Three writing opportunities for you

In writing vignettes for your memoir, some of you have written stories worthy of a broader audience.

Others might be looking for ways to strengthen your platform.*

If so, today I have three opportunities for you.

Dena Dyer, writer, editor at The High Calling,* and lover of all things literary, is collecting 500-word stories from contemporary women who've been healed in various ways—emotionally, spiritually, physically, or mentally. Based on “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds,” (Psalm 147:3), the book—and a companion women’s retreat—will be released in 2013 from Kregel Publishing.

Dena says, “We need LOTS of material from others. I'd love to see anything you want to send. You don’t have to be a great writer—I can adapt and edit your story while keeping your thoughts and voice.…” Read more at Help Me with my Book (please?) at

http://denadyer.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/10/a-writing-opportunity-help-me-with-my-book-please-.html

Over at 1^st Writes, Pam encourages submissions to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series of books. She credits the enormous success of these books to “writers like you and me, who contribute wonderful stories of ‘inspiration, hope, overcoming life’s challenges, and realized dreams.’” Find out more at http://1stwrites.blogspot.com/2011/10/1st-mentions_29.html

Here’s an opportunity for—ahem—seasoned folks to participate with David Brooks, currently with the New York Times and the PBS Newshour. In his recent New York Times article, he writes:

“If you are over 70, I’d like to ask for a gift. I’d like you to write a brief report on your life so far, an evaluation of what you did well, of what you did not so well and what you learned along the way.…

“…I’ll write a few columns about them around Thanksgiving and post as many essays as possible online.

“I ask for this gift for two reasons.

“First, we have few formal moments of self-appraisal in our culture. Occasionally, on a big birthday people will take a step back and try to form a complete picture of their lives, but we have no regular rite of passage prompting them to do so.

“More important, these essays will be useful to the young. Young people are educated in many ways, but they are given relatively little help in understanding how a life develops, how careers and families evolve, what are the common mistakes and the common blessings of modern adulthood. These essays will help them benefit from your experience.…” Continue reading The Life Report at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/opinion/brooks-the-life-report.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Please pray about these opportunities.

Remember, your stories are important! *

You have stories only you can tell.

Your stories are not your own. They have been entrusted to you by God.

People need to hear them.

Be sure to check out Cecil Murphey’s new 50-part series on writing. He’s a hugely successful author with a wealth of expertise. You’ll find a link to his blog here in the right column.

*Resources:

What is a platform?  http://womensmemoirs.com/memoir-writing-book-business/memoir-marketing-your-platform-and-the-statue-of-liberty

Your stories are important:  http://spiritualmemoirs101.blogspot.com/2011/05/are-your-stories-important.html

The High Calling: http://www.thehighcalling.org/