No, I’m not pulling an Al Gore claim to fame, but I humbly believe it’s time to give credit where credit is due.
Back in 1968 (just for the record, the dinosaurs were gone by then) I formulated a new term: Social Security. Mrs. Thomason, my high school psychology teacher was quite impressed, as were my esteemed classmates. It was a moment of creative glory.
Now before you jump on Google Search to confirm the history of Social Security terminology and development, hear me out.
By 1968 I knew I was a writer. As a 16-year-old student, I was already in love with creating lyrical prose, with developing syntax that flowed from my brain to my fingers to the pencil pressed against lined paper. I was hooked.
Details of the class are fuzzy, but I remember Mrs. Thomason talking about peer pressure and why teens sometimes let down their guard and do things they wouldn’t normally do. I sat there, digesting the information, trying to analyze why I myself had done some things I didn’t really want to do, but I had done them anyway…simply because of peer pressure.
And then it hit me: They…we…I…wanted “Social Security.” We wanted the security of knowing we were accepted, that socially we were part of the crowd. I blurted out the two words and waited for the applause.
It took another moment or two of explanation, but they finally got it: Being accepted into the crowd was security in the social realm. Social Security.
I still love that term, not that I’ve ever done anything with it. But I still love the play on words, the twist, the unexpected application.
We writers would do well to develop that skill, as well as the use of fresh methaphors, hyperbole, and personification. These techniques take ordinary words and create extraordinary pictures. Take a look at these recent excerpts written by my friend, Edie Melson, as she personifies her sluggish computer:
- But I’ve run every diagnostic in the book and it’s free from digital disease.
- Where once it had room to perform, now its life is cramped and overloaded.
- …if it were a person I’d even go so far as to say it’s chronically cranky.
- Its bad tempered disposition is due to the fact that I’m expecting it to do things it was never designed to do.
- Well it seems I suffer from the same sort of malady as my darling digital offspring.
And now she makes the application to her own life:
- …and do a serious reboot to my life.
- I’m in the process of plugging back in to my Creator…
Want to grab your readers? Want to take them on a journey they won’t want to end? Use the play on words, the twist, the unexpected application. Use metaphors, hyperbole, and personification, and you’ll have yourself some good writing.
And then you won’t have to worry about Social Security. 
(Be sure to check out the entire November 5 post at ).
(Photo courtesy of ChristianPhotos.net )
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Kudos for YOU!
Congratulations to these Christian Writer’s Den readers for these writing achievements!
- Edie Melson (SC): Edie’s new book, Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves for Battle, was released yesterday, November 7! And many Christian Writer’s Den readers are published in it as well!
- Marilyn Turk (FL): 1)One of my stories is in Chicken Soup for the Soul, Devotions for Tough Times, which came out in October. 2)I have four booksignings set up for it. 3)Another of my stories will be in Chicken Soup’s Say Goodbye to Stress book coming out next May. 4)I won a spot in the Guideposts refresher workshop which will be in Charleston, SC in November.
- Katherine Hinchee Purdy (VA): My first novel, The Vision of a Mother’s Heart, was released and is now available!
- Tracy Crump (MS): 1)Published 3 stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul Devotional Stories for Times of Trouble. 2)Conducted a workshop on writing for Chicken Soup at the Southeastern Christian Writers Conference. 3)Published “Finding the Right Fit,” my third article on critiquing in Southern Writers Magazine. 4)Will co-lead a webinar, “Stirring the Pot: Writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul,” on November 11 (information found at )
- Jeanne Doyon (CT): 1)I graduated from the Christian Communicator’s Conference (Yay, Jeanne!) on October 31, 2011 and will be seeking the next step for my writing and speaking ministry. Prospective event planners can contact me at 2) A Canadian website owner emailed me and asked if he could reprint some of my blog articles on You can read and comment on “The Art of Letting Go” here. 3)My article, Awesome Austin has also been published at can read and comment on it here.
- Barbara Winters (IL): I had an article accepted for the March 2012 edition of Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family magazine. It will be in the Blended Family section. You can sign up for a free subscription to Thriving Family at their website
- Heather Brand (GA): My story, “Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone,” has been published in the upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul: Food and Love, to be released November 22, 2011.
- Cynthia Lovely (NY): Cynthia has a new website. Be sure to check out Lovely Lane.
- Kay Mortimer (SC): Kay’s new blog, God’s Truth Matters, is up!
Congratulations, writers! Didn’t see your name listed? Keep working smart and working hard and chances are good it’ll be there one day.
Be sure to check back next week for a new list of writing opportunities!
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MoGo7000 Results!
Three writers met the October goal of 7000 new words on their book project:
- Eddie Snipes–9061 words
- Cindy Patterson–8492 words
- Patty Willett–6182
Congratulations, writers. You have another entry into the drawing for $100!
It’s free to join in the fun! Check out the MoGo7000 Guidelines here…and then jump on board!
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Parting Words from THE Word…
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-5
I pray God’s blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda
