I should've posted this yesterday. Sorry. I'm sure everyone's as busy as I am. I'll try to post on time next week.
My current carpool waiting line book is Noah Lukeman's The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life. I'm not finished reading it yet. I'm reading slowly because it makes me think about the stories I'm writing.
I liked the excercises on pages 78-80. Some of them were common sense ideas that I'd read and think: Why didn't I already come up with that? It takes time to go through the whole manuscript and pick out slow parts to beef up with more action or emotion, pull out a character, put in a different character, create more dissonance to work through.
Conflict is necessary for interest. But satisfying a reader takes more than giving your character a hard time and letting him get the victory at the end. There are surface journeys and profound journeys. Lukeman brought up thoughts in me that help draw more intricately detailed pictures of my characters' journeys.
Much of the book is question after question. But they're the right questions. Each author answers them differently for each of his stories.
Every author should own this book.
Sarah Wray
Hop on over to Scenes & Beans and check out Sarah Wray's post for Tuesday 10-17. I wrote this post so Sarah could tell a little about her husband.
Sarah is the owner of Simple Pleasures, a gift shop in Kanner Lake, Idaho. Sarah and Kanner Lake are only found in the Scenes & Beans blog and in Brandilyn Collins' new book Violet Dawn. However, Simple Pleasures is a real store.
It was fun writing the post as Sarah. She's an interesting person, full of life and love. And this week, a special celebration is being remembered!
Don't send cards or flowers, just leave a comment after Sarah's post. She'll be so pleased.
Sarah is the owner of Simple Pleasures, a gift shop in Kanner Lake, Idaho. Sarah and Kanner Lake are only found in the Scenes & Beans blog and in Brandilyn Collins' new book Violet Dawn. However, Simple Pleasures is a real store.
It was fun writing the post as Sarah. She's an interesting person, full of life and love. And this week, a special celebration is being remembered!
Don't send cards or flowers, just leave a comment after Sarah's post. She'll be so pleased.
Growing Pains
Back to work! No goofing off!
I've just completed an online course called Deep Editing, taught by Margie Lawson. I highly recommend it. There was an incredible amount of teaching in just thirty days of posts. It is said to be a graduate-level editing course. Yes, it's hard work. But I believe the work is necessary.
The term "growing pains" is used for a reason. Going through that course was like having a funnel full of molasses poured into my head. It's sweet, but slow. Getting it all in there is a process. Patience is required.
My head felt like a sponge. When it was full, I had to squeeze out something to make room for more. Read, study, apply, check your work, and repeat.
Writers must push themselves to continually produce their best work, continually learn more, continually grow. When someone ahead of me reaches down to pull me along - that's what happened in this editing course - I'm thankful. Thankful because I felt like I was picked up and dropped onto a skateboard. Now I don't have to walk the lonely road so slowly. My feet have wings, or at least wheels. The length of the road didn't change, just the speed in which I travel.
I have a whole manuscript to edit, and I'm going to be very busy. No one can do this work for me.
Sigh. Back to work.
I've just completed an online course called Deep Editing, taught by Margie Lawson. I highly recommend it. There was an incredible amount of teaching in just thirty days of posts. It is said to be a graduate-level editing course. Yes, it's hard work. But I believe the work is necessary.
The term "growing pains" is used for a reason. Going through that course was like having a funnel full of molasses poured into my head. It's sweet, but slow. Getting it all in there is a process. Patience is required.
My head felt like a sponge. When it was full, I had to squeeze out something to make room for more. Read, study, apply, check your work, and repeat.
Writers must push themselves to continually produce their best work, continually learn more, continually grow. When someone ahead of me reaches down to pull me along - that's what happened in this editing course - I'm thankful. Thankful because I felt like I was picked up and dropped onto a skateboard. Now I don't have to walk the lonely road so slowly. My feet have wings, or at least wheels. The length of the road didn't change, just the speed in which I travel.
I have a whole manuscript to edit, and I'm going to be very busy. No one can do this work for me.
Sigh. Back to work.
A Report from the ACFW Conference
I'm unpacked, rested, and loaded with writing ammo. And I'm eager to get started because I'm excited that I have a lot of work to do on my manuscript.
The ACFW conference was stuffed with encouraging instruction for Christian novelists. Since I hate missing out on great information, and since I can't be in two places at once, I ordered those valuable conference CDs. I'll be taking notes at home - probably not wearing my cool name tag.
I loved the very well done awards banquet. A great photo op with everyone wearing smiles and glitzy gowns. I only took a few pictures, but it looked like a lightning storm with all the flashing going on.
I also took pictures at the booksigning.
I hope you will check out the books of the three beautiful ladies in my photos: Brandilyn Collins, (suspense) author of Violet Dawn; Janice Thompson, (mystery) author of The Wedding Caper; and Elizabeth White, (romantic suspense) author of The Texas Gatekeepers series which includes Under Cover of Darkness, Sounds of Silence, and On Wings of Deliverance.
The ACFW conference was stuffed with encouraging instruction for Christian novelists. Since I hate missing out on great information, and since I can't be in two places at once, I ordered those valuable conference CDs. I'll be taking notes at home - probably not wearing my cool name tag.
I loved the very well done awards banquet. A great photo op with everyone wearing smiles and glitzy gowns. I only took a few pictures, but it looked like a lightning storm with all the flashing going on.
I also took pictures at the booksigning.
I hope you will check out the books of the three beautiful ladies in my photos: Brandilyn Collins, (suspense) author of Violet Dawn; Janice Thompson, (mystery) author of The Wedding Caper; and Elizabeth White, (romantic suspense) author of The Texas Gatekeepers series which includes Under Cover of Darkness, Sounds of Silence, and On Wings of Deliverance.
Hawaii Pictures
I'll be at the ACFW conference this weekend, so I'll leave pictures of my Hawaii trip while I'm gone. These are from the islands of Kauai and Hawaii. Enjoy!
Apologies to Apostrophe
Dear Apostrophe,
I sincerely and humbly apologize for the way you have been treated. Although misplaced, overused, and generally neglected, you keep working even when no one seems to care about your feelings.
How can I effectively make up for all the abuse we have heaped on you? I am not sure I can.
Though mistreated, you are loyal. You make yourself available to anyone who wants to show the possessive or even the plural form of a word. You are bandied about by writers of all strengths, tossed into places you did not belong. But you stay.
Always generous and willing, you are open to new words coined by lazy-tongued, devil-may-care speech recorders. Writers who do not feel bound by laws create new opportunities to show off your potential. Do they see that you are worn out? I think not.
You come to the rescue when words are too closely confined and a letter leaves its home. You sometimes cause readers to wonder about the letter for whom you stand in the gap. Where did it go? Will it be okay? At least we are comforted by the presence of the apostrophe high up in the air, calling out to the reader, “There was a letter here once. A valuable letter.”
Is there a can’t or doesn’t whose knee is not bowed to your unity-building powers? Words do not have to come apart at the seams. They can be mended by the mighty apostrophe.
Sometimes you are eloquent and misunderstood like the dog’s and cat’s in the backyard. I understand. I used to have dogs and cats who had things in the backyard that I did not want to name.
So thank you, apostrophe, for your steadfast diligence. Thank you for your patience with us while we learn about you and learn to treat you with respect.
I sincerely and humbly apologize for the way you have been treated. Although misplaced, overused, and generally neglected, you keep working even when no one seems to care about your feelings.
How can I effectively make up for all the abuse we have heaped on you? I am not sure I can.
Though mistreated, you are loyal. You make yourself available to anyone who wants to show the possessive or even the plural form of a word. You are bandied about by writers of all strengths, tossed into places you did not belong. But you stay.
Always generous and willing, you are open to new words coined by lazy-tongued, devil-may-care speech recorders. Writers who do not feel bound by laws create new opportunities to show off your potential. Do they see that you are worn out? I think not.
You come to the rescue when words are too closely confined and a letter leaves its home. You sometimes cause readers to wonder about the letter for whom you stand in the gap. Where did it go? Will it be okay? At least we are comforted by the presence of the apostrophe high up in the air, calling out to the reader, “There was a letter here once. A valuable letter.”
Is there a can’t or doesn’t whose knee is not bowed to your unity-building powers? Words do not have to come apart at the seams. They can be mended by the mighty apostrophe.
Sometimes you are eloquent and misunderstood like the dog’s and cat’s in the backyard. I understand. I used to have dogs and cats who had things in the backyard that I did not want to name.
So thank you, apostrophe, for your steadfast diligence. Thank you for your patience with us while we learn about you and learn to treat you with respect.
Chicken or the Egg
Conundrum. A puzzling problem. Which do I focus on first? Getting my manuscript honed, re-edited, and polished or getting the road to publishing paved?
Since one cannot be a published novelist without having a polished manuscript and one cannot properly polish a manuscript without sticking one's head in the publishing door and looking around, the answer is: juggle.
My husband can juggle balls. I can't. But being a mom has given me the ability to juggle schedules, chores, play time, and meal-making. I know that writers have to juggle their writing time, marketing time, mentoring time, and their craft-improvement time. Then they have to juggle their writing life (include all of the above) with their home life, friendship-development life, local volunteering life, and their family-visiting life.
Talk about a lot of balls in the air. It's just crazy, isn't it? But it's life.
I enjoy going to writing conferences because I get to learn on several levels. I learn about people (possibly begin friendships), the industry, the craft, the marketing process, the editing process, etc. Trying to be well-rounded in growth will help me be ready for more opportunities than if I were to focus on one thing at a time.
I believe Christian novelists can help each other. And I believe that's what God wants us to do. My problem is figuring out how I can help others. I know there are many people who are experienced in publishing and can teach me much, but who wants to learn something from someone who doesn't have all those many years in the industry?
Recently, I've signed up to volunteer in a position that needed a volunteer. The requirements were that one be present and willing to obey instruction. I can do that. I may not be able to mentor a beginner novelist, but I can help someone else.
Since we are all unique and have our own individual gifts, I can be unashamed of who I am and remain positive about my forward progress - even if it means there are many who will be published ahead of me. I can't compare myself to others, only to where I might be if I quit.
I keep writing, reading, making friends, and helping where I can. That's my job.
So, here's a big thank you to my family and friends for your patience - and to my husband who supports me. Big hugs ;)
Since one cannot be a published novelist without having a polished manuscript and one cannot properly polish a manuscript without sticking one's head in the publishing door and looking around, the answer is: juggle.
My husband can juggle balls. I can't. But being a mom has given me the ability to juggle schedules, chores, play time, and meal-making. I know that writers have to juggle their writing time, marketing time, mentoring time, and their craft-improvement time. Then they have to juggle their writing life (include all of the above) with their home life, friendship-development life, local volunteering life, and their family-visiting life.
Talk about a lot of balls in the air. It's just crazy, isn't it? But it's life.
I enjoy going to writing conferences because I get to learn on several levels. I learn about people (possibly begin friendships), the industry, the craft, the marketing process, the editing process, etc. Trying to be well-rounded in growth will help me be ready for more opportunities than if I were to focus on one thing at a time.
I believe Christian novelists can help each other. And I believe that's what God wants us to do. My problem is figuring out how I can help others. I know there are many people who are experienced in publishing and can teach me much, but who wants to learn something from someone who doesn't have all those many years in the industry?
Recently, I've signed up to volunteer in a position that needed a volunteer. The requirements were that one be present and willing to obey instruction. I can do that. I may not be able to mentor a beginner novelist, but I can help someone else.
Since we are all unique and have our own individual gifts, I can be unashamed of who I am and remain positive about my forward progress - even if it means there are many who will be published ahead of me. I can't compare myself to others, only to where I might be if I quit.
I keep writing, reading, making friends, and helping where I can. That's my job.
So, here's a big thank you to my family and friends for your patience - and to my husband who supports me. Big hugs ;)
Word Search, part two
I’ve learned to shop for words like I shop at the grocery store. Some words are exactly what I need and I’ll pay whatever I have to for them. Other words are used as if I saw them on sale, ten for a dollar. If I keep to a reasonable budget in action scenes (short words, short sentences) and splurge on the quality descriptions, my scenes may improve enough to get the message into the reader’s heart without banging her over the head.
Being budget-minded, I oppose using big words in an effort to sound smart. If I must use an unfamiliar word, it had better be valuable for the sentence.
When looking up words, I sometimes see interesting-looking words and get distracted. I try to think of a way to use the word naturally in a sentence. My efforts often end up silly. I saw “grandiloquent” in my Oxford Dictionary of Current English Third Edition and wanted to see how the entry varied from dictionary to dictionary.
Out of five adult dictionaries ( and not counting my kids’ two dictionaries which omitted the word – imagine that!) three entries listed grandiloquent and two listed grandiloquence. Four of the definitions used the word “pompous”, two used “eloquence”, and one used “lofty” twice in the same entry.
The oldest of the dictionaries used the fewest words: “pompous eloquence” (The Merriam-Webster Dictionary 1974). The definition using the most words (nine) was less than “lofty”: “using long or difficult words in order to impress” (Oxford Dictionary of Current English Third Edition 2001).
The newest dictionary I own is a dictionary/thesaurus in one and used big words in hopes we’d all become familiar with their thesaurus pages.
Do you see why I use several dictionaries?
My writing style is simple and I like to use words which are right for the context. However, if a (new to me) big word is exactly the right word to use and nothing else will make the sentence as meaningful, I’ll use it. Either the reader will already know the word or will gather the meaning by the surrounding words. Hopefully, if they look up a (new to them) word, they’ll nod in agreement that it was exactly the right one for that sentence.
Being budget-minded, I oppose using big words in an effort to sound smart. If I must use an unfamiliar word, it had better be valuable for the sentence.
When looking up words, I sometimes see interesting-looking words and get distracted. I try to think of a way to use the word naturally in a sentence. My efforts often end up silly. I saw “grandiloquent” in my Oxford Dictionary of Current English Third Edition and wanted to see how the entry varied from dictionary to dictionary.
Out of five adult dictionaries ( and not counting my kids’ two dictionaries which omitted the word – imagine that!) three entries listed grandiloquent and two listed grandiloquence. Four of the definitions used the word “pompous”, two used “eloquence”, and one used “lofty” twice in the same entry.
The oldest of the dictionaries used the fewest words: “pompous eloquence” (The Merriam-Webster Dictionary 1974). The definition using the most words (nine) was less than “lofty”: “using long or difficult words in order to impress” (Oxford Dictionary of Current English Third Edition 2001).
The newest dictionary I own is a dictionary/thesaurus in one and used big words in hopes we’d all become familiar with their thesaurus pages.
Do you see why I use several dictionaries?
My writing style is simple and I like to use words which are right for the context. However, if a (new to me) big word is exactly the right word to use and nothing else will make the sentence as meaningful, I’ll use it. Either the reader will already know the word or will gather the meaning by the surrounding words. Hopefully, if they look up a (new to them) word, they’ll nod in agreement that it was exactly the right one for that sentence.
Word Search, part one
Learning new words has never been a top priority for me. As a writer, that is a shameful admission. Dictionaries and a thesaurus or two help me in my attempt to find the right word to use in my manuscripts. Nevertheless, I find myself more inclined to choose lesser-used words I already know when replacing overused words.
Let it never be said that I've bombasted my audience with my grandiloquence.
Sounds dangerous.
Sometimes dictionary entries will use a different form of the same word or a different "big word" to explain the meaning. I'm sure you've all seen incomprehesible definitions. Many times, the definition isn't helpful: penitential means "of or relating to penitence or penance".
When I find a word that fits my sentence on a broad level, it isn't right because of the atmosphere it creates. For example: words that define colors. Yellow could be anything.
The bright yellow of a flower: the flower could be described better to let in the character's personality as he/she views the flower.
The glaring yellow of the sun: the sun isn't really yellow, is it?
The pale yellow of a shirt: maybe Ecru could be a shirt color?
The grisly yellow of a villain's teeth: the villain -ick- maybe just needs some dental hygiene tips.
The happy, golden yellow of the heroine's hair: the heroine's hair color tells me she's in the calm before the storm. I can't see her hair being described that way during an argument or while she's hanging from a cliff.
"The heroine's happy, golden yellow hair danced gaily in the wind as the heroine walked the plank and jumped to her impending death in the shark-infested waters." See? It just doesn't fit.
Next week, I'll post the reason I use several dictionaries.
Let it never be said that I've bombasted my audience with my grandiloquence.
Sounds dangerous.
Sometimes dictionary entries will use a different form of the same word or a different "big word" to explain the meaning. I'm sure you've all seen incomprehesible definitions. Many times, the definition isn't helpful: penitential means "of or relating to penitence or penance".
When I find a word that fits my sentence on a broad level, it isn't right because of the atmosphere it creates. For example: words that define colors. Yellow could be anything.
The bright yellow of a flower: the flower could be described better to let in the character's personality as he/she views the flower.
The glaring yellow of the sun: the sun isn't really yellow, is it?
The pale yellow of a shirt: maybe Ecru could be a shirt color?
The grisly yellow of a villain's teeth: the villain -ick- maybe just needs some dental hygiene tips.
The happy, golden yellow of the heroine's hair: the heroine's hair color tells me she's in the calm before the storm. I can't see her hair being described that way during an argument or while she's hanging from a cliff.
"The heroine's happy, golden yellow hair danced gaily in the wind as the heroine walked the plank and jumped to her impending death in the shark-infested waters." See? It just doesn't fit.
Next week, I'll post the reason I use several dictionaries.
10 Blessings
I found this challenge on Jennifer Tizai's blog. I couldn't pass it up.
Share a little about:
1. a friend who has blessed me - My friend Julie walks with me for exercise when it isn't so hot outside. I need the encouragement to keep exercising - and she's there for me.
2. an unexpected gift - My neice Michelle called to pull advice from my 20 years of marriage since she's getting married in December. I was thrilled to be asked.
3. a kind word shared with me recently - My mom is always saying something nice to me about what she sees in my writing life, parenting, or other parts of my life. I'm blessed to have an encouraging mom.
4. something that makes me stop and praise God - I love to acknowledge what God is doing in my kids. My daughter recently decided that she needed to be baptized. We wanted to wait until the kids knew what was happening. Now she knows and will remember the day. I praise God for letting me see spiritual growth in my kids.
5. something I'm looking forward to - The ACFW conference is just a few weeks away. I will be seeing some people I've already met and some I'll meet for the first time. It's going to be a lot of fun.
6. the part of me that I'm pleased with - I'm determined to grow and mature in my writing. Some say I have a stubborn streak. Okay, anyone who knows me can see that I have a stubborn streak. I will push myself to achieve success in writing, no mattter how long it takes. I'll not be a slacker, that's for sure.
7. something in my life that I wanted but never expected - Because of the NON-quality installation of our shower when our house was being built a few years ago, we now have a new shower. Not only that, but the Man of the house decided to spring for a double-headed shower. Extreme coolness!
8. a place that moves me - The ocean quiets my soul and, at the same time, exhilarates me. I love being on sand, looking out at its expanse. I love being in a boat riding along with dolphins or whales. I love being in it and seeing the underwater wonders it holds. I've been scuba diving one time and found the experience to be an incredibly amazing gift from God.
9. one thing or person that always makes me smile - My husband is undoubtedly the one person who makes me smile most often. I think he doesn't like it when I gawk and say, "Man! You are so handsome!" Sometimes he makes me smile as a defense when I get in a growlly mood. I'm glad he realizes that laughter is the best medicine.
10. my most recent love note from God - I pray for my husband to receive guidance from God. So whenever my hubby tells me what God is leading him (which really means "us") into, I imagine a wink from God. I think God likes seeing me recognize His answers to my prayers. Recently, my hubby was led to make a change in our finances. I'm excited about God meeting our needs in new way.
Thanks, Jennifer, for reminding us to remember the ways God blesses us: through nature, through friendships, through family, and through that soul-filling wink from God.
Share a little about:
1. a friend who has blessed me - My friend Julie walks with me for exercise when it isn't so hot outside. I need the encouragement to keep exercising - and she's there for me.
2. an unexpected gift - My neice Michelle called to pull advice from my 20 years of marriage since she's getting married in December. I was thrilled to be asked.
3. a kind word shared with me recently - My mom is always saying something nice to me about what she sees in my writing life, parenting, or other parts of my life. I'm blessed to have an encouraging mom.
4. something that makes me stop and praise God - I love to acknowledge what God is doing in my kids. My daughter recently decided that she needed to be baptized. We wanted to wait until the kids knew what was happening. Now she knows and will remember the day. I praise God for letting me see spiritual growth in my kids.
5. something I'm looking forward to - The ACFW conference is just a few weeks away. I will be seeing some people I've already met and some I'll meet for the first time. It's going to be a lot of fun.
6. the part of me that I'm pleased with - I'm determined to grow and mature in my writing. Some say I have a stubborn streak. Okay, anyone who knows me can see that I have a stubborn streak. I will push myself to achieve success in writing, no mattter how long it takes. I'll not be a slacker, that's for sure.
7. something in my life that I wanted but never expected - Because of the NON-quality installation of our shower when our house was being built a few years ago, we now have a new shower. Not only that, but the Man of the house decided to spring for a double-headed shower. Extreme coolness!
8. a place that moves me - The ocean quiets my soul and, at the same time, exhilarates me. I love being on sand, looking out at its expanse. I love being in a boat riding along with dolphins or whales. I love being in it and seeing the underwater wonders it holds. I've been scuba diving one time and found the experience to be an incredibly amazing gift from God.
9. one thing or person that always makes me smile - My husband is undoubtedly the one person who makes me smile most often. I think he doesn't like it when I gawk and say, "Man! You are so handsome!" Sometimes he makes me smile as a defense when I get in a growlly mood. I'm glad he realizes that laughter is the best medicine.
10. my most recent love note from God - I pray for my husband to receive guidance from God. So whenever my hubby tells me what God is leading him (which really means "us") into, I imagine a wink from God. I think God likes seeing me recognize His answers to my prayers. Recently, my hubby was led to make a change in our finances. I'm excited about God meeting our needs in new way.
Thanks, Jennifer, for reminding us to remember the ways God blesses us: through nature, through friendships, through family, and through that soul-filling wink from God.
ACFW Conference in September
Imagine a bedroom, its stark white walls bare except for a decorative light switch plate. Clean white sheets and a non-descript blanket are folded and perched on the top corner of the mattress leaning against a wall. White linoleum floor, sparkling clean, made less lonely by a trumpet-shaped floor lamp near the mattress and a wire hanger thrown carelessly into a corner.
The setting is basically a blank page, full of anticipation, waiting for a story to begin. Writers begin their career journey with a blank page, but the light switch plate and floor lamp in the setting above are evidence that we at least have an idea of where we want to go. The hanger is evidence that we all have something we need to get rid of because it doesn’t add to the plan. Building an interesting and colorful career takes effort, a plan, tools, good advice, and persistence. ACFW, according to their website, is Where Christian Fiction Begins.
Hundreds of writers are going to the American Christian Fiction Writers conference in Dallas this September to keep their ears open for new details that will guide them further down the road to success. With every publisher’s rejection, with every personal crisis, there are many more notes of encouragement and pats on the back that keep us going.
One who has made a mistake may hear the voice of doom calling out, “You’ve made your bed, now you have to lie in it.” However at the ACFW conference, writers will hear, “In order to lie in it, you first have to make the bed. Here’s how:…” Success often comes after strategic planning meetings with advisors.
Many writers’ success stories include a road bump or two. Overcoming conflict on a personal and professional level colors the road they’re on. New writers need mentors to help them decorate the stark white room of their unadorned career and help them avoid problems.
Most people want the road to success to be completely rosy, but when we hastily embrace the roses, we wince at the thorns that we notice only after it’s too late. How can we keep moving down the road to success and still enjoy the roses? We listen to experienced voices in the community.
ACFW is a community of Christian fiction writers who care enough for each other to hand out the necessary tools we all need along the way. The rose-grabbers can listen to the voices that warn of the need for appropriate tools. “Take this and snip off those thorns,” experienced voices say. When writers accumulate new tools and learn to use them well, they’re able to help others. When each member helps another, we work in unity, speeding the growth of all writers and building the quality of fiction along the way.
More importantly, ACFW is a Christian community of like-minded professionals who seek God’s best. Newbies and best-sellers go hand-in-hand before Almighty God, singing together and praying with a humble heart.
The ACFW community wants to help all fiction writers transform the stark white room of their career into a dazzling room that’s ready for the cover of House Beautiful or Creative Home magazine.
The setting is basically a blank page, full of anticipation, waiting for a story to begin. Writers begin their career journey with a blank page, but the light switch plate and floor lamp in the setting above are evidence that we at least have an idea of where we want to go. The hanger is evidence that we all have something we need to get rid of because it doesn’t add to the plan. Building an interesting and colorful career takes effort, a plan, tools, good advice, and persistence. ACFW, according to their website, is Where Christian Fiction Begins.
Hundreds of writers are going to the American Christian Fiction Writers conference in Dallas this September to keep their ears open for new details that will guide them further down the road to success. With every publisher’s rejection, with every personal crisis, there are many more notes of encouragement and pats on the back that keep us going.
One who has made a mistake may hear the voice of doom calling out, “You’ve made your bed, now you have to lie in it.” However at the ACFW conference, writers will hear, “In order to lie in it, you first have to make the bed. Here’s how:…” Success often comes after strategic planning meetings with advisors.
Many writers’ success stories include a road bump or two. Overcoming conflict on a personal and professional level colors the road they’re on. New writers need mentors to help them decorate the stark white room of their unadorned career and help them avoid problems.
Most people want the road to success to be completely rosy, but when we hastily embrace the roses, we wince at the thorns that we notice only after it’s too late. How can we keep moving down the road to success and still enjoy the roses? We listen to experienced voices in the community.
ACFW is a community of Christian fiction writers who care enough for each other to hand out the necessary tools we all need along the way. The rose-grabbers can listen to the voices that warn of the need for appropriate tools. “Take this and snip off those thorns,” experienced voices say. When writers accumulate new tools and learn to use them well, they’re able to help others. When each member helps another, we work in unity, speeding the growth of all writers and building the quality of fiction along the way.
More importantly, ACFW is a Christian community of like-minded professionals who seek God’s best. Newbies and best-sellers go hand-in-hand before Almighty God, singing together and praying with a humble heart.
The ACFW community wants to help all fiction writers transform the stark white room of their career into a dazzling room that’s ready for the cover of House Beautiful or Creative Home magazine.
Scenes and Beans Press Release
Press Release
August 1, 2006
Laura Domino has landed a role in Scenes and Beans, an entertaining character blog based on the new
According to the site (www.kannerlake.blogspot.com), Scenes and Beans is ‘brought to you by Java Joint’, the coffee shop in the fictional town of
Eleven characters from Java Joint post Monday through Friday, telling humorous and poignant stories about their lives in
The blog lists the eleven characters and links to www.kannerlake.com, a Web site that explains the suspense series and lists the writers for Scenes and Beans.
The
Visit Laura Domino’s Web site at www.lauradomino.com
###
Bailey Truit, owner of Java Joint and originator of the Scenes and Beans blog.
Wilbur Hucks, a town curmudgeon who proudly shows off his scar from heart surgery.
Hank Detcher, an
Jared Moore, an experienced reporter with a nose for news, and owner of the Kanner Lake Times paper.
Jake Tremaine, a recently retired logger (and lover of gossip) who’s driving his wife crazy at home.
Leslie Brymes, an ambitious young reporter with a charming air of flamboyance.
Angie Brendt, a retired school teacher who’s always up for fun.
Bev Trexel, a retired school teacher who’s more than a little set in her ways.
Carla Radling, an attractive young realtor who loves to argue with the town curmudgeon.
Ted Dawson, a.k.a. S-Man, a laconic science fiction writer whose head is always in his created world of Sauria.
Sarah Wray, owner of Simple Pleasures home décor shop, and all-around cheerleader for the town of
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