Comments on: Waiting for Tea and Crumpets, Part 2 http://www.hittingthebooks.com/2006/01/25/waiting-for-tea-and-crumpets-part-2/ Reading...Writing...Life Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:21:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Bonnie Calhoun http://www.hittingthebooks.com/2006/01/25/waiting-for-tea-and-crumpets-part-2/#comment-60 Bonnie Calhoun Fri, 27 Jan 2006 16:02:43 +0000 http://www.hittingthebooks.com/?p=52#comment-60 Over the weekend, I've got a new section to put up on the lower left sidebar, on writing a synopsis, so it may be of some help. I think I'll write a review to sum them all up because sometimes they conterdict each other. But watch for it.....and get out of that corner girlfriend!.:-) Say it loud, "I'm a woman and I'm proud!" Stand up, throw those shoulders back, put that manuscript in the mail...and strut your stuff! Over the weekend, I’ve got a new section to put up on the lower left sidebar, on writing a synopsis, so it may be of some help. I think I’ll write a review to sum them all up because sometimes they conterdict each other. But watch for it…..and get out of that corner girlfriend!.:-)

Say it loud, “I’m a woman and I’m proud!” Stand up, throw those shoulders back, put that manuscript in the mail…and strut your stuff!

]]> By: nessili http://www.hittingthebooks.com/2006/01/25/waiting-for-tea-and-crumpets-part-2/#comment-58 nessili Fri, 27 Jan 2006 07:05:29 +0000 http://www.hittingthebooks.com/?p=52#comment-58 **Grin** Yeah, I guess I did sound pretty uppity, didn't I. Okay, you're right. It wouldn't hurt to try. Of course, that means now I have to actually get the thing out there. Eek! <i>(nessili is cowering in a corner, clutching her manuscript to her chest and whimpering, "No, No, Not a synopsis and query letter! Angels and ministers of grace, defend me!")</i> Keep on me, Bonnie. I'd appreciate the push! Grin Yeah, I guess I did sound pretty uppity, didn’t I. Okay, you’re right. It wouldn’t hurt to try. Of course, that means now I have to actually get the thing out there. Eek! (nessili is cowering in a corner, clutching her manuscript to her chest and whimpering, “No, No, Not a synopsis and query letter! Angels and ministers of grace, defend me!”)
Keep on me, Bonnie. I’d appreciate the push!

]]> By: Bonnie Calhoun http://www.hittingthebooks.com/2006/01/25/waiting-for-tea-and-crumpets-part-2/#comment-57 Bonnie Calhoun Fri, 27 Jan 2006 04:27:46 +0000 http://www.hittingthebooks.com/?p=52#comment-57 I pick my battles! How important is maybe a dozen words compared to a whole manuscript? There are a lot of Christian publishers who are getting really edgy. I'm reading, Comes a Horseman by Robert Liparulo. All I can say is OMG! WestBow, the publisher has come a long way. It couldn't hurt to try and the good part is for quite a few of them, you don't need an agent. What if they said they loved the book but you had to change say two dozen words? what would your choice be! I pick my battles! How important is maybe a dozen words compared to a whole manuscript? There are a lot of Christian publishers who are getting really edgy. I’m reading, Comes a Horseman by Robert Liparulo. All I can say is OMG! WestBow, the publisher has come a long way.

It couldn’t hurt to try and the good part is for quite a few of them, you don’t need an agent. What if they said they loved the book but you had to change say two dozen words? what would your choice be!

]]> By: nessili http://www.hittingthebooks.com/2006/01/25/waiting-for-tea-and-crumpets-part-2/#comment-55 nessili Thu, 26 Jan 2006 06:40:18 +0000 http://www.hittingthebooks.com/?p=52#comment-55 Hey Bonnie-- Thanks so much for the thought (and the prayers!). I've considered it, but then again, the story's neither fish nor fowl. I am a Christian, and as such there are certain things I won't write (i.e. taking the Lord's name in vain or the f-word or explicit scenes or premarital sex). However, there are some things that I do allow my characters to do. Once they're married, my characters can have tea and crumpets--I just leave the room before they get <i>too</i> into things. Also, I don't cuss, but some of my characters do (with the above exceptions). My characters do pray and talk to God, and I make sure they give thanks when God answers the prayers, but they don't come out and say "Yo, I'm a Christian." Another thing--many of the Christian romances I've read (I like Janette Oke muchly) are very good, but far too many come across as contrived, trite, and/or insipid (unless things have really changed in the past few years). The last time I checked the typical requirements for Christian romances, there weren't any sexual situations of any sort allowed (I'm not even talking a full-blown tea party here, just brewing the tea and buttering the crumpets). One line I looked at also said absolutely no cussing. So it seems I'm too worldly for Christian publishing, and not worldly enough for mainstream. It's a fine line, but I don't feel convicted for writing the way I do, so I'm not going to worry about being a bad Christian (tho' don't get me started on what some well-meaning people have to say about Christians who write fantasy. I usually have a two-word answer for them. Tolkien. Lewis. End of discussion.) BTW, how do you deal with these issues? Hey Bonnie–
Thanks so much for the thought (and the prayers!). I’ve considered it, but then again, the story’s neither fish nor fowl. I am a Christian, and as such there are certain things I won’t write (i.e. taking the Lord’s name in vain or the f-word or explicit scenes or premarital sex). However, there are some things that I do allow my characters to do. Once they’re married, my characters can have tea and crumpets–I just leave the room before they get too into things. Also, I don’t cuss, but some of my characters do (with the above exceptions). My characters do pray and talk to God, and I make sure they give thanks when God answers the prayers, but they don’t come out and say “Yo, I’m a Christian.”

Another thing–many of the Christian romances I’ve read (I like Janette Oke muchly) are very good, but far too many come across as contrived, trite, and/or insipid (unless things have really changed in the past few years). The last time I checked the typical requirements for Christian romances, there weren’t any sexual situations of any sort allowed (I’m not even talking a full-blown tea party here, just brewing the tea and buttering the crumpets). One line I looked at also said absolutely no cussing.

So it seems I’m too worldly for Christian publishing, and not worldly enough for mainstream. It’s a fine line, but I don’t feel convicted for writing the way I do, so I’m not going to worry about being a bad Christian (tho’ don’t get me started on what some well-meaning people have to say about Christians who write fantasy. I usually have a two-word answer for them. Tolkien. Lewis. End of discussion.)

BTW, how do you deal with these issues?

]]> By: Bonnie Calhoun http://www.hittingthebooks.com/2006/01/25/waiting-for-tea-and-crumpets-part-2/#comment-54 Bonnie Calhoun Thu, 26 Jan 2006 04:16:03 +0000 http://www.hittingthebooks.com/?p=52#comment-54 Have you thought about marketing it as Christian fiction? you don't need an agent! Try Harlequin, they have a womens, christian fiction line, and you can submit yourself. Go to their website for the addresses: http://www.eharlequin.com/cms/learntowrite/ltwArticle.jhtml?pageID=021101wu00001 They have offices in Toronto! I'll pray for your success! Have you thought about marketing it as Christian fiction? you don’t need an agent! Try Harlequin, they have a womens, christian fiction line, and you can submit yourself. Go to their website for the addresses:

http://www.eharlequin.com/cms/learntowrite/ltwArticle.jhtml?pageID=021101wu00001

They have offices in Toronto! I’ll pray for your success!

]]> By: Bonnie Calhoun http://www.hittingthebooks.com/2006/01/25/waiting-for-tea-and-crumpets-part-2/#comment-53 Bonnie Calhoun Wed, 25 Jan 2006 15:54:35 +0000 http://www.hittingthebooks.com/?p=52#comment-53 Hi Nessili...Bonnie Calhoun here! If you want the head-banging icon, just put your mouse pointer over it. Right click, and save as....That will save it to yur pictures on your harddrive. Then just upload it to your blog like you would do with any other picture. Some programs have a hard time desciphering the .gif tag but it should work for you. Let me know how you make out. Hi Nessili…Bonnie Calhoun here! If you want the head-banging icon, just put your mouse pointer over it. Right click, and save as….That will save it to yur pictures on your harddrive. Then just upload it to your blog like you would do with any other picture. Some programs have a hard time desciphering the .gif tag but it should work for you. Let me know how you make out.

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