Bible Prayers, Poems, and Promises: Promising the Kingdom of God

Bible Prayers, Poems, and Promises: Promising the Kingdom of God

[Note from Mary: Reading Jesus’ parables in today’s Gospel of Luke, something like haiku happened.]

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Bible Prayers, Poems, and Promises: Lifting hands in prayer

Bible Prayers, Poems, and Promises: Lifting hands in prayer

This prayer-a-phrased poem from the Apostle Paul's first letter to Timothy provides a pattern for prayer.

How to Know God's Will (& 3 Warning Signs) - Missional Women

How to Know God's Will (& 3 Warning Signs) - Missional Women

[Note from Mary: This message speaks to our lives in Christ but also to our work as Christian Poets and Writers who want God to guide our writing and all that we have been given to do in Jesus' Name.]

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Filter Your Assumptions | Pure Purpose

Filter Your Assumptions | Pure Purpose by Susan Lawrence

What is Christian Fiction? | TIARAS & TENNIS SHOES!

What is Christian Fiction? |   

by Lillian Duncan 

Guest Post: Sensing God in Words | The Amber of the Moment

Guest Post: Sensing God in Words | The Amber of the Moment 

[Note from Mary: As we sit behind our writing desks, our world can seem too small, but this article helps us to glimpse the larger vision God sees for us and gives us to do.]

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The Faith Log: Ascension: God Has Made Jesus Lord

The Faith Log: Ascension: God Has Made Jesus Lord by Jeff Doles

[Note from Mary: This well-researched, well-written article sets a high standard for Christian Poets and Writers, but more, it reminds us of our living standard for life in the ascended Christ.]

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Get a grip on grammar

Self-publishing has become amazingly easy even for those of us who aren’t technologically adept. However, any mistake in grammar, syntax, spelling, or punctuation becomes part of the book, too, potentially marring your reputation as a writer and causing readers to stop reading.

If a traditional book publisher accepts your manuscript, the company’s editorial staff will proof your work, edit for errors, and suggest any changes needed, but if you self-publish, you’re your own editorial staff!

So before you self-publish, get your book the help it needs. How?

1. Hire a poetry editor or writing consultant to show you how to make your work as professional as possible.

2. Take full advantage of the editing options in the word processing software in your computer.

Since my computer has Word by Microsoft, I’ll use that program as an example of editorial possibilities at the tip of your fingernails.

Click “File” on the Word menu.

Go to “Options” near the bottom of the list.

Prayerfully and carefully consider your relationship with the English language. Be honest with yourself. If you need assistance in navigating English, admit it and get it!

Click “Proofing” then check the individual boxes where you might need help.

Even if you’re already a writing Pro who writes well in English, the editing functions might help you to see weak areas that need improvement or clarification.

Amateur or pro, if you’re going to write, do it right!

Thanks be to God and Internet options, we can get all the help we need.

©2013, Mary Harwell Sayler, all rights reserved. If you’d like one-on-one feedback on your poems, children’s picture book, or book proposal, you’ll find a minimal fee that's stayed about the same for 30 years on my “Feedback and Fees” page.

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The Write Stuff: For the Writer: Expect Criticism

The Write Stuff: For the Writer: Expect Criticism by Eileen Rife

[Note from Mary: Thanks, Eileen, for preparing and edifying Christian Poets & Writers with this down-to-earth yet spiritually-minded article. God bless.]

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Bible Prayers, Poems, and Promises: Praying for the Body of Christ

Bible Prayers, Poems, and Promises: Praying for the Body of Christ

[Note from Mary: This prayer-a-phrased prayer from Paul for the Ephesians covers and fills us too.]

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Are we nearly there yet?

Are we nearly there yet?  by Helen Murray

Love Lines From God: When Life Gets Complex by Martin Wiles

Love Lines From God: When Life Gets Complex by Martin Wiles

Bible Prayers, Poems, and Promises: Jesus tells us to ask, seek, find

Bible Prayers, Poems, and Promises: Jesus tells us to ask, seek, find

[Note from Mary: In this prayer-a-phrase of today's Gospel reading in Luke, Jesus teaches us about the importance of persistence in prayer.]

Linda Clare's Writer's Tips: See the Forest: Writing a Solid Lead

Linda Clare's Writer's Tips: See the Forest: Writing a Solid Lead

[Note from Mary: Like any first impression, the opening lines of your manuscript will let readers know whether they want to move on or keep reading. For more tips, see this new posting on Linda's blog.]

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About writers’ conferences

Each writers’ conference has its own flair, but most have a similar schedule. Usually you get to choose which of the many sessions you want to attend during each time slot throughout the day and sometimes into the evening. Larger conferences offer more choices, of course, but with more people to sign up and fill a class, you might want to put in for your preferences as soon as you can.

As you investigate upcoming conferences in your area, check the schedules to see if you find the fiction, nonfiction, or poetry workshops you want. Do the titles or focus for each session interest you? Who will lead the workshops or classroom style discussions you want to attend? Does the workshop leader or speaker have ample publishing credits in your chosen genre?

Besides a staff of well-published writers and poets, larger conferences often bring in literary agents from reputable firms and editors from traditional publishing companies. If so, you might have the option to schedule a private consult with the person of your choice for one-on-one feedback on your manuscript for an additional fee.

A private consult can help you to reach the next level in your writing, but if you’re just beginning, the classroom or workshop sessions may be all you need to improve your work and learn about marketing too. That will most likely happen if you attend a writers’ conference that fits your writing interests and level of expertise – not only because of the sessions but also because of the many opportunities you have to network with other poets and writers, especially after classes or during meals.

If you’ve already begun to place manuscripts with publishing houses or print journals, you might just need to get away to get some work done and gain a few pointers too. If so, another option is a writer’s retreat that provides a serene setting for you to write without distractions. At this type of conference, you and other participants might come together only for meals or group discussions on your chosen genre. However, the retreat will probably include a private conference (usually an hour or so) with the main speaker, which gives you one-on-one tutoring to help you improve your work-in-progress and also those manuscripts you have yet to write.

©2013, Mary Harwell Sayler, all rights reserved. If you cannot afford a writers’ conference or can find none nearby, consider getting a one-on-one writing consult or poetry critique for a minimal fee. For more information, visit “Feedback and Fees.”

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Poetry Parallelism | antler

Poetry Parallelism | antler

[Note from Mary: Christian Poets & Writers, I encourage you to experiment with this poetic technique, often used in Bible poetry but also in nonfiction sayings by Jesus and Bible stories too.]

Poetry Editor and poetry: Accentual syllabic or metered verse

Poetry Editor and poetry: Accentual syllabic or metered verse

National Poetry Month may be over with May, but poetry reading, writing, revising, and experimenting can go on all year -- then last a life-time. If you're serious about bringing your best to your poetry, these basics will help, but Lord willing, even your most serious work can be like child's play!

 

 

Beginnings | From the River of His Heart

Beginnings | From the River of His Heart by Nicole Cleis Anderson

Bible Prayers, Poems, and Promises

Bible Prayers, Poems, and Promises

[Note from Mary: I think this was my first prayer-a-phrased poem,"written" about 15 years ago and published a couple of times then resurfacing today since the Daily Bible Readings includes Psalm 62. What draws me to the  Psalm is the quiet, timeless stance of the Psalmist, who waits, with reverence and trust, for God to respond to his prayer.]

4 (Easy!) Ways to Share the Gospel on your Blog - Missional Women

4 (Easy!) Ways to Share the Gospel on your Blog - Missional Women

[Note from Mary: Yes! Now we're talking! Thank you, Laura, for posting this superb word for Christian Poets & Writers and other communicators for Christ.]

Linda Clare's Writer's Tips: Three Easy Steps to Deep POV

Linda Clare's Writer's Tips: Three Easy Steps to Deep POV

[Note from Mary: These tips for developing a point of view in fiction can help Christian Poets & Writers who write nonfiction and poetry too. Thanks, Linda.]

Psalm for poets and writers

From Psalm 45

Stir, my heart!
Fashion a noble song
for the LORD our King!

Speak with skill
to our fair LORD.

Let grace and blessings flow.

God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness.

Each page wears your words well
with the scent of myrrh, aloe,
and sweet-smelling cassia.

Your lines string together
and hum like music
fit for royal ears in an ivory palace,
and you are glad.

The LORD your King takes pleasure
in such beauty.
Oh, how you honor God!

©2013, Mary Harwell Sayler, prayer-a-phrase of lines lifted from Psalm 45:1-2, 8-9, 12 from today’s Bible reading in the Psalms

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Poetry Editor and poetry: Defining the abstract poem

Poetry Editor and poetry: Defining the abstract poem by Mary Sayler

National Poetry Month (NaPo) encourages poets and poetry lovers to discover forms, terminology, and technique, so we can enjoy those qualities in poems by other people and use them on purpose as we write (or, more likely, revise) our own poems.

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Our work in a worried world

Christian Poets and Writers, we have prayers to pray, words to write, and people to draw to Christ. Movies move us to worry. Books bleed. Television shows graphically show destruction, anarchy, and end times. Far worse, the real news screams with the reality of terrorists, bombs, and threats of war. Today especially, many of us may be wondering, “What do we do?”

Crowds and crowds of down-trodden people went looking for Jesus to ask a similar question:

“What are we to do, that we may [habitually] be working the works of God? [What are we to do to carry out what God requires?]

“Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger],” John 6:28-29, Amplified Bible.

With or without the meaning amplified, the Word of God says the work of God we’re to do is to believe in Christ. Really believe, and we will be doing the very work God gave us to do. Is it that simple? Yes, but it's not always easy.

Each of us responds differently at different times with differing levels of trust, depending on how our day goes. Regardless of changing times and feelings, however, our belief in Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior does make a difference.

By trusting – really trusting the loving, forgiving, redeeming grace, and truth of Jesus Christ, we can consistently choose to reflect those beliefs. Even when we write about troubling topics or terrible times, our belief in Christ will affect the outcome and the ending as we choose to:

Bring God’s hope to people who have none.

Give forgiveness that frees.

Show God’s way as we pray over every headline that comes to our attention and pray for every enemy.

Present God’s Word as the antidote to fear and worry.

Give God’s love to all peoples and ourselves.

Do the work of God by believing, believing, believing in the Light of Christ as power – Holy Spirit auxiliary Power – to enlighten the darkest times and lighten up the world.

©2013, Mary Harwell Sayler

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