Lesley McDaniel

Most Wednesday nights you’ll find me at the University Village Starbucks.
I’m blessed by two or three hours of writing time each week while my son, Gabe, attends his college group nearby.
Last week I decided to devote my Wednesday blog posts to sharing ideas and links that help me along my writing journey. I hope they are useful to you too. Let’s share ideas to help each other Write Right.

Write On.....

Today I’d like to share a useful tool I learned about from my friend Lesley McDaniel. It is called Pro Writing Aid – Free Editing Software and is a writing analysis program.
To check it out, I drafted a blog post. Then I cut and pasted it into the software for analysis. It popped up a report that told me my writing needed work because of a few issues like cliches, sticky sentences and redundant words.
I am always looking for ways to improve in my writing. This Pro Writing Aid editing software will be very helpful.
Check out Lesley’s blog for some other ideas to help you write tight.
Are you writing this summer? I hope so! Keep those juices flowing.
God Bless your writing!
Gigi

I can’t express enough about the benefit of attending a writer’s conference. I try to attend at least one conference a year.
I come away with new friends, fresh ideas and encouragement to stay the course in my writing career.
There was an incredibly sweet spirit at this year’s Northwest Christian Writer’s Renewal Conference held May 18-19 at Overlake Christian Church in Redmond, WA.
Worship by my good friend, Marty Nystrom, added a Holy Spirit touch to the Friday night session.
The lineup of agents, editors and workshop leaders was a beautiful combination.

Agent and Editor Panel

I didn’t come to this conference with an agenda other than networking and sharing my latest writing ideas.
I met with Sandra Bishop of MacGregor Literary Agency and Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Agency. I came away from those appointments with a few ideas about my next writing project. Once I solidify my ideas, I’ll have the opportunity to pitch it to them at a later date. That’s the power of building a network.
Marshal Younger shared from his heart about his journey as a writer for Focus on the Family’s “Adventures in Odyssey” program. He was melted my heart with his story of how the children of Make a Wish Foundation became part of the script of one of the episodes. His compassion for telling a good story was evident in each session.
The variety of workshops made it difficult to choose which to attend.
I attended the point of view workshop taught by two talented novelists, Lesley McDaniel and Lynnette Bonner.
Grace Fox gave me a list of fresh ideas for marketing my books.
I learned about King Content in Jim Rubart’s energetic session.
Romance was in the air during the romance writer’s panel discussion by Lynnette Bonner, Ocieanna Fleis, Clint Kelly and Kate Lloyd. I will write that romance novel one of these days.
Thankfully each session was recorded so I can listen and learn all throughout the summer.
Since the conference, I’ve been motivated to set new writing goals.
Yesterday I submitted an article to MomSense magazine. I’m excited to write for them after meeting with Alexandra Kuykendall of MOPS, Intl.
I was encouraged about dusting off the manuscript of my personal story Stones of Remembrance and praying for direction from the Lord about where to take it next.
I know a lot of prayer went into the planning and coordination of this year’s conference and I’m grateful for the team of people who pulled it off.

May 17-18 - Writer's Renewal 2013

I hope you’ll mark your calendar for next year’s conference. It is scheduled for May 17-18, 2013 and will again be held at Overlake Christian Church. Will you join me?
Our keynote speaker will be novelist, Jane Fitzpatrick.My calendar is set because I’ll be teaching two workshops next year.
God Bless your heart,
Gigi

Wednesday Write Right Tip: Pro Writing Aid – Free Editing Software

NCWA Writer Renewal Conference – Imagine That