Friday, April 27, 2012

About Writing Prompts

Hello all, Jennifer Hallmark here. My writing friends, Christina Rich and
Betty Thomason Owens, and I welcome you to our new reference blog for
writers, Writing Prompts & Thoughts & Ideas…Oh My. Whether you are an
established author, writing as a hobby, or need help with a school project,
this is the blog for you.

Each month, we’ll introduce a new topic of reference,and a new post on
Tuesdays and Fridays. We hope to spark ideas, provoke thought, and provide
prompts to enrich and challenge your writing skills. And it will be a
smorgasbord of fun.

Think of this blog as a word cafeteria, a neighborhood place where you drop
by, grab a tray, and fill up on ideas, thoughts, and prompts. Visit as
often as you like. Future topics include nature, holidays, weather,
apparel, and places to visit. So come by often, we’re always open.

Meet Jennifer


Jennifer Hallmark here: writer by nature, artist at heart, and daughter of God by His grace. With over 160 articles on the internet, my attention has moved to southern fiction. I’ve published three short stories with Harpstring Magazine within the last year in this genre. I’m currently writing my third novel in the Journey of Grace series, and also a contemporary southern fiction novel, “When Weddings and Holidays Collide.” My website is www.jenniferhallmark.com

A little more…I’ve been writing forever it seems, but decided to pursue writing as a career seven years ago, taking community and online classes to hone my skills. Five years of writing, editing, and publishing a church newsletter, and eleven years in women’s ministry had given me invaluable experience and more than a few stories. I love stories. There is no better way to connect with people than combining the Word of God with a story or parable.

Thirty years of marriage, a beautiful daughter, sweet son-in-law, handsome son, his beautiful wife, and two precious granddaughters complete my life. If I wrote twenty-four hours a day for the rest of my time on earth, I could never give enough to God to repay Him for all He has done for me. The wonderful thing is that He doesn’t ask me to pay him. What a God we serve!

Meet Betty


Wall of Gum
Born in the Pacific northwest, Betty Thomason Owens grew up in Southern California and West Tennessee. The daughter of a self-proclaimed nomad, she attended eleven different schools by the time she graduated high school in Louisville, Kentucky. She and her husband, an EIT (electronics instrumentation technician), have three sons, three beautiful daughters-in-law, four granddaughters and two grandsons.

An office manager/bookkeeper for the last 14 years, Thomason Owens is looking forward to retiring so she can pursue her other loves--gardening, cooking, spending time with the grands, and of course, writing. She began writing in the 1980’s, historical fiction, romance, fantasy-adventure, mysteries, and short-stories.

Meet Christina

#3415 Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, Abilene, KS

Christina is a full-time domestic engineer when she isn’t helping her husband with their upholstery business. She resides in Northeast Kansas with her husband and children. 
 
She loves to fish, read, research and of course, write.

Christina's Scottish romance manuscript has finaled in the Golden Claddagh, Tampa Area Romance Writers, and Smoky Mountain Romance Writers the Laurie. She is also a 2012 Genesis semi-finalist.

If you'd like more information about Christina you can find her at www.christinarich.wordpress.com  

Christina and her youngest daughter enjoying a ride on #3415

Meet The Writing Prompts Crew



















Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Craft Resources

Recommendations by Jennifer

*How to Grow a Novel by Sol Stein
*Write His Answer (devotional) by Marlene Bagnull
*Self-editing For Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King
*The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman
*The Complete Guide to Christian Writing and Speaking by Susan Titus Osborn
*The Art of War for Writers by James Scott Bell
*Revision and Self-editing by James Scott Bell
*Writing Fiction For All You're Worth by James Scott Bell (E-book)
*A Writer's Survival Guide to Getting Published by Terry Burns
*All leadership and success books by John C. Maxwell

Recommendations by Betty
Getting Into Character by Brandilyn Collins
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus

Recommendations by Christina

English Through the Ages by William Brohaugh (This was recommended by a friend. After reviewing it it's a must have for historical writers)
Merriam Webster's Dictionary & Thesaurus
Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell
The Writer's little Helper by James V. Smith, Jr.
Hooked: Write fiction that grabs readers at page one & never let never lets them go by Les Edgerton
Goal, Motivation & Conflict by Debra Dixon

Friday, April 6, 2012