Meeting this Saturday

Meeting this Saturday

March 2, 10 am-noon

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff

In the Barn (2nd building on the right)

The Value of Surveys & How to Conduct Them

Presented by Shirley Blankson

How can a survey tune us in to our readers? 

How can we learn from the opinions of others? 
How can this positively affect our writing?

All writers are invited, regardless of writing experience. 

Join us this Saturday.

Barbara

barbarahigbyhope.com

February's Focus Point

Identifying Your Theme

I love themes. When my children were young they chose a theme for their birthday parties and I'd run with it—Holly Hobby, Big Bird, baseball… When I participate in planning a church event, I’m all about the theme. I blog best when I’m working with a theme.

Years ago I had a pastor whose preaching theme was grace—every sermon boiled down to grace. Coming from a reformed background, that was great! Currently, our pastor is preaching from Galatians and the recurring theme throughout the book is found in a Tim Keller quote, “You are more sinful…than you ever dared believe, but more…loved than you ever dared hope.” 

David, it is commonly believed, authored Psalm 119, the longest psalm in the Bible. It is written as an acrostic poem using the 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, with each stanza containing eight lines, and there’s a theme—all 176 verses extol the merits of the Word. 

Verse 54 inspired today’s focus point, “Your statutes are [Word is] the theme of my song during my earthly life.” (HCSB) His life theme was the Word of God—its preciousness, its power, its beauty, its comfort, its reassurance, its truth. 

What is the theme of your song "during your earthly life"?

At one of our meetings in 2018 we considered if our writing had a recurring theme and many discovered it did. Identifying that theme proved enlightening and sharpened our focus. Today I pose two questions I think are worth pondering:

• If your life was a story, what would be its unifying theme? 
• The piece you’re writing is a story, what is its unifying theme? 

Takeaway: Discover your theme, embrace it, and run with it.

Meeting this Saturday

February 2, 10-noon

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff

All writers are invited, regardless of writing experience.

• Prepare to share: What are your writing goals for the next six months?  They don't have to be lofty but they do need to be distinct - goals you've weighed and prayed over. 

• Also, bring questions & comments from our last session about creating video presentations. If time allows, we will discuss any writing related questions.

• Members (those who have attended more than one meeting) are invited to bring work for critique. Please adhere to the guidelines on our web page.

Hope to see you Saturday,

Barbara

barbarahigbyhope.com

January's Focus Point

Memories, Goals & Vision

My first blog post of the year addressed making memories. I wrote that even though we chose to make good memories (of course), bad memories will also be made. The bad memories come uninvited, but the good memories come from intentional effort. I want to apply this to our 2019 writing goals since we will share them in February.

When we mesh memories and goals, my default memories are of failed goals—everything I didn’t accomplish. My memory doesn’t readily recall the vision and good intentions that inspired the setting of those goals. Rather than considering an unmet goal as failure, let’s regard it as a pause.

We mustn't allow the discouragement of unmet goals to hinder us from setting new ones or from pulling out last year's unmet goals and refreshing them. Maybe our timing was off. Maybe our circumstances were prohibitive. Perhaps our goal needs tweaking or prioritizing. Or maybe (grimace) we need to let go of a goal and move on. Could an old ambition be standing in the way of fresh vision?

It’s a new year. There is no scarcity of vision—there is always more to discover from the God who is infinite in creativity and wonder, and eager to share with us. What will He show us this year? A new process, genre, format, opportunity? We may step into an area that’s new to us, or dabble in writing something we’ve not tried before, or research an unfamiliar topic or genre—perhaps today’s presentation on Creating & Posting Video will become a 2019 goal.

Next month we’ll share our writing goals for the first half of 2019. Let’s talk to God about them with an open heart and ask what aspirations He has for us. We know from the book of John that the Holy Spirit is our Counselor—He will teach us, direct us, supply us—and surprise us.

Takeaway: My 2019 goal is not to make good memories, but God memories. I will seek His wisdom, inspiration, and direction.

Don't miss Saturday's meeting!

Creating & Posting Video

Pixabay.com

presented by Phil Brainerd

All are invited to learn about the popular blogging option: vlogging. 

Come and be inspired!

Saturday, January 5, 10 a.m. - noon

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff

Meeting in the Barn (2nd building on the right)

Seasoned writers and novices, bloggers and blogger wannabes, we welcome you. 

I hope to see you Saturday,

Barbara

barbarahigbyhope.com 

December's Focus Point

Since there are Christmas references in December's Focus Point, I'm posting it now. Our plans for the first three months of the new year are listed below.

cocoparisienne@pixabay

No Excuses

My blog this week was about Joseph and Mary’s trek to Bethlehem and the disagreeable conditions they met when they arrived. I pointed out that God was in it all—the donkey ride, their sub-par housing, the timing. Not only was He in it, He had orchestrated it.

The struggle I had in writing the post and the topic itself, helped me realize how particular I can be about having the right circumstances. Many pressures and concerns were pressing in on me. My addled brain wasn’t cooperating and I craved a quiet space to write, with no interrupting calls, demanding emails, or weighty obligations. Instead, I was given a stable—and God was there.

In spite of everything screaming for my attention, I put my fingers to the keyboard and found that, even in my relatively mundane writing task, God’s grace was sufficient. I wrote the blog, engaged in the conference call, responded to the complicated email, and prepared for today’s meeting. I was amazed that although my thoughts were still scattered amid the demands, I satisfactorily completed what I needed to do.

When our hearts yield to God’s nudge to extend ourselves, 1 Cor. 9:8 says He “is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

Takeaway: When we press on in spite of our limitations and insufficiency, we experience the sweetness of God’s presence and all sufficiency.

2019 meetings:

• January 5 – Creating & Posting YouTube Videos – Phil Brainerd
• February 2 – The Value of Surveys & How to Conduct Them – Shirley 
• March 2 – Social Media – Elyse & Nyah

Meeting this Saturday

Come Saturday, December 1, 10 to noon. 

Members & visitors are invited to our monthly meeting and Christmas Non-Brunch.

Photo compliments of Pixabay.

Breaking from our traditional Christmas Brunch, we will have a non-brunch with coffee, tea and any finger-food items you bring - crackers, nuts, mini-muffins, etc.

Please be prepared for a writing exercise. Members are invited to bring two pages for critique, but please follow the guidelines on our website. Below is November's Focus Point.

I hope to see you Saturday,
Barbara
barbarahigbyhope.com

The Inception and Birth of Brilliance

The verses I’m going to share are from a familiar Psalm. I’m sure you’ve read them, probably many times, but today we will see what they can teach us about writing. Psalm 139:13-16:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

We were in the mind of God before we were created by Him. His knowledge of us is not like that of a parent or friend who learns about us by watching and conversing with us. He knew us before we said or did anything to indicate our personality, character, or potential. God knew us first, and then He created us.

We have previously acknowledged that being made in Creator God’s image is the source of our creativity. These verses give insight to God’s creative process and affirm what we already know—creativity begins in the mind. Before we lived and breathed we existed in the mind of God. So too, our books, poems, and blog posts live in our minds before they are birthed.

This raises three issues:

• Am I allowing, honoring time for creative thinking? Do I make space for solitude and reflection?
• Do my activities inspire or hinder creativity? Am I reading, watching, listening to venues that expand my mind, fuel my interests, and feed my creativity?
• Do I overthink and thereby procrastinate productivity? Does fear or perfectionism get in my way? 

Takeaway: The creative process begins in my mind—how am I nurturing that aspect of creativity?

Story Callout - Women's Devotional

Abba's Heart

Cross River Media

Submit to submissions@crossrivermedia.com

Many of us struggle with grasping God’s unconditional love. This thirty-day devotional offers the freedom that comes with accepting God’s infinite love, igniting a woman’s relationship with Christ and opening the door to a deeper more fulfilling relationship with Him.

We are looking for first-person, true stories of how God has demonstrated His love for you. In other words, how did you come to fully grasp God’s unconditional love?

Abba’s Heart: the Love of the Father is a compilation project contracted with CrossRiver Media and has a tentative release date of February 2020.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Deadline for submissions is February 1, 2019.
• Devotions must include a verse along with the true story, practical application commentary, and suggested prayer topic.
• Please include a brief bio and professional photo to be included with the devotional.
• Word count should be between 750 and 1000 words.
• You may submit original or reprinted work; however if it is a reprint, please tell us where and when it was published and assure us you own the reprint rights.
• We will edit selected stories for clarity, consistency, and style. We will not change factual information. If you are unwilling to allow edits, please do not submit.
• If your story is selected, we will notify you by email by March 2019.
• Contributors will receive a contributor credit along with one free copy of Abba’s Heart (working title). Author will also be able to order additional copies at a significantly discounted rate.

• Please send submissions to submissions@crossrivermedia.com.

Meeting this Saturday

November 3, 10 am - noon

In the Barn at

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff

We welcome seasoned writers and novices.

Focus: The Inception and Birth of Brilliance

(Hint: It's all in the mind!)

Please note, our previously scheduled guest will speak 

about conducting surveys at a future meeting.

Members are invited to bring pages for critique, please see website for specifics.

See you Saturday!

October 13, 10 am - noon

In the Barn at

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff

We welcome seasoned writers and novices.

Be prepared to share your current writing goals, hopes or projects 

and participate in a writing exercise. 

If you attended September's workshop,

 we would love to hear one bit of inspiration you took away.

Members, we welcome your pages for critique. 

Reminder

Dear Writers, Please be reminded our October meeting is the second Saturday this month.

October 13, 10 am - noon

In the Barn at

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff

We welcome seasoned writers and novices.

Be prepared to share your current writing goals, hopes or projects 

and participate in a writing exercise. 

If you attended September's workshop,

 we would love to hear one bit of inspiration you took away.

Members, we welcome your pages for critique. 

Workshop: September Focus Point

Where did that idea come from... and where will it go?

You know what it’s like—a thought takes hold. Sometimes an idea pops into your mind, other times it takes shape slowly, and sometimes it branches off something you heard or read. Some are viable, some are crazy, some are impossible. And sometimes it’s hard to determine if it’s a good idea or a God idea.

Each one of us is made in the image of God. We’ve been made in His likeness, created to rule. We know this from Genesis 1:26 when God said,

"Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

We were not created like the earth which, once set in motion, still rotates on its axis and orbits the sun. We were not created like vegetation that replenishes itself without care, or like the sun, moon and stars that thoughtlessly light our world. We were not even created like the animals, that reproduce and survive by instinct. We were created like God—image reflectors of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—to feel, act and create like Him.

We know from John 1:3, that all things were made through God and nothing was made without Him. To me, this speaks of all that has been created from the beginning and of every creative endeavor since then.

A clear example of this was in the building of the tabernacle. Exodus 35 tells of those who were filled “with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts—to make artistic designs.” We read that God “filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen.”

This is why we’re here today—we are filled with God’s Spirit, with skill, ability and knowledge to fulfill His calling to create with words.

John Piper wrote,If you are God, your work is to create out of nothing. If you are not God, but like God—that is, if you are human—your work is to take what God has made and shape it and use it to make him look great. (Don't Waste Your Life, p.139)

My hope for today is that each of us will find fresh ways to make God look great. That we will be inspired to consider different genres, explore new venues, respond to creative urges, develop dormant dreams, and be receptive to new ideas.

And in our heart of hearts, we want to get our ideas out there. We're not content to let them be ours alone, but want to share them. We want to impact our world.

So... what do you do with your ideas?

Please, don't dismiss them! Think outside your box. Capture your ideas—make a list. Over time you’ll dismiss many, but there may be one—or a few—that will develop wings and take flight. Your idea may grow into a beautiful endeavor that reflects the heart of our Creator.

Image credit: abcoach.es

Reminder

Our October meeting is the second Saturday, 10/13/18.

Final Reminder - Register for Sept 8 Writers Workshop

FINAL REMINDER!! 

Please register asap if you have not already done so

You can register online at: bit.ly/NJCWG

~ OR ~

Print this flyer and complete the bottom as indicated.

Please share with any writer you think might be interested. 

Many thanks to those of you who have already registered! 

We're looking forward to a great day. 

 

WRITERS WORKSHOP - Sept. 8 meeting

REMINDER!! 

Please Register asap if you have not already done so

You can register online at: bit.ly/NJCWG

~ OR ~

Print this flyer and complete the bottom as indicated. 

WRITER WORKSHOP - Sat. Sept. 8

Join us this Saturday

August 4, 10 am - noon

Cornerstone Christian Church,

in the Barn

At this informal summer meeting we will discuss any writing challenges, 

topics or questions you bring. As usual, there will be time for critiques. 

Are you joining us this Saturday?

We will have an informal meeting this Saturday, 

July 14, from 10-noon, 

upstairs in the Barn at Cornerstone Christian Church. 

Since this is our first attempt to meet during the summer, 

please RSVP at bhigby9323@gmail.com by Wednesday 

to let me know if you will or will not be attending. 

Come with your writing quandaries or questions. 

As usual, we will leave time for critiques. 

Our next meeting will be 8/4. 

Please note that the first two fall meetings will be on second Saturdays:

September 8 & October 13

Yes, we're meeting over the summer!

Summer meetings

July 14 (upstairs) 

August 4 (regular room)

These informal meetings will be opportunities for encouragement and to discuss personal questions or concerns. There will no Focus Point or planned exercises but critique pieces are welcome. Regular members, please contact Barbara (bhigby9323@gmail.com) with your intentions. If we do not have a number of attendees and decide to cancel, we want to notify members who travel a distance. Also give me a heads up about questions or topics you want to discuss. The Focus Point from our June meeting is below.

Focus Point

Our Story

When E. B. White was 48 years old, he wrote, 

“I’m glad to report that even now, at this late day, a blank sheet of paper holds the greatest excitement there is for me—more promising than a silver cloud, prettier than a little red wagon. It holds all the hope there is, all fears. I can remember, really quite distinctly, looking a sheet of paper square in the eyes when I was seven or eight years old and thinking, ‘This is where I belong, this is it.’” Letter to Stanley Hart White, January 1947 

I can’t say I’ve ever thrilled over a blank sheet of paper (or a blank screen), but I love E.B. White’s sense of anticipation and his awareness of limitless possibilities. Our joy in writing should not falter under the shadow of staleness, the pressure of a deadline, or a feeling of obligation. 

As a Christian writer, my thrill is to be a blank sheet of paper. I love the joy of Creator God writing my story and using me to write His. I delight in discovering a creative thought, a twist of words, the perfect analogy, an original description, or inspired theme. 

As the bride spoke of the bridegroom in Song of Solomon (2:16), let us say, “I am His.” What will God write in us? What will He inspire us to write? Let’s rekindle the joy of our gift. As we share summer writing goals, let’s remain as a blank sheet, ready to receive from the Author of our faith. 

 
Take home thought: Lord, I am yours. As the author of my story, use me to write your story.

Writing Contests - 2018

From Reedsy, 

here is a curated list of writing contests for this year. 

Good luck! 

https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/

Story Callout

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Cat

101 Stories about Our Feline Friends and What Matters Most

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Dog

101 Stories about Our Canine Companions and What Matters Most

We are making two books, but since they are similar in tone, 

we are describing them both to you in this one e-mail.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Cat and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Dog will be both entertaining and heartwarming.

Our dog and cat titles are so very popular, and you have so many great stories to share with us, that we do new pet titles every eighteen months or so. Here is another chance for you to share a story or two about the member of your family who just happens to walk on four feet!

We are looking for first-person true stories and poems up to 1200 words. Tell us what your pet taught you. How he made you smile. How she "rescued" you after you "rescued" her. How she brought your family closer together, helped you find love, inspired you to change something in your human life. Stories can be serious or humorous, or both. We can't wait to read all the heartwarming, inspirational, and hysterical stories you have about your dogs or cats and what you learned from them!

Here are some suggested topics:

  • Who rescued who?
  • Who trained who?
  • Do you sometimes think your dog or cat is human?
  • Insights from your dog/cat
  • Empathy from your cat/dog
  • Compassion from your dog/cat
  • How my cat/dog picked me
  • My dog/cat can almost talk
  • My therapy cat/dog
  • My cat/dog makes me laugh
  • My dog/cat understands
  • How my cat/dog changed my family
  • How my cat/dog changed my life
  • My dog/cat's interaction with other animals
  • From puppies to senior dogs, milestones, end of life
  • From kittens to senior cats, milestones, end of life
  • Your work at a shelter or rescue organization
  • Children and dogs/cats
  • Your dog/cat and holidays
  • Your dog/cat overcoming hardship, getting lost and coming home, being injured and recovering

When you go to our website to submit your story or poem, please be sure to select either the Life Lessons from the Dog title or the Life Lessons from the Cat title we have posted on the pull-down menu to be sure your story or poem gets to the correct place. Thank you!

All stories and poems need to be true — we do not publish fiction. Stories should be no longer than 1,200 words. If your story was already published in a past Chicken Soup for the Soul book, please do not submit it. We will not publish it again. If you submitted a story to one of our previous cat or dog book titles and we did not publish it, please do submit it to us again so we will be sure to consider it for one of these new titles.

Please remember, we no longer publish "as told to" stories. Write your story or poem in the first person. Do not ghostwrite a story for someone else unless you list that person as the author. If a story was previously published, we will probably not use it unless it ran in a small circulation venue. Let us know where the story was previously published and the approximate exposure it received in the "Comments" section of the submission form.

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story and you will retain the right to resell it or self-publish it.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

THE DEADLINE DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR LIFE LESSONS FROM THE CAT IS OCTOBER 31, 2018.

THE DEADLINE DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR LIFE LESSONS FROM THE DOG IS NOVEMBER 30, 2018.

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/