I’m so excited to introduce my dear, dear friend, Dee Yoder, the winner of the 2011 Page Turner Contest. Read on to find out about her excitement about this win, what an amazing year 2011 was for her in the writing front, and her wonderful family.

JOANNE: When do you first remember developing a passion/love for writing?

DEE: As most writers will say, I was a child when I wrote my first “book.” I also drew many pictures to go along with my books. People seemed to be full of stories, simply by living their lives. The emotions from scenes and settings easily stuck in my mind. I had a habit, too, of putting animal characteristics to people. It was simple for me to see a duck, for instance, in someone’s unusual waddle. I had names for people: The Storks, The Turtles and so on. Yes. I was a weird kid.

JOANNE: Congratulations on your Page Turner win. Tell us about your reaction when you found out you’d taken first place.

DEE: I’d been awake all night; not able to sleep. Just before I turned my laptop off at 6 AM, I checked my emails and saw something from a friend. A congratulations for winning the Page Turner contest! I was dumb-founded! I actually thought it was a mistake and went to the Page Turner web page several times to read it carefully. As it finally sank in, I could hardly believe it. The bad thing was, I was SO groggy from lack of sleep, it became progressively painful to stay awake long enough to acknowledge my sweet friends’ good wishes. Oh my! I learned my lesson. No more all nighters when something important is scheduled the next day. But I was so sure I would not even come close to winning, I wasn’t even thinking about it. The competition was filled with fabulous writers…it was simply not on my radar to believe my manuscript could be chosen. Continue Reading…

PUTTING OUR BABIES ON A DIET:

or How To Cut The Fat Out Of Your WIP (Part 2 of 2)

By Gina Conroy

(CLICK HERE FOR PART 1)

Resist the Urge to Explain (RUE)

In an effort to make my character’s motivations clear, I often tried to explain them through internal dialogue, external dialogue or both. Then I started asking myself “Does the reader need to know this now?” If the answer was no, I cut it and looked for a shorter way to weave in the motivation later. I learned, most times it was unnecessary. I had packed the scene enough that I believe the reader understood without me telling them.

Pick Your Adverbs, Adjectives, and Conjunctions Carefully

Most times, if your writing is strong, you don’t need many adverbs and adjectives. Sometimes you do. I noticed my adjectives would sometimes come in pairs. That’s when I chose one over the other. When it comes to starting a sentence, I seem to favor AND and BUT. I’m not sure why, but now that I know, I can go back and keep the conjunctions that add to the story. And I’m not talking word count.

Continue Reading…

PLEASE READ:

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Those of you who are challenge devotees probably noticed that we had a no-challenge week this past week that we weren’t expecting. But never fear, the Writing Challenge will be back tomorrow with a new topic.

A lot of people were struggling with the computer-related topics, and because of this, that theme has been cut short. Starting tomorrow, the challenge will be back (with non-tech topics), but with a WEEKLY format, as it used to be, rather than a two-week opportunity. We will still continue with the buddy groups, which have been very helpful in helping folks improve their skills.

For clarity, in the words of FaithWriters’ extraordinary Deb Porter:

I cut this theme [computer-related] short because it did seem to scare a lot of people off (although this is always the worst time of year for the Challenge). It really surprised me just how much people were put off by the topics because they were all things that everyone on-line has some connection with. For example, the social media challenge could have been about the fellowship found in the forums. But it was very obvious people were nervous about the topics, and so I decided to scrap it. Although we want the Challenge to be a challenge, there’s no point flogging a dead horse.

…After talking to Scott [Lindsay - the guy behind FaithWriters], we’ve decided to reverse things back to the old weekly format for the Challenge, for a couple of reasons. However, I probably will only run it for nine weeks at a time, instead of ten. Everyone has to be able to catch their breath now and then.

We will DEFINITELY still be encouraging Buddy Groups as these are highly valuable for helping members develop their skills, but it will mean a much shorter time frame to work with.

And we will stick with Brick Throwing time rather than hinting, but that will start as soon as judging is finished.

Click here to comment on last week’s Challenge entries.

Check here for the new topic (coming tomorrow!)

Stop by the boards to talk about the challenge.

Buddy groups forum is here.

Brick throwing is here.

You need to be a Gold or Platinum member to enter the Writing Challenge. Click here to upgrade from Silver membership.

PUTTING OUR BABIES ON A DIET:

or How To Cut The Fat Out Of Your WIP (Part 1 of 2)

By Gina Conroy

When I contracted my novella and had to cut 36,000 words off my WIP, I knew it was going to be hard. In fact, I almost bailed on submitting the anthology because I knew that would mean cutting more than half of my story. The pain of deleting my brilliant prose aside, I knew it would be difficult to edit this mystery whose characters and clues were tightly woven together.

But I signed that contract, took a deep breath, and said a prayer. I could do this!

The first 10,000 words went easily when I realized there were a lot of unnecessary words I could cut. Then I started messing with my characters’ voices and that hurt. So I moved on to the boring, not so important scenes. Found a few of those. Cut out a couple of fun, but unnecessary characters and started the whole process again.

This went on for months until I was down to the last 8,000 words. I wrote to my agent telling him I was having a hard time swallowing this elephant. I couldn’t see how I could cut the last 8,000 words. He very wisely told me that when the ark is sinking, I should throw the elephant out first. In other words, find big chunks I could cut.

Continue Reading…

I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time believing that 2011 is nearly over. In just two years, it will be 2012, the start of a new year.

People approach the new year differently. Some make New Year’s resolutions, while others “soften it” a bit by making goals, or even dreams. I know some who choose one word to be their focus, while others choose a verse, a quote, or a picture. Some make their own mishmash of one or more of these, and others ignore January 1 as a time to plan ahead.

I, for one, like to set goals. It helps keep me motivated throughout the year. If you are planning to do so, experts say it is best to set goals that are:

SPECIFIC (volunteer in the nursery rather than help at church more, for instance)

MEASUREABLE (submit one article a week to magazines rather than write more)

ACHIEVABLE and REALISTIC (not too hard, not too easy – not impossible)

TIME-BOUND (give yourself a specific time to reach the goals – by a certain date, for instance)

However you do it – or whether you do at all – of course, submit your ideas to God. Let Him lead your new year, and He will certainly help keep you on the right track – the track He wants you on.

Are you setting goals, resolutions, etc. for 2012 related to writing? Why or why not?

It’s time to give a cheer for these awesome FaithWriters’ members and their writing accomplishments!

DAVE WALKER has just published God In The ICU. It is about his experiences, as an anaesthetist who prayed for his patients, in seeing God respond to prayer: Medical drama, personal drama and, chiefly, honoring our awesome God. WONDERFUL!

DAVID BUTLER’s historical novel The Poor Preachers (Penname Arthur D. Bardswell) has been published. It centers around reformer John Wycliffe’s time in 14th Century England. He began a radical reformation movement known as Lollards. The story is about their adventures as they preached the gospel throughout England. CONGRATULATIONS!!

MICHAEL JOHNSON has published his first book:  The College Field Manual: A Young Adult’s Guide to Faith, Finances, and Education. It’s available on Amazon. MARVELOUS!

MARGARET McKINNEY’s first book, Fetching Jonas Blake,  will be available on Amazon on January 3. SO EXCITING!

JULIE ARDUINI’s story, Dollar Store Statue, came in first place in the JournEzine 6th Annual Christmas Story Contest. WOW!

DEBBIE ROOME’s story, Footprints in the Snow, came in second place in the JournEzine 6th Annual Christmas Story Contest. Her stories Miss Edna Jamieson and The Christmas Billboard were also honorable mentions. SUPER!

ALLISON EGLEY’s story, Tiny Hands, was a third place winner in the JournEzine 6th Annual Christmas Story Contest. EXCELLENT!

Four other FaithWriters’ stories received honorable mention in the JournEzine contest. Congratulations to KELVIN FOWLER’s story The Man at the Well, DIANNE JANNAK’s story The Idea That Kept On Givin’, CATRINA BRADLEY’s story The Embodiment of a Miracle, and GlLYNNIS BECKER’s story The Missing Peace. GREAT JOB!

DEE YODER signed a three-book deal with Kregel Publishing for her Amish novel and two sequels. SOOO EXCITING!!

I so love hearing about your accomplishments. Would LOVE for you to share them with me so I can post them here. Either drop me an email at joannesher@faithwriters.net, or post it in the cheering section on the FaithWriters boards – otherwise, I may not find out!

Praying your Christmas was wonderful and CHRIST-filled. Now a bit of food for thought

Intimate Details
By Sydney Avey

Corruption, depravity, desperation, sex, medical emergency: Is this not the stuff of great stories? Intimacy is the common element that creates a heartwarming or chilling tale.

Today I am pondering the connections between two writers’ explanations of what inspires readers.

Roger Rosenblatt concludes in Unless it Moves the Human Heart: “The heart that you must move is corrupt, depraved and desperate for your love.”

In The Daily Writer, Fred White maintains: “Human intimacy lies at the heart of human nature.” He gives as examples of intimacy medical, sexual and spiritual experiences.

This tells me why so many of the stories that move us involve crime, life threatening medical conditions and romance.

My 1970s edition of The American Heritage Dictionary omits spiritual experiences in its list of intimacies, but in the 1930s edition of the Dictionary of the English Language (Oxford University) editor Henry Cecil Wyld defines intimacy as something that is knit together in close physical or spiritual relationship.

Intimacy is expressed in details that are private and personal. Our favorite detective stories, murder mysteries and medical dramas are loaded with intimate details. Examples: The murderer who strong arms a victim and plunges a knife into a vital organ; the doctor who dives his hand into a patient’s chest cavity. We get involved with the intimate details of the crime or the surgery.

Stories about love, sex and revenge penetrate the essence of our human nature. They reveal intimate knowledge. Example: The shamed child who grew up with malice in her heart and enough familiarity with her antagonist to know exactly how to hurt him.

Some of the most inspiring stories are found in the Bible, the best selling, least-read book of all time. Stories like Samson and Delilah and Abraham and Isaac knit together the physical and the spiritual and draw connections between desperation and love. We are moved by these stories.

Perhaps God is the greatest storyteller of all time and we are His story.

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Sydney Avey writes and blogs in the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Her novel “The Sheepwalker: was highly commended in the 2011 FaithWriters PageTurner Contest.

sydneyavey.com

blog.sydneyavey.com

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITER-MAKE A WEBSITE

And…we’re all getting ready. Right? Remember, in all the hustle and bustle, the TRUE reason for the season.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:4-14 KJV

And if, despite the season, you STILL need to handle the writing bug? We’re still here. Put something in Free Reprints or General Submissions. Enter the challenge (topic is Hacker or Virus). Or stop by the boards!

Praying you and yours have a merry, Christ-filled Christmas!

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS: A WRITER’S WISH LIST

By Dorothy Love

The Christmas catalogs are arriving at my house in a flurry. The other day I noticed a page in one of them devoted to writers. The gift suggestions included an oversized coffee mug, a gift card to an office supply store, a box of chocolates, a tee shirt with the message: Ask Me About My Novel. Here’s what I think most writers, myself included, would love to find in those stockings this year:

The Gift of Time. Many writers must  fit writing time around the demands of another job. Most women writers I know must also take care of grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning,  laundry, childcare, bill paying, toilet scrubbing, dealing with sick kids and sick dogs…..it never stops. Wouldn’t it be nice if a spouse, friend, or older child took over even one of those chores on a regular basis? Even an hour a week adds up to 52 extra hours of writing time  in a year.

The Gift of Encouragement. Some writers are lucky enough to be surrounded by spouses, friends, and children who do support their writing. Others, not so much. Even one person who “gets” you, who rejoices when you succeed and comforts you when you fail can make a big difference.Is there someone you can seek out who will be an encourager for you?

The Gift of Expertise. I’m lucky that my husband understands computers. I rely upon him to trouble shoot, install and update software and keep all my electronics in good working order. What I’d love now is someone who could manage my reader database, make trips to UPS, keep my website current, and help with email. A gift of office expertise would be welcome at my house this year.

What about you? Are you getting the time, encouragement and expertise you need to realize your writing goals? What’s on your wish list this year?

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Before moving to the inspirational market with her Hickory Ridge series of historical romances for adult readers, Dorothy Love published more than a dozen novels for preteens and young adults at major New York houses including Random House and Simon and Schuster. Beyond All Measure, her first Hickory Ridge title from Thomas Nelson debuted in June, 2011 to starred reviews from Library Journal and Romantic Times. Dorothy shares a home in the Texas hill country with her husband and two golden retrievers. She loves chatting with readers through her website: www.DorothyLoveBooks.com or her author page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/dorothylovebooks