Meeting (and eating) this Saturday

Let's talk about Creativity

December 7, 10 am - noon

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff 

In the Barn (2nd building on the right)

This Saturday we'll meet - and eat - as we discuss and practice our creative writing gifts.

Please bring a simple snack to share, such as veggies or fruit, 

crackers & cheese, chip & dip, or Christmas sweets.

Coffee & tea will be available.

Also bring your tablet or paper & pen for a creative writing exercise.

Guests & first-timers, you are welcome!

Warmly, 

Barbara

barbarahigby.com

November's Focus Point

Let’s Talk about Courage

Making time to write, brainstorming a book or article, and sitting at a keyboard to actually type, takes discipline—but not courage. We’re in our happy place. We’re alone, comfortably dressed, in a friendly environment, playing with words, cobbling together captivating sentences. What follows is when we need courage.

Pitching, submitting, publishing, and, above all, marketing call for courage. Merriam-Webster defines courage in this way: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.

Danger, fear, and difficulty sum up the challenges of today’s topic: Marketing.

In Acts 20:24, Luke wrote, “…my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Whether our work is subtly or overtly Christian, as God’s children our writing testifies to God’s grace and our call is to complete the task given us. Seeing it through to completion takes courage.

In our discussion today, we will heed the words of Hebrews 10:24 and “Consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,” toward completing the task God’s given us in the area of marketing.

Take-home thought: God will give us the courage to market our writing for the benefit of our readers and His glory.  

Meeting this Saturday

Let's talk about Marketing

SATURDAY, november 2, 10 AM - NOON

 Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff 

In the Barn (2nd building on the right)

If there's one topic that generally unsettles writers, it's marketing. But, like we tell children: no vegetables, no dessert. Let's face that helping of vegetables together this Saturday and see if we can make marketing a little more palatable. Pasquale Russo will join me and share from his writing background.

Members, please bring work for critique, as per the guidelines on our website.

Looking forward to seeing you there,
Barbara
barbarahigby.com

October's Focus Point

Choose your Verb

Verb: a word used to show action

Writers know the difference between active and passive verbs. We choose active verbs in our writing because they’re strong, whereas passive verbs are weak. Though our readers may not realize it, their pleasure in our writing is increased by our careful choice of active verbs.

We have the same choices in the act of writing – are we active or passive?

• I’m thinking about an idea for a novel -or- I’m making notes/writing an outline for a novel.
• I have so much to learn about my topic -or- I’m researching my topic, one aspect at a time.
• Someday I’m going to write a devotional book on this theme -or- I’m writing rough drafts of devotionals that will become my first devotional book.
• Since blogging is a first step for an author, I set one up and, when I’m ready, I’ll start posting -or- I’m writing three posts to publish on my blog.
• I’m considering a book about _______ -or- Every week I write a few pages in my book.

Good intentions, careful lists, and distinct goals make me feel I’m doing something, but in reality, little is being accomplished. James understood the discrepancy between active and passive living. In James 1:22 he wrote, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” He knew that mental exercise was not enough, physical effort is also required in our Christian walk.

Let’s choose action rather than passivity in our writing as well as in our living. This does not disparage allowing our work to simmer, or waiting for the proper timing, or recognizing seasons of life. But, if God has put something in our hearts, it’s not enough to think about it—we need to be proactive. Every baby step is a step forward.

What verb describes your writing activity? I hope it’s one of these: researching, outlining, querying, rough drafting, editing, submitting, SMART goal setting, marketing, etc. Wherever your writing is, let it be described with an action verb.

Take-home thought: No one will benefit from the inspired thoughts in your mind. Take steps to get them out there. Write.

Meeting next Saturday

our next meeting:

SATURDAY, october 5, 10 AM - NOON

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff 

In the Barn (2nd building on the right)

Don't walk your writing journey alone. Join us for encouragement, tips, and conversation, wherever you are on the writing road.

Members, please bring work for critique, as per the guidelines on our website.

Hope to see you Saturday,
Barbara
barbarahigbyhope.com

September's Focus Point

Putting forth Effort 

In his second letter, the first chapter, Peter tells us that we can share Jesus’ divine nature. This nature is a gift that increases by knowing Him. He is the Giver; we are His cooperative followers. Peter clarifies our part: we are to make every effort to add godly virtues to our lives. Paraphrasing verses 5-7, He wrote

Because His divine nature is available to you… make every effort to add to your faith goodness… knowledge… self-control… perseverance… godliness… brotherly kindness… love.

Let’s look at what these seven qualities mean as Christian writers and how we reflect them in our writing. Goodness and godliness are obvious—as God-followers, we don’t glorify cruelty and evil, but promote righteousness in our writing. We commend kindness and love—we don’t write from vindictiveness or a mean spirit. The three remaining qualities, however, require us to “make every effort” as we include them in our writing.

• Knowledge – We research and read up on our topics, facts, and references. We discuss ideas and interview others. We cannot write recklessly or off the cuff—we are called to excellence.
• Self-control – We each know we need discipline to actually get our ideas on paper. This is why we share our goals and progress at our meetings. It is why we encourage each other to stay focused and remember our purpose.
• Perseverance – We keep on when writing is difficult, whether from complications in our personal lives, discouragement in our writing, lack of clarity, writer’s block, rejection letters…

Peter assures us in verse 8 that if we possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our “knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We don’t want to be ineffective or unproductive in our faith, nor do we want to be ineffective or unproductive in our writing.

Takeaway: God has saved us, given us His divine nature, and gifted us to write. Let’s “make every effort” to be effective and productive as we grow in knowledge, self-control, and perseverance.

Next meeting: September 7

Hope to see you Saturday, September 7, 10 am - noon

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff 

In the Barn (2nd building on the right)

Don't walk your writing journey alone. Join us for encouragement, tips, and conversation, wherever you are on the writing road.

• Be prepared to share your current status, writing goals, and effective habits that keep you at the keyboard. 
• Members, please bring work for critique, as per the guidelines on our website.

Looking forward to Saturday,
Barbara
barbarahigbyhope.com

Image by hojun Kang from Pixabay 

Meeting this Saturday

august 3, 10 AM - NOON

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff 

In the Barn (2nd building on the right)

• Join us for an informal summer chat session.

• Bring your writing questions, interests, discoveries, and projects and join the conversation.

• Members are encouraged to bring work for critique.

Hope to see you there,

Barbara

barbarahigbyhope.com

Reminder

JULY 13, 10 AM - NOON

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff 

In the Barn (2nd building on the right)

• Join us for an informal summer chat session.

• Bring your writing questions, interests, discoveries, and projects and join the conversation.

• Members are encouraged to bring work for critique.

Hope to see you there,

Barbara

barbarahigbyhope.com

Next meeting - July 13

Due to the holiday, we will meet the second Saturday, not the first. 

JUly 13, 10 AM - NOON

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff 

In the Barn, 2nd building on the right

Join us for an informal summer chat session.

Bring your writing questions, interests, discoveries, and projects and join the conversation.

Leave focused & encouraged.

As usual, members are invited to bring work for critique.

Hope you can make it,

Barbara

barbarahigbyhope.com

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay 

June's Focus Point

Best Marketing Consultant Ever!

Last month we discussed marketing and social media, reminding us that we can’t do it all! But how do we choose what we can do? I suggest three places to look:

• Look at where you are in life. God orders our day and prepared in advance good works for us to do (Eph. 2:10). He doesn’t want us frantic, He wants us to trust Him to do beyond what we could ask or even think, so don’t pile on what the experts tell us we need to do. See what fits with your lifestyle today. Ask, if there’s a learning curve, do I have the time & energy to search it out?
• Look at what appeals to you. When we quiet our hearts we will find that certain options rise to the surface—they just seem right. Follow that thread and let God’s peace serve as a referee in your heart. If that peace continues, don’t walk away from something hard—He will equip you.
• Look to your marketing consultant. We hear so many voices generically telling us what we must do to be noticed, but we have the best marketing consultant ever. The Holy Spirit knows what is specifically best for us and we can trust Him to direct us.

Takeaway: My Marketing Consultant says, “I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” Isaiah 48:17

Meeting this Saturday

June 1, 10 AM - noon

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff 

In the Barn, 2nd building on the right

Join us on Saturday and see if NJCWG is a fit for you.

All are welcome, wherever you are in your writing journey.

Hope to see you,

Barbara

barbarahigbyhope.com

May's Focus Point

When Writing = Obedience 

Write, def. #1: to form characters on a surface. We do this when we enter a date on our calendars, when we make a grocery list, when we journal. This is not the writing that brings us here today.

Write, def. #2: to compose, express, communicate. This is why we are here. It is not for ourselves—it is for others and, more importantly, it's in response to God’s prompting. 

I thought it would be a simple exercise to search the Bible for verses that tell us to "tell" but I found far more than I expected. Note the methods of telling and the forms of communication.

• Isa. 58:1 - "Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people.” (their rebellion and sins)
• Ps. 145:4-7 - “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty… They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”
• Matt. 10:27 - “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.”
• Luke 4:18 (Jesus quoting Isa.61) – "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed."
• John 15:26-27 - "When the Counselor comes… he will testify about me. And you also must testify...
• Col. 1:28-29 - We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
• Mark 16:15 - He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
• 2 Tim. 4:2-3 - Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.
• Hab. 2:2 - "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.”

And what do we plainly write?

• From the verses above: sin, God’s works; His splendor, majesty, goodness and righteousness; His personal revelations to us; Jesus and the Good News; from Isa. 61: good news, freedom, recovery, and release from oppression.

• Ps. 71:15-16 - My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts...

• Acts 5:20 – When an angel opened the prison doors and released the apostles, he told them, "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." 

Where do we proclaim, tell, preach, shout, speak? 

Some of us have “temple courts,” at least occasionally. We have modern tablets (or laptops) and pursue writing in devotionals, periodicals, or and books. We also have rooftops. Our rooftops are blogs, FB, Instagram, audio, video, and more. They are know as social media, but they are our platforms for proclamation. 

Takeaway: I will not shrink from God’s calling on my life, but proclaim, tell, write His message by the means available today.

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. (Col 1:28-29)

Meeting this Saturday

May 4, 10 am - noon

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff

In the Barn (2nd building on the right)

Join us on Saturday for 

An Open Conversation about Marketing

Image by narciso1 from Pixabay 

Bring your opinions, research, tips & experience with FB, Twitter, Instagram, blogs, surveys, video, guest blogging, and audio presentations.

Be prepared to add to the discussion and build your platform.

All are welcome - visit to see if NJCWG is a fit for you. 

Last month's Focus Point is below.

Barbara

barbarahigbyhope.com

Take Advantage of Counsel

Proverbs 15:22 says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

I admire confident people who have a humble spirit. Humility is the difference between being confident and being cocky. Hopefully, one’s confidence stems from careful thought, thorough research, and wise input, which is the kind of confidence I want each of us to have as writers.

We give careful thought to our words. We research endless resources and comb through the truths of the Bible. We seek wise input through trusted advisers (such as in this group) and submit our work for critique.

We are well aware that the labor we exert in writing is not for ourselves but for our readers. We are not journaling—we’re writing to be read by others. This is why today’s topic is of value—it will teach us how to understand the needs of our readers. Their opinions will not to compromise our convictions, but hone the effectiveness of our presentation.

Proverbs 11:14 compliments the verse we just read—"For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.” Our victory in writing is not measured by words on the page or hours at our computers. We are successful when others are encouraged, directed, informed—when we enable them to become more by reading our words.

We write for an audience of One… and also for those He draws to our writing.

Takeaway: Improving our listening skills will improve our writing skills.

Next Meeting: April 6

Let's try this again...

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 and our audience?

All writers are invited, regardless of writing experience. 

April 6, 10 am - noon

Cornerstone Christian Church, Wyckoff

In the Barn (2nd building on the right)

Our last meeting was canceled due to snow, but we don't expect a repeat performance! Please join us this Saturday,

Barbara

barbarahigbyhope.com

Meeting CANCELLED

Due to the weather forecast tomorrow's meeting, March 2, is cancelled.

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?