You know, it takes great skill to write on something quite alien to one's set of life experiences. Amazing! :-) Here's a new writer being born. Someday I will be having your books on my shelf. May God lead you to your dreams in good time.

 

God bless you and your family.

Ellen

 

Ellen, have you read any of my other work?  I would be so honored if you would do so when you have a chance.  This is not to pressure you, but just a request, if you have time. 

And if you knew me, dear Ms. E, you would realise that it is my life down to a tee, but put in story form.  My life is exactly the same as that of Hosea's wife, if you know the book...and this is going to be that kind of story, but from my imagination...God bless and thank you for being the first one to read and comment.  I have not writted any more yet, but just got the urge to publish and see what people would have to say.  I do believe God has given me a talent for writing, but of course, always need encouragement. 

Thanks be to God for bringing you into my life; I love you as my sister in Christ.

Dearest Bonnie,

   I was at the library and thought I would check my blog. While there I took a peek at Cheryls and found your note. Needless to say I had to come and take a look.

I myself am not a writer, Oh I can express myself  rather well but definitely not a writer. I started to read your blog and got myself caprivated by your words how each and everyone expressed itself. Goodness girl and you said I had a miserable life. Yours sounds very similar with its twists and turns. I am so proud of you that you took this step.

I may not have the talent for writing but certainly I know good writing when I see it. I am ashamed of myself that I did not take more time to read more of your blog. I may have learned much more about you. Forgive me.I will  do so Thursday as I promised myself that I would not be on Mindsay today or tongiht. Ha Ha Ha .As addictions go.

I like you love to read to find out what makes people tick. To see things from my view. It is not only interesting but at times highly entertaining. What a wonderful world to live in to have access to such wonderful people with incredible minds.

Each day I look forward to reading about others. How  they live their lives and so on. I like you have found Ellen to be a superb writer. You could not have asked for a better reader to oversee you writing.

This alone has revealed much more about you. As a woman and a person. If  I could be of any help in any way let me know. I do know how difficult it can be to tell the story of your own life. I feel once I read more of your blog we will have so much more to talk about.

Have a Wonderful Night Bonnie
I look forward to learning more about you,

              Beverly

You do have my email address right?

Dear Bev

Thank you so much for your long note, and the appreciation of my writing.  I have known for a long time that this is something I am called to do, but have not been into it as I should. 

 

But this is not going to be entirely based on my life story.  It is just how my life went in some ways, and inspired by it.  I am giving this girl a life and memories and happenings of her own, but saying some things from my own experience. Of course, I do not want everyone to know all about me, so this is a way to hide behind fiction. 

 

I will talk to you a bit more if you do email me and send me your email again.  I am so sorry.  I remember just telling you thank you for it, but because I was not going to write to you immediately, I must not have added you to my address list.  I'll give you mine again, if you will please just do a quick email when you have time, and I will tell you a bit more about myself.  It has been a life of turmoil and sorrow, but thanks be to God, I have now come full circle and most of all is well with my life.  There are still some things I am praying to change, but he has proven more than enough to me.  I just must not dwell on the negative aspects, or I find myself getting depressed again.  But my email is girlbonnie61@yahoo.com

if you wish to write; thanks and God bless....

The first thing I noticed was that you seem not to have decided what "era" your heroine is occupying. Her clothing and some references sound middle-eastern, yet some phrases are very modern and they clash with the picture you're painting.

You give rich colors and describe looks very well. Consider including interaction, even if it is all one-sided on the side of your heroine.  Show the disdain, don't simply relate it.

You have a grand eye for visual detail.  Try to include all the senses insofar as you are able.  What smells are around? Not too many, just a whiff of one or two.  Does she hear anyone except herself?  What you want to do is create the atmosphere while letting your heroine still have the best lines, you know?  Don't lose her in your scene. 

And if you feel a novel is not something you wish to handle just now, give your lady here the justice of a novella, perhaps, or shorter story that will share all that you wish to share of her life.  I sense that she has much to learn to become a woman that you will wish your readers to affirm by story's end.

I should have said "ancient middle-eastern." Sorry! 

Thank you very much for your insight and input.  I wrote this some time ago and put it out there on a whim, so that I could get a feel as to whether or not it will be agreeable to the readers.  I will try to edit it, altho I do not know whether or not I will "catch" the phrases that come across as too modern.  But I will think from a Biblical point of view, and I am sure to get there. 

 

As for the interaction, this was actually to set the scene, but I think I know what you mean...I could have her thinking thoughts out loud, right, instead of just saying it from a third person's telling of it...hmmm...

 

Thank you; I hope I get it right next time...I do know that I have had to write and rewrite several times before, so that is not new to me; but I had not shown it to anyone to critique it yet, and do not always see the errors from close up. 

 

I'll give it a bash, and think of what kind of story it is going to be, whether short or long.  How long is a novella, usually?  And is it also set in chapters, yet fewer of them?  Just tell me if I am bugging you, and I will quit.  I know you are a busy lady.  But I feel that this is your passion, and I feel that with some polishing, I will get it right; do you think so?

Setting the scene is a good thing. I will give you some advice an editor gave me a long time ago:

You are competing with all the entertainment media out there (even if you're writing nonfiction).  You want your reader to be hooked by your work more than they are by video games, movies, or their computer.  So you have to create a sense of action and involvement immediately in order to grab the reader's attention. 

Rewriting is a joy, so think of it in positive terms. It's that first draft that is tricky. lol  I don't usually see my own errors after I write a draft, so I really appreciate my critiquing group.  I catch my own errors later, but only when I've been away from the book for a few months or a year. lol Way too late, sometimes.

A novella is typically between ten and forty thousand words.  A short novel is usually starting around fifty thousand (dimestore romance, lol).  A novella can be divided into chapters or sections.  I like chapters because I'm a traditionalist.  

Polishing and self-discipline are the key to honing a gift, yeah. So do not be discouraged if several rewrites are needed, especially once you truly commit yourself to making this your life's work.  These days, I do not do several rewrites, just a couple-three, but that's because you learn a lot as you do this.

And I love writing.  <smile>  It is my passion, given by God, to communicate. If I am of service, then I am happy to be so.

Thank you so much!  I was told a little while ago that I was going to find a mentor and to take all advice to heart.  I thought it was going to be for my business, but now it seems that God knew all along where it would be.  My mom has seen all my life where my talents lie and has encouraged me.  I just had to get my head out of the toilet to put out something worthy of God's kingdom...I have written plenty that is not, so I have at least been practising, but just not in the right direction, and all that is now scrapped.  Thank God for second chances!  Life has been the best teacher of all, and I am grateful that I have come back up with plenty to write about.

 

So God richly bless you; and if you do not think it would be a bother, I will feel free to rack your brain when I feel the urge, okay?

*bouncing of walls*

 

  i can't wait to read tyhe next episode... you really are that witty. there are lots of lines that i can relate into.

nono.. i thought witty means " well written".. baah.. i have to check my english dictionary .

I am sorry; the meaning I was thinking about means funny, but witty can also mean quick witted or smart...quick on the draw, or quick with good answers...

So sorry for the misunderstanding, and thank you for the compliment.

 

 

mm. ^_^ it's ok.

First of all, will you still know me when you are a famous writer?  God,   you express yourself superbly... Very few people can really captivate me with the words the write, but you do... so eloquent, well spoken, easy to follow. You paint a vivid image.  I tend to always come to your blog even when you haven't posted just to see if maybe you have and I have missed it.  I think you, like myself, get caught up in things that pull us away from something we really love - writing, poetry, story telling...   It's a shame, but then it is so wonderful when you do write. 

 

Is this fiction?

 

I've thought about calling you lately as opposed to emailing because I am short on time... but, are there restrictions to the times that work best for you?   I just wanted to be sure.

 

 

Thank you for the wonderful compliment.  I am not bragging, but people have said this before, and altho I have to get it right, I know I will with time.  I just started writing this, and knew it was not a complete chapter, but wished to post it all the same; to give me incentive to carry on with it, and to see what people had to say about it. 

Apparently I need to have more interaction, such as dialogue, even if it is in her mind, and some of the expressions to not relate to the time frame.  I may just change it to modern times, so that I can keep it in context.  But it was a trial run to see if people think I can take a bash at doing adult stories. 

 

It is fiction yes, but drawn from my heart and some of my feelings and experiences.  I don't believe a person can write and not give of themselves.  At first it was meant to be just a freestyle poem, but it evolved...we'll see.

But you drive me to write more with your compliments about seeking out my writing. 

And I will call you next week (Monday the hubby is here, so prolly Tues) and arrange for when we can speak, okay?  I guess I could tell him, but you know how awkward he makes me feel to speak to a friend while he is around. 

I am just thrilled that you wish to speak to me again, as I have missed you. 

You bet that I shall be writing "something" just to keep you happy...because the more the merrier in experience for me anyway.

Hugs to you and hi's to Angel.

she is actually very, very sick... not quite sure what is going on.  She has thrown up over 20 times since bedtime last night.  A lot of pain.  I took her to the doctor today, they ran blood tests - not looking so good right now.  She has to go to hosp. monday for ultrasound.  So... keep her in  your prayers. 

 

Of course I wish to speak to you again.  Why would I not???   And, I do look forward to your entries... always!

oh dear..that is so sad to hear about Angel.  Make sure to keep giving her a lot of fluids so that she does not dehydrate, altho I have also heard a doc say that when we puke we sometimes just need to leave our stomach completely alone so the bug can work itself out...so I am confused about that...

And I meant on the phone, silly.  But happy that we'll be yakking again soon.  I did miss you.  Just take care of that girl...wonder what she picked up?  Did she eat anything funny?

Going to sleep now...gotta get up early morrow...love ya.

Well, still not sure.  We spent th enight in the emergency room.  She called me in to ask me to turn the fan on her so that she could breathe. Said she felt like she couldn't get her breath.  When I checked her, her heart rate was 130 bpm.  That is almost double mine.  The only time I had ever seen anything like that was when I was teaching and this kid had taken a bunch of pills and was nearing cardiac arrest.  I KNOW that Angela doesn't take anything.  So I was alarmed... took her to the ER and I have never seen doctors move so fast in my life.  They did several tests, gave her some shots of medicine and her hr came down.  They ran some ivs through and sent her home after she had stabilized.  She has extreme tenderness in her abdomen, just below her diaphram.  I'm convinced that she is having a gall bladder attack - but that doens't explain the hyperventilation.  Anyway, still today she can't move without tremendous pain/nausea.  Very light headed.  We will see what the next day or so holds, but I am thinking that this is not a viral thing.  She's in good hands though.