Write His Answer

Bearing Fruit

March 14, 2013 by Marlene Bagnull

BEARING FRUIT

A Bible Study Based on John 15:1-5; Colossians 2:7;
Galatians 5:22-23; Jeremiah 17:7-8

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus . . .” (Heb. 12:2 NIV).

LOVE – He “loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20 NIV).
Do I love my readers? Is love my motivating force?
How much of myself do I give them?
What about loving my editors, especially the ones who reject my manuscript?
Loving people who make demands on my time, who take me from my work?

JOY – “For the joy set before him [Jesus] endured the cross . . .” (Heb. 12:2 NIV).
Is my joy dependent on acceptances, praise, success?
Do I rejoice in taking up my cross (Mk. 8:34-35), or look for easier ways to serve the Lord?

PEACE – “‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you’” (Jn. 14:27 NIV). We never see Jesus up-tight even when demands on him were so great that “he couldn’t even find time to eat” (Mk. 3:20 TLB). See Col. 3:15.
Do I have his peace when I’m interrupted?
When I’m facing a deadline or blank sheet of paper?
When doors do not open for my work?

PATIENCE – “Think about his patience as sinful men did such terrible things to him” (Heb. 12:3 TLB); his patience on the night he was betrayed when even his disciples did not yet understand who he was (see Jn. 14:4-11).
Am I learning to wait patiently on the Lord?
How patient am I with editors, family members, myself?

KINDNESS – “Because of his kindness you have been saved” (Eph. 2:8 TLB).
Do people (editors, family, friends) see Christ in me?
Am I gracious?

GOODNESS – “He went around doing good . . .” (Acts 10:38 TLB).
Greek – agathos describes that which “being good in its character . . . is beneficial in its effect.”*
Is my writing benefitting my readers?
How can I “do good” with my writing?

FAITHFULNESS – He has enriched us, gifted us, strengthened us, called us, and is faithful (see 1 Cor. 1:5-9).
Am I being faithful to him?
Am I using the gifts he has given me?

GENTLENESS – “‘I am gentle and humble . . .’” (Mt. 11:29 TLB).
Greek – meekness, prautes: closely linked with humility, a fruit of power not weakness, not fighting against God, the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest.*
Have I argued with the Lord lately?
Am I on an ego trip?

SELF CONTROL – Jesus responded. He did not react. He was always in control of his feelings, words, actions (see Mk. 3).
How much self-control did I exercise the last time something or someone irritated me?
What about my self-discipline?
Do I daily relinquish control of my life to the Lord?

*From Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.

You can download this study as a one-page PDF from http://colorado.writehisanswer.com/writershelps/ as well as other free resources. A new resource is added every Saturday.

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Breaking News

March 2, 2013 by Marlene Bagnull

I received an exciting email from Ted Baehr who is keynoting and teaching a continuing session on “Breakthrough Scriptwriting” at the July 31 – August 3 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.

“Be a part of making Christ’s Voice heard in Hollywood,” Ted writes.”You can change the culture by changing the channel to Hallmark Movie Channel March 6th at 7 pm EST [for the 21st Annual MovieGuide Awards]. . . . We need to show Hollywood that the Christian voice matters, so that they make more faith and family friendly programing.”

Please help not just by tuning in but by spreading the word in church tomorrow and on Facebook, Twitter . . .

Speaking of television, in case you haven’t heard, tomorrow night (Sunday, March 3), THE BIBLE, an epic 5-week, 10-hour mini-series, will premiere on the History Channel (8 pm EST). The final episode will air on Easter Sunday and will feature the death and resurrection of Jesus. To help insure accuracy, many Christian scholars served as advisors and hundreds of Christian leaders have given their endorsement. Again, it’s critically important that we spread the word, tune to the History Channel, send a thank you to the channel (and sponsors), and most of all PRAY.

More news – my good friend Dan Wooding who keynoted at the 2011 GPCWC and the 2012 Colorado Christian Writers Conference emailed that he is “very close to receiving a matching grant from a Christian foundation that said they would give ASSIST a grant of $5,000 to be used to help us continue with our media ministry, if we can raise enough funds to match this figure. This means that a gift of any amount, large or small, that is given will be doubled in value, which would be a wonderful help for us with our funds still extremely low at this time. . . . This is a wonderful way to assist ASSIST, which, by the way, stands for Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times.”

I believe ASSIST News provides a critically important ministry by keeping subscribers informed (there is no charge) of the needs of our brothers and sisters around the world who are refusing to deny their faith in Christ despite persecution. To use ASSIST’s secure site to designate your gift for “Where Needed Most”, please go to http://www.assistnews.net/assist/donations.htm. Or you can mail a check with “Matching Grant” in the memo field to ASSIST, PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609, USA. Gifts are tax-deductible. Please pray about helping.

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Our Christian witness, Persecution of Christians | 1 Comment »

Trusting Him!

February 28, 2013 by Marlene Bagnull

Yesterday was one of those days when the process of planning two conferences seemed more than overwhelming and I found myself (yes, I was lost!) telling the Lord, “I can’t.” (I never tell Him “I won’t.”) Of course, as always, Father just wanted me to “keep on asking.” He had led me to Matthew 7:7 that morning, and I had just reposted that verse on the Colorado and Philly conference Facebook pages. You know – one of those cut and pastes where you really don’t read the copy.

Then, at the same time, Raena Rood posted an excerpt from my book, Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers.

If a crisis of confidence is holding you back
from the work you know you have been called to do,
it’s time to acknowledge that it’s not self-confidence you need
but God-confidence.
It’s time to learn what it means
“to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power,
instead of showing off [your] own power and abilities” (2 Cor. 12:9 TLB).

Don’t you love it when Father gets your attention and speaks to you through His Word, the words of others, or even your own words! He knows. He cares. He is with me, and He is with you. And so this morning I’m choosing to re“Commit everything . . . to the Lord. [I will] trust him to help [me] do it, and he will” (Psalm 37:5 TLB). The CEV reads,” Let the LORD lead you [I will let the Lord lead me] and trust him to help.” Amen!

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, God's promises, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Overcoming self-doubts | 1 Comment »

Interview with Gayle Roper – Part 2

February 22, 2013 by Marlene Bagnull

More great questions from Donna Brennan and thoughtful answers from Gayle Roper. Thank you both!

Q: Getting published can seem like an impossible dream for so many of us. Even if we’ve been published before, that doesn’t guarantee we’ll get published again. Do you have any advice for those of us just starting out or hitting a roadblock?

Getting published has always been a challenge and staying published is just as bad. With today’s economy and its effects on the publishing industry, things are definitely dicey for new writers. On one hand publishers always want new, strong talent. One the other, the slots for this new talent are very limited. Certainly writing the best story ever is crucial but not a guarantee of publication. Self-publishing and e-publishing are options, but they are no guarantee of readers. Also such books are rarely picked up by traditional publishers unless they sell huge numbers. But since true writers can’t not write, we soldier on, honing our craft and attending writers conferences like Colorado CWC where we meet and talk face to face with agents and editors and freelancers, all of whom want to help the new writer achieve her dream.

Q: How important a role should faith or Scripture play in our books? How can we add a strong faith element without sounding like a Sunday sermon?

For many of us as Christians, writing an overt faith message is one of the reasons we write. But we can never forget that every story can only contain the weight of one major spiritual truth, and it’s not always the telling of the Gospel. And that’s okay. It’s the body of a writer’s work that shows the full picture of her faith. It’s in trying to stuff in too much that doesn’t really fit this particular story that we get the sermon-y feeling that always makes our shoulders itch as we read it. My feeling is that less is usually more. Writing spiritual content happens or should happen in much the same way writing touchy topics happens—through the hearts and mouths of the characters.

Q: I’m sure you enjoy writing, or you wouldn’t have written so many fiction and nonfiction books. But does it ever seem easy? Did writing certain books hold special challenges for you?

I do not find writing easy. Getting every word down on the page is work for me. But I love rewriting. That’s the fun part. There I get to enrich my characters, beef up the plot, choose better words, add humor—all the fun parts of making a book. So I agonize through the writing so I can get to the rewriting. And there’s nothing else I want to do in spite of the blood, sweat, toil, and tears. (Told you I was reading a WW II book.)

Q: Do you remember the first story you ever sold? What encouraged you to write it? What encouraged you to submit it?

The first thing I sold was a short story based on what had happened at the junior high where I had taught. I sold it to Young Ambassador, a long defunct teen magazine, for $10. I think I wrote it as a young mom at home with a baby because I was bored and wanted something to occupy my mind. I figured I’d submit it because why write it if no one read it?

Q: More and more these days, publishers expect authors to be involved in promoting their own books. But many of us have a strong aversion to self-promotion. Do you have any advice to offer for those who struggle in this area?

Self-promotion isn’t quite the big deal for novelists it is for non-fiction writers. I suggest picking a social network you’re comfortable with and establishing yourself there. Don’t promote yourself as much as become a person. Every so often you can mention writing and writing-related things, but mention what you did today, what stupid thing you or your kids said, where you went—things like this. Also look at your life and find a couple of things that are interesting, something that may not even be related to your novel, things an interviewer might find interesting (they tend to think novelists are bad interviews because they can’t talk about anything but the book—so not true). For example I’ve used my kids’ adoption and my one son’s meeting with his biological family. I also suggest that you come up with ten questions (and answers) about your book that a host could use to conduct an interview. That way you can talk about the theme of your book or the spiritual truth or the hard issue and all the knowledge you have beyond what fit in the book. Think about it ahead of time, but don’t worry about it. And don’t ask established writers to endorse your work before you have a contract and a manuscript.

I hope all this helps, and I look forward to meeting many of you in Colorado in a few months!

Gayle will be teaching a continuing session on “Fiction for Women.” Since women are the biggest readers of story, Fiction for Women means any kind of fiction out there. We’ll talk about the mechanics of fiction: character, plot, setting, theme – all the usual stuff. We’ll also talk about what makes story resonate with readers, how to build that emotional tension, and what makes women buy into a story world so she never quite forgets your work.

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Marketing, Platform building, Publishing journey, Writing Fiction | Leave a Comment »

Don’t Panic!

February 19, 2013 by Marlene Bagnull

“Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you” (Isa. 41:10 MSG).

Don’t panic. I’m not, at least not yet. In fact, I feel surprisingly calm. Or is it sadness – numbness – at the doctor’s words yesterday? My knees are “worn out.” He compared them to bald tires and said both knees need to be replaced.

I’m with you. Thank you, Father, for the assurance that You are with me. I remember the first words I felt You speak to me many years ago. “Child, I never said it would be easy to follow Me, but I have promised always to be with you.”

There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. Father, You know the struggle I’ve had with fear and the hard won victories of learning to trust You in other areas of my life and ministry. Help me to embrace this new challenge – to embrace You.

I’ll give you strength. Thank You for Your promise that You give “power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak” (Isa. 40:29 TLB). I don’t think it’s a stretch to believe that includes tired and worn out and weak knees. 🙂

I’ll help you. Thank You for a good doctor and for the gel treatments that I’m trusting will get me through this year’s conferences and give me time to lose more weight (so important) before surgery this fall. Thank You for the “God-incident” (not “coincidence”) of using the Facebook posts I’ve resisted writing to connect me with Julie Morris and her Guided By Him weight-loss program. I can feel You smiling, Father.

I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. Thank You, Father!

What challenge(s) are you facing? Will you trust Him, too?

Posted in God's promises, Pondering Biblical Truth | 5 Comments »

Interview with Gayle Roper – Fiction for Women

February 15, 2013 by Marlene Bagnull

Gayle Roper is a multi-award winning author and a popular conference presenter. Among the honors she has won are a RITA, a CAROL, three Holt Medallions, two Inspirational Readers Choice Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and she has finaled three times for a Christy. Gayle has won special recognition from numerous writers conferences for her work in training Christian writers. In addition to teaching at writers conferences, she speaks at women’s events across the nation and loves sharing the powerful truths of Scripture with humor and practicality. She is also one of my personal favorite writing teachers. Gayle will be teaching a continuing session at the May 15-18 Colorado Christian Writers Conference on “Fiction for Women.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Q: How does “fiction for women” differ from other fiction? Don’t women have a wide and diverse interest in books? Is there anything special we need to take into consideration when targeting the women’s market?

Yes, women read everything from romance to speculative fiction and all genres in between. We LOVE story in its many forms. We love rich characters and strong plots and most of us like happy and satisfying endings (probably because real life is often hard and beyond our control). We all like to read about strong women who face their problems with grit and who grow as they resolve whatever issues they face. The thing I love about fiction is that it models life for us as readers. We see what happens when choices are made, both good and bad, and we can learn how to avoid the pitfalls and make the good choices from reading what happens to fictional characters. Don’t tell my non-fiction writing and reading friends, but I think fiction does its teaching with more style than non-fiction with its pointed words of wisdom.

Q: I’ve met characters in your books who struggle with hardships created by their own choices, or have a tough time recovering from one or more of life’s unexpected interruptions. Their behavior provides rich insight into their personality and makes them seem real. Will you help us find ways to add the same kind of depth to our characters?

We’re going to look at specific things we can do to make our characters as alive as the women down the street or those who work with us. Personality, problems, pressures, traits, quirks, warps, gifts, talents—all these work together to make real people, and we’ll work to use these same qualities to create our fictional people.

Q: How can we integrate tough issues (unwed pregnancies, spousal abuse, etc.) into our stories without making it sound preachy? Will you show us examples of this in class?

Today we can write about any topic we choose—as long as all the information, actions, thoughts and reactions come out of the characters, not the author. Once the author inserts herself into the issue at hand, she’s killed the authenticity of the discussion. To talk about any hard topic in a novel means all sides of the issue, even the sides the author doesn’t agree with, have to be aired through the various characters. I’m reading a WW II story now in which IRA sympathizers present their reasons for hating the British and blowing up innocent people as passionately as the British authorities present theirs for bringing down the terrorists. Both sides are organic to the story.

*************

Thanks Gayle and Donna. Watch for Part 2 next week.

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Writing Fiction | Leave a Comment »

Registration Open for Colorado Christian Writers Conference

February 9, 2013 by Marlene Bagnull

Eat the elephant a bite at a time . . . You’ve heard the expression I’m sure and, no doubt, have faced your share of “elephants.”

Even though I’ve been directing the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference since 1983 and the Colorado conference since 1997, each year, when I begin the planning process, it feels like an elephant takes up residence in my home office and threatens to squeeze everything else out of my life. Deadlines (I used to think they were exciting) constantly loom. I confess I haven’t always handled well the resulting stress and even panic.

But God . . . How I rejoice for all He is patiently teaching me, for the team He has brought alongside, and for His peace that really is beyond understanding. I am choosing to “Seek the Lord; yes, seek his strength. And seek his face untiringly” (1 Chron. 16:11 TLB). I know His promises can be depended upon, “For the Scriptures tell us that no one who believes in Christ will ever be disappointed” (Rom. 10:11 TLB).

I’m praising the Lord that the brochure for the May 15-18 Colorado conference is at the printer and for the additional 5% discount I wouldn’t have received if it had been done a week ago as I had planned. If I have your current USPS address, you can expect to receive it around February 22. But you don’t have to wait! The brochure is online at http://colorado.writehisanswer.com/brochure/.

Secure online registration opens on Monday, February 11, but you can download and print the registration form on page 15 of the brochure. Registrations postmarked today, Saturday, February 9, will be numbered ahead of those I receive online on Monday giving you a better opportunity to be among the first seven to register who will receive a free copy of my book, Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers.

I am more excited about this year’s conference than any other. Father’s leading and enabling is so evident. I know He is going to meet us on the mountain. I hope to see you there!

Joyfully serving the Lord – Marlene

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, God's promises | Leave a Comment »

Balance

February 2, 2013 by Marlene Bagnull

Balance! I’ve spent days choosing 61 workshops from more than 150 possibilities for the May 15-18 Colorado Christian Writers Conference. It’s not easy to find the right balance so there is something for everyone (beginners/advanced, men/women, teens/adults) in each workshop track and time slot. As always I’ve relied on the Lord to show me what to move and where.

Allowing Him to bring balance to my life is harder. The pressure of needing to open registration and to move on to the next thing on my to-do list tempted me to skip swimming yesterday. It’s not just something I enjoy doing; it’s something I need to do for my arthritic knees. Too many hours in front of a computer vs. little or no time exercising has added on pounds that I now must take off. (PTL I have lost 17 pounds in the last 2-1/2 months!)

Father will not abuse me like I have abused myself. He wants to “chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest” (Psa. 139:3 TLB). He will do the same for you. Will you – will I – let Him?

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, God's promises, Writer's Life | 2 Comments »

Peace in the midst of to-do lists

February 1, 2013 by Marlene Bagnull

Another conference nightmare! This time the copier kept jamming as I was racing the clock to get everything ready in time.

The pressure of needing to pack more into a day than is realistic is a way of life for most everyone today. To-do lists grow longer rather than shorter. Deadlines loom, and we don’t always meet them. Beating ourselves up doesn’t help. Neither does working harder, working faster.

“Peace; My peace,” the Lord speaks to my spirit early this morning. Opening my Bible, He reminds me of His Word to me and to you in Colossians 3:15 (TLB). “Let the peace of heart that comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. And always be thankful.”

Even though I can’t meet my self-imposed February 1 deadline for opening online registration for the May 15-18 Colorado Christian Writers Conference, I can be and I am thankful. I’m thankful for the faculty God has provided – four, possibly five agents; editors and representatives from 12 book publishers and 26 periodicals; and authors like Gayle Roper, Bill Myers, and Ken Gire who could opt to stay home and work on their next award-winning book.

I’m thankful for the program that is now in place – the keynotes and a new opportunity Thursday night for conferees to share what the Lord has taught them and how He is using their book to give glory to Him. I’m thankful for exciting continuing sessions, the great workshop choices the faculty gave me, the clinics, and the panels. I see countless ways Father’s hand is again on this year’s CCWC. And I know He will “see to it that everything is finished correctly” (1 Chron. 28:20 TLB).

There is still a lot to be added to www.writehisanswer.com/Colorado. The site is not yet proofread so please don’t judge the professionalism of the conference by the errors I’ve made that have not yet been corrected. I’ll be posting the grid of workshops later today and, I trust, opening online registration next Wednesday, February 6. Thanks to SKWD Associates we have a new, streamlined registration process. The team at SKWD is a huge answer to my many prayers last year for a website I could manage without HTML. They’ll be at CCWC teaching a workshop on “Effective, Efficient, Engaging Websites.”

I hope you’ll “like” the conference Facebook page that will keep you abreast of what’s happening and when registration is open. The first seven to register will receive a free copy of my book, Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers. (If you already have it, you can pass it on to a friend and encourage them to come to the conference with you.) The sooner you register the better opportunity you have to receive your top appointment requests. The first 75 to register for all three days will receive a free FIFTH appointment.

Yes, Father, I am so very thankful for all You are doing and will do. I thank You for Your peace that passes understanding and for the privilege of serving You. In the midst of the time pressures we all will face today help us to look to You, to rest in You, and to know that You are never too late with the help we need.

P.S. Planning of the July 31-August 3 Greater Philly ChristianWriters Conference is also moving ahead. There are presently around 50 on faculty although they have not yet all been added to the website.

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, God's promises | 3 Comments »

Overcoming Procrastination

January 9, 2013 by Marlene Bagnull

Procrastination is a sin;
it brings me endless sorrow.
I know I should stop doing it.
I think I’ll start tomorrow!

No doubt you’ve seen this poem or something similar. I checked the Internet to attribute it and found 4,390 entries! Obviously procrastination is a hot topic that, like the old game of hot potato, we quickly toss (pass the blame) to someone or something else. Really, isn’t it easier to blame someone else for causing us to procrastinate or to move to another task to avoid doing the thing(s) we know we need to do?

While no one is immune from procrastination, I think writers are especially prone. I’m not pointing an accusing finger at you – I’m pointing it at myself. Despite the chapter on “Overcoming Procrastination” that I wrote for my book, Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers, I struggle with procrastination as much or perhaps more than others. How else could I have written that chapter? I’m an expert! If you’re curious about what I’m learning (but sadly not always applying), click here to read the chapter online.

I especially struggle with procrastination when it comes to planning the Colorado and Greater Philly Christian Writers Conferences. I know Father has entrusted these conferences to me. Watching Him work and do Ephesians 3:20 things each year (it’s now 31 years for Philly and 17 for Colorado) is one of my greatest joys. It’s just the getting started that’s hard. Well, okay, the entire process is hard! I know I’ll face computer challenges and overwhelming to-do lists and time pressures that will stretch me far beyond my abilities, my limited IQ (it’s amazing how stupid my computer can make me feel), my wisdom, my strength . . .

And that’s the problem! I procrastinate when I focus on me – on my self-doubts and feelings of inadequacy rather than trusting the Lord to enable me to do what I can never do on my own. Although the world says dependency on anyone or anything but ourselves is weakness, like the apostle Paul I’d rather embrace my weaknesses knowing that “when I am weak, then I am strong – the less I have, the more I depend on him” (2 Cor. 12:10 TLB). God-confidence is far better than self-confidence!

Will you ask the Lord what He wants you to do – to write – this year? And will you then commit to do it in His strength and for His glory?

P.S. The website for the May 14-17 Colorado Christian Writers Conference is now updated with the 2014 faculty and continuing sessions. Lots more info coming soon. The website for the July 30-August 2 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference still has 2013 info but I can tell you that Cec Muphey will be on faculty. I hope you’ll visit again, pass the URL on to friends, and save the date! There’s still lots of work to do but as Aristotle said, “Well begun is half done.” I’m excited and hope you will be too.

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Overcoming distractions, Overcoming self-doubts, Publishing journey, Uncategorized | 6 Comments »

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