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by swfdoc1
Sun Sep 04, 2016 11:46 pm
Forum: Contests, Writing Tips, Tools, and Freelance Opportunities
Topic: Smashing Writer's Block
Replies: 13
Views: 18789

Re: Smashing Writer's Block

I second Jan’s comment about walking. There is an incredible amount of scientific data on the link between walking and increase in creativity. Furthermore, walking outside is much better than walking inside (say on a treadmill). Probably even more significant is the difference between walking in nat...
by swfdoc1
Sat Apr 09, 2016 10:32 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Writing Biblical Fiction
Replies: 19
Views: 23176

Re: Writing Biblical Fiction

Deb, There are multiple versions of the Star Over Bethlehem book with slightly different titles. The original version had 5 poems and 6 short stories. Now it usually comes bound together with all the poems that original appeared in her book Poems, which I think is the version I linked to. Randy has ...
by swfdoc1
Thu Apr 07, 2016 11:20 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Writing Biblical Fiction
Replies: 19
Views: 23176

Re: Writing Biblical Fiction

I see some folks have a bit of “fear and trembling” about some of Jan’s 7 categories. Maybe people have just had that in the past and will now try out those categories with Jan’s encouragement. Not sure. Obviously, if you write a story in which Jesus is not really God, just a man whose disciples cre...
by swfdoc1
Mon Feb 08, 2016 9:21 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: CREATIVE NONFICTION
Replies: 7
Views: 9335

Re: CREATIVE NONFICTION

glorybee wrote:
Ooh, did I imply that creative nonfiction has to be in first person? I hope not.
No, you didn't imply that. It's just that it is so rare to see (or to want to see) second person, that I was prompted to comment when you mentioned travelogue.
by swfdoc1
Mon Feb 08, 2016 7:59 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: CREATIVE NONFICTION
Replies: 7
Views: 9335

Re: CREATIVE NONFICTION

Interesting that you mention travelogues. There is a tradition in travelogues that goes back—no kidding—thousands of years, and that is still widely practiced, of writing them in second person present: “As you mount the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, you are overcome with a sense of presence, of the...
by swfdoc1
Wed Jan 06, 2016 8:57 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--CAPITALIZING PRONOUNS FOR GOD
Replies: 22
Views: 30595

Re: Be a Better Writer--CAPITALIZING PRONOUNS FOR GOD

The judges will NOT reward or penalize either choice that a writer might make--capitalizing or not capitalizing. Please rest your mind in that regard. My primary purpose in writing this lesson was to familiarize writers with guidelines that some publishers might have, and not to cause a crisis of c...
by swfdoc1
Mon Sep 28, 2015 10:41 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--CAPITALIZING PRONOUNS FOR GOD
Replies: 22
Views: 30595

Re: Be a Better Writer--CAPITALIZING PRONOUNS FOR GOD

glorybee wrote:Those folks don't sing much. I think that's another part of church culture that's still pretty foreign to them.
:)
by swfdoc1
Mon Sep 28, 2015 8:27 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--CAPITALIZING PRONOUNS FOR GOD
Replies: 22
Views: 30595

Re: Be a Better Writer--CAPITALIZING PRONOUNS FOR GOD

I think if I were ever persuaded that such concerns were real, I would want to make sure they were not an issue. But I've never seen these things be a problem in any church or in any one-on-one interactions. And that includes the church we helped plant that started with a bunch of unchurched folks. ...
by swfdoc1
Mon Sep 28, 2015 1:24 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--CAPITALIZING PRONOUNS FOR GOD
Replies: 22
Views: 30595

Re: Be a Better Writer--CAPITALIZING PRONOUNS FOR GOD

Let me start by saying—in memory of Yogi Berra—this feels like de ja vu all over again. I’m pretty sure you and I and others have engaged in this debate on these forums before. I’m glad you specifically requested responses that disagree with your position. I strongly DISAGREE with your basic premise...
by swfdoc1
Wed Sep 23, 2015 12:24 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--NONFICTION AND RESEARCH
Replies: 14
Views: 15962

Re: Be a Better Writer--NONFICTION AND RESEARCH

Jan, I hope it’s OK to post this directly. Cat, One way to think about this in terms of the “common knowledge rule.” Unless an idea (or a fact, for that matter) is “common knowledge,” you must cite SOMETHING in support of it. Now, there may be any number of sources in which you can find that fact or...
by swfdoc1
Tue Aug 18, 2015 7:32 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--VOICE (PART 1)
Replies: 11
Views: 13813

Re: Be a Better Writer--VOICE (PART 1)

I actually meant to put this in the last lesson on voice and may copy it there later.

As far as not changing the dialogue, I only meant that for the purposes of my suggested exercise--just to force folks to change the voice of the whole piece not just voice of the characters.
by swfdoc1
Tue Aug 18, 2015 12:02 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--VOICE (PART 1)
Replies: 11
Views: 13813

Re: Be a Better Writer--VOICE (PART 1)

Here’s my down-and-dirty take on all Jan’s lessons on voice. It seems to me that some of what people are posting represents different CHARACTERS’ “voices” (really verbal idiosyncrasies, which is a tool of characterization), not different AUTHORS’ voices. Admittedly it can be hard to pretend to be se...
by swfdoc1
Thu Jun 11, 2015 9:36 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be A Better Writer -- FREE FOR ALL
Replies: 26
Views: 24377

Re: Be A Better Writer -- FREE FOR ALL

Regarding jargon, I think precise terminology constitutes more than jargon. Knowing the correct terms makes it much easier to google aspects of grammar and punctuation. Also, it is much easier to discuss grammar and punctuation when there are generally agreed upon terms. I think "jargon" ...
by swfdoc1
Wed Jun 10, 2015 11:23 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be A Better Writer -- FREE FOR ALL
Replies: 26
Views: 24377

Re: Be A Better Writer -- FREE FOR ALL

You are right about the punctuation; but it looks so odd, I would re-write it according one of my suggestions or some other way. Even then, removing the comma before “as” will look and feel odd to many people. If I were editing this in someone else’s writing, I would probably leave it, unless I were...
by swfdoc1
Tue Jun 09, 2015 8:15 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be A Better Writer -- FREE FOR ALL
Replies: 26
Views: 24377

Re: Be A Better Writer -- FREE FOR ALL

My opinion: Yes, a comma after "full." Remove the comma before "as." Explanation: "Yet" before "his" and "and" before "I" are both standard (so-called FANBOYS) coordinating conjunctions. Combined with their commas, they are connecting indep...

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