tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16430923317291263872024-03-28T20:31:12.301+00:00More than WritersThe blog of the Association of Christian Writers. auntyamohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08213728883228063200noreply@blogger.comBlogger3141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-45077304811066827472024-03-28T05:00:00.012+00:002024-03-28T05:00:00.380+00:00YOU ARE FREE!!<p></p><p class="firstline"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24pt;">Therefore,
if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Calibri, "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 24pt;">Happy Easter to you all!</span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Calibri, "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt;">In advance...</span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Calibri, "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt;">Now, it is dark, gloomy and hopeless. The silence is poignant,
eerie and reeks of evil presence. All the minions from hell are on guard. Yet...
It seems all is lost. The saints weep. Angels are stunned in shock. But…</span><span face="Calibri, "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><b style="font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Morning comes after the night</i></b><span face="Calibri, "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt;">. </span><b style="font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><u>Weeping may endure at night but joy
comes in the morning</u></b><span face="Calibri, "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt;">! </span><span face="Calibri, "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span face="Calibri, "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt;">Huge
congrats for resurrecting with our Lord Jesus into a new life this coming
Sunday! </span><span face="Calibri, "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span face="Calibri, "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt;">We write devotions, mantras, poetry,
songs and stories to celebrate this majestic historical incidence of the Easter
story of freedom from our enslavement to sin, physical death and salvation.</span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Friday, there are two
main characters: the Protagonist and the Antagonist hero in a battle to win the
soul of mankind. The first setting is Calvary in Jerusalem. There is a shift.
The setting moves to the spiritual realm. There is a twist in the tale. The defeated
becomes the victor!! There’s a flashback in the prologue - before the beginning
of time, the battle has long been fought and won…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> A</span> character in my
historical fantasy book, ‘The Captive’s Crown’ recites the poem below:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">AT
THE TOMB<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">The earthquake woke me up</span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My heart said, go to the tomb<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My soul lent me strength<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My will lent me courage<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My spirit carried my flesh<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My feet carried me to the tomb<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My eyes have seen the empty tomb<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My ears have heard the miraculous of all<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Wonders and mysteries:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My Lord has risen!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He has the victory<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He has gone before me<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="firstline"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My Lord is Abba!!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">‘The things we see are only temporary but what God
says to us are permanent’. Believe that you are free of Imposter Syndrome
and anything else preventing you from using your gift to God’s glory to bless
mankind.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUipLLKm1LG_XP7crDiyOrrnUPLPPcGcLOFWPdSnr9_txSct2WTgm1zJXGYQXUoSpIwjRlgpARDzgB33bJLfIpQNYUuoebpqV_eRfKoS1KqeY9MB0G3nusdWxPMyz7y0gFdhdKmZY8keYZqWZpZYpT5iFxqb0KEdSzUiVRVndy0Eg4ElUerYYL_M8ogM/s4032/20240108_080859.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUipLLKm1LG_XP7crDiyOrrnUPLPPcGcLOFWPdSnr9_txSct2WTgm1zJXGYQXUoSpIwjRlgpARDzgB33bJLfIpQNYUuoebpqV_eRfKoS1KqeY9MB0G3nusdWxPMyz7y0gFdhdKmZY8keYZqWZpZYpT5iFxqb0KEdSzUiVRVndy0Eg4ElUerYYL_M8ogM/w240-h320/20240108_080859.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Sophia Anyanwu lives in SE London with her loving
husband. She’s an educationist,
encourager, reviewer, author and poet. She’s an active grandmother to 7
grandchildren when not writing! She is
a member of the Association of Christian Writers, UK. She has published 16
books , which are available on her website: </span><a href="http://www.olusolasophiaanyanwuauthor.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">www.olusolasophiaanyanwuauthor.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
and Amazon. You can subscribe to her
YouTube channel here:</span> <a href="https://bit.ly/3j0oPuy"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">https://bit.ly/3j0oPuy</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
and follow her on all social media here: </span><a href="https://bit.ly/3UG36Kx"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">https://bit.ly/3UG36Kx</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9-VUfMlFEc8ScTPaX4Qtd1DbAKBX1tnj3ivx1PUsgJZAj5_8MTP9tz0Vx4U9yvvS5GAiL1jX8zH474zd-jql8orxBpVNNOdnrkfZw9GtFAlnJC0Swuvrz7SZ8-rEDvGcthbjofmG2S1sTGzrftbFctweY5uQRfY7VCs7NKrVD3FKDWQyVPwb8kwxMWA/s6000/IMG_3729_pp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9-VUfMlFEc8ScTPaX4Qtd1DbAKBX1tnj3ivx1PUsgJZAj5_8MTP9tz0Vx4U9yvvS5GAiL1jX8zH474zd-jql8orxBpVNNOdnrkfZw9GtFAlnJC0Swuvrz7SZ8-rEDvGcthbjofmG2S1sTGzrftbFctweY5uQRfY7VCs7NKrVD3FKDWQyVPwb8kwxMWA/w200-h133/IMG_3729_pp.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p></p>Olusola Sophia Anyanwuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17293078773098388724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-75937363428051780032024-03-26T00:00:00.001+00:002024-03-26T00:00:00.247+00:00What are you dreaming of? by Brendan Conboy<p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">One
of my favourite films is </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">‘Field of Dreams’</b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> starring Kevin Costner as Ray
Kinsella. Ray, an Iowa farmer hears a voice that tells him, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“If you build
it, he will come.”</b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLps_32tfeQAjvFUT50wXtHuiTQ5wPntvE8iVwWuZEtGQR1_RbHqPpoDvnzoGFsvtrPSIOash590pvOUjEotJgx9O4FutZNprXpqrLjDrs6WqvPxz7MmZhERDqhgejIbQEe8UUwuO6_3RCQZv-BizGzfnzU4h0Hs_iJlvJ543JmOSasZjkYjU6nz-Rhk/s318/Field%20of%20Dreams.jfif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="318" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLps_32tfeQAjvFUT50wXtHuiTQ5wPntvE8iVwWuZEtGQR1_RbHqPpoDvnzoGFsvtrPSIOash590pvOUjEotJgx9O4FutZNprXpqrLjDrs6WqvPxz7MmZhERDqhgejIbQEe8UUwuO6_3RCQZv-BizGzfnzU4h0Hs_iJlvJ543JmOSasZjkYjU6nz-Rhk/s1600/Field%20of%20Dreams.jfif" width="318" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">He
eventually does as the voice instructs and ploughs up his cornfield, turning it
into a baseball field. He is compelled to be obedient to the voice, so that a
dead baseball player, <b>‘Shoeless Joe Jackson’</b> has a chance to play again.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Ray
Kinsella is a fictional character but Joe, on the other hand, was a true legend
of a player who was banned from the game, due to a game-fixing scandal. It is
partly the combination of fact and fiction that makes this story work and
almost believable. The other reason why this film was a box office smash was
that we all naturally want to pursue our dreams.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Joel
28:2 says – ‘Your old men will dream and your young men will see visions.’ So,
what do you dream of? What is your vision? What is stopping you from achieving
your goals and writing that book?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Shoeless
Joe Jackson was deceived and robbed of the game that he loved. Have you been
robbed of your dreams? As many of you will know, someone once told me I could
never be an author, and I believed them. They robbed me of my dream, but
another voice, that still gentle voice encouraged me to write. I was obedient
to God’s voice and His calling.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">That
first book led me to 16 in total to date and many more opportunities. One of the
most exciting ventures has been to establish the </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Book Blest Christian Book
Festival, </b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">held in Stroud, Gloucestershire. Now in its third year, we are
building it again in faith that </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">‘HE’ </b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">will come. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“If you build it, HE
will come.”</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Of
course, we want authors to come, and they are, from all over the country; many
of them are ACW members. Naturally, we want any visitors to come and hear the
stories of faith in action, but most of all we are </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">BLEST</b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> by the presence
of God – </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">HE does come.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
closing date for author applications is 14</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> April and the main
festival will now take place on the 6</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> and 7</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
September. Adrian Plass, the president of ACW will be our keynote speaker on Friday
evening and the Saturday will see a host of authors take to the platform.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3EEraP-uJ3Sh1hyphenhyphengO8Pc40mF-rtpM6OVwErvEVDv6maKYBNoKsE2WFmHAJqUb_0Sknvz9b-EQaeV_yZp4KhoKJGAPFUiLuyarRLenBJ1E7quXDuaisuJ1dRIcZh2ski2werrxY1Lk92FUWUVbutTRssWYjqcnX7QFIecCZP8qKBCOWxYpp8ON4qyWbI/s3250/Main%20poster%20teaser%202024%20v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3250" data-original-width="2250" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3EEraP-uJ3Sh1hyphenhyphengO8Pc40mF-rtpM6OVwErvEVDv6maKYBNoKsE2WFmHAJqUb_0Sknvz9b-EQaeV_yZp4KhoKJGAPFUiLuyarRLenBJ1E7quXDuaisuJ1dRIcZh2ski2werrxY1Lk92FUWUVbutTRssWYjqcnX7QFIecCZP8qKBCOWxYpp8ON4qyWbI/w283-h408/Main%20poster%20teaser%202024%20v2.jpg" width="283" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHWasHIjEbtNUlkO-T-D57h07kWd-mgJZzpR5mpIBKefqVJonaAUxC9n8uJ7exoch6UODgRLChrMaNq1tw18XqVD-2PD1r6NKluoDQelkekV-dhjOa8h8WpWYS5WFuBXV_-5f8t1-Bzi7io-1vOa2XBhpEYF4sxoMjRNXKnDlnblN-6B6RStU0m9uR2g/s3579/Dave%20Bilborough%20poster%206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3579" data-original-width="2551" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHWasHIjEbtNUlkO-T-D57h07kWd-mgJZzpR5mpIBKefqVJonaAUxC9n8uJ7exoch6UODgRLChrMaNq1tw18XqVD-2PD1r6NKluoDQelkekV-dhjOa8h8WpWYS5WFuBXV_-5f8t1-Bzi7io-1vOa2XBhpEYF4sxoMjRNXKnDlnblN-6B6RStU0m9uR2g/w292-h408/Dave%20Bilborough%20poster%206.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;">In
addition to the main event, we are also planning an evening of storytelling and
music with worship leader, Dave Bilbrough on 18</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> May.</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For
author applications and tickets </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bookblest.co.uk/">visit
Book Blest HERE.</a></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What
are you dreaming about? I would love to know.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #212529; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #212529; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">“All our dreams can come true, if we have the
courage to pursue them.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #212529; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Walt Disney</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: start;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiU-_tgX88kbIPT15flXjs0uwMcQHfXQFcD44gaByclOeyqq1okRBkHWWIW0xn7ctKggW3o4vwKu4QRGXrgoSre2Ib4y0VG8Tgamc8FNW6wtLc6kvakBhok7UwX-iDAoYryklAPV3uS_2LSeSznm5aP8S6Njd7ue2Hq9E58qH_OBLNpRIYOrMutC9xV0/s650/brendan%20GT%20launch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="650" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiU-_tgX88kbIPT15flXjs0uwMcQHfXQFcD44gaByclOeyqq1okRBkHWWIW0xn7ctKggW3o4vwKu4QRGXrgoSre2Ib4y0VG8Tgamc8FNW6wtLc6kvakBhok7UwX-iDAoYryklAPV3uS_2LSeSznm5aP8S6Njd7ue2Hq9E58qH_OBLNpRIYOrMutC9xV0/w225-h215/brendan%20GT%20launch.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="background: #F3FDFE; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Brendan
Conboy aka Half Man Half Poet</span></b><span style="background: #F3FDFE; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> is the author of 16 published books including two fascinating
autobiographies, <i>The Golden Thread and I'm Still VALUED</i>. In
1986, Brendan invited Jesus into his life and God blessed him with the gift of
rhyming words. He used that gift as a Christian Rap artist for 25 years
and has written 6 poetry books including the entire <i>Book of Psalms in
Rhyme</i>. He has 3 published novels - <i>Issues, Invasion of the
Mimics and Legacy of the Mimics. </i>He is the creator of Book Blest
Christian book festival.<i> </i>Brendan is available for speaking
events, poetry performances and workshops<i>. </i>Visit Brendan's
website <b><a href="https://www.brendanconboy.co.uk/author.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #37afc0; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">.</span></span></a></b></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Brendan Conboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10505303824011671930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-47403484546839133482024-03-25T00:30:00.011+00:002024-03-25T00:30:00.281+00:00Three years and counting, by Joy Margetts<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Last week I
celebrated a birthday. (Not my real birthday - that comes much later in the
year and I’ve stopped counting those!) On the 19</span><sup style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">th</sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> March 2021 I held
a new arrival in my arms, and beamed with joy, and thanked God for His gift.
And I got to call myself an author for the first time.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Three years
later I am still pinching myself. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgz6O41bQrvRVwhYyR1XIWL9avPZJNV-JeJef2zMTCsSckQxtevP1TQM6cJHb2pMzxvpk-3-wjqwWouHVrtofetpdkqWgOCioJOPCmigx3avfZhQSD3ugQYmx4XIRT9eHe1gppQxuiT-K6tx9A6iB2bwkR7aoqTABDB9xOgWyJ3qf8v4ksGwyc60doW_c/s905/author%20book.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="647" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgz6O41bQrvRVwhYyR1XIWL9avPZJNV-JeJef2zMTCsSckQxtevP1TQM6cJHb2pMzxvpk-3-wjqwWouHVrtofetpdkqWgOCioJOPCmigx3avfZhQSD3ugQYmx4XIRT9eHe1gppQxuiT-K6tx9A6iB2bwkR7aoqTABDB9xOgWyJ3qf8v4ksGwyc60doW_c/s320/author%20book.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><br /></span></p>Around the
same time that I signed the contract for </span><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The Healing</i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">, my daughter
informed us that she was pregnant for the first time. So in 2021 I not only got
one new title, ‘author’, but a second new title, ‘Nana’ (We already had a
granny and a grandma in the family). We had two joy-filled reasons to celebrate that spring.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Anyone who
knows the background of how my first book came about will know that my story is
not typical. I understand that for many writers, it takes years of perseverance
and practice, and re-writes, and failed submissions to bring a book to birth. The
labour period can seem long and painful. I can imagine how hearing how someone,
who never thought to publish a book, came out of nowhere and secured a
publishing contract for her first novel, on her first attempt, might have
grated a bit. A bit like those fortunate woman who drop babies without hardly a
twinge of a contraction. Nobody was more surprised, or humbled, than me when it
happened.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">But looking
back I know that publishing <i>The Healing</i> was only the start of something different,
and bigger than I could ever imagine. A new season that God would lead me into,
after years of struggle, much of which time I felt unproductive and unable to do
anything of worth. Being an author changes your life, not perhaps quite as
drastically as becoming a parent does. But it does bring with it new
challenges, new opportunities and new joys.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Three years
later my grandson is growing up fast. He loves to run and jump, and chats incessantly.
He can do jigsaws, and build Duplo houses, count to seven and name all of the Paw
Patrol characters. We watch him developing and maturing, and see how his world
is expanding, as is ours as grandparents.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">My first book
has developed too, in that two other novels were inspired by it, and a fourth offshoot
is currently in progress. My readership has grown, and whilst I am not a
bestseller, and may never be, I know that my books have given joy to their
readers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Becoming an
author has also led to other things I could never had anticipated. Friendships
with other writers that will last a lifetime. Contacts with professionals willing
to share their experience and to teach me the way of excellence. A devotional
that would never come to print if I hadn’t already been published. And a vision
to do all that I can to encourage others, like me, who want to write for the
Kingdom. Which in turn has thrown me into running retreats, building team, creating
websites and recording podcasts!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kingdomstorywriters.co.uk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsADuZMieYHVRHgSgrC6C_lfc0DsnLdCz3vwyUVd5q5LKPhJWrQmTOs21MoDT-43J5Tv0TnZEpthhTLS7QjM7OtMfy3QcYB1iP5rL2QZ6TpvOHY3U1bUwtpPsYTB-VLn2jc1_xO4wBFLh3NdrOcBD31o9BC4AY_g-WlhQVkVWoGuygB6TCKGVSJiJuwqD/s320/KSW%20BANNER.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">So I
celebrate this third birthday of my book with great thankfulness, and with a
great deal of wonder. Looking back at just how much my life had changed in
three years in ways that could only be God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">My books have
multiplied and so have my grandchildren. I dare say there may be more of both
to come! And I will enjoy this season of my life for as long as it lasts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">And just a
word of encouragement for those still waiting to see their book dreams realised.
You may not know when your period of labouring might suddenly come to an end,
and what God might bring to birth from you. But when it does come to that
moment I pray that God will provide you with just the right midwives, friends
and helpers to help you make that transition into the new season of your life.
Don’t underestimate the One who can do exceedingly more than we can ask, think
or imagine!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><br />
<i><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly
abundantly above all that we </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">ask</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> or </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">think</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">, according to the power that works in us</span>,<b><sup>
</sup></b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">to Him </span>be<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> glory</span>...<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">Ephesians
3:20 -21 NKJV</span></i><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="background-color: #f3fdfe; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="background-color: #f3fdfe; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Joy Margetts writes Christian Historical Fiction. Her debut novel '<i>The Healing</i>' was published in March 2021, and her second ‘<i>The Pilgrim</i>’ in July 2022. Her third novel '<i>The Bride</i>' was published 20th October 2023. She has also recently published her first non-fiction book, an Advent Devotional entitled '<i>Christ Illuminated</i>'.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b style="background-color: #f3fdfe; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Joy makes her home in beautiful North Wales and takes her inspiration from its rich spiritual history and stunning landscapes. She is also wife, mother and grandmother and a lover of the Word of God. Her personal blog and more information about her books can be found here <span style="background: transparent; color: blue;"><span style="color: #37afc0;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><a href="http://www.joymargetts.com/" style="background: transparent; color: #37afc0; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">www.joymargetts.com </a></span></span></span></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Joy Margettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16864995110516740860noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-4762949984406333902024-03-24T02:00:00.001+00:002024-03-24T02:00:00.140+00:00A Door on a Misty Landscape<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMgHKHf4HSCd3sGg30bsmrVuJcTCt_SOHwF0ajRmcw2y-iZ_mWXA-8foCjfKonu6vCPoeIVqdrwRL4uhST41hcazCrBxgaW2BFlLV1EWC5cal1CHOg2YxVNj6EG1lPJQJamD4ctiviTV6AndTMDS4O2P6qU5-VE5jZGcPYI6krbDdsrXEqBcVntiD5yyZ/s743/misty%20tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="528" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMgHKHf4HSCd3sGg30bsmrVuJcTCt_SOHwF0ajRmcw2y-iZ_mWXA-8foCjfKonu6vCPoeIVqdrwRL4uhST41hcazCrBxgaW2BFlLV1EWC5cal1CHOg2YxVNj6EG1lPJQJamD4ctiviTV6AndTMDS4O2P6qU5-VE5jZGcPYI6krbDdsrXEqBcVntiD5yyZ/w142-h200/misty%20tree.jpg" width="142" /></a></div><br />'Starting a novel is
opening a door on a misty landscape; you
can still see very little </b><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>but
you can smell the earth and feel the wind blowing.' </b>Iris Murdoch</span></div>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I
find this a really encouraging quotation. While Iris Murdoch is not
very popular at the minute, she was a fine, prolific writer. And she
started her novels with as little sense of direction as I do.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.74cm;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">An online quiz once asked, ‘Are you
a planner or a pantser’? I hate the phrase, but I understand the
sentiment. While in life I’m a very organised person, in my writing
I do ‘fly by the seat of my pants’. I have to. When I try to plan
a story in advance, my characters simply refuse to co-operate. For
me, stories start with the characters, and they seem determined to
remain in control! </span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.74cm;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">I generally write a plan after a first
draft, and then desperately try and keep the second draft faithful to
the plan. It’s not a great way of working. But it’s the only way
I can do it. And I’m in good company. Gustav Flaubert said, </span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.74cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
‘<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>It
seems to </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>m</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>e,
alas, that if you can so thoroughly dissect your children who are
still to be born, you don’t get horny enough to actually father
them.’ </b></span></span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.74cm;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">So maybe it’s OK to not plan too
much in advance. Fortunately, I’m not trying to write complex,
plot-driven thrillers.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.74cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJvvKT3Emf7h4vTiJWbODfsqRzX3yFowEmmdL0hJtkSmn3eBqjhNEsAbt5VQ29r61cusSdBDoHQtM92GJXwS6uDSBzTDPxkcoxP8gpfdYhhX0V9QWAxzpQ7HnznH5-9yRGbN96vbnXiXh8W4C85hs1yiUnEL1HdKw7ESlf7RlsqfzzbgBB-jYS75_xmQg/s4032/PXL_20240220_105149911.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJvvKT3Emf7h4vTiJWbODfsqRzX3yFowEmmdL0hJtkSmn3eBqjhNEsAbt5VQ29r61cusSdBDoHQtM92GJXwS6uDSBzTDPxkcoxP8gpfdYhhX0V9QWAxzpQ7HnznH5-9yRGbN96vbnXiXh8W4C85hs1yiUnEL1HdKw7ESlf7RlsqfzzbgBB-jYS75_xmQg/w200-h150/PXL_20240220_105149911.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">For me, writing is a bit like waking
up in the Swiss mountains and knowing, without needing to look out of
the window, that it has snowed overnight. There’s something about
the quality of the light, the stillness of the air that tells me that
when I open the shutters I will see fresh snow weighting down the
branches of the pine trees. </span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.74cm;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">I get that same sense with writing, a
feeling that something is there, just out of sight but ready to be be
seen. That’s when I need to grab a pen (or turn on my computer).</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.74cm;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">And I don’t think it’s so
different with faith. Paul famously says, </span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.74cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
‘<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>For
now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face
to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am
fully known.’ </b></span>(I Corinthians 13:12) </span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.74cm;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">While we are here on earth, we can
only ever see and know a little of God. The full reveal has to wait
until we reach heaven.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.74cm;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">This is a similar idea to Murdoch’s
misty landscape. Starting a novel, living a life of trust in God,
both require us to step out in faith, without completely knowing
where we’re going. </span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.74cm;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">Sometimes the mist is thick, the
mirror I’m looking in feels old and distressed. I glimpse very
little of God. Then the idea that when I preach or write I could help
anyone understand more about God seems laughable. </span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.74cm;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">Thankfully God can work through us,
even when we feel this way.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.74cm;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">But at other times, the sun breaks
through the mist, the mirror is new and bright, and my faith is
renewed by a deeper vision of who God is.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 0.74cm;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">I pray for those insights, and for the
courage to step out in faith, in our lives and in our writings. That
we can share our imperfect glimpses of God with others.</span></p>
<style type="text/css"><span style="font-family: arial;">p { line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.25cm; background: transparent }</span></style></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></b></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.74cm;">
<span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.74cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.74cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" 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" /> <br /></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><style type="text/css">p { line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.25cm; background: transparent }</style></p>Kathryn Schererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00863166075949994787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-4889457429312796912024-03-23T00:30:00.001+00:002024-03-23T00:30:00.135+00:00New Life by Rebecca Seaton<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">New Life by Rebecca Seaton<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVzaiMcCVPEKlzpLR-VzegSLi2d_WtGmiGLBizbnJnM0KpQytfTqha9de9i0wZXxthgMKb2tzxFklAQyTjCArnGpSLgiV5cmQIUx07Jr3reOekWg9Ku1sURMh7DbQXjHHwCXeEX_7i8CJpm-BkU99i4TPhyBRIy-BtC2ZToWh0sbxW7gP2QXKMn7VmLcZ/s1148/20200822_212116%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="940" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVzaiMcCVPEKlzpLR-VzegSLi2d_WtGmiGLBizbnJnM0KpQytfTqha9de9i0wZXxthgMKb2tzxFklAQyTjCArnGpSLgiV5cmQIUx07Jr3reOekWg9Ku1sURMh7DbQXjHHwCXeEX_7i8CJpm-BkU99i4TPhyBRIy-BtC2ZToWh0sbxW7gP2QXKMn7VmLcZ/w143-h175/20200822_212116%5B1%5D.jpg" width="143" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Approaching Easter, we have a
chance to think about new life. This can be a new thing or the fanning into
flame of an existing thing. How can we apply this concept to our writing?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Maybe you haven’t written for
a while of your writing is stuck in a rut. It can happen to the best of us.
Before you give up, maybe there’s a way to bring life to it again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Change the Point of View<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If like me, you love your
characters, ‘killing your darlings’ is hard. However, it can free up story time
for other characters who have been restricted up until now. Even keeping the
same characters but changing whose view is predominant can create a new angle.
Maybe first person would work better than third or vice-versa. Just beware
head-hopping!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Change Genre<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This could seem wild but could
also be about looking at your work more clearly and seeing better where it
fits. If your paranormal romance is more about the romance than a supernatural
element, maybe it would work just as well as a straightforward romance?
Sometimes just asking yourself the question of which genre or plotline is dominant
can help bring the planning back on track. This might not be ditching whole
elements but could mean being clearer with yourself as to what the book is
really about.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Change Audience<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Which brings us onto audience.
Is our story really the supernatural crime/YA fantasy/middle grade comedy we
thought it was? I consider myself a planner rather than a pantser but I’ve
still come unstuck on this one. Not matter how hard I try to shoehorn the WIP
into YA, there are just elements I can’t ignore. At the least, it’s New Adult,
so I need to rethink certain bits. However, this does give me a sense of relief
– there’s nothing wrong with the story, just where I’ve seen it sitting up
until now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Take a Break<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If all else fails, take a
break. There’s a lot to be said for perspective. The Bible tells us God Himself
rested, whether after creating (Genesis 2:1-3) or when facing challenge (Matthew
26:36-42). The whole of creation may not hinge on our creative decisions but
the reasoning still stands. There can be as much power in the pause as in the
push, after all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsGvQBMD7DPu_6unL0IFohlfAIZ5zkBxVcmja2xd5f_njzn6Csi0w8-qzqjfSoGnhEuXLERLIx9oBFM1uC55XgweU9IgGOUbM5mRp1NSK8DkUOfyYhHP7fV-C5BncXZVCy_aiOPxjnMjav1eZAu2u9JsPZrf8MmGFw9Tqd23Txubuwc_nliaL1LZfjmWx/s4624/20220403_104609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsGvQBMD7DPu_6unL0IFohlfAIZ5zkBxVcmja2xd5f_njzn6Csi0w8-qzqjfSoGnhEuXLERLIx9oBFM1uC55XgweU9IgGOUbM5mRp1NSK8DkUOfyYhHP7fV-C5BncXZVCy_aiOPxjnMjav1eZAu2u9JsPZrf8MmGFw9Tqd23Txubuwc_nliaL1LZfjmWx/w207-h156/20220403_104609.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 14.0cm;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 14.0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;">Rebecca writes fantasy novels, magazine articles
and the occasional play. She had her first novel, A Silent Song, published through
Pen to Print’s Book Challenge competition and is currently working on the
second book of a new trilogy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Rebecca Seatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370825476563028866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-56439712168629633982024-03-22T00:30:00.001+00:002024-03-22T00:30:00.133+00:00Chocolate and Cheese - Insights from Tom Wright<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn318hc8wjhog2P7BLJmrvOXCQVNKhixyRc-acJ5aNjHTBVnBQT3ygck7G1wr9Rgcz76LY8_1AgNDtuizyyOHuiJx-jkPOV1u0OV2sdhZvkH3B-ljTLob7BmsSLIV9WQnJIMh8O0QuZkU9UveecilQr7m2qZcewjEWh9_KvvTwea3GsVenvaLVxNydnHUB/s1500/Chocolate-and-cheese-52d7d2006206493695a8df04ef9505a5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1500" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn318hc8wjhog2P7BLJmrvOXCQVNKhixyRc-acJ5aNjHTBVnBQT3ygck7G1wr9Rgcz76LY8_1AgNDtuizyyOHuiJx-jkPOV1u0OV2sdhZvkH3B-ljTLob7BmsSLIV9WQnJIMh8O0QuZkU9UveecilQr7m2qZcewjEWh9_KvvTwea3GsVenvaLVxNydnHUB/s320/Chocolate-and-cheese-52d7d2006206493695a8df04ef9505a5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p>Tom Wright is one of my favourite authors. </span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b3e46e5b-7fff-d8ce-651c-4e0363695f89"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I like the way he writes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I like </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">what </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">he writes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I like his knowledge of original Biblical text, which he so generously shares. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I like his humour. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Every book of his I’ve read has been challenging and informative, teaching me new things. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">His latest book (written with Michael F. Bird), </span><a href="https://www.eden.co.uk/politics-and-faith/jesus-and-the-powers-tom-wright/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jesus and the Powers</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, was released yesterday, and it’s on my TBR list. I understand there will be some podcasts on it soon, too - Tom is recording them as we speak.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I recently read Wright’s</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/bible-study/bible-study-guides/into-the-heart-of-romans/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Into the Heart of Romans</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">On the cover, Tom Wright is referred to as ‘Paul’s greatest living interpreter’. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I have no reason to disagree. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The book is, in my opinion, excellent. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Wright takes us behind the Biblical text, exploring the places and people within.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">More from Tom here: </span><a href="https://www.admirato.org/courses/heart-of-romans" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://www.admirato.org/courses/heart-of-romans</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But what about the man behind the text of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Into the Heart of Romans</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What about him, and his approach to writing? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Tom kindly gave us some glimpses: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EO: What’s your favourite colour? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">TW: Dark Blue. (OK, I’m an Oxford man) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EO: I’ll let you off! I’ll also highlight your words in dark blue below. How about that…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EO: What made you begin writing? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">TW: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">No idea. Words and music were always present in our house, and writing was as obvious a thing as playing the piano. I suppose at school I enjoyed writing essays for class, and it went from there. My mother, in her 90s, looked at a shelf of my books and said, ‘Well, when you were a little boy, I always said you had too much to say for yourself.’</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EO: Don't they say that Mothers are always right…..?!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EO: Which part of the writing process do you enjoy most? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">TW: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Most of it! I love mapping things out for a book or an article – getting the ground plan done. Once I know where I’m going and get a ‘starter’ – hopefully a lively way into the subject – then it’s fun to watch the metaphors and illustrations arriving and doing business with one another . . . I really like revising, too, tidying things up: computers make that so easy (I well remember in the 1970s when we did everything by hand or old-fashioned typewriter and revising things was a real bore). And I like proofreading, making sure things really say what they should.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EO: Which part of the writing process do you find most challenging? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">TW: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There are rare occasions when I have a real ‘writer’s block’ and that can be frustrating. Or if an editor says ‘I really like THIS bit but I want you to revise THAT bit quite heavily’ – when I thought I’d got it straight . . . And don’t get me started about copyeditors . . .</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EO: What encourages you as you write? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Seeing an argument come together and flow. Often the ‘writer’s luck’ principle of an illustration just happening along and then developing in ways you hadn’t imagined . . .</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EO: What advice would you give someone who wanted to write a book? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">TW: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bob Dylan said ‘I’ll know my song well before I start singing’. Answer: the years of patient reading round a subject pay dividends . . . don’t be in too much of a hurry. But when you sense that it’s really time to get going, get going . . .</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EO: You write as N.T Wright and as Tom Wright. I understand that your N.T books are written in a more academic style than your Tom books? What is it like to write in two different styles? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">TW: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I don’t really think of it like that. I have various different audiences in mind for various different projects and so it comes out differently. I have tried, though, to make my more ‘academic’ books readable, and to make my less academic books nevertheless rigorously thought through, even if all the detailed working isn’t visible.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EO: Some helpful and encouraging writer-food for thought there.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What about food-food.....do you prefer chocolate or cheese? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">TW: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Close choice, but chocolate just wins. Except it’s Lent just now. And actually I’m a both/and sort of person: have you ever tried a cheese sandwich with dark chocolate added?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EO: I haven’t. But if it fuels you, perhaps we’ll make it the official ACW diet! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EO: Tell me a favourite Bible verse, and why? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">TW: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">2 Cor 5.21 – when properly understood!! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">God made Jesus (who knew no sin) to be sin for us, so that in him we might become, might embody, God’s covenant faithfulness.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> I know that’s not the usual translation but it’s what Paul meant; check out the Isaiah background to the next couple of verses, where the Servant is given as a covenant to the people. Christian ministry consists of being set free from sin so that we can embody, before the world, as Paul did, the fact that the creator God is faithful to his covenant. That has been a real encouragement to me over the years.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EO: Thank you. That's a really helpful insight to that verse for me, and I'm sure for others, too.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">EO: Thank you so much for talking to me, Tom. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">How can we, ACW, pray for you? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">TW: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thank you! For health and strength. For the family, esp. my two daughters, now in their 40s, both battling long term health issues. For Maggie and me moving half our belongings up to our new home on the Isle of Harris . . .</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #002060; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Father God,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thank You for Tom. Thank You for his kindness, and for Your gifting in him. Thank You for his incredible learning and knowledge, and the way he shares that through his writing and speaking. He blesses so many. Please bless him in return, and equip him with the strength he needs; in every way.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We pray for his new book, that it will really help and encourage people.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We pray for Tom’s family, particularly thinking of his daughters. Father, You know. Please send them something that brings them joy today.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We pray for Maggie and Tom. Thank You for their ministry. Please help the move be as smooth as possible, and bless them both in their new home. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Great is Your faithfulness.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Amen</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Emily Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07677150433232420065noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-69554055632917419062024-03-21T00:30:00.010+00:002024-03-21T00:30:00.133+00:00Madwoman<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnS4V3dYT0GKJEp-iY6WmgcAILx_3lBZJTdYZYIHtt1tbAG1beBR4QvBiH7QtsZZaZJAoHKLrHtgwihXHiivHJYUMvTOkcI-j29wR9Ksh54_BWjd6M9lVij-PlDZ2Uelj0-wutITAxizWEBTfx8sWSQVBIKjPLooW_jl2v7iKqkrlF2XHXICvKNtwv-ck/s1024/madwoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Generated cartoon image of wooden person holding saw, with books, chairs, tools, gavels" border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnS4V3dYT0GKJEp-iY6WmgcAILx_3lBZJTdYZYIHtt1tbAG1beBR4QvBiH7QtsZZaZJAoHKLrHtgwihXHiivHJYUMvTOkcI-j29wR9Ksh54_BWjd6M9lVij-PlDZ2Uelj0-wutITAxizWEBTfx8sWSQVBIKjPLooW_jl2v7iKqkrlF2XHXICvKNtwv-ck/w369-h329/madwoman.jpg" width="369" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am in the processing of <s>reworking</s> editing my
manuscript. The last time my editor saw me she asked, ‘Lucy, are you a
madwoman, architect, carpenter or judge right now?’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thankfully, this was not in any way meant to insult me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘I am probably at all of these at the moment,’ I said. But
it got me thinking. We both knew what she was talking about. Some years ago, we
both attended an ACW event in London where Amy Boucher Pye had given a talk on
this topic, originally taken from Betty Flowers’ famous 1981 article: ‘Madman,
Architect, Carpenter, Judge: Roles and the Writing Process’. If you’ve not yet
come across this theory, or missed the talk, the key points are that when you
are writing you may hit a wall if you try to wear too many hats at once. The
optimal order for progress is:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Madwoman / Madman </b>Ideas stage: let loose
and unleash your creativity. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Architect </b>Form stage: select content and
arrange at paragraph level thinking. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Carpenter </b>Sequence stage: sentence
structure, clarity, logic and grace. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Judge</b> Critic stage: analyse, proof and
check details.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When my editor asked me which stage I was at, we both
instinctively knew that this is a genuine issue I have. My madwoman shouts
loud, but my inner judge usually shouts louder. Judges can interrupt and kill
creativity. In my case, genetics and education have given me an eye for a typo
and I constantly need to focus on the creative and structural processes. On bad
days, my inner judge is quite mean, but over time she has also become my
friend. I’m the repeat offender on first name terms with the magistrate, rolling
our eyes together at my latest writing mistake. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My madwoman is often dancing in the background too. How do I
keep her happy? I write ideas down. I indulge her occasionally. Embrace a bit
of nonsense. If God can create <s>duck-billed platypuses</s> <s>duck billed platypi</s>
giraffes, I have permission to think outside the box too. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Writing practice means that the forming and sequencing
stages need not be too painful or drawn out. And I would certainly add that having
an open mind cushions the ego when changes need to be made. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Maybe, like me, you find it painful to finish a sentence
without checking for <s>errs</s> errors. You may also, like me, find it hard
just to wear one hat at a time. You might have written so many essays, articles
or chapters that you know how to jump to Carpenter stage, having had a super
idea you need to share with the world instantly. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That’s great. But perhaps there is still merit in breaking
your process down and allowing yourself to wear each hat one at a time. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Have I been creative enough? Is there more I
could or should bring to this piece? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Have I considered how to structure the overall
shape? Does it work?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Can I put over my writing beautifully and
clearly? Does it flow?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What faults can I spot and repair as I revisit
my writing, before it goes to a wider audience?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am very grateful to Amy Boucher Pye for bringing this to
my attention and to my editor Amy Scott Robinson who reminded me of it. The method keeps me sane
and works as a useful checklist.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And now I am mostly at Judge stage. I do keep finding little
elements to tweak at a bigger level, but the process is organic and iterative
and that’s ok too. As long as I'm not wearing all of the hats, all of the time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgMlWmIAa9SHTgbUN4y8E5Gsl9StYHdiAqGy3_xiPj8UQ_1Ev4KTTazIvrv40h3B8CXfYg0Pe428VY1S4Sbhh7hwE71JwjkBGsleaTCp1T2iwxSzxUEF61smxhaJwtt5la_eKNGBSTAmCBSc3fAVVab6_S7HswyyvgV0JpK7a3TOdzzV9eeoqTaaCdv4/s5273/IMG_2164%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Lucy Marfleet" border="0" data-original-height="5273" data-original-width="3482" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgMlWmIAa9SHTgbUN4y8E5Gsl9StYHdiAqGy3_xiPj8UQ_1Ev4KTTazIvrv40h3B8CXfYg0Pe428VY1S4Sbhh7hwE71JwjkBGsleaTCp1T2iwxSzxUEF61smxhaJwtt5la_eKNGBSTAmCBSc3fAVVab6_S7HswyyvgV0JpK7a3TOdzzV9eeoqTaaCdv4/w100-h152/IMG_2164%20copy.jpg" width="100" /></a></div></div><br />Lucy Marfleet loves reading, laughing, her husband’s
cooking, walking her dog and marvelling at how tall the kids are getting. She
teaches Biblical Studies for Spurgeon’s College on their <i>Equipped to
Minister</i> course and has a Masters in Theology from the International
Baptist Theological Seminary. See her blog at <a href="http://www.lucymarfleet.com/">www.lucymarfleet.com</a> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Image created using Bing</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Lucy Marfleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531515256559447754noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-13464030846044342012024-03-20T06:00:00.025+00:002024-03-20T06:00:00.126+00:00Planting Potatoes: What are you waiting for?<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWVDgWqeOHZl4s53eKjp5C-2hyphenhyphenG8K0Kpe9PmqGobuxg6gUocL4APpFfqnBSot6P-TuIpjmxT_bFgqfdRuQBmO5vwFu-AnGD75NVPS4mAkgqx2YPiezrGvz10MsoWD-dESOV5vxS066zSYIi7o-RMhbakiSyX6WM_LddhU9IimM-QOiKn_UgqStC6xs4I/s1280/potato-5911588_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWVDgWqeOHZl4s53eKjp5C-2hyphenhyphenG8K0Kpe9PmqGobuxg6gUocL4APpFfqnBSot6P-TuIpjmxT_bFgqfdRuQBmO5vwFu-AnGD75NVPS4mAkgqx2YPiezrGvz10MsoWD-dESOV5vxS066zSYIi7o-RMhbakiSyX6WM_LddhU9IimM-QOiKn_UgqStC6xs4I/s320/potato-5911588_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">If you’ve been reading my blogs for any length of time, you’ll know I love a good metaphor. Well, I’m not sure if this is a good one or not, so please let me know in the comments!</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">As I was considering what to write this month, I thought about offering another really practical blog, but I did that last month. And I might next month. So instead, I thought of the things I’ve been doing that don’t involved writing, or business, or cleaning, or any boring stuff. One of them is planting potatoes. Nope, I do not consider this boring stuff. Give me a spade and a bit of ground and I’m a happy girl.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">We’ve got a fab garden since we moved, but in order to prepare some ground for veggies, we had to clear a huge area of brambles and self-set trees that (apparently) was the old owner’s vegetable patch. It has great soil and, most importantly, a south-facing wall. But it was an absolute mess.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> We couldn't even see the wall!</span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs1ufHNlozkqArPpx57ifWQzK4Hdot08Oth_gzSnIjgeTYbRbtzA25WtYw-gEX07Hizv0l9XkrDgh3PeowY_m_-l-WWrYIXEFOs0eJ7Z8BMH1Y10FGYngMAVyQxVUEWuHdeiev4onSD2GmfWUjhZG5dr4_WBPzvuphORUGWF-LSdhpuWEeVCXwtoA0ik/s1500/IMG_3189.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Picture of garden before clearing" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs1ufHNlozkqArPpx57ifWQzK4Hdot08Oth_gzSnIjgeTYbRbtzA25WtYw-gEX07Hizv0l9XkrDgh3PeowY_m_-l-WWrYIXEFOs0eJ7Z8BMH1Y10FGYngMAVyQxVUEWuHdeiev4onSD2GmfWUjhZG5dr4_WBPzvuphORUGWF-LSdhpuWEeVCXwtoA0ik/w400-h300/IMG_3189.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Now, I’ve had my seed potatoes chitting nicely on the windowsill for a month or so and I was desperate to get them in the ground, but though we’d cleared the bramble patch (it took us a whole weekend, a mini digger and some serious chainsaw action), the ground still wasn’t ready. This is what it looked like post clearing:</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCI8qCt2gMZ10mgySlsos0qCTUZi4wpcMFvANmEdMoLDTFWGnUqdc8pFGozToQbiu4AGTlS4XZwdnDw0-WkcBxLI0hHw5afQB1Tz6Fr5CzVvuv77Toineivnqsxm8Z91d9OitFdTWZkyWu4cVLCTmxqaMWkQl_1AygnDcM_-2xJ9v2Ll8qX_JKFLXoNyQ/s1500/IMG_8425.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCI8qCt2gMZ10mgySlsos0qCTUZi4wpcMFvANmEdMoLDTFWGnUqdc8pFGozToQbiu4AGTlS4XZwdnDw0-WkcBxLI0hHw5afQB1Tz6Fr5CzVvuv77Toineivnqsxm8Z91d9OitFdTWZkyWu4cVLCTmxqaMWkQl_1AygnDcM_-2xJ9v2Ll8qX_JKFLXoNyQ/w400-h300/IMG_8425.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We had to plough it and till it. Then, last weekend, I dug channels, pulling out all the old roots both those processes had missed. Finally, with my channels ready and my back already sweating, I placed my precious seed potatoes 12” apart in the soil. Then… I covered them back up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Hopefully, with a bit of warmth and rain and probably a slice of luck, they will shoot, leaf and flower. But there won’t be evidence of my hard labour until much later, and the important bit is what goes on beneath the soil, where I can’t see. I won’t know what’s happened there until I dig deep at the end of the season.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Why on earth am I discussing potatoes? Well, it struck me that growing potatoes is a bit like my writing process. Bear with…</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It starts with a seed. Being a Bible-inspired writer, this is normally a portion of scripture that jumps out of the page (or headphone) and hits me on the head. I jot the passage/idea/character name into a dedicated note on my phone. This is my windowsill. On it, a variety of seeds are sitting, and I’m watching whether they sprout. I sometimes pray over them, sometimes research them, often forget about them. Occasionally, I have to pick them up again after the cat’s knocked them over (can you figure that one out?)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What if I’m watching the seed sprout, but the ground isn’t ready? It’s a great idea, a healthy looking potato, but I don’t yet feel qualified to start writing. My very first seed? I haven’t planted it yet. I’m still preparing the ground for that original idea, because I feel in my heart that I need an awful lot more writing experience before I tackle it. So I’m digging, training, ploughing, learning, and I’m pulling out roots in my messy heart to prepare it for the great faith adventure that will be writing that first idea.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Sometimes the ground is ready, but we need to dig the channels, do the planting – find time to write the blinking thing! Make sure we space evenly and cover everything well. The potatoes might get planted different ways. Some people use sacks, pots, even plastic sheeting. This could be the different types of writing – poetry, articles, flash fiction… Experimenting adds to the fun, and some seeds will suit some methods better than others.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Then we have to find time to edit and, horror of horrors, sort out the publishing side! Earthing up, strengthening our resolve if the rejections come in. Watering – keep persevering until those little windowsill shoots grow tall enough to break the surface. Tell people about our books – that’s scary! Organise a launch. All this time, the potato is planted but we can’t see the results yet. The weather might be favourable, or it might not. Sometimes we’ve written something great, but <i>The Market</i> isn’t ready for it.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Then, the publish button is pressed – the leaves push their way through the surface. It’s exciting but the nerves remain. Will it be a success? The first reviews come in and finally – flowers! Someone likes my book – Hurrah!</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhhsvx89eWxtMonq0id5JFHgbGZnUYP7Dj3hHg-vCtQPiG0jpuNFnBJafc40n7RvLV93XAESdBFqqr2jVRxu9vfvwiwT7dBBheGiU8-CThvsiR0HiLbY1tFzvujJxfuMiEoXz88e3iTK0X7Q-_lVQS3kh-89T1X9AeC_Z8TqlqgrDH6RrAo6KvHdZ0Jg/s1280/field-3523428_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhhsvx89eWxtMonq0id5JFHgbGZnUYP7Dj3hHg-vCtQPiG0jpuNFnBJafc40n7RvLV93XAESdBFqqr2jVRxu9vfvwiwT7dBBheGiU8-CThvsiR0HiLbY1tFzvujJxfuMiEoXz88e3iTK0X7Q-_lVQS3kh-89T1X9AeC_Z8TqlqgrDH6RrAo6KvHdZ0Jg/w400-h266/field-3523428_1280.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Yet, though the flowers are nice, they aren’t the bit that matters. Because what am I really writing for?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">More potatoes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I’m writing for the things that go on under the surface: The hidden change in my life that others might not see, as roots stretch out and new potatoes form. The exponential growth as the book gets recommended from one friend to another because, “this one will bless you”. The deep growth that comes from someone being challenged or their heart warming to Jesus.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Sometimes, the harvest takes a long time. There are some early potatoes that we get to unearth in our lives, but later ones might remain in the ground through winter. I might never see that harvest until the Lord of the Harvest comes. I’m looking forward to that day the most.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So, keep planting, my friends!</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Did the metaphor speak to you? Do you have a potato you’ve never planted, or one you’re waiting to see the results of? Do let me know in the comments :-)</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJT9KbjHEi7JT9wBoQsgFoYdPAE_tKlOkhthTfuKrohMy8ziYlhQDDNeOPSeZc-5yKeARBl2qpZGHnd6i6vnRQM3OFPQI6Ryu9aNU2Y0Hflo5u6RDNJr2XkrY47WVBbVJk6mhHZQOvllEG7u6vLH5ZLv3dxFHWv5lHRGSjjRnWut7NI9FOL8cazkmW8A/s2678/IMG_6711%202.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2678" data-original-width="2199" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJT9KbjHEi7JT9wBoQsgFoYdPAE_tKlOkhthTfuKrohMy8ziYlhQDDNeOPSeZc-5yKeARBl2qpZGHnd6i6vnRQM3OFPQI6Ryu9aNU2Y0Hflo5u6RDNJr2XkrY47WVBbVJk6mhHZQOvllEG7u6vLH5ZLv3dxFHWv5lHRGSjjRnWut7NI9FOL8cazkmW8A/w134-h163/IMG_6711%202.jpeg" width="134" /></a></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;">Natasha Woodcraft lives in a slightly crumbling old farmhouse in Lincolnshire with her husband, 4 sons and a small menagerie of animals. She believes stories have power to communicate deep truth and transform lives. Her published novels, <i>The Wanderer Scorned & The Wanderer Reborn, </i>explore God’s redemptive purposes for messy people by reimagining the tale of Cain & Abel. Also a songwriter, Natasha peppers her emotional prose with poetry and song.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>Natasha Woodcrafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115934086223733269noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-58486300741985924582024-03-19T00:30:00.001+00:002024-03-19T00:30:00.127+00:00Self-Editing<p> As much as I admire professional editors, I
am still not making enough money from my writing to justify using a
professional editor. Yes, I hear you, maybe if I did have a professional
editor, I would make more money from my writing. Chicken and egg!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I am an advocate of write, write, write,
for the first draft. Just get it all down on the paper. I don’t worry about
editing as I go along because I don’t want to go down the rabbit holes. Even
research is left out of my writing in this first stage. I keep each piece of
work in a separate folder with a label of the project on it. If I do have a
genius idea I can put it on another piece of paper and just put it together
with my draft for later reflection.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> 1.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US"><b>The Big Sweep</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span>On the second draft I look at the whole
piece, whether large or small and make sure the consistency and if fiction,
plot development is as I want it. At this stage, I am pulling out the bits that
aren’t relevant. Yes, deleting. I find that very difficult to do. I hate
deleting but know it is necessary. I look at my original purpose. Do I do, what
I said I would in those early chapters? Have I gone off track? If I’m not sure,
I put a note to myself to rethink it when I next edit.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I don’t know whether you edit on screen or
on paper. Personally, I do both. When I have done the big sweep, I print off my
work but with no section breaks, just as line after line and page after page.
It saves paper and bulk and can be sorted in the formatting which comes later.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GInbHBI-ao-7bK9mI7Ctk2i7Yg-OEXBAe2WFsKW7c7qGSmM_73CUMUajABQt5v0rUlH5SWjxEa3RSiCPITvEDVIeDcBHTEZhG_j3huNvpMwNcW5grOGJLQsg5M4lngS9IRuv8QHPYZU6T3WLuA8AeO8H3KZC4M94RtOYj1Q31waogTc36NsM53I7Fawi/s4512/IMG_5368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4512" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GInbHBI-ao-7bK9mI7Ctk2i7Yg-OEXBAe2WFsKW7c7qGSmM_73CUMUajABQt5v0rUlH5SWjxEa3RSiCPITvEDVIeDcBHTEZhG_j3huNvpMwNcW5grOGJLQsg5M4lngS9IRuv8QHPYZU6T3WLuA8AeO8H3KZC4M94RtOYj1Q31waogTc36NsM53I7Fawi/s320/IMG_5368.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Put</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">2.</span></div></span></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">2. <b>Put in the drawer for a month</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Yes, the work goes away for a whole month.
I start on something else or take something out of that full-up drawer. I do
think about it and make a note of new ideas and approaches on a bit of paper
and shove it in the file. This is where it helps that there is a rough
print-out. It guards against technology blips. If your laptop goes down, you
still have your rough copy which is better than everything going into
cyberspace!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> 3. </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US"><b>Chapter by Chapter</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">On this third or fourth draft, I am
considering the order of the chapters. I work in <b>Scrivener</b> as it is easy to
change the order of chapters with a drag and drop. Then I look at consistency of
the chapters. As I am working mostly on devotionals, have I got a prayer or a
quote in each chapter if that is what I am aiming at? Are my chapter headings
consistent in their case, alignment? Is the word count consistent or roughly so
for each chapter?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Each chapter now comes under scrutiny. Is
it lively? Engaging? Appropriate for my audience? What about my use of
vocabulary? At this stage I might run it through<b> Pro Writing Aid</b> (or some use
Grammarly), for a spelling, grammar and repetitions check.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">Am I up to the fourth or fifth
draft? If you aren’t totally happy with it, go through it again.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">That is a brief version of how I deal with
my writing but looking at it, it is also how I deal with myself. After all,
this piece is called ‘self’ editing. The big sweep usually happens at the
beginning of a new year. Am I on track in my life? What do I need to change? It
usually means dropping less important activities as I tend to take on things
then can’t cope.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Then, I too need to be put in a drawer for a
month. Pause, reflect, be with the Lord. Each of my chapters needs to be held
up to the light of Jesus. Words too need to be examined. Only wholesome words
to build up others need to be kept.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So what about you? How do you go about your self-editing in your writing and yourself?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmFkDXaa5k5BuWKTd4ge2Vd8VemnbdVSGdasvHrIWnb_2LxDhrETXlUUlqNxcYH0VH0UzEPq5ildg7qYply21F_gEmOsQ8sCT_xmMKXGyoErMd0j44XiEZSjxhK7gjUUteyAygLDy93kDAfWLs4JsuW-cGeWHnZFfrqDRQhkEaUSKRjuujob4tpkVToV7/s5184/IMG_5187%20thumbprint%20Dec%202023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmFkDXaa5k5BuWKTd4ge2Vd8VemnbdVSGdasvHrIWnb_2LxDhrETXlUUlqNxcYH0VH0UzEPq5ildg7qYply21F_gEmOsQ8sCT_xmMKXGyoErMd0j44XiEZSjxhK7gjUUteyAygLDy93kDAfWLs4JsuW-cGeWHnZFfrqDRQhkEaUSKRjuujob4tpkVToV7/s320/IMG_5187%20thumbprint%20Dec%202023.JPG" width="320" /></a>Rosalie Weller</div><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Rosalie tries not to take herself too seriously. Life is
too short! She enjoys writing in different genres - historical fiction, bible
study guides, devotionals and poetry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">She is the Groups' Coordinator for ACW and welcomes any
enquiries about groups at groups@christianwriters.co.uk<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Rosalie Wellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11943880060070967194noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-44166960916881724822024-03-18T00:30:00.000+00:002024-03-18T00:30:00.139+00:00Over and Out After Six and a Half Years, by Georgie Tennant<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Beginnings can be easier than ends sometimes, can’t they, imbued as they are with connotations of hope and expectancy? Ends are sometimes harder to face, especially as it can be tricky, can’t it, to recognise when it’s time for an end that must be of your own making? <br /><br />On the <i>More Than Writers</i> blog, people, rightly, come and go. It is an amazing place to hone your writing skills, develop the discipline of regular posting and receive great encouragement for your writing journey – and then step aside to make space for others to do the same. I have been writing for <i>More Than Writers</i> since my <a href="https://morethanwriters.blogspot.com/2017/08/what-do-running-and-writing-have.html" target="_blank">first post on 18th August, 2017</a>, a grand total of six and a half years. I remember feeling so grateful, at the time, that a more seasoned writer had stepped aside and made way for my fledgling thoughts. Now I know it is time for me to do the same for someone else. <br /><br />So this is goodbye from me, and thank you. Thank you to Wendy Jones then Rosemary Johnson, for giving a total novice a chance to find her voice. Thank you to each and every one of you who have liked, commented and shared my posts, enabling me to grow in confidence that my words were worth reading.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjCFF_O3LRByiXVi19P1ml8bG9A-AUoOf8qKCywq6_oIPv_tBjKZbqJCVHELsNnym0iv3vl9lZyJgbnkVoq3do2ED96dmK3BveO5J1byVjA-lrSEMAa2rtR_SnpxRso0BjxflQh5XVkburYMiICushIF7H7Ol8RUAVhuv0weBXW9aFlQo6VlVzbjb1sMxR" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="454" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjCFF_O3LRByiXVi19P1ml8bG9A-AUoOf8qKCywq6_oIPv_tBjKZbqJCVHELsNnym0iv3vl9lZyJgbnkVoq3do2ED96dmK3BveO5J1byVjA-lrSEMAa2rtR_SnpxRso0BjxflQh5XVkburYMiICushIF7H7Ol8RUAVhuv0weBXW9aFlQo6VlVzbjb1sMxR=w200-h117" width="200" /></a></div><br />For those of you just starting out where I was, six and a half years ago – be encouraged! Everyone has to start somewhere. As I began to write for the blog, scrabbling for new ideas each month, I found confidence to write for the magazine a bit too. This, in turn, encouraged me to apply to be part of the wonderful collaborative books the ACW published for Lent and for Advent. Between that and the wonderful friendships and connections made in my local ACW group and at national events, my confidence grew, leading to the realisation, this year, of a dream – to have a published book, out in the world, which many of you have kindly bought and read. Other things have begun to happen, fresh opportunities, fresh doors to walk through. Have I “made it,” in my writing “career?” Of course not – so few of us will ever feel we have. But am I taking each opportunity, each step, thanking and trusting God for a future that is in His hands? Absolutely! <br /><br />I am not recalling my journey to boast, or to say, “look what I have achieved,” but to encourage all who tread the path behind me. I had no idea what I wanted to write for a very long time. It was only in the gradual opportunity-taking, connection-making and finding of my voice that things began to crystallise. So, look into the eyes of He who gave you the gift of writing in the first place, and confidently take your next, wobbling steps. Perhaps you might apply to Rosemary for the slot on the 18th March and it might be a date you look back on with gratitude and nostalgia, as I do on August 18th 2017.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitRuzX5yrN2MeV8fueeSh4h65NAdDq3UzqmMXM_XrCFAl3qGTPxobVdb7cGWnV9QKVIyMI960wUOYop-XAc3Yr53OHT1O366tMSwVnaJgJccz6Lek4X-sFEwVXzahMQFUv6LtSqSofIHeBH1IW2UG8ylD5pOAInU0Rj0v7E7tSqMbD_Gf6-j4p4wvTb5-9" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitRuzX5yrN2MeV8fueeSh4h65NAdDq3UzqmMXM_XrCFAl3qGTPxobVdb7cGWnV9QKVIyMI960wUOYop-XAc3Yr53OHT1O366tMSwVnaJgJccz6Lek4X-sFEwVXzahMQFUv6LtSqSofIHeBH1IW2UG8ylD5pOAInU0Rj0v7E7tSqMbD_Gf6-j4p4wvTb5-9=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Georgie Tennant is a secondary school English teacher in a Norfolk Comprehensive. She is married, with two sons, aged 15 and 13 who keep her exceptionally busy. She writes for the ACW ‘Christian Writer’ magazine occasionally, and is a contributor to the ACW-Published ‘New Life: Reflections for Lent,’ and ‘Merry Christmas, Everyone.' She has written 8 books in a phonics series, published by BookLife and was a freelance writer for King's Lynn Magazine for a while. She writes the ‘Thought for the Week’ for the local newspaper from time to time and also muses about life and loss on her blog: www.somepoemsbygeorgie.blogspot.co.uk. She was recently the winner of the BRF devotional writing competition for "The Upper Room." Her first devotional book, "The God Who Sees You," was published by Kevin Mayhew in March. https://www.kevinmayhew.com/products/the-god-who-sees-you</i></span><br /></div>Georgie Tennanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808665309419357465noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-75369725229835394292024-03-17T02:00:00.139+00:002024-03-17T02:00:00.236+00:00Make each day your masterpiece<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #202122; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />'Make each day your masterpiece.'</span><div><span style="color: #202122; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34);"><br /></span></span><div><span style="color: #202122; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPkiYflWDEF-ZAwaQHF2X-2dhUzVWOWZwFdXgfyNhixUebDZIW2r3I9LIxSMNBW6zwqBZA6YZ9Xf5zI2i9_tPfE38DJiL5hQZF5yqE2EajWkdXq_c2bcDsFy-SNjofrckuIsylT6TynY-ZOXpN3hqmG18kzW5mb61e6yJrkKZUXglpj6LNq1UFwui1lk/s3264/Image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPkiYflWDEF-ZAwaQHF2X-2dhUzVWOWZwFdXgfyNhixUebDZIW2r3I9LIxSMNBW6zwqBZA6YZ9Xf5zI2i9_tPfE38DJiL5hQZF5yqE2EajWkdXq_c2bcDsFy-SNjofrckuIsylT6TynY-ZOXpN3hqmG18kzW5mb61e6yJrkKZUXglpj6LNq1UFwui1lk/s320/Image.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div></div><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: arial;">'Well thank you, John Wooden. You surely don't mean today? I mean, look at the place. The decorators have just finished my study, the contents of which are all over the dining room chairs and floor, and my filing cabinets and bookshelf are in the sitting room. You couldn't dance if you wanted to. And there's certainly no room to ask a friend in at the moment. So, there is no possibility of today being a masterpiece in any way, shape or form!'</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202122;">John Wooden, I hasten to say, is not actually here. He was an American basketball player, born on 11th October 1912, and he died on 4th June 2010. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122;">All his life he adhered to a Seven Point creed, which was passed to him by his father.</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122;"> All Seven Points are very good </span><span style="color: #202122;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">advice, like </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;"><strong>• Be true to yourself,</strong></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;">and</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;"><strong style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">• Make friendship a fine art,</strong></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444;">and</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444;"><strong style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">• Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.</strong></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;">Yes, all Seven Points are very good advice......... mostly. But not today.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;">Of course John doesn't answer, but I can tell his eyebrows have gone up, his head is slightly turned, and he's giving me a gentle smile.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;">'Well,' I say, 'we <i>can't </i>make every day a masterpiece, can we?'</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;">He waits for me to answer my own question.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;">'I know what you mean,' I mumble. '</span><span style="color: #444444;">Do the best you can. I can’t change anything about yesterday when I wasted a whole hour and nothing seemed to work and inspiration was taking a holiday.' </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #444444;">He pauses, as he always does when he's about to say something he wouldn't want me to miss. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #444444;">'The future depends on how you prepare yourself today.'</span></p><div><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;">He smiles again, knowing he's convinced me that his father was right.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Aptos, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">'Everybody makes mistakes,' he says. 'It's what you do with them that </span></span><span face="Aptos, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">counts.'</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPxSAWExCsWyFHnwheO4vGVhLb85R0WBzDyE7u11YyU6Q7nFfc5Ugt7LLZH4i-PbbIJkXL12GyjXd4HQxU9Fq9ski-WTO2kNYvbp0oqeuJ0lihyphenhyphen_vykcHmhoMVmRLs5RpHg89msZDX5ozymKIZU_pPsDU39kElU_hMEFarDQsB15QpTJU53svpctSVRo/s3264/IMG_2473.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPxSAWExCsWyFHnwheO4vGVhLb85R0WBzDyE7u11YyU6Q7nFfc5Ugt7LLZH4i-PbbIJkXL12GyjXd4HQxU9Fq9ski-WTO2kNYvbp0oqeuJ0lihyphenhyphen_vykcHmhoMVmRLs5RpHg89msZDX5ozymKIZU_pPsDU39kElU_hMEFarDQsB15QpTJU53svpctSVRo/s320/IMG_2473.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866667px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span face="Aptos, sans-serif">Many</span><span face="Aptos, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> thanks to wikipedia for introducing me to John Robert Wooden</span></span></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space" face="Aptos, sans-serif"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: repeat white;"> </span></i></span><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: repeat white;">(October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010). He was an American<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">basketball<span style="background: repeat white;"> coach and player. Nicknamed the "</span>Wizard of Westwood<span style="background: repeat white;">", he won ten<span class="apple-converted-space"> National Collegiate Athletic Association national championships </span></span></span></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: repeat white;">in a 12-year period as head coach for th</span></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: repeat white;">e<span class="apple-converted-space"> UCLA Bruins</span></span></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background: repeat white;">, including a record seven in a row. No other team has won more than four in a row in<span class="apple-converted-space"> Division 1 </span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: repeat white;"><span style="font-size: small;">college men's or women's basketball. Within this period, his teams won an NCAA men's basketball record 88 consecutive games. Wooden won the prestigious</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: small;"> Henry </span>Ina<span style="font-size: small;"> Award</span></span></span></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: repeat white;">as national coach of the year a record seven times and won<span class="apple-converted-space"> the Associated Press Award </span></span></i></span><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: repeat white;">five times.</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866667px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpcMhyjHTv4WrShRToA81JWkLTMzDFn85FJ_Sg7yvTuFgU-LvsQurViK6ap-cH4wspkOzSNYws89_SnRB1Ojxd_INEhyb-IboyQ5kjO9L7tX6bIg_0Kwml9VUIqyISxYB7UbDLj08Nb6EeAgLyxeL3U9qHi-Ssyeqr9MGWhddSbXYzlw4Tt_CTslhcaQ/s3264/IMG_1703.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpcMhyjHTv4WrShRToA81JWkLTMzDFn85FJ_Sg7yvTuFgU-LvsQurViK6ap-cH4wspkOzSNYws89_SnRB1Ojxd_INEhyb-IboyQ5kjO9L7tX6bIg_0Kwml9VUIqyISxYB7UbDLj08Nb6EeAgLyxeL3U9qHi-Ssyeqr9MGWhddSbXYzlw4Tt_CTslhcaQ/s320/IMG_1703.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866667px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">If you're interested in the whole of John Wooden’s Seven Point creed, passed to him by his father, here it is, together with the words of fellow American, Bob Harnois.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866667px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /><strong>• Be true to yourself.</strong> If you are true to yourself, you will be true to all others.<br /><strong>• Make each day your masterpiece.</strong> Do the best you can. You can’t do anything about yesterday. The future depends on how you prepare yourself today.<br /><strong>• Help others.</strong> Do something for another, for which you didn’t expect something in return. There is real joy in helping others.<br /><strong>• Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.</strong><br /><strong>• Make friendship a fine art.</strong> Work at it, don’t take it for granted. Friendship is like marriage, it’s not a one sider. Make a lasting friendship–you have to work at it.<br /><strong>• Build a shelter against a rainy day.</strong> You’re building that shelter by the life you lead–it’s not a material shelter.<br /><strong>• Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.</strong> Be thankful and especially give thanks to the master.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866667px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #444444; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 18.4px;"><i>Photos - RHS Wisley and the Exmoor coast path - are the author's own.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866667px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Veronica Bright is a storyteller who has been lucky enough to win prizes for her short fiction and drama. </span></i><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">She writes occasional book reviews for Transforming Ministry, which has been a blessing because each book has taught her to think deeply about everything. Veronica has been the ACW short story advisor for several years, and this too has taught her a lot. She<span style="color: black;"> and Sally Todd co-ordinate the ACW Writing for Children group, whose members meet on Zoom. And.... for anyone lives near Plymouth, she organises the Plymouth Christian Writers group, who also meet via Zoom. Details may be found in The Christian Writer.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;"><br /><br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;"><br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202122;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #444444;"><br /><br /></span></p><p><br /></p></div></div>Veronica Brighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782827452452711420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-56210048844631284392024-03-16T00:30:00.005+00:002024-03-16T00:30:00.138+00:00A 'ready' writer<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLfQaH_xKJkwR8U7p5Wqaant3hVm-KPMb0zc-UsRsh5m2XYBPYaZyklhCNbJPIhpTp_9EtQzczpcsSDSDSFWOHoVxSyUhDzc4CvDW3tC0KJMFsEtuMr1SG0V6K30MAwgNZq7_anCqMInPREiy5ktHk6Taei-u-n4pY55zSVZWoUeUD4Ev7yz9Alh7kwn8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLfQaH_xKJkwR8U7p5Wqaant3hVm-KPMb0zc-UsRsh5m2XYBPYaZyklhCNbJPIhpTp_9EtQzczpcsSDSDSFWOHoVxSyUhDzc4CvDW3tC0KJMFsEtuMr1SG0V6K30MAwgNZq7_anCqMInPREiy5ktHk6Taei-u-n4pY55zSVZWoUeUD4Ev7yz9Alh7kwn8" width="286" /></span></a></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><div style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;">I imagine that several <i>More Than Writers</i> writers have picked this topic before, so forgive me if I am being repetitious.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>However, this verse has cropped up a few times recently demanding my attention.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I must have learnt it in the King James Version back in the dim and distant days of Bible Club on a Sunday morning. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>The NIV(UK) says it’s the pen of a ‘skilful’ writer but I’ve been wondering what a ‘ready’ writer is.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>Is it the keen bean who’s up at 6am, done a two hour quiet time, gone for a run and is showered, breakfasted and ready to create fabulous prose – fiction or otherwise –<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>or indeed, poetry, on their laptop from 9am sharp?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Is it the writer who settles down with a squillion fabulous ideas ready to take the reading and publishing world by storm?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Perhaps it’s the wannabe author who has all their files of ideas alphabetised and is organised to the nth degree.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>Or perhaps it’s the writer, published or otherwise, who comes to their keyboard humble, prayerful and all too aware that sometimes the right words seem just out of reach, yet has an assurance that God is using them – if somewhat clumsily – to bring some truth to light, or to craft words into a format that will capture a reader.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>You might feel that you’ve been bashing away for months, or even years, without any discernible progress, but that’s simply not the case.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You’re almost certainly improving with every completed paragraph.</span></span></div><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAHOO4qU1ptHEf5WmASPdkDhOo2N-YBITieeq0-D0TTqnX_pTZzgUiJilt4c0Xcdqz3pVSjwh9X_XK4f5A56tJrccaF2yGeqEqYR7iAI_Z93_uHIxh1Y781Fb_aWP6460xJMSSCtEB5mnpSVkVVGM1LN6X8bqA46Zwt3T94EfMb_lh-mlVkcMUVmrYvaA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAHOO4qU1ptHEf5WmASPdkDhOo2N-YBITieeq0-D0TTqnX_pTZzgUiJilt4c0Xcdqz3pVSjwh9X_XK4f5A56tJrccaF2yGeqEqYR7iAI_Z93_uHIxh1Y781Fb_aWP6460xJMSSCtEB5mnpSVkVVGM1LN6X8bqA46Zwt3T94EfMb_lh-mlVkcMUVmrYvaA=w247-h185" width="247" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>Everything you’ve ever written, deleted, scribbled, edited, scrunched into a ball and filed in the bin, and everything you’ve courageously put together and dared to show another person is part of your writing journey.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You may feel that you’ll never put anything together more creative than a shopping list.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Perhaps you write for your parish magazine, or church bulletin/news letter; or perhaps you’re embarking on a series of fantasy stories, a multigenerational memoir or a meaty work of non-fiction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It makes no difference; if you’re doing it as a way of pursuing the gift God has given you, and you’re doing it in faith then you’re ‘ready’.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>The Bible says that ‘anything without faith is sin’ (Romans 14:23), but that faith is a gift of God which can also move mountains.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Alrighty then ; that's clear. Let’s be like the little chap who brought his loaves and fishes to Jesus.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It wasn’t much of a lunch for 5,000 people, but in God’s hands it turned into something quite extraordinary.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>I wonder whether we’re remotely ready for that? Let’s at least begin by bringing our writing efforts to Him, however feeble they may look.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>Being a ready writer is simply a case of being willing, available and obedient.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>Whatever you’re writing today, let's remember that. It will relieve us from a ton of that self-inflicted pressure to be perfect.</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihrqF-CV4xojfWTWXN3Ui_Hg_nEy6GrlOdWHVgr0761eZEQ7tIgfSGUts8j-sGYhvXujIWj6StRaDN2zKT6nwmSn7OiS-lJyKrEvL2Wyv16CxQZ_6UG_gQBuDrrwb2HqUE6ucnBOCnPgQN34nJjxtjXuGFy-scWuemD90UlTz0oUMTHLYMLrx47qhF3Eo" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="885" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihrqF-CV4xojfWTWXN3Ui_Hg_nEy6GrlOdWHVgr0761eZEQ7tIgfSGUts8j-sGYhvXujIWj6StRaDN2zKT6nwmSn7OiS-lJyKrEvL2Wyv16CxQZ_6UG_gQBuDrrwb2HqUE6ucnBOCnPgQN34nJjxtjXuGFy-scWuemD90UlTz0oUMTHLYMLrx47qhF3Eo" width="224" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>Jenny Sanders has spent the last eleven years living between the UK and South Africa. She writes faith-inspired non-fiction: </i>Spiritual Feasting (<i>2020) asks how we can ‘feast’ when life serves unpalatable menus</i>;<i> </i>Polished Arrows <i>will be published in spring 2024, exploring the allegory of how God shapes us to be fired effectively into our culture and contexts. </i></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>Jenny also has two published collections of humorous short stories for Key Stage 2 children. She is available for author visits in primary schools, taking creative writing sessions.</span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>She loves walking in nature, preferably by a river, and has a visceral loathing for offal, pineapple and incorrect use of car indicators on roundabouts.</span></i></p>Jenny Sandershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13928232146076872568noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-52339445330369790302024-03-15T00:03:00.004+00:002024-03-15T10:24:33.230+00:00Authenticity <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCYx6U2QX2N20WlthjdmvU7lbfaV8d-0jmjooSMKyCLtuA6Au08dCHU11RPP2k8BNDICdPoLA9aIB1Pux9824aur8P8b7933t3-StwNUlqOm0U-tpg9U2cuZHrwXI0RZLDRad7hTq4L8tCWioqxe2cbptWtRHZT1t7O4iOxmIPWliAfz_-1atZf5LiGM/s2224/9EF3106D-F110-44ED-88FE-35B8884384BA.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FEqAxbh7hJzcuIShDg4VLKZO5plFGjlylZmx9UtTxbutYNZJB2ApXWXvB1WdblZtARvxPwgbFf0ur8qlzW1adX7Xhg0mc2IJ0FCtqZa6m3Mbqa0HR8aTjpGbryJfe9FNiXV2EiVIUZ95jChiN2BEg2IzFfspvAqJ1eTWTyLkH6CjXF7ruaLxnrCIaTg/s1687/1247009D-C705-4DFA-9BF3-518417A75E38.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-sk2R7Sajrqt14T_WJpkxCikTqQcOHlrmNyXA7GeARzZ7Gr9bQ_HK3aBYSSccOnfnDPKn6fMIaJvglghEiKZsxwPVFwMp5DeLQWnNBYWnnlOKVVszF9xj08Pb42tUZdOO3jMhsV3wcyTqOeHzG84hiGz4sR5KSLIuDgWa5sGHFklLKpobCHZCe_MeW8/s3264/1CF1B35B-74BA-4BD4-BE73-30C782750F8C.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-sk2R7Sajrqt14T_WJpkxCikTqQcOHlrmNyXA7GeARzZ7Gr9bQ_HK3aBYSSccOnfnDPKn6fMIaJvglghEiKZsxwPVFwMp5DeLQWnNBYWnnlOKVVszF9xj08Pb42tUZdOO3jMhsV3wcyTqOeHzG84hiGz4sR5KSLIuDgWa5sGHFklLKpobCHZCe_MeW8/w320-h240/1CF1B35B-74BA-4BD4-BE73-30C782750F8C.jpeg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FEqAxbh7hJzcuIShDg4VLKZO5plFGjlylZmx9UtTxbutYNZJB2ApXWXvB1WdblZtARvxPwgbFf0ur8qlzW1adX7Xhg0mc2IJ0FCtqZa6m3Mbqa0HR8aTjpGbryJfe9FNiXV2EiVIUZ95jChiN2BEg2IzFfspvAqJ1eTWTyLkH6CjXF7ruaLxnrCIaTg/s1687/1247009D-C705-4DFA-9BF3-518417A75E38.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><br />I’m a contemporary fiction writer. In the words of a lady attending my fiction workshop, ‘You just make it all up!’ Her face expressing utter outrage that anyone could write down such lies.</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I remembered this while I was looking at Cambridge colleges for 16+ education. I chose all the books for my character’s English A level and read all the syllabuses for different versions of the BTEC in Performing Arts and in UAL Performance and Production. I hunted for music at A level in the same college for her friend and made a note that I needed to visit one of the further education colleges to be able to describe with some accuracy the foyer where the two characters enter the building and go to their separate courses. I found out that my guessed/imagined version of what clothes and equipment was needed for a dance and drama course is more or less accurate, but have not yet discovered whether there is a college that has courses to suit both girls, one being much more academic than the other.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Does it matter? After publishing one of the Dr Mike Lewis novels I was challenged by a reader over the numbers of the buses the fictional Dr had boarded to travel to his clients’ house. That was fine, I’d worked out the route and reminded her the timetable and bus numbers had changed. There was another query that ‘There are no steps there’ when Dr Lewis walked out of a public building. Maybe I had written it a little unclearly, there were no immediate steps, but there were steps to sit on nearby.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It’s difficult to know where to imagine and when to ground the story in reality. I became rather lost when looking at curricula. While I tried to work out whether a BTEC and A Level could use the same Shakespeare text and whether AS had to be achieved before the texts for the A level could be studied, I remembered I had a writer friend who had taught English at A level. She was able to reassure me that I was looking at the right website for A levels and had worked out my characters’ book requirements well. If I can’t find out whether the drama in the BTEC can use the same text, I can re-imagine my story. But what I cannot change is the need for my character to meet the requirements to go on to a degree in dance.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, no, we writers don’t make it all up. We research, we walk in the places where our characters walk and listen to the noises around, and see the place where our character stumbles. We find a street name and identify a building there to house an imaginary Mental Health Team. We walk into hospitals and take the lift to the top of the building where the imaginary ward will be and eat in the canteen, identifying those who have worn their scrubs into the cafeteria. We count the steps from our non-real avenue where our character lives to the bus stop to go to the cinema.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Thus the reader is grounded and the world is recognisable. Our fabrication of the story is woven through with reality. Or maybe reality is woven in throughout our story.</span></p><p><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(117, 117, 117); color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(117, 117, 117); color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tPK0NKkbf320J8FoLRd0O63dMUlsfbNh_jnYDTXtDhSu8dXUaj17Aw5y713jgL9ThRohYMUJ9HL48xhKDhqG2v4hV39OtxF-cGDdkI7iG6gr-OXe8bAoLaPkNy3rjkV43y0AdmnuNPR1-TJqh9feibQVEfjQetSWkAGhpUUX_ZoSqOkQq92zW0uRrvw/s1926/6E4C517F-B684-4DEA-95DE-F0D298AA0FF3.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1882" data-original-width="1926" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tPK0NKkbf320J8FoLRd0O63dMUlsfbNh_jnYDTXtDhSu8dXUaj17Aw5y713jgL9ThRohYMUJ9HL48xhKDhqG2v4hV39OtxF-cGDdkI7iG6gr-OXe8bAoLaPkNy3rjkV43y0AdmnuNPR1-TJqh9feibQVEfjQetSWkAGhpUUX_ZoSqOkQq92zW0uRrvw/w200-h196/6E4C517F-B684-4DEA-95DE-F0D298AA0FF3.jpeg" width="200" /></a></span></i></div><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(117, 117, 117); color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Annie Try is the name Angela Hobday uses when writing novels. Her novels reflect her training in psychology, especially the Dr Mike Lewis series published by Instant Apostle. Her most recent novel, published by Kevin Mayhew, is mainly for young adults: The Dangerous Dance of Emma JJ. It features a teen who lives with her foster carer but has overcome unsafe situations in her life and now meets more challenges. Annie is always eager to talk about writing, runs workshops and loves encouraging other writers.</span></i><p></p>Annie Tryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601211133698896549noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-2255690533812021642024-03-14T00:30:00.010+00:002024-03-14T00:30:00.252+00:00Where Does Our Tongue Write by Christina Bywater<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">It has been on my mind that Psalm 45:1 speaks of our tongue being the pen of a ready writer. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIOvYQ9R1tJr_kuXareuWq5YFjMw4R35Fz1SmBTsSsddW3kFRbusEUQkD2p3KptbJiMXFktAE9Rd2-CYhpBh7cEowXTo6QOXUAiq6p3pVACy67ZZS7MeE1HdP1xXIhe7lGWQvv52oQkMXXD71bkeb4UgHUUoBfiEMUfj4qfcV-9WJpZb7aIiwRQ1uPof9/s1102/Tongue%20is%20a%20pen.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIOvYQ9R1tJr_kuXareuWq5YFjMw4R35Fz1SmBTsSsddW3kFRbusEUQkD2p3KptbJiMXFktAE9Rd2-CYhpBh7cEowXTo6QOXUAiq6p3pVACy67ZZS7MeE1HdP1xXIhe7lGWQvv52oQkMXXD71bkeb4UgHUUoBfiEMUfj4qfcV-9WJpZb7aIiwRQ1uPof9/s320/Tongue%20is%20a%20pen.png" width="213" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">We write on paper with a pen, but what do we write on with our tongues? How lasting are those words? Are they constructive? Or destructive? Are they good, or evil? Comforting, or unnerving? Faith filled, or fear full?</div></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Proverbs say that Death and Life are in the power of the tongue; and Jesus says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. That is a scary thought! We can build up, or we can tear down, we can encourage or discourage, enthuse, or deflate, just by the words we allow to leave our mouths. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The challenge that I have with my writing is that, if a reader reads my outpourings out loud, are the words they utter going to have a positive or negative effect? Will they work for good, or evil?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0gXzTvW9KurasXgnuvDncAbg2vqXCSe9Nv4MTZkxGfUIBYjcVHwMAAbj1E_z3AcrOczK62-Tprq0989CDflFxZ9H0BsBnaAX6xw7hPs01YnrTqQqENMfEIkvg5KLvobxaxxBZ3rLMWq6_e0RkN8twWxR556c3fZjjDkhyphenhyphen6cJFPMjwOkQO4rLBUVm3phg/s638/Every%20Idle%20Word.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="638" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0gXzTvW9KurasXgnuvDncAbg2vqXCSe9Nv4MTZkxGfUIBYjcVHwMAAbj1E_z3AcrOczK62-Tprq0989CDflFxZ9H0BsBnaAX6xw7hPs01YnrTqQqENMfEIkvg5KLvobxaxxBZ3rLMWq6_e0RkN8twWxR556c3fZjjDkhyphenhyphen6cJFPMjwOkQO4rLBUVm3phg/s320/Every%20Idle%20Word.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Worse still is the thought that, for every idle word, I will be judged. Jesus was clear about that too. What is an idle word? One that neither builds up the body of Christ nor tears down His enemy’s strongholds? </div><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I often recall the English Nursery Rhyme about the wise old owl, so short a text, yet so full of wisdom, which runs alongside the adage that goes something like “We have two ears and one mouth for a reason! We should listen twice as much as we speak!” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">"A wise old owl lived in an oak.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">The more he heard, the less he spoke.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">The less he spoke, the more he heard.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Wasn’t he a wise old bird?</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are called to be a light; to reflect Jesus to the world – that lonely, lost, hopeless mass of people who are looking to us, as Jesus followers, to build them up, give them hope, and show them a better way. Let us hope and pray that all our writings, words engraved forever on a page or heart, when weighed in the balance, are not found wanting.</span></p></div>Nina Bywaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15329436986897999683noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-68208791668536466952024-03-13T00:30:00.001+00:002024-03-13T00:30:00.267+00:00What do you mean, it's Friday? by Jane Walters<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In the middle of February, my son was due to start a new
job on the Friday. He had his week all planned: buy new threads, get a
hair-cut, grab a trip to a waterfall while he was still a free man. It was as
he stood at the bus-stop that he took a call.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jDQRW552_OyGv2Za2NZdQ1VxEyANHL6D6EECti2by4o3QK9IjnAt90_ST4PhZYqhFroAMuzxmjUZBclER4QmlLM963LblJBh1Umd7-rnumO2zvhlE8Cn6l_SY9E4zSqMZSInNQhNZrKieixqm25f78GrT5XpJTIIn-duFn3DeIlhss3wwa2qFBXp_mI/s1280/March%202024%20calendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jDQRW552_OyGv2Za2NZdQ1VxEyANHL6D6EECti2by4o3QK9IjnAt90_ST4PhZYqhFroAMuzxmjUZBclER4QmlLM963LblJBh1Umd7-rnumO2zvhlE8Cn6l_SY9E4zSqMZSInNQhNZrKieixqm25f78GrT5XpJTIIn-duFn3DeIlhss3wwa2qFBXp_mI/s320/March%202024%20calendar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing">‘Hey! Er, thought you were starting work here today?’</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">‘Oh hi, no, we said Friday.’</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">‘It is Friday.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">‘Ah…’ *aborts trip to waterfall.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I had a similar experience a week or so ago, with the
secretary of a church emailing me for the song choices and sermon PowerPoint
ahead of a preaching engagement. ‘They’re a bit previous,’ I grumbled as I
reached for my diary. No, it turns out they were very much on the boil. Somehow
I’d missed an entire week.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Time can be so deceptive, can’t it? How come some hours
can feel endless, while some whizz by in a moment? I guess it depends on how we
are spending it. I’ve had a couple of conversations recently with starting-out-writers
who are desperate to schedule writing time in an already packed timetable. (We
can all sympathise! How many of us have prayed for extra hours in the day?) In
each case, I was able to encourage them that we can make good use of even ten
minutes, if that’s all we have. If you manage to write 100 words, then another
100 and another 100, it will soon add up. Far better that, than to wait for a
full free day to arrive on the back of a unicorn and consequently achieve zero.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If you are interested in time-management, there are
multitudes of titles to choose from, to say nothing about podcasts and other
online content. I’ve read them myself, all those exhausting-sounding tips that
have helped the author/presenter achieve the success they have. Perhaps some
people need that kind of micro-managing of their days to get them into a more
productive groove. Perhaps we can apply it in some way to our writing? But, for
me, I always want to come back to the heart.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Yes, let’s try to carve out some time for writing; but
let the reason be because writing gives us such joy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Yes, let’s be disciplined and finish what we have
started; but only because we can’t wait to share our ideas/creations with
others.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p><p>In short, the time we spend writing should be
life-giving! And who cares if we accidentally lose a week or two in the
process? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRb4ZlirPjHXJibIaazlgr5e5_8w5ETzvgDXpLIzDeNNPa9lGCElcp-SLPiCVnb8N0GpzaAk7Zq6CTTfcePx-J36ESK7Fx3J5qeMzC8xGsl52ZiLTOvYNKoimS_eo0ppblpGlIz2bpi-YTCpX4j32uwdouB88oT7nMGtXwQ3G2fvhTFl8W37CIaVOUOgQ/s360/Jane%20Walters%2062023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="256" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRb4ZlirPjHXJibIaazlgr5e5_8w5ETzvgDXpLIzDeNNPa9lGCElcp-SLPiCVnb8N0GpzaAk7Zq6CTTfcePx-J36ESK7Fx3J5qeMzC8xGsl52ZiLTOvYNKoimS_eo0ppblpGlIz2bpi-YTCpX4j32uwdouB88oT7nMGtXwQ3G2fvhTFl8W37CIaVOUOgQ/w143-h200/Jane%20Walters%2062023.jpg" width="143" /></a></div><br /><p><i>Jane Walters is Chair of ACW and leader of Green Pastures Christian Writers.</i></p><p><i>She writes devotionals for BRF and is currently working on a book of prayers.</i></p><p><i>www.janewyattwalters.com</i></p><p><i>Insta: @readywritersretreats</i></p>Jane Waltershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06944263168032641538noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-73089034136888028302024-03-12T00:30:00.039+00:002024-03-12T00:30:00.241+00:00Go set a watchman Trial <p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don't enjoy criticism. </span></span></span></span></b><span style="color: #073763; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99);"><b> As an only child with t</b></span></span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">wo adults in the family, guess who generally got the blame? I admit it has become a defensive default position. </span></span></span><span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></span></b></p><div class="separator"><p style="clear: right; float: right; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p style="clear: right; float: right; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">I even balk at </span></b><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">revising </span></b></span></p><p style="clear: right; float: right; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">a draft, </span></b></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>dithering </b></span></span></p><p style="clear: right; float: right; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>disconsolately about </b></span></span></p><p style="clear: right; float: right; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>what to change, not liking </b></span></span></p><p style="clear: right; float: right; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>having to criticise </b></span></span></p><p style="clear: right; float: right; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>my own imperfection</b></span></span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">. </span></b></p><p style="clear: right; float: right; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p style="clear: right; float: right; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: #d0e0e3; font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="clear: right; float: right; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></p></div><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4q6CiikfBFNAQ7RECkhhZ_dZfjy6M1hBv4S7PIDDNr1ddchPc7P9Y7E5VJMZsLSbviu_OCpZPpoBSw3GlZYgWImCSxL-24UxTEPBniwEO9zU6X0Y27w2j-uhgyl9kMZJafCd7biJ5u828qH9xvJoJ22mfwnTb3MqWqTqvnQO-xuZlHxCBAO5UUrGY8rsl/s608/Screenshot%202024-02-21%20at%2017.02.38.png" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="416" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4q6CiikfBFNAQ7RECkhhZ_dZfjy6M1hBv4S7PIDDNr1ddchPc7P9Y7E5VJMZsLSbviu_OCpZPpoBSw3GlZYgWImCSxL-24UxTEPBniwEO9zU6X0Y27w2j-uhgyl9kMZJafCd7biJ5u828qH9xvJoJ22mfwnTb3MqWqTqvnQO-xuZlHxCBAO5UUrGY8rsl/w219-h320/Screenshot%202024-02-21%20at%2017.02.38.png" width="219" /></span></a> <b style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Four months into taking my writing more seriously, I am working on embracing </span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><b>this challenge; pondering over the flow of the words, reviewing whether they are singing in harmony, or whittling some away to communicate better. To choose the articulate over the verbose is a skill. I struggle over what my voice really is, and whether I can be taken seriously. Yet, when others cross examine my meaning, re- ordering sentences, removing tautology and apply skilful punctuation, I find it inspiring. This art can be learned! </b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJQco4-wgwNj6bFctH9prlmxobELyxqT-4Yx67k5oM2gEwfzdTlj4Q5vWPj-E047uJe058nM_cmnvSP9ktRR2fIpvYzGTtkDQbpQGYSlp7Obpo4uEXNKeyt3qD_5R_Cg_4OqwUlKsx20m2NVyFjsQs82j5sXJuB4GdZQc7FOY4QcGAIOKI4a7trTVpkbU/s596/Screenshot%202024-02-21%20at%2017.17.34.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; text-align: left;">When Harper Lee's second book, Go set a Watchman came out, I was teaching history, and trying to get my students to work on their essays. Evenings marking essays were lightened by the hilarity of unintended gaffs. Scripts had often been dashed off, perhaps on a hockey team bench, without any thought to their possible future as a classic. So, to encourage these budding history scholars, I suggested reading their arguments out loud, even to the cat. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq0GSAK8PQscRobU8t5PcAl2hy5Hxqqqw6zm3CnEh7_8BWiiGkuLOBhZQbO720lWoYP9bzZNov2YBCx1NCtOz6MEfeQVpO8e7peddDzOLdiQHv44-e3KNJbPfUuJb-RHayxHypOXJ_pM2ppG3NorA_t1Q0HDZhQawGeYgixByvqNvlRH-uhFI1s_90Yb-P" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1204" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq0GSAK8PQscRobU8t5PcAl2hy5Hxqqqw6zm3CnEh7_8BWiiGkuLOBhZQbO720lWoYP9bzZNov2YBCx1NCtOz6MEfeQVpO8e7peddDzOLdiQHv44-e3KNJbPfUuJb-RHayxHypOXJ_pM2ppG3NorA_t1Q0HDZhQawGeYgixByvqNvlRH-uhFI1s_90Yb-P" width="181" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br />It really helped. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; text-align: left;">Written mistakes can be neatly </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; text-align: left;">obscured by typed text, beautifully displayed on inspirational screens, - and in my case, having been spell-checked</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; text-align: left;">, leaving me with a false sense of security.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; text-align: left;">There is, however, something instinctively self-corrective about speaking nonsense out loud! </span><p></p></div><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Go set a Watchman seemed to fit into this season of encouraging my students to 'check your work', seeming to prove the point that genius is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. When it was published in 2015, it was an anomaly. A lifetime had elapsed since, To Kill a Mockingbird had launched her as an author, in 1960, the delay largely due to the opposition of her sister, Alice. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">I asked a colleague in the English Literature department for her reflections on Lee's new book. “Too raw”, was the considered response. The brilliance of To Kill a Mockingbird<i> </i>lay in its crafted, polished, artisanship. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">Had Alice Lee wisely discouraged the second publication knowing it was under-prepared, not wanting Harper to be exposed? Had she herself, like the instruction in the title, become a watchman over her sister's life?</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #d0e0e3; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKidaU6MRzWJzyW6jNE5nldno9jfvaPMGkheW25Xa71XozIde4kt8pB1l4x4ZYGyNUzeJFYOlKukMOtMC_HuPIGNzK_mabKOkJFIZaFFjSDNBQh9qamR-2sbr5sQ5oOvM8xh6-Q7EIn6yTvSW3Sp2fT2YxbEPHwfPbMdDdE7HZwWzJYNFTG-uaHHJA0HQf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2050" data-original-width="2631" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKidaU6MRzWJzyW6jNE5nldno9jfvaPMGkheW25Xa71XozIde4kt8pB1l4x4ZYGyNUzeJFYOlKukMOtMC_HuPIGNzK_mabKOkJFIZaFFjSDNBQh9qamR-2sbr5sQ5oOvM8xh6-Q7EIn6yTvSW3Sp2fT2YxbEPHwfPbMdDdE7HZwWzJYNFTG-uaHHJA0HQf=w308-h246" width="308" /></a></div></div><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Setting this 'watchman discipline' - developing the skill of re-drafting, erects a shield over writing. So it needs to be embraced wholeheartedly, not avoided, because it's my friend. It doesn't only apply to writing, though, but my whole life. <b> </b></span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>I write and, I am read, by those around me. Setting a watchman on the walls of my heart sharpens by ability to represent Jesus to those who see me or read what I write. To walk and write well honours Him. </b></span><span style="font-family: Times;"> </span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times;">You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men, being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hears (2 Corinthians 3:2-3, NASB). </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; min-height: 19px;"> </p><div><br /></div>nickychathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15108460662464114886noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-45557934251279096202024-03-11T00:00:00.001+00:002024-03-11T00:00:00.126+00:00Is ‘Alright’ All Right? by Peculiar Medinus<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXTzLL_7SNk7cIedHGP7BeTW9vLwPr8PQVxNmlJeav5pqDhfOezWeDL7DQcOiws8e4c7lQppu91hMKu-tzcHiCiBu2NtBa3qfzynbP_5wvJmTkpJxFUCWt5rwJx86nnMvRCiM0uo0_zx_eCMKfEoJmK4OLFonNw_-nJF39mVuIx6Bn8S6KIohiIzKThk/s2240/March11%20banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXTzLL_7SNk7cIedHGP7BeTW9vLwPr8PQVxNmlJeav5pqDhfOezWeDL7DQcOiws8e4c7lQppu91hMKu-tzcHiCiBu2NtBa3qfzynbP_5wvJmTkpJxFUCWt5rwJx86nnMvRCiM0uo0_zx_eCMKfEoJmK4OLFonNw_-nJF39mVuIx6Bn8S6KIohiIzKThk/w640-h360/March11%20banner.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A few years ago,
while preparing to host my nephews on Boxing Day, a book title caught my eye in
a grocery store: "Have You Eaten Grandma?"<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The only
grandparent I met passed away over two decades ago, so I had no plan to host a
grandparent. I thought the book would have a hungry crowd of young school
pupils. However, there was a unique connection that made me feel, “I’ve found a
soul mate!”<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I took curious
steps towards the bookshelf, picked up the book, and sitting at the bottom of
the front cover were these words:<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><strong><i><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Or, the life-saving importance of correct punctuation,
grammar, and good English.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Those words made
me feel like I was the right pupil for the book. It was another day of impulsive
buying because that was clearly out of my budget. As I wheeled the trolley to
the pay point, I thought donating this book to charity would take it to the
right audience if I didn’t find it useful.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It remains my
grammar compass today, capable of transforming writers into editors.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The author is
Gyles Brandreth, a university chancellor who was an actor, a journalist, and a
member of parliament. But what caused the lead conversion was not the name of
the celebrity; it was the title of the book.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Why would any
writer select such a title for a book on grammar?<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This blog
highlights the captivating power of titles and aims to encourage writers to
consider choosing a title creatively. Do not be afraid to be creative with your
titles, as opting for a traditional and straightforward approach may be less
appealing. Choosing a captivating title can immediately grab the attention of
potential readers. An exceptional title has the power to spark curiosity and
attract readers from the start, even before they understand the content of your
piece.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Moreover, an
engaging title has the potential to distinguish your work from others in your
genre or niche. In a sea of articles or books with similar topics, having an
attention-grabbing title can make yours stand out and be remembered by readers.
It gives you an opportunity to showcase your creativity and originality from
the beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Professionalism
trumps perfectionism when it comes to achieving success in capturing and
engaging with your audience with a title. A professional title not only grabs
attention and conveys credibility but also sets clear expectations for readers.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Gyles’
professionally intrigued readers with a witty title before divulging the book's
focus on the front cover.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This blog
concludes by questioning a perfectionist: “Is ‘alright’ all right?”<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">That’s one of the
intriguing contents of Gyles’ book, and here I have borrowed it as a title.
What do you think?</span></strong><b><span style="font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><strong></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqp0bGW6yWTcgAfXNlNjz_TVJcSEBv8a_G0o0OQiEc-0r5novu86B5qJWwZq3pQ-fo_t2Z7lMXoSepW_kX0C6C3aD1lKrno0dBGavBfluQH9qvkCTERy3MgYWmDkCO0Vp7eD2RJKNpN39Pd_zpHU66UgzTQvs0E0vNSNIIQr7h5ALXXVWUbunorPhV-Y/s1920/me%20photo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqp0bGW6yWTcgAfXNlNjz_TVJcSEBv8a_G0o0OQiEc-0r5novu86B5qJWwZq3pQ-fo_t2Z7lMXoSepW_kX0C6C3aD1lKrno0dBGavBfluQH9qvkCTERy3MgYWmDkCO0Vp7eD2RJKNpN39Pd_zpHU66UgzTQvs0E0vNSNIIQr7h5ALXXVWUbunorPhV-Y/w640-h360/me%20photo.png" width="640" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></strong><p></p>Peculiar Medinushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14711262839503039493noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-29513622717933915482024-03-10T00:30:00.001+00:002024-03-10T00:30:00.124+00:00Times and Seasons, by Ben Jeapes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62w0eD7f_zeAvmCgtP2PJhbAeVfs694rGF6BELGBCRdRRw7kcWxGDRVwD-zSXXcejUJRTgQsvYaXBf7jqqSLBjD80EbcoguSUvzmm-ICFrHH-j05DHgAu3iO5qYCkLNgaNei9JdNb1gPL12dfDEeVEgXO4mTZVLBu5JQYKxmPW5uNBY365YxkYxmGV2I/s500/pexels-designecologist-1389460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62w0eD7f_zeAvmCgtP2PJhbAeVfs694rGF6BELGBCRdRRw7kcWxGDRVwD-zSXXcejUJRTgQsvYaXBf7jqqSLBjD80EbcoguSUvzmm-ICFrHH-j05DHgAu3iO5qYCkLNgaNei9JdNb1gPL12dfDEeVEgXO4mTZVLBu5JQYKxmPW5uNBY365YxkYxmGV2I/s320/pexels-designecologist-1389460.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/leaves-hang-on-rope-1389460/" target="_blank">Photo by Designecologist</a></i> <div><br /></div><div>The story goes that a king (or possibly a sultan) asked a wise person for words of advice which would work under any circumstances. They came up with: “This too shall pass”.
<br />
<br />
Of course, the king (or sultan) could just have <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ecclesiastes+3.1-8&version=NIV" target="_blank">read Ecclesiastes</a>, which conveys a similar message. Nothing (at least, nothing this side of death) is forever. If there’s a time for everything to begin, that means there must be a time for it to end too.
<br />
<br />
I’ve been thinking of this for a couple of reasons recently. One is that this week it is twenty years since my life took a whole new turn, all for the better. <a href="https://www.benjeapes.com/index.php/2024/03/the-year-my-life-rebooted/" target="_blank">I blog about it here</a>. After seeing a career crash and burn and staring down the barrel of personal bankruptcy, I got a job that let me start over, that I enjoyed hugely and that, frankly, I could have just kept doing forever.
<br />
<br />
Only, it wouldn’t have been forever, would it? Co-workers came and went. The company itself changed, as a healthy company must, flexing and adapting to the changing commercial environment in which it existed. ‘Forever’ turned out to be seven years, until redundancy came along.
<br />
<br />
The other reason is … well, let’s not get political. Let’s just say that current indications suggest we may be getting another four years of a particular President in the White House. But that, too, shall pass … as I reminded myself frequently between 2016 and 2020.
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<br />
It makes me wary of being too glib when I write stories. Say I was writing a story set in World War Two. As far as the characters were concerned, they would be fighting to rid the world of fascism. Eighty years later, sad to say, I know that all they did was knock it out for a generation. And my modern readers would know this – but at the same time they wouldn’t want me to disparage the heroism of the characters in the 1940s.
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<br />
So, even if I write a story set in the present, or the future, I know that the happy ending won’t last forever. Not until the final, happiest ending of all – but that’s usually beyond my remit.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipcU-VbfYPr5j4NOfk2pNsOnpCL6A71S9VDUa7pUhw7mqDLT9mpZNGo7TbjVZWOdSbcsY_IZsLTn9ypNrlXk8Fqj5p3T9Y8YPNa22GJB0PTzzG9hgSIvyxD7FkvzJJ48X5V8O9TfSt_Y/s1600/bjeapes01.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipcU-VbfYPr5j4NOfk2pNsOnpCL6A71S9VDUa7pUhw7mqDLT9mpZNGo7TbjVZWOdSbcsY_IZsLTn9ypNrlXk8Fqj5p3T9Y8YPNa22GJB0PTzzG9hgSIvyxD7FkvzJJ48X5V8O9TfSt_Y/s1600/bjeapes01.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>Ben Jeapes took up writing in the mistaken belief that it would be easier than a real job (it isn’t). Hence, as well as being the author of eight novels and co-author of many more, he has also been a journal editor, book publisher, and technical writer. His most recent title is <a href="”https://www.benjeapes.com/index.php/writing/ada/”" target="”_blank”">a children’s biography of Ada Lovelace</a>. <a href="https://www.benjeapes.com/" target="_blank">www.benjeapes.com</a></i>
</div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02152545728675983286noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-68516795128154286112024-03-09T00:00:00.001+00:002024-03-09T00:00:00.162+00:00Building castles out of sand<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Qs0Gl5JwyEsTn5X5ZEOi0rRYVQFBVJjJUrCo-UhL8Bfzrq-u5JZi_0-p9d7IawYhlKgunAMaPC7HPxFnryrjEKgVJLGnLG91Tv77WRrr6Y7Kj53yBVgsbIvkX9xBNwxyQIArPviAbOjmFsxqZcsBi7xk-qX83MRb4NX9r3aenGCJAwtICDqP1Km9QZk_/s6720/Building%20my%20sandcastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Qs0Gl5JwyEsTn5X5ZEOi0rRYVQFBVJjJUrCo-UhL8Bfzrq-u5JZi_0-p9d7IawYhlKgunAMaPC7HPxFnryrjEKgVJLGnLG91Tv77WRrr6Y7Kj53yBVgsbIvkX9xBNwxyQIArPviAbOjmFsxqZcsBi7xk-qX83MRb4NX9r3aenGCJAwtICDqP1Km9QZk_/s320/Building%20my%20sandcastle.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-wrap: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@acuamanny?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash" style="background-color: #f1f1f1; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; text-wrap: nowrap; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Emmanuel Acua</a><span style="background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-wrap: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-concrete-castle-during-daytime-HWzv8HgYXPQ?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash" style="background-color: #f1f1f1; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; text-wrap: nowrap; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>14,585! </p><p>417 words written today. They crawled out, no, they danced out. All excited to explore this outside world that they'd heard about whilst they were waiting for their entrance in my imagination. </p><p>That's the amount of words I wrote on Wednesday 28th, the day before, I'd written 327 words. But somehow, the word count kept growing!<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDTT1OcvwJ0qdh_jT9P5kIAUkJs-eJ9yPv0dI52VEhP6Ogry7V9pzqSstm_lxP3dgvXqhHv6q91gkz_vm2wtzBNJWHLfZJ8Wr72K_IFvitleVmNZ8m3-9agXOA0u99xTbIaiHiuYmNffdXB-OreAREVPr9_TKAupo9OANO_O5v-kbUfRQiW41JihnQTryo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="426" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDTT1OcvwJ0qdh_jT9P5kIAUkJs-eJ9yPv0dI52VEhP6Ogry7V9pzqSstm_lxP3dgvXqhHv6q91gkz_vm2wtzBNJWHLfZJ8Wr72K_IFvitleVmNZ8m3-9agXOA0u99xTbIaiHiuYmNffdXB-OreAREVPr9_TKAupo9OANO_O5v-kbUfRQiW41JihnQTryo" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is from my morning writing time, and for a while the average was around 270 - 300 mark, but I'm delighted to see that something has changed! So what caused that you may be thinking, well. It's a combination of three things. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Recently, I came across an article about giving yourself permission to <a href="https://writersedit.com/writing/7-things-not-worry-first-draft/">write a bad first draft</a>. This was incredibly helpful. For too long, I was losing belief in what I was writing, which was not helpful. Then on the 17th Feb, I attended The Sheffield Writers day, which was wonderful. Not only did I have great fun at a poetry writing workshop, and hearing an author been interviewed, I also attended a 'Writing your novel' masterclass. This was with two local authors - <a href="https://russthomasauthor.com/index.html">Russ Thomas</a> and <a href="https://susanelliotwright.co.uk/">Susan Elliot-Wright</a> Not only did this give me some great pointers, it also gave me motivation and belief, which is always helpful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But the biggest thing that has most helped me was reading this quote:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f5f7fa; color: #5d5d66; font-family: inter, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px; text-align: start;">I’m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I’m simply shovelling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.” —Shannon Hale</span></div></blockquote><p>When the words don't come or even worse, when I doubt the quality of what I'm writing, this quote is just what I need. Right now, I'm focussed on filling up that box. I can't wait till I get to 20,000 words because then, that box is a quarter full. Yes, there are times when the fears come saying '<i>I know nothing about police procedures</i>' or <i>Will people find it boring </i>or even <i>how do you go about printing off 300 pages anyway? </i></p><p>That will come later. Right now, I need to focus on filling up that box. Then, just like the picture shows, I can create a castle with turrets, and ramparts and a drawbridge and staircases, and a moat and a dragon and all kinds of intricate details, but without any sand, I can't build anything. </p><p>I don't know who Shannon Hale is, but I'm hoping that at some point, I'll be able to thank her for giving me the motivation that I needed to finish my novel. </p><p>One other thing that I've found essential is this - <a href="https://blank.page/">blank page</a>. As I may have mentioned before, I use writer.zoho.com, which is helpful, but not only do I find all the frame around too noisy, I also can't resist correcting spelling or grammar mistakes as I go, which not only slows me down, but also pulls me out of the story that I'm telling myself, and that's not good. Not at all. </p><p>I want to end by sharing two final quotes which I discovered from Matthew Fox's blogpost on <a href="https://www.writingroutines.com/famous-writers-on-first-drafts/">famous writers sharing about their first drafts</a> </p><blockquote><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #344456; font-family: "Nunito Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: -0.06px;">“The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.” ―Terry Pratchett</span></p></blockquote><blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #344456; font-family: "Nunito Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: -0.06px;">“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” — Kurt Vonnegut</span></blockquote><p> I know many of you have already written not only one novel, but many novels, so if you have any tips on getting though that first draft, then please do share them in the comments or on the Facebook pages. </p><p>Hoping that I'll be able to hit that 20,000 word milestone soon!</p><p>All the best, </p><p>Martin</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuI7S8E-MPfMxThfK8fu8B1nabNkW8mwZIqPypfVNEVK7z814oanPkCsr5K5-edE5cRux1Nyl4RHrw6HJAQSdjU7fSZ3HEZnYAgbrA2K36RUWrggtka09fKpRpIHOvzHRzVGe6Jr11aSxngpLwcge7j0d3e1KMgfLW2KnYpTaCQL2O6rSj5IFysmfPTgz0/s2048/Me%20and%20Charlie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuI7S8E-MPfMxThfK8fu8B1nabNkW8mwZIqPypfVNEVK7z814oanPkCsr5K5-edE5cRux1Nyl4RHrw6HJAQSdjU7fSZ3HEZnYAgbrA2K36RUWrggtka09fKpRpIHOvzHRzVGe6Jr11aSxngpLwcge7j0d3e1KMgfLW2KnYpTaCQL2O6rSj5IFysmfPTgz0/s320/Me%20and%20Charlie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f3fdfe; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: roboto, sans-serif;">Martin is a writer, baker, photographer and storyteller. He's been published in the ACW Christmas anthology and Lent devotional, and in four flash fiction anthologies He's currently honing his craft at flash fiction and you can find him on </span></span><a href="https://twitter.com/Hortonious101" style="background: rgb(243, 253, 254); color: #37afc0; font-family: roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;">Twitter</a><span style="background-color: #f3fdfe; color: #757575; font-family: roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> here.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><br /><p></p>Martin Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09568362924843865043noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-34956283673616219912024-03-08T00:00:00.001+00:002024-03-08T00:00:00.156+00:00Son<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKetddMXG3K_XG7ED274x8aDa_oDy1sIQVUsYY6pvsMf3_S4OIU_9kgDrP_2O-v_QDCInL0txu92L_mgFRzuPwheVPYVG2g2_evlzunPF_HGiGNSck1N4MPa2nc1PqNVjrZdCUk4PyrzlV5Plo3Nf_JgPRTuk2j97R8FYUJbJ0iM4q6qkjlvl_CnbwRb4e/s2272/2010_0521Etienne2Birthday0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKetddMXG3K_XG7ED274x8aDa_oDy1sIQVUsYY6pvsMf3_S4OIU_9kgDrP_2O-v_QDCInL0txu92L_mgFRzuPwheVPYVG2g2_evlzunPF_HGiGNSck1N4MPa2nc1PqNVjrZdCUk4PyrzlV5Plo3Nf_JgPRTuk2j97R8FYUJbJ0iM4q6qkjlvl_CnbwRb4e/s320/2010_0521Etienne2Birthday0003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Following a wearisome few days of school life as a teacher, not to mention, parents' evenings and World Book Day (I dressed as Thing Two - Don't ask.), you can imagine my delight when I received a short text from my fifteen-year-old son which said, I could have my mothers' day present early. He had written a poem for me, and I could tell he was very proud of himself. </p><p>Conscious that I needed to get my ACW blog post finished this evening for publication tomorrow (all I needed to do was take a few photographs), I arrived home at a fairly reasonable hour, changed into my pyjamas, and settled down, with a cup of tea, to read the poem. </p><p>My planned post is now postponed. I have decided to share this beautiful poem because you will appreciate it. It is appropriately titled: Mum.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Mum</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">When I was young, l</span>ying in bed.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I would lay down my weary head.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And listen,</p><p style="text-align: center;">To your many stories</p><p style="text-align: center;">Of tragedy, comedy, loss, and glory</p><p style="text-align: center;">Of animals, little boys, or big, scary trolls.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It came to life on your face,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Your voice, with so much soul.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Until I'd say, "One more! Just one more!"</p><p style="text-align: center;">And you'd give it your final send,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Are you ready?</p><p style="text-align: center;">"Yes!"</p><p style="text-align: center;">Once upon a time, the end!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">So thank you, Mum, for sitting in the dark,</p><p style="text-align: center;">And reading for hours,"Nosark! Nosark!"*</p><p style="text-align: center;">For now, when I go to write, you're my creative spark.</p><p style="text-align: center;">So when you worry about leaving a legacy,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Think again.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Because I think you'll find it,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Sitting right here in my pen! </p><p style="text-align: center;">ES</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">*Noah's Ark was ES favourite story as a young child.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Happy Mothers' Day.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Nikki E Salthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13852391341768123502noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-16157116039790072212024-03-07T06:00:00.018+00:002024-03-07T06:49:45.681+00:00Ambition’s a funny thing<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Had I been one of Jesus’ disciples (!) I’m sure overhearing some of the things he said would have left me befuddled. For example </span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">‘What do you want me to do for you?’ Jesus asked him. The blind man said ‘Rabbi, I want to see’.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;">It may have been a strangely obvious question to ask and yet if Jesus felt it necessary to ask it perhaps the problem was less located in the Son of God than the blind man. Who knows how long the gap was between Jesus’ question and the blind man’s answer? Seconds, minutes? Mark’s gospel is written at pace, he uses the word ‘immediately’ quite often, so we tend to think Jesus’ encounter with the blind man was done and dusted in a flash, no hesitation <i>‘Rabbi, I want to see’, </i>then the miracle.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoXcUwXKU90i4uUwspUDTTe052Mf3ymZf6NBAeb48jUCcwNgn_5aEll-8kXcpoI3ulm74qO1NaRjeikffpAQn6JNyJQ0odwQByYmjWjZc-1YtXB4g0o4ym-E1G0XYn8KSD8BnxZVeJsxF9X72_zaEJC1KodCqBipYH9IWHvGVE7zmd2lc0snjw6Dfhz4/s500/shutterstock_1436548940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoXcUwXKU90i4uUwspUDTTe052Mf3ymZf6NBAeb48jUCcwNgn_5aEll-8kXcpoI3ulm74qO1NaRjeikffpAQn6JNyJQ0odwQByYmjWjZc-1YtXB4g0o4ym-E1G0XYn8KSD8BnxZVeJsxF9X72_zaEJC1KodCqBipYH9IWHvGVE7zmd2lc0snjw6Dfhz4/s320/shutterstock_1436548940.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />We all have ambitions – large and small that we treasure in our hearts.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;">I want to compete in a triathlon...one day. Either as one leg of a team or, harder, to do all three legs. I’ve held this ambition lightly for n years. In the past two years, I have graunched both shoulders and it has taken me almost two years to get back in the pool. Also, I tore a calf muscle twice and had a recurring sore Achilles, so my running speed has gone in the wrong direction. And, due to writing these days rather than cycling into work, wintry mornings somehow seem to keep the bike locked in the shed. Setbacks. But has that dimmed my ambition? No. Not when I think about it. It's still alive.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;">I wonder if our experience is similar to the blind man's. Do we have clearly defined ambitions as writers? Can we answer Jesus' question instantly? Then for Jesus to do a miracle and <i>Boom!</i> The blind man can see, or, <i>‘Rabbi, I want to write a book’. </i>And off we go inspired and a book is published in no time?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;">In one sense maybe it <i>is </i>that easy to answer Jesus’ question. But I remember someone saying those like blind Bartimaeus were pitchforked into trouble due to the healing miracle. They knew how to be blind. How to survive by begging but now they would have to relearn everything, acquire new skills, face difficulties and setbacks, new discouragements. The speedy miracle was followed by a slower readjustment…even the ambition<i> ‘Rabbi, I want to see’</i> may have been questioned, after all the difficulties encountered as a result of the miracle. It’s easy to slip back.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;">I know I’m preaching to the converted here! If you’re reading this your heart and mind are probably full of writing ambitions. But I wonder if you’re facing setbacks or disappointments, and the hill seems too hard to climb? Do I want to be published or is it I just want to write well, improve, enjoy it as a hobby, and not worry about public acclaim or obscurity? Maybe you’re driving forward with your next novel, or sitting at your desk staring into space…again?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;">Did the blind man have to take a moment? Maybe he did. Whether he did or not, he was faced with Jesus’ question – as am I - which I have reworked slightly: <i>‘What do you want me to do for you, writer?’</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p>John Stevenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06013370660616059455noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-53231416469490265282024-03-06T16:29:00.000+00:002024-03-06T16:29:16.009+00:00Keep looking for the rainbow<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oSQkjSXqxQyAtGGFoG_hdjGxWsHoKjzYx4mCj8FM3t0RtMHaWwLTKIUEaGuzfFfPVspcSBm8KDz-iQUO5JGVu8S-7BL1MbCf9msqzdVq4OTTUylP0RUTam6NhkqpmwZJOphmJN6HkcvJWr2Uoz5637d3sxB9o6Jjw__36BrsX7iWG3HNIio0J5Qsdjs/s1280/rainbow-2424647_1280.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oSQkjSXqxQyAtGGFoG_hdjGxWsHoKjzYx4mCj8FM3t0RtMHaWwLTKIUEaGuzfFfPVspcSBm8KDz-iQUO5JGVu8S-7BL1MbCf9msqzdVq4OTTUylP0RUTam6NhkqpmwZJOphmJN6HkcvJWr2Uoz5637d3sxB9o6Jjw__36BrsX7iWG3HNIio0J5Qsdjs/s400/rainbow-2424647_1280.jpg"/></a></div><br><br><i>Image from Pixabay</i><br><br>I saw a rainbow last night, walking from my workplace to Charing Cross Station. The trees were backlit in the gold of the setting sun, framed in bronze against a black sky. The rainbow arched, in misty pink clouds, over the London streets. <br><br>
I love seeing rainbows. They remind us of God’s faithfulness, of the covenant he made with Noah, to never again destroy the earth through flood. (Alas, the human race seems to be working hard to rival God on the destruction front.) <br><br>
Rainbows are multi-coloured symbols of hope and promise. They are the beauty that shines after the rain. They also symbolise a mystical, elusive pot of gold that only exists in fairytales, the very stuff of dreams. <br><br>So how are your dreams of writing going? In the ACW, we are all at different stages and on different writing journeys, including successful forays into self-publishing. Yet even a successful author can suffer from imposter’s syndrome, worry about their sales, feel they still don’t quite hit the mark somehow … I wonder if any writer breaks completely free of those all too human doubts and worries. <br><br>
My own writing trundles along … writing regular pieces for my parish magazine, composing the odd poem, writing sermons (a very different discipline from creative writing, though) … doing this monthly blog. <br><br>
The calling to write remains, and I know I should be doing more. (Yes, ACW Spring Competition, I AM looking at you.) My long-term desire is to pray more, give more of myself to God and other people, and in the process, write more … because God gave me that gift, and he would like me to use it. <br><br>
Keep on keeping on, fellow writers, and trace your rainbows through the rain.*<br><br>
*With acknowledgement to Scottish minister George Matheson, who wrote the lovely hymn ‘O love that wilt not let me go’ in 1882.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqSX7bSffxYm04hoYFs0RXaiTMLOVuE1pcW76WdbWvq2SEjb4cs9fuaXrB5UQLgYgbUtkDRh5prZQZm9jkZ5jkO45hYLepUjrYTx_Kat6xNJqYNSgu8VeWJLhBYUbk3C0rzkS_m5WoE1o6WPIh25uGnBTesyW8mkgbDntLxklGPt1HQw1w_lavk-U0Jc/s1920/Picture.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqSX7bSffxYm04hoYFs0RXaiTMLOVuE1pcW76WdbWvq2SEjb4cs9fuaXrB5UQLgYgbUtkDRh5prZQZm9jkZ5jkO45hYLepUjrYTx_Kat6xNJqYNSgu8VeWJLhBYUbk3C0rzkS_m5WoE1o6WPIh25uGnBTesyW8mkgbDntLxklGPt1HQw1w_lavk-U0Jc/s200/Picture.jpg"/></a></div>
<br><br><i>I’m an Anglican lay minister and work full-time for the United Reformed Church as Administrator for their education and learning department. I wrote a devotional for the anthology</i> Light for the Writer’s Soul, <i>published by Media Associates International, and my short story ‘Magnificat’ appears in the ACW anthology </i>Merry Christmas Everyone.Philippa Lintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18168681041793334803noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-31324365341688701962024-03-05T06:00:00.011+00:002024-03-05T06:00:00.284+00:00If I could Turn Back Time<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjie_syqPRv8ZhMZjr4YaWFMCPVSjMoCdU2C9YKx90Uwl0mLNee3q8BsAaPWsaoA_T4OvOFqA_YwIBdyc4Ws8Oy_BBr2ozW2IK63j2xc421TsXCOQVcJsptVlYUUW9aVSg_Uw59yFSa1BM5POknkXkhIgAmF0HVdLfbWB_sqgFAcGWSJMwsam08ZxC4Zy8M" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="406" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjie_syqPRv8ZhMZjr4YaWFMCPVSjMoCdU2C9YKx90Uwl0mLNee3q8BsAaPWsaoA_T4OvOFqA_YwIBdyc4Ws8Oy_BBr2ozW2IK63j2xc421TsXCOQVcJsptVlYUUW9aVSg_Uw59yFSa1BM5POknkXkhIgAmF0HVdLfbWB_sqgFAcGWSJMwsam08ZxC4Zy8M" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span> <span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span> </span></span>Picture credit: Pixabay (free)<o:p></o:p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">There’s a time to stop and a time to start, a time to change and a time to decide…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
sound of <i>Cher</i> belting out her powerful song of regret and loss has been spinning
round in my head. Can you hear it too? I don’t know what inspired the lyrics,
but the desire to turn back time is a repeated human experience. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
month’s blog came around quickly. Fortunately, I had an extra day in February to
play with, so whilst women were busy finding men to propose to, I used it to
write this blog. Extra time is a rare gift, so if makes an appearance, we
should gladly accept it. I plan to do the same with the next extra day in 2028.
I’m already looking forward to it, but it’s a long time to wait for a few extra
hours. If any of the parties bidding for seats at the general election can pledge
an extra day every month, they’ve got my vote. I promise to use it well. </span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I split my working time between two distinct areas,
but I’ve had a growing and persistent urge to simplify things. When
our feelings are persistent, we ought to take notice of them. Maybe, just
maybe, they're trying to tell us something. I’m cringing at the irony of saying
this to you. As a matter of routine, I try hard to ignore my feelings until
they pass! Of course, sometimes that’s the right thing to do. Feelings aren’t
always the most reliable of friends. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Doing different jobs was interesting, but also
distracting and time consuming, and neither of them got my best. The problem
was my head and heart weren't in alignment with the prospect of making any
changes. After a lifetime in public service, walking away from a secure and
interesting government appointment was a tough decision to make. To me, the
role in question wasn’t about paying the bills, it was more about the sense of identity
that work gives me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">After a lot of unseemly tussling and time
wasting, the heart eventually emerged victorious, and I offered my resignation.
Hurrah for the heart! For twenty-four hours, my head sulked about the loss, whinging
and whining about the utter stupidity of giving up something good. <i>Turn back
time,</i> it said, <i>tell them you’ve changed your mind</i>. I have often
reflected on why God created us with both heads and hearts. Surely one or the
other would have been adequate? I’ll add that to my list of questions I must
ask one day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As far as I know, the reversal of time isn’t in
our gift (<i>Dr Who </i>excepted), so we must use what we have to best effect. For
me, giving something up was a way of doing that, but change is hard. So often,
we cling to the security of what we know or to how we’ve always lived. Many of
the conflicts I see as a workplace mediator have the unwanted impact of change at
the centre. People tell me that things used to be better before everything
changed. Work was fine until their annoying colleague joined the company. Life
was peachy, but now their job description is changing and so on and so on. Curiously,
though, we don’t just resist changes that are done <i>to us</i>. We also fight
hard against making the changes we want for ourselves. Weird, aren’t we?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">If this resonates, maybe it’s time to ask
yourself what’s next for you and what stops you from making it happen. Maybe it
concerns your writing, how you use your time, your work or something else. Whatever
the issue, there's a time for everything. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">“There is a time for everything, and a season
for every activity under the heavens. A time to be born and a time to die, a
time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a
time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to
gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to
search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time
to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a
time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ecclesiastes 3 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>David Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05376437682576034175noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-86356987315502972062024-03-04T06:00:00.004+00:002024-03-04T06:00:00.141+00:00Where are all my notes?<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 2pt;">By Derrice James</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AL5RwAcVNya97Tiv7qGRi1GTZZqLJgRgXAApjIJ7-0OMtcTdTBxaOX68ZYe7RFSf4TecOrbYdESh4LQN6fDe2LJaLUAEroCgcKJyZWDDAoUF6uqOoy1SVVOCaEjmfYu6iyW5zlGnB1SvxcRRbzF4rT2HrJHLhVlwRwFzr2f4DHyRjUuT_k6aFPeeQ5g/s264/BLOG%20DESKTOP.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="225" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AL5RwAcVNya97Tiv7qGRi1GTZZqLJgRgXAApjIJ7-0OMtcTdTBxaOX68ZYe7RFSf4TecOrbYdESh4LQN6fDe2LJaLUAEroCgcKJyZWDDAoUF6uqOoy1SVVOCaEjmfYu6iyW5zlGnB1SvxcRRbzF4rT2HrJHLhVlwRwFzr2f4DHyRjUuT_k6aFPeeQ5g/s1600/BLOG%20DESKTOP.png" width="225" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Ever since I can remember, I have exhausted myself scribbling down notes for my writing. I look back and wonder why I just didn’t do what every good writer did in those days, and get a notebook! I had a collection of yellow post-its, scrap pads, bits of torn paper, backs of envelopes, paper bags, tissues, anything I could get my hands on at the time to quickly jot down my light-bulb moment, when something amazing came to mind, because I knew I would never remember it again, and those thoughts, ideas, quotes, sentences, whatever, to add to my amazing book that I would eventually write, would be forgotten in minutes if I didn’t write them down there and then.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">I would tell myself regularly that, when I get some time, I will put all my notes together and have enough material to write my book. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">All these years of collecting, I eventually managed to find a lot of them, and have put them into a box. I was quite pleased with myself, but there are still hundreds of others, sitting on old broken laptops and phones that I have no access to it anymore, but my notes, stories and experiences are locked in them! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">I should have printed out all my work at the time. But that was the old me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">The new, more organised me has now written and published my book, but have found that I haven’t actually had to use any of the notes I spent 50 years collecting. The book is on something completely different and was totally inspired by God, who gave me all the words to write. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">So I am now thinking, what shall I do with all my notes? When I find them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">I believe God has a plan for all my notes.<o:p></o:p></p>Derrice Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17421991660245108405noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-7059878901742983512024-03-03T02:00:00.004+00:002024-03-03T02:00:00.243+00:00LEARNING HEBREW IN MELTING-POT-LAND by Bobbie Ann Cole<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Did you know that the discovery of the Dead
Sea Scrolls coincided exactly with the United Nations vote to create a
sovereign State of Israel— November 30, 1947? More than 90% of the scrolls that
have been discovered, comprising of secular documents and everyday invoices as
well as holy writings, are in Hebrew.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OgkLdU56KkDeMQJI4eeJqn6pHIuoW9w5oVkufrn7Ba8NT4m6cbX394ytHNiWerXI2Qu3mgFkDd_y9wURj5ZAkYuUM9xKy0oG-F9QqNh8A8YfJYu34HLp5SqKkiGIZIVycxFN2oIqDznhgzTCrh-1sX94Pmg7pRPD8PApycV-z5_o6tRBczjeWkyaWmw/s1100/Dead%20Sea%20Scroll.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dead Sea Scroll" border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1100" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OgkLdU56KkDeMQJI4eeJqn6pHIuoW9w5oVkufrn7Ba8NT4m6cbX394ytHNiWerXI2Qu3mgFkDd_y9wURj5ZAkYuUM9xKy0oG-F9QqNh8A8YfJYu34HLp5SqKkiGIZIVycxFN2oIqDznhgzTCrh-1sX94Pmg7pRPD8PApycV-z5_o6tRBczjeWkyaWmw/w640-h432/Dead%20Sea%20Scroll.png" title="Dead Sea Scroll Fragment" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><h2 style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">THEY ALWAYS SPOKE HEBREW</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">This confirms that Hebrew was the language of
the Holy Land in Jesus’ time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It became the official first language of
Israel on Independence Day, May 14, 1948. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Immigrants from Morocco, Russia, France,
Spanish-speaking countries, Ethiopia and all over the world need to learn it: they
receive free training. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBVoKSwjO7uqfJxcxEmOp7_Y3f2EcbnSDbUE2AtyMkouKJaMBa4lfOZidq_K8raMigSg_bLJnfGYTxta0cNWojH0pDissjlwFjcEQJ1h53uxXVvOIHl74SglpWHtWGy1Aaw7v0D7ezqhG2WWPCp2ZtRn2cu2oNZgAj6E6WkOwZ582Ow1jLnAE1K9-N7U/s2068/Israelis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1502" data-original-width="2068" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBVoKSwjO7uqfJxcxEmOp7_Y3f2EcbnSDbUE2AtyMkouKJaMBa4lfOZidq_K8raMigSg_bLJnfGYTxta0cNWojH0pDissjlwFjcEQJ1h53uxXVvOIHl74SglpWHtWGy1Aaw7v0D7ezqhG2WWPCp2ZtRn2cu2oNZgAj6E6WkOwZ582Ow1jLnAE1K9-N7U/w400-h290/Israelis.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I am a linguist, yet I have not found
Hebrew to be a walk in the park by any means. Apart from the obvious different </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">alephbet</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">,
written back-to-front (i.e. right-to-left) and without vowels, it is a semitic
language more closely related to Arabic than to any European language.</span></p>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">BEAUTIFUL AND ECONOMICAL</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I find it beautiful and economical but
almost every word has to be committed to memory. It is unlikely to be related
to any I know. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcwrcGhrVjmwLINW7LtEY5IVhGYSrQeGQ1JpTXAHZuNthn119ihsyN_I3QSOKS5rlcVa76FYh6-VZFr16-CEED_EzR9EDE-i31jOo30Ti2ahojBVk2ENgD1DidD4nD6hgI0PjfsHpaxcoZs3UeUWW91bfdcwyCUEtqdSarBqrpJfT3SmPN6baKEMiWQY/s602/Trilingual%20restaurant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="602" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcwrcGhrVjmwLINW7LtEY5IVhGYSrQeGQ1JpTXAHZuNthn119ihsyN_I3QSOKS5rlcVa76FYh6-VZFr16-CEED_EzR9EDE-i31jOo30Ti2ahojBVk2ENgD1DidD4nD6hgI0PjfsHpaxcoZs3UeUWW91bfdcwyCUEtqdSarBqrpJfT3SmPN6baKEMiWQY/s320/Trilingual%20restaurant.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Example: </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">מדבר</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">– (MDBR) this could be <i>medaber</i> – I speak (masculine
singular) or <i>midbar </i>– desert.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Likewise, the grammar, though elegant, is
far from obvious. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Example: </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">אני בבית מלון</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">– (ani b’bait mahlon) I am at a hotel. They don’t
bother with the verb ‘to be’ so the ‘am’ is understood. They attach
the ‘at’ - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">ב</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">– to the noun. That don't bother with the 'a'. And the hotel – ‘bait mahlon’
or ‘house of hotel’ is not connected to any expression I might be familiar with
in English, French or German. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">IT COULD HAVE BEEN YIDDISH</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It didn’t always appear that Hebrew would
become Israel’s national language. This is largely due to the effort and
commitment of Eliezer Ben Yehuda who created the first modern Hebrew dictionary
in the late 19<sup>th</sup> century.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">There was opposition from religious sects
who considered Hebrew, the language of Torah, too holy to be casually spoken. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">One time, Ben Yehuda’s son was heard at
play talking to the family dog in Hebrew. Some religious were so outraged that
they killed the dog!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Some early immigrants from Eastern Europe
considered that the national language of Israel should be Yiddish, a predominantly German
dialect. This did not suit the many Sephardi Jews, (of ‘Spanish’ origin). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">HAD TO BE HEBREW</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Only Hebrew could unite the Jews who had
lived in exile in the four corners of the world for almost 2,000 years, since
the time of the destruction of Herod’s Temple and the Sack of Jerusalem, (AD
70). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Many Israelis today speak more than one language.
You can get by almost everywhere with English. Public transport and road signs
are in three languages: Hebrew, Arabic and English.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeRQegzA8Fbc5ApBtmtBS9T1KDCNU6sln7VqH5KMLSGeb3VCqsIwEEuE7fAgDBinKay3gea4pL4g9ROirvxudqeRd8mUnebRuS4zb2fwosgBWhBtIhsFp4JVT2E3tDyCKDTSaDCH1ZstTaKfXDei2FQ12zWhkdjKYHUGvzUsTo85HaZLUVriYbQCX0AQ/s1100/Road%20sign%20israel.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="1100" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeRQegzA8Fbc5ApBtmtBS9T1KDCNU6sln7VqH5KMLSGeb3VCqsIwEEuE7fAgDBinKay3gea4pL4g9ROirvxudqeRd8mUnebRuS4zb2fwosgBWhBtIhsFp4JVT2E3tDyCKDTSaDCH1ZstTaKfXDei2FQ12zWhkdjKYHUGvzUsTo85HaZLUVriYbQCX0AQ/s320/Road%20sign%20israel.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">People also speak the language of the
countries they have left behind— Russian and French currently predominate. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p></p>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">JEWISH STUDIES MA</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Modern Hebrew is a requirement of my Jewish
Studies MA at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I had to duck out of classes,
however, as the requirements of long hours of online learning, along with
homework, prevented me from giving any time to my core modules. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I am pleased to say we are back to live
learning after three months of online classes at the start of the war. I hope
to be taking Hebrew back up soon. I currently speak like a five-year old. (with
the vocab of a 2–3-year-old, actually.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YeStP7ukYAztIwjygypK2Me_yuNF1JvVXB2VI9Aje7BTiYXXMFQc6fFd3SCP6GOj4XPapA9j94EicRKEBd_3dCvKjw1paHHINwZxRTnyFXy7fBp3cO4JOujus7VkUIz5uPk4RruCSRkYe1BW1JgsSz5_MYiWm9gOkuarjWKzlnxljo2WhEB3mzEVfag/s444/A%20Bobbie%20Still%20crop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="417" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YeStP7ukYAztIwjygypK2Me_yuNF1JvVXB2VI9Aje7BTiYXXMFQc6fFd3SCP6GOj4XPapA9j94EicRKEBd_3dCvKjw1paHHINwZxRTnyFXy7fBp3cO4JOujus7VkUIz5uPk4RruCSRkYe1BW1JgsSz5_MYiWm9gOkuarjWKzlnxljo2WhEB3mzEVfag/s320/A%20Bobbie%20Still%20crop.png" width="301" /></a></div><br />Bobbie Ann Cole is a Christian author,
speaker and teacher, currently living and studying in Israel. Keep up with her
blog posts and newsletters about her life in the Holy Land by signing up at <a href="http://scrollchest.com/">http://scrollchest.com</a>. You will receive her
5-Minute Testimony, HOW I MET JESUS: “It happened seventeen years ago, in a
Jerusalem church where, as a Jew, I thought I wasn’t supposed to be.”<o:p></o:p><p></p>Bobbie Ann Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14763672118043389223noreply@blogger.com11United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277