Friday--The Writer's Porch

Edit-Revise-Edit

Today I finish the "Top Ten Paths to Publication." Number 10—edit-revise-edit. When you think you are finished writing let your manuscript sit. Put it in a drawer for a few days, then pull it out and read it again. Read it aloud to yourself. Listen for the rhythm and cadence of your writing. How does it sound?

Read it through and delete any unnecessary words. These will usually be adverbs. Delete the adverbs and use stronger verbs. For example:

He ran quickly to the car.
He raced to the car.

In addition, I always have at least two other people read my manuscript. Even when I read my own writing aloud, I tend to insert the words I think should be there. So by having a couple more sets of eyes read it, I will get a better final product. My husband is one of my proofers. (Now I can’t recommend that for everyone, but it works for me.) Also, my dear friend and relative, Margaret Traudt, proofs for me. She has done a great job for me, so great that she has begun to do it as a small business. If you are interested you can contact Margaret for more information at: jt15708@peoplepc.com

Babbling about Books--Thursday--Our Greatest Gift

Our Greatest Gift: A Meditation on Dying and Caring
Henri Nouwen
Non-fiction
Publisher: HarperCollins
(1994)

By coincidence, I was reading Our Greatest Gift: A Meditation on Dying and Caring during these past couple weeks of such high profile deaths. Each time I hear of the death of a celebrity or grieve over the passing of a friend it makes me reflect on my own mortality. How many more years do I have?

I am not afraid of dying, but still I think about it. Henri Nouwen’s book is a grace-filled, compassionate look at death and dying. Are you thinking, “How morbid is that?” Well, perhaps a bit, but at the same time this book is comforting and thought-provoking.

Nouwen was somewhat of a modern day mystic. He was a native of Holland, author of dozens of books and a caregiver for people with mental disabilities. I have read a few of his books, but I think this one is my favorite. If you are a Nouwen fan, I think you’ll like this.

See you tomorrow,

Writing and Wildlife

Last week I took some time away for a bit of writing. Now, I will admit I didn't get a ton of writing done, but I sure had a great time watching the wildlife from the window.

To the right is a raccoon stealing some birdseed. Then she turned to look at me. (I could tell it was a "she"
because she wasn't wearing a nursing bra. )

A squirrel, finches, quail, hummingbird and wild flowers. There's nothing like nature to bring out the writing muse.

Hey, remember I live in Las Vegas. (The wildlife here is much different than this--smile! )

I love God's beautiful world.
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5.

Friday--The Writers' Porch--Finding Your Voice (Part 2)

Find Your Own Voice (Part 2)

Several years ago I bumped into an acquaintance that I had made at a She Speaks Conference. Lisa Richardson had been an attendee and I had taught one of the workshops at She Speaks. We met again at the International Christian Retailers Conference in Georgia. We were both sitting in the Harvest House hospitality room waiting to pitch our books to editors. Lisa recognized me and we began to chat about our book proposals. We reconnected as writers and our friendship blossomed.

She was pitching a book that told some of her very unique life experiences. (I can’t remember what I pitched—it was rejected.) Lisa’s book sounded great. I thought she would get a contract for sure, but she didn’t for that book.

However, after a few months Lisa began to feel that she needed to pursue a different genre. She decided that the Lord was leading her to write a book about tea. Obediently, she switched gears and became an expert on tea. About five years later, my friend has completed two contracts with Harvest House for gift books on tea. Why? Because although she had a great book the first time, God’s purpose for her was completely different. She listened to His voice and found her voice in the publishing world. Her first book just released—Tea with a Twist.

For myself, I felt for years that I was called to write Bible studies. Also, the Lord had placed in my heart the seed for a devotional book for parents of wayward children. I trudged to writers’ conference after writers’ conference with my proposals in my hand and pitched them. Repeatedly I heard, “Bible studies and devotionals are almost impossible for a new author to receive a contract on—publishers only want a recognized name.”

I didn’t give up. I felt that this was the direction the Lord was leading me at the time. It was. My first contract was for Perplexing Proverbs: A Woman’s Study and my second was for Birds in My Mustard Tree: How to Grow Faith.

Finally, my 3rd was the devotional book, Divine Prayers for Despairing Parents. Honestly, I cannot tell you how many times Divine Prayers was rejected, but God’s timing is always perfect. I was able to perfect my voice of writing and truly write from the depths of my own heart.

I want to encourage every writer who has received the heart-piercing rejection letter to keep writing, stay submitting, and continue to search for your personal voice and genre. Allow the Lord to steer you in another direction. Perhaps you want to write fiction, but He may direct you to a non-fiction book. Or maybe a devotional is your heart’s desire, yet God may want you to write a children’s book.

Here’s my best advice on searching for your own voice—listen to God’s. Proverbs 3:6, Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (NLT) Amen!

Babbling about Books--Thursday--The 4 A.M. Breakthrough

The 4 A.M. Breakthrough
Brian Kiteley
Non-fiction
Publisher: Writers’ Digest Books
(2008)

My husband states I am addicted to books—all kinds. But I admit that books on how to write top my list of favorites. Last week I told you about This Year You Write Your Novel. Today I want to sing the praise of a great tool to overcome writers’ block. Its title is The 4:00 A.M. Breakthrough by Brian Kitely.

It gives 200 stimulating ideas to jump start your writing. It’s great for those days when you look at the screen, nothing creative creeps into your thoughts, so you decide it might be a good time to play a few rounds of Solitaire.

In addition, I think it's great to help practice your writing in general. If you are a beginning writer, these short assignments will be great practice. If you are a professional writer, they are fun to do because they are creative—without a deadline.

Here’s a partial excerpt to give you an idea of what The 4 A.M. Breakthrough is like in content.

Birth Order: Write a fragment of fiction about a three-sibling family. The youngest and the middle children battle the oldest for something. This should be a war of wits, not fists, or hair pulling. 500 words. (Kiteley page 221).

If you’re a writer and like this type of exercise, this is a great book. There are many books along this line to help break through writers’ block, but The 4:00 A.M. Breakthrough is more on the literary side. It is available through Amazon along with many other books published by Writers’ Digest books specifically to enhance the craft of writing.

See you tomorrow on The Writer’s Porch.

Just a Spoonful of Sugar

Do your remember Mary Poppins singing, "Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down." Humpf! Tell that to my three-year-old granddaughter who just had her tonsils out. At this point she doesn't care how much sugar or flavoring is in it. She's not swallowing nothin'!

Which brings me to another point. Everytime I go to the pharmacy I read a sign with a smile child that states, "Get your medicine in your favorite flavor--cherry, lime, or grape. My question is, do we want children to "like" medicine? Or perhaps it might be worthwhile for it to taste nasty. Hmmm...just a thought since I have two adult friends who like prescription drugs way too much.

And on another note, I went to the dermalogist for an overall skin check. He says, "My, you have a lot of sun damage." (Really, I was a sun worshipper for years and I live in Las Vegas.)

Then he says, "I have a wonderful cream that will rejuvenate your skin. It's by prescription only." He proceeds to tell me all the miraculous things this will do for me--makes it sound like I will look 25 again.

Sold! He writes me the prescription and advises I fill it at Walmart since it won't be covered by insurance.

Okey Dokey! Off I traipse to Wally World. I wait for 30 minutes. I go to pick it up and the clerk looks at me and says, "We don't have it in stock, we have to order it. Plus, it will be $177.00."

Eeek! I told her never mind. I will just go back to my Oil of Olay. Maybe I'll add some sugar to it and make a facial sugar scrub.

If It's Not One Thing

Yesterday was Father's Day. My husband and I spent it lounging around. He went motorcycle riding, read the Sunday paper and watched the US Open -- a great day for him. Later, he took me to Borders for a great cup of coffee and we split a double chocolate cupcake. Yummy.

Later, my sister called to let me know that my beloved step-mom had been taken to the emergency room. To make a long story short, after hours and much testing in the emergency room, they sent her home. I think she is going to be fine and someone is staying with her tonight. I wish I could be there, but I am 500 miles away.

Tomorrow my chickadee peep, Emily, is having her tonsils out. Oh, I wish I could be with her, but she is 1700 miles away. Thankfully, our Father's eyes are on the sparrow--both young and old.

Thank you, Father, for being a great Dad always.