By: Jeanne Marie Leach

Self-proclaimed editor of the month

One of my pet peeves as an editor is repetition. I once mentored another Colorado writer who had trouble in this area. Every other page had a repetition infraction, and since she was a friend, I soon simply gave her this comment, “Repeat police! Repeat police.” If you are reading this and you’re the person I’m talking about. . .hi. Didn’t I tell you one day you’d have more books published than me?

There are many ways repetition can find its way into a book. One is by using the same noun repeatedly in the same sentence or paragraph.

George jumped into his red sports car and turned on the engine. He backed the car out of the driveway and then sped down the street in the car. He enjoyed the many stares he got from guys who envied him for his car, and from the chicks who dug guys with cool cars.

You saw the word, didn’t you? And it became glaringly annoying.

Another form of repetition is when the writer wants to drive home a certain point and says the same thing, only using different words. In the following example, only one of the sentences is necessary and the other can be eliminated.

Jane had never in her life met a man she admired as much as Tim. For the first time ever, she’d found a man whom she could look up to in Tim.

The next repeat offense that bothers me is when authors repeat words for effect. It’s especially maddening when I find more than one of these on the same page. It even irked me to have to write this example for you.

Jane crept down the long hallway—the hallway her mother had stepped into just moments before. Where had she gone? Perhaps she’d gone into her room—the room where a century ago someone had been murdered—murdered by their own step-father.

This really does nothing to heighten the tension and is unnecessary to the story. The author would achieve the same effect with shorter sentences that get to the point. Here’s the same paragraph rewritten to create more tension.

Jane crept down the long hallway. Where had mother gone? To her room? Until then the fact that someone had been murdered by their own step-father a century ago in what was now her mother’s room meant nothing to her.

I hope you get what I’m saying here in this blog. Do you get the point of this blog—the blog that I hope gives you something to think about? My main goal of writing this blog is to help you recognize repetition in your own writing. Be on the lookout for repetition and you’ll stave off the Repeat Police.

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group began as one of those inspirational sparks rising from lack of sleep and information overload at a writers conference.

Located in Fort Morgan, Spunk and Spirit held its first meeting in August of 2010 but the idea came to me at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference in May of that year.

I still remember brainstorming with Margie Vawter and Kathy Kovach (who told me to go home and join ACFW). I went home with a small stack of business cards from interested writers plus a dream of reaching the many ACFW writers in northeast Colorado who were located too far from the Front Range to get involved in an ACFW chapter.

Email was my friend that summer. I sent out information to every writer I could think of living east of Wiggins hill. (We don’t have a river for a dividing line out here where the deer and the buffalo play but a hill spiked with antennae works.)

A couple of close friends committed early so I counted noses. With my two teenager writers plus our friends, we had five: enough for a meeting. So we began.

I sent out more emails, issued news releases to the area newspapers, put up some posters at the library and post office.

By Christmas, we had seven attending regularly and began to dream of asking a guest speaker. What is very cool about Colorado ACFW are the members who are willing to drive to Fort Morgan to speak. In 2011, we had Kathy Kovach, Paula Moldenhauer and Megan DiMaria make the trek. Margie Vawter and Deb Besaw made the trip several times, too.

We have continued to add members and are now on the cusp of that magic 10: enough ACFW members to become a chapter.

Although we have a couple of published writers in our midst, most of our members are not-yet-published. They love guest speakers and they love the hands-on sessions where we actually write.

We are becoming experts at writing prompts. Can you write a story in 6 words? We can. Maybe not publication quality, but definitely stretching.

What’s ahead for Spunk and Spirit? Here are some goals:

• Become a chapter in 2012.
• Every one of our members submits to a contest or publication at least once this year.
• Growing as writers serving God, alert to the many ways He can use our writing skills.
• Offering a place to meet to those writers who live a long way from the Front Range, because we understand being a bit isolated.

As our name implies, we aren’t very traditional in our approach. We laugh together, welcome new people, and look for new paths in our story-telling journey.

For example, we are exploring the possibility of allowing writers at a distance to participate in our monthly meetings via Skype or some other videoconferencing option.

We welcome guest speakers. If ever you’d like to try out a new speech or serve up a familiar one, we’d love schedule you. If you’d like to visit us, you’re welcome. We meet on the third Monday of every month from 6:30-8 pm at Life Fellowship in Fort Morgan.

Sometimes we even serve cookies.

Keep us in prayer. For now, we’re the Prologue but we have much bigger goals than that.

Kathy Brasby is the founder of Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group. A former journalist, Kathy writes blogs, essays and stories. When not writing, Kathy (along with her family) operates a small hobby farm in northeast Colorado.

TECHIE TUESDAY
Edition 1, Volume 4

How S-l-o-w Can You Go? 
How to improve the speed of your PC and laptop

Part 2: Malware and Viruses: So you already have a problem. Now what?

Last week I talked about how to prevent malware (aka spyware) and viruses from getting into your computer in the first place. This week I’m touching on what to do if they’re already there. But before I do, I first need to clue you in on a few signs that will tell you whether or not your computer might be infected.

Signs of a (possibly) infected computer

• S-l-o-w computer. A common symptom of being infected is a slow computer. By that I mean your computer is running much slower than normal. Slow computers can also be caused by a hard disk that needs defragmenting, insufficient memory (RAM), over-full Internet cache and temp folder, etc., but treating those problems will be discussed later in Part 3.
• Programs (including Windows) shut down  or restart automatically. If programs (including Windows) show erratic behavior by shutting down or restarting for no good reason, then take heed. It’s probably a virus at work.
• Error messages. In most cases error messages are legit. But when you get ones asking you to “click here” to access the Internet to resolve the issue or “click here” to close the error message box, you’re better off hitting CTRL + ALT + DEL and getting out of there.
• Lack of response. Your computer freezes or seems to become unresponsive to a program or basic commands.
• Hard drive or modem working overtime. Does your computer’s hard drive sound like it’s continually in overdrive, or is the activity light on your modem constantly lit? If so, your computer might be infected.
• Security settings have changed. If you notice your firewall has suddenly disappeared, then there’s a good change  a nasty bug has infiltrated your machine.
• Missing files or weird fonts. If something you worked on is no longer there, or the fonts have changed, or your file cannot be loaded because it’s “not in the correct format,”  chances are a hungry virus has taken a bite.
• Missing hard drive. Honestly, a hard drive cannot go MIA unless you physically remove it. So if you are unable to access it or it seems to have disappeared from radar, chances are your computer is infected.
• Strange looking desktop. A virus can cause your desktop fonts and icons to take on a strange appearance, or change the appearance of your wallpaper and mouse.
• Unexpected messages. Another sign of infection is a pop-up message that appears out of nowhere. Understand not all pop-up messages mean your computer is infected; however, if you are not connected to the Internet and messages start popping up out of nowhere, you need to take note.
• Unexpected changes. New toolbars, links, or favorites that you did not intentionally add to your web browser. Your home page, mouse pointer, or search program changes unexpectedly.
• Web redirect. You type the address of a specific website into your web browser, but you are taken to a completely unrelated website.

Understand, not all the above symptoms indicate infection. Some can actually mean there are other problems with your system. However, that being said, I recommend proceeding as though it’s infected and go from there.

I think I’m infected. Now what?

First, DO NOT PANIC! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at an infected computer only to discover its user panicked and started deleting every file under the sun. Please don’t do that! Some of those files (especially system files) are required for your machine to run.

Second, follow these steps:

If you can connect to the Internet, go to http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx and download the Microsoft Safety Scanner. If you cannot connect to the Internet, follow the instructions under step #7.

1. Open your anti-virus/anti-malware program and do a manual update. After the update has finished, run a full system scan and quarantine all infected files.
2. Run Microsoft Safety Scanner.
3. If this does not do the trick, then reboot in safe mode and run the scans. To get into safe mode:
   • In Windows XP, hold down the F8 key as soon as the machine reboots. If the computer starts making beeping sounds, tap the F8 key instead. In Windows Vista or Windows 7, rapidly tap the F8 key as the machine reboots.
   • Windows Advanced Options menu will appear. Choose “Safe Mode” and press your Enter key. Note: Do not choose “Safe Mode with Networking” or “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” at this point.
   • Log in with a user account that has administrator rights.
4. After scan is complete, restart computer.
5. If this still does not do the trick then reboot in safe mode with networking and try one or more of the free online scans:

• http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
• http://www.bitdefender.com/scanner/online/free.html
• http://housecall.trendmicro.com

7.  If you cannot connect to the Internet, do the following:

a. In Windows 7, click the Start button. In the search box, type run, and then, in the list of results, click Run. In Windows Vista, click the Start button, and then click Run. In Windows XP, click Start, and then click Run.

b. Copy and paste or type the following text in the Open box in the Run dialog box:

reg add “HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings” /v ProxyEnable /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

c. Click OK.

d. Follow step “a” again, this time copy and paste or type the following text in the Open box in the Run dialog box:

reg delete “HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings” /v ProxyServer /f

e. Click OK.

f. Restart computer.

To Remove a Virus Manually

Sometimes a virus must be removed manually. This should only be done if you have experience with the Windows registry and know how to view and delete system and program files in Windows.

First, identify the virus by name by running your anti-virus program. If you don’t have an anti-virus program or if your program doesn’t detect the virus, you might still be able to identify it by looking for clues about how it behaves. Write down the words in any messages it displays or, if you received the virus in email, write down the subject line or name of the file attached to the message. Then search an antivirus vendor’s website for references to what you wrote down to try to find the name of the virus and instructions for how to remove it.

Prevention, Prevention, Prevention!

Of course the best line of action to prevent viruses and malware is to have a full version anti-virus and/or anti-malware program running on your computer at all times. Make sure auto updates are on, and have your computer set to automatically run a short scan daily and full system scan at least once a month.

Oh, and be smart! Don’t open files or emails from people you don’t know, don’t open attachments you’re not expecting to receive, and don’t go to mass marketing websites that have give-aways, freebies, or deals too good to be true.

Next week: How S-l-o-w Can You Go? Part 3: Internet cache, temp files, download folder, recycle bin, and system updates

At least it’s time for this post if you’ve thought about your writing as a force for eternity and prayerfully considered putting on the Team ACFW Colorado cap.

If you haven’t, stop now and go back and read those first two posts.

Here’s why: If you haven’t caught the vision for your writing impacting eternity and for how being a part of the team helps that happen, this post won’t mean enough to you. It’ll just sound like more clutter in your mind and inbox.

The resources in this post are pretty simple to embrace. It’s mostly a matter of taking the time to be informed. Whether you’re in a local chapter or feeling isolated and alone, these resources connect you to the heartbeat of ACFW Colorado.

The Newsletter

If you’re an ACFW member living in Colorado your email address will be added to a newsletter which comes out quarterly. You’ll find information on local chapters, seminars, retreats, and our new services offered via internet.  Please watch your inbox (and your spam folder if you have set your security high!) for the ACFW CO newsletter. It’s full of good stuff! If you aren’t an ACFW member or don’t live in Colorado, you can still receive this newsletter.  Email me (colorado.coordinator@acfwcolorado.com) and ask to be put on our mailing list.

Member Insight

Look for these in your inbox. Only ACFW Colorado members receive this. (If you are and ACFW member in an adjoining state and close enough to benefit from what’s happening here, you can request to be added to this mailing as well.) This quick little email is sent out as often as we deem it necessary and details events around the state as well publication opportunities. If you are an ACFW member and want to share something with your friends—like a book signing, writing opportunity, or speaking engagement, you can tell Jill Hups about it, and she’ll include it in the next Member Insight.

The Inkwell

If you’re reading this post, you’re already a step ahead. The Inkwell is an excellent resource. You probably want to go right now to the sidebar and sign up for the RSS feed so you can get its posts (and comment on them) right from your in-box. At this point The Inkwell has four consistent weekly offerings. Yours truly blogs on Members Monday. Techie Tuesdays is when our web mistress, Jill Hups, teaches everything from the basics of navigating the Internet to the more advanced concepts of marketing and building an Internet platform. On Thursdays, free-lance editor Jeanne Leach teaches on the craft of writing. Our blog administrator, Tammie Fickas, writes on Saturdays about the journey of a writer. Other encouraging posts from other authors are also sprinkled in throughout the week. (If you’re interested in writing for the Inkwell, contact Tammie by filling out the contact form here.)

Being a team player starts with being informed.

But it doesn’t stop there. More on that next week!

For You and Him,

Paula

Author, speaker, and mom of four, Paula Moldenhauer loves serving writers as the ACFW Colorado Coordinator. Published over 300 times, Paula’s first book, You’re a Charmer, Mr. Grinch, releases in 2012. She loves peppermint ice cream, fancy rootbeer, and walking barefoot. Her greatest desire is to be close enough to Jesus to breathe His fragrance. Visit her: http://www.facebook.com/PaulaMoldenhauerAuthor.

Izole4 / FreeDigitalPhotos.netmage:

Life is busy; deadlines, big work projects, carpets that need cleaning. At the end of long days I fall into bed and my mind runs in crazy circles. Instead of corralling it and pulling out my Bible or spending time in quiet conversation with God I roll over and go to sleep because I just don’t have the energy.

Today, like a thump on the head, I realized that my well is dry because I haven’t visited the source. I know, I know, this is basic common sense for a Christian. Sometimes, though, life gets the best of me and I forget my common sense.

As Christian writers our talent, words, and purpose comes from the Lord. It is only when we are fully engaged with Jesus that He can truly guide our work and use our words. When we walk away or just get busy we’re like that leave that has fallen from the tree. No longer connected it withers and dies. God promises to strengthen and renew us and that spiritual filling spills over into our work. This can only happen when we take the time to spend time with him, to reconnect to the source or our strength.

Even Christ pulled away from the day-to-day life for time in communion with the Father. In the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before his crucifixion he went off from the disciples and prayed. He took the time to reconnect and then he went out to walk the path God placed before him.

If it worked for Christ, it will work for us.

And on that note, I’m going to take my own advice and reconnect. Have a great weekend. If you’re looking for an opportunity to slow down and fill your spiritual well please consider attending the ACFW Colorado 5th Annual Retreat. More information is found on the ACFW Colorado web site.

Image: markuso / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Purple Prose:  

This is an expression used to describe a section of a scene written with overtly extravagant, flamboyant, or flowery words, which break the flow of the story. You won’t see a whole book written in purple prose, so when the reader comes across it, the writing definitely draws attention to itself.

A more restrained writing style tugs on a reader’s emotions far better than over-the-top narrative.

Here’s an example of purple prose:

•  Anita stood at the window, letting her mind wander back to what Brad had just told her over the phone. Across the expanse of the ample backyard, the brilliance of the sun bounced deep orange hues off the fluffy, cumulus clouds and ignited the sky in a fiery radiance. Then, like a giant kaleidoscope, it tinted a vibrant pink with purple streaks that played off the mountains like a child coloring outside the lines. In one, last, luminous dance, it took a final curtain call before finally exiting behind the majesty of the highest snow-capped peak. This symphony of vibrancy reminded Anita that Brad needed to pick up his shirts from the cleaners on his way home.

The ridiculous amount of time spent on describing a sunset took the reader out of the story momentarily. All they really wanted to know is what she thought about what Brad had said to her. They could care less about how deep the sunset looked, and the reminder of the shirts at the cleaners stood out as a stark contrast to the whole scene.

It is likely that you can name a few best-selling authors who use purple prose often and get away with it. I’m talking about what most publishers want to see from their first-time authors. They know what most readers like, so it’s important that an author write in such a way as to win their reader’s hearts. I admit that back in my newbie days as a writer, I thought purple prose was actually great writing. I spent a lot of time agonizing over just the right description to create the most vivid sunsets and the like, but all the reader wanted to know is what’s happening with the characters they’d come to know and love so well.

Descriptions of the surrounding setting are necessary and can be done with vibrancy; just don’t allow it to go over-the-top.

Stilted Writing

This is stiff, formal writing, which is frowned upon in Christian fiction today. Don’t get me wrong; it’s great to read well-written books that speak to a higher intellectual level. However, today’s fiction books are written at about the 8^th grade level. If the writing goes much higher than that, the readers won’t understand it very well. Seriously!

When someone critiquing or editing in the Christian fiction genre says something is stilted, they don’t necessarily mean it’s too high of a level for people to understand. It means it interrupts the natural, gentle flow of the story.

I am currently editing a book that uses a lot of stilted sentences. I find myself stopping and rereading often, which is a bad thing. An author must strive to never cause a reader to stop and reread in order to understand what they’re saying. In an attempt never to use “was” or “ly” adverbs, the result is a very stiff and unfriendly read.

Examples from a book I recently edited:

•  Hazel-flecked eyes rested gently on Tessa, friendly surprise showing in the generous mouth, slighted parted.
•  A shadowy look came across his brow and strayed aside, lost in another time and place.

I would consider both of these stilted. In these examples, simple would be better. They both suffer from a misplaced modifier, but even had they been written correctly, the writing, in my opinion, would still be stilted. Here are the same sentences written with a simple flair. They would no longer stick out like a sore thumb in the story.

•  Tessa’s mouth gaped open as John looked at her with kind, hazel-flecked eyes.
•  He looked away, a shadow of remembrance spreading across his face.

Sometimes stilted writing is nothing more than the author trying to put too many descriptions in one sentence. Once in a while it’s merely mini-purple prose.

If there’s one principle I could use to sum up this lesson it would be that sometimes simpler is better. Don’t try to make your writing too elaborate to be enjoyable.

The ACFW Colorado Retreat has evolved over the years into a restful and restoring break from a hectic life. We all have work, family, homes, and friends pulling at us from every direction. Add to that our church life and our social life, and pretty soon the cup overfloweth. Taking time to renew our spiritual energies is a must. We can only give out if we are filled up.

Perhaps you might argue that your life is not so busy. You like your routine. You like sleeping in your own bed. You prefer to choose who you spend time with. Maybe, like me, you don’t really like surprises. I often say I can be as spontaneous as anybody else, if I’m given enough notice.

That said, whether you’re looking for a break from the hectic, or you’re looking for an opportunity to step outside your normal world, the ACFW Retreat is just the place for you. Here the focus is not on the craft of writing – it’s on your spiritual journey. We spend time in praise and worship, fellowship with other believers, and learn how to integrate our writing life into the other chapters and compartments of our life.

The setting, at Ponderosa Retreat and Conference Center in Larkspur, is peaceful and serene, yet civilized and comfortable. You can choose from communal lodging or semi-private hotel-style rooms, and the food is plentiful and delicious, with many dietary choices available.

And the speaker. We cannot say enough about our speakers. And this year will be no different. Kim Vogel Sawyer has been a writer and a Christian for many years, and her testimony will bring tears to your eyes and joy to your heart. Her sweet spirit, mirrored in her gentle stories of hope, is genuine and pervades every area of her life. She gives and gives, and when you think you can’t take any more of her love, she will give more.

If you’re wondering why you should attend an event where you won’t be taught how to develop characters, how to research historical novels, or even how to market your books, wonder no more. This retreat will refresh your spirit, renew your passion for the Lord, and rejuvenate your writing in a whole new way.

Come because you need a break. Come because you need ministry. Come because you need somewhere to share the special gifts God has given you. Come because you long to belong to a community of Christians who are also writers. Come because God is calling you into His presence.

For more information on the retreat including costs and how to register visit the ACFW Colorado web site here.

About Donna Schlacter

Canadian by birth, American by choice, Donna Schlachter left everything and moved to Denver in 1999 to marry Patrick, the man chosen by God to be her husband. Together they have two daughters and eight grandchildren. Donna is past-treasurer of her local American Christian Fiction Writers chapter and facilitates a local critique group. She has worn many hats in the past, including bank teller, accounting clerk, paper-girl, professional cleaner, and apartment manager. A storyteller at heart, Donna’s passion is to tell His Story through the ages, using flawed characters in need of a Savior, because this is her story.

Donna writes historical romance, mysteries, and suspense. You can follow her on Facebook, and check out her blog at www.HiStoryThruTheAges.blogspot.com.

TECHIE TUESDAY
Edition 1, Volume 3

How S-l-o-w Can You Go?
How to improve the speed of your PC and laptop

There is nothing more frustrating than a slow computer. Okay, maybe there are a few more things; however, when you have places to go and people to see, yet can’t get out the door because your PC or laptop is holding you back, computer anxiety definitely moves to the top of the list. In fact, according to ScienceDaily[1], computer anxiety has now become an “official illness” of the high-tech age.

While there are a number of reasons your computer could be running slow, the following are generally the main culprits: malware and viruses, bogged down Internet cache (temporary Internet files and history), over-filled temp folder, full recycle bin, and failure to do regular system updates. So instead of running to the Geek Squad and shelling out mega $$ to have your computer purged, try these simple tricks first:

Part 1: Malware and Viruses: Preventative measures

 Malware & Viruses                        

Malware (short for malicious software) are nasty little programs that hide in your computer and disrupt normal operation. Some gather sensitive information, some gain unauthorized access to computer systems.

Viruses are computer programs that can replicate themselves and spread from one computer to another. As with malware, their intent is to do harm. However, the biggest difference between the two is viruses have the ability to reproduce and malware doesn’t.

In either case, the BEST WAY to avoid these buggards is to prevent them from getting into your system in the first place. You can do this by having good, solid, anti-malware and anti-virus programs installed.

How to Choose

There are many anti-malware and anti-virus programs on the market, and you may have a personal favorite, but below is a list from www.toptenreviews.com that should help you get going:

Top five anti-malware products:

• Webroot Anywhere Virus
• Spyware Doctor
• AdWare Pro
• Malware Bytes
• STOPZilla

Top five anti-virus products:

• Bitedefender Antivirus Plus
• Avast! Pro Antivirus 2012
• Kaspersky Anti-virus 2012
• PC Tool Spyware Doctor with Anti-Virus 9.0
• Panda Antivirus Pro 2012

Installation alone won’t keep you protected, however. Both anti-malware and anti-virus programs need to have the ability to update definitions automatically 24/7 so that any newbies floating around in cyberspace can be stopped before they enter your computer.

Once definitions are updated, you’ll need to run what’s called a system scan. This will search your computer and destroy most malware and/or viruses you might have picked up. Generally there are two scans that should be run: A short scan and a full scan. A short scan should be set to run every day and a full scan should be set to run no less than once a month—preferably more if you are on the Internet often. And just like virus and malware definitions, make sure these scans are set to run automatically, 24/7.

But what happens if you already have a problem? Then what? Check back next week for How S-l-o-w Can You Go? Part 2: Malware and Viruses: So you already have a problem. Now what?

 * * * * *

NOTE: Please be aware that free or try-before-you-buy versions of anti-malware and anti-virus software usually do NOT offer automatic definition updates or automatic systems scans. Because of this it is very important that whatever software you choose is full version.

Sometimes I feel like those pictures I’ve seen of Einstein. You know the ones where his gray hair sticks out every direction and his eyes hold a wild glaze? The problem is I don’t have the genius to go with the crazed look.

My solution for these bad hair days is to put on a hat, but so many duties are expected of writers that I’m never sure which hat to grab (which is why I look such a wreck in the first place).

Take writing this blog. First I reached for my top hat, I wanted to grab my tap shoes and wow you with all the great things ACFW Colorado has to offer—but then I realized, you can learn pretty much all that stuff by simply visiting our website!

Instead I needed my navy blue baseball cap with Team ACFW Colorado written across the front. The blog would be written to cheer my team on!

Batter up, anyone?

But life intervened and here it is, days later. Instead of finishing on this blog I’ve:

• Put on a leather newsboy hat to post the NEWS on facebook and other media
• Put on a Tudor hat and learned some new stuff about the craft of writing
• Put on student’s hat and learned about Excel so I could do my volunteer work.
• Put on my stocking cap and fuzzy slippers so I could be warm while I created stories
• Put on a plaid deerstalker and edited my book (because I can just see an editors wearing one while smoking a pipe)
• Put on my wool beret and done battle on my knees
• Put on my beanie with propeller so I’d have something to play with while staring at a blank screen, uninspired.
• Put on a party hat and celebrated meeting a deadline

I’m exaggerating, but there’s a point. Many days you and I want to scream, “TOO MANY HATS!”

And then along comes someone who tells you to put on that baseball cap and join the team. (Watch out! Now I’m throwing the pitch.)

As I’ve prayed about first steps in my new position as Colorado Coordinator, I believe the Lord is impressing one word upon me: Community. And guess what? Community means we. I’m tossing that ball toward you, hoping you’ll step up to the plate, take a swing, and embrace your team.

Now before you roll your eyes and wonder what community has to do with getting published, hear me out. Community offers:

• Greater opportunities for mentoring, learning, and growing in craft
• Greater opportunities for networking, publishing, and marketing
• Greater support for what can be a arduous journey

The kind of community I envision gives new writers a safe place to ask questions and seasoned writers a safe place to seek networking and marketing support. This community helps each of us amplify our message to the world because instead of our one voice crying out in a vast sea of voices, we unify and shout together.

We’re living in a great age for the kind of community I envision. Even though ACFW CO has writers scattered across the state, we can be connected in an instant through the Internet. As we harness the power of our collective voice, we can help move each other forward in our careers as writers, and more importantly, in our ability to get the Message out.

I believe the LORD has given us tangible tools to build a strong team that can rock the world for eternity’s sake. But a bat is useless if it lies on the ground—and our team can’t become a force in this industry unless its players choose to play. Spend some time thinking and praying about putting on the Team ACFW Colorado cap—about connecting beyond signing a membership form. I know I haven’t yet given you the nitty-gritty of what that looks like, but for now all I’m asking is that you give the Lord permission to tap you on the shoulder if He’s got something here He wants you to be a part of.

Next week I’ll share specific community building tools, but this week I simply leave you with something to pray about: Are you in?

For You and Him,

Paula

Author, speaker, and mom of four, Paula Moldenhauer loves serving writers as the ACFW Colorado Coordinator. Published over 300 times, Paula’s first book, You’re a Charmer, Mr. Grinch, releases in 2012. She loves peppermint ice cream, fancy rootbeer, and walking barefoot. Her greatest desire is to be close enough to Jesus to breathe His fragrance. Visit her: http://www.facebook.com/PaulaMoldenhauerAuthor.

Image:nuchylee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Once upon a time there was a girl who wanted to write a novel. She planned and plotted and wrote and revised. Her story took form and she began to envision large advance checks and immediate fame as an author.

When the novel was done she put it in an envelope and mailed it off to a publisher. The publisher took pity on the poor thing who had poured her soul into this work of great magnificence.  Mr. Publisher wrote her a note:

Dear Girl Who Wants to Write a Novel,

I applaud your efforts. However, you have much to learn. I can’t accept this manuscript because I am much too busy to read it.

I am prepared to offer a few words of advice. Write a proposal for this book. It will also need a synopsis. When that is done you may return your proposal and synopsis to me with three sample chapters.

I wish you well.

Sincerely

Mr. Very Busy Publisher

The girl who wanted to write a novel sat down and cried. She had no idea that to sell a novel you had to do anything other than write the book. She put her novel in a drawer and took up knitting.

Some days I feel like that girl, but I keep plugging forward to learn the nuts and bolts of selling my book to a publisher or agent.  I’m currently studying hard to learn how to write a stunning synopsis for my novel.

Each year the ACFW holds a contest called Genesis. The contest is aptly named since the object is to submit the first chapter of your book. It sounded simple enough until I got to the part about submitting a synopsis with that first chapter. Easy-peasy. Yeah, not so much.

Having talked to other beginning writers I’ve found that writing a synopsis is somewhat of a mystery to the novice. It has been for me. So, I’ve done some research and in this post I would like to share some tidbits of information that may help if you’re in a similar situation. I found a chapter in The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing by the Editors of Writers Digest to be very helpful in my quest to write a good synopsis.

First off, what is a synopsis? Dictionary.com gives this definition: a brief summary of the plot of a novel, motion picture, play, etc.

Sounds simple enough, but how brief is brief?  For Genesis it must be one page or less. For queries and proposals it can be longer.

The trick to a synopsis is to tell the whole story of what is going to happen in the novel. It needs to introduce the protagonist and tell what they want as well as what stands in the way of getting that desire.

Once your main character has been set up, and then move on to a chronological telling of the main events. As novel writers our first thought is to not tell all the secrets so that the reader has an impetus to keep reading. In a synopsis we need to spill all the secrets. This isn’t meant for the general public so it’s okay to tell all. The goal is to give an agent or publisher enough so that they will know if it fits with what they are looking for. Save the surprises for the book.

Tell, don’t show. How many times have you heard that?  Not often, I can guarantee that. In novel writing the caveat is to show, don’t tell. In the synopsis it is okay to tell what is going to happen. For example, in a synopsis you would say something like this: Pete was angry with his wife for leaving him so he pushed her car into the river. In a novel you would set this scene up and show Pete’s anger as opposed to coming right out and saying it.

After you have revealed all the details you need to tie everything up. Don’t leave anything hanging. The publisher or agent needs to know that the boy gets the girl or the cop succeeds in arresting the villain.

Start to finish, a synopsis tells the story in a concise narrative form. This is a skill that aspiring novelists like myself need to work on and perfect. Each book we write will need one and the better the synopsis is the better chance our books have of hitting the bookstore shelves.

The Genesis Contest deadline is March 2, 2012 so there is still time to enter. You can find more info on the ACFW web site Genesis page.

Have you written a synopsis for a novel? What words of advice do you have for others about the process?