Blog Entries for: Writing Instruction
- Need Writing Opportunities? Take a Look at the Smaller Picture
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I received an email last week from a precious writer I've had the joy of encouraging. She's doing everything she needs to do to make the transition from new writer to published writer. Of course, the first step is that she's following The Christian Writer's Den! (Okay, okay, maybe it's not high on everyone's list, but could I have a little grace here? :-) She's also looking into attending a writer's conference in the fall, is seeking opportunities to take other classes and meet with other writers. She's started a blog and purchased a 2010 Christian Writer's Market Guide.
- August 16, 2010 | 6 Comments | View or add comments
- Spelling for Dollars! and Christian Writer's Den Readers Get Published!
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If you've been reading this blog any length of time, you've heard me say that editors are becoming more and more discriminating. When I first started writing, instructors told us we had a chapter to get the editors' attention. Then it became five pages. Then one page. Then one paragraph. Now, many editors say we have one sentence. Ugh.
- August 10, 2010 | 4 Comments | View or add comments
- Back to School Special for Writers and Readers!
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Want to go to school without leaving your home? Want some great reading for you or the kids? For one month only, I'm having a Buy-One-Get-Any-One-Item-At-Half-Price sale on all my books and downloadable classes! Yep, that's right! Downloadable classes include: Writing for Children 2-Class Set, How to Have Magazine Editors Calling YOU!, Teaching Children Biblical Truth through Secular Fiction, Write a Novel Children Will Love, and Opportunities for Christian Writers. Handouts are included.
- August 5, 2010 | 3 Comments | View or add comments
- Filters, Elvis, and a Sequined Jumpsuit: The Subtleties of Good Writing
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I had the joy and honor of hosting Cec Murphey at my home for several events this past weekend, and what a weekend it was! I watched as he ministered to Christians at my church, to people struggling with drug addiction, alcoholism, and homelessness at a Celebrate Recovery meeting, and to writers who feel they may eventually be driven to alcoholism and drug addiction by the frustrations associated with writing!Seriously, it was a weekend of encouragement and challenge. Encouragement to stay the course when things aren't going as planned, and challenge to create the best work we can with the gifts we've been given.
- July 20, 2010 | 3 Comments | View or add comments
- Submitting to Agents and Publishers
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You've done everything you're supposed to do. You've taken the classes and been to critique and rewritten and edited and formatted. Your manuscript is ready. You're sure of it. Time to throw your baby to the wolves.
- July 13, 2010 | 7 Comments | View or add comments
- The Non-Fiction Book: Concept to Contract
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Although the technique of good writing is a necessary craft that crosses genre lines, there are considerable differences in the planning, writing, and submitting of the fiction vs the non-fiction book. Today we'll focus on the steps you'll need to take in order to see your non-fiction book in print.Planning:
- June 15, 2010 | 3 Comments | View or add comments
- Screenwriting Basics
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Well, I've just returned from the Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival, where Sarah Ann Sumpolec and I co-direct the Intern Program. What fun! Here's a photo of Sarah and me with all the interns at the banquet dinner. If you have 16-18 year-old teens who are interested in a career in acting, screenwriting, or any area of film production, this is the program for them! Similar to a writer's conference, the Gideon offers great opportunities for adult and teen interns to network and learn from industry professionals in the media arts. I hope you'll plan now to attend next year. The dates are August 6-11, 2011.
- June 8, 2010 | 3 Comments | View or add comments
- Conference Etiquette: Mind Your Manners 2010
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I'm in the midst of prepping to teach at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference that begins this coming Sunday, May 16 and runs through Thursday, May 20. As always, I'm thrilled to be part of this amazing conference. Have you registered yet? It's not too late! So this week, as I prepare, I can't think of anything better to talk about than Conference Etiquette--regardless of the conference you're attending. Like many of my blog entries, this one is written and shared with you because I wish someone had taught these concepts to me when I was starting out!
- May 11, 2010 | 11 Comments | View or add comments
- Author Interivew and Book Give Away with Michele Huey
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I'm thrilled to introduce my friend, Michele Huey. She has an amazing list of accomplishments, but since I want to include her great story, I'll just tell you that she's an award-winning newspaper columnist, has her own daily radio program, and is the author of two books, Minute Meditations: Meeting God in Everyday Experiences, and I Lift Up My Eyes: Minute Meditations Vol. 2. Both are compilations of her columns and have been sold nationwide. Michele's radio program, God, Me, and a Cup of Tea is currently broadcast on WMUG 105.1 LF/FM in Indiana, PA, and she has produced three CDs of meditations from the radio program: God, Me & a Cup of Tea: Favorite Meditations (2004), The Ten Commandments and Beatitudes for Today (2005), and Treasures in Jars of Clay: Thoughts on Aging with Grace (2006). You can find her books and CDs here.
- April 27, 2010 | 13 Comments | View or add comments
- Said is NOT a Four-Letter Word! (Well...)
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Last week we studied the wisdom of the writer's mantra, "Show, Don't Tell." No matter how compelling your conflict or how intricately you've woven your plot, telling instead of showing can result in a knee-jerk rejection from editors. This week we'll look at another easy reason for editors to say no: The use of inappropriate speaker tags.
- April 20, 2010 | 5 Comments | View or add comments
- Show, Don't Tell
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Show, don't tell. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You've heard it a thousand times. But it IS the writer's mantra. And it should be.
Instead of telling readers what is happening, we want them to view the scenes as a movie in their minds.
- April 13, 2010 | 7 Comments | View or add comments
- Author Interview and Book Give Away with Kathy Howard
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What a privilege to introduce my friend, Kathy Howard! Kathy is a Bible study author and speaker, and has been teaching the Bible for over 20 years. She's taught a wide range of topics to an even wider range of students - everything from basic Bible stories at a middle school to teacher training for church leaders. Kathy particularly enjoys speaking at women's events and retreats to encourage women in their faith. She has a Masters in Christian Education from the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary and serves on a church staff in West Texas.Kathy and her husband have three children and one son-in-law. When the family gets together there are also four dogs in the mix! Kathy says she writes to have something to do while drinking coffee (but I know better than that :-). Find out about Kathy's Bible studies and speaking ministry and get discipleship and leader helps at her website, www.kathyhoward.org. Find out more about God's Truth Revealed at www.godstruthrevealed.org
- March 23, 2010 | 15 Comments | View or add comments
- Questions About Agents and Publishing by Chip MacGregor
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You have questions. Chip has answers. He knows a whole lot more about the publishing industry than I'll ever know, so I'll be quiet and let him do the talking today! Be sure to check out his blog post about agents. You can find it here.
- March 16, 2010 | 4 Comments | View or add comments
- Who are the Characters in YOUR LIfe?
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The more I teach at writer's conferences, the more I realize how blessed we are as writers if we have home-grown, ready-made characters in our families. You know what I'm talking about...the eccentric grandpa who buys moonshine along with the eggs, the prim and proper aunt with the colorful past, the entrepreneurial dad with the can-do attitude and the can't-do bank account. Yes, I am blessed as a writer. Most fiction writers admit that even though their characters are rarely exact duplicates of anyone, many are compilations with bits and pieces of various people, thrown together into a hash of the real and the imagined. And the results can be a quite entertaining.
- March 9, 2010 | 5 Comments | View or add comments
- Interview and Book Give Away with Mary DeMuth
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Dear friends, have you suffered abuse, hurt by those who are supposed to love and protect you? Has your past followed you into your present? Does it whisper words of defeat and failure in your ear? If so, then you're at the right place today.I'm honored to introduce you to my precious friend, Mary DeMuth. Mary helps readers turn their trials to triumphs. Author of eight books, Mary mentors writers at The Writing Spa and through the popular blog Wannabepublished. Her writing is authentic, truth-filled, and full of redemption.
- February 23, 2010 | 21 Comments | View or add comments
- Grits, Bacon, and Writers' Conferences
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Last week I talked about the need to see the writing journey as an investment. And since this is the time to gear up for the writer's conference season, I decided to share one of my favorite conference stories. Some of you have heard it, but many of you haven't. Either way, I hope it will encourage you to take the leap and register for an upcoming conference. I sold my first article over grits and bacon at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. I arrived early for breakfast and claimed my spot at Jesse Florea's table. As an editor at Focus on the Family, Jesse was sure to see that my article, Catch Your Child in the Act...of Being Good, was a perfect match for Focus' parenting newsletters. I was the first one at his table that morning and claimed two places--one for him and one for me. My heart pounded as I watched Jesse enter the dining room and head for his spot.
- February 16, 2010 | 10 Comments | View or add comments
- Writing is No Different
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This week I received an email from someone I'll be meeting at an upcoming writer's conference. She was discouraged because she had been going to conferences and working hard, but so far had only received only $25 for her efforts. She ended the email by saying that if it weren't for encouragement from a few people, she would just quit.She's not alone. I know exactly how she felt. I remember working year after year, paying for postage, buying books and magazines on writing, and going to conferences...and I didn't even have $25 to show for it.
- February 9, 2010 | 15 Comments | View or add comments
- So What Are We Waiting For?
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Okay, let's be honest here. I have a feeling you're like me...and last year you had some great ideas. Some really great ideas. God ideas. Ideas that you knew you were supposed to share with others through writing and/or speaking. Your intentions were good.And yet--for whatever reason--they're still just ideas. Ideas sitting in your computer...in your journal...or maybe even just in your head.
- January 11, 2010 | 13 Comments | View or add comments
- The Sin That Hinders in 2010
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My dear friend, Linda Shepherd, author, speaker, and founder of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, recently shared some words of wisdom with me. She has given me permission to share them with you."After a word from the Lord, [a friend] and I have been working hard to ‘remove the sin that hinders.' It's a good word, a word that requires a thorough search of one's heart. I've searched and I continue to do so. And as I've confessed revealed sins, I've seen God show up.
- January 5, 2010 | 14 Comments | View or add comments
- Encouragement from Guest Blogger Linda Greer
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Can you believe this is the last blog entry of 2009? I don't know about you, but for me, this year has flown by!In addition to being the last blog post, this is a fifth Tuesday, meaning it's Guest Blogger Day, too. Please join me in welcoming Christian Writer's Den reader, Linda Greer, as she shares her thoughts with you. And be sure to check out Linda's blog, Spiritual Heartbeats.
- December 29, 2009 | 4 Comments | View or add comments
- Interview and Book Give Away with Kathleen Y'Barbo
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What an incredible joy to welcome Kathleen Y'Barbo to the Christian Writer's Den! As the best-selling author of more than thirty books, Kathleen is one of the most prolific authors we've had here at CWD. Her numbers would make any of us writers drool! In all, over 850,000 copies of her books are currently in print in the US and abroad. She has been named as a finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year contest every year since its inception in 2003, often for more than one book.In addition to her amazing writing career, Kathleen is also a publicist at Books & Such Literary Agency. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, American Christian Fiction Writers, the Public Relations Society of America, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and Authors Guild and is also a degreed paralegal specializing in criminal and family law. A native Texan, Kathleen has three grown sons and a teenage daughter.
- December 22, 2009 | 16 Comments | View or add comments
- You Oughta Be in Pictures!
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YouTube videos, that is. Not convinced? What if I tell you it could increase your ministry opportunities and add income to your bottom line? After repeated requests at women's events, I made my YouTube video two years ago...and I had no idea what that would mean to my ministry. Here's how it happened.I'd been doing my Solomon's Beloved skit (a funny, literal interpretation of Song of Solomon) in some of my programs for years, and the audiences always loved it. Women would often come up after the program and ask if I had a video of the skit that they could use at their church. Of course, I didn't. But finally, enough people asked until I realized I was going to have to do something about it.
- December 8, 2009 | 6 Comments | View or add comments
- Why Don't Agents and Editors Respond?
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Several readers have emailed me recently, asking why agents and editors haven't responded to their emails. Here's an article on this very subject, written by author and mentor extraordinaire, Mary DeMuth. I couldn't have said it any better...so I won't even try!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- November 17, 2009 | 5 Comments | View or add comments
- Word Pictures: Out of the Mouths of Babes
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The past couple of days, I've Twittered a few comments collected through the years from kids at my Writing is Fun workshops in schools. Our kids' and grandkids' statements are often good for a laugh, but could there be more to them than that? Honestly, could "MaMa, why is your arm like a water balloon?" assist me in some way as a writer and speaker? If you've ever heard me speak, you know I use a lot of stories. After all, it's through story that we can grab the listener and then teach the message we feel called to share. I use this technique frequently, and I find it works especially well when the joke's on me.
- November 9, 2009 | 6 Comments | View or add comments
- Author Interview and Book Give Away with Renae Brumbaugh
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In 2007 Renae Brumbaugh went to a writer's conference. They said authors should have a blog. She went home and started a blog. They said writers should send out queries. She sent out queries. They said writers should be in a critique group. She joined a critique group. Two years later she has two traditionally-published books with three more contracted, a syndicated column, and has had over 200 articles published. Lucky girl. Yea. Right.
- October 26, 2009 | 31 Comments | View or add comments
- The Journey to Becoming a Master Writer
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My journey to publication was like that of many writers...filled with unexpected (and of course, undeserved) detours of rejection and denial. What were those editors thinking? Didn't my years as a high school newspaper reporter and editor of the literary journal count for anything? And what about all those A's I made in college English Comp class?Yes, the day I placed my fingers on the keys of the blue and silver Selectric, I was confident I was embarking on a short trip to bestseller lists and six-figure royalties. Little did I know the long and winding road that lay ahead.
- October 19, 2009 | 10 Comments | View or add comments
- Research: The First Step to a Great Story
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As I write this entry, I'm on the coast of NC, researching settings and story ideas for the fourth Bitsy book, Bitsy and the Mystery at __________ (location to be decided, hopefully this week).
To be honest, one of the hardest parts about writing the Bitsy Burroughs Mysteries is coming up with plausible reasons for a 12-year-old girl from a poor Greenville, SC family to visit all these cool islands! Well, the way I begin that process is through research.
- October 12, 2009 | 6 Comments | View or add comments
- Developing Beautiful Feet (It's a Message for Guys, Too!)
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As many of you know, Edie and I just returned from our annual Christian Writer's Den Writing Retreat in the beautiful mountains of Todd, NC. The retreat consists of four days and three nights set in the midst of God's creation at Ann Wayne's lovely cabin with all the latest conveniences. The weekend is filled with sixteen women (Sorry guys, but we aren't able to invite you--at least not yet!), delicious food prepared and served by our own Theresa Garrett, cook and entertainer extraordinaire, praise and worship, teaching from God's Word, writing instruction, and hours of uninterrupted writing time. Yes, you read right--sixteen women remain totally quiet for hours at a time! 
Why? Because these women are committed to the call, to the Gospel, to the job of sharing the message of Jesus Christ. And that, my friends, is reason enough to be silent.
- October 5, 2009 | 10 Comments | View or add comments
- Author Interview and Book Give Away with Kathi Macias
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Imagine the horror of being told your mother has been murdered. Now imagine discovering your son committed the crime. That's the premise of Kathi Macias' latest novel, My Son, John.I'm honored to have Kathi with me today as she shares her writing wisdom with us. Don't forget to leave a comment and you'll be in the drawing for a free copy of her book!
- September 22, 2009 | 13 Comments | View or add comments
- Money in My Mailbox
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Last week I walked out the door to the mailbox. I came back in $25 richer. It was the second time I had gotten free money.Well, maybe not totally free, but almost.
- September 7, 2009 | 3 Comments | View or add comments
- Writer, Fear Not!
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Okay, go ahead. Admit it. You know it's true, so just go ahead and say it: You like to write. You find joy in writing. You may even feel you've been called to write. The question is, why aren't you? Why aren't you writing?I'll tell you why. You're afraid. I know...because sometimes I'm afraid, too. The truth is you and I and every other writer in the world experiences fear at times in our writing life. But what could possibly cause us to fear putting pen to paper or, as in most of our cases, fingertips to keyboard?
- August 31, 2009 | 10 Comments | View or add comments
- Coke, Sweet Tea, and Grace: Ingredients of a Novel
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I took one last look in the mirror, then touched up my lipstick, primped my hair, and brushed my teeth...again. Everything had to be perfect! After all, I was having dinner with an editor from a major CBA house and a well-known author, also with a major publisher. I whispered a prayer for direction and discernment. I should have prayed for bigger hands.
At the restaurant, we were quickly seated at our tiny table, Major CBA House Editor on my right and Successful Well-Known Author with Another Major House on my left. Within seconds, the cute, perky waitress took our drink orders. I really wanted a good ol' Southern sweet tea, but since I was in PA, I knew better than to ask. (Just for the record, unsweetened tea and packets of sugar do not sweet tea make!) So I ordered Coke. Better to be safe than sorry. Uh...yeah...right.
- August 17, 2009 | 12 Comments | View or add comments
- Auditioning Characters at the Airport
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As I write this, it's 3:30pm and I'm sitting in the Washington DC airport. According
to my flight itinerary, I should already be home, lying on my sofa, dozing off as I pretend to read the newspaper. But instead of snoozing, I'm stuck at the airport, scouting out my next cast of characters...and they don't even know they're auditioning for the part. There's the lanky college-age fella across the aisle from me, chatting on one phone while checking his email on another. His molasses voice floats across the stuffy air as he makes alternate plans with his unseen buddy. A black flip-flop the size of a bread loaf hangs from his right foot while he picks at his toenails. Yep, there are possibilities there.
- August 10, 2009 | 7 Comments | View or add comments
- A Diva Wannabe
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I'm going to let you in on a little secret: Homemaking is not one of my spiritual gifts. Put me on a stage in front of two thousand people and I'll have a ball, but please, please, please don't ask me to pick out a rug or decorate a table. (I'm dead serious. Just ask Sandra, the former women's ministry director at my church. She made the mistake of doing that and . . . well . . . it wasn't a pretty sight--and I'm not talking about the table. I won't go into the gory details, but let me just say no one's had the nerve to suggest I be part of the decorating committee since.)Now, for some women, this defect would drive them crazy and make them feel like total failures. And I admit, I do wish housework and organization and meal planning came easier for me. I'd love to be like my friend, Terri, who maintains a spotless, beautifully decorated home, or my friend, Carrie, who bakes homemade bread made from her own freshly ground wheat.
- August 3, 2009 | 17 Comments | View or add comments
- Chip MacGregor's Answers to Basic, Basic, Basic Questions
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I've been in Denver this week for the International Christian Retailers Show and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association conference. It's been a joy to brainstorm with my agent and plan future projects, share successes and disappointments with long-time writer friends, and make new friends to travel alongside on this journey called writing. It's been especially nice to meet some of you for the very first time! God is so good to give us the camaraderie of friends to stand by us through the ups and downs of this business (Or as my friend, Robin Bryce says, this Binistry! [Business + Ministry]).
Since my time is short this week, I appreciate agent Chip MacGregor's willingness to share two of his recent blog posts. Do you have questions about terms within the publishing industry? Are you confused about the differences between royalties, advances, and earning out? Do you have questions about book proposals? If so, just click on over to Chip's blog, where you'll find the answers to those questions and many more. Thanks, Chip!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Kudos for Our Readers!
It's that time again. Time to send our congratulations to the following readers of The Christian Writer's Den. You've done what it takes and you have the credits to prove it! Join me as we celebrate with our writing friends!
- July 14, 2009 | 3 Comments | View or add comments
- Following Up with Agents and Editors
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This is a crazy week. I'm taking my mother to three doctors appointments, teaching three writing classes for kids at libraries, emceeing at VBS every night, and our 10-year-old granddaughter is here for her special week with PaPa and MaMa (including, but not limited to: water park, "Up" movie, Gatti-Town, pottery, swimming with cousins, bowling, and getting our nails done)! All that to say, today's segment will be quick and to the point!
Now that several weeks have passed since the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, I thought it would be a good time to cover a few points about submitting to agents and editors. Perhaps you've been busy rewriting chapters, tweaking proposals, or finalizing query letters. Some of you may have even sent material in.
- June 16, 2009 | 4 Comments | View or add comments
- A Half-Truth is a Whole Lie
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A half-truth is a whole lie. It's a recurring theme in a couple of my books. Not that I've ever had a problem with stretching the truth or anything. No, not me. After all, my daddy WAS in the oil business and we really DID live near Paris--two impressive details for a ten-year-old who had just moved to a new town...in the middle of the school year...without her daddy.
(The facts are that Daddy's involvement with the oil business was limited to a huge hose and a big-bellied heating oil truck with the words "Be Sure With Pure" painted across the back,
and our proximity to Paris was a tiny four-room house at the base of Paris Mountain in Greenville, SC--insignificant details that would have simply tarnished the new-kid-on-the-block's much-needed delusions of grandeur.)
- June 8, 2009 | 3 Comments | View or add comments
- Conference Etiquette: Mind Your Manners
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(Note: I'm posting this on Sunday night instead of Tuesday so those attending Blue Ridge will have an opportunity to apply these suggetions at the conference.)
I'm having a ball at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference this week! Sure wish you were all here with us!
- May 17, 2009 | 2 Comments | View or add comments
- Put on Your Grown-Up Britches and Get to Work!
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I received an email recently from an unpublished writer. She wanted to know how to get her book published. At least that's what she said she wanted. But as I read her note, I realized the specifics of her request told an entirely different story.
She started out by telling me about the book she'd written. She knew it was a good book and was sure to be published "If only someone would take the time to really look at it."
- May 11, 2009 | 10 Comments | View or add comments
- Formatting Basics
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If you've read The Christian Writer's Den blog for any length of time, you know that I believe in writer's conferences. As a matter of fact, you can read about how I sold my first article at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference over grits and bacon. It's true! Just ask Jesse Florea of Focus on the Family.
The best use of your conference dollars is to take advantage of all the opportunities the events offer, including submitting pieces for critique, entering the contests, and scheduling appointments with professionals. Last week we discussed the synopsis part of the process. This week I'd like to continue our conversation by talking about how to format your manuscript. Remember, you have one chance to make a good first impression. It's your job to prepare as much as possible for that moment. Here are the basics:
- April 21, 2009 | 3 Comments | View or add comments
- The Synopsis: Short & Sweet
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You've just completed the Great American Novel. You've done everything you've been told to do. You've created compelling characters and plopped them right smack in the middle of emotional/physical conflict. You've engaged the reader with your perfectly executed plot and subplots. You've edited and proofed and allowed your baby to be critiqued by your writer's group.
Now it's time to share the pictures and see if anyone wants to hold her. So you register for a writer's conference where editors, agents, critiquers, and contest judges may ask for a synopsis.
- April 13, 2009 | 4 Comments | View or add comments
- Fellowship with the Word by Guest Blogger Jean Davis
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Well, this is the fifth Tuesday of the month, so you know what that means--Guest Blogger Day! I'm thrilled to introduce you to writer and Christian Writer's Den reader, Jean Davis. Jean and I met several years ago when I was teaching at the Delaware Christian Writer's Conference. While we were getting to know each other, we discovered that both of us had stories about our dads in the anthology, Embrace of a Father. (How cool is that?) Jean's devotionals have been published in Devo’zine, The Upper Room, and Cup of Comfort Devotional for Women. She also has stories included in The Heart of A Mother and Whispering in God’s Ear. I hope you'll check out her blogs at www.iwitnesslife.com and 
www.writersadvance.blogspot.com. And if you'd like some copies of Embrace of a Father for Father's Day or for any man in your life, please visit my Bookstore! ;-) I know you're going to enjoy Jean's blog today. It's a message we all need to hear!
- March 31, 2009 | 4 Comments | View or add comments
- James Scott Bell on Writing
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All you have to do is read one book by James Scott Bell and you know why Publishers Weekly calls him "A master of the cliffhanger, creating scene after scene of mounting suspense and revelation."
In addition to writing compelling fiction, James is an excellent writing instructor. So this week, instead of having to listen to me, you get to benefit from his expertise! Here are three ways to glean good stuff from author James Scott Bell:
- March 17, 2009 | 9 Comments | View or add comments
- Punctuation Pitfalls, Part I
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First of all, here's my disclaimer: I am NOT an expert in English. I don't have a degree in English and wouldn't dream of trying to tell you how to create perfectly-punctuated pieces. That said, I do a fair amount of critiquing and do feel fairly confident in offering some general hints to finding the most frequent errors I see. (And yes, I've seen variations of each of these examples) Over the next few weeks, we'll be looking at punctuation pitfalls that can mean the difference between an acceptance and a rejection in your writing life.
- When writing dialogue, place quotation marks around the spoken words, not the speaker tag.
Correct: "You didn't tell me that," Tom said.
Incorrect: "You didn't tell me that, Tom said." - March 9, 2009 | 7 Comments | View or add comments
- It's a Wonderful LIfe?
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(This is a picture of my mother, my sister, Laura, and my sister, Gail, taken at my mother's 75th birthday party.)
- March 2, 2009 | 9 Comments | View or add comments
- Compilations--A Viable Path on the Road to Publication
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Not long after my first children's book (Bitsy and the Mystery at Tybee Island )
came out, I had the opportunity to submit to a compilation, Mystery Readers Journal: Religious Mysteries. (And just so you know, the words "Religious" and "Christian" are not synonymous!) I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew was they were looking for writers of "religious" mysteries to share something of interest with mystery readers. Surely I had something of interest to say! So I wrote a piece, "Teaching Truth through Fiction," and talked about the fact that we can teach Biblical and moral truth without preaching. I was thrilled when they accepted my article. And even though I didn't get paid for it, it was still a good investment. Not only was it an opportunity to introduce mystery readers to my book, but the publication also gave me another writing credit. On top of that, "Teaching Biblical Truth through Secular Fiction" is now one of my most popular classes at writer's conferences.
- February 16, 2009 | 4 Comments | View or add comments
- Is Your Writing Flat as a Pancake?
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Do you feel like you're caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to your writing? Are you looking for a way to write outside the box? Are the editors as mean as snakes when it comes to their rejections? Learn to recognize overworked cliches...and soon you'll be whistling a new tune!
So what qualifies as a cliché? Dictionary.com says a cliche is:
- February 9, 2009 | 8 Comments | View or add comments
- Hey You!
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(I'm so sorry that this week's entry has such clunky links and no photos. I'm in FL and having computer issues, so I'm on my friend's Mac and don't have time to learn how to do it right! This is the best I can do on such a tight timeframe. I'm so sorry! I hope you still find nuggests of wisdom in the words I've not-so-eloquently written.)
Hey You!
- January 13, 2009 | 4 Comments | View or add comments
- Interview and Book Give Away with Author and Speaker Linda Gilden
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What a great week to introduce you to my friend, Linda Gilden. Linda and I met years ago when we were both students at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and she's been a real gift to me! (Don't forget to leave a comment and you could win the gift of one of her books!) Linda has written numerous articles, contributed to many books, and speaks regularly at writers' conferences and women's events around the country. She's also a freelance editor who enjoys helping people discover and improve their writing talents. So, let's get started!
- December 22, 2008 | 17 Comments | View or add comments
- The Cereal...er...Serial Comma
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December 15, 2008
Okay, I know the title is corny, but I'm desperate. Many writers say the serial comma is passé. Well, you tell me if you think a little comma would have clarified this phrase, reportedly taken from a book dedication: "To my parents, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II." Say what?
Could the writer really be the unclaimed offspring of Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II? I don't think so! Can you see that a serial comma (one placed after Mother Teresa) would have made the writer's intent clear?
- December 15, 2008 | 8 Comments | View or add comments
- What's in a Name?
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Remember when you studied the balcony scene from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet? Remember when Juliet said:
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
- December 8, 2008 | 5 Comments | View or add comments
- What Will You Do With Your Gift?
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December 1, 2009
Merry Christmas! Yes, I know it's only December 1, but I couldn't wait to give you a gift of encouragement from writer and speaker, Mary McKenzie. So what makes Mary so special? Well, besides being a devotional writer, novelist, and speaker, Mary is only 18 years old!
- December 1, 2008 | 5 Comments | View or add comments
- Putting the Art in Article Writing
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November 18, 2008
Once people realize I'm a writer, they'll often ask how I come up with good ideas. I've learned that when they ask, they're usually asking about fiction. After all, what could possibly be creative about writing non-fiction? Everybody knows non-fiction is "Just the facts, ma'am. Just the facts." Right? Wrong!
- November 17, 2008 | 0 Comments | View or add comments
- And the Beat Goes On...
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November 11, 2008
Ahhh...the melody of words. Don't you love it? Melodic writing truly is music to the ears.
- November 10, 2008 | 10 Comments | View or add comments
- God and the Telemarketer
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November 4, 2008
You may not believe this, but I know it for a fact: God talks on the telephone.
- November 3, 2008 | 3 Comments | View or add comments
- Author Interview and Book Give Away with Jenny L. Cote
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October 28, 2008
Hi, writers! I can't wait for you to hear from my friend, Jenny L. Cote. But before you do, let me tell you a little about her. Jenny and I met at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference a few years ago, before she ever had a book contract--and wait till you see what she's done!
- October 28, 2008 | 9 Comments | View or add comments
- Taking the Question Out of Query Letters, Part 2
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October 21, 2008
First of all, we had an incredible time at our 2008 Christian Writer's Den Writing
Retreat this past weekend at The Cabin Cove in Todd, NC. Ladies, you need to plan now to be part of the fun in 2009! The date and more information will be announced after the first of the year. Here's a shot of this year's group. Recognize anyone?
- October 20, 2008 | 5 Comments | View or add comments
- Taking the Question Out of Query Letters, Part 1
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October 14, 2008
Query letters. I hate them. You hate them. Everybody hates them. But the ability to write a good query letter can mean the difference between publication and rejection. Over the next two weeks, I'll be sharing a five-step formula for writing query letters that will create interest and increase the chances of seeing your name in print. (It will be presented as a query letter for a proposed article, but the basic concepts would work for a manuscript cover letter, too.)
- October 14, 2008 | 2 Comments | View or add comments
- Are You Running on Empty?
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October 7, 2008
Two weekends ago I was in the Atlanta area where I had the joy of teaching at the Christian Authors Guild Writers' Conference. By the time I left, I was emotionally and spiritually full to the brim! Yes, I was full...but my gas tank was nearly empty. And there was no gas anywhere around. That was Saturday evening. It was Monday before my husband and I were able to find gas and get back on the road. It was not a good feeling.
- October 7, 2008 | 3 Comments | View or add comments
- The Window: A Glimpse of God's Calling
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September 30, 2008
- September 30, 2008 | 1 Comment | View or add comments
- Interview and Book Give Away with Author and Speaker Brenda Nixon
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September 23, 2008
Hello, writers! Welcome to The Christian Writer's Den. Today you are in for a treat!
I'd like to introduce you to my friend, speaker and author Brenda Nixon. I met Brenda years ago on one of the writer's loops and we've been hanging around the internet together ever since! In addition to speaking and writing, she's a frequent instructor at writer's conferences across the country. I've had the joy of teaching with her several times and I can tell you she has a teaching spirit and a gift of encouragement. I hope you'll pay attention as Brenda shares her tips on becoming a speaker.
- September 23, 2008 | 18 Comments | View or add comments
- Bad News/Good News
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September 16, 2008
"I've had a hard life," the eager new writer says. "It's an amazing story. All my friends say I need to write a book. I know it would be an encouragement to everybody who reads it."
- September 16, 2008 | 3 Comments | View or add comments
- Do You Really Need an Agent?
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September 9, 2008
After my blog post, Scams, Shams, and Flim-Flams, a writer asked, "Do I really need an agent?" Well, you'll be happy to know I can confidently and unequivocally answer that question in three simple words: Yes, no, and maybe.
When I wrote my first book, I knew I didn't want an agent. I mean, why would I want to give a whopping 15 percent of my earnings to a total stranger when I could do it myself and keep all that money?
- September 8, 2008 | 11 Comments | View or add comments
- Interview and Book Give Away with Author Marty Norman
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August 26, 2008
September 7 is National Grandparents Day, a day to celebrate grandparents and how they've influenced our lives; a day to celebrate the bridge between the generations. So this is the perfect time to introduce Marty Norman, author of Generation G - Advice for Savvy Grandmothers Who Will Never Go Gray.
- August 26, 2008 | 8 Comments | View or add comments
- Scams. Shams, and Flim-Flams
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August 19, 2008
I'm so excited about all the writing opportunities I have for you this week! But before we get to those, I'd like to take a few minutes to share some warnings.
- August 18, 2008 | 7 Comments | View or add comments
- Giving Birth to Your Book, Part II: All Cleaned Up, Now Where Do We Go?
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August 12, 2008
About a month ago, I posted Giving Birth to Your Book Part I, with plans to post Part II the following week. As you can see, birthing this baby is long overdue. Well, after reading today's entry, you won't be able to say, "Oh, Ms. Vonda, I don't know nothing about birthin' no books!"
- August 12, 2008 | 8 Comments | View or add comments
- I'm So Proud of My Humility
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August 4, 2008
As a little girl, I recognized the power in achievement. I wanted to be the best, to be noticed and appreciated for my skills and abilities. And even as the shortest student in my class, I fought for-and often won-a place in the hierarchy of leadership. Kids usually wanted me on their team.
I knew God would want me on His team, too. So, when I was nine or ten years old, I walked down the aisle of my church and announced my plans to become a missionary. Even though I had no idea what salvation was, I promised God I would go anywhere and tell others about Him if he would just do one little, itsy-bitsy thing-let my hamster, Snowball, live.
- August 5, 2008 | 6 Comments | View or add comments
- Successful Life and Leadership
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July 29, 2008
I'm so excited to introduce our guest blogger, my friend, author and speaker, Robin Bryce. Robin and I met years ago in Knoxville, TN, when we both attended a CLASServices seminar for speakers. She currently lives in Huntsville, TX as a pastor's wife and mother of three blessings. I hope you'll connect with Robin at www.RobinBryce.com or visit her Facebook page.
Welcome, Robin!
- July 29, 2008 | 4 Comments | View or add comments
- Interview and Book Give Away with Michelle Cox and John Perrodin
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July 22, 2008
Whew! I'm back from the International Christian Retail Show in Orlando and am so ready to get back to work! But one of the highlights of the yearly convention is having the opportunity to connect with old friends and catch up on what God is doing in their lives.
- July 22, 2008 | 13 Comments | View or add comments
- Tap into the Senior Market
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Well, I had good intentions. I had sincerely planned to post Birthing Your Baby Part 2, even though I knew I'd be at ICRS this week. But like so many of my good intentions, it just didn't happen.
But have no fear! I am pleased to be able to offer something even better! Please welcome guest blogger, freelance writer Susan Sundwall, as she shares her article on writing for the senior market. You won't want to miss these opportunities!
Thanks, Susan!
- July 14, 2008 | 3 Comments | View or add comments
- Giving Birth to Your Book, Part I: Clean It Up!
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July 8, 2008
You've worked for months or years and finally, it's done. You've accomplished your dream and finally created "new life." But new life is just the beginning. Yes, your baby-your book-is created, but how do you start the delivery process and get your baby out into the world?
- July 8, 2008 | 8 Comments | View or add comments
- Have No Fear!
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July 1, 2008
I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest--I would flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah Psalm 55:6-7
There have been times in my life when I could have written that verse. I have a feeling you know what I'm talking about. I have a feeling you're like me, and you know what it's like to want nothing more than to fly away and be at rest. And we wouldn't even need wings or an airline ticket. A moped would be fine . . . just as long as it could take us away!
- July 1, 2008 | 5 Comments | View or add comments
- Interview and Book Give Away with Author Shellie Tomlinson
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June 24, 2008
I knew I'd found a friend the day I found Shellie Rushing Tomlinson. She's not only the owner and publisher of All Things Southern, a website that celebrates "...the charm and heritage of the South," but she's also NOT a girly-girl. And that makes us practically sisters!
- June 24, 2008 | 17 Comments | View or add comments
- Hook 'Em!
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June 17, 2008
The query letter, written by an eager new writer, was penned with hope and enthusiasm. But hope and enthusiasm were eliminated as soon as the editor read these deadly words: "I know it starts off a little slow, but..."
By the time the editor finished reading those nine little words, the decision had already been made. The rejection letter was on its way. The eager writer might as well have written, "Whatever you do, please don't publish my book."
- June 16, 2008 | 4 Comments | View or add comments
- Don't Wimp Out on Good Writing
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June 10, 2008
I've always considered myself a fairly strong person. After all, I've taken karate lessons, played first base on an all-boys baseball team, and been scuba diving with alligators. (Okay, I admit the alligators were a surprise, but I had bravely planned for the rest of the adventure.) But when I sat down to start writing, I turned into a real wimp...and I didn't even know it.
It wasn't until I started taking classes and going to conferences that I finally discovered one of the reasons I couldn't get published: I used wimpy verbs.
- June 9, 2008 | 4 Comments | View or add comments
- The Red Pen
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June 3, 2008
Well, it's been a little over a week since I returned from the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, and my inbox is full. The response has been everything from "Now I know how to make my writing better" to "I quit--I must not be a writer."
I can't help but smile. I could be reading my own words, spoken at different times in my writing journey. Of course, most of you are much better students than I was when I started out! I hate to admit it, but when I first began this journey, I thought anyone who saw a need for improvement in my writing was just . . . well . . . wrong!
- June 2, 2008 | 4 Comments | View or add comments
- Interview and Book Give Away with Author/Entertainer Dena Dyer
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May 27, 2008
I'm so excited to welcome my friend, Dena Dyer. We initially met online at The Writers View, a site for professional and advanced writers (The Writers View 2 is for beginners, so be sure and sign up for the one that best fits your needs). Then we met in person when we were both on faculty at the Glorieta Christian Writers Conference in New Mexico a few years ago. Dena is an amazingly talented woman and I'm honored she agreed to be with us today!
- May 27, 2008 | 6 Comments | View or add comments
- Hello from Blue Ridge!
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May 19, 2008
Hello from the beautiful mountains of North Carolina where the skies are blue, the trees are green, and the hills are alive with music! Okay, maybe that's taking it a little too far, but I can tell you, I could get lost in the joy of writing up here.
- May 19, 2008 | 2 Comments | View or add comments
- Who Says?
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May 13, 2008
Back in 1993, before dinosaurs walked the earth, I decided to write my first book. Gary bought an electric typewriter and converted my sewing table into a desk. I ordered erasers and Correct-o-Type. But I knew that to be a real writer, I needed one more thing--a Roget's Thesaurus.
Two sentences into the first page, I opened the ten-pound book. It was a heady experience. I followed the alphabet to the one word I knew I needed to avoid: said. Everybody knew said was a wimpy word, and I was not going to be a wimpy writer!
- May 13, 2008 | 4 Comments | View or add comments
- God's Good, Pleasing and Perfect Will
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May 6, 2008
I can't tell you how many times I've begged God to give me a clear sign so I'd know His perfect will for my life--you know, something really Biblical, like a message written across the sky, with fireworks exploding around it. But when I gaze up into the vast blue beauty, all I see is a white puffy cloud that looks like a hamburger. Am I supposed to give up this writing thing and work at McDonald's? (Don't laugh. I'd certainly make more money flipping burgers!)
- May 6, 2008 | 18 Comments | View or add comments
- Interview and Book Give Away with Allison Bottke
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April 29, 2008
The SWAT team left a horrible mess in their wake...Glass cracked under my feet like ice on a frozen pond, ready to break and suck me down...The rancid smell of alcohol and stale cigarette smoke hung in the air...Assaulted and plundered, the house was in ruins--my heart not far behind.
- April 29, 2008 | 17 Comments | View or add comments
- Going Fishin' by Guest Blogger Renae Brumbaugh
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April 22, 2008
Vonda here: Welcome, friends! As promised, we're pretending today is the 5th Tuesday. After all, we're writers, and writers can make it whatever day they want, right? Next week we'll have a wonderful interview and book give away with author Allison Bottke and we'll pretend it's the 4th Tuesday. Totally confused? Good! That means I'm not alone! ;-)
- April 22, 2008 | 5 Comments | View or add comments
- Move Over, Audrey Hepburn!
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Hi Gang! As you read this, I'm at the Gideon Media Arts Conference & Film Festival at Ridgecrest Conference Center, NC. I'm having a ball hanging around movie producers, directors, screenwriters, radio personalities, and professional actors. If this sounds like something that interests you, I hope you'll plan to join me next year!
In addition to co-directing the teen program, I'm teaching church drama. But believe me, it's not all work. I'm having a ball participating in The Scene Shop, where a few of us actor wannabes (along with some real live professionals) present scenes from brand new movie and TV scripts!
- April 15, 2008 | 2 Comments | View or add comments
- Teaching Biblical Truth Through Secular Fiction
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April 8, 2008
Today's fictional children are invincible. They're smart and calculating and wise beyond their years. They're totally independent and answer to no one. They nab the bad guy and save the planet and solve the world's problems through their ingenuity and insight. And where are today's fictional adults while all this is going on? They're standing in the corner, picking their noses--inept bystanders in the crises of life.
Truth is, real kids need us adults. They need us to listen and understand and offer guidance. Lesson #1: Fictional kids need adults, too.
- April 8, 2008 | 4 Comments | View or add comments
- Waiting in the Fast Lane
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April 1, 2008
Waiting is hard for me. I read of Sarah waiting for Isaac, Anna waiting for the Messiah, and Elizabeth waiting for John, and I'm amazed. I mean, can you believe Sarah waited about thirty years for a baby? Thirty years? I have a hard time waiting for my nails to dry!
But God's Word is clear that we're to wait, to be still, to remain in Him.
- April 1, 2008 | 10 Comments | View or add comments
- Interview and Book Give Away with Author Virelle Kidder
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March 25, 2008
I pray this Easter season has found you encouraged and excited because of the promise we have in Jesus Christ. We serve an awesome God! But what if you're not excited? What if you're weary and tired and ready to call it quits?
Lesson #1: You're not alone.
- March 25, 2008 | 16 Comments | View or add comments
- It's All in Your Point of View
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March 18, 2008
When I wrote my first book in 1993, I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew was that I loved to write, my high school and college teachers said I was good at it, and my mother assured me the book I had created was a masterpiece. I was confident fame and fortune would soon be mine! There was only one little problem (Well, actually there were many problems with that first book--which might explain why it took so many years for it to be published--but today we'll just talk about one of them).
The problem was, I had never heard of point of view, or POV. I wasn't alone. Lots of new writers have no idea what POV is and how important it is to the publishability of their work. But the problem with point of view isn't limited to new writers. It can trip up even the most experienced among us.
- March 18, 2008 | 13 Comments | View or add comments
- Have You Failed...to Write?
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March 11, 2008
In 1993, long before I ever tried to write for publication, I attended a writing seminar. I had never traveled alone out into the big, bad world, so I was scared to death. I made my reservation, packed my suitcase, and drove two hours away. This was my big chance.
- March 11, 2008 | 9 Comments | View or add comments
- John Riddle: Encourager
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February 26, 2008
Last week, I told you about my first foray into the writing world--a three line poem I wrote in first grade. The feedback and encouragement I received from my teacher was life-giving. I was hooked! When I was in 9th grade, my English teacher, Mrs. Rabb, read my story, "Requiem," to the class and used it as an example of good writing. That catapulted me on to becoming editor of the high school literary journal and newspaper reporter. English comp classes in college confirmed my calling. There was no question about it--I was going to be a writer one day.
Then the rejections came. I wasn't so sure anymore. I almost gave up.
- February 26, 2008 | 13 Comments | View or add comments
- Begin at the Beginning
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February 19, 2008
I knew I wanted to be a writer after I wrote my first poem in first grade. In high school I worked on the newspaper and the literary journal and in college I knew that one day I would write a book. The next thing I knew, I was forty.
- February 19, 2008 | 11 Comments | View or add comments
- Three Little Words
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February 12, 2008
Okay, be honest--you think this is just another sappy essay about Valentine's Day and the meaning of love, right? Wrong. Believe me, I'm not writing about dating, marriage, or conversation hearts. The three little words I'm talking about today are powerful.
- February 12, 2008 | 9 Comments | View or add comments
- DON'T Write What You Know!
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February 5, 2008
If you've been writing for any length of time, you've probably heard the adage, "Write what you know." I understand the reasoning behind the statement, but I'm afraid I have to disagree. Now, before you post nasty comments and threaten to cancel your RSS feed, please hear me out.
- February 5, 2008 | 6 Comments | View or add comments
- A Positive Rejection
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January 29, 2008
In order to protect the not-so-innocent, we'll call him John. He was tall, handsome, and athletic. The desire of every eighth grade girl. Oh, if only he would chose me as his partner--my life would be perfect!
Well, you know the story. I lined up, alongside three-fourths of the female eighth-graders, and applied for the role of John's girl. But he said I wasn't a good fit. I wasn't his type.
- January 29, 2008 | 8 Comments | View or add comments
- Writer's Conferences: The first step on your writing journey
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January 22, 2008
I sold my first article over grits and bacon at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. I arrived early for breakfast and claimed my spot at Jesse Florea's table. As an editor at Focus on the Family, Jesse was sure to see that my article, Catch Your Child in the Act...of Being Good, was a perfect match for Focus' parenting newsletters. I was the first one at his table that morning and claimed two places-one for him and one for me. My heart pounded as I watched Jesse enter the dining room and head for his spot.
Within minutes, the table full of eager writers attacked him with questions regarding guidelines, submissions, and editorial needs. And even though I felt sorry for Jesse, I added my own din to the I-want-to-be-a-writer clamor. He stopped, took the proffered article from my hand, and read. He smiled. I thought I was going to throw up.
"This sounds like something we could use," he announced.
- January 22, 2008 | 2 Comments | View or add comments
- Things are never as simple as they seem...
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January 16, 2008
Well, things are never as simple as they seem for people like us. "It's easy," they say with a yawn . . . and we believe them. It's not that they're lying or anything. It's just that we're from different worlds. They're iPods, Blackberries, and Wii's; we're transistor radios, typewriters, and Atari.
We just don't speak the same language.
- January 16, 2008 | 2 Comments | View or add comments
- The Christian Writer's Den is now open and ready for you!
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January 15, 2008
Okay, those of you who know me personally are probably asking, "Is she crazy? She doesn't know anything about maintaining a blog!"
Well, you're right--I don't! But my handy-dandy, A-plus, top dog webmaster, Steve, says I can do it, and I'm gullible enough to believe him. So here goes...(GULP!)
- January 15, 2008 | 18 Comments | View or add comments
Solomon's Beloved!
Want a laugh????
Solomon's Beloved has finally arrived at YouTube! I hope you'll take a look and leave a comment (and maybe even post a great rating;-). Thank you, friends, for all your support and encouragement!
2010 Christian Writer's Den Writing Retreat
**I'm sorry, but registration is full--BUT we have a waiting list and would be happy to add your name! No deposit necessary for the waiting list. When an opening comes available, we'll contact you then for your decision.**
Ladies, it's time to register for our
annual Christian Writer's Den Writing Retreat in Todd, NC. This year's date is October 21-24. (Don't worry, there won't be snow in October!) Check out the 2008 video here. More info and registration here. Or feel free to email me for more information.
Featured Books
Seeing Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe
"Vonda helps us get a grip and find our footing...and she does it with giggles and grace. Her light touch combined with her deep heart make this worth embracing."
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Is your study group considering using my new book? I'd love to join you by speaker phone! Just contact me for details.
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Bitsy and the Mystery at Hilton Head Island has arrived!
Bitsy and the Mystery at Hilton Head Island--the third adventure in the Bitsy Mystery Series--is now available. You can get your signed, personalized copies here.
In this new adventure, Bitsy (the only girl on her baseball team) heads to Hilton Head Island for a tournament, where Bitsy expects sun, fun, and a first place trophy. But her plans change when she discovers a loggerhead turtle egg thief is on the loose. Could he be hiding right under their noses?
Read the first two chapters to find out more.
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