Name change and changing plans

One of my favorite quotes comes from the movie Sabrina where the title character says, “Sometimes more isn’t better. Sometimes it’s just more,” to which I add, “Amen!” But I still wound up with 7 blogs and 2 websites so also add, “Oops.”

Too many good ideas, good activities, and even good ministries can be too much of a good thing.

Therefore, I recently let one website go but couldn’t get a handle on how to regroup the blogs. Since I believe in the importance of each one, I’ve been praying about this longer than Lent. But finally, clarity came the first day of Holy Week.

Having written about writing for many years, I have numerous articles to draw from that could be helpful, I hope, for members of the Christian Poets and Writers group on Facebook. Many of those articles, which will gradually appear in the Christian Poets and Writers blog, have previously appeared here, but In a Christian Writer’s Life is no longer my primary focus for newly written articles. The Bible is.

If you have visited my blogs on Bible People, Bible Prayers, Christian Healing Arts, and What the Bible Says About Love, I pray you’ll follow the newly revised blog here, where, Lord willing, new posts will most likely arise in prayer-a-phrases from Daily Bible Readings.

In addition some of my poems previously published in books or secular journals will soon be on the Poetry Editor blog, Lord willing, which means that the only blog of mine that may stay as is for now are reviews of new translations, study editions, and children’s Bibles on the Bible Reviewer blog.

With two new reviews still waiting to be winged, others may depend on whether Bible publishers add me to their list of reviewers. And, oh, I pray they do because when it comes to the Bible less just doesn’t work for me! Sometimes more is better.

© 2013, Mary Harwell Sayler

~~~

Tips for a long writing life

Writing for traditional book companies, magazines, or other print publications may take a little time to investigate, think about, and prayerfully consider, but you gain a lot for the effort. Besides acquiring publishing credits with well-known publishers, you will most likely receive editorial feedback and immediately gain a wide readership for your work.

If that greater outreach appeals to you, you’ll be glad to know that many articles relating to your writing interests have already been posted on this blog. Lord willing, the following tips will also help you to build and sustain a long career in freelance writing:

Read and study well-written classics and contemporary works in your genre.

Think about what first drew you to each book, poem, article, or story and what retains your interest.

Re-read periodicals you like and get familiar with everything from the Table of Contents to Letters to the Editor.

Also notice ads to see what readers of a particular publication are drawn to and what interests them. If those same things interest you – and if the poems, articles, or stories do too – then add that publication to your list of Most Likely Markets.

Make a list, too, of your God-given gifts, special interests, experiences, and topics that come to mind as you read, considering and noting any gaps your work might fill.

Ask God to guide you in using your gifts and selecting a topic.

Find a relevant theme, focus, or goal for that particular topic and reading audience, again, praying for God’s guidance.

Research your subject well, creating a bibliography as you go.

As you begin to write, let your writing flow without hindering or criticizing yourself. Then let your work rest. Later, read each page as if someone else had written it.

Read aloud each revision, listening especially for unclear wording or discordant sounds.

Revise accordingly then place your best manuscript with an editor – one editor at a time.

Follow the writers’ guidelines carefully for each submission. (You can usually find these on the company’s website.)

Keep track of where, when, and to whom you mailed your work.

While you wait to hear from one editor, query another about your next idea.

Begin at the beginning of these suggestions.

Begin and end with prayer for God’s ongoing guidance, inspired ideas, and a long, blessed writing life!

© 2013, Mary Harwell Sayler, all rights reserved.

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Sending your poems and manuscripts to traditional publishers

Poets and writers often self-publish their work because they do not know how to go about getting published by traditional print journals, books, or e-zines. These tips, first posted here over 3 years ago, bear tweaking and repeating:

• Notice publishers of books and periodicals you like to read.

• Most of these publishers now have a website where you can study the titles in their book lines and read the poems and articles in their archives.

• Make a list of each publisher whose work is similar to yours.

• Study the writers' guidelines on each company's website.

• Some editors want a query first to get a quick idea of what you have in mind. Consider this a “sales pitch” meant to give the editor an overview that’s brief, relevant, and to the point.

• If an editor prefers your actual manuscript or batch of poems, great! Just follow the writers’ guidelines, submitting to one editor at a time.

• Keep track of where and when you sent your work. If you do not have a response in 2 to 3 months, follow-up.

• While you wait to hear about one poem or manuscript submission, start another.

• If the editor returns your work, don’t take it personally. The acceptance pile might be too big and space too small. But just in case, your work still needs work: Read it aloud. Listen for rough spots. Revise as needed, then submit the manuscript to the next publisher on your list.

~~

© 2013, Mary Harwell Sayler, all rights reserved. To give you an idea of the traditional publishing experiences that went into these suggestions, visit my Bio on my website.

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Praying Bible prayers

Bible Prayers: Praying for the glory of God

One of the most important aspects of a Christian writer's life is prayer, and I don't know about you, but sometimes I get tired of mine! Too many projects can overwhelm, and so can too few, but either starts an erosion process similar, I suppose, to ditch-digging, and I get in a rut.

For years I've turned to the Bible to enlarge my prayer life, and, well, get over myself. So, eventually, I researched everything the Bible presented on prayer and even had a book in mind to bring readers the scriptural references to Almost All the Prayers in the Bible. And then I discovered that Dr. Herbert Lockyer had been there and done that many decades ago in his "all" series, which, reportedly, brought Zondervan into the publishing business and off to a blessed start but didn't help my writing plans!

I tried revising the idea into a series of devotionals, which could work I guess, but I felt as though I were only repeating and, perhaps, updating Dr. Lockyer's work. So I gave up my idea.

And then the idea came.

With the Revised Lectionary getting Christians of all denominations to be, literally, on the same page, those daily Bible readings provided the source and impetus for praying Bible prayers that arise in the readings each week. Since I did not want to choose from the many fine translations available or bother with permission for usage of Holy Scripture, I began the habit of cutting/ pasting prayer-filled readings into my file (hmm, word scramble for life), looking up the passages in almost every English translation available, and then paraphrasing the prayers.

Often those prayer-a-phrases (as I've begun to call them) will come with a touch of poetry, which, come to find out, is the way about half of Holy Scripture originally came to the writers of the Bible – poetically! So all I can add is:

Glory be to God for potent prayers and poetry!

Glory be to God for the Bible’s timeless word to us as we look forward and toward the Word of The LORD, alive in our lives – and praying in, on, through, and all around us in Bible prayers.


© 2012 Mary Harwell Sayler, all rights reserved, but pass it on!

P.S. Eight years after writing the above, I had the joy of announcing the Book of Bible Prayers on Amazon!


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Deep See: Fishing for People

Fishing for fish requires some type of equipment, and fishing for people even more so. Either way Fisherfolk need a “hook.”

To catch your readers' attention:

Ask a pertinent question. Possibilities vary, depending on the audience, topic, and need, but for starters, consider the worries, complaints, and unpleasant subjects that often worm their way into a conversation. Then go from there.

For instance, how do we deal with greed? grief? grievances? guilt? gullibility? – our own or someone else’s. Such questions can hook readers quickly, but it takes research and credibility to reel them in (or rock the boat!)

Make a startling statement. Jesus did this when trying to get through to the Pharisees, who could see but not deeply. For example, “It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a person who has everything to enter the Kingdom of God,” Mark 10:25.

Consider the lily pads in your fishing spot. Go below the flowers and the surface to anchor deep. For example, Jesus’ wise words “Consider the lilies” might bring to mind the poetic adage “Gather ye rose buds while ye may” or “Stop and smell the roses,” which overworked pastors might need to hear.

Similarly a field of lilies blooming profusely might remind readers that God does indeed provide without expecting them to work themselves into a worried frazzle. If you look closely at the shape or structure of an individual lily, you might also notice the quiet beauty of their trumpets and what that suggests for readers open to your deep see.

Get wise. Get a Bible. Almost any Bible that speaks your language will do in helping you to find a fitting voice for the godly wisdom that draws people to Christ.

This is not the same as saying whatever floats up or sounds deep when expressing shallow opinions. Even if such sayings have some basis in wisdom and truth, the deeper wisdom and truth of biblical saying add impact and depth.

Say, for example, I tell you in my most convincing voice, “God will celebrate and sing because of you!” Even with good timing for such a statement, your response might be, “Oh, yeah?” But don’t those same words have a more powerful impact if you know Zephaniah 3:17 said them first?

© 2012, Mary Harwell Sayler, all rights reserved, but pass it on – especially that quote from Zeph. Don’t you just love it! Here’s the whole verse in other English voices:

“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing,”
Zephaniah 3:17, KJV (King James Version.)

“Hashem thy G-d in the midst of thee is gibbor; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with simchah; He will quiet [you] in His ahavah (love), He will joy over thee with singing,”
Zephaniah 3:17, Orthodox Jewish Bible.

“ADONAI your God is right there with you,
as a mighty savior.
He will rejoice over you and be glad,
he will be silent in his love,
he will shout over you with joy,”
Zephaniah 3:17, Complete Jewish Bible.

“The LORD your God
wins victory after victory
and is always with you.
He celebrates and sings
because of you,
and he will refresh your life
with his love,”
Zephaniah 3:17, Contemporary English Version.

~~

(c) 2012, Mary Harwell Sayler.

Bible verses on Thanksgiving

Traditional Thanksgiving Day celebrations in North America started with stories of newly transplanted pilgrims and Native Americans sharing a meal of wild turkey and any edible plants they could find, which, in my reenactment, would surely include popping fresh cranberries! However, the idea of thanksgiving began thousands of years earlier as Bible people gave their ongoing thanks to God our Creator, Provider, and Father of All.

Now, in our Christian writing life, these verses on thanksgiving, freshly plucked from the Bible, give us food for thought as we continuously give our thanks to God in all writing genres:

Leviticus 22:29
“When you bring a thanksgiving offering to the LORD, offer it appropriately for acceptance.”

2 Chronicles 29:31
“Then Hezekiah said, ‘Since you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, bring your sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the Temple of the LORD.’ So the people brought sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings, and those with willing hearts brought even more."

Nehemiah 12:46
“Long ago David and Asaph began the custom of having choir directors lead hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God.”

Psalm 26:6-7
“I come to Your altar, O LORD, singing my thanksgiving and telling of all your wonders.”

Psalm 28:7
“The LORD is the strength and shield I trust with all my heart to help me, and so my heart is filled with such joy, songs of thanksgiving burst from me!”

Psalm 69:30
“I will praise God’s name with my song. I will honor God with my thanksgiving.”

Psalm 100:4
“Go into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Give thanks! Praise the name of the LORD forever.”

Psalm 107:1-2
Give thanks to the LORD for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell everyone your God redeems.”

Psalm 116:17
“I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving as I call on the name of the LORD.”

Isaiah 51:3
“Yes, the LORD will comfort Israel again and have compassion on her ruins. Her desert will blossom like Eden. Her barren wilderness will become like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will blossom. Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air.”

Luke 10:21
“Filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, Jesus prayed to God: ‘Oh, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank You for hiding wise things from clever people who think they're wise while revealing Your wisdom to the childlike.”

Corinthians 4:15
“As God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be more and more thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.”

Colossians 1:3
"We (Paul and Timothy) pray always for you and give thanks for you to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Revelation 7:11-13
“All of the angels standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings fell face down before the throne and worshipped God, singing:

“Amen! So be it! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength belong to the LORD our God
forever and ever! Amen.”

~~

© 2012, Mary Harwell Sayler, all rights reserved, but pass it on.

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Prayer power!

Our recent Discussion about prayer in the Christian Poets & Writers group on LinkedIn evoked some great metaphors.

As Michael Spangle said, “Prayer has no more power than an electric cord. Plugging the cord into a wall outlet will connect the device the cord is connected to with the power in the wall outlet. Prayer is like that. It connects us to the power God has. Then power flows into our lives through prayers said in faith.”

When we see our prayers as a means of plugging into God for our current concerns we won't be shocked by the power we have in Christ. (All puns intended.)

A big concern, though, (thanks Rosalie Squires) is if a frayed cord interrupts the power flow to us from God.

To carry the analogy further, some have experienced violent trauma that broke the plug, while others (like me) have allowed ourselves to get circuit overload that caused static or burn-out.

As Christians in general and Christian Poets & Writers in particular, however, we do have prayer power – for ourselves, our country, other people, and the church.

The more open we are to God's healing work in us, the more likely we are to help our readers of all genres and become truly skilled electricians for Christ.

~~

© 2012, Mary Harwell Sayler, all rights reserved, but pass it on!

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How to have Bible values in what we write

A couple of weeks ago, I started a Discussion in the Christian Poets and Writers group on LinkedIn with the question, “Is the Bible an essential part of your work as a Christian poet, writer, editor, or publisher?”

One of our CP&W members responded with another important question, “How do we keep biblical values in our writing?”

I replied by saying something about how poems and writings in almost any genre reflect our Bible values then gave an example of “Blue Bloods,” one of my favorite TV shows that is "secular" but often ends by showing the biblical value of a family sharing a meal. People used to sit down and “break bread” together regularly but seldom now. What made the scene even better, though, was a televised demonstration of faith as the family prays before the meal – not with heads bowed symbolically but with full audio given to the prayer.

With that in mind and spirit, I went on to say in the CP&W Discussion that I’m not worried about Christian poets and writers omitting biblical value. Presenting godly values will just happen – naturally and supernaturally too, but what I failed to add is that this hinges on how well we know the Bible ourselves.

That thought has been on my mind even more since the CP&W conversation put it there because I then started to notice clever or catchy sayings that sound wise being posted by talented Christians, who might not know the difference between biblical values and what just sounds good. These poetic but pithy words seem sagacious yet have no nutritional value for spiritual growth because they just aren't true!

So how do we know if our writings have Bible value and not worldly ones that sound biblical but may merely be half-truths?

The best way, of course, is to know the Bible well, then keep on reading.

We can also research whatever does not sound right. The Biblegateway.com website eases such searches for words or phrases, but if that doesn’t reveal the real word on a hard-to-pinpoint topic, ask your pastor, preacher, or priest.

Look for clues, too, as you discern the difference between biblical values, popular expressions, or wise-sounding-sayings. Such words as “always,” “never,” “every,” or other absolutes may sound nice and pretty yet seldom be true.

This last word is, therefore, first and foremost: Pray!

Whether we write novels, poems, devotionals, children’s stories, nonfiction articles, or television scripts, our God-given values provide a strong spiritual antidote for remedying the contagious, ungodly values currently making the rounds!

If we ask God to help us speak clearly, ring truly, and be biblically accurate, we will communicate no ungodly dis-ease, but, in word and spirit, ease our readers into the true and healing word of God in Christ.

~~

© 2012, Mary Harwell Sayler, all rights reserved, but pass it on!

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Writing Bible studies

Christian poets and writers who read the Bible often feel drawn to writing Bible guides but think the lack of a degree in biblical studies will hold them back. This can happen but might not!

A manuscript written according to the guidelines of your denomination’s official publishing house might not require a college degree if you have been teaching a Sunday School class or leading a Bible study group for several years or if the Bishop of your diocese agrees to proof the manuscript.

Self-publishing what you have written offers an option too, but self-published manuscripts, e-Books, and Print on Demand (POD) book sales succeeds mainly if your work is well-known and biblical soundness trusted. To build a following, many Christian writers begin with a Bible-based blog until enough followers want the articles in book form.

Regardless of the publishing route you take, consider these basics for writing Bible studies:

Pray for God to inspire and direct your thoughts and interests toward the project you’re to do.

Know the Bible – really well, preferably in several translations.

Select a topic you want to research such as the biblical word on work, marriage, or family.

Type any key word(s) relevant to your topic into the Search Box on a Bible website such as Biblegateway.com.

Investigate scriptures from a variety of translations.

If you want to use one version only and have a few hundred scriptural references, you need to find out if the publisher allows this. If not, just write to ask for permission. Or use the King James Version in the public domain.

Besides knowing the Bible, knowing your topic, and knowing which translation you plan to use, you need to know your potential readers:

Does your topic lend itself to group discussion or private reading?

What age group will most likely be drawn to your topic?

Will the study focus on the concerns of new Christians or church peoples?

What format do you plan to use? For example, you might provide background info for a group leader to use with scriptures for everyone to look up followed by pertinent questions to help readers or participants apply the Bible to their own lives.

If you plan to write for interdenominational groups or Christians from any church, see “Getting to know the whole Body of Christ” on the Christian Poets & Writers blog.

Begin your research with prayer. End with prayer, and invite your readers to do the same!

May God bless your work and give you the prayers to pray!

~~

© 2012, Mary Harwell Sayler, all rights reserved, but pass it on!

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Social Networking for fun and profit

The “profit” part of the above title will, most likely, occur in ways besides money, but that can happen too – and actually has for me. Not only did I get a couple of writing gigs from a “Call for Manuscripts” on Twitter, one assignment paid well the first time then again a year or so later as a reprint. I have also been “found” by poets, writers, and editors who want my professional opinion through a paid critique or writing consult.

Usually, though, the profitable part pays off by connecting with other Christian poets and writers and hearing what they have to say. It’s sort of like having a church group to uphold us in shared goals to:

Spread the Good News of God’s forgiveness,

Love one another despite our denominational differences, real or imagined (but often the latter,)

Overcome "bad press" about Christianity,

Up-build the Body of Christ.

If we’re going to get any writing done, however, we need to pray, focus, and be left alone to write! The Presence of God remains with us, but sometimes we just need information or encouragement from a Christian counselor, especially if that person happens to be a poet or writer who has a clue about what the life of a Christian writer is like. (If you’ve ever tried to explain what you do to a non-writer or almost anyone vying for your attention, you know what I mean.)

So with prayer and the hope of common-union with one another and profitable service for the Body of Christ, I recently began groups for Christian Poets & Writers on Facebook and LinkedIn. Why both? They’re like two different body parts with bodily functions that might overlap, but not much!

The Christian Poets & Writers group on Facebook gives us a chance to post frequent updates about our plans, blog postings, upcoming events, and encouraging words that God brings to mind and spirit. We can quickly respond with a “Like” to encourage other poets and writers, too, or add a comment, or “Share” info relevant to our other Facebook pages.
If you're a member (free), post your full URL and ask to be added to the blogroll. To keep this work encouraged and going, add the Christian Poets & Writers blog to your blogroll and list of recommended sites too. Thanks and blessings.

~~

©2012, Mary Harwell Sayler

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Tips for taking good pictures take less than 1000 words

Poets, bloggers, and writers who want good photographs to illustrate their words do well to learn how to take publishable pictures. A digital camera, including the one on the back of your cell phone, can do a good job for you, depending on your goal and camera settings. For instance, smaller sized picture will work nicely on your blog or website, but, if you hope to photograph a book cover, poster for your poem, or illustration for a print magazine, you will need the most pixels your camera has in its highest or “raw” setting.

To capture all sorts of outdoor scenes, wildlife, travel spots, sports events, plants, and people in natural, God-given lighting, keep these tips in mind:

Pack light, but carry your camera and small notebook everywhere!

Become an inconspicuous part of the scene.

Crouch down or climb higher to get a fresh perspective.

Late morning and early evening usually provide the best natural lighting as light and shadows play, whereas an approaching storm can add high drama.

Take several pictures of the same subject, using different settings each time.

Keep your composition uncluttered.

The presence of people will add interest to most photographs, but you’ll need written permission for each face that shows.

Get as close to your subject as you can without distorting the image or creeping anyone out.

Interact with people and places. Experiment. Practice.

The more photographs you take, the more you will get the results you want, so be sure to keep those extra batteries handy, and have fun!

© 2012, Mary Harwell Sayler.

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Repent and other words to clear vision

When I woke up this morning, I immediately started thinking about the new group for Christian Poets and Writers on Facebook, so I asked God, “What do you want me to say today?” Immediately, one word came: Repent.

Since I really would like for the group to multiple and be blessed and not shrink in horror, I argued. “But God,” I said, “that is not a word any of us wants to hear!”

Immediately, the impression came: Sure you do!

God then brought to mind one of my favorite Bible verses: “First, remove the log from your own eye, then you will see clearly to remove the tiny specks from the eyes of other people,” my paraphrase of Matthew 7:5 and Luke 6:42, but you get the picture! If you’re a poetic writer, you’ll also recognize that as the literary device known as hyperbole that Jesus often used in getting across a crucial point and helping us to remember.

But back to repentance:

Is there the remotest mote of a possibility that we might need to repent as individuals who love God and are called to write in every genre?

Do we want, no, need discernment before we write?

Do we need to see clearly before we address any vision God might have for us and our ministries as poets, writers, editors, and publishers?

Will we admit to flaws we have before pointing them out in other people?

Repentance brings a cleansing to the soul, heart, mind, and spirit. We can do this in private. We can do this communally as a church, and we can consider what changes we might help to make in this wonderful nation – One Nation under God but never above the LORD of Lord and King of Kings and President of Presidents Whom we truly elect to Preside over us and our lives.

Well, these are the kinds of thoughts that began to come before I got up, before I remembered the date: September 11.

And I have no word on that, but pray.

Pray especially today with what the Bible calls a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for, today, we actually recall what that sacrifice means.

So this day, let's agree in prayer to praise God for every good gift.

Let us thank God for the work we have been given to do to help heal the church Body of Christ and the body of believers in this nation.

Let us remember that “repent” does not mean to dwell on our sins or mistakes but “to turn” to God – to re-turn with a clearer vision of Who God Is and who we are in the Body of Christ.

So even if it is a big sacrifice or heavy effort today, please let us renew our belief in the whole and wholly goodness of our Almighty God.

Let us accept and believe in the need we all have to unburden ourselves regularly of even the tiniest sense of guilt or wrongdoing.

Let’s live and write as though we truly, truly believe in the salvation and redemption of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who Is with us now and forever, even today.


© September 11, 2012, Mary Harwell Sayler says all rights reserved to God. Pass it on, and pray others do too.