More than Writers

  Mistakes, I’ve Made A Few…….   I have surfaced from several weeks deep in the editing trenches. First, working with my editor on the final edits to my forthcoming book. As I went through read through the MS, it occurred to me that might be a good time to retrieve book two of the Birchwood Inheritance Series from the box I had dumped it in last December, to check it against the first book for continuity and consistency in the plot, backstories, and characterisation. I am glad I did. Although each book is standalone, as with most book series, there is an overarching main story that runs through them all. Minor characters, subplots and places develop, but much will stay the same. Things mentioned in book one become relevant in later books and so on. Ensuring everything tallies up is essential for the story (and the author) to be creditable to the reader. Thankfully, there was nothing major, just nips and tucks mostly in book two. Unfortunately, errors do occur even in pub...

Photo by MChe Lee on Unsplash Hello, and welcome to the news.  As you settle down to the ACW Daily Bulletin, you may not realise that you are sitting on the edge of history. You are perching on the edge of things that have gone before. Today marks the anniversary of many other April 22nds, and your correspondent has picked out three with which to mark April 22 nd 2025.   April 22nd 1864: US mints 2 cent coin (1st appearance of "In God We Trust") Christian writers of today are urged to hold on to the words In God We Trust, reminding them as they write that they don’t need to rely solely on their own strength. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5   April 22nd 1906: New rule puts umpire in sole charge of all game balls Christian writers of today are given special ’April 22 Permission’ to edit this rule if they see fit. One suggestion has just been sent in: ReNEWed rule puts God in...

Putting it off by Lesley Hargreaves I am thinking that, like most writers, you suffer from procrastination. Actually, maybe you don't. Maybe you are on it all the time. Maybe your bullet list is ticked off and you are out and about with the sun on your face, drinking coffee with friends, knowing that everything that needs to be done is, indeed, done. If that is so, then there is probably no one I admire than your good self. I am a serial procrastinator, but usually, I do get there in the end (or just before the end/deadline). Writing for me is one of the easiest things to put off. Often, I am not working to a deadline. The people I blog for will forgive me if I miss a post. In fact, if I explain why I missed, they will do more than forgive me - they will pray for me. Win/Win! However, this is not a healthy way to approach writing and indeed, life. This needed sorting and, if I were to be more productive, I had to look at changing my ways. I'm not there yet, but these are some o...

  He is risen indeed! Image by Ken Thief 🕊 from Pixabay Jesus was a master storyteller. We know this! He captured hearts and minds in a way that has never been bettered. The Chief Priests in Jesus’ day were pretty good storytellers too. On that first Resurrection Sunday, they told a story:  When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.  Matthew 28:12-15, NIV I imagine their story was pretty effective, because people still think it’s true now!  And yet, the disciples themselves had a different story to tell: “Let all Israel be assured of this,” Peter said, “God has made th...

Photo by  Glenn Carstens-Peters  on  Unsplash How do you feel about editing? It’s a potentially controversial viewpoint, but I love it. I find few things quite so satisfying as taking a piece of text that’s a bit rough around the edges and metaphorically polishing it until it shines.    As a student, I did a summer internship with the editorial team of a large medical journal. I learned a lot whilst I was there. However, the days I enjoyed most were those when I was given a stack of ‘personal view’ articles (~500 words on a topic of the author’s choosing) to sort out. This section of the journal was not commissioned and was made up of comment pieces, submitted on spec by doctors from around the world. It was my task to pick out the gems and see what I could do with the rest. With a bit of tinkering, many went on to be published.   A few years later, I edited a longer piece for another publication. Again, my role was to streamline it a bit, reduce the word c...

  Today is one of the most important days in our church calendar – how will you be spending it? Across the world it will be marked in a huge variety of ways. Maybe quiet reflections, large gathering of a sharing of communion together - possibly also enjoying a traditional hot cross bun, providing you can find one amidst the endless variations available today. For me the day will include something which has been a part of Good Friday in Bedford for many years. I’ll be hoping for mild dry weather and heading for the town centre There I'll be drawn by the sound of the band playing in the distance. I will join many hundreds of other Christians from over 20 churches to remember the death of Jesus and celebrate the life He brings. At the front of the crowd three things are usually situated: a big wooden cross, the Salvation Army band and a large lorry. This lorry has an open back, providing a stage for other musicians, singers and those taking part in our midday service. Worshipers wil...

I live in a Norfolk village with a wonderful community. You would imagine that would be conducive to writing – peaceful and quiet. But it’s not. There’s always something going on – activities I could take part in every morning, afternoon and evening, seven days a week. Then there’s the community café, the social club at the Village Hall and the local pub as well as all the church activities.  Despite this, I had managed to carve out, and diary, a couple of hours each day which I set aside to write. However, my routine was broken recently. Being active in the village, I know a large percentage of the people who live here, many of them old. The stumbling block was when I attended three funerals in six days. They weren’t special friends but people that I would miss seeing and talking to. I was miserable and I couldn’t write. Then I felt guilty. It’s the same on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. I don’t even expect myself to write then but I still feel guilty. Nobody has told me I need to...