When You Cannot Write

 

by Jean P. Purcell

When under extreme pressures and feeling crammed in by brick-and-mortar worries, some writers produce more. If life get cloudy and presses in on them, they still write. 

However, when deep disappointment, extra loads of duty, or grief shut out the light, shadows appear everywhere, and the light of writing is hard to find. It's close, in moments, but our heads cannot seem to lift to the horizon at such times. 

Writing is not only a creative adventure; writing also consoles, relieves, and helps our volcanic experiences find an outlet; yet, the timing varies. 

Writers that do not earn their living by writing and yet also care deeply about the work of writing want to keep at it. Being expressive in words and working at the craft have become like breathing for writers. It comes naturally, at least in the beginning stages of a new article, poem, or chapter. And later, even the revision times become a natural part of the writing adventures that are very hard work.

After years of experience in life and as a writer, I have learned that if a writing goal must be put aside for a while due to duties or emotional shock, it does not mean the end of the work at hand, necessarily. 

The writer who is willing to wait, let the writing rest, and trust that time away from it can, in fact, bring fresh author's eyes to the work can, in time, see that something special was waiting at the other end of the present dark tunnel.

If you are stressed or sad in these days, I hope that you will trust as you react or take care of what lies immediately in your life's events and feelings. I hope, also, that you will not despair about the important writing that waits for your focused attention. 

The desire or the impulse to write again will, I am sure, return, if you will trust that fact based on the experiences of others. Whether in two days or two years, depending on the circumstances, you will feel better and stronger. 

Someone waits for what you will offer then, in the future. The time still can come if you do not throw away the future of your words. I have learned that words can breathe in a box (or on a secure flash drive), and their message or story can and will wait for your voice to embed them again.  

That's the time to be most grateful that you have something to give of value to others. You would not be writing at all if you did not think that, I believe. 

The inward push to write is like a signal within you, and if not now, then later, you will experience that "push" again. I hope you will let it help you to move forward, when ready.

Deal with Every Obstacle!

In writing as in life sometimes we forget that all problem-solving is not up to us. As Christians who write, our work is submitted to God first, and then at times we quickly begin to despair when submissions to editors or agents do not seem to get anywhere.

Like me, you may at times feel that you have been patient enough, have persevered enough, have tried and labored enough over a specific work. And still, it languishes.

The languishing may be due to more work than you think...still undone. The 20th edit may need 10 more edits to make it shine.

However, maybe you see no reason to doubt the worth or readiness of your efforts.

When I get to such a place, I tend to try to problem-solve all by myself. "God gave me a brain, and I'm going to use it!" Networking, getting advice from other writers or people that care about you, all of that can help.

However, it is too easy to become so professional that we forget those humbling times alone in prayer when we lay it all out before the Lord, rushing nothing. We realize that the high, huge, and heavy obstacle is...you're right...too much for you or for me to handle.

It is not foolish at such times to remember: Nothing is impossible with God. It is not foolish to find every bit of scripture to remind you that He can do what no one else, no other power or principality, can do! He is God!

Believing that truth about God and relying upon it...leaning with all your weight on it...is the wisest thing in many a circumstance. You've done all you can do. So, leave it with Him! Nothing is impossible with God! It's worth remembering and repeating.

The way He leads may astound you, causing your major concern to shrink in light of what He is doing to answer your prayers! Even, yes, things far beyond what you could ask or think.

The faithfulness of God, I have learned, is a place to seek and to serve. He is faithful to the end! We lack because we forget to trust. We even may have let our love for Jesus turn lukewarm. Oh, what a thing to realize this has happened.

Stir up the fires of your love for Jesus. Use every remembrance of His remarkable kindness and faithfulness to you, His forgiveness through the sacrifice of His own life! His love to the utmost degree, the shedding of His own blood on a cross of death. That, we must dwell in, to remember what great love the Father has for us!

That is where we want to be, abiding in Jesus and His great forgiving love, His patient love, and His redeeming love. Oh, bless the Lord, my soul, and forget not one of His benefits! The psalm writer of Psalm 103 set our example, to get ourselves over the worst obstacle...any diversion from, or fading of love for, Jesus!

Whatever you are doing today, I hope that writing is not your first love. Getting over that obstacle can open our hearts toward a better time.

I hope to encourage you, as St. Paul put it, by these words!

"Be Careful!"_Part 2_As a Writer, I follow key work principles

*True Story. At a church's September board meeting, as fall leaves began to turn, the subject of heating oil for winter came up. A prominent new member of the board chimed in quickly: "I think the church should rotate who supplies the oil." He said this earnestly, adding: "It's only fair that my company supply oil, too. I propose to do that!" The pastor and other board members looked around at each other and the new board member's intense expression changed to white-knuckled shock, as the board immediately embraced the idea: ''I am sure that our supplier will be glad for you to do that," said the board chairman. "He supplies our heating oil for free. We gladly accept your offer to share the load with him. Thank you, thank you!"*

     Wow. That oil company exec jumped into a huge chunk-of-change offer without looking, or asking questions, first. (Maybe he'd thought being on the church board would be good for business? I smile.) But this topic of being careful goes beyond that. It includes, for writers, paying attention regularly to the importance of good research, thinking ahead, considering possible consequences, including watching for poorly chosen, possibly confusing, words or themes. Surprisingly, it can add interest to how we work. 

***

"Be careful!" is a parting shot that lots of people feel downright angry about. Considering more of what being careful means, including watching over/being responsible for, could make being careful more acceptable as a principle for writers.  

• Influence on others - I want my words and ideas to serve readers well, so I try to be careful with how and when I post them in an article, aware of influence of words. Recently on Twitter, however, I really mis-communicated. I tweeted without really thinking it through, and I got a fast push-back. To react, I thought about how I might correct the situation, and I think I found the words to do that. 

These days, there is a tendency not to converse or question directly whether face-to-face with people or online. There is an increasing influence in social networking to jab rather than build a dialogue. That is the situation, and increasingly I think we need to be careful over how this influences us and how we comment or initiate contact.

It's funny and yet sometimes not...but how conditions affect how we communicate. If we are shut in, for example, due to weather or health, for example, our desire to communicate may come out backwards from what we intended. Or, we may expect something that a particular venue is not meant for or capable of.

• I am not an entertainer and I also was trained in non-essay writing, such as research reports and information writing. I'm learning to make heart and head work in a more balanced way, depending on topics.

• Determination 1: to stay on target - First, I fight wandering thoughts that try to break in fully on me, the worst distraction. I also try to ignore other distractions, whether to begin work, continue it, or make the time work for the writing at hand. 

     I have had to train myself to ignore, completely, web pop up ads, side column photo links, and what seem like multitudes of other distractions; I allow the phone to take messages--hardest when I realize a friend or family member might be calling. 

• More well-balanced life -This may be the need I neglect the most, and I am working to correct it. I no longer listen to much news, read newspaper cover to cover; read too-descriptive crime novels, or keep other habits whose absence has improved my life (and work, I hope) enormously. 

And I need to pay attention to walking even 10-20 minutes, and this is very unlikeable in winter. I confess, I cannot remember my last walk since November!

• High sensitivity to others' language and images - I read more excellently-written books now than ever; e.g., just began Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White, my second by this writer. This sensitivity is essential,I think. 

     I am not too strict on myself. I like Dick and Felix Francis horse-racing detective stories for "easy reading," i.e., faster, that makes writing a novel look far easier than it must be.

• Determination 2: to improve my skills and techniques as a writer and writing mentor. This requires more time and attention with self-starting effort under prayer. 

 I want to grow in whatever I am doing, in whatever good relationships I have with readers!

***

 What parts of the definition of careful, below, help you the most? Is there an aspect to pay more attention to? 

care·ful

ˈkerfəl/

adjective

adjective: careful; superlative adjective: carefullest

1. 1.

   making sure of avoiding potential danger, mishap, or harm; cautious.

   "I begged him to be more careful"

   synonyms:

   cautious, heedful, alert, attentive, watchful, vigilant, wary, on guard, circumspect "be careful when you go up the stairs"

   antonyms:

   careless

   • anxious to protect (something) from harm or loss; solicitous.

     "he was very careful of his reputation"
   • prudent in the use of something, especially money.

     "he had always been careful with money"

     synonyms:

     prudent, thrifty, frugal, economical, economizing, scrimping, abstemious, sensible; More mean, miserly, penny-pinching, parsimonious, ...; informalstingy "she'd always been careful with money"

     antonyms:

     extravagant

2. 2.

   done with or showing thought and attention.

   "a careful consideration of the facts"

   synonyms:

   attentive, conscientious, painstaking, meticulous, diligent, deliberate, assiduous, sedulous, scrupulous, punctilious, methodical; informalpersnickety "careful consideration of the facts"

   antonyms:

   inattentive

My key work principles began in Part 1.

 ***

*True story told to me by my parents, a church where they had been members. The event happened in the mid-1940s, and I am not sure that it happened in September. I figured the church board might be taking up a subject like heating oil early, before winter hit. I think that God is behind carefulness. He takes care of his own and is full of loving care in how he leads and corrects, in the ways most needed and most bearable, including for wealthy oil company owners.  

 ***

If you like hymns sung by country musicians, here's "I Surrender All" by George Jones.  
A capella version is here:l Surrender All. I know that George Jones led a rough life at times. I enjoy the way he sings this hymn in country gospel style.He died in Nashville, TN, in 2013 at age 81.

Key Principles of this Christian Writer_1. Start the day well

Life comes before work, clearly, and needs to be lived authentically. The first key principle is to start the day with God through praise, worship, and prayers. Here are some examples:

Scripture choices to stimulate thought and awe:

• Read from one or more of the Gospel books, especially the words of Jesus (for example, ("...but with God, all things are possible for the one who believes." Nada es Imposible
• NT letters, at this time focusing on 1 Thessalonians, how Christians are to live daily
• OT Scriptures (frequently favoring the songs of Moses and Miriam)
• Psalms (In these days, Psalms 148-150 lift my heart to praise God.)

Music
In these days, the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir helps me almost every morning. I allow as much time listening and worshiping as I am led of God, who helps me. I use YouTube (I try to ignore YT ads and exit asap)  to listen to and sing along with many songs on a growing favorites list. I frequently choose among these, which you, too, might enjoy:


Worthy is the Lamb
Hallelujah to the King of Glory
Days of Elijah*
Gloria* (beautiful in English and in Spanish) 
I Adore You (He is the "Prince of Peace"!)
I Bless Your Name*
and others 

Prayer 
Morning - Along with spontaneous prayer upon awaking, special music--gospel, old and new hymns, others--opens the way for talking freely to the Lord, with praises and with outpouring of desires and needs of the day.  

During the day - Prayers of thanksgiving, talking to God from my heart; wherever I am, whatever I am doing. I also pray, "Help me, Lord."  Sometimes, prayer begins: "Lord, help me to pray," and "Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief."

Evening - In recent times, I love to pray the child's prayer, to be in the frame of mind as God's child: 

"Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep; 
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take." 

I often pray the 23rd Psalm, which I learned as a child.

Remembrance - God Has a Plan
When I was in my late 30s I did not yet have clearer realization of God's call on my life, including being committed to writing. Writing almost daily and with pleasure was a hint of a calling. 
     I was rearranging loose bricks around a little garden in my parents' garden in North Carolina when my dad opened the door and said: "When you were little, I used to pray for God to watch over your hands." 
     That news, and the way my dad shared it, drew me closer to him. I discovered more and thought I understood more about the inspiration of Dad's prayers of earlier years. It is God who teaches my fingers to fight (Psalm 144:1a).

*Author Support Blog (this blog Respects Copyrights*
Look for Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir at YouTube.com for any links I have removed from this post due to their being blocked in this country for copyright reasons. Other links, in place as of 1/20/15, could become irrelevant for the same reason, but still available by title on YouTube.  


My next principle is 2. Be Careful.

Enjoying What We Do

I write this in the days before Christmas, and my heart still rejoices over the good news of the birth of Jesus, God's Son, sent to live, die, and be raised from death for our sakes.

Entering another Christmas season, to be followed by a new year, my thoughts turn to the daily work of writing for 2015.

You know how much we writers must read of others' work; I am now reading a weighty biography about a prolific writer of the new nation formed from 13 original colonies of the United States, who became the fourth president of the United States--Virginia's James Madison. Michael Beschloss called Lynne Cheney's biography of Madison a "compelling, elegant, original biography" (back cover). That and other reviews piqued my interest in the historical figure I had otherwise thought only of as the honoree of a Virginia university.

In the book's Prologue, these words stood out to me: "Madison's time of extraordinary accomplishment came after years of intense focus, deep concentration, and nearly obsessive effort...." (Page 5, emphasis added here)
 
This reinforced for me the importance of years of writing, which are times also to hone thoughts.

James Madison's disregard for getting credit for his formative ideas for a new nation could inspire any writer of these different yet difficult times when gaining "name-recognition" can easily become too large a concern of the writer.

Whatever comes in the Christmas and New Year season, if drafting-writing-honing thoughts continues to be as enjoyably satisfying as ever, I expect, God willing, to stick with it for the joy of words, ideas, info, and--very important to this writer--connecting with readers like you!

Life offers much to claim our attention now, in this remarkable season and beyond; I encourage all of us to remember a former president's commitment and enter a new year with our own kind of "intense focus, deep concentration, and nearly obsessive effort..." --which undoubtedly influenced one of our presidents' role among his peers. I read that he set himself to the task of guarding conversation with people of different minds about the issues and life of his day.

I hope that we will use this privilege of freely thinking and speaking in this work we do and enjoy--writing.I hope that we, too, will calmly listen to different views and not flee from conversation about them.

Cheney, Lynne. James Madison: A Life  Reconsidered. Viking, 2014. 

Let yourself change for new writing paths

In times past I wrote bureaucratic reports, funding proposals, and research papers. I felt comfortable doing that kind of writing because I wrote at a distance, objectively reporting, analyzing, or info-gathering.

Then I began to write a book, a highly personal story. Events of change in my life had been so dramatic and had brought such joy and peace that I wanted to describe going from relationship pain to healing, and to tell some of what I learned along the way. My story walked a path of biographical, emotional, and spiritual discoveries.

Writing a personal narrative book required letting go of certain habits, including perspective. Writing from a distance had to change to writing close at hand. I needed reporting and analyzing skills in a different way, and I had to let my guard down and use "I" and "we." The transition was and still is one of the most difficult of my life as a developing writer.

I came to writing late, being 40 years old before I realized that I had been writing all of my life. It was a bit like breathing, a feeling many writers have. A few of my articles had been published, but I was not serious about reaching publication. I kept that part of my life private, for whatever reasons.

Only in recent years have I realized that I do have writing ambitions, for myself. I have mentored other writers, and increasingly I know that I want to pay more attention to my writing. I want to get it right, better, and yes, more popular: more than ever I want to connect well with readers, and I have to work hard to move out from my distanced mode. I long to show the meanings I find and to connect with others' desires for change. There are ways to write about relationships while guarding others' privacy. 

One of my blog posts that gets recent reading was posted in 2011. I reread it today and saw the same sort of reporting I enjoy doing, yet I had let my guard down a bit to share from biblical resources. I have dreaded being labeled a "religious writer." There is nothing wrong or odd, I tell myself, about having read from Genesis to Malachi as much as from Matthew to Revelation. I thought of Habakuk and Jeremiah for the nuclear story about a storm that damaged a Japanese reactor, threatened a population, and inspired strangers to rush to their aid.  

I have always admired the essays of C.S. Lewis. Yet, as much as I admire and reread his works, I need to keep developing my form of probing expression. That has become very important to me, although I do not entirely understand this longing.

I also want to write a novel, a coming of age story about a girl in the South, where I grew up. Traditional wisdom says every first novel is largely personal. Lyly's (pronounced Lily's) story involves a Ku Klux Klan incident, being in the middle, grandparents, old ways, mistaken assumptions close to home, target practice, and discoveries to push a young girl forward in her less-certain life. I had none of Lyly's exact experiences, yet the themes of her story affected me while I was growing up in North Carolina.

How do you or I transition our writing to fit what change will require? The same old answer, I guess, which is to read really good writers, to know our chosen genres, to keep working hard at it, alone and with help. I still struggle with the idea of making writing more personal, yet I want to do that. And I want to find ways that will somehow be distinctively my own.

If you have made a big writing transition, if you are making one, or if you want to make such a transition, I hope you will not give up on it, and I hope you will share with other writers what you learn.

Commentary - The Stomach Needed for Writing

In the news: "Persecution of Christians and Jews spreading; Israel battles Hamas terror organization; Detroit without drinking water; US border discord; migrant children dispersed without family; laws shown weak for lack of attention to consequences; citizens risk law violations to feed neglected poor, rush to judgment endangers or costs lives..."

Do you have the stomach (guts) to become a published writer of articles, news columns, editorials, or information-laden books about people in need, both sides of a critical news story, or societies' "failures"? The only way that I know for any of us to find out is to enter the professional arena, which must include much reading, research, editorial feedback, and analysis.

As much as any time in history, I believe, Christian writers can continue to convey ideas and stories to show understanding and to uplift, to put a check on bitter or knee-jerk reactions to news and social events, to shine new light on human life. You and I can aim lift some of the heaviness of others, I believe, through reminders of Jesus by way of genuine actions, time, and prayers portrayed in ideas.  

Tonight, I watched The Book Thief movie, a moving and provocative story that I hope to see again. It reminds me that the telescopes of history do enrich our perspectives. The story reinforces the message of the power of words.

I have re-posted on LinkedIn today the Opine Publishing cover of the book by Mogama. Refugee Was My Name, which is his story of terror years in Liberia. As I worked with the photo links and files, I reminded myself why I hope that others will to take a look at this beautiful book. Mogama had courage and encouragement from others to help him write his story and see it come to life.

     We need good true stories to remind us that people continue, around the world, to overcome disasters, including wars and terrorist inroads. Neither is a good situation, yet even recently we learned of a woman giving birth in prison because she would not reject Christ or her Christian faith. The more we can hear the good news,the words, directly from such new heroes the better our understanding and our moral adjustments will be. We can readjust ourselves to move, continually, out of the ubiquitous comfort zones that tempt us.

  

I believe that writers like you have the desire to develop the tougher inner strength needed to be evaluated by editors, to be engaged by readers, to endure rejection or critique. There is spiritual, as well as intellectual and emotional, armor to help each of us try again, again, and again.

The privilege is mine to know, firsthand, writers willing to put themselves and their work forward. Many writers, I believe, even now are re-dedicating themselves to be more engaged than ever, no matter how many rejections, to build their skills and awareness. Maybe you are one of them. Thereby, the writers' voices of faith are more likely to be heard through their written words.

What is your decision? Have you already settled it, come what may? I encourage you at whatever your writing life may be now to continue to grow your fiction and nonfiction skills and to keep submitting your works for publication.

Click Link here

Promoting Your Writing

What is behind "promoting"? "Pro" can refer to "for" or "forward" (as in "propel"). "Moting" is connected with "motion" and "movement." "Motivate" comes to mind.

We usually get ourselves going because we believe it is important, there's reason and purpose in it. 

If you want to move your writing (i.e., your perspectives, life lessons, gripping stories) forward, into the lives of readers, you have to promote it. If you are "for" your writing, then you have to, yea, you must propel it.

Let's get out of the way what this does not (necessarily) mean about you:
-you think you're the greatest at what you do,
-therefore, you are egotistical to the nth degree,
-you will roll over anyone to get where you want to go,
-...more of the same regarding you and your inflated selfie.

What this (very likely) does mean about you:
-you are committed to developing your skills as a writer,
-you have a story or an idea that you believe could interest, inspire, or help others,
-you know you must promote in spite of feeling shy about it,
-you love to write!,
-you work hard to write better and better,
-you know that writing is a skill as well as a creative venture,
-...more of the same positive facts about you and your writing.

You knew all of this already. Are you studying how to do it and are you doing it...the promotion work for your writing?

Watch this video! YouTube, Parts 1 and 2

Not angry. Intense. A favorite scarf was a "comfort" piece. Ooh, that bulging jacket. Lesson learned. Smile.   

I wrote my personal narrative story Not All Roads Lead Home twice, under the pen name, Jane Bullard.The second edition (2004) is on Amazon.com, where I sell it now for $1.90 (see Dickens123 seller), because I'd rather make less per copy and sell more. I wrote it to be read. The original UK edition (1996) is also on Amazon.com/books. 

Buy a signed copy of this book from the author, $4.20 includes packaging and mailing, U.S. only. Email info@opinebooks.com for where to send payment and to give your mailing address (U.S.).

"I think I've fallen out of love with my husband," says an anonymous advice-column letter in The Washington Post today. Is this inquirer selfish, lonely, deluded, honest? Maybe she does not yet know that if she once loved him she can again. Maybe she is unaware that love can not only rekindle but come back stronger than ever. I hope she will find this to be true for herself, her husband, her child.
 

Writing Bread

New Author Supplies store(click here)

Flour-loose collection of words 

Yeast-resting, kneading words to allow word power to rise

Oil-a fluid blend for cohesiveness

Salt-for fullness of taste

Those are four Ingredients I see in recipes for homemade bread.

The thought comes that bread in biblical times and on certain Jewish holidays today leaves out the yeast. There's a historical reason for that: yeast requires time to make bread rise. At Passover in Egypt, the people had to leave quickly.

The ingredient I can say the least about now is flour. It is essential, and wheat and rye come to mind.

Consider oil, a tangible element of blessing. I think of canola, sunflower, and olive, for example.

Salt with its dry savor enhances the flavor of the other elements.

I am so excited about baking my first bread and writing in new ways!

I Help Authors: Here's How

Jean Purcell

I help writers shape their books. Some call what I do "book content development."   

I am working with the author of a nonfiction book manuscript for a highly specialized topic. The author wants his book to appeal to experienced agents, a reliable publisher, and a wide reading audience interested in his area of expertise.  

Complicated subjects with historical timelines imply different interacting components. I think of it as like a plot with many sub-plots, twists and turns, as with a novel. This manuscript requires care when forming chapter-by-chapter evaluation and overall treatment, including detailed advice for specific change recommendations. The author and I will likely communicate several times about this project. 

The book manuscript came to me in two forms: a word-processing digital file on a computer memory stick and  a printed copy (400-plus double-spaced pages) held together in a sturdy notebook. I noted right away that the table of contents (TOC) should help provide good guidance. 

After reading a few first chapters on the digital document, I realized I would work faster using the printed text pages. The number of comments I have inserted so far suggest to me that the digital process for this Work will be too time-consuming for my likes. 

I finished reading six chapters and gave the author a brief run-down, including that he was correct to tell me this Work invited repetition. Repetition is a natural ditch, easy to fall into, for any Work. He can send me, if done in time, revisions of chapters I've not yet read in the version he sent to me.  

I will finish reading through the full manuscript over the next two days, and editing or proofing will  not come into play. I am noting in memory that editing is needed, which is the norm. I'll return to that later, if the author chooses me for the next stages. 

I am watching for 

(1) clarity, 

(2) flow, 

(3) tone (writer's "voice"), 

(4) general appeal of style,  

(5) efficiency of language and structure. 

I may question facts, to clarify presentation, but am not responsible for the technical or professional areas being covered. I make marginal notes in pencil. 

Here is an overview of major parts of the process I'll use for this project:  

1. Read the full manuscript straight through, making brief marginal notes if needed (e.g., too much repetition and detected or suspected incomplete areas) and set a proposed schedule;   

2.  Focus on one chapter at a time, without comparing chapter segues, which I'll do later; 

3. Ask of every chapter, "Does this chapter fit the summary as written by the author? If not is missing or needs to change?"

4.  Make comment notes in margins with sharpened pencil with a good eraser; 

5.  Pin-point portions that need special remedy regarding content handling (e.g., too many or too few descriptions; information presentation;is there not enough information; too many examples or interest-generating examples); 

6.  Prescribe remedies with specific recommendations for the author;

7.  Stay with each chapter or section I'm focusing on, as  needed;

8.  Continue reflection/analysis/penciled marginal notes; 

9.  Pay special attention to connections/flow between each chapter and the one(s) before and after (segue); 

10. Compare chapter text with the book mission and chapter summary stated by the author;

11. Keep in mind the reading audience for the book; 

12. After all chapters have been covered, re-read entire manuscript and notes; retain,  restate, or remove margin notes, as needed;

13. Prepare a final findings-and-recommendations report for the author, to include proofreading requirements and, most important, comment on grammar or need for remedial work.  

While I assess the manuscript, I communicate about the book with the author, as needed; the author continues to rework sections or chapters and can use any interim recommendations (recommended) I may have provided; I will look at revisions and comment.    

Any author that wants to try this process, keeping objectivity in play as much as possible,  will need the proverbial skin as tough as a crocodile. That skin is also needed during later editing and proofing, to get out anything that does not move the Work forward. Cut parts can be saved for later on a blog, an article, or another book.  

If you are thinking of working with a content developer, I recommend that you interview a short list of professionals, ask about process, experience, and finished examples. 

Note: I am reading THE RACKETEER by John Grisham (fiction, 2012).
Writers read every day. I am reading, also, the last two chapters of The Last Mughal by William Dalrymple.

What's around the Bend in the Road?

Wild, scenic 

An open-road and clear landscape invite riding on horseback, revving the ATV,  rambling on foot...and writing ideas. What's around the bend in the road? 

 

Writer-reader landscapes are more like cityscapes than country roads. They crowd with changing information and writing connections, exchanging ideas, creativity, information, and building fiction.  

     Writing is a place now where modesty may remain in private but in public titles and updates must appear. LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are gathering places much like small towns' community message boards. Blogs spotlight books, articles, or events.

     I have two active blogs, this one and another. Now I feature a new Amazon aStore (fun to build) featuring books in different categories. I can add one or more other stores this way, through Amazon Associates, free.   

     Writer, is your work getting better? Do you allow it on a blog or website? Wherever you are, are you thinking about what might be around the next bend in the road you're traveling?

Like to critique? ...I'm listening!

New Year Sunrise (Photo credit: joka2000)

Hello, visitors: I would like your feedback. I value it. You can lay it on me, positive and/or not positive. 

If you're a writer new to this work, I want your ideas, too.

• Hope you're having an idea-filled New Year!

"St. Augustine focused on the harmony needed between what we say and how we live. Anyone can write or say something profound or meaningful without in fact living it."

 Source: Author Support, beginning of New Year 2012      

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