The Writer's Perfect Resource

with guest Mary Vee.

Thank you for inviting me to Seekerville today. I’m so excited to be here with you all. 

As an author of Never Give Up Stories, I’ve spent years learning about the writing craft from classes, conferences, and resources books and benefitting from many hours honing my skills.

Like you, God has blessed me with experienced writers who’ve helped me throughout my writing journey, each contributing a golden nugget that opened the door to the next step. 

But there is one who was there when I started. He was there when you started too. His book has numerous new editions, has been translated into almost every language, and is a global bestseller. I believe you have a copy too. 

Because of his writing expertise, his compassion, and willingness to help, his book has become an invaluable tool. A writer’s perfect resource with helps to meet our calling. And the author, well, he is available to everyone and anyone who asks.

Photo Adam Burden Unsplash

The one I am referring to is God, and his book is the Bible.

Yeah, really! Let me show you how the Bible is your perfect writing resource. For this discussion, we are going to focus on the basic model of storytelling since the Bible is the perfect resource for every aspect of our lives.

Consider the opening sentence. Genesis 1:1 states: In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth. These words tell readers the setting, who the story is about, and leaves them a great hook: “What happened next?” and “Who is this God who created everything we know?” Aren’t you bursting to know more about the one who created everything and is completely interested in you? Me too!

So, in the opening pages, the Master Author develops setting and continues to show the people involved by taking us to the garden. He shows us what it looks like-- including the tree with the forbidden fruit in the middle--and he explains the basic rules for this new world formed by his spoken word. 

Soon sin, the epic problem, begins a story in need of redemption only a great God could provide.

This opening follows the rules we’ve been taught in writing classes and texts. 

• Lead with a hook. 

• Familiarize the reader with the setting.

• Introduce the characters.

• Open the reader’s eyes to the character’s epic problem.

• Begin the journey seeking the solution.

The journey is long with many bumps in the road, components found in books.

 Layers. Depth. Passion. Villains. Hero.

The Bible moves forward using events to expand and deepen the journey: Noah and the terrible flood, David facing Goliaths, God’s Son sent as the only means of salvation, the call for disciples to go into all the world and tell the Good News. The news spreads to the ends of the known earth. Trials and troubles bleed into the ages. Heartache and miracles. Deception vs. Truth.

The climax is yet in our future. The book of Revelation tells us what will happen, but if you’re like me, we don’t fully understand the meanings presented. What we do know is: for those who follow The Way, the happily ever after will be eternity with God in heaven.

You see? Before writing instructors or books taught the principles of writing, God used them in his book, written just for us. 

He is available to stir your mind to generate great ideas. He will listen to your thoughts and provide clues to your story’s direction. He will laugh with you, cry with you, and love you every day. He is faithful to turn any story into a Never Give Up Story. One that will truly end in a happily ever after…with no end. Because we have an eternal God.

Never Give Up your calling as a writer. God, the great mentor is here for you whenever you need. He loves you.

You may wonder why I use these words: Never Give Up. This is my brand. All my stories fall into this realm, from mystery and suspense, to travel and holiday celebrations. God has rescued me from numerous pickle problems, some simple like a flat tire, some huge, like cancer’s ugly visit three times. In each case, God asked me to trust him by Never Giving Up. This was the only way I survived.

No matter the depth of the valley or the height of the mountain peak, he’ll ask the same of you. 

What one writing principle have you discovered in the Bible? How has God blessed you on your writing journey? Sometimes writers hear from readers that our story/words/characters have touched their heart. Would you be willing to share one today?

My debut book, Anders’ Redemption-released this holiday season--tells of one man’s heartache the night an accident robs him of a promising career. Forced to survive on cheap noodles for a year, Brice Anders finally receives the letter. The one that promises a second hope for his dream-until an intruder breaks into his new home and steals his work. With days left ‘til Christmas, his job on the line, his memory not helping, only hope can deliver redemption. 


Anders’ Redemption is on sale for the holidays. Both paperback and ebooks are available from:

Amazon   
Barnes and Noble  

One commenter will receive their own ecopy of Ander's Redemption. Winner announced in the Weekend Edition!~

Rock climbing, white-water rafting, zip lining, and hiking top Mary Vee's list of ways to enjoy a day. For some crazy reason, her mystery/suspense fiction characters don’t always appreciate the dangerous and often scary side of her favorite activities. Unbelievable. Mary writes travel books. Come take an amazing trip. She also pens retellings of Bible stories on the blog, God Loves Kids. She has been a finalist in several writing contests.

Mary’s newsletter takes readers on virtual trips and tells her recent works. Sail on a pirate ship, zip-line through redwoods. Join the fun. Sign up at her website listed below.


Twitter: @MaryVeeWriter
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Website: http://www.maryveewriter.com  

Seven writing resources to keep close at hand

Myra Johnson

My writing bookshelves are jam-packed with a variety of writing references. I’ve got craft books, style books, dictionaries, and synonym finders. I’ve got how-done-it books, name-your-baby books, and Ruthy-style kick-in-the-pants motivational books. Books on promo, books on how to write a proposal and synopsis, books on self-editing. You name it, it’s probably there.

I’ve also bookmarked several websites I refer to regularly. Online dictionaries and etymology sites. Surname origins. Top baby names by decade. Newspaper archives.

But if I had to name seven resources I wouldn’t want to be without, the list below would be pretty close to accurate.


The Chicago Manual of Style. If you’ve been hanging around Seekerville for very long, you’ve had a few encounters with Grammar Queen. Well, she lives inside my head, and she’s a stickler for correct grammar, punctuation, and word usage. So we keep CMS handy for when either of us needs to verify a rule (or make sure we’re safe to break it). I’m still using the 15th edition, but the 16th edition has been around for a few years. Maybe one of these days I’ll fork over the big bucks to buy the latest.



Google Maps. Since I can’t always travel to the places where my stories are set, Google Maps (especially the earth view) is my number-one tool. I can zoom in for a better look at the terrain, the street layout, where buildings are located, etc. There’s also a nifty bar that pops up at the bottom of my screen showing photographs others have uploaded of specific locations.



The Writer’s Digest Character-Naming Sourcebook. If I had to choose only one name book, this would be the one. With sections for more than 30 different nationalities and ethnic groups, and each section divided by male and female, the book provides plenty of character naming inspiration. The front section also offers guidance on how to choose a name based on the story genre, timeframe, character’s personality, etc. While the lists are all for first names, many work just as well as surnames.



Time and Date. Whether I’m writing contemporary or historical, I always begin by creating an Excel calendar where I can track a timeline of story events, past, present, and future. The Time and Date website tells me when nationally recognized holidays occur and will even give me the monthly phases of the moon. It’s also great for calculating time differences in various parts of the world. Have fun exploring the site to see all the options at your fingertips!



The Writer’s Brainstorming Kit. I’ve described this handy tool in an earlier post, so I won’t go into further detail here, except to say it’s a great way to stir the creative juices and look at my plot and characters in new ways.



Bartleby.com. This online source of quotations is one of my top go-to references when I’m trying to come up with the perfect title for my work-in-progress. As ideas about the theme or tone of the story come together, I make a list of keywords and then plug them one at a time into the search bar. Skimming through the quotations that pop up, I look for any that fit the story and then see if I can tweak a phrase from the quote into a catchy title.



The Moral Premise. We’ve talked a lot about the Moral Premise here in Seekerville, and we’ve even had the author himself, Dr. Stanley Williams, share his expertise. Of all the books I’ve studied on the craft of writing, I’d have to say this one has had the strongest impact. It’s well worth reading and rereading!






What are the writing resources you wouldn’t want to do without? Share in the comments and add "ENTER ME" for a chance to win a hot-off-the-presses autographed copy of Every Tear a Memory, the third installment of my Till We Meet Again historical romance series from Abingdon Press!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

The Great War may be over, 

but Joanna Trapp still fights a battle within.

Joanna found adventure in France as a volunteer with the Army Signal Corps, but she still mourns her doughboy sweetheart killed in battle. After her mother’s death, she returns home to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where her work as a hotel switchboard operator proves dull compared to her adventures overseas.

Joanna is surprised by the attention from successful hotel manager Thomas Ballard, whose practical nature starkly contrasts her own spontaneous spirit. Spending time with the affectionate and compassionate Thomas helps her broken heart begin to mend, yet Joanna wonders if she can learn to love someone so different from herself. Will their growing friendship lead to romance? Or will Joanna’s future be forever clouded by grief?

~~~~~

BREAKING NEWS!!!

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could win a free enrollment in

"Creating Characters that Come Alive"

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