Just a word… | from The Managing Director of The Word Guild

Connecting, connecting, connecting…

Posted on May 14, 2012 by denisebuddrumble

Connecting, connecting, connecting…

As I wait for the magic of the internet to open a page for me, I watch the circle go around and around – connecting, connecting, connecting.

As my impatience builds, for it is late and I am tired and my computer is tired, too, and slow, the song of the swirling circle gets louder – connecting, connecting, connecting… And then I realize, that is what life is about. Connecting.

We connect with others. We connect with ourselves. We connect with God.

Speech. Written word. Digital words. Laughter. Tears. A smile. A frown. A sigh. We can connect with or without words.

With social media, email, cell phones, tablets… well, we can be connected 24/7. And when you look at the stats for Facebook, and other such applications, it's obvious that people thrive on being connected with each other. Folks just can't get enough of it.

Hmm, seems like we're created to be connected.

The Word Guild – a place where we can connect with like-minded people, writers and editors who write from a Christian world-view.

The Word – a place where we can learn about and connect with our Creator, the One who made us to need connection.

We're all in this together…with Him.

Posted in community, The Word Guild, writing | Tagged beginning writers, community | 1 Comment

What are you doing this week?

Posted on April 30, 2012 by denisebuddrumble

What are you doing this week? Will you take time to do something you love? What do you love to do? Read? Write? Speak? Talk about The Word Guild?

Perhaps you love it when you hear from a reader, when you get a good review, when you see your byline on an article, when you find your articles in a Google search.

This coming Saturday, May 5, I will be doing two things I love!

First, I will be presenting a workshop on journaling. I presented part one in the fall, and I've been asked back, by popular demand, to do part two. I guess they can sense my passion about the topic. After all, journaling is really about story, isn't it.

Second, I will be moderating a panel. The title is "The Writing Life." And, the panellists are all author members of The Word Guild. The panel will be the plenary. This isn't the first time I've interviewed Canadian authors who are Christian for this group. I guess they can sense my passion about the topic – writing by Canadian authors who are Christian.

The group is the Church Library Association of Ontario, and it's their spring conference. They're passionate about the topics too – story and Canadian writers who are Christian. The Word Guild has introduced them to dozens of writers, and we've sold hundreds of books to them as well!

Our words are getting "out there." People are reading our words. People are reading your words.

We're all in this together…with Him.

Posted in The Word Guild, writers, writing | Tagged church library conference, CLAO, Donna Dawson, Fay Rowe, Happy Birthday The Word Guild, Kim Burgsma, Robert White, Ron Hughes, Sandra Orchard, stories, words | Leave a comment

Story Survival

Posted on April 17, 2012 by denisebuddrumble

(Last week an article I wrote for ChristianWeek was published online. I wrote it as the managing director for The Word Guild, but the topic is something I strongly believe in personally. What do you think about i t? You can read it at christianweek.org.)

Some stories are thrust upon our Canadian landscape. The Titanic tragedy is one such story. This past week the sinking of the Titanic took up a lot of space on TV, radio, blogs, and Facebook. Here is one story of one man whose story glorifies God, even in the midst of a hell on earth. (And a more complete story here.)

This account survived because people shared the story and the story was written down–a story of hope and a future in the midst of horrendous disaster and death.

For every person that has ever lived in Canada, there is a story. For every event that was ever done in God's name there are many stories. Some stories become popular and famous, and live on well past the author's lifetime. Other stories affect one life in a way that nothing else could have. God will use our stories.

These stories can be told in any format – poetry, blogs, articles, scripts, books, fiction, non-fiction, whatever. But, Canadian stories should be told with a Canadian voice. Regardless of whether you were born here or came to Canada to live, you have a Canadian voice. Your story is part of the greater Canadian story.

We are writers and editors. We are Canadian and Christian. We have a job to do for the Kingdom and God's glory. I believe that part of that job is to tell the stories of what God has done, and is doing, in Canada, and through Canadians in other parts of the world. All we have to do is write them well so others will want to read them.

What stories do you need to write?

We're all in this together…with Him.

Posted in Canada, writers, writing | Tagged ChristianWeek, stories, story, Titanic, unpublished writers | 2 Comments

Battling Advice and Discouragement

Posted on April 3, 2012 by denisebuddrumble

(Read more "How I Met The Word Guild" stories here.)

Do you remember the thrill of getting your first piece in print? Or perhaps you won a contest. It was exciting to have your work valued by someone else, wasn't it?

On the other hand when our manuscript is not accepted, or our contest entry didn't win a prize, we tend to think our work is insignificant. Then we fight a round or two or more of "Why do I even do this? Why did I think my writing would ever be good enough? Why do I put myself through this?"

As writers we often battle against the voices of discouragement and failure, and the hard blows of feeling inferior. But, we just can't turn around and walk away from it all because we bear the burden of "needing to write."

Unfortunately, the passion we have to write doesn't come with the product, the writing, all beautifully wrapped in perfection. It may be beautiful and honest and real, but rough around the edges, unrefined and green. Like any other talent it takes practice to improve. So, we write and edit and write some more. We crumple paper and delete files. We vow never to write another word. And then we write some more.

Sometimes we work up the courage and enter a contest, or ask an experienced writer or editor to review our work. And then we must prepare to hear the results.

Like anything else, we don't know what we don’t know. And, sometimes, when someone tries to give us advice our emotions swell to protect the piece we've laboured over. But, when we've swallowed our tears, accept that maybe they do know a thing or two, and read their comments and editing again, we realize that they're only trying to help us hone our craft.

If we want people, besides our best friend, to read our writing, then it must be written well enough that they'll want to read it. And that process of improving, refining and perfecting is painful.

Is it worth it? I believe that when a person has a "need to write" that will not go away, it is because God has put it there. He put it there because He wants that person to write. I have that "need to write" in me. If I don't act on it, on something God wants me to do, then I'm being disobedient to Almighty God.

But, when I write, when I'm obedient, I have peace – peace because I'm not fighting against it, peace from being obedient, peace from being who I was meant to be, a writer. And I can feel the warmth of God's smile.

We're all in this together…with Him.

Posted in writers, writing | Tagged awards, contest, discouragement, improving | 3 Comments

Looking Back: more about the beginning of the journey

Posted on March 5, 2012 by denisebuddrumble

In the last Write! On I asked you to share your stories of how you met The Word Guild. A number of you replied and you can see the stories here. If you would like to share your story please send it along to me and I'll post it on this website.

So, now, let's continue with the second part of the story of how The Word Guild began. In the words of Wendy Elaine Nelles and N. J. Lindquist…

"Ten years later, we can look back with awe at just a little of what God has done.

• The Word Guild (TWG) was formed in response to the decision of Faith Today and its publisher The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada that their mandate, budget and staffing no longer included sponsoring the annual three-day writer’s conference known as God Uses Ink (GUI).

• Up until that time, God Uses Ink was the only point of networking and nurturing Canadian writers who are Christian in Eastern Canada.

• Key volunteers who had been part of the GUI’s leadership during its first 17 years realized the importance of the conference and were determined not to allow it to die. After a series of meetings and brainstorming sessions with stakeholders, they determined that Canada needed something much larger that could build community nation-wide and help writers year-round.

• The name “The Word Guild” is based on John 1: 1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In order to recognize the dual layers of meaning of “Word” and pay tribute to the One who inspires all we do, we always capitalize “The” in all references to The Word Guild.

• TWG was founded with the mandate of “connecting, developing and promoting Canadian writers and editors who are Christian.”

• With the assistance of Denyse O’Leary and John Franklin, TWG became a project of Imago in December 2001. It was launched officially in January 2002 with N. J. Lindquist as executive director and Wendy Elaine Nelles as associate director.

• TWG philosophy and goals include:

a) Deliberately using the wording “writers who are Christian” as opposed to “Christians who write;” members do not need to write predominantly "Christian" or "inspirational" material that is published in the church press, is sold in Christian bookstores or deals with faith, religion, theology, spirituality and related subject matter. (In other words, the writer needs to be Christian, not the material.)

b) Encouraging membership from a wide range of ages, experience levels, writing genres, geographic locations, cultural backgrounds, denominational affiliations and theological beliefs. Affirmation of The Apostles’ Creed is the only requirement for membership; members are united in their desire to use their writing to glorify God and to further His kingdom.

c) Encompassing both writers and editors, as well as affiliate members who may work in related fields such as book retailing, public or church libraries, publishing firms, or are avid readers.

d) Affirming the role of members who write for mainstream press, general readership, secular markets, trade publications, business and not-for-profit clients, and in many genres including fiction, screenplays, scripts.

e) Putting a major thrust on raising the bar for excellence and increasing the professionalism of Christian writers and the work they produce.

f) Focusing on the objective of strengthening the Canadian Christian writing, editing and publishing community in order to make it a more effective voice representing Christian perspectives and positive values, and a catalyst for spiritual change.

g) By taking concrete steps to accomplish that (such as our conferences and writing awards programs), we are working toward our foundational goal of impacting the Canadian culture through the words of writers, editors and speakers with a Christian worldview."

We're all in this together…with Him.

Posted in The Word Guild, writers, writing | Tagged celebrate ten years, community, The Word Guild beginning | Leave a comment

Your stories of how you and The Word Guild met

Posted on February 22, 2012 by denisebuddrumble

(some submissions may be edited for clarity)

How I Met The Word Guild

by Diana Holvik

For years (decades) I was a “closet scribbler” and never took my own writing seriously. Then in 2008 I began tentatively admitting my secret “guilty pleasure” to a few friends. I was encouraged by a member of our church to look for a writing group and she mentioned The Word Guild. She had only sketchy information, learned by word of mouth from someone else. I looked up The Word Guild online. Read all the info, and (my memory is fuzzy here) I believe I phoned whoever was the administrator at the time (I don’t remember who it was). She was very friendly and helpful. I joined and fumbled my way through a lot of learning curves. (Never mind curves… straight up!) I had never used a listserv and it took me a while and a few blunders to know how to do that. I then took what felt like a leap off a cliff and signed up for Write! Canada. In the meantime I took another flying leap and entered the God Uses Ink Novice contest. I was shocked out of my mind when I tied for first place in the 30 and over group.

I went to Write! Canada and learned a huge lot, especially what I didn’t know that I didn’t know. I wanted to go to the following Write! Canadas but my health took a nosedive and I’ve not been able to do so. However, I follow the listserv and I have bought books on writing and read them avidly. Learned more of what I didn’t know I needed to know. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get past that stage.

I have also learned a truckload from just following the listserv and the links provided there. All the folks at TWG [The Word Guild] have been a great help and encouragement. I have made some friends, some virtual, some in the flesh. Real writing friends! It keeps getting better all the time.

I write all the time, challenging myself, learning as I go. I dream of being published. It is my goal, and despite the slow-down caused by my health, I’ll keep on keeping on.

I can honestly say without TWG I would not have made much progress, if any. I would probably still be a scribbler. Now I am a writer. And there is light on the horizon.

Thank you TWG. Thank you especially to all the ones who give so much time and energy to it.

Diana Holvik

www.connectionality.ca

dcholvik@sympatico.ca

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I can't remember what year it was, but I do remember wandering around MissionFest Toronto and came upon booth regarding The Word Guild. I spoke a bit to that lady and received more info on joining it. As this phrase has been used over and over, 'the rest was history'.

grace k chik
ydalatad@yahoo.ca
author of "Season's Blessings for You: A Collection of Christmas Stories"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I was but a hesitant writer… My husband allowed me to take a LongRidge course. My instructor for that course was none other than LINDA HALL!!!! Somewhere along the line, she suggested that I connect with TWG [The Word Guild]. So I did.

I am still here!!! I have met so many interesting and interested writers. I don't say much online, except to request prayer. God is good. He has brought us through a lot. I am closer to getting "things" going than I have been. I guess that is hopeful!!!

My membership recently came up for renewal. Although we are going through somewhat of a difficult time financially, I chose to stick with it. I feel a sense of accountability even though I haven't been writing much. AND I have received a lot of encouragement and instruction just by "listening in."

SO – that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!

Liz Volk

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I've written a book a year since 1982, mostly cookbooks and business stuff.

When I wrote and self-published Heartfelt, 366 Devotions for Common Sense Living, the first 300 copies disappeared in a hurry. I needed a professional opinion about the book.
Was it really any good? Was it worth pursuing a proper publisher?

Audrey Dorsch suggested I contact Ray Wiseman and his team. Right off, Ray told me to join The Word Guild. Then he told me how much the team liked my book!

Now I blog and write for several devotional sites.

As well, The Big Red Chair, my book for grieving children, is entered in this year's contest.

Meeting Myself, the story of my life-long struggle with bulimia just came out.

All these books are also available at Amazon and even in E form! And all because……..Heartfelt met TWG [The Word Guild].

A TWG conference [Write! Canada] and several books later…….? I recommend TWG everywhere I go.

Brenda Wood, author & speaker
Heartfelt Devotionals, 366 devotions for common sense living
Meeting Myself, Snippets from a Binging and Bulging Mind
The Big Red Chair – storybook for grieving children
http://heartfeltdevotionals.wordpress.com
facebook – www.facebook.com/brendawoodspeaker

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hi,

I had my first book published in July 2011, called An Angel Before Me. It was very well received and several people commented on the website essencebookstore.com since Essence Publishers put out the book. I am now on my second printing and very excited. Also I have completed a second manuscript which still requires a lot of polishing. Essence has seen an excerpt and agreed to publish it as well.

A friend of mine, Brenda Wood, author and motivational speaker, was already a member of The Word Guild and has had a number of books published, so she recommended that I join The Word Guild. Since that time I have sent in my book to The Word Guild’s Writing Contest [Canadian Christian Writing Awards] because I do believe I can learn a great deal from the judges’ comments on it. I have also started a blog on WordPress at the encouragement of the same friend.

I am presently making tentative plans to attend a Writers’ Conference in 2013, God willing, so will be keeping in touch with all of the advice The Word Guild offers on its site.

Sincerely yours,
Sharon Y. Greer
sygreer1.wordpress.com

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I've written several poems concerning Christmas. One titled "CHRISTMASTIME" can be sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells" but musicians seem unwilling to use a secular tune.

I had my "born again" experience about two years after my first wife Mary died, when Eric Richards of "Open air Campaigners" from Australia came to Fairbank Baptist Church in 1967. Afterwards I found I could write poems almost as easy as breathing sometimes, when in the mood.

I think it was Audrey Dorsch that introduced me to The Word Guild. A friend and I went to Redeemer College [God Uses Ink writing conference - now called Write! Canada]. I also went to [the conference in] Waterloo, but for health reasons I have been unable to follow up.

There is much more – 3 books, many poems. One book "God's Creation – My Inspiration" (2007) has about 100 poems in it.

Donald W. Dolson

Posted in community, The Word Guild, writing | Tagged stories | Leave a comment

How did you and The Word Guild meet?

Posted on February 20, 2012 by denisebuddrumble

Since those humble beginnings in 2002, The Word Guild has grown to about 400 members. Each one has a story of how they "met" The Word Guild. You can read my story here.

How did you meet The Word Guild? Please send me your story and I'll post it here.

We're all in this together…with Him.

Posted in community, The Word Guild, writers, writing | Tagged story, The Word Guild beginning | Leave a comment

Looking Back

Posted on February 7, 2012 by denisebuddrumble

Sometimes organizations are birthed out of a life-long dream, a strategic plan, or just to create a few jobs. But, in the case of The Word Guild it was a different story. What happened was that…

Actually, Wendy Elaine Nelles and N. J. Lindquist were there. So, why don't we let them tell the story?

"It wasn't as if we sat down one day and said, "We're bored. We've got nothing else to do. Let's start a new organization for writers in Canada." No, it didn't happen that way at all. In fact, at first we didn’t even know what was happening, or where it would lead.

All we knew was that Faith Today was no longer going to sponsor the annual God Uses Ink (GUI) Christian writers’ conference, and so—after 17 years—it was going to be no more.

Wendy and N. J. and a number of others who had been involved with GUI (including Audrey Dorsch, Bill Fledderus, Robert White, Ray Wiseman, Grace Snip, Helena Smrcek, Krysia Lear, Denyse O’Leary, Sandy McMurray and more) were determined that it shouldn’t die. It was all we had. And many of us had even met many of our best friends there.

So we set out to keep GUI going.

It didn’t come easy. There was a lot of work the summer and fall of 2001. And as we talked and planned, we realized that more was needed. Not just an annual conference in Southern Ontario, but a nation-wide gathering. Not just a way to network with friends and help the “newbies” get going, but a way to connect like-minded people across Canada, to increase their skills and their professionalism, and to impact the individuals and communities of our nation—and beyond—with the words of writers and editors who have a Christian worldview. We saw a need for a new sense of excellence in the art, craft, practice and ministry of writing for those who are Christian. A need to work together as team so that each one of us grows and takes on more challenges and becomes more effective.

And N. J. heard the words that were to echo in her mind for the next seven years: there is strength in numbers.

Ten years later, we can look back with awe at just a little of what God has done. "

We're all in this together…with Him.

Posted in The Word Guild | Tagged celebrate ten years, church library conference, Happy Birthday The Word Guild, The Word Guild beginning, working together | Leave a comment

A new thing…

Posted on January 24, 2012 by denisebuddrumble

Connecting, connecting, connecting…

(Last week an article I wrote for ChristianWeek was published online. I wrote it as the managing director for The Word Guild, but the topic is something I strongly believe in personally. What do you think about it? You can read it at christianweek.org.)

(some submissions may be edited for clarity)

(Last week an article I wrote for ChristianWeek was published online. I wrote it as the managing director for The Word Guild, but the topic is something I strongly believe in personally. What do you think about i t? You can read it at christianweek.org.)