NaNoWriMo: Overcoming First Draft Paralysis
October 28, 2011 by Lillie
November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). According to the website:
National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing on November 1. The goal is to write a 50,000 word, (approximately 175 page) novel by 11:59:59, November 30.
Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.
Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It’s all about quantity, not quality. This approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.
Many writers have first draft paralysis—just the thought of starting terrifies them and paralyzes their ability or willingness to write.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned early in my writing career is that the first draft is supposed to be “pure green dreck.” The only writers I know of who can write a great first draft are published authors who have written dozens of novels over many years. If you haven’t done that, chances are pretty good—in fact, close to 100%—that your first draft is going to be terrible. But until you have that “pure green dreck” as a starting point, you have nothing to polish into a masterpiece.
I’ve never participated in NaNoWriMo, but I’ve always been an advocate of the writing method used: sit down and write … something. Give yourself permission to write badly. Tell yourself it’s okay if you cringe repeatedly when you re-read what you’ve written. Expect to have to revise, rewrite, and edit over and over again.
Do you know someone—maybe even you—who has been working on the first chapter of a novel for months, even years? They—or you—never finish anything because they—or you—want to produce a finished product. The only way they—or you—will ever produce that finished product, though, is to produce an unfinished product first, then finish it later.
Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year? Have you done so in the past? What has been your experience in writing a first draft that is “pure green dreck”?
Book Review: Breaking the Code
October 22, 2011 by Lillie
Breaking the Code: A Father’s Secret, a Daughter’s Journey, and the Question That Changed Everything
Karen Fisher-Alaniz
Sourcebooks
November 1, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-1402261121
Paperback, 336 pages, $10.19; also available in Kindle edition, $9.99
Nonfiction/Memoir
The cover of the book calls it a memoir, but it is much more than that.
It is a story about relationships—the relationship of a father and daughter, the relationships of a man at war and his far-away family, the relationship of two sailors who knew little about each other but who were tied by a bond stronger than time.
The book is also a revealing picture of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a relentless and unpredictable enemy of warriors in conflicts past and present. The disorder may show itself immediately after a traumatic event, or it may stay hidden for fifty years, as it did in the case of Karen’s father, Murray Fisher.
Although not written as history, Breaking the Code puts the reader in World War II from a perspective that most of today’s generation have never experienced.
The story reads like a novel as the author tries to unravel the mystery of her father’s past and the secrets he has kept for half a century.
Breaking the Code is a quick and easy read, but the author’s dedication to helping her father, her father’s service to his country, and her mother’s love and faith will touch readers’ hearts
I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about family and relationships, people interested in World War II history, those wanting to know more about PTSD, and readers who enjoy mysteries.
Be sure to come back on Veterans’ Day for an interview with the author.
Disclosure: I received an electronic copy of the book from the publisher. I have not accepted any compensation for this review and made no commitment to give a favorable review. The links to Amazon.com are affiliate links.
Thanks to September 2011 Commenters
October 21, 2011 by Lillie
Blog Action Day 2011: Let’s Talk about Food
October 16, 2011 by Lillie
This year’s Blog Action Day coincides with World Food Day, so the blogging topic of the day is food.
There are so many things that can be said about food. It is essential to our survival. In the developed world, we eat too much and have serious health problems with obesity (and I’m one of the guilty ones). In developing countries, people die from starvation and malnutrition every day.
Yet even here in the US, the land of plenty, not everyone has enough food. So I’ve decided to talk about one small local project to feed the hungry. My church, All Saints Anglican Church of San Antonio, Texas, operates a Food Pantry.
The church receives donated food from Daily Bread Ministries, a San Antonio Christian food bank that “rescues” food that would otherwise be thrown away by restaurants, markets, caterers, hospital and business cafeterias, and wholesalers. Dedicated volunteers pick up the food and take to Daily Bread’s warehouse, where more volunteers sort and pack the food for distribution to ministries throughout San Antonio. Twice a week, volunteers from All Saints visit the Daily Bread warehouse to pick up food.
Since most of the food received from Daily Bread is perishable, All Saints runs a food drive for a specific staple (such as cereal, peanut butter, and canned goods) on the first Sunday of each month.
Every Saturday morning, All Saints parishioners show up at the Food Pantry to prepare the food for distribution to individuals and families. The Food Pantry is open Saturday afternoon, and food is distributed to anyone who shows up, no questions asked. We don’t always wait for someone to come to us—volunteers have even gone out into the neighborhood to offer food to people in the area. We take seriously Jesus’ words:
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40, NIV)
All Saints offers food for the body with no strings attached, but we also provide food for the soul for those who desire it. Volunteers frequently pray with food recipients, give them Bibles, and even arrange to provide transportation for children to Sunday School. One week a lady asked volunteers to pray with her for a desperately needed job; the next week she returned with a big smile to announce that she had found a job. Recently a man no one knew showed up with a donation of bread. Sometimes children in the families receiving food ask to help distribute food. They enjoy serving others as their families are being served.
William Wimp, who heads All Saints’ outreach program, keeps folks informed about the Food Pantry and other activities on the All Saints Anglican Church Outreach Facebook page. Thanks be to God for the dedication of Bill and Arlene Wimp, Father Chip Harper, and dozens of All Saints volunteers to the hurting and needy as well as for the generous parishioners who donate food. I am unable to participate in food preparation and distribution because of family caregiving responsibilities, so my tiny contribution is simply to tell people about this ministry and encourage their support.
I’m sure today we’ll read many blog posts about organizations and individuals making huge contributions to the problem of hunger in the world. Sometimes we can be overwhelmed by the needs in the world that we think we can’t do anything. Perhaps we can’t individually end famine in Africa, but we can make a donation to help. Maybe we can’t put all the unemployed people back to work, but we can donate a jar of peanut butter or a box of cereal to help one family through the jobless crisis. We can’t end hunger in our city alone, but we can pick up donated food or prepare it for distribution. If each of us does a little, a lot can be accomplished.
As you sit down to a hearty meal or grab a sandwich on the run for lunch, I hope you will think about those who don’t have enough to eat and take some small action to help.
O MERCIFUL God, and heavenly Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men; Look with pity, we beseech thee, upon the sorrows of all in this world who lack food. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy; endue their souls with patience; comfort them with a sense of thy goodness; send relief for their needs; lift up thy countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Adapted from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer)
O LORD, our heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be ministered unto, but to minister; We beseech thee to bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of their fellow men. Endue them with wisdom, patience, and courage to strengthen the weak and raise up those who fall; that, being inspired by thy love, they may worthily minister in thy Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the sake of him who laid down his life for us, the same thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. (1928 Book of Common Prayer)
Should Authors be Salespeople? Guest Post by Joel Friedlander
October 14, 2011 by Lillie
I talk to writers every day who are thinking about publishing their own books. Some have friends who have self-published, so they know it can be done. Or they’ve read the blogs of writers who are doing well in the Kindle store. Or they are just tired of waiting for the agent, the editor, the publisher to get back to them.
Whatever the reason, there’s one objection I hear more than any other from these writers:
“I just want to write, I’m not a salesman.”
And that’s too bad. I think this attitude represents a real misunderstanding on the part of authors. Here’s why.
It’s About Marketing, Not Sales
Think about the difference between marketing and sales.
Marketing means promoting your book to people who are likely to be interested in it. The main activity of marketing is communicating to these likely purchasers.
Sales, on the other hand, is completely different. It’s the process of making transactions, the exchange of money for books, in this example.
You can’t sell a book to someone who’s not interested in it or who doesn’t want to buy it.
Marketing your book, on the other hand, is something similar to what you are probably doing already when you talk about your book to friends, family, or other writers.
You are communicating the passion you have for your subject, your fascination with your characters, your total involvement in the subjects of your writing.
In its simplest form, that’s what marketing is. Going where people who might be interested in your book hang out and communicating with them about the subject of your book.
It’s not asking people to buy your book, and it’s certainly not trying to “sell” them your book.
It’s like when you start blogging. You don’t want to blog about your book, you want to blog about the subject of your book, its themes, lessons, or news, events, or developments that touch on your subject.
Same with marketing your book. If you communicate your feelings for your subject, if you let people know just why you wrote the book and how it can help people, if you show your enthusiasm and expertise in the area, you are doing some pretty powerful book marketing.
And what author doesn’t want to talk about their book or the subject that moved them to write it?
What I suggest to these authors is that they learn to market their books, with everything that implies. If you can do that well enough, and widely enough, and often enough, the sales part of the equation will take care of itself.
So go out and connect with people. Find the places where people are talking about your subject, whatever it is. Participating in those conversations will lead you to interesting places and opportunities to tell even more people about you and what makes you tick. That, in itself, will likely interest people in your books.
Congratulations, you are now a marketer.
Joel Friedlander is the proprietor of Marin Bookworks in San Rafael, California, a publishing services company where he’s helped launch many self-published authors. He blogs about book design, writing and self-publishing at www.TheBookDesigner.com. Joel is also the author of the recently published A Self-Publisher’s Companion: Expert Advice for Authors Who Want to Publish.
Read Lillie’s review of A Self-Publisher’s Companion.
Tempest Milky Way: The Power and Majesty of God
October 12, 2011 by Lillie
This video shows the power and majesty of God’s handiwork. I even see a cross and the face of Jesus, but even if you don’t see that, I think you will be struck by the absolute power and majesty of God’s creation.
Clergy Appreciation Day/Month
October 9, 2011 by Lillie
I am blessed to belong to an orthodox, Spirit-filled church, All Saints Anglican Church in San Antonio. Our priests are Godly men who love the Lord and their parishioners, and their parishioners love them in return. Both are staunch in their beliefs and never hesitate to correct when correction is needed, but correction is always done with love.
During Clergy Appreciation Month, I thank God for Father Chip Harper and Father Ed Morgan.
I hope you appreciate your own clergy and honor them during Clergy Appreciation Month.
Change for a Dollar
October 7, 2011 by Lillie
I pray to serve others in a fraction of the way of the homeless man in the video below.
O LORD, our heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be ministered unto, but to minister; We beseech thee to bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of their fellow men. Endue them with wisdom, patience, and courage to strengthen the weak and raise up those who fall; that, being inspired by thy love, they may worthily minister in thy Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the sake of him who laid down his life for us, the same thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer
Book Review: Crossing the Scriptures by Debra Chapoton
October 5, 2011 by Lillie
Crossing the Scriptures: The Amazing Bible Study by Debra Chapoton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Christians sometimes wonder if there is any value to studying the Old Testament, with its genealogies, strange laws, violence, and vengeance. The author shows how the entire Bible ties together in a beautiful tapestry of God’s truth.
In the Introduction, she writes, “The Old Testament is 39 books that tell of mankind vacillating between worshiping and obeying God and then turning away from Him and being idolatrous and immoral. Man‘s behavior requires judgment. The New Testament is 27 books declaring a message of hope: Christ has taken on our punishment (death) and paid for our sins. If we accept that he has done this, then hooray, we get out of the punishment, but if we don‘t accept it then we‘re on our own and the judgment is eternal separation from God, i.e. hell.”
There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, and each of those letters is associated with three books of the Bible, books that are evenly spaced 22 books apart from each other. Chapoton shows how words and themes connect each of the three books associated with each letter in perfect symmetry. She also points out many other instances of symmetry and inter-relatedness among the books of the Bible.
Although I read the book straight through, I think it would be even more effective as a Bible study, spending more time on each Hebrew letter and the relationships among the three associated books.
Whether you’re new to Bible study or consider yourself knowledgeable about Scripture, you will likely learn many things you didn’t know. You will also come away with a greater understanding and respect for the remarkable way that God structured the Bible.
Disclosure: I received an electronic advance reading copy of the book from the author. I have not accepted any compensation for this review and made no commitment to give a favorable review. The link to Amazon.com is an affiliate link.
Great Books Week and National Book Month
October 3, 2011 by Lillie
The first full week of October is Great Books Week, a time to celebrate “great books.” When we think of great books, we generally think of the classics, books that have been read for generations. Longevity is certainly an indication that a book is great—people would not continue to read it for decades or hundreds of year if it didn’t have value. But I think great books are being written today, as well.
In my mind, a great book engages the reader both intellectually and emotionally. It entertains as well as provokes thought. It teaches without preaching and leaves us a little better than we were before we read it.
What do you think makes a book great? What is your favorite great book?
October is National Book Month. In January, I wrote that I found several sources that said January was National Book Month, but I couldn’t find any details. Recently, a reader left a comment on that post pointing me to the National Book Foundation, which celebrates National Book Month in October. As a booklover, I don’t mind celebrating books two months out of the year!
So, in honor of Great Books Week and National Book Month, go read a great book!
