A Tangled Mess

When I was young, I tried my hand at some of the crafts, a little knitting, some sewing every now and again. I never got proficient at any of it, but one thing I remember well is the tangled messes I managed to make. A ball of yarn would become hopelessly twisted or I would end up with knots in my thread when I attempted something so simple as sewing on a button.

It's been a long time since I've tried to accomplish anything with needle, thread, or yarn. However, when I look at the files I have accumulated for my work in progress, I am engulfed in that same hopeless feeling. I have everything from the original ideas to critiques of the original ideas, to rewrites and critiques of the rewrites. Then there are files marked "final", which is supposed to mean done, complete, and finished with no need for further editing, but I know that's not true.

Add to that the fact that I have a desktop and a laptop networked together, so I have duplicates of just about everything. Yet, sometimes I create a new file on my laptop and then can't remember if I duplicated it to the desktop. When I actually get brave enough to delete a file because I'm sure I have it somewhere else, it costs me an expedition through a dozen different directories to find the file that I'm sure contains some phrase that is absolutely essential to the entire story.

I've renamed the novel three times and also written parts of it during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). There is a term in medicine that keeps coming to mind. It is called anastomosis and it basically means the joining of blood vessels or parts of the intestine. That's what this story needs, a joining together of all these little parts to the main manuscript.

I know the best way to solve this problem is to go through every single file, chapter by chapter, scene by scene, word by word and put everything in some kind of order. The "split screen" feature is nice on my computer, but I still find myself getting confused, trying to recall which directory I pulled the file from, which one was the "good" copy and which needed edits.

Was it any easier back in the day before we had computers? I can remember the stacks and stacks of paper that came out of a typewriter. I think the problem with modern technology, for me, anyway, is that I start working on a file and have to quit in the middle, so I give it some name I am sure I will remember. When I get back to it a few days later, I have no earthly idea what I named it or where I saved it. The "search" feature is nice, but unless I remember some unique word within the file, I get ten dozen files that have nothing to do with the one I am looking for.

So, my conclusion in all of this? Maybe I should give up on the novel and take up sewing again. Uh, don't think so!

Just did a search for chapter one - came up with fifteen of them. Hmmm. Better get to work!

Thanks for reading my blog.

Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference

This post will probably not affect most of my readers, but if even one person sees this and signs up or passes the info to someone who does, it will be well worth it! So, if you know of anyone who might even be remotely interested, please feel free to pass the information on.

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Monday, July 19, 2010

Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference Will Addresse 'Critical Issues'

By Becca Anderson
Special to ASSIST News Service

LANSDALE/LANGHORNE, PA (ANS) -- From August 11-14, 2010, hundreds of writers will gather at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference at Philadelphia Biblical University, Langhorne, PA, where many of the most important sessions of the conference will be open to the public free of charge.

Marlene Bagnull

"We live in a time when we need to be both encouraged and challenged," says author and conference director, Marlene Bagnull. "The sessions, which are open to the public, will address issues of social justice, reaching out to impact the world for the better, and encouraging reports of things going on from urban America to the Middle East and beyond."

Each day of the conference there will be general sessions.

Here is a rundown:

* Thursday, August 12, Dr. John M. Perkins will deliver the keynote address at 8:30 a.m. entitled "Love is the Final Fight." Perkins is a lifelong civil rights activist, with over fifty years of hands-on experience in working toward reconciliation and community development based on the message of the Gospel. His extensive foundation has impacted lives from the Deep South to California. His message is one of hope designed to stimulate listeners to take personal action.

Dr. John M. Perkins

* At 7:30 p.m. that evening, Dr. Perkins will also take part in a panel on Justice, Compassion and Advocacy with Steven Lawson, Senior Editor at Regal Publishing Group, Geraldine Ryerson-Cruz of World Vision and others. The panel will discuss how we balance passion and objectivity and yet effectively communicate our concerns and suggested solutions. Perkins, Lawson and Ryerson-Cruz are also teaching a 6 1/2-hour continuing session about Justice, Compassion and Advocacy writing that is one of eight continuing sessions open to conferees.

The GPCWC has been known for 27 years for the multicultural and diverse emphasis it brings to encouraging writers throughout the nation. Those who register for the conference have an intensive education packed into a few days. In addition to general sessions and the eight continuing sessions, attendees will select from among 56 workshops on topics ranging from marketing to technique, getting published, issues inherent in the writer's life, and writing fiction and nonfiction books and articles for adults and children.

Face-to-face meetings between writers and those who are in the market for what they produce are invaluable in opening publication doors. GPCWC emphasizes such meetings, with each full-conference attendee having four 15-minute appointments to pitch their work to editors, agents and publisher representatives. Many published writers trace their first big sale back to a meeting at a conference. A roster of 70 faculty members will share their hard-won wisdom.

Other free sessions include:

* Wednesday, August 11, 7:30 p.m. - A concert with Becky Spencer, winner of the KCCM 7th Annual Inspirational Artist of the Year award.

* Friday, August 13, 8:30 a.m. - Rusty Wright of The Amy Foundation, speaking on sensitively communicating Biblical truth. The Amy Foundation is best known for its Amy Writing Awards, one of the most popular journalism contests in the nation that awards $34,000 in prizes annually to authors who present biblical truth reinforced with Scripture in secular, non-religious publications.

* Friday, August 13, 7:30 p.m. - Jeanette Windle, best-selling author of novels that take place in some of the planet's blackest corners, speaking on Writing to Touch the World. Windle grew up in the rural villages, jungles and mountains of Columbia as the child of missionary parents. She has lived in six countries and traveled in nearly thirty.

* Saturday, August 14, 8:30 a.m. - David LeCompte shares a stirring and sometimes controversial message entitled "God at Work in the Land of Islam." From Chechnya, Russia, to Tehran, Iran, David's passion is to go where few others go. He and his family have served with Gospel for Asia, Eastern European Outreach and for nine years they were the directors of In His Fields. He now serves with Mission International assisting believers in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

* Saturday, August 15, 4:15 p.m. - Prolific, award-winning author Jim Watkins shares the states most authors and speakers pass through on their way to becoming effective communicators in "Confessions of an Author and Speaker."

Full details regarding the conference are available on the website, including information on costs, housing, biographies of all faculty members and their current editorial needs, and descriptions of all sessions. A brochure can be printed from the website, or call 484-991-8581.

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Becca Anderson is a freelance writer living in East Texas and has been published nationally and internationally on a variety of topics. She can be reached via her website.

ACFW announces 2010 ACFW Carol Awards

ACFW has just announced the finalists for the 2010 ACFW Carol Awards (formerly Book of the Year). These awards recognize excellence in Christian fiction in a variety of categories, and represent fiction titles released in 2009.

Here are this year’s finalists:

Debut Author

Bonnie Grove - Talking to the Dead (David C. Cook Publishing)
Liz Johnson - The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn (Steeple Hill)
Kirk Outerbridge - Eternity Falls (Marcher Lord Press)
Jill Eileen Smith - Michal (Revell)
Dan Walsh - The Unfinished Gift (Revell)

Contemporary Novella

6 Finalists due to a tie

Barbara Cameron – One Child (Thomas Nelson)
Barbara Cameron – When Winter Comes (Thomas Nelson)
Debra Clopton – A Mule Hollow Match (Steeple Hill)
Susan May Warren – The Great Christmas Bowl (Tyndale House)
Beth Wiseman – A Change of Heart (Thomas Nelson)
Beth Wiseman – A Choice to Forgive (Thomas Nelson)

Historical Novella

Victoria Bylin – Home Again (Steeple Hill)
Vickie McDonough – A Breed Apart (Barbour Publishing)
Vickie McDonough – Beloved Enemy (Barbour Publishing)
Janet Tronstad - Christmas Bells for Dry Creek (Steeple Hill)
Carrie Turansky - A Shelter in the Storm (Barbour Publishing)

Long Contemporary

6 Finalists due to a tie

Christina Berry - The Familiar Stranger (Moody Publishers)
Mary Ellis - A Widow's Hope (Harvest House Publishers)
Joyce Magnin - The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow (Abingdon Press)
Susan Meissner - White Picket Fences (Waterbrook Press)
Marlo Schalesky- If Tomorrow Never Comes (Multnomah)
Susan May Warren - Nothing But Trouble (Tyndale House)

Long Contemporary Romance

Candace Calvert - Critical Care (Tyndale House)
Denise Hunter - Seaside Letters (Thomas Nelson)
Jenny B. Jones - Just Between You and Me (Thomas Nelson)
Beth Wiseman - Plain Promise (Thomas Nelson)
Cindy Woodmsall - The Hope of Refuge (Waterbrook Press)


Mystery

A.K. Arenz - The Case of the Mystified M.D. (Sheaf House)
Mindy Starns Clark - Under the Cajun Moon (Harvest House Publishers)
Darlene Franklin - A String of Murders (Heartsong Mysteries)
S. Dionne Moore - Polly Dent Loses Grip (Heartsong Mysteries)
Janice Thompson writing as Janice Hanna - Pushing up Daisies (Heartsong Mysteries)

Long Historical

Deeanne Gist - A Bride in the Bargain (Bethany House)
Robin Lee Hatcher - Fit To Be Tied (Zondervan)
Maureen Lang - Look to the East (Tyndale House)
Siri Mitchell - Love's Pursuit (Bethany House)
Allison Pittman - Stealing Home (Multnomah)

Long Historical Romance

8 Finalists due to a tie

Amanda Cabot - Paper Roses (Revell)
Mary Connealy - Cowboy Christmas (Barbour Publishing)
Mary Connealy - Montana Rose (Barbour Publishing)
Laura Frantz - The Frontiersman's Daughter (Revell)
Ann Gabhart - The Believer (Revell)
Julie Lessman - A Passion Denied (Revell)
Janice Thompson writing as Janice Hanna - Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas (Summerside Press)
Kathleen Y’Barbo - The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper (Waterbrook Press)

Short Contemporary

Debra Clopton - His Cowgirl Bride (Steeple Hill)
Myra Johnson - Autumn Rains (Heartsong Presents)
Vickie McDonough - A Wagonload of Trouble (Heartsong Presents)
Mae Nunn - A Texas Ranger's Family (Steeple Hill)
Glynna Sirpless writing as Glynna Kaye - Dreaming of Home (Steeple Hill)

Short Contemporary Suspense

6 Finalists due to a tie

Jill Elizabeth Nelson - Evidence of Murder (Steeple Hill)
Sandra Robbins - Final Warning (Steeple Hill)
Virginia Smith - Murder at Eagle Summit (Steeple Hill)
Virginia Smith - Scent of Murder (Steeple Hill)
Jenness Walker - Double Take (Steeple Hill)
Lenora Worth - Code of Honor (Steeple Hill)

Short Historical

Lyn Cote - Her Patchwork Family (Steeple Hill)
Laurie Alice Eakes - The Glassblower (Heartsong Presents)
Laurie Kingery - The Outlaw's Lady (Steeple Hill)
Lynette Sowell - All That Glitters (Heartsong Presents)
Dan Walsh - The Unfinished Gift (Revell)

Speculative (includes Science Fiction, Fantasy, Allegory)

6 Finalists due to a tie

Kirk Outerbridge - Eternity Falls (Marcher Lord Press)
Donita K. Paul - The Vanishing Sculptor (Waterbrook Press)
Steve Rzasa - The Word Reclaimed (Marcher Lord Press)
Stuart Vaughn Stockton – Starfire (Marcher Lord Press)
Fred Warren - The Muse (Splashdown Books)
Jill Williamson - By Darkness Hid (Marcher Lord Press)


Suspense/Thriller

Terri Blackstock – Intervention (Zondervan)
Colleen Coble - Lonestar Secrets (Thomas Nelson)
Brandilyn Collins – Exposure (Zondervan)
Harry Kraus - Salty Like Blood (Howard/Simon & Schuster)
DiAnn Mills - Breach of Trust (Tyndale House)


Women’s Fiction

7 Finalists due to a tie

Julie Carobini - Sweet Waters (B&H Publishing)
Kathryn Cushman – Leaving Yesterday (Bethany House)
Sara Evans & Rachel Hauck - Sweet By and By (Thomas Nelson)
Rene Gutteridge & Cheryl McKay - Never the Bride (Waterbrook Press)
Deborah Raney - Yesterday's Embers (Howard/Simon & Schuster)
Deborah Raney - Above All Things (Steeple Hill)
Lisa Wingate - The Summer Kitchen (New American Library/Penguin)


Young Adult

Shelley Adina - Who Made You a Princess? (Hachette FaithWords)
Brandilyn & Amberly Collins - Always Watching (Zondervan)
Jenny B. Jones - I'm So Sure (Thomas Nelson)
Jenny B. Jones - So Not Happening (Thomas Nelson)
Booker T. Mattison - Unsigned Hype (Revell)

The Carol Awards will be presented at ACFW's Conference in Indianapolis, September 17-20. There's still time to register at www.acfw.com/conference.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE FINALISTS!!!!

Error in Your Favor

S


* See comment below

Remember the Community Chest card from Monopoly that says "Bank error in your favor - collect $200"? Would that such a thing could happen to us in real life, huh? The only time I've ever seen a "bank error" is when it turned out to be my own error in bookkeeping. Once, though, I had failed to log a deposit I had made, so the bank statement actually did say I had more money than I thought I did, and they were right!

I am subscribed to a service that I receive on a monthly basis and the charges are always the same. This month, my bill reflected that I owed only a fraction of my monthly charge, less than $5. I knew it was an error, so when I went to pay the bill, I jokingly said, "I only owe you X this month, huh?"

The receptionist looked up my account on the computer and said, "yep, that's right."

"But what about my monthly charge of X?" I asked, a bit surprised.

"Well, let me see here." She proceeded to scroll through the past records of my balances. "Yes, right here, three months ago, you show a credit of X dollars."

"Are you sure that's correct?" I insisted.

She informed me that it was, so I paid the amount my statement said I owed and left.

I am one of these OCD driven people who writes down every penny I spend. I came home and checked my records and nowhere can I find an entry where I paid any extra money to this company.

I am left feeling a bit guilty, especially since I had the check with the full amount due in my purse. Now it is tucked away safely and will be used to pay my bill next month. I do believe I did everything I could to convince the receptionist that something was wrong somewhere.

So, do I chalk this experience up to one of those "bank error in your favor" moments? I certainly didn't want to start an argument and try to convince the employee she doesn't know how to do her job. That would have demonstrated poor behavior on my part and embarrassment for her.

Remember the Bible story told in the gospels of the man who was given five talents and went out and earned five more as opposed to the man who received one talent and buried it for fear of losing it? This billing mistake is definitely a windfall for me during a month where I have found myself a bit short of funds. So, let's hope I have the wisdom to use this unexpected addition to my checking accout to my advantage.

Any of my readers had a similar experience? Let me know your thoughts.

* These illustrations were used by Parker Brothers before they settled on the Rich Uncle theme. Cards shown here are from the collection of Dana Fred Ryman, texasgrape@aol.com.

Thanks for reading my blog.

Learning to be the Clay

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to help with writing a grant for our county nursing service. I have never done grant writing before. Filling out forms is not my favorite type of writing, but I thought the experience would be good for me.

Somewhere in between the time I had agreed to help with the project and the time I needed to turn in the form, though, my mind became muddled with self-doubt. Self-doubt often transcribes itself into resentment. Resentment dredged up a bunch of questions.

Why had I been asked to do this? Didn't the organization have people who were trained in this sort of thing? Wasn't I doing someone else's job? What if all the answers I gave on the form were all wrong and completely off the mark from what the grant-seeking and grant-awarding organization wanted?

When I posed the questions to the lady who had asked for my help, she made me realize one essential thing. I am a writer. Sounds silly, but sometimes I forget that. She reassured me that, yes, I do know how to arrange words on paper in such a way that they make sense to someone else, they communicate an idea, and not everyone can do it. I guess that's the part I find hard to understand.

Nobody likes to fill out forms, but what I forget is that not everybody can fill out forms! So, by putting aside my other writing projects and dedicating a couple of hours to this project, I donated In Kind hours. Isn't that something we all strive to do, give our time and talent to our neighbors and our community whenever possible?

I learned a lesson that day. I came to realize that I do have a gift that I can give and that I should share it freely whenever I can. I may never write that great American novel and my name may never appear at the top of an article that appears in a national magazine. My ability may be limited to filling out forms and penning words of comfort to friends in time of need on a greeting card, but God engineers who will see those words and who they will touch.

That thought brings to mind a Bible verse from Romans 9:21. "Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?"

It's time I accept the fact that I am clay in God's hands. It's called obedience. He knows the projects that will benefit from my writing skill and the projects that won't. He has my path all laid out, and even though I can't see all the bends in the road, He can. Whether that trail leads me to a mansion or a shack, it doesn't matter. What matters is that, if I obey, He will be there, waiting with the words we all long to hear. "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. " Who knows what "many things" lie in store. He does!

I don't know if the AMA will look favorably on our Annual Wellness Walk, a small community project in a rural, economically deprived corner of the western United States. If it does, I'll be glad for any monies they award.

Glad and humbly grateful for the opportunity to have taken part in the process.

Thanks for reading my blog.

Happy Fourth of July

Tomorrow is a special day in the history of America. It is the day that represents the independence of our country from British rule. A question was posed as part of a contest on a web site a few days ago, asking which political side we would have been on, had we lived during the period of the Revolutionary War. Would our loyalty have been to the king or to those who felt we deserved freedom from British law?

I struggled with that question because I am not a particularly political person. I don't follow all of the issues the way I probably should and don't follow the voting records of our political leaders. I know my political views are considered conservative. Yet, to become involved in a political discussion serves to frustrate me and doesn't hold my interest for long. I doubt I would ever change anyone's mind with what I have to say anyway.

The Fourth of July reminds me of all our forefathers and their families endured to bring about our independence. The choices they made, the values they stood for, the courage they demonstrated, affects the lives of all of us who live in this country today.

The Continental Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence on July 4.
The second president of our country, John Adams, wrote the following to his wife: "I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival... it ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other..."

Over 230 years later, we continue to celebrate this holiday in the manner predicted by John Adams. Today parades, picnics, fireworks and fun mark the day. As we celebrate throughout the week-end, whether with hamburgers and hot dogs or fried chicken and ribs, volleyball games or baseball games, sparklers or fireworks, let's remember why we celebrate.

Take a moment to remember our past and pray for the future of this great nation.

Happy Fourth of July!