Pelican Book Group Staff Blog

Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

2012-02-29T11:16:00.002-05:00

Today, February 29th, is a day that only comes once every every four years. Maybe you have goals set for this extra day of the year or maybe not. Either way we know the One of who we write is always the same...Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday and today and forever.Today's thought is from Isaiah and so pertinent to Inspirational writers...Isaiah 30:8Go now, write it on a tablet

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing

2012-02-28T19:30:00.004-05:00

Pacing is defined by Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary as "to set or regulate the pace."When self-editing, pacing must be examined two-fold. One is the overall flow of the story. Do events occur logically throughout the novel so that the reader can comprehend the story and establish a relationship with the novel's characters.The areas to examine when looking at the overal pace of the novel

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

2012-02-27T08:44:00.001-05:00

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 ranchA broken down carA mystery woman

Thursday's Tips: Where Does it End? Part II

2012-02-23T03:01:00.035-05:00

Last time we talked about story question and how that informs your ending. There are other things that need consideration where the ending of your story is concerned. For starters (sorry, we’re talking about the ending here), what about threads? Please tie up at least a few of those threads. This helps satisfy readers. Don’t worry about tidying up everything. Readers know life goes on and

Write the Vision ~Ash Wednesday

2012-02-22T09:12:00.003-05:00

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified."—Isaiah 61:3. There really isn’t anything beautiful about ashes. Anyone who has ever cleaned an oven, grill, campfire site...or

OOPS! Make-A-Story™ Monday...er...Tuesday - This Week's Writing Prompt

2012-02-21T09:15:00.003-05:00

Tactical Editor: Advice for Self-Editing

2012-02-20T16:40:00.008-05:00

Editors use style sheets to assist them in keeping track of information in the work they are editing, but a style sheet in the hands of an author becomes a valuable tool--a filing cabinet of sorts, where all pertinent data is kept readily available. A variety of details can be noted on the style sheet and will help an author avoid the necessity of thumbing through page after page of a manuscript

Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

2012-02-15T08:47:00.003-05:00

During the week of Valentine's Day, thoughts often turn to love. ♥ This week my pastor's message made me ponder how we express love on Valentine's Day and throughout the year. Often we receive or give flowers as an expression of love, but flowers die, roses fade...so really that's not the best representation of love--something dead and dying, wilted and withered, dried and fading. So what is the

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

2012-02-13T08:37:00.000-05:00

Thursdays Tips: Where Does it End?

2012-02-09T12:10:00.000-05:00

I’ve noticed a lot of buzz lately about story question. Many writers’ blogs are covering this great topic. I want to today as well, only from a different angle. First, though, let me define what story question is. Story question (also known as main dramatic question or dramatic question, etc.) is the essential hook you include in the very first scene of your story that snags readers’

Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

2012-02-08T09:27:00.003-05:00

Poinsettias are beautiful flowers at Christmas. Their brightly colored leaves are so lovely. After Christmas is over, well, they start losing their leaves and color. Sometimes parts die, and to save the plant you have to cut off all the dead parts. And they turn into spindly little twigs, not so pretty—but after that pruning the lovely plant re-emerges not the same as before, maybe perhaps not as

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing

2012-02-07T14:22:00.004-05:00

Style sheets are a helpful tool for self-editors. They allow a writer to keep track of particular elements of a story: locations, characters, plotlines, timelines. . .you name it. The layout of a style sheet can be as varied as the authors who use them. They can be created in a processing program such as Word or on a spreadsheet. Some creative writers could find other formats, but the simplier

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

2012-02-06T09:24:00.001-05:00

Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

2012-02-01T07:53:00.002-05:00

Write the Vision WednesdayOn my way to church Sunday, I remembered an "incident." When my youngest son was about two and a half years old his daycare teacher told me he was not listening. As a consequence, he'd been in time out several times during the day. On the way home I questioned him about his behavior. “Why aren’t you listening?”And he answered. “I’m listening, I’m just not obeying.”While

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing

2012-01-31T17:17:00.012-05:00

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

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

2012-01-30T08:50:00.001-05:00

Special Call for Submissions

2012-01-27T18:20:00.000-05:00

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

Thursdays Tips: Take Advantage!

2012-01-26T11:30:00.004-05:00

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

Wednesday ~~~ Write the Vision

2012-01-26T07:58:00.003-05:00

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

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self Editing

2012-01-24T12:26:00.014-05:00

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

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

2012-01-23T01:59:00.001-05:00

Pruning that Manuscript

2012-01-21T14:20:00.001-05:00

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

Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

2012-01-18T12:30:00.005-05:00

Write the Vision ~ WednesdayWriting 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.

Tactical Tuesday: Advice or Self-Editing

2012-01-17T14:10:00.007-05:00

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

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

2012-01-16T10:38:00.000-05:00

Thursday's Tips: The Value of a Scene

2012-01-12T13:09:00.000-05:00

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

Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

2012-01-11T12:46:00.003-05:00

Taking a Cue from Scriptures-Biblical HeroesI 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

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

2012-01-09T09:47:00.000-05:00

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing

2012-01-09T09:17:00.006-05:00

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)

Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

2012-01-04T16:07:00.002-05:00

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

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing

2012-01-03T19:21:00.007-05:00

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

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

2012-01-02T08:16:00.001-05:00

Thursdays Tips: Rest

2011-12-29T03:01:00.000-05:00

It's a potentially restful week. This time between Christmas and New Year’s isn’t jam packed with busy to-dos, at least generally. Some people find it a great time to write. Others take the time off to spend with family. What do you do? Rest is necessary for coming up with new stories, fresh prose. Rest precedes inspiration a lot of times. Have you noticed that? And spiritual rest the same. I

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

2011-12-26T07:58:00.000-05:00

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing

2011-12-20T16:45:00.006-05:00

We're still on the subject of comma placement. Here are five more rules to help you self-edit your manuscript into publication:Comma Rule #11: When composite adjectives are used, a comma is not necessary as each of the adjectives modify each other. However, when coordinate adjectives that modify the noun are used, a comma should be placed between the adjectives.Example: The murky green waters of

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

2011-12-19T08:12:00.003-05:00

Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

2011-12-14T10:21:00.000-05:00

The Great Purse Alarm Incident of 2009My mother is, well, elderly, and we all worry about her getting out and about. My niece gave her a purse alarm, so if anyone tried to rob her, the sound would deter a would-be thief. The device hooks to your purse and the other end to your wrist. If the purse is jerked away, the two ends separate and a loud, obnoxious (make that very obnoxious) noise fills

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing

2011-12-13T18:25:00.008-05:00

Sometimes it is good to play a comma by ear: place one where there is a natural pause in narrative or dialogue. As with everything done to bring style to prose, overdoing it mutes the tone. Too much playing by ear gives the wrong impression, and not one an author would like an editor to have. What should be style becomes mundane or it may leave the impression that an author doesn't know why and

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

2011-12-12T06:34:00.003-05:00

Thursday's Tips -- Dialog

2011-12-08T00:01:00.028-05:00

Great dialog is hard to write. No one wants to read dull words, even if they echo true-to-life exchanges, like: “Hello, Nancy.” “Hi, Carol.” “How are you?” “I’m well, how are you?” Cue reader: skim... So, the better approach hit me this morning while I brushed my teeth. (Inspiration hits at the funnies times, doesn't it?) It’s a great method that takes some practice, but works well if you, as

The Christmas Bells

2011-12-07T06:28:00.002-05:00

Every year-- for the past eighteen years-- I've gotten a Christmas bell from a local potter. They're all different. Each is unique and every year there's a new design on them. Sadly,last year the shelf with my bells was knocked off the wall. Only two of them cracked and that was a miracle. While my bells can be glued back together, so they look pretty, there's nothing I can do that will make them

Tactical Tuesdays: Advice for Self-Editing

2011-12-06T08:46:00.016-05:00

Commas are the musical notes of your manuscript. Some have mastered the melody by taking time to learn to read the music. Others simply play it by ear. Listening to the tune and playing it is fine if you have a sense of rhythm and can hear the notes being played. Take away that ability, and you’re simply banging on the keys. This is somewhat true for comma placement as well.There are some comma

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

2011-12-05T01:14:00.005-05:00

Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

2011-11-30T14:29:00.008-05:00

While recently reading the book of Jonah a thought hit me--as writers of Christian fiction perhaps there are stories we don't want to write, yet those characters and plots keep coming back to us and just won't leave. Perhaps the message is a powerful one, or a painful one. Maybe we don't feel we can handle such a topic-kind of like Jonah didn't feel like going to Ninevah. While preparing for this

Tactical Tuesdays: Advice for Self-Editing

2011-11-28T23:58:00.018-05:00

Let’s talk about the power of the paragraph. A story, no matter how small, cannot be told without this form of punctuation. Yes, that’s right. A paragraph is a form of punctuation—a mark of separation. Used correctly, it can build your story. Use it incorrectly, and it will tear it apart. Add some panache to your paragraph style, and you take your story to an all new level.Many modern readers

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

2011-11-28T01:57:00.002-05:00

Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

2011-11-23T15:50:00.000-05:00

1 Chronicles 16:8Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people.1 Chronicles 16:34O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever.Thanks to each author who has answered the call to Write the Vision.Happy Thanksgiving ...let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self Editing

2011-11-21T16:20:00.006-05:00

Point of view versus head hopping—what is the difference? A fine line, or in writer speak, a scene or chapter break, is usually the determining factor. Quite simply, point-of-view changes become head hopping when they are done within the same scene. Head hopping short changes the reader. The omniscient take, knowing things outside the purview of the POV character, does not allow the reader to

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

2011-11-21T06:31:00.005-05:00

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 rocking chairA stolen babyA boat

Write the Vision ~ Wednesday

2011-11-15T17:36:00.008-05:00

Habakkuk 2:2And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables...Inspirational books are not just stories. Christian fiction has that extra ingrediant in addition to a great plot, compelling characters, and active dialog. They're more than three dimensional. There's that important fourth dimension... a Christian message. Without that component we have — fiction.

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing

2011-11-14T17:26:00.018-05:00

When self-editing, authors should put their back stories through a rigorous interrogation, or a vetting process, to determine the necessity of the information. Here are some important questions to ask when self-editing your back story content:Mr. Back Story, how do you plan to show yourself?If Mr. Back Story stutters at this point in the interrogation, it’s because he most likely didn’t plan to

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

2011-11-14T01:40:00.002-05:00

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 lanternA recreational vehicleA National park

Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing

2011-11-08T08:28:00.006-05:00

Do you realize that when an author sends a manuscript to an editor, she is sending an extension of herself? What an editor sees in the first chapter is the first impression of the author—a faceless interview of sorts.Is your chapter appearing for an interview dressed in cargo shorts and a t-shirt? Is it wearing a baseball cap? Maybe your chapter has walked into this very important first meeting

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

2011-11-07T15:04:00.003-05:00

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

Changing Names & Address

2011-11-04T12:14:00.000-04:00

Good morning, We'll soon be changing our look and our blog address. As most of you know, White Rose Publishing has been a division of Pelican Ventures, LLC for a couple of years now. With the October launch of our new Christian fiction imprint, Harbourlight Books, we've decided to build one "roof." Soon, this blog will be a "Pelican" blog that will include all things relevant to both White Rose

Monday Make-A-Story ™ This week's writing prompt

2011-05-30T00:02:00.001-04:00

Monday Make-A-Story ™ This week's writing prompt

2011-05-23T00:35:00.001-04:00