A Remarkable Resource and Tool for Bible Reading, Praying the Word, and for Bible Study

A Remarkable Resource and Tool for Bible Reading, Praying the Word, and for Bible Study

I love several online Bible programs. I find each one has important features the others do not have. That being said, there is one in particular on:  http://www.biblegateway.com/ (BibleGateway.com). The feature is the most important feature we will use of any online Bible program as we study the book of Psalms along our Sentimental Journey Through the Book of Psalms. 

Let me share with you what it is and how to use it:

IN ALL ENGLISH VERSIONS: HOW TO USE THIS FEATURE

Please do this now so you can see what I mean.

1 Go to the link I listed previously for BibleGateway.com.

2 Look up the verse you are studying. type it in the search box. 

Note: Look up only one verse at a time. This feature will not work if you look up more than one verse. 

For instance, use Psalm 1:1. 

3 Click enter.

4 Go to the bottom of the page.

5 Click on "IN ALL ENGLIGH VERSIONS."

6 Look at all of the English versions of that verse in one-stop shopping, so to speak. They are all there. 

Can you believe what a rich tool this is and how much this can help us in our Bible study, reading, application, prayer journaling, and meditation (praying the Word)? I do not know a more important resource for studying the Word of God. 

Journaling Retreat Tips: What do you do?

How is it possible to have enough to do in a journaling retreat that lasts, ideally  12-15 hours a day for 1 day, let alone anything more than that? Is something you might wonder.

It's easy, if we have lots of choices. So, what are the choices?

* Read the blog post from Monday and all of the links I have there and do them.

* Do lots of Stream of Consciousness writing--where you write for a 10-15 minute block anything that comes to mind. The key is to write fast. If you run out of anything to say, either write, "I don't know what to say," or rewrite the most powerful thing you wrote in the session. And keep repeating either, or both, until you know what to say.

* Do several journaling exercises or prompts. Look throughout this blog. Download a free copy of my book, THE JOURNALING AND STORYKEEPING ENCYCLOPEDIA OF 2013 and do anything found there. Look at the other blogs I have recommended and listed on the side of my blog, including THE JOURNALING PATH blog. Trust me between all these, you have enough material to write for a lifetime.

* Make lists. List your memories, all the people in your life, all your favorite possessions, all of the places you've lived and work, your favorites of anything, TV shows you have watched in your life, movies you have seen, books you have read... Then, do a journaling entry about any and all of them.

* Look at your photographs and journal about them.

* What photos do you not have that you wish you had? Write about them, what happened, what you experienced, and why you wish you had them.

* Go to Flickr and find photos to inspire you and write about.

* Look up inspirational quotes and journal about them.

* Journal anything your heart desires.

~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Memoir Writer

NaNoWriMo Wisdom: Who you are as a writer

NaNo is the time to discover not only how well you can write under pressure, but who you are as a person.

And if you can't write well under pressure, through NaNoWriMo, you experiment and figure out how to improve the skill. After all, writing novels to publish are full of deadlines which must be met. NaNo prepares you for them.

Stacy Duplease
Inspirational Historical Romance Author
A timeless kind of love... 

My historical fiction blog & latest book information: NaNoWriMo Countdown: Where is Stacy Duplease's novel and where can I track her progress?

My writing fiction & NaNoWriMo blog: NaNoWriMo Resources

Journaling Chronicle: Weekend journaling

My blog: Where to find my upcoming books

My writing will never sell... I don't like it (and other excuses we use not to write)

I think it's time for me to get very real with you and hope you can learn from the numerous and daily mistakes I've made. I hope you can learn vicariously and not have to experience it for yourself.

Let me start this paragraph with a truth: I am NOT bragging. I am the type who can write an entire novel from beginning to end in 2.5 months. Literally. I, also, have written well over 50 novels. That sounds good, right? That sounds like something you'd like to do, right? It increases the chances of finding a novel that is salable, right? (So, I can tell you how to write a book fast! I'm practically an expert--and am teasing by the way.)

Hah. Not so fast.

How many books have I had published? Seven. That's it. 

Why?

The answer to why depends on the hour of the day. Let me list several of them here. But, what it all comes down to is one thing--which I will share with you in a moment. Why haven't I had more books published? The reasons are those in which I am sure you can relate:

~ I don't like them.

~ The writing is terrible.

~ I don't get around to editing them.

~ I lose interest.

~ I come up with a new idea.

~ I don't think it would sell.

~ I don't have enough time.

~ I don't like part of the storyline.

~ The characters don't win me.

~ I get bored with it.

~ I'm not good enough. 

~ I don't dedicate myself to it. 

~ Too many things to fix--don't know where to start

Can you relate to any of those with your writing--whether it's a paragraph of a full-fledged novel? 

Do you know the one thing every single one of these have in common? 

Commitment-issues. 

The real question to ask yourself, which goes with the real problem we have, is: 

Do I want to write a book?

If the answer is yes, then none of the above excuses should stop you. 

Commit to writing a book. Period. That's the solution.

Now, with that being said, I want to take it to another level.

Are you writing the right genre?

You might have just answered yes. You just might be right, too. However, I recently learned, after trying several, that when you find the right genre, nothing will stop you. It's easier to get determined and commit. 

So, ask yourself again...

Are you writing the right genre?

If your genre isn't one that exists... Don't let that stop you. Write it anyway! You can change the publishing industry. Build a reader platform and publishers will have to look at your work. 

So, now that we covered all of that.... 

Are you committed to writing a book? And, are you committed to the right genre? Ready for NaNoWriMo?

Don't let anything or anyone stop you--including you! 

Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction, Blogger, & Journalkeeper

My historical fiction blog & latest book information: Word count for Yorktown's Dawning

My writing fiction & NaNoWriMo blog: Another NaNoWriMo Confession

NaNoWriMo Thoughts, Hints, Tips, Etc.

NaNoWriMo and the National Novel Writing Month of November is just around the corner. It starts in 33 way-too-short days. (Yikes)

Are you crazy enough to write a novel of 50,000 words in a month? (Don't forget Thanksgiving and the Thanksgiving weekend are in there as well. So, it's actually shorter than 30 days.)

I am. That crazy. So crazy indeed that I have now done it three years in a row. (Pray for me.)

This year, I know the genre. I even know the subject. It's the Jamestown Settlement in 1607 here in Virginia. Beyond that, I have no idea. None. Zilch. 

I am still trying to write the last half of a novel I am writing right now and haven't had much time to plan at all. Then again, I didn't realize NaNoWriMo was just around the corner until this weekend. 

So, if you are like me, how can you prepare for NaNo in 33 very short days?

The answer is carefully. 

The reality of the situation for me is this: I laugh. I really won't have a clue what I am writing about until Tuesday, 01 November. That's the reality of the situation. All of my head space needs to go to "Yorktown's Dawning" between now and then. I will set a few days aside in October to devote time to planning, for strategy, and hopefully meet up with a few people to start turning my mind in that direction. I will try to do a rough and very thin outline.

If I were to start to prepare for NaNoWriMo today, this is what I would do:

1 I would try to come up with a one-sentence hook. 

2 Then a paragraph hook. 

3 Then, the back cover material for the book. 

4 Then, I would write a rough and thin outline for the book. What I mean by that is I take a piece of paper and fold it in thirds. Each portion represents the 3-acts of my novel (the beginning, the middle, and the end). Then, I write a couple of sentences for each scene in each of those acts. I get the character names, setting, and a couple of words or a sentence of what happens in that scene. 

5 I walk into NaNoWriMo (or sit at my computer to be more precise) on 01 November and start. 

6 As time allows, I try to get more of an outline prepared. 

50,000 words in a month can be as simple as we make it. It's been simple for me. I refuse to have it any other way. Sure, complications come up. It seems like everyone and everything fights to divide my time in November of every year. However, I make it through. I finish. Why? I refuse not to.

Just like, I do NOT believe in writer's block. I refuse to succumb. It is a choice I've made. I worked and wrote for 7.5 years and I've written full-time for 2.5 years. I've never had writers block. I can always find something to write. I may throw some of it away later, but I keep writing. 

However, I also leave room in there for me to not make it and get 50,000 words done. I cut myself grace and tell myself I have the next month or two to finish writing a real novel of 80,000 words on average. Rome wasn't built in a day, as the old cliche states. And a novel is no exception. If I don't finish in November, there are indeed eleven other months.

I write full-time now. But, that wasn't always the case. I worked and wrote for years. How did I find time to write? 

The answer is simple. I STOLE time. 

What do I mean by that? It's something that I still do today. I write when I can--wherever I can. 

How do I steal time?

~ I have a voice recorder in the car. I write as I drive--through talking into my phone or mp3 player.  Red lights are my best friend! I get the most done then. Then, when I get home, I type it up.

~ I carry a journal with me at all times.

~ I write if I am on hold while on the phone.

~ Doctors office waiting rooms are down-times and I write.

~ If I am standing in a line, I write. 

~ I get up earlier--as necessary.

~ I stay up later--as necessary.

~ I limit my tv time and my reading time.

~ As I cook dinner I write.

~ I write in the bathroom as I get ready.

~ If my husband goes to do something, I steal a few minutes to write while he's gone--even if it's for 30 seconds.

~ As my husband watches tv, I write by his side. 

~ I jot down ideas in the middle of the night--as necessary. 

~ As I exercise, I am writing and planning in my head. I write everything down when I am done exercising so I don't forget what I came up with to add to my book.

~ Wait time to get my hair cut.

~ In the shower. That's the best time to come up with ideas. Keep a notepad in the bathroom at all times (or your cell phone so you can text yourself messages of your writing ideas)

~ I email myself my writing from my cell and send myself texts as necessary.

I am sure you get the idea. 

--

~ Stacy Duplease

Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper

of Remembering Your Present, LLC

  

Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning" (Book 1 of 7)

Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"

Next Book Planned: Jamestowne (Book 1 of 3) (NaNoWriMo Book 2011)

Email: hisfiction@gmail.com

Writing Tips

The first tip I have about writing is this...

Write every day--without fail. You either want to really write, or not. Make the choice. Do you or don't you? If so, write every day--for at least half an hour--preferably an hour or more. 

Writing is a skill. If it isn't practiced, it will become rusty and eventually, the skill will be lost. 

-- 

~ Stacy Duplease

Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper

of Remembering Your Present, LLC

NaNoWriMo: Join the Fun: Write a Novel... Why?

First of all, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is 34 days away. Yep. 34. The clock is ticking.

Are you, as writer, going to participate?

Are you thinking about it?

Have you ever dreamt about writing a novel? 

Or have you written a novel or done NaNo before? 

I highly recommend doing NaNoWriMo. Why? First of all, you're actually writing a very short novel of 50,000 words. Most novels are between 80,000 and 100,000 words. So, it's not as daunting as you might think. It's more of a novella. 

Next, if you've always wanted to write a novel, or are in the middle of doing so now, what a perfect opportunity to throw all caution to the wind and write like a crazy person, as fast as you can--not caring about editing or perfection for an entire month. It's more like a stream-of-conscious writing for a month--where you write as much as you can as fast as you can and you don't censor yourself. You just throw it up on the page and you can correct it later? NaNo is actually extremely nonthreatening for just that reason. It doesn't have to be polished. 

Also, you don't have to finish 50,000 words in a month. It's just a goal. You can finish your novel later. You won't be judged if you don't finish it. The point is to throw all of yourself into writing for one month. Make the appointment and do it. Then, try that again the next month. The next thing you know, you'll write several novels. 

Why else should you do NaNo? It's fun! 

I don't know about you, but I love a challenge. I love to push myself. 

So, sign up for it at www.nanowrimo.org and join me in writing like crazy for a month. I would love to support you and chat with you about it. 

NoNoWriMo is a contest. But, you don't compete with others. You compete with yourself. Do you know how a winner is classified in NaNo speak? It's if you achieve the goal of writing 50,000 words in a month. That's it. Simple. Really. It's only complicated if you allow it to be. It's only stressful, complicated, dreaded, or anything toehr negative word if you choose. Make it be a fun goal to see how far you get. Take the pressure off of yourself and write. 

I will write suggestions for NaNoWriMo on this blog, along with my preparation, in the next four weeks. 

What do you have to lose? You actually lose more if you don't try and you've always wanted to do so. 

--

~ Stacy Duplease

Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper

of Remembering Your Present, LLC

Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning" (Book 1 of 7)

Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"

Next Book Planned: Jamestowne (Book 1 of 3) (NaNoWriMo Book 2011)

Email: hisfiction@gmail.com