Books We Love: Enchanted Holiday Contest

 

I’ve mentioned Books We Love before — it’s a great place to “meet” new authors and find great books to read.

The Enchanted Holiday Contest runs through the end of the year. Every signature in the guestbook of a Books We Love author counts as one entry in the contest. You could win a fabulous holiday gift basket … or books!

In the process of visiting the author pages to sign the guestbooks, you might find a new author you want to try and plenty of exciting books to add to your “to-be-read” pile.

Enjoy an Enchanted Holiday at Books We Love!

Sites for readers

My Web site not only offers links to resources for writers and to reference sites, it also includes a page of resources for readers.

You’ll find links to book reviews and interviews, authors’ Web pages and directories, communities for readers and writers, magazines for readers, online stories, and sites for fans of the romance and mystery genres.

The pages on e-books and e-book authors includes links to e-book sellers and directories, e-authors, information about e-books and e-publishing, and even links to hundreds (maybe thousands) of free e-books. Many of the free (public domain) books are the great classics, but you’ll also find free samples of the work of contemporary authors.

If you’re a reader, you’ll find lots to enjoy by following the links on my pages for readers. Please share your favorite sites for readers by posting a comment below.

Reference resources for writers and readers

As a follow-up to my post about resources for writers, I thought I would share reference sites that are excellent resources for both writers and readers.

On the Reference Resources page, you will find links to dictionaries and other reference books, libraries, search engines to find people and companies, grammar and style guides, quotations and sayings, and a free report on how to do research.

The listing includes sites to help you whether you’re looking for homework help for your child, the answer to a grammar question for a report at work, the phone number for a person or company in another state, or the source of a favorite quotation. 

If you’re a writer, you’ll recognize the value of these reference resources that can help you research and write your book, article … or whatever you’re writing.

Freelance writing job sites

As I mentioned in the last post, I recently answered a writer’s question about finding writing jobs.

I thought you might like to see the list of sites I sent her.

Here are some places to look for writing jobs and freelance projects:
http://www.writersmarkets.com/
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/wri/ (You can also search other cities for telecommute opportunities)
http://www.geteditingjobs.com/
http://www.writejobs.com/
http://www.poewar.com/
http://www.bookcatcher.com/marketplace.php
http://www.quintcareers.com/writing/writing_jobs.html (This includes links to a number of other writing job sites)

Note this list does not include any of the freelance market sites that require a membership fee and/or solicit bids from freelancers for posted projects. I have not had success with these sites - too often the individuals and companies seeking freelancers look only at the cost without considering the experience of the bidder. And there are plenty of writers who will work for very low rates.

My goals are to keep my fees affordable for the client, to deliver more than is expected, and to make my living as a freelancer. I haven’t had to search for work for several years. My clients come to me from referrals, search engines, and trade exchanges.

Currently, I’m working with five authors on book projects, creating all the content for a gift shop’s e-commerce site, and editing an academic paper as well as ongoing work with my regular business clients. I have two people who have contacted me about editing books when my workload permits.

But when I began my freelance career, I had a lot more time and a lot less work. In the early stages of a career, using sites such as those listed above can help a freelancer build a portfolio.

Resources for writers

A writer friend e-mailed me recently and asked for advice on finding a part-time telecommuting writing job.

As I prepared my answer, I checked the Resources for Writers page on my Web site to make recommendations. In the process, I checked all the links … and of course found some dead links. Sites - even good ones - don’t always last on the Internet. In addition to deleting sites that no longer exist, I added several more resource sites for writers that I’ve discovered since the last update to the page.

Now there are links to nearly 40 resource sites for writers.  These sites are handpicked because I have found something of value on each site. That doesn’t mean I agree with everything posted there or that I am endorsing the entire site. It doesn’t mean that the particular site will offer anything of value to you - but it does mean that it could be worth your while to check out every site to see what you find that is helpful to you.

If you have a favorite resource for writers that isn’t included, post a comment below and tell me about it. I’ll be glad to add more sites that are valuable to writers. 

Rules or artistic license?

I’ve been following a discussion on a writers e-mail list. Must writers follow all the rules of grammar, spelling, and punctuation or do the rules stifle the writer’s creativity?

Some writers consider themselves artists who can’t be restricted by rules, while others consider themselves craftsmen bound by conventions.

I fall in the middle - as noted in a previous post, a publisher has called me ”the pickiest person she knows.” As an editor, I have to know and follow grammar rules or I wouldn’t have any customers. On the other hand, my writing style is informal and simple, and I usually don’t worry about all the rules that may be used in formal writing. For example, I don’t mind ending a sentence with preposition. Often it sounds more natural and understandable to do so. 

In my view, there are several critical elements to good writing:

* The reader must understand it. Using the right word is essential. Using it’s when you mean its or using their or they’re when you mean there can confuse your meaning. Punctuation to show when sentences start and end is critical. Writers must follow some rules to ensure that their readers know what the writer is saying.

* The writing must be consistent. Some style guides call for serial commas (the comma before “and” in a series of three or more: bell, book, and candle). Other style guides say to leave out the last comma if the meaning is clear (bell, book and candle). If you’re writing an academic paper or a newspaper article, you need to follow the appropriate style guide. But if you’re writing a blog entry or an article for your Web site, you can take your choice of using or not serial commas. But whichever you choose, do it throughout the document. Writing “bell, book, and candle” in the first paragraph and “boys, girls and parents” in the second paragraph won’t work.

* The style of the writing must be appropriate to the subject and the situation. I’ve been editing an academic paper for a doctoral student - that paper is more formal and uses more “big” words than I use in my blog posts. An academic paper should demonstrate that the student has the vocabulary and the formal writing skill appropriate to the level of education. Depending on the purpose of the blog, posts should generally convey the message in a way that is easy and enjoyable for the reader.

* Dialogue should reflect the education and personality of the character speaking. An uneducated laborer shouldn’t sound like a college professor. But even if dialogue contains improper grammar, it should be punctuated correctly so it is easy for the reader to understand what is being said. And if a character speaks in a dialect, just enough of the dialectal spelling should be used to convey the impression without making it difficult for the reader to decipher what the character is saying.

Understanding the rules and knowing when you can break them is one of the hallmarks of a good writer.

Of course, since even good writers (and editors) are human, sometimes we all break the rules without intending to. Most editors say we can find everyone’s errors but our own. So if you see me breaking the rules … maybe I did it on purpose, and maybe I just goofed!

[tags]writing, grammar[/tags]

Falling behind … and feeling thankful

Usually I’m very disciplined in my work and always meet deadlines. But the last few weeks I’ve fallen behind on projects that don’t have firm deadlines because “life got in the way.”

My husband Jack has had health problems, and taking care of him has been a higher priority than work. I’ve managed to meet all deadlines but have postponed projects that could be delayed. My clients have been willing to give me extra time, and I appreciate their support, concern, and prayers.

The good news is Jack feels dramatically better after two heart procedures to stabilize an erratic heartbeat: cardioversion (for the fast heartbeat) and implantation of a pacemaker (for the times his heart stops beating for several seconds).

I’m so thankful that God used medical professionals and medical equipment to treat Jack. The immediate improvement from these procedures is truly a miracle!

We are so blessed that my schedule is flexible, that my clients are supportive, that Jack had excellent medical care, and that we had the prayers of family, friends, and parish - All Saints Anglican Church.

Another Great Organization for Our Troops

I’m editing a manuscript on using Biblical principles to overcome the everyday problems of life. It’s an excellent guide to dealing with challenges from a Biblical perspective.

My friend Fr. Jerry Sherbourne introduced me to the author, Ben Ferguson. Fr. Jerry had met Ben, who is known as “the pastor to our pastors in camo,” through Adopt-a-Chaplain (AAC). I was not familiar with the organization but decided to find out more after hearing Fr. Jerry’s enthusiasm and appreciation for AAC.

Adopt-a-Chaplain was started as a grass-roots ministry by a small group of Christian men who meet regularly for breakfast and prayer. After a contact with a chaplain going through personal struggles, the men realized that the chaplains who minister to our troops need support as well. The chaplains have a huge responsibility to minister to the men and women in the military. That ministry includes not only preaching and praying - it often involves counseling and tangible demonstrations of support.

I remember Fr. Jerry mentioning when he was deployed in Iraq he and his chaplain assistant passed out hard candy among the troops as a simple encouragement and symbol of caring. The AAC goodie boxes provide tangible items chaplains can share with the soldiers for care, comfort, and “a taste of home.” Sometimes chaplains deliver humanitarian items to the people where they are deployed; AAC helps here as well.

Ben shared that Adopt-a-Chaplain ministers to chaplains on three levels based on Scripture:

Physical safety: Our chaplains are serving in a combat zone surrounded by people who want to kill them and their troops. 2 Kings 6:17; Psalm 34:7; Psalms 91:1-4

Emotional stress: The stress level of being in a combat zone is high. Psalm 34:4
The stress of caring for the spiritual needs of his troops brings weariness.  Isaiah 40:28-31
AAC prays for preparation of sermons and worship services.

Ministry tools: Prayer support is central to seeking God’s will and receiving His blessing. I Peter 3:12

The care packages are visual aids of the Love of Christ.  Chaplains have items available after chapel services and Bible study. This encourages the soldiers to hang around, providing opportunities for personal ministry and counseling.
Matt. 10:42

One chaplain said,
“The goods you provide are more than a cup of cold water; they are the presence of Christ as seen through works of mercy.”

The group also maintains contact with chaplains’ families at home. We sometimes forget - or perhaps never even realize - what a stress deployment is on families. Every family with loved ones deployed away from home, espeically in harm’s way, faces challenges. But when the loved one is a chaplain with the responsibility to focus on his troops, it must be even more difficult for the family. Adopt-a-Chaplain’s family support blesses the families and the chaplains alike.

Not only does AAC offer people the opportunity to help the troops with “goodie” boxes, but it offers something other troop support organizations don’t: opportunities to pray for the chaplains and their troops. Chaplains can post prayer requests on the blog, and site visitors can pray for these requests in their personal prayer time and even post an e-prayer in the comments.

The goodies Adopt-a-Chaplain sends to the troops through the chaplains bless the troops physically and emotionally - the prayers bless the troops spiritually as well. Those who risk their lives for our freedom and the chaplains who minister to them deserve our prayer - and other - support.

[tags]Adopt-a-Chaplain, Christian, troop support[/tags]