Category Archives: Uncategorized

Gratitude is not always easy to express. But the Lord desires our gratitude. He longs for it.

Authors Barbara Oden and Judy Vandiver have penned short devotions that guide you, the reader, toward looking at your attitude of spiritual gratitude. By following this simple thirty day devotional plan, within one short month, your heart can be more attuned to offering spiritual gratitude in your walk with the Lord.

The authors have kept the devotionals short so you can spend more time thinking about the scriptures, then use the journal style pages to express your own thoughts back to God.

This new book, Thirty Days of Gratitude, is set to release March 2, 2012. 

Last week my grandson, Austin, came over so I could help him get started on a story he wants to write. He asked me where and how he should start. As we talked, I discovered he had already started. He took a piece of paper out of his pocket and unfolded it. Names, notes, arrows filled the page. He began showing me the name of his characters. Arrows pointed to their occupation where he had scribbled more notes. He had a full cast of characters outlined. He knew each one’s name, age, occupation, and how they related to each other throughout his story.

I asked Austin questions about his plot? He had answers for every question I threw at him. His plot had a beginning, a nice character arc, a problem to be solved. He went on to explain his ideas for clues into a mystery that the main character must solve. Then he told me how he had a twist to throw into the story at the climax of the plot. I’m thinking, “This kid has this well thought out and that’s a good ending.” Then he tells me that’s not the end yet and delivers an ending that is sure to please the reader and want another book from this young author.

I was impressed and asked Austin if anyone had ever told him how to plot a story and write a book. He said no one had, but that he had read lots of books and figured it out. Now that’s a good plan for all authors. Read what you like and study how and what the author did to make you keep turning pages.

I had one more question for Austin. “What,” I asked, “made you decide to write a book?” I expected him to say something about how much he likes to read, or that writing seemed to call out to him. Maybe he would even say that he was inspired by me, his grandmother. No.  None of that is what drew Austin to want to be a writer.

“Well,” he said, “I need some money and I thought, ‘what can a twelve-year-old kid do that will make a lot of money?’ So, I decided to write a book.”

Austin has a lot of potential as a writer. I only hope he doesn’t get disillusioned by the low pay that writers generally make. But as he told me, “A little bit of money is better than nothing.”

I showed Austin how to storyboard the ideas he has for his book. We used sticky notes and jotted down all the characters, plot points, and clues he wanted to work into his story. We rearranged the sticky notes, until the storyline began to take shape and make sense. We numbered our sticky notes and he took them home. Last night he came over with the first chapter of his book done. I read it. Will it need editing? You betcha. But is it any good. Yes! He instinctively writes to show rather than tell.

Austin may be the next great American writer. Or he might sell a few copies of his book to family and friends. Either way, he is growing and learning as an author and as an individual. I’m so proud of him. And be on the lookout for his best-seller to be released in the future. The title – The Red Glove. It promises to be a page turner.

In my next post, I’ll share more on some storyboarding ideas for other would-be writers looking for a way to organize their story ideas. Until then, don’t forget to read the greatest story ever told – God’s Word. It, too, has a great cast of characters and an awesome ending.

Writing for God’s Glory is happy to announce the release today of it’s first E-Book. Partnering for Greater Writing is now available on Amazon’s Kindle for the low price of $6.99. The electronic version of the book contains the same great advice and list of wonderful writer resources as does the hard copy of the book released June 2010.

Finding a good match for a writing or critique partner can spur you on to greater writing and greater success as a published author. A good writing partner understands a writer’s heart, fears, and thinking. It is someone whobecomes the other half of your writing journey; someone who knows and understands you. Your spouse, other family members, or friend may be supportive of your goal to become a published author but if he or she isn’t a writer, they will not understand the process and will probably think you are from another planet.

Authors, Barbara Oden and Judy Vandiver, share their experience of working together to more than double their efforts. In Partnering for Greater Writing, they share:

• Three realities of a writer’s life.
• Five reasons people fail to achieve their dream of being a published author.

• What to look for in a critique or writing partner.
• Where to find a writing partner.
• Why goal setting is important to your writing career.
• Advice on maintaining schedules.
• Fun things to spur creativity with a writing partner.
• Appendix of online resources for writers.

Partnering for Greater Writing will soon be available on Barnes and Noble’s Nook, and through Smashwords.

Update June 8, 2011 – We are still working on improving the website, but check out the new pages added and a return to an old look.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011 – Still working on website. Should be through soon.

We are working on website updates today. Some pages may be temporarily disabled. Please check back in just a little while or email us at judy@judyvandiver.com

Thank you for your patience.