Economical Writing

Turn off the flashback-machine that's showing your boring Economics class; that's the wrong Economical. This article is about writing that avoids waste, and that applies to all subjects. Here are the bullet points; dive in for more details:

1. Always ask "so what?"
2. Always ask "how do you know?"
3. "Fluency can be achieved through grit."
4. Guard your inspiration and "clean up in a dull moment."
5. Don't skimp on supplies.

Although the author's main audience is actually economists, it's straightforward to apply these to other disciplines.

1. For non-fiction, you can right the best treatise in the world, but if there's no point to it, why would people read it? Why should they? For fiction, why does this story need to be told? What makes it compelling to those in your audience?
2. For non-fiction, don't just state something; make sure you know why it's true and be sure that's communicated to the reader. For fiction, the same holds for characters: why do they do what they do? Does it make sense for them to act and react as you've written?

There are 26 more rules outlined in the actual book, including:

• Avoid Words That Bad Writers Love
• The Order Around Switch Until It Good Sounds
• Speak to an Audience of Human Beings

These chapter headings alone have propelled this book onto my Wish List.

Writing Opportunities

I just discovered NaNoWriMo.org! November is national novel writing month. To celebrate, there is a competition of sorts on nanowrimo.org. It's free, but you have to register. It's a challenge to write a novel in 30 days. You can have an outline and character sketches done beforehand, but the novel has to be totally written from Nov1 - Nov30. I'm going to give it a shot. Who's with me? For more information go to http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Here are a couple of really great sites to get your writing going:

www.faithwriters.com - they have a weekly writing challenge, message boards, a critique circle and so much more.

http://www.wakeupwriting.com/ - thank you Cindy! They have a daily writing exercise.

Does anyone else have a source that they would like to share?

D.C. Awakening

There is a revival going on Oct 5 - 11 in our backyard. It will be a week of prayer, praise, and worship around the clock. This is our chance to stand up and be counted.

On Thursday, Oct 9 instead of having group, I would like to go to DC and join with brothers and sisters from around the world in crying out to God. If you would like to join me, please let me know. Check out the website: http://www.thedcawakening.com/ for more information.

9/11

Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust

Daggers of steel
Daggers of fire

Thousands lost their lives.
Thousands died.

Whatever happened to the ones who survived?
The ones who risked their lives?

They are needing to be set free.
Free from the agony
Free from the memories.
Free from their own grief.

Too many innocent lives.
Too many had to die.

I don’t understand, can’t comprehend.

You say you work everything for the good,
Who am I to argue?

I know You were there,
There in the midst of it all.

You were there weeping for them.
You were there weeping with them
You were there comforting them.

Jeff Watkins

A beautiful light,
Shining bright.
Gone from this world,
Gone from this world.

But, there will be no more pain.
You are given a new name.
A body complete.
No more suffering.

No more pain.
It’s gone away.
No more tears.
No more fear.

Welcome to paradise.
A world without end.
You, a son of the king.
Such joy you will bring.

Running, jumping in the streets of gold.
Such joy untold.
Seeing all there is to see.
Your body truly being free.

Free to worship.
Free to jump and run.
Free, at last.
Free!

Go Forth and Write

"May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech." 1Thes 2:16-17 (Message)

I am aware once more that my only job in this zany life of a writer is to put pen to paper (fingers to keys) and God will do the rest. If He does not breathe life into my words or bless my work, then it's all for nothing.

There is a writer's Bible Study called, Write His Answer by Marlene Bagnull. You can check it out on Amazon. I'd like to go through it and I'd love for you all to go through it with me. I'd like to start with chapter one on Thursday October 16 at 6:00pm. We will be meeting on the 1st floor outside of Nordstrom in Dulles Town Center. Let's use the comfy seats if they're available.

If you would like to stay for Scribe's Alley after the Bible Study, you can but you don't have to. No pressure.

If you are unable to attend in person, but are interested in doing the study, we can share thoughts through this blog or e-mail.

Other books I would like to go through:
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
The Soul Tells a Story by Vinita Hampton Wright

Any thoughts? Any other book suggestions?

The Group Must Go On

Thursday again. Another long trip to the mall. It wasn't as difficult this time. The Lord blessed me with three songs that said, "I love you. I'm here. I understand."
What a great big wonderful God He is!

Courtney and I had a great conversation before group tonight. (Last night? What day is it?)
She described to me a fantastically decorated house. From the elaborate gardens to the intricate stained glass windows with an outer space motif, it represented a creative mind unfettered by well, anything.

Question and writing exercise:
If you had unlimited funds, how would you express you creativity?

Does anyone else have a writing exercise they would like to present?