The Destiny of One: November 2010

Writing Saturday; Stages of Writing

9:55 AM

Sometimes, our writing projects seem to last forever. We’re not sure when or if they will ever end. I know that I have felt that way many times when I have been in the middle of a project. One of the things that I learned recently was that there were stages for any given writing project and that time limiting them is a good thing, and today I would like to share with you what I have learned.

Stage one; The First Draft

This is of course how any book begins. The first rough draft is the putting of the story in your head down on to paper (or into the computer as the case maybe). This stage is often the most exciting as you see the story and the characters that you have come to know and love, really take shape on paper. This stage is probably the hardest to judge how long it should take. For me, after about a year I lose interest so that is my limit.

Stage two; Rewrite

There will be huge sections that will have to be reworked, it is part of the writing game. There are going to be sections that are going to need to be taken out, moved about, or rewritten. I think this process shouldn’t take you more than a year, and that is if you don’t have a lot of time.

Stage three; Self Editing

This is the part where you go in and find all those nasty little mistakes. You have to get rid of all those grammar and spelling mistakes. This is the most tedious stage but it is should only take you about three months at the most.

Stage four; Test Group

This is the stage my book is currently in. I have sent it out my book to some people I know and trust and they are reading the book and giving me there thoughts, encouragement, and advice. Make sure your expectations are clear when you send out your book to a test group. Tell them whether they can share it, what you want them to go, and when you want there feedback back by.

Stage five; Final Edit

After all the results are in from your test group, you can begin the final edit. At this point there shouldn’t be too much to do, just some polishing work. Make sure to set a time limit on this stage, I book is never perfect but all projects have to come to an end.

Stage six; Release

I plan to realease my book in April of next year using Lulu publishing, how will you release you book?

Happy Writing

Month of Savings

Saving on Entertainment; Movies

7:04 AM

Most of us like movies, but they can get expensive. If you go to Wal-Mart and buy a movie, you pay, on average, $15.00 - $20.00 for a movie. If you go the theater you pay $8.00 – $20.00 for a ticket. If your rent a movie at store, you pay $3.00 to $5.00. Are there ways to save a lot of money and still enjoy the movies? That answer is yes!

Saving at the Theater – The movie theater is the most expensive way to watch movies (excluding the costs of putting in a home theater), but it is also one of the most fun ways to experience some movies, like “Narnia.” For the most part, my family does not go to the theater; it is just too expensive. One of the lessons that my family had to learn very early is to live without some things. The theater is one of them. However, if going to the theater to see a movie is important to you, here are some things you might try.

See if you have a local dollar theater. These theaters usually show a movie a few weeks after they have left the major theaters and don’t have quite as nice seating. At our local theater, we can get tickets for between $1.50 – $5.00 depending on what day we want to go. However, the drinks and popcorn are still overpriced.

Some theaters have programs that give you free tickets on your birthday, what better price is there? Some also have group discounts starting with eight people, taking a group is a great way to save money.

Renting Movies – Renting movies can be a good way to go, especially for movies that you are only going to watch once or twice. However there are some things to keep in mind when renting.

1. Going into a store to rent is an expensive way to go. Many times you can find a copy of the movie online for about the same cost (including shipping).

2. Red Box is a one of the best ways to see new releases for just a dollar a day. They sometimes even carry Dove approved movies that are really neat.

3. Netflix is a great option. Our family subscribes every once in a while (we save a lot by only having it months we will really use it) and enjoy some of the movies without having to buy them.

Saving on buying movies – There are movies that you will watch over and over again and some that we will watch a few times. The best way to save money on movies is be willing to wait. I know, that is not a very popular concept in today’s world, but if you are willing to wait you can find just about any movie you want on Amazon, or at your locale thrift store for fifty cents to four dollars. I think the most that we have ever paid for a movie is $7.00.

Do you have any great movie money saving advice?

The Adventures of an Intern

Changing Destiny

11:23 AM

faith

Keep Walking

9:59 AM

Many things you don’t see coming. You’re walking along and then God drops a blessing into you life and it splashes sunshine wherever it goes. So it was with something that happened to me recently.

For some time now, I have been feeling lonely. The only friends I had outside the family lived in other states. I have trouble keeping up long distance relationships. I like to touch people. I like talking with them face to face. I long for deep friendships. It’s hard for me to make deep long distance friendships.

So I was feeling lonely and tired. I felt like I was walking day after day but only getting brief glimpses of happiness. “God where are you taking me?” I would ask. “I’m feeling so tired spiritually. All I want is to know you and to have a friend that doesn’t live in another state.” Day after day as I said that prayer God to be saying the same thing in response. “Keep walking. I will be with you. Keep walking.”

So that’s what I did, day after day. Some days I would trust that God would provide. Other days I would be sad and wonder what was going on. “Keep walking.” I would hear God say. “Keep walking.”

It’s kind of scary when you hear God tell you the same thing over and over again. You wonder what it means; yet something in your heart reassures you that it will be all right. So it was with this.

One other thing that I kept thinking about the passage in 2 Kings chapter 3. God is speaking through the prophet Elisha who tells Israel, “This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches. For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD; He will also hand Moab over to you.” Make ditches. Sounds like hard work.

For me digging ditches meant doing housework, loving family, making things for charity, and walking. All normal activities. All things that require time and sometimes they aren’t even fun. No, digging ditches is not fun, but how else can you get filled with water?

Then only a few weeks ago we went to fellowship. That day a new family came. One girl drew my attention. She was beautiful and kind. We quickly hit it off. I found out that we both have a many of the same loves and desires. We became fast friends. We both discovered that the other had been praying for a friend for some time and we found in each other what we were looking for.

I was walking along not expecting to find a friend, but God dropped one into my life. When it came sunshine was splashed all around. God and I still have things to work out. But he’s helping me.

One thing I do know. If God could bring a like-minded friend who lives only an hour away, He can help me with any problem I have. No matter how complex, if I give it to Him, He will help me walk, dig, or work through it.
By Rose H.