Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing

Over the last several weeks, we have taken a look at scene development and have learned that a scene needs four basic elements: An opening paragraph that sets the stage and transitions the reader as to time, place, and point-of-view; a point-of-view character with a goal and motivation to reach that goal; conflict that impedes the character in his search to claim what he’s after; and lastly, your scene should conclude with an ending that makes the reader want to turn the page.

An author doesn’t have to dump a dead body at the end of every scene. That can be pretty tiresome. It isn’t even necessary to have an earth-shattering event. Those type of endings work in suspense and thrillers, but what about women’s fiction or romance?

A turn-the-page ending is something that either shouts or whispers to the reader that there’s something exciting to come.

Below is the scene we've been developing over the last few weeks:

Two days after the funeral, John stood at his father's desk, reviewing the old man's Trust. John let the document slip from his fingers. The ticking grandfather clock, ironically left to his father by his grandfather, broke the unbearable silence as John stared out the window at the lush gardens of the mansion.

The heavy oak door of his father's office creaked open. John rubbed tired eyes and turned at his mother's touch on his arm. 'Why?" He cleared emotion from his throat.

Mother ran her hand along the edge of the desk. "I don't know.”

John picked up the Trust once again and held it out to her. "I lived my life to one day run the company, and it's gone. My life's work."

"John, he didn't leave you penniless. He left you stock in the corporation.”

John shook his head. "And I'm supposed to appreciate it. Fourteen to sixteen hours a day, seven days a week, and I get a token of his appreciation."

"He loved you. He was proud of you."

"Funny way of showing it, Mother." He turned to her, his gaze narrowed. "And don't think for a moment I won't get my company back." Quick strides took him toward the door.

"John." His mother's voice held the gentle tone he needed now.

He stopped and looked back at her.

"Son, I don't believe you read the most important part of your father's Trust." She held it out to him.

He blinked. What was she getting at? He moved back to her, took the Trust, and read it slowly. Then he lifted a hardened gaze to her. "He left my company in her hands?"

"Your father always loved Mary like a daughter. He said there were things you didn't understand about her--things she couldn't share with you. He thought if you'd just turn your life over to God, you'd see your judgment was clouded by misconception."

What was his father thinking? The last time he saw Mary, he told her if she ever showed her face around him again, it’d be the last time anyone ever saw her. After what she did to him, letting her walk out the door seemed like a very generous offer. He understood Mary all right. He understood her all too well, and God would never change his hatred for his ex-wife.

***

One little turn, and Mary becomes more important to the story, and the reader is left with a hint that John may be lifting a challenge to God that John isn’t going to win? Do you want to turn the page to see exactly what separated John and Mary and why John’s father would insist on leaving her his lifework?

As a writer edits her manuscript, it is important to review it for these basic elements: Setting of the scene; goal and motivation, conflict, and a turn-the-page ending.

Until next week, happy editing.

Make-A-Story™ Monday - This Week's Writing Prompt

Writing to spec – you’ve heard the term. It means writing what the publisher wants. Can you do it? In our new feature - Make-A-Story™, we ask you to create a story with these elements. The story can be set in any time frame, any length, must adhere to our guidelines and have our standard Christian world view.

A gold coin
A tornado
A motorcycle

Special Call for Submissions

PERMISSION TO FORWARD

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: WHITE ROSE PUBLISHING & HARBOURLIGHT BOOKS

Pelican Book Group is seeking manuscripts to fill a special 2012 holiday release extravaganza. We are currently seeking novelette to novella length stories (between 15,000 and 25,000 words) to fill twenty-four special slots. Stories may fit either the White Rose Publishing (romance) or the Harbourlight Books (general fiction) imprint, but must have a Christmas theme. Submissions must be received on or before 1 May 2012.

Stories must be Christian fiction, may be contemporary or historical, and may fall under any subgenre (e.g. romantic suspense, sci-fi,) To submit, please use the submission form found on our website. ( http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/submission-form ) Be sure to include: CHRISTMAS SUBMISSION in the additional notes section.

In addition, Pelican Book Group is always open to general submissions. Full submission guidelines may be found at http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/write-for-us

For more information about White Rose Publishing and Harbourlight Books please visit our website at http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com or read some of our titles. Our books are available local and online retailers such as Amazon, ARe, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Christian Book Distributors, Sony.

Thursdays Tips: Take Advantage!

Take advantage!

Got your attention, didn’t I? Yes, take advantage. Not of people or contacts—of opportunities!!

So many times I find writers aren’t taking advantage of the opportunities that present in their stories (and/or in their writing lives). Here’s a list of opportunities you don’t want to miss:

Opportunities to stretch out the tension. Don’t wind things down or deflate the tension before it’s time. Definitely have an ebb and flow, but don’t pull back so much that readers lose interest. Don’t let every character be nice to your protagonist. And remember tension and conflict can come from within.

Opportunities to dig into POV and help readers really connect with your POV character in a given scene. Help us feel what they’re feeling. How? Show. How? Pull from your own heart and experience, and then display those actions/emotions in the situation you’re depicting. But draw on your own similar experience to make it “real.”

Opportunities to brainstorm. Don’t hesitate to take time off to “just” think. Take a walk and brainstorm plot troubles. Have a cup of some delicious warm beverage and chat your story snags through with writerly buds.

Opportunities to refresh your creativity. Take breaks. Take vacations. Get away from the norm. Read during your downtime. What inspires you? Walks on the beach? Strolls through the forest? Time with friends? Find a way to indulge.

Opportunities to study writing craft. Always be a student of the craft. As you read, study what you’re reading. How did this author accomplish the scene that just made you cry? The prose that just made you stop and savor the words? The twist you didn’t see coming? Study articles. Find websites and/or craft books that help you grow as a writer. Don’t miss opportunities to join writing communities or go to workshops. If you can afford to go, attend conferences. Be teachable where editors, critique partners, and contest judges are concerned.

Opportunities to write. What season are you in? In my own life, I've had seasons where I had more time to write than other seasons. The trick is to write whenever you can. Even if it's only a few hours at the end of your busy day. Write every day. You can grow a manuscript this way. Set a goal of 500 words a day and meet it consistently. Take advantage of writing challenges. Join groups and hold each other accountable. My involvement in a critique group has helped me work on my manuscript, making time to write/rewrite a chapter for the next meeting, even during busy weeks. You're a writer. Make time to write. Take a laptop to doctor's appointments or kids' soccer games.

In short, take advantage of the opportunities before you. The investment will pay off.

Wednesday ~~~ Write the Vision

One of the most gruesome scenes of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy for me was at the beginning of the Battle for Minas Tirith where the army of Mordor returns the Gondorian prisoners. Via catapult. And it’s just their heads. I’ve often wonder if that scene, like many others in LOTR, was inspired by the Bible, specifically the story of John the Baptist.
While the devil is the ultimate villain in all inspirational fiction (1 Peter 5:8), his influence is seen in human villains as well. Ephesians 6:12 is a good starting place to look for villains. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Often it is the villain that determines the course of the story. We all know Judas and Jezebel but here are some additional Biblical human villains —

Athaliah 2 Kings 2:11 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

It’s hard to imagine a woman so greedy for power. She killed her family, her grandchildren, so she could be queen. Her reign was one of great evil and her wickedness had far reaching effects.

Haman Esther 3:6 wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
This man didn’t kill one person he wanted to kill an entire race of people. We've seen genocidal maniacs in history and Haman falls in their ranks. Through trickery and deceit he wormed his way to the top. His end was fitting, hanged on gallows he'd built to kill others.


King Saul
1 Samuel 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee:
King Saul was a complicated man. There were times when he did serve God, then there were others when he was consumed with hatred and rage. He was obsessed. He cared for David and hated David. Their story, the interaction, is an amazing display of human nature. Saul consulted a witch, plotted murders, didn't keep his word.

Achan
Joshua 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Achan willfully disobeyed God. He was in the right crowd but wasn't really a part of them. His values were different and because of that, caused great trouble.

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self Editing

Conflict. Real life is filled with it, and personally we seem to always be trying to avoid calamity. In fiction, though, a story isn't worth telling unless your character is in turmoil. Readers live for conflict. A story without it isn't much of a story at all. Conflict is what makes the reader turn the page. A good self-editor works to keep his characters' lives exciting and complicated from one scene to the next.

Last week we looked at a scene with an eye toward a character's goal and his motivation or drive to complete that goal. Done correctly, a character's desire and the steps that take him toward reaching his desire should create conflict.

Let's take a look at John, our hero from the previous two weeks. John's goal has always been to take over the family business. His father, though, had other plans, and Dad's Trust left John determined to do whatever it takes to control the business again.

True, there is conflict in this scene. John wants what he doesn't have (goal/motivation), but let's ramp up the conflict a little more this week by putting in a deterrent to his goal:

Two days after the funeral, John stood at his father's desk, reviewing the old man's Trust. John let the document slip from his fingers. The ticking grandfather clock, ironically left to his father by his grandfather, broke the unbearable silence as John stared out the window at the lush gardens of the mansion.

The heavy oak door of his father's office creaked open. John rubbed tired eyes and turned at his mother's touch on his arm. 'Why?" He cleared emotion from his throat.

Mother ran her hand along the edge of the desk. "I don't know."

John picked up the Trust once again and held it out to her. "I lived my life to one day run the company, and it's gone. My life's work."

"John, he didn't leave you penniless. He left you stock in the corporation."

John shook his head. "And I'm suppose to appreciate it. Fourteen to sixteen hours a day, seven days a week, and I get a token of his appreciation."

"He loved you. He was proud of you."

"Funny way of showing it, Mother." He turned to her, his gaze narrowed. "And don't think for a moment I won't get my company back." Quick strides took him toward the door.

"John." His mother's voice held the gentle tone he needed now.

He stopped and looked back at her.

"Son, I don't believe you read the most important part of your father's Trust." She held it out to him.

He blinked. What was she getting at? He moved back to her, took the Trust, and read it slowly. Then he lifted a hardened gaze to her. "He left my company in her hands?"

"Your father always loved Mary like a daughter. He said there were things you didn't understand about her--things she couldn't share with you. He thought if you'd just turn your life over to God, you'd see your judgment was clouded by misconception."

John rubbed his aching forehead. "My judgment was clouded by a lot of things where Mary was concerned, the least of which was misconception."

***

Insert an opposing force (in this case, Mary), and there will be conflict.

Next week we'll take a look at developing an ending that will make the reader want to turn the page.

Until then, happy editing.

Make-A-Story™ Monday - This Week's Writing Prompt

Writing to spec – you’ve heard the term. It means writing what the publisher wants. Can you do it? In our new feature - Make-A-Story™, we ask you to create a story with these elements. The story can be set in any time frame, any length, must adhere to our guidelines and have our standard Christian world view.

A pillow fight
A parade
A police officer

Pruning that Manuscript

This Christmas, I was gifted a beautiful Norfolk Pine—three feet tall, its branches spanning a goodly distance in all directions. After a few weeks, the branches started to dry out, needles began to adorn the floor instead of the plant. I didn’t understand why. I was very careful to follow all the rules of caring for this plant. I didn’t over-water, I didn’t under-water, it received the proper amount of light…so what was wrong? What I discovered was the pretty red foil decorating the plain pot had become an instrument of death. The foil looked lovely, but it wasn’t allowing for proper drainage. Each time I watered the plant—even though it wasn’t too much water—the little bit of water that drained out the bottom of the pot got trapped in that foil. Cumulatively, it caused the soil to remain too wet and the roots of this beautiful tree began to drown. 

I decided to accept the impossible mission of saving this suddenly-becoming wretched plant. I ripped off the pretty foil. I moved the plant to the bathroom where it would be well and properly humidified by shower steam. I clipped dead branches. At first, I didn’t clip all the dead branches. I still wanted the plant to look proportioned and pretty—and after all, dead Norfolk Pine branches almost look alive. They’re just a little crispy to the touch, is all. 
That didn’t seem to work. The plant continued to deteriorate.  So, I trimmed more dead branches. Now the plant was an odd lopsided thing that probably wouldn’t even qualify to be a Charlie Brown Christmas tree, but I told myself it was for the best…the only way to save it. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to clip all the dead branches. If I did that, the height would be gone, and much of the remaining sides.

The plant continued to deteriorate. Finally, I decided I had to take drastic measures (yes, it took this long). I had to cut all the dead limbs. It was the plant’s only chance. So, now, my beautiful three-feet-tall Norfolk Pine is one-foot-tall, but, it’s even on all sides, the branches are green, the needles are supple, and the plant? Well….IT LIVES!

As I was doing my final pruning, the age-old comparison came to me about how we need to allow God to prune us, cut off all sin in our lives in order for us to have rich, productive, and holy lives. Something else came to me, as well: As writers, this is what we sometimes need to do to our manuscripts. Sometimes what we feel makes the story shine (beautiful shiny foil) is the thing that’s causing the story to suffer. Sometimes, what we feel is necessary to give our story height and depth (dead branches that don’t quite “look” dead) is really the thing that’s keeping the manuscript from soaring to its full potential. 

So, my friends, don’t be afraid to chop away. When you’re editing, don’t look at how much you really liked that subplot, and decide off-hand that it doesn’t need to be cut. Don’t look at the long description that’s beautiful but stifles the action, as necessary. Don’t look at the 20-page prologue that’s full of backstory as if it contains all the information the reader needs to know now. Maybe those things are just shiny foil and dead branches that are actually killing your story instead of allowing it to grow. After all, what’s better, a pruned manuscript that breathes life into readers, or a long manuscript that goes nowhere and dies on the vine? 

As writers, our goal is to create a complete world, three-dimensional characters, a compelling plot. As you edit, keep that goal in mind. Sometimes we follow all the rules of writing (I watered my Pine just as I should have)--our grammar is perfect, our point-of-view is on target, our manuscript formatting is flawless--but still something lacks. Look at each scene and ask yourself if it moves the story forward. Does it develop character? Does it create or resolve conflict? If it doesn’t do something that’s truly necessary, prune that baby. Sometimes clipping a sentence here and there will do, but sometimes, you’ll need to nix the scene altogether. And don't just ask yourself if the scene does what it's supposed to (it's easy to say "yes"), explain to yourself why you think it does. You'd be surprised how often you think you know why something works, but when trying to explain it to someone else, you can't. Generally, that's because it doesn't really work!

Don’t be afraid to edit aggressively (prune all the dead weight, even if it makes your story lopsided for a while). Keep your goal in mind, cut what needs to be cut and then flesh out the story again. Do that, and you’ll end up with a beautiful manuscript that is full of life.

Happy writing!

Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

Writing a female heroine can be difficult, how soft should she be, how strong? When I began to write this blog, at first it was going to be "Taking Cues From Biblical Heroines," but I was sidetracked. All these pairs of women started popping out at me.
I wished to spend this week looking at these--

Sarah and Hagar ~ Animosity and jealousy characterize this pair. Sarah's very name means 'princess' while Hagar was a mere servant. Abraham’s wife, Sarah was a lovely and intelligent woman, but she couldn’t have children. She prayed for a child, to no avail and after years of unanswered pleas, she took matters into her own hands. God had told Abraham he would be the father of a great nation, and Sarah reasoned to be the father of a great nation, one first must be a father...so, Abraham had a son with Sarah’s handmaid Hagar. But sometimes when we “help” God we make matters worse. Hagar and Sarah just couldn’t live together any longer. They had to separate.


Leah and Rachel ~ I’ve often wondered what Leah’s life was like as the older sister of beautiful Rachel. She was married through trickery, and her children, though she gave Jacob many, took backseat to Jacob’s beloved Joseph and Benjamin, the children of Rachel. Yet,we read how Rachel took idols with her when she left her father’s house. What does that say about her?

Deborah and Jael ~ I love this pair. These two are the original tough girls. It wasn't their beauty or their children, but their quick minds and grit that make these women of note. Deborah was a judge of Israel, a prophetess as well. When Barak, the commander of the Israelite army, refused to go into battle against Sisera without her at his side, Deborah jumped in the chariot beside him knowing with God on her side she didn’t need to be afraid. So did Barak get the victory? Well the Israelites were victorious but it was Jael who took care of Sisera, the opposing general when he ran to her tent to hide- Jael the original GI Jane?

Ruth and Naomi ~ Ruth also shows a tough spirit when she refuses to leave her mother-in-law after the death of Ruth’s husband and Naomi’s son. They looked after each other and took care of one another.

Mary and Martha ~ This New Testament gives us this pair. Fastidious Martha the very vision of order –I bet her kitchen was spotless and her spices were in alphabetical order. Martha and Mary both loved Jesus, but Martha tended to get bogged down with work. She had trouble with priorities while Mary focust on what was most important at the moment.


Nest week I intend to keep on this topic of Biblical characters. These duos really spoke to me as I prepared for the blog and realized how these ladies, whether friends, sisters, or rivals are paired.
Happy Writing,

Tactical Tuesday: Advice or Self-Editing

When self-editing, an author must check each scene to assure that their point-of-view character is properly motivated--striving toward a seemingly unattainable goal, or if the goal seems attainable, it needs to be taken out of the grasp of your character. Without an overriding desire, whether your heroine is Ms. America and searching for world peace or John, the hero introduced in last week's blog, they do not have a story worth telling.

The goal, and the motivation to seek those goals, aren't devices mentioned in the first paragraph of a manuscript then forgotten until the last chapter. Goal and motivation must be at the forefront of each scene you write, whether those goals are obvious to your character or not.

In last week's example, we set our stage, providing the reader with transition (time), location, and sensory details. Now, let's look at what motivates John, what will carry the reader along with him on his journey, as the author builds the story one scene at a time:

Two days after the funeral, John stood at his father's desk,reviewing the old man's Trust. John let the document slip from his fingers. The ticking grandfather clock, ironically left to his father by his grandfather, broke the unbearable silence as John stared out the window at the lush gardens of the mansion.

The heavy oak door of his father's office creaked open.

John rubbed tired eyes and turned at his mother's touch on his arm. "Why?" He cleared emotion from his throat.

Mother ran her hand along the edge of the desk. "I don't know."

John picked up the Trust once again and held it out to her. "I lived my life to one day run the company, and it's gone. My life's work."

"John, he didn't leave you penniless. He left you stock in the corporation. You have a seat on the board."John shook his head.

"And I'm supposed to appreciate it. Fourteen to sixteen hours a day, seven days a week, and I get a token of his appreciation."

"He thought you had lessons to learn, but he loved you. He was proud of you."

"Funny way of showing it, Mother." He turned to her, his gaze narrowed. "And don't think for a moment I won't get my company back."

***
John is now motivated by the fact his father didn't leave him what he considers part of his inheritance. His goal is to win it back at all costs.

If this scene had been about John looking at his father's Trust, relieved he didn't have to take over the family business, there would be nothing to build upon, no reason for this scene. End of story. Now, we know what John wants and what will propel him and the reader forward, but still, there's something missing from our scene.

Next week, we'll look at developing conflict.

Until then,

Happy editing!

Make-A-Story™ Monday - This Week's Writing Prompt

Writing to spec – you’ve heard the term. It means writing what the publisher wants. Can you do it? In our new feature - Make-A-Story™, we ask you to create a story with these elements. The story can be set in any time frame, any length, must adhere to our guidelines and have our standard Christian world view.

Blue eyes
A basket of fancy soaps
A log cabin

Thursday's Tips: The Value of a Scene

As you’re writing, and/or rewriting, ask yourself this very key question: what is the purpose of this scene? This issue may be more prevalent for seat-of-the-pants writers, but outliners can lose sight too. And if you lose sight, you might lose readers...

Scenes should:

• Advance the plot

• Bring the hero and the heroine into a new dynamic in their relationship (in a romance), whether that’s closer together, or further apart (depending on where you are in the story arc).

• Offer reveals about the characters so readers learn more

• Keep us engaged

• Leave us hooked so we keep reading

As you outline, write, or rework your story, remember to focus on each scene’s purpose. If it doesn’t have one, give it a purpose or delete it. Write tight.

Your turn: what other things should a scene do?

What's in a Story?


Stories have changed my life. Having a very restricted childhood, I learned early on that reading was almost as good as doing. If not quite as exciting, definitely better than being bored. With books, I discovered I could "jump into someone else's skin," and soon became very adept at it. My "willing suspension of disbelief" was easily triggered back in those days. And as my reading territory grew, I found there were no restrictions about whose skin I could jump into. 

Why, I could trudge around in the skin of a boy who fought in the Civil War if I wanted, and come away with a very striking knowledge of just what that kind of life was like. Without danger of being killed. Which was also important. I could jump into the skin of Jane, too, and experience life with a wild man in jungle treetops, and never once get bitten by anything deadly. Ah, that was one of my favorite places that I went back to again, and again. But something else came along with those stories. Many of the characters I read about were very exceptional people. And though I was unaware of it, most of them practiced a code of ethics that I subconsciously began to mirror, simply because I wanted so badly to be like them. All those heroes and heroines.

The people in my literary world took time to explain things people in my "real" world didn't have time for, and often knew nothing about. They fed my thinking habit, which is a great pastime durring that time in your life when you have all the time in the world. And I would venture to say my literary folks had more influence on my eventual personality than anyone else in my life. 

Not because I was ignored (heavens, I came from a loving family, who felt it necessary to provide me with stories in the first place) but because there was something very real about the adventures these characters and I went on together. For a short time, we had a common life, a great dilemma, and a common goal. We went adventuring together.

And because who I went adventuring with were very often great people, I started to dream of great things. In the end, I actually managed to latch onto a great life of my own. One with no restrictions. One that allows me to travel anywhere in the world I want, where I meet people from every walk of life that have enriched my life beyond measure. My real life, today, is made up of one adventure after another. Not surprisingly, the question I am most often asked is, "How can you manage to do that?" And I always tell the truth. 

It starts with who you choose to spend time with, what kind of people they are, and if their experiences are of the variety that you, yourself, would like to have. You seek them out. Do whatever you have to in order to discover where they are. Then you listen to their stories. What comes after that is natural. However, I cannot give away this secret without the word of warning that must always come with it. This kind of exploration and communication holds the same kind of power as any other force in nature. Like fire, it can give light and warmth to millions when used for good, or bring death and devastation to millions if used for evil. Which is why it is always best to choose your stories wisely. 

The good stories are worth their weight in gold. 

Because "…All who look openly through the glass, and catch sight of the glory… are themselves  changed… from glory to glory…" (that's a Lilly paraphrase for 2 Corinthians 3:18) Something that also intrigued Meg Jennings, from GOLD TRAP, who actually took a leap of faith and set out to find if this could possibly be true for her life, as well. And what did she discover?

Ah, but that, dear readers, is another story.

Lilly Maytree
author of GOLD TRAP


Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

Taking a Cue from Scriptures-Biblical Heroes

I have always loved to read about Joseph and his brothers. His life has been made in to plays and movies. He's an inspiration to all who read about him. From his ability to interpret dreams to his willingness to help his brothers who wronged him. To his unjust imprisonment--Joseph is a wonderful hero. He's not a warrior, but he uses his faith, and with this faith in God overcomes great obstacles.

Can we then look to the Scriptures to pattern romantic heroes? Certainly. There are many different types of heroes in the Bible we can look to for inspiration.
Here are some examples:

Joseph- The Dreamer. A younger son who lost his mother, was loved by his father, and envied by his brothers. Although a "dreamer" may not seem to be the type of hero you'd find in a romance, Joseph had many talents and rose from a pit to become a ruler in the land of Egypt.

Moses- The Leader. He over came his fear of public speaking, and forsook a life in the royal palace of Egypt to follow God and lead the Hebrew slaves to freedom.

Samson- The Strong. While the story of his life was a sad one. Samson is a hero who perhaps had too much faith in himself and not enough faith in God. In the end, when he was left with nothing he realized that God plus nothing was everything.

David- The Musician. Even in Bible days it seems the musicians had lots of ladies. David however was a man of great faith. As a boy, he took on a seasoned warrior twice his size. Then there is David the King and David the Friend. David, like Joseph, was a man of many layers. He had his faults, some of which we see in the story of Bathsheba, but we also see his great compassion, when he spared the lives of both of Mephibosheth and King Saul. David also was a man after God's own heart.

There are so many more, Joshua, Boaz, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Nehemiah, Hezikiah, Elijah, Elisha, Namaan--there's no way to name them all or go in to detail about each man's contribution. But these men show great character and are wonderful patterns and inspirations for modern heroes.

Resting in Jesus' Lap

The second week of December I went in for my annual mammogram. I've never had any problems and as far as I know there is no history of breast cancer in my family but so many women are diagnosed every day, that I'm grateful my insurance pays for a yearly exam.

With the new digital imaging, there is no waiting until the x-rays are developed, so I'm usually in and out again in fifteen minutes. No change this year.

However, the next day I received a call from the Women's Health Care Clinic. The radiologist had seen something suspicious and wanted me to come back in for a different diagnostic mammogram. They had an opening the following day. This time I went in a little scared. So many women in our church had battled breast cancer, some several times. I prayed and tried not to worry.

After the second mammogram, I was asked to have a seat in the waiting room and the radiologist would talk to me about the results. The wait was very nerve wracking. I just kept praying and asking God to comfort me. Finally, I was called back to meet the radiologist. She smiled and then showed me some bright white spots on the screen image. She explained these were microcalcifications but she couldn't tell from the picture if they were benign or not. Her explanation is that irregular shaped spots or spots clustered in one area, such as mine, sometimes indicate cancer. She said she would need a biopsy to further assess the situation. I blinked back tears as I agreed.

Next I was asked to go back into the waiting room while they contacted my doctor to get the biopsy scheduled. Fear gripped me with tight fingers. I repeated the Lord's Prayer over and over and repeated Psalm 23 in my head. Then I began my conversation with the Lord. Isn't it wonderful that he can hear us when we are talking silently?

I told Him that I was afraid and that I could not handle this on my own. I knelt at his feet and asked him to take me on his lap and hold me. What a wonderful feeling! I felt His comforting touch and laid my head on his chest and let my worry go. I can't explain the abolute peace which overcame me as the fear washed away.

My biopsy was scheduled for a week later. During that time I didn't focus on the negative. I knew whatever happened God would be with me and all would be well. And it was. The results of the biopsy showed I have fibrocystic breasts and there is no cancer!

Resting in the arms of Jesus, I received the most wonderful Christmas present. In times of trouble He is always with me as well as in the good times.

Make-A-Story™ Monday - This Week's Writing Prompt

Writing to spec – you’ve heard the term. It means writing what the publisher wants. Can you do it? In our new feature - Make-A-Story™, we ask you to create a story with these elements. The story can be set in any time frame, any length, must adhere to our guidelines and have our standard Christian world view.

A pistol
A barn
An encrypted message

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing

Scene development is an important aspect of a manuscript--too important for an author to leave off of his or her stylesheet. Over the next four weeks, we'll be taking a look at the elements that make for compelling scenes.
Scene Development - Setting
An author must consider that setting encompasses much more than the location of the scene. Introduction of the lead, or point-of-view (POV) character, transition (time), location of scene, and some sensory details should, when possible, be established in the first one or two paragraphs of each scene.
Have you ever read a chapter, turned to the next chapter, and have no clue as to where the author has sent you. The character is shown immediatey in action without any setting of scene, without an inkling of how much time has passed between chapters, and without any clear identification of the POV character.
It is most often a good practice to start each scene by providing the reader a clue as to how much time has elapsed and showing the lead (POV) character doing something interesting. Remember, though, that this interesting action must be important to the story. Many times, this is easily conveyed with a transition sentence or two. Example: Two days after the funeral, John stood at his father's desk, reviewing the old man's Trust.
When putting a character in action, an author needs to also give him a stage. While detailed description can sometimes be important, the best way to deliver it is through what is important in the character's eyes. Example: Two days after the funeral, John stood at his father's desk, reviewing the old man's Trust. John let the document slip from his fingers. The ticking grandfather clock, ironically left to his father by his grandfather, broke the unbearable silence, as John stared out the window at the lush gardens of the mansion.
Even without a lot of heavy description, the reader gets a clear picture of the scene. Time and place are established, and sensory details add to the setting and the overall feel of the scene.
As a last note, many beginning authors also fail to bring in supporting character in a timely manner. Introduction of other characters who are present with the lead character at the opening of the scene should be done as soon as possible. Failure to do so, drops a secondary character into the action and jars the reader.
Next week, we'll look at bringing the POV character's goals and motivations into the scene.
Until then, happy editing!

Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

You may ask, why is it Write the Vision Wednesday? The inspiration came from Habbakuk. Here is the passage--
Habakkuk 2:2-3 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it...

Write the Vision. It seems to sum up what authors of Christian fiction do—They write the Vision. They tell of God’s love and grace. And this is important, because we see in Proverbs 29:18, “where there is no vision, the people perish.”

It is a special calling then, a Christian writer has, because when you do write of that Vision, those who read it then can run with it.
Hebrews 12:1 ...let us run with patience the race that is set before us...

And if you have writer’s block or you just can’t seem to find the words, remember Habakkuk 2:3 ...though it tarry, wait for it...

Perhaps, you had an amazing 2011 or maybe you didn’t meet your writing goals last year, either way forget those past things and set your eyes on what lies ahead in 2012.

This is a new year, a new start. There’s a path before you, a goal to reach.

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

And Write The Vision!

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing

We continue our look at the mark of punctuation that puts music into your manuscript. Here are the last five rules for comma placement:
Comma Rule #16: A comma follows the salutation in a personal letter or a complimentary close of your correspondence.
Example: Dear John, I'm leaving you. Sincerely, Jane Doe.
*Note business correspondence requires a colon following the salutation.
Comma Rule #17: Used as a parenthetical statement, phrases that contrast or add to a sentence are set off with commas.
Example: John was a little sad, if not downright depressed, that Jane left him.
Comma Rule #18: In a sentence of dialogue separated by a tag, use commas to separate the direct quotation from the tag.
Example: I wish I knew," Mary said, "what John planned to do about Jane."
Comma Rule #19: When the same verb is used side by side in a sentence, a comma should separate the two uses.
Example: Whoever left, left before the show was over.
However, sometimes when two verbs are used, one is a helping verb to the other. A comma should not be used.
Example: If he had had the ear muffs last night, he might not be sick today.
Comma Rule #20: On occasion, a writer must determine if they want a pause to set off a verb phrase. The comma depends upon the importance of the verb phrase or how it sounds to the author's ear.
Example: Mary bought a beautiful gown for the formal dance, hoping that John would forget about Jane.
Once an author learns and practices the rules of comma usage, they can more easily break those rules to add style to their manuscript. As always, though, there is a caution. Style comes from breaking the rules when it best suits the situation. In other word, when breaking rules, the old adage, "less is more," is very appropriate.
Happy Editing!

Musings from my heart...


It's a new year! Don't you just love fresh starts and new beginnings? It's the one time of year where I sit down and take stock of what has been accomplished and what I'd like to see accomplished.

This year I had a shocker. As I sat down to write goals and pray over my writing and what direction God wants me to go in, God showed me something that still has my head spinning. You know, I've always said that I wanted to write to be a pen in God's hands -- to touch other's lives and encourage their faith. I believed that, and yet, gulp... I found myself judging my success (or lack of) by the numbers of books I sold. In fact, so much so that I'm ashamed to say, I became addicted to checking my books rankings at least once a day and sometimes five or six times – within a 24 hour period. (I know – nothing like overkill!) Why is it so easy to get our eyes off the goal and become so sidetracked?

I knew I was going to need some help. I told my husband and one of my sons, who was sitting with us at that time, about my desire to lay my books, once again, at the foot of the cross. It is still my desire to allow God to use them however He sees fit. I asked Glenn and Jonathan to help me stay accountable. They gladly said yes and we made a deal. So, this is what we came up with... if I look at my books more than once a week, I need to wash and dry the dishes when it's their turn. And you know what? Granted, we're only three days into the year, but it's kept me on track so far. :)

I realize without Christ, none of my "work" has eternal value. For 2012, I want to have a soft heart towards God. I want to completely give my writing – any and everything I do -- to Him. And if He wills, and it's time to move on from writing to something different, I want to be willing to give it up. For I know that when I'm walking in fellowship and obedience – that's where He will be able to use me to be His hands and feet and bring about His purposes in my life.

What does that mean for my writing goals for 2012? Well, I'm going to finish the contracted project I have now and then I plan on just waiting on the Lord. I'm confident that He will direct my path. With a new project in the works or not, if I can keep my eyes fixed on Him, it's going to be an awesome year!

Make-A-Story™ Monday - This Week's Writing Prompt

Writing to spec – you’ve heard the term. It means writing what the publisher wants. Can you do it? In our new feature - Make-A-Story™, we ask you to create a story with these elements. The story can be set in any time frame, any length, must adhere to our guidelines and have our standard Christian world view.

A barbeque
A pair of high heels
A redhead