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Around the Bloc
October 15, 2009
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1. Note from the Editors
2. Featured Article by Lydia Rule
3. Devotional – by J.M Schiele
4. Quick Tip: Name that Character by J.M Schiele
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Psalm 90:9a
… we spend our years as a tale that is told.
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1. Note from the Editors
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It is all about what the editors think... the cutting, re-phrasing, formatting, and slashing are all necessary (and painful) parts of a polished piece. This edition’s theme is how to approach an editor and make it through the editing process. Enjoy!
-Lydia Rule
-Debbie Weiss
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2. Featured Article by Lydia Rule
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The darling of all your inspirations, dreams, tears and sweat has just come back into your inbox as a rejected, torn apart, or dissected piece of writing.
How do you respond?
Ways NOT to respond:
1) Write an e-mail back to the editor letting them know just how blind they must be to not recognize your writing’s worth.
2) Refuse to write for that particular magazine/publisher/ or editor ever again.
3) Add the editor to your blocked sender’s list!
Ways to Respond:
1) Ask the editor for more specifics regarding the types of articles and the style that he/she prefers for the magazine/publication. Then, submit something else.
2) Accept the editing humbly, and move on… you have more to write than just that one article!
3) See if there is anything you can glean from the editor’s insight (if you happen to be lucky enough to get an opinion from the editor rather than just a generic rejection letter).
4) Always write a thank-you note back to the editor… even if you don’t feel like you mean it. J If nothing else, thank the editor for his/her time and insights.
Courtesy marks a professional writer. You don’t have to agree, but you don’t have to throw a tantrum either. Step back from the situation and realize that you’ve been given a new perspective on your writing. If your writing has been rejected, then either a) it wasn’t as good as you thought it was b) it could use a re-write or c) you need to try another publication. If your writing has been slashed or dissected into something smaller, then perhaps you need to learn how to trim down your usual word count. Take notice of what the editor cut out of the original article and use that as a guide for future articles.
The best tip in writing correspondence to editors is to remain in the role of a professional writer. Don’t allow the emotions of writing interfere with an opportunity later down the road. Burning bridges is always the last option for a writer, especially since you may need those bridges sometime in the future. If necessary, have someone else read your e-mail to the editor before you send it to make sure you are not coming across as an angry writer whose darling article has just been insulted.
It is all about getting a foot into the door of publishing… and being polite in your correspondence certainly won’t hurt your chances any!
Lydia Rule is an author and avid writer. When she has a free moment, she rendezvous with her keyboard and writes a plethora of genres ranging from fictional stories to devotionals.
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3. Featured Devotional by J.M Schiele
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Happily Ever
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11
Recently, my younger sister was watching her daily dose of fairy tale movies. It seems that every time I watch one with her, I can't help but think, “Why didn't they do it this way? If they had just listened, nothing bad would have happened!” However, in the end, it always turned out perfectly, just the way the writer had scripted it. If the fairy tale characters had taken my advice, perhaps the ending wouldn't have turned out right. Maybe the princess wouldn't have married the prince, and the evil villain might have won.
I think it is the same way with our lives. We think we should go one way while God says to go a different direction. We want to change our life story so we can avoid a bad ending. But just like the fairy tale, our lives have been written a certain way so that everything falls into place just the way it should. When we try to change life's course by doing things our way, we are taking control of the script. Giving up control to God is a hard thing to do, but it must be done.
Remember, the Writer scripted our lives precisely the way it should be. Hence, it would turn out perfectly, even if it is not exactly how we wanted it to turn out. Nevertheless, we will have our Happily Ever After. So when things don't go your way or when you are worried about life, don't get discouraged, because His plans will prosper.
Bio: J.M Schiele is a home school teen who enjoys mysteries, cake decorating, buying fun shoes and making her stories and characters come to life one word at a time.
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4. Quick Tip: Name that Character by J.M Schiele
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Name that Character
After hours of fighting writers block or forcing yourself to write, finally you are on a roll. You know exactly what to name the main characters. Chapters fly by, then all of a sudden you are stuck in another muddy rut. And guess what it is this time? Another name. What are you going to call this new character? John? No too common. Opel? Nah reminds me of my crazy neighbor.
Then after trying to think of a name by yourself, you break down and go to a baby name site. The good thing about these sites is that there are a ton of names. The bad thing about these sites is that there are a ton of names! And it is going to take you forever to find the perfect name for your character.
At last you have found a name and can get back to writing. Except now that you have been away from the story for so long, that roll you were on, has slowed down to a crawl. All because of a name. So how do you overcome this type of writer’s block? Well, you have come to the right place, because yours truly has too often battled the name game! Fortunately I have found a way to defeat it…
One day I found a pack of index cards and a box with dividers and an idea sparked. After searching for hours (or it at least seemed that long) on a baby name website, I had a section of alphabetized first names with meanings and origins as well as a section of alphabetized last names. (Tip: you could do the same thing with a file on your computer if you prefer).
Maybe you don't have time to look for first and last names separately, but still need a name quickly... Search “name generator” in google and you will find websites that will give you lists of first and last names. A collection of character names will come in handy, even for those lucky few writers who can come up with names quickly.
Another tip is to not pick highly common names or names that are hard to pronounce or read. For example, Bob Smith would be too common. Arrant Diefendorf is hard on the eyes. Bridget Edwin is a example of a good name… although, I personally would never use this name. See, I told you I was picky. J
Get creative! And never get discouraged if you are stuck, remember you can do all things through him who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13).
Bio: J.M Schiele is a home school teen who enjoys mysteries, cake decorating, buying fun shoes and making her stories and characters come to life one word at a time.
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