Volume 1 ~ Issue 3 . . . . . . . . . . . May 2008

Published by TopNotch Communications Group, LLC
MaryAnn Diorio, Ph.D., CLC, Principal
Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved.

From the Editor's Desk . . .

Excellence is achievable if we make a commitment to it. For too long, Christian writing has been considered by the secular world as generally mediocre. But, thank God, that opinion is changing as God's writers take seriously the command to "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed . . . ." (2 Timothy 2:15).

This ezine is dedicated to the purpose of empowering Christian writers for the Kingdom of God. We trust that the articles and tips we provide will make you a better writer in spirit, soul, and body so that you may do your crucial part in building God's Kingdom.

One thing you can do is to pass this ezine on to your writer friends. Our subscriber base is growing, and the more we grow, the more Christian writers will be empowered to build God's Kingdom. Thank you! :)

Blessings,

Dr. MaryAnn

In this issue . . .

• Are you wondering what to write about? Let idea expert Andrea Boeshaar give you some tips on how to find ideas.

• Dreams are the stuff of the writing life. What and where are yours?

• From starving to surplus writer. How to earn a living from writing.
  
• Book Review:On Writing Well by William Zinsser

• Are you an editor looking for an expert writer of political and social commentary? Then check out Gina Diorio of Liberty Writing Solutions.
  

ATTITUDE

Dream Big!
by MaryAnn Diorio, Ph.D.

Dreams are the stuff of life. Without them, we don't live; we only exist.

Unfortunately, somewhere on the way to adulthood, most people trade the dream for the dollar. They worry more about feeding the body than feeding the soul. As a result, their souls wither and die.

But when you ignore your dream, you are turning your back on your destiny. For you see, your dream is the key to your destiny.

When God created you, He wrote your dream on your heart as a clue to your purpose on this earth. When you listen to the voice of your dream, you are listening to the voice of your destiny. And when you follow your dream, you will fulfill your destiny.

And here's a secret. You'll discover that when you follow your dream and your destiny, the dollar will follow you.

BUSINESS

Starving Writers???
by MaryAnn Diorio, Ph.D.

There is money to be made in writing.The secret is in knowing how.

To start, one must develop the expectation that money can be made. If you buy into the stereotypical image of the starving writer, you probably won't ever make much money as a writer. But if, on the other hand, you truly believe that you can earn a living from your writing, you will.

As with any business, the key to success is to find a need and fill it. Most writers want to write the great American novel, and while that is certainly a worthwhile goal, it may not put food on the table. At least not just yet. So while you're writing your novel, check out these venues for earning $50,000 to $100,000 a year from your writing:

• Copywriting opportunities. With the explosion of the Internet and websites, opportunities for writing web content are virtually unlimited. And the pay is usually far above what you'd earn from more traditional types of writing.
  
• Trade Magazines. This is a virtually untapped market, one often overlooked by writers. Editors of the "trades" are always looking for fresh material. The pay is also quite good.
  
• Writing for Businesses and Organizations. Countless businesses hire writers to create annual reports, press releases, corporate histories and profiles, and a host of other business material for their clients. You can cash in on this market by pitching to such businesses and organizations. Often you can find these kinds of writing opportunities at places like Craigslist.com and a host of other writing job resources.

Over the years, I have developed several writing clients who provide me with a significant and steady income. If I can do it, so can you. :)

CRAFT

Grammar Gripes
by MaryAnn Diorio, Ph.D.

While teaching college Italian a few years ago, I was appalled to learn that grammar is no longer being taught in the public school system after the sixth grade. As a result, my students struggled to learn Italian grammar when they didn't even know English grammar.

This lack of grammar knowledge affected not only their ability to learn the Italian language; it also affected their ability to write effectively in courses utilizing the English language.

A knowledge of grammar is essential to writing clearly and coherently. If you are weak in this area, check out some basic grammar books and brush up. You can also consult grammar sites like Purdue University's Grammar Hotline.

FEATURE ARTICLE

Hey! I've Got an Idea!

by Andrea Boeshaar

"Where do you get your ideas?"
People ask me that all the time. Unfortunately, there's no pat answer.

Ideas for my stories come from many different sources. Sometimes a movie. Other times a newspaper or magazine article. Oftentimes a personal testimony from someone at church might ignite my muse. But frequently I get my ideas from personal experiences.

Take, for example, my novel Promise Me Forever (Barbour Publishing). I came up with the idea when my husband and I attended a wedding and the groom didn't show up! No lie! That really happened!

As my husband Daniel and I climbed into our minivan we felt awful for the bride and speculated as to why the groom didn't appear. As we talked, I started thinking…hmm…

Minutes later, I turned to Daniel, and said, "You know, this would make a really great story."

In the weeks and months that followed, I filled in character sketches and began writing. The result was the birth of my book-baby called Promise Me Forever.

The inception of my novel The Haven of Rest (Barbour Publishing) occurred when my mother told me about the old gas station in the small town where she'd grown up. She remarked about how sad it was that the filling station now stood abandoned, along with the building the once housed a Laundromat and my great Uncle Edwin's second floor apartment. I knew of the filling station, and a nostalgic chord was plucked somewhere deep inside of me. Again, I dreamed up characters and plotted a romance around the gas station and the tiny town of Tigerton, Wisconsin. It wasn't long and The Haven of Rest was born into print.

Ideas for stories can come from just about anywhere and at anytime. So be alert. Be aware. There's probably a story lurking somewhere in your corner of the world.
_____________________________________
Editor's Note: Check out Andrea's coaching service for writers in the column to the right.

BOOK REVIEW
by MaryAnn Diorio, Ph.D.

(In this section, we will feature outstanding books on writing.)

On Writing Well by William Zinsser

Sitting on the bookshelf of virtually every serious writer is a small tome by former Yale writing professor and former Executive Editor of the Book-of-the-Month Club, William Zinsser. The book is entitled On Writing Well. This slight volume - slight only in size, certainly not in information - has come to be considered a foundational book for all those who want to learn to write with excellence.

If one word were required to describe Zinsser's book, it would be "economy". Zinsser is the master of economy in writing. In his chapter on simplicity, he puts forth his theory that clutter corrupts the writing process: " Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills and meaningless jargon."

But Zinsswer doesn't leave us there. He explains that "the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components."

Reading this book will help you do just that. Get your copy here:

On Writing Well

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HOT OFF THE PRESS!!!

Daily Devotions for Writers

Compiled and edited by Patricia Lorenz,
well-known Chicken Soup for the Soul contributor, this book will make a great
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ATTENTION
HOMESCHOOLERS!

If you're looking for outstanding literature books you can trust,
check out Dr. MaryAnn's
series on American authors.

A Student's Guide
to Nathaniel Hawthorne

A Student's Guide
to Herman Melville

A Student's Guide
to Mark Twain

All three books are available through
Enslow Publishers.

YOUR AD HERE!

Place your ad here. Contact us for rates.
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WRITING COACHES

Are you feeling "stuck" in your writing? I've been there myself. Allow me to help you!

Andrea Boeshaar
Certified Christian Life Coach
& Published Author
www.andreaboeshaar.com

___________

TopNotch Life & Career Coaching
MaryAnn Diorio, Ph.D., CLC

Are you tired of rejection slips?
If so, why not hire a writing coach?

Dr. MaryAnn will coach you in proven
techniques for achieving the writing
success you long for. Give her a call at
856-327- 1231 or email her at

DrMaryAnn@TopNotchLifeandCareerCoaching.
com

WRITING SERVICES

THE MOST VALUABLE 2-CENTS YOU’LL EVER FIND!

Clear – Concise – Compelling
Political Commentary That Will Turn
Your Readers into Returning Readers.

Gina Diorio cuts to the chase on today’s hottest issues in a style that's engaging, intellectual, and at times irreverent. Readers might get happy – they might get angry – but they will get thinking.

Contact Gina today to include her political commentary in your publication.

Gina L. Diorio, M.A., Principal
www.Liberty WritingSolutions.com

UPCOMING CONFERENCES

CHRISTIAN

American Christian Writers Conference

June 6-7, 2008
Columbus, Ohio

June 20-21, 2008
Grand Rapids, Michigan

St. Davids Christian Writers' Conference
June16-21, 2008

July 13-17, 2001
International Christian Retail Show
(formerly Christian Booksellers Assn.)
Orlando, Florida

Greater Philadelphia Christian
Writers' Conference
August 7-9, 2008

SECULAR

American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) Conference
April 11-13, 2008

Philadelphia Writers' Conference
June 6-8, 2008

For a great list of conferences,
check out www.ShawGuides.com.

RESOURCES

Writers' Organizations

CHRISTIAN

Act One

Christian Writers' Fellowship International

Writers' Information Network

American Christian Fiction Writers

FaithWriters.com

Christian Writers'Group International

The Christian Writers' Guild

SECULAR

American Society of
Authors &Journalists

American Screenwriters Association

National Writers' Association

Academy of American Poets

Blogs/Ezines/Websites/Loops

Musings That Matter

Right-Writing.com

http://rosemccauley.blogspot.com/

The Writers' View
(by application only)

FEATURED MARKET

You Can Live Again

A Magazine for Today's Woman

COURSES FOR WRITERS

Internet

Writers Online Workshops

Gotham Writers' Workshop

Correspondence

The Christian Writers' Guild

American Christian Writers (ACW)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW!

Nov. 15, 2008

I LOVE TO WRITE DAY!

For more info, go to

http://www.ILovetoWriteDay.org

Supplies for Writers

The Writers' Store

The Writers' Life Gift Shop

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"Eighty percent of success is
showing up."

~ Woody Allen

THE TOPNOTCH WRITER is published monthly by TOPNOTCH COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, LLC, owned and operated by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. Articles in THE TOPNOTCH WRITER are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any way or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio.

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