Cyle Young, an agent with Harline Literary Agency, is seeking new submissions:
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Thursday, May 10, 2018
Submission Opportunity with agent Cyle Young
Cyle Young, an agent with Harline Literary Agency, is seeking new submissions:
Wednesday, May 02, 2018
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
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.
Thursday, April 05, 2018
Meeting - Change of Date Reminder
NOTE:
This month, the NJCWG will meet on
the SECOND Saturday of the month instead of the first.
MEETING:
Date: Sat. April 14
Time: 10 am - 12 pm
Same place:
The Barn at Cornerstone Christian Church
495 Wyckoff Ave.
Wyckoff, NJ
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
NJCWG News
- Kathy Rupff won the Spirituality Award for her poem, "Your Love Heals Me." Additionally, she won the Judge's Choice Art Award for her painting, Transformation, and first place in Art-Mixed Media for her collage, Aslan. Her work can be viewed at www.kathleenrupff.com.
- Maude Carolan Pych won the Judge's Choice Award for her Purim poem, "Queen Esther, Brave & Beautiful." Read her poem here.
Maude's recently published book of poems Wonderhoods is now available. Ordering information can be found on her website.
Susan Panzica's young adult allegory, The Quest, has just been published and will soon be available on her website at susanpanzica.com.
APRIL MEETING CHANGE: We will meet on the 14th - the second Saturday, not the usual first Saturday of the month. Time & location are the same but we will meet on the second floor (enter door closest to the parking lot).
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Meeting this Saturday
March 4, 10 am - noon
Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff,
in the Barn (red building to the right after entering)
Saturday's topic:
GENRE
Genres are comfortable and challenging. They carry freedom and limitations. Join the conversation about stretching our areas of expertise. Please bring a recent copy of The Christian Writers Market Guide, if possible, and at least one suggestion for submission to a periodical, contest, or anthology (other than Chicken Soup).  |
| Image compliments of edla519michellemoulton.weebly.com |
Seasoned writers and writing hopefuls are all welcome.
Hope to see you Saturday,
Barbara
barbarahigbyhope.com
February's Focus Point
Today we will talk about aphorisms, those clever statements
that speak volumes with a modicum of words. I had fun looking through New
Testament letters to discover the use of what can be considered aphorisms,
though I never thought of it that way before. They are not the author’s last
words but fall near the ends of the letters and concisely summarize what the
writer had more fully explained earlier. This is what I found:
“Finally, …rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage
one another, be of one mind, live in peace.” (2 Cor 13:11)
“Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body
the marks of Jesus.” (Gal. 6:17)
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put
on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's
schemes.” (Eph. 6:10-11)
“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble
for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.” (Phil.
3:1)
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Phil.
4:8)
“Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to
please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord
Jesus to do this more and more.” (1 Thess. 4:1)
“Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may
spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.” (2 Thess. 3:1)
“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be
sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.” (1 Pet. 3:8)
Take home thought: Be
concise, clever and creative to present a memorable nugget of inspiration.
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Story Callout
Heaven Sightings
From James Stuart Bell:
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Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Meeting this Saturday
February 3, 10 am - noon
Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff
in the Barn (red building on your right as you enter)
Saturday's focus:
The Point Is… In a Nutshell… Finally…
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| Image compliments of Zazzle.com |
How aphorisms add clarity, define purpose, and assist memory.
aph·o·rism \ˈa-fÉ™-ËŒri-zÉ™m
Bring one or two writing samples, such as a blog post, for our discussion of aphorisms and their value.
Our group encourages experienced and novice writers. You are invited to check it out and see if it's a fit for your needs.
I hope to see you Saturday,
Barbara barbarahigbyhope.com
January's Focus Point
Joy in Writing
When I was a child I learned the
secret of joy in the form of an anagram—J-O-Y: Jesus first, Others second, Yourself
last. But long before it was contrived as a cute anagram, Jesus spoke it as
profound truth. Quoting from Deuteronomy, He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.”
This sure-formula for joy in life,
also gives us joy in writing.
God first. Every creative thought, sudden
illumination, and golden truth we discover is not original, but comes from God.
It is His call, His gift, His message, and His inspiration that speaks to our
hearts and draws us to our keyboards. When we are mindful of that, we are
focused, motivated and energized—we have purpose that transcends personal recognition, a
meaningful hobby, or hopes of a paycheck.
Secondly,
think of others. How often are we reminded to think “reader first?” If we’re
not writing for readers, we can simply journal. Journaling is easy,
communicating is work, but love for others will incite us to action. It will
propel us to take the time and make the effort to write, and write well for the
benefit of our readers.
The
third aspect of the equation is you. The fulfillment, satisfaction and—yes—joy that is ours when God is first and others
are second cannot be found any other way. When I put myself first, I never have
enough, am not good enough, and can’t be satisfied. The biblical order is the
way to fulfillment.
When I
respond to God’s inspiration and use His gifts to bless my readers, I experience
joy in writing.
Take home thought: When it comes to writing, glorifying God is my reason, enriching others is my goal, and joy is my
reward.
Wednesday, January 03, 2018
Need inspiration? Find it this Saturday!
Kick off 2018 with a dose of writing inspiration at NJCWG's first meeting of the year.
Published and novice writers are invited. Find encouragement for your writing endeavors.
Barbara
January 6, 10:00-noon
Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff,
in the Barn (red building on the right as you enter)
Saturday's Focus: The Joy in Writing
We will share our writing goals for 2018 and discuss the hindrances that hold us back, as well as the joy that propels us forward.
Published and novice writers are invited. Find encouragement for your writing endeavors.
Barbara
Image compliments of thepreachersword.com
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Writing Inspiration at Christmas
A blessed Christmas to all our readers! May God's written Word enrich your lives as writers who write for Him. We hope to see you in 2018. Our first meeting is January 6. You will find the Focus Point from our December meeting below.
Blessings,
Barbara
Luke's account of the angels' appearance to the shepherds is familiar, but let's look at it from a writer's perspective. What was the point of the angels' visit? They came to pro-claim that the Messiah was born, but note the progression of their message (Luke 2:8-15):
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."Although the angels arrived on the hillside with an important announcement, they first gave the shepherds a moment to focus with their first words, "Do not be afraid.” They had the shepherds’ attention but needed to prepare them to listen. In fiction we may throw our readers right into the story, but nonfiction needs heart preparation.
The angels still didn’t make their announcement; they stated their purpose—"I bring you good news...” In our writing readers like to know where they’re headed, why they’re reading this piece. They need additional preparation.
Finally, the announcement was made,"A Savior has been born to you.” Once the shepherds were prepared, the angels told them the heart of the matter, followed by a simple explanation. As writers, when we introduce our theme it should be simple and straightforward.
The angels conclude with details, which are also a teaser. "You will find a baby…lying in a manger.” They don’t tell the shepherds what to do, but entice them to discover the truth for themselves. The result is action:
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." (v15)Isn't that the goal of our writing? We offer our readers hope, encouragement, and information with the hope they will make it theirs and take action.
Take away: Just as God is gentle with us, be gentle with your readers. Patiently prepare a path of understanding that whets their appetite for more and, hopefully, inspires action.
Photo compliments of endoftheage.blogspot.com
Monday, December 04, 2017
Check it out!
To pre-order the 2018 Christian Writer Market Guide for $18 postage paid, click here. Deadline Dec. 20. 2017.
Tidbits from Saturday's meeting:
- You may be surprised by this Grammar quiz from TheWriteLife.com
- Here's the infographic of 25 Tips:
25 Tips to Tighten Your Copy:
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| Source: https://thewritelife.com/grammar-quiz/ |
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Saturday Brunch Meeting
Saturday, December 2, 10a-12p
Expect to enjoy a delicious brunch that will include our usual writing fare:
- A Focus Point
- A writing exercise
- Time for critiques
Barbara
Just Do It
During an advertising agency
meeting in 1988, Nike coined the slogan JUST DO IT. According to Wikipedia, “one of the campaign's objectives was to target
all Americans regardless of age, gender or physical fitness level which
led to Nike becoming worn as a fashion statement, not just as fitness gear.
(Nearly 80% of Nike’s running shoes are not worn for their intended purpose.) In other words, you don’t have to be a pro to
play.
I suggest
that the “It” we’re supposed to “just do” is whatever is in your heart to do. Don’t
think about perfection or scoring or fans, just put on the sneakers and play. You
don’t need to be on a court or a field, JUST DO IT.
In writing,
we don’t need to be professional, perfect or popular; we just need to do it—we need to write. Sure, it’s more fun with the roar of a crowd, but we can’t
let silence rob us of the joy of using our gift. We write for the pleasure of
the Giver of that gift.
I told you about my disappointment when the editor who wanted to see “everything” I write
told me he was now too busy to consider new authors. I thought my book was a
shoo-in and now I felt like a failure—until
I realized I didn’t fail God. I did what He put on my heart to do, I wrote H-O-P-E for the Journey. I succeeded.
However, the silence that meets me at my
keyboard these days is discouraging. The only way to continue writing is to JUST
DO IT—because it is mine to do. I write for the Creator, not
the crowd.
I want to echo the words of the servant
in Matthew 25:20, “Master, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have
gained five more.” Our talents, financial and spiritual, will only increase
with investment.
Take home thought: 2 Timothy 1:6-7, “Fan
into flame the gift of God… For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a
spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” Write, and write some
more.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Dec. 2nd meeting - Annual Christmas Brunch
Christmas Brunch
Sat. Dec. 2
10 am - 12 noon
At our next NJCWG meeting, we will hold our annual brunch.
As always, we look forward to breaking bread together
as we continue along on our writing journeys.
Please rsvp by Tues, Nov. 28.
To rsvp: click REPLY or email: njcwgroup@gmail.com.
And please indicate in your reply if you are bringing a brunch item.
If you can indicate what item, so much the better!
If you are new to the group or just not able to bring something,
please come anyway!
Looking forward to seeing you on the 2nd!
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Meeting this Saturday
November 4, 10 a.m. - noon
Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff,
in the Barn (red building on the right as you enter)
Saturday's Focus:
How to be a Writer
There is only one way to become a writer and we'll talk about it this Saturday. Whether you're a novice or already published,
we welcome you to join the discussion.
Hope to see you there!
Barbara
October's Focus Point
First of All, “Why?”
Let’s talk
about why we write in general and then, in our workshop time, focus on the specific why of
our current project. Understanding our why
provides motivation for writing, but also gives us a connection with readers, agents and publishers.
Face Forward
Jesus said, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and
looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). He was talking about
following Him as a disciple, but He was also stating a life principle. One
cannot move forward when looking back. We move in the direction we face. Lack
of focus slows us down and the “plow” we’re pushing will veer or stall.
I confess that I can be found looking up, down and all around
during my writing time. There is no lack of distractions, even writing
distractions—other topics I
want to write about, research that becomes a rabbit trail, sources that I get
lost in.
When the day is over, I find it easy to fudge my writing progress.
What did you do today, Barbara?
I worked on my
book.
What exactly
did you work on?
Well, I tried
to flesh out an outline, considered title options, thought about anecdotes.
In other words, I played all around it, but never zeroed in.
I didn’t plow one straight row because I forgot why I was writing.
I need to remind myself why I'm writing, be honest with myself and stop looking around, set a
clear goal for the day, get my thoughts on paper, and plow forward—which is today’s take-away.
Take home
thought: Remember why you're writing. Stop looking around. Set a clear
goal. Get your thoughts on paper. Plow forward.
Tuesday, October 03, 2017
Meeting this Saturday
October 7, 10 a.m. - noon
Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff,
in the Barn (red building on the right when you enter)
Saturday's Focus: Face Forward
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| Image courtesy of sqlmag.com |
Whether an experienced writer or a novice, you will find encouragement and camaraderie at our meetings. Visit and see if NJCWG is a fit for you.
Members, come prepared to pitch your book, article or blog, prioritizing your why. See the Simon Sinek video and read September's Focus Point below. If you bring pages for critique, please review the guidelines on our website.
Hope to see you Saturday,
Barbara
September’s Focus Point
First of All, “Why?”
Why do we write? In general and, specifically, why this book, blog or article? Defining our why reveals our motivation but also becomes a connecting point with readers,
Jean Matthew
Hall* tells the story of swinging in
the back yard with her grandson. He wanted to go higher & higher—to touch
the clouds. Of course, they didn’t touch the clouds, but in Jean’s words, “It
sure was fun trying. It was exhilarating.”
She
later realized that she does the same thing with writing—stretching herself,
straining to become a better writer and to attain publication. Not satisfied
with merely writing her thoughts in a private journal, her heart shouts, “Higher,
God. I want to go higher—to touch the clouds with you, Lord!”
Then
she wonders why—why does she want to touch the clouds? Why do we?
Jean
asks, “Is it that seed of creativity God planted in my heart before I was born?
Is it some innate unrest I have? Is it pride? Do I have a burning message to
spread? Or, is it God’s Holy Spirit urging me upward?
“I
suspect it is a mixture of all these things. But mostly, it’s because I want my
life to have a wider circle of influence... I want to impact as many people as
I can for Christ in my lifetime and beyond.
“Writing…
is one way I can do that. It is one way I can reach for the clouds. And even if
I don’t touch them it is fun trying. It is exhilarating to stretch myself and
use the gifts that God has placed within me. It adds beauty and joy to my life
and… that makes writing and rewriting worth the extra effort.”
In Job we read, “The
Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life” and “…it is the spirit in a man,
the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding”
(33:4 and 32:8).
We write because God has breathed life
and understanding into us. As Christian writers uniquely made and individually
called, our personal why is the motivation for what we are writing. Our mouths
speak and pens write out of the fullness of our hearts.
Take away thought: Remember your why. Let your Spirit-breathed calling,
gifts and inspiration be the impetus for your writing.
Hear about identifying your why with Simon Sinek.
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