Music of the Words

Reaching for Rainbows

2011-12-02T09:42:00.000-08:00

I saw a fantastic post over at www.kissandtellya.com and one of the things I'm always telling (and retelling) myself is that no dream is off limits. I tell that my to kids too. The world is waiting to put limitations on everyone.

Those who refuse to acknowledge their inner limitations are the ones that touch the sky. So when it seems your dreams-those rainbows you want so badly- are out of your reach just stretch a little more and don't stop until they're yours.

Back in the Saddle

2011-11-20T10:01:00.000-08:00

I've been off the loop for a while but I'm back in the saddle ; - ) and I'm here to talk about something that I've been hearing a lot about lately.

Writing is such a subjective topic. What one person likes, another hates. For the Christian, the line can grow even more narrow. There is a lot of judgment in Christian circles over what's considered 'acceptable' writing.

To force yourself to write for one particular market or genre because 'that's what a Christian would do' is not only wrong, it's a form of legalism-bowing to unspoken (and many times spoken) man-made 'rules'.

For the writer who writes for the 'secular' market, there is often a type of shunning that goes on. It's subtle, but it does exist. It's a dismissal, a judgment of a writer's level of spirituality if she/he doesn't write for the Christian markets.

Some people forget that Jesus had a 'secular' trade.

If you have the gift of writing, don't worry about where the story will fit or what people say. Just write.

Are You a Free Writer?

2010-02-26T11:52:00.000-08:00

"Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity we see in the making all around us. In the end, writers will write not to be outlaw heroes of some underculture but mainly to save themselves, to survive as individuals." ~ Don Dellilo

Do You Know Steve Errey?

2010-02-24T10:40:00.000-08:00

If you don't, you might want to check him out. He's a a confidence coach and he wrote one of if the best articles I've ever read about writing. It was called '5 Guaranteed Ways to Hate Your Own Writing'.

It's one of the most important articles you'll ever read about your writing. You can read about it here.

http://www.copyblogger.com/hate-your-own-writing/

Who Will Try to Take Your Dreams?

2010-02-16T09:50:00.001-08:00

If you're a writer, you know that at times the journey gets frustrating. It gets tiring. Rejections sting. To add insult to injury, along comes someone who attempts to pull you down. Sort of like the old crab in the bucket.

That's why if you'll put a bunch of crabs into a bucket, they'll all stay in because when one on the top tries to escape, the others pull him back down again. Back in the bucket. Don't achieve the goal. Stay just like the rest of us.

Who are the people in your life who hit you with the negatives and try to get you to stay in the bucket?

I read a great post about that today-I get Copyblogger in my email-great site by the way-and there was an article in there titled '10 Pathways to Inspired Writing' by Matt Cheuvront. In the article, he had a hyperlink to the following post:

which is here

It's a great read for anyone-even if you're not a writer-about how to deal with people who try to discourage you from following your dream.

25 Days of Praise: Day 5

2010-02-14T17:51:00.000-08:00

I'm praising God today that my oldest teen is home from the hospital. I'm praising God for another one of His reminders. On Saturday, in the mail, I got a package from a dear friend and in that package was Grace for the Moment Daily Bible-it's a compiliation of writings by Max Lucado. Anyway, I read Saturday's portion and it talks about how that basically the Christian life is a climb (I picture climbing up a steep mountain) and that the Holy Spirit is the harness and His Word is our rope. We might have a misstep and stumble, but the harness was strong and the rope held.

When families go through times of illness or deal with chronic conditions, there are times when there's the sensation of falling. I read that part on Saturday, right when I needed it.

So I'm praising God that we're all home again. that He used a dear friend as a vessel to bring His reminder. I'm praising God that His is the rope that will never fray.

25 Days of Praise: Day 4

2010-02-09T09:20:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged since December! Over an entire month. It's not that I didn't have anything to say (or to praise God for) it's just that I've been busier than usual. Sometimes when things get hectic around my house with the schedules and all the health stuff, I find that God will often send me little 'reminders' that He knows the situation and it's in His hands, that He loves me and that there's a sweet peace with Him.

Sometimes, the days do seem like they're made of three T's. You know them. Toil, Trials and Troubles. You work hard and things go wrong left and right. You get through one trial and another takes its place. Trouble is an unwanted breakfast, lunch and dinner guest and then wants to sleep over to boot. Those are the days that when I hear that gentle reminder-of His love, His provision, His unending watch over me, it always brings a lump to my throat.

So today, I praise God for the reminders. For the God He is. I praise Him for never leaving, never forsaking.

25 Days of Praise: Day 3

2009-12-30T16:46:00.000-08:00

Today, driving back from a doctor's appointment, I saw birds gathered together on a wire. It was cold and the wind was biting. The sky was gray and overcast.

Suspended high above the ground these birds slept peacefully with their head tucked low to their chest. They weren't worried about the wind, the sky full of threatening clouds or the hustle and bustle of traffic below. Perhaps they knew Who was in control and could trust in that enough to seek a peaceful rest.

Today I praise God for the times of peaceful rest He's given me even when I feel am suspended on a fragile wire.

Psalm 28:7 "The Lord is my strength and my shield: my heart trusted in him and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him."

On another note, I read the December 26th post on http://www.debraweiss.net/ and there's a verse shared that was so beautiful I had to share it here too. But go and read the entire post over there if you get a chance.

That verse was in Isaiah 56:8 "The Lord God which gathered outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him."

I'm glad that God gathers outcasts. That we can be an 'as is' people with Him because He sees us as what 'will be'.

25 Days of Praise: Day 2

2009-12-26T09:29:00.000-08:00

We live in a world of burdens. This month alone, there are members of our church dealing with the loss of family members, cancer, job loss, and more. Lots of heavy hearts.

Today, I praise God for His Words in Matthew 11: 28 "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

I praise Him that He gives rest from the trials we face today and always.

25 Days of Praise: Day 1

2009-12-24T13:14:00.000-08:00

I saw the idea over on http://www.debraweiss.net/ and decided to join in.

If you've been a Christian for any length of time, you know the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32). I have never been a prodigal son. But I've been a prodigal daughter and the father I left behind was my Heavenly Father.

There were times in my life when I gave in to the desire to follow my own my way. But in the end when I realized how lonely, how unsatisfying, how miserable I felt inside, God was always the Father waiting and watching for my return.

So today, I praise God that He always welcomes prodigals back with open arms.

Are You Talented or Are You Determined?

2009-12-07T10:03:00.000-08:00

Much has been bandied about in various writing communities about writing talent. While talent is good, it will NOT get your manuscript from idea to the editor's hands to the shelves in the store.

Only the hard work and determination will do that. Sitting down day after day and writing, continuing on setback after setback, rejection after rejection. Writing through laughter, tears, writing through the obstacles, writing when you don't believe you're enough. When the voice of Mr. Doubt sings a duet in your head with his friend Mr. Critical. Writing. Writing. Writing.

The books you see on the shelves were not written by people who had a bagload of mystical talent. Or who were favored. They were written by people who all had one thing in common. They never gave up. They never quit until they achieved their goal.

So I ask, 'Are you talented or are you determined?'

Dysautonomia-A Mother's View

2009-11-14T10:14:00.000-08:00

All of my children have Dysautonomia. My oldest has it the worst.

The way the body is put together is so complex it's amazing. You have two systems that work together-the sympathetic and the parasympathetic. They work together separately if that makes sense. When one system says go, the other says stop. That way, most people don't have a heart rate that will beat too fast or too slow.

These systems work under the autonomic system. In other words, the job they do is supposed to happen automatically. Now what do you think happens when one or both of them don't work the way they're supposed to? You got it, chaos can reign inside the body. The heart rate will beat too fast one minute (200 bpm resting in one case) or it will beat too slow (50 bpm in another case).

When people without Dysautonomia stand up, the blood pressure (bp) automatically adjusts itself. In people with Dysautonomia, it can drop so low they pass out. Or it can go high such as one recorded reading of (193/133).

People with Dysautonomia have problems with body temperature control, gastro problems, heat intolerance and the list goes on.

Certain types of Dysautonomia are fatal.

Those are just a few of the facts. Now let me tell you what I've witnessed in the lives of my children. Lips turning blue-one mom called it hypoxia, fainting, chest pain, dizziness, temporary loss of vision, wheelchair bound, bedridden. Struggle to find medical help. Mounting medical bills. Getting labeled. "All in her head" when she was only nine years old. She corrected the doctor very firmly "It is my heart that hurts, not my head."

Doctors who scoff (because when they don't know the answer, either it doesn't exist or the patient is mental), nurses who make fun. A ten year search for answers.

One doctor put her in the hospital because he was frustrated he couldn't just hand her a bottle of pills and POOF! she was cured. In the hospital with all the machines attached to her, he was then able to see with his own previous disbelieving self her heart rate swing too high, her blood pressure go too low, the fainting, the wacky way her body responded. That point was the catalyst.

From there we were directed to an autonomic specialist 13 hours from our home. Someone who understood the autonomic system and what can happen when it's not working correctly. He started daughter on the right treatment. Out of the wheelchair, no longer bedridden. Rejoicing.

Hearing 'chronic, no cure'. Deflating. Oh. Why God? Why? There has to be a reason! What is the purpose?

Watch her sleep. Is she breathing? Please God, don't take my baby. She's found on the floor. Heard nine year old scream, "She's dead!" Run upstairs, heart thundering.

Worsening condition. Violent tremors. Sprained wrists from the tremors. Sprained ankles when they begin in her legs. Are they related to medicines? If she stops one medicine will the tremors stop? (ohpleaseGod, ohpleaseGod, ohpleaseGod).

Not caused by medicine. Another girl with Dysautonomia has them too.

My heart aches. No.

Through it all, she jokes and laughs. When she falls down, she falls into the arms of her faith in an Almighty Father.

Sometimes...

I struggle.

Sometimes....

I am...

Angry at God. Angry at people. Angry at doctors. No one understands how heartbreaking it is to watch her suffer, to long to trade my health for hers.

Sometimes...

I am...

Walking the valley of weeping.

I'd like to wrap this post up with a pretty bow and tell you that I've come to terms with watching my kids suffer. That in my huge vat of faith (Ha!) I always find peace and serenity trusting that God has it all under control. But the truth is, I don't.

Sometimes...

My fear is a caged animal.

Sometimes...

It roams free and tries to devour me.

Shallow Water

2009-10-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

There's a song I like by Kevin Sharp and in it, he says 'this is shallow water, baby'. That's what a rough draft is. Shallow water. When we edit we dig deeper, we wade out further to find what's swimming just beneath the surface.

Sometimes I can see the treasures glistening in one of my unedited manuscripts and sometimes all I can see is the murky bottom, but I'm still trying.

Teenage Writers

2009-09-10T17:04:00.000-07:00

Writing is a rough road for even the most prolific adult. Learning the ropes can be a difficult, up a steep hill battle. Knowing where to find helpful tips, markets and other information to make the journey smoother can help ease the way. There's a website at Today's Teen Writer that works hard to help teen writers learn the ins and outs of the writing world. This site also has interviews from some of the top authors including New York Times Best Selling Author Jay Asher, the incredible writer of the novel Thirteen Reasons Why, one of the most powerful young adult novels I've ever read.

Mimicry Writers

2009-08-31T17:24:00.000-07:00

I will sometimes mentor new writers who ask for help. Over and over again they tell me the same thing. They want to write like their favorite author. They ask 'Why am I not as good?' I tell each one the same thing. You need to spend some time working on your craft. A writer will write.

If God had wanted you to write like Debbie Macomber (a very lovely author I've had the pleasure of meeting in person) then He would have made you Debbie Macomber. But He didn't. And if He gave you the talent to write, it means He wants you to write as YOU using your life experiences, your personality.

So don't be a mimcry of another author. Be an original and bring the world the stories God intended you to write.

Writers Running From Success

2009-08-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the last day you have to get anything done in the month of August. September is arriving. Did you get all your good intentions completed for August? If you don't set goals, both short term and long, you might be the reason why you aren't where you want to be in your writing career.

You want to know how to run from success? Don't set goals. Don't set deadlines to complete your projects. In other words, procrastinate. Why reach for success when you can merely dream about it? Did you know that one of the reasons why some writers never achieve their dreams is because they place 'road out ahead' signs and block their way?

"Well, I'm not that good in grammar or spelling..." ROAD OUT AHEAD

"I can't find the time to write, I'm so busy with other things..." ROAD OUT AHEAD

"My writing isn't as good as Mrs. Big Famous Author..." ROAD OUT AHEAD

I'll let you in a little secret. I am a born again procrastinator. What's that mean? It means I was the president of procrastinators and then I realized a few years ago that my life was marching forward full steam ahead even if I accomplished nothing. If I spend hours playing Majongg (LOVE that game!) or surfing the Internet reading the news (I'm a news junkie) then I've filled valuable 'could have reached for a dream' hours with mundane, non important things. Things that won't change my life or someone else's. Will stand in the way like a road out sign.

I made the determination that I would never let a day go by without writing something that moves me closer to my goal.

Now I'm going to get real personal. I'm so determined to keep that goal and grab my dream (hitting the New York Times Best Seller list) that I've written in the bathroom at almost 3 AM in the morning, so bleary eyed I could barely see the notebook I had in hand. But the day had been filled with things I had to take care of and that 3 AM time was all I had left. I've written when I was so heartbroken I thought I would pass out from the pain. I've written when I was sure the only thing I could excel at writing was a grocery list.

Next week will come and go. So will next month. And the month after that. Then it will be a new year. A new decade. Where will you be with your writing then?

Can You Hear Me?

2009-08-29T10:19:00.001-07:00

I read a blog at http://stephanieshackelford.com/blog/index.php/2009/08/ that asked if anyone was listening. The blog has a soft, beautiful pastel color and a gorgeous picture at the top. The writing is great. But like all writers feel, it's not enough simply to write. We want to share our work with others.

When you have a blog and you want others to read it, it's not enough to post and hope that alone will draw in readers. You have to get the word out there. You have to market your blog. Tell people you're out there. Post on blogs, go on a blog tour, talk it up. Put the power of social marketing to work for you. Set up a Twitter account about your blog, get a Facebook. You have to do the work to get your name out there to the public. Promotion is the key here.

If God wants you to write the blog, can't He bring the people in? Absolutely, but the Bible is filled with example after example of where God told the people to do something and until those people took that first step, God didn't act. So take the first step. Start what He's told you to do, then step out and tell others about it.

You never know who's reading your blog especially if they don't comment. You don't know that your words won't inspire someone or help a hurting heart. You just never know. So keep writing even if it seems you're the only person in blogland.

Dreaming...

2009-08-28T18:15:00.000-07:00

Fall is on the way! It's one of my top two favorite times of the year. I love the way all the trees turn golden or crimson leaves into a covering for the ground. I love the chill in the air, the little nip that lets you know summer is officially over.

I look forward to hot chocolate while cuddled beneath a quilt on the sofa. I love the smell of woodsmoke in the air and I love the planning and cooking that goes into holiday meals.

I have this dream that someday I'm a New York Times Best Selling Author and I live in a large home with lots of trees surrounding it. I have an office with a floor to ceiling window and from there, I can write and watch the beautiful world God created.

The Truth About Heroes Even in Christian Fiction

2009-08-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

Creating heroes can be a lot of fun for a writer. Or it can be as fun as cleaning the bathroom. It all depends on if you know your hero, know his motivation, where he came from, what his beliefs are. Where does he stand on certain issues? I've seen a few beginning writers create perfect heroes. They had no flaws at all.

The character came across flat and unrealistic because men (and women-I'm not male bashing) are human beings. Without the flaws that make them human, no one can relate.

I see this more often in Christian fiction than anywhere else. The men are created to act like superheroes, breathe through life untainted by the trials us mere mortals have and save the day.

No, no and no! A hero MUST be flawed. That doesn't mean you have to make him a dirtbag, but people have to be able to relate. How do you create realistic heroes? Research what men struggle with. Even Christian men. Yeah, it's not always pretty, it's not always accepted in Christian fiction, but it IS the truth. Where did writers start to believe that Christian men didn't have the same faults? True, God's grace is sufficient to help overcome struggles, addictions etc. but they do exist. Creating heroes that are flawless gives out the expectancy in some readers that somewhere 'out there' the perfect male is waiting for her.

I remember author Francine Rivers catching flak because of her Christian fiction books depicting flawed characters she'd based on stories from the Bible. The characters weren't always likeable, they didn't always do the right thing. But they came across as real.

When you create your hero, don't be afraid to let him fail. Pick him up, dust him off and THEN let him succeed.

A Calm Place

2009-08-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

I don't know why it is, but there's something so calming about the beach. I can listen to the waves rolling in and crashing upon the sand for hours and never grow tired of it. There's a steadiness, the knowledge that no matter what, the cycle will continue.

The tide will roll out. The tide will roll in.

We went to the beach last week during the middle of the week, a last hurrah before the start of the school year. There weren't too many people there. As we walked the scratchy wooden walkway down toward the water, I could hear a soft, haunting song coming from the little restaurant nearby.

The salt on the air coats your skin, your hair, your lips. If you lick them, you can taste it, sharp and tangy. At the bottom of the walkway, the sand was a brilliant white, with pieces of broken shells, short pieces of seagrass lying about, sticking up in all directions. The hot white sand gave way to the wet, dark gray brown sand where the water leaves deposits.

The water was very warm and the tide was coming in so the waves were crashing pretty hard.

I remember looking out as far as I could see and the ocean stretched across the horizon. No beginning, no ending.

I find peace there. I can breathe.

Love/Hate

2009-08-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

10 things I love and 10 things I hate in random order

Love:
1.) Writing
2.) Reading
3.) Watching movies/favorite shows on DVD-like JAG, Early Edition, Friday Night Lights, One Tree Hill
4.) Soft, summer rain
5.) Spending time with my kids and hubby, laughing and just being in the moment with them
6.) Cheesecake
7.) Journals
8.) Vince Gill songs
9.) Teaching
10.) Scrapbooking

Hate:
1.) Injustice
2.) Dysautonomia
3.) Legalism
4.) Petty arguments
5.) God complexes in doctors
6.) Crappy appliances
7.) My inner critic
8.) The rat race
9.) Medical debt
10.) Wastefulness

A Random Musing

2009-08-05T13:54:00.000-07:00

People cannot see what your heart is like by looking at your outer self. Have a broken heart? If you're out in public, going through the motions, shopping, putting gas in your car and you seem all put together no one knows what you're feeling because it's not 'out there' for them to see.

With writing, I KNOW what's in my heart. I have the perfect story, the perfect plot, the perfect characters, but when I go to write them down, it all comes out like me. Flawed. Imperfect, not always doing the right thing, not always saying what needs to be said or worse saying what shouldn't be said. Time and again, I give up. I stop working on the story that just won't come together. I can't seem to grasp the story, can't seem to fix the plot and see the characters as under developed. In frustration, I leave them languishing in story limbo (like missing socks in a dryer, that's where all unfinished manuscripts go).

I'm like that unfinished manuscript. But God sees my completed story. He sees where the plot went wrong (not YOUR will God but MINE be done). I'm not fully developed, but God sees me as perfect, completely beautiful. You'd think knowing how much God loves me and how wonderful He thinks I am, that I'd 'get' that.

As a writer, I beat myself up so much that I think my inner critic has an inner critic posse and I get so tired of hearing me tell myself I'm not good at writing. I've sold my work, I've won contests, so why do I doubt myself? Obviously others think I have talent or I wouldn't sell anything. Or perhaps it has nothing to do with talent and it's just because I made the work available to editors. Hmm....

The Handshake

2009-07-20T07:56:00.000-07:00

We went to the mall yesterday after church to find some new shirts. Usually, we zip in, get what we need and zip out. But yesterday, for whatever reason, it was hard for the kids to find shirts they wanted. So we searched. And searched. And searched.

My youngest daughter was with us and like hubby, she's outgoing and always looking to meet new people. When she saw a mannequin, she stuck her hand out, gripped the mannequin's hand and gave it a vigorous Baptist revival meeting handshake.

The mannequin's arm came off in her hand. Panicked, she rushed up to her dad and thrust the arm at him. Hubby automatically reached out for what she handed him. Stood there for the blink of an eye as a store associate (with disapproving frown) bore down on him.

I saw the back of his neck and the tips of his ears turn red. He sheepishly laid the arm on a stack of tee shirts and hurried off with our youngest in tow. The associate (still frowning) put the arm back on the mannequin.

My daughter knew to run to her father. Knew he would protect her and stand in the gap between her and the associate. Even though she'd done wrong she knew who to turn to.

So it is with Christians. So many times, we do wrong and we know we're wrong, but the real trouble doesn't begin for us unless we run away from the Father. Why is it that when we sin, God is often the last Person we run to? We try our books and our counselors, our trusted friends and our self-help techniques until all avenues are exhausted. Then, we finally run to God and thrust the broken piece into His hands.

What does He do? Does He wave His hand and the consequences of our actions disappear? No, but He heals the damage within us that we cause by our disobedience. He already stood in the gap between us and the consequences of our actions when He died for us.

Reaching for a Dream

2009-06-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

I read a story today on CNN about Kenneth Chancey. He's a seventeen year old high school junior, but that's where his similarity to other kids his age stops. Kenneth lives in a shelter with his father and sister. I don't know how long the link to the story will stay active, but here it is.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/06/24/homeless.to.harvard/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

You would think someone with life that tough is bitter, that he'd bemoan his lot in life. But he doesn't. He has an amazing attitude and I found my heart aching for him, wishing I were rich enough to help him realize his dream of going to Harvard and becoming a doctor. Since I can't help pay his way, what I can do is write an e-mail letter to the president of Harvard and let him know about Kenneth. Will you send an email letter as well? Who knows? Maybe Harvard has a scholarship for Kenneth. The e-mail address for Harvard's president Drew Faust is president@harvard.edu

Say a prayer for this young man, that he does reach his dreams. The world needs people like him, especially as doctors.

Others

2009-06-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

Remember the saying, 'do unto others'? It was turned into a joke that went 'Others Lord, let this my motto be, please let others think of me!'

Okay, funny, but all too true with some of us Christians. I've been guilty I know that. When's the last time we did something unselfish for someone other than a family member? Have we helped raise money for any worthy causes? Given out of our abundance? Reached out to a world that Jesus loved so much He died for it? It's easy to feel good about ourselves until it comes to giving. Do we realize how wealthy we truly are?

I heard about one way to help with clean drinking water here at this website:
http://www.dollarforadrink.org/

Imagine people dying for clean drinking water and all the water we waste here in America.

Now imagine it's your family living there instead of them.

Burdens and Writing

2009-06-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

Burdens come to us all. Whether in the form of a job loss, a sick relative or workplace tension, none of us are exempt. As long as you have a pulse, you will have trials. It's part of life. Someone once said they couldn't understand a God who 'allowed' the bad things to happen.

That's where faith comes in. You simply MUST trust He knows what's best, because it's hard to see when everything around you seems bent on delivering you into the midst of heartache and chaos.

When I was in Bible college, one of the professors taught that she saw redbirds as a sign that God keeps His promises (because of the verse talking about how God cares for even the birds) anyway, in the middle of the trials my family is going through right now, I've seen redbird after redbird in my backyard.

Not just one or two, but several. I've seen them fly in front of the van while I'm driving, seen them on the side of the road...and they always make me stop and remember that God is still working, especially now. That He's still faithful. Many times, we carry very heavy burdens we're not able to carry emotionally because we forget to 'trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah."

How does that apply to writing? Sometimes when rejections come, writing can seem more like a burden than a blessing. But just like faith that God will bring us through dark times, you have to trust that your job is only to send the work out. It's the editor or agent's job to say yes. But they can't say yes if you're not sending it to them. If you're not 'pouring out your work' you won't find a home for it.

Scream by Mike Dellosso

2009-06-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

I don't promote a lot of books on my blog because there are so many good books out there, it's hard to single out just a few. But I heard about this book through my friend Delia and I followed the link on her site to read the excerpt.

What a gripping story! It snatched me in the first paragraph and gave me chills. I'm off to buy it now.

You've got to check out this author and his work. The link to his site is:

http://www.mikedellosso.com/

Clipped Wings

2009-05-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

Some pet owners clip the wings of their birds. This is done for many different reasons, but the end result is the same. A clipped bird can only fly a very short distance before it has to land. It is incapable once clipped of doing what it was created to do. Fly.

In a sense, we were created to fly as well. Jesus wants us to have life more abundantly (John 10:10). We shouldn't clip our wings, but we should fly every opportunity we get.

What do I mean by that? If there's a contest you'd like to enter, but just don't think your work is good enough, enter it anyway. Always wanted to query an editor of a particular magazine but you left your courage somewhere along the yellow brick road beside the cowardly lion? Do it shaking like a leaf, but do it.

Too many times, we are the greatest hindrance to our achievements. God says we can do ALL things through Christ. Oh...wait...all things EXCEPT sell an article. A novel. A play. A poem...well, you get the picture. The bottom line is you can't sell what you don't submit.

I have a favorite quote that I'm going to paraphrase into a quote for writers-have no idea who said it, wish I did so I could give credit to the speaker- anyway, it's "She went out on a limb, had it break off behind her, and discovered she could fly."

If you never climb on the limb (submit the writing) to start with and it breaks (an editor would have asked for your work) then you'll never know if you can fly (reach your dreams).

So fly. If you have a bumpy landing, get back up and try again. You're bound to soar some day, but if you never spread your wings, it could lead to a whole bunch of 'if only' regrets.

Secrets Revealed: I Am Wonder Woman

2009-05-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

Well...I was when I was a kid. Episode after edpisode I watched her round up the bad guys and make the world safe for kids all over America. I decided that when I grew up, I would become Wonder Woman and fight for justice (after I married Bo Duke, but that's a different post)...

Then of course, I grew up, reality hit and I realized there were no such things as super heroes-male or female. Life went on. I couldn't become a superheroine, so I became the next best thing. A writer.

The most fascinating thing about writing fiction? I get to create worlds and characters-yes even superheroines-who fight for justice and make the world a better place. Writers can live so many fascinating lives through their characters. What other profession allows you to become so many different people (without getting slapped with a multiple personality label and earning a stay in a padded room?) where you can live out your daydreams between the pages of a book?

Last night, while out shopping, I checked out the aisle filled with notebooks and pens (an aisle most writers are drawn to like the mothership calling her little alien babies home) and guess what I found? A Wonder Woman notebook. It was meant to belong to me. I am Wonder Woman after all.

The Meaning of Ministry for Writers

2009-05-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

When I was in college (a Christian Bible college), I would often hear the word ministry. As in 'he's in the ministry' and it was a word reserved to only describe those who worked at a church in some capacity. Usually in leadership.

Is that what ministry is? Working in a church? Let's look at it from Jesus' life. Jesus healed. He fed. He rebuked. He taught. He preached. All of that was ministry. He spent His life helping others.

In a nutshell, a writing ministry is what occurs when your writing helps someone else. Maybe what you wrote gives a weary person a much needed laugh. Or your words brought peace to a troubled soul. Write. Even if it's letters or e-mail to someone who's lonely. Afraid. Sick. Lost. Burdened.

If God has given you a writing talent, don't hide it under a bushel.

The Expiration Date of a Dream

2009-05-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

I was lamenting to my oldest daughter today about that fact that I have yet to sell one of my manuscripts. Even though I've sold nonfiction work, it's not the same because my heart is in fiction.

In her profound words of wisdom she said, "There are no expiration dates on dreams."

Wow. Out of the mouth of babes....

It made me stop and think that all too often, we're the ones who give our dreams expiration dates. I want to make it happen (it being whatever goal or dream you have) by this date. Or that. When those self imposed expiration dates come (and go) we end up discouraged. Or feel like failures.

As writers, we just need to remember that it's our job to write. God's job to open doors.

Don't give up.

The Voices of Your Future

2009-05-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

With graduation for many students right around the corner, kids all over America are making plans to go to college as soon as their high school years are through. My advice? WAIT. I know...gasp...shock...faint. Why do I say wait? Because many young adults rush right off to college for the sake of tradition. It's the accepted 'norm' just like not wearing white after a certain time of year. The herd mentality. Go to college in order to get the good job. Like God can't provide a good job without a college degree? Don't try to put fences around what God can and cannot do with a life that's surrendered to Him.

I used to be of the 'finish high school, go to straight to college' mindset. I wanted to be a writer, I felt like God had given me that talent. My parents thought a stint in the military would be a better idea. After I left the military, my then pastor said I needed to go off to college (the ONLY college acceptable for Christian young ladies in his opinion). I still wanted to be a writer. But didn't good Christian young ladies obey their pastor? Off to college I went where I studied education. zzzzzzzz....

Twenty years later, guess what I'm doing with my life? I'm a writer. Yes, a published writer. It took fourteen years to get back on the right path and a year of learning about freelance writing after that before I sold my first work. What went wrong?

I listened to everyone's voices except the One that mattered the most. God's voice. Too many times we run full speed ahead into the future without God's guidance as our road map.

As a young person, you'll hear plenty of voices giving you advice about your future, but remember, only One voice matters the most and that's the Lord's. It's okay if no one understands but you and God.

My advice to every Christian young person is to take a year off after high school. Spend that year praying about your future and seeking what it is He wants you to do. College is not for everyone.

Ways to Make Money Writing

2009-04-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

You hear stories all the time on the Internet about people making money using only their writing talents, which talent, by the way is another term for hard work. Or persistence. But I digress...can you earn money on the Internet just by writing?

Yes.

I started out small. Very small. The first piece I sold was a children's short story and I earned $10. But, that $10 felt like millions to me because it represented the fact that an editor thought I had writing ability. Since that first sale, I've gone way, way, way up in my sales figures. I've written for newspapers, magazines, big company newsletters, small businesses and well known Internet gurus.

I get up each morning both thankful and amazed that I get to do what I love. Write.

Finding places to sell your writing takes work. Every single week, you have to search for new markets. You have to submit queries. If you're doing that and not getting anywhere, have another writer, someone further up the writing ladder than you are, check out your query and see if he/she can point out ways to make your query grab the editor's attention.

Most of all, be teachable. Never think you've 'arrived' as a writer. There is always more to learn.

There's a lot more about query writing, but I'll save that for another post. Below, I've listed some places you can search to find markets. All of these are free of charge. I don't pay places to find markets for me. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just a personal policy of mine. Many of the links I'm listing have not only searchable databases, but great how-to writing articles as well.

www.worldwidefreelance.com
www.fundsforwriters.com
http://www.fwointl.com/

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1489.asp

http://www.writing-world.com/ This one has a lot of helpful information, especially under the Links tab

http://www.absolutewrite.com/ Click on the markets link in the upper left hand corner

A New Day, A New Hope

2009-04-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm hoping that I'll stick to my resolution to update my blog on a regular basis. It's not that I don't have a lot to say (just ask my hubby or kids), it's just that life is so busy sometimes the days get away from me.

I read a laugh out loud funny post on someone else's blog the other day by B.J. Hamrick. If you've never heard of this funny woman, do a search for her name. But warning, don't drink anything while reading. ; - )

The End

2009-03-28T18:35:00.000-07:00

Today, I finished the manuscript I have struggled with for months. Waves fist in a triumph punch. Yes! It's hard to say goodbye to characters you've worked to give life. You get to know them, what they like, dislike. You see them make mistakes in love (will those two EVER get it right???) and then it's over. They ride off into the sunset, oblivious to the one who created them.

Ouch. Sounds too much like what we do as Christians sometimes. Oblivious to the One who created us.

Heart Check

2009-03-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

I spend a lot of time in doctors' offices and with the cardiologist because of my daughters' dysautonomia. The cardiologist checks my daughter's heart, downloads the information from her heart recorder so he can check what went on with her heart.

If only it were that easy as Christians to check our heart condition. What if we could hook up to a machine and get a print out. What would mine say? What would yours say? Would it say selfish? Lustful? Too concerned with the world? Too legalistic? Too sanctimonious?

We can fool people by our outward appearance. Faithful to church. Carry a Bible as big as a Volvo, speak all the 'right' Christian-ese. "I'll pray for you, brother, sister." "No, everything's fine."

But deep, deep down, how's the condition of your heart? Tired of going to church? Sick of the way some so called Christians act? Wish you could serve the Lord just enough to appease your conscious? Do you not think the Lord knows EXACTLY how you feel? What you're thinking? Did you know you can be honest with Him? Lord, I love you, but I don't enjoy going to church. Lord, I get too busy for You. I like having my own way. I'm afraid You'll interfere with my plans for my life. You think He doesn't know this already? He does and you know what? It's OKAY to be genuine in front of the Lord. You don't have to wear a mask. You don't have to be a 'good Christian'. He knows because He's the ultimate cardiologist. He can see all that goes on in your heart.

So get your heart checked. You won't take Him by surprise. He won't think less of you.

Catching Days

2008-12-14T12:09:00.000-08:00

At the speed of light. That's how fast this Christmas season is flying by. And I feel like I'm running behind it, trying to catch up, trying to catch my breath, afraid to blink or it'll be gone.

What causes the days to fly by? To disappear in the blink of an eye?

Being too busy to slow down and live in THAT moment. Looking ahead, looking back, filling up the days with running to and fro, that's what makes not just the Christmas season go by too fast but any season. Any day, any month, any year.

So how do you stop it?

The answer is....you can't. The days are going to go by fast simply because we're a nation of busy people. When you step out of bed each morning, the clock is running. Your to-do list multiplies like rabbits.

Doesn't help, huh?

What you CAN do is learn to live in THAT moment. What moment? The one you have right now. The only one you're guaranteed to have. The yesterdays are gone and the tomorrows haven't dawned yet.

Appreciate the very moment you live in. The laughter in your life, the love in your life. Celebrate the little things that make you want to twirl around, delighted to be alive.

That's how you catch the days. In the midst of a busy life, don't forget to have a life.

Life Storms

2008-09-26T18:24:00.000-07:00

There's a song by Casting Crowns titled Somewhere in the Middle. That is so me lately. I love their music. They also sing Stained Glass Masquerade-that one's great too.

Life smacks us all around and sometimes it feels like it won't ever let up. My parents died within 10 months of one another. I'm dealing with a heavy load that I cannot share on this blog. Something that has my heart in a very painful grip. And all around me, the storms rage.

The upstairs toilet went chaotic Tuesday and rained down on my bedroom ceiling. I dealt with that situation and went to take the towels to the laundry room.

When I stepped out into the laundry room, water sloshed into my bedroom shoes. I turned on the light and saw the entire floor was flooded. I opened the door leading to the garage and the water had flooded into the garage.

After a few hours of wet vac, mop and towel use, we got the floor dry. My teens came out to help without a single complaint. Just laughed and chattered and pitched right in.

I think I have the greatest kids in the universe.

Tomorrow, I'll let go of my beloved Cocker Spaniel as he's put down.

Sometimes, in the midst of chaos, in the heat of the battle, in the worst of trials, we either forget to hold on to the Lord or we choose not to. We let go and try to handle things the best we can on our own. But He never lets go of us. He's a safe haven in the midst of all life's storms. The problem is that we stand out in the middle of the storm, not wanting to run toward the haven. We stand out, with lightning popping all around us, half-heartedly praying we won't get hit by the lightning.

Twenty Wishes

2008-09-19T16:04:00.000-07:00

My wonderful 'sister' from New York read Debbie Macomber's book 'Twenty Wishes' and sent it to me. The idea for the Twenty Wishes list came from that book. My sis and I both started a twenty wish list.

What are some of the things you've always wanted to do in life? Maybe a dream you wanted to reach for when you were younger but life happened and you got off course? It's not too late. Doesn't matter how old or young you are. As long as you're breathing, you've got the opportunity to make those twenty wishes come true.

So what's on your wish list?

Writing Quote

2008-09-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

Writing Quote

Saw this quote today in the book 'Writing Mysteries-a handbook by the Mystery Writers of America'.

"The truth of the matter is that you must teach yourself how to write. We can offer guidance, the painful wisdom of our own hard-won experience but in the end, you must hone your own skills, conquering the countless devils that will plague you as you learn." ~ Sue Grafton ~

Because of the nonfiction writing I do, I'm occasionally asked to mentor someone. I don't mind in the least sharing what I know. I enjoy helping others. What I don't enjoy is when I encounter people who think because I'm a writer, I'll be glad to co-write their article. Or read and edit their 250,000 word next best seller.

I tell them all the same thing. All I can give you is my limited knowledge. It's the butt-in-the- chair, fingers-on-the-keyboard writing and more writing that will teach you the most.

I am a better writer today than when I wrote my first novel way back in high school. I was all of 18. I just knew it was a best seller waiting to happen. Know what happened? I lost the manuscript in a move. Every writer who has ever written a novel knows how I feel about that inside.

I poured my heart into those words. It's like I lost something of myself. Can I rewrite it? Sure. But I don't remember all the words, all the nights I wrote (yes, hand wrote, this was during my Amish days) that first novel. There's something special about finishing your first major work. I've written a ton of manuscripts since then and each one has taught me something more about writing, something more about myself. So, while writing classes, conferences, writing groups, critique groups and how-to write books can be a help, none of those can take the place of actual writing. And that's how you learn to become a writer. You simply write.

A Special Surprise

2008-09-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

I've wanted the Vince Gill song 'You and You Alone' for a while now and I got it in the mail the other day. My teenage daughter ordered it for me as a surprise. Very sweet and thoughtful. I'm not the first one who's benefited from her generosity.

I hate to hear people say, "Well you know how teens are" and then insinuate that all teens are rebellious, smart mouthed punks whose only thought is for themselves.

That's a myth. Like Bigfoot. Don't always believe what you hear. And give your teen a hug today. They could be going through things you're unaware of. Doubts. Fears. Emotional wounds that you don't understand. Give a teen the benefit of the doubt.

My kids hang with a solid group of teenagers who are doing the best they can to make sense of a world a bunch of adults have made a mess of.

Giving up Oprah

2008-08-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

I don't watch Oprah any more. I don't have time. I had to give up something in order to accomplish my writing goals. So I don't watch a lot of TV. One hour max a week if it's a show I'm following during the season. Off season, during the summer, I don't watch any.

Anyway, I wrote down something Oprah said on April 18, 2005. She said, "One of the greatest lessons I've learned is every choice, every single choice you make either moves you forward or holds you back in your life."

What choices do you make in life that help you reach your dreams? Your goals? You want to write a best seller? Have you made the choice to write TODAY?

Want to lose twenty pounds? Have you made an effort TODAY?

What choices do you make every day of your life to reach your goals? Want an agent for your novel? How many agents have you queried TODAY?

If you want to walk a journey of a hundred miles, you have to take the first step.

To reach your goals, you must be proactive, not inactive. You have to find the time. It won't find you.

The Me Survey

2008-08-25T18:24:00.000-07:00

I am: almost always content.

I think: about writing. A lot.

I know: Jesus aches when we ache.

I have: a beautiful family.

I wish: I didn't have diabetes.

I hate: false doctrine.

I miss: my parents.

I fear: too many to list.

I feel: too deeply, too silently.

I hear: Vince Gill

I smell: Dove Chocolates.

I crave: romance.

I search: for Vince Gill concert tickets. Or world peace.

I wonder: when my novel will hit the NY Times best-seller list.

I regret: not getting serious about writing sooner. Being in legalism.

I love: life

I am not: big on changes.

I believe: in trying to stay positive.

I dance: to the music of the words.

I sing: when I am moved.

I cry: when no one can see.

I don't always: share my heart.

I fight: injustice.

I write: faithfully

I win: the cheesecake wars.

I lose: the battle of the bulge.

I never: give up.

I always: get up when life knocks me down.

I confuse: the characters in my head. ; - )

I listen: when people talk to me.

I can usually be found: writing.

I am scared: 0f not being there for my kids.

I need: to write every day.

I am happy about: my life.

I imagine: my life after the NY Times best-seller lists my book.

I tag: Chris, Audrey, Debbie R., Marry, Judy M., Di, Melissa, Robin

AT HIS COMMAND

2008-08-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

In her newest release, AT HIS COMMAND, author Brenda Coulter breathes life into fascinating characters.

One of the many things I loved about this book is the way the author gives the hero a problem that faces many of our military heroes today.

Set in Prairie Springs, Texas, the book is the story of former Army pilot Jake Hopkins, a hero injured in the line of duty who tries desperately to forget the life he once lived.

When we are brought low by pain, by disappointment, when things don’t turn out the way we’d hoped they would in our life, we often turn away from the very One who can give hope, restore joy and bring healing. This is exactly what Jake does.

He’s a man running away, a man trying to live life using his own strength.

AT HIS COMMAND is the story of heroine Madeline Bright and her unwavering determination to save the man behind the mission. She’s smart and funny with a side of spunk that makes her an engaging character.

I rooted for these characters from the very first page of the book. The author drew me right into Jake and Madeline's life with the very first sentence and didn't let go until the last one. I read a ton of books and pass many on to friends and family. But reserved for those special few that touch my heart, I have a keeper shelf and this one is going on that shelf.

AT HIS COMMAND is a wonderful reminder of the joy and hope God gives us when we run to Him during the darkest times of our lives.

AT HIS COMMAND will be available in stores August 26.

Order now from Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0373874960

Visit Brenda's blog, No ruless. Just write. http://brendacoulter.blogspot.com

You're Ugly. Will You Marry Me?

2008-08-11T16:28:00.000-07:00

I read a story where the hero calls the heroine a bad name. Now I don't know about you, but that doesn't evoke warm fuzzies within me. If I were the heroine, I'd show the hero the door. Probably with my boot print on the seat of his pants.

I read another novel where the hero told the woman she was ugly. I checked to make sure I was reading a romance novel. Yep. I was. By a well known publisher too. Not only did the hero tell her she was ugly once but several times. And then she fell in love with him? Hmmm...anyone see therapy for emotional abuse in her future?

I forced myself to finish the book to see if the author explained WHY the hero acted like he'd won Jerk of the Year. Nope. He'd 'had much happen to him'. Like what? Being raised by wolves?

I hated it. The writer tried to make the hero come across as macho. Instead, he came across like a gorilla on steroids. One that failed anger management class.

Writing is a Road Trip

2008-08-06T16:55:00.000-07:00

When most people go on a long journey, they consult a map to figure out the best way to get to their destination. They carefully pack a suitcase or two, make sure they have what they need to get from point A to point B.

Yet, some of those same people expect to write perfect prose the first time out and are stunned when they receive rejection after rejection. Writing is just like any other job. You have to learn to do it right.

It's been said, "Write what you know." Baloney. Why limit yourself? Explore what you don't know. Learn what you don't know. Plan your writing trip. Pack the necessary items through reading, through classes and workshops. Just make sure you don't fall into the trap some writers fall into...that of learning and never writing.

Writing is a road with a lot of detours and if you don't take what you need for the trip, it'll take you twice as long to arrive.

Exercise for the Writer

2008-08-05T20:06:00.000-07:00

Do you write every day? Developing a daily writing habit will sharpen your abilities more than a dozen writing classes. More than reading a dozen 'how-to' books. You become good at what you do by sticking with it on a consistent basis.

For those days when you don't want to work on your manuscript (although my advice about that is to sit down and do it anyway) there are many ways to jumpstart your creativity without spending a dime.

Writing exercises:

1.) Your character is in the middle of a locked room. No windows. He/she can hear voices and by what they're saying, your character's every move is being observed. Why? What happened?

2.) Seconds before your character says 'I do', there's a commotion in the back. Your character's Aunt Bertha gasps and faints. What happened?

3.) Your character is framed for murder. The only way to prove his/her innocence is to run. Where?

4.) It's the 1800's. Your character was just gambled away in a poker game. What now?

A muse is a myth. If you're to achieve your writing dreams, it'll be because you were willing to work hard enough to get there.

Have you Written?

2008-07-29T09:31:00.000-07:00

Are you a writer? Have you written today? Someone said (and I'm paraphrasing here) a day you haven't written is a day you've written off.

Don't waste valuable writing days.

Mrs. No Good

2008-07-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

Ever met her? She's not a nice lady at all. Puckered little face, squinty eyes, likes to perch on your shoulder as you write.

You're in the middle of a manuscript. There she is, leaning toward the computer monitor with a shake of her head, saying, "That's no good."

You hesitate. Read it again. She's right. What you've just written is not good at all. You backspace. Delete what you wrote. Try again. This time, this is going to be perfect. You begin to write. Don't hear her voice. Ah...wait...there she is. On the other shoulder. Mouth an 'o' of shock.

"You shouldn't write that! It's no good."

Now what?

That depends on you. How badly do you want to reach your dreams? Enough to shut out the voices in your head, that awful critic who constantly harps (ever wonder why the critical voice in your head NEVER develops laryngitis?)...

You love to write. It's been your dream for years to sell your stories. Do you REALLY want it? Don't quit and say you wanted it because you didn't want it enough.

Taking Risks

2008-06-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

Are you a white or beige paint on the wall kind of person? Stick with neutral colors, not because they're your favorites or even what you really like but because they're safer than say...red or green. Safer than taking a risk.

What if you take a chance on a different color? What's the worst that could happen? You won't like it and you'll have to paint it again. Time consuming? You bet, but until you take a risk you'll be stuck with the same old, same old.

The same thing could be said of writing. Do you write safe? What you think might sell? Do you write while automatically censoring your words? "Good grief, what would my aunt/uncle/father/mother/sister/brother/long lost cousin twice removed think if I wrote what I really thought/felt/wanted to?"

What holds you back? What are you afraid of?

Until you write no holds barred it'll never completely be YOU writing that manuscript.

Become a Freelance Writer by Chris Lorenzen

2008-06-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

If you have always wondered how the writers in the magazine you read got there, you may be surprised to know that most of the writers between the shiny covers of your favorite magazines are ordinary people just like you. They didn’t get there by luck, but by practicing their craft and learning about the writing business. If your dream is to see your name in print, you can get started today by taking some basic steps down the writer’s path.

The very first step is coming up with a good idea. What is a good idea? To me, a good saleable idea is first a subject that fits the needs of your intended magazine’s readership. Second, a good idea is one that is universal. That means that your article should be about a subject that the majority of the magazine’s readers can relate to.

How do you come up with ideas? I’ve often found ideas for articles just by wanting to know more about a subject myself. I’ve also come up with ideas after reading about something that piqued my interest. For example, only a few months ago I had read an article in my local paper about babymoons. Though I’m far from the baby days of my past, the concept intrigued me and I read on.

From that article I learned that today’s expectant couples are taking a trip during the second trimester of pregnancy in order to have some time alone before baby makes three. The article I read was tailored for the readers in my area but I wondered if a magazine in Florida that I worked with would be interested in this for their baby magazine. My plan was to get her interested and then show her how I would make it relevant to her readers in Florida. That would mean explaining to readers what babymoons were, how they got started, how to plan one and, most importantly, where the ideal babymoons were in Florida.

If we’re going to take this in steps, I would make step two doing your homework. By doing your homework I mean researching your idea. For the babymoon story I started by doing some preliminary research online. There was more than enough information about babymoons online. Within an hour I had learned what they were, how the trend started (think J Lo and Mark Anthony) and how to plan and pack for a babymoon. The other great benefit of the internet is the ease of finding experts on any subject. I can’t think of one magazine that doesn’t require at least one expert’s input in their articles. For the babymoon story I found two women who had taken babymoons. From their experiences, both had set up websites with information for other expectant couples. Within minutes I had written a request for an interview to both women and hit the send button.

Step three is time to craft and send your query letter to the editor you are trying to get an assignment from. There are several good query writing books available at bookstores and libraries. If you’re unsure of how to put together a query it would be a good idea to at least check a book out of your library and learn about writing one. If you are serious about making an income and getting published, buying a book would be worth the small investment. I follow a basic formula when it comes to putting together a query letter.

Though a lot of writers tend to introduce themselves in the first paragraph, I have had much more success by opening my query letter with a statistic about my subject, if applicable, or a quote from an expert who will be included in my article. For my story about babymoons, I opened my query with this: "Lisa Smith and her husband Dan said that their babymoon was like a second honeymoon for them, except for the fact that Lisa was five months pregnant with their first child." The job of the first paragraph of your query is to grab the editor’s attention and get him/her to read on.

My second paragraph explains what a babymoon is, how the term came to be and who started the trend (in this case, as often is, the trend trickled down from the celebrity world) and how the rest of the world can plan the perfect babymoon. In this paragraph I let the editor know that I have two experts who will be offering their advice and tips to expectant couples. I also always use at least one interviewee (in this case a couple)to share their experience, in this case their experience during their babymoon, with readers. If the article is suitable for a sidebar, and most are, I let the editor know that I will be adding a sidebar.

Last in this paragraph I tell the editor the length I intend the article to be BUT I always tell them that I am happy to work with their specific needs. This shows the editor that I know my subject and have a grasp on how many words it will take to get the job done. It also shows that I’m flexible and able to work with their space limitations.

My final paragraph is where I include my own personal information. If I have worked with this editor before I usually just add something as simple as "I have enjoyed working with you in the past and look forward to working on this assignment for you in the near future." If I am approaching a new editor, I will usually introduce myself by saying how long I’ve been freelancing. I’ll include names of some of the magazines I have been published in. I always offer to send them clips of my work for their reference. I close the letter with "thank you for your time and consideration" and "I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience."

As for the closing, though it seems more creative, I recommend forgoing the artsy closings (like one I saw that said "With Pen In Hand") and keeping it professional. Good old ‘Sincerely Yours’ is still alive and well.

Now that your query is complete you need to know how the magazine accepts queries. With the advent of the Internet, many magazines will accept e-queries so it may just be a matter of hitting the ‘send’ button. A word of caution: just because they are open to e-queries doesn’t mean you can get casual. Make sure your e-query is written just the way you would write a professional letter that you are mailing. This might be your only chance to make an impression on this editor. Keep it professional by including the magazine’s name, address, an attention to line and the date of the letter. If the magazine isn’t open to e-queries, then it’s time to address that envelope, stick on that stamp and send that it out into the world of snail mail.

And instead of keeping your fingers crossed, untangle them and get working on your next query. Like so many things in life, queries are a number game and the more you have out in the ‘world’ the better your chances are of landing that assignment.

Guest blogger coming tomorrow

2008-06-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

Ever wanted to learn how to sell nonfiction articles? See your name in magazines? Have your queries been passed over? Can't seem to get your foot in the door?

Stop by for tomorrow's guest blogger, Chris Lorenzen and learn valuable tips to help you get started.

Chris is a Society of Professional Journalists Award Winner and teaches nonfiction writing workshops.

I took one of her writing workshops years and years ago and thanks to her teaching skills sold my first nonfiction article to a market I hadn't been able to break into until I applied what she taught in her workshop.

So stop by and check out what Chris has to say.

Sleeping Readers

2008-06-10T15:37:00.000-07:00

My teenage daughter has what she jokingly calls 'Deb's Commandments' for life and they are:

1.) Dude, don't bore me
2.) Ever

We could apply those same 'commandments' to writing. When writing, don't bore your reader. Ever.

What bores readers? It varies. For me, it's too much detail about one particular item. For example, it's enough to say the rocking chair on the porch is brown. Maybe even toss in that it's weather beaten. But if the chair is not essential to the story and the writer tells all about the history of the chair (brought that sucker all the way from Not-on-the-map, Tennessee), describes who sat in the chair over the decades and how that great, great, great grandpa loved to rock in that chair but grandma hated it...arrrrggggghhhhh..too much information.

Too much detail slows a story down. Too little detail and the reader doesn't get a clear picture of the setting. The answer?

Lay the foundation of the setting to give the reader what they need to know to get a vivid picture but don't build the entire house in one scene.

Why Do You Write?

2008-06-08T18:54:00.000-07:00

People write for many reasons. To impart information, because they're told to for an assignment or for the pleasure of creating new worlds where none existed before. What's the reason you write?