Writer – Editor – Blogger
Book Reviews
Reviews of books usually recommended for beginning writers in the Christian market.
Book Review: Teach Yourself Grammar and Style
Jul 20th
Full title: Macmillan Teach Yourself Grammar and Style in 24 Hours, by Pamela Rice Hahn and Dennis E. Hensley, Ph.D., published by Pearson Education Macmillan USA, 2000.
Have you wanted to attend a writers’ conference but couldn’t afford it? Have you considered online courses but passed on them for the same reason? Consider getting a copy of this book, and give yourself a thorough workshop on the basics of writing. Although the title may intimidate you, the book is not boring and pedantic. It’s designed for anyone needing a review of grammar basics, but it also targets those who need to improve their writing.
You may be wondering what’s the difference between grammar and style. The first sentence in the first chapter explains, “Grammar is the study of sentence structure and the rules that govern it.” “Style” means “a distinctive manner of expression,” according to Merriam Webster. The first 12 chapters give you grounding in grammar, while the rest of the book helps you develop your style.
The title says you can accomplish your study in 24 hours. Sounds amazing? Well, you won’t be able to do it overnight, unless you just don’t sleep at all. Each chapter is constructed so that you can study and absorb the material in one hour. Then you take the multiple-choice test. If you do one chapter a day, you can finish in 24 days. Do two chapters a day and be done in 12 days. Maybe it’s not “quick and easy,” but it is effective.
The book offers several appendices with tables, resources, lists, and a detailed index. If you’re a published writer or one who wants to get work published, this book will be a good refresher course. It’s available both new and used on Amazon.
Preview the book on Google books.
Book Review: Creativity and Divine Surprise
Apr 5th
Subtitle: Finding the Place of Your Resurrection. Author: Karla M. Kincannon. Published by Upper Room Books, 2005.
Author Kincannon makes the most of her roles as artist and United Methodist minister in this wonderful “tour” of the creative process. Written for artists, the principles apply equally to writers. The chapters are organized to take you from the beginning of the creative process all the way to the end, giving instruction and encouragement all along the way.
Because the Amazon listing does not have the “look inside” feature, I’ll share the table of contents with you. Chapters are: Invitation, Encounter, Preparation, Frustration, Incubation, Illumination, and Elaboration. Organized as a study book, each chapter begins with an inspirational quote and ends with an exercise. If you are a writer instead of an artist, you can do the exercises with a journal, pen, colored markers, and some type of art paper. I confess that I read the book, but I have yet to do the exercises.
At times I felt that Kincannon was talking directly to me. She identified all the things that keep me from being creative. She addresses the feelings of inadequacy and even incompetence that all artists feel now and then. Her discussion of perfectionism hit home for me. She pointed out that perfectionists “need a reaction from others to form their identity.” She said each new inspiration we receive is a gift from God, an invitation to a “new life of creativity in partnership with God.” The creative process is a reflection of life itself—birth, struggle, death, rebirth.
Being an artist/writer is not easy—but you knew that. Get this book and study through it, letting the lessons help you organize your thoughts. Soak up the encouragement that each pages offers. It’s well worth the time and effort.
Check it out on Amazon: Creativity and Divine Surprise: Finding the Place of Your Resurrection
Post script: Check out my Store page where you’ll find my work for sale as well as Donna Goodrich’s A Step in the Write Direction for sale.
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Book Review: A Step in the Write Direction
Feb 20th
Do you wish you could find one resource that would walk you through the process of getting your writing published? Well, Donna Clark Goodrich has done every beginning writer a favor by filling that need. The subtitle of the book is “The Complete How-to Book for Christian Writers.”
Oh, there are other “how-to-get-published” books for the Christian market out there. It’s just that most of them are out of date. Donna includes an FAQ section in the introductory section of the book. For each question, she lists the page number where the answer is found. There are a number of appendices that include how-to information on everything from Word shortcuts to how to form a writers’ group. More >
Elements of Style: Strunk & White
Jan 1st
This little book has been recommended to me by numerous writers and editors since I began writing for publication in 1999. Since it has been around for a long time, there are several editions, my copy being the Third Edition. The 50th anniversary edition was published in 2008 and is available at retailers.
In the beginning, the book was developed by William Strunk, Jr., as a teaching aid in college classes at Cornell University. E. B. White was a student of Strunk, and, in 1957, he was asked to revise the book for publication after Strunk’s death. More >
Writing with Banana Peels by Jim Watkins
Sep 28th
Odd title, you say? Well, the book is about writing humor, and it’s by one of the funniest guys I know, James N. (Jim) Watkins, author, conference speaker, editor, humorist, and threat to society (by his own admission). If you have attended a Christian writers’ conference in recent memory, you may have encountered Jim as a faculty member. Just in case you’ve never heard of him, check out his Web site at www.jameswatkins.com.
The subtitle tells you what the book is about: Principles, Practices, and Pratfalls of Writing Humor. It’s a humor course in one volume. Each chapter contains instruction and examples of Jim’s humor to get your funny bone in shape for writing your own humor.
Get the book for your writer’s how-to library. I promise you will be educated as well as amused. Banana is available on Jim’s Web site at http://www.jameswatkins.com/bananas.htm.
Read Romans 7:14-25
Key Verse: What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary. Romans 7: 15-16 (The Message).
Our town recently installed traffic cameras at certain intersections to catch people running the red lights. At first glance, one might think that we have lazy policemen or town coffers that need additional revenue. When I read the newspaper article about it, I found that accident statistics showed a high incidence of crashes at these locations. And, the mishaps were usually caused by people running the red light. We know the traffic laws, but we break them all the time.
We know God’s laws, too. We have the Ten Commandments on which our American legal system is based. And, Jesus taught the Greatest Commandment, loving God and loving our neighbor. But, we ignore or intentionally break those laws regularly. Imagine what our world would be like without God’s laws, though. Total chaos. Every man for himself. We need guidelines for living because we just can’t seem to do the right thing on our own.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us your law as a guide for living. Forgive us when we fail to follow, and help us to do better in the future. Amen.
Writing for the Soul
Jul 28th
Probably the most recognized name in Christian publishing is that of Jerry B. Jenkins, author of the Left Behind series and owner of Christian Writers Guild. Although Writing for the Soul was published in 2006, its popularity has not waned. It’s still recommended for beginning writers and published writers alike. Writer’s Digest offers an online course using Writing for the Soul as the textbook. Check it out here.
Because the book has been so popular, reviews are all over the Internet, with twenty on Amazon.com alone. I only add my humble opinion because I think this book is destined to become a classic and because Jenkins has used his fame to become a source of encouragement to other writers.
Jenkins shares his personal writing journey along with plenty of practical, how-to information. He includes anecdotes of his experiences working with famous people like Rev. Billy Graham and several Q & A sections using questions asked of him by others.
Jenkins wants all writers to know that writing is not easy, but it’s worth the effort. Success doesn’t happen overnight, but he encourages you to persist. And, perhaps the most important advice: “Big doors turn on small hinges.” Some of his greatest “breaks” came from small opportunities that came his way. He encourages you to be ready for such happenings in your writing journey.
Writers on Writing
Jun 29th
Full title – Writers on Writing: Top Christian Authors Share Their Secrets for Getting Published. Editor, James N. (Jim) Watkins.
If you total up the number of years’ experience represented by the list of contributors to this book, how many do you think it would be? I’m just guessing that, between Dennis Hensley, Cecil Murphey, Sally Stuart, Jerry Jenkins, and editor Jim Watkins, you’d have at least a couple hundred years. It says a lot for these successful writers that they would take time to contribute to a book specifically aimed at helping beginning writers. For me, the preface by Watkins is worth the price of the book.
The book covers every aspect of writing from inspiration to working with an agent and developing a platform. It’s organized in three parts: The Writer, The Craft, and The Business. If you’re a writer who has had no luck getting published, this book is for you. You’ll find plenty of ideas, and you’ll want to read it again periodically as you grow in your craft.
The book is available from Wesleyan Publishing House. Click here.
Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams by Terry Whalin
Jun 17th
When you want to learn how to do something, you want to learn from someone with experience and expertise in the field, right? Well, if you want to know how to get your writing published, I can think of no one more knowledgeable and experienced than Terry Whalin, author of Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams: Insider Secrets to SKYROCKET Your Success.
Terry is a professional writer/journalist who has also been an acquisitions editor and a literary agent. He has written over 60 books, and his articles have appeared in more than 50 magazines. He has recently joined Intermedia Publishing as Vice President and Publisher.
Jumpstart is a writers’ conference in one volume. Whalin provides a complete overview of how the publishing industry works these days. Because so many beginning writers don’t understand the business from the publisher’s point of view, he gives details on book sales to help writers understand why publishers are hesitant to take a chance on a “newbie.”
New writers, if you want a shortcut to getting your work published, you need to read this book carefully and understand that this man knows what he’s talking about.
Published writers, things have changed in the publishing industry in recent years. Maybe it’s time to take a fresh look at how your work fits into today’s publishing scene. Terry’s book can help you do that.
It will be the best money you’ve spent lately. Get more details and/or buy the book here.
Communicate to Change Lives by James Watkins
Jun 17th
At Kentucky Christian Writers Conference 2007, I purchased Communicate to Change Lives in Person and in Print by James N. (Jim Watkins). It’s a great resource for speakers and for writers who want to publish their work in the Christian market. It’s also an excellent read for published writers who just need to recharge their creative batteries.
It’s like a writer’s workshop and a motivational speech in one volume. Watkins covers all the basics of good communication whether written or spoken. He educates, but he also entertains with his own special brand of humor. I highly recommend it to all who would communicate more effectively. In fact, if you are a Christian writer and if you only buy one book this year, buy this one.
The book is available through Wesleyan Publishing House at http://www.parable.com/wph/item_9780898273588.htm.
Watkins is a popular speaker at writers conferences. He’s also an editor, a writer, and an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church. Oh, I forgot he’s also a threat to society, according to his Web site.
The Time of Your Life by Mark Porter
Jun 13th
Subtitle: How to Accomplish All that God Wants You to Do. Because this book was published in 1988, many people would pass it by. But, don’t do that! You’ll miss a wonderful study of time management from the Christian perspective
Also, if you came to this blog because you are a writer looking for resources to advance your career, you might be wondering why this book is featured here. It’s because I found it very helpful to me in managing my time as as a freelance Christian writer.
A chemical engineer and teaching elder in his church, Porter was a busy man. He was caught up in what he called the “scurry syndrome,” running from one thing to another without thinking about which activities were important and which were merely urgent. This doesn’t sound new to us today, because others have picked up on it. Many things that are urgent are not necessarily important.
Porter takes the reader through a study of how to turn mere activity into accomplishment. In fact, the book is designed to be used in a 13-week study. There’s mention of a study guide, but I have not found it anywhere.
Porter covers goals, priorities, spiritual gifts, analysis of current time usage, identifying time wasters, and planning. All is presented from a sound Biblical basis, making this book a valuable resource for the Christian writer.
This book is available for sale at ECS Ministries. I’ve searched Half.com with no luck, but I did find it on www.abebooks.com.
