Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 516
June 23, 2011
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Jun. 23, 1941: Lithuanians rise up to help Germans drive out Russians.
June 22, 2011
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Jun. 22, 1941: Operation Barbarossa: 3 million Germans invade USSR; Luftwaffe destroys 2000 Soviet aircraft.
June 21, 2011
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Jun. 21, 1941: Vichy France excludes Jews from schools. British Gen. Sir Claude Auchinleck replaces Gen. Archibald Wavell as C in C forces Middle East Command; while Wavell takes Auchinleck's place over Indian Army. Free French occupy Damascus.
June 20, 2011
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Jun. 20, 1941: US Army Air Forces created under Maj. Gen. Henry H. ("Hap") Arnold (formerly the Army Air Corps). America First rally at Hollywood Bowl with Charles Lindbergh and Lillian Gish draws 30,000. Dedication of Hoover Library of War, Revolution, and Peace at Stanford University. Ford Motor Company signs its first contract with a labor union, the UAW.
June 19, 2011
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Jun. 19, 1941: Germany and Italy close US consulates in their countries in retaliation for US closures.
June 18, 2011
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Jun. 18, 1941: Germany and Turkey sign non-aggression pact. British press reports the use of radiolocation equipment (later called radar) in the Battle of Britain.
June 17, 2011
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Jun. 17, 1941: American Jacqueline Cochran becomes first woman to fly military plane across Atlantic. Germans drive British back through Halfaya Pass from Libya into Egypt, siege of Tobruk remains.
June 16, 2011
The Right—and Left—Way to Plan for Writers' Conferences
Are you a left-brained, list-making, analyzing, outline-oriented writer? Are you a right-brained, creative, spontaneous, seat-of-the-pants writer? Some combination? If you're attending a writers' conference, engage both halves of your brain and plan the right way—
and
the left way.
The American Christian Fiction Writers Conference is scheduled for September 22-25, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri, and registration is now open. ACFW Conference Link ACFW runs an excellent conference for Christian fiction writers with top-notch faculty and dozens of editors and agents in attendance. If you're serious about growing in your craft, getting published, or building your career, a writers' conference is a must.
Having attended nine major conferences (including ACFW), I've found it's best to let the left brain reign before the conference and the right brain fly free during the conference.
The Left Way
Before the conference, analyze, plan, and make lists. Proper preparation allows you to get the most out of the conference and be relaxed.
• Which Continuing Education tracks and workshops to take? ACFW offers five CE tracks and thirty workshops. Analyze your strengths and weaknesses as a writer, as well as where you are in your manuscript and your career. Pick workshops to target your weaknesses or solidify your strengths, and try to balance between craft and publicity.
• Which editors, agents, and published authors do you want to meet? At ACFW you can schedule one or two appointments with editors, agents, or mentors, which must be chosen at the time of registration. Also make a list of professionals you'd like to meet—at workshops, meals, etc. This list can keep you focused during the flurry of a conference.
• Prepare your pitch. The most common question you will be asked at conference is, "What do you write?" Be prepared to answer with a sparkling one to two sentence description. Also be prepared to answer follow-up questions with more detail. But not too much detail. Really.
• Prepare your One-Sheet. A one-sheet is "you and your project" on a single piece of paper. A catchy tagline, a short paragraph describing your novel or series, a short bio, and your contact info. Include your photo, and use graphics, fonts, and colors that coordinate with the feel of your story while still looking professional. Don't overload the page or use micro-fonts. White space is your friend.
The Right Way
At the conference, work your plan but let your right brain frolic. Serendipity tends to produce the best conference moments.
• Let your creativity play. You will learn so much and be surrounded by hundreds of creative people. Soak it in. Brainstorm characters, plotlines, and more. Turn off your internal editor and resist the urge to burn your manuscript.
• Veer off your list. Your list of professionals to meet is a guide, not Scripture. Try to meet others, even those who aren't looking for your genre. The publishing industry is fluid, and the editor from House A may be with House B next year—or have become an agent. That casual conversation you had over dinner might lead somewhere unexpected. And don't forget, these people know the industry. Ask questions, absorb, and simply enjoy them as people.
• Meet new friends. While targeting professionals, don't overlook the person next to you in a workshop or at a meal. I've met some of my dearest friends this way. We struggled along the pre-published road with each other and now we're exploring the world of publication together.
• Watch for God appointments. My best conference moments have come when I set aside my plan. Pray with those who've been rejected too many times, who need a boost before an appointment, or who struggle with personal or family issues. Skip a workshop to connect with a friend. Introduce people with similar interests. Listen for God's voice about your writing and life. When you look for God at work, you'll find Him.
I hope to see you in St. Louis in September! Please veer off your list to say hi!
In what ways have you been blessed by planning or by serendipity? How can you best prepare while staying open to spontaneity?
Are you a left-brained, list-making, analyzing, outline-oriented writer? Are you a right-brained, creative, spontaneous, seat-of-the-pants writer? Some combination? If you're attending a writers' conference, engage both halves of your brain and plan the right way—
and
the left way. The American Christian Fiction Writers Conference is scheduled for September 22-25, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri, and registration is now open. ACFW Conference Link ACFW runs an excellent conference for Christian fiction writers with top-notch faculty and dozens of editors and agents in attendance. If you're serious about growing in your craft, getting published, or building your career, a writers' conference is a must.
Having attended nine major conferences (including ACFW), I've found it's best to let the left brain reign before the conference and the right brain fly free during the conference.
The Left Way
Before the conference, analyze, plan, and make lists. Proper preparation allows you to get the most out of the conference and be relaxed.
• Which Continuing Education tracks and workshops to take? ACFW offers five CE tracks and thirty workshops. Analyze your strengths and weaknesses as a writer, as well as where you are in your manuscript and your career. Pick workshops to target your weaknesses or solidify your strengths, and try to balance between craft and publicity.
• Which editors, agents, and published authors do you want to meet? At ACFW you can schedule one or two appointments with editors, agents, or mentors, which must be chosen at the time of registration. Also make a list of professionals you'd like to meet—at workshops, meals, etc. This list can keep you focused during the flurry of a conference.
• Prepare your pitch. The most common question you will be asked at conference is, "What do you write?" Be prepared to answer with a sparkling one to two sentence description. Also be prepared to answer follow-up questions with more detail. But not too much detail. Really.
• Prepare your One-Sheet. A one-sheet is "you and your project" on a single piece of paper. A catchy tagline, a short paragraph describing your novel or series, a short bio, and your contact info. Include your photo, and use graphics, fonts, and colors that coordinate with the feel of your story while still looking professional. Don't overload the page or use micro-fonts. White space is your friend.
The Right Way
At the conference, work your plan but let your right brain frolic. Serendipity tends to produce the best conference moments.
• Let your creativity play. You will learn so much and be surrounded by hundreds of creative people. Soak it in. Brainstorm characters, plotlines, and more. Turn off your internal editor and resist the urge to burn your manuscript.
• Veer off your list. Your list of professionals to meet is a guide, not Scripture. Try to meet others, even those who aren't looking for your genre. The publishing industry is fluid, and the editor from House A may be with House B next year—or have become an agent. That casual conversation you had over dinner might lead somewhere unexpected. And don't forget, these people know the industry. Ask questions, absorb, and simply enjoy them as people.
• Meet new friends. While targeting professionals, don't overlook the person next to you in a workshop or at a meal. I've met some of my dearest friends this way. We struggled along the pre-published road with each other and now we're exploring the world of publication together.
• Watch for God appointments. My best conference moments have come when I set aside my plan. Pray with those who've been rejected too many times, who need a boost before an appointment, or who struggle with personal or family issues. Skip a workshop to connect with a friend. Introduce people with similar interests. Listen for God's voice about your writing and life. When you look for God at work, you'll find Him.
I hope to see you in St. Louis in September! Please veer off your list to say hi!
In what ways have you been blessed by planning or by serendipity? How can you best prepare while staying open to spontaneity?
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Jun. 16, 1941: Roosevelt orders all German and Italian consulates in US to close by July 15.
June 15, 2011
When Life Gives You a Car Breakdown, Make...Orange Juice?
A car breakdown, a colorful tow truck driver, a polygamist, and a ten-pound bag of oranges - not what the Sundin family expected this past weekend.Our oldest son finished his first year at UCLA, so my husband and I, our fifteen-year-old daughter, and our twelve-year-old son loaded our Highlander hybrid with his dorm stuff and headed north.
Interstate 5 runs in almost a straight line through California's Central Valley. Trucks and vacationers speed past large farms and ranches. About every thirty miles, an off-ramp leads to fast food restaurants and gas stations. Quick but bland.
Or so we thought.
At six o'clock in the evening, north of Buttonwillow and south of Lost Hills, our car died. Toyotas don't do that. My husband steered the car onto the right shoulder, and I called AAA.
My husband had a business trip scheduled, with a 6 am flight the next morning. Not happening. He got to work on his cell phone. Our not-so-little kids, cramped in the back seat of a rapidly warming car, by God's grace alone, did not whine or bicker. This is out of character. Not for God - for the kids.
AAA called back with a problem. The tow trucks only carried four passengers. We had five."What am I supposed to do?" My voice cracked. "Stand on the side of the road with my kids?"
"Are you there by yourself, ma'am?" Concern flooded her voice. "How old are your kids?"
"Oh...well..." It's hard to gain sympathy when oldest child has a driver's license and a beard.
Before I could call for a cab, Joseph the tow truck driver arrived. His truck carried five. He'd found a repair shop open that late on a Sunday, the best in the Central Valley, Joseph said. We liked him already.
Joseph has a sand-colored billy goat beard and a great sense of humor. He apologized for the truck he'd borrowed while his was in the shop. His truck was clean. His truck was stocked with diapers, baby wipes, and bottled water. His truck had a smoother ride because the suspension was properly positioned in relation to the winch. On the drive to Buttonwillow, we learned about tow truck driver culture. Did you know there was a tow truck driver culture? I did not. Rivalries, practical jokes, the importance of a clean truck, the lack of sleep, the knowledge of every little side road...I gained a great deal of respect for Joseph and his profession.
After making restaurant and hotel recommendations, Joseph dropped us off at the repair shop. Julio would take good care of us, he said. We had to wait while Julio helped the previous customers, a couple traveling with a vanload of children, one in diapers. At least they had another woman along to help.
After they left, Julio approached us with a grin. "That guy's a polygamist. He introduced me to both his wives."
"That explains it," my daughter said. She'd seen the little white stick figure people on the back windshield - a man in the middle, a woman on each side, and a cloud of children below.
Hoo boy. There's something you don't see every day.
One of Julio's friends was hanging around with his produce truck. It didn't take long to realize his mind wasn't all there - but his heart was. He was genuinely concerned for us. Then he mentioned he needed a few more dollars to get home that night. Red flag! How many times have I heard that line from panhandlers? But then he said he just needed to sell some more fruit. My heart softened. I could buy fruit. So he showed me what he had. Cherries? My refrigerator is full of the bounty from our cherry tree. Oranges? He had ten-pound bags. Not sure how it would fit in our jam-packed car, I bought one.Julio did his best. He gave our car a jumpstart. Nothing. He replaced the battery. Nothing. While we love our 25 mpg, the hybrid engine has its peculiarities and needed the help of a Toyota dealership. In Bakersfield. Thirty miles away. Closed for the night.
After dinner at the Joseph-approved Mexican restaurant - great food with manana service - we spent the night at the clean and friendly Joseph-approved Motel 6. The next day, while Toyota performed its diagnosis, the courtesy shuttle hauled us to a shopping center.
The mall has a "Forever 21" in an old department store. My teen daughter put on her biggest eyes and sweetest smile. I'm immune - and wise - to that face, but I took her there anyway. The store went on and on, packed with clothes for teen girls, so big it was divided by color scheme - blue clothes here, red there, pastel here, black there. Oh my goodness. My daughter wandered around, fingered a few items, and headed out. She didn't buy a thing. Didn't even try anything on. She looked dazed. "It's...too...much." Just when you think you've seen it all.
Toyota had to order the part - under warranty! - so they paid for a rental car. By dinnertime, we were home. All five of us, our luggage, and ten pounds of oranges.
Orange juice, anyone?
