Devotions: Little Bites of Soul Food

(c) Can Stock Photo

Devotions are wonderful little bites of food for the soul. Many Christians thrive on these spiritual snacks. I’m one of them. I love starting the day with an inspirational thought, a word of encouragement, a hand of hope to help me up and over the cares of life. They’re short, and usually pretty simply laid out. But I have discovered that a lot of Christian writers do not feel capable of writing devotions.

Why? They’re afraid they can’t. Because they’re not ministers or public speakers, and perhaps because they’re so often told not to write in a “preachy” manner, many shy away from writing that contains a specific message relating to Christianity.

If you love devotions, I encourage you to give writing them a try. I love writing devotions. They have the power to uplift a downtrodden Christian. They can provide a dose of strength to someone who’s going through a period of spiritual weakness. They offer a down-to-earth look at subjects all Christians can benefit from.

That said, not everyone can or should write devotions. But if you feel called to encourage, or love to brighten dark days for your Christian brothers and sisters, perhaps you should pray about whether writing devotions is something you can do for God.

I would encourage anyone who wants to give it a try, to do so prayerfully and with a sincere heart. Words have the power to heal…but also to kill. They can encourage…or they can knock down and out. They’re capable of great good…and intense evil. Devotions should not be considered a means of personal gain or glory. They’re a ministry, and should be respected as such. It’s all about reaching souls and touching hearts.

The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide says a devotion “connects real events of daily life with the ongoing activity of God.” It’s just “one believer sharing with another an insight or struggle about what it means to live faithfully.”

If you’d like to delve into the world of devotions, maybe the following pointers will help you get started.

1. Pray about it. Truly seek God’s wisdom and guidance as you write. Let Him dictate the point, and offer yourself as his transcriptionist.

2. Read devotions. If you’re a writer, you’ve been told repeatedly that “if you don’t read, you can’t write.” It’s true, and it works the same with devotions as it would if you were writing a novel. If you want to write devotions, read devotions.

3. Use real occurrences in your life that made you think of a particular biblical event or specific verse of scripture. If you find yourself thinking, “That reminds me of (whatever), in the Bible,” you’ve probably found an opportunity to touch others with the same insight God revealed to you. Have you ever experienced some little life event and then thought, “That’s just like Jesus!”? Well…there ya go. Use that happenstance to create a devotion that shows Jesus to others.

4. Keep it brief. Depending on where the devotion will be published, it could contain as few as 200 or as many as 500 words. Remember, these are spiritual snacks, not feasts. So do your homework and seek out the writer’s guidelines for your target publication.

5. Illustrate only one point for each devotion. Brevity demands it, but it’s also far more effective than trying to cover multiple thoughts in one very short piece of material.

6. Don’t preach. Yes, that’s true even in devotion writing. Your words should inspire deeper thought or enlightenment, but not come across as “a command from the throne of God.” An article in Writer’s Conference Guidelines says this: “You can't stand above the reader's level and wag your finger at him. … You must stand on eye level with the reader. Sharing your flaws is a better communication tool than sharing your perfections.” Words like “you must,” “we have to,” “we cannot,” “you should not,” are not good choices.

7. Constantly bear in mind your purpose, which should be to bring a reader to a closer relationship with God, and a deeper interaction with His Word. You are not there to condemn, convict, or judge, but to uplift and encourage.

8. Acknowledge your sources. If you quote from another source, as I did above from The Upper Room and Writers Conference Guidelines, be sure to include a link or a caption or a footnote—something that identifies where you obtained your material. That’s basic honesty and integrity.

9. Identify the Bible version you’re using for each devotional scripture.

10. Stick to a format. Even devotions require a beginning, middle and end. The beginning is almost always a verse of scripture, followed by your actual devotion, which states your general points and illustrates any lesson you may have learned and want to share with readers. Keep it concise and to the point. No room for rabbit trails. The ending can be a summary (the final takeaway you’d like to leave with your audience) or a prayer…or both. Again, this will depend on your market. Follow their writer’s guidelines, as guidelines are as varied as are the life lessons to be obtained in devotionals.

11.  Relax and let God use you. Your life experiences can bless, strengthen and encourage fellow Christians. What better reward could you ask for?

Delia Latham

(c) January 2015

Delia Latham: Stop While You're Going Ninety

Delia Latham

The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next. If you do that every day when you are writing a novel you will never be stuck. That is the most valuable thing I can tell you so try to remember it.

—Ernest Hemingway’s 

advice to a young writer

Our tendency as writers is to write like a house afire when we’re in the zone. Don’t eat, don’t sleep, barely breathe…and above all, don’t stop writing as long as the muse is hanging around.

Which leaves nothing for the next writing session, because it’s “all used up.”

Hemingway’s advice is brilliant. Stop while you still know what will happen next. It provides a place to start the next writing session. No sitting in front of a blank screen wondering what to write, and where your story is going—because you already know. You left the previous writing stint with the fire still burning.

And here’s the really great thing: While you’re writing the scene you deliberately didn’t write yesterday—so you’d have kindling for today’s fire—you’ll realize what should happen next. That's great! Now tuck it away in your mind or your notebook for tomorrow.

This is a great strategy that leaves the door open for a productive writing session every time.

What about you? Do you go in with both guns blazing and keep shooting until you’re out of ammunition…or do you save that last bullet for the next go-round?



DELIA LATHAM is a born-and-bred California gal, raised in a place called Weedpatch and currently living in the lovely mountain town of Tehachapi with her husband and a spoiled Pomeranian. She enjoys multiple roles as Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, but especially loves being a princess daughter to the King of Kings. She has a "thing" for Dr. Pepper, and loves to hear from her readers. Contact her through her website or send an e-mail to delia@delialatham.net. Find her also at the following online locations:

Living the Write Life (blog)

Facebook

Twitter

Amazon Author Page

Delia Latham: Reviving an Old Title

New cover (2014)

Your book is old news. It may have been a “new release” two years ago…or four…or even longer. That particular novel’s time is over and done. No point marketing it anymore, right?

Wrong.

Why do certain books “make it”? Why do some fail to gain the attention they deserve? Explanations vary as widely as the north is from the south. Sometimes, however, it’s simply a matter of timing. Yours, your publisher’s, your readers’…God’s.

A couple months ago, my publisher informed me Goldeneyes would be listed in “Ereader News Today.” What? I was shocked. Goldeneyes was one of my first published titles, and remains the book of my heart, being set in Weedpatch, California where I grew up. But it released in 2008. Six years ago! I was sure it had done all it was going to do. I would treasure it in my own library, but certainly didn’t expect to see much more activity as far as sales.

But I jumped on board. On the day the book was mentioned in “Ereader News Today,” I also conducted a Facebook event, “Celebrating Goldeneyes.” I invited everyone on my friends list.

Old cover (2008)

No one showed up.

That’s what you expected to hear, right? But it isn’t true.

The turnout was unbelievable. By end of day, Goldeneyes had reached #1 in its category on Amazon. I watched the book climb from somewhere in the millions all the way to the top as the day progressed. Seeing that “Bestseller” ribbon beside my cover felt amazing!

Goldeneyes remained at number one for almost a week. Today, over two months later, it’s still hanging in the Top 100 in the Kindle Inspirational Romance category. And all it took was a little marketing.

You can do it too. Pull out one of your old releases and see what happens when you spotlight it again, as if it just released today.

1.      If you can get the book listed in a popular online reading/writing magazine, all the better. Ereader News Today has a readership of over 200,000. That helps tremendously. Do your part. Submit the book for consideration. Mine was given a simple listing, and my publisher dropped the eBook price to $.99 for that day and the next.

2.      Start talking about the book again. A lot of times, we promote our books only for a certain timespan…then forget it. Start posting to Facebook and Twitter: quotes from your book; snippets from reviews; things readers have shared with you that they gleaned from your book, or its impact on them. Start putting the cover out there in front of folks again. In other words, start a buzz.

3.      Choose a day to conduct an all-out promotion, featuring that book alone. Invite everyone you know, and ask them to do the same. Then talk up the event for at least a week prior to D-day, and offer giveaways during the event. I don’t suggest giving the book—you’re trying to sell that. But something that correlates with the book’s content.

My heroine has striking golden eyes. I sought out tiger-eye jewelry on eBay – things I could purchase at really good prices—inexpensive, but still good quality. (No one appreciates receiving an obviously low-grade gift.) An angel moves through the storyline, so I also gave away angel-themed items. You’ll figure out something that works for your own book.

I did give away a few of my other titles in eBook format. This allowed a bit of promotion for those titles and let readers know that my writing career didn’t end with Goldeneyes.

4.      Be accessible during the event. Chat it up with attendees. Share short excerpts from the book. Have quote graphics made, or make your own. They provide visual impact and a peek into the storyline. Keep the event active, so attendees don’t get bored and go away. Give them a reason to stick around—and a reason to purchase your book. Aside from the giveaways I announced during the event, I also had a drawing at the end using the names of all those who purchased the book that day. (They simply ordered on Amazon and forwarded their purchase confirmation to me.)

This was the “biggie,” where the prize was something nice enough to make them want to be in the drawing. You don’t need to break the bank, just make it something worthwhile. I offered a $15 Amazon gift certificate.

5.      Keep the excitement going after the event. I made sure to repeatedly thank everyone for helping my book make it to #1—and kept them informed of its current status on Amazon. As it dropped lower in the Top 100, I still kept them informed and let them know they were appreciated for keeping Goldeneyes “up top” for such a long time. Even now—two months later—I share the Amazon ratings every few days, along with quote graphics, new reviews (and I’ve had several since the big event), reader comments, etc.

You can do it. Pull out that old title—the one that deserved more of a “day in the sun” than it actually received—and let the sun shine on that awesome novel once again.

Delia Latham

© 2014

Tweetables:

Give new life to an old release. @DeliaLatham tells how she did it for her 2008 release, Goldeneyes. http://tinyurl.com/knd8cyt

Create a new buzz for an old title. @DeliaLatham did it for Goldeneyes, a 2008 release. See how on Write Right! http://tinyurl.com/knd8cyt

Delia Latham: Why Writers Should Read...

If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time—or the tools—to write. Simple as that.

~~Stephen King

Whether you’re a reader of Stephen King or not, you have to give the man his due—he’s doing something right. Highly successful, critically acclaimed, instantly recognizable, and a one-of-a-kind voice. Not to mention mega-sales.

We should all be so “lucky.” (I hope you recognize the dripping sarcasm in that word. No one gets where King is by pure luck. The man worked his rear off to become the success he has become. Kudos, Mr. King!)

But.

Yes, there always is one of those. Amidst all the work…and joy…and frustration of writing, the master of horror makes time to read.

And so should anyone who wants to write.

A writer’s toolbox that does not include “reading” contains a big empty space—and only one thing fits it. Reading.

Why?

What made you want to be a writer in the first place? I’d be willing to bet that one hundred percent of writers—if they’re truthful—will say it’s because they love to read, and that love of a good book spawned a desire to write on of their own. Or they read a book and thought, “I could do that.” Or they read a book, and wanted to change the ending, or the beginning, or the desperately drowning middle. So they did.

Core truth: Reading inspires writing.

If you think you don’t have time to read, make the time and read anyway.

Seems pretty clear-cut to me, but for those who think anything important should have a “list” to validate it...here’s your list.

Why Writers Should Read...

1. Reading inspires writing. We all need steady doses of inspiration. Getting lost in a riveting storyline triggers something in a writer’s psyche. It flips the “want to write” switch. Who doesn’t need that extra bit of “oomph” now and then?

2. Reading improves vocabulary. While journeying through the pages of a good book, you’re learning new words even without knowing you’ve learned them. It’s like having a dictionary and a thesaurus open in your brain, and flipping through the pages while you’re caught up in a compelling storyline.

3. Reading teaches writing. While you’re exploring the world between the covers of a book, you’re also absorbing a number of valuable lessons. Subconsciously, you’re noting narrative structure; absorbing the use of dialogue; checking out the development of tension and tone; picking up new ways to describe body language and expression…and so on.

4. Reading keeps a writer aware of what’s already out there. No one wants to create a copycat novel. More importantly, publishers don’t want to publish one. Reading widely keeps a person informed on current publishing trends—and eliminates the frustration of writing what’s already been written.

5. Reading teaches how not to write. It’s a fact…some books are poorly written and/or edited, and force a reader into farming—meaning they have to plow through each page. But for a writer, even those books can be beneficial, by showing the wrong way to write and increasing his/her determination to never produce a book that will teach writers how not to write.

6. Reading is great practice in evaluating/analyzing others’ work. Noting their good points and bad ones. Picking up on new techniques. I inevitably find myself mentally “critiquing” while I read—especially if the writer hasn’t managed to hook me into the story. When you’re asked to critique for a writing partner, you’ll find you already know a little about how it’s done.

7. Reading widely familiarizes a writer with various genres. How can you know what you really want to write if you’re not familiar with more than one writing direction? I write romance, and yes, that’s what I love to read, as well. But I also read mysteries, suspense, horror, fantasy—and anything else that strikes my fancy when I’m choosing a book. And I learn something from each of them. If I had to pay Stephen King for everything I’ve learned about writing from reading his books, I’d go bankrupt. Laughing through the pages of Cathy Hake’s and Mary Conneally’s books shows me how to weave humor into a tale. Mary’s novels, along with Vickie McDonough’s, make me think maybe I could write an historical romance. But I’d never consider those things if I refused to read outside my own genre.

8. Reading educates. Even “fluff” books can contain information and knowledge that is new to you. Because it is new to you, you’ll take mental note of it and file it away for future reference, even if you don’t realize you’ve done so. One day, for some reason, you’ll remember it, pull it out and dust it off with some vague comment, like, “You know, I read something about that…somewhere. If I remember correctly, this is how it works.”

9. Reading helps develop a person’s “self.” We are what we read. Ralph Waldo Emerson said it like this: “I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.”

And last, but far from least...

10. Reading is an escape. When writing becomes a chore, and each word is “delivered” with all the blood, sweat and tears of releasing a child from the womb…read. It relaxes the brain, takes the reader to a different time and place, and opens up the avenues of imagination.

Writing isn’t always a pleasure, but reading almost always is. As a writer, you need that bit of pleasure…and the escape into another world will renew and revive your imagination so you can write again—with pleasure.

Delia Latham

© August 2014

Tweetables:

I'm a writer...why should I read? Find out on Write Right! @DeliaLatham http://tinyurl.com/lok763p

DELIA LATHAM is a born-and-bred California gal, raised in a place called Weedpatch and currently living in the lovely mountain town of Tehachapi with her husband and a spoiled Pomeranian. She enjoys multiple roles as Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, but especially loves being a princess daughter to the King of Kings. She has a "thing" for Dr. Pepper, and loves to hear from her readers. Contact her through her website or send an e-mail to delia@delialatham.net. Find her also at the following online locations:

Living the Write Life (blog)
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon Author Page

Delia Latham: Is Writing Taking Over Your Life?

Writing…take over your life? Believe me…it can if you let it.

Don’t.

Any career should be controlled by its owner, not the other way around. So let’s talk about ways to keep writing within acceptable bounds, so you can still have a life in the real world.

Keep to a schedule. Only you know what “office hours” (writing time) you prefer to keep. Decide what they are, and adhere to them. Some people value free weekends, and that’s fine. Exclude weekends from your writing schedule, if you’re one of them. Some prefer to write in the evenings—I do. Being a night owl has its benefits. Run your “office” at night, if that’s what works for you.

The important thing is, whatever hours you set, stick to them. As with any job, there will be the occasional “overtime” hours, or unpredictable last-minute deadlines or unexpected kinks in the plan. Don’t be so rigid you can’t work with those things, just don’t allow them to happen too often. That’s how schedules become obliterated and writers find themselves at their desks every waking hour. And that’s the kind of schedule that inevitably saps all the joy out of writing.

Know when to say ‘no.’ We all love to help others when we can, and you’ll always find someone needing a hand. It’s important to reach out to those looking for insight, advice, mentoring…whatever. But it’s also important to know your limits. If all your time is given over to others, your own writing suffers—and so will your attitude. Help when you can. Give. You should. But know when it’s time to say ‘no.’ Say it kindly. But when you need to say 'no,' say it, and mean it.

Know your limitations. Some writers are quite comfortable working on half a dozen writing projects simultaneously. Others can handle only one or two at a time. Neither way is wrong. But if you’re most comfortable working on one project at a time, don’t take on two or three. You’ll find yourself less productive—not more, if you stretch yourself too far. 

Going outside our comfort zones now and then is not a bad thing…but common sense says when we do so, we shouldn’t go so far outside the zone that we can’t find our way back. If trying to write two novels at the same time steals all your free time as well as your sleep, stick to one at a time. 

What can you handle within the “office hours’ you’ve set? Take on that much and no more.

Don’t take your work “home” with you. Most of us write in our homes, so this one seems a little weird, but you get the picture. Once you’ve set your office hours, respect them. And when you walk away from your desk, try to leave your work-in-progress there—at your desk, in your office.

This one’s a bit touchy, because as writers, we’re constantly on the lookout for a great story idea. We’re writing even when we’re not writing. But your family deserves to have all of you during designated family time.

That’s why you’re reading this post, right? You want to find a way to keep writing from becoming your whole world. Writing is important to a writer, but God and family are more important. Keep your priorities firmly in place.

Things that “take over” in a physical garden are thought of as weeds. No matter how pretty they might be, when allowed to, they quickly overrun the good things - the things that are supposed to be growing there.

For instance, farmers hate morning glories. To them, they're weeds, because they tangle themselves into crops and choke out the thing that's supposed to be growing. Then the farmer has to invest extra money and manpower to eradicate them.

I, on the other hand, love morning glories. They're beautiful...when contained to a specific area and not allowed to over-populate a yard (or garden). I derive a lot of pleasure from watching them climb over my back yard fence. But hubby and I are aware of their propensity to take over...so we keep them to a very specific area. If we gave in to the natural inclination to let them grow wherever they pop up, because we so enjoy their simple beauty, before long they would take over.

And we, too, would begin to think of them as weeds. Wouldn't that be terribly sad...to lose the intense pleasure I find in the morning glories adding that electric burst of color to my yard, because I fail to keep them in their place?

If writing is important to you, create boundaries for it and keep well within them. Otherwise, one day you'll discover you no longer want to write...no longer take pleasure in creating fictional worlds...because it has taken over your real one.

Tweetables:

What do writing and morning glories have in common? Find out on Write Right! @DeliaLatham http://tinyurl.com/pb4nb3t

Is writing taking over your life? Find out how to set the boundaries you need. http://tinyurl.com/pb4nb3t  @DeliaLatham

Delia Latham: Embarrassing Mistakes Writers Make

dollarphotoclub.com

Are you embarrassing yourself in the publishing industry?

No? Hey, that’s awesome!

Hopefully you can look back on this article three, five, or even ten years from now and give the same answer. Chances are, though, you’ll peer back through time and get a bad case of the “boy-was-my-face-red” heebie-jeebies…based on something you’ve done in the past, are doing now, or will do in the future to undermine your credibility in the publishing industry.

None of us do those things on purpose. If we knew we were creating future humiliation for ourselves, we would do whatever it takes to avoid that horrible moment in time.

So let’s think about it now and hopefully avoid a red-faced future—especially when it comes to things we send into an editor’s hands, like query letters, synopses and proposals.

What kinds of things might we be doing that we will regret later?

1.      Not using the spellchecker. Yes, it’s easy to forget. No, it isn’t optional. Use it, even if you have to tie a string around your finger or paint the F7 key bright red (like your face will be if you misspell synopsis).

     And don’t stop there. Spellcheck doesn’t catch everything. Take time to not only spellcheck, but run a search (electronically and/or manually) for often overlooked errors. For instance:

Homophones. Words like their, they’re and there; here and hear; to, too and two. Are you using them in the wrong places?

Apostrophes and their various uses. Know them before you use them. Editors know the difference between it’s and its. You should too. Also, it’s tempting to add an apostrophe with an ending “s” in a surname, but the Dawson family as a group are the Dawsons, not the Dawson’s—unless you’re referring to the Dawsons’ dog/house/yard, etc. That apostrophe turns the name into a possessive.

There are other grammar and punctuation faux pas, but you get the picture. Double-check the details.

The ever-changing rules. Back when I learned to type, everyone used two spaces between sentences. But somewhere along the line, the rules changed. Now we use just one. If you use two, you’re causing your editor extra work, and exposing yourself as an amateur. Know the rules, and abide by them. Passing it off with a lame excuse like, “I’ve done it this way too long, and I just cannot break the habit,” doesn’t get it, my friend. Just break the habit. Yes, you can.

Rules change all the time. It’s important to keep abreast of the industry and informed of the current dos and don’ts.

2.      Unprofessional communication. If you’re going to work in a professional field, be a professional. That includes everything from the way you answer your phone to the way you dress to your e-mail address.

If you have your own domain name, make it something specific to you or the work you do—and be careful of those double entendres. The old KISS rule still applies: Keep It Simple, Sally. (OK, so I paraphrased a bit. I hate the word “stupid,” even when it seems accurate.) If you can use your author name as a domain name, do it. If it’s already taken, use a variation, or add something applicable.

For instance, mine is delialatham.net, since delialatham.com fell prey to a sniper several years ago. If I had been insistent on using a dot.com, I could have come up with other choices: dlatham, dylatham, dlathambooks, etc. I chose to settle for a dot.net so I could use my first and last name, just as it shows up on the covers of my books. What I chose not to do is come up with something oh-so-cutesy, like: deliadoesitwrite.com, dylpickle.com, deliasalwayswrite.com.

The same applies to your e-mail address. If you have a domain name, you probably have a mail option. If so, use it, and keep it professional. Mine is delia@delialatham.net. I also have a Gmail address: dlathambooks@gmail.com. Neither of those email addresses could be misinterpreted as anything offensive or tasteless.

Lose the pet names, nicknames and sexually suggestive monikers. Your editor will appreciate it.

While you’re choosing a mail program, think about how it sounds. One of my former bosses, just learning to get around a computer, asked me to set up an e-mail address for him. He wanted a free mail program, but completely balked at using Hotmail. “Too suggestive,” he said. “Doesn’t sound professional.” That could be considered one man’s opinion, or…? Dare you risk it? 

Play it safe. Do not send an editor a contact e-mail that sounds like an ad for a 900 phone line. She might hesitate to reply to an e-mail addy like: sweetlilthang@...; luvnkitty@...; yourbabybetty@...; puckerupper@... I know you hear what I’m sayin’. :)

If you really want to be respected in the publishing industry—or any other professional field—behave in a professional manner. And that includes not only how you present yourself physically, but also any kind of communication with publishers, editors, agents or readers.

Dot your i’s and cross your t’s. Mind your p’s and q’s. Learn the rules.

And use that handy little spellchecker tool.

(c) July 2014

Disclaimer: If any of the sample e-mail addresses used in this article are real, I don’t know of them, and certainly did not “choose” them off a list. All were plucked out of my head, and I’m happy to leave them there…out of my head. If I inadvertently used your existing e-mail handle, I apologize...if you're not a professional. If you are, you really should consider changing that cyber-name - at least for professional purposes. What you use for your friends and family can be whatever you'd like...I guess. :)


Tweetables:

Are you showing your unprofessional side to an editor or agent? Find out how easily it happens on Write Right! with @DeliaLatham.

Is your email address appropriately professional...or have you neglected to mind your p's and q's? On Write Right! with @DeliaLatham.

Delia Latham: More Than You Can Chew

(c) Can Stock Photo

Matthew 11:28-30—Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

We’ve all done it—literally and figuratively.

That chocolate cake looks so good, and you’re so hungry…so you bite off a chunk big enough for two people. And once it’s in your mouth, you discover there’s no room to chew around it. Getting all that chocolate goodness down without choking becomes a challenge, and you have to make a decision—spit it out and start over, or find a way to swallow it. And somewhere along the way, all the pleasure you’d expected in savoring that cake is gone.

We do that in our lives sometimes too. Call it what you want: too many irons in the fire, overstuffing the turkey, over-filling your schedule.

Biting off more than you can chew...never a pretty sight.

What usually happens when we clog our calendars with more than any two people could comfortably handle is that our stress level soars and our production drops. Drastically. Or we actually do accomplish most of the things on our crowded agendas…but we do so far less capably than we should. Or…we do it all. Perfectly. By giving up sleep, private time, relaxation and even prayer time.

Not good.

My advice? Don’t do it.

And that’s advice born of wisdom acquired the hard way…by falling on my face in all the accumulated stuff I’d overscheduled. I had to learn to say ‘no,’ and let me tell you, that little two-letter word is one of the hardest in the English language to spit out.

It’s also one of the easiest to forget, even when you think you’ve finally learned how to enunciate that one-syllable challenge. I still find myself saying yes all too often, and winding up drowning in my own promises. But I’m getting there, slowly but surely. Learning to turn down the review requests, and the critiques, and a thousand other things that I’d really love to do for everyone who asks. But I’ve finally come to the conclusion that, at some point, saying ‘yes’ might actually be a sin. OK, so I’m exaggerating—a little. But if we make promises we can find no earthly way to keep without having a nervous breakdown…or at the very least, missing a deadline of our own because we promised someone something...isn’t that just wrong?

Yes. It is, because it’s evidence of self-reliance. We’re not meant to rely on ourselves, but on God. When we forget that our strength lies in Him and start trying to do everything on our own, in our own strength, and beyond what God has called us to do…we’ve stepped into deep, dangerous, drowning depths.

(c) Can Stock Photo

I recently read an article by Elizabeth Ruth Skoglund. One simple statement caught my attention and held it: “As Christians we are called to balance, not imbalance, even in the area of our work for God—perhaps especially in our work for Him. God deserves not only enthusiasm and driving effort, but also the quality of a job done with care and balance.”

God’s Word encourages balance in every area of our lives. Yes, He wants us to help others, to encourage them, to give of ourselves in support of our sisters and brothers. But He does not want us to over-extend ourselves to the point of becoming sick, burned out and discouraged. That’s not God’s will for anyone.

Scripture advocates temperance, moderation, wisdom and balance in all areas of life. Those things are within God’s plan. Overextension and burnout are the results of behaviors in exact opposition of those mentioned.

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan had it right all along. “Just say no.” Of course, we all know she was talking about drugs, but many of our well-intentioned behaviors are every bit as damaging.

‘Yes’ is a lovely word, and I encourage its use whenever possible. We should help one another—that’s God’s way. We need each other. But if we’re broken, burned out, discouraged and over-extended, we’re no real help to anyone…and least of all, to ourselves.

When all is said and done, it comes down to doing what we already know is best. Schedule time wisely. Prioritize. Take care of ourselves so we can help others whenever possible.

And say no when it isn’t.

Delia Latham
(c) July 2014

Delia Latham: The Danger in Dandelions

I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops. To put it another way, they're like dandelions. If you have one on your lawn, it looks pretty and unique. If you fail to root it out, however, you find five the next day…fifty the day after that…and then, my brothers and sisters, your lawn is totally, completely, and profligately covered with dandelions. By then you see them for the weeds they really are, but by then it's—GASP!!—too late.

—Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

Sometimes in my dreams, huge monsters shaped like L’s and Y’s chase me down book-lined streets and into a dark, creepy cemetery. Over its gate I glimpse a sign, painted in blood-red printer’s ink: Kill All Adverbs. Bury Them Here.

Well, maybe I’m stretching it a bit…but isn’t it true that adverbs have taken a great deal of flak in the writing community? In elementary school, we were encouraged to embellish our little stories and essays with “descriptive” words called adjectives and adverbs. They were touted as useful in making our writing more vibrant…prettier, if you will.

Now the poor adverb is on every Wanted poster in the world of writing. Literary bounty hunters are out to get them, at all costs.

This vendetta against adverbs is not a new thing. The revered Mark Twain even pronounced an unequivocal death sentence on them: “If you see an adverb, kill it.”

I’m inclined more toward Stephen King’s way of thinking. Adverbs are like dandelions on the lawn. Who hasn’t picked one of the fluffy weeds, made a wish, and blown its wispy “petals” into the wind? They’re pretty. They’re fun. They make us smile.

Trouble is, those wispy "petals" are actually seed heads. If they’re allowed to grow, they take over, and soon that beautiful lawn is choked out by dandelions. Because no matter how fun, or how pretty, they are still weeds. If we fail to uproot them, they soon become less attractive and more troublesome.

So let’s talk about why adverbs have made for themselves such a nasty reputation.

First, understand that they are not going to completely disappear from your writing. (See what I mean?) But like dandelions, which are pretty and we like seeing them now and then, they will, indeed, multiply if the writer does not maintain complete control. Stop and consider at every spotting of an adverb. Does it need to be there? Could your sentence be stronger without it?

Just as weeds left to spread can often be blamed on a “lazy” owner, adverbs are often a sign of lazy writing. Where you see an “ly” word, most of the time the writer is telling the reader something, rather than showing them. 

For example:

The little one ran quickly to his mother.

It does the job all right…I guess. Nothing is technically wrong with the sentence. We know the child went to his mother and that he wasted no time getting there. But instead of stating a dull, ordinary fact, the writer could have taken the time and made the effort to paint a sweet picture.

A huge smile revealed tiny white teeth and lit a bright love light behind the toddler’s blue irises. He bounce-hopped across the floor toward his mother, chubby legs churning like a wound-up cartoon character.

I like the way Arizona writer Kathleen Ewing sums up adverbs: 

“The reader doesn't want to watch your characters walking quickly or hear them speaking softly. Pick a verb with some starch in its shorts. Make characters jog, march or stride. Make them mumble, mutter or whisper. If you begin with a hairy-legged verb, you won't be tempted to accomplish the action slowly, urgently or hopefully.”

Oh, wait…did you catch that? That secret to active writing? The thing that puts your reader right there with your character, living the story instead of looking on from the sidelines while someone narrates events?

“Begin with a hairy-legged verb.” A strong, descriptive, active verb. That's the secret.

In the example above, my toddler bounce-hopped across the floor, short legs churning… So much more effective than “he ran quickly.”

Most of the time, the adverb adds little or nothing to a sentence—other than an extra word. If I scribble my number at a chance meeting when I’m in a hurry, there’d be no need to state, “She scribbled hurriedly.” The fact that I’m scribbling already implies a rush. If I’m pacing the floor at a tense moment, saying I “paced restlessly” is redundant. The action itself—pacing—implies restlessness. If my son is rushing out the door (he’s late, he’s late, for a very important date!), saying he “raced quickly out the door” adds an unnecessary adverb. If one is racing, it’s a pretty sure bet that he’s in a hurry, and moving as fast as possible.

In summary: Take time to come up with the perfect verb, and it won’t need to be modified by an adverb. Is it easy? Not always. Is it worth the trouble?

You decide. But hurry…you have 'lions on your lawn.

Tweetables:

Writers beware: The Danger in Dandelions. @DeliaLatham on Write Right! #writingtips http://tinyurl.com/ku692ey

What do adverbs and dandelions have in common? Find out at Write Right @DeliaLatham. http://tinyurl.com/ku692ey

A dandelion on your lawn. What does it have to do with writing? @DeliaLatham on adverbs. #writingtips http://tinyurl.com/ku692ey

Delia Latham is a born-and-bred California gal, currently living in the beautiful mountain town of Tehachapi with her husband Johnny and a Pomeranian named Boo. She’s a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend—but above all, she treasures her role as child of the King and heir to the throne of God. She has a “thing” for Dr. Pepper and absolutely loves hearing from her readers.

Contact her at any of the following locations:

Website; blog; Facebook; Twitter; Amazon author page

Delia Latham: Dancing Dialogue, Part IV - The Final Dance

When push comes to shove, dialogue in fiction is just an author with the gift of gab. Right?

Wrong.

Dialogue can be the heart and soul of your novel; the make-it-or-break-it element in your fiction; the very life or death of your writing.

Or, in the lingo of this series on dialogue, the dance that makes the party unforgettable.

The past three weeks, we discussed the mechanics of dialogue: do’s and don’ts, how-to, and even a few examples. This week we’ll dance to a different melody. How about “It Had to be You”?

Why that particular song? Because whether your fictional dialogue is ultimately a success or a colossal failure depends entirely on YOU.

• YOU put the words in your characters’ mouths.

• YOU decide on the speech patterns, colloquialisms, etc., that those characters  portray.

• YOU insert the action beats or dialogue tags.

• YOU create each voice in every conversation. Those verbal exchanges between your characters can be riveting or hopelessly dull. It’s up to YOU.

• YOU are the band. YOUR words, and in particular,   YOUR dialogue is the music. 

Here’s how you’ll make sure YOUR readers dance ‘til the song is over.

Create irresistible dialogue.

Don’t stop re-working a conversation until it captivates. If a reader is an eavesdropper listening in on a chat between your characters, she should be powerless to walk away mid-conversation.

Polish the gems. Ever thought about how a gem is brought to perfection? Someone takes a rough stone and taps at it until it’s perfect. I love the following from Brian Klems (Writer’s Digest):

We’ve all had those moments when we wake up and have the perfect response for a conversation that took place the night before. Wouldn’t we all like to have those bon mots at a moment’s notice?

Your characters can. That’s part of the fun of being a fiction writer.

Klems uses an example from “The Godfather.” A simple dialogue comparison, but the impact from the change is ginormous. This is the kind of tapping at a diamond-in-the-rough that produces a perfect gem! 

Moe Greene is angry that a young Michael Corleone is telling him what to do. He might have said, “I made my bones when you were in high school!” Instead, screenwriter Mario Puzo penned, “I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders!” (In his novel, Puzo wrote something a little racier). The point is you can take almost any line and find a more sparkling alternative.

As a writer, you have the liberty of letting your dialogue stew…then returning later to add the spice (that perfect come-back). Why on earth wouldn’t you do that?

      Keep it pertinent.

Omit chit-chat that has no reason to be there and has nothing to do with the storyline.

                    Leave out the fillers and fluff.

Keep greetings and good-byes brief, if you must use them at all.

Niceties, like “so nice to see you, "thank you” and “how are you” become stale long before the expiration date. Doesn’t mean you should never use them, but think long and hard before you do.

Make it sparkle.

The best movies usually have at least one line of dialogue that becomes synonymous with that title. Why? 

Because they're brilliant. They shine. They sparkle. They’re the perfect words at the perfect time.

  Let’s look at a few of them:

     "Easy, Miss, I've got you."

             "You've got me? Who's got you?"

     (Superman, the Movie, 1978)

“Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes?” (Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981)

Somehow, “Oh, man, I hate snakes” doesn’t have quite the same ring, does it?

"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!" (The Princess Bride, 1987)

My oldest son shouted this phrase - awake and in his sleep - at least a hundred times as a child. Children only to that when they hear something that packs a considerable wallop.

"Face it, girls, I'm older and I have more insurance." (Fried Green Tomatoes, 1991)

Oh, come on…you know you lo ved this scene. And if Kathy Bates had simply said, “Take that, teeny- boppers,” who’d have remembered it?

"Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn't one today." (Groundhog Day, 1993)

Not one of my favorite favorite movies but I love this line. Love it!

“I see dead people.” (The Sixth Sense, 1999)

Priceless. Simple. Impactful. Blood-chillingly priceless!

"My precious."(Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, 2002)


“We don’t negotiate with terrorists.”(Land of the Dead, 2005)

Easy to see why these lines stand out in our memories. They’re short on words and long on punch. Every novel should be sprinkled with that same kind of fizz and pop.

By now, your mind should be full of possibilities. Your toes should be tapping to the melody of the conversations taking place in your mind.

That’s good, my writer friends. Now…write. Devise dialogue that dances right into the heart and mind of your reader. How many gems can you polish to perfection?

Take the challenge: Put a little Macarena in your mystery; write a reggae romance; salsa-tize your suspense; have fun with a fandango fantasy…. 

You get the picture. Get out there and rock your writing with dancing dialogue!

DELIA LATHAM is a born-and-bred California gal, raised in a place called Weedpatch and currently living in the lovely mountain town of Tehachapi with her husband and a spoiled Pomeranian. She enjoys multiple roles as Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, but especially loves being a princess daughter to the King of Kings. She has a "thing" for Dr. Pepper, and loves to hear from her readers. Contact her through her website or send an e-mail to delia@delialatham.net. Find her also at the following online locations:

Living the Write Life (blog)

Facebook

Twitter

Amazon Author Page





Tweetables:

Rock your writing with dancing dialogue. @DeliaLatham #WriteRight! http://tinyurl.com/mfbvrua

"And what is the use of a book, without...conversations?" Dialogue in Fiction with @DeliaLatham http://tinyurl.com/mfbvrua