Blogger: Cynthia Ruchti
Acrostics! That’s the word I was looking for. Anagram? No. Acronym? Nope. Oh, this language with which we are tasked to write!
And these few brain cells with which to work.
ACROSTICS INFORM
Flurries fly outside my window. Brain flurries make concentration a mid-December night’s nightmare. I checked the word acrostic to make sure that’s the one I needed. As writers are fond of doing, I was momentarily distracted by a tidbit of history.
Lewis Carroll used an acrostic in the final chapter of Through the Looking-Glass. Through it, he revealed the real Alice’s name: Alice Pleasance Liddell.
A boat, beneath a sunny sky
Lingering onward dreamily
In an evening of July –
Children three that nestle near,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Pleased a simple tale to hear –
Long has paled that sunny sky:
Echoes fade and memories die:
Autumn frosts have slain July.
Still she haunts me, phantomwise,
Alice moving under skies
Never seen by waking eyes.
Children yet, the tale to hear,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Lovingly shall nestle near.
In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die:
Ever drifting down the stream –
Lingering in the golden gleam –
Life, what is it but a dream?
ACROSTICS INSPIRE
Many a sermon or lecture has relied on an acrostic to make its key points memorable. ACT (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving) is an acrostic for a meaningful prayer pattern. “F-A-C-E” and “Every Good Boy Does Fine” are phrases that root themselves in the minds of young musicians learning which note falls on which line or space of the treble clef.
What does a writer need to remember–during Christmas and always–that an acrostic can aid?
Choose carefully. Choose your genre carefully. Is it as fun to read as it is to write? Is your choice of genre bettering your opportunities for success or limiting them?
Handle yourself with dignity. Begging shows up in queries, book proposals, and marketing efforts.
Resist the urge to overwrite. Strive for stronger words and potent word pictures that express what needs to be said without cluttering the page.
Insist on your best. An author who “phones in” book seven or cheats the editing process, too weary or rushed to give it his or her wholehearted effort, will lose readers. And future publishing opportunities.
Stand firm, no matter the whims of publishing weather. Remain open to adjustments, as a surfer shifts feet, posture, and arm positions when a wave roils and drops.
Temper your impatience. On every level of the publishing industry stand human beings who are dealt blows that affect schedules–sick kids, power outages, surgeries, deaths in the family, caregiving, supply delays, financial pauses, meetings piled upon meetings… Apply every effort to stay on target. When others can’t, ladle more grace than you thought you had on hand.
Manage your moments so they don’t become regrets.
Adopt integrity as a non-negotiable. (Have you read the news lately?)
Soar. Enjoy the gift you’ve been given. Let your soul celebrate the wonderland of working with words, the joy of communicating, the indisputable power of story. And let your spirit soar as you and your family consider the Christmas story again this year. Drop the burdens of what is yet undone, or what’s still on your list. Soaring requires outstretched arms.
ACROSTICS IGNITE
Your turn. Take a familiar Christmas word–Noel, Peace, Joy, Navidad, Nativity, Holiday, Star–and create your own short acrostic of must-remember principles for writers. Let your imagination soar.
Michael Emmanuel
Join a writing group. It doesn’t always have to be established authors, there’s a fulfilment that comes with being part of a tribe with one driving force – to share stories of faith and joy and forgiveness through writing.
Open up your work. Let others know you are a writer and that God has blessed you with this gift. Shying away from what you do is a way of saying, “I’m not confident I was cut for this.” Not every writer would be published, I’ve learned, but every story needs to be told.
Yes, don’t neglect family. Or God. The writing process or commitment should not drain you to a point where you become irritable to family or God. Family is a blessing from God. And God? He’s the One Who satisfies, not even the best of stories could contend.
P.S: I hope I tried.
Cynthia Ruchti
Great thoughts, Michael.
Crystal Caudill
What a fun and insightful post! I choose PEACE.
P- Praise and pray before you write, while you write, and at the end of each step. Pray for others on your journey.
E – Enjoy the journey. There are ups and downs but all of it is meant to be shared with others and to draw you closer to Christ.
A – Anchor yourself to truth but dream big. Not everyone’s path or even destination is the same. Know that God has established your steps and what every this writing journey looks like, it is the way God meant it to be.
Craft – Craft your stories with great care. Always do your best, even when rushed. Build in time to go through the editing process a couple times before submitting to anyone. We are told to do everything as if we are doing it for the Lord and not for man. Pretend you are about to hand your story over to our King, because in reality, you are.
E – Education never ends. No matter how many books you publish, how many times you make the best-seller list, always have the spirit of a learner. Study craft books, study the market, accept criticism and evaluate it so you can learn from it.
Thanks, Cynthia! Merry Christmas and happy writing!
Cynthia Ruchti
I choose PEACE, too!
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Really not up to contributing at present, but may as well turn that to advantage, with a life-motto acrostic, ILL:
Inspire
Love
Lead
Cynthia Ruchti
And…he contributed!
Crystal Caudill
Good acrostic. Praying for you today, Andrew. Hope you feel better.
Jeanne Takenaka
So good, Andrew.
Shelli Littleton
Praying for you, Andrew.
Michael Emmanuel
Andrew! A prayer for you.
Joanne Reese
I see all three in you every time you post, Andrew.
Elizabeth Bohan
Andrew, and Barb I am praying. I’m so sorry…
Angie Arndt
Yes, Andrews, you do that each time you comment. Thank you.
Angie Arndt
And I hit Submit too soon. I really do know how to spell your name, Andrew.
Carol Ashby
God is in charge of both process and outcome.
Inspiration comes when you seek His glory, not yours.
Follow His leading, even if it goes where you never planned to go.
Thank Him for using you to share the Good News of Jesus.
Cynthia Ruchti
Yes, what a GIFT!
Jennifer Zarifeh Major
Q-quilting a BIG rag quilt for my son’s dog. Then the family voted otherwise.
U-undid all my plans for decorating, since the quilt table is in the living room.
I-intense concentration (and arthritis pain) but enjoyable silence is soothing.
E-enables me to pray for that son, and ponder how much that boy has grown.
T-time with him is precious, but he’ll be home in a week! I hope he has room in his suitcase for a quilt!
Cynthia Ruchti
Ah, the Christmas Quiet! Beautiful.
Shelli Littleton
Quilts always remind me of my grandmother. Yesterday, “Winter Wonderland” came on the radio. “This was Ma-Maw’s favorite song.” My girl grins. “I say that every year, several times … I can’t help it.” Tears. I miss her. Quilts and “Winter Wonderland” … 🙂
Shelli Littleton
S–stick every toe into the unknown frosty writer waters. Don’t be afraid. The waters just might be warm & cozy.
N–nestle into your Snuggie, your faithful God, the chair, words, the blank page, warm baths, more time alone to think, good & bad books, cherished writer friends, Grammar Girl, thefreedictionary.com, social media, hand & finger stretches, another world, imaginary friends, cheer-leading, patience, prayer, research, handling disappointment, handling criticism, handling praise, and most importantly, the B&S Blog.
O–overload on chocolate, coffee, and pound cake. (Red & blue peanut M&M’s make me a better writer. Honest.)
W–write, write, write!
*from a Texan longing for snow 🙂 What am I missing, y’all? 🙂
Cynthia Ruchti
Let it snow! Loved your thoughts for the letter N!
Elizabeth Bohan
You are missing an experience that speaks of the gospel, when God covers all that is dead and sinful with forgiveness, as white as a blanket of freshly fallen snow.
Norma Brumbaugh
Take the time.
Hone your craft.
All to the glory of God.
Never say never.
Keep paying it forward.
Stop and smell the roses.
Cynthia Ruchti
Excellent, Norma.
Jeanne Takenaka
Ahhh, Cynthia. This was fun. I only had a minute, but here’s my acrostic. I always found acrostic poems easier to write than others. 🙂
*Pray Continually. Through every aspect of the process
*Endure through discouragement
*Ask for help. We have writer friends who are further along the journey and most of them want to help
*Cling to Jesus through the waiting, the joys and the frustrations
*Exalt the One who gave us the gift of words
*In case I don’t get to stop by next week, I’ll say it now: Have a glorious, joy-filled Christmas!
Shelli Littleton
Merry Christmas, Jeanne 🙂
Jeanne Takenaka
Thanks, Shelli. To you as well!
Angie Arndt
Love that, Jeanne! Hope you have a Merry Christmas!
Jeanne Takenaka
Thank you, Angie! I hope yours is merry too!
Cynthia Ruchti
I think you just gave us an acrostic that could form five new blog posts, too!
Wendy L Macdonald
Thank you, Cynthia, for reminding us to soar and “celebrate the wonderland of working with words.” (Beautifully put.)
I love acrostics. I also love choosing a word for the New Year instead of making resolutions. So I’m going to use my 2018 word–listen–to form an acrostic:
L- Listen carefully to advice that’s repeated by several critique partners.
I – Involve all five senses in your writing.
S – Social media involvement is important for today’s writers. (But be moderate.)
T – Teachable writers keep growing. (Be teachable.)
E – Engaging scenes move the author and thus move the reader.
N – Never give up because this is what published writers all have in common–tenacity. (If you believe God has called you to write–keep writing.)
Blessings & Merry Christmas, everyone ~ Wendy Mac
Shelli Littleton
I love this, Wendy Mac 🙂
Jeanne Takenaka
Good words here, Wendy!
Cynthia Ruchti
THIS IS WHAT ALL PUBLISHED WRITERS HAVE IN COMMON–TENACITY! So, so true.
Wendy L Macdonald
Thank you, Shelli, Jeanne, and Cynthia. 🙂 There’s much wisdom shared in everyone’s acrostics–treasure.
Elizabeth Bohan
Mine is for drummer boy.
D. -Dare, dare to step out, even if all you have to offer seems insignificant
R – Rise up from laying in a bed of excuses. Get the gift you’ve been given and stir it up like Paul encouraged Timothy to do.
U – Understand the race does not always to the fastest, or most brilliant, but to the One who continues keeping on during the good and bad seasons of life.
M – Make your dreams goals. Dreams are goals with dates.
M – Move – don’t let yourself stagnate. If you aren’t writing, then read, brain storm, rest your brain and your body when it needs it, explore new things, have an adventure, but don’t sit and do nothing.
E – Educate yourself continually on the craft of writing.
R – Read, read, read, and read some more. Notice the style, tone, and voice of authors you enjoy. Figure out what it is that draws you to them.
B – Be your own kind of you. Don’t try to emulate some other author – learn from them yes, but be the you God made you to be.
O – Open up yourself to others, after all we are still people who struggle as well as rejoice. Be there to support others needing prayer, and be there to cheer others on at their book release even if you night never be published.
Y – Yearn, learn to yearn for what is important and keep that in order, faith first, family second, and then the remainder, including writing. Keep the mains things the main things. Work hard, be true, and have hope.
Thank you for the fun and opportunity Cynthia.
Cynthia Ruchti
It has been fun reading this, hasn’t it? Thanks for your contribution.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
God
Ordains
Specific
Policies for
Eternal
Life
Wendy L Macdonald
Amen, Andrew. And what a generous policy it is. It doesn’t get any better than being coheirs with Christ.
Merry Christmas to you, Barbara, and the clan. 🙂
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Thanks, WendyMac! Merry Christmas to you and yours, from all of us.
Elizabeth Bohan
Love this Andrew. It actually goes hand in hand with your first acrostic, ILL. Physically you are definitely I’ll, but we are all, every human infected with the deadly bacteria of sin, and hearts full of life threatening viruses like selfishness, stubbornness, strife and oh so much more. Spiritually we are full of deadly cancers of different sources and virulence.
BUT, in this second acrostic, GOSPEL, you present the only source of healing for all of us. The Gospel that brings healing that will last for eternity, all wrapped up, and laying in a manger —the Gift of Christmas that is also the Promise of Easter .
God bless you and Barb, and to all of you I say, Have a very joyful Christmas!
Janet Ann Collins
Wonderful
Observations. All I can say about these posts is
WOW!
Angie Arndt
Here’s my contribution:
A – Always have faith
N – Nevermind the doubts
G – God’s grace will carry you
E – Even when you think you can’t go any farther.
L- Lord is in control
Cynthia Ruchti
Love this, Angie!