The well-known golf trainer, Harvey Penick kept a pocket journal of advice for golfers. After years of accumulated entries, a writer friend suggested Harvey share the information as a book. Harvey agreed, and the two prepared the manuscript and submitted it to a publisher. Later, Harvey’s wife received a phone call from the publisher who explained; they would like to publish the book for ninety-thousand dollars.
Mrs. Penick shared the news with Harvey, and after a few days the excited couple contacted the publisher. “Yes, we want to publish the book,” Mrs. Penick said, “and we plan to take out a second mortgage to help fund the ninety-thousand dollars.” Naturally, the couple was surprised to learn their mistake—they were going to receive ninety-thousand dollars for the rights to print the books.
Like the Penicks who misunderstood the publisher’s offer, Christian writers accept the call to the writing ministry and often think they are making a sacrifice. After all, they must rearrange their lifestyle to make time for their calling. Ironically, they are surprised to learn that working for Christ is more rewarding than first anticipated. While sacrificing the time to nurture their calling, writers grow spiritually, stretch their brains, and become a blessing to others. Truly, the writer gets the best of the trade.
Prayer; Thank you Jesus, for your calling to write, which is more valuable than riches.
Source; The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner
ISBN 1-57322-152-x Riverhead Books New York 2000 pp160
KennyNoble@hotmail.com
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Ancora Imparo. Are you?
Here's young Crystal analyzing even back then....
Supposedly Michaelangelo, when he was 87, said, "Ancora Imparo" which means "I am still learning." Whether he said this or not, his works left behind show us that he, indeed, was able to create new things, learning as he went, even up until the end. It is an inspiring story and a nice phrase to adopt no matter how old we are. I certainly needed that phrase and encouragement this week.
My husband often says that he has the mind of the beginner. I would like to think that I have the mind of a beginner, but boy, howdy, it is awful frustrating sometimes to start all over again. Mostly, in our culture, we see this as something to be frowned upon or to be "stupid." To go back to the drawing board when we've worked so hard on something can be devastating. But I like seeing new things and I do like hearing about something new and interesting. I have learned new things with each thing I write, so hopefully, I am always learning with joy. (Not always. Sometimes I grimace in the process.)
When someone points me to a new link or tells of a new way to do something, or I discover a new book that keeps me up all night to read "one more page," these are things I receive with glee. I am not always good at having this attitude of having the mind of a beginner for every aspect, but I try. If you can live one more day, finding something new to attempt, or something to learn, it is worth it.
I don't know your circumstances or if you struggle with thoughts of being worthless. (I sometimes do.) Since having read these words of Michaelangelo, again, I have thought that to see the world with the "mind of a beginner" may be just the thing to grasp and hold on to--to humbly learn and accept the new information. To not see "starting over" as some sort of awful disaster. God may have a better plan.
I think of what Albert Einstein said, "If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called Research." And we all know that scientists,explorers, and artists, writers and the great composers--all of them didn't always know what they were doing, but they sought to continue and explore, to keep on, keeping on.
I especially want you to keep this in mind when you get a rejection or get those rewrites or if you're getting your Genesis entry back. Don't get discouraged. (Or give yourself a day or two with ice cream to get your second wind. Phew.) Strap on that helmet and get ready for the next step in your life long journey. And don't forget to reach out to your writing buddies along the way.
(I'm reaching out today as I needed this pep talk. Feel free to encourage! :) )
~Crystal Laine Miller
Monday, May 10, 2010
Spotlight on Heartsong Presents
Many of us are anxiously thinking about pitching our projects at the ACFW conference in Indianapolis in September. With that in mind, over the next few months, I'm going to spotlight a few of the CBA publishers and agents that will be available to take appointments.
The first spotlight shines on... the Heartsong Presents line at Barbour Publishing.
Do you enjoy writing Christian romance? Are you looking for that elusive publishing house that accepts unagented submissions from first time authors? Heartsong might be the line for you.
Heartsong is a book club that mails four sweet romance novels to their members each month. As a member of the club, I enjoy the books and recommend that you join to learn about the line before submitting a proposal.
Several of our published Indiana authors first saw their novels in print in the Heartsong Presents line.
Guidelines:
Manuscripts must be between 45,000 and 50,000 words. The main story must be the romance with strong inspirational themes. These books are read by a conservative audience so the books should not have content that offends the readers. Heartsong published both contemporary and historical novels with a strong geographical sense of place.
More guidelines can be found at: http://www.barbourbooks.com/pages/downloads/bpi_heartsongpresents_guidelines.pdf
Join the book club here:
Join the book club here:
Follow the editors blog at:
Questions about Heartsong?
Lisa Faye Harman
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Pace Yourself, Mama
Three years ago my husband ran the Indianapolis 500 Mini Marathon. Since it was his first half-marathon, he was assigned to one of the back corrals, a holding tank for three hundred or so runners of similar pace. I took a few photos, kissed him, and headed to the starting line, thinking I'd see him a few minutes after the gun was fired. Wrong. Forty minutes and an extra mile later he crossed the starting line and began his race.
Today is Mother’s Day. You’ve written, but you want to write more. What’s your pace, Mom?
If you haven’t entered the race, register today. Read. Think. Listen. Watch. You're writing even when you're not.
If you’re in a back corral, take a step. Write short. Make a list. Write a note. Write funny. Preschool children offer great fodder. When my four-year-old saw my Suburban leaking water across the Burger King lot he said, “Mom, your truck is going potty!” Older people provide material, too. After my grandfather understood he’d had a stroke he said he’d just “put his shoes on and hitch hike home” from the hospital. Think about those comments. They’ll show you a different way of looking at the world. Isn’t a fresh view of life one of the elements you love in fiction?
If you’re moving forward, but slower than you’d like, be patient. Real writing—like real mothering—winnows. Both endeavors slough off the hard husk to reveal the core, who we really are.
If you’re striding, or even sprinting, be faithful. The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. Work to find God’s balance between your call as mother and as writer.
While my husband ran the 13.1 mile race I headed to the adjacent 5K, a race that fit me. I smiled as I ran, knowing somewhere nearby my husband was running his course. I finished mine, took the banana offered me, and found the half-marathon finish line. Scores of people poured over it. Some could have turned around and run it again backwards; others streamed tears, hardly daring to believe they’d done the thing. Finally I spotted my husband, sweat-drenched and happy he’d finished his first and last half-marathon.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Having "Enough"...and Wanting More
Recently, I said, “Enough.” It wasn’t easy. But I did it.
I’d been working my bloomin’ tail off at the day job to get a book out for my employer, I was crosseyed with fatigue, and yet I still took two projects home that Friday evening, something I never do...simply because I didn’t want to look like someone who didn’t care if her colleagues’ work went out on time
I’m here to tell you...this is a bad idea.
As I writer, I experience a different kind of “off” time from my fellow editors.They’re readers, with no real aspirations to write. When they go home from the office, they don’t go “home” to another “office.
But I do. And therefore, there come places at which I’ve finally had to say, “Enough.”
Those manuscripts I took home? They sat all weekend in the same place I put them on Friday afternoon. I felt guilty about it, but not enough to do anything more than say, “Nope. Burned out here. No can do.”
That week, I was working on Chapter Two of a new story. (I’m still working on Chapter Two of that new story!) I like this story. I could, eventually, love this story...if I made it a priority and wrote more per day. But when one comes home tuckered from one’s day job, it’s not a matter of priorities. It’s a matter of sheer lack of physical and emotional energy.
Which got me thinking about when it’s time to say “enough” to someone else’s mission...and embrace one’s own.
You see, there is another gig around the world of writing, one that doesn’t exhaust me—in fact, it fires me up creatively: speaking to writers about writing. I do it online, I’ve done it “live”at conferences, and I want to do more of it. Some people tremble at the thought of speaking, teaching, or presenting. Not me. I’d love, love, love, to do more of it. But when I have a week or two, or a weekend, like this, I wonder how I’ll ever make that transition.
So I’ve decided to do something really radical, for me at least: ask for help.
If you are a person, or know a person, who’s looking for an experienced (ohhh, boy, am I) veteran to come into a workshop, conference, or writing program and put the rookies through some basic training...
...please pass my name along.
I give you permission. Carte blanche. With only one condition.
Do not pass me along to people who only want someone to do this for free. (!)
(Please understand, I do know that the occasional free gig is fine. But as a habit? Not so much. The Bible says the laborer deserves his/her fair wage. Besides, one look at me should tell you...I like to eat. ‘nuff said.)
Bottom line is, it’s long past time, in this writer’s life, to connect with people who’ll appreciate what I’ve come to understand about the writing trade over the past (you don’t want to know how many) years, and who may be willing to offer good old-fashioned honest Coin of the Realm for it.
So I’m hanging out the shingle. I’m placing the fleece. I’m praying for the best. And, with a few blessings, sooner rather than later, I hope to say “Enough!” to the rest.
Thoughts?
Janny
(Janet W. Butler)
I’d been working my bloomin’ tail off at the day job to get a book out for my employer, I was crosseyed with fatigue, and yet I still took two projects home that Friday evening, something I never do...simply because I didn’t want to look like someone who didn’t care if her colleagues’ work went out on time
I’m here to tell you...this is a bad idea.
As I writer, I experience a different kind of “off” time from my fellow editors.They’re readers, with no real aspirations to write. When they go home from the office, they don’t go “home” to another “office.
But I do. And therefore, there come places at which I’ve finally had to say, “Enough.”
Those manuscripts I took home? They sat all weekend in the same place I put them on Friday afternoon. I felt guilty about it, but not enough to do anything more than say, “Nope. Burned out here. No can do.”
That week, I was working on Chapter Two of a new story. (I’m still working on Chapter Two of that new story!) I like this story. I could, eventually, love this story...if I made it a priority and wrote more per day. But when one comes home tuckered from one’s day job, it’s not a matter of priorities. It’s a matter of sheer lack of physical and emotional energy.
Which got me thinking about when it’s time to say “enough” to someone else’s mission...and embrace one’s own.
You see, there is another gig around the world of writing, one that doesn’t exhaust me—in fact, it fires me up creatively: speaking to writers about writing. I do it online, I’ve done it “live”at conferences, and I want to do more of it. Some people tremble at the thought of speaking, teaching, or presenting. Not me. I’d love, love, love, to do more of it. But when I have a week or two, or a weekend, like this, I wonder how I’ll ever make that transition.
So I’ve decided to do something really radical, for me at least: ask for help.
If you are a person, or know a person, who’s looking for an experienced (ohhh, boy, am I) veteran to come into a workshop, conference, or writing program and put the rookies through some basic training...
...please pass my name along.
I give you permission. Carte blanche. With only one condition.
Do not pass me along to people who only want someone to do this for free. (!)
(Please understand, I do know that the occasional free gig is fine. But as a habit? Not so much. The Bible says the laborer deserves his/her fair wage. Besides, one look at me should tell you...I like to eat. ‘nuff said.)
Bottom line is, it’s long past time, in this writer’s life, to connect with people who’ll appreciate what I’ve come to understand about the writing trade over the past (you don’t want to know how many) years, and who may be willing to offer good old-fashioned honest Coin of the Realm for it.
So I’m hanging out the shingle. I’m placing the fleece. I’m praying for the best. And, with a few blessings, sooner rather than later, I hope to say “Enough!” to the rest.
Thoughts?
Janny
(Janet W. Butler)
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