Give Me A Breather

A few weeks ago, I announced a scheduling change. I'm now blogging twice a week, Monday and Friday, instead of three times a week.

While I enjoy visiting blogs, the numbers are mind boggling. There's no way I can go to a blog every day and comment. I appreciate bloggers, who give me a breather by their sensitivity to my time constraints.

Shorter posts also endear me to a blogger. I can't stay on a blog for 20 minutes. There are exceptions to this rule. For example:

1) An author interview. Still, we can ease the suffocation by breaking up a long interview into two or three parts.

2) An award post that includes fun questions. While it's tempting to write a mini-autobiography, I make a conscious effort to keep my answers short and snappy.

3) A guest post. When arranging guest posts, I always give a word count requirement. I don't want readers to walk away because they're overwhelmed by the length of a piece. I will stretch to 500 words, but that's it. If the topic requires greater exploration, I'll split it into two parts.

Bloggers: What are some of the guidelines you use to keep your blog reader friendly?

Readers of Blogs: What sends you over the edge with reading blogs? The length? Topics that don't resonate with you? Please share.

Photo credit: sxeyetisxe

Winner of Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing

Congratulations to:

                                           RHONDA SCHROCK!

Please send me your snail mail address, and I'll forward it to Paula Rose Michelson.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway.

Unleash the Power of Deep Point of View - Guest Post by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

Let's welcome Jill Elizabeth Nelson to Christian Writer/Reader Connection. I've read her book on Deep POV, and it's helped me understand the "how" of showing and not telling. Take it away, Jill!

Deep Point of View is a powerhouse technique writers may deploy from their arsenal of skills in order to craft a story that will captivate readers.

Following is a vital term that I use extensively in Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View, my handbook on the craft of Deep POV. 

Narrative Distance

Writers create narrative distance when they consciously or unconsciously insert an invisible narrator between the Point of View Character (POVC) and the reader. In the complete handbook, I share many examples of how we create narrative distance and how we can eliminate it in order to achieve Deep POV.

The technique helps readers to feel like there is nothing between them and what is happening to the POVC. In Deep POV, we don't want thoughts or actions told or explained by a third party; we want to live the events inside the POVC's head. The narrative should read like the thoughts going through the character's mind but without the need to italicize as in direct thought quotations.

Following are a few examples that demonstrate what a sentence might look like with that annoying, invisible narrator buzzing in the reader’s ear and then with the narrator eliminated.

With the narrator:  She wished she could whisk back in time and redo the last few minutes.

Without the narrator:  Too bad life didn’t come with an undo button like a computer.

With the narrator:  He had to think hard about what to do next.

Without the narrator:  What should he do next?

With the narrator:   Jason’s scowl caused Meg to sigh on the inside.

Without the narrator:  If Jason’s scowl turned any blacker, lightning would strike her dead. A silent sigh left Meg’s lips.

In this post, I have lightly covered a single aspect of writing in Deep POV. We haven’t touched on the thought tells, prepositional tells, or sensory tells that Deep POV will eliminate. One of the most stellar effects of Deep POV on a writer’s narrative is the virtual elimination of show/don’t tell issues!

These topics and more are covered in-depth, complete with examples and hands-on exercises in my handbook, Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View. Available as a Kindle download or in paperback at http://amzn.to/IvQTkj.

Author BIO:

Award-winning author and writing teacher, Jill Elizabeth Nelson, writes what she likes to read—tales of adventure seasoned with romance, humor, and faith. She delights to bring the “Ahah! Moment” to students as they make skills their own. She and her husband of over 30 years have raised four children in the rural Midwest, and they are currently enjoying a growing brood of grandchildren. Visit Jill on the web at www.jillelizabethnelson.com.

Writers: What tips do you have on showing/not telling? Do you find this skill difficult?

 

Author Interview & Giveaway - Paula Rose Michelson - Part 2

Today, we continue with Part 2 of our interview with Paula Rose Michelson, author of Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing. The giveaway details are below.

4) Please give our readers a short summary of Casa de Naomi: the House of Blessing. 


Fifteen-year-old Naomi wants to practice her faith in public, find her uncle, and help him raise money to bring their family to America. She signs on as a companion to a blind woman, whose family plans to tour Europe and settle in the United States. Her plans are thwarted when the woman dies aboard ship, and Naomi is handed over to Immigration.

While waiting for her interview, an old Tia (auntie) comes to her rescue and offers to take her in. With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, Naomi accepts the arrangement and unwittingly enters the country illegally.

The book trailer can be viewed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5uckLDfMaM

5)  When does Book 2 release, and how can we get it? What other projects are on the horizon?

Book 2 will release in the spring of 2013. However, I hope to have the pre-release copies by December 2012. You can order your inscribed copies at my website.

6)  Finally, do you have any advice for those who view their writing as a calling from God?

This is a very important question and one I do not take lightly. As your readers have probably surmised by now, writing with the idea of being published, especially with my spelling and punctuation issues, was the last thing I would have wanted to do.

I'll ask your readers: "How do you know that God has called you? What has He asked you to write about and why?

I know these questions might sound odd. Yet after speaking with numerous people, I'm surprised many haven't a clue as to why or how God can use them. I've heard their frustration over harsh critiques and rejection letters.

Since I believe most who struggle with their calling have not asked these questions, let me share these are the questions God answered for me. His answers motivated and encouraged me so much that I began sharing my journey with my friends. Before I ever had a publisher, I was receiving calls from people I had never met that wanted to know if I'd like to hear their stories. Before the novel was published, 40 books had been sold.

Giveaway:

1.  To be eligible, you must be a resident of the U.S. and a Follower of Christian Writer/Reader Connection.

2.  Leave a comment on this post with your email address.

3. Deadline: Saturday, 7/14/12, at midnight. The winner will be drawn on Sunday 7/15/12 and announced on the blog. They will also be notified via email. Once I have your snail mail address, I'll forward it to Paula. She will send you her book.

Disclaimer: I did not receive any remuneration from either the publisher or the author to do this interview.

Writers: Do you feel God called you to write? Please share.

Readers:  What was your favorite part of this interview?

The Winner

The winner of Paula Rose Michelson's book, Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing is:

                                                          KAREN LANGE!

Congratulations! I've notified you by email. Please send me your snail mail address, and I'll forward it to Paula.

If you didn't win, take heart. Part 2 of Paula's interview will run this week, and she's having a drawing for another copy of her book!

Friday Round-Up - #212

I discovered a writing website called, "Writing on The Fine Line," which is the virtual home of Michael Ehret. In this piece he gives 10 Tips to Clean Up Your Writing.

Writers: Which tip made an impression on you?

Readers: Do you see some practical application for areas of your life?

Have a blessed weekend!

Author Interview & Giveaway - Paula Rose Michelson - Part 1

Paula Rose Michelson and I "met" when I won her book on Dorothy Adamek's blog, Ink Dots. We've since corresponded about her work and the challenges of writing.

She's offered to do a GIVEAWAY of Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing. Check out the details below.

1) Welcome, Paula! What was the inspiration for your series, "Casa de Naomi?"

A friend kept asking me if I was pursuing my craft. When I discovered she was a publisher, I set up a meeting. We discussed my idea for a book about 3 women, who meet while hiking the Appalachian Trail, and how the believing one's faith affects the others.

Knowing very little about the Sephardic (Spanish) Jews that had to be baptized into the Catholic faith to survive during the Inquisition, I had to research Naomi's background. After several weeks, the publisher contacted me to find out why I hadn't sent her an outline. When she heard I was writing a character sketch for Naomi, she requested I send her my notes.

She emailed me, and said I'd begun writing a book. When I told her she was mistaken, she suggested I go back three days and read the emails I'd sent her. She was right! A few days later, the characters began speaking to me, and I kept writing until they were done talking.

While I kept Naomi, I did not go with the original idea of 3 women on the Appalachian Trail. I'll share more about the book later.

2) What is the overall message of the books?

The book grew out of my work as founder and head of LAMB Ministries, which uses Scripture and prayer to heal the wounds of women abused in childhood. It was my desire to help others view their issues through Naomi, a teenager living a fearful existence because she was taught that who she is and what she believes could lead to her death.

I've set up a blog called, The Casa de Naomi Reflections blog, where I post weekly. I encourage readers to think about Naomi's issues and look at Scriptural choices without preaching. To find out more about LAMB Ministries and begin your healing, visit my website.

Book 1 in the series ends without a resolution to worldly issues. I believe the reader will take away that although people think they know us, they only know what we choose to show them. When thinking of Naomi's difficulties, we discover that no imagined issues are worth subjugating ourselves and all we can become. The key to freedom is: owning who we are and claiming all that Messiah did for us.

3. Could you share how you researched before writing?

My initial research into the Spanish and Mexican Inquisitions made me curious. I interviewed several women from the Sephardic population and included pertinent historical notes at the beginning of each book.

We'll continue our interview with Paula on Monday, 7/9/12.

Giveaway Details:
1) You must be a Follower of Christian Writer/Reader Connection and a resident of the U.S.
2) To enter, comment on this post. Please leave your email address, so I can reach you
3) Deadline: Saturday, 7/7/12, at midnight. The winner will be announced on the blog and notified by email. When I receive your snail mail address, I will forward it to Paula. She will send you the book.

Disclaimer: I did not receive any remuneration for this interview or giveaway.

Writers: Have any of your ideas sprung from actual historical events? Please share.
Readers: How much historical detail do you like in a book: just the flavor or served up in gourmet fashion?

Winner of Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing

Congratulations to:                               DENA NETHERTON!

You've won Paula Rose Michelson's book, Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing. Please send me your snail mail address, and I'll forward it to Paula. I've also sent you an email notification.

If you didn't win, you still have two more opportunities if you comment on Part 1 and Part 2 of my interview with Paula. Part 1 will be on the blog Monday.

This and That

After reading an average of one book a week for four years, it's time to change things up a bit around here. This year, I've read 26 books so far.

I love books. I read constantly, but I want to read for fun. I need to read for fun.

The pressure of coming up with a review or interview every week is cutting into my writing and family time. Some non-fiction books are also calling my name...books that require quiet reflection.

After reviewing my activities, I've decided to make some changes. I'll still do book recommendations, author interviews, and bring you the best links from my Web travels.

As of July 2, 2012, I'll be combining those facets of Christian Writer/Reader Connection into my Friday time slot. While you'll see an occasional Wednesday post if I have something to say, my new schedule will be:

Monday and Friday.

Bloggers: How often do you post on your blog, and what steps have you taken to keep it from consuming all your time and energy?

From Dyslexic Artist to Published Author - Guest Post & Giveaway

Paula Rose Michelson facilitates a monthly Writers Workshop and is the author of Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing, a 6-book saga. She's also a wife, mom, grandmother, and founder of LAMB Ministries, which helps women recover from trauma and abuse.

Paula has offered to do a giveaway. Check out the details after the post.

Below Paula shares her struggles with Dyslexia. Please welcome her, and draw inspiration from her story.

"Paula, please come forward."

Aware that I had not written the expected autobiography that constituted one-third of my semester's grade, I cringed. At fourteen, I knew I had nothing noteworthy to write about. Now, my seventh grade teacher would hand me a failing grade. If only I'd handed in the paper mom corrected.  What a fool for throwing a semester's work away and starting over, especially since I never understood the difference between words like to, too, or two.

I stood and began the longest journey of self discovery I’ve ever taken. While I told myself how brave I'd been to write about what mattered to me instead of the mundane: I was born on, I live at, drivel in an autobiography, my confidence fled before I could look up and face the teacher.

Whether it was my self talk, my profound belief that I'd been true to myself, or the fact that a merciful God had taken pity upon me, I did not know. What I did know was the teacher smiled at me. I stood there staring at her, unable to speak. The bell rang, she dismissed the class, and asked me to stay.

Miss White handed my essay back to me. “Never have I given a student an A+++ for content and an F- - - for mechanics.”

This single sentence set the rudder of my life in a new direction. Looking back, I realize a paradigm shift occurred. Before I looked upon myself as not quite good enough. Years later, I learned the issue plaguing me was called, "Dyslexia," a learning disability that affects the ability to read.  Thanks to Miss White and God, it didn’t matter because I knew I had abilities and could use them.



Giveaway Details:


1) You must be a Follower of Christian Writer/Reader Connection.
2) The giveaway is open to residents of the United States.
3) To enter, comment on this post and leave your email address. 
4) Deadline: Saturday, June 30, 2012, at midnight. The winner will be announced on Sunday, July 1st, and notified by email. 
5) Paula will send the book out as soon as she receives your snail mail address.


Writers: What kind of obstacles have you overcome to make it this far in your writing journey?

Readers: Do you like reading about author's lives and struggles? Why?

If I Had An Assistant

When visiting an Amish community, I came across a plaque that said: The hurrieder I go, the behinder I get. Like most writers, time management is a constant issue.

Many people dream of hitting the lottery. Not me. I dream about making enough to hire a full-time assistant. I even have a job description ready if that day should ever come:

1.  Organize my office and files. This item alone should keep the person busy for a year or so.

2.  Update my telephone/address book. Instead of digging through several folders with scraps of paper, I could have the information at my fingertips.

3.  The assistant must be a genius at formatting manuscripts. I'm not, and it's a constant struggle.

4.  Research savvy. Wouldn't it be nice to have someone pull together all the little facts and figures I need for my latest WIP? Now that would be a serious time saver.

5.  If the assistant also functioned as a prayer warrior, a supplier of encouraging words, a brainstorm specialist, and a baker of chocolate chip cookies, I wouldn't mind a bit.

Feel free to chime in! What time-saving jobs would your ideal assistant perform? Let's have some fun with this. :)


Photo: nksz

Friday Round-Up - #211

Carol Alexander, at Everything Home With Carol, shares a great method for teaching kids how to write a story.

Do you have any budding writers in your family?  How are you nurturing their gift?

Have a blessed weekend!

On My Nightstand - Love on the Range by Jessica Nelson

Gracelyn Riley's obsession with finding and interviewing Striker, a man who rescues young women from kidnappers, is all part of a plan. If she can make a name for herself in publishing, she can avoid an arranged marriage and be an independent woman.

When the influenza outbreak occurs, her parents ship her to her uncle in Texas. Coincidentally, newspaper accounts put Striker in that area.

Her uncle's partner, Trevor Cruz, doesn't know how to handle this new threat to his secret identity. He worries that Gracie will get herself into a heap of trouble. He vows to protect her, which means they'll be spending a lot of time together.

Author Jessica Nelson's debut book delighted me. She's a natural storyteller and held my interest every step of the way. I'm looking forward to her future books. Way to go, Jess!

Sunshine Award

Ruth, at Out on a Limb, gave me this award way back in April. I'm finally getting around to answering the questions and passing it on. Thanks, Ruth, for this honor.

1) Favorite color - Purple, but pink comes in a close second.

2) Favorite animal - Cats. I haven't had any for a long time. My late husband was allergic.

3) Favorite number - Sorry, I don't have one.

4) Favorite drink - I love milk, especially if I have cookies to go along with it.

5) Facebook or Twitter - Facebook. I'm too wordy for Twitter although I do have an account.

6) My passion - Next to Jesus, writing. :)

7) Getting or giving - I experience joy in both, but giving probably edges out getting.

8) Favorite pattern - I like floral patterns best. They're so cheerful.

9) Favorite day of the week - Friday. I don't think I have to explain that one.

10) Favorite flower - I love roses - any color, any variety. Their beauty never fails to make me smile.

I'm supposed to pass this along to other bloggers, but you all bring sunshine into my life. Consider yourself a winner and join in the fun if you have time.

Thanks again, Ruth!

Friday Round-Up - #210

Kay Strom talks about inventing new cliches.

Have you coined any new cliches? Can you give an example of a catchy phrase that grates on your nerves? Let's have some fun with this. :)

Have a wonderful weekend!