Touching Your Readers Through Devotionals

Jo Huddleston

Successful writers strive to touch their readers and prompt them to action or reaction. An effective way to do this is through writing devotionals. When a particular subject has influenced you, you have a passion you can share through a devotional.

 However, the devotional is not your avenue to preach to your reader or to be judgmental. If this is your agenda when you write a devotional, you will likely lose the reader’s attention soon after she begins reading your article.

Writing devotionals will give you opportunities to offer your reader hope, not a sermon. Avoid using words like must, should, and ought. Also avoid lofty and theological vocabulary. The devotional is not a formal paper. Write clear and precise prose from an ordinary person’s viewpoint.
           
Devotionals, sometimes called meditations, fall into the category of a quick read. Don’t be misled, however, into thinking that short on length endorses the absence of quality writing. Devotionals should meet the same requirements of good writing as any other manuscript worthy of publication.
           

Format
The format of your devotional may vary from magazine to magazine. Word length may also vary but not to a great extent. Meditations known as daily devotionals usually contain about 250 words and have similar format. Meditations other than daily devotionals can range upwards to 600 words.
 Most devotionals begin with a Bible verse, followed by the story narration and application and usually end with a one- or two-line prayer that summarizes the entire devotional. Before you start writing your devotional know your target publication’s specific format and word length requirements as stated in their guidelines.

 Passion and Emotion

Devotionals that impact your reader are ones you write from your heart, not your head. Yes, your ideas begin in your head but if you don’t have passion for that idea in your heart, you won’t touch your reader as well as you can when the passion is present. Devotional writing must be sincere and honest; don’t try to fake the passion. You can’t. Readers can spot a phony.

When you begin your devotional, you will have your idea first but you already will have experienced a compelling emotion about this idea. And the idea, combined with your compelling emotion about it, forms a powerful devotional.

Insight
In your devotional, write about common things that are known to most people. Don’t use an example unfamiliar to a general audience.

Through a devotional, you can give your reader meaningful insight into commonplace situations. Be attentive to what’s happening around you and discover how stories in the Bible pertain to your activities.

Focus

The focus of a devotional is narrow. With its length restrictions, the devotional can’t take your reader through the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. You don’t have time to tell what Adam, Moses, David, and the twelve disciples thought about your topic. To focus in your devotional is like looking through a telescope. You can’t see an entire galaxy, but look at one star at a time. Each devotional should focus on only one point.

The Take-away

A well-written devotional can offer your reader encouragement in his circumstances. Give him a “take-away,” something beneficial in your story that he can use in his everyday living. Through your devotionals, you can touch your reader on an emotional level, an experience he won’t soon forget.
Everyday incidents can remind us of how God works in lives. Perhaps you have discovered a special meaning from a Bible verse you’ve studied. Maybe God has become real to you while working through a difficult situation.
Your readers so they may apply what you’ve experienced to their lives. An impressive devotional has a take-away value for your readers that is meaningful not only immediately, but for days and weeks to come.

Audience

The audience for devotionals is widespread when published in some daily devotionals. A popular daily devotional guide, The Upper Room, is read or listened to by eight to ten million people in forty different languages.

Marketing Your Devotional
When you look in market guides you will find an extensive listing of religious magazines. Some of them state a need for “inspirational” articles, which sometimes can be interpreted to mean devotional-type articles. Read the information given for each magazine and request writers’ guidelines from those periodicals that interest you. Be sure to enclose your SASE for a reply if you request by mail.

Many selections for daily devotionals are written on assignment only. When you choose a daily devotional you want to write for, send a brief letter stating your interest in writing for them. Ask how you can gain an assignment. Some use only writers from their denomination, and aren’t easily deceived if you try to write like you are one of them when you aren’t.
 Many daily devotionals use first-time writers. They publish 365 meditations each year, making this market more open to writers than some.

Rights Offered
Appearing in several publications lessens the impact of the short but widely distributed daily devotional. For that reason, when you write on assignment for daily devotional publications, expect them to ask for all rights to your manuscript. When deciding whether you want to relinquish your rights, weigh the value to you of the vast audience you will touch and the reach of your story to affect people’s lives.

Getting Paid

Although great monetary wealth is unusual when selling your devotionals, the opportunities for Christian ministry are great. Because of circulation into the hundreds of thousands, a writer of devotionals can reach far more readers and touch many more lives than a first printing of a book that is usually 5,000-20,000 copies. Your story in the Billy Graham Association’s Decision magazine will reach almost 2 million people and The Lookout magazine’s circulation exceeds 100,000.

Why write devotionals? Through a good devotional, you can give your readers hope and encouragement to help them in their daily lives. After reading your devotional, readers can identify with your main idea and perhaps say, “I never knew anyone else felt like this.”

         
Write your devotional well, and it will touch your reader and help him to deal with life’s situations.

  Jo Huddleston is an author and inspirational writer. Visit her at www.johuddleston.com                               

What's Next? Getting Organized After a Writers Conference

Edie Melson

 

Writers ADVANCE! Writers Boot Camp is now just a memory (hopefully a really GOOD memory) and the euphoria of being with other writers has dissipated. You may have noticed a correlation between the excitement waning and the doubts returning. It’s not uncommon to come away from a conference with enthusiasm, only to have it replaced with insecurity after a few days at home.

My suggestion—don’t let that insecurity dig in and take root—get organized and get busy. Here are a few things you can do to capitalize on the connections you made and the things you learned while in the mountains.

• Make a list. Actually, make several. Start by writing down every one you talked with who asked you to submit something. Then list everything you learned that you want to immediately incorporate into your writing life. For example, if you’re a novelist you make have learned the difference between showing and telling and want to go back and incorporate it into your current manuscript. Finally, make a list of all the confirmations and positive things you heard during the week.
• Set your priorities. Obviously you can’t do everything at once. I recommend you pick a couple of things to start on immediately. Pick one short thing and one longer. 
• Commit to a due date. Even if you haven’t been given a date by someone else, set your own. Otherwise you’ll find the days become weeks, the weeks become months, and next year you’re right back where you started.
• Find an accountability partner or group. For me, it’s easier if that person’s also a writer. Other writers seem to instinctively know when I need a kick in the pants or a shoulder to cry on. Here are a couple of ways to find one if you don’t already have one.
• Look at the contacts you made at Blue Ridge and start sending emails. It doesn’t matter if the writers you connect with are near or far—with the Internet we’re all just a click away.
• Look for a local writers group and visit. 
• Come up with a schedule. Look at your lifestyle and carve out some regular time to write. It doesn’t have to be a normal time—but it does need to be consistent. When I first started out my kids were little, so my writing time was unconventional. I waited until my kids and my husband were asleep and then I wrote from about midnight until three or four in the morning. My husband would get the kids up and off to school and I would sleep in. Then I’d do my household stuff and be fresh when the kids got home from school. We’d have family/couple time in the evenings and then I’d be back to writing. Like I said, unconventional, but it worked for us. That’s the key—find what works for you.

Hopefully these tips will help keep your writing on track. If you’ve come up with other ways to get on track after the conference, leave a comment and share them with us!

Fiction, Non-Fiction or Simply to Write - Cindy Sproles

I field writing questions on a daily basis. Ask me about a devotion and I can bolt upright from a dead sleep and recite the Hook, Book, Look and Took method of writing, why you should use it and how it impacts the reader. Then there are moments I have to resort to writing books or other authors who have a greater grasp of knowledge than myself. I'm not always the expert but I am always learning.

When conference time comes and folks line up for their 15 minute appointments there is one thing I continually hear: "I don't write fiction." or "I don't write non-fiction." I understand the love of a specific genre. Some of us are strong in the fictional process where others' voice weighs heavy in non-fictional stories and articles. Hearing those words, "I don't write..." sends chills through me when the art of writing is still writing.

Grant you, learning your target type of writing is vital but should you close your mind to the other side of the spectrum? If you're a fiction writer should you not learn the tools for writing non-fiction or vice versa?

Writing is a craft and like any craft the methods can intertwine. For example, I have a friend who is an excellent knitter. I'm learning to crochet. Both crafts are somewhat interchangeable. They both require needles, yarn, instructions and a specific way to hold the yarn. Both require me to count stitches, single out rows and attach more stitches. Both demand I follow a pattern to start my first row, make the design and finish the project.

The same is true with writing. Fiction and non-fiction are intertwined to a point. Non-fiction projects require me to follow a storyline pathway just as fiction dictates I build and follow a plot. I have to get from point A to point B in a way that holds the reader's attention and makes them want to read more. Be it fiction or non-fiction my work needs to follow a path from beginning to end to keep my reader on track.

Fiction characters demand personality and attributes, even flaws to pour to the surface. The reader can fall into stride along side the character and walk the path with them if they understand why and how a character acts the way they do. The same character traits are needed in non-fictional characters. Even though those characters already have a personality built, it's up to you to flesh out the attributes of those characters so a reader will connect. You see....intertwined.

Painting a scene colors the fiction world. It shows the reader the surroundings and the situation where your characters live. Within non-fiction, a reader needs to see the scenes of the story you tell. They need to see inner dialogue and conversation so they are drawn into a deeper connection with the characters of the story.

My point is simple. Learn writing as a whole. Of course focus on your strength as a fiction or non-fiction writer but learn the skills of both. A writer who does this rounds out their work. They weave a story that uniquely ties the little details into life-changing moments. Their work goes from good to memorable and we want our stories to be memorable.

My mother and cousin are avid readers. I qualify that by saying they average reading two or three novels a week. Two weeks after they've read six to nine novels, they can recall the book title and maybe the name of the author. The books they've read are good reads but they are not memorable. Slip in Max Lucado, Francine Rivers or Frank Peretti and they can recall the book chapter by chapter. Why? Because the story was memorable. The writers incorporated tiny pieces of writing fiction and non-fiction into their work and wow! What a mark it makes.

When you see a workshops on writing, soak them in. Learn the craft of writing because writing is still writing. Will you need every little thing you learn? Probably not but will you be able to incorporate tidbits and make your work better.

Finally, don't lock yourself into a box. If you write fiction as your primary, venture out and learn to write articles, how-to's and memoirs. If you're a non-fiction writer, venture into the world of fiction and learn the skill. The only result you will have is a better piece of writing. When you write for God, you never know what road He'll send you down. Love the craft. Learn it. Then write it.

Write Right - Cindy Sproles

As a writer, I make mistakes. I'm my own worst editor. I spend hours pouring over my work; reading and re-reading each line. I'm lucky if my eyes over ride my head long enough to catch a misspelled word or bad grammer. I often wish I were a better editor of my own pieces. I can edit the work of others much easier than my own. Still, before I send anything to anyone in hopes of publication, I pay to have it edited and proofed.

Why is that? A couple of reasons. First, I take pride in my work. Before I send it out, I want it to be the very best it can be. This is my gift from God and though I'm far from perfect, I make every effort to make the words the best they can be in honor of the Father who entrusted me with His gift.

Secondly, I hate slush piles and the quickest way to a slush pile...no...let me rephrase, the trash can. The quickest way to the trash can beside an editors desk is to send them a piece of work filled with mistakes.

I edit devotions daily for Christian Devotions and I'm always amazed at how little writers care about their work. For example, I got a devotion written like this:

i walked across the stage. susan and joe starred at me. i wanted to cry or through something at them.

Now, let me qualify the above by saying those are not the words I received but the mistakes were. Technology is wonderful but it's made us a society of lazy writers. Texting contains no puncuation or capital letters. Folks are so acustomed to having their photo attached to their message they've forgotten the meaning of signing their names.

So I agree with publishers and editors...we have a generation of lazy writers.

Writers spend hundreds of dollars to attend writers conferences to learn the finer points of writing and publication, yet they refuse to spend a few pennies to have their work proofed and edited. Why would one climb the stairs and then stop before they get to the stage? Go figure.

After a day of editing devotions which required the love of a pen as opposed to the keyboard of an iphone, I've decided to offer some do's and do not's as a reminder for writers.

1) Worship God with the words He's blessed you with and offer Him your best work.
2)  Find a proof reader and proof all your work before it hits the internet to an editor's
     desk.
3)  Remember you are a writer and writers use real words not initials or short cuts like
     lol, 4ever and cu later.
4)  Practice using your shift key to CAPITALIZE the first letter of a sentences.
5)  Put your name on your work. Please put your name on your work. You wrote it. You
     own it. Claim it.
6) Craft your words. Stretch your vocabulary. Strive to write old things in a newer
    stronger way.
7) Do your research. Take pride in the accuracy of your work. If you're writing about
    National Kennel Club, make sure your facts are correct.
8) Write your words and don't borrow other's words without their permission and giving
     them credit.
9) Follow the guidelines. They're there for a reason and it's not to make your life hard. I
    entered my novel in the ACFW Genesis Contest. The guidelines were long and
    detailed but they were there so each judge would be able to read my work
    without issue. They're a necessary evil. Follow them.
10) "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not
     need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

Take pride in the gifts you are graced with. Use them to the glory of God.

I will officially step down from my soapbox and go back to editing. Did anyone proof my blog post? Andrea...are you there, there, there....

Someone Bled on My Paper - Cindy Sproles

I sat across the table from a young woman at Greater Philadelphia Writers Conference. Eyes red and tissue waded tight in her palm, I listened as she told me how a critique group shredded her work. I dread these moments, especially with new writers because there is justice on both sides of the table. Still it saddens me when I see new writers broken from the criticism of their peers.

My first conference I experienced the same thing. I'd worked hard on children's story only to have it sliced, diced and bled upon. I sat in my room pouring over the pages, beating myself up when I realized, "Hey, I'm new at this. I'm learning." How was I to grow as a writer if every remark someone made sent me into tail spins?

That day I set some personal parameters into place and I've shared them over and over. Here's my rules on handling critiques and critique groups.

1)     Don' t marry your words - The greatest lesson I learned was not to marry my words. There are always better words, tighter words, cleaner words and my willingness to look beyond my own window of   thought allowed me to not only grow as a writer but to refine my work.

2)     It's not personal - Critiques are not personal. They're not meant to be accusing, make you feel stupid or tear you down. When you sit in the hot seat remember those who look at your work are not judging you, they're trying to help you hone the craft. Learn to look outside your 50 cent piece size of work to find a dollar-size chunk of great information.

3)     Writing is subjective - What appeals to one, will not to the next. A sentence may read   awkward to one but fine to another. It's important to take into account what others suggest then let your heart tell you what advice is best for you and your style of writing. Imagine taking everyone's advice at once...nothing would make sense.

4)     Find a critique group that fits - Critique groups can be wonderful and then not. When you look for a critique search for a group with varied skill sets. By that I mean, look for groups with writers a step above you and below you. This allows you to continue to learn and grooms you to teach. If you are in a group where members are all the same level, the value of the critique will lessen.

5)      Practice the Golden Rule - Do to others as you would have them do for you. Be kind. Even poor writers deserve the opportunity to be lifted up a notch. When you critique, look for good qualities as well as those things which need to be addressed. Offer a gentle and loving hand to others. Ultimately, you will find great reward in what you do for others.

6)     If you dish it out...take it - For some it's easier to dish out the criticism rather than take it.  If you are unable to handle this type of help then don't offer to help others. The reason is simple: Attitude. If your attitude is not in check you're not effective or gentle to others.

7)     Your work is probably not bad - Our first inclination upon seeing a page covered in is red is, "I'm not a good writer." Here's the hard part...Let go of the pity party and knuckle down to working out the bugs.

8)     Take things in stride - In a good critique a writer will get tons of feedback. Look through, pick and choose what fits your style of writing and then start to tweak.

9)     Study your critique - The rule of thumb is a writer will begin to repeat the same mistakes after page two. Study the comments you receive and look for a pattern. If you're seeing the same things over and over, you have your first clue there's an area you need to work on.

10) Be thankful - Within the realms of Christian writing you will find more authors willing to share their knowledge than any other place. Be a willing soul. Listen, learn then turn to someone else and offer the same kind of help. There's room for us all. 

Follow these few rules on critiques and you'll walk away a happier writer. Remember, critiques are meant to help you move your work forward. Keep an open mind.

Assignment Four - Prepare a One-Sheet

Diana Flegal

When you attend conferences and meet with agents and editors, you need to prepare a One Sheet to offer them at your appointment time.

This one sheet should fit on ONE page.

The title of you book, it's genre and word count, should be placed at the top of your page, along with your name.

Example:
A second Chance for Family
55,000 word Middle Reader
by Diana Flegal

Next: Think query letter.

The first words under the heading should be your 'tag line'.

Example:
Single mother meets tragic end, leaving 7 yr old Christy Miller orphaned with no living relatives.

Following your tag line should be one to two paragraphs defining the story's plot and conclusion. (Yes, you must reveal the end of your story. Agents and editors do not want to be left guessing the ending.)

Example:
When a tragic accident leaves 7 year old Christy Miller an orphan, an overloaded foster care system looses track of the girl. Resourceful, she manages to live off the street until a bag lady takes her under her wing, and introduces her to Sister Clarisse. Clarisse volunteers at the soup kitchen and lost her husband and son in a way similar to how Christy lost her mother.

Christy is quickly drawn into this loving soup kitchen's misfit family by Sister Clarisse's warm, funny and joyous spirit. She accepts the invitation to sleep on Clarisses couch. After all, winter is on it's way and the streets have lost their adventourous attraction. Clarisse considers what God's plan might be while gently guiding Christy back toward a God that might just still love her after all. After a few months pass, Clarisse asks Christy if she would like to become a permanant member of her 'family' through legal adoption. Christy flies into her loving arms, accepting the offer that answers her nightly prayers.

Follow this with a short bio.

Example:

Author Diana Flegal lives in lovely Asheville NC where she writes from a deck overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her dog Molly drags her from her office periodically to explore the mountain paths and clarify her thoughts. She is a member of ACFW and belongs to the Christian Writers of Black Mountain, a critique group.

Note: You may add appropriate graphics to your page as well as a small personal head-shot at the bottom beside your bio. Just be sure not to over do it. You want the story to be the main emphasis, not your artistic talents or ability to cut and paste a lot of clip art. Use bright color with restraint.

We have attached a few example's of books that have been sold or are under consideration by publishers at this time, with the permission of the authors.

Simple is fine if that is what you are comfortable with. I would rather you have the content correct. Do not be afraid to try this assignment, just do your best.

How to Write a Synopsis - Cindy Sproles

Writing a synopsis is the most difficult part of writing a novel. Why? Primarily because we try to write the novel again rather than summarize it.

What is a synopsis? A synopsis is an abbreviated summary of the story. It should contain major characters, major plot points, conflict, a hook and how the story ends. Think of it as “Cliff notes.”

Writing a synopsis should not be hard. The story is already written (or should be).  Well versed writers can whip out a synopsis on an unwritten story due to their extensive skill in plotting a story and knowing where and how they want their story to begin and end. But for the inexperienced writer, the new writer, a synopsis can be a pothole.

Start with the basics.

1)      1-2 pages in length

2)      Single spaced

3)      Written in 3rd person, narrative

4)      Primary Character’s names CAPITALIZED AND BOLDED the first time they are introduced

5)      1” margins all around

6)      Justify left

7)      Author name and contact, agent contact, word count, genre information in a HEADER

8)      Center the title, drop 4 lines (or hit enter 4 times) and begin

9)      Start with a hook

10)  Set up the conflict quickly

11)  Introduce most significant character first

12)  Highlight pivotal plot points that move the story

13)  Don’t explain the entire novel, just tell what happens.

14)  REVEAL THE ENDING

15)  Don’t interject long strings of dialogue

1 & 2) As a general rule, and remember…rules all have exceptions so you should ALWAYS check submission guidelines, a synopsis is 2 pages in length, single spaced.  Depending on the novel or non-fiction book you are writing, this may vary.  The rule of thumb for intense, heavily plotted and sub-plotted works is one synopsis page per 25 novel pages. However, most of us aren’t writing that type of book. So remember, the shorter the better. It shows you can write concise and sum up the story.

3) Most synopses are written In 3^rd person, narrative, present tense.    i.e. Mercy, the daughter of THE PASTOR and TILDA MAE ROLLER, stands on the river bank watching the Pastor baptize a crippled man. She listens as he rants the man’s sin then buries him under the water again and again, holding STANLEY FARMER beneath the icy current until he drowns. Church members try to stop the drowning but by the time they pull the Pastor off Stanley, it’s too late.

4) Main characters are capitalized and bolded at the first mention of their names. i.e. MERCY ROLLER was the daughter of a circuit riding pastor in mountains of Appalachia.  Only bold and capitalize PRIMARY Characters as they enter into the story.

5 & 6) Set your margins 1 inch on all borders. Justify left. Do not center your paragraphs. However, double space between your paragraphs.

7) HEADERS…learn to use them. Microsoft Word allows you to set a header that will run continuously from page to page. It should contain your personal contact information on the left (name, address, email and phone numbers) , agent information on the right along with word count and genre. The center should have your last name a slash (/) and the title of your piece  i.e. Stanley/Rushing Waters

John Stanley                          Stanley/Rushing Waters                  Lou Stowe, Agent

1011 Rock Road                                                                        Stowe Agency

Booster, NV   37001                                                                 100 Main Street

000-000-0000                                                                           Rochester, MN 00000 Stanley@yahoo.com                                                                   lstowe@stoweagency.com

                                                                                                  Suspense/70,000 words      

8) Drop down four lines (or hit enter 4 times), center the word synopsis, double space and center your title.

9 - 12) Just like your novel, start with a hook. A synopsis is your “pitch.” Continue to think of that as you craft it. Sell your characters with their attributes, attitudes and motivations. Draw your reader into the summary and keep them there.  Move through your novel picking key plot points and showing how the character works through them, the impact they make and their conflicts.

Agents, editors and Publishers need to know the route the story is going. They will read your synopsis long before they read the first page of a chapter. If they can’t get a good plot line, strong characters and conflict out of your synopsis, then they’ll toss it over their shoulder  into the trash. It’s a hard fact, but it’s true. Writing is subjective and regardless what you write, if you cannot present a solid story that holds the reader, it won’t be published.

13) Don’t rewrite the novel. Here is where the skill comes into play. SUMMARIZE the most important parts of the story. Drop a line of dialogue in (but only if it’s valuable). SELL THE STORY.

14) Reveal the ending. This is no time to leave an editor hanging. They aren’t looking for the cliff hanger. They want to know how the story starts, how it moves and HOW IT ENDS.

15) Don’t interject long strings of dialogue. Only use dialogue if it is a changing point in the story. It must be IMPORTANT. Otherwise, remember, you’re the narrator telling the story, showing tempting bits of actions and making the reader hungry for more.

Every synopsis will vary. Every publisher and agent will require your synopsis to be tweaked to their guidelines. Before you write it be sure to do your research.                                                                                                                          

Why Do We Write? - Ann Tatlock

As I write this, my heart is broken. Two days ago, I felt it crack and splinter into a hundred hurting pieces.

You see, there was a little boy named Sam. I met him when he was seven years old, just after we moved into a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. His mother became a very dear friend of mine. His little sister became my daughter’s friend. The kids would come over to our house to play. I’d take them to the pool, the park, the lake, all the while savoring that unique joy of watching children have fun. After we moved to North Carolina, they came to visit us here. The last time we saw them was when we visited Minnesota in the summer of 2010. The years had gone by and the children had grown into teenagers.

Thursday of last week, Sam went missing. On Friday morning, he was found in a field of snow, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He left a note, but no reason. He was 17 years old.

When his mother called me, we wept together for more than an hour. For as long as I live, I will never forget her anguished cry, “Where is God in all this, Ann? Where is God?”

Why do you write? Why do I write? Is it so that we might experience what the world calls success? Is it for recognition? Awards? Money? Is it so we have a means whereby we can measure our own self-worth?

There is nothing inherently wrong with wanting to succeed. There is nothing wrong with wanting remuneration for the work we do. Nor is there anything wrong with longing for the satisfaction of seeing our words in print. But it is not these that are at the core of our calling. Not if we are Christian writers. Not if we have been called by God.

We live our lives within and daily move through a world of hurt. We’re knee-deep in suffering and surrounded by voices crying out, “Where is God?”

We write to tell them that He is here with us. We cannot always tell them what He’s doing because we very often don’t know. But we do know Him. We know His love. We know His mercy. We are sure of His goodness, even when our hearts are crushed.

As writers, we are one small part of God’s voice answering the cries, telling men and women to hold fast because there’s hope. This world doesn’t include the entire story because the ending isn’t found here. The ending lies somewhere else. And in that final place, the broken will be mended, the senseless will make sense, and we’ll know that God is with us and always has been because we ourselves will be with Him.

If you believe this, make it the reason you write. When you go to your desk, your laptop, your computer today, let it be with the purpose of telling the world about our blessed hope.

**Ann Tatlock is a Christy Award winning author and serves as faculty at Blue Ridge Mountians Christian Writers Conference. Ann has taught special writing classes at Taylor University. Visit her at http://www.anntatlock.com/