Meeting this Saturday

NJCWG's Monthly Meeting

June 2, 10 am - 12 pm

Cornerstone Christian Church

in the Barn (second building on the right as you enter) 

495 Wyckoff Ave., Wyckoff

This Saturday, Susan will share information about connections and growing audience.

Whether you're an experienced writer or a wannabe, we welcome you,

Barbara

barbarahigbyhope.com

May's Focus Point

Blessed Repetition

In chapter 12, verse 12 of Ecclesiastes, the Teacher wrote, “Of making many books there is no end…” living in the digital age, we could expand that and say, “Of the writing of many words there is no end.”

I don’t know if Andre Gide ever read Ecclesiastes, but this quote could be taken as a response to that verse: “Everything has been said before. But since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again.” (Andre Gide, Le Traite du Narcisse)

How many times have you heard a familiar message presented a different way and suddenly you got it? Or, how often have you spoken into a friend’s life to no avail and someone else comes along saying the same thing and it clicks?

I remember being discouraged because it seemed God was repeating a message to me over and over but I wasn’t changing. Unaware of my struggles, a sanguine friend (and we all need positive sanguines in our lives) was bubbling over with gratitude and said, “Isn’t it wonderful that God will keep repeating the same message until we get it?”

Prior to the Teacher’s comment about the abundance of books we find that it may not be as defeatist as it sounds. Read the verses right before it (9-11):

Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails — given by one Shepherd.

• He searched to find just the right words, 
• Writing what was upright and true 
• And his words were like goads, firmly embedded nails. 

Take home thought: “Of making many books there is no end…” (Eccl. 12:12) and I will add mine to the count, searching for just the right words—upright and true words—to prod my readers to stand firm in their faith.

Submission opportunity

Miracles Do Happen A Guideposts Compilation NOTE: Do not reply or send submissions to this email address. Send all submissions to Jeanette Littleton at compilations@earthlink.net. James Stuart Bell is putting together this compilation for Guideposts. It is a separate book from his other current callout for Heaven Sightings for Bethany House. Jeanette said this book requires a quicker turnaround, so get your submissions in as soon as possible to be considered for the Guideposts book. The deadline is not fixed. See "rolling due date" info below.   From James Stuart Bell: Dear Contributor, You may recall my role as editor for story collections such as: A Cup of Comfort, Extraordinary Answers to Prayer, and a number of books related to Angels, Miracles, and Heavenly Encounters, published by Bethany House.  I am now helping to compile a story volume for Guideposts entitled Miracles Do Happen.  I have added a summary of the subject matter by chapters with additional considerations at the end of this letter.  Chapters three through ten comprise the story categories of the book from which you can choose.  These stories must have at their heart a true miracle, something that simply cannot happen by natural means.  (See guidelines and considerations below.) We’ll consider original, unpublished stories of up to 1,500 words and they must be at least 900 words.  The stories should have a creative title, an attention-grabbing introduction, main body with a conflict or challenge, and a clear, satisfying resolution.  They need to be descriptive, rooted in time and place, with a realistic portrayal of the characters involved. They also need to be substantive stories rather than mere testimonies or teachings, and the focus should not be just on the supernatural realm alone, but rather the spiritual lesson learned.  Please include a personal biography of 30 words or less at the end of each manuscript. We will have a rolling due date for the manuscript until we receive our quota of stories but would appreciate your submission within a month of receiving this email.  Please send your manuscript attached to the e-mail rather than pasting text in the email window.  Send your manuscript in normal manuscript formatting in Times New Roman, 12-point, with your full contact information--name, address, phone number, and e-mail address at the top of the first page.  We are offering a one-time fee of $50 for stories 1,250 words and over, and $25 for stories under that word count.                             We will send you contracts upon the publisher’s acceptance and would need them back promptly.  Payment will be made after all contracts have been received.  Please direct all inquiries and manuscript submissions to my colleague, Jeanette Littleton, at compilations@earthlink.net.  If this e-mail has been forwarded to you, and you can’t submit to this call, but would like to hear about other editorial needs as they arise, please send us your e-mail address and we’ll add you to our notification list. If you have a specific chapter you think your manuscript fits, please note that in the manuscript—near your contact information. Blessings to you and yours, James Stuart Bell Story Descriptions, Guidelines, and Considerations:   Chapter 3 – Nature and Animals          Stories: miracles involving nature and animals Chapter 4 – Children          Stories: miracles involving children Chapter 5 – Dreams and Visions          Stories: dreams and visions Chapter 6 – Healing          Stories: physical and emotional healing Chapter 7 – At the Right Moment          Stories: coincidence, divine providence, timing, just in the nick of time Chapter 8 – Spiritual Growth          Stories: awakening, reawakening, conversion Chapter 9 – Prosperity          Stories:  financial, money matters Chapter 10 – Answered Prayers          Stories: miscellaneous Story Guidelines: First person experience of a miraculous encounter or event Amazing and miraculous, as opposed to a gentle, inner nudge Must express a Christian connection and worldview; no preaching Experience should be grounded in a real-life situation: physical setting, time, place, context of the person’s life Must not have been previously published Miscellaneous Considerations: The wonder of a miracle is that its cause is hidden. Against all odds Soul-stirring accounts that reassure the reader that God is watching over them. Give reader hope that a miracle can happen to him or her Help the reader to look beyond what she or he experiences with the five senses to realize that God is holding him or her up. Ordinary people experiencing extraordinary events Protection from danger; sending in His angels Interceding when reader’s faith needs to be strengthened Cried out to God and received an answer Bolster and encourage faith Everyday people just like the reader experiencing miracles Includes biblical references and useful prayers For updates you can also join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/993320770756877/

Submission Opportunity with agent Cyle Young

Cyle Young, an agent with Harline Literary Agency, is seeking new submissions:

Send me your best submissions. :)

My team is having an open submission period from May1st-June 30th. Send you submissions to submissions@cyleyoung.com We are looking for children's, MG, YA, and adult audience books for the general and Christian markets. Both nonfiction and fiction accepted. We look forward to reading your submission. Thanks! CYLE

Copyright © 2018 Serious Writer, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Serious Writer P.O. Box 1 Clarklake, Mi 49234

Meeting this Saturday

NJCWG Monthly Meeting

May 5

10 am - 12 pm

Cornerstone Christian Church

in the Barn (second building on the right as you enter) 

495 Wyckoff Ave., Wyckoff

A gathering of writers of any genre and experience, and writer wannabes.

Hope to see you Saturday,

Barbara

barbarahigbyhope.com

April's Focus Point:

Clear Answers Require Work

No one around this table will deny writing is work. It may be glamorized as brilliant inspiration flowing from mind, through fingers, to keyboard, and, voila—bestselling pages appear. But we know perspiration is a larger component than inspiration. As I considered 1 Peter 3:15 this week, I found a key reason why we labor over our writing:

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks 

you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (NIV) 

Christian writing offers reasons for hope. Our blogs encourage belief, our fiction portrays examples of living life well, our articles encourage readers to draw near to God. In all our writing—whether expository, entertaining, poetic, informative or humorous—Christians offer a path to hope because we know the Source of hope.

The first part of this verse, “Always be prepared to give an answer” is the reason for our endless editing, tedious research, and painful rewriting. We don’t recklessly put words on paper, we labor to make those words understandable and palatable for our readers, presenting clear answers for the hope we have.

Today we will be looking at clunky sentences and overused adjectives. Why? Why spend time doing this? Because we want to write as clearly and concisely as possible, so our words will be readily received.

Take home thought: Preparation is worth the work because it enables us to offer hope to our readers.