Sunday Devotional

“What’s the matter with the dog?”

I looked from the book I was reading to glance at my son. “What?”

“Max.” He pointed. “His tongue is sticking out the side of his mouth.”

I got up to look. Sure enough, Max’s tongue was protruding out from his lips. “Max, let me see.” I bent down and gently pried open his mouth. Large red welts dotted his tongue, the inside of his cheeks, and his gums. “Oh my gosh! Go get your dad.”

While my son complied, I picked Max up and carried him to the kitchen. Once again, he closed his mouth but was unable to control his tongue. It poked out further than before.

“What happened?” my husband asked.

I showed him.

“Looks like he got into some fire ants.”

I rubbed Max’s head. “You think that’s what it is?”

My husband nodded. “His tongue is probably numb. That’s why he’s having trouble controlling it.”

After much consideration, we decided against taking Max to vet, figuring we’d wait to see if the swelling went down on its own. It did, but the whole episode made me pause.

People sometimes have just as much trouble controlling their tongue as Max did on this day, myself included. Why is this such a difficult part of the flesh to conquer? Can it be that we enjoy camouflaging our idle gossip beneath the guise of caring? God understood our weakness and warned against the corruption that can come to us by an unbridled tongue. The choice whether or not to listen is up to us.

James 3:1-12 (New International Version, ©2010)

Taming the Tongue

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

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Winners!!

It's always so much fun to give away great books!! Congratulations to this week's lucky winner:

daniel - The Resurrection by Mike Duran

Daniel, please use the button in the upper right side of this page to email me with your mailing address so I can forward your information to the author. Then, sit back and wait for your book to arrive.

Thank you all so much for stopping by The Borrowed Book and thank you, Mike Duran (via publicist) for your generosity in providing a book!

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Weekly Drawing

Entering our weekly drawing is easy:

1. Leave a comment on Fridays or...

2. Sign up to follow The Borrowed Book. Followers will automatically be entered for a chance to win that week's drawing!

This week, The Borrowed Book is giving away:

The Resurrection by Mike Duran ~ When Ruby Case, an unassuming crippled woman, inexplicably raises a boy from the dead, she creates uproar in the quiet coastal town of Stonetree. Some brand her a witch, others a miracle worker. Yet Reverend Ian Clark could care less. Dogged by demons and immersed in self-pity, Clark is being unwittingly drawn into a secret religious order--one that threatens his very life. But he's about to get a wake-up call.

Together, Ruby and Reverend Clark are thrust into a search for answers... and a collision with unspeakable darkness. For behind the quaint tourist shops and artist colonies lies a history of deceit. And a presence more malignant than anything they can imagine. Yet a battle is brewing, the resurrection is the first volley, and the unlikely duo are the only ones who can save them. But can they overcome their own brokenness in time to stop the evil, or will they be its next victim?

Winners will be announced on Saturday, 02/12/11.

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Conferences for the Christian Writer

Each Thursday I try to bring you some of the latest topics of conversation within the Christian publishing industry. Today the topic is one that should be of importance to anyone who is hoping to sell a manuscript in the future, whether you’re a pre-published or multi-published author.

In the last few years we’ve seen many changes in the industry. Five or six years ago editors were purchasing very few historical romances. Now they’re one of the most sought-after genres in the business. Another change is the emphasis that is put on marketing and mentoring.

How is a writer to keep up with these changes and write what will sell? The answer to that is the same as it is for doctors, lawyers, teachers, and many other occupations who have to incorporate all the advances in their fields—continuing education through workshops and conferences. If you are a writer trying to sell that first manuscript or an established author, writers’ conferences give you the chance to network with others in the industry while you hone your craft.

Now that we’re into the new year, conference schedules are set, and registrations have begun. With all the conferences available across the country, you may wonder how to decide which one is for you. Location may be one factor while registration, hotel, and travel expenses may be another. But don’t worry, there’s still time to make decisions and save the money that will be needed. To help you decide, I thought I’d give you an idea of what choices are available to you in the coming months. Check out the websites of the listed conferences for one which fits your needs.

Florida Christian Writers Conference
March 3-6, 2011
Leesburg, FL

Website blurb: This is your opportunity to learn more about the publishing industry, build your platform and follow God's leading to publish the message he has given you.

Mount Hermon Writers Conference
April 15-19, 2011

Website blurb: For 42 years Mount Hermon has created a one-of-a-kind laboratory for training writers at every skill level, from unpublished to professional, and has become the only place that offers help to writers in every phase of their careers.

Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference
May 9-13, 2011
Lifeway Ridgecrest Conference Center

Website blurb: Whether you are a professional writer expanding your skills and networking contacts, or a brand new writer just beginning to chase your dream, this Christian Writers Conference is the ideal opportunity to take your creative goals to a higher level.

Write His Answer
May 11-14, 2011
Estes Park, CO

Website blurb: Whether you are publishing regularly or not-yet-published, and whether you write fiction or nonfiction for children or adults, CCWC is an investment in your writing ministrythat can open doors and change your life.

Write to Publish
June 8-11, 2011
Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL

Website blurb: Whether you’re thinking about writing, longing to be published, looking for new markets and new ways to market your message, seeking to move from a part-time writer to a full-time writing career, or looking for a writing retreat with editor contacts, this conference is for you.

Kentucky Christian Writers Conference
Elizabethtown, KY
June 24-25, 2011

Website blurb: The purpose of the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference is to provide an annual interdenominational event to equip and encourage writers in their quest for publication.

Oregon Christian Writers
August 15-18, 2011
Turner, Oregon

Website blurb: We are writers from all walks of life – published and unpublished, students and retirees, fiction and non-fiction – with one goal: writing for Him.

American Christian Fiction Writers
St. Louis, Missouri
Sept. 22-25, 2011

Website blurb: "The Premier Christian Fiction Conference"

American Cnristian Writers

Check their website for conferences in 24 cities across the country during 2011.

I hope you find a conference that is the perfect fit for you. Is there something else you'd like to know about any of these conferences? We'll try to help if we can. And for you who attend conferences each year, do you have favorites? Give us some reasons that make certain conferences your favorites.

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Book Spotlight ~ The Resurrection by Mike Duran

In the graveyard, overlooking the city of Stonetree, a petrified oak broods. It’s a monstrous thing, not just because of its size, but because of who was murdered there. When Ruby Case, an unassuming crippled woman, inexplicably raises a boy from the dead, she creates uproar in the quiet coastal town of Stonetree. Some brand her a witch, others a miracle worker. Yet Reverend Ian Clark could care less. Dogged by demons and immersed in self-pity, Clark is being unwittingly drawn into a secret religious order--one that threatens his very life. But he's about to get a wake-up call.

Together, Ruby and Reverend Clark are thrust into a search for answers... and a collision with unspeakable darkness. For behind the quaint tourist shops and artist colonies lies a history of deceit. And a presence more malignant than anything they can imagine. Yet a battle is brewing, the resurrection is the first volley, and the unlikely duo are the only ones who can save them. But can they overcome their own brokenness in time to stop the evil, or will they be its next victim?

About the Author:

Mike Duran was a finalist in Faith in Fiction's inaugural short story contest and was chosen as one of ten authors to be published in Infuze Magazine’s 2005 print anthology. He is author of the short story “En Route to Inferno,” which appeared in Coach’s Midnight Diner: Back from the Dead edition, and received the Editor’s Choice award for his creative nonfiction essay titled “The Ark,” published in the Summer 2.3 Issue of Relief Journal. In between blogs, he also writes a monthly column for Novel Journey and has served as editor on the Midnight Diner’s editorial team. Duran is an ordained minister and lives with his wife of 29 years and four grown children in Southern California.

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Keeping it Real: Crisis of Overcommitment

One of the discoveries you will make as you grow in your writing is learning the way you work best. It's much like those tests they give you in school to determine the career path that best suits your personality and strengths. Some can't handle stress and don't muli-task well, these are the writers who should target writing one or two manuscripts a year. Others focus best and find themselves fresher when they have two or three books going at one time.

There are myriad little details seasoned writers and new authors often don't consider before contractually over-committing themselves. Let's take two little known necessities--edits and galleys--and get a glimpse of how these things can add to the stress level of an overcommitted author.

Edits are the second stage of a contracted manuscript's life. Let's say you have met your deadline for book number one and turned it in. While you are working on your second manuscript, the publisher has copy-editors, and sometimes content-editors, going over your first manuscript and writing a letter for you of proposed changes they want to see. These letters can be two pages, or ten. Oy! To top it off, you have a week to turn them in.

Galleys are the same way. This term refers to the last stage a manuscript goes through before it is printed. These, too, have a tendency to show up out of nowhere and often a short turn-around time is requested of you by the editor. And since it is your last chance to correct errors or typos, it is not the time to get sloppy with your proofing. No pressure.

Add to all this the trials of life and love and you could have more on your plate than you can handle. The key to keeping yourself at peak efficiency is discovering how you work best and knowing what you can handle, then planning accordingly. You want to set a writing schedule that helps you achieve your goals with minimal stress.

Have you ever had a moment when you didn't plan ahead and your creativity was stifled as a result? What kind of writer are you—one book a year or two or three at a time?

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CSG Part One: A Companion for the Journey

Up until 2011, my writing life was sporadic at best. There were times when I would get a burst of energy and inspiration, like last summer when I was on vacation in Oregon and then again in Nevada. But the dream of finishing my novel seemed illusive and undefined. It was a very real hope, but it wasn't easy to put that hope into action.

It still isn't necessarily easy, but in this new year I've discovered a game plan that's been working well so far. Now, before I delve deeper into this topic and share my ideas with you, I want to make a couple of notes:

1. God's timing is not our timing.
2. I'm not yet published.
   

The first note is just a reminder that as much as I'm glad to be on a faster track now (which I also wished for when I was younger), I'm just as glad that I had the time before to just ruminate on ideas, grow up a little, and gain new experiences before diving in to finish my manuscript. Some things can't be rushed! The second note is a reminder that the tips I'm about to share are the tips of an aspiring author--not a published author looking back on success. So, I'm learning along with all of you!

And finally--to the point. ;) I'm going to do a three post series about this game plan I'm implementing. You can just think of it as CSG. Nope, it's not "Constructive Solid Geometry," as Dictionary.com might tell you. This CSG stands for:

Companion
Schedule
Goal

Today we'll talk about the C: Companion.

A few months after I started my personal blog (Seasons of Humility) I met an amazing friend through a comment she left on one of my posts. Ever since then (last summer) she has been a huge encouragement to me--someone who prays for me and my family, sets an inspirational and humble example for me, and someone who is a joy just to talk to through the Internet and letters.

Eventually I asked her if she wouldn't mind reading what I had written for my manuscript and sharing her thoughts with me. She said yes! And then several weeks ago when I came back to school, I started e-mailing her three times a week with new scenes. Her support, feedback, and encouragement have been invaluable to me!

In the past (and even now, to some extent), the idea of a "critique partner" held little appeal. I didn't want someone to read the pages of the story of my heart and tell me all the things that were wrong with them. To be honest, if I chose to share my work with anyone, I wanted them to tell me all the good things about it and leave out the negative aspects.

But having a companion is different than having a critique partner, in my opinion (perhaps in name only, but "companion" does sound much nicer, doesn't it?). I trust my companion. I value her opinion, and I enjoy discussing things with her. She gently points out the errors and shares her thoughts on what she, as a reader, is thinking as the story unfolds.

I'm not at the editing/polishing stage. I'm not ready for line edits or nit-picking. I know that day will come, and perhaps that stage will be more appealing then. ;) But for now, I just need to finish the manuscript. And having a companion such as I have, with patience and a heart of gold, is a gift I'm overwhelmingly grateful for. She is such a wonderful friend!

I highly recommend having a companion to journey with you as you finish your manuscript. But note that the companion you choose must be trustworthy, honest, kind, and internally motivated to be a part of the journey. If you're going to be sharing your work on a regular basis with this person, that person will need to have a heart for the story, as well.

It's a tall order, for sure. But if you can find a companion or two to keep you company, even if only by reading your work on occasion and sharing their thoughts when they can, I think your motivation for writing will be much improved. The more your companion is invested in the story, the more you become invested, as well. Enthusiasm is definitely catching!

Do you have a companion now who is encouraging you as you work on your current manuscript, whether you're published or unpublished? Have you been a companion for someone else? Do you have some inspirational companion stories you can share with us?

(Pictures are from the Pixar website.)

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