward YouTube information, but if you want to hear a beautiful rendition of “How Great Thou Art” in which one man sings all four parts, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=dxCRIF0m79w&feature=related

Thought for the Day:

“When you’re in a difficult place, realize that the Lord either placed you there, or allowed you to be there for reasons known only to Him. The same God who led you there will lead you out” (My pastor Ira Brown, 7/8/12).

Laugh for the Day:

 

One Sunday, a pastor shared a financial need with his congregation and asked them to donate more than usual into the offering plate, saying that whoever gave the most would be able to pick out three hymns. After the offering plates were passed, the pastor saw that someone had placed a $1,000 bill in the offering. Excited, he said he'd like to personally thank the person who placed the money in the plate. A very quiet, elderly, saintly looking lady shyly raised her hand. The pastor called her to the front, told her how wonderful it was that she gave so much, and in thanks asked her to pick out three hymns. Her eyes brightened as she looked over the congregation, pointed to the three most handsome men in the building, and said, "I'll take him and him and him."

Writing Hints:

For any of you who write poetry, there’s a good article in this month’s “Writing for Dollars.” Check it out at: http://www.writingfordollars.com/2012/vol16num13.cfm There’s also a place where you can subscribe to this free newsletter.

Supplies (continued)—Books:

 

Roget’s Thesaurus

Strunk/White Elements of Style

World Almanac/atlas

Rhyming dictionary (if a poet)

Writer’s Market

Christian Writer’s Market Guide

Chicago Manual of Style 15th edition

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 11th edition (12^th edition coming soon)

Though you can find much of this material online, I love my books of poetry and

quotations. I also have a number of biographical books in which I can look up almost

any famous person and find a few paragraphs about him or her, including their date of

birth and/or death. Depending on your writing, you may want to purchase medical and

legal dictionaries, and other books relating to your particular genre.

You’ll also find it useful to get on government mailing lists. If you send to any one of the following three agencies, you can receive tons of information on various topics. Much of this information is free; the rest can be obtained for a small fee.

U.S. Government Printing Office

Superintendent of Documents

Washington, D.C. 20402

www.gpo.gov/

(on GPO Quick Links, click on Catalog of U.S. Government Publications)

Consumer Information Center

Department CA

Pueblo, CO 81009

http://pueblo.gsa.gov/

(ask to be put on mailing and e-mail list)

The Council of Better Business Bureaus

4200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22203-1838

www.bbb.org/us/

(ask for list of publications)

(information also available on this Web site for Canadian Council)

You can also get on other mailing lists such as the Department of Education and

Department of Health Welfare. These offices will send you fact sheets on such topics as

abortion, latchkey kids, and many others, including changes in legislation.

***

I pray you have a good week. Next week we’re answering some questions a reader asked about writing an Introduction, a bio, and a Table of Contents.

Donna

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