Treasure of Words for You This Christmas

ACFWAdvice, Encouragement, Friends of ACFW, writing 1 Comment

By Chandra Lynn Smith

I have a little book on the shelves in my writing corner. It started as a blank book. In this book I write Bible verses that speak to my writer’s heart, and quotes that inspire and encourage me in this weird and wonderful author’s journey. I think each of us needs the little things to encourage us on the mind block days, or the what-made-me-think-I-could-write days. I cannot give all of them to you in this post. But this is my last post for ACFW in 2017, and it is just a few days before Christmas. So, here are my favorite quotes from my book of encouraging thoughts as a small Christmas gift to all of my ACFW friends.

“We owe our readers fresh words to describe the rain.”  By Cunning and Craft, page 28

“Don’t look for the right word…look for the exact word.” Angela Hunt, GPCWC 2005

“The difference between the right word and the nearly right word is the same as that between lightning and the lightning bug.”  Mark Twain

“When the only voice in your head you hear is yours, it’s time to stop writing.”  David Long

“Write so heaven will be different.” Write His Answer, Lee Roddy, page 41

“A writer should always feel like he is in over his head.” Michael Cunningham

“A writer begins by breathing life into his characters. But, if he is very lucky, they breathe life into him.”  Cary Phillips

“The only thing that will make your fiction endure will be excellent characters.” The Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction,  Jeff Gerke, page 63

“Let your accomplishments excite you, but don’t let them placate you. Let your rejections teach you something, but don’t let them paralyze you.” Linda DeMers Hummel

“The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.” Tom Clancy

A good writer is an observant reader. Abandon any notions that reading is a luxury—the writer reads in order to write.”  Linda Busby Parker

“Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader—not the fact that it is raining, but the feel of being rained upon.” E.L. Doctorow

“When you can take parts of yourself and give them to your fictional characters yet make them different from you, you will have succeeded in one of the most daunting journeys you will ever take as a writer.” Breathing Life Into Your Characters, Rachel Ballon, page 67

“A writer must have all the confidence in the world when writing the first draft and none whatsoever when editing subsequent drafts.” T. Davis Bunn

“Loafing is the most productive part of a writer’s life.” James Norman Hall

“The first draft reveals the art. Revision reveals the artist.” Michael Lee

“Anyone can write one book, and perhaps even sell it, and in the rarest of circumstances become famous from it—because lightning does strike. To make a career of writing, though, you must take up the burden of making lightning strike regularly, where and when you want it.” Holly Lisle

So, as we prepare to celebrate our Savior’s birth, the Creator of all things, including our stories, may we each seek to write His stories with Him and watch as he makes the lightning strike when and where He wants it.

Merry Christmas!

The Light Holding Her from Coming Home a Tiny House Collection is Chandra Lynn Smith’s debut novel. Chandra, a 2015 Genesis winner, writes contemporary fiction filled with inspiration, intrigue, romance, and dogs. Chandra’s career as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer provides her with a variety of canine characters and challenging situations. Chandra and her husband are the proud parents of four sons and joyous grandparents to the most beautiful granddaughter in the world. They live on a small farm in South Central Pennsylvania and two dogs. Their house is often filled with all four sons, wives, fiancés, one beautiful granddaughter, friends, and anywhere from four to nine “grand dogs.” You can find her at www.ChandraLynnSmith.blogspot.com and www.ChandraLynnSmith.com.

 

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Treasure of Words for You This Christmas

ACFWAdvice, Encouragement, Friends of ACFW, writing 1 Comment

By Chandra Lynn Smith

I have a little book on the shelves in my writing corner. It started as a blank book. In this book I write Bible verses that speak to my writer’s heart, and quotes that inspire and encourage me in this weird and wonderful author’s journey. I think each of us needs the little things to encourage us on the mind block days, or the what-made-me-think-I-could-write days. I cannot give all of them to you in this post. But this is my last post for ACFW in 2017, and it is just a few days before Christmas. So, here are my favorite quotes from my book of encouraging thoughts as a small Christmas gift to all of my ACFW friends.

“We owe our readers fresh words to describe the rain.”  By Cunning and Craft, page 28

“Don’t look for the right word…look for the exact word.” Angela Hunt, GPCWC 2005

“The difference between the right word and the nearly right word is the same as that between lightning and the lightning bug.”  Mark Twain

“When the only voice in your head you hear is yours, it’s time to stop writing.”  David Long

“Write so heaven will be different.” Write His Answer, Lee Roddy, page 41

“A writer should always feel like he is in over his head.” Michael Cunningham

“A writer begins by breathing life into his characters. But, if he is very lucky, they breathe life into him.”  Cary Phillips

“The only thing that will make your fiction endure will be excellent characters.” The Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction,  Jeff Gerke, page 63

“Let your accomplishments excite you, but don’t let them placate you. Let your rejections teach you something, but don’t let them paralyze you.” Linda DeMers Hummel

“The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.” Tom Clancy

A good writer is an observant reader. Abandon any notions that reading is a luxury—the writer reads in order to write.”  Linda Busby Parker

“Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader—not the fact that it is raining, but the feel of being rained upon.” E.L. Doctorow

“When you can take parts of yourself and give them to your fictional characters yet make them different from you, you will have succeeded in one of the most daunting journeys you will ever take as a writer.” Breathing Life Into Your Characters, Rachel Ballon, page 67

“A writer must have all the confidence in the world when writing the first draft and none whatsoever when editing subsequent drafts.” T. Davis Bunn

“Loafing is the most productive part of a writer’s life.” James Norman Hall

“The first draft reveals the art. Revision reveals the artist.” Michael Lee

“Anyone can write one book, and perhaps even sell it, and in the rarest of circumstances become famous from it—because lightning does strike. To make a career of writing, though, you must take up the burden of making lightning strike regularly, where and when you want it.” Holly Lisle

So, as we prepare to celebrate our Savior’s birth, the Creator of all things, including our stories, may we each seek to write His stories with Him and watch as he makes the lightning strike when and where He wants it.

Merry Christmas!

The Light Holding Her from Coming Home a Tiny House Collection is Chandra Lynn Smith’s debut novel. Chandra, a 2015 Genesis winner, writes contemporary fiction filled with inspiration, intrigue, romance, and dogs. Chandra’s career as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer provides her with a variety of canine characters and challenging situations. Chandra and her husband are the proud parents of four sons and joyous grandparents to the most beautiful granddaughter in the world. They live on a small farm in South Central Pennsylvania and two dogs. Their house is often filled with all four sons, wives, fiancés, one beautiful granddaughter, friends, and anywhere from four to nine “grand dogs.” You can find her at www.ChandraLynnSmith.blogspot.com and www.ChandraLynnSmith.com.

 

Comments 1

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