June Meeting - Lena Nelson Dooley

How to Write a Believable Salvation Scene

Writing a salvation scene is easy, right? Just throw in some “God” words, then use the system taught during Sunday school class.

If that’s what you think, do I have news for you!

Learn the things that make a salvation scene work for your book during this workshop. Lena will show you how to write the scene without being in your face, over the top pushy, or blatant with your message and yet communicate the need of salvation to your readers.

The attendees are encouraged to bring a salvation scene they are working on if they’re willing to share it with the group and have it analyzed.

Lena Nelson Dooley
is a multi-published author. Four of her novels published by Heartsong Presents, the romance division of Barbour Publishing, were voted top ten favorites in Heartsong’s annual readers’ poll. One of her novels received a second place award in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year contest at the 2004 national convention. The Scraps of Love novella anthology, also published by Barbour Publishing spent five months on the CBD fiction bestseller list. Three of her books—Pirate’s Prize, Minnesota Brothers, and Gerda’s Lawman—were on a bestseller list in the UK. Pirate’s Prize went to #1 on that list. Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner, an April 2007 release was on the CBD fiction bestseller list within two weeks. Her novella The Spinster and the Bride was a finalist in Book of the Year. Montana Mistletoe, which released in September 2007 was on the CBD list, too. Snowbound Colorado Christmas was on the CBD bestseller list for three months, as well as on the Barbour Fiction bestseller list. In 2008, Lena was voted one of the top ten favorite authors in the Heartsong readers’ poll.
A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, she has been a speaker on both the regional and national level. She’s also president of the local chapter—DFW Ready Writers. In 2006, she received the prestigious Mentor of the Year Award at their national conference. She also teaches writing seminars and has spoken at writers’ groups in two states. Besides speaking for writing events, she has spoken for women’s groups and women’s retreats both in the US and internationally.
Mrs. Dooley and her husband James will celebrate their 45th anniversary this year. They live in Hurst and are involved in the lives of their children and grandchildren.
Before she started writing full time, she was also on retainer from a publishing company where she headed a writing team that produced a two-year American History course for at-risk students. She has completed other major curricula.
Snowbound Colorado Christmas was her 18th book release, and five books will release in 2009—The Prairie Romance Collection, Wild Prairie Roses, Cranberry Hearts, Wild West Christmas, and Christmas Love at Lake Tahoe. Summerside Press will release Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico in 2010.

DFW Ready Writers in the News - What's Happening May 2009

Happy May, everybody!

In this month's news:

Lisa Buffaloe is getting settled in the beautiful city of Boise, Idaho. We miss you, Lisa! Lisa was interviewed twice this month! To read her interview with Norma Vera, visit http://grandmateachmewisdom.blogspot.com/

And, for Lisa's interview with Kathy Grubbs, visit http://www.10minutewriter.com/

Congrats, Lisa!

Jane Thornton's newest article, "One Another," is on The Christian Pulse. Click here to check it out. Great article, Jane!

Our lovely president, Lena Nelson Dooley spoke recently at Gifted for His Glory at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church. Lena also has two new book releases: Wild Prairie Roses and The Prairie Romance Collection. Wow, Lena!! Great job!

And....drum roll please...

BIG NEWS for our favorite doctor and medical resource, Richard L. Mabry, M.D. Richard signed a contract with Abingdon Press in January. His medical suspense, Code Blue, will be published in early 2010. The second book in the "Prescription For Trouble" series is complete, and Richard is now at work on book three. Congrats, Richard! I can't wait to pick up my autographed copy!

Richard has also been published recently in the March-April issue of Upper Room meditation guide with his article "Proclaiming Good News." "The Secret Life Of A First Reader: Interview With Crystal Laine Miller" was published in the March issue of Christian Communicator magazine.

Congratulations to this month's Members in the News! And, congrats to all of you who write for our Lord!!!

Keep writing!

Dawn Michelle Michals

www.dawnmichellemichals.blogspot.com

Telling Is SO Telling- Patricia Pacjac Carroll

A popular teaching in the writing world is—Show don’t tell.

But what does that mean?
And how do we know if we’re telling or showing?
A good way is to read your chapter aloud. If it sounds like Aunt Frieda telling about her latest trip—you’re telling. It’s the Dragnet style of writing. Remember the old TV show where the guy says,

“Just the facts, Ma’am.”

You can find many telling troubles by hunting for was and were.



EX: She was tired. That’s telling.



Instead, write—She identified with the wilted daisy in the vase and drooped onto the couch. And you can see the character being tired. That’s showing.


There are sneakier ways for telling to creep into your writing. Back story is full of telling sentences. That’s why your story’s pace shudders to a screeching crawl. If it reads like a history lesson or travelogue, you are telling the reader what you want them to know instead of letting them discover along with your characters what they need to know.

Use dialogue to sprinkle facts in the story.

Another tell-tale sign is by using a word to name an emotion. So if you write—He was angry. You told me the guy is mad. Instead show me.

He clenched his fist

His face darkened.

Think about body language and show the reader your character’s emotions.

Parting thoughts

A last hint about telling. Be specific.

Telling is in the generalities.

A flower tells me what it is — a rose shows me the flower.

So let the show go on and write lively.

Check for the use of was or were, avoid large info dumps or back story, show the emotions, and be specific.

You’re writing will sparkle and your readers will thank you.

Patty is a member of the DFW Ready Writers and has written two books every aspiring author needs. Check out an interview with her on Lena Nelson Dooley's authors blog.

Learn more about Patty at her website: http://www.patriciapacjaccarroll.com
or her Blog http://patriciapacjaccarroll.blogspot.com/
There you can find out more information about ordering her CD books for writers.

Our May Speaker - Marilyn Eudaly

Characters in a Novelist’s Zoo—a fun interactive workshop.

Marilyn Eudaly will present a tool used to layer stories with deep POV, motivation, and conflict. Under her guidance you will experience how personality strengths and weaknesses will enhance character development while improving personal relations and resolving real-life conflict.

Marilyn Eudaly uses her professional experience as a facilitator for the True Colors organization, as mediator and student advisor, to present this workshop on creating characters as real people. Trained in team building, communication skills, conflict resolution, suicide prevention, and dealing with angry people, Marilyn takes the one element that these all have in common, personality identification, to create a tool useful in character development.

Since she created her first book in kindergarten, Marilyn knew she was meant to be a writer. Family and necessity kept her occupied in other pursuits, but the dream never faded. Encouragement through the years came from a high school English teacher and articles in newspapers and magazines, and professional writing. She credits Romance Writers of American and American Christian Fiction Writers with teaching her the skills needed to become a published author. Devotions published online and in Words to Write By, plus personal stories in Chicken Soup for the Dieters Soul and Ultimate Gardener keep her dream alive. Her works in progress are a romantic comedy and a contemporary woman’s fiction.
She lives in Texas with her husband of 42 years and has one married daughter who is also a writer.

DFW Ready Writers in the News - What's Happening April 2009

Happy Easter, Ready Writers! May it be glorious as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!

A few of our members have some fun things coming up this month!

Our president, Lena Nelson Dooley, will be speaking at the Madison County Writers Guild in Madison, Texas, on April 18th. The next week, Lena can be found at the Mother-Daughter Tea at St. Matthew Cumberland Presbyterian Church on April 25th.

Grammar Girl, Jane Thornton, had an article on The Christian Pulse last month! Click here to read “Come Together.” Check out the site again on April 20th for her newest article, “Sixty is the New Forty.”

In the “sad, but happy” news department, the Buffaloes are roaming! On the 448th day of joblessness, (but who’s counting? :oP) God blessed Lisa’s husband Dennis with a job. The Buffaloes are already in the middle of settling in to their new home in Boise, Idaho. We’ll miss you so much, Lisa!!! May God bless you and your family in this move and make the transition easy and the burdens light.

Lisa also has an article out on The Christian Pulse this week. To read “Bustin’ Bunnies,” click here.

Congrats to all the DFW Ready Writers in the News!

Until Next Month,

Dawn Michelle Michals

www.dawnmichellemichals.blogspot.com

April Meeting: "Just the facts, Ma'am!"

Join us as Detective Linda Crum of the Dallas Police Department will be our speaker for April 11th, 2009.

Have you ever wondered about police established methods? Would you like to have nothing but the facts, ma’am, of real life situations that will help you present you book with accuracy?

With Detective Crum’s extensive and varied background in police work, she will be speaking about her duties—real life situations and how they are handled, not the made up kind we see on television. This is your chance to hear a knowledgeable veteran Detective, with over thirty years of experience, explain police procedures, lockup, on duty calls, domestic violence, and all the rest that come under the heading of day-to-day police procedure.

At the end of her program, Linda will answer questions that have been submitted in advance by email. Then, if there is time, we will open the floor for questions from everyone present. This will be a great opportunity to ask those difficult unanswered questions about police procedure that you have always wondered about and would love to write into your manuscript with accuracy. Those questions you didn’t know who to ask.

Come hear Detective Crum on Saturday, April 11th, 2009
Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Meeting Place:
La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant
5250 Hwy 121,
Colleyville, Texas

(Restaurant sits alongside the southbound access road between Hall-Johnson and Glade).

Detective Linda Crum’s Bio:

Detective Linda Crum works for the Dallas Police Department. She is married to a retired Dallas Police Sergeant (helicopter pilot) with three stepsons, and seven precious grandkids.

Born in Ft. Worth, Texas, raised in Rendon, Linda Crum was the youngest of four children. When she graduated from Mansfield High School in 1973, she immediately enrolled in the fall at TCJC-N, where she obtained an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. On May 17, 1976, the Dallas Police Department hired Linda, and as a requirement, attended the police academy, graduating October 7, 1976, to begin her long career in law enforcement.

Linda’s first job as a police officer was working patrol in Oak Cliff. Since that time, she has worked the Youth Division as a detective, and later assigned to the Youth Action Center of the DISD schools. At one point in her career, she covered 23 schools, including Kimball and Carter High Schools.

In May of 1992, she completed her degree in Criminal Justice at DBU, and in May of 1993, transferred to the Crimes Against Persons Division. Her first assignment as a detective was to investigate aggravated assault offenses. Later she moved to the Homicide Unit and while in that position she became a licensed Texas State Polygraph Examiner for the department. Today Detective Crum is currently working Cold Case Homicides for the Dallas Police Department.

DFW Ready Writers in the News - What's Happening March 2009

Hello, Ready Writers!

Make plans NOW to attend the Christian Book Expo 2009 March 19 - 22, 2009. Several DFW Ready Writers will be in attendance as well as Liz Curtis Higgs, Max Lucado and Lee Strobel. To attend the Christian Book Awards on Thursday night, click here for ticket info.

In Member News:

Speaking of the Christian Book Expo, our very own, red-headed DFW Ready Writer's President, Lena Nelson Dooley, will be signing books and visiting with fans of Christian fiction. Stay tuned for a schedule of our members who will also be in attendance.

Does that comma need to be there? Is your subject/verb agreement giving you migraines? Our very own "Grammar Girl" Jane Thornton will speak to us this Saturday on "What’s Grammar Got to Do with It?" Her realistic look at grammar essentials will help you eliminate those pesky errors that send editors scrambling for their sanity.

Big news for Lisa Buffaloe: Lisa signed this week with Tamela Hancock Murray of Hartline Literary Agency. Congratulations, Lisa! Publication is not far behind!

Wanna win some dough? Visit Leanna Ellis's Web site for a chance to win $50. Leanna's April release, Ruby's Slippers, is already available through Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, and she'll be bringing some copies on Saturday.

Beth Shriver's newest release, Love at First Flight, will hit stores on April 8th. Grab your copy and support a fellow Christian writer.

Marilyn Eudaly will be presenting the Keeping it Real: An interactive workshop on character motivation and conflicts to the His Writers chapter of ACFW in Denver, CO on April 13. Road trip, anyone?

Additionally, Marilyn's story "Looking Out" in Ultimate Gardner by HCI Publishing will be in bookstores in April.

Mary Ann Hayhurst received her contributor's copies for her devotional that appeared in the March 8th issue of Evangel. Mary Ann, we would love to see it! Please bring a copy on Saturday.

We are writers! If you have news that didn't make it in this month, never fear! Send it to me for inclusion in next month's Member News.

May God bless you richly as you share His Word to the nations.

To be used by Him,

Dawn Michelle Michals
dawn@dawnmichellemichals.com
dawnmichellemichals.blogspot.com