Fifty Shades of Trash
Posted on March 4, 2015 4 Comments
Would you eat this?
I’ve heard that a lot of people who call themselves Christians are spending their entertainment money going to see the movie “Fifty Shades of Gray.” My question is: why? Why? Why?
I picked this photo out because of it’s title – “Trash in Paradise.” Beautiful island setting with aqua seas in the background. But how can you even see it for the trash?
That’s kind of what happens when we fill our minds and spirits with things we shouldn’t see. Let’s talk about it.
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers – Dialogue
Posted on February 26, 2015 Leave a Comment
Self Editing for Fiction Writers
I used this resource a while back to talk about Point of View. Because point-of-view is something a lot of writers struggle with. I know I did.
But there’s so much more to this book. I’m going to focus on dialogue, because that’s another area where beginning writers turn potential editors and agents off. Now, I’m not an expert, I’m just sharing this resource with you. And I learn from it as I share it with you.
From pg. 83-84 “Imagine you’re at a play. It’s the middle of the first act; you’re getting really involved in the drama they’re acting out. Suddenly the playwright runs out on the stage and yells, ‘Do you see what’s happening here? Do you see how her coldness is behind his infidelity? Have you noticed the way is womanizing has undermined her confidence? Do you get it?’
“You get it, of course, and you feel patronized. You’re an intelligent theatergoer, and what’s happening on the stage is clear enough. You don’t need the writer to explain it to you.
Perspectives on Life and Death – Part 1
Posted on February 25, 2015 6 Comments
Last week was very eventful. I celebrated this blog’s one-year anniversary on the day that a prophetic mentor who was only a few years older than me, died. A short time before that, we had ISIS in Libya killing 21 Coptic Christians.
Let’s look at life and death today. There are all kinds of life and death in our lives…visions for our life and what we’d like it to be, death to dreams, jobs, or things we’d like to see for ourselves, plus the deaths of people we know and respect. But first, let’s look at what life and death actually mean.
Writing Resource – The Scene Book
Posted on February 19, 2015 1 Comment
One of my former Christian Writer’s Guild mentors is named Sandra, but she is the not same Sandra Scofield who wrote The Scene Book, A Primer for the Fiction Writer. My Sandra recommended it to me to help me craft scenes better. I haven’t read all of it yet, but I will be. The book offers examples and information on how to construct scenes in your novel. Every chapter has exercises to help you incorporate what you’ve learned into what you’re writing.
Let’s look at it.
Happy One Year Anniversary – yesterday
Posted on February 18, 2015 4 Comments
One Year Old yesterday!
On February 17, 2014, I started this blog with a very short post about a novel process. Since then, we’ve grown some. This blog has readers from around the world, well over 40 countries. I get the statistics, and I know what you read, and what you don’t. I think, and correct me if I’m wrong, but those of you from other countries like my stuff on writing. Many of you from the U.S. like my other stuff. So that’s why I’m doing two things with this blog, writing and faith/life.
I’m in the mood to give away some things. If you are a NEW follower this week, you may have already won a $10 Amazon gift card. Leave a comment and let me know that you’re new. 🙂
If you’ve followed me from the beginning, and are a writer, with a blog or a novel in process, I’m going to give you your choice of writing resources from my library – IF you don’t already have it. What you’ll get is one sent to you identical to mine. Write a comment that you’re interested. It’s a gift from me to you!
Giveaways for writers
Here’s what I’m making available:
The Emotional Thesaurus – Ackerman & Puglisi
Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook – Maas
The Dance of Character and Plot – Mills
AND – if you love Christian fiction, I have a few giveaways here. Some are newer than others. But they’re all good. Max Lucado’s book is an uncorrected advance copy given to me last September. I’m not charging for it.
Christian Fiction and The Voice New Testament – claim yours!
Hearts Awakening – Delia Parr
Somewhere to Belong – Judith Miller
Between Us Girls – Sally John
Beyond All Dreams – Elizabeth Camden
Sixteen Brides – Stephanie Grace Whitson
Miracle of the Higher Grounds Café – Max Lucado
Special Non-fiction – The Voice New Testament – Thomas Nelson publishers
For your chance to win any of these, leave a comment. Tell me what book you’re interested in and why you want it.
The fiction books are open to anyone who reads this blog and enjoys it. The New Testament is also for anyone who wants it.
I want everyone to be a winner! Unclaimed prizes will be carried over to next week – until they are all gone – or I take them out of circulation.
I like to give, and pass along what I have. Leave a comment and let me know what you’d like!
What You Liked – Happy Anniversary Today!
Posted on February 17, 2015 Leave a Comment
Yellow irises from my flower box
I’m looking back this week. This blog celebrates it’s one-year anniversary today. It seems unbelievable to me. I appreciate every one of you who read and follow this on a regular basis. On the anniversary tomorrow, I’ll spell out details of some giveaways I’ve got planned. I’ve never done that before, but there will be something for both new followers and the faithful.
In 2014, you liked these posts the best. Writing Emotional Pain – without bleeding too much on your readers. You can review it here. The next best thing you liked was Let’s Face It – What About Brick Walls? You can refresh your memory here. And you continue to like my Self-Publishing Tips, Part 2, where I recommend several places to publish. I’m taking myself up on one of them. You can find that link here.
This year so far, you’ve liked, and gave me the highest views in a day yet for Please – Get Your Facts Straight. You can find that link here. You also really seem to enjoy my story of Rochelle from just a couple of weeks ago called Eternal Moments of the Day. You can access that post here.
Again – Thank You So Much! You Are Appreciated!
Stay tuned for more fun this week.
Surprise Post
Posted on February 16, 2015 Leave a Comment
Sometimes I love surprises. How about you? I was surprised by a birthday party last summer. This blog celebrates it’s first anniversary this week – on Wednesday.
I had a blurry rose picture for my first post last year. I changed it to this group of roses.
I talked about process. There are processes to everything we do. This blog is about my writing process to publication, and about my spiritual growth processes and life processes.
Tomorrow, a short post about what you liked and read the most this past year. Here’s the link to my first post.
Writing Resource – Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript
Posted on February 12, 2015 2 Comments
From the Back Cover:
“Prepare and Present Your Work Like a Pro!
Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, 3rd Edition, ( by Chuck Sambuchino and the Editors of Writer’s Digest Books ) gives you all the information you need to craft a winning submission. Fully updated, this comprehensive resource now features more than 100 sample letters and manuscript pages, expanded instruction for electronic submissions, updated formatting and submitting guidelines, and new insider tips from top agents and editors.”
For Those with Rejection Issues
Posted on February 11, 2015 2 Comments
I’ve added a new tab on this website. About 13 years ago, I discovered I had “the root of rejection.” What is that, anyway? I’m going to be talking about rejection in all its forms in separate posts under that tab.
What I’ll do with the posts, is to put a link to the most recent page.
There are other names for the root of rejection. Rejection syndrome is another name for it. Wikipedia has a wonderful link about Avoidant Personality Disorder. Amazing, isn’t it?
Here’s that link. I had almost all of the symptoms. Had is the operative word. I’ll be sharing tidbits from my story and of others I’ve known. Why? To help you heal.
Here’s the link to the first post there. Welcome. This is a place of love, acceptance, and healing.
Meghan’s Next Step
Posted on February 4, 2015 6 Comments
About a week after learning I did not win a publishing prize at the third contest I’d entered last year, and getting my scores, I’m going to be self-editing Meghan one last time. Then, I’m sending her to a friend of mine, one of the Indie publishers I listed on Self-Publishing Tips, Part II. To see that post, click HERE.
Donna L.H. Smith 