ACFW Book of the Year judging

Captain’s Log, Stardate 04.30.2005

I just got my ACFW Book of the Year judging packet. Looking over the score sheets, I realized that this is very much like a contest for an unpublished writer. The authors are receiving anonymous feedback from readers who can freely give opinions on things like character, conflict, motivation. Many times, I’ve read a book where the character is inconsistent, or the conflict isn’t strong enough, or the motivation isn’t quite believable, but I’ve never written to the author to complain.

I can see how this might be scary for an author. I know I’d be freaking out.

I was just talking with a friend of mine last night about Christian fiction. While much of it is excellent quality, there are a few that really disappoint. It doesn’t even matter sometimes if the authors are new or multi-published.

Some things are blatant and unprofessional--I recently read a Christian book where the heroine had absolutely no goal and no conflict with characters in the first several scenes. There was conflict between the secondary characters, but I didn’t like any of them and I certainly wasn’t rooting for any of them. I couldn’t go on--it was just too boring.

Some things are more subtle, but I still wonder how this got past various critique partners (if the author had any) and the editor. I read several books with strong characters who would then do something horribly dumb with not enough good motivation to do it. I call those “Too Stupid to Live” moments. Or else a character will do something and I really can’t understand why, it just doesn’t make logical sense.

However, that being said, I am praying God gives me wisdom and love in judging these books, to be honest in both my praise and criticism. I don’t anticipate poor writing in any of these books, but I guess the sudden freedom of saying exactly what I want has me feeling a bit nervous, just in case I don’t like the book for whatever reasons. I’m probably being silly.

Writing: I got a bit done last night on outlining my wip, but then I read the guidelines for Barbour and I’m freaking out. My storyline is more like a Chicklit, since this is a Chicklit anthology, but I wonder if I need to write it more like a straight romance. Can I write in the straight romance elements and still keep the Chicklit atmosphere? Will I be happy with the finished product?

Diet: I ran for four days this week, and I’m hoping to run a little today with the dog before going to Youth Group meeting. I weighed in and I’ve lost about a pound. I need to work on my portion sizes.

I haven’t felt hungry or deprived the past week, and I think it’s because I’m kind of careful with my food choices, and my lapses are made up for by the exercise. I can’t eat whatever I want, whenever I want, but I think I can indulge sometimes in not-so-good things for me as long as I’m careful with my portions and I keep up an exercise regimen.

Comments

Camy Tang said…

Thanks for stopping by, Sarah! I can't believe you actually have a blog for LIT CLASS. That's so . . . wierd. But cool. And remember, being a Trekkie is NOT A BAD THING.

Camy

Sun May 01, 10:57:00 PM 2005

Grace Livingston Hill romances free on Google Books

I wanted to update my old post on Grace Livingston Hill romances because now there are tons more options for you to be able to read her books for free online! I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses . And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel. I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love. And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fasci

Sweet May Stories

I’m participating in this promo. Click on the graphic to check out all the Christian romance and suspense books available and stuff your eBook reader! Sweet May Stories

FREE: The Vow by D.L. Wood

Join D.L.’s email list to get this story free! From USA Today and Amazon bestselling author D.L. Wood Kate’s husband Erik left her a year ago, ending their marriage without warning for a trust-fund twenty-something and her global-hopping, luxurious lifestyle. Now Kate is spending one last Christmas at her family’s Smoky Mountains cabin before selling it to raise cash. But when nostalgia moves her to keep the place, things quickly turn sinister, suggesting all is not what it seems. Someone is watching her...stalking her...leaving disturbing messages...convincing Kate that something truly dark is at work. As the disturbing episodes ramp up, and Kate feels the danger closing in, will she uncover what's really going on before it’s too late? Get it now for free!

Romans 15:13

Romans 15:13 Dear Lord, Thank you that you are the God of hope. Thank you that I can trust in you and hope for something better because you are in control of everything around me. Help me to be filled with your joy as I focus on you to sustain me in the midst of trials. Let your power flow into me to make me strong in my faith and in my hope in you. Amen ローマ15:13 親愛なる主よ、あなたが希望の神であることを感謝します。あなたは私の周りのすべてを支配しておられるので、私はあなたを信頼し、より良いものを望むことができることを感謝します。試練の中にある私を支えてくださるあなたに集中し、あなたの喜びで満たされるように助けてください。あなたの力が私の中に流れ込み、私の信仰とあなたへの希望を強くしてください。アーメン

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures

What are you reading?

What I’m reading: If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love (Light Novel), Vol. 1 by Harunadon SOMETIMES FIRE AND ICE ARE PERFECT FOR EACH OTHER. Brigitte Meidell belongs to a noble family, which means high expectations were placed upon her spirit contract. However, her bonded spirit turned out to be a weak no-name, and ever since, she has been a source of shame to her family. She thought her engagement to the prince would turn her life around, but when he publicly breaks off their relationship, she finds herself alone again. After her haughty, villainous behavior as the prince’s bride-to-be, no one shows her much sympathy―except for the duke’s son Yuri, who attends the same magic academy. Yuri is feared for his incredible abilities and icy personality, but with him on her side, her fortunes might have changed... I read this book last month but forgot to post about it. I absolutely love this series! The heroine has such a deep backstory and a plausible reason for her previ

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th

What are you making today?

Look! Look! This is the blank journal that I’ll be offering in my upcoming Kickstarter ! It’s a fabric and knitted lace journal cover slipped onto a Levengers Stanley Journal refill. I had a lady at my church make the fabric cover. I knit the lace panel and sewed it on the fabric so you can see the color underneath. The lace pattern is the same as the lace shawl worn by my character Lena in my upcoming book, Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster . It’s based on an antique pattern that isn’t quite from the Regency era—maybe 10 or 15 years later—but I felt it was close enough, plus it’s so pretty! I loved knitting this! What are you crafting today? Comment below!

Happy Boys' Day!

I realize for most of the world it’s Cinco de Mayo, but in my house it’s Boys’ Day! Fly carp flags and eat mochi!

Regency Goodies Giveaway

To celebrate the release of my debut Regency romance, Prelude for a Lord , I’m holding a huge giveaway of books, hand-knit lace shawls, Jane Austen tea, and violin Christmas ornaments! I’m giving away FIVE baskets. Each has (1) a bag of whole leaf Jane Austen tea from the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, England, (2) a violin ornament in honor of my fictional musicians, Lord Dommick and Lady Alethea, (3) a copy of Prelude for a Lord , and (4) a different hand-knit lace shawl (yes, knit by yours truly). I tried to use knitting patterns that Jane Austen or her contemporaries would have used, although some are more Victorian than Regency. The patterns were all from the knitting pattern book, Victorian Lace Today by Jane Sowerby . ***PLEASE NOTE: For those of you allergic to wool, all the scarves are made with some sort of animal fiber, so be warned that you might react if the scarves touch your skin. Basket 1: Black Mohair Diamond Scarf Click here for the project page on Ravelry Yar

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Lady Wynwood #7 early release Kickstarter