Committed to the Craft

Committed to the Craft
Net's Notations Tuesdays
New Commitment Series

Hey readers, Annette here. My daughters and I recently visited a craft store in preparation for Christmas. Fun place! Paints, stencils, thread, yarn, beads, and bolts and bolts of fabric. My heart actually ached to get back to some kind of crafting. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed embroidery and painting, mostly. But it’s been a long time since I’ve given myself permission to work on any of it.

I’ve been a little preoccupied with a different craft—writing. I have shelves full of writing craft books and not enough hours to read them all. I have highlighted, dog-eared how-to plot books and grammar books, and market guides coming out my ears. *chuckle*

If you’ve been a writer for long, you know the kind of commitment required when it comes to craft. That first critique at a conference or that first personalized rejection letter will tell you where your weaknesses are. And though it stings, pay attention. We could all use more understanding of craft.

Many of our author friends who’ve been multi-published will tell you they’re committed to never stop focusing on craft. They make time in their writing lives to study and grow and learn. And these are some well-renowned peeps I’m talking about. *grin* So, if it’s one of their commitments, learning the craft should be one of ours, too.

If you get a chance this Christmas season, grab a writing craft book and a highlighter and tuck yourself away for even a half hour. The great virtue of studying how to write is you can use the nuggets you learn the next time you sit down to pound out some words on your WIP.

Is it time you renewed your commitment to the craft of writing? Maybe you could add a how-to book to your Christmas wish list.

Happy studying and happy writing!

Subtext in Fiction: Staging by Bonnie Grove

Happy Manuscript Monday, dear readers. (Annette here.) Hope you had a very nice Thanksgiving weekend! Today we're welcoming back Bonnie Grove as she continues her series on subtexts in fiction. In our email interactions, Bonnie mentioned enjoying delving into the deeper concepts in fiction writing. I've really appreciated that, too. How about you? Enjoy!

Subtext in Fiction: Staging
by Bonnie Grove

Last week we talked about subtext in dialogue. This was the place to start to understand subtext and its influence on the reader. An advanced look at subtext focuses on staging.

Arthur Plotnik said of staging, “Every storyteller invents stage business—the actions, gestures, and thoughts that surround dialogue and sometimes leak into the dialogue itself. Stage business–or "shtik" as I call it—gives dimensions of space, time, and texture to the linear output of talking heads.”

Many writers shortcut this kind of staging, opting for generic tags; actions such as nodding, head shaking of any sort, blinking, smiling, furrowing of brows, et al., that don’t move plot, deepen understanding of a character, or add meaning to the scene. If you are unfamiliar with the various shtik available to you as a writer, read Art’s full article by clicking the link above before reading further here.

Refer to your subtext mini-scene from last time where the single line of dialogue is, “I don’t understand why you are arguing with me.” Try mixing and matching different bits of staging to this line (speech, action, absolute, thought, or stage direction). Then ask yourself: 1) How does this tag deepen character? 2) Does it communicate meaning beyond the stated text? 3) How does it do this?

In addition to shtik, staging can also refer to the micro-setting in which a scene (or even an entire novel) takes place. A room in a house, an office space, a particular spot in a public park, for example. Charles Baxter, in his book The Art of Subtext: Beyond Plot explains the marriage of subtext and staging, “Staging in fiction involves putting characters in specific strategic positions in the scene so that some unvoiced nuance is revealed . . . It [staging + subtext] shows us how the characters are behaving, and it shows us what they cannot say through the manner in which they say what they can say.”

In her novel Gilead, Marilynne Robinson creates Reverend John Ames, elderly and ill who writes a journal to his too-young son in hopes of imparting something of himself to the boy who will grow up without his father. Throughout the novel the reader is acutely aware of the sub-textual presence of time–time’s passing, lost, wasted, and yearning for more. Robinson uses staging subtext to build the setting of time’s passing inside John Ames’s mind, which spills onto every other part of his existence.

"And memory is not strictly mortal in its nature, either. It is a strange thing, after all, to be able to return to a moment when it can hardly be said to have any reality at all, even in its passing. A moment is such a slight thing. I mean, that its abiding is a most gracious reprieve."

The thread of yearning for what cannot have–more time–runs throughout the novel in subtext.

Next time we will visit subtext within our characters via attention and inattention. (Look for this post in January.)

~~~~~

Bonnie Grove started writing when her parents bought a typewriter, and she hasn’t stopped since. Trained in counseling, theology and psychology, she developed and wrote strength-based social programs for families at risk while landing articles and stories in anthologies. She is the award winning, and internationally published author of Talking to the Dead: a Novel. She and husband, Steve, have two young children and one small dog. They make their home in Saskatchewan.

~~~~~

Talking to the Dead by Bonnie Grove (David C. Cook, publisher)

Twenty-something Kate Davis can’t seem to get this grieving widow thing right. She’s supposed to put on a brave face and get on with her life, right? Instead she’s camped out on her living room floor, unwashed, unkempt, and unable to sleep—because her husband Kevin keeps talking to her.

Is she losing her mind?

Kate’s attempts to find the source of the voice she hears are both humorous and humiliating, as she turns first to an “eclectically spiritual” counselor, then a shrink with a bad toupee, an exorcist, and finally group therapy. There she meets Jack, the warmhearted, unconventional pastor of a ramshackle church, and at last the voice subsides. But when she stumbles upon a secret Kevin was keeping, Kate’s fragile hold on the present threatens to implode under the weight of the past…and Kevin begins to shout.

Will the voice ever stop? Kate must confront her grief to find the grace to go on, in this tender, quirky first novel about embracing life.

My Journey to Publication by Mae Nunn

This holiday weekend, we focus on our many blessings and give thanks. We’re filled with gratitude because we believe in a God who knows what is best for us not only as spouses, parents, children, friends, and employees—but also as writers. Today, author Mae Nunn shares how He led her in her own journey to publication. Welcome, Mae!

My Journey to Publication

About a dozen years ago I finished a wonderful book with a deceptively simple concept and thought to myself, I can do that. In fact, I knew of a guy with a pretty incredible survival story and thought he'd make a unique hero. So, I signed up for a continuing education class on writing romance novels. Two years down the road I'd written a couple hundred pages of back story and had no idea how to move to the next level. That's when I heard about Romance Writers of America. Through RWA I found Georgia Romance Writers where I met coaches for my craft and sisters to encourage me. It was at a GRW meeting that I pitched to a Harlequin editor who asked to see a few chapters of my book.

It took six months but the editor eventually asked for my full manuscript. I got it in the mail right away and resumed my wait. Six more months passed and in order to get a fifteen minute appointment with that same editor I traveled two thousand miles to attend a the RWA national conference in Denver. Alas, my manuscript hadn't yet made it to the top of her slush pile. She asked me to check back with her in three months. Three months came and went. I inquired politely (Polite protocol is a must!) and she apologized for the delay and asked for another thirty days to read my submission.

By this time it was the fall of 2002. One night in my church community group meeting we talked about areas in our lives where we were holding out on God. That night I confessed to my friends that I knew God had a plan for my writing, but I wanted to go in a different direction first and that if it didn't work out I'd try it His way. (Feel free to laugh out loud at me here.) One of the women in my group looked at me like I'd just sprouted a horn in the middle of my forehead. "You have a word directly from God on your writing and you're ignoring it?" And at that moment I saw the absurdity of my approach to getting published.

The next day I called the editor and asked her to return my manuscript and allow me to rewrite it as an inspirational romance. I also boldly asked her to give my submission priority once I returned it. She not only agreed to my request she actually encouraged me toward the Love Inspired line because it was expanding. I spent three months rewriting a book that I'd already worked on for four years! But I eventually resubmitted and settled in to wait. Good to her word, the editor called me a month later and said she loved the story! But… there's always a “but” isn't there? But the New York editorial staff had just been reorganized and she was no longer able to buy for Love Inspired. Before I could work up a good scream, she hurried on to thank me for being so patient with her and for working so hard on the rewrite, and she offered to submit it directly to the Executive Editor of Steeple Hill along with a letter of introduction.

Picture me sitting at my desk on 3/13/03 at 3:00 when THE CALL came. It was Joan Marlow Golan on the line. For Joan that phone call was all in a day's work. For me it was a life-changing experience. Nothing much can ever compare to the sheer elation of hearing that my first book was SOLD! Talk about being rewarded for accepting and following the call on my writing! Since that fateful day in March of 2003 I’ve written seven more books for Steeple Hill and the editor who originally asked me to submit my manuscript is now my editor as well as the Senior Editor of Love Inspired! The take-aways of my story; OBEY THE HOLY SPIRIT, work hard at your craft, be patient, be flexible and be thankful! Until we meet again, let your light shine!

Mae Nunn grew up in Houston and graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Communications. When she fell for a transplanted Englishman living in Atlanta she moved to Georgia and made an effort to behave like a Southern Belle. But when she found that her husband was quite agreeable to life as a Born Again Texan, Mae happily returned to her cowgirl roots and cowboy boots! In 2008 Mae retired from 30 years of corporate life to focus on her career as a Christian author. When asked how she felt about writing full time for Steeple Hill, Mae summed her response up with one word, “Yeeeeeha!” Visit Mae at www.MaeNunn.com.

We Give Thanks

Thursdays – Dawn’s Devotions for Writers

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalm 100:4 NIV)

Dear Readers,

Annette, Ocieanna, and I are so grateful for you and the many guest authors who contributed to Seriously Write’s success this year. Thank you!

As we gather with families and friends on this special holiday, we hope that you, too, are enjoying a wonderful day.

On behalf of our readers, we want to thank and praise our loving God.


Lord,

This Thanksgiving Day we’re filled with gratitude for the many blessings in our lives.

Thank you for …

Husbands and wives who believe in us and our dreams

Patient children, who at times must wait for our attention

Friends who support a passion they don’t always understand

Critique groups who provide encouragement and honest feedback

Mentors who teach and help guide us on this journey

Agents who look out for our best interest

Editors who assist in taking our work to a higher level

Good health while struggling to meet deadlines

Writer friends who understand us and our world, as only other writers can

And Lord, thank you also for …

Imagination

Characters who breathe, live, and grow on the page

Plot solutions that arrive in the middle of the night

The ability to give hope and inspiration through story

The privilege to share your love and forgiveness through our words

Amen

Q and A about Writing with Bonnie Grove

Everyone needs a break now and then, so we’re giving our grammar guru the day off. Ocieanna will return next Wednesday with more grammar fun and answers to last week's quiz.

This past Manuscript Monday, author Bonnie Grove shared a great article on writing subtext. Part 2 of that article will be given next Monday. In the meantime, we're glad she's back today, answering common questions asked by writers. Welcome, Bonnie!

Q and A about Writing

I enjoy talking with new writers. I’ve met with many at conferences and in chatting with them, and answering their questions (as best I could) I’ve noticed themes in the questions people ask. I'd like to share some words of advice regarding some of the common questions I’ve heard over the past few years.

Question: Where do I start as a writer?

Answer: Read. The first step to becoming a writer is to understand literature. Reading broadly expands your understanding of how literature works, the purposes it serves, and the nearly endlessly creative ways you can approach story telling. Novelist Jim Harrison gives this important advice: "Be totally familiar with the entirety of the western literary tradition. How can you write well unless you know what passes for the best; in the last three or four hundred years?"

Q: Should I plan and structure a novel before I write, or just start writing?

A. Bones. I spoke to many people who didn't understand the structure of the novel. Genre or literary, all novels have plot points the reader is expecting, and if we don’t hit these points, the readers will be disappointed. We all like to think that great books simply pour out of writer’s fingertips, but the truth is the more you plan ahead of time, the less mess you’ll have to clean up in editing. Structuring and planning your novel will not strangle your creativity. It will accomplish the opposite.

Q: How wide a margin should I use in a query letter? What about in the manuscript? Is there a specific font I should use? (and many other questions to this effect)

A: Be creative. Publishing seems filled with rules. How to write a query letter, synopsis, one sentence hook, premise, elevator pitch, and on it goes. It’s enough to give a new writer facial ticks. But fussing over the rules too much can dam up your creative funkiness. Don’t worry so much about the rules that you forgot the true goal, writing a deeply creative, original story in a compelling voice and style. Being amazing is better than being technically correct.

Q: What is the best genre for me to tell my story? I want to tell a story that teaches people ______________ (fill in the blank with a good lesson people need to learn).

A: Message driven fiction is boring. All fiction is spiritual in nature because fiction is the human experience set to story. When writing, it's important to focus on the story - not the moral of the story. Don't write a novel about redemption. Write a novel about characters that live and breathe and experience redemption in a powerful (and unique, and original) way. The message of your story will rise to the surface precisely because you placed it where it belongs - implicitly inside the movement of the story.

Q: What is the most important quality a writer should possess?

A: Being a writer presupposes self-understanding. There are more good answers to that question then I can think up, but I’d like to suggest that a writer of fiction needs to a good grasp of their own identity, flaws and all. A writer should be able to look himself in the eye and “this is your truth”. And secondly, I think a writer needs empathy for the human condition.

Keep writing, keep learning, and let’s have fun out there.




Bonnie Grove started writing when her parents bought a typewriter, and she hasn’t stopped since. Trained in Christian Counseling, theology and psychology, she developed and wrote strength-based social programs for families at risk while landing articles and stories in anthologies. She is the award winning author of the non-fiction Your Best You: Discovering and Developing the Strengths God Gave You; and the internationally published Talking to the Dead: a Novel. Her husband, Steve, is the Senior Pastor of Louise Street Community Church of the Nazarene in Saskatchewan, Canada. They have two young children and one small dog.

To learn more, please visit:
http://www.bonniegrove.com/
http://novelmatters.blogspot.com/
http://fictionmatters.blogspot.com/

Giving Thanks and Giving Back

Giving Thanks and Giving Back
Net's Notations Tuesdays
New Commitments Series

Hey readers, Annette here. It's almost Thanksgiving! I've been thinking lately about how thankful I am for the many, many writers who have influenced my writing, encouraged me, critiqued my work, taught a workshop I attended, etc.

Long before I ever started plotting stories in my head, or seeing scenarios consisting of characters of my own invention depicting scenes of my own invention, I read books by talented authors. And without even knowing me, they inspired me, influenced me.

Later, the day came when I chose to write and gave it a try, thinking, vainly, I could jump right in and make a success of it. Ha! Twelve years later I’m still learning (which won’t stop). I have a pile of unpublished manuscripts hoping for homes while I try new projects. I’m a reader, writer and editor, and I know this is where I’m called to be.

There are authors with tons more experience than me. And there are writers with less experience than me. I land on the line somewhere, just like you. If you’re of the mind to help writers/authors, here are some ideas:

~ You could offer advice, encouragement, lessons in your strengths.
~ You could serve as an influencer and encourage readers to buy your favorite books.
~ You could post book reviews online.
~ You could blog on writing.
~ You could critique someone else’s work and offer your opinion.

There are many ways you could give back to the writing community. Giving back may require a new commitment. If so, I encourage you to make it. There is so much joy in giving.

This season as we give thanks and look forward to Christmas, consider the various ways you could give back to those who’ve helped you along your writing path. You might be surprised how God blesses you in the blessing.

Ghosts of Subtext by Bonnie Grove

Happy Manuscript Monday, dear readers! Annette here. Today we're in for a treat. Bonnie Grove is here to discuss subtext--a rich tool for layering up your fiction. She'll return twice next week--once with another article on subtexts and once on Writer's Journey Wednesday with some writing tips. But for now, check out this great piece on subtext in fiction. Enjoy!

Ghosts of Subtext
by Bonnie Grove

Great fiction is haunted. Between the words linger the ghosts of human love, hunger, hope, suffering, self-doubt. They whisper in the reader’s ear, yet when the reader attempts to locate the source, it vanishes. The reader returns to the passage that so moved her, revisits the sweet ache, waits for the ghost to speak again. And they dance; the reader and fiction’s ghost, whose name is subtext.

How does the writer go about chasing ghosts around the page when there is enough to worry about inside the solid plot and characters already running amok? And why should we fuss with subtext when the message of our story rings like church bells on a cold morning? And what is subtext anyway?

Charles Baxter, in his slim volume The Art of Subtext refers to it as “the unspoken soul matter” of a story. A phrase that captures the essence, if not the substance. Another favorite description is the moving picture image of a dinner party where everyone discusses the people who aren’t there. Those not present are palpable in their absence. It is as if they were there.

Most discussion of subtext in fiction focus on it use within dialogue. This harkens to its theatrical counterpart where actors dramatize their lines so as to infuse texture and human vulnerability to their part. This is the simplest form and usage of subtext, a handy place to start (but beware, as with all the instruments in your writing tool box, the important skill to master is knowing when to use it, and when not to. Subtext in dialogue is best used sparingly, and in tune with characters and plot).

Subtext in dialogue is intuitive to the writer. The tool feels familiar in your hand. Here is an exercise with which to impress yourself: Your character speaks to someone, “I don’t understand why you’re arguing with me.” Craft a scene that lasts as long as it takes to speak this one line. Then, infuse the line with a dialogue tag--in this case, an explanation of how the line is spoken. How have you imagined this line would be said?

Think about the same line of dialogue, but infuse the line with a ghost. Your character speaks the identical line, but with the subtext--the unspoken soul matter of: “I want to make you to love me.” How has subtext altered your dialogue tag?

The subtext has flavored the scene. From direct confrontation:

Arms folded, she eyed her son, “I don’t understand why you’re arguing with me.”

To the ache of uncertainty:

She picked up the sweater from where he had tossed it on the floor, pressed it to her lips. “I don’t understand why you’re arguing with me.”

The subtle differences, over the space of a story or novel, add up to the story lingering in the mind of the reader long after the last word is read.

Next week, we’ll look at two other ways to employ this tool: staging, and using character attention and inattention.

~~~~~
Talking to the Dead: A Novel by Bonnie Grove (David C. Cook, publisher)

Twenty-something Kate Davis can’t seem to get this grieving widow thing right. She’s supposed to put on a brave face and get on with her life, right? Instead she’s camped out on her living room floor, unwashed, unkempt, and unable to sleep—because her husband Kevin keeps talking to her.

Is she losing her mind?

Kate’s attempts to find the source of the voice she hears are both humorous and humiliating, as she turns first to an “eclectically spiritual” counselor, then a shrink with a bad toupee, an exorcist, and finally group therapy. There she meets Jack, the warmhearted, unconventional pastor of a ramshackle church, and at last the voice subsides. But when she stumbles upon a secret Kevin was keeping, Kate’s fragile hold on the present threatens to implode under the weight of the past…and Kevin begins to shout.

Will the voice ever stop? Kate must confront her grief to find the grace to go on, in this tender, quirky first novel about embracing life.

~~~~~

Bonnie Grove started writing when her parents bought a typewriter, and she hasn’t stopped since. Trained in counseling, theology and psychology, she developed and wrote strength-based social programs for families at risk while landing articles and stories in anthologies. She is the award winning, and internationally published author of Talking to the Dead: a Novel. She and husband, Steve, have two young children and one small dog. They make their home in Saskatchewan.

My Journey to Publication by Dan Walsh

This Fortifying Friday we welcome author Dan Walsh to Seriously Write. I’m so glad we're able to share his story with you. Dan’s journey to publication is a little unusual, but it’s a great example of how God works. He has a unique plan for each one of us. A writer’s journey may have similarities to other authors, but it will always be different and special in its own way. Thanks, Dan, for sharing yours with us.

My Journey to Publication

When Dawn e-mailed, asking me to consider sharing my publishing journey with you all, I was initially reluctant. You might think it’s a story any writer would love to shout from the rooftops. I’ve included a picture of a turtle to help illustrate my problem. The path I followed to getting my first novel published is about as unlikely as that turtle sitting on top of that fencepost (and would be just as challenging for someone else to follow).

For about a year after, I didn’t want to tell my story to any of the authors I met online, but you can’t avoid it. It’s one of the small-talk questions writers ask each other. I’m more comfortable talking about it now because it is, after all, the story God chose for me. Who am I to question His ways?

My passion to write began during an 11th grade composition course (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth). By the end of that year, I knew I wanted to write novels. A year later, I came to Christ and it totally messed up my plans. I suddenly realized I had nothing to say. So I set my writing dreams aside and made my aim to get to know the Lord better. This led toward a call to ministry. For the next 20 years, I didn’t write another thing (except sermons).

By 1997, my wife Cindi and I had two small children. I was the lone pastor of a growing church. At a conference, pastors were challenged to pick up a hobby as a way to release stress and avoid burnout. Cindi suggested I start writing fiction again.

At Christmastime that year, the storyline for what became The Unfinished Gift (my first published novel) began playing in my head, like scenes from a movie. Over the next two days I wrote a five-page synopsis, then set out to write the book. A few months later, with the book half-finished, I knew it just wasn’t the right time. Writing had quickly grown from a hobby to an obsession. I could either stop writing or become a bad dad. I set the book down and didn’t write another thing for 10 more years.

In 2007, Cindi urged me to pick up the book again and finish it. It just seemed like the right time. Both our children were now grown, and I had already begun to train someone to take my place at the church. So I pulled the book out, brushed off the cobwebs, and finished writing it before summer’s end.

Here’s where the fencepost thing comes into play.

From everything I’d read, I should expect an extremely frustrating process from this point, with many years of constant rejection. That didn’t happen. Instead … I have only one rejection letter in my drawer.

Working from a list of the top literary agents in Christian fiction, I submitted my first three query letters, including a brief synopsis and the first three chapters. After one rejection letter, two more letters came. But agents two and three asked to read the entire manuscript! Within two weeks, one of them got back with me, confident she could get a contract for the book.

We had the contract with Revell for The Unfinished Gift less than two months later. A few months after that, Revell bought the sequel called The Homecoming. It released this past June. Before it even hit the shelves, Revell offered me a contract to write three more novels.

My third novel, The Deepest Waters, is coming out on April 1 (the cover is amazing). I finished the fourth book in September, another Christmas novel coming out next year. At the moment, I’m about 80 pages into my fifth book, due out in the spring of 2012.

This past September, my first novel, The Unfinished Gift, won two Carol awards at ACFW’s annual conference.

Somehow, and for reasons I can’t begin to fathom, God just picked me up off the grass and plopped me on top of that fencepost. I skipped the hardest part. I have no idea how I got here and no idea how to advise anyone else still along the way.

I’ve pondered why God allowed me to experience such favor, with so little effort on my part (except the writing itself). I’m still not sure. Perhaps, every now and then, God chooses some to be living monuments to the reality of this truth: Nothing is impossible for God.

It’s not all up to us and our efforts. We don’t have to live our lives as orphans, fending for ourselves (including our journey toward publication). If God the Father knows when a lone sparrow falls in the forest, He knows our situation, down to the smallest detail.

When I stand before God, I don’t stand before Him as a multi-published, award-winning author. Those of you still not published stand right beside me. We both stand before Him as beloved children. His love for us is the same and, because of Christ, will never be removed. May I encourage you to pull away often from the frenzied pace―whenever you’re tempted to believe it’s all up to you―and allow His love for you to regain first place and refresh your soul.

Keep working hard at it, keep writing and refining and listening to good advice. But always know, you are loved, and you are His. No earthly prize will ever compare to this.




Dan Walsh is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Christian Author’s Network. His first novel, The Unfinished Gift won two Carol Awards from ACFW for best debut author and best short historical fiction. The sequel, The Homecoming, released in June 2010. His third novel, The Deepest Waters, will hit the shelves on April 1, 2011. His publisher, Revell, has signed him to write two more novels. The fourth is another Christmas novel due out next year. He’s busy now researching and writing his fifth book. For those who haven’t read Dan’s novels, reviewers often compare his books to Richard Paul Evans, Jason Wright and Nicholas Sparks. He served as a pastor for 25 years, then retired from ministry and now writes fulltime in the Daytona Beach area, where he lives with Cindi, his wife of 34 years (and the only woman he has ever loved). They have two children, both now grown (their first grandchild is on the way).

Dan’s Internet Links:
website: http://www.danwalshbooks.com/
blog: http://danwalshbooks.blogspot.com/
twitter: http://twitter.com/authordanwalsh

The Work of Our Hands

Thursdays – Dawn’s Devotions for Writers

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.” (Psalm 90:17 NIV)

Do you desire God to favor—honor the work of your hands?

I think we all do.

We spend countless hours researching, plotting, outlining, and writing our stories. Then we may ask a critique group, or hire an editor, to give suggestions on how to improve our work. We write and rewrite. Then one day we send a query letter, or submit a proposal, hoping that our story or article will be published.

We wait—and pray. We ask God to bless our work. We may even beg him to find favor with us and our submissions, and reward us with a sale.

After all, shouldn’t all that labor bear fruit?

Are you familiar with Facing the Giants, a film about faith and football? In the story, a coach at a Christian high school faces the possibility of his losing his job, while also struggling with disappoints on the home front.

One particular scene in this movie continues to impact me. A man in the community told the coach that he should prepare the fields in expectation of rain. In other words, the coach should continue serving, sharing Christ, and mentoring those kids, (preparing the fields) and God would bless him, his family, and the team (the rain).

We need to do our part so God can do his. We need to do the work!

Prepare your own fields. Study the craft, be open to critique, network, read, and write, write, write. Step out in faith, believing that God will honor your efforts. The rain will come.

Have a great week!

Dawn

Grammar-O

Grammar-O Wednesdays
with Ocieanna

Happy Wednesday, grammarians! Ready to test your mad grammar skills?

Each week I (Ocieanna) post a few sentences with grammar, punctuation, spelling, or other writing misdemeanors. Your job is to find the infraction and set it right. If you possess the courage, you’re welcome to post your corrections in the comments, or you may simply keep your grammar to yourself. Then next week, I’ll post the answers.

Have fun!


This week’s new batch:

1) A great aspect about homeschooling are all the things I get to learn.

2) We’re studying Earth Science this weak-rocks, manely.

3) Some rocks, called igneous were formed from hot lava, and some, called sedimentary came from sediments building up in layers.

4) I enjoy learning but I must admit, my kids enthusiasm thrills me most.

5) The other day my six-year-old boy said he wished he had a t-shirt with the 4 main layer’s of the earth on it. Now, thats pretty cool.

Remember, the point is to hunt out the blatantly illegal, not matters of preference or opinion.

Good luck and have fun!


The corrected ones from last week:

1) Last week I spent many hours preparing for my nine year old daughter Gabrielle’s birthday party! Phew!
Correct: Last week I spent many hours preparing for my nine-year-old daughter Gabrielle’s birthday party. Phew!


2) Fancy Nancy was the theme, you may be wondering who is Fancy Nancy.
Correct: Fancy Nancy was the theme. You may be wondering who Fancy Nancy is.
OR: You may be wondering, Who is Fancy Nancy?


3) Fancy Nancy, who Gabrielle loves to imitate, is her favorite book series. When the nine fancy, little girls arrived, my adrenaline was pumping!
Correct: Fancy Nancy, who Gabrielle loves to imitate, is the heroine of her favorite book series. When the nine, fancy, little girls arrived, my adrenaline was pumping.


4) All in all the line-up of crafts, a buffet, cake, punch, and games went good and the Little Darlings said their goodbyes wearing lovely smiles.
Correct: All in all the line-up of crafts, a buffet, cake, punch, and games went well. The little darlings said their goodbyes wearing lovely smiles.


5) As for me, I was exhausted! Still recovering.
Correct: As for me, I was exhausted. Still recovering.
Note: Did you think I missed the fragment? Still recovering. Yes, it is a fragment, but it’s okay to use one if it’s on purpose and it does not cause confusion.
Tip: Exclamation marks. If you look at these sentences as a paragraph, there were way too many! Use sparingly. One per paragraph at the most.


Well, how’d you do? Did you fix all the sentences?

*Disclaimer: I’m by no means perfect at this. I use The Chicago Manual of Style and Webster’s Dictionary as my sources.

Persevere

Hey everyone, Annette here for another installment in our New Commitments series.

Ugh! I can’t get past this block. That ever happened to you? My crit partners helped me rework my storyline last week at McCrit, but I can’t get rolling. It’s probably an SOTP thing. And I know once I’m on the right track, it’ll flow. But for now, I stare at the screen. Getting out two hundred words feels like laboring over two thousand.

But I long to write. I long to dive in and revisit these characters. So, what to do?

How do you get past writer’s block?

One thing I know I can’t do—give up. That phrase isn’t allowed here at Seriously Write. *grin*

Maybe part of the problem is I haven’t adopted the new ideas as my own, or they seem to not quite fit the story. They need tweaking. See, I’m beginning to understand, and knowledge leads to breakthroughs.

Prayer helps. I’ve been praying this week about my WIP, but I haven’t gotten back to the computer (at least not with time blocked out to write). I need both.

What about you? Do you need a fresh inspiration or plan for your writing? Maybe you’ve received a rejection lately, and it’s difficult to get back into your writing or even start a new project given all the heartache or frustration you’re feeling. Sometimes I just need a break from a specific project in order to get fired up again. Or tackle whatever is holding things up from a different angle.

Maybe your writing buds can help encourage you. We’re here to help. And I don’t know about you, but God timed this focus on perseverance just perfectly for me. *smile*

So, pray, commit anew to not giving up, position yourself at the computer, and write on!

Spiritual Journeys of our Characters, Part 4 by Susan May Warren

This Manuscript Monday, Susan May Warren concludes her series on the inner journey our characters get to travel (lucky them!). What a pleasure it's been hosting her. Enjoy!

Spiritual Journey of our Characters Series, Part 4*
by Susan May Warren

Now that our hero has confronted his Black Moment and seen the light, we have to know that the Black Moment and the Epiphany have worked and that our character has truly learned his lesson and changed.

How do we show this? There are a number of key elements you want to weave into the last section of the book – let’s say the last two-three chapters that will help you prove this.

First, we want to see that your hero/heroine is truly a NEW MAN. It’s the confirmation and presentation of the changed person he/she has become, complete with new skills, new beliefs, and new courage.

This New Man moment happens right before the finale of the story. We want to glimpse what our new man looks like.

Then you are ready for the finale: the TEST of the new man through the Final Battle.

The Final Battle is the cementing that yes, the truth is RIGHT and with it they can win the day.

The Final Battle (a metaphor for the concepts, just so we’re clear) has five parts:

Storming the Castle, Lie, Loss, Truth, Victory

Step One: Storming the Castle

In my book Nothing But Trouble, (the first PJ Sugar book), her black moment is when she is arrested at the end for something she didn’t do. She wants to run. But, she has learned that maybe God made her with a curious bone and all her crazy skills are a good thing. So, I have her go to get her nephew from where he is staying and, when she sees the potential mystery-solving clue, instead of giving up, she takes a chance, digs deep into her toolkit of skills and saves the day. It’s short, but it confirms that she’s a different person.

I often figure out how they will Storm the Castle by asking: what can’t they do at the beginning of the book that they can at the end? For PJ, it’s keep her commitments.

Now that we have the Battle overview, and their Storm the Castle action, now we have to add some conflict. Because only in conflict do we test/reveal the mettle of a man (or woman!)

The next thing we must do to test our character in the Final Battle is resurrect the Lie.

Step 2: Resurrection of the LIE

Your hero has to believe that he will lose the battle. This is where the lie raises its almost dead head. We see it again. Is it going to win, or is our man truly a new man, armed with the truth, willing to escape/defeat the lie?

PJ Sugar fails in her attempt to subdue the villain, and finds herself in trouble. She’s NOT amazing, she’s just a mess. (That’s the Lie).

Right on the heels of the resurrection of the Lie is a glimpse of what they might lose.

Step 3: Glimpse of the Loss

With the rising of the LIE, there is also the Loss of the goal. The realization that the victory could pass out of their reach.

For PJ, if she’s killed, the villain will also hurt her nephew, whom she’s sworn to protect. She’ll lose her sister’s love and her mother’s confidence. She really will be Nothing but Trouble.

Give us a glimpse of the loss…and then follow it quickly with a reminder of the Truth.

Step 4: Reminder of the Truth

At the pivotal moment, the hero/heroine has to remember the Truth and what they’ve learned. Just like all of us right before we do something we know is wrong, and we hear the voice of Truth that stops us, the Truth stops our hero.

For PJ Sugar, although she’s failed at her first attempt, knows that she knows the truth about the mystery and blurts out the plot to the killer. He accuses her of babbling and pounces on her…but it acts as a diversion so the good guys can burst in. She’s saved the day with her crazy, everyday skills.

This Reminder of the Truth is the key to cementing that character change, and leads us to Victory.

Step 5: The Victory!

Then, of course we must have that Happily Ever After that gives the Hero and Heroine what they want.

PJ Sugar, having saved the day with her crazy skills, doesn’t have to run from her past anymore. She a heroine in her town.

Mapping out the inner journey can be as extensive or as minimal as you want. I like to define the Steps that I’ve just outlined and let the story and characterization take it from there.

*From My Book Therapy, originally entitled: The Final Battle: Finishing the Inner Journey for your Hero

~~~~~

Susan's latest release: Nightingale

Wolfgang Jager grew up in Iowa---but he's fighting on the "other" side in World War II. And Esther Lange is trapped by her own battles. When Wolfgang is captured and sent to a Wisconsin POW camp, he's relieved---until he's accused of murder! Can faith save him and the woman he loves?

~~~~~

To learn more about Susan, visit her Web site.

My Journey to Publication by Jill Williamson

This Fortifying Friday we’re happy to welcome award-winning author Jill Williamson to Seriously Write. She shares her journey to publication and some things that helped her along the way. Enjoy!

My Journey to Publication

I wasn’t trying to get published when I submitted my fantasy novel to Jeff Gerke as part of the manuscript review program at the 2008 Oregon Christian Writers’ Summer Coaching Conference. Marcher Lord Press’ submission guidelines were clear: no young adult novels.

I’d met Jeff at the 2007 Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s conference and used his editorial services on a different novel. When I saw he would be attending OCW, I submitted my manuscript to him hoping to glean wisdom. I was surprised when he wanted to meet with me.

“Why does it have to be YA?” he asked.

Jeff wanted to see the full manuscript. I was pretty excited, but I’d had requests for full manuscripts before.

As soon as I got home, I applied Jeff’s edits, looked over the rest of the book, and sent it off. A few months later I got an email that said: “Do you happen to be by a phone right now so that I can call you?”

And that was the beginning of a new adventure. My medieval fantasy, By Darkness Hid, released from Marcher Lord Press, April 1, 2009. The second book, To Darkness Fled, came out April 1, 2010, and book three, From Darkness Won, will release April 1, 2011.

Many things helped me on the path toward publication.

1) Write, rewrite, and read a lot.

2) Join a critique group to get feedback on your writing and give feedback to others.

3) Be teachable. Never think you know everything. There is always something more to learn.

4) Go to writer’s conferences. This is the best way to contact editors and agents. Don’t stress about selling your book. Learn and meet new people. Build relationships.

5) Take advantage of free manuscript reviews. Most conferences offer a program where you can submit a chapter of your manuscript to an editor or agent. This amazing opportunity should always be taken advantage of, even if there is no interest in your genre. You can always ask for honest feedback on your project.

6) Consider paying for a freelance editorial review. It might not get you published. The book Jeff reviewed for me is still not published. But I learned a lot from the full review of my novel. It’s important to find the right freelance editor for your genre. Ask around to find a good fit.

7) Give. Psalm 126:5 says, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” I spent the last six years writing. I also poured my heart and time into encouraging others and supporting this industry. I didn’t do that to get published. I did it because people did so for me. When I consider how my fantasy novel came to be written and published, I see God’s hand. He heard my prayers, saw my tears, and listened to my songs of joy. Praise his name for this opportunity. May he bless you likewise in his perfect timing.

Jill Williamson is a novelist, dreamer, and believer. She grew up in Alaska with no electricity, an outhouse, and a lot of mosquitoes. Thankfully it was the land of the midnight sun, and she could stay up and read by the summer daylight that wouldn’t go away. But in the winter, there was nothing better to do than daydream. Both hobbies set her up to be a writer. Her debut novel, By Darkness Hid, won an EPIC Award, a Christy Award, A Carol Award nomination, and was named a Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror novels of 2009 by VOYA magazine. Jill has served alongside her youth pastor husband for the past twelve years and loves working with teenagers, especially to encourage young writers. She gives writing workshops at libraries, schools, and churches.

Learn more by visiting Jill’s website:
http://www.jillwilliamson.com/

Where is Your Treasure? Part 2

Thursdays – Dawn’s Devotions for Writers

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

(Matthew 6:21 NIV)

Have you ever needed to revisit something you’ve written?

Not for editing purposes, not to recall where you left a character in limbo two days prior, and not to remember the heroine’s eye color.

I’m talking about an encouraging note written to a friend, something that hits on your manuscript’s spiritual theme, or in my case—a devotion.

Last week’s devotion was titled, “Where is Your Treasure?” I wrote, “I want my treasure to be my relationship with Christ—loving, honoring, and serving him. I want my desire for him to be the true joy of my heart.”

I needed to read that again after this past week.

As a goal-oriented person, I strive to cross things off a list each day. On a professional level, those tasks may include editing projects for clients, working on my own manuscript, writing blog articles, keeping up with e-mail, and networking. Like you, there are always household tasks and errands to tack on.

Some days, it’s impossible to get through the list. So you add what doesn’t get accomplished to tomorrow’s assignments and hope to do better. But, I didn't.

Instead, I became frustrated.

My oldest daughter called—in the middle of the day—to talk. She’s in the midst of making important decisions and needed to bounce some things off me. We spent two hours on the phone.

My youngest asked me to attend a function at the school where she’s employed. My mother called from out-of-state to chat. A friend needed to vent about struggles in her life. Another friend e-mailed with information and questions that required lengthy responses. My husband experienced several rough days at work and needed to verbally decompress as soon as he arrived home. And the interruptions continued . . .

I know some people who work at home don’t answer the phone or e-mail until a given time. I’m not one of those people. So I felt I was getting further and further behind where I wanted to be on any given day.

And along with being frustrated, I became a bit irritated.

Then the truth hit.

My feelings weren’t directed at my family and friends.

I was frustrated that I wasn’t meeting self-imposed deadlines. I wasn’t meeting my own expectations. No one else was affected. I didn’t have a client begging to have an edit returned sooner than later. My manuscript wasn’t on deadline for a publisher.

I love that my kids want to talk and spend time with me. I need to be the one my husband goes to and shares his day. And I want to be the supportive and caring person my friends deserve.

People are more important than my work. I made a promise to myself a long time ago that I would never let writing come before family and friends.

After all, what sense does it make? What good does it accomplish to write a novel filled with deep, spiritual themes, if I can’t take the time to minister to those around me? “Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me” (Matthew 25:45 NIV).

Ahead of writing, God has placed me here to help care for his people. Along with him, that’s where my heart needs to be and my treasure found.

Dawn

Grammar-O

Grammar-O Wednesdays
with Ocieanna

Happy Wednesday, grammarians! Ready to test your mad grammar skills?

Each week I (Ocieanna) post a few sentences with grammar, punctuation, spelling, or other writing misdemeanors. Your job is to find the infraction and set it right. If you possess the courage, you’re welcome to post your corrections in the comments, or you may simply keep your grammar to yourself. Then next week, I’ll post the answers.

Have fun!


This week’s new batch:

1) Last week I spent many hours preparing for my nine year old daughter Gabrielle’s birthday party! Phew!

2) Fancy Nancy was the theme, you may be wondering who is Fancy Nancy.

3) Fancy Nancy, who Gabrielle loves to imitate, is her favorite book series. When the nine fancy, little girls arrived, my adrenaline was pumping!

4) All in all the line-up of crafts, a buffet, cake, punch, and games went good and the Little Darlings said their goodbyes wearing lovely smiles.

5) As for me, I was exhausted! Still recovering.


Remember, the point is to hunt out the blatantly illegal, not matters of preference or opinion.

Good luck and have fun!


The corrected ones from last week:

1) Republicans took the House, Democrats kept the Senate, at least that’s what they’re saying so far. (It’s Tuesday night).
Correct: Republicans took the House; Democrats kept the Senate. At least that’s what they’re saying so far. (It’s Tuesday night.)
Note: Can you think of any other ways to correct this one? I can think of two.

2) I’ve been watching nervously the results.
Correct: I’ve been nervously watching the results.

3) Its easy to get emotional about politics, even angry, however, the Bible calls Christians to respect our leaders.
Correct: It’s easy to get emotional about politics, even angry; however, the Bible calls Christians to respect their leaders.

4) We don’t have to like them, but, we do need to respect them.
Correct: We don’t have to like them, but we do need to respect them.

5) Sometimes Biblical truths are difficult to apply. I, however, will do my best to lie aside my feelings and show respect—even to the politicians I really disagree with.
Correct: Sometimes biblical truths are difficult to apply. I, however, will do my best to lay aside my feelings and show respect—even to the politicians I really disagree with.


Well, how’d you do? Do you think you fixed all the sentences?

*Disclaimer: I’m by no means perfect at this. I use The Chicago Manual of Style and Webster’s Dictionary as my sources.

Sit Down and Write!

Hey everyone, Annette here. Welcome to the second post in our New Commitments Series this Net's Notations Tuesdays.

You’ve heard this before BIC (behind in chair). The only way to get your writing accomplished is to sit down and do it. Wave at me if you know that’s true.

There are a million reasons we procrastinate. I procrastinate because: 1) I don’t know what to write next (SOTPers unite!), 2) I’m afraid it won’t be good enough, 3) I’m afraid it will be good enough, 4) I’m afraid of the unknown.

What stops you?

Now let’s talk about what motivates us. Deadlines motivate. Even if you don’t have a contract pushing you toward finishing that manuscript, you can still give yourself a deadline.

This month, lots of our writing pals are participating in the NaNoWriMo—National Novel Writing Month. The goal is prescribed for you: 50,000 words in one month. If you’ve participated, you probably know it’s a sizable challenge, but if you succeed it’s a fantastic tool, plus you’re surrounded by others with the same goal so you have support and accountability.

Same’s true of ACFW’s Novel Track: Writing. I’ve participated every quarter since its inception this year. The difference between this program and NaNoWriMo is that you set your own goal. There is accountability with the others on the e-loop. Daily, you click over to the website, enter your total words for the day and see where your words affect the group’s total. Together, we penned over 1.2 million words in October. Every time I participate, I’m pushed to accomplish my goal. Very motivating.

What motivates you?

Sometimes I’m motivated by the sheer need to write. It’s a feeling that rises up inside me—a desire to create deep characters who hook readers emotionally with their growth stories. Ideally, anyway. Little things in life inspire me. Then, I have to apply BIC. Sit down and start writing.

Meeting writing goals requires:

1) A new commitment to do just that.
2) Self-discipline (BIC no matter what).
3) Prioritizing.

I began a new job in August, but I didn’t let the fact that I now had a(nother) time consumer in my daily schedule keep me from writing. I can’t. Plus, we have McCrit to prep for (right ladies??), and Mondays roll around every single week. *grin*

So, commit afresh to getting those words onto the screen (or page) and don’t let excuses stop you. Set an atmosphere. Set a goal. Surround yourself with support and accountability. Enjoy! Write!

Spiritual Journeys of our Characters, Part 3 by Susan May Warren

We so appreciate Susan's willingness to visit us this fall with her series on our characters' inner journeys. This Manuscript Monday, she discusses the black moment and how it's pivotal in the character's inner journey. Enjoy!

Spiritual Journeys of our Characters, Part 3*
by Susan May Warren

Okay, I’m just going to say it, and I’m using my Mom tone. The Black Moment is the POINT of your story. Because without the Black Moment, there is no epiphany and no character change, and if you are writing a romance, it is Absolutely Required.

If you don’t have a black moment in your story, then you don’t have a story. Sorry if that hurts…BUT, we’re going to fix it, right?

Last week, I promised more on the black moment. Today, let’s talk about how to weave in the lie with the black moment for effective character change!

Step Five: The Black Moment

In this step, the lie rears its ugly head, and the hero is caught in the darkness. This is RIGHT BEFORE the epiphany, and in a great inspirational story, the emotional and plot black moment can be entwined with the spiritual black moment. This is when, after he’s tried to escape on his own, he realizes he can’t – that the lie is pulling him back in. So, he drops to his knees and lets the lie cascade over him.

The spiritual black moment is when the lie seems bigger than life, and inescapable.

Why do you need this? Because this is when the TRUTH will come in and set them free. (That’s the next step and we’ll get to that).

First, how do you use the LIE in the Black Moment?

Sometimes, I have the Black Moment Event and follow up with a reaction where they realize the impact of that Black Moment Event, and thus see the LIE, which is inescapable.

In a romance, I might put the LIE in after he’s hurt the heroine and they’ve “broken up” (and/or vice versa for the heroine). Or, I might push it back to the moment when his greatest fears come true, and he realizes he’s lost her for good.

A LIE might actually occur BEFORE the black moment event – where his lie CONTRIBUTES to the black moment.

Or, you could have the Black Moment Event, then the LIE, THEN have the romantic black moment, as a result of all three.

How to decide when to use the LIE? Look at the rhythm of your story – does the lie cause the Black Moment, or does the Black Moment cause the revelation of the Lie?

Step 6: The Aha! The truth that sets them free

At some point during the black moment, you need to interject some light. It’s wonderful if it is delivered in a metaphorical moment, but it’s also good via another voice of truth.

This is where the character recognizes what they've needed to see all along.

Next week, we’re going to talk about the LAST step in the journey, something I call Storming the Castle.

* From My Book Therapy, originally titled: Set Me Free

~~~~~

Susie's latest book, Nightingale, released this week from Summerside.

Wolfgang Jager grew up in Iowa---but he's fighting on the "other" side in World War II. And Esther Lange is trapped by her own battles. When Wolfgang is captured and sent to a Wisconsin POW camp, he's relieved---until he's accused of murder! Can faith save him and the woman he loves?

~~~~~

To learn more about Susan, visit her Web site.

My Journey to Publication by Sarah Sundin

This Fortifying Friday, we welcome author Sarah Sundin as our guest. She shares how being stubborn helped in her journey to publication, as well as a beautiful spiritual lesson learned along the way. Enjoy!

My Journey to Publication

I come from stubborn stock. Stubbornness genes flowed from both sides of my family and puddled in my soul. Stubbornness can be seen as annoying mule-headedness or as true strength—persistence, tenacity. Without stubbornness, I wouldn’t have a book on the shelf.

When I started writing in 2000, I decided to be serious and pursue publication. I joined a writers’ group, read books on writing craft, and attended local writers’ conferences.

In 2003, I submitted at Mount Hermon Christian Writers’ Conference. I received good feedback from published authors, editors, and agents—and began accumulating a stack of “good” rejection letters. They liked my writing, my story, and my characters—however, historicals weren’t selling. This continued for five years.

I never wanted to give up on my World War II series, because I loved my characters. However, in 2005 all doors to publication seemed closed and padlocked, and I wondered whether I had heard God correctly. Was I truly meant to write? Was I wasting my time when I could be doing something more productive? Was I being persistent—or mule-headed?

That year at Mount Hermon I went for a walk under the redwoods and stopped to admire a little white flower. I praised God for the flower and felt touched—had He made that flower just so I would praise Him? Then I looked around. Hundreds of redwoods covered the hills, and thousands more out of my vision, all surrounded by white blossoms. How many of those flowers would ever cause someone to stop and praise God? Were they created in vain? Did the Lord waste His time creating them? Of course not. God is a creative Being, and He made us in His creative image. In His mercy, the Lord showed me that even if my writing was never seen by another human being and never caused anyone to praise Him, I did the right thing obeying His call to write. I was not wasting my time.

So I kept writing. I kept submitting. I kept praying. Then at Mount Hermon in 2008, the publishers begged for historicals. There I was with my three-book series close to complete. I submitted to Vicki Crumpton at Revell, and I was offered a three-book contract for the Wings of Glory series. A Distant Melody was published in March 2010—ten years after I started writing, A Memory Between Us in September 2010, and Blue Skies Tomorrow comes out in August 2011.

Mother Teresa said, “God doesn’t require us to succeed; He only requires that you try.” If God has called you to do something for Him, measure your success through His eyes. Did you obey? Were you faithful? Did you persevere?

Stubbornness can be a serious fault, but when it’s applied to following God’s will, it’s a very good thing.



Sarah Sundin lives in northern California with her husband and three children. When she isn’t ferrying kids to soccer and karate, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist and teaches Sunday school. She belongs to American Christian Fiction Writers and Christian Authors Network. She is the author of the Wings of Glory series—A Distant Melody (Revell, March 2010), A Memory Between Us (September 2010), and Blue Skies Tomorrow (August 2011).

To learn more, please visit Sarah’s
Website: http://www.sarahsundin.com/
Blog: http://www.sarahsundin.blogspot.com/

Where is Your Treasure?

Thursdays – Dawn’s Devotions for Writers

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Matthew 6:21 NIV)

When you think of treasure, what comes to mind? A box filled with sentimental mementos? A chest filled with jewels? A growing 401K?

Is your treasure figuring out a plot your critique group will applaud, obtaining book contracts, or being noticed at conferences? Perhaps it’s adoration by readers, being fought over by publishers, or winning awards for your books.

Do you think of your family—your spouse, children, or grandchildren? Maybe you include close friends.

Matthew 6 tells us that wherever our treasure is found, that’s where we’ll also find our heart. The treasure is what we deem most important in our lives. It’s what we love. It’s what we desire more than anything else.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting financial security during retirement. That comes with being a responsible adult. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying photos and other items that hold memories for us. It’s not even wrong to desire and enjoy success in our writing career after working hard and reaching some goals.

But, it's important to remember that those things don't last.


“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20 NIV)



Retirement funds will eventually run out, or be inherited by other individuals. Photographs will fade. Our novels won’t stay on bookshelves forever. But the relationships we build with our families and friends will impact generations to come.

Foremost, I want my treasure to be my relationship with Christ—loving, honoring, and serving Him. I want my desire for Him to be the true joy of my heart.

Where is your treasure? Where do you want it to be?

Dawn

Grammar-O

Grammar-O Wednesdays
with Ocieanna

Happy Wednesday, grammarians! Ready to test your mad grammar skills?

Each week I (Ocieanna) post a few sentences with grammar, punctuation, spelling, or other writing misdemeanors. Your job is to find the infraction and set it right. If you possess the courage, you’re welcome to post your corrections in the comments, or you may simply keep your grammar to yourself. Then next week, I’ll post the answers.

Have fun!

This week’s new batch:

1) Republicans took the House, Democrats kept the Senate, at least that’s what they’re saying so far. (It’s Tuesday night).

2) I’ve been watching nervously the results.

3) Its easy to get emotional about politics, even angry, however, the Bible calls Christians to respect our leaders.

4) We don’t have to like them, but, we do need to respect them.

5) Sometimes Biblical truths are difficult to apply. I, however, will do my best to lie aside my feelings and show respect—even to the politician’s I really disagree with.

Remember, the point is to hunt out the blatantly illegal, not matters of preference or opinion.

Good luck and have fun!


Here are the corrected ones from last week:

1) I asked a friend, “Are you enjoying Grammar-O”?
Correct: I asked a friend, “Are you enjoying Grammar-O?”

2) I’ve been doing alot of editing this week.
Correct: I’ve been doing a lot of editing this week.

3) Its always interesting to discover the various mistakes people make in they’re grammar usage.
Correct: It’s always interesting to discover the various mistakes people make in their grammar usage.

4) Every one seems to veer off in different ways. And that goes for me too!
Correct: Everyone seems to veer off in different ways. And that goes for me too!
Tip: It’s not illegal to start a sentence with a conjunction!

5) Even though I must keep a close watch for grammar errors everyday writing this blog has been a good refresher for me.
Correct: Even though I must keep a close watch for grammar errors every day, writing this blog has been a good refresher for me.
Tip: “Everyday” is used as a modifier: She wore her everyday cape. “Every day” is used as an adverb: She wore her cape every day.


Well, how’d you do? Do you think you fixed all the sentences?

*Disclaimer: I’m by no means perfect at this. I use The Chicago Manual of Style and Webster’s Dictionary as my sources. The sentences to correct are fictitious.

Your Calling

Your Calling
New Commitment Series
Net's Notations Tuesdays

During church on Sunday, God highlighted people’s callings. If you’re here, reading Seriously Write, I’m going to take a risk and guess you’re called to write. *grin* That morning, as God highlighted callings, He spoke through prophecy to our congregation. See if you can relate with these messages.

Has the dream died? Sometimes when we don't see the results we thought we'd see in a certain time frame, we lay the dreams aside. If we go long enough, they die. It's time to bring them back to life—to speak life over them and into them and watch God move in fresh ways as we recommit.

Have you held back because of the responsibility? You know your dreams require sacrifice. Callings are costly. But is that a reason to put off doing what you were created to do? Don’t let it be.

God rekindled my dreams the other day in the drug store, of all places. I saw a rack of books in an unusual place—just paperbacks by one or more authors. I want that—my books, out there. I have lots of manuscripts written and I’m sure several more in my heart waiting to be written. And one of my dreams is just to have them out there. Of course, I’d love to be a best-selling author one day, too. *grin*

What about you? Has God make your calling clear? Write it down. What are your dreams? Write them out. Then, recommit to pursuing them, no matter the cost. Ask for wisdom, dive in and be steadfast. You and your destiny are about to collide.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Cor. 15:58, NKJV)

Spiritual Journeys of our Characters, Part 2 by Susan May Warren

This week, Susie continues her series on developing the spiritual thread (inner journey) of our characters. I've found these posts very helpful! Please welcome her back this Manuscript Monday.

Spiritual Journeys of our Characters, Part 2*

by Susan May Warren

Last week, we started our character’s spiritual journey by asking: What lie do they believe? This week, armed with the lie, the first thing you want to do on the journey, (even in that first scene) is PROVE IT.

Step Two: Confirmation of the Lie – Proof

What can you do to convince the hero that his lie is true? You want to do something at the beginning of the book that will cement him into this lie – of course, it needs to be something that only pushes him deeper in trouble.

In my book, Nothing But Trouble, PJ Sugar, my heroine believes that she can do no right – and that God isn’t on her side. In fact, that she’s a sort of misfit, and that He has no use for her, even though she is saved. And, in the first part of the book, we really see this as true – her “pastor” boyfriend rejects her, her nephew whom she is supposed to take care of hates her, and when she tries to help a friend in trouble, it only backfires on her. She is convinced that she is trouble.

Step Three: The Voice of Truth

In every book, you should have someone who is outside the lie. Someone who sees the truth and can declare it – either directly, or in their actions, or in some sub-texted speech to the hero/heroine.

Step Four: The realization of the Lie and the Testing of the Truth

At some point, your hero has to see that he’s been living in the lie, and that he CAN change. He has to see there is another way—if only he can embrace the truth.

Next week, we’ll talk about how to weave the lie in for maximum Black Moment effect!

(*From My Book Therapy—Originally titled “I Have a Lie, Really?”)

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Nightingale, Susan's latest book, releases TODAY!

Wolfgang Jager grew up in Iowa---but he's fighting on the "other" side in World War II. And Esther Lange is trapped by her own battles. When Wolfgang is captured and sent to a Wisconsin POW camp, he's relieved---until he's accused of murder! Can faith save him and the woman he loves?

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To learn more about Susan, visit her Web site.