Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 104

Lent Day 4: Saturday after Ash Wednesday

6 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; 10 but repays those who hate Him to their faces, to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face. 11 Therefore, you shall keep the commandment and the statutes and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them. ~ Deuteronomy 7:6-11 (NASB)

Lord, we whom You have chosen to graft into the tree of Israel are so blessed. I know You are the one true God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful, omniscient and omnipresent. You always keep Your promises—I can trust You completely. You shower Your love upon me and show me grace and mercy. But You are also a just God, and You will not tolerate disobedience. You punish evil-doers, but if sinners repent and turn from their wicked ways, You will show grace and mercy. For the times I have failed to obey Your commands, Lord, I am truly penitent. I confess my failings and ask Your forgiveness and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to avoid those things in the future. This I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

photo by:


jezobeljones

Lent Day 3: Friday after Ash Wednesday

3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk. 4 Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. 6 When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. 7 He issued a proclamation and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. 8 But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. 9 Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.” 10 When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.

Eternal One, Lord of Lords and God of Gods, like Jonah, I often go astray. You had to let Jonah be swallowed by a great fish and spend three days there before You got his attention. He didn’t want to go preach to Nineveh because he wanted the sinners punished rather than saved. Like Jonah, I should know that I can’t escape from You and Your plans and timing are perfect. You are loving and kind and give every sinner chance after chance to repent and be saved because You love every one of Your creations, and it is Your desire that all come to You and be saved. Save me from the sin of thinking my ways are better are Your ways. Fill me with the desire to obey You and tell others about You and use me to help bring them to salvation. This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

photo by:


tamburix

Lent Day 2: Thursday after Ash Wednesday

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,

Who seek the Lord:

Look to the rock from which you were hewn

And to the quarry from which you were dug.

2 “Look to Abraham your father

And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain;

When he was but one I called him,

Then I blessed him and multiplied him.”

3 Indeed, the Lord will comfort Zion;

He will comfort all her waste places.

And her wilderness He will make like Eden,

And her desert like the garden of the Lord;

Joy and gladness will be found in her,

Thanksgiving and sound of a melody.

4 “Pay attention to Me, O My people,

And give ear to Me, O My nation;

For a law will go forth from Me,

And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples.

5 “My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth,

And My arms will judge the peoples;

The coastlands will wait for Me,

And for My arm they will wait expectantly.

6 “Lift up your eyes to the sky,

Then look to the earth beneath;

For the sky will vanish like smoke,

And the earth will wear out like a garment

And its inhabitants will die in like manner;

But My salvation will be forever,

And My righteousness will not wane.

7 “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness,

A people in whose heart is My law;

Do not fear the reproach of man,

Nor be dismayed at their revilings.

8 “For the moth will eat them like a garment,

And the grub will eat them like wool.

But My righteousness will be forever,

And My salvation to all generations.”

9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord;

Awake as in the days of old, the generations of long ago.

Was it not You who cut Rahab in pieces,

Who pierced the dragon?

10 Was it not You who dried up the sea,

The waters of the great deep;

Who made the depths of the sea a pathway

For the redeemed to cross over?

11 So the ransomed of the Lord will return

And come with joyful shouting to Zion,

And everlasting joy will be on their heads.

They will obtain gladness and joy,

And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

12 “I, even I, am He who comforts you.

Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies

And of the son of man who is made like grass,

13 That you have forgotten the Lord your Maker,

Who stretched out the heavens

And laid the foundations of the earth,

That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor,

As he makes ready to destroy?

But where is the fury of the oppressor?

14 The exile will soon be set free, and will not die in the dungeon, nor will his bread be lacking. 15 For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea and its waves roar (the Lord of hosts is His name). 16 I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”

~ Isaiah 51:1-16 (NASB)

Lord God, the Eternal One, as Christians we are grafted into Israel’s tree and we are Yours. You are all powerful, almighty, omniscient, omnipresent, El Shaddai, All-Sufficient. You have saved Your people time after time; You forgive sins over and over again. You have made a covenant with Your people, and You are always faithful to carry out your promises. I, however, am not always so faithful to trust in You. If I look to the past, I see all You have done for Your people, and I know what You have done before You will do for all who love You. Turn my memory to Your past actions and turn my heart to serve You. You alone are God, I love You, trust You, and want to serve You. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with the Holy Ghost, now and forever. Amen.

photo by:


jezobeljones

Ash Wednesday 2014

27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. 29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me. ~ Philippians 1:27-30 (NASB)

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the privilege of believing in Jesus the Christ. What a blessing You have bestowed upon me and all believers. But I’m not so excited about being chosen to suffer, even though any suffering I experience is nothing compared to the suffering of persecuted Christians around the world. They risk their lives to worship You and share Your Gospel. The worst suffering I’m apt to encounter is being shunned by unbelievers who think I’m a “Jesus freak.” But I see what is happening in our country, and I see a trend that can lead to suffering and persecution for Christians. Paul told the Philippians to stand together united in one spirit and single-minded in purpose. Break down the bonds of separation between Christians and unite us in the purpose of defending our freedom to worship. I know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Unite us and strengthen us to stand for You. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

 

Ash Wednesday and Lent

I grew up in a non-liturgical church that didn’t observe Lent. As a child, I wondered why other Christians went around one day in the spring with a black cross on their foreheads.

As a adult, I became an Anglican and learned about the liturgical tradition. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the penitential season of Lent.

Lent is a period of 40 days leading up to Easter. There are actually 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. However, the six Sundays are not considered part of the Lenten fast days. Every Sunday is a little Easter in memory of the Resurrection, so the 40 days of Lent are 40 days of fasting and penitence in preparation of the holiest day of the liturgical year, Easter Sunday.

On Ash Wednesday, liturgical Christians attend church services for the Imposition of Ashes, in which a priest or pastor makes the sign of the cross on the penitent’s forehead in ashes, in many traditions saying, “Remember, o man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return.” The ashes symbolize repentance, and the cross reminds believers of the great sacrifice Christ made for us sinners at His Crucifixion.

Many Christians fast, or give up something, for Lent. Often we think of a dietary fast—giving up meat or sweets. However, a Christian can fast from anything that comes between him or her and the Lord. A number of my friends are fasting from social media. It’s easy to spend more time on Facebook or Twitter than in God’s Word. Whatever we give up should not only be a sacrifice—a penance, but it should also bring us closer to God. So someone who gives us social media can use the time they free up for more time reading the Bible or a devotional.

I read voraciously, as you can tell from my reviews on Goodreads. As I’ve done in the past, I am fasting from fiction of all kinds and reading Christian nonfiction during Lent. Giving up fiction is a sacrifice, as I do enjoy reading stories. And the nonfiction Christian books I’m reading will bring me closer to God.

In addition, I add an extra devotional reading to my daily devotions. Each year, I keep a prayer journal for each day of Lent, and the following year I post those readings and prayers to my blog. Beginning today, you can read daily Scriptures and prayers from my Lenten devotions. I hope these verses from God’s Word and prayers from my heart will add to your own devotions this Lent.

 

 

 

 

photo by:


Official U.S. Navy Imagery

Read an Ebook Week=Free Ebooks!

March 2 – 8, 2014 is Read an Ebook Week at Smashwords. During this promotion, you can find ebooks discounted 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. Discounted books require a coupon code at checkout—use coupon code RW100 for books that are free during the promotion.

Read an Ebook Week was started several years ago, back when ebooks were novelties, to introduce readers to  ebooks and to encourage those who had never tried an ebook to give the new medium a try. Today just about everybody is familiar with ebooks, so the need for educating the public about ebooks has lessened. Now Read an Ebook Week is focused on giving readers an opportunity to stock up on great ebooks and save money. Even those readers who prefer to read print books can appreciate a good bargain!

Two of my books are free this week at Smashwords, as well as a novelette that is always free.

Fern’s Fancies – humorous contemporary romance

When Fern Tate sold her interior landscape company to a national corporation, she didn’t expect to have a boss like Pendleton Morgenthal, III. Had she made the biggest mistake of her life? Pen never allowed a woman—especially a subordinate—to distract him from his fast-track career. What was it about Fern that made her different?

 Jack Stories – biographical anecdotes about the late Jack Jordan Ammann Jr (the love of my life)

Jack Jordan Ammann Jr. was smart, funny, opinionated, assertive, upbeat, generous, tenacious, independent, determined, self-confident, perfectionistic, and unconventional. He enjoyed three careers during his lifetime: industrial engineer, peace officer, and school bus driver. His interests were many—amateur radio, guns, cars, and collecting (watches, flashlights, key chains, you name it.) After Jack’s death, friends shared their favorite “Jack stories,” funny and serious, short and long. Jack touched many lives with his generosity, strong personality, loyalty, kindness, and humor. Enjoy favorite memories of a special man.

Trapped by Love: A Novelette – contemporary romance

Lori Hammond is used to spending all day working closely with her boss Derek Anderson. Their relationship changes, however, when the two of them are trapped in an elevator.

Take advantage of Read an Ebook Week to browse the catalog of free and discounted titles and download enough books to keep you reading for some time.

photo by:


goXunuReviews

Review: ProWorkFlow

For the first 15 years of my freelance business, I was a sole practitioner and could easily keep track of all my projects. I simply scheduled tasks in Outlook so I would finish the project on time.

However, when I was blessed to start working with Jan McClintock, keeping track of projects became more complicated. We tried a number of manual systems, but none were satisfactory, so we started looking for project management software. We evaluated a number of systems before we decided on ProWorkFlow.

After using ProWorkFlow for about nine months, I’m ready to share a review. My experience has been with only two individual freelancers collaborating on fewer than 20 projects at a time, most of which are simply a collection of individual small tasks, such as adding a blog post, for regular clients who are billed monthly. One of ProWorkFlow’s best features is its scalability, making it useful for Jan and me as well as for large companies with many employees and numerous projects. There is even a Solo plan for freelancers and one-person organizations.

Having never used this kind of program before, Jan and I had a steep learning curve. At the time we began, recent changes had been made to ProWorkFlow, but the training videos had not been updated. It could be confusing trying to match the instructions with the software we were using. However, the videos have been updated since that time and seem to be more helpful. Support is excellent. Whenever I have asked a question, I have received a prompt and helpful response (or responses if it takes more than one message to resolve the issue).

Before you manage a project, you must have a company and contact to whom the project is assigned. Since most of my clients are individuals, I have to create two identical profiles, one for the company and one for the contact. Once the client and company are created, it’s easy to assign a new project.

Templates simplify creating new projects and tasks. I have several templates for different kinds of projects, and I choose a template and modify it as needed to create a new project. Also I use the templates to create a quote, and when the quote is accepted, I can then create a project based on the quote. This saves a lot of time in creating new projects.

In the quote, I specify each task in the project and the person responsible. Once the quote becomes a project, the tasks become the basis of collaboration. Jan and I each work on our assigned tasks in order, recording the time. When we finish a task, we mark it complete and upload the file to ProWorkFlow. Then the other one works on the new file in the next step.

Whenever we go to ProWorkFlow, we can tell exactly where we are on every project. We also get email reminders. Although we occasionally run into a snag, it turns out to be our oversight rather than any problem with ProWorkFlow. If I think ProWorkFlow isn’t doing something I think it should, usually I simply haven’t learned how to perform that function.

For me, though, the weakness of ProWorkFlow is in the invoicing component. The process of creating and sending invoices is simple. If you invoice for the entire project at once, you can create the invoice from the project with little effort. However, I generally invoice projects in thirds—one-third in advance, one-third at the midpoint, and one-third upon completion. Therefore I have to create a manual invoice for each installment. Clients who have several small tasks throughout the month are easily billed at the end of the month with a date range invoice.

It’s also easy to mark an invoice paid. The problems come when a client makes only a partial payment—in ProWorkFlow, I can leave an invoice unpaid or mark it paid, but I can’t show a partial payment. ProWorkFlow does integrate with popular accounting programs, such as QuickBooks. So if you use the Accounts Receivable functions in QuickBooks, for example, you can keep track of client payments in that program. Since I don’t use any of the supported programs, though, I simply maintain my receivables in an Excel spreadsheet. With fewer than 20 clients, that isn’t really cumbersome, but it would be nice to have everything in ProWorkFlow.

One of the things that I had hoped ProWorkFlow would do was make it easier to calculate Jan’s pay. Based on the way she is compensated, I have not found a simple way to do so. Tracking time is easy, so for employees who are paid by the hour, figuring compensation is easy in ProWorkFlow. However, it’s not so easy for a subcontractor with a different compensation structure. That, however, is more a function of the compensation structure than of ProWorkFlow.

Bottom line: although ProWorkFlow doesn’t do everything I would like it to do, it is the best solution I have found to manage projects, track time, and prepare quotes and invoices.

Note: I am a customer of ProWorkFlow, and this review is based on my personal experience. I was not given anything by ProWorkFlow to write this review; in fact, ProWorkFlow knows nothing about the review.

Question from a Reader: Part 3 — Finding the Right Editor

From the past two posts, you know that you need an editor, and you know what to look for in an editor. Now, let’s talk about how to find the right editor for you and your manuscript.

Make a list of what you want in an editor using the previous post as a guide and adding anything else important to you.
Look at the acknowledgments page of books similar to yours that you enjoyed. Often authors will thank their editors, and someone who did a good job on a book in your genre is a good candidate to edit your book.
Ask other authors for recommendations and information about editors they have used.
After you have a list of several editors to consider, look up their websites. Most will have information about services and fees as well as books they have edited.
Contact each editor and ask for a sample edit and price quote. Recognize that the price quoted is usually based on the rest of the manuscript needing the same amount of work as the sample edit. If you quit self-editing halfway through the book and the second half is filled with grammar errors, the editor may renegotiate. However, if what you submit for the sample is comparable to the complete manuscript, the editor should be able to give you a firm quote.
Review the sample edits and quotes. If you don’t like the way an editor works or the editing changes she suggested, you can eliminate her at this point. Remove an editor from your list only if you’re convinced she won’t meet your needs. Otherwise, continue to keep her on your list of potential editors.
Contact the editor to discuss your project. Although email is great for the initial contact and quote, I recommend you phone the editor to get acquainted. Remember, if you’re working on a book-length project, you will be working closely with this editor, and you should feel confident that it will be a comfortable working relationship. Also make sure you understand exactly what services the editor is providing. Will the editor simply correct spelling, grammar, and usage errors or will she also point out plot problems in a novel or confusing information in a nonfiction book?
If the editor doesn’t have books she has edited listed on her website, ask for references. Try to make contact with authors of books in your genre. Ask about the quality of the editing and the ease of the process.
At this point, you may have made a decision. If one candidate stands out and you are comfortable working with that person, you have your editor.
If you are still undecided, compare the lists of what you want in an editor with the list of editors. You may want to rate the editor on each important point, or you may be able to tell who you want without going through the rating step.
Have a written agreement with the editor. The editor may have a standard form, or it can simply be a listing of what the editor will do, the time frame in which it will be done, the fees, and payment arrangements. Although both of you have the best intentions, sometimes disagreements arise because of differences between what the author expected to receive and what the editor expected to deliver.

I must confess, I doubt any of my clients have followed these steps to find an editor. Most of my clients come to me via word of mouth and never talk to another editor. I’m honored by their trust in me. I always do the sample edit for first-time clients to be sure the author likes my work and also to determine how much time the project will take. That ensures that the price will be fair for both the client and me.

If you would like a sample edit and quote for a manuscript, download the information for clients and email me for the questionnaire to send along with the pages for the sample and the synopsis or chapter summary. I’ll be happy to take a look at your project so we can mutually determine if I’m a good match to edit your book.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/alexmillos

Question from an Editor: Part 2 — What Should I Look for in an Editor?

In response to the information I provided in my last post, my reader wrote:

For me, being a first time author, professional editing appears to be the best choice, but as you know the act of locating and working with the right editor is a challenge in its own right. The internet is flooded with editors and editing companies. The experience of the editors is all over the board too, and their editing fees reflect that. So what is a new and gullible author to do?  How much do you pay; what experience should I be looking for?

I have a two-part series on finding and working with a professional editor starting at Finding the Right Editor. I recommend you read that series in addition to this conversation. Although it was written several years ago, the information is still valid.

In finding the right editor, there are several important points to consider:

Is the editor knowledgeable about your genre? For example, I don’t edit poetry (except poems that are part of a book, such as Some Monument to Last ) or plays. I don’t know enough about poetry or drama to edit those genres.
Does the editor have experience in the kind of publishing you have chosen? Although I started out expecting to work in traditional publishing, I became excited about small press and indie publishing and now focus on working with authors who choose to self-publish. Not only do I edit manuscripts, but, with the help of my associate, Jan McClintock, I can guide an author through the entire process from manuscript draft to book for sale.
Will he or she do a sample edit, and do you like the result? Editors vary greatly, and just because someone comes highly recommended doesn’t mean they are right for you and your manuscript. See some of their work and make sure you agree their suggestions overall make your book better. You won’t agree with every single suggestion from any editor, but you should agree with most. You should ensure that the editor doesn’t change your author’s voice. I tell my clients when I finish their work should sound exactly like them—only better.
How comfortable are you with the editor and vice versa? You will be working very closely together, and you want it to be a pleasant experience.
How passionate is the editor about your work? No matter how technically competent an editor is, they should also be excited about your book.

Now that you know what you look, the next installment in this series will cover how to find the right editor for you.

 

 

 

 

Image: © Depositphotos.com/alexmillos

Question from a Reader: Part 1 — Do I Need an Editor?

Recently, I received this question from a reader:

After reading your Ten Tips to Impress an Acquisition Editor, I have a question:

My question centers on what an acquisition editor expects when he or she receives a manuscript. I understand that if I was submitting a book to an agent or publisher that they would expect it to be perfect, but from what I have heard an acquisition editor buys a manuscript first, and then he or she has editing done in-house at the publishing company’s expense. Is that right?

Is it in my best interest to have my book professionally proofread first, or is this an unnecessary step and expense when submitting a manuscript to an acquisition editor?

First, to clarify roles, an acquisition editor is an editor at a publishing house who reviews submissions and acquires manuscripts. Usually when we refer to “publisher,” we actually mean the publishing house, which includes the acquisition editor. The position of publisher is usually the head of the publishing house; depending on the size of the company, the publisher may never have direct contact with your manuscript. In smaller companies, the publisher may become involved after the acquisitions editor recommends the company publish your book. In very small companies, the publisher and the acquisition editor may be the same person. So when you submit to an acquisition editor, you are, in effect, submitting to a publisher.

Regardless of whether you’re submitting to an agent or a publisher, anyone who is deciding whether your book is worthy of publication expects it to be well-written. No one in the publishing industry has time to wade through poor grammar and unclear writing to determine if the manuscript can be edited into a publishable book. On the other hand, once a manuscript is accepted for publication, the company will still edit the book to fit the company style. As to whether your manuscript needs to be professionally edited, I can’t say positively. Some authors use other writers as critique partners and essentially edit each other’s work. Some authors use beta readers who are knowledgeable about a specific genre and love to read and who are willing to read and give feedback on a particular author’s manuscript. Some writers have a relative or friend who can edit their manuscripts for them. What I will say is this: I think every manuscript needs to reviewed by one or more knowledgeable people besides the author. Every writer is too close to his own work to realize that a sentence isn’t clear—he knows what he meant so he understands it and can’t imagine that other people don’t. No one can catch his own particular errors that he doesn’t know are errors. He can’t recognize that a character’s actions appear illogical or out of character; because he understands the motivation, he forgets to explain it to his readers. My recommendation to every author is to self-edit their manuscripts using the book Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print and get their manuscripts as clean as possible. Then use one or more of the available outside sources: critique partners, beta readers, knowledge friend or relative, and/or professional editor. Naturally, as a professional editor, I’m biased toward that option. However, I suggest authors use one or more of the other options first. If you clean up your most common errors, the professional editor will have a much easier job and thus will usually charge you less.

I provide a free sample edit as part of the price quotation process. Sometimes, I recommend that the author use the sample edit to self-edit their manuscript one more time before coming back to me. Often taking care of two or three recurring errors throughout the book will make a significant difference. Then I do another sample edit to see if they have cleaned up the manuscript enough for a lower quote. Frequently that is the case. My job is easier and faster, and the writer saves money. And the writer has learned some things that will make their next book much better from the writing stage.

However, remember, that if your book is accepted by a publishing house, someone in that company will edit the book again—no matter how many times it’s been edited. Some issues regard style; not all grammar rules are hard and fast. When there are variations, some companies prefer one choice and other companies follow a different choice. As a professional editor, I follow what is common in publishing, but it may not be what a specific publisher prefers. The main thing is that there be consistency in the manuscript. When they are two choices in how to handle a situation, you can’t use them randomly in the same manuscript. Also, different “house styles” (what a particular publishing house prefers) may have stipulations such as no (or only x number of) flashbacks allowed. Some companies like prologues and epilogues; other companies don’t permit them. So a manuscript can be clean as far as grammar and usage errors but still have to be edited to ensure it meets the requirements of the house.

In the next post, I’ll talk about what to look for in an editor.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/alexmillos