Reflecting on Resources by Glynis M Belec

I love my dictionary, the big black book

It's always been my friend.

Thesaurus is the second one, on which I do depend. 

Rhyme-zone, Inscribe, Fellowscript 

Are handy things to read.

Websites, blogs and courses, too, all help me to succeed. 

But most of all when I feel lost

And my brain goes on a break,

Prayer is on my resource list, with that there's no mistake! 

God whispers words that make me smile

He tells me to be still

And then He pours the words right in as I try to do His will. 

A few of my favourites on my shelf!

I have to agree with many of the other writers who have preceded me. So many good resources out there these days. I love to read how other people 'write' and also I love picking up quick tips, so I use YouTube for inspiration and direction, especially if I need hands on help with my programs or the like. I am such a visual learner so this works so well for me. 

Here's four great books I love having in my arsenal of resources. 

#1. My CHILDREN'S WRITER'S WORD BOOK is one of my favourite resources for when I am writing for children. It helps a children's writer choose exactly the right word for a particular age group or grade level. This is the new, 2nd edition and it is really a great resource that I use often.






#2. This next book - THE NAME BOOK - is such a great resource for me. It's a book from the 80s but to me, it never gets old. It gives all sorts of ideas for character naming including the definition of names, meanings, spiritual connotations and supporting scripture. Love that.

#3.The INDIE AUTHOR GUIDE is described as a 'roadmap to success'. I can think of another Book that fits that description better, but this is a very good book for the indie author who needs direction with all sorts of information from organization to publishing to building an author platform and SO much more. 

#4. I like WRITING PICTURE BOOKS because it totally respects children's writers of all levels. There's plenty of instruction on creating characters, plotting, working out beginnings, middles and endings, hands on revision exercises, tips on researching markets, and plenty more.


  And then there is the Greatest Resource ever!

A few wise words for contemplation ... 

Proverbs 1:5

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

Proverbs 18:15 

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Proverbs 9:9

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Proverbs 1:7      

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Glynis lives, loves, laughs and does an awful lot of reading, writing, publishing and praying in her home office. 

        How thrilled Glynis is to be part of CHRISTMAS WITH HOT APPLE CIDER - an anthology filled with a wonderful assortment of Christmas short stories, memories, drama and poetry. 

                     www.glynismbelec.com 

Tools to Keep You on Course by Susan Barclay

I can't find it in the archives here, but I was certain I'd written about this before. I was hoping I could just direct you to the original post since nothing has changed (insert smiley-face). 

Here's the list:

First there are the physical tools: the writing instruments (pen, paper, computer, laptop, tablet) and the space you write in (separate office, niche in one of the room's of your dwelling place, library, cafe). Do you write best with or without music/background noise? Can you write in a cluttered environment or must it be clean and tidy? Make sure you have what you need before you get started - many of us writers are easily distracted!

Now onto the books and online resources:

The Writers' Market - specific guides for different types of writing: poetry, novels and short stories, material for children. These tools provide helpful articles as well as a variety of places you can send your work and agents who can help you with the submission process.

Writer's Digest Magazine - a monthly publication with helpful articles, columns, writing prompts, and contests. Also the Writer's Digest website.

The Inscribe website and listserv. Maximize your membership by utilizing these and reading the current issue of Fellowscript, which contains articles by the members as well as columns, contests and market information.

The best book on writing I've read so far is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself into Print by Rennie Browne and Dave King. It's been a long time since I read it, but I found full of  helpful advice for the revision process.

Participation in writers' groups. I've been part of a writers' group for fourteen years now and nothing beats the feedback and encouragement of fellow sojourners who know a thing or two about the writing and publishing processes. If you can't get together with writers in your local area (every Fellowscript issue lists Inscribe writers' groups), try to find an online critique partner and shoot your work back and forth. Nothing has improved my writing more than the practice and discipline of writing and receiving constructive criticism.

 Most importantly for writers who are Christian: be in God's Word daily and be in prayer. We want to be in the centre of God's will for our lives and for our writing. We can't be either if we're not connecting with Him. As it says in the notes of my Transformation Study Bible (Warren Wiersbe, NLT), 

"Our relationship to the Word of God indicates our relationship to the God of the Word."  

If our writing isn't going well, it's possible that we have gone off-centre and God wants us to refocus our attention on Him and what He wants.
____________

Post-script: I still haven't gotten around to reading Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, but I recently noticed a couple of other books in the form of guided journals: 300 Writing Prompts and Complete the Story. These look like fun resources to get the creative juices flowing!
_____________
Please visit my personal website at www.susan-barclay.blogspot.ca

5 x 5 Favourites by Steph Beth Nickel

Some of these resources are not directly related to writing and some are not presented from a Christian worldview, but I find them inspirational and encouraging even so. 

5 Favourite Books

Don McNair's Editor-Proof Your Writing

Lynne Truss's Eats Shoots and Leaves

Marcy Kennedy's A Busy Writer's Guide Series

Mignon Fogarty's Grammar Girl

Sarah Ettritch's Self-Publishing for Canadians

5 Favourite Facebook Groups

Create If Writing

Faith-Pump Fridays

InScribe

The Confident Writer

The Light Bearer Community

5 Favourite Sources of Inspiration

Conferences and Workshops (I prefer the in-person variety.)

Jonny Diaz's YouTube Channel (and many other contemporary Christian artist's channels)

Nature (I love taking a walk, camera in hand.)

Pinterest

Well-written TV shows (I love the writing and the fast-paced delivery of the lines on West Wing.)

5 Favourite Podcasts

Kirsten Oliphant

Orna Ross

The Creative Penn

The Phosphorus Project

Truly Social

5 Favourite Websites / Posts

100 Best Websites for Writers 2017

Compel (This is a members only site, but there are a plethora of great information here.)

Lisa Hall-Wilson

Self-Publishing Formula

Writer's Digest

Valuable Writing Resources by Sandi Somers

What are valuable resources you have discovered for your writing? This month our bloggers will tell us about their favourites.

A Noble Theme

“My heart is stirred by a noble theme…my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer (Psalm 45:1 NIV).

When I first planned this topic, I focused on books and magazine articles. However, as I outlined this blog, I began thinking outside the box, and my spirit took wings to new ideas.  I will, however, begin with books and magazines.  

Books on writing: Every so often I need to read books on creativity and writing. My recent forays have included If You Want to Write, by Brenda Ueland.  She wrote that writing is not a waste of time. “…every sentence you write, you have learned something…It has stretched your understanding.” Robert Benson, in his book, Dancing on the Head of a Pen: The Practice of a Writing Life, wrote how he learned to write to a “jury of 12”—writing to twelve strategic people he loved, who would benefit from his books and articles, and who wanted to hear—really hear—what he had to say.

Magazines on writing: My regulars are FellowScript, Writer’s Digest and The Writer. Lots of great ideas!!

Recreational reading books: It has been said that before we're writers, we're readers. Over the years I have absorbed good writing styles, creative plots, creative sentences, uplifting and inspiring ideas.

My Journals: have often given me an effortless  first draft of a devotional or article.

Blogs include: Our InScribe blogs, both group and individual writers’ blogs. Then there’s Anita Matthias’ Dreaming Beneath the Spires blog and FB page https://www.facebook.com/anitamathiaswriter/  and Rochelle Melander’s,Write Now Coach! Blog, packed full of writing ideas and motivational helps: http://writenowcoach.com/blog/

Library and the internet: In pre-internet days I searched the library for my research. Or I phoned the reference librarians who usually found an answer to my questions. Now, however, with several clicks of my keyboard, I can access all the information I want on a topic—and more!

Courses include Marcia Laycock's course on writing devotionals, and courses from Creative Nonfiction https://www.creativenonfiction.org/online-classes.The discipline of regular assignments and expert feedback have helped to grow my skills.

Scripture: Personal time with the Lord has brought meaning and guidance to my life and writing. A useful tool when searching for different translations, commentaries and sermons, and even translations in different languages is the website http://biblehub.com.

The Holy Spirit: I will have more to write about the Holy Spirit's role in next month's blog. But for now, I will say that He inspires me with guidance, ideas and strategies.

Family members, friends and my former students, and InScribe provide unending encouragement and a source for devotionals and essays. 

My travels, artist’s dates and everyday moments round out several of my strategic resources.   

Now over to you. Who are the people, ideas, and sources that inspire you?