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Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Archives for Tamela Hancock Murray » Page 29

Tamela Hancock Murray

Christmas Blessings

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 21, 2017
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Gospel of St John: 1.1-14

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.

May the grace and truth of Christmas be with you throughout the holidays and beyond.

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Category: TheologyTag: Christmas, Theology

Why it’s Okay to Lose a Contest

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 14, 2017
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Any author who’s entered contests knows that they are difficult to win. The competition is more fierce than ever. For example, I just judged an ACFW competition and would have been happy to represent most of the authors whose work I reviewed. Entries get better every year. This is good news for readers while encouraging authors to fine tune their work. In the case of prestigious contests …

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Category: Awards, Career, The Writing LifeTag: Awards, contests, The Writing Life

Evaluating the Contest Win

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 7, 2017
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Contests take time and money to enter. Are they worth it? For the Unpublished Author: A contest win shows that a set of judges believes this author possesses talent. When the unpublished author is seeking an agent or publisher, a contest win adds to the author’s credibility. Not only does it show potential, but the fact that the author is entering contests shows commitment to the profession. …

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Category: CareerTag: Career, contests

Read It Twice!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 30, 2017
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I read Gone with the Wind for the first time in the seventh grade. Then I reread it in the eighth grade. Daddy fussed at me for this. “Why are you reading the same book again? You should read something else.” I know he had a point, but I consumed it a second time, all the way to the ambiguous, 1,200-page end. Because. I. Wanted. To. By the way, the unsettling ending is probably one reason why I …

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Category: Craft, ReadingTag: Craft, Reading

Tips for Conference Prep

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 16, 2017
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Is there really a conference season? True, conferences rarely take place during the Christmas season but there seems to be a conference somewhere at any given time. And that means, authors are preparing to go to conferences all year. Here are a few perennial tips I hope you can use. Thinking about going: Do I have the funds? For a national conference you must fly to, I recommend aiming to have at …

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Category: ConferencesTag: Conferences, writers conferences

Beyond the Hook: Character Flaws?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 9, 2017
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My husband gave me a turquoise ring I enjoy wearing. For one, the stone was unearthed from the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Arizona, which has since closed. The location seems cool to me since our agency’s corporate headquarters is located in Phoenix. And since the mine is no longer in operation, the stone possesses special cachet. But more important, my husband likes the ring and wants me to have it. …

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Category: Craft, Writing CraftTag: Characters, Writing Craft

Beyond the Hook: What Makes Your Reader Care?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 2, 2017
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Any book lover who’s made the hobby of reading a lifelong habit can name stories that kept him reading well past anything else – dinner, chores, bedtime… What makes this happen? The Problem Sympathetic characters can help as a start, but while they serve to draw in a reader, the story’s dilemma itself keeps the reader engaged. The reader can’t put the book down until the characters solve the …

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Category: Craft, Writing CraftTag: Characters, Craft

Beyond the Hook: Writing Sympathetic Characters

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 26, 2017
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The first page may be promising. The opening chapters may be engrossing. But a reader might still abandon your book if it doesn’t deliver. How can you keep your readers going? Sympathetic Characters Some writers are talented in creating sympathetic characters from page one. Perhaps Page one occurs during a fire, when the characters have lost everything. Or the heroine has been abandoned by a …

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Category: Craft, Creativity, Editing, Romance, Romantic SuspenseTag: Characters, Craft, Reading

Yes, It’s Personal

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 19, 2017
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We’d all like to think everyone will love all our books. But it just won’t happen. It’s personal, and that’s okay. Based on past posts, regular followers of this blog might conclude that I don’t like any book I start. That’s not true, but I’ll admit I’ve ditched a couple more books lately. One is a classic, but I didn’t like spending time with a protagonist mixing copious amounts of drink and …

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Category: Book Proposals, Book Review, Get Published, The Writing LifeTag: Agents, book proposals, Pitching

What Makes a Great Hook?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 12, 2017
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Lately, smart publishing professionals have been saying “it needs a great hook” to describe  books they seek. Recently I wrote about the all-important first page, which of course should seize the reader and not let go. However, that’s not the same as the story hook itself. The hook must make the consumer say, “I’ve got to read this!” even before she turns to page one. Nonfiction: The …

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Category: Book Proposals, MarketingTag: book proposals, Hooks, Marketing
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