Maureen Lang's Blog, page 24
February 7, 2011
Discipline for Writers
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What? We have to be disciplined to be a writer? Writing is one of the arts, and everyone knows art flows out of passion and the fire within. You know, the muse.
Yeah. Right. Tell that to your editor when your book is due in a month and your muse deserted you four months ago.
So I'm going to propose a few disciplines that have helped me stay on track, even when I don't feel like writing.
The personal disciplines:
Write every day. Yep, even when the muse is cavorting with every writer on the planet—except you. Sit down at the computer and write. You may create complete drivel, but some of it might be salvageable. The discipline here is to promote the feeling that emotion follows action – i.e., act lovingly toward someone you don't currently have much affection for, and that loving feeling will show up. Here, by sitting down and going through the motion of writing you might discover real passion taking the place of initial mechanics. Even if you have to do a typing exercise to get you started, sit down and get to work.
Read every day. While there are many reasons for a person to take up writing, one of the most common is that we've been touched by a book and hope to touch others through a book of our own. Other books not only stir our passion for writing, they can teach us everything from punctuation and style to what works and what doesn't. And while I always recommend doing a market study of the genre in which you hope to write, don't stop there. Read everything—everything excellent, that is. Learn from the best of what's out there. Best sellers are usually a best seller for a reason, particularly if it's a debut author. Find whatever it is that makes a popular book appeal to so many readers.
Practice saying this: Revisions are my friend. And then act on it. I firmly believe the best writers are the best RE-writers. Every time I go through one of my manuscripts I find something to change, to improve. And while there is always the danger of revising something to death, definitely a time to let go and move on to a new project, keep in mind that nothing is set in stone until it comes off the printer's production line.
Monitor the internal tapes running through your head. While it's fine to repeat: "Revisions are my friend," it isn't okay to say (particularly after a rejection): "Who do I think I am to try writing a book?" The Bible says God can use even the weak to do His work, so if you've been given a gift to write, it doesn't matter what insecurities you suffer. A rejection may be a reason to work harder at perfecting your craft, but it isn't a reason to doubt your worth, either as a person or as a writer.
The service disciplines:
Join a critique group. This is for the new writer as well as the seasoned ones. Often we start out too shy to want to share our words with others, but that's a shyness we naturally need to get over if we ever hope to be published. Hello, the world is about to read what you've written, so sharing your work with friends or fellow writers should be easy. One caveat when it comes to sharing your work with others: make it your best effort before sharing, and don't share too much online where "the world" is already your audience (i.e. a blog or other network where too much exposure might caution an editor about the remaining size of your audience for a particular piece). There is also another end of the spectrum for published authors about sharing their work, where some feel so experienced they no longer need a critique partner. We have our editor, after all. Well, why not make it easier on said editor and keep our critique partners? A fresh eye can spot errors or inconsistencies even from the most talented writer.
Give back to the writing community—well, let me clarify that: Give something positive to the writing community, even if you've been burned. This would include things like offering encouragement to other writers through contest judging, or joining or creating a face-to-face critique group where people can plug into a support system in this rather lonely business. Volunteer to help out at a writer's conference, show up at a book signing for a fellow author, write a positive review online, help with the behind-the-scene coordination of a contest for new writers through the many writers' organizations out there. Make a difference to help the writing community.
The Spiritual disciplines:
Pray every day. Pray for God to use you through your writing endeavors. Pray for others in this industry, for guidance and wisdom and a greater audience for God to touch through your writing. Hand over any selfish desires and replace them with trust that God wants what's best for you. Pray that God will grant excellence in your talents and pursuits, then trust Him to answer that prayer or guide you to where you can experience the excellence He wants to entrust to you.
Establish a prayer team for you and your ministry. Ask the prayer warriors around you to pray regularly for you, that God would use your writing passion not only for His glory but as a way to continually draw you nearer to Him. Ask them to petition God that His will and wisdom be apparent to you, that your trust in Him will grow as you deepen the writing ministry He's put on your heart.
Discipline . . . can be a very good thing.
January 31, 2011
An Indirect Path
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My husband has been enjoying a series in the Chicago Tribune featuring different figures from the automobile industry. Surprisingly enough, it's actually been fascinating to me, too—even though I'm someone who doesn't care about what kind of car I'm driving just so long as it gets me there.
The stories have contained a bit of history, which is always a good start for me. They also include a behind-the-scenes look at ordinary people who have done extraordinary things. This week's article was about Robert Bosch. Now why in the world would this fiction writer want to talk about the inventor of something as unromantic as a spark plug? Well, it's an indirect path, but one that seems oh so clear to me…
The article named Bosch as the owner, dreamer and believer of his idea to make a car ignition system work safely and more successfully. That caught my attention, recognizing similar feelings about my writing: I'm the owner, dreamer and believer of each one of my story ideas. Well, let me clarify that: I'm the dreamer and believer but owner only until selling the idea to my publisher, who then becomes the owner, but I digress…
Bosch took an indirect path to becoming a successful inventor. When he was young, he knew if he wanted to become a precision mechanic he would have to work wherever he could learn the most. That meant striking out far from his small hometown, leaving behind his parents and twelve (!) siblings. Before he was twenty-four years old, he went to Cologne, to Stuttgart, even to America for a while in search of learning all he could about precision mechanics. For writers, it might not mean leaving home (or maybe it does, at least for a while) but even if we stay put we, too, must go to those places we can reach to learn the most—to critique groups, conferences, retreats, etc..
Early on, Bosch had to shed his fear. He worked on the technical areas that were the hardest for him. That reminded me while I may have more fun concentrating on those areas that are easiest, I need to give more attention and energy to those things that are a greater challenge. I shouldn't just reinforce my best areas, but be humble enough and willing to learn something new. And don't let fear of not being good at something keep me from sharpening the weak areas of my talent.
Bosch also networked; for a while he worked with Thomas Edison. Can you imagine all he must have learned working in that lab? It reminded me to take advantage of any opportunities I have to learn from other experts in my field.
Bosch certainly put in hard work, tireless energy, and focused commitment to making the automobile engine work efficiently. His path was not straight, it wasn't even easy, but it led him to unimaginable success—so much that he was able to create huge philanthropic organizations and repay the world for some of the success it had afforded him. And so I can learn something from that, too, about giving back after achieving my own measure of success.
Now who ever thought a fiction writer couldn't learn something from the inventor of the spark plug?
January 28, 2011
Author Leisha Kelly Passes Away
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Grand Rapids, MI — Leisha Kelly, 47, was killed in car accident Tuesday night near Fowler, Illinois. Her son, 16-year-old Justice, was also killed in the crash. Kelly, a resident of nearby Clayton, Illinois, was the author of 11 books, among them a best-selling inspirational historical fiction series centered around the Wortham and Hammond families, set in Southern Illinois. Her most recent book, The House on Malcolm Street, was published by Revell in September 2010.
Kelly leaves behind her husband K. J. and a daughter, Hosanna. Kelly home-schooled her two children and served as a children's ministry director and a youth minister at her family's church. The couple had also recently become foster parents.
Vicki Crumpton, Executive Editor for Revell, who worked with Kelly since her first book, Julia's Hope, was published in 2001 said, "I remember receiving Leisha's first proposal in 2001. I read what her agent sent and called him that day to ask to read more of the manuscript. When I presented the proposal to our publishing committee, the team read the proposal and a few sample chapters. The first thing people asked was, 'When can we read the rest?' And every time we received a new proposal from Leisha, people always asked, 'When can I read more?' Leisha's fans felt the same way. They always wanted to know when her next book would be out."
"Leisha Kelly was an amazing talent. More than that, she was an amazing person, loved by family, friends, and her fans. Her unique writing voice will be greatly missed," Crumpton said.
Twila Bennett, Senior Director of Marketing for Revell, remembers a story Kelly told her once. "She had a vivid memory of one of her first writing experiences that has stayed with me after all this time. She was young, it was the year that Mount Saint Helens erupted and she had heard the news stories about how the ashes might fall on other states. She felt a story burning in her and went out to her front porch and wrote and wrote. And then, the ashes from Mount Saint Helens really did indeed begin falling on her paper like snow."
"I keep seeing that young Leisha now and look in wonderment at this girl, who overcame so much and gained the world on Tuesday with her son at her side," Bennett said.
For more information on Leisha and her books, please visit Leisha's website.
January 24, 2011
Potential + Hope = Expectations
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This past weekend my husband and I watched some old home movies—movies I don't think we'd seen since we originally taped them (and I do mean tape; this was before the digital age). Initially we had all of the usual reactions: marveling at how much our kids had grown; how different the house looked; how old we feel in comparison to how young we looked on tape.
It left us with a mix of emotions, and having pondered it I think some of it resulted from the equation above, about potential and hope equaling expectations. Every parent sees potential in their newborn. Sometimes those hopes are realized; children can outdo our expectations. Of course the opposite is true, too—as my husband and I realized when we later learned how drastically Fragile X Syndrome would limit our oldest son.
Most of the time reality brings a mix of things from those hopes and expectations. We see our children outdo our hopes in some areas, and in others . . . not so much.
In some ways hope can be an enemy. If hope does lead to expectation, when those expectations aren't met it can have devastating results—brought home every time we remember those hopes and compare them to reality. Or compare them to the experiences of others.
The publishing world can set us up this way, too. I've known several writers who have picked up the pen, and—at least retrospectively—gotten published with minimal rejection and heartache. Their first book went on to sell extremely well, making bestseller lists with ease. Like the parent whose child has outdone expectations, these experiences are just common enough to set the rest of us up for hopes that might not be realized. If we even achieve the platform—publication—we would be hard pressed to welcome a comparison between our experiences and theirs.
Strangely enough (or not so strangely if you believe how intimately God is involved in our lives) I was reading about John the Baptist in my morning devotional today. Do you recall how John boldly proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah at the beginning of Jesus' ministry? John said he wasn't fit to tie Jesus' sandals. While John baptized with water, Jesus would baptize with fire. But not too long after that, John was imprisoned and sent a message to Jesus asking if He really was the One—or should we expect another?
Perhaps you and I would have doubts, too, if we were in prison awaiting execution. Had everything in John's life—calling attention to the coming Messiah—brought him here, to such a swift and useless end? Wasn't the Messiah supposed to bring judgment and power? Instead Jesus preached forgiveness and right living.
John's expectations were different from reality. His hope set him up for his last hour of doubt.
Jesus' answer to John is the answer for all of us who've experienced deflated hope. Jesus reminded John of the miracles He'd done. In short, He reminded John of Who He was. If John wondered if his own ministry and life had meant anything at all, Jesus proved everything he'd done was right. John had answered the prophecy he'd been called to fulfill.
And that's what we need to remember. We're called to make a difference in this world, to use the passions, gifts and talents God gave us. The result might not be what we hope or expect, but those results are in God's hands. And like John, we need to entrust it to God. He knows what He's doing. All we need to do is listen to Him.
January 17, 2011
Hearing Voices
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If a friend told you they were hearing voices in their head, chances are you would gently recommend they seek psychiatric help. And you might be right to do so—unless your friend is a writer.
I have lots of voices in my head. Okay, so I don't "hear" them, but they're there, all right. Most of the voices belong to the characters from whatever project I happen to be working on. But there are other voices up there, too. Critique partners and editors and readers.
Recently I had the opportunity to work on a project with a combination of seasoned and unseasoned writers. It was actually great fun, because we all exchanged our work for the benefit of fresh eyes on each portion of the project. Using track changes, each of us tweaked the others' work, filtering it through our own experiences, voices, and expectations. Each project came out stronger for it.
One of the reasons we chose to do it this way, apart from the obvious that the more eyes you have on a project, the better the end result, was that we were told the publishing house wanted a mix of seasoned and unseasoned authors. Their hope was that the seasoned authors would provide some editing so that their own (no doubt stretched) staff would spend less time adding their own polishing.
But each of us benefitted. Unseasoned authors may require more editing, but it's only because they probably don't have as many voices echoing in their head as seasoned authors do. But unseasoned authors have a voice, too, one that comes with a passion for the written word. As I tweaked my part of the submission, I had all the regular voices up there, as I mentioned above. But now, after having viewed the suggestions made by my partners in the project, I heard their voices as well. I'd write a line, and in review if something stood out to me as a word or phrase that one of them would want changed, I'd anticipate that in advance.
So if you have a writing passion, listen to those voices—the ones that call for positive change, that is, and let them take your writing to the taste of a broader audience. We start with our own voice, of course, and every other voice after that is filtered through ours. The changes we accept, those we don't, are still up to us. But listen to those voices, at least consider the changes. The loudest voices I hear are usually the ones that have taught me the most about writing.
January 12, 2011
Fiction Wednesday
[image error]The blurbs are too small to read, but here's what they say, from left to right:
Bound by Guilt
C.J. Darlington
Shuttled between foster homes, Roxi Gold will do anything to fit in. Soon she's traveling the country stealing rare books from unsuspecting bookstores. Police officer Abby Dawson has seen the worst of society—and not just at work. One fateful night, both their lives are changed forever. One searches for justice; the other is on the run. Will the power of forgiveness set them free?
Beneath the Night Tree
Nicole Baart
Do I have a child? The shocking e-mail from her son's father spins Julia DeSmit's peaceful world off axis. She wants nothing more than to ignore it, but one look at her son convinces her that Parker is a part of their lives, for better or for worse. Faced with this new reality, Julia begins a tightrope walk between what was and what she hopes will be.
Possession
Rene Gutteridge
Detective Vance Graegan is burned out on life and love. Hoping to save his marriage, he quits the force and moves his wife and son to the other side of the country. But when the movers decide to hold his belongings for ransom, losing his possessions becomes the least of his problems. Soon everything they are fighting for begins to unravel in the hands of Vance's past.
Springtime of the Spirit
Maureen Lang
After WWI, Annaliese Duray runs away from home only to find herself swept up in Munich's political scene, fighting to give women a voice in the new government. When Christophe Brecht, a family friend, is sent to bring her home and an army from Berlin threatens everything she's worked for, they both face choices that could jeopardize their loyalty, their love, and their lives.
Journey to Riverbend
Henry McLaughlin
Michael Archer is determined to carry out Ben Carstair's dying wish: to be reconciled with his father. Unfortunately, Sam Carstairs is a ruthless businessman and has been kidnapped by someone he wronged. Now Michael must risk leaving behind his new love, Rachel Stone, to join the search posse.
I've only read one of these so far (uh-hmm, my own) but they all sound terrific to me! No wonder they're calling it Christian fiction at its finest. (Can I say that of all these titles and still cling to a shred of humility?)
Anyway, look for this ad to appear in the next month or two in some of your favorite Christian places. And as always, Happy Reading!
January 10, 2011
Confessions of a Salamander Slayer
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Over ten years ago my husband and I were working in the yard and came across what looked to me like a mini-dragon—at the very least the biggest lizard I'd ever seen in my life. Like any other member of the wimp society, I was terrified.
When you're long on emotion and short on facts, fear can inspire you to do foolish things. I went directly to my dragon-slaying hero (my husband) and asked him to kill it, because I didn't want that thing living in my garden with the potential of frightening me every time I went outside to tend my flowers.
Now, not every husband would be up to such a thing. I mean this was no small creature (including the tail, about a foot long) and no small task. But my husband grew up on a farm, where death was a common occurrence. Let's just say he was up to the job and performed it quickly, without any amateur attempts involved that would only have tortured the poor doomed thing.
It wasn't until much later, when reason and curiosity seeped in about what the monster might have been, that I did some research. Who knew lizards that size were indigenous to the Chicago area? Not me. I learned it was very likely a salamander, a creation not only harmless to humans but helpful to gardens. What I should have done was set out a banquet for it, but instead I'd sent it to its maker.
And have felt horrible and guilty every time I recall that day.
In some small way I've made an attempt to redeem myself of this foolish deed. Yesterday we were checking our sump pumps and what do you think we found swimming around in there? A young salamander, thankfully in the ground water pump, not the wastewater one!
This time we acted from knowledge rather than fear, although I have to say this one was only a few inches long and therefore not as frightening. But neither we nor the salamander thought our sump pump an appropriate home. How he got in there in the dead of winter, we have no idea. He was obviously young, and small enough to have gotten caught up in our system from its winter habitat burrowed deep under the soil. (Something we'll be asking a plumber about this week!)
Once again my hero husband was up to the task. We found a fish net and he scooped it up. Oh, it's not a perfect rescue. We didn't know this wasn't a particularly aquatic lizard and preferred dry land to water, so we put him in a bucket with water on the bottom where he swam around a bit. Then I took him to the local pet store to see if we might find him a home.
Well, being part of corporate chain, they couldn't take him. Silly me. However, they correctly identified him as a tiger salamander and said he liked crickets. They also told me he probably didn't like that cold water, especially if he'd been in it a while.
So we replaced the cold water with warm and found a plastic cup for him to float in, then gave him a feast of a few crickets. By this time we were worried about him but when he chomped that first one we all cheered. Then we started calling other shops for one that might take him—over the protests of my 13 year old son who wanted him as a pet (not gonna' happen once I learned they live fifteen years). We drove the little guy out to the only shop in a nearby county that would accept him and he now happily resides in a warm, moist habitat with one Kermit-green frog.
Now what in the world does this story have to do with writing, since this is a blog about writing? Absolutely nothing.
Confession is good for the soul.
Except for one last note: I find it interesting that God provided this opportunity for redemption. I mean, what are the chances that we would check the pump just when this little guy happened to have jumped in, with no way out? It's all especially interesting when I consider that something similar happened in Springtime of the Spirit, my March 1st release—not with salamanders, but on a much more dramatic scale with men. An opportunity for redemption. Hmm...maybe God timed all of this for a blog posting, after all. I guess He's a better marketer than I am. (He does have the bestselling Book of all time, you know.)
There. Now this posting has been tied to the writing theme.
January 3, 2011
Taking The Water Bus into 2011
So, if I'm to paint an entirely accurate picture I should say that during this past holiday season I once again attempted to read a few classics, most of which I did for my own enjoyment. One I particularly liked was written by Agatha Christie called The Water Bus.I'm not sure why it's considered a holiday classic except that it has the most delightful faith element. It's about the widow Mrs. Hargreaves, who does all the right things as a fine, upstanding citizen known for helping others. She truly wants to care about people only she has no idea how. "She was willing to be just, kind, fair and charitable to people, so long as she did not have to see, hear or touch them."
On a whim, wishing she could go to a desert island where no one would tell her their troubles, defend her, or want more of her than she's prepared to give, Mrs. Hargreaves takes a little trip on a water bus—where she encounters a very mysterious stranger.She's so impressed by this stranger's coat that, for the first time in her life, she's drawn to touch a garment being worn by another human being. And so she does. Almost immediately she experiences a kaleidoscope of emotion—a miraculous insight into those who vexed her that very same day. With such understanding comes empathy, the very thing she's been missing in her quest to care for others.
Mrs. Hargreaves knows a person's character cannot change quickly or easily, and that old ways do not disappear in an instant. But having experienced such a miracle, isn't this the first step toward achieving genuine love for her fellow man?
The symbolism in the story is lovely, recalling the woman in the New Testament (Luke, Chapter 8) who had only to touch Christ's garment to be healed of her ailment. The ending of Ms. Christie's story does more than suggest such a parallel: the garment Mrs. Hargreaves touched was none other than Christ's Himself. Even the water bus pilot knows He was no ordinary passenger.If the beginning of a new year is for resolutions, this story fits the season. In a day when we can fit people into convenient online schedules and relate to our virtual friends more than we can to our neighbors, this is a story I for one needed to read.
As Mrs. Hargreaves says at the end of her water bus ride, Thank You!
And we all know Whom she's thanking.
May your New Year be filled with resolutions that'll make the world a happier place to inhabit.
January 1, 2011
Pearl Girls Winner announced & final posting: Imua
And now a New Year's Moment with the founder of Pearl Girls, Margaret McSweeney:
A great Hawaiian saying is "Imua!" which means to move forward with confidence and courage. It's a great word for the upcoming new year as we explore new opportunities and perhaps face fears.
This week, I put into practice "imua" by facing my fear of ziplining. Yes, I stepped off a wooden platform to soar across 1800 feet of the world's fifth largest caldera located in Kauai. Encouraged by my teenage daughters, I faced my fear of not being in control of my destiny and took a leap of faith.
http://www.youtube.com/v/Joq1RGRTKQc?...
The excellent guides, Mitch and Chris of http://www.outfitterskauai.com/%20"> Outfitters Kauai prepared us well for our ultimate "black diamond" zipline adventure. We did several practice runs on what I thought were "big ziplines" but little did I know what was really awaiting. The guides constantly reminded us that the most important lesson we all needed to learn to be safe was to "trust our gear."
True wisdom that I needed to hear. For too long in life, I have "held on tightly" when what I should have done was to "let go and let God." He provides "the gear" that we need to sustain us through the difficult moments of life as we soar across jungles.
So I guess my advice would be this: "Face your fear and trust God's gear." IMUA!!
What fear do you need to face this year? What have you been holding on too tightly? What does "imua" mean to you?
Margaret McSweeney is the founder of Pearl Girls, the host of Kitchen Chat (http://margaretmcsweeney.com/kitchen-...), and an author. Her book, Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace, was published in 2009. Margaret is fast at work on a fiction manuscript (or three) and can be found blogging at From Finance to Fiction
pearlgirls.info
December 25, 2010
Pearls of Christmas, Christmas Day: Love
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Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS! Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.
~~~
Love
When asked to write a Christmas message, one of my first thoughts was Do I climb up on my soapbox regarding changing the words in Christmas songs, using only holiday, etc. I thought about it and decided no. After all, they're only words and what difference does a word make---really make after all?
Then I kept on thinking. If they're only words… But we as writers know the power of words, as do readers. When the wrong word is used, it jars, while the right word can be most powerful. Take one highly overused and under practiced word---Love. Four letters is all. We toss it around so glibly, saying love ya and luv and love. But think about the power in I love you. Three of the most precious words in our language when put together. Those of us who write romances or books with romance in them, understand the power when one of our characters tells another, I love you. As humans we can never hear that enough or too much.
Christmas is about love. The greatest love story ever told, that of God for us humans, and it never changes. Customs change, politics change, the years change but God's love never, ever does. At Christmas we are invited to share that love, to give it away, to pass it around. To find wonder again and joy in simple acts of love. We make contact with people we might never see or talk with through the year. That says I love you. We buy and make gifts to give, we reach out to strangers in need, we try to make sure everyone has a special dinner and every child a present. By giving, we receive.
So, let's use the power words, but more so, put feet on those words and pass the love around. Let's look for and find the wonder, the joy and the peace, maybe in small bits and pieces and perhaps in an avalanche of blessings. Make your days brighter with the simple gift of a smile, a kind word, a touch, for every single one that you give away, will come back to you multiplied. As you give, so shall you receive. Merry Christmas my friends. May we all recognize our blessings----and let an attitude of gratitude permeate this holiday and every day. With love and joy on this day, Lauraine!
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About Lauraine: Lauraine Snelling is the award-winning author of more than sixty books, with sales of over 2 million copies. She also writes for a wide range of magazines, and helps others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer's conferences across the country. Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a cockatiel named Bidley, and a watchdog Basset named Chewy.
For more information please visit Lauraine's website: www.laurainesnelling.com.
~~~
A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com) on New Years Day!
12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info
