My oldest daughter has an incredible imagination and makes up stories all the time! She is my daydreamer, and is very much like I was when I was her age! I want to encourage that creativity in her and have been trying to help her get her stories down on paper (or the computer). If writing becomes a passion for her, I want to encourage that and do what I can to help her become a published writer, if that is what she wants.
One of the books that I have been reviewing lately is called Asia: It's People and History. It is a fascinating study and Princess and I have really been enjoying going through it! But, I will tell you more about that another time :) The author of that book is Bonnie Rose Hudson. Here are some excerpts from her author bio:
She loves creating curriculum as a member of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine’s Star Contributors Team. She works with both SchoolhouseTeachers.com (http://schoolhouseteachers.com) and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine® as an editorial assistant. At TOS, she found a place where her love of God and history combine with her love of writing to bring encouraging, educational, and entertaining material to students and their families.
She would love for you to stop by and meet the star of her children’s series at Exploring with Jake (http://writebonnierose.wordpress.com/), look through the 10/40 window of the world and join others in prayer at Looking Out the 10/40 Window (http://lookingoutthe1040window.wordpress.com/) , or stop by her author’s blog WriteBonnieRose.com (http://writebonnierose.com) for fun printables and discover how you can write for the homeschool market.
Bonnie has a love for writing! As a published writer, she also has a lot of good advice for aspiring writers as well :) As a member of the launch team for Bonnie's new book, Asia: It's People and History, I have been blessed with a chance to learn more about Bonnie and also get some great advice from her about encouraging my children in their own love of writing. Below are some questions that Bonnie has been asked about writing and her answers.
Don't give up. Write everything down that you feel God has put on your heart to write about. Twenty years from now, you might look back on a story you wrote and think it was really silly. I did. I started writing my first book when I was around 11 or 12. When I read now what I wrote, I see a lot of mistakes I didn't see back then. But that's not what matters. I wrote down the story that was on my heart.
As you learn more about writing, you will probably find yourself feeling frustrated and discouraged at times by all the rules and all the details. You might wonder why something you thought sounded just fine didn't get published. The most important thing to remember is that being published isn't what makes you a writer. If you are a writer, it's because that's what God has called you to do. You may get published; you may not. You may not make a living by being a professional author. But that doesn't change God's call. Listen to Him, grow closer to Him, and obey Him. That's what matters.
Did you always have a talent for writing, or is it something you wanted and needed to work harder to achieve?
I think it's important to realize that there is a difference between a talent and a skill. To me, a talent is a God-given desire and gifting to do something. It's part of who you are. I can't not write. It's part of me. If I don't take the time to be creative and write down what is going on inside my heart or my mind, I get cranky--just ask my family! But just because I love to write doesn't mean I automatically know how to do it right or just sit down and write perfect rough drafts! There is always more to learn about how to use the best words to express what you want to communicate, how to craft a story that holds a reader's attention, how to avoid grammar mistakes, etc. Learning never ends, and most of the time, I wouldn't want it to.
How did you get your start in writing/getting published?
One key to remember is that writing and getting published are never the same thing. A writer is a writer because that is how God fashioned them to be. Publication is exciting and can feel like a confirmation of that calling, but it’s not what makes you a writer. Alton Gansky recently wrote an incredible blog post about that topic.
The first thing I ever had published was a short story in 2005 called Nick of Time Heroes, which followed a string of rejected short stories and a novel. I continued writing and continued receiving rejections. My next piece was not published until 2011. Shortly after that piece, I began writing for SchoolhouseTeachers.com.
What do you recommend for others who are getting started?
Praying and listening to God are the most important. He is the only One who knows the big picture. Work to learn the skills you need to learn, get used to letting other people read and edit your work, and be patient. You will never ever know everything there is to know! And even if you write a perfect piece (if there is such a thing) someone will have suggestions on how to make it better. It comes with the territory. Writing is an art, and just like any other art, there is a certain amount of subjectivity involved in judging whether a piece is the right fit for a publication or assignment.
Another thing that I have found incredibly encouraging is reading the stories of other Christian authors. I have a book that I bought years ago called Behind the Stories by Diane Eble. It shares the stories of dozens of well-known Christian authors. What touched me the most about the stories in the book was that no two stories were the same. God called men and women in all stages of their lives from countless professions and backgrounds. There is no cookie-cutter shape you must fit into as a writer. As I read and reread it, I think, “If God has a place for each of them in His plan, maybe He has a plan for me, too.”
- Asia: Its People and History by Bonnie Rose Hudson ($6.95 value)
- From SchoolhouseTeachers.com: One-Year Membership ($139 value)
- From the Asia: Its People and History Launch Team: Kindle 6" eReader
- plus a $15 USD Amazon Gift Card ($84 value)
- Philippians in 28 Weeks digital by Stacy Farrell ($14.95 value)
- From Ben and Me -- YWAM Christian Heroes Then and Now Books 1-5 Gift Set ($32.47 value)
- From The Old Schoolhouse Magazine -- eBook Bundle: Missionary Geography, TOS WeE-book by Maggie Hogan and Diana Waring and Mary Slessor: The White Ma of Calabar, TOS WeE-book by Diana Waring ($3.90 value) and August 2013 Schoolhouse Expo - Bonnie Rose Hudson: How to Write for The Old Schoolhouse and the TOS Family ($4.95 value)
- From Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett - Download N Go Bundle: Expedition China, Expedition Israel, and Kite Capers ($26.85 value)
- From A Journey Through Learning Lapbook Bundle: Asia and My Favorite Country ($9 value)
- From author, Gwen Toliver, Seed Sowers: Gospel Planting Adventures ($12.50 value)
You can find the Rafflecopter giveaway in my previous post here.
You can find out more about Bonnie's book, Asia: It's People and History at the book's landing page here, or you can even pre-order your copy of Asia: It's People and History through The Old Schoolhouse store. It is even on sale for only $4.95!
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